Comments on: Athletics 9 - Jays 8 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:39:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Jim http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1716 Jim Fri, 11 Apr 2008 04:18:16 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1716 By the way, Mike, belay the pedantry. If it "bothers" you when "people have bad grammar" and should "know how to speak the language they are speaking", you should be sure that your own linguistic practice is above reproach. It isn't. Stick to baseball, Mike. MW: It usually is, but everyone makes mistakes every once in a while. It's a matter of respect - respect for the language and respect for the readers. By the way, Mike, belay the pedantry. If it “bothers” you when “people have bad grammar” and should “know how to speak the language they are speaking”, you should be sure that your own linguistic practice is above reproach. It isn’t. Stick to baseball, Mike.

MW: It usually is, but everyone makes mistakes every once in a while. It’s a matter of respect - respect for the language and respect for the readers.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1713 Jim Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:44:38 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1713 Beg to differ - when you are talking loss, it would be illogical to say they lost 6-3 and 9-8. And after the last three "hitting" performances against a team that came in with a very modest pitching record and a depleted staff, Jays' hitters are hardly above reproach. McDonald, coming off the bench, was about the only spark all night. MW: No, the team that scores more runs gets their total mentioned first. How is it illogical to say they lost 6-3? Would you be confused as to which team scored which run total? I'm with you on the second half of your comment, though. Beg to differ - when you are talking loss, it would be illogical to say they lost 6-3 and 9-8.
And after the last three “hitting” performances against a team that came in with a very modest pitching record and a depleted staff, Jays’ hitters are hardly above reproach. McDonald, coming off the bench, was about the only spark all night.

MW: No, the team that scores more runs gets their total mentioned first. How is it illogical to say they lost 6-3? Would you be confused as to which team scored which run total?

I’m with you on the second half of your comment, though.

]]> By: Jim http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1683 Jim Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:45:58 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1683 3-6 loss to Oakland following an 8-9 loss might give reason to wonder if the Jays are still in that mode of rising above the tough ones and sinking below the easier ones. Finish last night was too reminiscent of last year: table setters doing their job, but the big boppers failing, one after the other. Does each feel it's his duty to swing for the fences rather than just get a hit to keep the carousel going? MW: Let's give a little credit to Huston Street here, though. It's not always the hitters' fault when they don't come through, sometimes the pitchers have something to do with it. And by the way, it's not tennis - higher score always goes first. 3-6 loss to Oakland following an 8-9 loss might give reason to wonder if the Jays are still in that mode of rising above the tough ones and sinking below the easier ones. Finish last night was too reminiscent of last year: table setters doing their job, but the big boppers failing, one after the other. Does each feel it’s his duty to swing for the fences rather than just get a hit to keep the carousel going?

MW: Let’s give a little credit to Huston Street here, though. It’s not always the hitters’ fault when they don’t come through, sometimes the pitchers have something to do with it. And by the way, it’s not tennis - higher score always goes first.

]]> By: USELESS MAN http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1664 USELESS MAN Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:25:41 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1664 Post number 69. No real comment. Sometimes you need an ugly one to reach your 100 plateau. Go jays? Post number 69. No real comment. Sometimes you need an ugly one to reach your 100 plateau.

Go jays?

]]> By: les http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1632 les Thu, 10 Apr 2008 05:45:36 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1632 well once again mike, I told you so accardo isn't that good. saves are the most useless stat. I never understood how a pitcher is horrible his whole career then suddenly is good 1 year. was last year a fluke? now he is back to being horrible. he has half the team's losses. his career whip is 1.25 nothing great. he doesn't appear to have great stuff, all his pitches are hittable. and if you look at his career he has blown a tonne of saves. he is 36 for 48 or 75% career. I think the accardo as closer experiment is now over. we need ryan back NOW. but wilner still thinks accardo is a good closer. so what do you have to say now mike after his past 2 brutal outings? MW: You do realize that last year was Accardo's first full season in the majors, right? And that he's 26? To say the guy has been horrible his whole career is ridiculous, his whole career is just starting. Yes, he blew a save, yes he's had two bad outings in a row. The guy is at the end of a one-month fill-in for a great closer who's hurt. He did a tremendous job last year, and he had done very well this year right up until Tuesday. well once again mike, I told you so accardo isn’t that good. saves are the most useless stat. I never understood how a pitcher is horrible his whole career then suddenly is good 1 year. was last year a fluke? now he is back to being horrible. he has half the team’s losses. his career whip is 1.25 nothing great. he doesn’t appear to have great stuff, all his pitches are hittable. and if you look at his career he has blown a tonne of saves. he is 36 for 48 or 75% career. I think the accardo as closer experiment is now over. we need ryan back NOW. but wilner still thinks accardo is a good closer. so what do you have to say now mike after his past 2 brutal outings?

MW: You do realize that last year was Accardo’s first full season in the majors, right? And that he’s 26? To say the guy has been horrible his whole career is ridiculous, his whole career is just starting. Yes, he blew a save, yes he’s had two bad outings in a row. The guy is at the end of a one-month fill-in for a great closer who’s hurt. He did a tremendous job last year, and he had done very well this year right up until Tuesday.

