91 Responses to “Welcome Back, Shaun”

1. 1.
   August 7th, 2008 at 2:29 am
   

   Hey Mike…Hope your still well…Just have a comment and a couple questions for you. First up i wanted to say that i agree with you when you have said in the past that a manager might win you 4 or 5 games a year. Having said that though im glad that Cito will be back next year because i really want to see what he can do over the course of an entire season. my questions…1) has there been any word on hills injury as possibly being a threat to his career?He is my favourite jay.2)And I ask this one because you probably know more about baseball than any radio-show host ive ever heard and your obviously passionate about the blue jays…If one day down the road they asked you to manage this team would you accept the offer? I would love to see you as bench-boss someday. Thanks Mike, take care…

   MW: 1 – Until Hill is healthy enough to get back on the field and be able to do everything without any symptoms then yes, his injury is career-threatening, but no one believes it’ll get to the point where he won’t be able to come back. 2 – I’d accept it in a heartbeat, and then I’d wake up. There isn’t a snowball’s chance that my name even gets brought up in a front-office discussion as to who should manage the Jays, never mind actually being offered the job.

   - Trevor B
2. 2.
   August 7th, 2008 at 3:04 am
   

   Salutations Mr. Wilner,

   I would most definitely hope J.P. could have a debate with his critics and especially with Richard Griffin only because he seems to be one of the most outwardly critical of them in calling for the man’s job seemingly every passing week.

   Anyways I was really curious as to what you thought of the proposed Jason Bay for Snider and Cecil deal, and was curious in the thought process of the Jays trying to acquire a bat at the deadline, could it possibly have been a reactionary move to prevent the Rays or Red Sox acquiring Bay or maybe just a smokescreen. I do believe the 6 years of cost certainty of both Cecil and Snider will probably be worth more than the year and half of Bay but then ideally you replace what you’ve lost if he walks and if you could keep one of those 2, in exchange for some one else in last years draft I think its a good deal as I believe a proven bat is still better than an unproven one.
   Thanks again for your time,

   MW: I think that, given the Jays position in the standings, Snider and Cecil/Marcum for Bay is far, far too high a price to pay. Had they been closer, and a bat away, then maybe you make that deal.

   - Ryan
3. 3.
   August 7th, 2008 at 3:41 am
   

   What about letting Zaun platoon @ 1B with Overbay? For his career as a RHB Zaun has been more than respectable, an .844 OPS over the last three years. Overbay has been terrible against lefties this year.

   Zaun’s career fielding percentage as a 1B? 1.000 sucka! Take that Keith Hernandez.

   MW: In eight lifetime innings at first. Cito doesn’t like having both his catchers in the game at the same time, but aside fromthat aspect it’s not an altogether bad idea. I’d catch Zaun and use Barajas at first, though.

   - Jason
4. 4.
   August 7th, 2008 at 4:17 am
   

   I thought your shot at Tommy Hunter, the Canadian singer, was uncalled for. He may have not been a superstar, but obviously Canadians liked his music.

   But I’m gettin’ kinda tired of you Tranna media types running down this country to show your American friends you’re just like them.

   Like I’m sure you’d never be caught dead at a curling match or a CFL game eitehr.

   Then again you probably shelled out 200 bucks for the “priviledge” of watching a boring NFL exhibition game.
   Because after all, its what Americans do, so it must be good!
   TAlk about a bunch of suckers.

   MW: I’m not sure what shot I took at Tommy Hunter. I’ve actually broadcast several curling matches over the last few years, and there’s no “D” in privilege.

   - Rick GRace
5. 5.
   August 7th, 2008 at 4:56 am
   

   Im glad you made that comment on scutaro’s flip to mac. that was a bit cavalier..if it were hockey they’d call it a “buddy pass” because it was so loopy that it gave the A’s runner time to nearly elimnate Little Mac (Mike Tyson’s punch out reference)

   Josh phelps must be wondering why mench has a MLB job and he doesnt. Joshy carries the added bonus (redundant colloquialism i know..i mean how can it be a bonus if it’s not added? much like “free gift” or “exact duplicate”..but i digress) of being able to catch in a pinch. please get someone on the front office to make a move for him. which raises an interesting question..can yu trade for a minor league guy after the trade deadline or must he also clear waivers? perhaps its depends if he’s on the 40 man? for some reason these types of questions pop into my mind.

   final question….its sort of hindsight..but dont you think the jays would have josh banks up here right now instead of richmond had he not been jettisoned?

   MW: Given how Banks has pitched for the Padres this year, probably, but he’d been awful in Syracuse when the Jays DFA’d him. As for Phelps, I don’t think non-40 guys have to clear waivers, but I’m not sure.

   - sammy jalalzai
6. 6.
   August 7th, 2008 at 7:28 am
   

   Gonzalez, young guy at 22 making his first MLB start – I think he looked very good.

   That’s a pretty impressive stat there Mike, as to Johnny Mac with the Jays 13-8 with him starting – I believe it tells a lot about defence ability and preventing runs Vs being able to hit.

   I noticed in a couple of comments, questions about why the ball is put back into play after it is hit into play, off a fence or anything, Vs when it hits the dirt around home plate. Hey, when I played ball, anytime you can get a scuffed or marked ball back to your pitcher, without it going via the umpires inspection you do it. Marked or scuffed balls help a lot with the grip and in some cases causes the ball to “dance” a little. If the pitcher doesn’t like the location of the scuff on the ball or whatever – he will throw it in for a new one. It is ingrained in your mind when you play this game, take any little thing you can and use it to your full advantage.

   Thanks.

   MW: Which is OK as long as you don’t inject anything into your body, right?

   - Bob -
7. 7.
   August 7th, 2008 at 7:40 am
   

   MW:”The best part may well have been when J.P. said he’d love to get into a round-table debate with some of his critics in the media. I wonder if we could set that up on Prime Time someday”?

   Man, that’d be fun! Bobcat v J.P! Can’t wait for that.

   - Beburg aka The 88mph man
8. 8.
   August 7th, 2008 at 8:01 am
   

   Still no praise for The Captain… stop hating

   MW: What do you mean no praise?

   - The Rat
9. 9.
   August 7th, 2008 at 8:06 am
   

   It has been suggested that if only the Jay’s bats were going a little better, they could afford to start McDonald at short more often. I argue differently: at each position, apart from DH and pitcher, the right player to start is the one who combines offence and defence to the best net benefit to his team. This is true regardless of how many runs a team scores. It is obviously true to say that a team needs to score runs to win; it is however equally true that a team loses if their opponents score more. It is of no use if a team, desperate to score some runs, starts a player who adds .5 runs per game to the offence but gives back .7 on defence (numbers chosen arbitrarily).
   It is true that the Jays could improve by signing a first-class shortstop, say an above-average defender who hits .300 with 30 home runs. But such improvements are possible at every position. J.P. has done many fine things as general manager, but the off-season signing of Eckstein was an error. Starting him at shortstop does not make the team stronger, rather the opposite, and the money could have better been directed to shortcomings at DH, left field and catcher.

