11:50 AM Eastern
The post-season awards season concludes this week, with the writers handing out the Most Valuable Player trophies - National League today, American League tomorrow.
I was a perfect six-for-six with my awards predictions last week, and have no illusions about being able to wind up eight-for-eight for a second straight year. The fact is, there are no clear-cut favourites for either league’s MVP award, so it’s mostly guesswork.
National League goes first, and in a perfect world, there’s no question. Albert Pujols was the best player in the senior circuit this season. Pujols hit .357/.462/.653, finishing second to batting champ Chipper Jones in average and in on-base percentage, and leading the loop in slugging and by a hundred points in OPS. Despite missing 14 games to injury and despite his 104 walks (against only 54 strikeouts - amazing), he still led the league in total bases.
So why isn’t Pujols an overwhelming favourite to win the NL MVP? Simple. The Cardinals’ pitching staff sucked. OK, well, it didn’t suck, but it was very average, and despite Pujols’ spectacularitude, the Cards finished 86-76, 11 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the division and four games back of the wild-card Brewers. Were they in the race? Sure, because the Brewers fell back so much over the season’s final few weeks, but were they in a race enough to have the MVP? I’m not sure.
Still, the fact that Pujols finished in the top FOUR in the National League in each of RBIs, multi-hit games, doubles, extra-base hits and batting average with RISP along with the above-mentioned average, on-base, slugging, OPS and total bases should carry a bunch of weight. Add to that that he finished fifth in the league in home runs and RBIs. My vote would go to Pujols, overwhelmingly.
Who’s the competition? Had Manny Ramirez been in the National League one more month, I’d have said it’d be him. Carlos Delgado had a phenomenal second half of the season and may have almost single-handedly pulled the Mets into first place in September, but the Mets blew that lead and sat out the playoffs again. That’ll work against Delgado even more than the Cards’ record will work against Pujols.
So World Series Champion Ryan Howard is the main threat to Big Al and his Big MVP Boat Ride, though the Series has no bearing. Howard led the league in home runs and RBIs, two things that play very well with MVP voters. He played for a division winner, which also plays very well, and he won the MVP two years ago, so he’s got the “pedigree”. There are two major strikes against him, though. He hit .251 and he struck out 199 times. Ask me if I care about those two categories, in the face of all the other stuff, and the answer will be that I don’t- not at all - but a lot of the voters do.
The question for the voters is (was, since they got their votes in a month and a half ago), do the strikes against Howard for his low batting average and high strikeouts outweigh the fact that Pujols’ team didn’t make the playoffs, and wasn’t a factor in the race down the stretch? I’m hoping the answer is no, but I don’t have that kind of confidence.
Remember too, that Howard hit .352/.422/.852 in September, when the Phillies overcame that 3 1/2 game deficit with 17 to play to overtake the Mets and win the division by three. He hit 11 homers and drove in 32 in just 24 starts. Those are the kinds of “clutch” numbers that make MVP voters have to go be alone for a while. One month ought not a season make, but it can sure help.
Even as I’ve written this, I’ve gone back and forth at least a half-dozen times on who I’m going to call for the award. I’ve come up with this: I think that Pujols was the MVP, but I think the fact that Howard led the league in homers and RBIs, combined with his huge September, might be too much for the voters to ignore, so I think that the Phils’ slugger will be the BBWAA’s choice. I hope I’m wrong.
In the American League, I think it’s a three-horse race. Carlos Quentin would have won the award if he wasn’t an idiot. The Sox’ outfielder was running away with things through the end of August, hitting .290/.396/.576, leading the league with 36 homers and having driven in 100 runs for a division leader when he smacked his bat after striking out and broke his wrist, ending his season. Idiot. And let that be a lesson to those of you who complain about not seeing enough outward displays of passion and/or anger on the field.
With Quentin out, the White Sox still held on to win the division in a one-game playoff with the Twins, but he’s out of consideration for the big prize, in large part because of the incredibly selfish act that may have cost his team a World Series bid.
The three horses, I believe, are all-time single-season saves leader Francisco Rodriguez, Red Sox sparkplug Dustin Pedroia and New Westminster’s own Justin Morneau.
It’s strange to say that K-Rod is a front-runner, since the Twins’ closer, Joe Nathan, had a better year that he did (WHIP of 0.90 to 1.29, lower ERA by almost a run, half as many walks in the same number of innings with almost as many strikeouts, opponents hit .179/.242/.279 compared to .216/.314/.316), but that’s the way the cookie crumbles. Rodriguez had a record-setting 62 saves (in 69 opportunites), and Nathan only had 39 (in 45 opportunites).
The fact is though, that those 62 saves dazzle (and may blind) a lot of people, and with no one putting up eye-popping offensive numbers for any playoff team, K-Rod may well take the award. He’s the biggest candidate on the team that had the best record in all of baseball.
Pedroia is a candidate, I think, as much because of buzz as anything else. Generally you don’t see a second baseman who hit 17 homers and drove in 83 runs winning the MVP. But Pedroia came thisclose to winning a batting title, losing out to Joe Mauer by two points, led the league in runs, hits and doubles and was third in times reaching base. He hit .326/.376/.493 and is a major force in the MVP debate half because of all those things and half because he is widely regarded as the catalyst that makes the Red Sox’ engine go. Still, the MVP tends to go to hitters who smack the ball out of the park and drive in runs on a regular basis.
That’s why I think Morneau might take the thing. He wound up hitting .300/.374/.499, driving in 129 runs - almost catching Josh Hamilton, who was running away with everything at the all-star break - despite hitting only 23 homers. He had a very good year, but not a phenomenal one, and unfortunately saved his worst for last, hitting .243/.298/.398 from September 1st on, though he did drive in 21 runs in 26 games. Had Morneau not had his worst OPS (by almost 150 points) of any month of the season in September/October, there wouldn’t even be a debate.
The Rays didn’t have anyone worthy of the MVP - you can’t give it to Grant Balfour - which is too bad, because given what they were able to accomplish this year, a more marginal candidate off that team would have had a good shot.
So who will be the A.L. MVP? I still don’t feel confident about any of those three choices. Hamilton isn’t a factor, by the way, because of his second-half fade. By”fade”, I mean the fact that he drove in 35 runs after the all-star break after driving in 95 before. His OPS was only 35 points lower after the break. Hamilton also loes out because the Rangers were 79-83 and finished over 20 games up the track.
