The Blue Jays have released starting pitcher John Thomson. The Blue Jays want to go with their young pitchers as they continue to fade in the division and wildcard standings. Thomson started 9 games in A+AAA ball and he was 3-4 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. He threw 50.1 innings in the minors and he allowed 56 hits, walked 16 batters and whiffed 41. Thomson will likely have no trouble finding a new job in the majors soon as the Phillies might have some interest in him.

The Blue Jays have placed A.J. Burnett on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder. Burnett has started 14 games this season and he’s 5-6 with a 4.00 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. In 90 innings this season, Burnett has allowed 73 hits, 13 homers, walked 40 batters and has whiffed 100. The Blue Jays will miss Burnett who is just the latest Blue Jay to go down to injury. The Blue Jays have recalled Ty Taubenheim to replace Burnett in the rotation. Taubenheim has not pitched too well in AAA ball so far this season. He has pitched in 13 games (11 starts) and he’s 3-5 with a 5.63 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He has thrown 64 innings this season and he has allowed 69 hits, walked 20 batters and whiffed 54.

Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas are both having very sub par seasons and it’s hurting the offense and the team as a whole. Vernon Wells has played in 66 games so far this season and he’s 65 for 256 (.254 avg, .712 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 6 homers and 34 RBIs. Wells is much better than that and the Blue Jays need him to play up to his ability. Frank Thomas is starting to look his age at the plate. In 67 games, Thomas is 48 for 212 (.226 avg, .762 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 9 homers and 25 RBIs. Thomas needs to hit like he did last season in Oakland or the Blue Jays are going to continue to have problems scoring runs.

The Toronto Blue Jays have released Tomo Ohka. They designated him for assignment a while ago and couldn’t find a trading partner so they just let him go so he could become a free agent. He started 10 games for the Blue Jays this season and he was 2-5 with a 5.79 ERA and a 1.61 WHIP. He threw 56 innings for the Blue Jays and he allowed 68 hits, 10 homers, walked 22 batters and whiffed 21. Look for a National League team that needs a starting pitcher to pick him up.

Troy Glaus has been really scorching the baseball lately. In his last 7 games, Glaus is 11 for 26 (.423 avg, 1.231 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 4 RBIs. His recent hot streak has raised his season average to .292. The Blue Jays need Glaus to stay healthy and keep hitting the ball well to help them make up for the injuries they have suffered so far this season.

The Blue Jays are 8-5 the last two weeks as they’ve outscored their opponents 62-54. The young pitchers on the Blue Jays are doing a good job and their hitting is picking up. The Blue Jays enter this week with a 30-32 record which has them in 3rd place in the American League East, 10 games behind the Red Sox.

Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Blue Jays Lyle Overbay breaks his hand after White Sox pitcher John Danks drills him with a pitch. He will miss 4-6 weeks for the Jays. In 55 games this season, Overbay is 53 for 207 (.256 avg, .796 OPS) with 25 runs, 8 homers and 27 RBIs. Overbay will be replaced at firstbase by Matt Stairs. Stairs is not in Overbay’s league on defense but he’s got a good stick. In 39 games this season, Stairs is 28 for 94 (.298 avg, .936 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 7 homers and 17 RBIs. The domino effect will result in Adam Lind playing almost every day in leftfield despite his recent slump at the plate.

How in the world are the Blue Jays even 27-29 right now with all of the major injuries they’ve incurred? Lyle Overbay breaking his hand yesterday was just the most recent blow that has hit the Blue Jays yet they just keep playing semi-decent no matter who they play. Matt Stairs will likely handle first base until Overbay is ready to return and the Blue Jays should suffer a little bit on defense, but Stairs is a good hitter and he should produce good numbers on offense until Overbay is ready to return. Overbay will miss 4-6 weeks. Overbay has now been added to the growing list of key Blue Jays that have missed considerable time this season. Closer B.J. Ryan will miss basically the entire 2007 season after he had Tommy John surgery in early April. The Jays have thrusted Jeremy Accardo into the closer’s role after Jason Frasor failed in his big shot to close and Accardo has been awesome so far. Young starting pitchers Dustin McGowan and Shaun Marcum have both pitched well so far this season when they were needed due to injuries to Roy Halladay and Gustavo Chacin. Marcum and McGowan will likely hold onto starting jobs as long as they continue to pitch well. The offense has suffered a bit due to injuries to Troy Glaus, Reed Johnson and Gregg Zaun because their replacements…..John McDonald, Adam Lind and Jason Phillips havenot produced much offense. Hopefully the Blue Jays can start having some luck and keep some of their key players healthy.

Alex Rios has been fantastic over the last 26 games he’s played for the Blue Jays. In those games, Rios is 34 for his last 100 (.340 avg, 1.022 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 7 homers, 11 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. The recent hot streak has improved Rios’ batting average for the season to .299. His power is wasted at the top of the order but the Blue Jays really don’t have any alternatives to Rios on their current roster to lead off. When Reed Johnson returns in July, Rios will likely drop to a power slot in the batting order.