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Zaun slam rescues Jays

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 1:04 PM EST 07/09/08

Toronto catcher hits walk-off grand slam in bottom of 13th to beat slumping Rays on Saturday ...Read the full article

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  1. Travis Magee from Saskatoon, Canada writes: I was so disgusted after BJ blew that game, but man did Gregg Zaun ever change that feeling in a big way. As long as the jays continue to play scrappy and entertain their fans even when hope is lost well I'm not gonna complain. 3rd place finish here we come!!
  2. Der Kommissar from Toronto, Canada writes: My sincere congratulations to Greg Zaun for hitting that Grand Slam. For a guy who have been somewhat sidelined this season that will be a moment he will remember for the rest of his career - and it could not have happened to a nicer guy! What drama - and what a great finish!
  3. L. W. from Greener Pastures, Canada writes: Seven in a row. Must be time for Captain (Toronto) Ontario to want everyone fired.

    Nice to see Zaun get a chance to play. Even nicer to see him make the best of it. The work of Gaston and Tenace with these guys on their mechanics is starting to reap some benefits.
  4. Howard Young from Canada writes: Turfing Gibbons and hiring Gaston was the best thing management did this season.
  5. P Martin from St. John's, Canada writes: Ryan always makes every lead an adventurer. It is too bad that Marcum did not win today, he pitched a great game. But Zaun was a wonderful surprise...
  6. Diamond Joe from Scottsdale, United States writes: Nice to see the boys not mail it in the rest of this season. With Cito at the helm, and most of this squad coming back next year, I can see 90 wins out of this team - assuming they dump J.P. like they should have 4 years ago.
  7. The Grill from Canada writes: Something tells me that Toronto needs to keep an eye on the closing duties. Ryan really needs to step his game up or just bench the guy. I haven`t seen very much from him this year. Sure he closes a lot of games, but they seem to be after allowing a run or two, or having two men on. It`s very rare to see him get a three-up three-down inning. However, great job other Jays players!!!
  8. Smokezz from Southern Ontario from Canada writes: People need to knock off the BJ Ryan bashing. He's pitching just fine. He has 4 blown saves. Just like almost every other closer in the game.
  9. G L from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: What a game it had everything and I mean everything.Marcum was outstanding and deserved a better fate.This game was very exciting and it was apparent that both teams wanted this one badly particularly the Rays.Tomorrows game is a must win for them. Iam frankly not a big Zaun fan but when he hit that first pitch into the stands I almost swallowed my cigar.(I really don't smoke any thing and I mean anything) but if I had, one in my mouth I would certainly would have swallowed it.BJ is struggling a little I might not have brought him in to close after his rather shaky performance the night before. the manager had a couple of options available to him.particuarly League. But all is well, that ends well.
  10. daniel mendelson from Canada writes: Not to get too optimistic, but, 8 games behind, with:
    7 games vs. Boston
    6 games of Boston vs. TB

    To compete, the Jays have to do a lot of things. Not lose a single series (4@CWS,3 vs. Bal,3 vs. NYY,3 @ Bal), and take 3/4 from the Red Sox (or sweep) in this coming weekend's series, in Boston no less. Far fetched, yes (ie. Phillies over Mets last year), but possible. If they keep it up for 10 days, that would make 19-21st in Toronto quite meaningful.
    The way they have been pitching and getting clutch hitting, those saying "they are playing for pride"... "they are playing for 3rd place" might have to upgrade their outlook. Remember, the Jays have the lowest runs against in the league. They can beat any team with a little luck at bat.
  11. Travis Magee from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Hey Daniel, its true the jays are not mathematically eliminated, but they'd probably have to go at least 17-4 to have a shot at it, maybe even better than that, and despite their great play of late, I have seen nothing this year that suggests they can go on that kind of a run. I certainly won't complain if they do though.
  12. James Ozon from Calgary, Canada writes: Boy! One of the best games I've ever seen - and I'm old enough to have watched Kofax pitch.
  13. John Davenport from writes: One thing I remember about the '92 and '93 Jays was that they were always a threat to come back, no matter how many runs they were down. I always gave Cito credit for that. Here they are doing it again. This team can win. They may run out of games this year but if JP doesn't mess with it too much, we have a winner for next year.
  14. daniel mendelson from Canada writes: Hey Travis,

    All I am saying is that, for the most part, it is in the Jays hands. To have 7 games against the team you are trying to catch with this little time to go is pretty lucky, especially when you have outscored them 66-31 on the season (by my count). Also, the Red Sox will be in tough against TB for 6 games (that season series is 6-6, but you would figure TB will give them a hard time trying to secure their first ever division title). Not that the NYY or the CWS series will be easy, but if the Jays don't take 5/6 from Baltimore, they don't deserve a playoff spot anyway.

    Regarding trends from the season, as some people have mentioned on this board - this is a new(ish) team since Gaston came on, winning more of those 1 run games rather than losing the majority as they did early on. Not that I expect 17-4, but with some well placed wins, and a slight collapse on the part of the Red Sox, it is entirely possible.
  15. Larry Hill from Canada writes: Smokezz from Southern Ontario from Canada writes: People need to knock off the BJ Ryan bashing. He's pitching just fine. He has 4 blown saves. Just like almost every other closer in the game.

    Have you watched the games really though Joe? He is making very stupid mental errors like throwing the ball in the dirt and allowing runners to advance on gimmes.

    He is not in the game mentally. Any pitcher can get beat on the mechanics, but Ryan needs to get his mind back in the game.
  16. Travis Magee from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Agreed, it is feasible that the jays could still make the playoffs, I certainly wouldn't say the odds are good or in favour of the jays, but then again how many people expected the Colorado Rockies to win 17 straight last year, I know I certainly didn't. The jays probably need to win 4 of the next 5, and then go into Boston and take at least 3 out of 4, but preferably a sweep. If they can do that then I will start to get my hopes up again, but for now I'd rather not get my hopes up, only to have them smashed.
  17. T. Lee from Australia writes: I agree that it's a little tough watching a closer turn as many games into nailbiters as Ryan as this year, but I'm more inclined to give him a break. This is the season after his Tommy-John which is tough enough for any pitcher to come back from. He's been put into games a lot lately without many, if any, days off in between. It was mentioned above too that just about every other closer in baseball has some struggles these days. Just look at his Rays counterpart Percival who also blew his fourth save of the season. Four is still low when you compare that to someone like Billy Wagner who's already blown seven saves. So really, I think we, and especially the coaching staff, should give Ryan a bit of a break.
  18. Randy Farrell from Canada writes: I guess you would say that I am only a fair weather friend but on Saturday after watching Rolen get caught between 3rd and home I was so disgusted (even after 6 straight Jay wins) that I turned off the tv. Well you know what happened after that....and Greg Zaun was the hero...always nice to see that nice guys don't always finish last! Wonder what they are going to do about catchers now because it was Zaun's apparent inability to get the hits that promoted Barajas (and now he seems to be in a slump).
    What a game for Jay's fans...I guess in future when they seem to be losing I will turn off the tv cause maybe I am a jinx.
  19. U.S. Blue Jay Fan from NY, NY, United States writes: "Disgusted" ... used in two different posts here, is a bit much ... don't ya think? It's just baseball, man.
  20. U.S. Blue Jay Fan from NY, NY, United States writes: And oh yeah ... congratulations, Zaunny! Taped the extra innings and watched it later ... having kept the final score from my own ears so it was as good as live (better in some ways, somehow) ... and it was easily the best moment watching baseball in a long time. That video tape is a keeper!

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