10:10 PM Eastern
In relative terms, that is. With today’s win in the last game the Jays will ever play at The House That Ruth Built (but didn’t renovate), the Jays wind up 100-124 at The Stadium, which is good for a .446 winning percentage. In the overall, that’s not good. Put in 162-game terms, that’s a 72-90 record (or, the high-water mark for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays prior to this season), but no American League team has ever done better - or ever will.
That’s right, kids, your Toronto Blue Jays have the best record ever in the history of anything as A.L. visitors to Yankee Stadium. The Baltimore Orioles can argue, because they’re 190-238 (.444) with three games remaining, and if they sweep those three games, their winning percentage at Yankee Stadium will be .448, but we’re talking FRANCHISE history, and that’s where the O’s lose big. The Orioles spent 53 seasons as the St. Louis Browns, and the Brownies sucked. In the overall, but especially at Yankee Stadium, where they went 92-236 for a phenomenal .280 winning percentage (in 162-game terms, that’s a 45-117 season). That mark drags the O’s down quite a bit.
It’s not much, but it’s something. I’ll say it again - no American League franchise has ever been as successful as a visitor to Yankee Stadium as your Toronto Blue Jays. Ever. Nor will any franchise ever be.
It was the 53rd and final game that Cito Gaston managed at The Stadium, and he came in dead even. The win left him 27-26 lifetime there, which is nice. Yes, Gaston managed the Jays from 1989-1993, when the Blue Jays were very good and the Yankees weren’t, but he also managed the Jays from 1994-1997, when the reverse held.
As far as today’s game went - thank you very much to Xavier Nady, who butchered a Rod Barajas fly ball with two on and one out in the first (don’t get me started on that one out), basically handing the Jays a 3-0 lead, and Roy Halladay didn’t need any more than that. Halladay went seven strong innings, solo homers by Alex Rodriguez and Jason Giambi the only blemishes, and he moved into sole possession of the team wins lead with his 17th. He’s really, really good.
Brandon League got the side in order in the 9th - it wasn’t a save situation, so no need to go back to B.J. Ryan after yesterday’s white-knuckler - and don’t look now, but League has retired nine straight hitters following last Sunday’s game-winning extra-inning home run by Jed Lowrie.
Scott Rolen went deep, which was terrific, but I’d still like to see him do something productive with a pitch on the outside half of the plate. Which is not to say that he hasn’t shown he can or can’t yet - he’s only had seven plate appearances since being activated off the disabled list on Tuesday.
In his last game as a Blue Jay, David Eckstein went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, an RBI and a blood-curdling first-inning sac bunt. Not in execution, but in the very idea. Eckstein got a really rough ride here once Cito Gaston took over. As I’ve said many times, I don’t understand the infatuation with Marco Scutaro to the extent that Eckstein, as Mike Tyson would say, basically faded into Bolivia. If it were up to me, Eckstein would have played a lot of second and Joe Inglett a lot of third while Rolen was mending, with John McDonald in the middle. But Cito loves Scutaro, and had no use for Eckstein, so Eck was traded to the Diamondbacks for 23 year-old pitcher Chad Beck.
To those who say Eck was a disappointment as a Jay, it’s just not true. I mean, maybe you were disappointed by his performance, but he hit .277/.354/.358. His career numbers going into this season were .286/.351/.362. That’s bang on. Eck did EXACTLY what was expected from him at the plate. Defensively? He’s not a good shortstop, but nobody ever claimed that he was. He performed to expectations in the field as well. Personality-wise? He and John McDonald could both easily lay claim to being the nicest guy in the world (professional athlete division). I’ll miss him, and wish him luck. It was a good move, because obviously the Jays had no use for him and they got an arm back.
What’s the story on Chad Beck? He’s a 23 year-old righty who tops out at about 94 with a good slider. He’s 6′4″, 251 - a big boy -and he was originally drafted by the Jays out of high school in the 43rd round in 2004 but went to college instead. The D-Backs took him the next year in the 14th. At two levels of A-ball this year, Beck has allowed 127 baserunners in 112 2/3 innings (1.13 WHIP) with 108 strikeouts. In the month of August, he’s gone 3-1, 2.39 in six starts, having allowed 30 baserunners in 37 2/3 innings (.080 WHIP) with 38 strikeouts.
The Jays see him as a guy who has a chance to be a pretty good major-league reliever. He’s going to join the Dunedin Blue Jays for their playoff run in the Florida State League.
The Blue Jays finished August 16-12, their second straight winning month and third overall, and after a Labour Day off, open up September on Tuesday home to the Twins, against whom they’re 3-0 this season. They swept them up in Minny back in May right after the ugly Indians series in which they scored a total of one run over the first 36 innings. Tuesday morning, I’ll be taking The Billie to school for her first day of Grade 2 (sniff).
We might find out about the September call-ups before that game, since the minor league regular seasons end on Monday and neither the Fisher Cats nor the Chiefs will be in the playoffs. If I had to guess, I’d say we’ll see Shaun Marcum (after his Monday start), Curtis Thigpen, Brian Wolfe, Kevin Mench and maybe Buck Coats. J.P. Ricciardi said on Wednesday that there wouldn’t be any surprises in the September call-ups (Travis Snider doesn’t count, he was called up August 29th), so I’m thinking there won’t be a Russ Adams sighting, but you never know.
Here’s this afternoon’s edition of The JaysTalk, for your listening pleasure:
Reasonable, rational comments are always welcome!
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Mike,
Do you think the Jays will make any other trades before the midnight deadline?
MW: Nope.
- Jake RothI was on Yahoo and found your blog. Read a few of your other posts. Good work. I am looking forward to reading more from you in the future.
Tom Stanley
MW: Thanks very much! Spread the word!
- Tom StanleyTwo things to say, Travis Snider is overrated. League for President!
- BeburgHey Mike,
Enjoying my final days until I have to go back to school. I put my name in a draw for a pair of Jays tickets at the place I volunteer. Hopefully I get them so I can watch the Jays at home against Minnesota before school starts.
Anyways, one comment and one question for you in my post today unlike the four questions I asked you on JaysTalk a couple days ago. My question is do the Jays have the money to sign a quality DH (e.g Ramirez, Giambi, Ibanez) and SS (e.g Cabrera, Renteria, Furcal) My comment is regarding the free agent market, if we fail to sign Ramirez and Giambi I don’t think we should go after Ibanez. I think we should try to trade for Aubrey Huff (he and Ibanez have VERY similar numbers) and sign Orlando Cabrera or Edgar Renteria. I think it would be easier to sign a SS and trade for a DH (if we fail to sign Ramirez or Giambi). I’m going to try and call you on JaysTalk tomorrow to debate this topic further.
Until then, thanks for reading my posts and keep up the great work you do on JaysTalk.
MW: I’ve mentioned this before on the blog, but I wouldn’t get involved with any of Furcal, Cabrera or Renteria. Furcal is the only one of the three who has a chance to be worth the contract he’ll sign this winter, and Furcal is coming off a major, major injury. Ibanez has been far more consistent over the last few years than Huff, and he’d only cost money - Huff you have to trade for.
- Kevinare you kidding carl p why do we need a guy that can barely walk? WE NEED MANNY RAMIREZ billionaire ted should spend some of his 300 mill he made last qtr and get MANNY R no j gmustache or jim injuryt rual i isn’t bad but we need manny he hits for average and power also we need to sign another quality starter not injury sheets or pavano etc dempster would be a good choice i don’t like garland much either i want top quality not second tier ted spend some money and get us a winner also keep johnny mac he is the best defensive ss go get a good ss but keep jmac another issue is bj ryan why do continue to say we can trade him are you nuts? he is a closer and we only have one on this team downs is our setup guy not closer and i don’t want to see him lose it bc we put him in something he isn’t bj is proven and is getting the job done maybe not 123 but enough to keep him we would be stupid to mess with our 7 bleauge 8 downs 9 bj maybe trde a couple of the extras we have but not the core we just need ted to spend some money so we can win the division again MANNY we need him he would be our dh and would make our line up so much more powerful
MW: You really need to figure out punctuation, it would make your rantings much easier to digest. As for your points (or what I could figure out from them) I believe I addressed them all in the post.
