Canada versus Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kids. Feel free to follow along here!

This isn't a real Game Thread, just a belated look back at the bullpen as it was 2 weeks ago. We will catch up on Friday. We won't talk about what happened this afternoon.

Sox up 1-0 behind the 'smart ball' of hitting the ball out of the park.

The White Sox have won six in a row. As the immortal (because he never really existed) Jean-Luc Picard once said, "The line must be drawn here!"

And now here comes the best team in baseball -- improbably, it's the White Sox, who are off to a much faster start than anyone expected. But as Gwyn points out in his excellent AL Central Report, and as Mike D confirms in another superlative Advance Scout, the ChiSox are playing somewhat over their heads these days. Now would be a good time for the Jays' bats to wake up against some overachieving Chicago starters. The ageless El Duque Hernandez opposes the rapidly improving Dave Bush tonight in a matchup somehow reminiscent of 1980s Expos broadcasts.

Don't forget, the countdown to IRC Game Threads is on -- Monday, May 9, marks the debut of Batter's Box's coolest new feature.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2005

TORONTO -- In its continuing effort to provide the best possible tools to the best of Canada's baseball fans, Batter's Box Interactive Magazine is introducing a new "Game Chat" option beginning with the Monday, May 9 game at Kansas City.

"It's a decision we've come to after months of discussion," said Batter's Box Senior Editor Jordan Furlong. "The Batter's Box roster sees this as an opportunity to expand our usefulness in two critical ways."

It's an unusual 3:05 start today, which is nominally getaway day for the Jays even though they have an off day tomorrow. Halladay (4-1, 3.40) takes on Erik Bedard (2-1, 2.84) who had a terrific outing in his last start versus Toronto.

Can the 15-12 Toronto Blue Jays win their third in a row and guarantee a series win over the finally-put-in-their-place 17-8 Baltimore Orioles?

The Jays are in Baltimore to take on the red hot Orioles. The O's are eight and two in their least ten and Miguel Tejada is on a 4 game homer streak, but they haven't seen anything like this Chacin kid yet.

An empty glass, the lady sings
Eyes swollen like a bee sting
Blinded you lost your way
Through the side streets and the alleyway
Like a star exploding in the night
Falling to the city in broad daylight

In view of the powerful and potent mojo conjured up by the Photo of the Day, we have had Named For Hank looking high and low for a suitable picture of Dave Bush, in order to get today's action off to a good start.

The Jays and Roy Halladay go for four in a row as they face the Yankees and the Big Unit at 7:05 p.m. Halladay is kept on his regular 5 day rotation, while Dave Bush will pitch with extra rest tomorrow.

I wonder if tall hitters do better than short hitters against tall pitchers. So, our little prizeless contest for the day- what will Alex Rios' line for today be?

A lunchtime treat for us, today, as the Jays and Rays face off before hopping onto planes and jetting out of town. No home team TV coverage, but you can tune in the Fan on the radio and let Jerry tell you all about it.

Josh Towers vs. Doug Waechter, first pitch at 12:37.

The second game of the series is tonight. Chacin faces Kazmir for the second time this season.

Ted Lilly is winless this year, but he has a great chance to change that against the Devil Rays.