12:30 AM Eastern
OK, so the fact that B.J. Ryan closed out the Jays’ latest win wasn’t the biggest story of the night, I just kind of like that title.
Still, Ryan looked about as good as he did on Tuesday night. Not dominant, but still light-years ahead of where he was in the Saturday afternoon meltdown in Cleveland. He gave up a flare single to Denard Span on an 0-2 slider at which Span threw his bat, and all that Justin Morneau could do with a hanging 0-2 slider was line it back up the middle. Sure, his fastball only hit 88, and maybe only once, but he did fine. Good enough to be the B.J. Ryan of 2006 again? Not even close, but he may well be on his way to getting there. At the very least, good enough not to be sent down or released, and he will get the next save opportunity.
Just for the heck of it: When Ryan pitches, the Jays are 3-0. When he doesn’t, they’re 3-2.
I’m concerned about Jesse Litsch, who never looked comfortable at all tonight, and left with tightness in his right forearm after giving up two shots off the right-field garbage bag to start the 4th (one of which should have been caught by Alex Rios). It could be no big deal, it could be huge. Not for nothing, but as I mentioned in the comments section, Shaun Marcum left his last start with tightness in the right forearm. We shall see, but I would expect Brett Cecil to come up to take at least Litsch’s next start, since he threw for Vegas tonight. Hands up everyone who thought the Jays could get through the first two weeks of the season without a pitching injury. Sigh.
The Jays’ pitching hasn’t been great this year, but even in a game in which the opposition got 13 hits, there were a couple of huge occasions of massive clutch pitching. When Brian Tallet came on for the injured Litsch, he got out of a runner on 3rd, none out situation by going strikeout-weak lineout-strikeout. That kept the Twins’ lead at a very make-up-able two runs. Ol’ Snakeface stepped up as well, cleaning up his own mess. Downs came on in the 8th to hold that two-run lead the Jays had just taken on Travis Snider’s second bomb of the night, but gave up a leadoff double to Brendan Harris and wild-pitched him to third with nobody out. Downs followed that up with three straight Ks to set up the 9th for The Beej.
A couple of things need to be pointed out that could have changed the game. How on Earth does Denard Span not score from second on a Justin Morneau double off the wall on which Alex Rios turned his back to the infield? Unbelieveable, and he cost the greatest active Canadian batsman an RBI there. Almost as unbelieveable was Lyle Overbay’s decision to throw home on the ensuing groundball by Jason Kubel that he fielded about 95 feet from home plate.
With the infield in, it’s one thing and I’ll grant that Overbay has a throwing arm that might rival Rios’ for best on the team, but that was simply a terrible decision. Span has wheels, he committed, he’s going to score. Take the out and save the next run that wound up coming in on a sac fly. Overbay is one of the defensive standouts on one of the best defensive teams in baseball (see The Fielding Bible – best defense in MLB 2007 & 2008 combined? Your Toronto Blue Jays and it’s not remotely close.), so you can’t kill him for a rare mess-up, I’m just not used to him making mental errors afield.
That mental error by Overbay just cancelled out a previous brilliant play on the bases, though. Overbay singled to right with one out in the 4th, and Adam Lind scored from second while the ball was cut off and Overbay was being thrown out in a quick rundown. If Overbay doesn’t get himself hung up there, the throw might go through and there was a chance that Lind would have been thrown out. I really thought that was a great play by Overbay to sacrifice himself, even make himself look like an idiot to some, to make sure that run got home safely.
Then he hit a two-run homer, so Lyle was +2 on the night.
Two words about Travis Snider: Holy crap. It will be very interesting to see if Cito Gaston gets him in against the lefty Tuesday night, I’d say it’s still less than a 50-50 proposition.
Here’s tonight’s edition of The JaysTalk, for your listening pleasure:
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Tomorrow, since there’s no Raptors game, make sure to tune into the station or right here on the website for The Pre-Game JaysTalk at 7:00 PM Eastern before we hit the network for the pre-game at 7:30.
Before I go, I have to say how much fun it was to check out the comments section of the Drunks’ website during the post-game. I didn’t realize how many people hate me, but I have to tell you (though I know it will feed the beast for those same people) – if you listen to the post-game above again, you’ll find I was right with everything. ;-)
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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Yah the jays sure seem to be hitting clutch and a plenty which I hope they can keep up. If anything will get them though it will be their starting rotation. By the way when is janssen going to return and when he does if the rotation is still shakey do you think he may get a starting position?
MW: Asked and answered, many times.
- RyanHello Mike,
It was an exciting game today and good to see B.J. Ryan throwing the baseball over for strikes very often. I think when League pitches in this Metrodome, he will be able to show what he has been capable of before. That is, the warmth of the roof will aid him in his endeavours this time.
Lind has been exquisite in hitting so far but with a left-handed thrower tomorrow, could it be that he takes a seat? It seems a shame to sit Snider after his heroic swinging today and Overbay, too, did a fine job for the team. I feel that Snider and Overbay will be the sitting ones tomorrow, which is too bad for them, but it is a good problem to have, no?
- Pierre from Blois
MW: It is a good problem to have, indeed, but Snider will eventually work his way in against lefties, I think. Overbay shouldn’t.
- PierreGood hitting by the Jays again tonight, I’m really impressed with Snider, and how he’s been at the plate. In the event that Litsch does go down for a while, do you see Tallet being moved in from the pen, to fill in that spot in the rotation? And it’s sad to hear about the death of that PHillies broadcaster, never heard any of his work though. And since he wasn’t doing too well last year, I hadn’t heard anything about long-time Yankee’s P.A man Bob Sheppard passing away, so do you think he’ll get back into doing games in the Yanks new digs? ? And speaking of the Yankees, since they have a lot of question marks from what I’m hearing this year, do you still think it won’t be easy for the Blue Jays when they have to play them? The yankees’ pitching is definitely a questionmark, and obviously if guys like Wong are getting frequently smacked around by bats of opposing teams, giving up a lot of runs, I don’t see the Yankees really getting on a tear, at least until they get A Rod back off the dl.
MW: We know now that it will be Tallet going in Litsch’s spot, at least once anyway. Bob Sheppard is still alive, but there are conflicting reports as to whether he’ll be able to get back in the P.A. booth – he’s 98 years old and missed all of last season because of illness. And of course it won’t be easy for the Blue Jays when they play the Yankees.
- DanMike,
About your comment (3-0 w/ BJ, 3-2 w/out), how about 4-1 in a dome and 2-1 outdoors… we’re 4-0 w/ Snakeface and 2-2 w/out him… or we’re 4-0 on odd days and 2-2 on even days. Just as logical if not more. Anyways, you know it was a goofy stat (BJ was not the reason we won those games). You got a reaction. I also agree with you, first caller was stupid. Got to have proof to back up what you say.
Finally, once again I watched the game on SNO and Campbell gave a shout-out to the “Fans discussing threads on Bluejay fever and Battersbox.ca. There certainly will be a lot to discuss after this game.” Last time I checked the most comments these sites had in their threads were 36 and 71 respectively… whereas you get 80, 90,100+ comments easily… Your own Rogers brother, Jamie Campbell, should rep one of the best/most popular Jays blog/discussion page around. Just thought it was interesting.
MW: Jamie probably doesn’t want my numbers to get THAT much bigger than his. Actually, I think he was just referring to fan sites.
- JoshOptimists and pessimists hate you Mike, for obvious reasons.
Keep the intellectual realism up, I’m loving it.
P.S. be very careful of how you use Ryan’s initials in a certain context, some may interpret it differently :)
- CoreyMichael of the Ballyard:
Tonight in the Rays’ 15-5 blowout of the Yankees, Nick Swisher pitched an inning. I saw a few people mention on the Yankees’ message board that the Rays seemed to be taking mercy on the Yanks at that point by not teeing off on Swisher’s 75 mph meatballs.
I don’t agree with that at all. Baseball games are nine innings, no? That’s what fans pay to see, yes? Beyond that, from a purely baseball standpoint, why would you take mercy on a team that collectively is paid enough money to help potentially a billion or more people in a poor part of the world (ya gotta figure 200 million at least gets that far), especially a division rival? Survival of the fittest and all that stuff: if the Yankees suck so badly that they need to save their bullpen by using a position player to pitch, they absolutely deserve the worst pounding they can get.
Do you agree or disagree?
MW: I agree with you, but I don’t think the Rays took it easy on Swisher, no one wants to have to say that they couldn’t hit Nick Swisher.
- JCLHi Mike,
I’m a little worried about our bullpen. The last few years they’ve been superb because we had a plethora of starters who could consistently give 6-7 innings. Therefore the bullpen wasn’t taxed or overworked too much.
