April 6, 2012
Jan Hayes, Blue Jays Beat Reporter
Romero Implodes in 4th, Jays Lose in Walk-Off Fashion
April 8, 2012
Jan Hayes, Blue Jays Beat Reporter
Bluebirds Even Record, Encarnacion Day-to-Day
April 8, 2012
Jan Hayes, Blue Jays Beat Reporter
Darvish Shaky in North American Debut as Jays Triumph
The Toronto Blue Jays spent $112 million and waited 82 days for Yu Darvish to make his major league debut. Despite some first-game jitters, the 25-year-old Osaka native anchored Toronto's effort in a 9-5 victory in Cleveland last night.
"When I stepped on the mound for the first time, I felt calm and my mind felt calm," Darvish said through an interpreter. "My body felt like it wanted to go, go, go. It took everything I had to rein it in and keep focused. I felt like I placed my pitches well and gave us a good chance to win. I would have enjoyed making it all the way to the end, but by the 9th I was pretty exhausted. It's nice to have someone like Sergio behind me to come in and shut the door."
Darvish pitched 8 innings, giving up 6 hits while striking out 8 in his debut. The three home runs he gave up to the Indians could be construed as troubling, but manager John Farrell seemed unconcerned, chalking it up to nerves. "It was Yu's first game. Of course there would be some emotion affecting him, but he was pitching phenomenally through 5, and even with the homers he was still great with his pitch placement. Once he has a few games under his belt to get comfortable I think the sky's the limit on how well he'll do."
Toronto's offense was driven by a 3rd inning Grand Slam courtesy of third baseman Brett Lawrie, after Cleveland starter Derek Lowe gave up three straight singles to begin the inning. Lowe was swiftly given the hook after the slam, lasting a mere two innings and giving up 5 runs off 8 hits.
Right fielder Jose Bautista left the game in the 5th with what sources are calling a torn meniscus. He'll be out of the lineup until early July. Ben Francisco is expected to start in right field with veteran infielder Chris Woodward being called up to take the open roster spot. The Blue Jays will look to rely more on Edwin Encarnacion, who will slide down to Bautista's usual #4 spot in the lineup, while their offensive leader is out.
April 9, 2012
Bradley J. Michaels, MLB Insider
Bad News for Toronto, Bautista Out For Two Months
The fanfare of Yu Darvish's first start yesterday was overshadowed by grim news on the injury front as slugger Jose Bautista left the game on a botched defensive play in the 5th inning of Toronto's 9-5 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Team doctors met with the 31-year-old to evaluate the injury and discovered the problem to be a torn meniscus. He'll be out for two months.
April 9, 2012
Chuck Scholten
Injured Slugger Named AL Player of the Week
April 10, 2012
Jan Hayes, Blue Jays Beat Reporter
Morrow Fans 9, Gives Up 3 Homers as Jays Win Slugfest
April 10, 2012
Jan Hayes, Blue Jays Beat Reporter
Francisco Making the Most of Opportunity
''You never want to see a teammate get knocked out of the lineup, but I'm just doing what it takes to keep us rolling until Jose [Bautista] comes back,'' Blue Jays outfielder Ben Francisco said, and if his first two games are any indication he plans to make good on his statement.
Francisco has smacked three home runs in the first two games Bautista has been out, and while experts are sure he'll regress to his career averages, Blue Jay fans are hoping he'll be able to keep up the slugging until Bautista returns.
Toronto acquired the outfielder during the Winter Meetings in December from the Phillies for a player to be named later, and entered the season fighting with Rajai Davis to be the fourth outfielder. With the injury to Bautista, he has stepped into the starting lineup, leaving Davis with sole possession of 4th outfielder/pinch hitting/running duties.
April 11, 2012
Jan Hayes, Blue Jays Beat Reporter
Alvarez Atrocious, Toronto Comeback Falls Short
April 11, 2012
Bradley J. Michaels, MLB Insider
Snider Hits DL, Thames Gets Called Up
April 11, 2012
Jan Hayes, Blue Jays Beat Reporter
Lester Befuddles Toronto
April 12, 2012
Randy Triana, Tigers Beat Reporter
Verlander Out 4 Months