I will be sure to observe Mr. Cox and Mr. Jackson carefully. I am taking pictures.

I’d be interested in your impression of contract boy Cox who is stinking it up at the plate and has about a dozen errors. Maybe Jackson, too.

Have fun. Are you bringing hop-a-long again?

The Schmal cranked another one and he’s only .005 shy of his weight. For some strange reason, I’m pulling for him.

I’d like to see us win at least two of these games with Philly. I will only get to watch tonight’s because I am out of town this weekend. The Waino/Halladay match up should be interesting, but I will have to watch it on MLB.TV later on.

I got a chuckle out of a bit in Gordon’s column saying scouts saw Adams as another “thick catcher” lacking athleticism. I wonder if those were the wonks or the cigar chompers? Probably both, it’s a rather accurate description, in the same way Ruth would have been a thick pitcher . . .

From an earlier Gordon column:

The Blue Jays staff decided to move Colby up in the batters box so he wouldn’t have time to think so much. Ponder that for a moment. Maybe they are on to something.

Angels ‘Collateral damage’ from the Schmalbert acquisition includes eating $9M to dump Abreu who is doing well enough with the Dodgers, and reduced playing time for budding young hitters Trumbo and Morales, both of whom are outhitting the Scmal despite limited ABs. He probably could have also mentioned being in last place, but Gordo plays nice.

What’s the over/under on how many out of position, and/or utility guys in tonight’s lineup?

They are all doing a pretty good job, as are Mike and Mo, in deploying what they’ve got to advantage, but its not what you think of as a how a playoff team is put together. Still, I’d rather see it like this instead of Mo going after scrap heap guys just to have a veteran. It’s going to be another wild ride.

The cleaning lady at the official site has Hill third string catcher, third string 3B, and second string 1B, while Cruz appears only as 2nd string catcher. Greene is now the first string 2B, and only the 3rd string shortstop, behind Descalso. I also mention that he is on the All-Star ballot as a second baseman. Robinson is first string CF.

On the other side, Robinson stepped up in the eighth with a runner on second and nobody out. He absolutly has to hit it to the right side and advance the runner. A pesky hitter has to be pesky. So then Tyler does it for him by swiping third, and Furcal stands in with one out and a speedy runner 90 feet away. He has to put it in play, some how, some way.

Carlos and David aren’t going to smack homers all the time, the offense has to be able to move guys around when presented with such golden opportunities.

Lynn seems to have poise beyond his experience level. I’ve noticed that before, too. Very impressive job hanging in there, stopping the bleeding, and keeping his team in the game.

Chris Carpenter is getting up there in age and Lance Lynn has been solid, so I’m not overly concerned yet.

You suggested Furcal, and that’s what I worry about. I continue to hope that Tyler Greene will take the 2B job and run with it, but playing two of him, Descalso, and Skip every day would be a problem. Moreso if Skip is manning CF for Jay and they have to use all three!

Clearly, this team needs to get healthy.