What happens if they suddenly have to put in 3-4 innings (or more) most nights? How long is that sustainable with the cast of characters we’ve got in the pen?
I think this year is going to be a wild ride.
MW: That’s a valid concern, but the bullpen is more like 10 deep than seven deep, which will help. Make sure to enjoy the fact that they’re 6-2, though.
- Oz RobI know it wouldn’t necessarily happen now, but this is the batting order I think is most ideal for the Jays lineup. I think the most important part is getting Rios to the leadoff spot. The Cubs have employed a similar tactic with Soriano for years. I know you don’t like the lower OBP, but I think getting Rios out of an RBI spot will allow him to be more comfortable at the plate to try and just be a “hitter” and we just might see more power come as a result. He certainly has the speed to be up there, and I think having him up there would lead to 1-0 leads more often. I think he likes to be able to work counts and draw walks, but sometimes feels pressured to be a big slugger in the heart of the order.
Rios
Hill
Lind
Wells
Snider
Rolen
Overbay
Barajas
Scutaro
When facing a lefty, Rolen moves up to #5 and Bautista-Millar go 6-7. What sayeth you?
MW: I don’t like Rios leading off because he doesn’t get on enough, and as for him changing as a hitter in the leadoff spot, well, he had an extended run up there a couple of years ago and posted a .341 obp, which is not great. I still think Overbay up top is the ideal with this group.
- AriYo Mike..
What is Lyle’s throwing velocity.. I remember a couple of years you mentioning it was in the high 90′s when he piched in HS.. Am I close?? He had a cannon today to home plate..
Thanks
MW: I don’t know if it was high 90s, but the guy does indeed have a cannon.
- MikeHey mike Wow Travis is all i can say the kid can flat out hammer.With that said really didnt see the jays being were they are but what i can say is Cito brings a Calmness to the team if u know what i mean. But You dont think they can make the playoffs do you,i do ( V Wells Vs Upton)if VW can stay healthy i think we win that matchup. we also have Rios Hill if healthy is top 10 2nd B in my books. then we have Lyle,Scott if they can produce n stay healthy,Travis is awsome i know hws young but id rather have him taken hacks the Shannon Stewart And the rotation ya were very young but Roy Boy lol and the Bullpen the best in the business may i add offset it a bit. Tell me what u think
MW: I don’t think they’re at all likely to make the playoffs.
- Jimmyhey mike, what do you think is the one thing which helped the offence turnaround this year?
MW: The offense had 8-game stretches like this last year, too. The biggest difference is the fact that Adam Lind and Travis Snider are getting the Mencherson, etc. at-bats this year.
- bentzyIf Litsch needs to be DL’d, do you think they will call up a Joe Inglett until they need the 5th guy? I know it would only be for a few games, but I wouldn’t mind seeing another bench guy.
MW: Nope.
- JarrettWhat i meant by the Upton,Wells comment is that our bats Match any teams and our pitching staff is the only ?. I can see a wildcard birth NYY arent gonna be as good as ppl think, Boston has power like us and a solid Ace along with Dasuike but the bulpen beyond Paplebon is weak and TB is good but i think we match them,if u disagree the AL Centeral is weak and well end up with more wins then the twins and Chws
MW: I think you’re being overly optimistic, but I don’t have a problem with that.
- Jimmy THE GREATI laughed when I read “you’ll find out I was right about everything”. I think people don’t get that you’re a smart guy and you have a sense of humour–they read a comment like that and just think you’re insecure. They don’t get that you’re being ironic.
Same as when you talk down to a caller, it’s not because you’re defensive and argumentative, it’s because they’re stupid and they deserve it. Haha, keep it up! The blogosphere is lucky to have you, Mike!
Interesting stat about Ryan, by the way. What do you think it means? Maybe he only gets brought into games they can’t lose?
MW: I love the people who actually get it. They seem so few and far between. As far as the Ryan stat – it doesn’t mean a thing. Well, it does mean that as much hysteria as there’s been about his performance this year, he hasn’t actually cost them a game.
- George SandWell since I was one of the ones ripping you in the Drunks comments section, I’ll try to defend myself here.
First off, I really didn’t see anything wrong with what the first caller was saying right up to the point where he brought up Clement as a big move. As soon as he brought up Ricciardi, you were all over him for little reason. When he said JP wasn’t getting it done, your response was that they had the best pitching and the best fielding in the major leagues two years running. In fact, that is an inaccurate statement as the Jays did not have the best pitching in the majors in 2007. Either way, please explain to me how that is an argument against the statement that he “isn’t getting it done”, because I really dont think it is. JP has not gotten the Jays to the playoffs in 8 previous seasons and is unexpected to do so this year. I think it’s safe to say that is not getting it done.
I also commented on how you were on a caller for saying that he would like to see Ricciardi go and LaCava in as GM. I feel I expanded upon why I think you were wrong there pretty articulately in the Drunks comment section, right at the end.
Anyways, very cool that you check out the post-games there
And to clarify, if you were referring to me, I certainly don’t hate you. I just dislike the attitude as I and many others have brought to your attention many, many times.
MW: And I continue to think you’re wrong. I’m very nice to the people who are very nice to me, and I’m only rude to those who are rude to me. Yes, I’m dismissive of those who can’t back up their arguments with facts, but I don’t see anything wrong with that. I’m not here to listen to people’s misplaced opinions and either accept them at face value or tell them they have a point. If your opinion is founded on incorrect information, I’m going to let you know. To your specific arguments – I didn’t cut the first guy off until he made the Clement comment which was, inarguably, stupid. I gave that guy a lot of rope. The fact that the Jays didn’t have the best pitching in MLB in 2007 doesn’t mean they didn’t have the best pitching in MLB over 2007 and 2008 combined. As for the LaCava thing, and it should be noted that I LOVE Tony, the guy wanted LaCava to take over because he had a hand in the Sizemore deal, but refused to see that if he was giving him credit for that, he would also have to give Tony a share of the blame for the things for which he wants Ricciardi let go.
- Dan WI find it’s often striking how often the criticism of Mike Wilner I see seem to resent how confident you are in your opinion and how little “tolerance” you have for those who say stupid things without recognizing that in there very hatred of you they display the exact same qualities.
I, for one, don’t see the value in suffering fools. Often times once you note WHO hates you it turns out to be kind of a compliment to be hated by them.
Keep up the good work.
MW: Thank you.
- WillRainWho do you think starts for Litsch if he misses a few starts? Any chance at Castro or Perez?
MW: Nope. I thought it would be Brett Cecil but for the first one at least, it’s going to be Brian Tallet.
- juicedWooooow once again listening to Jays Talk repeat online. Humble apologizes on behalf of London for Carl’s call.
Best comment: “I agree that JP has drafted well but it is time for him to go he has had his time to build this team into a contender and he’s not a contender. I think Tony LaCava should be the new GM.” MW: But Tony LaCava has been involved in all of JP’s decisions and you want him to be the next GM? I think if someone is upset with the job JP has done they shouldnt want anyone who has worked under him to take over.
Carl: Well uhh then do you think he should hire someone outside the organization??
MW: NO!
I basically died with laughter right there. Was Carl for real? Great job Wilner. Please screen your calls more carefully. Carl if you’re reading this… that was embarrassing.
MW: There are many who are upset with me for the way I handled Carl.
- JoshHey Mike,
Great game to watch! Thank you for destroying that first caller. I am enjoying every single second of this. Partly because I know there might be some equally difficult periods on the horizon but mostly because it’s just plain fun to watch the Jays play ball right now. It’s just that simple.
Here’s my question of the day: If Lyle Overbay has one of the best arms on the team why did he become a first baseman? You’d think a guy with a great arm and a solid glove like his might be groomed as a third basemen in order to utilize his arm strength. I realize that Rolen is a phenomenally defensive talent so I’m suggesting any sort of corner-to-cornet switch, I’m just curious.
MW: You’ll never find a third baseman who throws left-handed, at least not since Mike Squires. I would have thought that Overbay would have been given a shot in right field.
- KPHey Wilner,
Speaking of the comments on DJF, generally speaking, what is your position on advanced statistics and projection models? You don’t seem to give them much play from what I’ve heard on the broadcasts.
Are you:
a) a non-believer?
b) overworked and thus,
uninformed?
c) conscious of your audience and its own lack of such specialized knowledge?
d) not an obsessive dweeb?
e) not a math-guy?
f) adamantly opposed to the multiple-choice form of inquiry?
Just wondering. Thanks.
