11:45 PM Eastern
Still putting together the pre-game show, so just a quick word. We’re on at 12:30 PM Eastern, and the show will feature Jerry talking to Ernie Whitt about Team Canada’s big win yesterday, I’ll have an interview with Jeremy Accardo, and we’ll delve deep into the Casey Janssen and B.J. Ryan situations, one good, one not good at all.
The Jays are starting what might just be the Opening Day batting order today, for the first time. Scott Rolen is batting fourth, between Vernon Wells and Frank Thomas. David Eckstein and Alex Rios are at the top, Matt Stairs, Lyle Overbay, Aaron Hill and Gregg Zaun round it out. This way, Rolen’s speed is on in front of Thomas, and when Stairs homers, it doesn’t matter how slow Hurt is. I don’t think it’s the ideal 1-9, but this seems to be the direction in which John Gibbons is leaning.
Before the game, the gathered throng spoke to J.P. Ricciardi about all manner of things, but two things stuck out:
1 – J.P. feels the Jays have five major-league starting pitchers. Janssen would have given them a sixth. This means, pretty much, that Litsch is the fifth guy, regardless of J.P.’s “in the mix” comments earlier or Gibby’s unwillingness to answer the question yesterday. He also mentioned that Josh Banks and Kane Davis are guys who could help out if there’s rotational trouble, and Purcey might not be that far away, either. Chacin is a non-factor until at least July.
2 – J.P. said that if it comes down to Stewart or Johnson (that is, if nobody gets hurt in the next two weeks), he would go with what makes Gibby feel more comfortable. That likely means Reed. However, in the next breath, he said he wants the club to be as good as possible offensively, and didn’t think that if Stewart was on the team they’d need to go out and get a 5th outfielder who specializes in defense. That means Stewart. My money is still on Shannon.
I’ll be back after the JaysTalk!
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Sometimes, I think the Jays would be better off if JP would just simply shut his mouth instead of continually spewing BS he expects fans to accept.
Josh Banks couldn’t cut it here or in AAA the last couple of years with an era averaging 5.00 in AAA. Zane Davis has only started 2 games in his career back in 2000 and is nothing more than a very poor reliever with a career era of 5.53.
And these two guys could help out if there’s a problem in the rotation. Please get real.
Now David Purcey, I agree with. I think he’s going to be a real good one and is someone to help out the rotation. I hope he’s ready soon.
- gerryMike, I agree with Gerry. JP please stand up and tell us who’s the 6th starter is. We all know that in this division you need 6 starters AT LEAST. The Jays will let us know the first month if their pretenders or contenders. In this division you need to WIN and SCORE runs right from day one you’ve got to keep pace with Boston & New York. We’re no New York last year.
- brunoHi Mike,
Any word on whether or not there will be another season of Wednesdays with JP?
MW: As far as I know, we’re good to go. No one has told me otherwise.
- DanHi Mike,
I know that your a fan of Frank Thomas, but if he struggles early this year like last, will they at least think of making Matt Stairs the DH against Righties? Is Shannon Stewart a better outfielder than Stairs? Is Reed Johnson a better Fielder than Stewart is a hitter?
MW: I’d be surprised if Thomas is removed from the line-up for any reason other than injury. Yes, he’s had crappy starts two years in a row, but both years he has put up numbers and in the overall, he’s probably the best hitter they have. Stewart and Stairs aren’t that different as defenders. Shannon has better range, Stairs has a better arm. Johnson a better fielder than Stewart a hitter? I’m not sure I really understand that. Johnson is an above-average outfielder, Stewart is an above-average fielder.
- Darryl ReidThanks for the response. What I mean is would you rather have Johnson’s glove in the lineup or Stewart/Stairs bat?
keep up the great coverage of the Jays
MW: I’d much rather have a bat than a glove, especially with Wells and Rios in the other two outfield positions. Heck, look at the World Series champs’ left fielder.
- DarrylMike,
I know that J.P. has been working the phones to see about aquiring more starting pitching via a trade. Any possibility of J.P. landing Joe Blanton from Oakland? Would Lind, Thigpen, and a minor league arm be enough to pry him away from Beane?
MW: Nope, not even close. Look what Beane got for Danny Haren.
- RyanI still think they need to trade one of the extra outfielders for another arm.
Really don’t feel comfertable going into the season with Banks, Davis and Purcey waiting in the wings if and when an injury occurs.
- Brett VMike,
How about that Buck Coats…I saw 5 spring games in Dunedin and Buck was tearing it up out there. I know they sent him down, but between Buck and Adam Lind, Buck looked the most comfortable at the plate. Would Buck be the first choice to call up if there is an injury early to one of the outfielders? (or I suppose, that depends on what’s happening in the minors, right?)
MW: It might be Coats, if he continues to tear it up in the minors, but I’d bet on Lind being the first call.
- DJJAYMike,
Matt Stairs has trimmed down a little, looking like he plans to continue to tear the cover off the ball. I like the mix of veterans that were brought in (Rolens and Eckstein) and that sort of ties in with the piece you did with Roy the other day about “Now’s the time”. I think with the group they have currently, as long as the pitchers remain healthy, the bats come back like a couple years ago, Toronto has a shot at the wildcard at least. The veterans may be able to tweak the attitude in the room just enough to keep the team focused on the prize….just from “being there” and knowing what it takes.
- DJJAY