12:30 AM Eastern
Remember that good feeling I had after last night’s game?
Sigh.
Here’s tonight’s edition of The JaysTalk, for your listening pleasure:
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Some of you are really going to have to give Edwin Encarnacion a bit of a break.
On Baseball Today Thursday at noon Eastern, we’ve got Frank Viola and Mike Lowell, and hopefully one of Adam Loewen or Rene Tosoni will pop on, as well. Friday, Ricky Romero will be live in-studio, taking your phone calls!
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome. Stupid, rude and insulting comments will be deleted.
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Hey Mike,
There has obviously been a lot of confusion over the Super 2 arbitration eligibility as it pertains to Travis Snider. Mark Zwolinski’s article on August 18th on this issue seems to have made matters worse by confusing fans even more. Where is Zwolinski coming up with his numbers? 50 more days of MLB service to qualify for Super 2 status? The Jays can avoid this all as long as they bring him up on Thursday or after? I wish it was that simple.
Here’s my take on the situation. Let me know if I don’t understand it properly. First of all, this has to do with Snider reaching Super 2 status at the end of the 2011 season, at which point he would qualify for arbitration. Assuming Snider is in Toronto for the remainder of 2009, and all of 2010 and 2011, he will have accumulated about 2.7 years of MLB service. Snider would qualify for arbitration as a Super 2 if his amount of service time ranks in the top 17% for players who have between 2-3 years of MLB service, and those who had a minimum of 86 days of service in the preceding year.
One could argue that 2.7 years of service would put him in the top 17%, but one could argue the opposite as well. The point is that we’re talking about something that is 2 years in the future and there are too many variables to treat this matter as an exact science. I understand that you can make an educated guess, largely based on the average amount of MLB service in past years that have qualified players for Super 2 status, but even those numbers are simply estimates.
Zwolinski seems to think that this is a black-and-white issue when he says, ‘But the Jays could avoid all of this by bringing Snider up on Thursday’. If it really was that simple, don’t you think JP (no matter how bad of a GM some fans think he is) would have just waited the 2 days, thus not risking the club millions of dollars? There isn’t a GM in the league who wouldn’t follow such a simple rule, (assuming that it existed) in mid-August when his team is not in playoff contention.
There are indeed other factors that influenced the Jays calling Snider up at this particular time. We shouldn’t think that the timing of his call-up was entirely an issue of his Super 2 status.
MW: No, but it was mostly an issue of his Super 2 status. But with everything else, you’re exactly right.
- SteveMichael,
What do you use to pull up stats on a player or a team?
MW: Lots of stuff, but mostly baseball-reference.com.
- Brent from SarniaHey Mike
Just read one of your responses the other day regarding the Doc Halladay trade discussions. If the Red Sox actually offered Buchholz, Masterson, Hagadone and Bowden for Doc, and JP passed, he is out of his mind. No way he gets an offer like that at the deadline next year. If that offer was on the table, don’t you think he should have jumped at it? Its a hell of a lot better than a couple of 1st rounders when Doc walks after the 2010 season.
MW: I don’t believe: A – that the Red Sox ever made that offer, and 2 – the Jays will get to the point where Halladay might walk for just draft picks (unless they’re a playoff contender next July 31st.).
- rickSeeing as how you have been playing GM lately in your blog (which I like, I love some of the ideas you throw around, keep it up!) would you trade Doc in the offseason or no? My logic is that they should trade him even if they get a deal similar to the one the Indians got for Lee. If he decides to go to free agency then all we get is two draft picks that may or may not pan out. If we trade him then we could get two prospects who have “every day” player potential and have already done well in the minors and are just on the verge of the big leagues, instead of three years away which is what the draft picks would be. And thats if they make it that far. Ideally the Jays could get a shortstop and third baseman for the future who have done well in AAA and then young pitchers in the A level.
Now obviously I think the deal should be a step up from the Cliff Lee trade, but I think it makes more sense to get a deal similar to that than taking our chances that the two prospects will work out. So as GM what would you do?
MW: It depends on whether or not the payroll goes up. If it does, I keep Halladay and try to build an extremely strong team around him. If it doesn’t, I would do my best to get a package more along the lines of the Erik Bedard/Bartolo Colon deals, and if I don’t get what I want, likely keep Halladay and move him during the season.
