5:40 PM Eastern
My apologies to all you loyal reader/listeners, but there will be no post-game bloggage this weekend. I’m trying my best to answer all the comments, but I just couldn’t do it these last two days, so all the comments went up unanswered, though I did read them all. I think the deal from now on is going to be that all comments will continue to be answered to the best of my ability, but it’s just not going to happen when there’s a day game after a night game.
Tonight and tomorrow night are the first two nights of Passover, so I’m getting out of the ballpark as fast as I can to get to the seders, which means there will be no bloggage tomorrow, and only this today. By the way, a happy holiday to all of you who celebrate, and those of you who don’t, try to chow down on a piece of matza this week just for me.
I want to address a few things that I saw in the comments section:
-Options are years, not call-ups. A player can be called up and sent down however many times and it only costs one option so long as it’s in the same year. When a player is out of options, he’s really out of option years.
-Adam Lind missed those two games in Syracuse with a stiff neck, it’s not a long-term issue.
-Stoeten, patience is a virtue and one that develops with practice. Remember, this is my seventh season hosting The JaysTalk. I find it more fun than frustrating to deal with the less rational callers, though. Sometimes I want to bang my head against a wall, for sure, but I love doing what I’m doing.
-To the commenter who says I change my tune depending on who I’m talking to, that’s a pretty serious accusation and you should have your facts straight before you do something like that. The TRUTH is this: Alan Ashby thinks that Shaun Marcum is a very, very good pitcher. I, too, think Shaun Marcum is a very, very good pitcher, and you won’t be able to find me having said any different, unless you consider the fact that I don’t think he’s going to be as good as Roy Halladay to mean that I don’t think he’s good. What I have said as well, is that I believe he’ll slip back a bit this year from his tremendous season last season, because that’s what most young pitchers tend to do. I believe that long-term, he’s going to be very, very good, but most young pitchers take a step back after a breakthrough year. So far, Marcum is proving me wrong in a big, big way, and it’s been great to watch.
I can’t go without commenting on the Frank Thomas situation. I believe the move to bench Thomas is the beginning of the end of his tenure with the Blue Jays, and that end could come sooner than later. I still think that if he was kept around he would break out of it in mid-to-late May, like he always does, and hit like an MVP over the last four months of the season. The problem is that you have to let him hit his way out of it, and you have to let him hit his way out of it in the middle of the line-up. The Jays can’t afford to get this sort of production from a bat in the middle of the order for the next 4-6 weeks.
It’s not going to be fun to see Frank Thomas released, and if he didn’t have the vesting option in his contract, I don’t think they’d do that, but that $10 million hanging over their heads for next year is something the Jays can’t ignore. It wouldn’t be a factor – at all – if he was producing, but he’s not.
Adam Lind is going to be up very soon to play left field with Shannon Stewart falling into a platoon with either him or Matt Stairs, and we’ll see in what direction that set-up takes the Jays. If Lind is ready, as everybody seems to think he is and his start in Syracuse seems to indicate, they’ll be better off having him up here in the near-term. If not, well, there’s always The Barry.
Comments are encouraged, but will be posted without answers until after Monday’s game.
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It is a shame that it comes to this with Frank Thomas. I really think that as much as we all expect out of him it is just a tiny fraction of what he expects from himself. He really seemed to have a better approach this year with his preparation and it is too bad that it isn’t working out. I hope that the Jays find a way to keep him around so that we can have is bat for (hopefully) the stretch run to the playoffs.
As for Bonds. I’m not going to say that he wouldn’t be a HUGE help to this team, however I really think it is the wrong direction for the team to take to bring in a guy with his past. It would just be a real shame (and send the wrong message for all the kids) to replace a class act (see his co-operation in the Mitchell Report) like Thomas with really the person who has become the symbol of what was/is wrong with professional sports.
BTW I’m going to take you up on that and have some matza.
Keep up the great job (the FAN is really the best way to enjoy the game if you can’t get down to the park).
