6:00 PM Eastern
UPDATED 6:15 PM Eastern
Wanted to let all you potential listeners know that tonight’s game will be joined in progress on the FAN590 after the Raptors’ game is over. That means that those of you in Toronto will be able to hear the end of the game, and another fabulous edition of JaysTalk, so make sure you tune in!
Let’s just not talk about bunting tonight, OK?
Also, make sure that after JaysTalk is over, you check out SUN TV at 11:00 for your chance to see me on The Grill Room, on which we discuss all things Blue Jayic. Also on the program, The Sun’s own Mike Ganter and the distinguished Mr. Andrew J. Stoeten of the must-read Drunk Jays Fans blog.
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I for one though that letting Scoot swing away was the right move. If it wasn’t for Giambi’s hot snag at 1st, that has the potential to be a double down the line with a run scored.
Solid defense by the Yanks and the Jays inability to hit with RISP is why we lost this game and not because Gibbons didn’t have Scoot bunt!
- LeeI wish we had SUN TV out here on the east coast. I would have loved to see the reaction Stoeten would receive if the Jays lose another and he’s in one of his “moods”. It would certainly be on par with your performance last night, Mike!
I guess I’ll have to assume someone will get’er up on youtube for the rest of us…
- HaroldMike what’s with you crapping all over Jeter. I know he isn’t a great defensive shortstop but he makes up for it with his offense. Do you hate him because you think he’s a cancer or because of his bad defense? It seems you don’t respect his offensive game.
MW: I definitely respect his offensive game. You’ve never heard me say a bad word about him as a hitter. But he is a very poor defensive shortstop who has somehow won three gold gloves. His reputation is that of a great leader and one of the best clutch hitters in the game, and both those things are tremendously overstated because he’s a Yankee and because he came up on a great team and his teams won four World Series in five years. I can’t stand that, nor can I stand the arrogance that he appears to exude on the field. Also, give me a break – when the Yankees traded for Alex Rodriguez, who at the time was the best defensive shortstop in the league, the questions were where would Jeter move to. When asked about the budding controversy over who was going to play where, Jeter answered: “There’s no controversy. I’m the shortstop.” That’s a leader for you.
- julianDo you think Dustin McGowan will continue to improve from his breakout year or do you see a regression from him. I heard he might be the ace of the staff once Roy Halladay leaves this team as a free agent. What do you think he might become long term?
MW: I think he could well be the ace of the team IF Roy Halladay leaves, but Halladay is under contract until 2010. I do believe McGowan will continue to improve from his breakout year, but most young pitchers take at least a bit of a step back.
- garyMike,
First let me say I really enjoyed the live blog in spring training.
I can see why the Jays decided to keep Stewart over Johnson, but my issue is with the fact that they decided to drop Johnson altogether. Could they not have kept him as a fifth outfielder? That would vastly improve the outfield depth, and give the team a defensive option in left late in games. Do you know if and how that $3 million saved by waiving Johnson will be reallocated? It would be nice if it could be used to increase the budget in the amateur draft.
MW: It would be nice, indeed, but for some reason the Jays keep those budgets separate. I can only assume that extra $2.6 million or so will go towards signing Barry Bonds. They didn’t keep him as a fifth outfielder because Buck Coats won’t do that much worse a job for a LOT less money.
- Adrian MI would say no way Toronto gets Bonds but JP did say he wansn’t going to sign him, does this mean they’ve already offered him a deal?
What do think of Giambi at first Mike? Looks like it could be an interesting year with Giambi at first and one of the worst short stops in the game manning half the infield for the Yanks.
MW: I don’t think Giambi is a tree stump or anything at first base, he’s OK. Certainly not good, but OK.
- ClintDo you know when Travis Snider is going to make it to the majors because I heard he’s one the most highly regraded prospect in baseball and do you think he has more potenial then Adam Lind as our left fielder?
MW: Nobody knows when Travis Snider is going to make it to the majors, but I’d be surprised if it’s before September of ’09. I’ve never seen him play the field, so I can’t comment on whether he has more potential to play left than Lind but yes, Snider is more highly regarded as a prospect than Lind.
- andrewIf you had it your way, what would be your ideal lineup order. Because the change I would make it bat overbay fourth and thomas fifth.
MW: If I had it my way, Kenny Lofton would be leading off and playing left field. But given the players currently available – assuming Matt Stairs isn’t one of them – I think I’d probably do it this way against righties: Stewart, Hill, Rios, Thomas, Overbay, Wells, Zaun, Scutaro, Eckstein.
- tonyMike A.J burnett is having a pretty good game so far. What are you noticing in the game that making A.J burnett so dominant?
