2:25 AM Eastern
Believe it or not, folks, the Blue Jays will not be swept in Oakland. Even though that’s what they always do, and they can’t sustain any kind of good run, and they’re terrible, they managed to beat the A’s 2-1 to improve their record in May to 18-9.
It’s funny, I took a look back at some of the comments from the end of April, and people were saying stuff like “if the Jays win 12 or 13 games in May, which is highly doubtful…..”. Hilarious, and it illustrates again just how long the season is and how quickly things can change. The Jays currently sit 2 1/2 games back of the wild card in the American League.
Tonight was vintage Roy Halladay, with a massive assist from Alex Rios. Halladay was in another of those “no-margin-for-error” games we’ve come to expect from these Blue Jays, and gave up a rocket to left-centre to Mark Ellis with two on and two out in the 6th that Rios chased down on the warning track. It was as spectacular as it was smooth from the speedy outfielder, and it saved the game. The batter before, Emil Brown, had hit a grounder to a drawn-in Lyle Overbay with a runner at third, and Overbay made a great throw (despite pinning the ball against his ribcage as he took it out of his glove), and Rod Barajas blocked the plate beautifully to ward off Jack Cust.
Rios completed his big night by doubling in the eventual winning run in the 9th, after Aaron Hill had bunted Shannon Stewart’s walk to second base. Stewart singled in the other Jays’ run, a fine night for him at the dish.
I’m not going to complain about that bunt, by the way, though nor am I going to say that if Hill hadn’t bunted, he’d have hit into a double play. The Jays had scored twice in their last 17 innings, and were in a tie game with the 3-4-5 hitters coming up, nobody out and a hitter at the plate who was 6-for-his-last 33 (.182). In the 9th inning, that’s a really solid time to bunt.
We saw a nervous ninth from B.J. Ryan that included a pair of walks (bring back any Oakland nightmares, anyone?), but he’s now 12-for-12 in save situations and has given up just one run since April of 2007, that’s a pretty good run.
Those of you who have been dying to see Rod Barajas usurp Gregg Zaun and become the everyday catcher have had your wish granted. Zaun felt something in his right elbow during batting practice Tuesday, and has been placed on the disabled list with mild inflammation. Barajas is the man for the next two weeks, with the occasional back-uppage from Curtis Thigpen. I have a feeling that The Captain getting regular work might not be the panacea so many seem to believe it will be, but we’ll see.
Rich Harden pitched great tonight, and how cool is it that he has a little Canadian flag on his glove? Awesome, and he may be a free agent this winter (the A’s have a $7 million club option). If only he could stay healthy. I just hope that if the A’s pick the option up, they let him pitch in the World Baseball Festival next year, though I have strong doubts.
We had the pre-game Wednesdays with J.P., and he resolved once and for all (though probably not once and for all) that he never said anything about a five-year plan. And Neil, who makes up numbers and believes that 16 teams make the playoffs in Major League Baseball, called. You can hear it all right here:
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There was also a post-game JaysTalk. Enjoy!
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Comments are welcome – The JaysTalk continues 24/7, even though there will probably be no actual The JaysTalk after the series finale, in which the Jays will, sadly, get swept. Because they always do.
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Hey Mike,
I’m not sure if this has been asked already but here it goes. When Vernon Wells comes back is there any chance of seeing Rios stay in center? I think that the “pressure” or being the captain of the outfield has made Rios better. He looks like hes getting to balls faster and we aren’t seeing his usually laziness in getting to those easy fly balls. I personally would love to see him stay there because he seems to have his throw from center down pat, tailing to the perfect spot for the cather. And especially after Vernon’s struggles with those plays in Boston, I would like to see him stay in center. However, Vernon is a gold glover and is no slouch himself denfensively, so I just wanted to get your opinion on whether Rios will stay in center and what you personally would like to see in the outfield.
MW: Rios won’t stay in centre, and I don’t think he should.
- Matthew FabbricinoI have no idea why, or number to back it up but i dont mind brad wilkerson…dont think he should have been in the leadoff spot but hes played ok the last few games scored a big run tonight
MW: The reason you don’t mind him is that the last few days, the one time per game he’s managed to get himself on base has been in a pretty good spot. There’s definitely something to be said for that, but it’s sadly not a repeatable skill.
- barryMike – the sarcasm really hurts. Irony fine – but sarcasm is painful. Never mind, great victory tonight. However what statistic measures Halladay buckling down when the game was on the line? Even in baseball with all the numbers and scientific analysis, chemistry matters, courage matters. The Doc has it while others on the staff, who perhaps should be traded, don’t. Awesome game, awesome show, awesome blog. We should all be like how Doc pitches in all that we say and what we do!
MW: I think Roy Halladay is awesome, a potential future Hall of Famer and the best starting pitcher in the American League. But I don’t think chemistry, courage or his “ability to buckle down” had anything to do with Rios making that terrific catch in the 6th.
- DanielMike,
As someone who lives out of market (Kingston, to be exact), I appreciate that WWJP and JaysTalk are posted nightly. I try to listen live as much as possible, but the podcasts are appreciated greatly.
I am a long time listener who will call in next Wednesday to talk to JP because I have questions about the minors that, no offense, you cannot answer.
The main reason I do not call into your show is because I find that I agree with you 95% of the time. You are far too civil with those that call into your show, I do not know how you have managed NOT to swear on air at callers that suggest the idiotic things.
Reading between the lines, JP has said that he will not be trading Lind this season, and that he sees Dunn as a long-term DH. I think that this means JP has considered trading for Dunn to be the LF this year, signing him long(ish)-term, and then having Lind, Dunn and Stairs for Lf and DH next year, followed by Lind, Dunn and Snider filling out LF, DH and 1B in ’10. What do you believe that the Jays will have to give up to get Dunn this year, considering Lind and Snider will not be included in any potential deal?
MW: Well, you never know who might be included if the dance partner demands it, but I think the Jays can get Dunn for Purcey or Cecil or both, which I would do. If Dunn came over, though, he’d be the DH and Stairs would go out to left.
- PeterI was trying to say Jeff Kent. He will be the first guy to have come through the Jays system to make the Hall, me thinks.
MW: Ahhhh, Jeff Kent. You’re right. You’ve got to get a cell phone with better reception.
- Josh in TorontoThe weirdest part of this season for the Jays is that they have had a chance to win just about every game they’ve played. Every game! The only exceptions were the blowout loss in Cleveland, the blowout loss in Philadelphia and (maybe) that 5-1 loss to Detroit where the Jays fell behind early, but even still, the final was only 5-1.
So that’s three losses out of 26 that were never in doubt. If Toronto had won less than half of those 23 (say, 11-12), they’d have 40 wins right now and by far the best record in baseball. Heck, if they 6-17, they’d have the best record in the league.
Anyway, a buddy of mine and I were having one of those ‘all-time Jays team’ arguments recently, and he made the mind-blowing statement that he didn’t think Halladay deserved a spot in the all-time team starting rotation. Seriously, He claimed “maybe in the future, but he hasn’t quite done enough yet.” I was flabbergasted. His choices were Stieb, Clancy, Key, Hentgen and Clemens. My friend is a big fan of JaysTalk and takes your opinion on the Blue Jays very seriously, so please Mike, tell him he’s out of his mind and maybe he’ll snap out of it.
MW: He’s out of his mind. Halladay goes in there ahead of Key, Clancy and Hentgen easily.
