12:45 AM Eastern
To quote the great Roger Daltrey: “There’s nothing more needs to be said.” But in my quest to someday be paid by the word, I will say something anyway.
The Blue Jays’ offense has gone back to its dormant state of a couple of weeks ago, when they managed to crank out four whole runs in a three-game series against Cleveland. The difference is that this time around, they’ve only scored THREE runs in three games, and they’ve wasted far better pitching performances- specifically Wednesday night’s by David Purcey and tonight’s effort by hard-luck loser A.J. Burnett. If only A.J. were more than a .500 pitcher, then he’d have figured out a way to get the Jays to score a couple more runs.
When a team scores one stinking run, it’s tough to pick apart a game and see where things could have gone differently, but one thing does stand out. John McDonald had started each of the last 23 games at shortstop. Tonight, Scott Rolen was back in the line-up at third, but instead of taking a seat on the bench, Marco Scutaro just moved over a few feet and sent Johnny Mac to the pine. I can understand the decision from a line-up point of view – after all, how could you possibly take the second-lowest OPS on the team out of the two-hole and hope to compete? – but it struck me as odd as soon as I saw the line-up.
Lo and behold, Scutaro couldn’t handle a tough throw from Rod Barajas on a Johnny Damon stolen base attempt in the 4th. Damon was safe, scored on a one-out double and a sac fly plated the other Yankee run later in the inning. If McDonald is at short, odds are VERY high that he holds onto that ball and the Yanks don’t score in the inning. If that happens (different space-time continuum, I understand), then we’re probably still going right now, since Scoot did drive in the Jays’ only run. But as I explained on The JaysTalk, you can count on McDonald’s defense, you can’t count on Scutaro’s offense.
Let’s talk Travis Snider. The 20 year-old made his major-league debut a good, but not great one. That said, 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored every night gets Snider into Cooperstown. The double was a thing of beauty. Powdered, it was, over Johnny Damon’s head and off the warning track just to the left of dead-centre, bouncing over the fence. He played a fine left field, not really being tested, but he recovered nicely after almost overrunning Jason Giambi’s foul fly in the 4th, and made a nice throw (especially given his position when he caught the ball). I’m looking forward to seeing more of his defense.
In the 8th inning, though, Snider found out just how tough big-league pitchers can be. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Snider stood in against Edwar Ramirez. He got ahead 2-0 and then took a VERY hittable fastball middle-in for strike one. It was a pitch that, next year, Snider puts in the seats. I really think that he out-thought himself on that pitch, surmising that a big-league pitcher wouldn’t serve up a meatball 2-0 just to get back in a count. The next pitch was a change and Snider, looking for another fastball, missed it. The next one was another fastball right over the outside black for strike three called – a pretty pitch that sent the rookie walking back to the dugout. That was the “Welcome to the Big Leagues” moment for Snider. There’s no reason to believe he won’t learn from the experience.
I want to try to clear up what seems to be some blogospheric confusion about the early call-up of Snider and options and arbitration and the like. Calling up Snider now doesn’t cost the Jays an option year. They’ll use an option next season if he doesn’t make the team or if he’s sent down at any time next year. That’ll be his first option, and he’ll have two option years left. So even with calling him up now, if Snider scuffles in the bigs and rides the Syracuse shuttle for a while, he still won’t be out of options until the end of Spring Training, 2012. I highly doubt his status will be of concern then.
As for arbitration, he’ll spend 30 days on the roster this year. If he makes the team next year and stays in the big leagues for good, he’ll be eligible for arbitration after the 2011 season, and eligible for free agency after 2014. If he spends just over a month in the minors next season, they can push his free agency to 2015, but he’d still be arbitration-eligible after 2011 as a Super 2. In order to push back his first shot at arbitration to 2012, Snider would likely have to stay in the minors until just before the all-star break next season. But given how the Jays seem to like to lock up their young talent (see Rios, Hill), Snider arb-eligibility shouldn’t be that much of a concern.
Here’s tonight’s edition of The JaysTalk, for your listening pleasure:
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It appears as though Matt Stairs is about to be traded to the Phillies for lefty Fabio Castro, and that David Eckstein is about to be traded to the Angels. Don’t expect a massive return for Eckstein, either – or for McDonald or Scutaro if the deal goes that way. You’d hope, though, that they’d get back at least a Robinzon Diaz equivalent if they trade Scoot, since Jose Bautista is here to do basically what he does.
Castro is a young lefty with control issues who has a chance to be good, which is the kind of player you look for in this sort of deal. He has a career minor-league WHIP of 1.29, which is nice, and hey, over his major-league career lefties are hitting .070/.212/.070 against him (small sample size warning – 53 PA!) which is also nice. It appears as though he has an option left for next year, but I’m not sure (depends on whether he was DL’d or optioned out in his Rule 5 year, my money’s on the DL). It’ll be fun to take a look at him in September, if he’s the guy who comes over – see if he can throw strikes and stuff.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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Will Jean Tennis be back with Cito next year?
MW: Best spelling yet!
- Jay MoneyMike,
I don’t understand why so many fans and Cito Gaston have fallen in love with Marco Scutaro. He is a valuable utility player, but they seem to be a dime a dozen. David Eckstein was completely misued and could have been a valuable piece to the lineup.
- Jake RothHi Mike, I totally agree with what you said about Johnny Mac and his defense.”you can count on McDonald’s defense, you can’t count on Scutaro’s offense.” I really hope the Jays don;t trade Johnny Mac and that they send David Eckstein to the Angels. While Marco Scutaro has been reliable he is not as good defensively as Johnny Mac.
Liz
MW: Not even close.
- LizMike,
The frustration with the Jays offence must have hit an ultimate high with AJ tonight. It would be interesting to see what his record would be if the Jays scored more then 1 or 2 runs in the starts that he lost. Any pitcher that can walk into Yankee stadium and pitch the way he did is going to make serious coin as a free agent.
What are your thoughts on where AJ may choose in the off-season? Thanks for the great bloggage!
MW: My thoughts are that A.J. is likely to choose whoever throws the most money at him. That’s why he signed with the Blue Jays. I would think that the Yankees, Cardinals, Red Sox and maybe even the Orioles will be in on him.
- Jamie - WindsorMike,
If Snider does decent to good, do you think it becomes likely that Lind is the DH next year?
MW: It’s tough to measure what a guy has based on September. Remember, Lind tore it up in his September call-up in 2006 and didn’t make the team out of Spring Training last year because the Jays brought in Frank Thomas. The same thing could happen to Snider, though not with Thomas, but you know what I mean.
- JasonWould you rather have Scoot in the Jays line up or Jose Bautista? I guess the only difference I see is that Jose Bautista has more pop. Who is better on defence?
MW: Scutaro seems to be the better defensive player.
- shawnTo Jake Roth Post #9.
Personally I see why Scutaro is playing ahead of Eckstein. Their batting numbers are pretty much a toss up. But even if Eckstein was way better than Scutaro, the rest of the Jays team probably wouldn’t drive him in.
If the Jays are going to win games this year, then pitching & defense is CRUCIAL. Look how bad they’re doing (so to speak) with the best pitching/defense combo around.
And Scuatro has much better fielding numbers than Eckstein. Eck has 9 errors at SS in 223 total chances (plus no errors in 21 TC at 2B). Scoot has 7 errors in 412 TC spread over 2b/ss/3b.
I think that Gaston thinks that the better defense of Scoot is necessary with this low scoring club. Hey isn’t that why McDonald has been getting a lot of starts?