MW: I’m going to go with C and D. I know about all the 21st Century metrics, though I admit I don’t have as firm a grasp on stuff like WARP3 as I do on other things. But yeah, if I start going on about BABIP and DIPS and FIP, then I would say the eyes of at least 80% of my audience glaze over and they change the station. Let me do it slowly, I’m talking about defensive plus-minus a lot this year.
- grilliamsMan, that first caller was a real downer! How can he not be happy with a 6-2 record? And to say that Minnesota is not a good team? Are they not a fav. for the divison? I dont why all the naysayers cant just enjoy this little run to start? This team clearly plays better with Cito at the helm.
- Dave BrantfordMW: It’s sad that you feel you have to look through all my posts and answers to comments so that you can point out a contradiction and feel good about yourself.
Anyway Mike, there’s a lot of other things I do to feel good about myself.
I know you’re under the spotlight dealing with smart-alecs like myself, so on this terrible stretch for the game (Harry Kalas, Bird Fidrych, Nick Adenhart, John Brattain) I wish you happy baseball on Tuesday.
You’ll just have to be tolerant of others who have a passion for the game as well. But try not to get too personal or too defensive.
So how long until Casey Janssen is ready?
MW: It’s hard not to get defensive when so many people are trying to put me on the defensive all the time. To quote the great Dr. Jonathan T. Fever, PhD., “when everyone’s out to get you, paranoia’s just good thinking.” I notice too that you only failed to put in the part of my response where I showed that the “contradiction” you pointed out was not, in fact, a contradiction. And nice job bringing up all the tragedies we’ve had recently to try to move attention away from what a jerk you’ve been in here. I’m going with mid-May for Janssen.
- Ken PaganHow do you deal with callers like the first guy who called in tonight? Matt Clement an important signing? Please. I can understand the criticisms that people make regarding Ricciardi’s free agent signings as many of them have in hindsight been less than wise investments. Similarly, some of the more high profile trades have not looked great so far when you consider the salaries of the incoming players.
The bottom line is that all any GM can do is make decisions that seem like the right ones at the time they are made. With the exception of the Wells extension (which to be honest I thought was pretty excessive even at the time, if not in dollars per year than certainly in terms of number of years) I can’t think of any really big contracts or extensions that seemed hugely unwise at the time they were made. You could make an argument that no guy who pitches one inning (plus a couple of extra batters in the eighth here and there) forty-five to sixty times a year is worth the money that B.J. Ryan is making no matter how good they are, but Ryan was an elite reliever at the time of his signing and he continued to be one through 2006 before going down to injury in 2007 and turning in solid, if unremarkable work last year. Certainly if he never returns to at least his 2008 form then it has been a bad investment, but it’s too early to completely give up on the guy at this point.
My point is that more people need to look at the context under which every transaction is made, not just the end result when they are evaluating a GM. Certainly the end result should enter into somebody’s analysis of a front office’s work, but sometimes it’s important to acknowledge that “While Player X hasn’t worked out or Contract Y seems excessive at the time the deal was made I probably would have done that too.”
Is Rolen overpaid? For his level of performance yes. He’s fantastic defensively and an overall plus offensively for a third baseman, but he isn’t an elite overall player at his position anymore and he is being paid like one. Still, I would rather have him than Troy Glaus at this particular time in their respective careers (even taking into account that Rolen has an extra year left on his contract). I would have made the deal at the time.
Is B.J. Ryan overpaid? Probably. He was probably given too much at the time as well to be honest given the true value of a closer. However, if he gets it together than his contract isn’t so excessive that it’s really limiting the team. He’s certainly been a part of the Jays having a great pen over the past three years and he probably had something to do with the A.J. Burnett signing as well.
How about Lyle Overbay? Certainly a bit overpaid. The guy struggles against lefties in a big way which means that you probably don’t want to run him out there everyday. Still, given the need for an offensive and defensive upgrade at first base (over Eric Hinske, et al) at the time of his deal and the amount of minor league pitching depth that the team had at the time I was stoked about the trade at the time it happened. I also still think he’s a very useful, if slightly overpaid member of the team for his defense and his ability to hit righties.
Hill and Rios’ contracts? At the time they looked like massive steals even for guys with years remaining on their arbitration clocks. Hill especially was absolute highway robbery in my opinion even with his injury last year.
Wells’ contract? I honestly thought that signing Wells through his age-35 season was a mistake. They are paying him the kind of money that a franchise centerfielder deserves and while at the time he was playing like one (terrific offense and sensational defense at a position that is always a bit scarce on elite hitters) and one would have assumed that he’d have a reasonable chance to continue that pace through 2010 or so (he hasn’t thus far, though I think his struggles have been somewhat overstated due to his injury issues the past two years) I never really believed that he’d be an elite two-way player for four years after that too and with how good Rios is defensively and I wasn’t even sure he’d stick in center that long.
How about Halladay? J.P.’s kept the best starter in baseball in Blue Jay blue at less than the highest contract for years past his arbitration seasons. How is that in any way anything other than a massive victory for him and the rest of the front office?
A.J. Burnett? I figured that his contract would wind up being a value as long as he stayed healthy. He didn’t and it was still pretty close to a good deal. The opt out clause might have been what was necessary to get the deal done and how can you really fault him for doing that when A.J. was such an important part of the team’s great staff last year.
Frank Thomas? Please. There wasn’t any better way to upgrade the offense going into 2007 that was within the Jays’ budget. It looked like a good signing at the time and the sort of deal that wouldn’t cripple the team long-term if it turned out to be a bad one.
How about that incredible job he’s done on the bullpen? This might be J.P.’s greatest victory as a general manager. He’s kept the pen stocked for years on a relatively modest budget.
How about the draft? Lind, Snider, Hill, Marcum, Purcey, Litsch, and Romero are all Ricciardi draft picks. Cecil, Arencibia, Cooper, Ahrens, Emaus, Mills, et al who are on the way to help the team are his work as well. Overall the only first round pick that J.P. has really wiffed on was Russ Adams and he’s nabbed people like Marcum, Lind, Litsch, and others in later rounds as well.
Bottom Line: J.P. Ricciardi and his staff fielded baseball’s fourth best team (yes, based on third order won-lost record they were better than every team in baseball other than the Red Sox, Rays, and Cubs… yes, even the Yankees) on the twelfth highest payroll. This despite the fact that the team suffered from injuries to key contributors like Marcum, McGowan, Wells, Rolen, and Hill.
How is this guy on the hot seat?
MW: Wow – some kind of long, but well thought-out and an excellent look at the big picture.
- Nick WernhamHey Mike,
I’m curious how long we have to wait before they consider other options at the closer position…
I don’t want to beat a dead horse, and I think I’m pretty fair, normally I don’t call your show because I’m in agreement with most of what you say, but at some point they have to face facts here.
This year’s statline :
3.1 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 7 K’s
2.2 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Granted a small sample size, but of those two statlines, which one do you want closing? Obviously I don’t think I need to spoil the fact that top is Downs, bottom is Ryan.
I could do this too…
58 IP, 46 H, 28 BB, 58 K’s, 2.95 ERA, 1.28 WHIP
70.2 IP, 54 H, 27 BB, 57 K’s, 1.78 ERA, 1.15 WHIP
At what point do we start looking at giving Downs the 9th inning, at least until BJ Ryan starts actually throwing good innings? Right now he looks bad…sorry for being blunt, but no other way to put it. And after Scott Downs’ BRILLIANT display in the 8th inning tonight, when do we start handing him the ball in the 9th until BJ proves he’s ready to lock down an inning again?
MW: Not until Ryan actually costs the Jays a win, for one thing. You’re right, Downs has been better for a while now, but if Ryan can get back to where he was, the bullpen is THAT much better. And often Downs gets the bigger outs in the 8th anyway.
- KevinAm I way off with saying that Rios seems timid or meek or something out in the field this year ? He does not seem to be playing with confidence.
And at the plate, it seems to me that Alex is not settled, or prepared when the pitcher delivers to the plate. He seems to be fighting off pitches. I don’t have the numbers to back this up but I recall a lot of popups and shallow flys to the right side off his bat.
I’d like to see him make an adjustment at the plate and granted I am no hitting coach, but some sort of approach where he is set and ready before the pitcher winds up, it looks like he is never ready when he is pitched to.
As far as BJ goes, I think Cito is going to give him the entire month of April to get things together, and likely will not consider other options until May. I tend to trust Cito’s judgment with BJ also considering how making a change to the closer on the team could have a ripple effect in the club house.
I thought it was interesting that Cito asked Snider to bunt, it was a good idea, and I am pleased that Snider got the bunt down. I like the small ball approach and if we see more of that this year I think we could come away with a few wins we did not get last year.