- RichieI don’t understand why people are being so critical of JP for not signing these top picks. I am not a JP fan but I don’t understand what the people want. The only way he was going to get these picks signed is if he way overpays for them. If he does that then everyone would have been screaming that JP just gives away the Jays money and he should be gone immediately. So he actually decides to not overpay and just say no after making a modest offer. But people still feel this is his fault? What people should be more concerned about is how greedy these kids are. They haven’t proven anything at the major league level and they think they should get everything on a silver platter? Ridiculous. Thank you Scott Boras
Anyway, Fire JP but not for this. Tell the kids that they can go sit on the sidelines. Its actually refreshing to see JP not give in and say no to these brats wanting their millions. Just imagine how much Bryce Harper is going to demand next year. I’m guessing around 30 Million guaranteed. I pray to the baseball gods that the draft signings will change soon.
MW: I think they will.
- RichieHey Mike,
Little disappointed in you. You are usually right on top of the stats when people ask. Often to the point of being absurdly quick and accurate.
On Rolen versus E5 on defence (fangraphs/UZR):
Rolen looks to be a +10 Runs above replacement while Encarnacion is -10 Runs above replacement. In win terms, at about 10 runs/win that’s 2 extra wins a season with Rolen on defence.
Also, sorry Derby is pronounced Darbee when speaking of a) the city in England or b) cross-town football matches. I hate it but it’s true.
Sorry to disagree with you on two points, love the show, love the blog. Great to have an analytical, non-reactionary voice keeping Jays fans in check.
Mark
MW: I’m trying to find a place where I can get updated defensive plus/minus numbers, I’m glad that you’re at least bringing the updated UZRs. As for the Derby/Darby thing – I disagree. It’s the British pronunciation. Here we say “Derby”, there, they call the run for the roses the “Kentucky Darby”.
- MarkMike:
Post #2 yesterday asked about run differential and W-L records. Here is a neat article about the statistical oddity that was the 2005 Jays record.
Even cooler was the fact that the Indians did the same thing in 2006.
http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=2005112315035768
- James (from the Church of the Double Steal)Not much fun at all.
Nobody told me there’d be days like these. Strange days indeed.
However Randy Ruiz continues to hit, fastballs and all. So I am quite encouraged that we may have found a decent bopper to play dh for at least the beginning of next season.
As you know, I’d like us to lose big because I surely don’t see any point in ending up 4th. Playing for pride is all very well. Playing for a good draft pick is better.
By the way, where is Sean Marcum?
MW: The draft pick strategy is a lot better suited for the other major sports. Marcum is home in Kansas City awaiting the birth of his child.
- isabella reyesHi MIke,
I was wondering if anyone had issues with Adam Lind? I think he is doing pretty well and I would not like to think about where the Jays would be without him in the lineup. Yet there was a time last year when the Jays called him up from Vegas and he went 0 for 21 as I recall and was promptly shipped right back down until Cito took over and brought him back to stay. If we had judged Adam permanently based on those first 21 at bats, would that have been a fair assessment of his potential? I dont think so…and I’m sure others will agree. Your comments about Edwin fall into the same category. He is not Scott Rolen and few are, but he could end up being a very solid part of a winning Blue Jays line up. Thanks for what you do Mike…I appreciate it.
MW: You’re welcome. Lind was 1-for-19 in that brief call-up last season.
- Frank EngelageHey Mike,
Love the blog, why not move Encarnacion down the batting order to the #9 spot and have Snider take his spot. It might give Snider a few extra at bats with RBI potential.
How many runners did Encarnacion leave on base last night?
MW: Snider will be moved up slowly as the season progresses, I hope. Encarnacion left five runners on base last night.
- KevinHey Mike,
To further the squeezing, i got home from softball last night and caught the last few innings. Roenicke went
1-0 against Martinez on a ball, he then throws a strike at the knees literally right down the plate which the ump called a ball. Martinez moved back off the plate like he thought it was a good pitch he laid off of. I spent the last hour watching the game, and I had no idea that Halladay himself wasn’t getting close calls, I understand Roenicke getting squeezed, but not Halladay.
MW: There was a lot of squeezing going on last night – the umpiring as a whole wasn’t good, but it can’t be blamed for the outcome.
- paoloHi Mike,
I had the (mis)fortune of being at the game last night, and without having listened to the web-version of the call in show last night, I will make my point regardless;
The umpiring tonight, both in the field and behind the plate, was, for whatever reason, particularly terrible. The play at first base, with Youkilis being called ‘safe’, for reasons beyond me, was ridiculous. I’m hoping that some of the calls from last night are reviewed by those with the power to do so.
I guess it was kind of neat that I was there to see a real oddity last night: Roy Halladay, Human After All.
Thanks, Mike.
Jeff in London
MW: The call on Youkilis was, indeed, terrible.
- JeffAnti-spam word is onenerate…wow.
