3:05 PM Eastern
After a couple of hysterical calls on last night’s edition of The Jays Talk, I need a break, so I’m not going to work tonight.
Actually, I was never going to work tonight – my uncle Norm is getting married, so I’m off to the wedding! Enjoy Roger Lajoie, maybe he’ll let some of the nuttier callers get away with things I wouldn’t. As the constitutional amendment to legalize police beatings for flag burners once said: “Door’s open, boys!”
Have a good time!
As for last night, what can I say? The offense is sputtering mightily now, and not even seven shutout innings from Roy Halladay could help. I knew that Rios’ and Wells’ failure to bring Aaron Hill’s one-out double in the 9th home would lead to all manner of rending of garments on the post-game, and I’m sorry it always happens to be that way.
There remains no question, and there never was any question, that the Jays’ 3-4 hitters don’t stack up with the best teams’ around, but it’s the overall offense, top to bottom, that augurs well for the future. Assuming this pitching holds up.
I’m PVRing the game tonight, because I can’t wait to see Casey Janssen pitch. I also can’t wait to see him with a bat in his hands.
Here’s last night’s edition of The JaysTalk, for your listening pleasure!
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Take it easy on Roger for me, will you?
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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Mike,
Can you explain to me how Halladay was “outdueled” last night? Or how Kawakami “out-pitched” him? At least, this is what a bunch of baseball writers are claiming.
Last time I checked neither pitcher gave up any runs and the winning run came off Carlson’s hand, not Halladay’s. Sure, the Braves got a couple more hits, but I would hardly call 2 more hits off a pitcher being “outpitched”. Well…Kawakakmi threw 66.9% of his pitches for strikes, and Halladay only 66.3%. Boy, was he ever outclassed, eh?
In my opinion, it is a STUPID thing to say; however, I would love to be corrected if I am misunderstanding the usage of the term.
Cheers
MW: I don’t think it’s a stupid thing to say. I mean, I wouldn’t have led with that, they both pitched really well. Thing is, though, Kawakami went eight innings of three-hit shutout, didn’t walk anyone and struck out seven. Halladay went seven innings of five-hit shutout, walking one and striking out six. Kawakami pitched better, therefore he out-pitched Halladay.
- Darren in Carleton PlaceHave a good break Mike,
Tonight I’ll keep an ear out for callers telling Roger:
“Yeah, Roger, that team sure did suck last night. They just plain sucked! I’ve seen teams suck before, but they were the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked!”
MW: I’m sure it happened plenty.
- JohnHey Mike out of curiousity, do you know how much money the Jays spend on their farm system?
In light of the whole Coyotes-Basille nonsense, the books for that team was released and Phoenix spent a good 4 mil on their farm system (sorry for drudging hockey into this) so I wonder since baseball have much larger farm systems, what kind of numbers it is.
By the way great job on the DJF podcast, good hearing you outside of the usual context.
MW: Thanks. I don’t know how much they spend on their farm system – at all. I don’t know how much they give the owners of the minor league franchises and how much the owners pay.
- CoreyMike, despite Zack Greinke’s microscopic ERA thus far, would you unbiasly concur that Doc still has a slight edge in the AL Cy Young Race at the 30% mark of the season?
MW: No.
- Anthony LMike i just dont undersatnd pinch hitting with Inglett when you hav e Bautista and Millar swinging a mean stick, do you know why Cito went with Joe?
MW: Because he hits left-handed.
- Kyle Shey mike
yeah you could definitely use a break as well a think the jays can. i was thinking maybe this loosing streak is due to the fact we’ve played the most games in the mlb with the fewest days off.
i’m trying my best to stay positive but no one is perfect. i couldn’t help but see last night doc was throwing way too many balls and for a pitcher who is known for getting ahead in counts and throwing first pitch strikes he threw more first pitch balls then i can count. but im NOT blaming him for the loss i blame the batting which again wasn’t there. doc deserves to be given the benefit of the doubt so ill use the early rain and the inter league play as reasons he got behind so much. just wanted to comment on that. enjoy the wedding
MW: The benefit of the doubt? Because he got behind a few hitters? What exactly do you expect from this guy? He didn’t give up a run!
- joe from new jerseyHey Mike, you mentioned a few days ago, that it is not our right to see 162 games on tv. You know what, your wrong. With the price that I pay for cable, and all the fixings, I have a right to see all 162 games. Especially when the Blue Jays are owned by Rogers who own Sportsnet.
MW: My wrong what?
- Jason DeneaultWells didn’t run out the ball in the ninth. He doesn’t need a break. Congrats on your uncle.
MW: Thanks. Wells most certainly ran out that ball in the 9th Friday night.
- BroomMike, If you were to make up a dream team five man rotation you would it consist of? Roy Halladay? Johan Santana? Tim Lincecum? Jake Peavy?
MW: Halladay/Santana/Lincecum/Greinke (prove me wrong, Zack!) and Tim Wakefield just to screw everybody up.
- AdamMW: I continue to be amazed that you can give so much weight to four games and so little to the other 43.
what are you talking about? did I not say that the jays are 6th in the AL in runs/game? how is that not taking into account all the games?
MW: What I’m talking about is that you said: “in each of the last 4 games that jays have scored in the first 6 innings a grand total of……1 run
in 6/7 last games the jays have scored in the first 6 innings a grand total of…..3 runs…..
it doesn’t matter how good you think this offense is, it’s all relative and the jays are showing they are just an average offense”
Skewed badly by the last week, no?
- pabloMW: The thing is, last year’s team was only an abysmal failure offensively for 1/3 of the season.
since the jays have scored 3 runs or less 16/45 games this season then I would say they have been a failure for 1/3 as well?