- gregMike,
A few questions:
I know you said a couple days ago on the jays talk that giving Manny a 4 year $100 million dollars deal would be a horrible move because you would be stuck with someone over 40 years old for two years, but could you see the Jays (with the money they free up this year from Burnett, Thomas, Eckstein etc. spending 40 or 50 million for 2 years depending on there payroll?
Also assuming that snider struggles through September (no reason to assume but just as a what if) do you keep him around for the AB experience no matter what he bats?
And lastly how much do you think a Giambi or Ibanez would cost and how long would the Jays sign them for if they wanted either one of them?
MW: The Jays probably could afford a 2-year, $40 or $50 million deal for Manny, but they won’t spend that much. Snider stays throughout September and gets regular work against righties even if he doesn’t get any hits the rest of the way. If the Jays got in on Giambi or Ibanez it’d be for a two-year deal at the most, if not one plus an option, for much less money than Frank Thomas made.
- RandyOoooh…so the Blue Jays have the “all-time” best winning record of any road team at Yankee Stadium with a lifetime .446 winning percentage…hey, whatever helps you sleep at night watching that sorry excuse of a baseball team lose year after year…15 years and counting!!!
MW: The Blue Jays winning or losing doesn’t affect my sleep patterns, but I haven’t seen them lose year after year. This is looking like it’ll be their third winning season in a row.
- ChrisFletcherFunny stuff on the whole mispelling misspelling.
Now for a more pressing question.
On your last JP show he voiced a theory that the media has a problem with him because they know he won’t commit suicide if he’s fired. He actually made more than one reference to suicide in answering your question.
Setting aside the obvious questions arising about his emotional state, I must ask:
Do you agree with him? Do you think these damned blood thirsty ghouls Griffin and Elliott won’t be satisfied with JP’s mere termination?
Will they not stop their persecution of him until they stand laughing over his lifeless corpse?
Or maybe, I’m just suggesting a possibilty here, but I don’t know, do you think maybe JP is getting a little paranoid?
Is it possible he doth protest too much when he says he has no worries about his job security and that he doesn’t read the newspapers?
Because I’m thinking its becoming pretty obvious that change is coming to the Jays front office this off-season and if I were JP I might consider selling my home in Toronto.
Oh wait a minute, he doesnt live here? If I were JP I might consider breaking the lease on my condo here. Oh, sorry I understand he doesn’t rent a condo here.
If I were JP I might just consider not booking a hotel room at the Rogers Centre for certain selected dates next year. Oh, he doesnt have to book them?
Well if I were JP I wouldn’t really be planning to change my lifestyle in anyway, but I sure wouldn’t count on having a job here next season.
MW: He doesn’t stay at the Rogers Centre hotel, either. I still find it hilarious that people make such a big deal that J.P. doesn’t live in Toronto. Again - Pat Gillick doesn’t live in Philly, and didn’t live in Seattle when he was the G.M. there. I’m sure that Ricciardi knows his job is in jeopardy, but I’m sure that a lot of his detractors do mind it when he says that it won’t be the end of the world for him if he’s fired.
- ProkopecHello Mike,
Do you think that this trade would a) be accepted by the Astors and b) be good for the Blue Jays.
B.J. Ryan + Lyle Overbay + Davis Romero for Lance Berkman
This would give the Blue Jays even more money to go after a big DH like Giambi.
MW: A - not even remotely, b - yes yes yes
- vjI know I spelled Astros wrong so I am probably going to get a sarcastic response about Jack Astors or something. Go ahead I love it when you make fun of people’s spelling.
MW: I didn’t even notice, actually, but now that you point it out………Hmmm, I wonder if Jack Astor’s would give me a free dinner if I mention them in the ol’ blerg.
- vjMike,
Is scott downs the best set-up man in baseball, and do you think the jays might exercise a league-downs 8th/9th next year and try to trade b.j for a bat.
MW: Downs is right up there if he isn’t the best set-up man, and the second question has been answered many, many times.
- John TerryMike,
I randomly stumbled upon team vs team records online today, and it appears that the Jays’ problems with Cleveland and T-Bay this season have been fatal to the team’s post-season aspirations. Did you know that, against American League teams not named the Rays or Indians, the Jays are 56-39 this season? Now, the Rays have been fantastic this year, so I’m not suggesting that the Jays should have a .600 record against them. But, Toronto is a mere 4-11 against the Rays, which amounts to a .266 winning percentage.
Moving on, the Jays are an even more troubling 1-6 against the Cleveland Indians. Although they’ve picked up steam in the second half, the Tribe has been a lousy team this season and at least a .500 record against them should be a reasonable expectation.
I’m not sure if any of this means anything, but it’s interesting that a team whose offense has been blamed for everything can produce a 56-39 record against 12 of 14 teams in the AL, including successful results against playoff-caliber teams such as Boston (7-4), CWS (4-0), Minnesota (3-0), and the Yankees (7-7).
Thanks Mike, we all appreciate your diligent work on the blog and your occasionally feisty tone on The Jays Talk. Keep it up!
MW: Very interesting. I wonder if you wouldn’t find that every team has a couple of those, if you looked deeper.
- keithTo Everyone:
Remember, September starts tomorrow, please go to baseballhalloffame.org and vote for Tom Cheek for the 2009 Ford C. Frick Award.
Thanks
MW: Right!!!!!!!!!!
- SpiderSilvaMike, where did you come up with your definition of power hitter? Sorry! but Scott Rolen is a power hitter. Nine seasons of over 20 HR’s (3 seasons of over 30) and two seasons close to 20 HR’s (17 and 14) with limited at bats. Look at the numbers. He drove in over 100 runs, five times. Glaus only has done it four times.
Rolen may not be Barry Bonds or Babe Ruth power… but he is a power hitter.
You are correct, Vernon Wells is having a good campaign after a terrible start. But the only reason he leads the team in HR’s and RbI’s, while missing two months, is because the rest of the offense has been so bad.
And sorry, Aaron Hill was not a ready replacement for Orlando Hudson. Hell, he played more games at third base the previous season than at second.
And sorry, as much as you protest, he’s not Orlando’s defensive equal. He doesn’t have the range, agility and quickness of Hudson. Hill has to dive for balls that Hudson made look routine.
Offensively, power numbers are similiar with Hudson having a better OBA.
Sometimes you come off sounding like JP’s press agent.
Lastly, do not trade BJ Ryan. He should be better next season with more time separating him from his Tommy John surgery. Plus, who takes his place? League has to show he can put more than a half season of consistency together, considering his spring training fiasco of 2007. Accardo and Jansen are question marks coming off injuries. And Scott Downs is perfect as a set-up guy. He doesn’t feature a trick pitch or throw hard enough to be a typical closer.
MW: Scott Rolen WAS a power hitter - before he had three shoulder surgeries. He’s not someone who can be counted on to hit for power on a consistent basis anymore. Hill isn’t Hudson’s defensive equal, and I have never suggested that he is, but there’s no way to argue that he wasn’t a ready replacement for Hudson. B.J. Ryan doesn’t feature a trick pitch, and he tops out at 91 - how is it that he’s a closer, then?
- Kelly PfeifferEven though this has been yet another mediocre season for the Jays, it still fires me up to see them take two of three in New York. It’ll suck coming in third again but I’ll take it just as long as those damn Yankees are in fourth (or worse…..go Orioles?)
