VOTE FOR TOM CHEEK!!! DETAILS AND A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST!!!
1:03 AM Eastern
It’s as though the baseball gods want to keep the Jays’ season going as long as they can. Well, it’s that, or it’s them saying that the Jays of 2008 are all wet. Either way, the Jays and Orioles were stopped in the 7th again (despite the 10:00 tease), but this time it was the Orioles who came out of it with a win when all was said and done.
In the penultimate game of the season, Cito Gaston decided to give Alex Rios, Marco Scutaro, Vernon Wells and Scott Rolen the day off, and Brad Wilkerson decided to muscle up. Wilkerson provided the Jays’ only offense, belting his 4th homer of the season to right-centre in the 2nd. It was Wilkerson’s first home run (and 6th extra-base hit) in the Cito Gaston era, v.2.0 (107 plate appearances). Since Cito’s arrival, Wilkerson has hit .163/.252/.272. That got him the fifth spot in today’s line-up. He was just heating up, too, and was set to come to the plate in the 7th after Lyle Overbay’s double put the tying run on second, but that was when the umpires had seen enough, and pulled the teams off the field. Thankfully, tomorrow’s season finale will mark the end of the Wilkerson era in Toronto. It was a reasonable gamble to take, but bait should have been cut on him a LOT sooner – there’s no way that Buck Coats, or even Russ Adams, wouldn’t have provided the same production, at the very least.
It was, in the overall, a game without much to it. The Orioles haven’t been interested in five weeks, and the Jays weren’t all that into slogging through the rain without their two best hitters. Now all that’s left is for Jesse Litsch to have a shot at a 13th win, and for Wells to try to take Jeremy Guthrie deep twice to have the Jays avid the ignominy of going through a full season without having a single player hit 20 homers.
The long rain delay gave us a chance for a ton of baseball talk on both The Rain Delay Programme and The JaysTalk – we even had guest appearances by Alan Ashby and Jamie Campbell. Here it is, 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:
http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/awards/frick_2008/vote.jsp
It’s a bit of a pain to fill out all the info, but it only takes two minutes at the most, and Tom Cheek was certainly worth your time. Thank you.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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If the Mariners decide to non-tender Erik Bedard, do you think JP would take a shot at him? Would it be a good idea?
This has nothing to do with him being Canadian, by the way.
MW: I don’t think it would be a good idea.
- Petesorry Mike, one more comment….
Having read the AJ “offer” story in the Star, I think the Jays would be foolish to do it. Sure he was a great #2 starter this year and it will be a blow to lose him given the injuries to the other guys, but we will only really miss him next year. 2010 should be ok for pitching given injury recovery and prospect maturation.
It’s too much money and a huge leap of faith to lock up a guy long term who has a history of arm problems.
Great pitcher, but we’d be better off spending the money elsewhere. That’s my 2 cents anyway.
MW: It’s a great offer, because it shows that the Jays have reasonably serious interest, but it’s an offer he’ll never accept.
- Oz RobWOW! That caller talking about DHing Hill was surely on something, and the following caller that was ripping EVERYONE on the team… I don’t know how you can handle those calls the way you do day in and day out. I love your blogs and radioshows. Although you may upset a lot of people with the way you go about your work, I admire how straight forward you are and how you don’t get carried away with certain events and manage to be damn realistic all the time. As much as I don’t like to, I agree with every one of your opinions. I just thought I’d end the year by showing you some appreciation. Your blog is the only must read for me when it comes to the Jays and your thoughts and opinions on everything going on with the team matter to me more than any other. I’ve never called in and I’ve only been to a single game in my life (currently in Montreal), but yet I follow them very closely, so I consider myself a pretty educated fan (surely better than all those crazy callers that you can’t even respond to). Long story short, I’m sure there are many fans just like me who enjoy listenning to you and are not as crazy as the people that do call in, so I hope you keep it up through next year as well and not let all those stupid people slow you down and force you to not be as active. I definitely love those grammer corrections as well, they crack me up. People sometimes are way too sensitive. I also enjoy the your sarcasm and sense of humor. Anyway, I don’t remember the last time I praised someone this much… maybe the first few dates with my girlfriend! I think that’s my sign to stop before it starts getting creepy (if it hasn’t already).Take care Mike and have a good off-season.
