A good start. A long way to go.
Matchup!
Yamamoto (12-8, 2.49) vs Gausman (10-11, 3.59)
So did Lauer pitch the 9th last night because he’s lower on the totem pole than Little, who was being saved for higher leverage? One may have thought a big lead was a good spot to get Little back out there. Did Bassitt not finish the game because he’s available again tonight? Stay tuned.
With Varland, Little, and Hoffman fresh and Dominguez and Fluharty available the pen is in good shape tonight. Just give us 5+ strong, Kevin.
With Varland, Little, and Hoffman fresh and Dominguez and Fluharty available the pen is in good shape tonight. Just give us 5+ strong, Kevin.
Using Lauer last night might have been a way to get him some WS exposure in a low-pressure situation, and to help get him tuned up for further appearances. He hasn't pitched much in recent weeks. I thought he looked pretty good in game 1.
Jays are averaging 6.83 runs per game in the playoffs.
Against the pitching of LAD NYY SEA.
LAD is #2 at 4.55 runs per game.
Against the pitching of LAD NYY SEA.
LAD is #2 at 4.55 runs per game.
Bo out and IKF back in. Wish it were Schneider instead but no problem sitting Bo who is clearly still hurt. Maybe a couple of days off gets him a little healthier. I expect he'll start again in this series.
Also, Scherzer game 3 and Bieber game 4 which is interesting but based on last start makes sense.
Schneider said Bichette is available to pinch-hit, both late and early in the game -- even "in the third inning" if need be.
Don’t love Gausman getting beat by Will Smith on his third-best pitch (a slider). It was in a good spot but you would prefer to see that pitch further off the plate if he’s going to use it. Looked like Smith was ready for the pitch.
Otherwise, good pitching by him in the inning, and credit to Freeman for a great PA.
Otherwise, good pitching by him in the inning, and credit to Freeman for a great PA.
Two one pitch at-bats that inning, not ideal.
Also two K's looking in the game so far, Yamamoto really fooling them.
Also two K's looking in the game so far, Yamamoto really fooling them.
Gausman is pitching really well. Just couldn’t keep LA off the scoreboard in the first.
Gotta grind, make Yamamoto work, try to find a way to score.
Gotta grind, make Yamamoto work, try to find a way to score.
Productive inning. Terrific swing by Vladdy to catalyze the inning.
The Jays hitters are not working Yamamoto like they did Snell yesterday. But Yamamoto is pitching well, very hard to handle with all his pitches.
Elite pitching on display by both teams tonight. Which SP blinks first?
This is a key inning for Gaus I think. 9 / 1 / 2 hitters for LA.
With these pitch counts both pitchers could go deep. Schneider might not let Gausman go too deep but Yamamoto has so many pitches and the Dodger bullpen is dodgy so Yamamoto could go all the way.
Wrong team hitting the hr, but still time for Bo to pH gwrbi hr!
Really missed that first inning opportunity. Yamamoto looks unhittable.
Last nights game was so memorable and so intense for the crowd and the players. I wonder if there was a letdown today. Did the Jays players get much sleep last night?
Yamamoto is tough but there were lots of short at-bats today, letting him potentially throw a complete game.
Yamamoto is tough but there were lots of short at-bats today, letting him potentially throw a complete game.
Even when the starting pitcher goes into the seventh inning the bullpen still gives up a run.
Both games have mostly been about one big inning. Bottom of the 6th yesterday and top 8 tonight. We can still come back, but 5-1 is tough.
Jays have had nobody on base since Vladdy singled in the third inning with one out.
“ Did the Jays players get much sleep last night?”
Maybe Bam-bam should get his own room from now on.
Maybe Bam-bam should get his own room from now on.
Masterful pitching. Lets hope Max can do the same on Monday.
Seeing as how Yamamoto gave up 7 hits in the entire month of September (4 starts, 27 innings), I suppose getting 4 hits in a single game is something of an accomplishment.
Vladdy was really mad that he missed the curve in the first inning with runners on and none out. Great pitch, though.
Tip your cap to Yamamoto. Can't point to any real mistakes in this game by the Jays. They just got beat by a damn good starter. Come out and take care of business in LA starting in Game 3.
I blame whatever that Jonas brothers thing was.
It sucked the life out of the Dome. Did the same thing happen in Game 1?
Would love to see the Blue Jays gain access to some of the elite Japanese talent (such as Darvish, Ichiro, Ohtani, Yamamoto, Sasaki). But most of those players end up on the west coast. Tanaka is an example of a good player who signed with an east coast team (NYY). Matsui had some good seasons as well.
I wouldn't have pulled Gaus. That 2nd HR was weak stuff.