Let’s not get totally carried away with League quite yet, folks. There’s no point in trading a proven asset like Ryan just to give the job to a guy whose performances have been erratic at best. Dealing BJ might indeed be a good move, but it might be best to wait for next season around the trade deadline (provided the Jays are, again, out of contention) in order to get max value for him, since I suspect a fully healthy Ryan will pitch like he did in 2006.
MW: I don’t think that the Jays should consider trading Ryan because League is waiting in the wings, but because League, Downs, Accardo and potentially Janssen are.
- Alex PHi Mike….
I’m just thinking does Brandon League have any value on the market?
I would think that with his velocity and recent command of the strike zone that other teams might be looking for that set up or closer type of pitcher.
I really wouldn’t want to see him dealt but could u package him for a DH or big bat that the Jay’s seem to need at this point?
Love the Jay’s talk and the blog.
MW: League definitely has value on the trade market, but certainly not enough to get the Jays a big bat.
- BrentI want to get you started on that out in the first inning.
MW: Don’t do it.
- Sean CourtHi Mike,
With the time difference here and the build up of blog comments yet to be released, I might not be the first to mention this, but:
WE CAN START VOTING FOR TOM CHEEK FOR THE FRICK AWARD NOW
If someone can tell me how to save all the contact info so I don’t have to type it in every day, that would be great.
MW: Ahhhh, it’s three minutes of your life. Tom’s worth it!
- Oz RobHey Mike a few things…
1)Do you think Mets will pick up the option for Delgado next season.I know having him back doesn’t mean it’s the Delgado of his bluejays days but he ain’t doing too bad this year.
2)J.P. is probably going to have a great problem on his hands with Synder and Lind.Synder looking like a great prospect and Lind looking dangerous as well.What do you think is more likely to happen…one of Synder or Lind changing positions(that probably being first or third base).Or one of our 4 major league calibre outfielders being traded.
3) You don’t have too agree or disagree I’m just going to throw out my dream line-up for next season…
1)RF Rios
2)LF Lind
3)CF Wells
4)1B Delgado
5)DH Milton Bradley
6)3B Rolen
7)2B Hill
8)C Barajas
9)SS Inglett/Mcdonald
By the way Overbay gets traded and Delgado gets picked up as a free agent after the Mets fail to pick up his option and we sign Bradley and Hill comes back healthy along with Mr. Bad shoulder but greatest denfense ever over at third base in my dream…you know Homerun numbers will rise and Wells didn’t mind hitting in front of Carlos before.Let me know what you think.Thanks a lot Mike and Keep up the good work.
MW: 1 - I think they will. 2 - It’s Snider, and Lind did come up through the ranks as an infielder. 3 - Inglett is not an option at shortstop, and as I’ve stated before, I don’t think the Jays should sign Bradley. His personality issues have been a detriment to his on-field performance far too many times.
- StewyHey Mike. On my walk home from work I was thinking about what the headline of your blog might be and I guessed “Keep Rolen Rolen Rolen Rolen!!!” Que Limp Bizkit music. It’s good to see Scotty-Row knock one out. I always liked him even before he played for the Jays and now he’s my favorate player and I remember you said on the radio when he came back from him finger injery that “He is the best Blue Jay EVER!” Maybe he is past his prime but when he gets going I think he is one of the most well rounded players in the game. I agree that Eck got the shaft here in TO and it’s my only real problem with how Cito has been doing things. In the future if you get a chance to interview Cito, could you ask him why he didn’t put Eck in the lineup on a more regular basis! I believe he makes the Jays a better hitting team than Scoot or Johnny-Mac do and God knows the Jays need better hitting! Hope the kids are ok with going back to school. I still get mightmares of that place they call school!
MW: Cito didn’t put Eckstein in the line-up more because he thought Scutaro was a better option. He would say, as he did, that he just couldn’t find a spot for him.
- Matt from BCI believe that the term “below average” is misunderstood by many fans. You can be a “below average” player and still deserve to be a starter. To call a player “below average” is not necessarily disparaging. I think people are equating “below average” with “below replacement level”, even if they wouldn’t couch the sentiment in exactly those terms.
Look at third basemen, for example. There are 30 starting third basemen in MLB. Roughly 15 are above average and 15 are below average. But those 15 that are below average are still (theoretically) better than replacement level at the position and are thus worthy starters at the major league level.
Over the past three seasons, Jose Bautista has posted an OPS+’s of 94, 96 and 93 as a Pirate. Yes, he is below average as a major league third basemen. But he is arguably one of the 30 best third basemen in the majors and hence deserving of a starter’s job (if not necessarily in Toronto).
MW: It’s an interesting argument. Bautista is a big-league starter against left-handed pitching, that’s for sure, but the Jays should be able to do better against righties.
- Chuck VHow nice was that, 2 out of 3 against the Yanks and in their last visit to the “house that Ruth built.
Doc, incredible,won the game, kept a game ball and took some ball park dirt also. If only the Jays had given him more run support during some of the losses he was hung with! I hope, he ends up as always (other than injury seasons) as the Jays #1 for win totals.
Tough to see Eckstein go and I wish him well. Yes, I agree Mike he did do exactly what was asked of him this season. I wonder, just as you do why Cito did not use him more often?
Some here, mention more playoff positions should be avaialable. Give your head a shake - this is MLB where, for a change the regular season does absolutely mean something! MLB is about the only pro sports left, where tradition means a heck of a lot!
The Jays, being in another division! Why on earth would anyone not want to be in the best or toughest division - that’s how you get even better. How great is it to see the Red Sox and Yankees as much as we do. However I would agree with Mike, a balanced schedule would be great. However, overall the Jays have faired very nicley over the years against both the Yanks & Red Sox.
As to the amount of money spent on payroll. I think, some of you have that mixed up a bit. Just as in life, it is not the amount you have or spend, as much as it is how you spend it.
Wonder why there are a few who post comments here that don’t know where the “shift-key” is on their keyboard. It irks me to see a players name or anyone without upper case letters respectfully applied to their first and/or surnames.
I doubt very much there is anyone out there who was not excited about the Rolen for Glaus trade at the time it happened. If you follow the Jays and Mr. Wilner in the off season you would be very well aware also of why it happened.
It is truly amazing how many of the commentators to this blog work with “hind sight” as to their research tool when leaving comments on this deal, many other moves and of course their favorite target J.P.
I was back out on the Grand River Mike yesterday and tuned to you 3 amigos doing your magic on the radio. We turned off our radio just to hear the echo coming from others also listening to the game. It’s really cool indeed how many there are and how well the sound travels over water.
Thanks.
- Bob -I don’t get the “challenge” as put out by comment #42 ysterday.
Not much of a challenge is it?
You (#42) are challenging anyone to justify the use or spelling of “centre”?
One spelling is British the other is American. Both ways of spelling are used all the time - and it’s a matter of where you apply it. We, just as the Brits use “re” most of the time in everyday use (well, ok some use or were taught incorrectly the American spelling).
However, when the word is used as to a “place” we all use “Centre” - e.g. Rogers Centre, Eatons Centre etc. Applying “re” or “er” is dependent on what it is your writing about e.g. places, position, sports, science, math etc. Quite a challenge.
It’s hillarious that you actually comment on the fact Mike uses it correctly when writing of the Rogers Centre!
Hey, I have a challenge also. I would challenge anyone out there as to MLB not being #1 when listening to a sporting event on your radio.
There is no way you can beat baseball, summer days, relaxing with your radio tuned to a ball game. Nothing comes close to that kind of theatre of the mind.
We are pretty fortunate to have the 3 guys we have now doing the ball games - what a fantastic job of bringing the game to us you guys do Mike.
You would think it is all rehearsed the way your timing with each other works.
Thanks
- Bob -Mike,
What is the difference between the NL and AL other than no DH? Couldn’t it be a geographical alignment like the NHL/NBA?
MW: It could be, but why?