   MW: I’m not sure this isn’t a roundabout way of saying the Jays shouldn’t have released Reed Johnson.

   - roy hughes
10. 10.
    August 7th, 2008 at 8:28 am
    

    Hey Mike, enjoy your work both on the air and in the blog. I read the blog daily and I noticed you mentioned the remote possibility of J.P. involved in a round table with media types who often criticize the job he’s done. Could you please, please keep us posted on your blog of any possibility of this actually happening. I listen to The Fan a lot, but I would hate to miss this. Thanks

    MW: I think it would be awesome if it did happen, but I have my doubts.

    - Todd
11. 11.
    August 7th, 2008 at 8:59 am
    

    Mike,
    In response to your question “Why Jarrod Washburn in a waiver pickup? ” is that he is a starting lefthander that the Jays could use now as well as next year.Also,the Jays could prevent the Yankees from obtaining him should Chamberlain’s injury be more extensive.

    Will you be organizing the roundtable with JP and the media?

    MW: Washburn is a starting lefthander who makes a lot of money and has been a huge bust but for the last couple of months since he signed with Seattle. His is a contract to move, not to pick up. I won’t be organizing that roundtable, I don’t think.

    - Mark
12. 12.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:05 am
    

    I don’t think McCowan has the stones to sit down with JP. But it would be interesting. For the past 2 weeks he’s been non stop demanding the Jays release him.

    - Shmuel Yitzchok
13. 13.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:40 am
    

    Nothing shuts up draft-complainers better than that comment from J.P last night.

    “If you think you know your baseball, who should I have drafted this year?”

    David Cooper seems as good as a pick as any (.359 BA in junior year) and also addresses a positional need in a few years. It is doubtful that anyone is currently complaining about this pick.

    The caller mentioned the players available in the 2002 draft when we were picking Russ Adams; players like Kazmir, Swisher, and Cain. Does he know who was drafted first overall?

    Bryan Bullington. 29-11 career record in university. Mid American Conference pitcher-of-the-year for 2001 and 2002.

    Dude has a 18.3 total innings pitched.

    Nothing’s for sure, man.

    MW: I did really enjoy that answer from J.P.

    - Brent
14. 14.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:41 am
    

    Wasn’t that SkyChief International MVP Chad Mattola? I think he won it in 2000 but could be wrong

    MW: Mottola did win it, but I was thinking of Gary Burnham, though I think he was only the team MVP.

    - Sean
15. 15.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:45 am
    

    Listened a little to Alan Ashby on Primetime last night. Eventhough the Jays are 7 games out, they could control their own destiny because except for a handful of games, they are playing teams that are ahead of them in the wildcard. They do need to pile on the wins against Oakland and Cleveland before the string of games starts.

    If Halliday, Burnett and Marcum are all firing at the same time, a major run could be in the cards. All the dominoes would have to fit into place for this to happen.

    What’s the timetable on Accardo, and who loses a spot when he returns to the big club? How has he been doing on his rehab stints? Has he found his splitter?

    MW: “All the dominoes…..” “they need a miracle” – potato, potahto. I don’t know if Accardo will make it back in the next couple of weeks, he’s only pitched twice in this part of his rehab stint. Decisions will have to be made, though, with Tallet and with him.

    - Aaron Ker
16. 16.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:56 am
    

    just got through listening to the show from last night.It just funny to listen to JP. live in dreamland.i really hope you didnt get sick from all the sugar you consumed from the koolaid you were drinking.This man really thinks that his draft record is as good as it gets. lets look at the Red Sox draft history since 2002 Papelbon Pedroia Ellsbury David Murphy, Lester Buckholz Lowrie Hansen Brandon Moss, its not even close. Does he live in the real world?. By the way Hows Reed johnson doing?

    MW: Funny, I actually listened to what J.P. was saying and didn’t get the impression at all that he thinks his draft record is as good as it gets.

    - Steve
17. 17.
    August 7th, 2008 at 10:05 am
    

    are the jays 14-8 with mac because he has started mostly halladay games?

    MW: No.

    - Alex
18. 18.
    August 7th, 2008 at 10:08 am
    

    Hello Mike, that was a great J.p show as always. I’m very happy for Cito that he’ll be back next year. It would of been awful for him to just get a half season & vanish again in MLB coaching ranks. Do you agree with J.P’s decision??…I know you thought Cito was a good choice for the short term when he got hired but not the long term…Keep up the good work Mike.

    MW: I don’t think I said that. And I don’t know if Cito will be back next year – J.P. might not have that authority. It depends on whether or not he himself is back.

    - David F.
19. 19.
    August 7th, 2008 at 10:21 am
    

    Hi Mike,

    So J.P. wants to have a round-table discussion with his critics huh? I would love to see that on Primetime and on this topic I believe J.P. would look very foolish. He has been here 7 years with no sniff of the playoffs, 3 fired managers who knows how many batting coaches and again all hope rests with next year. I believe he was first hired as someone with a track record of drafting good players and in this regard he has made Gord Ash look like one of the best G.M.’s in baseball.

    Please let us know if this ever gets setup and Mike you do a great job on the FAN.

    MW: I hope it can get done, but I have my doubts. I don’t think J.P. would look very foolish, but I think he’d be surprised by how difficult a time he’d have.

    - Corey
20. 20.
    August 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
    

    Can we really expect a lineup consisting of Wilkerson/Mench, Scutaro and Inglett in starting roles making a late season charge??? If these guys were bench players and only bench players I would say we have great depth. Too bad I can’t say that.

    Yah yah injuries injuries. But can we really expect our starters to play 150+ games anymore? Wells injurieS have hurt although they have done a decent job of picking up the slack with him gone. Hill being gone since late May has really hurt, but he is only a second baseman… That is not a postition that typcially is a big difference maker in defence or with the bat.

    Lets say Wells and Hill miss no time this year… Are we in the hunt? I say we are still outside looking in because those two bats are not huge difference makers. Wells can be but hasn’t been in a few years and Hill is a nice steady defender and hitter but not a difference maker.

    It is pretty sad that Lind is now our best bat in the lineup

    MW: If not to help deal with injuries, what’s the purpose of depth? I couldn’t agree with you less about Wells and Hill. You say Wells hasn’t been a difference maker “in a few years”, which isn’t true, He was a major difference maker in 2006, which just happens to be the last time he had a healthy season. As for Hill, to dismiss his potential contributions because he’s a second baseman is patently ridiculous. Most Jays fans would say that the best player in franchise history played that position.

    - Matty
21. 21.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:00 am
    

    hi mike, great game and outing from marcum, he can oneday be the ace of the staff, or fill in for burnett next year, hope macgowen can rehab to help halladay to hold up the team. disageree with riccardi, stats indicate macdonald should play everyday, he’s got less than 100 ab, so his stats could get a little better with more playing time, like scutaro @ second/third and inglett in the outfield(looks like hill is out for the season), good to hear that gaston will be back for 2009, he’s a great manager in every facet of the game, thanks mike keep up the good work.