OK, I guess I have to make a choice. K-Rod keeps jumping out to me, for some reason, even though when I started writing this I was pretty sure I was going to say Morneau. Go with your gut, though, right? So K-Rod it is. Even though Joe Nathan was better and won’t even finish in the top 5, maybe even top 10.
Howard and Rodriguez get me 8-for-8 for a second straight awards season. If I was a betting man, I’d say that I’m going to stay stuck on six.
Reasonable, rational comments are always welcome!
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K-Rod? You’re crazy Mike. He had one of the most overrated seasons ever for a closer. It is no surprise that there has not really been a strong market for his services so far.
MW: There hasn’t been a strong market for anyone’s services so far, save for Jeremy Affedlt’s. I did explain, I thought, that he didn’t deserve all the accolades he got, but look at that, the writers saw it, too!
- Joe N.Looks like you’ve been right all along about AJ Burnett. You’ve been saying for many months that he’ll command 5 years $80 Million, and it looks like he’ll get all of that and perhaps more.
I’m impressed by how well you read that situation. Where do you think he winds up?
(Please don’t say on the mound….)
MW: I don’t know where he winds up. My thinking is likely Baltimore or St. Louis.
- CamHey Mike, I’m wondering why Kevin Youkilis is not getting more consideration for MVP, considering he was better than both Pedroia and Morneau this season:
Youkilis: .390 OBP/.569 SLG/.959 OPS/143 OPS+
Morneau: .374 OBP/.499 SLG/.873 OPS/137 OPS+
Pedroia: .376 OBP/.493 SLG/869 OPS/122 OPS+
Combine the stats with the fact that Youkilis plays very good D and his team made the playoffs, and I don’t see why he shouldn’t win. (I’m not saying that you’re overlooking him, but the voters might be)
MW: Youkilis finished 3rd in the voting, as it turned out, so he got plenty of consideration. I didn’t think he’d win (I figured it’d be K-Rod, Pedroia or Morneau), and the post was running long anyway, so I didn’t mention him.
- AndyPujols has deservingly won the NL MVP. Batting average made all the difference.
I believe Justin Morneau will win the AL honours.
By the way, Why wouldn’t Josh Hamilton be a strong candidate for the AL MVP?
Also, What do you think of the Jays signing Brad Penny, assuming Burnett goes to the Yanks?
MW: Hamilton was a strong candidate, and would have won it if the season had ended in July, but his second-half slip combined with the Rangers being awful meant he wasn’t the guy. I would like to see the Jays go after Brad penny, so long as it’s a low-base deal.
- Ian (not Kinsler)Yeah you were wrong about Howard, but thank goodness !
I really don’t like Howard - no reason really - I really enjoy watching Albert, so way to go Albert on winning the MVP !
MW: There’s not much not to like about Howard.
- DaveWhy not Mauer himself as a candidate? He played just as big a role as Morneau did in the Twins’ success, and from the catcher position no less.
MW: Very true, but Morneau was the leading candidate on his team, just like Pedroia was for Boston. I’m amazed that the top four finishers came off just two teams - usually when there are two strong candidates on a team, one of them loses a lot of votes.
- Alex PK-Rod???? Please. I have to think the BBWAA has enough members with functioning brains that they’ll realize he wasn’t a top 10 reliever and probably barely a top five closer. Pedroia will win this hands down, followed by Morneau, Quentin, Sizemore, Youkillis and then maybe K-Rod. My $0.02. Let’see tomorrow…
MW: Wow. Well, you were right with your top two and that K-Rod finished 6th. Well done.
- BGHey Mike,
Brad Arnsberg best Pitching Coach in Baseball? What do you think about that?
MW: I don’t know how to evaluate a pitching coach.
- JamesAs much as I loved goofing on you for your horrible prediction about the Rays this year, I have to say I agreed with you that the writers would choose Howard, but just like you, I am glad I was wrong. When you put up the numbers that Big Al did this year (congrats on the South Park reference, by the way)he should get something for it.
In your next blog, can you make a list of the top free agents and give us your gut feeling on where they will go?
MW: No.
- JerryHey Mike, what about Joe Mauer for MVP? The stats line up pretty nicely against Pedroia and Morneau. Combine that with the fact that he’s a Gold Glover at one of the two most critical defensive positions on the field and I’d say he deserves the award. I would say the only thing working against him is not tallying as many AB’s, but you’ve got to expect that from a catcher. With the lack of a clearcut winner Mauer should at least be considered.
MW: See above. He was at least considered - he finished 3rd.
- Nik K.Hey Mike
I’ve heard many people complain that pitchers should not be candidates for the MVP award. They say that they have their own award. Personally I disagree because I think it should go to the best all around player in the game whether he pitches or feilds. I just wanted to know what your opinion on this is?
MW: I have no problem with a pitcher winning the MVP if he deserves it. It’s not Most Valuable Position Player.
- JamesMVP…meh…I can’t get excited about this. It’s like those guys are playing on another planet. Right here on Little Outer Ring Blue Jay I am following articles saying stuff like ‘keeping AJ Burnett is totally, absolutely completely key to the Blue Jays’. Which is nuts. We’re probably not gonna keep AJ. And if we do, we will have to mortgage everything we have to do it. We’ve had one decent season out of him. Which–surprise!–was just before the opt-out clause kicked in. The guy should go somewhere else. Yes, our rotation will be thin. But AJ isn’t Halladay. He is not a stopper. He can’t be relied on. He’s not the answer to what ails us. We should be walking away right about now. So why aren’t we?
MW: Optics. No one from the Blue Jays is saying that keeping Burnett is “totally, absolutely, completely key”.
- isabella reyesWell, you were thankfully wrong on the NL MVP. At least 18 of the voters were smart enough to vote for the most deserving player and not the guy who filled a couple of columns on the stat sheet, had one truly excellent month and benefited from a better overall team.
No mention of Mauer for AL MVP? I think Pedroia will win it, but Mauer put up outstanding numbers as a catcher.
K-Rod would be a farce. You mentioned Nathan as a superior closer, but both Mariano Rivera and Joakim Soria were far better as well. K-Rod’s only real qualification for the award is that his team won enough close games to get him a record for most save opps.
On the subject of Josh Hamilton, I don’t think it’s much of a coincidence that his decreased RBI pace coincided with the injury to Ian Kinsler and Milton Bradley being in and out of the lineup. Just shows how much RBIs depend on the other guys in the lineup.