- MikeOk, I know you said earlier that you were going to cover this, but the voting for the Ford C. Frick opened today (Sept 1st) at baseballhalloffame.org and everyone needs to go there and vote for Tom Cheek. After looking at the nomination list, I think he’s going to have a rough go again this year, especially with the passing of Skip Caray. They let you vote once per day, so everyone who reads this blog should try and take the time to vote as many times as possible throughout September. He might make the 10 person ballot anyway, but fans select three of the people on that ballot, so let’s do our part to get Tom’s name on that ballot!
MW: I’m with you, of course. Sorry for not posting to that end on Monday.
- Mike MMike,
1) I really appreciated the insight Jerry provided on the broadcast yesterday about the Jays/Cito/Doc record at Yankee Stadium with the win yesterday. As Alan said to Jerry “you just made this an important game”. For me it made the win even more satisfying. It is just another example why the FAN590 broadcasts and the team of Jerry, Alan and you are such a big part of my summer.
2) You asked about Jays memories at Yankee Stadium before Jaystalk. I couldn’t get through but wanted to add mine. I will always remember Fred McGriff’s upper deck shot to right that flew into the exit. I think it may have been on a Monday Night Baseball telecast way back when McGriff was an unknown talent around the league.
Some of Hamilton’s blasts at the HR derby landed up there but I don’t think they were as far.
3) The Doc-for-the-Cy campaign will heat up this month. I know you feel it will be close. Do you think if Roy gets over 20 wins that will be enough to trump whatever win record Lee has with the deciders ?
(venting alert: those “experts” on the ESPN baseball show that preceded your JTW show, did not even mention Doc when talking about CY candidates. Grrr)
4) please consider doing those radio spots this fall to remind everyone to vote for Tom Cheek. Let’s help make this the year he gets his deserving spot in the Hall.
MW: 1 - Thank you. 2 - I have vivid memories of that home run, too. I think it was on ABC’s Monday Night Baseball. The homer Hamilton hit off the Bank of America sign went farther, as did a couple others. 3 - I don’t feel it will be close between Halladay and Lee, I feel it should be, but it won’t. 4 - Hopefully the station will let me do them again.
- Ian CMike I am really looking forward to next season! Your right about if they had 10 more clutch hits things could be different. That’s saying something because for the most part they have been horrible offensively this year. This team only needs a few tweaks and a bit of luck in regards to injuries and this team can win it all.
Keep up the great job on the Fan and Blog as well!
- CurtHey mike
I want your autograph,haha, I sound kinda corney. Anyways, why don’t you publish your own weekly or daily articles in the Sun or toronto star? If its a weekly article you could call it something like, “fridays with wilner of the ballyard” I mean those other guys who express their opinions don’t seem to know as much about baseball as you. You should inquire about this possiblility. Then like at the end of your articles you should leave a comment saying something like,”listen to the bluejays talkshow after every bluejays game on the fan 590″. I believe you have the credentials to do so. You will have twice the listeners in abour a month and you will recieve some credibility and fame. Have you ever thought of this possibility?
MW: If any major publication wants to hire me to do a weekly column (or more), all they have to do is call!
- JaysfanTotally agree with you about Eckstein.
Question about Johnny Mac. Remember back in April when you wondered about why he wasn’t used as a late inning defensive replacement for Eck, especially in tight games (remember that botched dp ball in Kansas City?). It was a great idea to have him in when protecting a lead.
So why isn’t the reverse true? I’m thinking of the game last week when we’re trailing the Rays 1-0 in the seventh. Johnny Mac hits for himself with 2 on and 2 out. Wouldn’t Eckstein or Rolen (he had just been activated) made sense there? Defense is great but so is having the lead!
I apologize if this point has already been made.
Thanks as always.
MW: That’s kind of why I suggested that McDonald be used late. Have the bat early to build the lead, the glove late to protect it. But yes, I think McDonald should be pinch-hit for in late-game RBI situations when the Jays are trailing.
- Rob H.Hey mike, wanted to call in but just haven’t found the time….
I’m a fifteen year-old die-hard Jays fan, I just wanted to ask you some questions.
1. What do you think is a “fair” evalutation? Adam Lind got 19 at-bats at the beginning of the season, and people said that was insufficient to make a fair evaluation. How many at-bats or Innings (for a pitcher) do you think is a “fair” evaluation for a player? I was thinking maybe 100 at-bats and 15 innings.
2. If the Jays stay relatively healthy (maybe 3-4 players on the 15-day DL), and the pitching stays strong, with the offence resembling the 2006 version, but the Jays still don’t make the playoffs, staying 7-8 games back. What do you do then? Do you blow it up? Or just add a big-bat or arm?
Thanks Mike, love your shows.
MW: A fifteen year-old and you don’t have time in the summer? How busy can you be? 1 - It’s impossible to know what’s a fair evaluation, but it’s certainly not 19 at-bats. 100 might be fair, but then look at Aaron Hill’s first six weeks in 2006, or Dustin Pedroia’s last year. 15 innings isn’t close to enough. Six or seven starts, maybe? 2 - If they’re healthy, the pitching stays strong and the hitting gets back to 2006 and they stay 7-8 games back of a playoff spot, then a giant sinkhole will open up beneath Rogers Centre and swallow the building into a bottomless vortex.
- IvanMike, the other day a caller called in and challenged you with Roy Halladay versus other elite pitchers and made you make a decision, that was quite fun no? Anyways, it got me curious as you have always said the Jays offence is fine, so let’s see whose offence you would take between the Jays and the teams ahead of them in the AL standings (Current day batting lineup, the lineup you would take in a one game playoff, all things being equal, same stadium, same opponent etc)
Yanks
Bosox
Minny
WhiteSox
TBay
MW: Yankees and Red Sox, easily, as well as the White Sox. I’d take the Rays with a healthy Crawford and Longoria, too.
- FrankIt seems the one thing the blue jays have always lacked was “killer instinct.” They haven’t gone on a lengthy winning streak in the last couple of years, and before this year, were unable to consistently sweep series’. The one trademark of a winning team is their ability to go on a tear, like the Mets have this year. I thought that adding players like Eckstein and Rolen would help, especially with RISP, but it hasn’t worked out this year. I think that this is a great ball club that can contend for the next couple of years if they stay healthy. Do you think “killer instinct” is a problem, and if it is how do we solve it?
Also, is Adam Lind the everyday left-fielder next year, and what happens to Travis Snider if Lind hits 30 HR/100 RBI . Do they move him to first base?
MW: I don’t think that “killer instinct” is a problem, because I don’t think it’s an issue. The Washington Nationals are currently on a seven-game win streak, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays won nine in a row a couple of years back in a season in which they finished last. Winning teams often go on tears because they’re winning teams, and are much better than their opponents. That said, the fact that the Jays haven’t had a win streak longer than five or six games in years is ridiculous. Lind is likelier to switch positions than Snider, but that move is probably still a ways away.
- AbdullahHey Mike, I just finished listening to the post-game from yesterday. I have also been thinking about the possibility of trading BJ in the off-season because our bullpen is solid and that is with our 2 best from last year missing most of and all of this year. I heard one of your callers mention Cleveland a possible trading partner for Peralta but like you I dont think it would be a 1 for 1 trade and JP (hopefully still the GM) will have to add another player or 2 in order to pull that off. Any news on how Janssens rehab is going and is he gonna be ready for spring training? If healthy I would strongly consider putting him in the rotation for next year considering how deep this team is in the “pen”
Thanks as always Mike
MW: Janssen is supposedly doing very well in his rehab, but he’s only been throwing for a month or so, I think, so it’s really impossible to know. I wouldn’t put him in the rotation next year, given the injury.