MW: Thanks!
- DeanRegarding the offensive hole the Jays will hopefully look to fill in the off-season, I was starting to warm up to the idea of getting Ibanez who’s not going to be too expensive nor require a long commitment. Sounded pretty realistic and a very good improvment. Until a few days ago when apparently Cito was answering some questions regarding who he would like to target (on Bastian’s blog), and other than Giambi (who I wouldn’t like to sign at all), he mentioned Bradley! I was pleasantly surprised. If I recall correctly, you were pretty adamant about how he would be trouble. I believe you insinuated that he would not be a good presence in the clubhouse mainly because he’s kind of a nut case. Maybe injury concern too? I’m sure those weren’t your exact words, but that was the impression you left with me. Hence why I kind of dismissed him as an option. But now after hearing it out of Cito’s mouth (albiet he’s not the GM), I guess it got me thinking about him again. So firstly, what do you think about adding him… was what I mentioned indeed the only reason you didn’t want him or did I miss something? Finally, does the fact that Cito mentioned it sway you more towards thinking it might happen and that they don’t share your opinion and they think he’ll fit just fine with the Jays? Please elaborate on your opinion and chances he could be a Jay. Thanks Mike.
MW: I do think that if anyone could handle Bradley, Cito could. Bradley is having a monster year and is just 30, so he could be out of the Jays’ price range. Remember, though, that this is the first season in which Bradley has played more than 96 games since 2004, and only the second year in his career in which he’s been healthy/sane enough to have played more than 101.
- Deanmike, did you know that in alex rios’ entire career he only has 5 3run homers and 0 grand slams (2800pa)? overbay 9 3run hr, 3 slams, 3300 pa. joe carter 45 3run hr, 10 slams, 9100 pa
MW: It helps when you have Roberto Alomar and John Olerud hitting in front of you.
- roccomike one thing you don’t seem to understand is, it’s not how many outs you create (obp), it’s what you do when you’re not getting out (slug%). this is why the big money contracts go to high slug players not high obp players. you can’t teach power.
MW: The best hitters are great sluggers who don’t get out a lot.
- roccoOn the pitching end, What do you think about aquiring Penny as the cheap project pitchers (probably not as cheap as other options, but maybe worth it). I wouldn’t expect him to repeat his 2007 numbers, but still has good upside. Of course an incentive type of deal would be ideal. I’ve heard rumblings about how in games, he can’t hit even close to what he used to hit or even what he still hits in the bullpen sessions on the radar gun. Do you think that could be overcome if he can get healthy? I think the Jays should take their chances with him and hope that if he cashes on his incentives and get healthy again, he could be a solid #3/#4 pitcher. What do you think about Penny pitching with the Jays in the AL East? How do you think he would do? What do you think about the Jays possibly aquiring him? and finally, what do you think the chances it could happen and that management is considering him?
MW: I think that management is considering any and every low-risk, high-reward starting pitcher that will be on the market, and Penny is one of those. He’s been terrific in the past and has worked with Brad Arnsberg before, which are two big factors. I wouldn’t mind seeing him here at all (assuming the Dodgers don’t pick up his option) so long as it’s not an expensive, long-term proposition.
- DeanAnother stroll down memory lane ,Mike, if that’s okay with you. Were you there April 7/77 against the White Sox in those uniforms that looked like tuxedoes? I know the attendance was 44000 plus that wintry day, but if everyone who says they were there that day actually were, the crowd would’ve been 4 million. When you had a father who was strict about school as my late father was (I know he’s checking my spelling even now)and he allowed you to miss a day to witness baseball history in Toronto, I will always have April 7,1977 bookmarked in my memories. Still have the frostbite scars….just kidding!! Hope you’re available on-line during the winter…always a pleasure to read an astute baseball mind in our hockey crazed city. With guys like you it could be a baseball crazed city..Thanks for your time
MW: Wouldn’t that be something, if it were a baseball-crazed city? I wasn’t there for the Jays’ opener. In fact, I’m not sure I even attended a game in 1977, though I know I was at a few in ’78.
