Week in Review: April 6th - 12th

Weekly Record: 5-2

Overall Season Record: 5-2

Opponents: 4 vs. Tigers, 3 @ Indians

It's been an outstanding week for the Toronto Blue Jays, even after a sluggish finish to the final game of the week, an 8-4 loss to the previously winless Cleveland Indians.

The Jays received solid debut starts from Roy Halladay, David Purcey and Ricky Romero while both Jesse Litsch and Scott Richmond pitched well enough to give the offence a shot. Had it not been for a hot-hitting Miguel Cabrera and a franchise record rain delay in Cleveland, Litsch and Richmond's starts may have gone just as well.

Regardless, with series wins over Detroit (3-of-4), and Cleveland (2-of-3), the Jays are off to a torrid start and currently find themselves in sole possession of 1st place in the American League East.

Although the starting pitchers fared well their first time through, the true story this week was the productivity of their offence. While the Jays' two best hitters (Alex Rios and Vernon Wells) got off to a mediocre start, it's been the rest of the lineup pulling their weight and then some.

Marco Scutaro, Aaron Hill, Vernon Wells, Adam Lind, Scott Rolen and Kevin Millar all finished the first week of play batting over .300. Hill and Lind have been the two biggest contributors, combining for 5 HR and 20 RBI over the first 5 games. Scutaro has kept backup SS John McDonald nearly glued to the bench with his hot start, picking up 10 runs, 10 hits and 6 walks from the leadoff spot.

Star of the Week

DH Adam Lind (12-30), 3 HR, 12 RBI.

Lind stole the show in leading the Blue Jays to a win on Opening Night with a team record 6 RBI. He also had back-to-back 3 hit nights adding a home run in each game as well. Lind's hot bat kept him in the lineup against back-to-back left-handers to start the series in Cleveland. While fellow lefties Lyle Overbay and Travis Snider were replaced for two games with righties Kevin Millar and Jose Bautista to face Cleveland lefties Scott Lewis and Cliff Lee, Lind remained in the 5th spot in the lineup and continued to produce. At this point, Lind is the best bet of all Toronto's left-handed bats to see regular playing time against southpaw starters. If he continues to produce, don't be surprised to see Cito Gaston bump Lind ahead of Vernon Wells and into the cleanup spot against RHP.