The Blue Jays take issue with Carl Crawford

There is an article in the Toronto Star today by Morgan Campbell which is titled "Running Rays diss Blue Jays" with a sub-headline of "Tampa speedster's steal of second in blowout a sign of disrespect, but Gaston will let it go".

All of this concerns Carl Crawford's steal of second base last night in the eighth inning with the Rays up by five runs. The article describes this steal by Crawford as "disrespectful" because presumably the game was so lopsided and out of reach for the Blue Jays that a steal attempt by the Rays was unnecessary.

"I just let it go," Cito Gaston said, pausing a moment before elaborating. "(Rays manager Joe Maddon) runs his team the way he wants to. I run mine the way I want to. Just as simple as that."

To begin with, I like Cito Gaston. He generally uses a set lineup. Usually his best guys are on the field and he doesn't tinker nor try and make himself bigger than the game or the team.*

That said, I think the Blue Jays are a bit off base here. Is a five run lead that insurmountable anymore at any point in the game?

Did the Blue Jays pull their position player starters by this time in the game? No.

Did the Blue Jays have a position player pitching which is a classic and even comical sign of surrender? No.

Were the Blue Jay pitchers throwing everything down the middle at that point just to speed the game to it's conclusion so to end the massacre? No.

Do the paying fans deserve and expect a competitive game for all nine innings in a game that is not all that lopsided? Yes.

In this offensive era of baseball, a five run lead in the eighth inning is still a contestable game and I think the Blue Jays need to be ready to contest any type of play out there.

I know as a fan, if my team was down like this, I would not think it was over. Things sure would not be looking good of course, but it is not over. It just isn't.

Sorry Cito!

*We have the direct opposite type of manager in Detroit unfortunately.