On the subject of Bradley, I heard the Jays were planning on pursuing him. Any truth to this? I’d love to have him on the team, but coming off a career year in a stacked lineup in a hitter’s park? Seems like JP would be forced to overbid to get him, and I’d hate to see him get given a big-money deal that’ll last into hid mid-to-late thirties for what he did last year. I don’t think he’ll put up the same numbers again, leading the league in OPS, and his history is such that he’s not likely to play many more than 120 games.
MW: I don’t think Bradley could command a huge deal because of his issues in the past. I have heard conflicting things about the Jays’ plans to pursue him, but I do think that Cito Gaston could keep him on the straight-and-narrow as much as any manager could. Very good point on Hamilton, maybe it’ll wake some people up, but probably not.
- JustinHey Mike, I wanna ask you a question about the off-season signings.
If Oakland gets Furcal, and they will be obviously looking to move Crosby. Do you think the Jays should make a play if it doesn’t involve Snider or Lind or any top porspects, but maybe a couple of mid-level prospects, similar to the Marco Scutaro trade?
I love Johnny Mac, but Overbay looks very weak and seems like one of those OB heavy guys, but not-much-else. Aaron Hill is a ? heading into 09 and Rios looks power deficient too. (Rolen looks lost too) So while Johnny Mac is gonna give us highlight-reel defence, Crosby is a decent defender? and a decent hitter, so what do you think?
MW: Crosby is a piece of glass, but when he’s in the line-up, he can be very good. If the jays can get him for a package similar to what they gave up for Scoot, there’s no reason not to, but I don’t think they can.
- Ivan TangNo way does K-Rod get the MVP, it’s Morneau all the way.
MW: Or neither.
- Sean CourtHi Mike,
How can you not pick Mario Scutaro for AL MVP? I am shocked.
I read the article by Richard Griffith that said if the Jays stand pat this off-season, we will likely finish last in the division next year and have a generally poor season. This wouldn’t surprise me either, but my question to you is: do you think that would be a bad thing?
I think we should be looking forward to 2010/2011. 2009 might be a bit of a transition, but the future looks pretty good to me. What do you think?
BTW…finally looked at the Drunk Blue Jays site…sheer genius.
MW: I try not to say much about other reporters, but since I get mentioned in Griff’s stuff all the time, I’ll say this: To write a column based on the premise of the Blue Jays losing all their free agents and not adding ANYTHING to the roster in the off-season is quite a stretch. Of course they’d finish last if they did that, so would the Yankees.
- Oz RobWould Ryan plus a minor league starter be enough to acquire J.J. Hardy? Are Litsch, Accardo, Cecil and Snider enough to acquire Peavy (assuming we sweeten his contract enough)?
MW: I don’t know if the Brewers will be looking for a big-money closer, and I wouldn’t give up that much for Peavy.
- Richard SpackmanHi Mike,
Your initial choice for NL MVP - Pujols was the way to go. Did you ignore your gut feel for this when switching to Howard?
Pujols had one heck of a year both on and off the field. He topped the 05 season when he last won the MVP award. Now here he is again MVP.
Along with that he has won the Roberto Clemente award, a Silver Slugger award from the makers of the Louisville Slugger,The Sporting News player of the year as voted by his own mlb peers. What a year!
You will be 7 of 8 however with your Al MVP choice of K-Rod and his crazy record setting season for saves! As much as I don’t agree with this choice as I see him as the (MPC) most popular choice within the voters realm.
I think if anyone has even a remote chance of upsetting K-Rod it would be Pedroia. He led MLB with 54 doubles and tied for the lead with 213 hits. The one thing that will be looked at as negative when it comes to the voters (sadly enough)are the 17HR’s. Voters will no doubt look to this stat as a lack of power.
Hopefully they will remember 1976 when the Yankees, Thurman Munson (one of my all time favorites) won the MVP award with just 17 homers also.
The last time a 2nd baseman won this award was back in 1959 - so if history means anything it is not on his side either!
You were a perfect 7/7 thus far if you had listned to your “gut” Mike on the Pujols choice - your initial choice. So I’ll give you a you a 6.5/7!
I am going to go with my gut on this one and say there will be an upset as to the AL MVP! I say Pedroia will win it! He is the real choice here Vs the popular choice of K-Rod! I am a bit bias here of course with being a Red Sox fan.
Thanks.
MW: You were right, Pedroia won, but I don’t know how much of an upset it was. You can’t really have a big upset when there’s no clear leader.
- Bob from BurlingtonI know this is “Jay’s Talk”, however I think it is also MLB talk - so!
What’s your take Mike on the Red Sox going after Teixeira?
With the Yankees now out of the bidding for his services, since the trade they made last week. It makes it less of a headache as to a bidding war for Boston to go after him.
I realize it makes some sense for them to get him (other than the obvious), since they drafted him back in 1998 right out of high school and that makes for a nice story.
However, I am kind of “on the fence” as to this one as I think it would make for some tough choices as to the infield!
He would give the Red Sox that fearsome hitting line up they let slip a bit when Manny was traded away. However what would they do with Kevin Youkilis? I am sure they wouldn’t be willing to move/trade him anywhere!
Well, they could move him back to 3rd but then what does that mean for Mike Lowell - trade time perhaps?
Just wondering where your thoughts on this would be.
Man oh man - the AL East just gets tougher and tougher doesn’t it. I wouldn’t want to have JP’s job right now. His hands are really tied and the fans will be all over him in 09 for things that are not in his control.
Crazy isn’t it, hearing all those dollars being thrown around again this MLB off season along with reading reports on the global economic crisis, job losses, recession time etc. Enough to drive you insane!
Thanks.
MW: I don’t know about insane. I don’t think the Yankees picking up Nick Swisher takes them out of the running for Teixeira at all. Swisher can play the outfield, too, don’t forget, and Bobby Abreu is a free agent. If Teix goes to Boston, they’d have to move one of Lowell or Youkilis, and I doubt they’d be inclined to do that. If Lowell’s hip or Ortiz’ wrist is a chronic issue, though, there’s room.
- Bob from BurlingtonMike, I’ve been looking ahead to the Blue Jays Schedule for 2009.
I have a few thoughts 1. The April schedule looks easy
2. The Blue Jays have a week without any games at the end of August, and another long break at the end of September - yet we are playing games in October.
What are your thoughts?
MW: 1 - The June schedule looked pretty easy this year. 2 - No, they don’t. In fact, the Jays play without a day off from August 28th through September 16th, and then from September 18th through the season finale on October 4th. MLB teams never get more than one consecutive scheduled day off outside the all-star break. I wonder what it is you saw.
- Sam McLeanThanks :)
MW: For?
