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BATISTA WILL GET A GOOD LOOK
THERE WON'T be much dust collecting on Miguel Batista, who is auditioning for the 2005 Blue Jays closer job.
Batista has made just one relief appearance -- he's 1-for-1 in save situations -- since being yanked from the rotation over the weekend but the plan the final two weeks is to test him often.
"We're going to make sure that he doesn't sit longer than two days regardless of the situation of the game" manager John Gibbons said last night. "We want to get a good look at him (in the role)."
LOCAL HERO
Frank Menechino was Gibbons' pick to DH last night. Why Menechino?
"Reed (Johnson) has a tough time with (Javier) Vazquez," Gibbons said of Johnson who is 2-for-13 lifetime against the former Expos right-hander. But that isn't all.
"Frank's a hometown kid," Gibbons said with a laugh of Menechino who was born and still resides in Staten Island.
A PERFECT 10
Left-hander Gustavo Chacin last night became the 10th player to make his major league debut with the Jays this season, one shy of the club record set in 2002. Chacin, 23, is also the 15th roookie used by the Jays this season. The club record is 18 set in 2002.
DODGE A BULLET
The Jays caught a break last night when MVP candidate Gary Sheffield couldn't play after having a cortisone shot Sunday in his aching left shoulder.
"Right now I have no feeling in my left arm," Sheffield said. "During the next couple of days we'll see how it reacts." He's listed as day to day.
THE LAST WALTZ?
Tonight the Yankees trot out former Blue Jay Esteban Loaiza for an emergency start. Loaiza was acquired by New York from Chicago on July 31 to bolster their sagging rotation but after shaving his whiskers and donning pinstripes he turned ninto a complete stiff. In five starts with the Yankees, Loaiza provided zero wins and was removed from the rotation and placed in the bullpen. Pitching in relief hasn't worked any wonders with him either as in two appearances, Loaiza is 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA -- 12 hits, nine earned runs in six innings. Overall with the Yankees, Loaiza is 0-2 with an 8.51 ERA.