- AaronMr Wilner,
- gregBarry Would be the most increadible person to bring to the jays lineup becuase evern if he hits like craps and make a million errors, people would come out every night to see him play and possible boo him.
HAPPY PASSOVER MIKE,
I’m a huge Jays fan and its really frustrating to see what’s unfolding with Thomas & Stewart. First JP offers a stranglehold contract to FT. As soon as I heard of the signing I was disapointed. Plus, there was the big BROO HA HA about how FT arrived in Spring Training to take more at bats, more training bla bla bla to avoid his two months slow start. Second he releases RJ who would go through a wall for the team. It never made sence from day one. You know why? Cause he hits lefties very well excellent defence and he was going to platoon anyways, thats why. He’s contributing alot for the Cubs, we see the box scores he’s in the line up every game. I and so many other fans saw this coming. Why didn’t JP? Good news is its still early but CHANGES ARE NEEDED. If not, JP, Gibbons, Godfrey MUST GO Mr. Rogers.
- brunoIf the Jays release Frank Thomas, and do not sign Barry Bonds, it’s a sign that this team is not showing a full commitment to winning. Without Thomas, they do not have the lineup to compete with the other AL contenders, and will be wasting the great pitching they should get this year. It’s incredibly disappointing to see what’s happening right now.
It’s become quite clear that they will always care more about the bottomline, money. It’s a profit venture to Rogers, and there’s simply no way out of that.
- SteveMike,
I’m sure you will elaborate on the Thomas situation when you have more free time. I’m very interested in your thoughts as to how you see this playing out for JP. IF the Jays release Thomas (and I’m not yet convinced that this will happen), how would the news be received by the other players in the clubhouse? Would it be viewed as a classless way to handle a hall-of-famer by future free agents? Perhaps most importantly, how would JP go about replacing the 25 HR, 90 RBI that Big Frank would likely accumulate if he were given the opportunity to hit his way out of this slump?
Keep up the good work and happy holidays.
- EdHi Mike: Good to see the Jays finally win today. Especially great to see BJ striking out the side w/out his usual velocity. My question has to do with Big Frank. You suggest that he might be on his way out? Well, I always respect your opinions on matters involving the Blue Jays but on this topic, I hope you are wrong. I understand the plate appearances and how this could trigger the vesting option for 2009. But didn’t Frank have a slump in 2006 and again in 2007?
Personally, I think this has more to do with Gibbons being worried about his own job rather than Frank’s vesting option. This could become an ugly issue and my hope is that JP can assuage (I like big words sometimes) Big Frank.
I am interested in hearing your comments regarding the Frank Thomas situation. Already, fans and the media are jumping all over this and I would really hate seeing Big Frank leave the Jays organization on bad terms.
- Alan from NBHey Mike, I wondered when you’d find the bloggage overload off button – awesome job no matter how often you can do it.
I think long-term Thomas would work his way out of it but at what price. In six weeks the lack of production could cost us some very crucial games. I also found it very interesting and weird that Thomas never came out to congratulate the team after the final out. Something tells me he is already gone (not departed but gone – you know what I mean). I’d be wondering as a teammate what kind of character that shows.
Anyway good win today and hopefully at least one more Sunday or Monday.
- CameronHey Mike, first off i usually listen to your post game show but don’t call, too much pressure on the radio you know. Anyways my comment is about Frank Thomas, i agree he’s played terrible, BUT David Ortiz is starting off just as bad, and ofcourse I’d rather have and keep Ortiz, but i just wanna know your opinion when you compare the two, thanks.
- SylvesterI feel fo rFrank Thomas, but in the end, the benching of him makes good baseball and business sense. As Gibby has said before, it’s his job to pu tthe best team on the field. My question is, who will take on Frank’s contract?
Another issue I see creeping up, is the play of Jeremy Accardo. Personally, it looks like he’s hurt. He’s not throwing his splitter and his fastball looks flat.