MW: A.J. has incredible stuff, and when he’s on, he’s one of the best in the game. He’s even mixed in the change-up a bit, which has really impressed me. I think you’re selling him a little short, though. Six shutout innings against the best offense in the game is a bit better than pretty good.
- MattI was never one that wanted to see the Jays run more, but if they are they should be smarter about it. Running on Posada is far different than on Molina.
- ClintWhats trying to steal so much now ?
I could understand it if they were stealing against Posada, but Molina ??? That guy throws out everyone, he’s a defensive specialist — no wonder he threw out Rios and Scutaro by wide margins.
I hope the Jays don’t try to steal to much, just because people think Rios can steal 30 bases doesn’t mean he should try.
Oh, and another hit to move the runners over instead of the bunt haha
- DaveYankees have the best offense? No way. The Tigers have the best offense in the game.
MW: Last year’s numbers say you’re wrong, but the Tigers did add that Cabrera fellow at the expense of Mr. Inge. However, i don’t think that’s enough to make up the 13 point obp difference between the two teams last year, or even the 5 point difference in slugging.
- MarkMike I LOVE the idea of getting Bonds on this team. He provides so many options, be it sharing time with Thomas at DH, playing some left field to have both of them in the lineup or using him as a pinch hitter late in games.
I also think having a small outfield in Toronto and Vernon Wells exponential range in centre (could even shade him closer to left, considering Rios is a gazelle in right) would decrease any defensive liability he would bring.
I think he wants a ring so bad that he wouldn’t even bring down the clubhouse. San Fran was his team, Toronto isn’t.
Was your comment earlier serious or was there some satire mixed in there too?
MW: The comment about bringing Bonds in? Totally serious.
- Adamare you insane? thomas batting 4th? your best hitters should bat 3-4 which means rios and wells. you don’t pay a guy 20 mil to bat 6th.
MW: Wells isn’t one of your best hitters when a righty is on the mound.
- leseckstein 4 dp’s? how long before he gets dumped to 9th
- lesMike,
As long as you defend Frank Thomas hitting in front of Overbay and Hill. You look like a FOOL. Change it now.
MW: Bruno, I’ve read enough of your comments to know that I’m not the one who looks like a fool.
- brunoif you don’t have confidence to bat wells higher than 6th then you shouldn’t be paying him 20 mil. hire kenny lofton instead. as I said a long time ago the vw contract will go down as the worst contract in blue jay’s history
MW: I’m not paying him 20 mil.
- lesWhy dont the jays release thomas and bring in bonds?Bonds has a higher obp and is the power left bat the Jays desperately need. thomas has too many long slumps for a no.5 hitter. Also, it would prevent thomas from reaching his ab’s which will trigger his option year next year.
MW: If they release him, they’re on the hook for his salary for this year, so in effect, they’d be paying Bonds about $20 million for one season. Yes, Bonds is a better hitter than Thomas, but Frank is still pretty good.
- avithe correct lineup is
stewart
hill
rios
wells
overbay
thomas
zaun
scutaro
eckstein
MW: Wow. You say that with such authority.
- lesWhere are you getting this idea that the Jays are interested in or might sign Barry Bonds?
I am willing to say that there is a 1% chance Toronto signs Barry.
MW: I’ll bet that the chance is less than 1%. I never said the Jays are interested in or might sign Barry Bonds. I said they should.
- TOMMYPMike,
McGowan was sick tonight, is he a go though for tommorow?
MW: I don’t know, I’m not in New York. I don’t think he knows, actually, but if not, Marcum can start tomorrow, Litsch Friday and Halladay on his regular day on Saturday, if need be. I can’t imagine McGowan would be sick through the weekend.
- CayleMike,
I’ve heard enough of your comments to know that you know little about baseball. You think they win a game and everything’s ok with there hitting. Two days with a ton left in scoring position five Dps, one where FT’s Dp play before Overbay’s Triple caused us a run. That run could of been a game winning run. We should of crushed Massina. Next team he plays he will. Mike, look at Boston’s 1-2-3 and look at ours. You need to get a reality check.
MW: I don’t know why I keep posting your comments. Sometimes you make sense, but your English is deplorable. You should be embarrassed.
- brunoListening to Jays talk here in Edmonton and great show. I agree with your assessment of the bullpen – very deep and solid arms. I think over time League has more upside than Accardo – your thoughts?
MW: I agree in theory, but take a look at what Accardo did tonight after a ground ball single and a broken bat flare. Spectacular.
- CameronHey Mike, tried to get through tonight but couldn’t so I thought I’d try here. Agree with you on Bonds however I think the casual fans led by the charges of the old writers at the Star and Sun, would be the ones against such a move. The real fans would welcome it. Anyway, how long is Eckstein’s leash. Once Rolen comes back you gotta have Johnny Mac in there. Also, I’ve noticed the last two games that the Jays are looking very Yankee like and the Yankess are looking like the immature Jays of years past. (See Blair’s article tonight)
MW: I think the leash on Eckstein is VERY long.
