Francisco

Rosario

Rosario was lucky while allowing one run in the first two innings, as two baserunning errors from the White Sox likely cost the team additional runs. He was then unlucky during the two-run third. Tadahito Iguchi was picked off first base by catcher Bengie Molina following his one-out single, but the Jays didn’t get the call. Later, with runners on first and third, Paul Konerko hit a routine double play ball, but Ryan Roberts made a bad throw after the turn and an increasingly lazy Lyle Overbay barely stretched to get it. That scored a run, and Jermaine Dye tripled in another run. Rosario was replaced by Dustin McGowan to start the fourth. He’ll probably get one more start before Gustavo Chacin comes back.

Rosario was already due to be bounced from the rotation after the start because Gustavo Chacin is due back next week. The Blue Jays haven’t handled him well at all.

Rosario was injured during the first half of July and had pitched just nine innings in three starts since returning. Sure, that’s enough to make him a better option than Josh Towers, but the best that can be hoped for against the White Sox is four or maybe five decent innings.

It looks like Rosario will pitch in middle relief once again. The 25-year-old had a 5.03 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings of relief for the Jays during May and June.

He’ll be replaced on Friday. Rosario made just two appearances in 14 days with the Jays and gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings. With the constant shifts between the rotation and the pen and the majors and the minors, the Jays are among the worst teams in baseball at handling young pitchers.

Clearing a spot for A.J. Burnett. Rosario had a 5.03 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP in 19 2/3 innings of relief for the Jays. He’ll be back, but probably not before Vinnie Chulk.

Rosario spent this year working his way back from Tommy John surgery, going 3-5 with a 4.41 ERA in 65 1/3 IP between Single-A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire. The talented right-hander will need at least one more year in the minors, but he’s one of Toronto’s top prospects.

Rosario worked four innings and lowered his ERA to 5.84. He’s struck out 28 in 24 2/3 IP, but he’s given up 25 hits and walked 14. He’s still working to regain his command after undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing 2003.

Rosario, who missed last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, had a 4.67 ERA in 17 1/3 innings for Single-A Dunedin. The 23-year-old right-hander had one of the highest upsides in the Toronto system.

The Blue Jays opted to move Rosario to the pen at Triple-A Syracuse during the second half of the season, but they could try him as a start again next year. He’d be more of a candidate to help the team in 2006 if he’s left in the pen.