BTW, McD has 5 errors in 187 TC at SS.
Steve
MW: I’m glad you included total chances in your assessment, instead of just errors, but those numbers still don’t tell the whole story defensively. As I’ve said all season, the Jays haven’t lost many games this year because of their defense, and they’ve lost a ton of games because of a lack of offense. It doesn’t help your argument to say that the Jays probably wouldn’t drive in Eckstein anyway – hey, let’s get a bunch of guys who can’t hit but can really play defense and lose every game 1-0!
- SteveWMike,
Please explain how this whole Stairs thing went down.
I believe that after the trade deadline you can only trade somebody if they clear waivers. So, the fact Stairs was traded meant he cleared waivers some time prior to the trade.
So why didn’t they just trade Stairs and call up Snider, instead of first designating Stairs for assignment? I am not aware that designating someone for assignment allows you to dispense with the need to clear waivers. I can only conclude that when they designated him, he had cleared waivers and no trade was in place.
So this makes me wonder. At one time I think players traded after the deadline could still qualify for post-season if their new team had injury problems and the new player was on the 40 man roster prior to Sept. 1. Am I right? If so is this still in place?
If it is, I could see Stairs approaching JP about a trade with the hope of winning a WS before he retires and this created the urgency to get him off the roster before Sept 1. But I doubt that. Even if it was the case, I don’t know why Snider was called up since JP plainly seemed to have no intention of calling him up when he was on your show.
Its hard not to conclude that JP was overruled on the whole issue of calling up Snider and in a panic, Stairs was designated to make room for him.
The only other explanations are JP impulsively reversed himself, which is possible but unlikely or he was lying when he said he had no plans to promote Snider which seems possible but irrrational. In either case if he did in fact plan to promote Snider he just had to wait a couple of days.
At the very least I don’t think we’ve ben told all the circumstances. I am interpreting this whole chain of events as proof JP has lost command of the ship. What do you think?
MW: I don’t think that was the case at all, not even remotely. Here’s what I think happened: Ricciardi and his assistants had been working the phones throughout the month of August, just seeing what was out there and who needed what. When the Jays lost the series to the Red Sox, their playoff-race-hopes took a major blow, and the series loss in Tampa all but knocked them out. In between those two series, Geoff Jenkins went on the disabled list, opening a spot for a lefty bat in Philly. Stairs probably cleared waivers much earlier in August, but if he wasn’t put on then, he was put on after the Boston series. Ricciardi knew there was enough interest in Stairs that he’d be able to move him, and maybe even had the framework of a deal worked out with the Phils when Stairs was designated – he didn’t play Thursday night, after all. Since they were all but out of the race after Thursday’s loss in Tampa, there was no reason not to take a look at Snider, and since they were confident they’d trade Stairs before September 1st, there was nothing to be lost by DFAing him to get him off the roster and Snider on. I don’t understand the conspiracy theories. I don’t see anything in this move that’s a clear signal that J.P. was “overruled” or “panicked”. Who would overrule him anyway? Tony Viner? And to answer that question, any player on a team prior to September 1st is playoff-eligible – I’m not sure which deadline you meant there.
- ProkopecJust finished looking at the stats for me previous post about Eck & Scoot, and was wondering about some basic numbers at 2b.
Inglett .299/.357/.413 in 271 AB
Hill .263/.324/.361 in 205 AB
Inglett 2 errors at 2b in 217 TC
Hill 1 error at 2B in 238 TC
Now I won’t pretend to understand a fielder’s range factor, but Hill’s is 4.45 and Inglett’s is 5.07. (I think that higher is better.)
Based on those numbers I prefer Inglett to Hill. I know there is more to it than that, BUT!!! One diff is that Inglett doesn’t play against lefty starters.
BTW, range factors at SS: McDonald 4.32, Scutaro 4.17, Eckstein 4.04. Much tighter spread at SS than 2B.
BTW #2, Scutaro at 3B (108 TC) has a better fielding average and range factor than Rolen (239 TC).
Very amusing. But none of these numbers represent the total picture.
Steve
MW: The flaws in Range Factor are laughably apparent simply in the comparison of the three shortstops. I prefer Hill to Inglett – he’s a better hitter and a better fielder.
- SteveWHey Mike,
Just wanted to let you know that all blame for this loss should be placed on Josh Towers!
MW: Fair enough.
- Stevie HMike, Toronto has the #1 pitching in baseball with 516 runs allowed, but they’re #21 in the league for scoring with 582 runs. If they can increase their scoring by bringing in a big bat which I’m sure could be done through trades or Rogers opening his wallet. Any way they’re half way there being #1 in pitching.
MW: The wallet is pretty open.
- MarkMike I have to disagree with you on the concept that the jays should go after a mid to lower end rotation free agent at the end of the year. for what those guys are gonna cost, i think the jays can replicated that type of production for a much more resaonable price. you often mention john garlland…here are his numbers.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4235.
note that salary..ouch..hell likely command that again..im sure the jays can finding someone to give them a 1.5 whip from within.
no..this team needs to fire its bullets on the offensive side. i really hope they dont abstain from the search of a big bat because they are gonna assume travis is the answer. its just not smart for them to take such risks.
sure the offense might only need to score 4 runs to win..buy why take that risk? if you can make the offense an excellent one…do it. it can be done if there is a will and smart, efficienty resource use. those resources cant be wasted on the john garlands of the world.
MW: I don’t mention Garland that often, but I wouldn’t mind seeing them bring him in, or another pitcher of his type, if it makes economical sense. I would have a hard time seeing the Jays as contenders going into next season with a rotation of Halladay, Marcum, Litsch, Purcey and Cecil or Richmond until McGowan is ready. I don’t think they can make the offense an excellent one with a will and smart, efficient resource use.
- sammy jalalzaiMike,
I would be greatly shocked if the Jays traded anyone other than Eckstein right now. Eckstein has fallen out of favor with Cito, so it would be best to send Eckstein back to a place where he had great success. It’s a shame to see a player that two seasons ago was the star of the 2006 World Series become a benchplayer.
Is there a chance that Orlando Carbera or Hudson could come to the Jays next year? The Jays need a decent shortstop or second baseman. Yeah, I know that Hill is coming back next year, but he could be moved to short if need be.
In my opinion, JP needs a couple of more bats , especially hitters that are good with RISP,OBP andpower. The Jays have no lethal bats in their lineup and their offensive production cannot continue to be so meager if they want to be competitive.
MW: Neither Cabrera nor Hudson are hitters that are “good with RISP, OBP and power”. And they’ll cost too much, relative to the improvement they’ll provide over what the Jays already have. I’m not sure it’s not McDonald who is the closest to being traded – he hasn’t started two games in a row now.
- jayThe thing I will remember of this year’s team is how their great pitching was wasted by one of the worst offences I can remember. I think it is time to deal a couple of our young pitchers for a solid young bat. Signing one guy like a Giambi is not enough to change this offence.
MW: Actually, it kinda is. Look at how many games the Jays have lost when one more hit would have helped, never mind a home run.
- jason wJays right now 68-66, 14.5 back of first. 10 back of wild card.
Jays Aug 29,2007. 67-66. 17 back of first. 7.5 games backof wild card
Jays Aug 29, 2006. 69-64. 10 games out of first. 9.5 out of wild card.
Jays Aug 29, 2005. 66-65, 10 games out of first. 8 games out of wild card.