MW: Rios has been cold the last two games, but the 20 games before that he hit .317/.374/.537.
mike, do you not realize those numbers are actuualy NORMAL for some players like jason bay for a WHOLE SEASON, yet you consider that hot for rios. I dont know where you get your stats from but show me a WHOLE MONTH were rios was hot, not just a few games. rios’ ops for may is .827. that is not hot, that is normal for a good player.
the question you fail to ask mike, is how is this offense going to produce when rios and wells are struggling all season long?
MW:That’s not the question I’m failing to ask, it’s a question that doesn’t need to be asked, because there is NOTHING in the track record of either Rios or Wells that suggests that they’ll struggle all season long if they stay healthy. Except for the batting average, those Rios numbers are about the same as Jason Bay’s career averages, it’s true. But Jason Bay is one of the best hitters in the game, Rios isn’t.
- pabloHello Mike
I heard a caller after the Blue Jays 1 – 0 loss who thought that Overbay should have been asked to bunt a runner from 2nd. You mentioned that you would have had Overbay swing away also. I respectfully disagree, I think that the Blue Jays are in such a hitting funk that they should mix it up by buntting runners over, stealing some bases and hit and running.
I just watched Mr Wells send another ball to the left side of the infield. I think that everyone of his attempts last night went to the left side as well. Has he every been a hit the other way guy?
thanks, Marcus
MW: Isn’t trying to hit the other way the whole reason the Jays hit so badly at the beginning of last season?
- marcusVernon Wells has now grounded out nine times in a row. He does not have an RBI for the past 16 games, including tonight. Something needs to be done to help him gain a fresh perspective…
MW: To help him gain a fresh perspective?
- Markone more thing, even if I accepted your argument that rios “got hot”, which I dont, that does not give him the right to go back to being ice cold again! being hot is great as long as you go back to putting up consistent numbers again.
the fact is mike, rios has shown no sign of putting up consistent numbers this season. in fact he is looking just as bad as he did in april. that is not something that gives you a lot optimism.
- pablocito said that if he changed the lineup then he would be panicking and then the team would panick. huh? how do you panick as a hitter? last time I checked you still have to hit no matter where you bat in the lineup.
could rios possibly hit any worse if you moved him down? if not then it’s a no brainer to move him.
MW: Hitters can’t panick, because there’s no “k” in panic. Cito believes that he needs to stay calm and collected so that the team will follow his example.
- pablojays obp .277 slug .322
atl obp .342 slug .470
as alan the stat geek pointed out (nice work) slug has the highest correlation with winning 90+%
therefore you should stack your lineup with as many high slug players as possible.
- pabloHello? Blue Jays? Yeah, 2008 just called. It wants its box scores back…
- Rob_NSMike we are all laughing at you, that guy that said they would lose 15 out of 20 was giving them way too much credit!
But your boy Wells is sure coming through!
MW: You’re just as much of a piece of Samsonite as he is if you think he was giving them too much credit. And when did Wells become my boy?
- tony435 straight losses and still in first? #3 and #4 hitters not doing too good and still in first? Even when the Jays lose, they get the breaks.
These guys were told to be bottom feeders, but still remain in first and people call in and act like the jays lost the world series, I think Toronto just can’t handle a winning team, they’re so used to losing teams.
One question Mike, I really am rooting for Wells and Rios, two of my favourite Blue Jays, but they seem to be in a bad slump and I’m wondering, when is that breaking point for moving these guys from their respective spots? 3 more games? 4?
MW: 115 more.
- RussI really dont understand this logic of going with this same screwed up lineup. JP must be pulling his hair out. since when did wells become a cleanup hitter? the majority of his ab’s 2600 were at 3 and his ops there was .822. or at 5 his ops was .885. same with rios his best numbers have been at 1 or 2. put these guys where they feel comfortable
rios
scutaro
hill
lind
wells
overbay
rolen
barajas
millar
the offense was performing before in spite of the poor lineup, not because of it. it seems the only way rios gets moved is if he asks cito to move him. I dont know why he hasn’t. maybe mike you can ask rios if he prefers to bat in a different spot.
MW: The line-up isn’t going to change.
- pabloHi Mike,
I hate to say it but your defense of Rios and Wells is remnincent of your “prediction” that Tampa Bay would fold last year. One of them has to go and wells should be shopped because his head is not in the game.
MW: My “defense” of Rios and Wells only exists because the offensive that’s being perpetrated against them by people here and on The JaysTalk is just so over-the-top. Neither one of them is performing the way they should, but there’s NO reason to believe they won’t be able to get back to where they should be.
- MotiI know you’re a big advocate of using statistics as a tool for evaluating players and teams. Well if the Jays can’t stop the skid they are on they’ll finish the season 27-135.Seriously though, to all the callers complaining about Vernon Wells simply go to http://www.Baseball-Reference.com and compare Wells’s career statistics against any other Blue Jay. You will find he is the best hitter on the team. He traditionally hits better in the second half than in the first half. Its unfortunate Wells receives all this criticism while other players who’ve done nothing their entire career get a free pass. Now other hitters may develop into better hitter than Vernon, but for 2009 he is the Blue Jays best hitter. Topic 2: Small ball creates small innings. All these callers calling for bunts AFTER a player makes an out need to realize that the primary use of the bunt is by pitchers in the National League who cannot hit. Generally speaking the bunt is not used. This is for good reason: it surrenders precious outs. After years of study of tens of thousands of MLB games sabermatricians AND baseball lifers have concluded that if you play for only 1 run that is all you’ll ever get. Just ask Pat Gillick or Bill James what he thinks of a non-pitcher performing a sac bunt.
MW: I like this guy.
- Dave NantaisI’ve always hated interleague play and not just because the Jays seem to tank every year against NL teams.
The leagues play a different set of rules; all of sudden mid season games are played completely differently.
I don’t give a crap about watching the Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, or any other NL team because I follow the AL.
Lastly, it’s taken away a lot of mystique of the World Series for me. Before it was the champion of one completely different league against the other completely different league. Now it’s like one big league with some weird split where each half play a different sets of rules most of the time.