- MarkMike,
First of all, I love that you interact with everyone in the comments here.
Do you think we’ll see a bit of Johnny Mac once Rolen comes back and, presumably, adds a lot to the offense? I know Eckstein won’t be this bad all year, but he’s done nothing to change my opinion that he’s a bad defensive shortstop in most areas, and has a little-league-caliber arm. He may have a World Series MVP, but the play last night where he threw to first when Giambi was going to 2nd was terrible. I wouldn’t have been impressed with the 14-year-old kids I coach if they did that.
MW: I don’t think Eckstein is a bad defensive shortstop, he’s just no John McDonald. But the fact that McDonald wasn’t in the game in the 9th tonight screams out to me that Eckstein is the guy,period.
- darrenThanks for taking my call tonight, Mike.
Just wanted to add that it was the YES announcers who asserted that Doc was upset and was chirping back at the Yankee bench because the curtain call was made during the first pitch.
MW: Good to know, but they know their Yankees, not their Jays, although I hear they had good things to say about A.J. Burnett tonight.
- AriI was listening to you on the way home from work and I am wondering what it is you don’t like about Mussina? I am not a fan of his but your response left me wondering.
MW: He’s an ass. Two things that Mike Mussina has done in his career show you exactly the kind of person he is. First, in the 1993 all-star game which was in his home ballpark in Baltimore, he got up on his own and started warming up in the bullpen in the 8th inning, making all the fans expect him to come in for the 9th, which he knew wasn’t going to happen. In Baltimore, they still hate Cito Gaston for not bringing Mussina into that game after “having him warm up.” Secondly, and far worse, he had the stones to blame his poor performance in the Jays-Yankees game on Tom Cheek Day a few years ago on the fact that the ceremony to honour Tom caused the start time of the game to be pushed back a few minutes. Jackass.
- ScottMike,
Not sure if I can complain about the TV coverage here. It will make me feel better. Please delete if I can’t.
MW: You can’t complain about TV coverage here. It’s not fair to rag on someone who doesn’t have a chance to defend himself.
- GregJPmike, you’ve agreed with me 3 times now. you are showing promise. and I still haven’t shown my full repertoire of stats like I did last year if you can remember. but have you seen buck coats run yet? I keep hearing how he is “lightning quick” and stole bases in the minors at 90% rate so I would like to see what he can do late in the game when he is pinch running.
MW: He’s pretty fast, but I wouldn’t say “lightning quick”.
- lesHey Mike,
Just wondering if you have talked to Gary Denbo to see what his impressions are about how people have been batting ?
I must say i have been quite impressed with Eckstein, that at bat against Mussina was very good and his bat speed is incredible. I don’t think people should rag on him. In all his at bats he hit quite well, only that he hit the ball at ARod a buncha times.
I think like Thomas, once he gets in the grove he will rock it out for us.
Oh — and what do you think of Juan Pierre ? Not as a potential BlueJay, but in general. I didn’t realize just how much he hits.
MW: Eckstein’s 5th inning at-bat was tremendous. He fell behind 0-2, but got it to a 10th pitch before hitting into the double play. He doesn’t walk a lot, it’s true, but he can make pitchers work. I don’t think that Eckstein will ever “rock it out”, I’m confident that no Jays regular will make more outs this season, but he will hit better than Johnny Mac, which is why he’s here.
I think Juan Pierre is a terrible baseball player. Relative to other major leaguers, of course. He is a huge out-maker, which is really, really bad.
- Davemike, is it really you responding or your wife, because it seems you don’t go to sleep? but I was thinking, league in the 7th, accardo in the 8th, and ryan in the 9th. that’s pretty intimidating. so what I want to know is how many games did the jays lose last year when they were leading after 6? because it seems they will have a much better record this year.
MW: The 73 comments a day from you would indicate that you don’t sleep much, either. When the Jays led after 6 innings last season, they were 63-11, which is a few games worse than I thought they’d have been.
- lesHey Mike, I’m digging your new a**hole attitude! It’s hilarious! Keep it up
Stewart is a great table setter, and should returned to that role.
Cheers,
Paul
- Paul OMike, just a quick comment on the McGowan illness situation.
You mention that if he can’t go, Marcum goes tonight, Litsch on Friday and “Halladay on his regular day, Saturday”. In fact, I believe with the postponement of Halladay’s first start to Tuesday, his “regular” day would now be Sunday, not Saturday. So effectively McGowan would have to be ready for Saturday, in order for the Jays not to have at least a minor problem.
MW: You’re right, the postponement totally slipped my mind. I think I blocked out that whole experience.
- Norm