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11:50 PM Eastern
The Blue Jays struck out 14 times tonight, which a lot of people think is a terrible thing but really it’s not. But they struck out looking EIGHT times.
Again, games can be won by teams that strike out a whole heck of a lot, even when a team strikes out looking a whole heck of a lot, but what I don’t understand is why the Jays’ hitters couldn’t get it into their heads that a ball that was just off the plate was going to be called a strike.
Hitters need to adjust to what the pitcher has at-bat to at-bat, and often pitch to pitch, so why the refusal to adjust to what the umpire has brought to the table? Even if you’re sure it’s a ball, the guy has been calling it a strike all night – why would he change mid-stream?
Gregg Zaun was the worst culprit, by sheer number, but Lyle Overbay had him beat as far as timing was concerned.
Zaun went down looking three times (in his other at-bat, he struck out swinging on just three pitches), but Overbay watched strike three go by with the bases loaded and two out in the 8th, on a 3-2 pitch with the runners having gotten such a great jump that all he would have had to do was get the ball into the outfield (with a hit, of course) and three runs would have scored.
Overbay, like Zaun and Scott Rolen and Travis Snider after, took what he believed to be a close pitch that was ball four. All of them flipped their bats away and were in the process of walking to first when Vanover rang them up. Given the events of the first seven innings, though, one would think that Overbay might have realized that even though the pitch was a ball, Vanover had an itchy trigger finger and, therefore, would have swung the bat.
After the game, Lyle said he wanted to look at the Questec, the computer-generated strike zone, to see if the pitch was a strike or not. I put it to you that it doesn’t matter. It probably wasn’t a strike, but only probably. And if it was a couple of inches off the plate inside, well, congrats. It’s a hollow moral victory at best. You don’t get any points for being right about a call that the umpire blew – especially when you had reason to know it was coming.
It seems sometimes that some hitters are more concerned with being right about a pitch than the result. This is not just about Overbay, by any means, but what good is it to be right when you’re walking back to the dugout?
Jesse Litsch pitched very well tonight, and continues to light it up since his return from The ‘Cuse – over eight starts, he’s pitched 54 innings, allowing 41 hits and 19 walks, striking out 35 (including a career-high eight tonight – thanks, Larry) while allowing only three home runs. Litsch also tagged out Robinson Cano trying to score on a passed ball in the seventh. Vanover called Cano safe, but Litsch got the tag down before the Yanks’ second baseman touched the plate. The ensuing argument, brief as it was, was the most emotion I’ve ever seen Jesse show on the field.
I’m not one to enjoy seeing other people get hurt, but I kind of liked it when Snider lined one back through the box, and off Mike Mussina’s right arm, in the third. Mussina wants 20 wins very badly, and I want to see him miss out just as much. I was hoping that liner would have knocked him out of the game, to end his shot at 20, but he gutted it out and pitched another 2 1/3 shutout innings to get his five in before leaving. Mussina is a very bad man, as we discussed in The JaysTalk and in the comments section, but the Jays couldn’t score on him or tie the game later to leave him with a no-decision. It’s now up to the Red Sox to pin his ears back on the weekend – hopefully they’ll still have something to play for.
With A.J. Burnett going tomorrow and Roy Halladay Thursday, the Jays could still easily be a game back of the Yanks going into the weekend in the “battle” for third place. And hey, the Yankees were mathematically eliminated tonight, which was kinda nice.
Oh, by the way, the Jays are shutting down David Purcey for the rest of the season (he’ll miss one start, John Parrish gets it) because of concerns about his innings jump from 62 in last year’s injury-wracked season to this year’s 182. Also, while Cito Gaston continues to say that Scott Downs is still day-to-day, he basically stuck a fork in The Captain’s season before the game today.
Quick thought about the Vegas thing – the Jays didn’t want to wind up there and I’m sure the 51s didn’t especially want them. It’s a terrible fit, both ways, and hopefully it’ll only last two years.
Here’s tonight’s edition of The JaysTalk, for your listening pleasure:
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Remember, today and every day in the month of September, please vote for Tom Cheek and ONLY for Tom Cheek to be on the ballot for the Ford C. Frick Award to gain entry into the broadcasters’ wing of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. It’ll make more of an impact on the voters if Tom alone gets the overwhelming majority of the votes. Just click on this link:
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Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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I cannot stand JP he has done a very poor job as the GM of this team. I cannot believe that you would credit him for the pitching staff when he wanted to sign Meche and Lilly, but had to settle for Victor Zambrano, Toma Ohka, and some other washed up pitcher. If it was up to JP lilly and Meche would still be here and our payroll would be alot larger, also im happy A.J. is going cuz he is over rated just because of a very good second half
Thank You Mike and please rational and reasonable comments are always welcome
MW: The payroll wouldn’t be any different if Meche and Lilly were here. Ricciardi doesn’t control how high the payroll goes, he works within what he’s given. And hey, maybe if he had signed Meche and Lilly, then Marcum and McGowan would be rehabbing their year-plus arm injuries with some other teams and the Jays might have gotten some bats back for them. If you honestly think that Zambrano, Ohka and some other washed-up John Thomson were signed to pitch in place of Meche and Lilly, you really need to do some homework.