- Alex PMike, there is NO WAY vernon makes that catch that rios made for 2 reasons. Rios is faster and he is at least 6 inches taller with a longer reach. I thought that ball was in for sure. He had to stretch on a dead run to make that catch. Vernon is really overrated. I think a lot of cf’s don’t make that catch. I would move vw to right field when he gets back but that will never happen.
Mike, I would like you to revisit some of your past comments. 1 – you said barajas was a horrible hitter when he was signed and was no better than sal fasano. barajas has proven you wrong. 2 – you said orioles will lose 100 games – wrong 3 – you said jays will finish 10 games ahead of oakland – wrong
just admit you are wrong and we can move on to JP’s 15 year plan
MW: 55 games proves nothing. Watch Barajas play every day for a couple of weeks and see how well he hits. The Orioles could still lose 100 games, they might not, but they still could – there are over 100 games left. Same for your third point. How can I be wrong about how teams will FINISH when it’s still May?
- roccoThere’s only been 3 games where the difference between getting 0 and 2 runs made a difference, so I think you are reading way too much into this 28-16 record. Sure, the Jays are 1-10 when they score less than 2 runs, but in 70+% of those losses the Jays scoring a 2nd run was moot. I can’t imagine many .500 teams have much better than a 1-10 record when scoring under 2 runs, so why harp on it (The mighty Red Sox are 1-5 here, and the Yankees are 1-6). All the 28-16 points to is the ineptitude of our offense, it doesn’t make any sort of statement that if they score two runs they will win the game. That’s where that caller who wanted to bunt every inning was confused.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/stats/playercompare?sort=23&cat=Batting&pids%5B7118%5D=1&pids%5B5509%5D=1
On another note, here’s a weekly check-in on the Johnson vs. Stewart debate. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not one of those Neo-Nazi Joe-Inglett lovers you joked about tonight that was in love with Reed…but I wasn’t thrilled with the idea of Shannon Stewart as his replacement. His May has been nice and might be a better reflection of what Shannon can do as an everyday regular. He has a .294/.351/.353 May line, so as Dennis Green would say, HE IS WHO WE THOUGHT HE WAS.
Playoffs?!
(Hope you’re somewhat of an NFL fan, or those two may have gone completely over your head)
MW: Again with the Nazi reference? I don’t get it.
- AriMike-
It seems to me that Halladay doesn’t get enough appreciation north of the Border, let alone in the wide world to our south. Are we too used to his brilliance?
At the moment, his WHIP is tied for third in the Majors, he’s leading the AL in strikouts, leading the majors in BB/9, K/BB and IP. And, of course, he has more Complete Games than 2/3 of the Senior Circuit.
What has impressed me this year is that he seems to be going for the jugular more often- and as a result, we’re seeing an increase in his strikeout rate -amazingly, without affecting his efficiency regarding pitch count. Has Halladay made any adjustments this season that you’re aware of?
So three questions:
1) Has Halladay made any adjustments this season that you’re aware of?
2) Where does Halladay fit among the baseball’s elite pitchers? I think most people would take Santana ahead of him, but is there anyone else he doesn’t match up to?
3) Given the anti-J.P. mania of so many posters here, can we agree that given his brilliant appreciation of Halladay’s ability, George W. Bush should be anointed the GM in waiting? I hear he’ll soon be available.
MW: I don’t believe he’s made any adjustment, though it’d be interesting to see if he’s throwing the curve more often to help set up the strikeouts. I don’t think there’s any question that Halladay is an elite-level starting pitcher. Best in the A.L., I believe and you could argue that he’s the best there is. George W. isn’t the answer, it’s Gord Ash. He drafted Halladay (and Wells and Rios and McGowan) after all!
- gabrielOnce Shannon got on first, my first reaction when Aaron Hill was up knewing he was struggling his bunt him over. I think its hillarious that people say the Jays will get swept eventhough this is the hottest stretch in quite sometime. Bring in Dunn and that would put the Jays over the top and into at least the WC.
MW: And none of those people called in after or, to this point, have posted a comment.
- Steve.329/.357/.524 Bengie sure looks like a carrier to me.
MW: A carrier of what?
- AriIs that game today on Jays vision or not televised at all?
MW: It’ll be on the digital channel thing.
- DaveGood morning Mike, hope you’re well. I keep falling asleep on the couch during these west coast games; honestly, last night I fell asleep during Hill’s first at bat, so I saw virtually none of the game. I woke up at the very end, and was looking forward to reading your blog today, so I could find out what happened. I’m happy with the win for sure, even just because it minimizes all the sweep patterns people believe in that you referenced in your first paragraph.
I have a question regarding Thigpen’s call up. I asked you a while back what was happening with him, and you mentioned that you thought the Jays were basically phasing him out of catching into a infield utility sort of role. So, why call him up now? Is Diaz still hurt? Are the other two just not ready? I am actually pretty ‘meh’ on Barajas, I much prefer Zaun, and I’m curious as to the reasons behind this call up. Thanks Mike.
MW: Yes to both your questions.
- kitaI’ve never seen such a lousy attempt to steal a base. What was the reasoning behind stealing a base from the good ol’ Stairs? He’s 40 and he can’t run, I didnt get that call at all.
Let me admit, I’ve taken Doc for granted. He’s like my other favorite player, Kobe Bryant, they hardly have a bad game. And yeah that Milton Bradley home run in 2006 took the wind out of the Jays and thankfully Ryan didnt mess up again.
What do you think about Bobby Crosby. He’s an above averag SS, aint he?
MW: Didn’t you see that horrible swing from Lyle Overbay? It was a blown hit-and-run. Stairs isn’t going to attempt a straight steal. I think Crosby is OK. Above-average defensively, often brutal offensively, can’t stay healthy.
- BeburgMike,
Based on value alone, who do you think was JP’s best acquisition this year?
I would like to say Marco Scutaro. I remember last year that he always seemed to have a big hit or two against the Jays and he seems to be delivering again this year.
I think the Jays would be just fine with a platoon of Scoot and Johnny Mac at that price. That way they can spend their money more wisely on say a bonafide starter in free agency next year, since AJ Burnett is gonzo. What do you think?
MW: I don’t know how comfortable I’d be with that. Scoot got exposed when he had to fill in for Scott Rolen in April, but he hasn’t gotten exposed yet this time. I think, based on value for the dollar alone, that Jesse Carlson was J.P.’s best acquisition this off-season.
- MarkYou know, Mike, judging from the quality of some of the posts here, you apparently do have some listeners who may actually have a clue….too bad few of them show up on Jays Talk.
MW: Too bad, indeed.
- FoxyMike, in your previous blog, you asked to hear from the “silent majority” who are not dissatisfied with JP Ricciardi. Not sure whether I classify as “silent”, since I’ve posted a number of items on your blogs, but I can’t recall whether or not I’ve ever specifically supported JP. If not, I hereby put myself in that camp!
I also support John Gibbons, whom I believe to be doing an excellent managerial job.
And just to complete the “management roster”, the jury is still out (for me) on Gary Denbo and Marty Pevey, on the grounds of “small sample size”.
As to the players, I prefer Zaun to Barajas (and have said so previously), I like Overbay a lot (especially defensively, in spite of the error the other night — how many other errors has he prevented!!!), I would like to see MacDonald playing more often (when healthy, of course — again, for his defense), and I HOPE the Jays can get by this year with Adam Lind playing a full year in AAA. I’m not yet convinced he can hit ML pitching on a regular basis, and think he needs the additional time down at ‘cuse.
I think that completes my “voting”, at least on most of the recent issues.
- NormHey Mike,
When do you think Thigpen gets a shot to be the Jays everyday catcher?