    MW: How do stats indicate that McDonald should be playing every day?

    - robert s
22. 22.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:03 am
    

    Hi Mike – I liked the comment on the last blog about the save stat and the linked article by Jim Caple. When JP signed BJ opposing GM’s around the league were chortling at him for spending so much for a closer. When BJ went down Accardo was also successful in the closer’s role. Jesse Litsch probably could look good coming in in the 9th with a 3 run league – provided he could throw strikes. You are right that the save stat is now all about the money but if fans and the media begin to see the propagandsa for what it is mabe the money will go to more deserving players. Johnny Mac earned a defensive save for starting that double play on Tuesday night. Baseball is less complicated than some people like to make it. A pitcher is a pitcher is a pitcher and the best ones are starters.GM’s are like Hollywood producers who remake money makers over and over and over. I know their jobs are on the line – but lets have some creativity in the use of pitchers.

    MW: Which GMs did you hear chortling about the Ryan signing?

    - Daniel
23. 23.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:07 am
    

    Hi Mike,

    I take back what I said yesterday (that something might be wrong with Marcum). For a while there, I thought he was take the no-no all the way. I’m glad to see him back in the rotation, and I will never doubt the mighty power of Marcum ever again!

    - Ian
24. 24.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:16 am
    

    Johnny Mac’s offensive numbers: .185/.244/.247

    Awful. I don’t care how good is defense is. I don’t think he deserves a roster spot and people are seriously think he should start? You have a better chance with some of the former American League pitchers who are now in the National League!

    His defense is simply overated if you look at the metrics used by Myron Logan at baseball analysis (who uses some of the techniques from the fielding bible).

    http://baseballanalysts.com/archives/2008/07/deefense_deefen_1.php

    Johnny Mac is ranked behind Derek Jeter this year and at 33 he is not going to get better but worse.

    - Jim B
25. 25.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:26 am
    

    What do you think the odds are of moving Hill to SS and platooning Inglett and Marco at 2nd. With Campbell in AA soon to be ready at 2nd and no SS’s in FA or the minors this seems like a decent move.

    MW: Why do so many people (almost none of whom have seen him play) think that Scott Campbell is so close to being a contributor in the majors?

    - Lindsay
26. 26.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
    

    Hey Mike,

    If you were hired as the G.M. of the Jays this off-season, Ted Rogers gave you an extra 20 million to play with and you had free-reign to do what you pleased with the roster (a la Colangelo of the Raps) what would you try to accomplish?

    Thanks and keep up the great work!

    MW: I’d try to build a team that would make the playoffs. I’d throw some money at Ben Sheets and either Jim Thome or Manny Ramirez to be the DH and see if I couldn’t try to rebuild the left side of the infield.

    - Justin
27. 27.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
    

    You gotta implement a new rule for the post game Jays Talk.

    If someone has asked How are you?, and another person asks it after. You gotta disconnect them and go onto the next caller.

    MW: You can’t expect every listener to have listened to the show from start to finish, but I wish people would stop using “How are you” as a greeting.

    - Chris
28. 28.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:35 am
    

    mike,
    if i remember correctly, in the late 80′s and early 90′s i could listen to the radio broadcast of the jays game and watch it on tv totally synced. nowadays there is a very annoying 2-3 second delay on the television, but i still listen to Fan and end up hearing the plays before i see them. the radio coverage is just 100 times more interesting and enjoyable. since Ted Roger’s owns Roger’s Sportsnet and the Fan 590, do you think there is anything he could do about this? Fans would still be tuning in just as much, no loss for him.

    MW: I don’t know why it’s out of synch now. Something to do with satellites, I’ll bet.

    - diego
29. 29.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:39 am
    

    Mike,
    Is there any place to see who slides throught the waivers?

    On another note I am sick of here that injury excuse. It is a 162 game season and every team is going to have injuries. It is a part of the game and you have to get through them. Obviously you’d love to not have them, but you have to be prepared to fight through them. Look at the top teams this year, they have all had key injuries.

    Tampa Bay – Dioner Navarro, Troy Percival ,Carlos Pena, Jason Bartlett,Rocco Baldelli

    Boston – Josh Beckett, Curt Schilling, Mike Timlin x 2, Mike Lowell , Daisuke Matsuzaka , David Ortiz ,Bartolo Colon,Julio Lugo

    chi soxs – Juan Uribe,Esteban Loaiza ;Paul Konerko ;Bobby Jenks list,Jose Contreras,Joe Crede on ,Scott Linebrink ,

    Los Angeles Angels – John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Scot Shields, Chone Figgins ,

    Philadelphia – Jimmy Rollins Shane Victorino Tom Gordon

    Chicago Cubs – Alfonso Soriano x 2,Carlos Zambrano list, Reed Johnson , Kerry Wood x 2

    Arizona Diamondbacks – Doug Davis ;Randy Johnson ;Chad Tracy ;Eric Byrnes ; Chris Snyder ;Justin Upton

    MW: There’s no place to see who slides through waivers, that information isn’t made public. As for the list of the injured that you present (Esteban Loiaiza? Really?) – how many of those guys missed over two months, as each of Hill, Wells, Accardo, and Janssen have, and McGowan will?

    - JW
30. 30.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:49 am
    

    Mike, who is your favourite player on the jays?

    MW: As a human being? It’d have to be John McDonald.

    - Adam
31. 31.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:53 am
    

    Mike, I’m really getting tired of hearing that shortstop needs to be a more offensive position. Johnny Mac makes up for his light hitting with his defense in spades.While errors haven’t been a problem balls not gotten to are. 14-8 record with Mac starting speaks for itself, 6 games over .500 sounds better than 2. Just start him everyday and see how the team does, its at least a worthwhile experiment. remember last year when Vernon Wells was leading off- they were 6 games over .500 then too. Gibbons took him out and we lost 7of the next ten. Formulas don’t always work so stay with what is until it stops working.

    MW: 14-8 record with McDonald starting speaks for a small sample size, but I don’t disagree that it’s a worthwhile experiment.

    - darren in halifax
32. 32.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
    

    Mike,

    After the weekend with Cleveland…the schedule from here on out looks extremely difficult with games against every AL East and Wild-card contender..with only 6 games against weak opponents (Baltimore in Sept).

    If it wasn’t show-time before..it is now! Here’s hoping the Jays play .600 at home and .500 on the road from here on out…might not be enough,but it would ne a nice finish.

    MW: It’s definitely showtime once the Jays finish that four-gamer in Detroit that kicks off next week.

    - Mark
33. 33.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
    

    You know it’s funny that JP said he’d love to have a round-table discussion with some of his critics but my understanding is that he won’t go on Prime Time with Bob McCown. He talks a big game but I think he’s been asked more than once and refused. You should check with Bob about that Mike and I’m sure he’d love to have that talk but I have a feeling that JP will be busy or away.

