The Blue Jays have released Jason Phillips and they have recalled Curtis Thigpen from the minors to replace him. Phillips played in 55 games this season for the Blue Jays and he was 30 for 144 (.208 avg, .547 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 1 homer and 12 RBIs. Thigpen will probably split time behind the plate pretty evenly with Gregg Zaun. Thigpen has played in 17 games this season with the Blue Jays and he is 10 for 37 (.270 avg, .605 OPS) with 7 runs scored and 4 RBIs.

You would think batting practice was over an hour before the game unless you saw a game that Josh Towers pitched. In that case the batting practice continues after the game has started. Towers is 4-5 this season with a 5.07 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP so far. It’s amazing that he has won 4 games when you consider that he has allowed 81 hits and 11 homers in only 71 innings this season. Towers has only walked 11 batters and that helps him survive despite getting hit hard….and often.

Jeremy Accardo, Shaun Marcum, Scott Downs, Brian Tallet and Casey Janssen have all been outstanding this season. Shaun Marcum has really stepped up in the starting rotation for the Blue Jays and they really have needed him with the injuries to the starting pitchers. Marcum is 4-3 with 1 save, a 3.62 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP so far this season. His only problem has been with the longball as he has allowed 15 homers in only 82 innings this season. Jeremy Accardo has taken over as the closer of the Blue Jays this season and he has done a good job.  He is 2-3 with a 2.80 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP so far this season. Accardo will likely have a good second half as he has really nasty stuff. Casey Janssen has stepped into the setup job in the Blue Jays bullpen and he has done a fine job. He is 2-1 with 3 saves, a 2.40 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP so far this season. The Blue Jays need him to keep up the good work. Scott Downs and Brian Tallet give the Jays two dependable relievers from the left side. Downs is 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP so far this season. Downs is really letting the ball fly this season as he has whiffed 38 batters in only 33.2 innings this season. Tallet is 2-2 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP so far this season. Tallet has only allowed 26 hits in 39.1 innings this season.

The Blue Jays have not gotten much offense from their catchers or their starting shortstop and that will need to change in the 2nd half of the season. Gregg Zaun, Jason Phillips and Royce Clayton have all been hitting like pitchers so far this season. Zaun missed a lot of the first half of the season with a broken hand so he should be able to pick it up with the bat when he shakes the rust off. He is hitting .240 with 17 runs scored, 3 homers and 20 RBIs in only 125 atbats. Jason Phillips took over for Zaun when he was injured and he didn’t hit too well. Phillips only hit .212 in the first half with 11 runs scored, 1 homer and 12 RBIs in 137 atbats this season. Royce Clayton could wind up losing playing time to John McDonald if he doesn’t start hitting better soon. Clayton is only hitting .236 with 22 runs scored, 1 homer and 11 RBIs in 137 atbats this season.

Alex Rios, John McDonald, Matt Stairs and Troy Glaus all hit the ball well in the first half of the season. Alex Rios is really turning into a dominant major league hitter. Rios is hitting .294 with 62 runs scored, 17 homers, 53 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Look for Rios to have a monster 2nd half for the Blue Jays. John McDonald surprisingly hit the ball well in the first half of the season. McDonald hit .288 with 20 runs scored, 1 homer and 12 RBIs in 156 atbats in the first half of the season. Look for McDonald to get less playing time in the 2nd half of the season and that could effect his hitting. Matt Stairs has stepped up big time for the Blue Jays this season. When Lyle Overbay broke his wrist, Stairs stepped in at first base and he has been outstanding. Stairs hit .287 in the first half of the season with 29 runs scored, 13 homers and 35 RBIs in only 195 atbats. Troy Glaus has been banged up a little bit this season but he has swung a hot bat when healthy. Glaus has hit .277 with 36 runs scored, 11 homers and 36 RBIs in the first half of the season and he will hit better than that in the 2nd half of the season if he can just stay healthy.