Pretty consistent track record of mediocrity if you ask me. I think those who keep predicting a contender before the start of each year are just wishful thinkers. I mean look at the numbers.
This team has to be blown up like the Leafs and suffer for a few years. Trouble is the Jays are stuck with some high end contracts that will be tough to unload.
If they can’t unload them, this team is going to continue to wallow in the basement for years to come.
And Rogers can’t afford to pay 100 mil in salaries when the seats are empty.
The baseball mess, coupled with the financial hit Rogers is taking on this NFL venture, and you have to wonder how Paul Godfrey keeps his job.
MW: I like that you snuck in “when the seats are empty” – it’s not like attendance has gone up six years in a row or anything. Oh, wait…..
- Rick GRaceMike,
When I saw that Johnny Mac wasn’t playing last night, my first thought was: Oh no, they’re going to trade him to the Angels.
Do you think that could be why he didn’t play? If not, what’s your theory on why he was benched.
I would hate to see Johnny Mac go. He always makes the Jays’ games fun to watch.
Dawn
MW: He had played 23 games in a row, so that may have been the reason. But the fact that he’s not in the line-up Saturday, either, makes me think he’s probably the guy the Angels want.
- DawnObviously it’s too early to predict, but it’s certainly more likely today than it was a week ago that Travis Snider will start the 2009 season with the Blue Jays.
If the Jays start the year with Lind, Snider, Rios, and Wells, how do they deal with the four outfielders? Do one of them take the role of the DH that they’d likely be looking to find in the off-season? Does it spell the end of Overbay as a Blue Jay as Lind or Snider moves to first base? Not that I recommend that, I’m a huge Overbay fan!
Anyways, how do you think the Jays would handle that situation of having four deserving outfielders to start next year, if that turns out to be the case?
MW: If that turns out to be the case, and that’s a VERY big if, chances are they’ll rotate through DH somehow. Maybe Lind and Snider will each DH twice a week and Wells and Rios once a week, something like that.
- BretBring back Denbo…Tennis sucks!!
MW: I used to like tennis a lot, but it seems now like there aren’t any good rallies anymore. It’s too much a service game, which is too bad.
- Vinnie from HamiltonOr, if you can’t find Denbo, bring back Larry Hisle….he’s a Toronto legend in my books!!
- Vinnie from HamiltonHey Mike, what is the lowest total for a home run king in baseball in the last 20 years. Was it the Crime Dog, I believe back in 89?
MW: It was, in fact, Fred McGriff, who led the N.L. with 35 homers back in 1992. But that’s just one league. Juan Gonzalez had 43 homers for the Rangers that year. If you’re talking major-league leader in homers, the lowest total in the last 20 years is that 43, which was matched by Matt Williams in strike-shortened 1994.
- Jason DeneaulMike
- TerryCan’t disagree with the fact that Johnny Mac should have been in there.But bottom line is that this team just plain didn’t get it done with the bats again.They made a very mediocre performance from Pavano look great.He made lots of mistakes that were just long outs thanks to the Jays hitters.Good to see Snider get a shot.He looked comfortable out there.Hope they bring the Captain back next year,I have always been a Zaun fan but I’ve sort of warmed up to the Capt the more I watch him.
Mike: As always, we agree 99% of the time about baseball. You’re one of the very few media “pros” watching the same game as me.
When the hitting coach is a mechanics/video guy, or when working the count becomes too much of a priority, players take too many “good” pitches and fall behind. Changing to attack mode and ripping the first fastball you see is a great way to boost production. Temporarily. Credit is given to the staff for magically instilling confidence, when it was more due to the element of surprise. Almost overnight, the Jays stopped being “too” selective and started hacking.
Soon enough, advance scouts figured out the new philosophy. Now, opposing pitchers are nibbling around the edges. This causes overeager batters to get themselves out, earlier in the count, making what’s left of Carl Pavano look competent and making Garza untouchable.
Why hitting coaches (and batters) can’t adjust on the fly from game to game and even AB to AB, I’ll never know. There is no “best” approach to hitting. Taking borderline pitches is usually good, hitting a “pitcher’s pitch” is usually bad. I teach controlled aggression: the batter’s only thought in the box should be, “I dare you to throw me a strike.” The idea is to actually be disappointed up there when a pitch is out of the zone, which helps you lay off. Then you eagerly ambush mistakes, because you’re expecting them. Snider had other things on his mind up there against Ramirez, and as Yogi told us, “You can’t think and hit.”
One bone to pick with you, Mr. Wilner: quoting Roger Daltrey for a Pete Townshend lyric is like giving Charlie McCarthy credit for Edgar Bergen’s punch lines.
MW: Yeah, when I wrote that I thought “I hope Townshend didn’t write that song” but I was too lazy to look it up. My bad.
- Coach“on The JaysTalk, you can count on McDonald’s defense, you can’t count on Scutaro’s offense.” — Really liked this point Mike…
Anyways, after my “tearing the top off the ball” comment in yesterday’s blog entry, it (surprisingly) appears as though you are not familiar with sarcasm… shocking… I agree with you though that it would be tough to justify not going after a big bat if ‘the Trav’ has a great September.
My question is this, and I know you’ve probably answered it a million times before, but with the Thomas, Eckstein, Burnett (presumably), and others not on the team next year, how much money is tied up with players under contract, and how much will we have to spend? I think you’ve said it’s somewhere in the neighborhood of $30M, but I’d like to be sure I know just how much we can offer Reed Johnson to come back… (now THAT is sarcasm…)
Thanks Mike!
MW: I’m quite familiar with sarcasm, actually, but changing the word “cover” to “top” in a commonly-used phrase isn’t sarcasm. Yup, it’s somewhere in the neighbourhood of $30 million.
- LukeHey Mike. I guess the “i told you they could hit” rant you went on was very short lived. Funny, I told you they can’t hit and you mocked me. I also told you before the all star break that they were done. Again, you mocked me. Well, another season and I guess hope will again spring eternal next April. I like the blog and admire your work ethic, I just can’t comprehend your inability to see the mess JP has put this team in. Anyway, you being a stat guy and all, can you believe Tampa is still winning with that hitting line up they are putting out there. Its almost embarassing that this is the team that could possibly dethrone the mighty red sox and yankees. Since Longoria and Crawford got hurt, they just keep on winning. As I have tried to explain to you in the past, pitching will always win out in the long run. Sign AJ, build pitching, get rid of JP, and bring in somebody who understands strengths and weaknesses of the ball club. What the Blue Jays are lacking right now is a leader or 2 on offense. The pitching has Halladay, and it is a true shame that his brilliance has not been rewarded for a 7th straight year. It is He who leads by example and creates such a great atmosphere within the pitching staff. When your best player is also the hardest worker, it rubs off on everybody on the staff. You can see each year the development of AJ, and I give a large amount of credit to Roy for that, and a small part to Arnsberg. Reminds me of the leafs in the Gilmour days. Why is it that Tampa and not the Jays are in first place? Tampa has done a better job creating an environment for players to perform above expectations. Maddon has done a great job keeping his team focused for the long mentally draining baseball season. Will his tactics work every year, no, I don’t think so. But wouldn’t it be nice to be a Ray fan this season, instead of a Jays fan. Your rallying cry of 3 years in a row of plus .500 baseball doesn’t give us fans any meaningful September games. The good news for me is at least being a Blue Jay fan doesn’t interfere with the opening of the NFL season
MW: None of the points you’re taking credit for are valid. They can hit, and they’ve proven that over the course of their careers, they’re just not this year for some strange reason. The season wasn’t over at the all-star break, by any means. I love how you say that pitching will always win out in the long run but want to fire the guy who has assembled baseball’s best pitching staff. Of course, according to you that’s all because of Halladay, not Ricciardi. How is it that Tampa has done a better job of “creating an environment for players to perform above expectations”? Can you quantify that at all, or do you only make that point because so many players on the Rays have performed so far above expectations?