MW: You’ll note that the Jays are 6-2 while sitting second in MLB in OPS and 3rd in home runs. It’s never a good idea to ask Travis Snider to bunt. And as for Rios, I’ll trust the three hitting coaches in the dugout to pick apart his mechanics.
- J.RJust for fun Mike… Has anyone ever won Rookie of the year and Mvp of the year at the same time?
MW: Fred Lynn in 1975 and Ichiro Suzuki in 2001, off the top of my head.
- Mike MississaugaHi Mike
What a great game last night. This season is sure starting out with a bang. I know there are still a lot of questions about this team but are they ever fun to watch. This never die attitude is quite refreshing compared to years past. The two stars of the game were Snider and Overbay. Both played great games and hit the ball hard. It was also great to see Barajas get some hits after smoking the ball in 4 or 5 straight at bats and hitting the ball right at the outfielders.
In terms of the Litsch injury, this is not a good sign. He really hasn’t looked himself so far this season and I would hate to see another major injury to a starter. Looking at the AAA roster is kind of scary. There is not one pitcher that has thrown more than 4.2 innings. Cecil seems to be the obvious choice, but is there anyone else that could enter the picture? What about Talet moving to the rotation? He seems to be pitching well this year and could definitely be stretched out.
MW: They’ve already chosen Tallet, but I’ll be surprised if he’s a guy they rely on too long in that role.
- Andrew ClarkAnother pitching injury, unreal! If it looks like Litsh is going to be out for more than a few weeks, do you think they stretch out someone in the bullpen (i.e. Tallet or Downs)? Seems to make sense given you have MLB proven releivers in Vegas (Accardo and Wolfe) and it give Cecil and Mills a little more time to work things out before they inevitably get called up…
MW: I’ll be surprised if Tallet gets more than three starts.
- DanJP has never made a bad trade eh Mike? How about the Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen trade? We lost a power bat in Glaus that could have helped our offence last year. I know he wanted out, but couldn’t you get more then a scott rolen who’s a great defensive 3B but a average hitter at this point in his career?
MW: Obviously not, or did you forget that that power bat in Glaus both wanted out and played on half a leg the season prior and missed 50 games? I thought it was incredible that Ricciardi managed to get as much for Glaus as he did. And where’s Glaus now? Oh, right, out until at least the all-star break.
- andrewMike what do you think about starting Tallet against Oakland on the weekend if Jessie can’t go. Jessie’s roster spot would be taken by Brian Wolfe for the required extra arm in the pen.
Based on the lack of innings the starters, except Doc of course, are giving the Jays how about sending Mac down and adding an extra arm in the pen. I am sure Bautista can PR close to as well as Mac.
MW: I’m sure he can, too, but I think if the Jays had eight in the bullpen, my head would explode.
- Tony from OakvilleGreat game last night. I was looking at the MLB trade rumors page off of Bastian’s blog and I was reading about the predictions as to where some big name players are going to be traded this year. People are obviously out to lunch on most of them! (Halladay and Wells included) But one that struck me was that Erik Bedard is a UFA after this season! Do you think the Blue Jays would go after him for next year? Maybe just in case McGowan can’t come back?
MW: You know that it just kills me, the UFA thing, right? It’s not hockey, please people! There is no such thing as a restricted free agent in baseball.
- BartMike,
BJ Ryan showed few signs of returning to 2006 form. He got the job done, but only after two hits.
If you watched the game on TV, I’m sure you noticed he consistently missed his spots. The accuracy just isn’t there.
Downs though… Wow… I think we have a real closer.
MW: Who said Ryan has shown any signs of getting back to his 2006 form?
- EricMike,
What is the status of both
Accardo and Janssen? Also,
any pitchers available rhrough trade?
MW: 1 – Asked and answered. 2 – Not at this point in the season, wait six weeks.
- Mark TrainDrunks’ website? What’s that?
MW: drunkjaysfans.com
- RoryMike,
I have to post this snippet from yahoo sports’ MLB power rankings.
Their assessment of the Jays: Great Pitching No: Hitting.
“They’d be a division front-runner if they played in the AL Central, AL West or NL West. … . Forget about replacing A.J. Burnett’s innings. I don’t see the Jays plating enough runs, even if Adam Lind and Travis Snider break out. They boast one of baseball’s least offensively-abled first baseman in Lyle Overbay, plus black holes behind the plate (Rod Barajas/Michael Barrett) and at shortstop (Marco Scutaro/John McDonald). … But oh!, that pitching: Jesse Litsch, David Purcey and (eventually) Dustin McGowan and/or Casey Janssen behind Roy Halladay in the rotation, plus Brandon League, Jeremy Accardo and Jesse Carlson in front of B.J. Ryan in the pen. Depth = good.
- Ton GHi Mike,
- marioI hope Litsh is ok.He didn’t look comfortable at all yesterday.It is something the jays really didn’t need.Great to see snider and the offence.Really nice to see.
GO JAYS!!!
Hi Mike,
Great win. Travis needs to bat third, NOW! Not later.
- marcCito’s confidence in BJ and Overbay pays off. All good, but if the young guys don’t start eating up innings, the pen will be toast by the all star break.
What’s up with that first caller on Jays Talk? Ragging on the Matt Clement experiment as JP’s worst signing? Whatever… Love the way you cut that little commentary right off. I’m just glad to see the Jays pull out a game that (in any other year) they should not have won. Also, I hope Jesse Litsch just pulled a muscle or something and didn’t hurt any ligaments.
The Jays see-saw (or teeter-totter) seems to be happening yet again – when they can’t hit they pitch well, and when they can’t pitch so well they hit lights out. Maybe they need to weigh all the pitchers and position players and make sure that their collective mass is not skewed too much in one direction.
MW: Now there’s an idea.
- Vavaour pitchin is def not where it was last year and our offense can’t stay this hot forever, but i hope they can be consistent enough to win us ball games even when our pitchin staff is giving up 5 and 6 runs per game
- MTSThe Jays have been getting into their opponents’ bullpens early and often this season. How do you think that Detroit, Cleveland, and Minnesota’s bullpens will compare to that of Boston and TB, who we will have to beat up on soon enough.
MW: It’s a well-known fact that I don’t love the Rays’ bullpen, but Boston’s isn’t bad.
- halladayfanmichael,
- darrell bishopcan this possibly be happening again? if this litsch (forearm strain) injury happens to turn into something serious & god forbid season ending ending surgery…
i mean c’mon please… janssen, mcgowan, marcum, now litsch too? sure you can throw ryan in there too but virtually every single young pitcher that they were counting on for their future all going down with season/career? ending surgery.
it’s starting to become somewhat laughable is it not?. i mean what else can one do when this is happening to your team?
stupid….
Travis Snider the next Papi? Apparently his nickname is Lunchbox!
MW: A fine nickname, indeed. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
- TarakI am not that worried about BJ Ryan yet.I suspect it is just something mechanical that he will work out soon.He may not get back to being the old BJ but even last year’s level,while scary at times was plenty good enough.I too am crossing my fingers about Litsch.We need him to be his usual self all year.
MW: Keep crossing them, we won’t see Litsch back for at least a month.
- PaulHi Mike,
A question regarding Johnny Mac and the 2 or 3 pinch running situations he’s come in for. On those occasions there was seemingly an opportunity to double-switch and remove Scutaro from the game, allowing McDonald to remain in the game and play SS. Why do you think Cito is reluctant to do so? He has McDonald run for a catcher (and I think Millar once as well) and then replaces him with Barret/Barajas/Overbay.
BTW, I love Scutaro and have no problem with him leading off or his defense, but Johnny Mac is on the team for a reason and it isn’t to pinch run (as good a base runner as he is).
Thanks and I really appreciate your work.
MW: The Blue Jays honestly believe that Scutaro and McDonald are almost equals defensively. I don’t agree, but Scutaro has played the heck out of shortstop so far this year and as I said yesterday, it now depends on where the Jays are in the order as to whether McDonald should stay in once he pinch-runs.
- JeffTwo words about Travis Snider: Holy crap
I’ll say!!!
M-dub,
You bashed Denard Span twice in this post. For why are you hating on Denard?
I think hes great, also, he has one of the better names in baseball. Only Chone Figgins, Frank Francisco, Emilio Bonifacio, Julio Lugo, Randy Wolf, Randy Johnson, and any other Randy Lastname Noun Im forgetting are better.
MW: No hate for Span. Is it hating on someone to point out that he got a cheap hit and made a brutal baserunning mistake? Truth is truth.
- slobberfaceHi Mike,
I did some looking and think I found the book that Doc reads. An article from 2004 says that he had read The Mental Game of Baseball. Also, The A,B,C’s of Pitching.
