Jays aren't messing around
Cito Gaston has made it clear: The Toronto Blue Jays, who trail the Red Sox by 6 1/2 games in the AL wild-card race, aren't here to play spoiler. They're here to steal the thing for themselves.
That became apparent when Gaston announced after Thursday night's game that he will juggle his rotation to make sure his top two starters, Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett, will pitch in this weekend's four-game showdown at Fenway, which begins tonight.
The Sox originally thought they would miss Halladay, an 18-game winner who last pitched Wednesday against the White Sox. But he will pitch on three days' rest in the series finale Sunday, while Burnett and Jesse Litsch will also take the mound on short rest in tomorrow's doubleheader. Burnett and Litsch started the games in a doubleheader against the White Sox Tuesday.
This also means that Halladay and Burnett are set up to face the Sox on normal rest in what could be a crucial three-game set next weekend at the Rogers Centre.
In the early game of tomorrow's doubleheader, Burnett (17-10, 4.31 ERA) will be matched up with the Red Sox' Paul Byrd (11-11, 4.39), while Litsch (11-8, 3.70) will face Bartolo Colon (4-2, 4.09) in the nightcap. Colon will be making his first start since June 16, when he injured an oblique muscle in an 8-2 loss to Philadelphia.
On Sunday, Halladay (18-10, 2.77) will take the mound against Sox lefthander Jon Lester (13-5, 3.23).
"If we can go in [to Fenway ] and play well, it could be very interesting next weekend [when we face Boston again]," Gaston told the Toronto Globe and Mail.
BRING IT ON JAYS! The World Champs will be all over your tired arms!!!!!!!! Can you say "backfire on Cito"
Halliday and Burnett don't scare us! (especially on short rest)
I sugest that you investigate the record that Halladay & Burnett have posted on 3 days rest before you make such a comment. Can you say 'panic in red Sox Nation'?
Silly Fool! The Jays have been preparing for this series by limiting the pitch counts for those 3 starters. Furthermore, have you looked at the era's of the Toronto bullpen? The setup guy and the 2 ace middle relievers all have era's below 2.00. Burnett's best outing came on short rest against the Yankees.
What could possibly backfire? The Jays have nothing to lose, enjoy facing Halladay and Burnett!
Halliday and Burnett don't scare you Red Sox nation? Then maybe should check their record against us this year....looks pretty scary to me.
All the Sox really have to do is win 2 of their last 7 against the Jays to effectively eliminate them...why does this seem like anything but a lock?
they should
You should be scared of Burnett and Halladay. Especially when you are countering with Paul Byrd and Bartolo Colon. Bring on that fat slob that wears the 34 Jersey
This is good that Halliday and Burnett will be pitching on short rest ... This will help SOX take lead spot as pitching on short rest means HITTING by opposition... Go SOX
Anyone who is not scared of these seven games versus the Jays (with an equally scary three game set in the Trop versus those pesky Rays) has not been following recent history. The Jays have played us hard all year (they've won 7 of 11) and are playing their best ball of the year.
As a Canadian Sox fan I applaud Cito's gumption to move up his starters to tell the troops he still believes. Their already playing with a lot of confidence and this can do nothing but help in that respect. Whether their pitcher's arms can hold up to the added stress (especially the less proven Litsch) remains to be seen. But I can guarantee their hitters will come ready to swing the bat.
I have attended almost every weekend series in Toronto (in full Sox apparel, of course) for the last four seasons and in those nine games I have only seen the Sox win twice.
If we get a split or better in this series I will begin to exhale. If the Jays win 3 I'll be chewing my finger nails down to the flesh from my baseline seats next weekend.
Go SOX Go!!!
Yeah right. Bush once said 'bring it on', I suspect the sox will have similar results.
Well it is going to be difficult to say the least for the Sox to be in the playoff this year, yeah I know,we are way ahead of both the Twins and Blue Jays for the Wild Card spot, but we still have seven games with the Jays, three with the Rays, (these are teams against which we have not done well at all), then three with Cleveland and we close out the season with the Yankees and they will love nothing better than to nock us out of the playoff, so don't count your money while sitting at the table . They better play a lot better thand they did this past serie with the Rays.
Go ahead, Toronto, and move your starters up in the rotation. This can backfire more often than it works. Does anyone remember the Indians in '99 moving Bartolo Colon up on three days rest to try and stop the Sox in the first round of the playoffs in Game Five?
He gave up several hundred runs in the first couple of innings, and the Sox went on to Round Two (where they lost to the Yankees, but that's another story).
I'd rather face these guys on short rest than on normal or longer rest anyday of the week. Bring 'em on!!!!
Say the Sox slump like crazy and go 8-9 the rest of the season...the Jays would have to put up a 14-2 record to edge out the Sox. Unless Cito is going to conjure the 2007 Colorado Rockies mojo...it ain't happenin'. That, and the Sox play 11 of their final 17 at home, where they've got a .700 winning percentage.
Sorry to bring logic into it Jays fans, but it would take a miracle of Colorado proportions to even get a sniff of the playoffs. Next year don't wait so long to make your move!
Purcey is pitching tonight. A rookie and has been hot and cold. Win this first game and it's over. Jays will be demoralized and we'll take the series.
ALOT of Blue Jay bluster here. Where are they now following their 7-0 beat down? Mr. Martin SILLY BOY, you've been talking a lot of trash for a team that hasn't been significant since long before Robbie Alomar spit on an ump.
Let's see... Sox have 18 games left and now a 7 1/2 game lead. If the Sox play a very pedestrian 9-9, the Blue Jays would have to win virtually every game left on its schedule.
Folks, its over. OVER. For all the Sox fans fretting their fingernails, have you watched the last five years?? They are the champs, the team that doesn't panic, the team of the greatest comeback in major league baseball history, the two-time champs. They are supposed to FEAR the Jays pitchers on short rest?
Hate to say it, but this stuff has been nonsense the last few days. Bring on the Rays, the Sox will still win this division.
Scott: Very well said.
Here's to hoping the Sox put Toronto away this weekend.
I love Cito, but why the hell didn't he play snider (.311 avg) or inglett (.300 avg) tonight against the bosox? Instead he starts mcdonald (.217 avg) and wilkerson (.215 avg)... no wonder the jays were shut out...
Haha~ This is getting fun. I understand the Yankee fans coming in here just to be jerks because... well, they are from New York! But Toronto fans coming in here to talk trash?? Come on, please! Why not just sit back and enjoy a double-header today! You can read whatever you want to on what the stats say on paper... games are played on the field and not on paper. Anything can happen. It's fun!
"Games are played on the field and not on paper" - I 100% agree, and stats are a carbon copy reflection of how well or poorly certain individuals play on the field. Today, Cito started both Snider and Inglett. Snider hit a 3-run homerun and a 2-run double. Inglett's hitting 2-4 so far.
But Brian, even if those players hadn't been big contributors today, your comment makes absolutely no sense!
Looking forward to the last 2 games of this series,
Nick
How do you feel now, Nick?
It's over. Toronto came on too little, too late.
I'm pleased they'll finish ahead of NY. That's always nice.
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