- JohnAnyone who thinks this Thomas benching is anything other than a way to get out of the vesting option is crazy. He’s slumping badly, so it’s the perfect excuse to “bench” him. Guys slump all the time and get out of it by actually playing, not sitting, so I don’t buy the explanation that Thomas, a lock for the Hall, needs to sit to get his groove back.
That said, I still like this move by the Jays. Paying 10 million to Thomas next year would be awful, even if he’s still got it. It also means they can bring up Adam Lind who needs to get some PAs in the majors. He is 25 now, he’s ready to play. And it frees up 10 million to spend for next year. Maybe they can ask for an advance and spend it on Bonds??
It sucks for Thomas though. When JP signed him, I loved the move but not the financial terms. As a fan, it’s just nice to say a Hall of Famer played for your favourite team. It’s like the pride that I feel knowing that Hakeem Olajuwon (best center ever IMO) chose to play for the Raptors. Even if he sucked, he just brought instant credibility and that’s what Thomas brought. He’s one of the few clean HOF sluggers of his era and it was a pleasure having him. Maybe Jays fans will truly appreciate that one day.
- ShawnSo this basically confirms that John Gibbons is nothing but a puppet for JP.
JP wants Thomas out of the line-up to save the club $10 Million for 2009 and he calls upon his puppet to make the change.
Gibby is as nice as guy as I have ever met and I met him in the spring at the season seat holder BBQ in Dunedin but its not fair to him to have JP pulling his strings.
The Blue Jays will never win untill Paul Godfrey shows JP the door out of town. If Paul doesn’t do that soon then Ted Rogers might show Paul the door and trust me the replacement CEO/President would get rid of all these clowns that have been running this joke of a team for the better of part of this decade.
-fed up fan
- Areil PupkoHey Mike:
I didn’t get a chance to hear the Jays talk today but I heard about the Thomas situation. There is no way this was Gibbons’ call, it has JP’s hands all over it based on the cash.
I have to say though that this is the first sign that I’ve seen from this team that they’re actually serious about competing. It’s about time that someone had some consequences for not producing and he’s not the only one that should be sat for a few games. Although as you always say “it’s early and there’s a lot of season left” … you’ve said that every year and the Jays never get serious until August and they’re too far back to make any real run at a playoff spot. Also at that time the games become must win games and we all know that this team has shown incapable of putting together a win streak of even 5 games however have had many losing streaks longer than that. Therefore it’s nice to see some action early in teh season to try and shake things up.
However, I have to say that it looks like Thomas isn’t showing the great “team guy personality” that everyone said he was when he was signed. He’s a great team guy as long as things are going his way and he’s collecting all that undeserved money but the minute it’s threatened we see the other side of Frank Thomas. I have to think that the management in Chicago is laughing at this as they saw this attitude first hand and sent him packing a few years back.
Seems ironic that a team struggling at the plate (although they’re near the top of the AL in both batting avg. and runs scored) would be prepareed to get rid of their “best offensive player” as you say from last year.
- PeterMike I listened to the post game show on my way home from the game Saturday. One thing you’ve said that I don’t understand. You said “I would like the jays to put Frank in the 8 spot until he comes out of this slump but you can’t do that to Frank so you have to put him on the bench”
- Dan MI’m assuming you think that because putting him in the 8 spot is a lack of respect but isn’t benching him more of a slap in the face then putting him in the 8 spot?
Are you surprised the Jays cut bait with Thomas just one day after benching him? Did something go on after Saturday’s game that lead to this move? Another fist fight involving Gibbons perhaps? Just kidding. Seriosly though, why so soon?
- YardMike,
- Rob HillDo you think this end of Frank Thomas in Toronto could be the beginning of Barry Bonds in Toronto?
Bringing in Barry has never made more sense then right now. His numbers can’t be ignored and its overrated how much clubhouse chemistry really would be hurt.
- Brett VIf the Jays bring baseballs most notorious druggie to Toronto they’ve lost me and a lot of other people who love the game and don’t believe winning is everything.
