Scott Carson

Stats man Scott Carson is now in his 18th season as "third man in the booth" during Blue Jays telecasts.

The Jays can show how much they've improved when they host the Rays and Red Sox at Rogers Centre.

The familiar refrain amongst those who continually criticize the Blue Jays is that nothing has really improved until the club starts playing meaningful games down the stretch. To that, I say, "hogwash".

Now before those of you in the glass-half-empty crew trip over yourselves commenting below, this edition of the Blue Jays is playing very meaningful games. Earlier in the week they rode into Yankee Stadium II and took two of three from the pinstripes, knocking them, briefly, out of first place. On the season series, the Jays have now won five of nine from New York, out-homering the normally powerful Bronx Bombers 17-8.

The Rays come in for a weekend series and despite winning six of nine to date, the season series has been dominated by Tampa Bay, especially after the sixth inning where they hold a plus-27 (30-3) run differential. That will have to improve, now and in the future, if the Jays hope to be talked about with the big three teams in the A.L. East. For whatever reason, the Rays have had the Jays number over the last two seasons winning 20 of their last 27 meetings including 12 of 15 at Tropicana Field. I`ve always had a theory that the Jays have always played poorly in St. Petersburg due to the fact that many on the team live in the area. They head off to their own homes and the games become secondary.

Following the Rays series, the Red Sox will roll in hanging onto thoughts of a wild card spot while a good portion of their roster remains on the disabled list. They got terrible news earlier in the week when first baseman Kevin Youkilis, usually found in the middle of most Boston rallies, tore a muscle in his thumb and will now be lost for the remainder of the season. This is a very tough blow for a team that now finds itself without four everyday players - Youkilis, Dustin Pedroia, captain Jason Varitek and Mike Cameron.

Despite these injuries and those that have kept pitchers Josh Beckett, Clay Buchholz, Manny Delcarmen and Daisuke Matsuzaka out for extended periods, the Red Sox are still 15 games above .500 heading into this weekend`s four-game series in the Bronx. But it says here that the loss of Youkilis will sound the death knell for this season. It will be interesting to see what shape they are in when they arrive in Toronto on Tuesday after taking on New York so short-handed.

While it`s highly unlikely that the Jays can catch the Yankees and Rays, they still have a decent shot at reeling in the Red Sox before the curtain falls on this season. And if that`s not enough to say that they will be playing some meaningful games, even as spoiler, then I`m not sure what is. Especially after so many said the Jays would finish fifth this season and would likely lose over 100 games in their first season of the post-Halladay era. That`s no and no to both those off-base predictions.

ROSTER TURNOVER CONTINUES

We already knew that top catching prospect J.P. Arencibia was arriving in Toronto to start his Major League career on Friday after first-stringer John Buck was placed on the disabled list. But when we arrived at the park on Friday, word came down that fifth starter Jesse Litsch was headed to the DL as well. It was discovered that he needed surgery to repair a labrum tear in his right hip and will be lost to the team for four to six months. Lefty Brad Mills is returning to the rotation and taking Litsch`s spot on Saturday. This is another setback for the 25-year old right-hander who was making a comeback from `Tommy John` surgery this season after missing the majority of the 2009 season.

As for Arencibia, it is his long awaited debut with the Jays after he led the minors for most of the year in home runs, finishing off his Las Vegas (AAA) run with 31 bombs to go with 32 doubles and a .303 batting average. The 24-year old, right-handed hitting catcher was chosen 21st overall in the first round of the 2007 June draft. He has shown great power numbers in his minor league career, with 82 home runs over four seasons. His big knock was his defence and receiving skills but they have both improved and he`s now with the big club. While Jose Molina was given the start on Friday night`s lid lifter against the Rays, here`s hoping that Arencibia gets the majority of the playing time while Buck recovers from his thumb injury. Nothing against Molina, but if Arencibia is truly the future of the Jays behind the plate, then what better time to get a look at him with the Jays in the midst of a string of games against teams over .500 and contending for playoffs spots. It`s called baptism under fire and it`s a good way to measure exactly what the Jays have behind the dish.