MW: I don’t.
- ZacharyDammit I’m one of the few Zaun fans around here. He’s a good catcher and I like him a lot. I don’t dislike Barajas, so nothing against him. But Zaunie’s my guy.
- reyesHi Mike,
Love the show. Just wanted a simple question that I just don’t see getting answered. I know baseball is a tough game to win the world series and only a select few make the playoffs. JP says there was no 5 year plan. Gibbons is managing the best of his career according to JP and all is great. Let us say the Jays don’t make the playoffs and end up with 84-87 wins. Would you be happy with the season as a whole? How long would the Jays have to go without making the playoffs before you think a change would need to be made in the GM office and same thing for the coach?
MW: It’s manager in baseball. It would depend, as I’ve said before, how they got to 84-87 wins. You don’t just make the playoffs because you have a good team and “it’s your turn”. There are more than four playoff-worthy teams in the A.L., and some aren’t going to make it. The key is to look at how and why they didn’t make it.
- BobMike,
there is no doubt that being up 7-3 in the 7th and lossing isn’t fun. But its over quick, at least faster than watching a great pitching preformance get wasted by hitters unable to push two runs across the plate over 9 innings despite putting men on base.
Anyway, did you see the SI players poll on the teams with the best starting pitching? Jays didn’t crack the top 5.
MW: The Jays get no respect.
- JWI have some theories about why J.P. is generally not well-liked:
1. Unfortunately human nature enjoys watching the failures of others. Not that J.P. is a failure but he has not had any real success yet. People like to say “I told you so” even if they didn’t say anything.
2. I think people generally view J.P. as someone who has an air of smugness about him. He came to the Jays and replaced a well-liked GM in Gord Ash, and he seemed to have an attitude that he was here to “clean up the mess” left by Ash and get the team into the playoffs. Unfortunately the mess doesn’t seem to be much better than it was before.
I believe J.P. was recently asked to compare himself to Pat Gillick. He said something to the effect that if had as much time to work and win a World Series as Gillick had it would be a more fair comparison. Gillick started from scratch in 1977 and had a very competitive team 7 years later and a pennant winning team a year after that. I realize Pat Gillick is a very high standard to compare anyone to and perhaps that should have been J.P.’s answer.
Thanks as always.
MW: J.P. did say that, as well, as part of his answer. Yes, in Gillick’s 7th season he had a very competitive team that was in the race until mid-to-late-August. In his 8th season, they weren’t “competitive” despite being better, because of the Tigers’ fantastic season. Some would argue, though, that it’s easier to start from scratch than to start with a listing team with a bloated payroll. No arguing Gillick’s greatness, though- he’s done it with four teams.
- Rob H.Hi Mike,
Couple things I’ve noticed over last couple of games.
Roy still not getting run support by getting even better and winning those games he was losing earlier.
Rios looks real good in Center. Catch last night was very “Devonesque”.
The team defence has gone up a notch in the last week or so and I really think that is helping with the confidence of this team.
I have to admit that I am pleasantly suprised by this turn around. I am jays fan first…always have been. Thought it was frustrating to watch april this year I coulnd’t not watch and had to follow what is going on.
MW: You’ll take years off your life if you keep riding the roller coaster. I don’t think the defense has improved over the last week at all, this is a very good defensive team.
- MathewMike,
Another great Jays Talk.
I agree with you 100% about the whole bunting thing. And for all the callers you think the Jays should bunt every inning they have a runner on first with no outs, point them to the A’s 7th inning where Suzuki struck out on a foul bunt and the A’s got no runs. (Or later the A’s 9th where they bunted again and got no runs.)
I did want you to clarify a bit when you said Hill’s manifest destiny is to be a #2 hitter. That seems to completely fly in the face of what you’ve said about Overbay in the 2 spot. So I’m guessing you mean that the team intends to keep Hill there regardless if it’s the smart thing to do? I hope not. I know we all have fuzzy memories of having a 2nd baseman batting there, but Robbie was a career .371 OBP with nearly 500 SB at an 80% success rate. (Seriously, I think we were spoiled. Alomar might have been the ideal #2 hitter of the 90s.) Hill, of course, has never had an OBP over .350 and he’s 26 years old. With his middling on-base skills and decent power, Hill’s better suited to the 6 and 7 spots.
MW: I think it’s Hill’s destiny because I believe he’ll grow into being the kind of hitter that we want to see in the two-hole, not because he’s deserving of that role now.
- MichaelKudos to you Mike for standing firm last month in the belief that things would turn around. Today this team is 2.5 games behind Boston and 2 games ahead of NY. We are NOT 10 games out, as some fans seemed to think we’d be by now. Though not as optimistic as you were, I too thought they could stay in the hunt if only because the Sox and Yanks weren’t running away either, nor were any wild card teams. My belief was that IF J’s could string wins in a bunch, (which they did), we could still have a pennant race (which we can). I do have a question about SS though. Understand that Eckstein can hit. But personally with the emergence of Scutaro, I’d leave him in there most days, least til it’s obvious over a number of games he’s not a #1. There is something clicking with the lineup right now, so why tinker, and move Scutaro around, platoon etc., just so Eckstein gets his at-bats?
MW: It’s not a problem tinkering because there are still two spots in the line-up from which the Jays aren’t getting any real production in 2B and RF, so it’s not like sitting Wilkerson has a negative impact on the offense, and I think we’ll see Scoot in the outfield again today. Just a note of caution, though, to the Scutarites. He’s 32, this is his 6th year in the big leagues, and he’s never done anything close to the performance level he’s been at since Eckstein went down.
- Paul RyanMike
Great game. Good to see the Jays pull one out in Oakland and not spoil another steller performancr by Doc.Alex may not be hittng for power these days but is certainly contributing big anyhow.I think last years Alex Rios isn’t far away.I like the way they manufactured the go ahead run on a night when they were slowed by great pitching.Gotta tip your cap to Harden.If he could just stay healthy,he would look great slotted in behind Doc next season when AJ opts out.I would just be concerned about the money it would take to sign him given his injury history.
Anyway, last night just goes to show how the Jays fortunes have turned in May.Last month this game surely would’ve been a Oakland win.
MW: It would be very interesting to see, if the Jays signed Harden (I doubt it – Oakland likely keeps him) whether he would get the same treatment as Burnett has. Obviously, he won’t.
- TPNo Mike correction, Neil who makes mistakes like any other human being. However on the flip side you do a good job Contradicting yourself and jumping on a banwagan with J.P moves, Such as the Reed Johnson move, When Reed was here you praised him endlessly, Expressing how much we missed him and others when he was injured
when he leaves you start calling him an average hitter and downplaying the important components he brought to this team such as being a great hiter with to strikes two outs getting on base by taking one for the team and killing boston. Another thing amoung many I have never hear you acknowledge the previous regime good judgments on the pick currently on the Jays roster, Neither did I hear you rip them when they were here as you do now that hey are not here.
Yet the previous regime is responsible for a man in Which you endlessly praise in Roy Halladay.
You also said something that borders riduluculessness and never explained yourself. You think it was ridiculous that Ash never made the playoffs in his five years, however it is O,k that J.P didn’t in his six, What riduclessness. Pure unadulterated riduculessness
To the caller that praised J.P for this pitching staff J.P has nothing to do with the main component of our pitching staff or Mcowan, neither does he have any to do with our hitting core in RIOS,and,Wells, Jp was provided with a core from the previous Regime, His job was to build around it, something he has had trouble doing for the past six years. His contribution through Picks have been Litch,Hill,Marcum in six years.