How can I watch the full game 7 Toronto/Seattle on fox Sports - apparently my wife and I were shown on the fox feed, thanks.
The series between the Jays and the Jonas Brothers is now tied 1-1.
I was at the game - the energy in the section we stood in (our seats were 25 rows up in the 5th deck, near the roof - waaaay too steep so we went to standing room areas instead on the 2nd level - 243/244 - not really standing area but we stood there anyways and got along with the guy watching the area) was high all the way through. Down 4? No problem! We all believed until the final out. My daughter got her photo with Colonel Sanders after the game, and we had a lot of fun despite the Jay hitters deciding to take the day off. For extra fun, on the way back in the subway we ran into 2 friends of my daughters who are also from London (they were watching the game from a bar there). Small world sometimes.
How can I watch the full game 7 Toronto/Seattle on fox Sports - apparently my wife and I were shown on the fox feed, thanks.
I can see them in the MLB app… but I have an MLB.tv subscription and I’m not in Canada.
I can see them in the MLB app… but I have an MLB.tv subscription and I’m not in Canada.
So far, 2 games, in the WS for guys with 5+ PA (17 players) #1 in wRC+ is Barger, #2 is Kirk with Will Smith the only other guy over 200. Also over 150 is Muncy, Springer, Ohtani, with Vlad & Clement in the 140's. Varsho's 123 is the last 100+ guy. For sub 0's you get Gimenez for the Jays, and 3 Dodgers (both Hernandez' and Pages, Teoscar dead last at -55).
15 pitchers used in 2 games. If you go by xFIP (removing as many variables as possible) you get 3 Jays leading (Bassitt, Fluharty, and Dominguez) then Yamamoto, then 3 more Jays (Yesavage, Gausman, Hoffman). So basically so far it is a Yamamoto issue for the Jays, nothing else. So the Jays 'just' need to win 2 of 3 in LA to avoid giving Yamamoto the chance to decide it in game 6. Or just win all 3 and make it so LA is a Yamamoto only team :)
15 pitchers used in 2 games. If you go by xFIP (removing as many variables as possible) you get 3 Jays leading (Bassitt, Fluharty, and Dominguez) then Yamamoto, then 3 more Jays (Yesavage, Gausman, Hoffman). So basically so far it is a Yamamoto issue for the Jays, nothing else. So the Jays 'just' need to win 2 of 3 in LA to avoid giving Yamamoto the chance to decide it in game 6. Or just win all 3 and make it so LA is a Yamamoto only team :)
As has been said, on November 2nd we'll have lots of time to debate what to do for 2026 and beyond, but we should watch the next game extra close as it could be the final start for Max Scherzer before he goes to the HOF. Game 4 could be Shane Bieber's final start as a Blue Jay. Let's hope in both cases they go with glory.
John, did Colonel Sanders have a Dodgers jacket? I'm sure I saw him taking it off after a commercial break.
As dumb as the “interrupting the game for a silly halftime show” was (Stand Up To Cancer is more than enough for the record, great heartfelt moment that doesn’t need a pop song to frankly cheapen it and patronize)… Jays just have to score runs. Seeing as we are up against potentially the greatest postseason pitching rotation of all time… well it’s hard to blame them if it doesn’t happen.
I have a weird feeling it will though. Somehow. But it won’t be easy.
I have a weird feeling it will though. Somehow. But it won’t be easy.
Also, we have an ancient Mad Max Scherzer on the mound for a crucial Game Three tonight in Dodger Stadium. Who knows what he has left in the tank in his easy Hall of Fame career, but it might be magical. Legends have a knack of doing these things.
This is what it’s all about. To borrow an often used phrase from my patriarch: Are you not entertained???
This is what it’s all about. To borrow an often used phrase from my patriarch: Are you not entertained???
I have a good feeling about the game tonight, as long as Max gets out of the first inning unscathed.
"John, did Colonel Sanders have a Dodgers jacket? I'm sure I saw him taking it off after a commercial break."
I doubt it... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Colonel
I doubt it... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curse_of_the_Colonel
My daughter got her photo with Colonel Sanders after the game, and we had a lot of fun despite the Jay hitters deciding to take the day off.
John, did Colonel Sanders have a Dodgers jacket? I'm sure I saw him taking it off after a commercial break.
The KFC Canada Colonel Sanders is a Canuck local actor who I'm aware of through the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.
KFC Canada uses him for similar viral marketing at Toronto events on a regular basis.
I noticed that none of the articles about Harland mentioned this fact, interviewed the Colonel in character or mentioned the actor's actual screen name IRL. Makes me think that a lot of the media & social media stories about the sighting were planted advertorials.
I can confirm that the Canadian Colonel is in fact a rapid Jays fan even when off the clock.