3:45 PM Eastern
I told you last night that the Blue Jays would most likely sign Brad Wilkerson, who had been released last week by the Mariners, and they did. But they weren’t done, also sending some cash to Texas in exchange for massively-meloned Kevin Mench. See, now that’s more like it.
While Wilkerson has been a very good hitter in the past and a not-so-good one lately, Mench can be otherwise known as “Crushy McCrushstein”when there’s a lefty on the mound. Mench is a career .303/.361/.563 against portsiders, and will fit in beautifully as Matt Stairs’ platoon partner at DH.
Wilkerson’s purpose, I think, is to give Lyle Overbay the occasional breather against lefties and Shannon Stewart the occasional breather against righties.
It’ll be difficult for the Jays to keep both Mench and Wilkerson long-term, though, because when David Eckstein and John McDonald come back, someone will have to join Jorge Velandia in being moved off the active roster. Of course, that’s over two weeks away, and of course, they could always cut down to a six-man bullpen - especially since by then B.J. Ryan will likely be even healthier.
Joe Inglett heads back down to Syracuse to make room for Mench, Wilkerson fills the spot that was vacated last night when Eckstein went on the DL. I expect to see both new guys in the line-up tonight against C.C. Sabathia, along with Velandia.
The Jays’ 40-man roster was full, so they had to drop two guys. Designated for assignment were Gustavo Chacin and Sergio Santos, which means the Jays have 10 days to either trade, release or outright them.
Santos was a 1st round pick of the D-Backs, and came over to the Jays in the Hudson-Glaus deal. He’ll be 25 in July, hasn’t hit over .244 in a minor-league season since 2004 and has had an obp over .288 only once since then. This season, he’s been struggling along at .183/.224/.237.
Chacin has been trying to get back off of last year’s injury, and has been getting killed in A-ball this season. In six starts, he’s 0-4, 7.00, having allowed 53 baserunners in 27 innings, striking out only 12.
I’m thinking the Jays get them both through waivers.
Yesssssssss!!!
I think JP must be reading my mind because Mench is exactly who I wanted him to sign and I know you wanted him too. Now Mench can proceed to go on a 7 game HR streak like he did a couple years ago. And as an added bonus, he can’t injure the best pitcher in baseball if he’s on the same side.
Yesssssssssssss!!
- ShawnI really like the Mench trade. He’ll help out against lefties and we got him for basically nothing.
Wilkerson gives them options and as you mentioned, once we have a full squad they could go a number of different ways. Cut down the pen to 6, get rid of Stewart or Wilkerson, etc.
Do you think these two will be in the lineup tonight, Mike? Oh and nice job on posting this and answering the comments so quickly!
MW: Thanks. I said in the post that I thought they’d both be in the line-up, though. Not the way they turned out to be, but in the line-up.
- Matt Soh my god gustavo chacin sucks. he’s sporting that record in A-ball? YIKES!!!1
do you think camp is gone once eckdonald comes back? that way we can keep both mench and wilkerson.
MW: I don’t know if the Jays would be comfortable with that, and now we have to see how long it’ll take Vernon Wells to come back from the wrist jammage.
- eyebleafHey Mike - Kevin Mench was the guy who hit a liner right back at Doc back in ‘05 and busted his leg. And he gets the start for Halladay tonight.
Do you think there are hard feelings there? I know Doc is a pretty classy guy - at this point - is that something they would laugh about?
Watch out for the come-backer tonight C.C.!
MW: I heard the first thing Halladay did when he saw Mench in the clubhouse was go up and punch him in the face.
- Andrew SWell you called the Wilkerson one Mike.
As bad as Chacin has been this year I have a feeling someone claims him but what do I know.
Mike if I can just respond to some of your callers/readers who critize J.P. for for dumb/untrue things for a secound.
J.P. has always had a plan that plan has always been to make the Jays the best team possible. So please everyone stop staying “he doesn’t have a plan” or “he can’t decide what idenity he wants this team to have” because you sound like morons.
Please all J.P. haters don’t mention that fact that he has signed guys like Ohka and John Thompson and they didn’t work out all GM’s do this its just the price of doing buisness in Major League baseball.
Theres so many more things I hate when people mention that I can’t think of right now.