John W
MW: I suggest you climb down off your high horse, but you certainly don’t have to. Just because Barry Bonds (allegedly) put steroids to their best possible use doesn’t make him any worse than the hundreds of other drug cheats in the game, including the man who hit one of the biggest home runs in Blue Jays history. They don’t win the ’92 Series if Ed Sprague doesn’t go deep in Game 2.
- John WMike, just listening to the Sunday JaysTalk show, and once again I’ve heard you “bad-mouth” Reed Johnson’s play for the Cubs, by saying “he hits well against lefties, but….”
Just FYI, through yesterday’s game, Reed’s splits are as follows:
Vs Lefthanders — 7 games, 15 AB, 4 Hits, 2 RBI, OBP .421
Vs Righthanders — 13 games, 28 AB, 11 Hits (incl. 2 Doubles) 5 RBI, OBP .400
RISP — Avg. .545, OBP .571
Runners on Base — Avg. 611, OBP .619
Admittedly still a very small sample, but he is RAKING against all pitching.
Further, in 2006 his OBP against Righthanded was .370,
lower than his .422 against lefties, but still not bad.
Sorry, but I still wish that the Jays had kept Reed over Shannon.
MW: I understand, and a lot of people feel the same way, but plain and simple Shannon Stewart is a better offensive player in the overall. It doesn’t mean Reed can’t have a better year, by any means, but no one knows how a guy is going to do, they just know what he’s done.
- NormWhat is it with Ricciardi? Why do the Jays simply cut people instead of trading them or waiving them? Is there no possible return we can get?
MW: If you were another GM, with the contract that Thomas had, would you have had any interest in trading for him?
- Sam McLeanGut Pesach Michael,
Forgive me if I’m about to commit baseball blasphemy, but I have a thought experiment to pursue:
What would have been the ramifications (contractual, political, etc) of assigning Hurt to the Chiefs so that he get find his timing roasting AAA pitching? Would the vesting option have counted minor-league plate appearances?
Cheers,
Matt in KW
MW: Thomas has too much tenure in the game to be simply sent down to the minors. He would have to approve of the move, which was never going to happen.
- Matt in KWI thought Frank was out of his funk early, but it seems as though his struggles have come back and he was shown the door.
As much as I like Frank, I am actually happy that the Jays were to release him. They brought him here to hit and he hasn’t done it consistently. He can’t play in the field so why keep him around. I woudl rather have a roster spot used up by a guy who maybe can’t hit 30-40 homeruns, but can play in the field, hit more consistently, pinch-run/hit on his days off, and steal the odd base (Scott Rolen fits this bill perfectly).
I believe the return of Scott Rolen will have everybody forgetting about Frank Thomas come June.
MW: Whether the Jays make the playoffs or not, I think Frank Thomas is going to be a story around here all season long.
- MarkGreat game today, David Eckstein came through big time! The best part though, was Gibby letting Burnett finish the fifth inning greatly increasing his confidence! This game was very well managed.
- ColinIf A.J. can control his curveball he will be the Jays number one man. But hopefully B.J. can get to 100% soon because it’s scary watching Accardo try to save a game. I think last year he was an over achiever.
On Jaystalk this afternoon someone mentioned how the Jays effectively paid $20 million (or is it only $16?) for one year of Frank Thomas. You skipped over the obvious and expressed relief that we won’t have to pay him another $10 mil next year. The obvious is that Riccardi managed to pay a slightly above average batter (and nothing else – not defender, base-runner, teammate [yes, I'm assuming. Don't jump on me for it.], clutch player…). Anyway, that would have to count as a bust, no? For the record.
Second, you sound very sure that Bonds in T.O. isn’t happening – I’m just wondering what you base this assurance on. Just the fact that no one has ever said anything? Have you heard denials? Or is it a gut feeling – is this somehow contrary to what you know of Riccardi/Godfrey/Rogers?