- BGI just paid for my tickets for the WBC and I am very excited about it. Both the Venezuela and US teams look like All-Star rosters.
I really hope Toronto doesn’t embarass us baseball fans and comes out to support this event that is watched all over the world. This City gets excited enough over World Cup Soccer in which our own Country does not even play!
- Jim BSo are the Jays going to go after Milton Bradley? He could’ve made a big difference the last couple of seasons. Much better than Reed Johnson or Rios.
When AJ Burnett signs elsewhere hopefully you’ll be @ the press conference asking the GM why they didn’t pick him up before the trade deadlines.
MW: I don’t understand. First of all, why would I be at a press conference for another city’s team? Second of all, why should the GM that signs A.J. have to defend the fact that he didn’t trade for him at the deadline? As for Bradley, I think he’d do well here.
- tomas“MW: Very true, but Morneau was the leading candidate on his team,”
The only reason Morneau had such a high RBI total was because he was hitting behind Mauer and his .413 OBP. (Morneau led all of baseball in the amount of runners he had both on base and in scoring position during his plate appearances.) When you consider what the average AL 1B hits and what the average AL C hits, it becomes even more clear to me that Mauer was more ‘valuable’ to his team than Morneau was. I’m a bit surprised you don’t think the same, knowing how much you value OBP.
And for the record, it’s an absolute crime that Dustin Pedroia wins the AL MVP while Chase Utley, with superior numbers (and defense) in fewer games, finishes 14th.
MW: They’re in different leagues, so it’s apples to oranges there. For Mauer, he had a sensational year, no question, but again, Morneau was seen as the better candidate, deserved or not.
- AriMike….Do you think that Brandon League has the make-up (pitching talent and “ice water in the veins”)to be a closer at the major league level? I’m not predicting a B.J. Ryan trade, but Cito seemed to gain confidence in League down the stretch and that confidence Cito showed was shown on the mound with many impressive outings, albeit more set-up roles than save opportunities…Thanks Mike
MW: Yes, I do. Well, I think he has the stuff and the ability to be a closer. The intangibles don’t really matter much to me.
- chris m.Do you think Doc Halladay will fetch more that what the Padres reportedly want back for Peavy? I think this will be a good time to consider moving him after coming off a very strong season. I’m not saying rebuild but the Jays might get back major league-ready players and good prospects so why not?
MW: If you trade Halladay, you’re rebuilding. He might not fetch as much as Peavy, though, since he’s under contract for four fewer seasons.
- Joe N.Mike:
Don’t the Jays have a ton of pitching ready to come up? Purcey, Cecil etc.
They don’t need Burnett. Add Janssen and Tallet (or League) to the rotation.
Doc, Janssen, Tallet, Litch, Purcey?
Doc, League, Litch, Purcey, Cecil?
Doc, Litch, Purcey, Cecil, Downs?
Those rotation options don’t sound too bad… do they?
MW: None of them sound nearly good enough to compete in the A.L. East.
- andrew - kwMike…Can’t remember the Quentin bat smashing incident, so I can’t comment on whether you were kind of hard on him in your post. But if it was a reactive one time swing, then it’s hard to curb that, rather than a repeated 20 swing water cooler assasination that usually makes Spotrsnet. Mike…if a hall of famer such as Ozzie Smith breaks his neck doing his daily cartwheels and takes his Cardinals out of the’82 WS and the’85 WS, would you use the same adjectives to describe him as you did Quentin?..thanks Mike
MW: Yep.
- chris m.MW: I try not to say much about other reporters, but since I get mentioned in Griff’s stuff all the time, I’ll say this: To write a column based on the premise of the Blue Jays losing all their free agents and not adding ANYTHING to the roster in the off-season is quite a stretch. Of course they’d finish last if they did that, so would the Yankees.
But I don’t think that’s what Griffifths was saying. His point was, looking at our present position players, most of them were performing below AL par and were pretty much untradeable. So, given the economic position of the team, the present lineup is unlikely to change overmuch. It’s not that they want to stand pat and hope for the best, but that circumstances dictate that they will probably stand pat and hope for the best. They could improve at s/s and dh. But, er, that’s about it. So either this completely underachieving line-up suddenly changes dramatically and starts hitting in the clutch and banging them out of the park, or we will hang around the bottom of the AL East. We didn’t have the worst season ever, but now that the Rays have improved so much, it’s basically us and the Orioles fighting it out for bottom, and if the Orioles improve at all, it’ll be us holding up the division. Not that I think that’s a bad thing. We’d get a few more decent draft picks, and if we’re intelligent about it, we might improve the team mightily for 2011/12/13. By which time we will have lost a couple of dumb contracts–Vernon Wells, I’m looking at you! We may well have also lost Doc Halladay–which would break my heart, but he deserves to make it to the series just once before he hangs it up, and I doubt he’ll make it with us. But we have some decent pitching if it holds up. And maybe some strong young talent. 2012! My new mantra.
MW: Interesting mantra, not that a high draft pick in 2010 will help the team in 2012. Nor will Wells be gone by then.
- isabella reyesOh Crap…
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081118&content_id=3683185&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor
MW: Just remember all the things J.P. said in Novembers past. He never sits on his hands.
- JordieHi Mike,
hope you are enjoying a bit of a break from the “daily” blog.
Now, I don’t know very much about teams other than the Jays, but it strikes me a little that many of the good teams now have been winning because of shrewd drafting and trades rather than big free agent signings. This year Boston had Pedroia and Youk as stars; Twins - Morneau and Mauer; Phils - Howard, Utley; Rays never sign anyone of note, etc.
What major impact free agents signings have there been in recent years? And what, if anything, does that mean for the Jays?
Thanks, Mike!
- RoryHey Mike. Your blog is great.
Ugh. You know, I sort of thought/hoped the Jays might make some big free agent moves this offseason (I’ve been particularly hoping for Manny - as far fetched as the idea is)
However, I just read an article on Jordan Bastian’s blog in which J.P. has told him that Jays may not pursue anyone through free agency at all, but will focus on trades or in house solutions.
http://mlbastian.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/11/ricciardi_i_dont_see_us_gettin.html
The article makes the Jays sound kind of directionless to me. They’re not slashing payroll and rebuilding, yet they’re not planning on even being small players in the free agent market.
What do you think is going on? Do you think they’re planning on retooling and waiting for 2010 or 2011? Bleech.
MW: I don’t see how you get “directionless” out of that. Why does it have to be load up or tear down?
- James HGreat to see the little man from Bean Town get the AL MVP!
