Running upHill

Aaron Hill

After 4 months of sucking dirty pond water, second sacker Aaron Hill has unclogged his drain, and begun producing at the rate he did in 2009.

His batting average was below the Mendoza line until shortly after the All Star break, but week by week, it has risen, and his power production along with it. Maybe it's the no pressure scenario of where the Jays stack up, but whatever the reason for the upswing, we'll take it.

If Adam Lind could find similar consistency, and we see John Buck return, the next 3 weeks will be very interesting. I would not have wagered a half farthing on the Jays pennant chances, or wild card hopes.  However, did anyone really think the Jays could lose 2 of 3 to both Royals and Indians, then somehow take 2 of 3 from the Yanks, and all 3 from the Rays in convincing fashion ? Hell no !

If we keep getting pitching performances from Morrow, Cecil and Rickey Romero , and decent efforts from Marcum, and take the upcoming Red Sox series, and a sweep of the Sox would vault them 1 game back of the Sox, and scant games out of a wild card contention, I will be a true believer, but a sweep of the Red Sox is going to very very hard, as their pitching has solidified recently, and they seem immune to the constant injuries ( Ellsbury, Cameron, Varitek, Victor Martinez, Pedroia, Dice K, and Kevin Youkilis)

If by weeks end, the Jays have made up another 2 games, they will might be under 10 games and still play the Yanks back here and maybe we have a meaningful September.

Wishful thinking maybe, but if we see Hill and Lind and Snider and Jose, and etc etc all hitting on all cylinders. anything can happen. Remember the Astros were well back in 2005, in 3rd place and under .500 and made it all the way, and the Rockies won 22 out of 23 games, so you never know.

Me, the optimist , I know , hard to believe, but just maybe if this young pitching staff can help the team get through August and play .750 ball, and this offense continues, I'm just saying....