In any event, what I really want to say is that I can’t understand J.P. for the life of me. The Jays lose both of their shortstops, so he goes out and gets a couple of outfielders?!? That makes little sense to me, in and of itself. (Unless he only thought of it after Wells got injured, in which case it makes more sense, but still not too much sense; but I was under the impression that Wells got injured after they were acquired). But add the fact that the Jays have Adam Lind, who is better than both of them, and who the Jays gave up on way too early. Add the fact that (hate to bring this up) the Jays had so many outfielders they supposedly didn’t have any room for Reed Johnson. Now, as you pointed out, when all the injured players return there will be one player too many - but I wouldn’t be so quick to think that either Wilkerson or Mench will be the odd man out. Think about it: the Jays been after these guys for a few years, so they’re not going to just let either one of them go so easily. Personally, I think McDonald will be the guy to get axed; the Jays have repeatedly shown that they don’t understand the value he brings to the team. It will be a sad day in Toronto when Johnny Mac is left out to dry.

MW: I have trouble with the “two shorstops went down so J.P. got two outfielders” argument. Two shortsops went down for probably no more than 15-18 games each, and the Jays had a back-up with the big-league team in Scutaro and another in AAA in Velandia. They didn’t need to go out and get another shortstop. What they needed was a boost to the offense, so they took flyers on some freely available talent and brought in Wilkerson and Mench. Mench they needed, because they didn’t have a platoon partner for Stairs at DH. I’ll give you that the Jays don’t see McDonald’s value the way the rest of us seem to, but he has a two-year contract. I don’t think he goes and they keep Joe Inglett.

MW: Right.

MW: VERY impressive. Litsch has now gone 25 innings over four starts without issuing a walk. The last guy he walked was Nathan Haynes, on Arpil 22nd at Disneyworld. Litsch hasn’t actually walked someone in a real major-league stadium in over a month, not since April 11th at Texas.

MW: Swell. Ashby did that with Wilkerson’s go-ahead RBI single in the 4th, too!

I also read that article and I believe Rob_NS was referring to Joe Maddon, the Tampa Bay manager, and not John Madden the football analyst. John is, however, Joe Maddon’s middle name, although I suspect that is purely a coincidence.

MW: Ah-ha! Now that makes more sense.

“When a guy with a .360 lifetime OBP comes to the plate, he has about a 36% chance of getting on base, even if he’s just hitting .220/.310/.330 at that point.”

That’s like saying that the Jays should have signed Julio Franco before he got a chance to call it quits. Or perhaps they should go after Hank Aaron and convince him to play one more season.

Not that I’m calling Overbay old, I’m just trying to show how faulty that line of reasoning is. On the contrary, I’ve got no problems with Overbay, I think he’s great, and I’ve felt all along and still feel that he’ll come around. I think he should be hitting 5th, in the heart of the order. I feel like he hits better in the middle, that Stairs will do whatever he’ll do wherever he is in the lineup, and that it’s better not to have a guy in the heart of the order who frequently gets taken out for pinch runners late in close games (and Barry Bonds is not a helpful counter-example).

MW: Sorry - I should have added that Overbay is 31. You’re just being contrary for the sake of it - you couldn’t for a second have thought that was what I meant. Thanks for adding to the debate, though!

MW: His last three at-bats today looked great, and MUCH different from about the last 50 or so. He may be starting to come around. Maybe a lesson from Matt Stairs was just what he needed.

Bases Empty : .261/.324/.353
Men On : .305/.368/.408
RISP : .317/.388/.432
Bases Loaded : .489/.505/.693

A clutch hitter?!

MW: Tabler was patently ridiculous with the bases loaded, a fact well known when he played. I often wonder if now he raises his broadcasting to a different level with the bases loaded. I don’t know if his increases are statistically significant, but it certainly seems that way.

MW: Purcey is pitching on Friday because of the doubleheader they played on Monday. They need him to avoid throwing Burnett or Marcum on short rest. I’m with you on keeping Halladay on his regular day, a lot of teams do skip their 5th guy.