MW: It’s absolutely contrary to what I know about Godfrey/Rogers, but it’s unfortunate. The obvious is that the Jays seriously overpaid Thomas for a year + 16 games, but once the contract is signed, it’s a sunk cost. He was untradeable, so there was no way they were going to recover it. A bad sign in retrospect? That question doesn’t even need to be asked.
- RussellWhat do we think of Reed Johnson hitting .354 with the Cubs and forcing the issue to be an everyday outfielder for that contender over there? The rush to move Johnson out of Toronto puzzles me – if it’s all about winning this year – what could it have hurt to keep him around?
MW: We think that it’s April 20th.
- TravisMike – now that we are past the “Thomas Frown Affair” the Jays can move on with the task of finding ways to win at that 3/5 clip they need to stay in contention.
I like the swift manner JP handled this – regardless of the vesting issue being the catalyst or not. I support your view that the Jays simply could not afford to wait 4-6 weeks for the #5 hitter to produce. In my view the Jays are a little weaker in offensive potential now – until Rolen returns. That does not mean disaster as the the team has shown willingness to find other ways to get extra runs (stealing bases, squeeze plays).
The fact remains the Jays have been in every game this year, and we’re like 2-5 in 1 run games. So a few more timely hits and we’re there.
Final point – Listening to Jays Talk today (Sunday) you said multiple times that getting Bonds “won’t happen”. Maybe you offered an explanation and I missed it while driving. If you feel the objection is money – I would hope Sr Management recognizes Bonds joining the Jays would mean significant ticket sales and merchandise revenue increase.
thanks.
MW: I think money is a part of why Bonds won’t come here, but I think baggage is the greater part of it, which is unfortunate.
- Ian CHi Mike, me again
(#68 on Jesse Carlton for President) and (#83 on Roy Halladay is a .500 pitcher) classic title on the Halladay one, way to patronize your listener / readers.
When you use terms like “that’s a pretty serious accusation”, and “not that I have to justify myself to you”, it makes you sound pretty guilty, and it almost makes you sound like your hiding something. You should probable continue to use phrases like, “because almost all”, and “most young pitchers tend to”. That way you can continue to give your opinion without actually sticking your neck out, so people can’t call you on anything. Which isn’t fair, because you call everybody on everything.
By the way when you refer to Marcum as “very, very good”, and “almost all young pitchers take a step back after their breakthrough seasons”. Here are some “very, very good” young pitchers from the last half dozen years(close to Marcum’s age or younger) who didn’t take a step back after their breakthrough seasons, Kazmir, Beckett, Wang, Sabathia, Sheets, Oswalt, Zambrano, Santana, Peavy, with some honorable mention to some good pitchers Zito, Cain, Hernandez, Bedard, Young, Francis. I was just wondering what you meant by “almost all”? Or does that only get applied to pitchers that aren’t “very, very good”?
MW: I will respond to that when I have the time to look those guys up. I have a VERY hard time believing that they all improved after their breakthrough seasons.
- SteveMike,
I would love to see Barry in Toronto because I would love to see Toronto have the best chance to win.
You never know, since J.P. dumped Frank he might be desperate enough to sign him… then again, maybe not.
If he did who would loose their roster spot when Scott Roland comes back?
Mark
MW: Bonds won’t sign between now and when Rolen comes back.
- markSad to see the Big Hurt go, but it appeared to be a good call under the cirsumstances.
If the Jays do spend the money and bring in Bonds, they will lose commenter as a fan.
- HuguenotMike,
Whilst in a game chat today one of the posters mentioned that the Jays radio broadcast crew mentioned something about Thomas and cancer in the clubhouse.
Can you clarify this?
MW: Jerry said something about how Thomas became a cancer in the White Sox’ clubhouse at the end of his tenure in Chicago.
- Peter LahayGood riddance to the big fat
pantload. He showed no class whatsoever by refusing to
congratulate his team-mates
after their victory.