- chris m.If “wetting the pants” was a stat in baseball, which team would win it this year? Mets or White Sox? If Mets had lost last night, some fans might have had a fatal heart attack and White Sox just CHOKED! It’s crazy the way things have gone in the last little while. Oh, not to mention the Twins who are getting their butt kicked at home by the mighty Royals.
MW: Baseball is a very difficult game, and the one of the major sports where the results are ENTIRELY unpredictable, regardless of how much info you have. The worst team in the majors this year will have won more than a third of its games, and the best team will have lost more than a third of its games. Those mighty Royals have been baseball’s best team in the month of September, by the way. It’s nuts that both the White Sox and Twins might get swept at home over the last weekend, but choke is so overused.
- BeburgHere’s the list of relievers for next year.
1. Carlson
2. Downs
3. Accardo
4. Tallet
5. Janssen
6. League
7. Tallet
8. Wolfe
9. Ryan
10. Camp
You need seven of them on the opening day. I think Jays can have a lot in return if some of them are traded. Trading Ryan can bring a 20HR bat and trading two more relivers might bring you a 10-12 game winner. It’s not bad at all. Couple of smart moves by JP can make this team competitive. Laugh at me all you want but I like the Jays hitters, all they need in the middle is a 20HR, 85 RBI guy.
MW: Trading Ryan likely will not be able to bring in a 20 homer bat, nor would trading two other relievers bring in a good, middle-of-the-rotation starter.
- BeburgMike,
I can’t believe it has taken you this long to see the true Bad Brad. But I agree, it was a gamble worth taking. I am not sure what the reason behind keeping him this long has been but I know that I enjoyed seeing Bucky Coates play earlier in the year.
Its been a good year Mike, and I thank you for the good work you’ve done. I’ve enjoyed listening to your show and reading your blog. I am going to turn my attention to the playoffs now and cheer for the Cubbies and the Twins because they have some Canadian content.
MW: What makes you think it took me this long to see the real Wilkerson? The Red Sox have Canadian content, too!
- JWMike..As for your mentioning of the 19-3 first season pasting for the Jays over Yankees when discussing old times, here’s some little tidbits for you…..please enjoy!!
Roy Howell 5-6..9 RBI’s
Jim Clancy complete game
Catfish Hunter..LP
Ron Fairly..HR (#18)
“REGGIE..REGGIE”..0-4
“LOUUUU” Piniella 2-3
Attendance at Yankee Stadium (R.I.P) 20,296
I know..I need to get a life…thanks Mike
P.S. Did Delgado beat Howell’s record with his 4 homer game or does the old “carrot top” still hold it?
MW: Delgado only drove in six that day.
- chris m.Thanks Mike for a another year of your informative and entertaining program. I very much enjoy your thoughtful comments and sense of humour, especially during some of the stretches of poor play that plagued the first half of the season. I find your perspective to be refreshingly fair minded, insightful and factual. When the tendency for many sports broadcasters and fans was to call for the collective heads of anyone and everyone in the Jays organization, you were one voice for reason in the sea of frustrated, angry, commentary. Looking forward to next year, and many more years of your show while driving my truck and rooting for the Jays.
MW: Thanks! I appreciate that a lot.
- Phil DunnettIs there any chance the Jays would bump Carlsson to the rotation?
MW: No.
- TheSunkenZealotMike,
Iv’e heard alot of rumours that the jays are planning to offer Burnett a four year contract when he opts out. I am all for keepiong burnett but what I don’t understand is why such a long term. Wouldn’t it make much more sense to sign a mid-rotation guy for one or two years. We have Brett Cecil and other guys coming up in the next few years. It just doesn’t make sense for the jays to sijn a pitcher to a long term contract unless it’s Sabathia.(I can dream) Also, if the jays lose out on Burnett, any chance they go after Ben Sheets? If so what is his aproximate value?
MW: The reason Burnett is being offered four years (if it’s true) is because that will be the minimum required to get him to sign. So if you want A.J. back, you have to offer him four years. They may go after Sheets, but I doubt it, given his injury history. He’ll be the third-most-sought-after starter on the market.
- MikeJust reading that Tony Larussa will bat his pitcher 8th regularly next year with his reasoning being that he gets a second lead-off hitter in the 9th slot and Albert Pujols becomes in reality a clean-up hitter after the 1st inning. What’s your take on that strategy Mike and with good hitting pitchers like Mike Hampton and Carlos Zambrano maybe other managers will follow?