- DanielI also agree with you saying Mussina is a complete jerk, and I hope he never wins another games in the Majors,a dn he never gets his WS
- DanielThis will be the first time I cheer for the Red Sox, as I hope they will beat the living daylight out of Mussina to prevent his 20th win this weekend. GO SOX GO!!!
MW: That’s what I like to hear.
- Joe N.The JaysTalk that you posted just cut off for me at 16 minutes..
MW: Sorry about that.
- BrendanI think this is unfortunately bang on the money.
“Aaron (YYZ): Stepping out of the current races for a sec, do the Blue Jays make the playoffs in the next 3 years? Do we get playoff games in Canada again??
Joe Sheehan: How much better can the team be than it was this year? They have so much playing time and money committed to these average, slightly-above-average guys like Wells and Rolen and Overbay and Rios…where do the runs come from? If Snider and Lind are for real, and they can find players up the middle, and the pitching is almost as good…do you see where I’m going with this? The 2008 Blue Jays ended up as a heck of a baseball team, but that’s not good enough this year, and I’m not sure they can get better from here in the short term.”
MW: I dispute Joe’s first sentence. It’s VERY easy to imagine how the Jays could have been much better this year than they were.
- GregJPMike,
I was really taken aback by the caller last night who didn’t have a computer and honestly didn’t know where to find detailed baseball stats and analysis.
Do you think he was an atypical fan or close to the norm?
MW: Wow, three comments in a row! I don’t think he was close to the norm. Almost everyone has a home computer nowadays, no?
- GregJPAll those fancy stats are on the Internet on the computers now?
Good stuff.
Good thing J.P. Ricciardi went out and signed Lyle Overbay in December 2005 when the Jays already had three corner infielders on the roster.and decided to make Overbay a centrepiece of the Blue Jays’ lineup.
As for B.J. Ryan’s professionalism, well, fans see him clowning around in the outfield during batting practice on a regular basis. while Halladay is just a few metres away with his no-nonsense game face on.
Again, good thing J.P. Ricciardi made this guy the highest-paid closer in baseball history when he was signed.
Too bad you weren’t covering hockey — you’d probably get to deal with more genuine people. It just seems baseball is filled with more uppity egomaniacs who live with a sense of entitlement looking down their noses at you. Interesting stories about Mussina on the air tonight.
MW: Ricciardi didn’t sign Overbay, he made a very good trade for him, and you of course neglected to mention that the other three corner infielders were Eric Hinske, Corey Koskie and Shea Hillenbrand, none of whom were or are as good as Overbay. B.J. being rude to me has nothing to do with his performance. I used to like hockey players a lot back when I covered the Leafs years ago – Alyn McCauley was easily my favourite guy – but I understand that a lot of those guys are different now, less access, tougher to deal with, etc.
- Ken Paganhey mike just wondering what u thought of steve simmons calling u a blue jays aplogist this year and basically i think saying ur losing the edge u once had that made u what u are today
MW: I answered that on Sunday, but I’ll add this – anyone who thinks that I have actually changed is just hearing what he wants to hear. I’m exactly the same guy I was the first day I sat in this chair, I call it like I see it.
- deffmanSince you said you don’t like catch phrases as a rule, I thought I would tell you what else John Sterling is up to.
Aside from saying “an A-bomb from A-Rod” every time A-Rod homers, he has other patented homer calls for various Yankees.
“A homer by Robbie Cano, don’t cha know”
“A thrilla by Godzilla”
“The Gi-am-bi-no”
For Bernie Williams, he would say, “Bernie goes boom”
I admit, these are very cheesy, but at least they make the broadcast a little more interesting.
It sure is better than hearing, “Up, up, yes sir, there she goes” on EVERY SINGLE HOME RUN!!
A little creativity would be nice on the homer calls every now and then.
Just my opinion.
MW: Jerry doesn’t say “up, up, yes sir, there she goes” on every single home run. I find Sterling to be a lot of fun – why didn’t you tell us what he says when Bobby Abreu goes deep?
- TonyHey Mike,
For an offensive upgrade at shortstop, what do you think of the Jays trading for Mike Aviles? Would you consider trading Adam Lind or even Travis Snider for him? I’d like to get your thoughts.
MW: He’s had a very nice year in KC as a 27 year-old rookie, and his minor-league numbers are solid, though he has OPSs of .680 and .795 in two seasons in the hitter-friendly PCL before this season. I think Lind or Snider would be too much to give up, I’d like to see Aviles at least do it again.
- JustinI ran across this very interesting thread on the Son’s of Sam Horn blog site.
http://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?showtopic=35481
It essentially details the discovery of a sox fan, with video illustration, of Paul Byrd tipping his pitches…and the subsequent acknowledgement by Byrd that the fan was probably right.
There are also some references to the Jays likely stealing signs or somehow figuring what was coming from Beckett that day the Jays whalloped him.