My vote – end interleague play or get the NL to play with a DH.
- Jim MaronMike…Baseball surely is a long road of peaks and valleys..Last Monday after the 4 game sweep of Chicago, we were discussing on Jays Talk that the White Sox looked lethargic, and now the Jays are the ones somewhat sleepwalking…I’m sure Chicago last weekend were wondering if Cecil, Ray and Richmond were Koufax, Gibson and Feller in disguise…Just as Wakefield, Penny, Lester, Kawakami and Lowe all seem dominating now, when they really shouldn’t be…Hope you enjoyed the wedding Mike and how many Beatle requests did you ask for?
MW: None.
- chris m.Hey Mike:
When was the last game that Jery Howarth missed?
Thanks,
Scott
MW: I don’t know. I know he missed a couple on the radio back in 2002, but he was filling in on the TV broadcast, so that doesn’t count.
- ScottHello Mike…Hope you had a great time at Uncle Norm’s wedding….Just hoping there was some emotion at the wedding Iam sure there was because you wouldnt find any on the ball field..Mike you seem to be believe that emotion has no part in baseball….Mike I disagree with that…If you dont have emotion in your job you I guarantee you would not be working for the Fan 590….I would bat Rios leadoff followed by Wells than Scutaro and cleanup with Hill…..By doing this you are going to force Rios and Wells to watch more pitches and hopefully become more selective at the plate…something they are not doing at all….Iam not concerned about OPS or Slugging PCt…its what you do in the clutch that matters…..the attitude on this team has to change and that has to start with Wells…he has to show passion and yes Mike EMOTION!!
MW: A show of emotion is just that. A show.
- Mark from Thorold“The team that hits together – slumps together”! Happens more often than not, a hitting slump is as contagious a hitting streak!
Getting to first place in your division in any sport is tough. Staying at the top is even tougher. I have no issue with this losing streak, it was bound to happen and for the most part it will cement these guys even more into becoming an even better team.
This Jays team is for real and their doing this year what they should have been doing the past two years.
Now that pitching is coming back, and anytime you have pitchers who have big league experience along with proven past success going for you – good things will happen.
Hey! Wake up people,the Yankees can’t keep up winning all the time. Yikes, look at Boston they win 3 against the Jays come to within a half game of first place and now have lost 2 in a row! It happens to the best of em.
This is going to be even more fun now! With 3 games separating the top 4 teams in the AL east, and the Jays still leading the pack. Yes, still in first place. What more could you honestly ask for!
Thanks Mike and keep up the good work.
- Bob from BurlingtonThe only frustration I feel right now is listening to last nights “Jays Talk” while typing out this comment. It’s pathetic. Please, dome of you out there, give it a rest. Your team is “FIRST” in their respective division, not last!
One caller says, “you just know the Jays are going to lose 15 of their next 20″! Wow, talk about a negative attitude, that type of comment is just pure and simple idiotic to the extreme. Further to that, you’d honestly think some of you Toronto fans were experiencing your first ever year of MLB.
Here’s some “basic” baseball knowledge for some of you. Sorry, I mean here’s a little common sense for some of you.
Hitting for Doc was without a doubt the correct and only thing to do. He’s your pitcher people – not your “go to guy” with a bat in his hands and runners in scoring position. He done more than his part to keep the team in the game.
Here’s also a news flash for some of you! The object of the game is to win, get it!
The emergency wards in the GTA hospitals must be busy these days putting casts on all the broken ankles of “fans” jumping on and off the Jays “band wagon”.
Good thing your getting a day off Mike. Man oh man, you sure do sincerely deserve it. Enjoy the wedding.
Keep up the great work Mike. Thank you.
- Bob from BurlingtonOne other observation. Since the start of the Oakland series (May 8), Vernon has come to the plate with 35 runners on base and has no RBIs. I suppose if Francona can give Ortiz 8 weeks, Cito can give Vernon quite a bit more time.
- Alan the stat geek
Now THAT is a scary statistic. There’s not much tension when VW comes up with men on base, let alone crucial situations. As for Ortiz: he looks woeful at the plate – you wonder how much longer before the Red Sox have to address the situation.
Mike, I’m not sure why you’re so firmly behind Janssen as a starter. His track record of 6-10 and a 5.07 E.R.A. meant banishment to the bullpen, where he was much more effective. I can understand why they needed him this year, but in the larger scheme of things isn’t he a stopgap until Litsch and the injured “M and M” boys (hopefully) return, and Cecil and Romero are given extended shots?
MW: As I’ve explained at least a dozen times, Janssen’s numbers as a starter were very, very good until he hurt his knee (and didn’t tell anyone) and went into the tank. He wasn’t “banished” to the bullpen, he was put there in 2007 because he pitched so well (as a starter) in spring training that they couldn’t keep him off the team.
- KenCito deserves to be tagged with last night’s loss, not Janssen. How can Cito send BJ Ryan to the mound in the 8th in a 1-run game? It defies comprehension. Why was Frasor not used in that spot? He’s arguably the best guy in the pen with that 4-0 record and sparkling 0.56 ERA. He’s thrown just 1 inning since Wednesday and has not been used at all in this series — both tight games, both 1-run losses.
If it was 8-2 Atlanta in the 8th then, okay, hand the ball to Ryan. It’s a score from which we likely wouldn’t come back anyway so any runs he gives up is irrelevant. Was Ryan given the ball because after lead-off hitter Lowe there was a left-handed batter due up and Cito wanted to play that match up? Is this the excuse? Nonsense. He has Carlson facing right-handers all the time — and a struggling Carlson I might add which, for some strange reason, Cito still shows more confidence in than Frasor.
It’s unbelievable. Two consecutive games where you’re trying to hold the Braves to a 1-run lead and Frasor makes no appearances. But he’s put in a game when we’re down 5-1 and facing Pappelbon in the 9th. That’s brilliant managing.
