Blue Jays proving me wrong

The Toronto Blue Jays have proven my weekend rant wrong.

They did quite well, actually, with the two rookie pitchers starting on Saturday and Tuesday.

The Jays went 2-0 in those two contests, and are finding ways to win.

Robert Ray did okay on Saturday against the Orioles, pitching four-hit ball in 5 2/3 innings (with four walks and allowing three runs) in his ML debut. It ultimately turned out to be the Aaron Hill show, as the second baseman atoned for his 10th-inning error (which led to Baltimore's go-ahead run) with a game-tying homer and 11th inning game-winning single.

It was Brett Cecil's turn to make his debut on Tuesday night against Cleveland, and he certainly did the job. Cecil allowed only two runs--one earned--in six innings, striking out six with no walks. (He did, however, hit three batters.) Still, Cecil was behind the entire game until the Jays scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-2 lead.

The Indians, however, took the lead after Jays manager Cito Gaston took Cecil out of the game. The Tribe scored four runs to jump out in front, 6-3.

But the Jays aren't the best-hitting team in the majors for nothing. They battered the Indians' bullpen for seven runs in the bottom of the seventh, with Adam Lind's two-out, three-run homer giving Toronto a 9-6 lead. Scott Rolen followed suit with a home run of his own.

The Jays won, 10-6.

So, the Blue Jays are doing quite well, thank you, despite having two rookies make their debuts in a span of four days.

And oh, talk about irony: Brian Wolfe, the third pitcher the Jays called up Friday along with Ray and Cecil, actually picked up the win in relief on Tuesday night.

And oh yeah, the Blue Jays' Scott Richmond also proved me wrong. Richmond picked up his fourth win of the season on Sunday, finishing off the three-game sweep over Baltimore. Though Richmond made his debut last season, he is still considered a rookie in 2009. The Jays, by the way, are 5-0 in his five starts this season.

Of course, Ricky Romero was the other starting pitcher (along with Ray and Cecil) to make his big-league debut this year. He was 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA before going on the disabled list on April 20th.

If ace Roy Halladay can continue to dominate the way he's been going the last few years, if Brian Tallet can follow up with his no-hitter (well, not really a no-no but he did shut down the Indians for six innings on Monday), the Blue Jays could actually do pretty well. Especially if they continue to hit.

Toronto leads the major leagues in runs scored (176) and batting average (.295).

And just wait till Romero comes back. Then Jesse Litsch. And Shaun Marcum.

It could be an exciting year indeed.