That is the mediocrity that you support Mike, yet you trash the guys responsible for this core.
Your defense 100% of the time hinges on stats. Stats that have proved to have nothing to do with the jays nonperformance and stats that have never don’t make this team better
By the way Mike why do you an J.P complain about the division and have never finished better than third in a wild since J.P has been here. You finish behind AL central and west teams.
You Flat out back track, contradict and tell convienant truths (truths that are easiest to tell)all in defense of JP. A man who’s moves you’ve never challenged. JP can do no wrong and has never done any wrong in your eyes yet has never sniffed the playoffs in his tenure with the blue jays,
I doubt you were trained by the bobcat.
MW: I’m not sure I should post any more of your comments. I mean, people are welcome to criticize me and stuff, but there’s not a SINGLE thing you said in this comment about me that’s true. I ALWAYS said that Reed Johnson is nothing more than a 4th outfielder, though a great one. I never ripped Ash when he was here because I didn’t have this forum, I didn’t get the post-game show until 2002. I have never said that it’s ridiculous that Ash didn’t make the playoffs in five years (he was here for seven post-seasons), what I have said was that it’s ridiculous that he always managed as though he was one player away, much to the detriment of the team. Again, your tendency to simply make things up so that your arguments hold is a sad one, and if you keep messing up the facts, I’m not going to post your comments anymore.
- Neil DayeI was going to ask what you thought the chances are that the Jays would acquire Harden in the offseason – replacing one injury prone power arm with another.
MW: I think the A’s are likely to pick up his option.
- DougHe’s short and he’s WHITE?
Careful Mike
MW: Careful how?
- JohnFact: In 2003 on your show J.P said: “We have a five year plan and we are ahead of schedule.” I absolutely heard that show and that quote so you can claim he didn’t say it all you want but that either makes you a liar or forgetful. Do you keep all the recordings from your shows? Send the ones from the ’03 season with J.P and I will happily go through them. Seriously.
MW: It’s worth trying to track down. I’ll get the crack staff on it. I’m not sure J.P. was even on once a week back in ’03, though.
- Chris JonesI’m just checking back over the records, and notice that it is now over a month since the Jays’ pen has blown a save — April 25th to be exact (and even that one is a bit “suspect”, as the real culprit that day was Eckstein dropping the DP ball).
Overall, tied with the Angels with 22 for 25, or 88% success rate — a huge contribution to the overall record.
- NormHey Mike,
Good clutch win last night, and it’s nice to see Rios’ showing off his all-world athletisim, and hopefully the numbers in the last 11 games are sign of things to come. We could certianly use Hill getting back on track too.
A question I have for you is, have the Jays had one big blow open hit yet this year? And what I mean by that is, I’ve watched or listen to all the games this year and not once have I seen someone blow a game open (example) by taking the score from say 3-0 in the 5th inning against the angles, to 7-0 nothing, when Joe Ingglet just missed that grand slam, ripping it down the left field line foul. Other then against these awful royals the jays just cant seem to putt teams aways. Your thoughts?
Darryl
MW: There have been such hits, just not many. The Jays haven’t won many laughers this season, which is unfortunate. Even though they don’t “put teams away”, as you say, they’re still 3 games over .500 and 2 1/2 out of a playoff spot.
- DarrylMike … a lot of hockey players will jump on the bike and do a workout after a game, does this happen in baseball too?
MW: I don’t know about the bike, but a lot of guys do go work out after games, yes.
- RobI love this forum, which allows me to throw out ideas and actually get responses. Chuck Swirsky is the same way, which made me a bigger fan.
Do you think that Wilkerson and/or Mench are gone the second Wells is ready to come back? Has there been any talk upon a Wells return of leaving Rios in centre and putting Wells in right?
Wish I could have seen that catch last night. Do you think Rios will steal 30 bases this season?
Let’s hope Litch can build off his first complete game. Winning this series would be a nice way to start the road trip.
MW: I think that Wilkerson, Inglett or Camp goes when McDonald comes back. I don’t know who goes yet when Wells comes back – once of the other ones, I guess. No, no talk of Rios staying in centre. Funny what a great catch and a couple of good throws will do to people. Yes, I think Rios steals 30, probably.
- Aaron KerNot to take anything away from the guy who pointed it out in the first place, because it was a fun little piece of information, but the Jays record when they score 2 runs or more is nothing all that exciting or surprising.
This data is now two days old, but here are AL team records when they score two or more runs, with their record when they score 1 or fewer in parenthesis:
Tampa Bay: 31-14 (0-6)
Boston: 31-16 (1-6)
Toronto: 27-16 (1-9)
Baltimore: 25-14 (0-11)
New York: 24-20 (1-6)
Chicago: 28-12 (0-10)
Minnesota: 25-16 (0-9)
Cleveland: 23-18 (0-10)
Kansas City: 21-16 (0-14)
Detroit: 21-16 (0-15)
Los Angeles: 30-19 (1-3)
Oakland: 28-12 (0-11)
Texas: 26-22 (0-5)
Seattle: 18-26 (0-8)
Both the Jays record when scoring 2 or more or 1 or less are pretty typical. Over half the league plays .600 ball when scoring 2 or more. It’s not surprising that this is the case, because teams often have trouble scoring 2 runs in a ball game, and in those games they win at less than a 4% rate.
MW: That’s awesome – so all anyone needs to do to win on a regular basis is score two runs or more. Good thing the Jays have such good pitching.
- Dan WHey people!
Stop bashing Richard Griffen! He’s been around the baseball diamond more times than most Canadian baseball reporters, so his views and comments are valuable. We can disagree but please put away your gavels.
Thanks!
Now on to the rest of the show….
Mike, I just found out that Doc is just behind Jimmy Key in wins for a Blue Jay (so I guess it is a little early to talk about Doc in the Hall).
In your humble opinion, how would you rate Jimmy Key against his contemporary lefties?
Merci!
KK
MW: Halladay is now ahead of Key in wins as a Blue Jay and yes, it’s a little early to talk about Halladay for the Hall of Fame, but he’s only 31. Key at his best was incredible. Not Johan Santana-level incredible, but on the next tier, for sure.
- karim kanjiAlong the lines of Brad Wilkerson, but a better player… Reggie Sanders? I know he is old and no superstar, but has some positives. Has some power, no baggage, would cost only money to acquire. Why has this name not come up?
MW: He’s much older, quite injury-prone and right-handed.
- wojtekMike,
Even when Zaun is healthy, If you were JP would you be happy with cathing tandem currently in place or would you be sniffing around for a little more depth at that position?
MW: I’d be trying to look for an OF/DH type with serious pop. Catchers better than Zaun simply aren’t available.
- Mike BSorry Mike, I remember J.P. talking about the 5 year plan as I am sure Bob Elliot does as well.
Mark my words the Jays will finish within 5 games over/under .500 when the season is over. They are consistently average
MW: Wow, don’t go out on too much of a limb there. And they’re anything but consistently average. This is a team that has had a 2-7 and a 12-4 already this season.
- CoreyWill the Pre-Game show be back outside Gate 5/6 this year on weekends?
MW: Yup
- Dave GGreat catch by Rios I love you, I love you, I love you.
Great Block by the Captain.
Neil called in I have to listen to this lol.
Why thigpen instead of Diaz.
and from yesterday saying that anyone but J.P. projects to be an above average catcher in the show is untrue.
MW: It is? Are you familiar with the work on Diaz (who’s still on the DL) and Brian Jeroloman?