If a team does sign him & he
reaches the 304 AB’s, who
is resosible for next year’s
10 Mil ? The Jays or the
new team ?
MW: Nobody. That’s gone now, he’ll sign a brand-new contract.
- LoboHi Mike,
If F.Thomas can’t hit every April & May, He should have worked hard at batting practice starting in Janurary and should have played in EVERY game (four at bats) in March in Florida. I’m thrilled to hear that Diaz and Adam Lind are
coming up. Both
may have great seasons and establish themselves this year. Last year I heard the Blue Jays brass are so impressed with Curtis Thigpens
defensive skills that they want to switch him to another position. Do you know which position? Like maby shortstop?
Larry
MW: They’re impressed with Thigpen’s athleticism and talked last year about moving him to second, third or the outfield so they don’t waste his legs behind the plate. This year, though, they’re back on the catching bandwagon with him.
- Larry MurrFrank Thomas never should have been given that contract in the first place, another JP waste of Rogers money time to cal this guy to task it is bad move after bad move.
- JustinStairs and Thomas seem pretty comparable at this stage of their careers. So if they want to go with one and not the other, especially since Stairs is a lefty, so be it.
I just don’t understand why this move wasn’t made in spring training. What have the Jays learned in the past 60 AB that they didn’t know before?
And it’s Barajas who takes over as the right side of the DH platoon and Lind doesn’t get the call? Something tells me this isn’t the baseball move Gibbons and Ricciardi claim it is.
Thomas has a .639 OPS this year.
Players OPS’ lower than Thomas and less than 100 AB this year:
-Carl Crawford .628 OPS
-Ryan Zimmerman .586 OPS
-Russell Martin .628 OPS
-Ryan Braun .615 OPS
-Jose Guilen .512 OPS
-Placido Polanco .459 OPS
-Robinson Cano .434 OPS
-Alfonso Soriano .528 OPS
-David friggin’ Ortiz .507 OPS
I’m not quite sure where everyone would play–Zimmerman could probably handle short–but I’m pretty sure that lineup would lead the league in runs scored come September.
Yes Thomas is old, and less he’s less likely to bounce back than the others. But his underlying skills are still good. That ten pitch AB against Bautista, what turned out to be the last of his career as a Jay, to me showed he still has something.
The Jays decision to bench Thomas indefinitely and release him is only contributing to their reputation as a bunch of asses.
Hillenbrand, Lilly, even Glaus and Keith Law, Hudson reprimanded for his pimp comments, calling out Burnett, even the BJ Ryan and Falsano untruths… I know we can look at each case individually and explain away the issue, but at some point you got to look for common denominator. And for a team that’s had a hard time attracting talent (overpaying to get aging and/or injury prone free agents), to an outsider the way the Jays handle personnel moves can’t help make Toronto seem an even less desirable place to play.
MW: Lind didn’t get the call because he’s hurt, he’ll be up within the week.
- MichaelHi Mike,I’m a little surprised by the timing of the whole Thomas fisco in that they could have benched him Saturday by giving him an ‘off-day’ and then brought him back in on Sunday to face the lefty. (Not that he’s been hitting lefties either, but conventional wisdom…) Odd. I mean they won both games and all, but you’d think they’d at least have liked the possibility of having an extra bat off the bench. The timing also seems strange given Adam Lind’s neck, which clearly isn’t long term, but you think they’d have kept Thomas around until Lind was healthy.All of this raises the question of J.P.’s immediate plans with Robinson Diaz. Do you think they’re going to give him a serious look as a cather/back up? I know you’re high on Greg Zaun, but he hasn’t exactly been tearing the cover off the ball and he’s not getitng any younger. If Diaz shows well, do you think the door will be open for him to get some playing time even when Lind is healthy? (If so, will it be at either Zaun or Baraja’s expense?) The bottom or the order isn’t exactly striking fear into the opposition at this point…..I’m not sure why I’m asking these questions as: 1) You can’t know the answer to any of them because you don’t have secret access into the inner workings of J. P.’s brain.2) You implicitly said that you won’t be replying to any questions due to Passover.