Mike, I’m happy to see Snider back up with the club. My wife and I were watching the first game back and when he came up to bat for the first time, we both said ‘wow, has he lost weight?’ So I wonder, is my HD playing tricks on us, or do you know if part of getting his back feeling better included losing (NOT loosing) a few pounds?
Chris
MW: He looks a bit smaller to me, too, up top. But just a bit.
- ChrisMike…I hope the disgruntled callers and bloggers aren’t getting to you. Here’s hoping the blog doesn’t become like the car insurance industry where a few bad drivers spoil it for everyone. Mike, you are the best source of baseball I know and most of us fans really love discussing baseball with you, and I readily admit that you have great patience and given your knowledge (not just baseball either) I couldn’t do what you do. Like you tell us repeatedly, it’s only baseball, not life or death…Thanks for your ongoing efforts and it’s sincerely appreciated from this end.
MW: Thanks.
- chris m.I really would like the Jays not to waste any spots in their line up next year with marginal players(Dellucci, Inglett, Millar, and to some extent Macdonald), also Overbay has to be moved to make room for a power bat. I don’t hate Overbay, but he hasn’t come around since his injury and continues to take to many pitches when his role in the line up is to drive in runs. I think the organization has to have the approach that it is going for a championship, not simply to be competitive–this is the only way it is going to define the type of team it will take to win outright. The Jays next year will need reliable offense and a bullpen of actual arms, not the ‘finesse’ arms(ie. Tallet, Camp, Carlson, Downs, and now Janssen) they have been relying on this year. They have to fill some of the bullpen spots with the best organizational arms that fall out of the starter mix. You have to admit that what Colangelo has done on the basketball side with a cap, making every acquisition a relevant piece of a team, cannot be done without a strong sense of direction and willingness to make any adjustment to accomplish his vision.
MW: There are only 12 players on an NBA roster, so there’s a far greater percentage of those who are “relevant pieces”. I think Colangelo has done a nice job putting a team together, changing things around, for sure. But many people said exactly the same thing about him at this time last year. I’d like the Jays not to use any replacement-level players in their line-up next year, too.
- Will, OshawaHey Mike,
I’m pleased to see that you responded to my last comment, at least, partially anyway. I didn’t intend for you to take it the wrong way. I thought you were mad at me and i thought i was cut off.
I’m not gonna stop reading or listening though because i love this team and i love baseball in general. I’m also not going to stop commenting if i disagree with you, i just wish i knew what sort of stuff you don’t want to deal with because it would be alot easier that way. Hope that’s okay…
thanks mike
MW: Disagreeing is fine, but as I’ve said many times, I’m not going to deal with rudeness or obscenity, snark or insults, or questions about integrity.
- quinnerMike,
Do you think Roy Hallday pitched poorly last night because BJ Ryan is no longer with the organization anymore? -lol
- RajWhat this team needs in the offseason is a good old fashion trade. Seems like forever since we had one. We have pitching depth right now and need to trade some of these arms for a good bat. Even if the Jays have money to spend on free agents it won’t be enough to compete with the two cash cows. Let’s hope the gm can pull off a trade like the one TB pulled with Minnesota to get Garza and Bartlett which to me is the one element that put TB over the top even with all the young talent they had.
MW: Wasn’t Glaus for Rolen a good, old-fashioned trade?
- StratWilner,
How many starts does Doc have left this year? Is 20 wins going to be a stretch? Without his hunt for a possible cy young, I have no idea why there is reason to watch this team the remainder of the season.
Oh and as for Encarnacion, I think the fans have seen this before in guys like Mench, Wilkerson, Delucci, etc…
MW: Those guys aren’t in the same neighbourhood as Encarnacion.
- BobbyHow is Shawn Camp still employed by the Blue Jays? He is just awful.
MW: Except that he’s not.
- Tony FernandezMike … thanks for working hard and going after this blog day after day. I told you at the beginning of the year I thought this team might win 70 games, however you disagreed with me and I get that. However, this team is unfortunately proving me right. I don’t feel good about it, but here is what I believe the problem is, it is not the talent, it is at this time the mood spun out by the management, and I don’t mean just JP. We have heard for years that we think this is the year, or we are building for next year, and next year comes and we inevitably have a slow start and a hot September or this year a hot start and a no show in the final months of the year. There is just an attitude hanging over this club, and Cito provided a breath of fresh air early on, but then he has slipped back to the same attitude he had before he was fired last time. This team needs some fire from it’s manager, that comes out in the players. We don’t need players playing laid back like the manager manages. We need an Ozzie Guillen type as manager and a riverboat gambler like Kenny Williams as a GM. The fan base does not just reside in Toronto, if they turn this thing on, they turn this country ono.
