Jays vs. Bucs

It's the ides of March. In recognition of that, I may go to dinner at Littlle Ceasars tonight. 

The lineup the Pirates sent up from Bradenton may not be a world-beater but it certainly is better than the one the Jays are sending to Fort Myers tomorrow to face the Twins led by Dustin McGowan, John McDonald, Marco Scutaro and Reed Johnson. How does that make you feel, Reed, in your battle for left field. Showcase for a trade perhaps?

LINEUPS:

Bucs: Nyjer Morgan cf; Andrew McCutchen lf, Chris Gomez 1b, Xavier Nady rf, Ronny Paulino dh, Neil Walker 3b, Brian Bixler ss, Raul Chavez c, Josh Wilson 2b...Ian Snell p

Jays: Eckstein ss, Rios rf, Wells cf, Rolen 3b, Thomas dh, Stairs lf, Overbay 1b, Hill 2b, Zaun c...Halladay p.

Halladay breezed through the first inning on just 12 pitches. McCutchen is regarded as a future star at just 21 years old and gave Doc a nice battle including a ball pulled just foul and over the left field fence.

A beautiful day at Knology Park after Allan Ryan headed home, handing off the games on a dark and stormy day in St. Pete yesterday. Scout Bob Johnson the other day speaking of the temperature at the usually still air of the Jays home park quipped: "If the earth is 40 million miles from the sun, then Dunedin is four miles from it." There is usually a couple of faintings per year at the spring home of the Jays. There hasn't been enough offence this spring from the Jays to prompt any heart attacks. 

Rios looks like he's starting to swing the bat, stroking a line drive double to the fence in left. He runs the bases like a gazelle with long loping strides, minus the curly horns. Speaking of good at-bats, Rolen turned one in with Rios on second and two out, forcing Snell to throw nine pitches, drawing a walk, setting up Frank Thomas for a popup to centre. Frank is now hitting .080. That's not even the weight of his right thigh.