Oh well,Something to think about.
MW: No, I said I wouldn’t reply to anything yesterday. I think Diaz is up for a few days until Rolen/Lind are healthy, to get a taste of the big-league life, and then will be back down in AAA for at least a couple of months. The best he can do, I think, is plant the seed by playing well that he could be ready to take over behind the plate later this season.
- peteHi Mike;
Something a little off topic with all the Frank Thomas drama, although seeing Barry Bonds in baby blue would be amazing…just for this year anyways.
My question is with regards to Greg Zaun. I was watching a broadcast that was on FSN (RSN took the day off I guess) and they had mentioned something about Zaun, back when he was with Texas or Florida, played in the hall of fame game in Cooperstown. During that game, he actually called his shot, and came through with a HR to right field. Did I hear this right. Is there any truth to this? If this happens to be true, his stock has just risen big time!!
MW: That’s the first I’ve heard of it. Awesome story.
- Andrew NMike first of all the best on the holidays for you.
I had posted some comments early on in spring training that Frank’s numbers (the ability to score runs and well as produce them) were in serious question so it comes as no surprise this has happened and in fact this is a very good thing for the Jays short term and long term.
I do have one other comment regarding Greg Zaun. I have watched a lot of games and I don’t know if it is just me but he is having great difficulty in receiving pitches and i don’t just mean balls in the dirt. I don’t know if it is a visual thing or age related but the Jays cannot afford to have this go on for a long time. Pitchers cannot be afraid to throw different pitches in different situations. I know from having some experience in this area that it it makes a huge ideerence to have a good receiver and perhaps the shift to Barajas is warranted notwithstanding Zaun is a much better offensive player. In this case I don’t think the jays can afford to sacrifice the poor defense for the better offense.
MW: Watching Zaun spend most of yesterday’s game in the dirt yesterday, I have no issue with his ability to block balls in the dirt. He has dropped a few pitches, it’s true, but usually that’s an indication that the signs have gotten crossed up.
- mike glattMike – why did I have to go to drunkjaysfan.com for some “insider” info on why the Jays won’t sign Bonds? i mean, they’re supposedly drunk! All that I got from you was what felt like a gut feeling.
MW: I reported on the Blue Jays saying they weren’t going to sign Barry Bonds back in December, February and March. I didn’t think it was necessary to go over that again. They’re not going to sign him. It sucks, but that’s the deal.
- RussellMike – why is Brandon League not been called up yet…is there a problem with his health or is it his performance? Also, Joe Inglett is truly a rally killer…another bases loaded left loaded today.
MW: League HAS not been called up yet because at the time they needed a pitcher, he hadn’t been down for 10 days, which is the minimum stay required on option. The Jays are going to leave him down in Syracuse for a while, though, to let him pitch a lot and get back to where he should be. And yeah, Inglett has had a rough time with the bases loaded on this homestand, but he’s 9 for 25 overall.
- JeremyMike please don’t let JP off the hook on the Frank Thomas release. this team needs offence it was something he needed to address in the off season and after cutting Thomas we put this lineup out for mondays games.
eck
stew
hill
rios
stairs
overbay
scutaro
inglett.
even with wells in that lineup its terrible, and the jays are going to pretend to be a contender thats a joke.
MW: Hey! That line-up got six hits!
- Dan M.Mike:
Frank Thomas was working deep counts, taking walks, hitting a few home runs and getting robbed of a hit here and there. Everyone knew he would come around for more regular production. Currently, he has better numbers than David Ortiz, Gary Sheffield, Jim Thome, Jose Vidro etc. Guess what, they are still on their teams because two weeks is not a season (and a few of those players make more than Thomas).