Let there be no doubt, if Sunday’s finale against the Braves turns into a blowout for either team you’ll see Cito hand the ball to Frasor, thus completely wasting his arm for when it’s truly needed. Cito’s done a reasonable job so far this season but has completely mismanaged the bullpen as of late. No more so is that true than last night’s terrible decision to hand the ball to Ryan.
MW: I don’t think it was as poor a decision to use Ryan last night as you do. But like you, I am mystified by his lack of faith in Jason Frasor. He really should be being used far more often than he has been.
- AlexanderSINCE I AM POSTING THIS AFTER THE JAYS FIFTH STRAIGHT LOSS WHERE THE JAYS HAVE SCORED A LICK… IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT ONE OF YOUR NEXT UPCOMING HEADLINES SHOULD BE “THE MAGIC IS OVER”?
MW: No.
- Ray VastaA Steve Simmons Sun article bit on Vernon Wells…
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Columnists/Simmons/2009/05/24/9553651-sun.html
Mike, I am not going to attack other people on your blog. But can you please communicate to your fellow media colleagues in Toronto to check the stats and history before writing something like this? He can have an opinion, but you can not lie about numbers – AVG, HR, RBI. In 7 full seasons, Wells has had a 117, 106, 100, and 97 RBI seasons, and just last season, he was on pace for 117 RBI over 162 games.
MW: Yeah, and Simmons also said that Wells is nothing more than a .265 hitter, which is interesting because his career average is .282 (even including this year).
- FrancisWell, we are a very lucky team. Despite our horrendous skid, we’re still top courtesy of the Mets and Phillies. Gotta love the Mets and Phillies!
The overall team does augur well for the future. And as you’ve often pointed out, Rios may well find his swing permanently at some point. Wells, however, is more of a problem in that his stats slide calamitously with risp.
Whatever happens in the future, we are in the here and now. The club has had its best start in years. I know management can’t listen to the fans, but management may want to give the fans something, because attendance is down. The guys in the bleachers aren’t proving that easy to convince. And if the Jays can’t get bums in the seats, they disappear in a puff of wind. Some kind or trade for a bopper might be required in order for Wells not to feel the pressure he seems to react so badly to. (Yeah, I know how ungrammatical that is. But correcting it would make the whole sentence sound soooo stodgy!)
If some proven hitter was hitting back of Wells, he might relax a little and hit better himself. No, much as I love Kevin Millar, that’s not who I’m thinking about. Vernon Wells used to be thought of as the franchise player. Which shows us how badly management over-estimated him. He’s a decent hitter and was an excellent centre-fielder. Now, alas, he’s a mediocre hitter and a reasonably good cf. With a huge untradeable contract and a bad hamstring. We’ve got to work around him to succeed. I don’t think the team will succeed with a big soft bruise batting third and noseasoned and formidable bat behind him to pick him up. It’s unfair to put Lind, no matter how good he is and will be, in that position. It’s too much pressure on a rookie and can only hurt him in my opinion.
MW: Lind’s not a rookie, he’s in his third season in the majors. I’m confused by your thinking that management should “give the fans something” – how about a team that’s in first place? And Wells hasn’t become a mediocre hitter – he’s just in a bad way.
- isabella reyesArencibia has now walked 11 times in 146abs. I would classify that as great news.
Last year in AA he walked in just 2.6% of his abs, this year he’s walking at 7.0%. Lets hope he can keep improving in that area as it would make him a really good hitting catcher.
MW: It certainly would.
- Jim MaronHey Mike, I notice how your always mentioning that The Jays are trying to “protect” Brett Cecil by sending him down to the minors. Are you refering to his future free-agent status. If so, can you please explain. Does Cecil need to pitch in “x” amount of games this year to make him eligible for free agency a year earlier? Also Mike, I heard you say the BLue Jays have used up all of their “emergency call-ups” or something along those lines. How many call-ups does a team have and how many players are they allowed to call up?
Thanks Mike, great show and great blog
P.S. When are you going to be on television, you should take over the baseball analyst job at Sportsnet during the playoffs, now that Gregg Zaun is gone
Cheers
MW: With Cecil, I’m referring to future arbitration eligiblity and injury prevention, as opposed to free agency. A player isn’t eligible to be a free agent until he’s had six years of service time, so since Cecil wasn’t called up until May, he can’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2015 season at the earliest, no matter much more he pitches this year. By going back down to AAA, the Jays can better control his innings, which many believe helps prevent later arm injuries. I have never said that the Blue Jays have used up their “emergency call-ups”, because there’s no such thing. I’ll be on television when they smarten up and ask me to be.
- Oz“…do you have a favourite or least favourite as far as coming-to-the-plate music? I like Lyle’s, Aaron Hill is a close second, and the worst, by far, is Scott Rolen’s. Judging by some references I’ve seen in here, I’m guessing you liked Zaun’s last year…
MW: I appreciate the tangentic effort, but honestly, I don’t really pay attention to the hitters’ walk-up music. Although, I don’t get how Scott Rolen likes Coldplay.”
This was from a previous comment of mine. Then, replying to the “Swept Out Of Beantown” entry, JW had a reply which included:
“Mike,
You are not allowed to get on anyone’s case about their musical selection until you stop playing cheesie 80s tunes. In your free time I’d half expect to find you in a purple track suit watching the breakfast club. Gross!”
I found this pretty amusing, and I don’t know if it was a response to my comment or something else, but just in case it was, I’d like to point out that Mike Wilner never said anything good or bad about the band or song. I did.
I don’t keep too up-to-date with music the last ten years, I know Coldplay is a popular band, and I’ve probably heard a bunch of their stuff on the radio, but I don’t know which songs are theirs. (that “theirs” thing again!) So they may be a great band with a lot of good songs, I don’t know. What I do know, is, in my opinion, that Rolen walk-up tune is absolute garbage. It is horrible. The only reasonable… uh… reason… that I can think of him using it is if he asked his young daughter(s?) “what song should Daddy use?”. My brother recently told me this is how he ended up with his jersey number.
