6:20 PM Eastern
Today was Moving Day, since the Blue Jays are one of the few teams to have a minor league complex that’s not attached to its major league stadium (though they’re not stupid about it, like the Orioles, who train in Fort Lauderdale but have their minor leaguers on the other coast in Sarasota). It was a short day, and a very cold day by Florida standards, so there wasn’t much working out, just plenty of packing.
The exhibition games start tomorrow, with the opener in Lakeland against the Tigers. Jesse Litsch will start against Nate Robertson. The Jays will follow their general early-spring pattern of not bringing any real starters on road trips, position-player wise, though you could argue that Reed Johnson is expected to be a starter against lefties. John McDonald, Marco Scutaro and Rod Barajas will make the trip as well, along with nobody else who will be breaking camp with the team. We’ll get a chance to see Travis Snider and David Purcey, though. Snider will be the DH since he has a sore elbow, and Purcey is expected to pitch the fourth inning, following Litsch and Gustavo Chacin.
I’ll be at every game, home and road (unless something comes up, like maybe Halladay or Burnett staying back to pitch in a B game), and I’m thinking about live-blogging the games that we won’t be broadcasting either on the web or over the air. I wouldn’t be doing batter-by-batter, probably just posting every half-inning or so, and there would be big gaps, since the clubhouse is open throughout the game in Spring Training, which means I’ll often head down to talk to players who have come out of the game. But if you think it’s a worthwhile pursuit, I’ll live-blog for you, the listener/reader. Just let me know if you want it or not by leaving your comments on this post.
I wanted to respond to a few of the things I’ve been seeing in the comments section the last couple of days. I firmly disagree with the notion that Frank Thomas being on base is a bad thing. Anyone who moves an inning forward by not getting out is doing his job, whether or not he can be timed running the bases with a sundial. I have seen Thomas score from second on a single, and I have seen him score from first on a double. He may not be able to beat Bengie Molina or John Olerud in a footrace, but he’s by no means 90-feet-and-that’s-it when he’s on base. I would argue, too, that the percentage of the time that he scores relative to how often he’s on base has MUCH more to do with the people hitting behind him in the line-up than his lack of footspeed.
Also, I wanted to weigh in on the Johnson-Stewart debate that has been going on in the comments section (which has been a lot of fun to read, by the way). It’s true that Reed crushed lefties last year and Stewart didn’t, but for their careers, Johnson’s and Stewart’s OPS’s against lefties are only about 35 points different (in favour of Reed) and against righties, Stewart has Reed by about 80 points. Even though they’re fighting for a platoon role, the fact that Stewart hits righties so much better has to weigh quite a bit in his favour. The truth is, Stewart’s not here just to battle Reed for a platoon role. He’s also here to act as insurance for Overbay, Stairs, Thomas and Wells. Overbay and Wells are coming off serious injuries from which they may not be fully recovered, Stairs is 40 (today!) and Thomas turns 40 in May. If any one of those guys isn’t ready or doesn’t produce, Stewart is in the line-up in his stead, with other guys moving around to make room. Reed doesn’t provide that kind of insurance.
Yes, Johnson is a far better defender with a much, much better throwing arm, but I think it’s a real stretch to call him an offensive catalyst. Except for the first half of 2006, Johnson has an obp of about .323 or so over the last four seasons. Just because he’s scrappy and he hustles doesn’t mean that he doesn’t get out about 68% of the time, which is not good.
I think what really tells the tale, though, is that the Jays offered Stewart a two-year contract back in December. Stewart rejected it, on the advice of an agent who he has since fired, but if he had accepted the offer, it’s more than likely that Johnson wouldn’t have been tendered a contract. If only the Jays would be willing to go with a six-man bullpen.
And two quick answers to the most recent comments:
-J.P. didn’t “let Stewart go” to Oakland. He traded Stewart to the Twins for Bobby Kielty, who he then turned into Ted Lilly. Stewart was traded because he was a pending free agent and the Jays didn’t have the money to re-sign him.
-Name a winning team that had a mediocre catcher? Hmmm, how about the Toronto Blue Jays? Pat Borders may have been a World Series MVP, but he wasn’t very good at either hitting or throwing out baserunners. Blocking balls in the dirt, though, at that he was awesome. Honourable mentions since - A.J. Pierzynski, Damian Miller, Joe Girardi.
Comments are encouraged - especially since I want to know whether you want me live-blogging those road games! Oh, and if you’re in the Kingston, Ontario area, listen to CFRC at 5:00 Friday evening. I just taped an interview on a show called Offsides with Tyler King. University radio is near and dear to my heart - I wouldn’t be here without it!
I like what Blair did a few times last year on the G&M blog. He would update exhibition games at random points when something interesting happened. He’d just toss out a paragraph or two. The randomness touched on what was important and it didn’t create an expectation for a full-on live blog which would’ve been disappointingly interrupted whenever he left to check out the clubhouse.
- Dustin Parkesi think you guys should add more webcast games..I thoght there was alot more of them a year ago..
- kevinI’d love to see a live blog or something along the lines of what Parkes mentioned up above me. Is there a broadcast schedule for the games that will be on the fan or on the internet? Thanks and keep up the good work.
- TomI agree with Parkes, an update every half inning is rather bland considering it’s ST, but a handful of times a game when something interesting happens or you speak to someone would be nice. Also I have a question for you. I see on the Jays broadcast scheduale there are some games being listed on mlb.com. Do we need to have a subscription to MLB.com radio to listen, or will it be free?
- Eric HartmanWhoever said that about championship teams and mediocre catchers really ought to peruse Baseball-reference.com and review who the catcher was for various world Series participants in the past couple of decades. Such a person will find far more mediocre offensive catchers than good-to-great ones.