- ChrisMike,
Not only do the Jays have the best ERA in he game, but nobody is even close. Going into Monday, the Jays ERA was 3.60 and the Rays were second at 3.70 The next closest AL team was the Angels at 3.85
Other than 1968, can you think of any team in recent history that has had pitching as dominant as the Jays, but with an offense as pathetic.
There have been many teams in the last 30 or so years to have great hitting and no pitching, but I can’t think of a team quite resembling what the Jays have done this year.
MW: In the last 30 years? It must have happened, but nothing springs to mind.
Maybe you have a better memory than me.
- ThomasMike,
When asked on the show about the potential big bats the Blue Jays could go after in free agency, you keep mentioning Jason Giambi, which brings me back to a previous edition of “Wednesdays with JP”. Earlier this season, JP clearly stated that he had no intention of signing Barry Bonds, mainly because of the steroids issue.
However, Jason Giambi’s name was also included in the Mitchell report. So, assuming no major changes at the GM position or among the decision people above are made in the offseason, why can’t we just write off Giambi as well?
As a faithful listener, I know you believe that the Barry Bonds situation is very special and linked with Selig in some way. So, I still have trouble figuring out how sincere those Jays’ plans are when it comes to other players involved in the same scandal.
Also about offseason and addictions, will you still provide the same daily dose of awesome “bloggageness”, with reduced baseball activities? We need this (artificial?) paradise to survive the hard days of work.
Hoping the English was fine, Thanks.
MW: I don’t think Giambi’s being mentioned in The Mitchell Report will cause the Jays not to pursue him, I think the Bonds issue has more to do with the secret Selig edict and the sideshow than anything else. The Jays went after Paul LoDuca in the off-season, and still have Gregg Zaun. In the off-season, the bloggageness will likely be cut down to once a week, if that. The batteries need to be recharged.
- Fred in FranceHow many more games do you think Travis Snider will start this season? Personally, I think that they may as well start him and get that deer-in-headlights look off of his face. The future is now.
MW: I think he’ll start every game a right-hander pitches, and hopefully he’ll get in some against lefties later on.
- RichardWell, it’s September 1, which is the ideal time to remind people to vote for Tom Cheek in the Ford C. Frick balloting. I cast my first daily vote today.
MW: Keep it up!
- JustinThe last time Travis Snider played, I noticed him hit a ground ball in about the third inning and he absolutely dogged it on the way to, well, 3/4 of the way to first base. I was not impressed to see this from a youngster like this. I hope someone gets to him quick before bad habits start. It takes no skill to give it your best.
MW: I didn’t see it.
- Dan from Elmvalemike, once again you lied and this time I caught you dead to rights. you claimed “rod barajas has a .391 slugging perc” WRONG! and this time you are not even close. his slug is .436. and I am really getting tired of you bashing baby barajas for no reason. at least get the stats right if you want to criticize
MW: I was going to respond to this, but you’re one of those “hear what you want to hear” people. I’m sure that if I said that, I put it in a context, a time-frame like “since Cito took over” or something. And I’m amazed that you would consider someone getting a number wrong as “lying”. Rational, reasonable comments, remember?
- chubbymike, why do you keep praising aaron hill as this great player? he has had only 1 year with over 10 homers and only 1 year with s slug over .400. that’s pretty pathetic. mike, you have a bad habit of taking a player’s career year and saying “see that’s what he’s capable of”. every player has career years. they are called aberrations.
MW: When did I ever say Aaron Hill was a great power hitter? Going into this season he was a guy who had had 2 1/2 seasons in the bigs, each better than the last, and was just 26 years old.
- chubbyMike,
A few weeks ago I was on vacation in buffalo reading their newspaper. They mentioned that the Syracuse chiefs and Jays’ contract was up at the end of the year. They also said there had been some sort of dispute between the two. They said next year there is a big chance Toronto will be with the Bisons of AAA. Any info on this. Also where do players in AAA go or how does that work?
MW: I don’t know what you mean by “where do players in AAA go”. If I were a gambler, I’d bet the Jays’ AAA affiliate will be Buffalo next season.
- MikeHey Mike
On the topic of the performance of Vernon Wells. Im going to say hes being himself both offensively and defensively and would probably be in contention for the CF Gold Glove if he hadnt missed so many games. The only aspect of his play that bothers me is his running game. With the type of wheels he shows while tracking down deep fly balls one would think he could steal in the high twenties low thirties. But his carrer best was only 17 in 06. If he hadnt been injured he would still probably only have 7 or 8. I would just like to see him youse his ability to the advantage of the team more often.
MW: Youse his ability? The reason Wells hasn’t stolen more bases is the team philosophy, not him. This year, he’d have more if he was healthy but he’s not going to start running now with the dicey hammy.
- JamesImpressive..The Jays have shown they can beat the Yanks and the Red Sox..Too bad they can’t beat those Indians..
I am baffled as to why Eckstein didn’t play more…He hustled on every play..Maybe Gaston wanted more power from his lineup and Eckstein couldn’t provide that..
Could it be that Gaston likes the bigger players?..Aside from Manny Lee, there really hasn’t been many “smallish” players that he played regularly..
MW: Roberto Alomar was kind of smallish, so was David Cone. Hustling on every play isn’t enough to stay in a big-league line-up, though I think Eck should have played more, too.
- gumpWhy do you act like Cliff Lee doesn’t deserve the CY Young? Halladay should definitely be in the discussion, but if/when he doesn’t win, its not going to be a travesty.
MW: I don’t act as though Cliff Lee doesn’t deserve the Cy Young, nor do I believe that it’s going to be a travesty when he does. I just think that Halladay deserves to be in the discussion a lot more than he is, and if the voters did more than look at win-loss record and ERA, he’d have a reasonable shot.
- Jay MoneyHi Mike , Obviously Yankee Stadium was renovated.. Anyway Mike, I was wondering when Hill gets back and healthy.. I know its been kicked around about him moving to short and putting NO LONGER VOODOO JOE, at second.. The double play ball would not be a problem from 6-4-3 to 4-6-3.. Do you think would be an upside for the Jays and do you think HILL would welcome it . Was he not groomed as a short-stop.. Lov the blog Mike..
MW: I think it might be the best plan for the Jays. Hill would welcome it if his teammates wanted him to move and all thought it was best for the ballclub.
- FLIPPERMike, do you think Jason Varitek the most overrated catcher in baseball? I mean, he’s talked about in the same sentence as a Jorge Posada which is nuts.
MW: They do different things well, but Posada is a much, much better hitter. There’s certainly a case to be made for Varitek as most overrated, though it might be Ivan Rodriguez - his arm’s not what it once was, and he’s often talked about as though he’s an elite-level hitter.
- andrewMike I noticed you didn’t correct Dustin Pedroia on his Roy Holl-aday slipup
MW: There’s a big difference between people who call in to my show, or who post on this blog, and people from whom I request a few minutes of their time.
- EliRegarding Chad Beck:
if you look at the monthly splits, you can see that his line for every month except July was exceptional, both as a reliever AND as a starter with the exception of July.
In July he gave up 5 HR (as opposed to only 3 in the rest of his season (and his FO:GO rate was 0.80 as opposed to better than 1.00 the rest of the time.
In July his ERA was 8.36 (in 26 IP) and for the rest of his season combined, it was 2.13 (in almost 85 IP)
Could be we got some really nice upside here for the situation.
Oh, and about the supplemental pick, in order to get that we would have had to offer Eckstien arbitration - am I alone in thinking that he (and Zaun for that matter) were and are not candidates to be offered arb?
MW: Zaun might be, because he’s likely to refuse it. As for Eck, if he’d signed elsewhere early enough, the Jays could have offered him arbitration and not had to worry.
- WillRainhA bit off the Jays topic, but I don’t see Cliff Lee with stuff that equates to 20-2. Great, but not total utter domination that 20-2 suggests. Do you? I mean he might end up pretty darn close to Ron Guidry’s W-L in 1978 (25-3). Is this year a big aberration?