Your correct Mike - I said I feel an upset coming as to him winning and really it was not an upset at all as there was no clear choice winner for sure.
Thanks for the feed-back and your thoughts on the Red Sox and Teixeira. I forgot about Lowell’s hip surgery. None of us know right now as to how that will develop for sure and that would make it even tougher for the Red Sox to deal him before spring training.
The Yankees? Yea, you’re right again as to Swisher also playing outfield.
If Bobby Abreu is signed as a free agent elswhere (Cubs). Then, you would have to consider the Yankees are in the mix for Teixeira and that makes it tougher for the Red Sox going after him.
The Yankees have offered arbritation to Abreu. If he goes elsewhere then the Yanks will get a couple of draft picks for him - maybe that’s what they want anyway.
Let’s face it, if the Yankees think for one minute the Red Sox are going after Teixeira, they will be all over him in a heart beat! Damn Yankees!
I read somewhere the Yankees much heralded SS was rated last or very near the last spot in all of MLB as to fielding or maybe, it was fielding range, according to the folks that put together these stats using some pretty neat computer program. Well regardless of who it was, or how it was done it sounded to me like they were bang on with it.
Thanks!
- Bob from BurlingtonMy gut all along said AJ would not opt out of his last 2 years with the Jays - hmm wrong there. Then I figured when the Jays upped the contract numbers for another 4 years he would take that - wrong again.
Now it looks like just what you were saying all season long there Mike - he will be going elsewhere.
Both the Yankees and Boston are looking at him and no doubt will offer up 1.5mil - 2.0mil/year over the Jays offer. I read perhaps a 5 year deal - yikes I think that’s stretching it a bit! Don’t you?
The dough will be there no doubt. Especially now, with Dempster re-signing with the Cubs at 4years/$52 mil that makes it even better for AJ’s chances as to acquiring bigger numbers than what the Jays offered.
I would take Dempster over AJ as a starter, for that kind of money, so paying AJ more makes no sense to me. As much as I like AJ and what he brought to the Jays in 08 I just can’t see him doing the same for the next couple of years without the incentive he had in 08 as to a big contract opportunity.
Hey, with an ERA over 4.2 the one thing he would have backing him up (and need) in NY or Boston is power at the plate with lots of run support. The biggest reason he got up there in wins for this last season was the run support for a few wins here.The rest of the numbers (other than innings pitched) were not all that impressive.
Run support - that is what will be important for AJ Burnett to be successful as to padding the wins column!
All those big numbers out there for pitchers - I can only imagine what others would put up for a guy like Roy Halladay if he were available!
Thanks.
- Bob from BurlingtonHi, Mike:
A .750 percentage isn’t bad — in fact, it’s pretty darn good! The MVP races were pretty tough to call.
Moving on — now that the real bidding for AJ has apparently been opened, at 5/80, I’ve been wondering whether the Jays could respond with some “out-of-box thinking”, from Alex Anthopolous (sp?).
Here’s one suggestion: a)Since they have already committed $12 MM for each of the next two years, up the ante on these two with a $8MM signing bonus;
b) $17 MM per for years 3 and 4; c) a mutual option for year five for another $18-20MM, and;
d) A further provision that the 5th year option would “vest” if AJ pitches a total of (say) 700 innings in years 1-4, at least 150 of which would have to be in year 4.
Given an average expectation of 200 to 225 innings per year, the 700 minimum would allow some space for injury, and the 150 in year 4 would be a partial guard against having to pay a fifth year based on good production in years 1-3 with “nothing” in year 4.
Total contract value (max) would be $86 MM, topping the NYY offer, but with the 5th year dependent on health/performance rather than outright guarantee.
Any chance?
MW: Good out of the box thinking, but they’re not looking for a vesting option, and someone out there will guarantee the 5th year.
- NormMichael of the Ballyard:
I’m reading a discussion board for people who are constantly baked and there’s a hypothetical discussion about what ten albums you would take with you on a trip to Pluto if you could listen to no music other than those ten albums for the duration of your trip. Many, many people selected multiple RUSH albums.
In light of your not necessarily approving of people being baked (in the summer you suggested I only post on your blog whilst not baked, so I think that’s a reasonable inference) I was wondering how you felt about the fact that many young people who are constantly baked share your musical preferences in a society where many young people who AREN’T constantly baked have appalling musical tastes?
MW: I think that there are many good things about lots of people who are constantly baked, I just don’t think its’ a good idea to post on this blog while baked.
- JCLHi Mike,
In some corners, there is a suggestion that the Jays should consider rebuilding again given that the Rays have now been added as another obstacle in the tough AL East. I don’t necessarily disagree with that but I am afraid this is not a baseball market that will accept a rebuilding stage yet again. The fan base was promised a contender in 5 years after Ricciardi was named GM and it didn’t materialize. I think rebuilding again would be seriously damaging to an already thin fan base. However, the Jays have some great young talent in the system and if they were to rebuild and set a 3-5 year target to contend, I think they would be in a position to challenge the Rays at that time. The Yanks do not have nearly the farm system the Jays have so I think they will be in decline in 3-5 years (of course, they will always have the cash to fix all problems). The Sox have soem great young talent like pedroia, Ellsbury, materson, and Jed Lowrie but the pitching seems thin. What do you think Mr Wilner, sir?
MW: I think that it’ll be a long time before the Yankees and Red Sox will have to rebuild, and I still don’t think the Rays are as good as everyone thinks they are - remember, people were saying the exact same thing about the Rockies a year ago. I don’t think the Jays need to rebuild right now, they have a lot of talent and another wave on the way up.
- IanDo you still see the Jays signing Ibanez? There seems to be a lot of teams interested in him, and from what JP has said so far, he hardly has any money to spend.
MW: I think they’ll do more than they’re indicating right now. If Ibanez is the one left standing when the music stops, they’ll sign him.
- AndyHi mike
Delgado had an amazing second half last year . I belive he curently sits at 469 homeruns career. he only needs 1 more year to put him at about 500 career homeruns if he dosent get hurt which is the curent standered for the hall of fame. Also he wil be one of the few players how have reached 500 homeruns with about being acused of steroid use. Do you think that thoes reasons are enough to get him in to the hall of fame.Also i think you would agree if he goes in the hall at least at this point he goes in as a blue jays with out a question.
MW: There’s no question that if he goes in, he goes in as a Blue Jay. I don’t think 500 homers is the golden ticket to Hall of Fameness anymore, though. Delgado is very much a borderline guy at this point, even if he does hit that mark.