MW: I don’t love it, because the better hitter is batting ninth, and I can’t believe he’s talking about a “second lead-off guy” when Jason LaRue hit 9th yesterday. The only thing that makes it make a little sense is that you know the pitcher will never bat late in the game in an important situation. For me, if I had a guy like Zambrano, Hampton, Micah Owings or Brandon Backe, I’d probably hit him 6th.
- chris m.Mike,
It seems like 2010 is a big year in Blue Jays land. With that in mind, I have three thoughts.
1) Would it make sense to get guys like Cecil and Romero to the Majors next year? It seems like pitchers often need some “getting their feet wet” time before they hit their stride. I’d rather that than a repeat of the Tomo Ohka/Victor Zambrano type experiment.
or
2) What could you get for Adam Lind plus a young pitcher (Cecil/Romero)? Although Lind has had a good year, his production fell off towards the end of the season. It’s my belief that Snider will be a better hitter from a power perspective. He could even platoon with a guy like Bautista (has played the outfield and is a reasonable hitter against lefthanders) next year. Signing a DH to a multi-year contract would mean you don’t have room for both Lind and Snider for that amount of time.
3) If you commit to a Wells, Rios, Lind, Snider combination at the outfield/DH spots, you can then commit money to your two weak offensive spots – shortstop and catcher. It seems that Cito likes Barajas but who are we kidding? Zaun is a better hitter and not that much worse defensively. Again, if they have a young guy who they think has a future, it might pay off to move him up quickly.
Some of this seems like giving up on 2009, but a staff of Halladay, Litsch, McGowan(in May), Purcey, and Richmond probably won’t lead anywhere. But in 2010, you could be looking at a great deal of choices – Halladay, Marcum, Litsch, McGowan, Purcey, Richmond, Cecil, Romero, etc. That looks a lot better when everyone has Major League experience.
Thanks
MW: I think that Cecil will spend some time in the majors next season and Ricky Romero might, though I would think he’d need more time in Vegas than Cecil will. I don’t think that Marcum or McGowan were ill-served by the Zambrano/Ohka thing. I would think that Lind and one of those pitchers would bring back a great deal in return.
- MarkWas reading with excitement regarding a possible resigning of A.J., any more on this story?
If A.J. were to resign, my next concern would be a big bat,either by a trade or free agency, a hitting shoortstop for sure. As good as Snider has been another season of AAA
would be the right way to go, since Greg is gone behind the plate, is Thigpen the backup for sure?
MW: There’s been no new news about Burnett.
- don trowellFirstly, a comment: it has been bandied about now for some time that the Jays could use another big power bat in the line-up. To that end, I do have a potential candidate, but this one will not likely be ready to fill the role until 2030: namely, my week-and-a-half-old son Alex. He was born 11 lbs., 3.5 oz., and measured 26 inches long. As you are a stats man, Mike, I invite you to compare these numbers to the growth charts compiled by data from the CDC (link: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/growthcharts/set1clinical/cj41c017.pdf). As you can see from the graphs, my son Alex is well off the charts. If he: 1. maintains his current levels of height and mass during his growth and development, 2. develops an interest in baseball, 3. hones a hitting stroke that will enable him to dominate MLB pitching, and 4. is available for the Jays’ first selection in the 2030 MLB draft (as my son is completing a 4-year university degree before pursuing any kind of athletic career), the Jays will have one heck of a potent hitter to add to their line-up.
Now that I got that off my chest, I have a question I am hoping you can offer some advice with: I used to belong to a baseball rotisserie pool years ago, but lost touch with the guys who ran it after I went away to school many years back. I was hoping to join a new roto league, and I was wondering if you knew of a message board or lising of roto pools in the GTA that are newly forming, or looking to expand. I know this isn’t necessarily part of what you deal with, but I thought this would be the best venue to start asking; as most of the readers of this blog are likely serious baseball fans, and perhaps a few among them could point me in the right direction.
Thanks, Mike!
MW: Congrats on the birth of your young man-beast. I don’t know of any message boards listing rotisserie pools in the GTA or anything like that, but I’d be surprised if a lot of the commenters out here couldn’t help you.