MW: He’s been good before, but never this good. But won-loss record isn’t always reflective of how a pitcher is performing. Is A.J. Burnett (16-10) having a year even close to Roy Halladay’s (17-9)?
- Chris BI hope Cito watched the Arizona game yesterday (I always wonder if players and managers watch games in off days).
Eckstein showed what he could do with playing time as he singled in the winning run and assisted in three late double plays. He went 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Made me sick that we never got a chance for the full “Eck” factor here. He also never turned down anybody who asked for his autograph.
- Jim BMike,
You said it would be a “significant achievement” for the Jays to finish ahead of the Yankees this year.
Have you taken a look at the Yankees this year, Mike? If you did, you would see that Matsui missed 55 games, Posada missed most of the year, Joba has missed a lot of time, their 19 game winner of the last 2 years has been hurt most of the year and they have got a combined 0 wins from Hughes and Kennedy.
This is hardly a full strength Yankee team, Mike. If all of those guys were healthy and playing wel, THEN it would be a significant achievement to finish ahead of them. But the Yanks have been a M*A*S*H* unit this year.
When the Jays finished ahead of the Red Sox a couple of yeaes ago, the Sox were really banged up just like the Yanks this year.
One of these years, maybe the Jays can finish ahead of one of those teams when they are at full strength.
MW: Why is it that the Blue Jays aren’t allowed to use injuries as an “excuse”, but the Yankees and Red Sox are? And you didn’t even mention Chien-Ming Wang!
- Kenmike, at the end of last season, JP did the call in show with you and a caller asked him about next season (2008) and JP used the word hope 6 times in his answer. He hoped the team would be injury free he hoped lyle overbay would rebound etc. now when I listen to JP wednesday he is saying exactly the same thing! at some point you can’t keep saying I hope lyle overbay rebounds and has a good year. If JP thinks lyle is not having a good year then he should make a change at that position instead of hoping he will improve. now he is hoping rolen will be healthy next year! when does it end? and you are guilty of saying “if these guys hit to their capabilities”. capability is not your career year. and using “if” as my expectation for next year is not very comforting. you have to know what your realistic expectations are for next year. you can’t be using words like hope and if. you already know how this team hits. a team doesn’t go from 12th in rs to 5th with the same roster. 15hr and 70rbi is not good enough from rolen, overbay, rios etc
MW: They don’t need to be 5th in the league in runs scored, but that’s beside the point. What is this infatuation with you and career years? No one is looking for career years from people - career average years would have the Jays in great shape right now.
- chubbymike, listening back to the JP call and the glaus/rolen trade, you said that it was widely held that it was at worst and even trade. and JP said that nobody criticized that trade. well that is simply not true
A few opinions on the deal:
* Rob Neyer: Glaus gets slight edges in hitting and durability, Rolen the big edge on defense. They cost roughly the same per season, but Glaus’ shorter contract leaves the Cardinals with more flexibility down the line. I like this deal for the Cardinals
* Transaction Oracle (Dan Szymborksi): Rolen’s a bit better when completely healthy but also has the lower chance of being completely healthy. I think the risk/reward scenarios actually work out pretty well for both teams - the Blue Jays are against very tough competition and have some heavy groundballers, so they want the more fielding oriented guy with the biggest payoff, since they’re not going to slip into the playoffs with 88 wins anytime soon and the Cardinals, against rather weak competition, would rather have the safer bet.
* Baseball Prospectus (Will Carroll): The deal comes down to whether or not the medical staffs on both sides have not only properly assessed both their new player, but also their own abilities.
* Buster Olney: Troy Glaus told J.P. Ricciardi he wanted to be traded months and months ago, after growing a serious distaste for playing on the artificial surface in Toronto. But Ricciardi committed to nothing, telling Glaus that he wasn’t going to simply give him away; he had to get a good package in return. And that’s exactly what Ricciardi feels the Jays got in Scott Rolen, who is better defensively than Glaus, and who always hit well before having shoulder surgery. The medical staff which examined Rolen told Ricciardi that Rolen’s shoulder should be fine, and that he will hit again.
from espn “Rolen has five 100-RBI seasons and four seasons with 30 or more homers. Before the relationship deteriorated, La Russa often said he’d never seen a better defensive third baseman, but Rolen’s offense has declined since a collision with Dodgers first baseman Hee-Seop Choi in May 2005.”
one thing was readily clear, rolen was the worse offensive player who was declining, he was more injury prone and considering he had 3 years left as opposed to glaus’ 1 year then that was a significant risk. and it is quite interesting to hear the the jays medical staff cleared rolen’s shoulder but as we all know he still has a bum shoulder! the risk/reward was clearly in favor of the cards
MW: It’s interesting that your hypothesis was that it’s not true that the Glaus/Rolen trade wasn’t seen as even and that Ricciardi was criticized, and then you use several examples which disprove that hypothesis. I’m assuming that in order to prove your point, you’d seek out the most critical examples you could find, and if that’s what you found, then you have proved the opposite of the point you’re trying to make.
- chubbyMike, do you think Joe Mauer the best catcher in MLB today?
MW: In an overall sense, it’s either him or Geovany Soto.
- andrewHi Mike,
I understand what you’re saying about the reasons why you would look at trading B.J.Ryan.
It’s not something i would be too happy to see personally, there is just to much uncertainty with pitchers coming back from injury and surgery with McGowan, Janssen, and Accardo, who knows how effectivly these guys come back.
Also, while being convinved of Brandon League’s ability, he has had a 6 week hot period towards the end of 06, and a hot spell towards the end of this season. I would prefer to see him prove himself for a longer period of time first, before relying on him more, as he would be needed to be in a Ryan trade.
Scott Downs is doing fantastically in the set up role, why move him.
Thanks
MW: Because it’s an area of strength with a surplus.
- ukJayHi Mike;
Completely agree with your assertation of Eckstein, a class act through and through who will be missed, and was not utilised very thorughly by Cito, but the Diamondbacks are a better team with him in the lineup, and we get an arm in return, good move by Riccardi. Hope Adams is in the sept callups, to gauge his progress along with buck coates and the other regulars, just wondering with the burgeoning youth movement, will the jays release “mencherson”. Completely agree with your take on Bonds, he would have put this team in contention if he was signed earlier on, would have been much more effective than Thomas last year and brought up attendance substantially, thx for the great blog.
MW: They’ll release Mencherson, but at the end of the season.
- robert sJust as a further note to my earlier post, if Accardo comes back only throwing his Fastball, there’s no way he can close……..In my opinion.
MW: He won’t.
- ukJayBy the way Mike, nearly 15,000 comments…Not bad, not bad at all.
MW: How do you know how many comments there have been?
- ukJaySeriously Mike, what are the chances that the Brewers make JJ Hardy available in the offseason for the Jays to pursue in a trade? Would the Jays be interested?
He is perhaps the only shortstop offensive upgrade I see out there (not including the unattainable Reyes and Ramirez), though I know very little (read: nothing) about other teams’ minor leagues.
Thanks!
MW: It depends on Alcides Escobar and how different the Brewers look in the winter without Sabathia and Sheets.
- Rory“I’ll say it again - no American League franchise has ever been as successful as a visitor to Yankee Stadium as your Toronto Blue Jays. Ever. Nor will any franchise ever be.”
Nice!!
Was Nice to be there too. NOTHING is as sweet as the sound of 55,000 Yankee fans groaning.
I think I realized this weekend, that MAYBE you’re a LITTLE right, M-dub. Getting away and watching the Jays play in a visting park helped me to see they arent TOTAL crap. Somehow, the perspective helped. Maybe there really is “Always next year”.
MW: They’re not even close to crap, let alone total crap.
- slobberfaceOK. Nice Post out of the way. Now time for a gripe post. How is it, M-Dub, that when you feel it appropriate, you refer to the Jays as “YOUR Toronto Blue Jays” but when i ask “what do WE get as compensation for AJ” you give me crap?