- JackMike, the BBWAA is a joke. While I won’t argue the selections of Albert Pujols or Dustin Pedroia, I will the argue the selections of the players that finished below them in balloting. I mean cmon Ryan Howard wasn’t even the best player on his own team. Chase Utley did more for his team, playing a premium defensive position and is probably the best 2B in baseball. It’s a shame he gets no love from baseball writers who played Utley 15th in balloting. Why the heck is K-rod 4th in balloting. I mean, he wasn’t even the best if not top 5 reliever in the AL. If K-rod didn’t get as much save chances as Marino Rivera or Joe Nathan, he would have not been in the MVP picture. What are your thoughts on that as well as on the BBWAA?
MW: My thoughts are that one of the major reasons that there is such a disconnect between a lot of the BBWAA voters and the “newthink” stats folk (as it were) is because each side is totally convinced that it’s completely right and the other is completely wrong. Maybe if there was a little middle ground, things would be better.
- andrewMike, since Mike Mussina retiring, do you think he belongs in the Hall of Fame even though you hate him personally?
MW: I think he’s a bubble Hall of Famer, but there are worse human beings as honoured members.
- andrewlet’s see, people dont want to buy houses, they dont want to buy cars, they don’t want to buy anything retail, but they are willing to fork over 100 bucks to watch a sports game? I dont think so! the day of reckoning has arrived. why would any owner be willing to offer 100 mil contracts in this environment?
MW: 100 bucks to watch a game? You can get into the Dome for nine.
- roccoI cannot support Riccardi any longer if he does not at least try to sign Furcal or Bradley. I think Bradley would be a peferct fit here because he is older and mature, and could be a steal. He has something to prove after watching Josh Hamilton last year. His numbers are undeniably good, making him a very underated player.
MW: I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone refer to Milton Bradley as mature before.
- Jim BGood news Mike,
Mussina retires.!!!
- Joe N.So, Mike Mussina is calling it a career. I’m sure Blue Jays fans (and Cito Gaston fans in particular) won’t miss seeing that guy around. I only wish the Jays could have stuck it to him in his 2nd-last start and prevented him from getting his first 20-win season. I take it he’s likely a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame too? I guess there is some consolation in the fact that he never got the one thing that most players play for — a World Series ring. Then again, he would probably value his individual achievements more than a ring anyway.
MW: I wouldn’t say he’s a shoo-in.
- JamesAny thoughts on the retirement of Mike Mussina?
I’ve heard you say before that he’s a “bad, bad man.”
MW: That he is.
- CamHi Mike,
A quick off topic question for you (or anyone else here). When is the last time the “hidden ball trick” was successfully executed. For my money the last time I remember was the late Alan Wiggins. I was debating this with a guy the other day and he said it happens “every year”. Help!
MW: I think Ryan Howard did it on someone last season, but I could be mistaken. I doubt it happens every year, but it’s more often than once every 20 years, for sure.
- TimI guess your wish of seeing Mussina get hurt isnt going to come true. My question to you is , who is the pitcher who retired with the most wins in his last year ? is it my man the Moose?
MW: My wish of seeing Mussina get hurt?
- david battistonI think that Burnett is a waste of money and we should let him go although he finished well and has amazing stuff I think that he is not very steady and gives up a lot of big hits in the late inning which has killed him in years before. Thoughts,…
MW: I don’t think it’s big hits in the late innings that have killed him in years past, not at all. It’s been injuries and the inability to cut off a rally when things aren’t going his way. Neither of those things affected him in 2008, but it was only his second healthy season ever. With the Jays seemingly on financial tenterhooks, giving him five years and a ton of money doesn’t seem the way to go.
- SanjeYou’re still saying it’s ‘optics’ about us and AJ? I hope to God you’re right.
MW: What strikes me odd is that they’re saying that they’re going to spend money on any free agents, but they’re dangling this big wad of cash in front of Burnett. That’s what makes me think it’s optics, because if he doesn’t sign (which he far mroe than likely won’t), why wouldn’t they then turn and spend the money elsewhere? But they’re talking as if it’s A.J. or nobody.
- isabella reyesHey Mike now I see that the yanks have pulled any 5 year offer to burnett and since he wants the 5 year deal you think the jays may have the upper hand in signing him for another 5 year deal(with no opt out of course) or is he gone for sure?
MW: He’s not gone for sure, just probably. I can’t imagine the Jays would offer him five years, but if they do, they could go to the front of the line. There’s a good chance they’ll regret it, though some injury-prone pitchers get healthy in their 30s. At least, Curt Schilling did.
- RoyceHey I was just wondering is there any sort of salary cap in baseball similar as one they have in hockey because i personally think that if they dont they should implicate one because it could even the skill throughout the league.
MW: There is no salary cap, and no plans to implement one, because the players’ union wouldn’t stand for it.
- TimmyTo David, Post #48
“Your man” Mussina isn’t even close to the top of that list!
I think that honor goes to Sandy Koufax, who retired following the 1966 season after putting up a 27-9 record, with an ERA of 1.73 over 323 innings (with 317 SO’s)!
By way of interest, here are Koufax’ numbers for his last four years
1963: 25-5, 1.88, 311IP, 306K
1964: 19-5, 1.74, 223IP, 223K
1965: 26-8, 2.04, 335.2, 382K
1966: 27-9, 1.73, 323, 317
Totals 97-27, 1.86, 1192.2, 1228!
Not bad for a guy who for his first six years in the Majors had a combined record of 36-40, with an ERA of 4.57. Just another sub-.500 pitcher!
MW: Koufax really turned his career around when he learned how to throw strikes on a regular basis - the modern0day equivalent is Randy Johnson.
- NormThe best record I can think of for a pitcher in his last year was Sandy Koufax. He was 27-9, 317 strikeouts, 1.73 ERA. He was magic.
- StanMike…A difficult question, but do your best…What’s the hottest streak you’ve seen a batter go on?….. Make it the AL since we’ve followed Toronto the longest. For me it was 1980 and George Brett’s .390 season…..awesome!! I remember reading somewhere asking how do you pitch to Ted Williams and the pitcher replied ” I throw the pitch and then go back up third base.” That quote could’ve applied to Brett in 1980…John Olerud’s 1993 sticks out as well…Thanks Mike
MW: Brett’s 1980, Olerud’s 1993, Tony Gwynn’s 1994, all those guys had pretty incredible runs those seasons. For a long-term thing, those stick out the most for me.