The same, BTW, holds true for shortstops.
Which is not to admit Zaun ins a mediocre catcher - when compared to his peers he comes off pretty well unless you are stuck in the 1960’s and thing batting average is the only important stat.
- WillRainI like the idea of just mentioning when something major happens but you have to let us know what Snider is doing im dying to watch this kid live. thanks for the great work
- DarrenYes, listen to Mike, and listen to Offsides!
One quick thing, though - it’s actually at 4:00 PM this Friday rather than 5, and the interview with Mike will go right off the top of the hour.
You can also listen at http://www.cfrc.ca if you’re not in the Kingston area.
- Tyler KingA live-ish blog would be awesome, I’d never say no to more Jays content.
- ColinI would love to see Shannon Stewart back again, but feel for Reed. Thay are both great players and have different skills to offer. It would be great to hear what you talk to the players about during the games. I am looking forward to an awesome season and can’t wait for it to start ! My husband is a Yankees fan so we have a lot of fun when they play each other. Go Jays Go !
- Kim DeamoneMike, live blogging would be great.
you are providing a great service for us baseball junkies
always appreciate and enjoy your work.
- KyleHey Mike - love the blog. Just wanted to add my 2 cents that I’d love a live blog. Thanks!
- TBizThis notion that Thomas “clogs” the bases has basically been proven to be absurd. This writer did a study of his entire season and all the actual times he was on base and the effects of his speed on what actually happened.
http://www.dugoutcentral.com/blog/?p=542
I will lift 2 quotes from here, for those too lazy to read it.
“Even if all of the questions above were answered “yes” we can still only conclude that Thomas’ lack of speed cost his team a run 11 times out of the 181 that he reached first base. Given all of the positive things that Frank Thomas brings to the line-up, I find it hard to believe that “clogging the bases” a maximum of eleven times in a season diminishes his value in the least.”
“With the possible exception of the last runner who scored, because we can’t assume Thomas would have advanced to second on the PB, replacing Thomas with a pinch runner had zero positive effect on the Jays’ ability to score a run.”
- Arii’d like to see you wear a web cam helmet. i’m not kidding. just kinda say your thoughts out loud into a microphone. we could get a reel feel for spring training. maybe do a whacky radio promo thing on the FAN morning show.
i enjoy your work, but your no Dan Schulman (or Seth Everett). i’m convinced that only by transforming yourself into the medium will you succeed.
regional radio guy or sports media harbinger?
- chrisJust to weight in on the Bad catchers on World Seriers teams just look at last year the Rockies had Yovit Torrelba who is awful and its not as thought Jason Veritek is in the prime of his carrerr either.
And whats with everyone feeling sorry for Reed the Guy is making millions of dollars a year the Jays don’t owe him anything someone else has come along who is better then him to bad for Reed he’ll catch on somewhere else its not like he’s going to be hungry for the next month if the jays let him go.
- Dan MooreAs Colin said, “A live-ish blog would be awesome, I’d never say no to more Jays content.”
Thanks Mike!
- Kevinwhat Parkes said — wouldn’t want to impose on you for play-by-play, but occasional updates would be much appreciated
- HenrySolid post, Mike. If anything, I’d suggest you make them more regular if you have time…
I was doing some number crunching on “clogging the bases” for our blog yesterday, and quelle surprise! the worst offenders for team left on base also usually happen to be the best offenses in their respective league. Here are the numbers if you’re interested:
http://thesouthpawbaseball.blogspot.com/2008/02/clogging-bases.html
- Johnny WasMike, please blog-away!
- JeremyMike can you please comment on why the jays haven’t made an effort to Sign Barry Bonds I mean bonds is the impact bat we need he’s a difference maker. Why hasn’t a team signed him yet. The media makes these things like his poor defence even though there are alot of poor defenders in Left feild (Manny or Adam Dunn) and the off feild distractions. I don’t get it Barry Bonds gets black balled for Steriods but its okay for Brett Myers to slap his wife outside Fenway Park.
Has Riccardi lost his mind not trying to sign Bonds or wont Godfrey let him??
And yes Live blog would be awesome mike thanks. but please comment on the Bonds issue because you have to feel the same way I do that the Jays are nuts not to try to sign him.
- Dan MooreThanks for the defence Mike! Good to see somebody who actually reads the comments.
- Wil MDitto with Henry & Dustin Parkes about the live blogging.
I am hopeful that Stewart makes the team. i get the feeling it’ll be something similar to Tony Fernandez’s comebacks such that they’ll get better production from him than expected because he wants to play here. Perhaps i’m wrong, but either way i’ld love to see him play for the jays again.. regardless how. Plus they need his bat.
- Davey_Boy_SmithDan… Bond?! - We’ve already got Thomas, his numbers are comparable, he’s healthy and he’s a guy we can actually be proud to have playing for us - ’nuff said?
- HenryMeant to say this earlier, but now that the live-blogging is starting, a definite thumbs up is still deserved! You might like to know that for cricket (another sport that I follow), the liveblog coverage of the Guardian (British newspaper) on its website actually got turned into a (very readable) book. So don’t rule that out :-)
- DaithíI guess I’d better clarify my point about the importance of having a solid catcher in the line-up…I think a few of you were focusing on the wrong part of my post. I understand, that over the years there have been a few exceptions — teams with not so great catchers actually winning– but for the most part a winning organization and a good cather go hand-in-hand. It’s no fluke either, believe it or not it has something to do with the way the game is played. The catcher, next to the pitcher, is THE most important position on the field. Let’s face it, it’s time to get a catcher…has been for a while now.
- Jamie Adams