Foul.
MW: Oooooooh, good point. I have to think about that.
- slobberfaceHi Mike,
I just got back from spending a few days in New York and was able to catch the Friday and Saturday games. There were lots of Jays fans in attendance which was great to see. Soaking in the energy and atmosphere of Yankee Stadium is always a special experience. I’d been there before to see the Jays sweep a weekend series back in 1986, which included a beating laid on Ron Guidry in the Sunday game. It was nice to take it all in again. Having said that, I can understand why they’re building a new stadium as the ol’ girl is getting a little long in the tooth. I wish her well in her retirement. Hopefully, the new ballpark won’t be too sterile in comparison.
There have been several comments that Ricciardi “lied” about the call-up of Snider. As they say in economics, “opinions change when the facts change”. When the Jays dropped two out of three to both Boston and Tampa, it pretty much put the wild card spot out of reach. I suspect Snider would not have been called-up if the Jays were still in the hunt.
As far as Eckstein and Zaun being largely nailed to the bench under Gaston, that’s always been how he operates as I recall. He picks his starters and plays them. Everyone else becomes an afterthought. It was one of the things that frustrated me about his managerial style.
MW: Opinions change when the facts change, how true. It’s puzzling that Ricciardi is criticized for having “no plan”. The original plan was for the current infield to be Overbay at first, Russ Adams at second, Aaron Hill at short and Eric Hinske at third by now. Would that have been a good thing?
- Rob TheriaultHi Mike,
Can you tell me a bit about J.P. Arencibia as to what he’s expected to do in a potential future with the Jays? I looked at his stats and he seems to be a high average hitter with decent power. Is this fairly accurate? If he hits near .300 with 12-15 home runs in a typical season, that would be a fairly good offensive upgrade, but I assume he’s MAYBE a late season call up next year to be a potential starter two years from now. What do you think?
thanks,
MW: That’s the deal - high average, good power, doesn’t walk much. I think the Jays would love him to earn his way up by the all-star break next year.
- ChrisHi Mike,
You were right again! Clearly the Jays didn’t take Denbo to NY. While anyone can selectively pick out stats that may help make a point (like comparing OPS). We all know the problem was not what they hit but when! Hitting with RISP was our greatest weakness and the area most in need of improvement!
What are the RISP stats pre + post Cito?
Thanks
MW: Slugging was a great weakness, too. I gave the RISP numbers in the post.
- daveMike,
I know, I know, my writing is far from great. It is something that I struggled with all through university. My lack of natural ability results me spending extra time editing, but that is something I dont have time to do for your blog.
As for baseball matters; unless your signing a DH to be your DH, I think position plays into the equation. Both for the Jays and the player. The Jays know that Wells, Rios, Lind and Snider will be around for a while. If they go after Manny or Raul than they have to weigh OF playing time into the equation. This leads me to believe that Giambi or another player willing/ able to play 1st would be a better fit.
The tier Giambi fits into as a hitter is determined to a degree by the number of tiers. I know that I don’t put him in the A-rod, Pujols class, nor do I put him in the Morneau, Wright class. But I would put him in a class with Pat Burrell. A play who has pretty much the same numbers as him this year. For example, i would break things down like this.
Tier 1
Albert Pujols
Matt Holliday
Lance Berkman
Manny Ramirez
Mark Teixeira
Alex Rodriguez
Tier 2
Milton Bradley
Carlos Quentin
Hanley Ramirez
Justin Morneau
David Wright
Grady Sizemore
Aramis Ramirez
Magglio Ordonez
Jason Bay
Carlos Lee
Tier 3
Joe Mauer
J.D. Drew
Nick Markakis
Kevin Youkilis
Jason Giambi
Pat Burrell
Bobby Abreu
Carlos Pena
Vernon Wells
Alex Rios
MW: In that case, you should define your terms before you use them, because calling Giambi a “third-tier” hitter in a vacuum seems pretty insulting, but I didn’t know that you had about 50 tiers.
- JWJust here Tom Verducci on the radio, said he has never heard of play being reversed after the game….didn’t that hapeen to the Jays earlier this year or last?
MW: Having an official scoring decisions get changed after a game isn’t that rare an occurrence.
- JWHey Mike, the way i figure it, the Jays have freed up about 30 million in salary from the 2008 team heading into 2009. I may be off a little but I figure
Burnett - 12 mil
Eck - 4 mil
Thomas - 8-9
Zaun - 3.5
Stairs - 2
Now i know you need to get a back up catcher to the Captain which maybe filled from the minors. That would put the Jays in a pretty nice position to fill the DH role and get a starter to replace Burnett if he walks. I am fine with loosing Stairs , Eck and Zaun as the Jays have depth in the outfield. I would go after Sheets and Teixeira and let Johny Mac take short. could the Jays go after both? Teixeira maybe a stretch. Are my salary numbers about right?
MW: Your salary numbers are about right, but the Jays won’t be able to sign Tex and it’s doubtful they’ll be in on Sheets.
- KenMike Travis Sniders numbers were very good in AA for a 20 year old yes but does that mean you bring him up to the majors after a short hot streak in AAA? for instance if an 18 year old hit .217/.280/.302 in AAA that would be very good but it doesn’t mean you would bring him up to the majors.
Snider wasn’t but any means dominating AA then had a hot streak in AAA and has an awful 61/154 BB/K and he is promoted to the Majors. I love Snider as a prospect I just wonder had J.P. felt more secure in his job if Snider would have been brought up.
MW: Your argument is disingenuous, to say the least. Snider was hitting very well at AAA, exceptionally well for a 20 year-old. Your example is hitting well for an 18 year-old, but poorly. Again, Snider was hitting well in AA, though not dominating. But if only players who dominated AA were brought to the majors, there wouldn’t be many players in the bigs. I don’t care how many times Snider strikes out, strikeouts are just outs, and you can’t take anyone with you on them.
- Dan MMike, Let me try this again! Did the Jays ever replace Dwayne Murphy by hiring a roving minor league batting instructor? The last bit of information that I heard on this subject was back in mid-July when JP stated that he was awaiting word from Gary Denbo on whether he was going to accept the position. Thanks in advance… - Jim
MW: I’ll have to ask.
- Jim CarsonHave you thought about who should be the NL MVP this year?
MW: Not really.
- andrewAlso, do you think that Justin Morneau deserve the 2006 AL MVP award?
MW: Yep.
- andrewHey Mike,
Wondering how the whole process about losing free agents work?
When is a team eligible to get first rounders as compensation for losing free agents?
I’m guessing not all the time otherwise deals like Stairs and Eckstein would never happen. How is it determine?
When a team does get draft picks in return where in the draft order are they? Does the team that signs them factor in on any of this?
I appreciate your insight on the whole arbitration/free explanation earlier and was always wondering about this.
Thanks,
AK
MW: A team gets a first-rounder (plus a sandwich pick) when a Type A free agent to which it has offered arbitration signs with another team, providing it finished in the top 15 of the league the year previous. They get the pick of the signing team, unless that team signs more than one Type A free agent.
- AKMike,
one last thing, Jhonny P hits right handed pitching better than left.
vs. left - .254 .305 .475
vs. right - .285 .332 .488
you must have been looking at the wrong stat line while talking on the radio. You might dislike a his hitting against right (left???)handed pitching and not think his fielding is slick. I would hate to watch a SS strike out that much (150K/yr).
MW: Historically, Peralta hits lefties better than righties (career .820 OPS vs. .752). I didn’t mean just this year. Again, strikeouts are just outs.
- JWMike, a few friends and I made the 12 hour trip (including 2 hour wait at the border) to catch this game, and it didn’t disappoint. The stadium was a great thing to see (though the hallways were tiny), and watching Halladay do his thing made the trip well worth the money. The fans there were nice enough to not get angry at our group cheering for the Jays, and sounded just like us Jays fans at home when our team is down.