The Zaun music, by the way, was Rush, though I forget which song.
My apologies, first of all, for using up so much space on a not too baseballish issue, and secondly, if JW was talking about something else entirely. (D’oh!) But I don’t want our gracious host here taking guff (guff! 80s that!) for what I say.
And I still say the cheesy 80s music rules.
Now that that’s out of the way…
As the great King Kong Bundy would say, “FIVE!”
Yes, this losing streak has been frustrating, but losing always is. I missed almost all of the finale of the Boston series, but 3 of the other 4 losses were games that could’ve easily gone either way. Even Keycil’s last start could’ve been a lot different if some opportunities were cashed in by the Jays.
From the start of the year, our Jays were sneaking out some tight wins. Sooner or later, some of those tight games are going to end up as losses. That’s where we are now. I hope this gets turned around real soon, but it’s May, and the sky is still up there. Ob La Di, Ob La Da.
Mike, I trust you had fun yesterday! For your stomach’s sake, I hope you indulged less than I may or may not be known to at wedditrimonial functions. Welcome back!
MW: Thanks. Without question, cheesy ’80s music does rule. The Zaun song was Limelight.
- Dilly in DundasWilner, stop sugar coating the disaster that is Wells who is in the top ten in Baseball’s committed salaries for position players. In the clutch, he ranks about 190 in all of baseball[according to James' formula]and has the same ranking for RISP avg. – .164. If one glances back over the past several years, he ranks well down the line in these categories. You’ll say its too early. I say its too late. An unmittigated disaster sitting shoulder to shoulder with Doc, who is simply the best athlete that has ever graced this great City. And to think he’ll be paid some 24 million for the next couple. Wells seems like a nice fellow mindlessly going about his denouement. PH
MW: Denouement? At 30? This is the issue I have with everyone. So many are so willing to just completely forget the first 10 years of Vernon’s career because of his crappy start to this season. It’s ridiculous.
- Paul Hustonhow can a team have a 7 game losing streak every year for 3 straight years!!!!
MW: It’s easy when you play 162 games. One of the teams that went to the World Series last year did it, and the other one lost six in a row (and 8 of 9). But when did the Jays lose seven in a row this year?
- gonzoHi Mike, Hope you are well?
If I can get in on the Jay’s talk this afternoon?
Can I give you my list of the worst five Blue Jay’s ever?
None of the current Jay’s are on the list.
Also I would like too get your opinion on why the Jay’s organization have not found a relacement for Paul Godfrey.
Keep up the good work!
I do enjoy the Jay’s talk.
Dan
MW: Sure you can give me your list. And they have found a replacement for Godfrey – Paul Beeston. They just haven’t found a replacement for Beeston yet.
- dan harrisonHi Mike, I’m Dan Harrison’s girlfriend; Sandra. Dan enjoys your show very much, to the extent that he writes notes etc. prior to calling in to speak with you. I was wondering do you ever allow anyone in the studio with you? It’s a gift I would like to give him.
MW: It’s not something the radio station tends to allow. He writes notes, huh? Cool. He’s gonna see this, by the way.
- dan harrisonMW: because there is NOTHING in the track record of either Rios or Wells that suggests that they’ll struggle all season long if they stay healthy.
mike, nothing in block capitals is pretty strong. how about rios’ 2003 and 2004 season? is that nothing? please stop pretending like rios is this “proven” player who’s never had a bad season. there is good reason to worry about rios especially since the jays are stuck with him for 5 more years.
MW: What about Rios’ 2003 season? In 2004 he hit .286/.338/.383 – nothing wrong with that except the lack of power.
- pabloMW: What about Rios’ 2003 season? In 2004 he hit .286/.338/.383 – nothing wrong with that except the lack of power.
you are right mike, every gm is just dying to have a player with a .383 slug
MW: Don’t change your argument because you’ve been proven wrong.
- pabloMW: I’m confused by your thinking that management should “give the fans something” – how about a team that’s in first place? And Wells hasn’t become a mediocre hitter – he’s just in a bad way.
You were at the same meeting as I was back in the winter. The team wasn’t expected to contend so management hadn’t and weren’t going to do anything interesting in the off-season. I don’t blame them for a second. Management didn’t ‘give’ us a first-place team. I’m sure they were as surprised as we were by the hot start.
MW: I’m sure they were.
- isabella reyesHi Mike, If the station doesn’t “tend” to allow it, does that mean that maybe you could consider it? Just for me. It would be a dream come true for him. Sandra
MW: I was just trying to be nice when I said the station doesn’t tend to allow such things, I’m sorry.
- dan harrisonI hope the Red Sox win today so the Jays can finally be knocked out of first. I am a Jays fan, but right now, they don’t deserve to be in first. They are a joke right now. Maybe staring up at another team in the standings will light a fire under them.
- Melvinwhy not bring accardo for camp, camp is barely below average?
MW: It’s a good question.
- nickYankees coming back again today. It won’t be too long until the Jays are back in their familiar third place to stay.
- CaseyI”M DISGUSTED!
- Steve from NJI want to take this opportunity to thank the Toronto Blue Jays. For a while there, I was actually considering going down to the SkyDome (never will I call it the new name) and watching some games this summer. But after this horrible display against NY, Boston, and Atlanta, I will think of some different ways to spend my time this summer. Maybe watching paint dry or grass grow. Either option is more exciting than this team right now.
- LanceWell Mike
Not a good road trip for the jays period. Even if they swept Baltimore, they would come home with a 3-6 record.
Things just didn’t go well for the Jays in this road trip. When the pitching was good, the hitting went south. When they showed a little hitting, the pitching went on them. That is probably the first time I saw Frasor hit hard this season. With a bit of luck, Overbay would have caught that sizzler by Jones.