J.P. has put together a tremendous pitching staff and bullpen and deserves full credit for it. If you want to critize J.P. Critize him for the fact that he’s put together an offense that sucks and he was one of the last ones to realize it.
- Dan M.Wilkerson AND Mench?
Yup, the plan is to time-machine this lineup back to 2004.
MW: I’ll buy that on Wilkerson but The Gantze Mench is a guy who can contribute.
- MichaelI hope Kevin Mench shows up to the clubhouse with a box of chocolates and some flowers tonight or Roy Halladay might kill him for taking away his 2nd Cy Young.
- AriWho in their pen has options? I think at this point they are losing the arm they try to send down if they go with a 6 man pen (which they should).
MW: Wolfe does, maybe Frasor, too. But again, let’s wait and see on Wells before we try to figure anything else out.
- MarkBefore you read this, let me stress that I am NOT blaming this game on Gibbons, it clearly was a result of their anemic offense. That being said, why on earth would he pull Jason Frasor for Jesse Carlson? They were down 3-0 and the guy hadn’t pitched in 2 weeks and he strikes out the first 3 of 4 yet John feels the need to go to one of his reliable relievers for 2 outs to get in the 9th?! Who knows, maybe if he is available in extra innings the Rays don’t get to see Camp until the 14th, maybe in the 15th. I recognize that Toronto’s pitching staff has great numbers but I feel that it is IN SPITE of Gibbons’ poor handling, and not a result of it. This team could be even better if he had a clue on how to handle a bullpen and didn’t make a mistake every single night.
MW: I don’t think you’re right.
- AriWait - why is Verlandia being played? I thought Scutaro was on a pretty decent roll with his batting?
MW: Turns out he’s not, I just thought he would. I figured they’d want to get a more real shorstop in behind Halladay, but Scutaro has indeed kept swinging it well.
- BrandonHi Mike, You know, you really do seem slightly pyschic sometimes, but I like the surprise addition. I have always been a closet Texas fan, or at least some of their talent, and I liked Mench a fair bit. He can probably add some good stuff, and he’s far less likely to break Halladay’s leg again if he’s on the same team.
My question would be, what do you think they will do when the short stops come home? I like the idea of a six man bull pen, but do you think there is some kind of plan already in action? Could there be a trade made to keep space for these guys? ( A sick feeling in my stomach has me worrying about Johnny Mac, would they trade him once he’s healthy?) Or, possibly, is there no real set in stone plan, but they’ll just wait a couple of weeks, see if anyone’s stinking it up real bad, new or old player, and then decide from there? Thanks.
MW: Asked and answered - but if Vernon is fine, it’s going to be an issue. I’d go with the six-man ‘pen, myself.
- kitaBoth of these guys can’t hurt.Sometimes a change of scenery helps.
- TPHowever,I agree with Zaunny’s comments last night about how they got to quit talking and start doing.The pieces are here for the most part,they just gotta execute and I think that is coming.Hopfully sooner than later.
Eesh. I suppose I get the Wilkerson thing, if for no other reason than he has some defensive utility and was once a fine hitter, so it’s worth the small risk to pick him up. Picking up Mench seems to be an implied admission that dropping the Big Hurt was a mistake? They’re both useless defensively and both have historically crushed lefties. How is Mench a better option if you’re already paying Thomas? I know Thomas had the vesting option, but that was still a very long way away when they cut him. Anywho…
MW: Keeping Frank here to be a platoon DH against lefties was not an option.
- James FiremanChacin cologe, now you don’t have to worry about the stench of giving up 5 runs in the 3rd to A ballers.
Mike,
Thanks for being the first to break the news. I guess J.P. figures there is a better chance of having one of two work out than one of one. Mench has not been overwhelming, batting .282 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 29 games for Triple-A Oklahoma, but I think he is worth the chance.
MW: There’s no risk here with either one of them.
- JWMike,
What is JP doing here??
I am seriously confused. I understand the acquisition of one of these players, but TWO??
C’mon, if JP had some real guts, he would trade one of either Rios or Wells, or them both to make a major shake-up to the offense.
Not bringing in dead-weight.
MW: Freely available talent is always worth a look-see. I don’t understand why anyone would have a problem bringing in two guys who have had success in the past for nothing but cash, and probably less than a million dollars combined. You’d really rather have Joe Inglett?