This got me to thinking. Cito is famous for his ability to pick up pitchers tells and is skilled in the art of stealing signs. What if the second half turnaround with regards to hitting is nothing more than the hitters knowing whats coming thanks to Cito? (aside from personell moves such as bringing up Lind)
This thought scares me because its likely that next year teams will be preparted for his and may be better at disguising their signs/pitches. In fact, maybe they already have as the hitting has suddenly come crashing down to earth.
MW: I doubt very much that the entire two months of resurgence was just Cito telling the hitters how pitchers were tipping. It’s a great skill that Cito has, but it’s just a minor piece of the overall puzzle.
- sammy jalalzaiHi Mike,
2 great quotes during that Jays Talk:
“who owns the team” in reference to Syracuse – straight out of SlapShot
“Dave’s not there” in reference to a missing caller – Cheech and Chong
Very, very clever and subtle retro quotes whether they were planned or not!
Question 1: I haven’t found a good article that summarises what happened between the Syracuse-Toronto relationship, but was there some element of “screwing up” on the part of the Toronto front office in not renewing with Syracuse and not getting Buffalo? I think both were wasted opportunites, particularly Buffalo.
Question 2: Your comments about Mike Mussina were interesting (and welcoming)because it’s not often we hear a critique about a player’s personality (ok, Bobby Bonds is an exception). As fans,we can only make an impression of a players personality based on what we see. We don’t get to see them in person like the media does. It would be great to hear more honest and informed opinions about who’s a great guy and who are the “bad guys” but is there an unwritten rule in the media that it’s not good form to do this? Particularly with the home team? Is there a cooling off period before you can spill the beans on who was a jerk? For example, I loved Dave Stieb and was later surprised to hear he wasn’t that well liked.
Question 2: Am I the only one who feels my age when I vote for Tom Cheek and have to scroll down to get my year of birth?
MW: 1 – The Jays didn’t screw anything up with Syracuse, other than not providing them with a particularly competitive team the last couple of decades. The Chiefs wanted out and they wanted the Mets badly. Everyone assumed it was a fait accompli that the Mets would go to Syracuse and the Jays to Buffalo, until the Mets pulled the end-around and went to the Queen City. 2 – There’s no unwritten rule about spilling the beans about a player’s personality, you just have to weigh how much you want to say with how much you need to talk to that player going forward. Personally, I really liked Stieb when he was here, but I was just a kid. 2 – Could be, but keep voting!
- Oz RobI see some similarities between Bobby Abreu and Travis Snider at the plate. Almost similar stance, same size and both patient hitters. I don’t remember when was the last time Abreu swing at the first pitch and Snider also likes to see the first pitch go through, although he has swung at the first pitch quite a few times in his short career. But overall he’s a patient hitter. Besides that, Snider can also hit homers like Abreu and they both play outfield. I think the Jays have the next Bobby Abreu right here, but I think Snider will be even better in five years. Thoughts?
MW: Abreu has set the bar pretty high – he’s a career .300/.405/.498 hitter. If Snider could do that, that’d be pretty darn cool.
- Beburghey Mike;
What a horrendous call from the umpire as Litsch tagged out the runner sliding home as Zaunie threw a perfect toss to get him, I thought cito and Litsch would argue more vehemently to either get tossed or to impart some sense through osmosis(close proximity to ump) to reconsider the call.
having stated the obvoius, mike you are most assuredly correct that the Jays need clutch hitting(hopfully sign Giambi/Ibanez) and a Pavano. Mike is their any chance for the jays to trade Overbay, Ryan, and vernon to dump salary for any pitching and or hitting and then sign Sabathia or sheets(preferably the former) to a long term deal? Would sheets sign for 50million/4 yrs, and or Sabathia for 120 mil/5 yrs? thx for the great blog, off to vote again.
MW: Sheets might sign for that amount, and so might Sabathia, but I think both contracts would likely be mistakes, and expensive ones. If you were going to make those offers, I would sign the pitchers first, THEN make the trades, but it’s not a direction in which I would go. I never actually said that the Jays need more clutch hitting, they need more good hitting.
- robert.sMike,
What’s happening to you? I read your blog this morning and I thought I was in the wrong blog! First, you critically evaluate the ways the Jays batters approached the at-bats in last night’s game. More more surprising is that you used Lyle Overbay as the poster boy for failure, who lost at least three games (granted he also waon at least 3 games for them with timely hits) when approaching a bases loaded situation in the later innings of the game. Second, you mentioned that you don’t want Mussina to get 20 wins (I missed the radio show, so I don’t know why he is a bad man).
Well, this is probable one of the last blogs this season… I hope you have a great off-season!…. Ahhh before I said good-bye I wonder if there is a blog where you apologized to the Rays for not believing in them all season long.
MW: Nope. The Rays did everything right this season, and earned their position, but I don’t think I owe them an apology.
- AxelMike
Like you, I don’t understand hitters striking out looking when they know the ump are calling close pitches. I can ‘forgive’ Snider because he is a kid, but veterans should know better.
