The biggest news of the day is that Justin did a full workout with the team today AND with the media. He is quite happy that he’s had so many days in a row symptom-free AND that while he says there is no chance he’ll be ready for the first round, he does think his preparations could have him hitting in the second round as long as his health maintains its stability. Just about everyone is going to have comments from him from this afternoon – interestingly, several seemed to feel the need to comment on the level of sweat he’d worked up – but I’ll give you one to get you started from Phil Mackey over at ESPN: Morneau Optimistic…
Other good news is clear from tonight’s lineups. You’ll notice that two names have returned!! Both Joe Mauer and JJ Hardy finally show up which I find to be extremely good news. I’m sure they are also both happy to be back and I hope this is just the motivation needed to make the final series of the regular season a spectacular set of winning games. Considering the next four games are the preview of the 4 starting pitchers we currently have slated for our post-season rotation, I would like them all to do better than they each did in their previous starts. That’s not too much to ask is it?
The only knock of the day is that Thome is still having trouble with his back and will need a bit more rest. Honestly, at this point, I just want him healthy and able to bring his big stick to play against the big boys.
| Toronto | @ | Minnesota |
| Snider, LF | Span, CF | |
| Escobar, Y, SS | Hudson, O, 2B | |
| Bautista, J, 1B | Mauer, DH | |
| Wells, V, CF | Young, D, LF | |
| Buck, J, DH | Kubel, RF | |
| Hill, A, 2B | Cuddyer, 1B | |
| Encarnacion, 3B | Valencia, 3B | |
| Molina, J, C | Hardy, SS | |
| McCoy, RF | Butera, C | |
| Hill, S, P | Liriano, P |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Toronto | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 1 |
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
In the words of TC Bear tonight on Twitter: Uff Da.
Basically, tonight was a bit of batting practice for the Blue Jays – no matter who was pitching – with a ridiculous number of homeruns. Of course, somehow they seemed to have solved the supposed Target Field HR drought. Let’s see our guys hit some of those tomorrow shall we?