Comments on: That Son of a Litsch Can Pitch http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/ Sat, 22 Nov 2008 08:44:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ari http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3520 Ari Mon, 05 May 2008 05:00:49 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3520 Sarcasm? MW: Huh? Again, don't expect me to know what you're talking about if you don't tell me what you're talking about. Sarcasm?

MW: Huh? Again, don’t expect me to know what you’re talking about if you don’t tell me what you’re talking about.

]]> By: avi http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3515 avi Mon, 05 May 2008 04:01:12 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3515 OBP is a very important offesive statistic. However, in the case of Overbay, I think,it is a little misleading. First of all, what is Overbays's slugging %. I guarantee you it is very poor and that is a very important statistic for a hitter as well, especially a first baseman. As a matter of fact, its.333 which is very poor. Secondly, what is his OBP against left handers?. Its probably also very poor since you are only telling us the stat vs. right handers. Now, of course, the team faces righties more than lefties, but Overbay is in the lineup against most lefties and the team does not need another black hole in the lineup. Lastly, his overall OPS(slugging and obp) is .706 which is awful for a hitter. Overbay is definitely walking , but he is not hitting doubles, triples, and homeruns. What is the real use of him considering that this team cannot drive in anyone anyway? You would be much better off to stop defending him because OBP does not tell the whole story. The reality is, he is having a poor season and the team does not need that. MW: The reality is that he's most certainly not having a poor season. The fact that people aren't driving him in when he gets on base can't be used as a reason to dismiss his ability to get on base. Against right-handers, he's simply getting out less often than anyone else on the team. Yes, he's weak against left-handers, but they've faced, what, seven lefties in 42 games this season? He's not hitting for power, and first base is traditionally a power position, but the Jays will still get 35 homers out of first base/second base, which is fine. It's ludicrous to suggest that Overbay is having a poor season. OBP is a very important offesive statistic. However, in the case of Overbay, I think,it is a little misleading. First of all, what is Overbays’s slugging %. I guarantee you it is very poor and that is a very important statistic for a hitter as well, especially a first baseman. As a matter of fact, its.333 which is very poor. Secondly, what is his OBP against left handers?. Its probably also very poor since you are only telling us the stat vs. right handers. Now, of course, the team faces righties more than lefties, but Overbay is in the lineup against most lefties and the team does not need another black hole in the lineup. Lastly, his overall OPS(slugging and obp) is .706 which is awful for a hitter. Overbay is definitely walking , but he is not hitting doubles, triples, and homeruns. What is the real use of him considering that this team cannot drive in anyone anyway? You would be much better off to stop defending him because OBP does not tell the whole story. The reality is, he is having a poor season and the team does not need that.

MW: The reality is that he’s most certainly not having a poor season. The fact that people aren’t driving him in when he gets on base can’t be used as a reason to dismiss his ability to get on base. Against right-handers, he’s simply getting out less often than anyone else on the team. Yes, he’s weak against left-handers, but they’ve faced, what, seven lefties in 42 games this season? He’s not hitting for power, and first base is traditionally a power position, but the Jays will still get 35 homers out of first base/second base, which is fine. It’s ludicrous to suggest that Overbay is having a poor season.

]]> By: Justin http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3514 Justin Mon, 05 May 2008 03:14:47 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3514 Hey Mike, I'm just wondering, that play today with Rios running into Cabrera. Should Rios have been called out on Interference. Cause Cabrera was "in the act of fielding" and Rios ran into him. MW: Nope, because Rios didn't actually interfere with Cabrera's ability to make the play. He got the ball and threw out Eckstein at first no problem. Hey Mike, I’m just wondering, that play today with Rios running into Cabrera. Should Rios have been called out on Interference. Cause Cabrera was “in the act of fielding” and Rios ran into him.

MW: Nope, because Rios didn’t actually interfere with Cabrera’s ability to make the play. He got the ball and threw out Eckstein at first no problem.