Mike, a great story on Tom Cheek’s last days. I didn’t know the second story about Mussina – he is just self centered and self-absorbed, a spoiled brat.
- francis xI recalled the Mussina stories before you recounted them on the show last night. I still hate him for the All-Star game stunt he pulled. I could not agree with you more about the kind of self-centred person he is.
On the TV broadcast there was discussion about his desire to return to the Yankees “if they want him”. It got me thinking that if there is a chance he would become available, what a situation that could become if JP made a play for him. You have to admit he would be worth a look if he was available.
So I have 2 questions. 1) What is Mussina’s actual contract status for 2009 ? 2)What do you think would be the more awkward scenario – Dunn signing with JP, or Cito managing Mussina ?
MW: Mussina’s a free agent at season’s end, and there’s not a snowball’s chance the Jays sign him.
- Ian CIts extremely disappointing to see the Jays go to Vegas. Of course its ridiculous to try to fly guys up on short notice when there’s a time zone to adjust to, but from a fan’s point it borders on insulting.
There is no reason to have to go that far. There is a perfectly usable Stadium in Ottawa vacated only last year by the Phillies. They talk about growing the game outside of Toronto – what better spot than a city of 1mil an hour away by plane with a stadium? This move is flabbergasting. Mike can you shed some light on WHY this move was made? Is there some upside that I’m not seeing here?
MW: There’s no upside, but it’s not as though Ottawa was an option. And insulting to the fans? Please. It’s not as though there was a choice involved. Were the Mets being unfair to their fans the last few years when their AAA club was in New Orleans? The Marlins when their top farm club was in Albuquerque?
- NeilThe Mussina stories were really helpfull you have converted me to a Mussina hater. I will now put him on the list with the rest of the Yankees, except for Giambi (Maginum P.I)
Anyway, this article was posted on ESPN and is a good one to read for the people still calling and writing in unresourcefully talking down about JP’s farm system.
“The 10 position players drafted by the Yankees had accounted for a total of 888 career at-bats as of Sept. 9, which means that not only have the Yankees generated few major league position players, but they have produced no stars, and just a handful of journeymen. The draftees of the Toronto Blue Jays from the same time frame, by comparison, have combined for 27,427 big-league at-bats; the Mets, 11,469.”
Pretty impressive.
MW: Indeed, but what was the time frame? And what about pitchers?
- AaronHow do AAA affiliates work? Does then entire ‘cuse team personell now move to Vegas? and the old vegas personell go whereever they moved to?
I agree not a good fit. I was actually looking forward to going to buffalo to watch some AAA games… my loss i guess.
MW: You can still go to Buffalo to watch AAA games. The Blue Jays supply the players and the coaching staff, the AAA club supplies everything else.
- ChadTwo questions for you, Mike.
1. Does the Rays’ success this year on a shoestring budget undermine the Blue Jays’ lament/excuse over the last decade that you can’t compete in a division with the Red Sox and Yankees?
2. I’m curious about the origin of your use of the article “the” in titling your program “The Jays Talk”, since it used to be just “Jays Talk”. I recall how Tom Cheek used to call the home stadium “The SkyDome”, which I’m sure annoyed the hell out of the proprietors who kept insisting it should be called simply SkyDome. So I wonder if you’re paying homage to Tom, or if you have another reason.
MW: 1 – Nope, except that you can compete every once in a while if you get really lucky, which is what the Jays have been saying all along. 2 – I’m not paying homage, though I think I’ll say that from now on. I just like to put definite articles in front of things.
- JayMike,
It was funny, yet frustrating, sitting along the first base line last night watching the endless parade of surprise and indignation from Blue Jay batters who thought they had just been walked.
You mentioned that great jump that the runners got as Overbay watched strike three go by. Please explain what Rios was doing standing still at 3rd while Wells and the runner at first were in full flight. I noticed Wells chatting to Rios afterward. Was Rios caught napping?
MW: No. Rios was going to score from third on any hit, and didn’t want to be climbing down Overbay’s throat as the pitch was coming.
- BenMike
It appears the Mike Mussina fan club is widespread. There’s a good chuckle to be had on the Onion web site (www.theonion.com) – just type in Mike Mussina in the search area.
- BenMike,
I know I am grasping at straws but I believe that injuries like Marcums don’t just happen. I think the “yo-yo trick” sent a message to Marcum to get with the program. Putting pressure on him which might have caused him to pitch through soreness or to over pitch to earn his spot.
All said, I am having a hard time getting excited for next year if A.J. walks. Without A.J., the injuries to Marcum and McGowan, and an anemic offense, I think it could be hard to win games. I know your fear is no pitching with lots of hitting but I think thats better than it could be. This Cito improved offense has not been good enough, even during the winning streak, to carry a team. And the last few games have not made me feel any better.
I just don’t see how this team can have additon through subtraction. I don’t mean to be negative but the potentional loss of 3/5ths of the best starting rotation in baseball has turned me 180 degrees from being excited for the 2009 Jays to fearful. Am I off base? Or do I have to hope for J.P. hole pugging magic?