MW: There you go!
- KimBJ Ryan’s fastball can’t break a pane of glass, who wants a closer who gives up a couple of hits when he enters a ball game?
Time to look for an alternative.
MW: Ryan rarely touched 90 when he got those 32 saves in 36 tries last year. Or, to put it another way, sigh.
- JimI know last season you were reluctant to give Cito and his Coaching Staff credit for the turnaround with the bats after he took over last season.
My question is, how much of an impact do you feel Cito’s staff is having on the way the team is hitting to start the season?
As a side note, I must say that watching Travis Snider hit is a real treat. It’s tremendously exciting to have a top flight prospect like him getting regular playing time.
How impressed are you by Snider so far?
MW: I don’t think Cito and his staff could possibly have turned this group into baseball’s best offense. They’re doing a fine job, I’m sure, but the credit goes mostly to the players themselves. After all, will you turn on Cito and his staff when the bats inevitably decline? I’m VERY impressed by Snider so far.
- CamMW, That ball just comes off the bat differently when Travis makes full contact, like Tiger and a golf ball. But what most impressed me about him was this quote after the game..
“There’s a certain level of respect for the game that you try and have.But sometimes in those situations, you kind of want to stand there and watch it. You just try and do what you can, put the bat down and run around the bases the right way. It’s hard not to watch.”
I love that quote because is exemplifies both is respect and understanding of professionalism and not showing other up AND his love of the game. He has been through alot in his young life and whenever I hear him interviewed or read a quote of his, is shows his character is rock solid. Love this guy.
MW: So far, there’s nothing not to love.
- General Zodhey mike,
I think you like to be contradictory and you don’t agree for the sake of not agreeing. I am not criticizing you and there is nothing wrong being this way because it makes good radio. For example, a called said Burnett was a bad trade and you said Burnett was a good trade. Burnett only pitched one full year then he left. You are wrong about that one.
MW: You think I like to be contrary, no one likes to be contradictory. And honestly, it does bother me that I so rarely fully agree with any caller ever. Burnett was a signing, not a trade, and the Jays definitely got their money’s worth out of him.
- andrewMike,
Jays played great last night and I’m not worried about BJ, I think he’s rounding into form. You said a couple things last night that make me berserk.
1. “Can’t blame JP for Jays not making playoffs last year”…I absolutely blame him. With down years for the Yanks and Sox, Cito had the Jays play at a pace where if he’d been there all year theyd have made the wildcard.
Instead JP started the year with a minor league manager and a controversial hitting instructor who had only lasted a year with the Yanks before being shown the door. JP only fired the minor league manager when Godfrey told him the status quo wasn’t an option anymore. JP’s entire handling of the situation cost the Jays their best chance at the post-season in a decade.
2. “JP hasn’t made a bad trade”….Huh? Prokopec trade, terrible. O-Dog trade, brutal. JP is afraid to make trades now because he knows he’s not good at it. And shouldn’t the question be whether he has made a good trade since his job is to improve the team? His best trade was for Accardo who can’t even pitch in the majors now.
3. “JP hasn’t crippled the Jays with a bad trade and most GMs have”……..Huh?????
Off the top of my head I can name several who never crippled their teams with bad trades…Gillick, Alderson, Duquette, Dombrowski, Stoneman. In fact its harder to think of a GM who HAS crippled his team with a Gord Ash like trade for Mondesi. This is like tipping your cab driver for not driving you off a cliff.
Anyway. Enough of all that. I love the way the Jays are playing right now! I just need to step in when the JP rhetoric gets too thick.
MW: 1 – So much ridiculosity that there’s no point. 2 – Prokopec trade – very good gamble, didn’t work out. O-Dog trade – GREAT trade, but there’s no point in me expanding on it. 3 – I’m not going over everybody’s trades everywhere. Look, you hate JP, and it colours your opinion of everything he does, and you’re far from alone.
- ProkopecHey Mike – I think the Jays start is awesome! Especially since the young bats are a big part of it. The AL East is upside down, but I do think the O’s and Jays will be battling to stay out of the basement – The Orioles pitching isn’t coming this year and they’re a mess 3-5, so I think the Jays win 80+ but still finish 4th…but it is April and everyone can dream!
MW: The Blue Jays will not be battling to stay out of the basement of the division this year.
- GaryMike,
“When Ryan pitches, the Jays are 3-0. When he doesn’t, they’re 3-2.”
You don’t usually put in your closer when you are losing do you? And so despite BJ’s best effort to choke the game and the work of Jason Frasor the Jays managed to hold on twice.
Thanks,Eli
MW: Twice?
- EliHi Mike,
I really enjoyed watching the Rays spank the Yankees last night. Ah, good times, good times…
I particularly enjoyed that beating even more than usual because I was a bit irked on the weekend when watching part of the Yanks/K.C. series and the play-by-play guy (Michael Kay) and the color guy (David Cone) began talking about how the Yanks should set-up their rotation for the playoffs!?! I am sure you will agree Mike that this is just a tad presumptuous, given the obvious fact that it’s only April and the Bombers will have to beat out at least one of Boston or Tampa Bay, no?
Are these guys that delusional, or just a spoiled and jaded bunch after the Bombers’ recent 13-year run of success?
MW: It’s part of being involved with the Yankees. The playoffs are an expectation.
- JamieHey Mike,
I was on a Texas blog and a few fans were suggesting the Rangers should take a run at Halladay. I know its far fetched, but one package mentioned was Justin Smoak, Neftali Feliz, Saltalamacchia and Martin Perez. Now i know an offer like this is very unlikely, but if you were the GM would you deal Doc for a package like this ?
What is the other website you speak of ? Who is the Drunk?
thanks,
MW: Nope, and see above.
- rick“Just for the heck of it: When Ryan pitches, the Jays are 3-0. When he doesn’t, they’re 3-2.”
Umm Mike, Ryan should only be coming in games when they have the lead, so of course his record will be better then in games when he doesn’t appear!
MW: He hasn’t cost them any games yet.
- LoriRMike…Did the brain cramp by Span remind you of another similiar faux pas in the same venue?….Time’s up!!… Do you remember Lonnie Smith in the ’91 WS with the Braves doing that, allowing Jack Morris to pitch arguably the greatest Game 7 ever?
MW: It wasn’t quite the same with Lonnie Smith, but they both happened in the same ballpark.
- chris m.In checking score updates last night it was a little frustrating to see them get within a run to just give it back. Good W, and a 6-2 start is much better than I think anyone anticipated.
I don’t think Snider can hit #9 for much longer. Bumping him up 1 spot to #8 might make the difference in the RBI totals.
If Cecil is the callup, any word if Cito is going to juggle the starters so that the 3 lefties don’t throw one after another? (Richmond to #4 and Romero to follow)
MW: You can’t juggle the rotation when there aren’t any days off.
- Aaron KerLast post I mentioned about Jays fans being negative and you asked what I mean… see the first caller from last night…
How many guys on post game shows around the bigs are saying “this won’t last for the Jays”… which is exactly what they (well you anyway) said about the Rays last year…
GO JAYS GO!
- Luke (Halifax)Mike,
I understand people’s feelings that the Jays won’t be in the same spot in the standings come September but my oh my have the postgame Jays Talks been overwhelmingly negative. There are deffinatly some things to get excited about regardless of the teams record (which is great so far)
1.Travis Snider – yup he’s good. Raw power….I love it. With not much pressure on the season this could be a great opportunity to become familiar with AL pitching. Hopefully if he keeps it up he will get the odd nod against a less overpowering lefty
2. Adam Lind – Not bad I must say. Slugging % is through the roof and he is driving in runs.
Final thoughts…What do you think the possibility of moving Rios is if Snider and Lind continue to swing the bats? Do you think Rios will ever hit for Power? I understand he can do everything else, but I’m greedy and want a little pop.
MW: I don’t understand why so many people want Rios moved.
- IanIt really looks like these Jays won’t be out of too many games this year if the bats can keep up. The young guys just haven’t had the chance to get a losing mentality yet. You just don’t want to give up on these guys and def don’t go to the fridge for too long…
As for BJ Ryan, he will absolutely be fine, those calling for his release after a few games, you gotta be kidding.
The veteran hitters have to step up and Rios has to forget the “wall incident”; fly balls to him that used to be automatic are now an adventure.
MW: No, they’re not.
- GaryI’d like to know what the Twins’ pitching coach said to Ayala after the second ball to Snider. Whatever it was I can’t imagine he’ll use that line again.