]]> By: Ari http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3513 Ari Mon, 05 May 2008 02:54:06 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3513 Rios' brainfarts on the base paths MUST stop. One of the vet players or even gasp coaches have got to give him a stern talking to about his base running. Heading into this season, it was assumed that Adam Lind would benefit from his first full season at AAA so he'd be ready for 2009. I don't see why the plan has changed all of a sudden just because we got rid of the cancer that was Thomas' base clogging bat. Kenny Lofton could probably be had very cheap. He's the perfect acquisition - he lets Lind develop in Syracuse. He can still hit righties, and he hits them well (.313/.386/.452 last year) enough to leadoff. Speed is something people always like up there, so hey, he brings that too. He also provides Gibbons with ability to slot Rios back down in an RBI spot. All this team is missing is a LF who can hit RHP, and Lofton to me seems like the obvious answer. MW: Good job throwing "base-clogging" in there. Always good to make a big point by using a statement that has no merit to it. I hear you on Lofton, and he seems like he'd be a good fit, but I'm willing to give Lind a chance to show that he can be the hitter they expect. His power potential can help a lot, if it's fulfilled, and if they're not going to bring in Bonds or Adam Dunn (yet), I'd like to see if Lind can do it. He's not killing them hitting 8th. Rios’ brainfarts on the base paths MUST stop. One of the vet players or even gasp coaches have got to give him a stern talking to about his base running.

Heading into this season, it was assumed that Adam Lind would benefit from his first full season at AAA so he’d be ready for 2009. I don’t see why the plan has changed all of a sudden just because we got rid of the cancer that was Thomas’ base clogging bat.

Kenny Lofton could probably be had very cheap. He’s the perfect acquisition - he lets Lind develop in Syracuse. He can still hit righties, and he hits them well (.313/.386/.452 last year) enough to leadoff. Speed is something people always like up there, so hey, he brings that too. He also provides Gibbons with ability to slot Rios back down in an RBI spot.

All this team is missing is a LF who can hit RHP, and Lofton to me seems like the obvious answer.

MW: Good job throwing “base-clogging” in there. Always good to make a big point by using a statement that has no merit to it. I hear you on Lofton, and he seems like he’d be a good fit, but I’m willing to give Lind a chance to show that he can be the hitter they expect. His power potential can help a lot, if it’s fulfilled, and if they’re not going to bring in Bonds or Adam Dunn (yet), I’d like to see if Lind can do it. He’s not killing them hitting 8th.

]]> By: Zack http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3512 Zack Mon, 05 May 2008 02:09:19 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3512 How much longer will Adam Lind struggle before he's back in Syracuse? Maybe Joe Inglett could do better than .053... MW: Inglett definitely could, but he'd probably hit .330 and everyone would complain about the DP's. Oh wait, that happened. Lind's ceiling is way higher than Mighty Joe's though, and I believe he'll hit, and hit a lot. How much longer will Adam Lind struggle before he’s back in Syracuse? Maybe Joe Inglett could do better than .053…

MW: Inglett definitely could, but he’d probably hit .330 and everyone would complain about the DP’s. Oh wait, that happened. Lind’s ceiling is way higher than Mighty Joe’s though, and I believe he’ll hit, and hit a lot.

]]> By: Peter B. http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3511 Peter B. Mon, 05 May 2008 02:02:55 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3511 Luckily for the Jays today, the umpire forgot that when a player has the ball and tags a runner on the basepath that they're out. Rios is really bad running the bases it seems. Granted the Jays got the hit to get the runs but 3 of those runs should never have counted because of that bad call. Luck like that won't last forever. The next 16 were shut down in order after that to finish the game and I think that needs to improve. MW: It sure does. The ump didn't see the tag, he was behind them. To the naked eye (without the benefit of replay) it didn't look to me like there was a tag, just looked like they bumped into each other and Cabrera's glove never got anywhere near Rios. It was a stupefying bit of baserunning, but just as bad defense, as Cabrera never made any kind of move towards a tag. Luckily for the Jays today, the umpire forgot that when a player has the ball and tags a runner on the basepath that they’re out. Rios is really bad running the bases it seems. Granted the Jays got the hit to get the runs but 3 of those runs should never have counted because of that bad call. Luck like that won’t last forever. The next 16 were shut down in order after that to finish the game and I think that needs to improve.

MW: It sure does. The ump didn’t see the tag, he was behind them. To the naked eye (without the benefit of replay) it didn’t look to me like there was a tag, just looked like they bumped into each other and Cabrera’s glove never got anywhere near Rios. It was a stupefying bit of baserunning, but just as bad defense, as Cabrera never made any kind of move towards a tag.

]]> By: andrew http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3510 andrew Mon, 05 May 2008 01:50:59 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3510 Man, we should trade Roy Hallday right now. Shouldn't a pitcher's win-loss record determine what kind of pitcher he is. But in all kidding aside, do you think Roy Hallday is frustrated that he isn't getting the run support he been getting over the last few starts and do you think he may seek a trade elsewhere? MW: I'm sure he's frustrated at not getting run support, but I'll bet he's more frustrated at giving up a three-spot right after he got a 4-0 lead. He's not going anywhere. Man, we should trade Roy Hallday right now. Shouldn’t a pitcher’s win-loss record determine what kind of pitcher he is. But in all
kidding aside, do you think Roy Hallday is frustrated that he isn’t getting the run support he been getting over the last few starts and do you think he may seek a trade elsewhere?