- DaveBNever mind manufacturing runs. MW now manufacturing imaginary wins, not that wins necessarily mean anything, of course.
JP keeps repeating how everybody in baseball loves this team and this farm system. What does he expect to hear? “Your team sure is mediocre?” As MW might say about his great team–”All evidence to the contrary”.
J.C.
MW: Huh?
- jchenryMike,
I am glad that you have finally come to your senses and stopped mentioning Halladay and Cy Young Award in the same sentence. You were embarrassing yourself there for a while. As you said, Cliff Lee, barring a HUGE September meltdown, will win the Cy. I think it will be unanimously.
Actually, Roy won’t even finish in the top 3 in my opinion. After Lee, it will be Matsuzaka and K-Rod, then Roy.
MW: You’ll have to remind me when I ever said that Roy Halladay was going to win the Cy Young Award. I said SHOULD a lot. You’re right that Halladay could well finish 4th, and that just exposes the voters.
- TomHi, Mike:
I was very disappointed last night watching Rios and Wells in the 9th inning against Rivera.
In the case of Rios, he took two pitches right down the middle, without so much as a “checked swing” — what’s up with that? Did he think Rivera was going to walk him? Has he checked the Sandman’s walk record this year? Of course, like Mighty Casey, he then proceeded to strike out — couldn’t expect anything else after disdaining the two hittable pitches!
As to Wells, yes, he did get a hit, but here again he let the first one go by, instead of “driving” it. So instead of a possible double or HR, he gets a patty-cake single.
Sure, anything less than a HR wasn’t going to help (given the results attained by Lind & Overbay), but in “a different space-time continuum”, who knows?
Like I said, very disappointing approach by the 3 and 4 hitters!
MW: Wow – getting upset at Wells for taking a first pitch? That’s new. As for the Rios at-bat, obviously he didn’t think those first two pitches were hittable.
- NormMike, would you have pinch-hit for Snider in the 8th, and sent J-Mac in to bunt the runners over?
Assuming a successful bunt, you have runners on second and third with one out. Even if the bunt is unsuccesful, you probably aren’t any worse off than it turned out (excepting a DP, of course).
Seemed to me like a situation where J-Mac’s “experience” might well trump Snider’s “potential”.
What do you think?
MW: No, I wouldn’t have.
- NormHello Mike, just want to comment on your blog from yesterday since I was late writing in. I guess it does relate to yesterday since the Jays scored 2 runs. I believe the title was “Gary Denbo shows ugly head again” or something like that. I think you are off in that you think people are saying the hitting is fixed. I have been listening to Jays talk regularly & people have been complementing the new regime & that the hitting has improved, but I have yet to hear a caller saying that the hitting has been fixed. It’s funny in this city that the team goes on a couple of games in a row & then they say the team can’t hit. They have still averaged a ton of runs in their last week & a half. If the team scores 10+ runs, everybody is quite. Even the best hitting teams in the league are going to have consecutive bad hitting nights, even weeks. And sometimes you just got to tip your cap to the opposing pitcher, like Garza that night. He just has the Jays number. It’s impossible to be scoring tons of runs every game. Make no mistake, this is a terrible hitting team this & last season but I think you just think that callers are saying the hitting is fixed because they sound like they are saying that, but in fact they are complementing Cito & the new regime in that the hitting has improved, which is true, even marginally, though I don’t have all the offensive stats in front of me post Gibbons era. And if anyone has said the hitting has been fixed, they are obviously not baseball smart. It does take a while for the new regime to put different philosophy’s into every hitter’s head than a couple of months. Some hitters are responding quick like Lind, Rios, McDonald, & maybe even Wells to a certain degree. There has been proof that a couple of players/staff already has spoken & have been a bit or as much as they can to be critical of Denbo without saying too much to get them into trouble, Stairs, Tennese. It’s a fine line in what they can say about the Gibbons era since everybody knows he’s great friends with their boss now. Anyways, Mike want to give my 2 cents in & keep up the good work with your show & the blog.
MW: I appreciate your thoughts, but respectfully disagree. I’ve heard far too many “Cito is the answer” and “where would they be if Cito had been in place from Day 1″ not to believe that many, many people think the offense is no longer an issue. And why can no one spell Tenace?
- David F.Hey Mike,
Why do you keep mentioning Giambi as a possible free agent signing for the Jays?
It appears the whole reason the Jays stupidly did not sign Bonds was because of the whole steroid thing. So why would they sign Giambi when he admitted to using steroids? It is very obvious from the calls on your show that all of the Jays fans wanted Bonds, nobody cared about the steroids or all the baggage. If they go out this offseason and sign Giambi, who on his best day was not even close to Bonds, I see the fanbase of this city becoming very angry. Don’t they understand that we are so starved for a winner that we don’t care about Bonds’ past? If we don’t care, why should the Jays front office care?
You know Mike, the more I think about this whole Bonds thing, the more angry I get. The decision not to sign him was just plain stupid, there is no other way to put it. One person commented on your blog that Mr. Selig may have secretly told all the owners not to sign him. If that really happened and I were the Jays, I would have gone public with it and exposed Selig and destroyed his credibility. If Selig really did tell all the teams not to sign him and it became public, Bonds would have a huge lawsuit against Selig.
Wouldn’t that be hysterical? Bonds suing Selig.
Anyway, would Bonds have made a difference in the last 3 games?? You bet.
MW: Bonds would have made a difference in the last 134 games.
- BryceEckstien misused, Reed Johnson gone (Stewart gone), Rolen & Wells injured, bad dh and offence from catching – bad offence overall. This team is better. We’ve seen their 10-15 run outbursts. How does Jose Bautista and trading away a top catching prospect make the team better? Bring back Randy Knorr and toss away Jerry Gumbo.
MW: Who is Jerry Gumbo?
- paulMike,
Great show as always. In the off season what touted prospect(s) could be dealt to acquire a bigger bat?
Jays win the final two in the Bronx. Today they will score 6+.
Enjoy the weekend!
MW: I admire your optimism. Any touted prospects could be dealt – Lind, Snider, Cecil, Ahrens, League, just name ‘em – if the deal is right, any could go.
- KmackQuestion : If AJ Options out next year do we get picks? If not are we going to try to move him?
MW: If A.J. opts out next year and signs somewhere as a free agent, the Jays will get draft pick compensation. If he doesn’t opt out, why try to move him?
- PWI couldn’t believe how much bigger the strike zone got as soon as Rivera entered the game.
- Dan MooreMike I just read your last comment on the last blog that Pavano is a good pitcher which may be true but he looked like he had double AA stuff last night. I think an actual major league line up would of put up five or six runs really easily last night.
MW: Would HAVE!!! Argh.
- Dan MooreHey Mike;
It is sad that the jays don’t seem capable to score any runs whatsoever for their pitchers and when they need wins the most, Impressed with Snider as he will be good for years to come, and good for stairs to get a chance to make the playoffs, he was good for the jays. Lastly agree with you mike, I think johnny mac should have played over riccardi mvp scutaro for the said reasons, interestingly enough, both riccardi and scataro look like twins, seperated @ birth, good show.