- MarkAre we sure McDonald and Eckstein will only be gone for 15 days? I know we need some LH bats, buts this seems risky - loose 2 shortstops - add 2 outfielders??
MW: We’re not sure about anything, but there’s a greater chance that they’ll have a use for Mench or Wilkerson or both longer-term than any scrap-heap shortstop they could have come up with. And for two weeks, using Scutaro and Velandia isn’t the end of the world.
- SteveI’m was hoping for something along like lines of “Blue Jays finally have a mesnch”; oh well, at least you scooped Griff by a half hour.
MW: The Blue Jays have lots of menschen on the team, but now they have Kevin “The Gantze” Mench.
- ZackMike
I forgot to mention that although last night was ugly in the 10th,the team did climb back against a pretty good closer.A week ago that wouldn’t be the case.So there is progress.Maybe I’m way out there,but I believe they will begin to execute more and turn it into successful season.
MW: There was a comment a couple of days ago who wrote that the Jays hadn’t had a hit all year off a good closer.
- TPAt this point J.P needs to quite trying to apply bandaids and show some guts and sign Barry Bonds. I remember when Gillick Showed Guts and traded Two Great Players in Tony Fernandez and Fred Mcgriff For what turned out to be the best Second baseman ever in Roberto Alamar and the man that brought us home in 93 in Joe Carter. Fans never worried about Pat Gillicks ability to scout and get great players from drafts or trades. The trade For Alamar was a big risk as they were giving up a great hitter in Mcgriff and one of the leagues best hitters and defensive player in Tony Fenandez. Gillick was always confident in what was coming back the other way and rightfully so because much of what we got in the Gillick era brought us the championship. There has been sixteen shortstops in the J.P Era. That to me is not confidence, It’s a guy that has no idea what he is doing.
MW: Interesting use of capitalization. The Blue Jays have had 16 people PLAY SHORTSTOP since Ricciardi got here, that’s not the same thing. From 1985-1993, the Jays (under Gillick) had 12 people play shortstop.
- JohnNice low-risk pickups, JP. One of them will stick (do well) with the team when the shortstops are back.
- brentHey Mike,
Still interested in finding out who your favourite Jay of all time is. (Playing wise) Pitcher and position player, who did you love to watch play the game more than anyone else?
MW: Who did I love to watch play the game, huh? The pitcher would have to be Stieb - best slider in the game, maybe ever, had a no hitter with two out in the ninth FOUR times - that’s just ridiculous. I know, I know, Koufax and Ryan did too. Position player? Can I go with Rick Bosetti? Cool basket catches, and legend has it, peed on every natural grass outfield on which he ever played.
- Scott BConsidering the finger, who do you think has had the best out of the Glaus, Rolen trade so far? Do you expect the answer will still be the same in september?
MW: The Blue Jays, and yes.
- Phil SmithIf the Jays were gonna bring two new guys in, I thought one of them might have been an infielder.
I don’t know a thing about Velandia. A quick search of mlb.com tells me he’s been a part-time major leaguer for 11 years. How do you think he’ll fare when called upon?
MW: It doesn’t really matter, he’s only going to play three or four games, at the most. He’ll be OK - unspectacular.
- DaveRHey Mike,
Before the season, I remember reading about a report that someone had done, using unorthodox, but legitmate stats to rank each player in the league at there position. Using these stats, and this ranking system, Derek Jeter was ranked as the worst shortstop (either in the AL or all of MLB, I don’t remember).
Do you have any idea what I’m talking about? And if so, could you point me to a website or something that covers all of this more detail?
Thanks, Mike! Love the job you do.
Reed Johnson fan for life!
MW: It might have been my newly-made-up WORD stat, though Jeter wasn’t the worst with that. Google “The Fielding Bible” and check out their plus/minus stat.
- MattWho gets sent down with Velandia when McDonald and Eckstein come back, Mench or Wilkerson and will they base it on performance or is there someone they would like to keep more than the other?
MW: Good question. Maybe it’ll be a pitcher - depends on how long Vernon is out with the wrist injury.
- ZacharySomething tells me that the first thing that Mench will do as a Blue jay is take Halladay out for dinner as penance for the liner that the former Texas Ranger hit that caused the shin bone breakage a couple of years ago
- MarcMike,
Great to see JP on the move here and wasting no time doing it - a man of his word from Wednesday nights show!