The best thing about this whole week. Despite losing six in a row, they are still much on top of the AL east.
Let’s hope that they sort this whole thing out. Things are just not clicking for them right now…
Francis
MW: Ahhhhhhhhhh, reasonable and rational.
- francis xCan you tell me why Shawn Camp and Brandon League are on the jays pitching roster and Fabio Castro isin’t? i know Fabio is a starter in AAA but why not give him a shot at long relief or some form of bullpen role (plus the Long Relief role they haven’t really replaced since Tallet moved to S.P.)
?
And the bats have been dead during this now 6 game losing streak what’s it going to take for the bats to get going again
?
MW: Well, Camp and League have both had success at the major-league level and Castro hasn’t, for one thing. But Castro will get his shot soon enough. The bats will get going again when the bats get going again. If there was some tangible way to shake them out of their slump, it would have been done by now.
- Sheppard StripHi Mike:
Over a 162 game schedule, yes, there will be slumps. That said, I do believe to be successful you need to adjust/adapt to trends in performance and over the past 10 games, Wells, has had one extra base hit, 0 homers and 0 rbi. I’m not calling for his head (though he is playing below expectations) but I do think he needs to be dropped in order. Would it really upset his confidence that much? Methinks his pride might take more a hit than his stats.
MW: His stats are already taking a big hit. There’s no question that Wells should be dropped in the batting order, and it’s not about confidence for Cito as it is about comfort, I think, and he thinks players who are comfortable with their role are the likeliest to succeed.
- BrendonMike,
I have the MLB audio package, so I recently went back and listened to some Phillies broadcasts around the time Harry Kalas died. I found out something very unbelievable to me. They were saying that Harry was unable to broadcast the 1980 World Series because at that time, the rules said that national broadcasters could come in and do the broadcast ON LOCAL RADIO!
I was never a fan of your beloved Tom Cheek or Jerry for that manner. I always thought Tom was too much of a homer and Jerry was too bland and milquetoast. Even though I never liked either of them as broadcasters, it would have been an absolute disgrace if they had been bumped out of the booth just so some national morons like Dick Stockton, Bob Costas, or (God forbid) Joe Buck could take their place.
Did you ever hear about this before and if so, when did they change the rule to allow local guys to call the games?
MW: I didn’t know about that, and I definitely remember Tom and Jerry broadcasting the 1985 ALCS (I think), so I guess the rules would have changed by then.
- MookieI am so upset. I don’t think RIOS will ever be a 25-30 homer guy 100 plus RBI’S. I love your passion, but you have to admit that the Wells and Rios contracts, although they had to sign them at the time, are going to cripple our budget. Wow I haven’t seen a meltdown like today in a while. I love the Blue Jays, today just killed me. I hope they pound Baltimore. I would sit RIOS down for a couple of games, just like all teams to do give their players a day off. You are probably not going to agree, that is your prerogative.
MW: I don’t know that sitting Rios would necessarily help. I think the whole team needs a day off, though.
- Broom“It is always darkest just before the Day dawneth.” – Thomas Fuller
Do you suspect we’ll have an Inglett-Batista platoon in LF now?
Also, Vernon’s now 8 for 8 in SB. If his OBP wasn’t so underwhelming he’d be great at the top of the order. Most stats go down with age, but can you think of any examples of players plate discipline improving with age?
MW: Marco Scutaro?
- Uncle BenMike,
I know you tire of Rios questions and bashing but what would his value be in trade. I was always saying wait until his head catches up with his body…but I don’t think this guy has the mental toughness needed. He and I worry about Wells, just isn’t, for lack of a better term “A gamer”. His crocodile armed attempt at Jason Bay’s home run off the top of the wall in Boston did it for me. You just don’t win with that type of player.
MW: Rios didn’t short-arm the attempt at the Bay homer, he just didn’t get far enough into the alley. His value in trade right now is lower than it would be at any other point in his career, so there’s no point in trading him now.
- ItchyRashSuch fickle blue jay fans.
Yes it’s disappointing, but all of the AL teams struggled against the National League teams.
And I thought a certain broadcaster would never let up about Overbay missing a play hit to him.
And I liked what your intern said about V doubya. Apropos.
We had a great spring folks, settle in for the long run.
MW: My intern? I don’t have an intern. Overbay is a fantastic defensive first baseman, and he never should have missed that line drive. Had he caught it, there’s a chance the Braves don’t score any of those seven runs – it was worth mentioning.
- BarbThe Jays should send down Camp and bring up Accardo or Castro
- OzA message for all Jay’s fans!
- dan harrisonWe all have too understand that it is still very early.
It would have been impossible for the Jay’s too be able too keep up this pace!
We are all frustrated!
It is better that they struggle at this point in the season rather then later.
One thing that suprises me is the offence and some of the bullpen pitchers are struggling at the same time.
The last two seasons I have been very dissapointed and critical of the Jay’s.
In my opinion that was well justified!
This year I told Mike I felt this team would not win more then 70-73 games. It is still early and the team has proven it can hit,and I think they will hit again!
This is an early season slump!
Hopefully things will get back on track this week???
Mike,
Would you agree that Wells’ has gone from a gold glover to an avg to below average centerfielder in a matter of 3 years. If so, why the decline he’s only 31?
I don’t know if I’ve seen him make a great catch yet this year.
MW: I’ve seen him make a few, so that makes one of us. I wouldn’t say that he’s now an average to below-average defensive centrefielder, no. He’s actually only 30, but the decline from gold glove-ness could have something to do with the hamstring thing.
- Richardtoday was a perfect example of why obp doesn’t work. atlanta only had 2 more baserunners than toronto. so why the 8 run difference you ask? could it be…yes! slug% atl .735 vs tor .333
as long as you outslug your opponent you will win every time
MW: No, you won’t.