- Dan MIs Neil the Joker to your Batman?
MW: I’d prefer my nemesis to be someone who actually makes sense and uses facts instead of making things up to back up his arguments.
- Jason…or is he more the Newman to your Seinfeld?
Jason.
MW: More like it.
- JasonHi Mike, love the show! I wanted to make a comment about trying to trade for Jason Bay. Don’t do it!!! He is not the answer, especially since we have outfielders coming up next year who could have similar numbers to Bay. Trading out great pitching plus a long-term contract for the guy doesn’t make any sense. Let the guys come up from the minors and get a DH, and shortstop.
MW: Who said anything about a long-term contract? I’d love to have Bay here.
- DrewJays avoid the brooms and I’m sure there is no one happier for that than our very own indefatigable Mike Wilner!
MW: I don’t know if it makes me happy, I regret not betting pink slips with the clairvoyant who called in Monday who KNEW the Jays would get swept.
- Vito From HamiltonDo people still think Halladay is not as dominant as he once was? Sure he got some defensive help last night but he was still amazing. His curve was just plain nasty at points last night.
I just hope folks realize he’s not going to throw a complete game shutout everytime he takes the mound. He is going to give up four and five runs once in awhile, he is not a robot (although he sometimes acts like one). Sit back and enjoy watching one of the elite pitchers in the game today and be happy he is wearing a Jays uniform.
- DerekMike…
Great to talk to you and JP last night… it was really cool.
When is the trade deadline, I thought it was close to September, please tell me I won’t have to wait that long for a move for some power.
Do you think that the Jays can get a big bat for the remainder of ’08 and ’09 for the money saved from Frank’s contract? How much would Dunn or Bay cost? Can the Jays afford them?
MW: There are two trade deadlines, July 31 (non-waiver) and August 31. The Jays can afford Dunn and Bay, their cost has been addressed many times.
- andrew - KWHi Mike,
I wasn’t able to hear the J.P talk last night and can’t listen because I’m at work and I have to look busy, so I don’t know if these questions were asked and answered. But here goes:
1. Has there ever been an answer given as to why Snider continues to DH? He can’t still be hurt, can he? You’d think they’d at least try to get him to play a position.
2.Do you have any general thoughts about the upcoming draft? Do you think they’ll take a batter or a pitcher? (Personally, I’m thinking college infield bat. I hear there’s a solid crop of college infield power bats this year.)
3.What are they going to do with their minor league logjam at catcher? I mean, Arecibia is creaming A ball, but Jeroloman doesn’t deserve to get demoted and they both need to get ample playing time? With the Thigpen in the bigleauges for now thing, do you see them shuffling the decks at all throughout the system?
MW: They’re being really careful with Snider’s elbow, I don’t have any thoughts about the upcoming draft, and Arencibia is going to AA within a month, but Jeroloman continues to deserve playing time.
- peteHey Mike, Jays talk is way too late for me these days so I am hoping you get to answering this for me. Why is the assumption being made that AJ Burnett will not return next year? If the Jays even get a sniff of playoff action, would he not see this as being a good place to be?
MW: He might, but someone else will offer him a longer term and more money.
- DR.BJays should sign sammy sosa. This is exactly the type of guy they need. guy had 20 homers in only 400 abs last year. guy will cost nothing and he wants to play. he would be right handed dh. perfect fit. there is nobody else on the market that could help while costing nothing. jays have no chance of winning if the hitters keep playing whiffle ball. they need a veteran hitter like sosa and the fans will love him even more than mike loves jp.
MW: No chance of winning if they keep hitting like this. None whatsoever. Except that they’re hitting like this and winning.
- roccoI don’t know why you keep saying the bats will come around. The offense needs help if they intend to make the playoffs. They can score 6 or 7 occasionally, but not consistently. Besides, when was the last time we saw a big outburst form this team like 10 runs or more. They can’t have the attitude if we score two runs we’ll be fine. The pitching cannot always be great.
MW: They don’t have to score 6 or 7 consistently, they only have to score 4 or 5. The bats have come around.
- aviMike do you think that McDonald makes the play in the third that Scutaro didn’t get to? How about Eckstein?
- SteveMind if I nitpick? At around the 6:10 mark of the post game show, you said that Rios had a great year last year, and the year before that, AND THE YEAR BEFORE THAT. In 2005, Rios was one of the worst hitters in baseball, hitting to a line of: .262/.306/.397
Also, without checking, I believe in 2006 the Jays were about 5 games out of first place and only a few games over .500 at the all star break.
MW: You’re right – 3 games out end of June, 5 at the break. Wow, I must have been thinking farther back. I have a distinct memory of the Jays being right there, within a game, at the end of June during J.P.’s tenure. OK, fine, Rios’ first year wasn’t good. I should have stopped at one “year before that”.
- JohnMike,
This is looking like a very interesting and exciting season both from a Blue Jay fan perspective and an American League East observationalist perspective.
Most intriguing is to see whether the Rays can keep it up. I know your opinion on the matter, but I note that they have the second lowest payroll in the Majors AND they are competing in the American League East. The theory that you need 150 mill plus as an AL East team to compete with the Sox and Yanks effectively may be seriously put to test, and ultimately to rest. If I’m not mistaken, that may have been your theory, no?
Go Jays Go.
MW: Nope, I just think you need depth and luck with injuries if you have assembled a good team.
- RBcorrection, because you’ll rightfully call me on it…you would have never said that a team needs to have a $150 mill + payroll, but I think you would have said that you need to spend in and around $100 mill to compete.
MW: Never mentioned money, except that you need it for depth to be able to overcome injuries, or to assemble a hole-free team.
- RBMike, In the previous thread I mentioned Rico Carty hit 31 HR’s playing for the Jays and A’s in 1978 and the irony of it happening again (referring to FT) exactly 30 years later.
You replied “Well, exactly 29 years later.”
You must have misinterpreted what I wrote, because I’m sure your math is better than that-:)
MW: Ah-ha! You’re right. You had 1979 in there somewhere, and I got that all tangled up in my noggin.
- SkipKMike,
Although it’s only May 29th, I never thought in my lifetime that the AL East standings would ever look like this!!
TEAM W L % GB
Tampa Bay 32 21 .604 –
Boston 32 24 .571 1.5
Toronto 29 26 .527 4.0
Baltimore 26 26 .500 5.5
New York 26 27 .491 6.0
MW: In your lifetime? Are you in your late 70s?
- BernardI have to admit, last year I was known to go on rants about the ineptitude of John Gibbons and JP, but this year I no longer can do so. Granted, Gibby has made some mistakes, but this happens with any (relatively) rookie manager. JP is great, considering hes not only managed to build a contender this year, but also he has signed the core through 2010, so we should be watching good baseball through the next three years (he is also relatively new at this, is he not?). do you think that he would take a contract if offered, or try to go to a bigger market?
Also, what is your take on Bay over Dunn? I know youve talked about both, but i havent figured out which you like more and why.
Lastly, I think its great that the Jays are playing a lot of the best teams in the league so closely. I know you dont think Oakland is, but right now they are the only team with comparable pitching. These close games against good teams are great preparation for the playoffs. Now I just wanna see the offense explode against the LAA.
Cheers
MW: Don’t hold your breath for an offensive explosion. J.P. was thought to have been a target of the Red Sox pre-Epstein, and used that situation to leverage a nice extension from the Jays. I don’t think he’s going anywhere before his contract is up.
- Dave JHey Mike, great blog today, I’m loving the late night jays talks since I’m a major night owl. Gotta love some baseball at 1am!