    MW: I’ll check on that.

    - Peter B.
34. 34.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
    

    Hello Mike,
    Good win for Shaun and the Jays.
    How is Jeremy Accardo doing? He hasn’t been pitching for a long time. Do you have an update?
    Thanks

    MW: See above.

    - Cral
35. 35.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
    

    Mike:

    Since you’ll be seeing Jerry all week can you please tell him that I have e-mailed Bud Selig and after much consideration the league IS going to count the first 2 games that the Jays played against Pittsburgh when Cito took over as manager.

    Those will still count as losses when the season is over and Cito will be recognized as the manager of record in those games. Therefore, Jerry can just give 1 record since Cito took over and save himself the quick math to calculate the record excluding those 2 games.

    And just for effect make sure you tell him not once, but twice.

    - Peter B.
36. 36.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
    

    Hey Mike,

    Phenomenal defense by Johnny Mac in the past couple of days. At the beginning of the year, I noticed, and I believe you did too, that his batting skills have improved. Of course, he’s still not as good as Rios or Wells, but can you see him practicing hard in the off season and improving his batting skills even more? Basically, I’d love to see him as a starter in that position, what would it take, offensive wise, to get him that starting position?

    Thanks,

    Ryan

    MW: It would take him being a .260/.310 sort of guy, I think. And I think he can do that, although at his age he’s not likely to get much better than he is.

    - Ryan
37. 37.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
    

    I was looking at the Mets coverage and noticed Josh Banks is getting the start against them today for the Padres. He holds passable NL numbers since he got the callup there (3.65 ERA, 1.28 WHIP), and as a former 2nd round pick was obviously a valued prospect at some point in his career. His numbers were fairly respectable for the Chiefs last season, and he’s a RHP, while a number of the Jays’ starter prospects are lefties.

    Of course, hindsight is 20/20, and Banks might not have had a future with an AL East club, but he was obviously inexpensive and serviceable for an NL rotation. He hadn’t been completely falling apart in AAA. Why, then, did JP let him go for nothing to the Padres?

    MW: Banks had had two unimpressive seasons in AAA and was off to an awful start in his third.

    - Jim
38. 38.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
    

    Mike,

    You should seriously try and get JP and yourself onto a Prime Time round table with the Bobcat and someone like Bob Elliot.

    If JP is actually interested in doing it I think it would be great to listen to.

    MW: I’m not sure that I would want to be a part of that, but I’d REALLY want to listen to it.

    - Paul
39. 39.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
    

    Mike,

    I found it interesting [and almost contradictory to what you've said all year] that JP feels the shortstop position is one that requires ‘power’. I know you’ve said all along that you’re not a believer in assigning offensive output values to specific positions, so I found it interesting when he more or less ruled out the possibility of Johnny Mac being the everyday shortstop. Don’t you think it would make more sense if they tried to improve the power #’s in other areas and keep J-Mac as the shortstop? Just a thought. Thanks.

    MW: He didn’t say “power”, he said “shortstop is an offensive position”, but I was surprised by that.

    - Vinnie from Hamilton
40. 40.
    August 7th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
    

    Hey, the umpires actually consulted each other last night in the Yankee game after the 2nd base base umpire blew a call!. Why can’t we see that more often?

    - Shmuel Yitzchok
41. 41.
    August 7th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
    

    Last night the Dodgers played their game under protest. What exactly could happen if the protest is “upheld”? Can you name any recent examples?

    MW: The Pine Tar game is the last time I remember a protest being upheld.

    - Shmuel Yitzchok
42. 42.
    August 7th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
    

    ***Jays’ defence in 7th was spectacular .. McDonald , Barajas, Oberbay
    ***JP’s comments on injuries not esp. relevant since most teams get hit . The key is your farm teams for call-ups when injuries occur.
    ***Indians, Tigers, and Jays all fooled experts ?

    MW: Yes, and so did the Mariners, Rockies, Twins, White Sox, Mets and Cardinals.

    - Chas Calz
43. 43.
    August 7th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
    

    Mike,

    I hate to rib you, but how do you feel about this Cito situation now? Be honest, if I were you I would be VERY embarassed. If you are not then something needs to be checked out. Many people called over the last year or so asking to bring back Cito (for me it was just calling to say fire Gibby) and you constantly said “you don’t want that to happen you dont want to see Cito here.” I don’t know why you were saying that and boy you would make these callers feel small for even suggesting it. If I were you I would make a formal apology via this blog or otherwise to the callers you made feel silly and to Cito.

    By the way when I listed the umpteen things that Cito does differently and better than Gibby including a squeeze play and you said you never saw Cito do that..he tried it again last night, I say again because it was not the first and you need to watch more closely.

    Gibby was a ball and chain on this team and I can’t say enough how happy I am to have a new Manager especially Cito.

    Apologize, wipe the egg off your face and let’s move on. I know if you were GM Gibby would still have his job and we would be close to 10 games under .500 right now.

    Now that JP supports Cito (which he did not before because his puppet Gibby was managing) you must be Cito’s #1 fan.

    Lastly, what was your relationship with Gibby and what is your relationship with Cito? I think I know the answer but I am interested in asking.

    Keep up the good work (other than the baseball predictions, trying to decide what is best for the Jays e.g. Zaun, Gibby, Eckstein at SS, Wilkerson over Lind and so on and so on.)..please dont forget defending Wilkerson over
    Lind earlier in the season.

    Matt “fighting back for the so called idiots”

    MW: You already know all the answers, so why do you want my input?

    - Matthew
44. 44.
    August 7th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
    

    Mike,
    With limited options for SS in the MLB free agen market, why havn’t the Jays gone overseas to Japan? The Yankee’s, Sox, and Rays have all added some quality players via that route. The Jays with a $100M payroll certain have the resources available.

    MW: The Jays say they can’t afford to get involved in the posting system.

    - Denny
45. 45.
    August 7th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
    

    At this point is there any stat I could post that convinces you that John McDonald has no business as a starting SS?

    MW: Not until you quantify his defense.

    - Andy
46. 46.
    August 7th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
    

    Have you went to espn and checked out sportsnation on who’s the greatest blue jay player of all time? They have 10 canditates and they are: Roberto Alomar, George Bell, Joe Carter, Carlos Delgado, Tony Fernandez, Roy Halladay, Tom Henke, Lloyd Moseby, John Olerud and Dave Stieb. Can you rank these players from best player to least best player?

    MW: As a Blue Jay? Hmmmmm. Off the top of my head – Alomar, Delgado, Stieb, Fernandez, Halladay, Carter, Henke, Bell, Olerud, Moseby.

    - andrew
47. 47.
    August 7th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
    

    bob vs jp would be awesome.. i do agree with cito that the bats around mac have to be hitting well. With that said i do not think the jays need a shortstop next year if they can pick up a big bat to fill in somewhere else. There are not many good hitting shortstops on the market next year and most of them are old. I think it would be easier to fill a void at some other position. What about bringing back orlando hudson and putting hill at short??.. just a thought. Hill is good enough to play short as well. If that does not pan out then a healthy hill mac, wells and rod should be a strong up the middle.