MW: You’re not off-base. Without some serious hole-plugging, 2009 isn’t likely to be a lot of fun. You’re definitely grasping at straws with your first point – and how can you say the offense wasn’t good enough even during the winning streak?
- JWEh Mike, thanks for letting us know the reasons why your dislike for Mussina on Jays talk. It doesn’t surprize me however that this A-hole belongs to an organization that didn’t even acknowledge Joe Torre on his consecutive 10 post season appearences or 2 world series wins at the last game at Yankee stadium. Truthfully, now that the Yank’s have been eliminated, who in N.Y. really cares about a Mussina 20th win?
If the Jay’s want to appear to be contenders next year, are they now forced into a big money contract with A.J.? It seams any ‘quality’ pitcher costs a boatload anyway. Why not dance with the devil you know than the one you don’t?. and…
Is Jesse Carlson a candidate as a starter next year?
MW: I would be fearful about giving Burnett a long-term deal, given his injury history – that’s the problem with the devil we know. Carlson isn’t a candidate to start, and Joe Torre won four World Series.
- d.f.“And hey, the Yankees were mathematically eliminated tonight, which was kinda nice.”
Ding dong, the witch is dead!
Derek Jeter: Fore!
- JasonMMike,
I really doubt Overbay didn’t swing because he was so certain it was ball four. He didn’t swing because he was looking for a fastball and got a curveball (or slider, perhaps, not sure). He simply got locked up, it happens.
I’m sure you’ve experienced it yourself too if you’re ever played any level of competitive baseball.
I’m certain if he gets a fastball in that same location he unleashes on it.
MW: I certainly hope so, but that’s a situation in which you have to be prepared to adjust away from the fastball if you don’t get it. Nice shot, though.
- ColeMike, You hit the nail on the head so do speak.It is quite frustrating that they don’t try to foul off pitches especially when the gameis close.I just wish they make the pitchers work harder.I enjoy your show and blog.Keep up the good work eventhough I don’t agree with you sometimes it ia still nice to talk baseball!!
MW: Obviously you never played any level of competitive baseball.
- Peter ColarossiHelp!
I have enjoyed your blog and your insightful comments on radio but what will you and the FAN 590 be leaving us with in October?
I really appreciated hearing you in December during the winter meetings. Will that return?
What about upcoming books?
SABR-based columns?
By the way, my sentiment exactly regarding the Vegas thing…what is that?
Were the Jays just leverage for the Mets landing?
What a shame.
Jays Fan and
Interested Baseball Guy
MW: In October, we’ve got the MLB playoffs on the Fan Radio Network, and the Blue-Jay-A-Day-Pre-Pre-Game Show. I’m assuming that I’ll be going to the winter meetings, but no plans have been made yet. Books? Get me a publisher, I’d be happy to.
- Joseph Poirierfrom yesterday’s blog RE: BJ Ryan…
MW: I’m not a fan of dumping salary for no return when it’s an asset that you’re dumping.
you define BJ as an ‘asset’, which is where we disagree…
agreed, he’s a top tier closer, but he’s also surplus…
we have several players that COULD assume his role with nearly equal efficiency, but at 1/10 the price…as such, he would be an ‘asset’ to most teams, but couple the fact that we have several projected successors to his role, with his salary that takes up 10% of the budget, and he becomes a liability to the jays…
also, this would not be a ‘salary dump’ in the traditional sense (i.e. to trim payroll), this would be dumping expensive surplus, so that we could allocate that $10M more effectively…
i imagine that we won’t see eye to eye on this, because of our fundamental difference of opinion that i listed earlier, but that’s my take…
MW: And you’re entitled to your opinion, but I don’t share it.
- Jay BPost # 71 from yesterday’s blog:
How would you rank the AL East closers at this very moment?
Here’s my list:
1) Mo Sandman
2) Jonathan Papelbon
3) BJ Ryan
4) The Brim Reaper
5) Troy Percival
Would you put Papelbon over Rivera?
MW: The Brim Reaper would be George Sherrill? That’s how I would rank them, too.
- Jay Money
how you both feel that BJ Ryan, Sherrill, and Troy Percival over Joe Nathan is absolutely befuddling…
Nathan gives Papelbon a run at the #2 spot, in my opinion, but regardless, hes definitely better than the other 3 you guys have listed…
MW: You might want to look at the question that was posed again.
- Jay BThat wasn’t a very nice thing to say about Mussina.
He’s having a pretty good year and no matter what many people say about him, you dont want to see him get hurt. I dare you to say that to him face to face.
MW: Yeah, I don’t want to see him get hurt, but if someone has to……….
- David BattistonHey Mike,
The season’s not even over and I’m already getting withdrawal symptoms from not hearing about, talking about, and breathing Blue Jays baseball. What’s a junkie to do in the off season?
marcuspeaks
MW: Just take a deep breath and relax, and check in here every week.
- marcMW,
Haven’t heard this discussed in some time, but I think part of the problem with Blue Jay’s baseball is the cavernous and characterless stadium in which they play in. When the roof is closed, it is simply a horrible atmosphere – on a nice sunny day with the roof open, it is marginally better. Where do you think the Jays will be playing in 10 years (assuming they are still in Toronto) ?