- chris m.hey mike,
just wondering your thoughts on my thoughts of the jays picking up Nomar!
if he would consider a one year deal i think he has the potential to be a lighting in a bottle type pick up. he can still hit lefties (.339 .424 .643).
this is how i see him being used…….
if Snider is the DH Nomar could face the “tough” left handers.
Rolen insurance.
Overbay insurance.
a right handed bat off the bench.
a solid veteran presence on what will hopefully be a younger club in 09.
a Red Sox killer if the baseball gods see it fit.
p.s. who do i petition to make sure you go to the winter meetings this year?
MW: I’m not going to the winter meetings this year. Nomar isn’t a bad idea as a platoon DH and to do the things you mention.
- bill in clintonMike…I always forget Rod Carew’s .388 in 1977 for the Twins when talking about hot streaks. Minnesota didn’t get a lot of exposure back then and they were still playing outdoors …Carew was an amazing hitter with the way he would flip those wrists and drop the ball into left field and he always reminds me of Boggs because they both could’ve hit 20-plus homers a year if they wanted to, but at the expense of a lower batting avg. In 1977, I was just happy to have MLB here in Toronto, and Carew went in under my radar…Mike, Do you think Carew and Boggs get the exposure they warrant? Unfortunately, Boggs gets talked about for his off-diamond antics…..Thanks Mike
MW: Carew was an amazing singles hitter, the perfect lead-off man (except for the lack of blazing speed). I think he’s thought of as one of the best “pure hitters” ever. That’s a whole other debate for me, though. As for Boggs, I think his five batting titles speak for themselves. Seeing that they’re both in the Hall of Fame, I don’t think exposure is an issue for either one.
- chris m.I assume you mean ‘they’re not going to spend any big money on free-agents’.
I agree, the whole thing is weird, unless they think they can get Burnett for a bargain. I can see waiting until he has turned down all the big money 4-year offers and those teams have signed elsewhere, then moving in for a fire-sale. It isn’t the worst strategy in the world either. Thing is, if they do throw money at Burnett, they will have to throw even more money–which they probably don’t have right now–at the much more deserving Halladay. I’ve looked at all the reports. NY don’t sound likely to give Burnett 5 years, neither do the Red Sox. I can understand the thinking behind this, but I continue to hope that Burnett ends up somewhere else–preferably in the NL certainly–but somewhere else. We had him for 3 years and he performed for one.
MW: He actually performed for two - two halves and one whole.
- isabella reyesMike,
Great job all year with the blog.
Have you heard any buzz about the World Baseball Classic?
Is anyone talking about it?
Any word on the expected pitching rotations of Canada or the U.S.A.?
MW: The buzz isn’t building to the extent that it will later in the winter. I haven’t heard anything about anything yet, but it’s not hard to hammer out Canada’s rotation, at least.
- DJJAYHey Mike
This is probably an ignorant question, but all the same i’ve always wondered it. Why did Sandy Koufax retire after a season where he posted such amazing numbers?
MW: Arthritis.
- JamesHey Mike, I was wondering if you know whether or not Jerry has an unbroken streak of broadcasting games like Tom’s 4,306 games. thanks
MW: Jerry hasn’t missed a game in the seven years I’ve been in the booth, at least.
- NickI hope that J.P isn’t really considering a 5 yr contract for Burnett…Its gotta be PR..Please tell me J.P isn’t that stupid..
However, I am just a little curious as to why some of the free agents haven’t signed yet..I realize most of them are mulling offers..Could it be that some of these players aren’t getting the money they thought they could get?..Is it possible that some teams are a little weary of offering big money contracts because of the slumping economy?..Ryan Dempster is the only player of consequence to be signed this year..
The Yankees are offering big contracts and so are the Red Sox..Not many other teams have stepped up..The big ticket guys will get their money but maybe some of the group 2 guys won’t get the money they thought they would get..
MW: Group 2? It’s still very, very early in the off-season.
- gumpmike, you keep saying how this is a good team but one thing you keep taking for granted is this is really a below avg team that just happens to have a dominant pitcher. take away cleveland’s lee and that team is horrible. take away halladay and this team is horrible. we have been spoiled rotten. there will come a time when we wont have a roy halladay to hang our hats on and we will probably never have such a dominant pitcher ever again. sabathia’s numbers aren’t even close to halladay’s. over the past 7 years halladay only has 1 year where he wasn’t 8 games above .500. that is INSANE. I don’t think any other pitcher can claim that. take a look at halladays 2 worst seasons and look at the jays record, 2004 he only won 8 games and the jays won 67. 2005 he won 12 and the team won 80.
the point I am making is that JP is wasting the best years of halladay’s career by adding very little talent and it’s going to be years of misery when halladay is gone
MW: The point you’re making is a good one (at least the first part of it), but doesn’t really have much to do with your first. paragraph. The Blue Jays aren’t a horrible team without Halladay, nor are the Indians (best record in the A.L. in 2007) a horrible team without Sabathia. The Jays happened to have the best pitching and the best defense in the league, and it wasn’t all just Halladay. He’s a huge piece, no doubt, huge - but the Jays are only slightly more lost without him than any other team is without its ace.
- roccoSomeone I know has suggested something regarding Maany Ramirez: try to pull off a trade of Alex Rios and Ricky Romero for Lincecum, and witht he money left over from Alex and AJ Burnett the Jays would have enough to put in a competitive bid for Ramirez, who has said that he would like to play in Toronto. I think that 30, 40, or even 50 homers and a high average would likely propel us into playoff contention.
MW: The Lincecum ship has sailed.
- Fabio C.Mike…It’s strange that over time, historic baseball moments that get talked about frequently ( and rightly so) maybe at the time weren’t deemed so big. Three examples and they’re all based on attendance….
a)1951 Dodgers/Giants with Thomson’s shot heard ’round the world…attendance 35000 with The Polo Grounds holding over 50000 and one of the greatest comebacks in history and two N.Y. teams?
b)1960..Ted Williams last home game at Fenway..10000 people and Fenway then must’ve held 30000?
c)1961… Roger Maris’ last chance to break The Babe’s home run record(which he did)..attendance 25000 when Yankee Stadium then could hold 70000..This one I somewhat understand because Maris was hated by many Yankee fans for challenging the immortal Ruth and Roger even admitted right up to his early death that he wished that 1961’s record hadn’t happened. Ford Frick didn’t help by putting the asterisk beside the 61 and therefore belittling the feat..Mike..why the lousy attendance especially the “Miracle at Coogan’s Bluff’ for the Giants?
