Wednesday June 17th 2009 began terribly for the Toronto Blue Jays and their beloved fans, as we found out that Roy Halladay, Scott Downs, and Casey Janssen were all being moved to the disabled list today, Thursday June 18th 2009.

Halladay strained a groin muscle against the Florida Marlins last Friday June 12th. Halladay threw a long toss session, followed by a 20 pitch bullpen session yesterday. With the discomforting pain remaining, Halladay will hit the 15 day disabled list, and miss his scheduled start this coming Saturday against the Washington Nationals.

I reported yesterday that Scott Downs may have rolled or sprained an ankle in the win over Philadelphia on Tuesday. It turns out that Downs actually sprained his big toe on his left foot running out of the batter’s box. Downs will also be placed on the 15 day disabled list, but could be back as early as July 3rd 2009 against the New York Yankees, in New York.

Casey Janssen, pitching poorly since his return to the Blue Jays rotation (2-3, 6.23ERA in 26IP) was also put on the 15 day disabled list with inflammation in his throwing shoulder, the same shoulder that required surgery and cost Janssen all of last season.

These are 3 big losses to a Blue Jays rotation already decimated by injury.

The Blue Jays pitching staff is already without Jesse Litsch (scheduled for season ending Tommy John surgery), Shaun Marcum (underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of last season) Dustin McGowan (underwent right shoulder surgery last July). Robert Ray (who pitched admirably in a short Blue Jays stint) is also on the 15 day disabled list in the minor league system as well.

Can Jason "The Dove Man" Frasor succeed as the Jays closer?

It looks as if Toronto will call up former closer Jeremy Accardo and Brett Cecil to fill in for Halladay and Downs, as well as rookie Brad Mills to fill Janssen’s rotation spot.

Now onto some good news. The Jays absolutely man handled the Phillies last night at Citizens Bank Park, final score being 7-1.

Behind Scott Richmond’s best career start (8.0IP, 5H, 1ER, 11K) where he set a career high in strikeouts, the Jays offense lit up Jamie Moyer for six earned runs, and added a seventh run off of reliever Chad Durbin in the seventh inning.

The entire Jays offense recorded a hit except for Lyle Overbay (0-4 but still hit the ball hard).

The terrible news the Jays received earlier in the day in regards to Halladay, Downs and Janssen didn’t seem to faze anyone, as we took apart the defending World Series champions.

Brad Mills makes his MLB debut today against Philadelphia.

Aside from yet another base running blunder by Alex Rios, (getting doubled up when he ran full speed to second and returned to the dugout with only one out) the Jays couldn’t have played this game any better.

Richmond, normally prone to left handed hitting lineups shutdown the best left handed hitting lineup in baseball, while the Jays offense let rip on an aging Moyer, and forced an overworked Philadelphia bullpen into action.

This writer hopes for a sweep.

Let’s go Blue Jays!