MW: Probably right here at Rogers Centre. The stadium was definitely part of the problem from 1989-1993, I see your point.
- BGMike,
I think you paraphrased the Drunkin Jays Fan blog. I must say i enjoyed their colourful language laced version better since it echoed what I was screaming at the T.V.
MW: I didn’t read what the Drunks had written before I posted.
- JWWhy do baseball people in general and J.P. in particular shun the services of Mike Marshall, the old Dodger and Expo who was a workhorse the likes of whom we seldom see anymore. Marshall has an advanced degree in kinesiology to go along with his Cy young.
He contends that there is a reason and a cure for the epidemic of arm injuries and surgeries plaguing the game at the moment.
He also claims he offered his services to J.P. who never got back to him. Why?
Arrogance?
The Jays’ staff last year, this year and at least next has been hit hard with arm injuries and the team has spent millions on assets they are not able to use. Seems it might be worth a try.
J.C.
MW: You can call J.P. tonight and ask him yourself. Marshall has offered his services to every big-league team, with no responses. He’s seen as a maverick at the very least, and having never dealt with him, I’m not sure why. His ideas may well have a lot of merit to them, but until someone is willing to give them a try at the major-league level, we’ll never know.
- jchenryI know that JP said earlier it was unlikely that Hill would move to shortstop but I don’t understand why. Assuming we don’t aquire a shortstop this offseason Joe Inglett is a far better bet as a starting infielder than McDonald is, atleast offensively. I don’t feel Inglett’s season has been a fluke at all (.300 average), plus he could serve as our leadoff hitter.
Which combination would you rather have Mike, Hill SS and Inglett 2B or Hill 2B and McDonald SS and Why?
MW: I’d rather have the Hill-Inglett combo, but Hill is far more comfortable at second. He says he’ll move if his teammates tell him that they think it’s the best thing for the team, and so far they haven’t.
- Ian (not Kinsler)Hey Mike,
What would you think about the Jays going after Aubrey Huff next year? I think he’d be a huge addition if he could have a year like he did this year, plus he can play first and third base. This would let the Blue Jays trade off Overbay (as much as I’d love to keep him), and in the event that Scott Rolen struggles with injury next year, Huff can move over to third base and perhaps they can try out Lind at first.
MW: I don’t mind Huff, but his three years before this one were nothing like this season, which is a red flag.
- BretMike,
I’m sure you’ve seen this already. What say ye?
http://bjays.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/strike-zone-jesse-litsch-vs-mike-mussina/
MW: I’m not surprised.
- Wesmike who do u think is a better catcher Bengie Molina or Rod Barajas all things considered
MW: All things considered? Molina, probably.
- Jazzhey mike,
I think that J.J. Hardy would be a great fit for this team, what would it take to get him?
p.s.-Phil is my little bro’s name, he wanted to comment yesterday and personalize it but forgot to put his e-mail address
is the blog gonna run throughout the playoffs?
MW: Hardy would be a nice little fit, but wouldn’t get the Jays over the top of anything. It’d cost them what anyone wants from the Jays – good young pitching. The blog will most likely run throughout the playoffs, maybe a little more sporadically.
- andyNo meaningful games left eh… hmmm
I’m waiting for that stupid 24 hour thing on the voting again. I’ve think I’ve been lapped for at least a couple days by that. Curses.
- Dilly in Dundas (not the street)Mike, you were wrong in saying that Rolen is untradeable. Ask the Great One. Anyone with the right price can be traded.
Where is the talk about Mussina being a bad man?
MW: Rolen isn’t untradeable in the same way as Gretzky was thought of as untradeable. Rolen isn’t tradeable because of the combination of his salary, health and recent performance. The Mussina stuff is on The JaysTalk, no? I went into it in great detail.
- Jason Deneaulmike, can you tell me why mlb went from 2 divisions in the AL to 3 divisions? This is what makes it extremely unfair for teams like the jays. If there were 2 divisions with 2 wildcard s the race would be boston and either ny/chicago but the jays would only be 3 games behind instead of 9.
MW: I’m not sure why they went to three divisions, except I guess that they only wanted to have one wild card team.
- chubbyHi Mike,
Ricciardi’s first mistakes were to get rid of switch-hitting middle-infielders Caesar Izturis and then Felipe Lopez and draft in the 1st rounds Russ Adams and then Aaron Hill (“money ball” picks). His biggest mistake however was to let Delgado go (remember 4 hr game against TB?). Delgado was replaced by light-hitting Overbay and eventually injury-prone Glaus. To get Glaus he gave up switch-hitting gold-glove 2nd baseman Orlando Hudson. Glaus has now been replaced by injury-prone Rolen and the middle-infield is a mess.
The current team has only 2 proven talents (Rios and Wells) and 1 base-stealer (Rios) i.e effectively no running game.