- Dom from WoodbridgeI agree with you 100%..A.J Burnett is saying what people want to hear..He loves Toronto and his teammates and wants to play here blah blah blah..What would you expect him to say?..”Toronto has no hope to sign me..The contract the Jays have offered me would make good toilet paper and thats about it”..
I have a Question..Why do so many people believe that Burnett is worth 13-15+ mil a season?..He has only won 87 games in 10 seasons..Is he really worth more money then Roy Halladay?..Usually you get these big contracts after you dominate a season or two..Burnett has hardly dominated for an entire season..For a few weeks now and then maybe but not even close to a full season..
Look at some of the contracts handed out to: Barry Zito, Mike Hampton,Jake Peavey, Carl Pavano..None of these guys are worth their contracts and I bet most of the teams that signed them are quite upset about the results..
MW: I don’t think the Padres are upset with Peavy at all, he’s been fantastic – but he only has 10 wins this year and only had 11 in 2006, which I guess is a big deal to you since you referenced wins as a reason that Burnett’s not worth what he’ll get.
- gumpMike I’m hoping you will continue this blog going, during the off season maybe to update us on what you think about moves the Jays have or haven’t made when there is reason for it. Maybe once a week during Nov, Dec, Jan, and Feb.
MW: That’s pretty much the plan, actually.
- Matt from BCYAY! We now have a 20 home run guy courtesy of Vernon Wells.
- gregNow all that’s left is for [...] Wells to try to take Jeremy Guthrie deep twice to have the Jays avid the ignominy of going through a full season without having a single player hit 20 homers.
Okay, that’s checked off…
- Matthew E“Now all that’s left is for Jesse Litsch to have a shot at a 13th win, and for Wells to try to take Jeremy Guthrie deep twice to have the Jays avid the ignominy of going through a full season without having a single player hit 20 homers.”
Well, Mike. One part of this just came true, and the other half looks likely to as well :)
Perhaps you ought to get back into the predicting game?
MW: Yeah, I don’t know about that.
- PeterHow close is Vernon to finishing the year with a .300 average? He’s got to be close. Would one more hit get him there? Now that we have that 20 home run guy, we need a .300 hitter.
MW: He’s there as of his AB in the 7th.
- Jim in OhioWhat do you think of:
Ryan, Lind, J. Jackson for;
Jose Reyes and Fernando Martinez
Possible?
MW: No.
- Steve in NJSimply amazing, we finish 4th in the AL East but we will end the season with at least a +104 run differential, which would make us second in the AL.
Mike with the recent pitching injury of Marcum and Burnett most likely walking, do you see Snider getting the everyday start next season? or at least a serious consideration?
MW: Yup.
- RandyMike;
Congratulations, just looked up the boxscore from yahoo on the jays, you are indeed psychic as vernon belted two homers and five rbi’s to hit twenty for the season, avioding colossal embaressment with this teams inabilty to hit hr, especially with risp. Richmond deserves to start next year and if burnett doesn’t take the 30 million extra then the jays should go after Pavano/martinez/byrd or try sheets for the extension money offered to burnett. Finally, wholehartedly agree with your correct postumous assertion that bait should have been cut on “mencherson” which would have allowed a second look @ Coates and Adams, It’s when riccardi decides not to use certain players that he gives up on prematurely that begs us to question his judgement, hope halladay wins the cy young-wishfull thinking i know, but halladay rules, just like your blog mike, thanks for all the patience and hard work, go jays in 2009.
MW: I appreciate the kind words, but I’m not dead.
- robert.sHi Mike,
A 4th out of 5 finish, mediocure by most standards, and with a weakened pitching staff next year , perhaps even the Orioles will pass the Blue Jays. It will take a lot of courage and insight to make the big changes required to be competitive in 2009. I’m afraid that J.P. is not the man to move either Wells or Rios, Overbay , MacDonald and perhaps Ryan. I’m hoping that Godfrey will leave and the new Pres. will remove J.P.
I was often aggravated by your show, because I don’t think that you asked J.P. the hard questions.I also agree with Simmons when he suggested that you are an apologist for the organization.I also kept listening so you did a good job otherwise.
