Shake Ups

There is not much to say about last night's game other than the Twins are sad and Yunel Escobar acknowledging Brian Butterfield's great call to send him when the ball went to second to get Bautista illustrated why this team can be very fun when it's running on all cylinders.

Also, Henderson Alvarez is fantastic.“He's very calm and collected out there. He knows how good he is, not in a cocky sense but in how to attack the game and attack hitters and know that he can throw that ball up there and miss spots and still get ground balls,” catcher J.P. Arencibia said. “I think he's mature beyond his age, and he's getting better with every start.” There have been a few shake ups in the world of Blue Jays after that ugly loss to the A's on Tuesday.

Adam Lind has mercifully been slid down the order into the eighth spot.  It was a move that immediately paid off when Lind hit a two run homer against Oakland.

Francisco Cordero has been removed from the closer's role, replaced by the drop and drive stylings of Casey Janssen.  Casey "No one aspires to be a middle relief pitcher" Janssen.

Coco has been quite candid about his performance this season.“I have to be honest to myself and say you’re not doing your job,” Cordero told reporters before Wednesday’s game. “And if you’re not doing your job, you’re not going to be a closer, not only with the Blue Jays but nowhere else — or you’re not even going to have a job.”

The beat reporters probably love a candid relief pitcher.

On the subject of bullpens, John Lott makes a lot of sense.

The other big news is that the Jays have signed Vladimir Guerrero to a minor league deal. He will go to extended spring training and likely be quite the draw for the minor league clubs. If he makes the big club, Guerrero will get 1.3 million dollars and get to hang out with Omar Vizquel.

Guerrero was once one of the best players in the whole game, and it's kind of nice he's coming back to play for a Canadian team when he broke out with the Expos. The man was a beast.  Let's just hit for the cycle against Tom Glavine. Why not?

Ken Rosenthal has decided that the Phillies are going to be sellers because they are currently in last place.  Which sounds awful until you realize that they may be in last place, but in the NL East, that's 5.5 games out and it's May. Rosenthal says that AA has been sniffing around Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino.

Hamels would be an interesting grab, and make the Jays' rotation quite nasty indeed. I'd want to be able to sign him to an extension because he is up for free agency, and I'm not sure the Jays are in the "rent a player" position yet.

Rosenthal made an enemy of me when he wrote:

"...and/or Shane Victorino to replace a yawn-inducing Colby Rasmus in centre field."





I'd say that's down right peppy in centre field.