    MW: It’s definitely an idea, one that’s been kicked around quite a bit around here.

    - Patel R
48. 48.
    August 7th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
    

    I’ve been a season ticket holder since 1987 and love my ball team through thick and thin. I have a lot of respect for JP for coming on air each week to face the fans and provide a forum to answer our questions. I don’t think he’s made more mistakes than any other GM. Still there are moves like Reed that I believe were wrong. I don’t think JP deserves all the bashing he gets from Jaystalk callers or other media.

    On one hand I’d be very interested in a round-table debate, but I’m just not sure it will change anything. The Bobcats and other JP-bashers won’t change their tune based on debate. It would be entertaining radio though.

    - Ian C
49. 49.
    August 7th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
    

    Mike, regarding the issue of J.P. and the media round-table debate. How about hooking up the Bobcat and J.P. on a ‘Wednesday’s with J.P.’? I would much rather hear this over the phone in questions from fans anyday….

    MW: You want The Bobcat to stay up that late??

    - tony
50. 50.
    August 7th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
    

    Any thoughts on Cito maybe even getting elevated in the BJ structure. IE, replacing the current GM? No expereince, but couldn’t do worse than JP. Loves the city/organization and I would suggest has many connections.

    Any thoughts on whether or not he could do the job or would get a chance?

    MW: You don’t think a guy with absolutely ZERO front-office experience would be the wrong fit for the job?

    - Ian
51. 51.
    August 7th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
    

    To the Irish dude that called in last night. JP fired those guys cause, correct me if I’m wrong, I can’t remember anyone firing themselves? I think JP has done a decent job. I’ll upgrade him to awesome when he gets rid of Rolen/Overbay or as I’ll call them “Rover” cause they can fetch the ball but they just can’t hit one!

    - tonyMM
52. 52.
    August 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
    

    I guess this is off topic but I would like to comment on the Jays TV broadcasts these past three games. TSN does a pretty decent job with the presentation – which is even more evident when you compare Rod Black’s play-by-play calling to that of one Jamie Campbell. I really think it is time for Rogers Media (or whoever is calling the shots) to take a hard look and evaluate the tv broadcast team going forward. Jamie’s had a few years experience under his belt now, (3 or 4 I believe) and it’s time the Jays put a more reputable product on the tube. Why not go with someone as esteemed as Jim Hughson full-time? Even Rod Black is a much better option right now… I thought I would point that out.

    Anyway, keep fighting the good fight Mike – you’re one of a kind!

    MW: Jamie has a blog, and you’d be better served to make your comments there.

    - Otello
53. 53.
    August 7th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
    

    Mike,

    Who do you think was a better hitter, Frank Thomas in his prime or Ken Griffey jr. in his prime?

    MW: My immediate thought was Thomas, and then I checked the stats, and wow. Thomas had eight straight seasons with an OPS+ of at least 174. Junior’s career-best is 171, and he’s only had three seasons over 155. It’s not close.

    - Beburg aka The 88mph man
54. 54.
    August 7th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
    

    Id pay to watch JP in a round table debate on PTS

    - mike
55. 55.
    August 7th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
    

    I only caught part of you and J.P. on Wednesday night after the game and you mentioned the Jays improvement in hitting with runners in scoring position since Cito took over. They are still under .300, but Cash, Crisp and Lugo for Boston are all batting at .156 or worse with RISP.

    Also, fans have to remember that just because the Jays may have RISP, there is another team out there and they are bearing down even harder to prevent any runs being scored.

    We’d all love the Jays to cash in a no-out triple every time, but it’s baseball and that just doesn’t happen, so instead of ragging on the team for hitting under .300 with RISP, be thankful we don’t have Cash, Crips and Lugo as well.

    MW: None of those guys are everyday players, though.

    - Al Navis
56. 56.
    August 7th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
    

    When the broadcast went down, I was able to pick it up with a ton of static around 570. Why is that?

    MW: I’m pretty sure our network includes 570NEWS in Kitchener.

    - Ari
57. 57.
    August 7th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
    

    Hi Mike

    Tell me, if a player is claimed off waivers, does the claiming team have to offer a trade proposal or do they just take the player off the original team’s hands and everyone walks away? Can the current team refuse the interested team access to the player? Thanks for the time and effort.

    MW: These are recallable waivers (the first time a player is placed on waivers after July 31st), so it’s the original team that has all the power. They can either let the player go, recall him off waivers or make a trade – but they can’t make a trade with any team other than the claiming team.

    - simon
58. 58.
    August 7th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
    

    Hi Mike,

    Re the injury lament: the point was intended to be that because the Yanks and Red Sox had more injuries – and to better players – that THEIR records would be correspondingly better…

    - Ken
59. 59.
    August 7th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
    

    Hey Mike,

    So with this season being pretty much over (never say never though), I’m looking at next years possible team. The outfield would probably be Lind, Wells and Rios. Other then that, i feel that every other position spot is up for grabs. In the rotation looks like it will be Halladay, Marcum ,McGowan, Purcey/Richomnd. So my question is who do you think (either currently on the roster or free agent) will play the remaining positions and who will take that 5th spot in the rotation.

    Thanks and keep up the good blogging!

    MW: I don’t think that first, second or third are up for grabs. Those positions belong to Overbay, Hill and Rolen, unless the Jays sneak Inglett in at second and move Hill to short. I think that one of Purcey, Richmond or Litsch gets the 5th spot, and someone currently outside the organization will be the 4th starter, and that’s also how the Jays will find their shortstop and DH. I think Barajas will at least start the season behind the plate.

    - sm
60. 60.
    August 7th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
    

    Hmmm, just thinking in print here…7 1/2 games out of the wild card with 3 games left to go against the Twins, 9 against the Yankees and a dozen against the Red Sox. They’re close enough to the Rangers to pass them and forget about the opportunity lost there last week if they continue to play well and rack up some wins. This team can’t say they don’t contol their own destiny right now. With everybody calling for JP’s head beacuse of no meaningful September games, shouldn’t we wait until September actuly gets here to decide? We may have a whole bunch of meaningful games to watch next month if this team finally puts the hitting with the pitching consistantly for the next 7 weeks. I may be a dreamer but this bumpy season could still very well end up to be pretty sweet yet, don’t you think?

    MW: It’s possible, but again, it’d take a miracle.