- mattHey Mike,
I think your callers who “dis” JP are missing some obvious points. First of all, you need a bit of luck to contend in this league. A little luck last year on offense and some breaks go their way and the Jays may have made the post season.
Secondly, if there is anything JP can be criticized for (and I rarely hear this from your callers) is the fact that he didn’t get rid of John Gibbons and some of his staff sooner. This may be a legitimate point. The ball club is proving that Cito and his staff have had a huge impact on this club, especially the offense, and what may prove true this season, even the pitching.
Perhaps Mr. Godfrey should be applauded for suggesting a Cito come back last year.
Enough about JP. It is getting really boring. I would rather listen to a Billy Bob Thornton interview.
This club has been unlucky and many have underachieved, period. Perhaps this is the year they prove differently.
Thanks Mike
- garryMike, who loves ya baby!!!
- Vito From HamiltonOh and Mike, that 1st caller last night? No relation to me, ok?
- Vito From HamiltonThe acquisition of A.J. Burnett did not “work out fine” as you insisted on the most recent Jays talk. The 5 year $55MM sticker price proved to be highly misleading. His first two years were injury riddled. The third, contract year, was strong but resulted in him opting out. Had he remained unproductive or “injured” he would have collected $22MM for little or no production. (In other words the contract was designed to pay him only in a situation where he wouldn’t deserve it.) A similarly misleading disconnect between the headline contract and the fine print details occurred with Frank Thomas.
By the way, I am happy as a clam about the 6-2 start, positively giddy. Go Jays!
MW: The Burnett contract worked out fine. The fact that Burnett would have saddled them with a bad contract had he not been healthy last year is not a valid argument.
- Cleveland MarkI wonder how many “bunt” fans wanted Snider to drop one down again last night. I had one of my customers today tell me what a genious Gaston is because of the Snider bunt on Sunday. I didn’t agree with the Sunday bunt either. People always assume that the bunt is sucessful 100% of the time. I would love to know what the actual number is. There are so many other ways to make a productive out and the up-side to moving runners without giving up an out is a gamble that I’m willing to take quite often. You commented about the ball Rios should have caught that went over his head. He has many balls go over his head and off the wall this year but it seems that he rarely goes up to bring one down. Is he playing too shallow or why is he not getting to those balls? I love the way Rolen is hitting the ball right now. He hits everything so square and he sure isn’t afraid to take the “anti Denbo” approach by hammering the first pitch! The first thing I thought about when Snider hit his 2nd homer last night was about the Fred McGriff shot in Yankee Stadium. I heard you mention it on the Fan as well. I sure hope the boys can keep up the good hitting for a while because the pitchers, I’m afraid are going to require lots of offense.
MW: Rios has been climbing walls like Spiderman the last couple of games, he just hasn’t come down with anything.
- Dan from ElmvaleMike,
Thanks for keeping this blog as I know how time consuming it can be not only to blog regularly but also read and answer replies.
Onto my question/comment(s). I’ve watched every inning that Barrett has caught up to this point as a Jay and I must say he’s looked terrible. I’ve lost count on how many routine pitches he’s dropped, he isn’t moving around very well back there, there’s probably been around 8-10 balls thrown back to the pitcher where he’s either short-hopped it or made the pitcher reach/stretch with some serious effort, and at times, he’s really reminded me of Benji Molina’s season with the Jays (defensively). Any ideas why?
Now, is it me or does Adam Lind look like he’s a bit bigger and slower this season? A little tidbit I’ve also noticed. Lind is such a feast or famine hitter. Rarely does he go something like 1-3 or 1-4 but rather, he’s either 0-4, 0-5 or he’s 2-3, 4-5, 3-5, etc. It’s either a multi-hit game or no hits. And on the rare occasion that he does go 1-3 or 1-5, that hit is rarely hit hard, just lucky or softly hit in the right place.
MW: You’re not basing that Lind thing on this year, are you? As for Barrett, I’ve seen some ugliness, too, but I don’t think it’s that bad.
- Joachim TsuiHey mike
I just want to say that Lyle has a gun of an arm but wouldn’t Hill or Rolen come in second after Rios for the best?
MW: Nope.
- JamesWho is the “nick swisher” of the Jays.. meaning who would be the position player who Cito would ask to pitch an inning if required.
Secondly- I think people’s fustration with JP is primarily on his indecisiveness in some positions such as 3B and SS which have had a lot of turnover during his tenure with the Jays. I agree he has drafted well in pitching- good defence and pitching work hand and hand.
MW: I don’t know who the Jays’ Swisher would be, but I’d love for it to be Lyle Overbay.
- GarryMW – Overbay is one of the defensive standouts on one of the best defensive teams in baseball (see The Fielding Bible – best defense in MLB 2007 & 2008 combined? Your Toronto Blue Jays and it’s not remotely close).
I can’t find this info in my Fielding Bible. Any page reference.
MW: Late, like 381 or something, on “team defense”.
- KenHey Mike,
Im interested in your statement that JP Ricciardi has never lost a trade. I realize that this is a very subjective statement, but i have yet to hear someone suggest that the Paul Quantrill trade was a win.
I was not impressed with the trading away of Raul Mondesi for Scott Wiggins, Felipe Lopez for Jason Arnold. Im sure that you will tell me how they where not losses.
He has made some very smart pick ups however, including Accardo, Overbay, Glaus and Justin Speier.
MW: You weren’t impressed with the Mondesi trade? You lose your argument right there. The fact that the Jays could make that trade was miraculous. That said, Paul Godfrey made that trade, not Ricciardi. The Quantrill trade was a very good gamble that didn’t work out – Ricciardi is not a seer. Felipe Lopez wasn’t that good, and that trade certainly wasn’t a win. However, any time you can get a first-round arm for a mediocre shortstop……….
- Sean LafortuneThe 6-2 Jays hold a 1.5 game over the Rays, with only 154 games to go. Mike’s prediction is still looking good. And 3.5 games ahead of the Red Sox.
The most amazing thing about the Jays so far is the incredible level of offense provided by Lind, Snider, Rolen, Hill, Wells, and Scutaro. And it really has been incredible so far.
The pitching, as expected is looking a little shaky, and with Litsch going on the DL, it doesn’t seem likely to get a lot better. The Jays lead the American League in BB allowed, blown saves, are third in HRs allowed, and 5th from the bottom in opponents OPS.
- KenSince the Jays have put Litsch on the DL, why haven’t they called up Mills?
MW: Because he’s not ready.
- Sam McLeanMW – I didn’t realize how many people hate me, but I have to tell you, if you listen to the post-game above again, you’ll find I was right with everything. ;-)
And you wonder why people like to point out mistakes.
MW: Sigh.
- KenHello Mike!
Huge game for Snider. I like his powerful compact swing. This might be a bit overstated, a young Jim Thome? Know anything about the lefty they called from Vegas to fill the Litsch opening?
Peace in the middle east.
MW: Murphy is just a guy, a back-end-of-the-bullpen filler. Young Jim Thome? Wow, that’s a Hall of Fame track. Let’s wait and see.
- Matt from WaterlooDon’t you think Snider and Lind should play every day?
MW: Lind has played every day. Snider will soon enough, but yeah, I’d run him out there every day.
- Chas CalzHi Mike,
I was following the game on MLB.com Gameday (I don’t have cable, so no Sportsnet, and I live in Vancouver so can’t listen to the game online at fan590.com, due to MLB rights issues) anyways, during a pitch they show the speed a release speed and a result speed. My question is, which is the official speed that gets recorded in the stats?
MW: Speed doesn’t get recorded in the stats. The speed to which I always refer is the release speed.
- Brentmike,
although it is early in the year, the games still mean a lot.
A regular season game in April is worth just as much as Sept, so why do coaches repeatedly give chances over a large period of time, DURING the games? Could the tests (that determine the coaching decisions) come in practices, or pre-game warm ups, or that sort of thing?
I know players can make up 1 loss with 1 win, but still, sometimes it isnt worth it to give a guy such a long leash, and give up games in April. And those games mean just as much in September. What’s your opinion on that?
MW: Games in April very obviously mean as much as games in September, but a loss in April can help a team to two or three wins in September. Thats’ why.
- TheSunkenZealotJohnny Mac. Last year I had hoped to watch him dazzle us for a whole year…didn’t happen. This year I guess all we can expect is pinch running and an occasional start. Unbelieveable that a guy that is so good in the field is a spectator on most nights. Johnny Mac got one of the loudest ovations on opening night. He is a very popular player. In all fairness to JM, the Jays should let the guy go so he can play somewhere else and work his magic. Now I can’t argue that Scutaro doesn’t belong in the everyday lineup but I do feel for McDonald. He desrves to play. I listen to a tonne of games and in 2007, Alan and Jerry were in awe over his defence. What are your thoughts?