Once again, thank you Mike.
Bob in Calgary
MW: Kenny Williams and Ozzie Guillen have combined to make the playoffs twice in one of baseball easiest divisions in six years, so that’s not a great example. And wasn’t John Gibbons criticized for being too fiery a manager? The Jays would have to lose 2/3 of their games the rest of the way to wind up a 70-win team, and I don’t see that happening.
- BobWow, if those are the callers who got through last night, I’m afraid to ask who your screener turned away.
- Chuck VEdwin Encarnacion, like the name! but, I agree with you Mike it is only two weeks!
Question: When Jerry and Alan say a pitcher got him in 1,2and 3 what does that mean in outs or strikes?
MW: I don’t know that I’ve ever heard “got him in 1, 2 and 3″. I would assume that you mean “got them 1, 2, 3″ – which would refer to outs.
- Raps FanHey Mike,
1. A lot’s been made about the failure to sign three of our top four picks. The only one I’m really bummed about is Barrett. He was throwing in the high 90′s as a 17 year old. I’m kind of gobsmacked that Eliopoulos didn’t sign. Maybe he just wanted to go to College. Get learned. Paxton didn’t have very good numbers last year in College. Good stuff and all, but as of yet, doesn’t seem to know what to do with it. This was, according to BA anyways, a weak draft year. So sticking to their guns might have been the best move. Marsinick looks like a great sign. (I’ve probably spelled all of their names wrong.)
2. On your show yesterday, you and Mr. Scout were talking about how the kids and money has changed the draft. Don’t you think that the rule change, keeping unsigned top picks for the following year, has had a really big impact? I think it’s played a big role in the Jays, for example, going after riskier high school picks?
3. Finally, I gotta say that I love your Hardy idea. (You should seriously pitch it to JP!) I love Figgins too. Hill to third and Hudson? Not so much. Jason Bay would look good in the 4 hole. Figgins at 1.
4. Also, I doubt we’ll get a first for Scutaro. I think sandwich and a 2 is the best we’ll get. (ie. Either a bottom team or a team that’s signed multiple type A’s.) I mean, would you give up a top thirty for him?
MW: 1 – Don’t be bummed out about Barrett not signing. I think, by the way, that you spelled all their names right. 2 – It certainly has. 3 – What’s wrong with Hill to third and Hudson? 4 – It’s a reasonable contention. But why would a bottom team be interested in a 33 year-old shortstop with one good year on his resume?
- petemichael,
i almost took out a smart car in the lane beside me this morning driving downtown as i heard jerry’s game summary.
did i hear him right? that was the first start in like 43 that halladay hasn’t got himself to at least the 6th inning of a ballgame?
i’m thinking that’s a pretty decent sample size to clearly illustrate pitching proficiency.
surely that’s got to be close to some kind of a record michael.
who was the last guy to do that…. for me, bob gibson or steve carlton immediately comes to mind… amazing……
MW: I can’t believe you’d have to go back that far to find someone else with a streak like that (not including removals due to injury) – anyone want to try to check?
- darrell bishopAs good as the young arms looked this season you can’t depend on 3 of them for next season if they plan on contending? first wont there be an innings limit? i think one more 3rd or 4th starter will do, what sp are available for next year?w
MW: I don’t think there’ll be much of an innings limit on Romero and Cecil next season. Some of the available starters for next year (you could have looked this up on the internets, too, you know) are Erik Bedard, Justin Duchscherer, Rich Harden, John Lackey, Brad Penny, Joel Pineiro and Jarrod Washburn.
- nickHey Mike,
What do you think about just plain keeping encarnacion and seeing how he develops. He hit 26 HR’s last year and he was 25 then so he can only improve on that, and if his throwing arm needs some work still put him at dh he is a good hitter that we cannot afford to ignore.
MW: He can only improve on that? All evidence to the contrary.
- JasonHello Mike, after the Jays couldn’t sign their two Canadian draft picks I was just wondering what the Jays signed Snider & when was he picked…Thanx
MW: Snider was picked 14th overall, and signed for a $1.7 million bonus.
- david FHi Mike,
Just wondering, if the Jays lose Scutaro in free agency they will get 2 draft picks? So, won’t they lose them if they sign a comparable replacement?
MW: No, they’d only lose one. The second pick that teams get when a free agent signs is created out of thin air. And if the Jays don’t finish in the top half of the major leagues, they would lose a second-rounder, not a first, for signing a Type A free agent.
- RonOK so after 2 games Snider is an MVP candidate that should be hitting clean up and after two weeks EE is headed to the desert for spot duty. I’m a fanatic but come on, the jury hasn’t even been assembled yet on those issues.