No real Jays comments for now. All I wanted to say is this. Neil, if your going to make insanely long posts with the sole intention of attacking MW, please, PLEASE at the very least spell-check your responses first.
Its words and sentences like this, “You also said something that borders riduluculessness and never explained yourself,” Which make you lose all credibility in my book (not to mention you have no idea what your talking about).
What in the hell is riduluculessness!?!?!?!?
MW: That should be the least of his mistakes.
- BryanHi Mike
great job! was just wondering where Scott Ferguson is these days? I remember listening to him back in the 90′s doing the show.
MW: Asked and answered above.
- TimRe: Hill and the #2 spot.
Oh… I was hoping you weren’t gonna say that he’ll grow into the role. And this has nothing to do with Hill’s current struggles. It’s more 26-year-olds don’t usually have the kind of .20-.30 point jump in OBP that would make Hill a suitable #2.
In Hill’s “breakout” last year, he still only had a .333 OBP, had a terrible 57% stolen base percentage, and hit into 21 DP.
It frankly baffles me that someone like you who advocates Lyle Overbay batting 1st or 2nd can look at Hill and say “future #2 hitter”.
MW: Sorry.
- MichaelMW: Again with the Nazi reference? I don’t get it.
MW on JT : “Joe Inglett, everyone seems to love him because he wears his socks high, he’s short and he’s white and he’s just like Reed Johnson.”
MW: Uh-huh. What does that have to do with nazis?
- AriMike
I love Roy Halladay as much as the next guy, but I just can’t see him making the Hall of Fame. He did become great, a little late in his career, when compared to others. Furthermore, he had 2 crucial years in his prime ruined because of injuries. 04, and then 05, a year in which he may have won another cy young. He’s gonna have to be great for a long time, but can we expect this from him when he’s 35/36?
MW: We’ll have to wait and see. Anyone who thinks they actually know the answer to that question is completely full of it.
- TerryOh one more thing. Is it possible for a relief pitcher to win Rookie of the Year? Because if Carlson keeps up his current numbers he should be in the running.
MW: He’ll have a hard time topping what Akinori Otsuka did last year.
- Dave J“That’s awesome – so all anyone needs to do to win on a regular basis is score two runs or more. Good thing the Jays have such good pitching.”
True, but in general I believe the only way to do that is to increase your mean to the point where you’re scoring a ridiculous amount more than opponents in general. Scoring 0 or 1 runs is pretty much just a statistical certainty for teams that score the 4 or 5 runs a game that teams do these days, and I don’t believe avoiding 0 or 1 run outputs is a repeatable skill when your production calls for scoring 4 or 5 on average.
I was going to write a long detailed analysis, but I stumbled across a pretty good article at THT that shows a lot of things I wanted to, so I’ll just link to that. Definitely a good read on this subject.
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/runs-per-game/
MW: Thanks for avoiding the book-length post.
- Dan WJust a quick question, that you may have answered months ago – why do you call Barajas “Captain”?
MW: Look it up in the archives, from when the Jays signed him.
- GregHIt’s rather obvious to Baseball geniuses like yourself, but I realized this morning that the jay’s have done a whole lot better in one run games in May than they did in April.
I take this to be a sign that the guys are just playing, and not stressing as much as they used to
MW: I take it as a sign that their luck has turned. That’s the biggest factor in winning one-run games.
- Sam McLeanWho’s the best defensive center fielder of this trio….Lloyd Moseby, Devon White or Vernon Wells?
MW: Devon White, easily.
- Alex PNEIL IS THE KING
MW: Of?
- AKIs Brad Arnsberg the best pitching coach in baseball?
MW: Maybe. Wasn’t Leo Mazzone a magician before he got to Baltimore, though?
- AndyAaron Hill & Lyle Overbay for Khalil Greene & Adrian Gonzalez
Didn’t JP mention that the Padres would want power and Gonzalez IS that power?
and to me, Khalil Greene is a terrible OBP guy and also an inconsistent hitter.
And speaking of shortstops, if Eckstein does not come back next season, do you see Orlando Cabrera (Free agent after this season) being looked at by the Blue Jays this winter?
MW: I don’t think J.P. mentioned that the Padres would want power. Greene is a terrible obp guy, but not so terrible outside his home park. But I still haven’t decided what I think of that deal. I think the Jays will look at Cabrera and Rafael Furcal in the off-season, yes.
- BKDiaz is now in his age 25 season has little more and doesn’t draw walks. Yes he hits for a high average but he projects as nothing more then a solid back up catcher or starter for a secound division team.
Brian Jeroloman Hits for little power, draws alot of walks and is very good behind the plate but I haven’t heard anyone who deals with prospects that projects him to be an “above average” big leaguer.
MW: OK, but they’re both very good, young players. I don’t buy into the whole “expert projection” stuff. Who projected Shaun Marcum to be an all-star, or Jesse Litsch to even make it to the majors?
- Dan MMike,
If you had to choose one guy between Marcum or McGowan long term (5+years) who would you take?
MW: I don’t want to choose.
- DennyMike I know the Wells contract was what the market dictated at the time but the right move was to trade Wells after his 2006 season take the boat load of prospects you would of received at the time move Rios to Centre and spend the money you saved on someone else. I know hind sight is 20/20 but that would of been the best move agree?
MW: In hindsight? You betcha. It would have been a fantastic move to trade Gustavo Chacin after his rookie season, too.
- Dan MWhat are you saying, Mike?
I’m not old enough to have seen Stieb play, but by looking at his numbers I don’t know why he’s considered one of the better pitchers all time and the best in this club’s history.
He only had 3 seasons with an ERA below 3 with the Jays. Is there something I’m missing – why was he considered so good apart from eating up all those innings?
Also…
Doesn’t it seem like Halladay’s legacy has been tarnished by unfortunate circumstances?
Take it in…he had Johan in the same league to steal his Cy Youngs, that Mench liner, appendicitis, and he’s already 31. When all is said and done I don’t think he will get the respect he deserves for reasons probably beyond his control. People will forget about him and his filthy repertoire. If only he had become this dominant earlier.
MW: There are “if only”s about thousands of great athletes, that’s how life works. Stieb was awesome, best slider in the business, four times a no-hitter with two out in the 9th, awesome. He had a rough patch in the middle and again late to drag down his overall numbers.
- Juheevy TrevikusalkyNo, early 30′s. Ok, maybe I was being a bit facetious. But how many people could ever envision New York in last with Tampa in first? It wouldn’t seem so bad if it was Boston or Toronto in first…This just goes to show how far the Rays have come and it also proves the highest payroll doesn’t equate to the best record.
MW: New York was in last at this time last year, too, I think. It was bound to happen sometime.
- BernardMike,
I sent you the Cito pics on Tuesday. Hopefully you receive them soon!
MW: Got ‘em yesterday – thanks!
- BernardI take it you are probably too busy with current players to read up much on the upcoming draft but have you heard anything on who the Jays are targeting? Who would you like to see the Jays pick?
MW: I don’t know and, honestly, I don’t care. I’ll see who they get when they get him but beyond that, I’m not into the draft at all. I should have the Jays’ scouting director, Jon Lalonde, on TBJTW this week, though.
- Matt SIs it my imagination or are you getting an overabundance of stupid comments on the show and on the blog in the last week? In the last seven days I’ve heard people call for Ernie Whitt to be the GM and for Roy Halladay to break his ankle amongst other things. It’s about time to start taking telephone and computer privileges away from some people out there. I’m waiting for some idiot to suggest trrading Vernon Wells for Tike Redman and then making Tike the GM. The vast majority of the players these callers want to trade for are unavailable, and the ones who are available are able to be had for a reason.