Bill
MW: You’re wrong if you agreed with Simmons, for starters, but you do a fine job of the parroting “4th out of 5, mediocre”. No need to look at the 86-76, or the fact that the team has the best pitching staff in the big leagues, or that they were also likely 4th or 5th out of 30, along with 4th of 5 in their division.
- bill loveMike, why do you think A.J Burnett gonna be more sought after then Ben Sheets in the free agent market?
MW: Because Burnett was healthy this season and Sheets wasn’t.
- andrewWith the money J.P. is going to offer A.J. $15/$16 million Do u think the jays could get Ryan Dempster and Brad Penny? If not than how much could you expect to sign them both for?
P.S. I would rather have those two than a combination of Burnett/Sheets and Pedro/Pavano/Lowe
MW: There’s a chance that they could pull both those guys in for that amount. I’m far from sold on Dempster, though.
- JazzMike,
I enjoy your show and blog and feel you are rational the majority of the time (i.e. Burnett leaving, the relative importance of the hitting coach etc.)
But from time to time you come up with thigh slappers that can’t go unchallenged:
“Lyle Overbay is a terrific hitter”. Indeed. He will be 32 next year and has had two good seasons. If HE is “terrific” what would you call the likes of Morneau and Pujols (and pretty well all the other first baseman who are more productiive than Overbay).
To compound this you said today that you don’t think the Jays would have any trouble trading Big Lyle.
????
Please name the teams you think would prefer having Lyle Overbay AND his salary for the next years over what they have.
On the blog you indicated you’d prefer Lyle to Mike Jacobs. That would get a good laugh from the Florida GM no doubt.
A while ago you said Zaunie wouldn’t have any trouble catching on as a backup with another team next year ( I can’t remember if you indicated that the team would be a “contending” one).
How come no one wanted him around the trade deadline?
Earlier this year you told a caller you’d rather have Zaunie than Bengie Molina. The caller uttered “amazing…”
As it truly was.
NEXT year everybody hits to their (diminishing) career averages and nobody gets hurt…
MW: It’s got to happen some year, doesn’t it? I think Overbay is a terrific hitter. Morneau is a fantastic hitter and Pujols is an otherworldly hitter. I don’t think they’d have trouble trading Overbay because of his salary, but I’m not going to give you a laundry list of teams where there’d be a fit. The fact that Zaun wasn’t moved at the deadline has nothing to do with his ability to hook on somewhere as a back-up next year.
- KenWhat ever happned to Andruw Jones
MW: He discovered food.
- JazzWhat Do u think of this
Add 2 more Teams one to each league
Vancouver/Montreal/Mexico City
Add another Playoff spot
Get rid of the divisions and have the best 5 teams go
No 1 seed should get a first round bye
P.S. Thanks 4 a great season of Jays Talk
MW: I don’t think MLB needs to expand, and I don’t think a bye is a good thing in baseball. I dig the idea of getting rid of the divisions, though, and you’re welcome!
- JazzJustin Morneau or Dustin Pedroia for AL MVP?
MW: Morneau.
- andrewMike, just a couple of quick points.
1. Who do you think won the Garza-Young deal?
2. Who do you think won the Erik Bedard-Adam Jones deal?
3. If you were going to start a franchise, who would you start with? I would take Josh Hamilton
4. How much money do you think the Jays will have after the salary increases of Wells and Halliday, and arbitration?
MW: 1 – So far? T-Bay. 2 – Baltimore, by a ton. 3 – Evan Longoria. 4 – Between $22-30 million.
- AbdullahI was looking at the standings on mlb.com and found it interesting that the Jays actually had a better X W-L record than Tampa Bay. Not only that but we had the second best X W-L in the AL behind the Red Sox. It just goes to show how important all those one run losses were.
The Jays definetly need a big bat like a Ibanez or Ramirez to change some of those losses into wins next year. All the Jays need to do is sign atleast one free agent pitcher, dangle Adam Lind for another pitcher and sign or trade for that big bat. If we do that we shoud be a very good team next year. J.P. might need to get creative this offseason but I trust him to put a good team on the field.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to your blogs this offseason and have a good 6 months.
By the way, my picks for the World series are the Red Sox and Cubs and I think the Cubs will end that 100 year drought. I’m cheering for Johnson and the canadian content of Harden and Dempster. Go Cubbies!!!