Thanks and I enjoy your baseball knowledge.
MW: My thoughts are that no team ever owes a player a trade “in fairness to him”. He’s the back-up shortstop, that’s what he’s here for. There have been no complaints about Scutaro in the field so far this year and he brings a much, much better bat.
- RodYou were right when you said there was a less then 50% chance that Snider would start against Perkins. I have Glenn Perkins in a very deep fantasy league and he is not Sandy Koufax. Come on Cito, lets play Snider against lefties.
- DomenickWhere’s Alan Ashby?
Also, just out of curiosity, why did you say Brett Myers was a very bad man? Thanks
How about that B.J.!
MW: Alan is in Minnesota, with Jerry. I believe Myers punched his wife in the face in the middle of the street in front of Fenway Park two years ago.
- JordieI think this is my last comment for a time, I need to learn more about the players and the game, so I can at least ask an intelligent question.
But here is my question – in a hockey town like Toronto, where it seems to make little difference, how many losses there are, the fans will come;
do you think that the true fans (whatever that means) will now start filling the stands. They should. We have waited a while for this.
MW: I hope so, but I think sports fans in Toronto are so down on the Blue Jays, with no good reason, that it will take them being in first place late in the season for the numbers to go way up.
- barbYou got me on the Glaus trade, but what about the Lyle Overbay trade where we gave up Matt Bush who would help us in the Starting rotation right now and we gave a young starting pitcher in Zack Jackson.
MW: They gave up Dave Bush, who can barely stick in the Brewers’ rotation in the NL Central. I’d rather have Overbay than either of those guys.
- andrewRios and Wells may be the worst 3-4 in baseball. Also, why is Bautista playing over Snider. The Jays play 3+ lefties this week. Why why why.. would Bautista play more in a week than SNIDER?
MW: A – ridiculous, 2 – fair enough.
- Vito2MW: Look, you hate JP, and it colours your opinion of everything he does, and you’re far from alone.
————————–
Come on, Mike. I am a Jays fan and I have no personal feelings for JP one way or the other. All I do is look at the results, and make an informed opinion.
Somebody has to stand up for common sense around here and say black is black and white is white.
MW: If all you’re really doing is looking at the results and making an informed opinion then I hate to tell you, but you’re insane. You’re also lying – maybe to me, maybe to yourself – when you say you have no personal feelings for Ricciardi. Try to think of
- Prokopecthe last time you agreed with ANYTHING he did. And yes, I deleted your attack on my integrity.
MW: If all you’re really doing is looking at the results and making an informed opinion then I hate to tell you, but you’re insane. You’re also lying – maybe to me, maybe to yourself – when you say you have no personal feelings for Ricciardi. Try to think of
the last time you agreed with ANYTHING he did. And yes, I deleted your attack on my integrity.
______________
Hold on Mike. You dismiss my opinon as prejudiced and in response I underscore an ovious conflict you are in and I’m attacking your integrity?
In your words: Sigh.
You seem to be taking this whole thing rather personally.
Oh and I respect the low key manner in which JP built up the best bullpen in baseball.
MW: One of the few constants about the comments section of this blog is that you have attacked Ricciardi at every opportunity. There is nothing he has done with which you have agreed. You have to admit that there’s a prejudice on your part. There may be a perceived conflict on my end, but that’s all it is, perceived. I deal in facts.
- ProkopecI’m surprised Snider didn’t pinch hit for Bautista in the 10th. I don’t get it. Would you not have pinch hit Snider for Bautista?
MW: In less than a heartbeat.
- BrendanOkay so I don’t get why everyone gives Cito so much credit, I’m just some kid and can clearly tell that pinch-hitting Snider is the much better decision. If Cito is there for the atmosphere and confidence he apparently brings to all these players, should somebody not be behind him making some game decisions every now and then? Somebody on this coaching staff has to be thinking that Snider is an obvious better decision..
MW: The move falls into Cito’s doctrine of “lose one now to win two or more later”, but I don’t agree with it in the least.
- BrendanOUCH!
- slobberfaceMade Span look bad on that one!!
I know you werent hating, M-dub!
Carlson and Downs are freaking NASTY
You know who else is looking pretty nasty at the moment?
Chris Carpenter
I’m a bit surprised Snider didn’t get off the bench in the 9th inning. 3 right handed batters faced 1 right handed pitcher.
MW: A huge mistake.
- Dan from Elmvaleand of course as i say Carpenter looks nasty, he walks off the field with the trainer…
MW: Oh, well.
- slobberfaceYou’re cold
no soft spot for Carpenter?
I’d like to see him do well again.
MW: No soft spot for Carpenter, though I wasn’t trying to be mean with the “Oh, well.” It’s only a ribcage strain, does that make you happy?
- slobberfaceLet’s hope Snider gets in this game and proves us all right. I’ll bet the Twins fans don’t want to see him!
- Dan from ElmvalePost #45,
- JordieYorvit Torrealba, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Chase Utley and Yuniesky Betancourt all also have FANTASTIC names. You musn’t forget the classics.
Well that sucked. When are the Jays gonna finally win one in extra innings?
- Vito From HamiltonIs there any way we can have Gaston run this team, with John Gibbons in his ear telling him how to manage the bullpen and use the bench.
I buy into Gaston helping the team somehow in their hitting approach, but his in game management just eats at me. I get bringing Downs in when there are righties up, due to Downs being absolutely filthy. But why bring in Carlson when its mainly a bunch of righties…were frasor,camp and league not available.
And why leave Millar and Bautista in to bat against the righties from the pen. I want a dang Gaston/Gibbons two headed monster.
MW: You have to take the bad with the good.
- Pee WeeMW: One of the few constants about the comments section of this blog is that you have attacked Ricciardi at every opportunity. There is nothing he has done with which you have agreed. You have to admit that there’s a prejudice on your part. There may be a perceived conflict on my end, but that’s all it is, perceived. I deal in facts.
____________
Actually, I’ve been fairly silent on JP this year because its a moot point.
Everyone knows he’s gone as soon as the new president is hired (who must be “insane” like me to want a new GM, ha ha).
Anyway, I think your earlier decision to censor my comments about your obvious conflict on this topic speaks volumes about you and your show.
NB – in my profession its considered a victory when you reduce your adversary to name calling.
MW: It wasn’t name-calling. I meant it in a clinical sense. And never did I say it’s insane to want a new GM, what I said was that if you believe that you’re actually looking at the results and making an informed opinion, then you’re insane. If you don’t like the guy and you want him gone, that’s fine. I also think it speaks volumes about you that you have the opinion of me that you do and yet you’re still here so much.
- ProkopecHey Mike, with regards to one of your callers tonight (Josh, I believe) commenting on Vernon’s batting average… I think he was referring to his poor average with regards to runners in scoring position — I think he’s been 1 for 10 (or 2 for 11 after driving in that tying run) so his BA/RISP was at .100 at that point.
MW: That could have been what he meant, but it certainly wasn’t what he said.
- adubI don’t know if anybody noticed, but Cito hates to pinch hit, double switch, and pull pitchers in the middle of the inning.
He’s also the only MLB manager if know who will regularly go out to the mound just to talk to a pitcher. He was that way in 92/93 won 2 World Series, and was still hated all over Toronto by those who like a manager who makes moves in the middle of the action.
My advice would be to not bother asking why Snider doesn’t hit for Bautista. Of course we all would have, and Cito didn’t. The best answer I can imagine is this: somewhere in a drawer at Mr. Gaston’s house are 2 world series rings. These rings tell him he did his job better than anybody else in baseball two years in a row. I don’t have any of those rings. He can do whatever he wants with the team, and I’m not gonna get upset about it.
MW: There are many who share your opinion. I’m not one of them.
- Greg WOh my god. oh my god. Wow. Strength up the middle does NOT include pitching. The caller kept going back and back and back to that. Wilner, your patience astounds me!
MW: He seemed like a nice enough guy, though.
- Josh#15:
Oops, my bad, I didn’t even think of it in terms of combining the years, but you’re right.
Anywho, you seem to have the idea that it’s cutting callers off that bothers others and I(Though I’m sort of putting words in your mouth and maybe that’s not the case). Though I cant speak for others, personally I have no real problem with you cutting guys off if they’re not making sense, it’s more your tone and words before you cut them off. You say you’re only rude to those who are rude to you; then tell me how the first caller had been rude to you? He was pessimistic and all that crap, but he wasn’t rude to you personally, he was just stating his opinion. Yet as soon as he said JP “wasn’t getting it done”(which you haven’t shown isn’t a valid point, or anything else he said), you got sarcastic and rude. You then retorted his statement with your “best pitching and fielding in the majors the last 2 years” argument, which as I’ve said, does not properly contradict the caller’s statement.