Honestly Mike, I’m happy with the direction the club is heading, I’m happy with the jobs that J.P. and Gibby are doing and I’m looking forward to what the future will bring. I believe there is hope for the future with the likes of Lind, Snider and Cecil on the way, and with some of the money saving moves that have been made (saving 3 million dollars by releasing Reed Johnson, saving 10 million by releasing Frank Thomas and the potential to save 24 million more if A.J. Burnett opts out), the Jays will have plenty of money to pursue an upper tier free agent (Adam Dunn?) this off season.
I’m okay with critcism if it is fair, but some of the negativity is getting out of hand. While I enjoy Richard Griffin’s column and his opinions, he is a fountain of negativity when it comes to this club as he often has NOTHING positive to say about the Blue Jays. I’ll go as far as to say I think he loves it when they lose, and I think he hopes they will fail so he can tell everybody how right he was all along.
For those who post that they have trouble getting games on the radio at night, I have a suggestion. I live in Ohio about 330 miles south of Toronto as the crow flies. At night I can almost always get the Blue Jays on the radio at either AM 900 CHML out of Hamilton or AM 1070 CHOK out of Sarnia. I can’t believe a guy posted the other night he lost the station in his car west of Hamilton when he could have switched his radio dial. CHML carries “Jays Talk” as well.
Keep up the good work Mike. If you ever need anybody to go to war with you, I’ll be the first to volunteer.
MW: I think Tike Redman would be a great GM! Thanks, Jim.
- Jim BranscomeMike are you going to make your soft ball game tonight?
if so good luck and will be looking forward to an update!
MW: It’s a late start, so I should have no problem.
- Dan MMike,
Last night on Jays talk, someone was talking about how Halladay was a superior pitcher to Burnette when comparing their careers. You said only in Wins.
Are you serious?
Halladays numbers are better. Take in to account Halladay pitched his enitre career in the AL east facing the Yakees and Bosoxs and Burnette pitch most of his career in the NL.
I do agree thats wins is not thee most important stat but it does count. Also take into consideration that some of the Florida Teams that Burnette was on were better than the Jays teams that Halladay was on.
Halladay – 11 sessions
116 wins, 60 loses
1143 k’s
Whip 1.22
ERA 3.61
BBI 391
innings 1642.2
Not to mention the number of complete games
Burnette – 10 Sessions
74 wins, 71 loses
1112 k’s
Whip 1.28
ERA 3.81
BBI 513
innings 1224
MW: I’m assuming you mean seasons, but yes, of course Halladay’s numbers are better. But the numbers aren’t MUCH better, except for the win-loss percentage. Walks, too, but it’s balanced by hits allowed.
- Dan GosselinMike:
I made my first call ever to Jays talk last night and just want to tell everyone that it is tougher than it looks (or listens).
My sole intention was to just point out that the bunt worked yesterday, because if it HAD NOT WORKED, Wilner would have reminded all of us about it.
When you realize you are on radio and thousands are listening (maybe) you think too much, you start getting marbles in your mouth and the quick mind isn’t so quick anymore. I just didn’t want to sound like an idiot and say something like “I study war for a living”.
I will try calling again sometime and hopefully sound a little more confident!
MW: You didn’t sound like an idiot.
- Jim BYour implications are that everybody likes guys like Reed and Inglett because they fit into a specific mold of undertalented, hard-working white guys. If you can’t understand why that would be neo-Nazi-istic, I can’t really explain it any further. Guess I’m wrong.
MW: I don’t think liking a specific sort of baseball player has anything to do with fascism or genocide. Maybe it’s me.
- AriMike,
1. Could you provide some context on the Jays great record when scoring 2 or more runs? What have other teams done so far in games where they score 2 or more?
2. I did some quick math and was surprised to see that McGowan was the biggest victim of the Jays’ struggles on offense. They’ve only averaged 2.1 runs in games he has started. I know he’s been shaky in some, but surely he deserves more than 3-4?
3. Chipper Jones is not just flirting with .400, but seems to be going steady. That’s fun to watch.
I look forward to hearing from you soon.
MW: Everybody else is great, too, check the comments section. Yes, McGowan does, but every starter deserves to have a better record save for Litsch. It is fun watching Chipper, good for him.
- bgDo you think the money the jays will have after this season with so many contract being up will help them to lure a big name free agent? Also, why does Neil annoy you so much? Don’t you have the power to ban comments like Neil?
MW: The money will help, no doubt. And Neil annoys me because he speaks with authority and confidence, but bases his opinion on completely wrong information. I could ban him, but I don’t like to do that.
- andrewWell, hence the “neo”. I was more referring to a belief that a certain type of human (like white, blond haired, blue eyes) could be superior to another one (who could be gay, a Gypsy, a Jew…). It just seemed you were implying people like Inglett and Reed are loved because they are white, wear their socks a certain way, like to get dirty during the game…sounds neo-Nazi to me.
MW: I am implying that, that they’re loved, not that everyone who is not them should be killed. Do you know what “neo” means, by the way?
- AriHey Mike,
Neil is entertaining. Not letting him post would be pure unadulterated riduculessness.
MW: Perhaps, but I don’t like people who make stuff up and pass it off as fact. There are those out there who would believe it.
- AdamWhy are so many people at Jays games white?
MW: Got me.
- Juheevy Trevikusalkysorry, Mike, but I think you devalue OPS far too much. It’s much better than any other stat.
And it’s a large reason why you underrate a guy like Barajas. Despite his poor OBP, Barajas can hit, and hit well for a catcher. Comparing him to Fasano is just silly.
You might want to revisist some of your assumptions about OPS. Sure it overvalues SLG a tad, but it’s much, MUCH better than just looking at OBP (or WHIP for pitchers).
MW: My point is that no one stat can give a complete picture.
- markDo you know of any site that has box scores from years past, specifically from 2000?
MW: Yes, I do.
- Juheevy TrevikusalkyMike I hope you don’t ban Neil he’s a fun change of pace on the blog.
Scouts and writers who follow prospects are perfect and no one can predict the future but some of them are very good at projecting what prospects will turn into. There will always be average pitching prospects turn out to be way more then any Scouts or writers thought examples Johnathan Papplebon, Shawn Marcum and their will always be top rated prospects flop example Corey Patterson. But these Scouts and writers do this for a living and for the most part are very good and none of them project Diaz or Jeroloman are projected to be anything more then avg. Diaz not even average.
These two catchers are still very valuable players to have in the organization but saying their projected to be above average is false.
MW: Like I said, I don’t put much, if any, stock in the projections. I’ll wager they’re wrong as often as they’re right.
- Dan M.Where would you rank Roy Halladay among the best blue jay starting pitchers of all time? Would you even rank him ahead of Dave Steib?
MW: I wouldn’t, because Dave Stieb is Dave Stieb (not Dave Steib, by the way). But he’s third, behind Stieb and Clemens.
- andrewwhat do you think of these trades…
To Tor To Cin
A. Dunn A. Hill
B. Phillips A. Lind
prospect
To LAD
R. Furcal D. Eckstien
R. Martin L. Overbay
J. Loney G. Zaun
J. Inglett
prospects
To Col
W. Tavares B. Coats
B. Wilkerson
To MIL
B. Sheets J. Accardo
A. Burnett
C. Janssen
prospect
Which ones would you make???