The first thing we need is to replace Delgado. Every contending team in MLB has some genuine home run threat at clean up. The Mets have the resurgent Delgado, the Dodgers took off after Manny arrived, the Phillies have Howard, the Brewers have Prince, the Angels have Vlad, Boston have Youk (I think they should move Pappy to clean-up) TB with Pena etc. If we back up #4 with a credible #5 then #s 2 and 3 will get good pitches to hit (ask Vernon who was awsome when Delgado was here).
Now base-running threats help the batters behind them to get good pitches and switch-hitters make the manager’s job easier.
I recommend that both yourself and JP study the world series 92 and 93 Blue Jays teams (I think the 93 team was the most awsome hitting team I have ever seen).
The first thing we need is to replace Delgado’s bat and if that means Fielder (or Dunn for JP) then let’s do it and stop kidding ourselves with Lind or Snider.
MW: The fact that you think losing Izturis and Lopez were big mistakes sheds serious doubts on your credibility. You do realize, as well, that Delgado leaving had nothing to do with Ricciardi, right?
- Cito ManThe cover story on cnnsi.com (sports illustrated) is about how hard it is to choose the winner of the AL MVP award this year.
Like most Blue Jays fans, I don’t see this as a problem at all. Isn’t it obvious that the real AL MVP should be Marco Scutaro?
Or perhaps it should be the first Blue Jay to reach 20 home runs this year.
Sorry, this is what our offence does to me.
MW: Justin Morneau!!!!!!
- Oz RobMike,
In light of your recent rants against Mussina, I thought you would be very interested in what your buddy Sweeny Murti had to say about him.
Everything below I copied and pasted directly from his Yankee blog on WFAN.com It is the third to last blog titled “E-Day is coming”. Tell me what you think.
“If you didn’t hear my conversation with Mike Mussina last week, please click here to visit our audio page and take a listen. One of the interesting parts to me was listening to him talk about career achievements (such as 300 wins maybe) vs. single-season achievements like a Cy Young Award, 20 wins, or even the magic of one day like a perfect game, all of which he has come agonizingly close to getting over the course of his career.
Mussina says he likes being the guy remembered for an entire career rather than one of those accomplishments, and that got me thinking. Mike Mussina has a record of 267-152 (career winning percentage .637).
Cy Young Award winners have included Chris Carpenter, Pat Hentgen, Doug Drabek, John Denny, LaMarr Hoyt, and Steve Stone. These six pitchers have a combined winning percentage of .550. Of this group, Drabek has the most career wins with 155.
20-game winners have included Esteban Loaiza, Rick Helling, Bill Gullickson, Mark Gubicza, Rich Dotson, and Mike Norris. These six pitchers have a combined winning percentage of .516. Of this group, Gullickson has the most career wins with 162.
Perfect games have been thrown by, among others, Don Larsen, Len Barker, Mike Witt, and Tom Browning. These four pitchers have a combined winning percentage of .514. Of this group, Tom Browning has the most career wins with 123.
All of these pitchers have achieved something Mike Mussina has not. But none have had better careers.
MW: All of that is true. None of that has anything to do with the kind of human being Mike Mussina is.
- BlakeHey Mike,
What’s Parrish’s status for next year? If I recall correctly, he only signed a one-year deal before this season. Do you think the Jays will bring him back and audition him for one of the starting spots next year? Perhaps his play in the extra start this year will help to determine that. Do you think management gave any consideration to giving the spot start to Davis Romero or Brett Cecil?
MW: Parrish is probably a free agent after this season, I’m not sure on his service time for this year, but he only needed about 67 days to make it to free agency. Romero is hurt right now, and I’m sure no consideration was given to giving that spot start to Cecil.
- Bradleymike, how do players in the dugout know when the camera is on them? is there a monitor in the dugout that they can see themselves? it seems like whenever the camera is on them, right away they know and look away etc.
MW: There’s a red light on the camera that goes on when that camera is being used.
- chubbyMike,
We all know Robbie Alomar will make the Hall of Fame, but what hat do you think he will wear? He had 5 great years with the Jays and won 2 World Series, but he had his best offensive years in Cleveland, especially 1999 and 2001. What hat do you think the Hall will choose?
Do you think Delgado will make the Hall?? I think he should make it after the huge year he has had this year, collecting his 2,000th hit.
When you look at his stats, they are really amazing. In his last year with the Jays, he only played 128 games and still had 32 homers and 99 RBI. Since he became a regular in 1995, the only “bad” year he has had would be last year, when he still hit 24 homers with 87 RBI. How many players would kill for a year like that?
MW: Everybody on the current Jays. Alomar will go into the Hall of Fame as a Blue Jay – Delgado’s not there yet.
- RustyHey Mike,
Want to get a good chuckle??
Look up Ripken’s and Yount’s career stats and take out their MVP years. It is comical how ordinary their stats become after that.
- LanceHi Mike,
First I would like to say two things, I am a huge Cito fan and despise Mike Mussina especially because of the lack of respect to Tom Cheek who I voted for about 10 times this month.
But I do want to add my two cents. I think that telling Mike he could be extra inning guy in his own ball park and his first all star game was very clasless by Cito. I know people thought Mussina would get his turn in later years which he did, but it is the young players who care more about the all star game, see Pedro and Manny, pitchers that have been there a5 or 6 times don’t care as much if they pitch.
