Bird Watching

The Bats:

If you wanted some offense, you got it this week, There was two spectacular near come backs (the two games they lost). If you like pitching well there were a few gems, including Friday against Tampa Bay, where McGowan (10-8) pitched 8 strong innings giving up just 4 hits, and 2 runs while striking out a career high 12. This weeks record was 4-2 (.667), and saw a lot of colorful games. The Rogers center has been kind to the Jays again as they completed the sweep of Seattle last weekend. A trip to Boston was a bit more daunting. All three games had come backs, though Toronto only managed to take one of them. The third time proved to be the charm with late inning HR by Vernon Wells on Wednesday night. The Jays had it all going in Tampa on Friday night with outstanding pitching, and the line-up continued pounding it's opponents. This week was a masterpiece. The Jays as a team hit .291 with 61 hits. They scored 34 runs, and blasted 8HRs. Including some slumping players, Greg Zaun hit three of those home runs, Vernon Wells had 1 HR, Troy Glaus had 2 HR, and Matt Stairs had 2HR. Stairs continued to be on fire at the plate this week, and is now the team leader in average at .312. Also with an impressive OBP of .384, and he's slugging .603, both are tops for the team. Greg Zaun had to feel good about his performance this week hitting .313 with 3 HR.

The Pitching staff had a few ups, and downs. Dustin McGowan picked up half the wins from the week beating Seattle last Saturday, and Tampa Bay Friday night. Opponents hit only .167, and his era was 1.69 in two starts this week. Doc again had hard luck in Boston losing the pitching duel with Josh Beckett. Doc will try again for the elusive Fifteenth win in Detroit Monday night, a critical game in the Jays hopes for the Playoffs.

The Jays are 72-68 (.514) As of Saturday morning, and are 6.5 games out of the Wild Card spot with 22 games to go. Despite having another solid week they actually lost a game, they were 5.5 games out.

This week has the Jays finishing the weekend in Tampa, then on to Detroit for a make up game from April 5^th, and then back home to face the Yankees. At the end of this home stand will won't know if the Jays will make the playoffs, but we will know if they won't. It is critical the Toronto take 2-3 from each series to have a chance. They have one head to head game against Detroit, a must win, and six against the Yankees. Three in this home stand. The good news is the Jays have been fantastic at home this year going 42-27 (.608), and they will have Marcum, McGowan, and Burnett against the Yankees. All three pitchers have been outstanding of late. With the Jays recent hitting, things are really looking positive for this ball club. Good pitching, good hitting, and some of that home cooking makes it a great time to go on a nice winning streak. I'll take 2 out of three from the next for series though

Go Jays Go

View this weeks Blue Jays Photo Gallery