Brandon Strikes Back

We’re coming up on game time as the Sawx kick off game two of their three game series against the Jays. Not surprisingly, I have a few thoughts on tonite’s matchup:

*First off, who the eff schedules a game to start at 7:07pm? Is Hockey Night in Canada running over? Is there a Celene Dion concert being beamed in from Vegas? Did those pesky Quebecois finally launch le révolution? I need answers!

*Have you noticed the new logo that the Jays are sporting on their hats and jerseys? If not, here’s a peek:

Compare that to the benign, cartoony Blue Jay that used to grace their merchandise:

Much like the changes that the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals made a few months back (which I wrote about but can’t for the life of me find the right post), the new Toronto Blue Jay is a sleeker, meaner, more predatory looking bird with a sharp pointy beak and wind-blown plumage projecting the feeling of swift motion towards an unsuspecting prey. Well, that’s certainly what happened last night when Hoodat Reed Johnson hit not one but two dingers off of the Sox vaunted relief pair of Mike Timlin & Alan Embree, the second in the bottom of the 9th to give the Jays a 9-6 win. The difference between the Cards’ choice and the Jays’ is that, unlike the docile cardinal, the blue jay is a truly fierce and aggressive bird. Mebbe there’s something to the switch, as the Jays are currently 24-21, tied with the MFY, a game and half behind the Sox.

Either way, anything’s better than the Super Gay Jay look they sported a few years back:


*Fresh from serving a six-game suspension for his part in the bean brawl game against the Devil Rays on April 24th, Bronson Arroyo pitches for the Sox tonight in Toronto. Brandon has been nothing short of spectacular this season, sporting a 4-0 record and a 3.21 ERA. After proving himself to be the Sox most consistent starter before his suspension, Brandon hopes to bounce back against former-MFY Ted Lilly, who is sporting a positively Boomer-esque 8.82 ERA to match his 2-4 record.

*Problems continue to be afoot with the Sox this year as Kevin Millar returned last night from a bruise to his right instep that he sustained either a) fouling off a pitch against the Bravos on Saturday, or b) tripping over an empty bottle of JD on his way to save pobre Edgar Renteria from the Big Bad Boobirds of Beacon Street.

Additionally, starting third baseman/Jesus-freak Bill Mueller was hit on the foot by an “errant” fastball by Jays’ closer Miguel Batista, causing him to cower in the fetal position at home plate until Tito & the doc came to get him. He was replaced by NMTE favorite Yook , who ran for him and played third in the ninth. Mueller reportedly will play in tonight’s game in Toronto.

These maladies are, of course, in addition to the plethora of podiatric problems that have befallen the Sox so far this season, including Boomer’s plantar problems, Schill’s recurring ankle injury and, of course, Offeria’s much publicized ball-booting (8 errors) issues.

That’s all I got time for today, folks. Time to tune into MLB.TV and see if Brandon and the boys can’t turn things around.

Go Sox!