As for your LaCava argument, that’s still not proving your point. You can look at my comment at DJF again(around #500), but since no one knows what transactions LaCava has supported and which he’s been against, it’s *possible* that LaCava should gain credit for good moves and not be blamed for bad moves that his superior makes. It would certainly be an odd stance for someone to take, but with the praise LaCava has received by almost everyone in the game, it’s certainly not a preposterous one. Giving credit while not giving blame are not mutually exclusive actions in this case. Plus, there were specific reports that have LaCava as the “builder” of the Colon trade.
And sorry for the lack of punctuation at the end of my first post.
Rough loss tonight.
MW: I wasn’t rude to that first caller. He said something stupid at the end of a long rant during which he didn’t make much sense, and I cut him off. And I know you said that the pitching and defense argument doesn’t properly contradict the argument that J.P.’s not getting the job done. Big picture does. But you’d even say that doesn’t because the fact is his teams haven’t made the playoffs, which makes the argument. But that’s so simplistic as to almost be laughable. You’re going a long, long, long way to try to get that LaCava point to stick.
- Dan WMW: You know that it just kills me, the UFA thing, right? It’s not hockey, please people! There is no such thing as a restricted free agent in baseball.
There are free agents that require compensation in the form of draft picks and some that don’t, depending on where they rank on the Elias 2-year rankings and whether or not they were offered arbitration.
MW – Overbay is one of the defensive standouts on one of the best defensive teams in baseball (see The Fielding Bible – best defense in MLB 2007 & 2008 combined? Your Toronto Blue Jays and it’s not remotely close).
I can’t find this info in my Fielding Bible. Any page reference.
MW: Late, like 381 or something, on “team defense”.
Thanks I found it.
The Jays are the third best team for 2007 and 2008 combined. You’re right, it’s not remotely close, but the Phillies are in a class by themselves.
Philadelphia..64 + 78 = 142
St. Louis…..71 + 55 = 126
Toronto…….53 + 70 = 123
The Jays are the best in the AL.
MW: In order: 1 – There is no such thing as a restricted free agent in baseball. To use the term “UFA” when referring to a baseball player is unquestionably incorrect. 2 – You were looking at team defensive runs, I was looking at defensive plus/minus. For 2007 & 2008 the Blue Jays were 97 + 51, to make 148. Easily the best in the bigs. Next were the Mets at 114. Nice try, though.
- KenHey Mike
Leaving Carlson on the bump instead of bringing Camp in is acceptable when you consider that Carlson is tougher on righty batters. But no inserting Snider/Overbay borders on insanity. I like Citos personalty but the way he manages a ballgame is extremely questionable. Snider should not be sitting vs. lefties, it will hurt his developement.
Its easy to see why the fans love Cito, he reminds them of better days. I like the guy too, but the team in the early 90′s would have been successful with nearly anybody at the helm.
MW: Your last point is completely unproveable and a crutch that a lot of Cito’s critics used all the time back in the day. Much more talented teams than Cito’s Jays failed to win championships. Carlson is better against righties than he is against lefties, but he’s not as good as Camp is against righties when you factor in how things change for Cuddyer and Crede when they face lefties.
- RickMike – the Jays heave a great pitcher that they may end up trading by the deadline. They are not even close to the top 3 in the east. There’s no pitching? No McGowman or Marcum—Purcey? Has never even pitched an entire year in the bigs…they have issuea with Ryan…although I believe Downs could be a stud closer…still, I cannot believe you see a competitive team right now.
MW: No reason not to see one.
- GaryCome on guys, can’t we all just get along?
Anyway, East County sucks.
Anybody got a golf club I can borrow?
- Matt "Bleepin" Bushcan anyone other than barret or barajas catch on the major league roster…with jmac pinch running the few times he has I have been wondering should the inserted catcher get hurt if anyone can….i thought i remember hearing jmac has caught in the minors or something??? but he is the guy who pinch runs…just curious on your thoughts
MW: McDonald is the emergency catcher, but he’s never actually done it. You can’t manage to save the guy who might have to be your 3rd catcher.
- babs#102
Yeah, I’ll admit I am going a long way on the LaCava point. I think I made a good case nonetheless, but to each their own.
As for the big picture, I know the argument that you and others have made in regards to JP. I think I’ve made my case in the past, but I’ll try to sum it up as best as I can when I have time. I actually somewhat convinced Stoeten with it last year, but there are a lot of valid views on assessing JP. Either way it doesn’t really matter as I agreed very much with what JP did this winter and feel very optimistic going forward with him at the helm at this point.
MW: There are a LOT of valid views on assessing JP, I just never seem to get any critical ones beyond “he’s had enough time”, “they haven’t made the playoffs” and “he traded Cesar Izturis and Felipe Lopez for nothing/Reed Johnson/O-Dog for Glaus.”
- Dan W“Why should I suffer fools”?
I guess, Willrain and Wilner, it depends on who is actually the fool. And what is, actually, stupid.
I don’t think inaccurate or loud is the same as stupid, either.
And I also don’t feel saying how are you doing, the most basic comment in the language, is stupid either.
Of course,you KNOW how much
each of us cares, right?
Frankly, I think think being dismissive of people in general is stupid, but to each his own.
I’m glad you’re sure you know who being stupid, though.
MW: We all have our own definitions of “fool’ and “stupid”, but it’s my show, so I have the final say on who being stupid.
- David Morothat should be “who IS being stupid”(damn keyboard!)
MW: Yeah, it was the keyboard.
- David MoroHi, Mike:
Re post #51 — is it just coincidence that a poster with the handle “Prokopec” is so hung up on the Prokopec trade? I think this is the third or fourth time I’ve seen him mention that deal in this blog. Maybe Luke is/was the black sheep of the family?
- NormVW’s actual RISP numbers this season (based on 15 PA) are:
BA: 0.167
OPS: 0.333
SLG: 0.417
OPS: 0.750
and grounded into two DPs.
So far, he has 5 RLSP20, tying him for worst with Lind, among the 9 opening day starters.
With two outs, he has only 1 RBI, tying him for worst with Rolen and Snider, among the 9 opening day starters. There have been 7 PA with RISP and 2 outs, and he has a single and two walks.
These are the stats.
I’m not worried about VW, though – at least not yet. He’s looking more relaxed and confident at the plate and his numbers so far are generally better than they’ve been in past Aprils.
However, given the contract he has, fans do expect him to deliver more in the clutch.
MW: What’s RLSP20?
- Alan the stat geekMike will you be upset if Richardi is let go? And is he the best GM you have seen that has not had a playoff run. Do you think he ranks up their with guys like
Gillick
Bill Beane
Stan Kasten
Dave Dombrowski
You sure give JP alot love.
Lastly the pitching staff that you are praising JP for
Roy Halladay- Is not a product of Richardi
Dustin Mcowan-Is not a Richardi Product
Jesse Litch- Is very mediocre
Shawn Marcum- Is Good
Aj Burnett- Had one good year with the jays
MW: Yes. Those are the only members of the Blue Jays’ pitching staff over the last two years. Why does Ricciardi get no credit for the fact that Halladay is here, by the way? And I don’t know if he’s the best GM to ever not make the playoffs, that’s a crazy argument to make, anyway.
- ThomasMW: It wasn’t name-calling. I meant it in a clinical sense. And never did I say it’s insane to want a new GM, what I said was that if you believe that you’re actually looking at the results and making an informed opinion, then you’re insane. If you don’t like the guy and you want him gone, that’s fine. I also think it speaks volumes about you that you have the opinion of me that you do and yet you’re still here so much.
=============
Sorry to disappoint Mike, but I don’t really have an opinion about you, I just find many of your arguments regarding JP to be illogical at best.
My misfortune is to be a passionate baseball fan who grew up in Toronto when baseball materred and icons like McCown and Shulman prowled the post-game studio.
Now baseball isn’t as important in Toronto anymore, and the only post-game option put forward by Rogers is you.
Oh, mercy, mercy me. Things aint what they used to be.
MW: I find you hilarious. I can’t believe that you honestly believe some of the things you say.
- ProkopecIt should have been RLSP2O, so it is Runners Left in Scoring Position, 2 Out.
MW: How is anyone supposed to know that?
- Alan the stat geekIt should have been RLSP2O, so it is Runners Left in Scoring Position, 2 Out.
MW: How is anyone supposed to know that?
My mistake. That’s my abbreviation.
MW: Oh.
- Alan the stat geek