I can recall Wilkerson with the Expos and believe he played a lot of 1st base there - had something like 30+ homers one year. Maybe he likes the Canadian air and will start hitting a bit more up here - a change is as good as a rest!
Kevin Mench - hmm about all I can remember of him was being a utility O.F. - nevertheless kudos to JP for making moves -fast! If they work out I am sure they will find a way to hang on to whomever.
Gotta give you credit here Wilner your making a lot of the calls before they actually happen - Johnny Mac in for the clsoing innings in close games - Overbay coming around nicely - more everyday stuff for Stuart etc etc ….(by the way Mike I never said in my last post that “Stewart looks disinterested” - what I did say was it “sounded” that way as I never saw the game but could hear it as Rance Mullinicks stated that Stewart looks like he is just not in the game and had no idea what was going on at the plate - hence the reason for me saying “it sounded like it”). Poor choice of words by myself I agree as perhaps I should have said it sounded like he was more like pre-occupied. I can understand your comment as to what I wrote being ridiculous as it is likley you scan most of the posts due to the sheer number of them. No intent here to put Stewart down by any means. Hey we all have off days.
Hopefully new faces,the fact that JP is not waiting around for something to happen and the pounding in extra innings last night - all add up to a wake up call and will help out with thebnats.
Here’s to a nice Friday afternoon “cold one” - and a safe and successful road trip for yourself and the Jays!
MW: Thanks, but I don’t go on the road. I didn’t realize you were going off a comment you’d heard from someone else, but I think WAY too many fans think that players on the field just go through the motions a lot of the time, and it’s simply not the case.
- BobI think Mench is more likely to stay long term than Wilkerson b/c he is so good against lefties. Wilkerson is the same bat against everybody. Honestly, if you think it is so easy to get Bay from the Pirates than why have the Jays not done it already. Who knows how good Lind and Purcey, but I would bet they are not going to be all stars. Would you rather have bay everyday in left field or Wilkerson/Mench/Stewart? I prefer Bay for the offensive production he can provide. The team desperately needs offensive help.
MW: I love Jason Bay, but one of the worst things a team can do is give up way too much in trade out of panic. If the Jays’ offense begins to perform at a level that even assembles adequacy, never mind goodness, the need to acquire a guy like Bay isn’t as dire. And probably not dire enough to give up that much young, cheap, controllable talent.
- aviHey Mikey, I guess Eckstein must be pretty banged up or them to put him on the DL. When him and Macdonald comes back, who do you think would be the odd man or men out?
MW: See above.
- TomSo is it Matt Stairs DHing against righties and Kevin Mench DHing against lefties? Also when would Brad Wikerson be used?
MW: Read the post on which you’re commenting.
- andrewDoes it seem to you that Halladay has changed his approach the last few games. The numbers certainly suggest he has - his strikeouts are certainly up this year over the last few seasons. But just watching him pitch, he seems to be pitching around guys just a bit more - looking for the strikeout a bit more, less pitching to contact. Not that I think it’s necessarily a bad thing. Roy has always been on the lunatic fringe with his efficiency, to the point where it might be serving him well to get away from it a bit. I just get the feeling he doesn’t trust his defense as much this year. It will be interesting to see what his strikeout numbers are in future starts when McDonald is in the lineup.
MW: Interesting theory.
- James FiremanMarty Pevey is seriously a horrendous third base coach.
- AriWhat you think about you becoming the next gm of the maple leafs?
MW: Sure, I’ll win just as many Cups as the last bunch of guys did. Guaranteed.
- andrewHey Mike what’s happening?
Just finished coming home from a crazy long day at the office to see the Indians score 6 in the 7th. That sucks the bag…ya know?
Last nights game was a tough one and tonight’s is not turning out to be any better. I can’t really dwell on the home stand because in all reality we had a pretty good one. Most were talking about us spending the month of May working back up to .500 and we’re only 2 below (Soon to be three…maybe) and it’s only the 9th of the month.
Hey Mike, it’s obvious that we are going to hit better at some point. My concern is by how much. Going from terrible to bad or even half decent is obviously not a good thing….even with this pitching staff. Forget about the Bonds thing….integrity yada yada yada because it’s just not going to happen. People have often talked about trading for Bay (4 Purcey/Lind). What’s his contract status? I’d prefer to go after Dunn although I think it would be a long shot (Or at least incredibly expensive) to keep him.
