Manager John Gibbons has revamped his lineup for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals in an attempt to inject some life into a
club that is 4-for-42 (.095) with runners in scoring position on this road trip and has hit .212 with eight extra-base hits through the first five
games of the nine game road swing.
Alex Rios has been put into the leadoff spot and Lyle Overbay moved up to second, with Aaron Hill sixth. Gibbons has thought about doing
this for a while, but wanted to wait until both Scott Rolen and Adam Lind were in the fold.
Gibbons also said Sunday that he had an early-morning telephone conversation with general manager J.P. Ricciardi, who is at home in
Worcester, Mass. "It was our usual conversation," Gibbons said, adding that his job status was not discussed.
How bad have the Blue Jays been with runners in scoring position? Historically bad. According to Rogers Sportsnet's stats guru Scott
Carson, the Blue Jays .217 average with runners in scoring[amp]nbsp; position through the first 25 games this year is the second-worst in club history.
The 1998 Blue Jays hit just .213 RISP (like this year's edition of the team, they had a 10-15 record,) while the 1997 Blue Jays hit .228 in
that situation, followed by the 2004 team (.231) and the 1981 club (.235.)
THE LINEUPS
Blue Jays
Alex Rios, RF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Scott Rolen, 3B
Matt Stairs, DH
Vernon Wells, CF
Aaron Hill, 2B
Adam Lind, LF
Rod Barajas, C
John McDonald SS
P: Jesse Litsch
Royals
David DeJesus, CF
Alberto Callaspo, 2B
Alex Gordon, 3B
Jose Guillen, LF
Mark Teahen, RF
Billy Butler, DH
Miguel Olivo, C
Ross Gload, 1B
Tony Pena, SS
P: Gil Meche