MW: I’m sure he’s frustrated at not getting run support, but I’ll bet he’s more frustrated at giving up a three-spot right after he got a 4-0 lead. He’s not going anywhere.

]]> By: Dave http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3509 Dave Mon, 05 May 2008 01:37:28 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3509 "Secondly, if that is true, then Marcum has to be considered not a 2.5, but a 1.. MW: If it is true, and I’ll try to find out if it is, that doesn’t mean he’s a # 1." I agree with you Mike, Marcum is not a number 1 just because of his numbers. I think it's mostly because he's a great guy and I think, he has had a positive impact on Litsch. Litsch really seems to be pitching more like Marcum now, with a lot more movement on his changeups. So for all the intangable Marcum brings to the table and his stellar pitching, i think thats why he's a #1 MW: Intangibles don't make you a staff ace. “Secondly, if that is true, then Marcum has to be considered not a 2.5, but a 1..

MW: If it is true, and I’ll try to find out if it is, that doesn’t mean he’s a # 1.”

I agree with you Mike, Marcum is not a number 1 just because of his numbers. I think it’s mostly because he’s a great guy and I think, he has had a positive impact on Litsch. Litsch really seems to be pitching more like Marcum now, with a lot more movement on his changeups. So for all the intangable Marcum brings to the table and his stellar pitching, i think thats why he’s a #1

MW: Intangibles don’t make you a staff ace.

]]> By: WillRain http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3508 WillRain Mon, 05 May 2008 01:27:09 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3508 Not sure what all the hubub about Jason Botts is, but what about Kevin Mench? The Rangers have to call him up or cut him loose soon and we already have a good track record of what he can do vs. LHP in the majors. I expect he'd be relatively cheap too given the circumstance. i admit I have no answer for the roster problem given that he share's Johnson's imbalance vs RH which would imply he's not going to get Stewart's job (sadly) but still, if you are looking to platoon someone with Stairs or Overbay at the plate, he certainly has the track record. Meanwhile, there's a lot to like about the last seven games so I'm not going to get too involved in a discussion of acquisition of more help right now. Keep up the good work Mike. ~Will MW: I'm not sure the Jays have a helmet that would fit Mench's massive melon, but other than that, he's a guy who has mashed lefties in the past. Still, though, I like having Stewart as that insurance policy in case they need an everyday guy, which Mench wouldn't be. But Stewart is definitely miscast as a DH against lefties. For that role, you could do so much better. Not sure what all the hubub about Jason Botts is, but what about Kevin Mench? The Rangers have to call him up or cut him loose soon and we already have a good track record of what he can do vs. LHP in the majors.

I expect he’d be relatively cheap too given the circumstance. i admit I have no answer for the roster problem given that he share’s Johnson’s imbalance vs RH which would imply he’s not going to get Stewart’s job (sadly) but still, if you are looking to platoon someone with Stairs or Overbay at the plate, he certainly has the track record.

Meanwhile, there’s a lot to like about the last seven games so I’m not going to get too involved in a discussion of acquisition of more help right now.

Keep up the good work Mike.

~Will

MW: I’m not sure the Jays have a helmet that would fit Mench’s massive melon, but other than that, he’s a guy who has mashed lefties in the past. Still, though, I like having Stewart as that insurance policy in case they need an everyday guy, which Mench wouldn’t be. But Stewart is definitely miscast as a DH against lefties. For that role, you could do so much better.

]]> By: Jack http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3507 Jack Mon, 05 May 2008 01:12:40 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/03/that-son-of-a-litsch-can-pitch/#comment-3507 Great outcome today (in spite of Eck) It's all speculation now, but JMac makes that play...absolutely. Overbay should get Lasek...he waved at pitches and struck out looking...but you think he's O.K. What do we know. They've got the brooms out tomorrow !!! Go J's !!(Gibbons,Ricciardi,and MacDonald) MW: I don't think he's OK, his .425 obp against right-handed pitchers PROVES he's OK. Great outcome today (in spite of Eck) It’s all speculation now, but JMac makes that play…absolutely. Overbay should get Lasek…he waved at pitches and struck out looking…but you think he’s O.K. What do we know.
They’ve got the brooms out tomorrow !!! Go J’s !!(Gibbons,Ricciardi,and MacDonald)

MW: I don’t think he’s OK, his .425 obp against right-handed pitchers PROVES he’s OK.

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