    - Mike B
61. 61.
    August 7th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
    

    Hi Mike,

    I know you said recently that you were on the proverbial fence as far as the Jays shortstop situation goes (Mac vs. Eck). I too, go back and forth with this but having had the treat of watching J.Mac the last couple of games, I gotta say I fell off the fence and landed squarely in his backyard (fence metaphor, get it? Meh.). I just think his glove can be soooo impactful that it more than makes up for his lack of authority with the stick. Besides, it’s not like Eck is that much better in the sense that they bunt with him a lot as well (and Mac is as good a bunter as Eck) and he completely lacks any sort of power. I understand that with all the injuries and offensive underperforming going on this year that they need as much offense as possible but I also think that an outstanding defensive play that saves run(s) is every bit as good as creating one. Mac has the potential of saving run(s) every time the opposition swings the bat, as opposed to him potentially killing a rally the 1 in 9 times he’s up at the plate. I know, the math is a little crap, and I’m no math man but I stand firm on the belief that an amazing “snuff out a rally” type defensive play can psychologically kill an opponent. Does this make any sense at all, or is it just me? I guess what I’m saying is I’d love to see him get the chance next year with an improved line-up. Besides, Mac’s jaw dropping defense is way too much fun to watch day in and day out. Have I swayed you at all? Doubtful.

    And as for the Jays play-off dreams.. let’s remember the Rockies. Miracles happen, people.

    MW: You haven’t swayed me off the fence.

    - Scott B
62. 62.
    August 7th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
    

    Good goin’, AJ. Give up a homer to a guy barely hitting his weight.

    Can we get this guy on the first plane out of town? I offer to pay for his plane ticket.

    MW: That’s all it takes to wreck a run of five straight terrific starts?

    - AL
63. 63.
    August 7th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
    

    Mike,

    Boy does Sunday look like a mismatch on the hill or what? Let’s hope it’s one of those baseball anomalies where it goes the other way!

    MW: It can happen.

    - Tim
64. 64.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
    

    OK im sensing that you are also ready for the Brad Wilkerson experiment to end. they tried to catch lightning in a bottle and didn’t. I know they like Wilkerson for years, but seriously they cant still be in love. I would rather see ANY of the outfielders in AA or AAA right now(excepting Snider or other real superstar prospects who you dont want to rush) but why not let Patterson/Smith/Lydon/Matthews come on up and give it a shot, at least then dont have a well known stiff who every pitcher in the league knows.

    Now he will go and hit a walk-off.

    MW: He might – but there’s likely less than a week left until Vernon Wells comes back anyway.

    - PeeWee
65. 65.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
    

    Hey Mike, just wondering if you would agree with JP when he said “…but he’s really laid the groundwork for some of the right stuff offensively”? Or do you think that gastons addition has not had much to do with the offence and its just a matter of things averaging out? Im curious becaue I have heard you say before that things had to turn around under any manager. Do you think Cito has done something to help change the offence?

    MW: I said in June that the bats were bound to turn around regardless, and they have turned around a bit. I said that Cito would probably get a lot of credit for it, whether or not it was deserved, and that I’d be fine with that. Honestly, I’m not sure how much of an effect he’s had or how much of it is simply “water returning to its level”, as it were.

    - KD
66. 66.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
    

    Hi Mike,
    One of the pleasant surprises the last few years has been how effective our bullpen has been. While BJ Ryan is the only big name, the rest seem to have been plucked from nowhere.

    What do you think is the main factor behind their success? Is it just that we’ve captured “lightning in a bottle”, is it JP’s ability to spot talent or does Brad Arnsberg deserve the credit? Speaking of him, he must be a pretty good pitching coach…is this the general consensus around both the team and the league?

    MW: It’s definitely the consensus around the team, though I don’t know about around the league. I think it’s a combination of everything, but don’t tell anyone that J.P. is a good judge of talent.

    - Oz Rob
67. 67.
    August 7th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
    

    Hello Mike!

    I must say that I quite like Lind as a player. I was actually very worried that JP had given up on Lind and was already thinking ahead to Snider, hence Lind’s earlier banishment to AAA.

    He can’t ignore him now!

    What do you see as Lind’s potential?

    Keep up the good work, Mike!

    MW: Lind has hit everywhere he’s been, and I see no reason why he wouldn’t continue that in the majors and be the left fielder or DH here for a long time.

    - Rory
68. 68.
    August 7th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
    

    Hi Mike,
    It’s happening again. Every year around this time, John MacDonald starts to get some playing time, makes some phenomenal plays, generates a feel good buzz around the team..and we seem to start winning.

    I’m glad to hear that you are a MacDonald fan. Man, get the guy in there full time!!! I like the poster who said we could at least try it as an experiment. Who cares if he can’t hit…we’ve got a pop gun offence this year anyway. I’m amazed at how many runs we’ve generated lately with so few hits. MacDonalds bat is certainly not going to curtail our offensive juggernaut.

    Seems to me though that JP is dead set against it. I remember actually phoning in to your show about 3 years ago to ask JP this and never heard his answer because I didn’t realise you get cut off after the question and by the time I figured it out, I’d missed it. But I’m sure it was no.

    We’re 14-8 with him starting this year. Wonder what the record is the last few years with him starting?

    MW: I don’t know. That’d take a long time to look up, too.

    - Oz Rob
69. 69.
    August 7th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
    

    Re post #40 about umpires conferring.

    I hace seen umpires consult and change the call three times this year. Each time they changed the right call to the wrong call (based on my eyes watching dozens of replays). I don’t recall a consultation changing a wrong call to the right one.

    BTW, I personally think the umpires do a pretty damn good job. Ain’t perfect but then neither am I.

    Steve

    MW: You’re not?

    - SteveW
70. 70.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
    

    Hey Mike,
    I won’t ask you about Aaron Hill, whether the jays will make the playoffs or if Ricciardi will be fired next year…

    here’s a light hearted question for you…

    ..do you know or what tune AJ Burnett is warming up to these days? I was at his last start and tonights start and I’m digging the tune!

    thanks!

    MW: I don’t know what it is, but it’s pretty different. At least it’s no longer NKOTB.

    - Cavin
71. 71.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
    

    Mike, I’m going to go out on a limb and say that (assuming that AJ opts for free agency), the Jays should take the draft picks and avoid getting into a bidding war for his services.

    AJ has been a decent pitcher for the Jays, and we could use him in 2009, but I don’t think he’s worth another 4- or 5-year contract. Too much risk for the potential reward.

    I think within a year or two, the Jays rotation could look something like:

    Halladay
    Marcum
    Cecil
    McGowan/Janssen (I’m hoping one of them makes it back from labrum surgery)
    Purcey/Romero/Litsch/Richmond/other

    That could actually be quite a respectable rotation. And saving the money you might spend on AJ could allow the team to address its main needs: SS, 3B, DH.

    3B/SS is what really scares me. I think the Jays will be hard-pressed to contend without a serious upgrade to the left side of the infield. Rolen is one massive question mark going forward – what are they going to do about that position? (I do hope they somehow keep McDonald as a bench player. Or, alternatively, acquire a mashing DH, 3B, and/or 1B, in which case I would be happy to see the dazzling J-Mac start at SS).

    MW: I’m with you on Burnett.