Remember Canadian (NB) Jason Dickson he made it two one all star game and then was pretty much out of baseball and some chump of a manager decided not to pitch him either and he NEVER got another chance. Another person he never got to pitch in 1997 Mike Mussina. And to make matter worse this was before all star games ‘supposedly’ counted.
I think everyone in there first all star game should get a chance to play and anyone in their home park should play, its for the fans.
Again CITO is awesome but poor choice that time.
MW: It wasn’t Mussina’s first all-star game.
- PeterNo im right you need to do your homework
MW: No, you’re not.
- Danieli guess you dont remember him signing those three pitchers after lilly and meche didn’t sign in T.O. and hoping that one turned out
MW: No, I remember. He signed all three for a total of $4 million, hoping one would turn out. How is that a bad thing?
- Danieland your saying you would rather have lilly and meche than Marcum and McGowan, and dont talk about how they are both injured becuase you always say how you cant predict injuries (Frank Thomas)
MW: You can’t predict injuries (Frank Thomas?), but Marcum and McGowan are injured and Lilly and Meche aren’t, so today I’d rather have Lilly and Meche.
- DanielMike
I was very disappointed to read your comments about Mussina. It shows a distinct lack of class, on your part. Any pitcher who is as smart as he obviously is, and capable of re-inventing himself at the tale end of his career deserves our admiration and respect. As Cito showed tonight in his handling of Burnett, winning 20 games is a wonderful accomplishment and any pitcher who has a chance of attaining that goal should go for it. Instead of being petty, it would be nice if you showed some class. I won’t bother visiting this site again. it is one thing to disagree about strategy or players’ abilities, but to stoop to that level is uncalled for.
MW: We’ll have to agree to disagree. I’m not sure how Mussina has reinvented himself, though, the Tom thing only happened three years ago.
- BrianCould the Jays trade for Maine form the Mets? He’d be a nice fitting 2nd or 3rd rotation starter.
Also, what happened to the Rockies this year, after last year’s big surprise? What’s been wrong with them
MW: You’d have to ask why the Mets would trade Maine. And how much the Jays would have to give up to get him. Hint – a heck of a lot. What happened to the Rockies? They weren’t all that good, and their young pitching didn’t come through again, specifically guys like Ubaldo Jimenez and Franklin Morales. They also didn’t get repeat years from Brian Fuentes, Manny Corpas and Matt Herges – three guys who were awesome for them at the back of the bullpen last year – and Jeff Francis had a rough time. Among other things.
- TheSunkenZealotMike,
Are players like AJ, BJ, Rolen and Downs more likely to be dismissive of media types they consider to be in their parlance “jock sniffers”?
MW: I think players in general are more likely to be dismissive of those types, unless they think that there’s something those people can do for them. Nice shot, by the way, but believe me – it ain’t just me.
- ProkopecSo you would take Meche and Lilly (Over 4 ERA and 10 million a year), instead of Marcum and Mcgowan Marcum has a 3.4 era, but McGowan’s era is about the same as Lilly but a lot cheaper and younger) and how do you know Lilly and Meche would not have been injured.
MW: Oh, no, I’m only saying I’d take Meche and Lilly today, since Marcum and McGowan are hurt.
- DanielSTOP SAYING JP BUILT BEST PITCHING STAFF IN BASEBALL. HE DIDN;T EVEN DRAFT MCGOWAN AND IF IT WAS UP TO JP HE WOULD NEVER HAD STARTED THESE PITCHERS (IM ALSO INCLUDING LITSCH)IF HE HAD THE CHOICE TO
MW: Please go away.
- DanielRUSS ADAMS- THE SS OF THE FUTURE
JOSH TOWERS- GOOD CONTROL PITCHER
MW: All anyone needs to know about Daniel is that his e-mail address starts with “leafs 4 life”. I wasn’t going to reveal that, but I’m left with no choice.
- DanielAhh, Wilner you’re all right!
And Mike Mussina is a giant puddle of urine.
MW: I don’t get you. Sometimes you seem like a rational human being, other times you make no sense.
- ProkopecWould you make this trade?
Adam Lind, and Brian Wolfe for Michael Young.
Would Texas pull the trigger?
MW: I think Texas would do that, they’re rather disenchanted with Mike Young lately, given his declining production over the last three years. And given that, and his contract, I’m not sure I’d make that deal.
- Ian (not Kinsler)As an A.J. Burnett fan it was really nice of Cito to let A.J. come out to the mound so that he can leave to the standing ovation. I was really surprised that the fans chanted “A.J.”. I thought it was a really cool way to end his tenure in Toronto, including the “curtain call”. I regret that I didn’t think to get a clip of it on my camera.
Listening to his reaction afterwards it seems more and more like he is leaving, unfortunately.
While highly unlikely that J.P. has interest in Dempster I did like how you reminded him that he is out there.
MW: I was surprised by the fan reaction, too, but happy to see it.
- Dilson