- robert sWe really were doing very well a little while ago. I’m worried that the choke I’ve witnessed so many times over these many years is happening again. Not that they had much of a chance at all. But they just made sure they had no chance. If they start playing really well in September–which is their pattern–I will begin to reconsider whether I will keep my season tix next year. This, by the way, is not a problem that I blame Ricciardi for. The swoon has been in place, if I recall correctly, since at least ’97. It’s not that one player, one manager, one GM or even one owner has been responsible. I have no idea why it happens, just that it happens and I’m sick of paying to see it happen :(
MW: So if they play poorly in September you’ll keep your season tickets for sure?
- reyesHey Mike, don’t you think with this offence Cito might try a little harder to manufacture runs one at a time instead of waiting for the big hit. As for Snider in the 8th last night – why not sacrifice and try to move the runners along? EVERYONE needs to be able to bunt – if you can’t, you should learn or stay in the minors.
MW: I don’t understand why you would ask a power hitter to bunt, in almost any situation.
- Errol FraserWhen Casey Jannsen had his surgery earlier this year, many people thought it might be all over for Jannsen as the odds were not good he would come back as effectively. Now people seem to assume he will be part of the rotation next season. Maybe I am missing something. Has there been some encouraging news about his surgery?
MW: Evidently he’s making very good progress, but I haven’t heard anybody assume he’ll be part of the rotation next year.
- StanMike:
I am about to watch Parrish take the mound, but I have always wondered inside why Brian Tallet has never been considered to start. He has really pitched well and was once considered a prospect in Cleveland as a starter (along with Cliff Lee).
Is there a reason why he is not considered that is not apparent to a fan (the club thinks he is not built for starting?). It’s not like we have a shortage of lefties in the bullpen.
MW: He’s been FAR more effective as a reliever than as a starter, which would indicate the lack of a good third pitch.
- Jim BI heard a great point a couple nights back on JaysTalk. The caller said, and you agreed, and so do I, that just because the Blue Jays may not be playing for a playoff spot down the final stretch, it doesn’t mean the whole season was a pointless waste.
We got to see baseball… if people don’t like that, I don’t know why’d they pay any attention to the Jays anyway. I love following the team and I happen to think there’s a lot of entertainment.
Besides, let’s think about this… 30 teams, 8 make the playoffs. Should 22 teams, and all their fans (plus a few teams who expect more than just making the post-season) feel the season was a complete waste of time? I think not. I know there are a lot of frustrating times for the fans, since, well, I am one. And yes, I like championships and winning and all that good stuff, but mostly, I just wanna see/hear a ball game. And a Jaystalk. And read some Miked Up.
I am happier when Toronto wins, which the past couple seasons, has happened more times than not. While I’d rather the team was contending, this actually is a success. You don’t have to be a rocket surgeon to realize the average record across the league, every year, is 81-81. Every time one team wins, another loses, and everybody is trying to win every game, and… ok, I’ll stop. You get my point.
p.s. I’m pretty sure nobody actually makes granite lifejackets, and yes, I did come up with the term “rocket surgeon” all by myself
Thanks for the space… gotta stop typing, game’s starting
MW: You remind me that we once had a caller who said that the season was an absolute waste of time unless you win the World Series.
- Dilly (it's a nickname) in Dundas (not the street)Hi Mike,
I just hae a quick question surrounding the Rolen-Glaus deal. I know when the trade happened that JP coudldn’t see the future and know this team wasn’t going to be able to hit, but both Rolen and Glaus were coming off injurys and downyears. What I don’t understand is why we wanted rolen back since he had an extra year on his contract. Were there no other possible options?
MW: They wanted Rolen back because he had been given a clean bill of health by all his doctors.
- MikeMike couldn’t Snider have left the ball fall so the runner wouldn’t score since he didn’t have a chance?
MW: Sure, but by making the catch he recorded an out, thereby preventing Giambi from reaching base on a walk, getting a hit that would drive in the run anyway, hitting a home run, or making some other sort of out that would have driven in the run anyway.
- MikeWell, at least Parrish made it through the first without giving up any runs.
Oops, spoke too soon.
Ball game over, the Jays ain’t coming back.
MW: Why do you even watch baseball?
- JDI just have a stat question: What does “WHIP” mean or stand for?
MW: Walks and Hits per Inning Pitched
- JoeIt’s the bottom of the second now on the Yanks have 1 on and 1 out.
My prediction: This one’s going to be uuuuuuuuugly.
MW: See above.
- KrisDoes John Parrish EVER have a 1-2-3 inning????????????
MW: He’s John Parrish.
- RobertI’ve never been happier to see Brian Tallet in my life.
Nick
- NickGillick back to Toronto?
Read this little blurb on SI.com
“There’s some scuttlebutt being heard that Pat Gillick might actually consider taking a high-ranking role with the Blue Jays (though not GM) if he doesn’t take one with the Mariners. Gillick previously served as GM for both organizations. In a move that seems to be a hit, the Jays already have brought back Cito Gaston, who was Gillick’s manager in Toronto, to manage them.”
I think he’d make a fine replacement for Godfrey if he Paul steps down at the end of the year. What do you think?
MW: I don’t think Godfrey will step down at the end of the season. If he loses his job, though, Gillick would be a great choice to be the team President.
- NickOkay, maybe I’m not so happy to see Brian Tallet:(
- NickTo help the first poster’s cause…
Will Gene Tenace be back with Cito?
MW: I think he was kidding. The answer is of course.
- RichardHey Mike Thanks for the response. The reason JP doesn’t get my credit for the pitching was that in May 2007 he was blocking Marcum and McGowan with Thomson, Ohka and the other Zambrano. When they all stunk it was plan B. Without Halladay in the rotation every fifth day, this pitching staff wouldn’t be nearly as good. That was quite a gift Ash left JP, and we have nothing to show for it. As far as creating the environment to excel, Maddon has come up with ideas to keep the team loose, and make them play better. Part of JP’s job is to help facilitate that, which until now with his choice of managers he has come up woefully short. Believe me, having been through a few jobs in my time, never underestimate the power of a manager to create an ideal work environment. PS Don’t you get sick of answering the same questions about AJ and draft picks almost daily?
MW: You’ve had a few jobs in your time? That makes you an expert on the effect of a field manager on a major-league team, for sure. I’ve heard that same old, tired argument about Thomson, Ohka and Victor Z many times (though no one ever says Josh Towers was blocking McGowan and Marcum). It’s very possible that neither McGowan nor Marcum were ready to break camp in the rotation last year, and both needed that extra month. What are some of the ideas Maddon has come up with to make the Rays play better?
- DaveBHere’s my prediction: McDonald is traded to the Angels, makes a few good plays in the playoffs, ESPN/FOX falls in love with him because he’s gritty and plays the game the way it was meant to be played as stated by the MLB official rulebook, and everyone rips the Jays for giving him up.
Fair guess?
MW: If McDonald plays shortstop on a regular basis in the playoffs, he’ll become a star.
- Jay MoneyMike with all do respect to Travis Snyder he is no a “Young Phenom” you potray him as.He has only 5 AB’S in the MLB.Make your assessment after 2 years of full time duty.
MW: Snider is actually the definition of “young phenom”.
- Sal GiuntaIf they lose another 1 run game, I’m gonna kill myself.
MW: You’ll probably be missed, I couldn’t say for sure.
- BurtEvan Longoria is classified as a “Young Phenom”Snider is nowhere is the same area code.