    - Geoff
72. 72.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
    

    5 Toronto things sure to happen shortly before Labour Day every year:

    5. Jays lose all realistic hope of winning the wild-card spot.

    4. JP starts talking about all the injuries the Jays had.

    3. Geddy Lee abandons his “In the Action” seats. (Sorry I think he did that in May this year).

    2. Jays start their traditional “too little too late” surge.

    1. Johnny Mac completes his total butt-kicking of whatever SS that JP signed the previous off season.

    ——–

    Mike,

    JP’s tying his ’09 return to Cito’s popularity:

    A brilliant attempt to win the support of the demographic most likely to buy Jays tickets next season?

    OR

    A cynical attempt to curry favour with a segment of fans JP has given the finger to for 7 years?

    OR

    The last gasp of a dying regime?

    OR

    ALL OF THE ABOVE

    MW: He hasn’t given the finger to fans for seven years at all.

    - Prokopec
73. 73.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:33 pm
    

    Fat Elvis? Care to share?

    MW: http://www.fat-elvis.com

    - Richard
74. 74.
    August 7th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
    

    Snider is off to a great start in AAA — 2 for 3, with a double and 2 RBI in tonight’s 2-0 Chiefs’ win.

    Brian Wolfe went 5 innings for the win — 4 hits, 1 BB, 5 K’s.

    - Norm
75. 75.
    August 8th, 2008 at 12:14 am
    

    I agree with you that Scott Richmond would rather be in MLB than sucking smog in Beijing, but the fact remains, it looks bad for Canada’s only MLB team to potentially and needlessly scuttle the national team’s chances in the tournament, ESPECIALLY given that the Jays have made a show of supporting the national team (introducing them at games) and have their logo in the sponsors’ galley on the Baseball Canada home page.

    I’m happy for Scott Richmond, but embarrassed for the club. It’s the sort of thing that gives PR people ulcers. Or would, that is, if anyone in Canada really cared about Olympic baseball.

    MW: It’s ridiculous. The Blue Jays do a great job of supporting Baseball Canada, they help them out whenever they can, but the Blue Jays’ first concern has to be what’s good for the Blue Jays, not what’s good for the national team.

    - bg
76. 76.
    August 8th, 2008 at 1:22 am
    

    I’m glad to see that people in the know are starting to use winning percentage as a way of evaluating Johnny Mac’s effect on the Jays. I have been promoting that for quite a while since there is no reliable way of computing runs saved with a glove vs. runs lost at bat. For the record and in partial response to comment number 68 the Jays were 83-79 (.512) overall and 56-46 (.549) when Johnny Mac started a game in 2007. The difference would probably more dramatic if not for the fact that he started almost all of the games in Aug. and Sept. last year.
    At the very least this combined with the numbers from this year strongly refute the argument that he hurts the team when he plays. It just ain’t so.

    MW: Thanks for doing the research! I don’t understand the last sentence of the first graph, though.

    - Debbie
77. 77.
    August 8th, 2008 at 1:23 am
    

    Jason Bay has had a great week in Boston..A .421 batting average, 10 runs, 2 doubles a triple, HR and 6 RBI’s…Shawn Marcum has given up 17 runs and has an ERA over 7.00 in his last 4 games..Highly touted rookie hero boy Travis Snider is 50th overall in batting average in the Double A Eastern League..So this guy is the “can’t miss” prospect?..Wouldn’t he be tearing up the minors if he was so good? He can barely hit .270 in the minor leagues..Jason Bay is the real deal..He is a proven hitter having an all star season..If the Jays had him in the lineup for this season and next and they make the playoffs then isn’t it worth the trade ?..Maybe he signs with Toronto for more seasons after his contract is up..The Jays blew it I say..

    MW: If the Jays make the playoffs this year and next with Bay in the line-up, then the trade is definitely worth it. But Bay would likely not have been enough to get the Jays into the playoffs this year, and who’s to say that his 2009 wouldn’t have looked like his 2007 (.247/.327/.418)? As for Travis Snider, he was 20th in OPS in the AA Easten League – at 20 years of age.

    - gump
78. 78.
    August 8th, 2008 at 2:03 am
    

    Hi Mike,
    Sorry to keep pestering you, but this is a compliment. You’ve got a great natural talent for conducting interviews, calling games and dealing with the fans on Jays Talk (although some might disagree!).

    Based on your introductions to each blog, you also seem to have a talent for writing. Apologies if I don’t know your background, but have you done some sports journalism before? If not, is it something you’d like to pursue in the future? You’d be very readable…very Tom Verducci-like.

    MW: That’s a great compliment! Thanks very much. I haven’t done much writing before, not since school, anyway. It’s something I’d be interest in pursuing, though I love what I’m doing right now. I’m open to offers, though – anyone?

    - Oz Rob
79. 79.
    August 8th, 2008 at 2:04 am
    

    Hey Mike,
    I appreciate that you have a life after baseball- but when you advertise your blog relentlessly every chance you get you should consider keeping it up to previous standards. Lately, I have been looking up JAYS talk after a game and am sad to find out that it hasn’t been posted. Obviously you should not be expected to work 24 hours a day but don’t forget that the blog is very popular (as reflected by the number of responses compared to others blogs: hello Howard LEAFS). I would hate for your popularity to diminish because things start slipping. Just like ballplayers and everyone else (99.9% of the population) I understand it is unfair for you to work way over your time for your job and I am sure you should be compensated for your blog time- but don’t forget the blog gets you support and listeners. If your interest, as it should be, is to be fairly compensated, may I suggest you taking hits to the fan 590 website and the number on your blog as a %? Also I can pretty much guarantee that JAYS TALK has to be the top streamed archive on the website. Just a thought- keep up the good work and I hope things get back to the way they were.

    MW: Without getting to aspects of compensation and the like, which I’ve never discussed and have no interest in discussing in this forum, the fact is that keeping this blog up takes a tremendous amount of time and effort. Occasionally, life gets in the way and I have to let it slip, but I try not to as often as possible.

    - Bobby S
80. 80.
    August 8th, 2008 at 3:38 am
    

    Hey Mike

    I appreciate JP taking the time to field calls from the fans on wednesday nights, especially considering that many of those calls are hostile due to the teams lack of success. That being said, one comment really iritated me.

    “i’m amazed at how fast people see the the glass as half empty” – JP

    Are you kidding? Its been a decade and a half since the team has been in contention. You hit the nail right on the head when you stated thursday that the only thing that really matters is playoff baseball. I still go to games and follow the Jays on a daily basis, but 15 years as a non-contender is absolutely ridiculous.

    MW: And yet, he makes a good point. There are very few optimistic sports fans in this city (I blame the Leafs), and that was the case even when the Jays were winning World Series. It’s like people are always expecting the other shoe to drop. Pessimists, as a commenter said a few weeks ago, are never disappointed.

    - rick
81. 81.
    August 8th, 2008 at 7:54 am
    

    Hey Mike:
    “MW: You want might to check on that homework yourself. What I said was that Rolen hasn’t had a bad year, that he’s had a bad month. I look forward to your apology.”