MW: Your format got all weirded up, but if I’m the Jays, I make all of them. If I’m Cincinnati, L.A., Colorado or Milwaukee, I don’t make any of them. Seriously – Wilkerson and Coats for Willy Taveras?
- David MillarHi Mike,
If I recall correctly Paul Godfrey had said the Jays were interested in hosting the 2010 all star game. I read today that Anaheim will be doing that but I was wondering if you know whether Toronto was even close. Also, how cool is it that the Rogers Centre will host some world baseball classic games. Do you think those will do well here ?
MW: I hope they will, but I have my doubts.
- DilsonMike,
Please don’t ban Neil, I need my daily dose of comic relief. Seriously though, he may not back up his arguments with facts very well, but nobody can deny his passion. I believe he really wants the team to win, though I’m not sure what he’d have to say if they went all the way or even made the playoffs.
MW: Neil has quite the cheering section in here.
- TomAvi, you got your wish. 10 runs or more scored.
MW: There you go. If you’re going to call yourself Shmuel, though, you should differentiate from the guy who used that handle first.
- ShmuelMike, I was happy last week to feel I could safely predict a Jays series win against the A’s, but I’m not getting the same vibe when they go against LA.
Your prediction?
Also, what do you think of Jack Cust as a hitter?
Would you like to see him as the Jays DH some day?
MW: It’s complete folly to try to predict the outcome of a given series. Also, I like Jack Cust a lot.
- SkipKIncredible props to Gibbons for his perfect batting lineup today. It must be the reasons they scored double digit runs!
Ok, seriously… don’t you think it was well put together today? Wilkerson and Eckstein 8-9 is perfect, even if they are bigger names than Scutaro and Barajas.
Has Gibby been reading the blog?
MW: I should think so.
- MattyHey Mike,
Not sure anyone has pointed out that since you called the unassisted triple play in Cleveland the “low point” the Jays are 13-4. Nice call, so far.
MW: Thanks, but I’m an idiot, didn’t you know that?
- JonathanOkay, so I know you don’t think we could get Duncan for arms (which I still don’t agree with)…but surely Lind + 1 or 2 arms gets him? And yes, I’m still looking to improve this offense, despite watching my first game all year where I wasn’t nervous the entire game. I’d still like to see a lefty with some pop in the lineup, and if Lind isn’t ready, can’t we just accelerate his development by trading him for someone who likely already is what Lind will become. I realize that when Wells returns this might cause a logjam, but I think Stairs’ May (.239/.320/.418) is a good reminder to all of us who love him that he’s a 40 year old who can’t be relied upon to face righties EVERY day and put up a .288/.364/.567 like he did in 2007.
MW: I don’t think you can get Duncan for Tallet and Downs, no. Again, he’s not a guy who’s going to be on the market, I don’t think. Why would St. Louis trade him?
- AriIf Neil wants to be on a certain other Jays-related podcast, I’m sure that can be arranged…
MW: He’s up to his old tricks above. You sure you guys can handle him? He might convert you!
- StoetenIf you are saying the Jays are somewhere in between their April and May performance then they are a mediocre team. One horrible month and one great month=mediocrity. BTW, did you go to CHAT for high school.I think I saw your picture on the graduate board before.
MW: First of all, I didn’t say they’re at the exact midpoint of their April and May performance, which would be better than mediocre, anyway. Yes, I went to CHAT.
- aviCome on Mike, don’t be a jerk. Clearly the guy from post #90 wasn’t asking simply out of curiosity. Why not just give him the site, instead of being a smartass?
MW: It’s so much more fun that way, though.
- TerryHi, Mike:
Another game of scoring 2 runs or more = another win!
Not sure what the “official” figures show, but by my unofficial count, the Jays were 8 for 19 (.421) today with RISP, with a further 6 PA’s of either SF or BB.
Obviously this is just as much of an anomaly as some of the earlier “no-hit” games, but a few more of these would go a long ways to getting the overall averages back where they should be.
And the team ERA just keeps going lower and lower!!!
I heard you say after the game that they are “not this good” (referring to 19-9 May record). I agree with that, but with this pitching staff, this is a team that has a chance to be REAL good — good enough to contend, at the very least!
MW: They’re 2 1/2 games out, they’re contending. I had the Jays 9-for-20 with RISP.
- NormHi Mike, love your work and this blog. So, what if the Jays continue their winning ways without Vernon? and doing
so against left hand pitching,
and Rios doing just fine in centre field.
Even with his contract, isn’t it time to talk turkey with Texas or Houston, where Vernon
will end up sooner or later, and get the left hand bat and/or speed that may be all they need to balance out the offense?
There’s nothing to do with the pitching and if they’re in the
race there’s no way Burnett gets traded just in case they
might actually make the playoffs.
Is there anyone on Texas or
Houston you like? I gather
Bradley isn’t on your high
list but Hamilton/Boggs/Murphy
don’t have the historical stats, yet have good short term numbers.
And what about Jerry Howarth
talking trade with KC for an
upgrade to their infield?
Could Joey Gathright help the
Jays as a #9/PH/PR or defensive replacement?
MW: Jerry doesn’t get to talk trade with KC, but the Royals wouldn’t be interested in any of the Jays’ three shortstops. Why is it a given that Wells will wind up in Houston or Texas? I so don’t get that. If he wanted to be there so bad, he would have been there by now. I wouldn’t deal him for David Murphy or Brandon Boggs, and Texas wouldn’t deal Josh Hamilton for him.
- BRick in Oakville“Why would St. Louis trade him?”
Ankiel Ludwick Schumaker Barton Rasmus They don’t need him!
MW: They’d probably be likelier to trade Schumaker, Barton or Ludwick.
- AriMike say what you want the #’s regading JP success in Toronto yearly since 2002, available to everyone on mlb.com. By the way I know your not trying to disagree with me about the lack of success this regime has had holding on to and obtaining boppers, because your are one of the people endorsing Bonds. Have I also made up the fact that JP has only brought up one solid hitter through the draft in six years. If that’s made up, tell me who else JP has brought up in terms of hitters that is a solid everday player on this roster. Is it a lie that Jays has not adressed the need for a strong everyday LH bat. Mench is not an everyday player. Mike was it fact at the begging of the season when you said Eckstein would get out more than not? Was it also fact when you pretty much echoed that about Scuduro?
MW: I didn’t say you made up everything, but you definitely make up a LOT of stuff, and when you’re called on it, you just change the subject and move on. What does Kevin Mench have to do with anything? Yes, I said Eckstein would get out more often than not this season (I was a little stronger than that, I think), and I was right. I do believe that every player in professional baseball will get out more often than not this season.
- NeilJuheevy,
Try http://www.baseball-reference.com or http://www.retrosheet.org
- TomHi Mike: Been reading the blog for a few weeks now; first submission. Loved your response to Post #90, actually laughed out loud all alone in my apartment. Just hope I don’t ask a question like that someday.
Also, for that other poster who didn’t have the chance to see Stieb pitch. I did, hitting the big 4-0 in June, and Stieb ranks up there if only for his stuff (hope for Burnett yet). He buckled more knees than anyone else I saw in the American League…and speaking of winning percentage let’s not forget the best hairdo in Jays history, Juan Guzman…
MW: Jheri curl went out of business when Goozy hung ‘em up.
- Todd Rivers“Mike, please don’t ban Neil. I need my daily dose of comic relief!” LOL. That was a good one, Tom.
- Vito From HamiltonMike, what if anything would you trade for Pujols? 1st born not included.
MW: Pretty much whatever the Cards want.
- Vito From Hamilton