MW: Snider is almost three years younger than Longoria, and much more phenomier.
- Sal GiuntaMike whats your definition of a “Young Phenom”?I am assuming its someone with potential that hasn’t done anything at the ML level.
MW: It’s not limited to just baseball but yes, a young phenom can be either a rookie having a tremendous year (like Longoria) or a young prospect on his way up who hasn’t done anything at the elite level yet (like Snider).
- Sal GiuntaWOW, does Snider look overmatched!
MW: Yeah, he’s awful.
- KalMike when its said and done Longoria will have better stats and plays a much more difficult position than Snider.Wow Snider busted up “A ball.You claim Snider is much more phenominier.Are you sure you have watched him this year.
MW: I was kidding when I said he’s much more phenomier. Snider actually busted up “A” ball, then AA and a bit of AAA all at the age of 20, which is something to which you’re either not paying attention or simply ignoring because it gets in the way of your argument.
- Sal GiuntaA definition of a “Young Phenom” is someone who has come up to the MLB and has put it good numbers ala Joey Votto.
MW: No, that’s YOUR definition of a “young phenom”.
- Sal GiuntaThe Yankees have been using Mariano Rivera for more than one inning quite a bit of late. You have to wonder if that effects his availability today.
MW: He had pitched over an inning two days in a row, and even though he only needed a total of 32 pitches, he was likely not to be asked to get any outs in the 8th today.
- Jim in OhioMike,
I have heard people (including yourself) mention trading BJ Ryan. Why in the world would the Jays want to trade him? He has pitched very well with an ERA under 3.00 and you would figure he will only get stronger the farther away he gets from his surgery.
MW: They would want to trade him because he’s going to make almost twice as much money as the rest of the bullpen put together, they have several ready replacements for him as the closer (Downs, League, Accardo, Janssen) and they could use the return plus the cash a trade would free up to help the team out in areas of crying need. It has nothing to do with his performance.
- ThomasWe agree to disagree on this “Young Phenom” definition.Would you know how many runners the jays have left in scoring position this year and what their batting average is and where they stack up in the league?
MW: Ladies and gentlemen, a wonderful example of a civil disagreement! Why can’t they all be like this? I have no idea how many RISP the Jays have left on, but I will tell you that going into Saturday’s game, the Jays were hitting .251/.342/.378 with RISP, which ranks them 12th, 11th and 12th in the three categories.
- Sal GiuntaThank goodness Brian Cashman isn’t my financial planner.The worst $200+ millions dollars spent in history of the world.Doesn’t he recognize he has no pitching.
MW: To his credit, he has a lot of pitching on the disabled list. It is, however, amazing that the Yankees have almost never had more than two reliable relief pitchers in the Cashman era.
- Sal GiuntaLook a it this way they have spent close to 2 billion dollars in payroll in the last 8 years and have nothing to show for it.What a mess.
MW: Nothing to show for it except for the fact that they’ve been in the playoffs every one of those years and in the World Series twice. That’s kind of a lot.
- Sal GiuntaWatch Ryan will blow this lead.
MW: Sigh. You had so much potential.
- Sal GiuntaMike its alot about winning rings my friend.People remember the groom not the ushers.
MW: All you can do is get to the playoffs and hope.
- Sal GiuntaI’m glad they brought B.J. in. Once he saves this I’ll never have to hear anyone call you anymore about the game in June where he gave up Giambi’s home run.
MW: You should talk to Sal.
- Jim in OhioLook my potential might be coming to fruition.Derek just hit a single.We shall see what happens.
MW: Even if you’re right and he does blow it, that doesn’t excuse the comment.
- Sal GiuntaHi Mike,
I am listening to the Yankees broadcast on the internet and John Sterling just brought up an interesting point.
He said, “I wonder how many of the young Blue Jay players know why Halladay is nicknamed Doc”. (Personally, I wonder how many Blue Jay FANS know why he is nicknamed Doc).
Anyway, he then went on to tell a story that was equally funny and sad. Sterling said that he has interviewed many players over the years and most of them think that Tommy John is a doctor, not a pitcher who player for a million years and won almost 300 games.
That reminded me of the famous story of a player coming to Yankee Stadium for the first time. He was shown the monuments and he said, :I can’t believe all these guys are buried here.” I can’t remember who the player was.
This shows most players are idiots with no knowledge of the history of the game that has made them rich.
MW: It doesn’t show that most players are idiots, it does show that a lot of them have no knowledge of the history of the game. But that doesn’t make them idiots.
- ThomasWhat was wrong with my comment?
MW: What was wrong with your comment is that there was no earthly reason to assume that B.J. Ryan was going to blow the save, other than simply being a Chicken Little pessimist. He has THREE blown saves all season.
- Sal GiuntaAnother save for B.J.! How sweet it is! Take that all you nay-sayers.
- Jim in OhioIt was nice chatting with you.Have a great long weekend!
- Sal GiuntaJohn Sterling just said this was the worst Yankee loss of the year.
I thought that would cheer up all the Jays fans out there.
MW: Cool.
- ThomasI found your comment about McDonald not playing shortstop last night interesting. It is a good point that good defense is more reliable than good offense. Anyway my take on Fri. night’s game is that Rolen had no business starting. He can’t seem to hit and he made a feeble effort to get that ground ball in the 7th. Scutaro at third, McDonald at short is far and away the best left side infield defensively that the Jays can put out there right now. In fact in their past ten games McDonald is hitting .243 and Rolen is hitting .129 so it would be the best offensively too.
I sure hope you are wrong about McDonald being the one the Angels are after, but it would be nice to see him in the postseason.
MW: Interesting? Thanks, I try! But the point wasn’t that good defense is more reliable than good offense, it was that McDonald’s defense (great) is more reliable than Scutaro’s offense (poor).
- DebbieSo Mike, d you think the jays should look forward towards next year since they’re 9.5 games back and only a month left to play? I think that’s what J.P. is thinking since he’s making deals now. By the way the magic number for the jays to be eliminated from the wild card is 15.
MW: That would be the tragic number. Yes, of course the Jays should look forward to next year – just not on the field.
- gregWould you rather the Jays sign Ibanez or Burrell and Why? If they do trade Ryan who do you think they could get in return.
Jay
MW: I was going to make some crack about signing Burrell and Why, but I don’t even know who Why is. I’d rather have Burrell, because he’s younger and potentially a lot better, but he’s also going to cost a lot more, in both money and years and I’m not sure he’s ready to be a full-time DH yet. I don’t know what they could get in return for Ryan, but the hauls for Jose Valverde, Brad Lidge and Eric Gagne over the last year-plus weren’t phenomenal.
- JayHey Mike. You say the same old tired argument with Ohka et al, but these moves were done by a gm with 6 years experience trying to put the finishing touches on a pennant winner. Towers doesn’t come up in the same argument because he was with the team already. Having Towers in the rotation and JP giving him a 2 year deal after 1 mediocre season is another cause for debate. In Tampa, what Maddon has tried to do is keep the players energized. He teaches an aggressive style of baseball, stealing bases, first to third on an easy single. Even with 2 out. He wants his players to not be afraid of failing. Batting practice consists of throwing plum sized baseballs from 30 feet teaching his players, or reinforcing, hand speed. In April, he came out with warm up shirts that read 9=8. The players are using them as a rallying cry. They bought into it. It means 9 players playing 9 innings equals one of the eight playoff teams. Good managerial skills, very transferable, to motivate players who look forward to coming to their job. Yes Mike, don’t forget, that for baseball players, this is a job. It is their job. When they come to the ballpark, it is their office. If they don’t like the manager, or the general manager, it will show in their work. Maybe putting it into this perspective might help you explain the lack of offense that you are still mystified by. Also with Maddon, it can’t hurt that he was bench coach beside one of the best baseball minds in the last 10 years, Mike Scioscia.