MW: I don’t know if attendance is the best way to gauge interest at the time. Remember, in the ’50s and ’60s there were a lot fewer people around, for one thing, most games were played in the daytime, when a lot of people were at work or at school. The “Shot Heard ‘Round The World” game was played on a Wednesday afternoon, for example. And those 19951 Giants finished second in the National League drawing 1.06 million fans, averaging about 13,400 per game. It was a different world.
- chris m.The Jays haven’t made any offers to any of the big hitting free-agents out there. So far they haven’t gone after any pitcher–they haven’t even offered Burnett anything yet. They don’t have much to trade. It looks like Jays ‘09 will be the same as Jays ‘08 with a different, younger rotation.
Is this Ricciardi’s decision or Paul Beeston’s decision? And when is Lyle Overbay’s contract up? Because 1st base is your traditional power position, and it’s there we can get a big-league masher, but right now we’ve got Overbay, and he hasn’t looked good since he broke his hand. I can see Beeston looking at what we have right now, the contracts in place, the likely payroll for next year (which still hasn’t been announced) and a very sick rotation, and thinking ‘better wait for next year’s off-season’. But I can’t imagine that Ricciardi is happy with that. If they don’t compete next year, I’m pretty sure he is on his bike back to Worcester.
MW: I don’t think it’s either Ricciardi or Beeston’s decision, I think it’s coming from higher up, part of the global economic crisis. But I also think it’s a pattern we’ve seen many times before. The Jays don’t usually get anything done early in the off-season (with the exception of the Frank Thomas signing, and we all know how well that worked out). They wait for the market to set and then jump in if they see something they like. Overbay’s contract is up after the 2010 season, but try not to get caught up in “traditional power position” and like that. Who’s the “big league masher” who’s available at first base ready to magically fix all the Jays’ problems?
- isabella reyesHey Mike
I was reading a post on Greg Maddux stating that he intends on retiring. I think there should be more talk about this than about Mussina. I personally believe that Maddux is far more superior than Mussina. His 18 Gold Gloves (every year since 1990 excluding 2003) is an astounding achievment that will probably never be achieved again. He was a rare talent and I along with many others enjoyed watching him. Cant wait till 2014 when he shall be rightfully inducted into the hall of fame.
MW: Maddux was one of the best pitchers ever to take to the mound in the major leagues. If he should decide to pack it in, there will a be LOT more talk about him than there is about Mussina.
- JamesRemember back in May when I posted that story of two Indian (as in India) kids winning a reality contest to come over to the US for the chance to make the majors?
http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2008/05/16/what-a-field-day-for-the-heat/#comment-4830
Well guess what? Now the Pirates have signed the two to minor league deals! Sure it’s just the Pirates but how cool is that?
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3724303
MW: Very cool indeed.
- Shawnwhy didn’t we get to sign those indian pitchers? damn you JP!! they would have only cost 50000 rupees
- roccoMike:
Milwaukee has approximately $40+M (available from free agents) to spend without increasing their “salary cap”. (Check the Web). They gave Gagne $10M and will spend as much if necessary. B.J. Ryan is as good as Gagne any day. Milwaukee’s total cost will only be $6-6.5M/yr in a trade for J.J. Hardy. A deal can be done, or a bigger one. Can J.P. see that far?
MW: I’m sure J.P. has never even considered it. Seriously, though, what makes you so sure that: A - Milwaukee’s payroll is staying the same, and 2 - The Brewers “will spend as much (on a closer as they spent on Gagne) if necessary”. Either you’ve got a direct line to Doug Melvin or you’re assuming facts that aren’t in evidence. I don’t think the Brewers will be in the market for a big-money closer if they don’t get either CC Sabathia or Ben Sheets (or maybe both) back, and I think any dealing they do this off-season is on hold until those two pitchers’ situations are resolved. I also don’t think that J.J. Hardy is the be-all and end-all that so many others seem to.
- Richard SpackmanMike…Did you ever attend a game at old Tiger Stadium?..It was said to be a neat place to view a game..Always regret not going, but a high school friend of mine back in the ’80’s at the height of the Detroit/Toronto rivalry had a pickpocket incident there and I got a little wary…I know it’s wrong to generalize a city or area, because that could happen at any venue, but I did and now the place is gone and I missed out…Thanks Mike
MW: I went there once, I can’t remember any details about the game, but I did go there probably when I was around 17. It’s wrong to generalize, because inside the stadium you were perfectly safe, but outside - it was a very, very bad neighbourhood. I went with one of my Detroit cousins, to a day game, and on the way there and back he didn’t stop at a single stop sign. That’s my lasting memory of going to Tiger Stadium.
- chris m.Mike…Great details about Detroit and your Tiger Stadium visit..Thanks..My friend’s mishap with the pickpocketer was not in the ballpark but on the walk-up to the park, just to further your description of the Tiger Stadium location…Your story of your cousin not wanting to stop reminds me of my Sept. 1985 trip to Yankee Stadium. With our hotel being in Manhattan right near Madison Square Garden, we had quite a trip up to the Bronx and when driving through some tough areas, the bus driver said “everyone say a few prayers that the bus doesn’t break down here.” I think he was half joking but also half serious and that’s the half that scared me. Mike..a lot of people remember the infamous Mary O’Dowd for butchering ” O Canada” at the Sat. night game of that great Blue Jay weekend, but what I remember most (besides the three great victories)was the Yankee fans booing our anthem and Yankee’s public address man, Bob Shepherd reminding the fans of Canadians helping the American escapees in the Middle East turmoil. I also remember Cliff Johnson really letting the Yankee fans have it in the papers..It just rallied the team and us fans and we beat the Yanks Fri., Sat. and Sun….Do you remember the booing of the anthem Mike?
MW: I do, but I thought the fans were booing poor Mary O’Dowd.
- chris m.Mike…With all my talk of old Tiger Stadium and me asking you in past blogs about players that always seemed to kill the Jays, Alan Trammell was one of those guys. With all their sluggers like Kirk Gibson, Darrell Evans, Lance Parrish,et al, Trammell was the guy I feared the most. Not to mention his great defence with Lou Whitaker. What did you think of Trammell, Mike?…I thought he was brilliant. Jays/Tigers in the ’80’s was as good as it gets in my books..Lots of tears and cheers!!
MW: A strong argument could be made that Trammell deserved the MVP in 1987 (I didn’t think so, but everyone in Detroit did), and that year was the height of the Jays-Tigers rivalry.
- chris m.