- pabloI dont get it. The jays lose six in a row and its as if they have not won a series yet this year. Folks, this team had not even lost three games in a row until this stretch. Players are just getting cold at the same time. EVERY team will go through MULTIPLE such spells in a season. In fact, I find it encouraging that despite the fact they have gone into a funk, they have been in FOUR out of the SIX games..and could easily be 3-3 in this run…….they have had 4 well pitched games out of these six and still lost…its just an aberration…if the pitching and hitting went into the tank at the same time..there would be more alarm…as for now…chill the eff out and get ahold of yourself. you sound like teen age dumped boyfriends.
MW: I REALLY like this guy.
- General ZodMW: It’s easy when you play 162 games. One of the teams that went to the World Series last year did it, and the other one lost six in a row (and 8 of 9). But when did the Jays lose seven in a row this year?
Tomorrow
Couldn’t resist.
MW: I expect more from you.
- Jim MaronMy intern? ok The intern. He talked about V W and it was on your blog. And I thought he had good points, it was what I had tried to say earlier.,..
It was worth mentioning that Overbay missed the ball, but he went on and on.
MW: Oh, Tom the intern. Yeah, he’s cool. I wouldn’t say he went on and on, so much as the inning went on and on.
- BarbI am a bit surprised that you didn’t put my peachtree TV comment on here. We can criticize the players/coaches and GM here in this blog, then why not the boradcasters.
MW: This isn’t the place to criticize the broadcasters, plain and simple.
- Beburg“Wells does not have an RBI for the past 16 games, including tonight.”
Is this really true ?? WOW !! And all this for the bargain basement price of $126 million. MW is right. He will get better, even Niefi Perez would improve on these stats.
“you are right mike, every gm is just dying to have a player with a .383 slug”
MW: Don’t change your argument because you’ve been proven wrong.
?? Say what.
MW: 1 – It’s true – Wells has done 17 games without driving in a run. 2 – His argument was that Rios was a terrible hitter in 2003 and 2004, and could very easily return to those levels. I showed him that Rios didn’t play in the majors in 2003 (he was actually MVP of the Eastern League), and had a fine year in 2004. His response was a shot at Rios’ 2004 slugging percentage. It’s an easy tactic of the poorly-armed to respond to being proven wrong by changing their argument.
- kit#46. I’ve been saying this for weeks now. Camp is CLEARLY the weakest link in the bullpen. Accardo should’ve been called weeks ago.
Anyway, this 6 game losing streak has put everything into perspective. One such losing streak is OK/season but another steak like that would mean the end of Jays playoff hopes. Now they’ve to play close to .550 ball to get into the playoffs.
MW: Wasn’t everyone saying that the playoffs were a cinch a week ago because all they had to do was play .510 ball the rest of the way? Does everyone understand now why those arguments hold no weight at all?
- BeburgEeerie how Wells and Rios’ stats are almost identical. Maybe we should nickname them the “mediocre twins”. Don’t see why you think there will be much improvement as the season goes along. Rios has had one really good season and got a long-term deal based on that. Vernon has been dissapointing for several seasons especially since he`s paid as a franchise player. I don`t expect everybody to be Roy Halliday, but from my observation, neither one shows enough passion for the game on a day to day basis.
The biggest reason the Jays won`t compete with the Yankees or Red Sox comes down to having inconsistent hitting in right, centre and first base. How many other teams have had a .260 hitter with limited power play first everyday (I don`t care how many walks he gets) for 3 years. It seems to me the Jays should be grooming Adam Lind to play first for when Snider is ready.
By the way, I hope Camp likes blackjack because he`ll have lots of time to play real soon.
MW: HallAday!!!!!!!!!!!!! And to the rest of it – sigh.
- Marvhey Mike,
I have listened to jays talk ever since McCowan was the host. Man the years fly by.
I hear you say quite often how you think the most important offensive (batting) stat is OBP. Most important pitching stat is not wins but ERA.
While I do agree with your view on ERA, I still believe wins are also an important statistic for pitchers. More on those views at a later date.
I strongly believe the most important offensive statistic is RUNS scored. Isn’t the object of the offence to put as many runs on the board as possible?
Runs scored = hits, BB, HBP, reached on error, SB, Wild pitches, pass balls and speed all contribute to scoring runs.
Just my opinion.
MW: A player has very, very little control over the number of runs he scores, besides the times that he scores on his own home runs. Runs scored is pretty useless in evaluating how good a hitter someone is. Also, I don’t think ERA is the truest single measure of a pitcher’s effectiveness. I’m not sure what gave you that idea. And wins don’t mean a thing.
- ScottMW – “I expect more from you.”
Just teasing..it’s just like the market – can’t get bent out of shape with the short term stuff. If you compare it to a golf tournament the Jays – the Jays were in the lead after round one and they just made a few bogies to drop into a tie for the lead.
I think this team will be there battling for the wild card with Tampa (yes I’m sticking to that one as well). I really think they could use another big bat – preferably a left hander.
The best part is this team is setup to be good for a while, so it wouldn’t bother me if they did fall back and made some trades that made them even better for the future. Either way it’s fun to be a Blue Jay fan again.
MW: You’d think it would be, but so many would beg to differ. It’s kind of funny, actually, I thought this was going to be the year that they’d be far enough out of it at the deadline to be sellers and really set themselves up well for the next few years.
- Jim MaronNot that Cito would ever change his lineup but I think if you look at this team now I would make the batting order out this way:
vs Right handers
Scutaro
Overbay
Hill
Lind
Rios
Rolen
Wells
Inglett
Barajas
Wells has a .798 ops (06-08) vs righties with a .317 ob. This isn’t knee jerk – the other 6 guys at this point are better hitters in my mind against righties. I’m not so sure I wouldn’t bat him behind Inglett vs. Righties because Inglett and Rolen both get on base a lot more than Wells against Righties. I’d watch Scutaro closely – if that walk rate started to fall to earth – I’d switch him with Inglett.