MW: The Jays didn’t need Ibanez or Manny to turn those losses into wins, they just needed an extra hit here and there that their hitters weren’t able to muster. Which is not to say that the offense will be fine next year, just that if they repeat the same run differential (unlikely now, of course) they’re likely to have a much, much better year.
- Ian (not Kinsler)Hi Mike ,
I just looked at MLB team records for 2008. Outside of 3 teams in the A.L. east, there are 9 teams with the same or better records than the B.J.’s Unfortunately baseball is more than pitching, it is also defense and OFFENSE. You have to judge the B. J.’s on all aspects of their game. I also suggested that pitching will be significantly weaker next season.
Bill
MW: When did you suggest that? I think you’re right about that, by the way. Also by the way, the Jays are among the best defensive teams in baseball.
- bill love20 HRs and 79 RBIs in 108 games. Vernon just proved that he’s easily the best player in the team. Had he played 162 games, he’d have had 30 HRs and 119RBs and possibly another Gold Glove. I think he did enough this year to shut up his critics and IMO he earned his salary.
MW: He’ll only earn his salary if he proves impervious to the broken bone.
- BeburgThank you Mike for another great season. I hope you do this for as long as I will watch baseball, for you have made everything complicated simple, every coin flip an obvious favourite/underdog. I will enjoy your post-post-game shows throughout the playoffs (are you having them this year?) and thank you so much Mike for such a wonderful season. You’ve made my experience with baseball a great one instead of a good one. Take care Mike
MW: Thanks, I think.
- TheSunkenZealotMike,
I told you this was an 86 win team.
You should learn how to make predictions from me, since mine are sometimes accurate and your’s tend to stink.
MW: At least I know how to use an apostrophe.
- stephenHey Mike,
I agree that Coats or Adams could have provided, at least, as good offense as Wilkerson. Both also have allright speed, and certainly better than Mench who was our de-facto pinch runner in September.
My question: what does the future hold for Russ Adams as Blue Jay? He did allright last September as a call up, but didn’t even get a shot this September. His average in AAA wasn’t bad, he showed he still can’t play a good defensive game, but illustrated some pop in his bat. Does the fact that he wasn’t called up this September mean that his days in the organization are done?
MW: Most likely.
- BradleyPretty amazing that Mussina was able to win his 20th game today considering the ceremony for Johnny Pesky was probably cramping his style.
MW: Argh.
- BrettDo you still feel Derek Jeter is below average defensively or just when compared to guys like Johnny Mac or Omar Vizquel? But most guys are inferior defensively to those two, so that may be an unfair fight. Jeter was pretty good with the glove this year so I’d be interested in your opinion?
MW: How often did you watch Derek Jeter play shortstop this year? I think he’s a below average defensive shortstop – Johnny Mac and Omar Vizquel are certainly no basis to which to compare anyone. There’s a reason why the joke goes: “What do you call a groundball to Derek Jeter’s left? A single up the middle.”
- chris m.Yes Peavey has a great ERA and hits to innings pitched but 10 wins?..I suppose a measly 3.85 per game run support may have something to do with that..I guess I have been watching Halladay for too long..
The Jays 86 wins still puts them behind the total that Tim Johnson had in 1998..Best pitching staff in baseball and they still can’t beat that record..Maybe Cito should lie about Veitnam..What ever happened to Johnston anyway?
MW: Seriously? Wins make you worry about Peavy?
- gumpPeavey is a good pitcher but he signed a big 3 yr/52M contract extension and wins 10 games the next season..He did spend some time on the DL..Didn’t say I was worried about him but is he worth almost 17 million a season?..If he is worth 17 mil then what will Halladay get?
MW: You’ll have to explain to me what the fact that he had 10 wins has to do with anything.
- gumpIn 2003 Halladay went 19-7..The Jays finished 78-84..He won despite the fact he wasn’t on a good team..
How many Cy Young award winners finish with a below .500 W/L record?..Try none..When he won the Cy Young award how many wins did he have 10?..8?..He went 19-6..Would he have won that award if he had say 11 wins?..Who cares if he has good numbers..You have to find ways to win games..Thats why he got that big extension..He didn’t get it because of his ERA or his Whip or whatever..He won because he had 19 wins and good stats..See the difference?
MW: Argh.
- gump