]]> By: michael s http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1624 michael s Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:12:36 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1624 Hi I can't believe that I'm about to defend JP in relation to admitting to a mistake. I'm not his biggest fan. anyway last year on Weds with JP someone called in and asked about a pitcher they let go the previous season and if it was his decision or the scouts. Unfortunately I can't remember who it was. But let's say he had a cup of coffee with the Jays the season before. They released him or just didn't resign him. In a typical story, he ended up having a banner season the next year with another team, and JP said something like "yup that was my mistake. I have to take that one. I'm kind of mad at myself because he'd look great playing for us now". sorry for the vagueness. Does that ring any bells out there for anyone? MW: It was Chad Gaudin, the guy who started the opener for Oakland. Hi I can’t believe that I’m about to defend JP in relation to admitting to a mistake. I’m not his biggest fan.

anyway last year on Weds with JP someone called in and asked about a pitcher they let go the previous season and if it was his decision or the scouts. Unfortunately I can’t remember who it was. But let’s say he had a cup of coffee with the Jays the season before. They released him or just didn’t resign him. In a typical story, he ended up having a banner season the next year with another team, and JP said something like “yup that was my mistake. I have to take that one. I’m kind of mad at myself because he’d look great playing for us now”.

sorry for the vagueness. Does that ring any bells out there for anyone?

MW: It was Chad Gaudin, the guy who started the opener for Oakland.

]]> By: Yard http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1623 Yard Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:01:32 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1623 What happened to Bruce Brenner? I see he's been replaced by Tom Young. I too noticed the introductions from the P.A. announcer, and thought they sounded really good! MW: Tom Young has taken over for Bruce this year, and he's doing a great job! What happened to Bruce Brenner? I see he’s been replaced by Tom Young. I too noticed the introductions from the P.A. announcer, and thought they sounded really good!

MW: Tom Young has taken over for Bruce this year, and he’s doing a great job!

]]> By: Russell http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1622 Russell Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:39:28 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1622 But, man, I post that and then I skim through some recent posts and I see the "rocket surgeon" bit and, well, yes, there's a time and a place... But, man, I post that and then I skim through some recent posts and I see the “rocket surgeon” bit and, well, yes, there’s a time and a place…

]]> By: Peter http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1621 Peter Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:36:37 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1621 Oh man! How many times do we have to hear this nonsense about the Jays and 'patterns' versus over .500 and under .500 teams?! It doesn't pan out. Records vs. the AL East (2004-2007): vs. New York: 29-44 vs. Boston: 37-37 vs. Baltimore: 39-36 vs. Tampa Bay: 41-32 Yes! They should do better against the Orioles; they're a terrible team! But look: they have a better than .500 record versus losing teams and an under .500 record versus winning teams. It seems like the 'pattern' is exactly the opposite of so many callers seem to think. Obviously, what's happening is that people *remember* the losses against teams we 'should' beat more than they remember the losses against the Yankees. A loss against the Devil Rays (or whatever they're call now) is more frustrating than a loss against the Yankees perhaps, but a 'pattern' it does not make. So. Crazy people. Take a look at the actual, real results before thinking the Jays lack 'heart' or 'grit' or any other nonsense hockey-derived term. Oh man! How many times do we have to hear this nonsense about the Jays and ‘patterns’ versus over .500 and under .500 teams?! It doesn’t pan out.

Records vs. the AL East (2004-2007):
vs. New York: 29-44
vs. Boston: 37-37
vs. Baltimore: 39-36
vs. Tampa Bay: 41-32

Yes! They should do better against the Orioles; they’re a terrible team! But look: they have a better than .500 record versus losing teams and an under .500 record versus winning teams.

It seems like the ‘pattern’ is exactly the opposite of so many callers seem to think.

Obviously, what’s happening is that people *remember* the losses against teams we ’should’ beat more than they remember the losses against the Yankees. A loss against the Devil Rays (or whatever they’re call now) is more frustrating than a loss against the Yankees perhaps, but a ‘pattern’ it does not make.

So. Crazy people. Take a look at the actual, real results before thinking the Jays lack ‘heart’ or ‘grit’ or any other nonsense hockey-derived term.

]]> By: Russell http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1620 Russell Thu, 10 Apr 2008 03:35:55 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/04/08/athletics-9-jays-8/#comment-1620 I had to go through the grammar thing with Mike Silver during the football season... Why do you guys get involved with that? It's one thing to know your sport better than the rest of us - that's what you're paid for. But who knows where we're coming from? We could be plumbers or bums or EIers. Or is it UIers? Luckily I have an English degree so I'm (hopefully) not going to poke you in the ribs too often, but please - why don't you just chuckle to yourself (or roll your eyes) after the funny ones and learn to ignore the inconsequential ones? Actually, my point was that they're all inconsequential... MW: That's the problem, and as an English major you should be even more offended about it than I am. They're not inconsequential, they're all contributing to the dumbing down of the language. I had to go through the grammar thing with Mike Silver during the football season… Why do you guys get involved with that? It’s one thing to know your sport better than the rest of us - that’s what you’re paid for. But who knows where we’re coming from? We could be plumbers or bums or EIers. Or is it UIers? Luckily I have an English degree so I’m (hopefully) not going to poke you in the ribs too often, but please - why don’t you just chuckle to yourself (or roll your eyes) after the funny ones and learn to ignore the inconsequential ones? Actually, my point was that they’re all inconsequential…

MW: That’s the problem, and as an English major you should be even more offended about it than I am. They’re not inconsequential, they’re all contributing to the dumbing down of the language.

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