MW: Every team has slogans on t-shirts that have deep meaning, and the teams that win get their t-shirts mentioned in stories. Great. And the plum-sized baseball thing is a cool idea, but the Rays are 10th in the league in runs scored. It’s their pitching, especially the ridiculous years that guys like Howell, Balfour and Wheeler are having, that’s winning them games. And you know what, I had forgotten that this was these guys’ job.
- DaveBWhat do you think of Travis Snider Defense so far?
MW: Seems fine.
- andrewHow would you describe Vernon Wells year so far?
MW: Very good, when he’s been able to play.
- andrewMike, would you try to move B.J Ryan contract this offseason so the Jays have more money to spend?
MW: What’s with the three questions in a row? Yes, I’d try to trade Ryan, but only if I could get value back.
- andrewTo Sal:
You got owned. Don’t run away, take it like a man. Great game by the Jays.
- RenegadeMike,
I think your version of events surrounding Stairs sounds more reasonable than my little scenario.
Here’s my next question. Did you read Blair today? He made it sound like Godfrey’s leaving.
I seem to recall that when the Jays renewed JP his contract spoke to Godfrey’s departure. I recall reading that if Godfrey left and JP was not promoted to replace him, JP could opt out? Does that sound right?
Anyway, JP has made it clear he’s not going anywhere if its up to him. Elliott is reporting that word is former scouting director Wilken is coming back next year.
Would JP bring Wilken back? Doubtful, he sent him packing. Could Godfrey’s replacement be bringing Wilken back? If so, might Godfrey’s replacement be somebody with links to Wilken, such as, I don’t know Paul Beeston?
That would be cool. I might be able to stomach another year of JP with Beeston at the helm.
Not much else to talk about when your team is out of it before Labour Day.
Oh yeah, Wilner stop spelling OFFENCE as OFFENSE, or DEFENCE as DEFENSE. Otherwise I’ll start wondering if an American such as JP is writing your blog entries.
MW: I have never liked seeing offense and defense spelled with a “c”, so I don’t do it. I doubt very much that Beeston is coming back to be the President, but they could certainly do worse. If Wilken does come back, chances are that he’s an advisor or some such, since Jon Lalonde is doing a fine job directing the Jays’ scouting department. I don’t believe any of that J.P. contract being tied to Godfrey stuff is true.
- ProkopecHi Mike,
I had to laugh at post #44 who assumed the game was over early. This reminded me of my late Dad, who was the world’s biggest pessimist, and who get so stressed out by watching sport that he eventually couldn’t even watch it on tv! In the early days of the Blue Jays, when he actually went to games, if the Blue Jay pitcher threw a first pitch ball, it was always “He’s going to walk him” and if the other team scored first it was “the game is over”.
Then we’d always leave in the 8th inning “to catch the early GO train”. It drove me crazy.
Comment: I am really afraid that we will trade John Mac. I don’t think it’s done on purpose, but lately we seem to trade away the fan favourites. The MAIN reason why we should hang on to him is that the best pitching staff in the league (ours) needs him.
Question: Everyone, including JP and yourself, seem to automatically throw Janssen and McGowan into the mix for next year. Having had a torn labrum and partial rotator cuff tear myself (due to pitching) I am always very wary of guys coming back from major shoulder surgery. 5-10 years ago, it seemed to be about 50% successful recovery. Is the surgery technique that much better now that we can assume these guys are going to be fine? Otherwise….I worry.
MW: You should worry. McGowan didn’t have major surgery, though. 10 years ago, it was closer to 5% successful recovery, but things have changed. I think that McGowan will be ready to go by the beginning of May, since that’s what the doctors said, and Janssen seems to be ahead of schedule, but I’m certainly not counting on him as a major contributor next season. If he’s the 5th guy in the ‘pen behind Downs, League and Carlson, or the 5th if Ryan is still here, then that’s solid. As for the pessimists among us, there are many, and they are that way because they’re never disappointed, and they love to be the first ones to say they knew things were going to go bad.
- Oz RobMike, can you tell me the lowest home run king total in the last 20 years? Was it the Crime Dog, i think maybe in 89 or 90?
MW: Didn’t we just do this?
- Jason Deneaul“MW: So if they play poorly in September you’ll keep your season tickets for sure?”
Not for sure. But I am so tired of seeing the team play well once they’ve made good and certain that they are out of the playoffs. I know that sounds anachronistic, and it’s always nice to see them win. But it’s as if, once they’re out of the hunt, it’s a weight off their shoulders and they can settle down and play well because no one’s expecting too much of them. As I said, it’s gone on for years and years, so it’s not just this version of the Jays. If they play badly in September, it’ll be because this year’s Blue Jays just weren’t very good. If they play well, it will just add insult to injury.
Dumb, I know, but there it is…
MW: Dumb, indeed. But they’re not just not very good, so there’s a solid chance they play well in September. I’m sorry that will disappoint you.
- reyesRe: Post #17:
Mike,
I do not think it would be a wise idea put Vernon Wells or Alex Rios at the DH position once a week, as you said in response to Bret. Obviously, Travis Snider would have to make the team for this to happen (like you said, that is a big IF). However, if this situation does arise, Wells should remain the everyday center fielder, as he is one of the best defensive outfielders in the MLB. He would certainly rank a one of the top center fielders. Snider and Lind do not possess the arm that Rios does.
MW: No, they probably don’t (though we haven’t seen Snider have to use his yet). I don’t mind Wells DHing once a week, Rios is a fine defensive CF, nor do I mind Rios DHing once a week. Just don’t do it with Marcum or Litsch on the mound.
- Jake RothMike :I was kidding when I said he’s much more phenomier. Snider actually busted up “A” ball, then AA and a bit of AAA all at the age of 20, which is something to which you’re either not paying attention or simply ignoring because it gets in the way of your argument.
Actually Snider did not really bust up AA ball and in fact struggle alot (.262 with 17 HRs but his first month was terrible) but he did bust up AAA which is odd. Anyways I really hate when ball clubs use Sept callups to evaluate a player without the intention of allowing the player to compete for a position next year. I think for a young player like Snider regardless of how he performs this week Cito and Co. need to make sure he plays regularly the rest of the year so he can adapt and at least look to make him a platoon player if not starter for next year.
MW: I think there’s an eye towards allowing Snider to compete for a position next year, he wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t. And .262/.357/.461 is indeed “busting up” AA when you’re 20 years old.
- PWMike, answered my own question. If you are curious, Barfield was the lowest in the last 22 years,(1986) and he hit 40. The lowest before that was in 1981, Mike Schmidt hit 31.
But, if I stand correct, Fred McGriff hit 39 in 1989 and won?
Okay, another one for ya, what is the lowest total for the most homeruns for the Jays in a season? By an individual player? That would have to be I am assuming in the early days.
MW: Actually, I answered the question yesterday, and the question was last 20 years, not last 22. The lowest single-season home run total for the Blue Jays’ team leader was 17, in the strike-shortened 1981 season. You didn’t ask who, but it was John Mayberry.