This move was a way to save cash next year, but I wanted to win this year. I spent a lot in tickets and time. If the Jays want to save money, that is fine because I can save money too. I really hope the money they “save” (as well as Burnett coming off the books) goes back to building this ballclub with a big signing like Furcal or Teixeira.
If I show up to the ballpark again and Rod Barajas is hitting 5th in the DH spot, I am going home.
MW: Thomas had four great games in a row from April 4-8, and outside those games, he was hitting .114/.298/.114 – way worse than any of those other games save for Sheffield, and he’s hurt. Thomas was not helping them win this year, though I continue to believe that he’ll have a great June-September, like he always does. And you’re free to go home if you want, but know this: In the history of the Blue Jays’ franchise, they have NEVER lost with Rod Barajas hitting 5th as the DH.
- Jim BSome excellent journalism here.
http://www.thestar.com/article/416532
Yes, he reached base 100 times on walks and hit-by-pitch, but most times that was just clogging the basepaths.
- GregJPI think it was a good move to release Thomas. However, the Jays MUST sign Bonds or the offense will dropoff in June-September. I mean, the offense was questionable before and now it going to be worse without Thomas. How are the Jays going to compete with the Red Sox and Yankees with such a crappy offense? Lind is alright, but Bonds would be a huge upgrade. Also, it appears our offense now will not be so righty heavy which is great news. Hopefully, they can beat up right handed pitchers now. They face them most of the time anyway.
- aviGood idea waving Frank. I just don’t see him hitting out of this slump like he has done in the past. It’s going to be interesting to see where he ends up.
AJ pitched all right the other night, in and out of trouble, but got some important outs. What is the deal with his deuce? He physically cant’t keep it out of the dirt, it’s personally boggling. I actually feel for him because I think he knows he would be nearly unhittable if he had that pitch.
Is Barry Bonds in a Jay’s uniform actually plausible? I wouldn’t object, he’d fill the seats at least.
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- JamieHey Mike,
I just hit that link with the Griffin article… Can you please comment on that? I haven’t rolled my eyes at an article like that in a while…
MW: I don’t think it’s my place to comment on what other members of the media are doing.
- SteveMike how do you say things like “Thomas had four great games in a row from April 4-8, and outside those games, he was hitting .114/.298/.114 – way worse than any of those other games save for Sheffield”
Like you could also say things like “Frank Thomas his 26 homeruns last year but if you take away those 26 homeruns he doesn’t have any homeruns”
Like what kind of argument is taking away Thomas good games?
MW: You’re right, if you take away the 26 home runs, he didn’t hit any home runs last season. When a guy is disgusting outside four games over the course of 2 1/2 weeks, I don’t think it’s unfair to point that out.
- Dan M.I’d like to point out that when people were phoning in last year saying take thomas out of the line up you said it just takes time Thomas will come around and be the hitter he’s always been.
now all of sudden you in agreement with JP for cutting Thomas and using Rod Barajas who has a carrer .288 OBP in over 1400AB.
This is just an awful move Mike why are you defending JP and this move.
MW: I have been saying this time, too, that Thomas will come around in time. Last year, I wouldn’t have had a problem with him being sat here and there (though this wasn’t going to be a here and there thing). Like everyone says, you can’t take the first two months of a season off and then get going. That’s true to an extent, though not entirely, but I’m happy that they don’t want to spend another month waiting for Thomas to start hitting. It would be much better if they could keep him, and plug him in the line-up June 1 when the bat starts to heat up, but how exactly can you do that?
- Dan M.You know, Mike, no one would think less of you if you didn’t publish some of the antagonistic comments left by a handful of regular haters. (Heck, it’s not like we’d even know they were missing.) Blogs are opinion pieces, not news stories. I don’t know why people get so incensed by someone expressing an opinion in an opinion piece. I don’t agree with everything you say, but hey, it’s your blog, man. I just enjoy reading the perspective of someone who is privy to a little more inside information than the rest of us. Keep up the good work.
MW: Thanks. I did cut a couple of comments the last few days because of graphic obscenities.
- Rob