    Okay then, but I could have sworn I heard differently. Nevertheless, despite a brief hot start before getting injured, Rolen is hitting 32 percentage points off his career average(.250/.282)over 312 at-bats, and his power is gone. Considering the Blue Jays thought they were trading for a .280 average, 25+ home runs and 100 RBIs, I still say that Rolen has had/is having a baaaaad year. I don’t see how one could rationally argue otherwise.
    Thanks,
    J. Andrews

    MW: Scott Rolen through June 30th: .288/.377/.474. Since June 30th: .165/.274/.237. He’s had an awful five weeks.

    - J. Andrews
82. 82.
    August 8th, 2008 at 8:01 am
    

    5 comments, one question:

    1) Gotta love John MacDonald. Just watching him play defense is excellent entertainment value in itself. No wonder he is such a fan favorite. It’s interesting that since 06, 07 and 08, despite JP’s attempts to “upgrade at shortshop”, Johnny Mac seems to earn the job by year’s end. Though time will tell whether that’ll be the case this year.

    2) Lind continues to hit lefties well (.341). That’s a good sign, if he’s going to be an elite every day player.

    3) Regardless of whether the Jays make the playoffs or not, I’d like to see them get fairly close. I would think that that would help (a little anyway) attract good free agents to fill the DH and starting pitching holes.

    4) Personally, from an entertainment perspective, I think it’s been a fun season to watch. Lots of interesting stories on and off the field. A run for the wildcard would cap it off nicely. Aside from the awful April and early June, it must be a fun season for yourself, as a member of the media. Lots to talk about.

    5) The Jays could conceivably gain some ground this weekend. Boston is playing in Chicago, New York is playing at LAA, and the Jays are at home to Cleveland.

    6) Now for my question: I remember hearing somewhere that Brad Arnsberg’s contract expires at the end of this season. Given his success in recent years, is it possible that the Jays lose him to another organization that would offer more?

    MW: It’s definitely possible, he’ll be a free agent.

    - Rene
83. 83.
    August 8th, 2008 at 9:51 am
    

    Hi Mike,

    Last night there was an interesting call about pre-seaon predictions from objective baseball sources as to where the Jays would finish. The caller related that of ESPN prognosticators NONE picked the Jays to finish above third. I can’t recall any publication or website that picked the Jays to finish over third either…if I ‘d seen one it would have really jumped out.
    Do you think non-partisan baseball analysts are really shaking their heads at those underachieving Jays (not to mention their crippling injuries) or, rather, that they’re surprised at how overachieving the Rays are this year? If the Rays had played down to therir usual standards the Jays would probably be settled comfortably in third – just where it seems nearly every disinterested prediction placed them.
    Also: Dan Shulman – certainly one of the most intelligent commentators – was on the FAN a while ago and was saying how in baseball circles south of the border the Jays don’t resonate at all. Admittedly a large part of that is because they are based in Canada; but the other reason was because they simply don’t even contend for post-season play, year after year.
    This isn’t a bad team, but it’s not a very good one either. After 162 games the team will finish with the record it deserves. WINNING anything seems beyond the realm of serious discussion -after seven years of this regime isn’t it time to give someone else a chance to bring in better talent?

    MW: I don’t think anyone south of the border is shaking his/her head about the underachieving Jays because, as Danny says, they simply don’t resonate in the States. Part of it is being in Canada, more of it is not being a playoff factor for 15 years, and some of it is the fact that they play in the A.L. East. The Orioles and, until this year, the Rays don’t get much resonance, either.

    - Ken
84. 84.
    August 8th, 2008 at 10:18 am
    

    get over the olympics debate people. If the jays did not ask Richmond up and said to him :we would rather give canada baseball a chance to win at the olympics” they would not be treting Richmond very well as he would much rather be in the bigs. Think about it, if he goes to the olympics he may not get the call up for the Jays by the time he returns and his shot in the majors may be done. The olympics dont pay the bills either.

    - KD
85. 85.
    August 8th, 2008 at 10:25 am
    

    I think you’re justifiably suspicious about Dopirak’s chances for success in the big leagues. With the way he has been tearing up A ball, though, it’ll be interesting to see if the Jays have another statistical outlier like Matt Stairs on their hands.

    The parallels aren’t exact: Stairs had seen AAA ball by Dopirak’s age; Dopirak has had a few more injury concerns; Stairs was never in one location consistently enough to display 25+HR power until the age of 29.

    For the game of baseball these guys who “get it late” are certainly intriguing, though, and for the Jays it’s certainly worth seeing if the kid could eventually contribute – why have him in the system otherwise? If he keeps up a sharp pace at New Hampshire, do you think Dopirak will get a look at spring training?

    MW: Dopirak was signed as a six-year minor-league free agent, so unless the Jays put him on the 40-man roster over the winter, he’ll be a minor-league free agent again. If he does impress at New Hampshire, you’d think they’d put him on the 40 and take a look at him in Spring Training.

    - Jim
86. 86.
    August 8th, 2008 at 10:29 am
    

    Hey Mike. It would be a real treat to listen to a debate between JP and all or any critic who was willing to step up to the metaporical plate. I wonder if Mike Toth is up for it. See what you can do to make it happen. Just don’t kill yourself in the process. I was wondering if you have given John McDonald one of your “Wilnerised” nick names yet. If not then he deserves one!

    MW: He’s simply Johnny Mac.

    - Matt from BC
87. 87.
    August 8th, 2008 at 10:41 am
    

    Hey Mike…if the Ticats can beat the Argos, I’ll believe anything. Go Jays Go!

    - Vito From Hamilton
88. 88.
    August 8th, 2008 at 10:43 am
    

    Hi Mike, Just wanted to say you have my support on the Richmond thing and im sure alot of other people agree with you and just aren’t posting. I couldn’t believe Mr. Griffins view on this topic but hey anything to take a shot at J.P. right.

    on another note how good is Manny? the guy is just so good it scares me.

    MW: Really good.

    - dan m
89. 89.
    August 8th, 2008 at 10:51 am
    

    Hey Mike

    What’s with Oakland with muppets look-alike?

    Their catcher looks like Kermit the Frog with all his protective gear and Blevins looks like one of the chorus in the muppets. He bobbed his head when he got to the mound just like my Johnny Mac boblehead on my desk. I expected Jim Henson to come out from underneath the mound ……

    - francis
90. 90.
    August 8th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
    

    Re #9:(MW:I’m not sure this isn’t a roundabout way of saying the Jays shouldn’t have released Reed Johnson.)
    Oh, dear, was it that obvious?
    I’m trying to get over the loss of Johnson, although now that you mention it, he might have been nice to have to fill in for Wells and make spot starts against lefties, letting Lind DH.

    MW: You’re going to have to get over it. Why not replace Reed in your heart with Joe Inglett?

    - roy hughes
91. 91.
    August 8th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
    

    Okay. I couldn’t find that much info on the ‘net. You are right. Thanks for clarifying!

    - J. Andrews