- Jason DeneaulHey Mike let me know what you think of this idea seeing as how baseball playoffs are always a question with a 162 game schedule deciding who makes the playoffs and a lucky week or two sometimes deciding who wins a championship.I don’t know if you follow soccer much but the idea of having one winner decided on a seasons record is what I think a champion should be labelled as.The big difference though and a reason why the excitement is still there for the teams at the bottom in soccer is the possibility of losing your spot in the league witch could never happen in baseball because there are not enough owners willing to take the risk of losing fortunes on a bad season.What Baseball could do to replace this is a cash incentive by say letting the top 16 teams play in a cash tournament that will be played through out the course of the season with teams making money as they go further through the rounds.I would also love a more balanced schedule with every team facing eachother 5 times that would make for a 145 game season along with seven game tournament rounds if you happen to qualify.I know scheduling would take baseball in a direction they have never been before. But imagine Mike at least 5-6 teams would be fighting for first place,the rest of the league would be fighting to make that 7 to 16 range so at least if they can’t be champions they will have a cup competion that would generate more home games to play for.Theirs a lot of obstacles that need tackling before this idea could come close to working but imagine having a playoffs for money played during the season.Money that could be put in stadium upgrading or increasing your pay roll.I don’t think the television networks would mind having interest generated over and over again with a title race and playoff going on at the same time.It’s a little weird and something American sports fans might not be able to adjust to so quickly.But if these sports such as the big four in America are going to give us tons of season games at least let them count for something more than home advantage in the playoffs. Which by the way they managed to mess up with the All Star game.Not to say pennant races and division titles aren’t exciting to watch but I just feel improvements can be made if they were willing to take the risk.
Wow that was a lot of writting…alright one last thing Mike would you gamble on Milton Bradley as DH for next season.He’s a proven bat but not that big bopper your looking for.Not to mention his antics sometimes with reporters and umpires.Thanks alot Mike and keep up the good work…from YOURS TRULY LOOOOOOOL
MW: That is definitely something that us North American fans might not be able to adjust to quickly. I think that on this side of the big water the fans need playoffs. Personally, I think that the best team in the A.L. should play the best team in the N.L. (balanced schedule, of course) in a best-of-31 through the entire month of October with no off-days. Now THAT would tell you which team is really the best.As for Bradley, I don’t think I’ve been shy with regards to whether or not I’d like to see him here.
- StewyMike,
Since you have to read all these comments….what are you top peeves?
On another note, you were talking about FA’s today on your show. You mentioned Manny and Raul I as possible fits. I beg to differ. If we assume Manny’s price tag fails, both these fellows cause a problem for the Jays if they are looking to promote Travis Snider to the club any time soon. With Rios, Wells and Lind looking to be the starting OF next year, the addition of another OF would cause those 4 players to be rotated through the 3 OF positions and DH. But if Snider is ready, which could be as early as April to July, and as late as next April, you end up with 5 OF and 4 positions. Lets face it, the OF looks to be set. So that leaves a likely target of Giambi who can DH and play 1st a bit, leaving Overbay to be the odd man out, which no one should feel bad about…and he would provide a great bat and glove off the bench (Similar to Doug Mientkiewicz). Should Snider not be ready, Giambi can DH full time and the Jays only have to find a back-up OF (Bad Brad, Kevin Munchin, Bucky Coats, Inglet, Scuturo if need be????) Maybe Raul I can play first? Maybe Snider can? Both if both of those are negatives, than I don’t see the Jays going after another OF when really what they need is a big bat to anchor this team. In all honesty, I believe that this team is in contention right now with a top tier hitter. And my fear is that J.P. is going to try to fix this offense by plugging Giambi or another 3rd tier hitter in there.
MW: Giambi is hitting .251/.378/.509 with 27 homers – that’s not a third-tier hitter by any definition. As for your other stuff, I think you’re getting caught up in things that aren’t relevant. If the Jays sign a DH in the off-season, he signs to be a DH, not to play another position, whatever his “natural” position might be.
As for my top peeves, the first has to be the sheer and utter obliteration of the English language by what seems to be the majority of the commenters. It kills me that so many people can’t spell, have no idea of the basics of grammar, and have no clue how to put a sentence together. You’re not excepted – check the first sentence of this comment. The other major peeve of mine is the negativity from so many callers. I can handle it 45 minutes a day in the post-game, but this is too much.
- JWI think your observation can be generalized. Outstanding defensive players have a much higher success rate than outstanding offensive players. My bias could be showing here because I think defense (except for pitching) is grossly undervalued in baseball.
MW: I don’t think your bias is showing – you’re right.
- DebbieYour comments about not expanding the playoffs and allowing more weak teams in the playoffs, “like hockey does”, seems, as usual, a bit off-base.
Was it silly and ridiculous for the Marlins to win two World Series titles as a Wild Card team?
Was Houston making the World Series in 2005 as a Wild Card team with a 89-73, bad for baseball?
And of course, the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series with a 83-78 record. Was it a black eye on the sport?
Expansion is not the problem! It’s the current set-up. Three divisions with an unbalanced schedule is unfair and STUPID!
Major League Baseball should go back to East and West Divisions in both leagues with a balanced schedule. This is a much better determinant for deciding which teams are TRULY better.
The Division champions and two Wild-Card teams in each division make the playoffs. The division winner gets a bye and then they play the winner of their divisions wild-card match-up. And so on.
And if occasionally an underdog team defeats a heavy favourite in a seven game series… isn’t that sort of fun and intriquing? If the heavily favoured team won wire-to-wire, like the 1984 Tigers, every year… that would be very boring. Don’t you think?
By the way, I know you like to slag the NHL and its playoff system but the Stanley Cup Champion is usually won by a team that is at the top or very close to the top in points at the end of the year. Re: last year’s winner, the Red Wings.
As the saying goes… you can look it up.
MW: I don’t think the Marlins’ championships, the Astros great comeback or even the Cards’ WS win are blights on baseball. But I do think that if a 78-84 team makes the playoffs and then wins the whole shebang, that’d be pretty undeserved, and that could happen with eight teams in each league making the post-season. I don’t think giving a division winner a bye is advantageous, either. These guys are used to playing five, six times a week. Look what happened to the Rockies with their nine days off before the World Series last season.
- Kelly PfeifferI was at Yankee Stadium Friday night for Snider’s debut, and I wanted to say that I thought he took a great route to that double in the gap. Off the bat I thought it was going to the wall and with Abreu’s speed would be an easy triple, but Travis cut it off and made a strong throw to 2nd that wasn’t so late.
Yanks fans really get on ARod, it’s unreal. Then I was watching the game today and it was pointed out on YES that ARod has just one 9th inning RBI, and that’s probably the source of all the hatred. I was trying to explain to them that you can’t add 2 of our bats to get his HRs, but they all literally think he’s garbage. The guy next to me offered him up for Marco Scutaro – I had to think about it for a second because he is the team MVP after all.
There were quite a few Jays fans at the game (as always), and my brother and I held a mini-JaysTalk on the subway back to the city. We fought the good fight, and I really felt what it was like to be in your shoes while I was trying to defend guys like Burnett, Wells, and Ricciardi.
- AriIn response to Greg in Post #76, and in the interest of strict accuracy:
After today (Sunday), the Jays have 70 wins and 26 games left, meaning they could (mathematically) win 96.
Wild Card leader Boston has 79 wins; thus, in order to eliminate the Jays from the WC, the magic/tragic number has to be 18 (for a total of 97), not 15 as stated.
- Norm