Grindin'

Man, that KC offense is a real meat grinder for opposing pitchers, huh? After making Brian Tallet look completely awkward, they totally made Brian Burres appear to be a marginal pitcher with no business being on a major league roster. Lucky for Doc he avoids that whirring blade of humiliation and ERA inflation. I pity the next staff to face the mighty Royals bats, unless it's the Yankees.

I'm just brightsiding here, but hitting into six double plays and still score six runs will win you a game most of the time. Most of the time when Brian Burres isn't pitching.


Elsewhere!

• Because I'm a complete shut-in, I'm a little jazzed by the news that the Mariners will be paying tribute to the '39 Seattle Rainiers (PCL champs, dontcha know) on Saturday by wearing Rainiers throwbacks (they should be similar to the '41 version seen here). I want one.

• Related: Shame Lucky Lohrke won't be around to see it. Do yourself a favour and read Larry Stone's piece about Lorhke and his insane life. The things he survived are staggering; a movie made about this man's life would be a thousand times better than Benjamin Button (best Best Picture winner since Braveheart!).

• Quasi-related (to the first bullet): Hey, tomorrow's another Flashback Friday, right? Bring on the embarrassing pajama unis! Who looks the most uncomfortable in them things? Bajaras? Snider (who's too young to remember powder blue road uniforms)? Votes? Anybody?
  

• Completely unrelated: If I come across one more lazy journalist phoning it in with a story about "staycations," I'll be very, very displeased. Easily the most annoying and over-abused trope of 2009. Hell, it even made the list! Desist!
  

Alright, I'm On Board

I'm convinced. Scott Richmond is a quality starter, a fine addition to this largely ragtag rotation. A lot of question marks, but right now I feel great about Doc, and pretty damn good about both Richmond and Tallet.

As for facing the unhittable Zack Greinke, I think the Jays hitters welcome the challenge. It'll be a shame to put a dent in his Cy Young hopes, but we all know who the rightful owner of that piece of hardware is anyway.

Rakes!

The Windy City, indeed.

Well, that was fun, wasn't it? I can't help but think that they should have saved some of those runs to support Burres today, though (you know what they say: "Halladay, then, er, Richmond, and then, um, Tallett, and then pray for rain."). With offensive output like that, and a few more boots by Alexei Ramirez, things might keep rolling.

I know it's too soon to start such talk, but with the way the Jays and Royals are playing I'm tempted to think about it: wouldn't a rematch of the '85 ALCS be nice? Revenge would be sweet.

Thanking Whatever Deity Might Be Responsible For These Wins

Litsch, BJ and Romero on the DL, and still this team finds ways to win. One of those ways is named Scott Richmond, who doesn't do it pretty, but he does it pretty well. Not sure we'll be saying the same thing about Brian Burres, though. Yeah, I'm worried about that. I won't suggest doing something rash like ponying up the cash that Pedro's asking for, but if this team is still in first place in May, maybe the Rogers braintrust loosens the pursestrings for a run?

And now, because while I do love The Tao, I could never really get behind the Gandharvas (and also because Roberto Suzuki ain't my real name), here's a little something for a sun-drenched Friday afternoon spent waiting for a game (somewhere, anywhere!) to start -- 'Andrew' by the Crystal Antlers:

What Will It Take to Anger Alex Rios?

Notwithstanding tonight's decent performance, Alex Rios looks listless in '09. Maybe tonight's game will prove to be a turning point, but if it's not I have to wonder what it takes to piss this man off. Most of the time after he weakly grounds to short or lofts a lazy fly to centre with runners on and two out, he looks like he's thinking, "Whatevs, I'm pretty. And I will seek solace for my moderate shame in the beautiful arcs drawn in the sky by my expensive R/C helicopters." I can't help but think he needs some sort of motivation, and anger seems to work a treat for Roy "Don't Cross Me Twice" Halladay. Alex might be wise to emulate.

So get mad, pretty boy.


Also

Hey, let's get Aaron Hill voted into the ASG. Just for kicks.

What a Weekend

Too soon to dub him Ricky "ROY" Romero? 'Cause damn.

Walkoffs, one-run games, converted starters and .714 winning percentages. Yes, it is a good time to be us.

An Apology

Since I added Rolen to the roster of my fantasy team, Dooley Womack's Seattle Pilots, he's 0 for 7. Clearly this is my fault, and I'm truly sorry.

On the plus side of the ledger, today we get to see what kind of a starter Brian Tallet makes. He's clearly a smart man, having recognized the void we've suffered since the departure of Sal Fasano, and stepping in with his own extravagant 'tache to claim the title of Jays' Best Facial Hair. Witness:


Mad, mad props to Ian at Blue Jay Hunter for that photo. Minor quibble, but I kind of think of the hirsute Mr. Tallet as more of a "We don't need no stinking badges!" kind of guy. Nevertheless, Ian is the best photoshopper in the Jays blogging community. Support your local artist.