Game Threat: Rays @ Jays

Keith Law joined the Neanderthals on the FAN 590 for a quick talk this afternoon.

Some highlights:

Alex Rios still has trade value. The best option is to find a trading partner who isn't concerned with future years in a contract and will deal an expiring contract back to the Jays. An additional prospect would be gravy.

The Jays should stand pat on the trade front, and definitely not delve in as buyers. The second half of their schedule is much more difficult than the first.

Trading Roy Halladay concedes competitiveness for two to three years. Not a good idea, and any return in a trade isn't likely to ever replace Halladay as one of the safest investments in baseball.

The Yankees picking up Eric Hinske will not only make Jay Mohr happy, but it's actually a good deal for a team that has perennial bench troubles.

After Law left, Jeff Blair had the disappointingly retarded idea that the Jays should give any team interested in Rios a couple of days to try to talk Vernon Wells into renegotiating his contract or agreeing to take his opt out. Even if a team with a real chance is interested, why the fuck would he be interested in doing that?

In other Jays news, Scott Downs is day to day, recovering from his toe injury. Cito Gaston promises to be smart in bringing him back to the bullpen.

As for tonight, Scott "The Record Man" Richmond leads the Jays against Matt "I'm Matt Garza" Garza. Garza (5-5, 3.61 ERA) is 3-3 with a 1.99 ERA in six starts against the Blue Jays, and is 3-0 when receiving at least one run of support. Just keep telling yourself it's a small sample size.

Richmond (6-4, 3.68) is looking for his third win in as many starts after giving up two runs in seven innings against Cincinnati on Wednesday. Richmond's last outing sound impressive, but he needed a gazillion pitches to get out of the first three innings. However, I'm an asshole according to the comments section for pointing this out.

Les Lineups:

Les Rays Du Suck

Upton, cf
Crawford, lf
Aybar, 3b
Pena, 1b
Zobrist, 2b
Burrell, dh
Gross, rf
Bartlett, ss
Navarro, c

Les Jays Du Boner

Scutaro, ss
Hill, 2b
Wells, cf
Rolen, 3b
Lind, dh
Overbay, 1b
Rios, rf
Adams, lf
Chavez, c