Just wondering what the contract status is with Bay, and what your thoughts are on whether we can keep Dunn or Bay after the season. I’d also like to know what you think about what it would take, players-wise to get Dunn. I realize that pitching is scarce and you are not keen on selling Purcey, but I think if you had to ask whether or not the Bosox would again give up what could amount to be the best SS in baseball for many years to come for Beckett, Lowell (Although he was a throw in) and a WS they’d do it in a second. I think every championship team pulls triggers on trades that ring of the same scent. Some work and some don’t…..that’s always the tough part.
Oh yeah…I’m in agreement with your take on the whole “Good teams find ways to win those games” statement. It implies that they could have won if they wanted to. And good teams do lose games like that sometimes, a la Papplebon’s blown save the other night in D-town. However, I have to say that teams that consistently win games like that……are good teams.
If none of this makes sense don’t hold me accountable…..I am dead tired.
Thanks Mike…always a pleasure.
MW: Dead tired at 10:30 on a Friday night? Not good, not good. Bay’s contract status is in an answer to a comment in the previous post. The Beckett/Hanley trade was one made a team that was close to get over the top. The Jays have to get that close before they pull the trigger on something like that, I think, but once/if they do - all bets are off.
- Christopher Marinoniwhat is going on with not cutting to Jays Talk after the game online? I don’t want to hear Mccowan
MW: Sorry, I forgot to remind the op. I’ll try not to let it happen again.
- GIm not sure about wilkerson but i do like mench.
Im wondering though about past circumstances of this kind of offensive start for the Blue Jays. do teams like this usually get out of this funk and never return to a slump of this level later in the season?
If not then this cant be good. Sure the Jays will improve but if it comes back later(maybe in a possible playoff race in september) that would be very bad.
MW: No team has ever been this bad for an entire season. OK, maybe some teams have, but they’re among the worst historically. I think once they’re out of it, they’re out of it, and will be a decent offense - not great, maybe not even good, but at least not deplorable.
- Tim Goodwin“MW: I heard the first thing Halladay did when he saw Mench in the clubhouse was go up and punch him in the face.”
HAHAHAHHAHAHA!!!
That is DJF calibre hilariousness!
- JasonI am going way off-topic but I’d love to know your opinion on Ichiro. Let’s say he will have three more 200+ hits season, which will make it 10 straight seasons with 200+ hits. That will also take care of his batting average and OBP. Not to mention his breath taking fielding and that bullet throw from the deep. So Hall of Famer or no?
MW: Yup.
- BeburgHey Mike,
If Wells is out for an extended period and the Jays’ struggles continue, at what point do you think Burnett, Eckstein (if healthy), and Zaun start getting dangled?
By the way, how frustrated do you get with the callers who are upset with Ricciardi for not getting anyone better? Mench demolishes left-handers and didn’t cost even a C- minor leaguer. If the Jays get Hamilton or Bay, they’ll probably have to give up McGowan or Marcum. No thank you.]
MW: Not until the all-star break, and then only if they’re way out of it. It’s frustrating, for sure, but a lot of people are locked into their own opinions, and those opinions are fortified by other fans and people in the media who agree with them. I just try to stick to the facts, and sometimes that works.
- TimHi Mike,
I’m curious if you agree or disagree with the sentiment that this season, or at the latest next season is the Jays’ window of opportunity to make the playoffs, seeing as the Yankees’ starting rotation is shaky.
If so, wouldn’t it make sense to trade some future value to improve the team this season?
At the moment, the Blue Jays have the oldest set of position players (weighed by Plate Appearances) in the AL.
Combined with a lack of potential impact hitters in the minors outside of Snider, this does not seem to bode well for the team’s prospects over a 3-5 year horizon.
MW: Thing is, many have thought that about the Yankees for the last three seasons now.
- Robert DudekGood read…until I saw a comment saying the Jays next move should be to sign Barry Bonds.
Good grief. Seeing stuff like that from ‘knowledgeable’ Jays fans makes me want to bang my head against a wall.
MW: Ummmmm, they should sign Barry Bonds. They should have done it a month ago.
- TestSubjekt