Vs Left Handers
Scutaro
Bautista
Hill
Rios
Lind
Wells
Rolen
Millar
Barajas
Wells may well hit lefties better than Lind by the end of the year – but I would like the right-left-right in the middle of the lineup.
It bugs me that the Blue Jays didn’t go out and find a righty that pounds lefties to platoon with Overbay. It isn’t exactly a hard commodity to track down a first baseman who can put up an .850 ops against righties instead of the .750 Millar managed over the past 3.33 years.
The more I look at this lineup the more I realize how perfect Adam Dunn would fit in the middle of it. Lind would move to left and Bautista could platoon with Overbay.
MW: Your first line tells the whole tale. I think seventh is a little low for Wells but you’re right, he doesn’t hit right-handed pitching well. I’d hit Wells fourth against lefties, though, and drop Rios to sixth in your machination.
- Jim MaronMW: You’d think it would be, but so many would beg to differ. It’s kind of funny, actually, I thought this was going to be the year that they’d be far enough out of it at the deadline to be sellers and really set themselves up well for the next few years.
I get the impression that was what the organization was banking on. I think the Jays are better than the management think they are.
MW: Better sooner, yes.
- Jim MaronMike, Do you know how fast Tim Collins is going to move through the organization. Will he make it to AA by the end of the year? Any chance of seeing him in the majors in 2010? Also, do you know whether they’re planning on converting him to a starter or keeping him as a potential closer or setup guy?
MW: I haven’t heard anything about converting Tiny Tim to a starter. He’s killing it in Dunedin, so he very easily could be in AA this season, which means he could certainly be in the bigs in 2010.
- IanMW: You’d think it would be, but so many would beg to differ. It’s kind of funny, actually, I thought this was going to be the year that they’d be far enough out of it at the deadline to be sellers and really set themselves up well for the next few years.
But that’s been the problem year after year. They’ve never been so bad that they’ve been out of it at the trade deadline but they’ve never been so good that they could be serious buyers. I think they need a really good dh and they’ve showcased a lot of young arms so far that could net them one. If they do, and the pressure comes off Wells, I think we have a chance this year.
Management has two choices–act like contenders and buy a couple of difference-makers or throw in the towel and deal, deal, deal. A lot of fans, including myself, will likely be p*ssed off if they did this, but it’s a valid way to go for the future. Either way, if they continue to be mediocre, they will continue to pull mediocre crowds and lose money. The difference between watching a mediocre team and watching a losing team isn’t important enough, in my opinion, to make a difference in the audience.
MW: You’re right, the lack of any real “sell” trades the last few years has hurt the Jays’ prospects. Look at T-Bay, with guys like Dioner Navarro and Scott Kazmir picked up in those types of deals. I would argue, though, that the Jays do have a really good DH right now.
- isabella reyesHey Mike,
I know you have heard about enough complaints about Rios and Wells, but I have 2 more questions I dont think have been asked yet:
1) What do you think is the contributing factor to Wells hitting .161 with RISP? Is it just a coincidence?
2) I think switching Lind and Wells is a good idea – allows a righty-lefty-righty element in the lineup, and might take some pressure off Vernon, and Lind has overall been terrific. What do you think?
ps. RELAX people – its still only May!
MW: 1 – Wells says he’s been having a timing problem when pitchers are in the stretch. 2 – I don’t have a problem with that, though Lind has had a horrible road trip. But it doesn’t matter, Cito’s not going to change things.
- Isaac O.Its funny how you can not criticize the obvious things like Wells/Rios/Overbay here without people rushing in with “its an abberation” retort…
Any other MLB city Vernon Wells would be getting lit up with negativity….The guy has stunk and been a major disappointment this year and ever since signing that ridiculous contract,but its even funnier that according to Mr Wilner and a few others..you cant criticize him without them posting some absurd and irrelevant numbers to somehow save them from it….
Now i have to listen too they have played ok during this 0-6 stretch….so now you cant critize a team that got blown out in boston and is getting man handled by a bummy braves team…..because apparently going on a 7 game losing streak is acceptable..hilarious !!
MW: See, this is about which that I am talking. No one is saying that Wells shouldn’t be criticized. No one is saying that a six-game losing streak is acceptable. What I’m saying is that Wells’ struggles over the past three weeks doesn’t mean he “sucks” and that the Jays losing six games in a row doesn’t mean they’ll go on to lose 25 of 30.
- Mikemichael,
getting caught up on the blog once again.
was wondering where you were sat. nite actually as i was listening to the post game show.
and just found the 590 am station on my satellite dish up north. what a god send. needless to say perfect reception for me in muskokaland now.
so let me know if you don’t mind michael. i am curious. how many bluejay baseball scrums did you hold court on at uncle norms wedding with all the relatives there?
i’ve got the over/under at 3…..
MW: With the relatives? None. With the non-relatives? 2.
- darrell bishop2 unrelated topics:
1. Chone Figgins’ contract ends after this season, correct? And he’ll have served enough time to be eligible for free agency. Do you think the Jays would consider making him an offer (do they even have a chance?)?
I can see two effective ways in which he could be used:
a) shortstop – despite the fact that it would be very tough to have to break such news to Scutaro
b) center field – move Wells to left, with Lind at DH
2. A buddy of mine made this point to me, and I thought I’d see what you think: During interleague play, why not have the home team play by opposite rules (i.e., move the DH rule to the NL)?
Given that the whole premise of interleague play is kind of gimmicky in the first place (I think), it would only improve the purpose of the whole situation in my opinion. One of my favourite parts of interleague play (and there aren’t many), is seeing AL Pitchers bat, and you’d actually get to see it live in your own hometown if it worked this way. What do you think?
MW: 1 – Desmond DeChone Figgins will indeed be a free agent after this season, but there’s nothing in his CV that indicates he can be a good-fielding shortstop. Still, he’d be a terrific asset on this team. 2 – I love the idea, and have been a proponent of it for a few years now.
- Matt