Let’s hope these guys can keep playing spoiler against all these teams ahead of them!
- Tylerhey mike,
I was just curious, do stats for players reset when the are traded? After mannie’s first couple of games the score network seemed to reset his hr count. I believe it was the same case for sabathia as well with his won/loss record.
Thanks I have always been curious about this.
MW: Stats are reset when players change leagues mid-season.
- andrewDo you think Jason Giambi would be too expensive for the Jays to go after? His batting average is only .250, but his OBP is about .385. Plus he is going to drive in 100 runs.
I just think it would be kind of weird to have a guy in his early 20’s (Lind or Snider) being the DH. But I guess it only makes sense since the OF in Toronto is the healthiest it has been in quite some time and there isn’t room out there for both of them.
MW: I don’t think Giambi will be too expensive, and I think we all just have to get past the weirdness of having a young guy DH. If that winds up being the best fit, then that winds up being the best fit.
- Aaron KerHi Mike.
I think the argument that it’s so incredibly tough to make the playoffs playing in the same division as both the Yankees and Red Sox is overrated.
While the Jays do play the Yankees and Red Sox more than teams in other American League divisions do, it’s also true that, from 2002 to 2007 the Jays also played two of the WORST teams in the American League (Orioles and Rays) more than other AL teams did. If one is going to argue that playing the Yankees and Red Sox so much hurts the Jays winning percentage compared to other AL teams, it also has to be said that playing the Orioles and Rays so much for the past 6 years should have allowed the Jays a chance to pad their number of wins. In fact, the only AL team over the 2002 - 2007 timeframe that seems to have a worse overall record than either the Orioles or the Rays is the Kansas City Royals.
While team payroll is obviously a significant advantage over the course of a 162 game regular season, it is apparent that there have been a number of AL teams that have been able to keep pace or even beat the regular season record of either the Yankees or Red Sox in most years.
In 2002, the Red Sox missed the playoffs entirely with the A’s, Angels, and Twins all having a better record than the Red Sox (who tied with the Mariners for 5th best record in the AL that year). In fact, the A’s finished neck-and-neck with the Yankees for the best record in the entire AL. (The A’s did it again by besting the Red Sox in 2003 as well, with the Mariners finishing just two games behind Boston)
While 2004 was a dominant season for the Yanks and Red Sox, in 2005 the White Sox had a better record than the Yankees or the Red Sox, with the likes of the Angels and Indians right there with New York and Boston.
In 2006, the Red Sox completely missed the playoffs again, and the Jays actually finished AHEAD of Boston, but Toronto still only finished 7th out of 14 American League and well out of a playoff spot with the Twins, Tigers, A’s, White Sox, and Angels all besting the Jays that year.
Again in 2007, the Indians and Angels finished with regular season records just as good as the Red Sox and Yankees respectively over 162 games. And do I really need to mention how the big payroll Yankees are doing this season…?
If the Yankees and Red Sox payrolls indeed make them the almost unstoppable powers they are alleged to be, then these two teams should have winning percentages light years ahead of all other AL teams almost every year, but the reality is they don’t even come close to accomplishing this as the above analysis demonstrates.
Now, one might say “But the Yankees and Red Sox beat up on each other with the number of games they play against each other during the season, so their winning percentage will be adversely affected in that way”. Fine, but you have to tell the whole story. Think about it: Since the Yankees don’t play against themselves, from their perspective, for the past 6 seasons, their divisional opposition consisted of one very good team (Red Sox), one mediocre team (Blue Jays) and two bad teams (Orioles and Rays). Same with the Red Sox, who’s division rivals included one very good team (Yankees), one mediocre team (Blue Jays), and two bad teams (Orioles and Rays). Why then, is it the case that almost every year there are other AL teams that have records just as good if not better than the Yankees or Red Sox? With this type of divisonal competition, even if the Yankees and Red Sox split their season series with each other, their overall records should still blow away the competition in the American League given the other three other teams in the AL East that both the Yankees and Red Sox got to feast on each and every year coupled with their huge payroll advantage. But they in fact don’t blow away the rest of the league, do they.
I think the bottom line is this: while having a big team payroll is obviously a significant advantage for a team in trying to make the playoffs over a 162 game regular season in a sport that poses the biggest challenge in making the playoffs, it is not the monsterous hurdle that some make it out to be when offering excuses as to why the Jays haven’t tasted real playoff contention for so long. Other teams in the AL have shown that you can compete with the Yanks and Red Sox over 162 games and match or beat their record at the end of the season.
MW: Only teams in other divisions, until this year. No team that has had to play 36-38 games a season against the Yankees and Red Sox has competed for a playoff spot in a decade until this season’s Rays.
- jamesyou know, it seems like it’s been just an awful year - but the jays have a winning record, again. I mean they’re really not a bad team. But I guess it’s always a bad season when results fall short of expectations.
- Paul OA couple of months ago, you said you thought Josh Hamilton should be AL MVP.
I believe that the MVP should come from a contending team, so that puts Hamilton off my list.
My top 3 are:
1. Carlos Quentin
2. Joe Nathan
3. Dice-K
All 3 of those guys are on contending teams and they are huge reasons why their teams are winning.
I am curious what you think of my picks.
MW: I like Quentin, for sure. I said I liked Hamilton a couple of months ago because a couple of months ago he was clearly having the best season of any player in the league. Sometimes things change when 60 more games are played. Dice-K for his 150 inning contribution to the Red Sox’ season?
- JerryMW: He doesn’t stay at the Rogers Centre hotel, either.
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Is it true JP lives in your parents’ basement when he visits Toronto?
MW: Actually, they built him a small shed.
- ProkopecMinnesota Twins have 696 wins and 574 losses during the last 8 seasons..They have a payroll of 436million during that span..
Riccardi’s teams have spent 555million bucks for a record of 631-638..Imagine if Riccardi actually followed through on his pledge to build this team through youth..We might be sitting where the Twins are now..
Looks like the Rays will make the playoffs this season..If they do, the Jays will be the ONLY team in their division to not make the playoffs in the last 11 seasons..But we have the best ERA this season..Now that is impressive..
MW: Imagine if the Jays were in the A.L. Central. They’d have been in the playoffs three of the last six years, at least. The Jays will be the only team in their division to not make the playoffs in the last 11 seasons if the Rays finish it off, true, but the Jays and Orioles will both have missed for the last 10, and there will only have been one occasion in the last 10 years when an A.L. East team other than the Red Sox or Yankees has made the playoffs. Numbers are fun!
- gumpWhy do you feel Justin Morneau deserves it? I mean, it’s argued that he wasn’t the best player on the twins that year.
MW: Yes, it is. But it’s also argued that he was.
- andrewWell yes they may have made the playoffs..But a steady diet of Santana and Mark Buehrle may have numbed the HR numbers..The Jays have done well against the AL central over the years..
Against the Red Sox and the Yankees the Jays have done O.K..But they also had Tampa Bay and Baltimore in their divison..The Jays have always fared well against the Orioles but struggled against Tampa..The Red Sox and Yankees have always beaten up on the lesser teams..A feat the Jays have been unable to do over the years..
MW: The Yankees have had a lot of trouble with Tampa Bay recently (before this year, of course), too.
- gumpMike, My previous comments were not posted. Any reason why?
MW: I think they were. I didn’t delete any of yours, I don’t think.
- NeilRegarding best win-loss record at Yankee Stadium, if you’re going to saddle the Orioles with the St. Louis Browns’ record, you should credit the Baltimore Orioles (1901-02), who became (eventually) the NY Yankees, with the best franchise win-loss record, too.
MW: Huh? Yankee Stadium wasn’t open in 1901-02.
- Rich