By the way I still can’t find anywhere that shows whether League shook off Barajas before serving it up to Zaun. I know it really doesn’t matter but hey we all have our hang-ups I guess.
MW: It doesn’t really matter – but everyone in the place knew a fastball was coming. Bases loaded, 3-2 pitch, tie game, you throw 97, you can’t come with anything but the good ol’ number one.
- K-MikeYep, what a lousy game last night.
Some ups for the game: Wells’ RBI; Roenicke’s 3 innings when Camp was unavailable, saving the pen for tonight’s game.
I think that the fans were used to Rolen’s solid fielding and great hitting this season at 3B. Encarnacion hasn’t made any terrible fielding gaffs yet. Blame Cito for not pinch- hitting him in the 6th when the bases were loaded. But here we are in August – the Jays are not going anywhere so let’s see how the dude hits under pressure.
When the team gets to the end of the season with no hope of the playoffs, sometimes the manager (especially Gaston) will just let players play to see how they perform in different situations.
Since his return from the injury, I don’t think Halladay has returned completely to his former self, especially over his last 5 starts, letting in 8 or more hits per outing. Since his return from injury he is 3-5 with a WHIP of 1.2 and an ERA of 3.12 with 38% of Balls in play being ground balls. Compare before the injury (but not including the injury) when he is 10-1 with a WHIP of .98 and an ERA of 2.50 with 48% of balls in play being ground balls. Is that because 9 of the last 10 starts were against winning teams? Is he frustrated with the team and the lack of run support and bullpen support? Are the opposing teams scouting him better? Halladay is great. I’ll always remember the game against Anaheim when he three the complete game 133 pitches to win.
MW: Maybe it’s because he’s human. He’s just put up really, really good numbers since the injury, as opposed to unbelievable numbers beforehand.
- TimEncarnacion was only taking heat last night because Vernon put together a good outing and couldn’t (or at least shouldn’t) be criticized. He doesn’t have a glove like Rolen’s, but prior to Scott’s recent injury, Encarnacion was actually putting up better numbers since the trade, arguably against more talented pitchers… aside from perhaps the Orioles series. He’ll get to see a tough lefty tonight and with any luck he’ll answer to the challenge.
- bsmittyI heard your interview with Mike Lowell today and I really enjoyed it. Thanks to you and FAN590 for Baseball Today. At last, something OTHER than hockey to talk about at lunchtime!
- MacKayOn the fan 590 today, JP Ricciardi said that he doubted the payroll for next season would be above 80 million.
I thought I heard that it could be in the 100-120 million range.
Thoughts?
MW: I have heard there’s a good chance it could be in the $100-120 million range.
- ChrisMike,
Did you catch Keith Law on with Jack Armstrong today? Law reported that the Jays didn’t do their homework on Barrett and the guy was injured and the Jays didn’t know and that the Jays were the ones who backed out of those negotiations. He also reported that the combined amount that the Jays were out in terms of signing Eliopolous and Paxton was $600,000-$700,000 dollars. Now that’s big money to us regular folk, but in the grand scheme of things, when we hear about the Jays increasing payroll to $100,000,000+? That’s relative peanuts, and it seems to be that it’s well worth it to spend on what would appear to be higher end young controllable talent.
I wrote this yesterday, but if this were true, and the Jays didn’t do their homework one one guy, and lost 2 more for less then a **combined** $1,000,000, then that is pretty demoralizing to us fans.
You build a sustainable winning team through a good farm system… and you don’t get a good farm system by being relatively cheap.
MW: I don’t know if the Barrett thing happened because of a lack of homework. Two days ago, Law said that the Jays “never made a serious run” at Barrett, and today he brought up the medical issue. So it appears as though Law didn’t know about the medical issue two days ago, let alone in June, and the Blue Jays were likely in the same boat. Law does as much homework as anyone. The million-dollar (or so) difference does seem paltry, for sure, but the Jays are saying that they didn’t want to set new payout precedents.
- Kevin A.It’s hard not to laugh when your in the AL East and your 4/5 hitters for the game are Barajas and Kevin Millar..
come on cito… what is that?
- ChrisHey Mike,
After reading your post about how nice it would be to bring in Figgins and Hudson to our lineups would drastically improving our lineup. I do not question that it is a possibility, at least in the short term and it would definitely fill some holes.
However, I think the only way we can even come close to obtaining these FAs is by overspending and outbidding other teams significantly simply because Toronto simply does not attract FAs, remember BJ, Thomas, AJ?
It is something realistic, but I have a feeling that it’s a total wash because we need to pay a premium for them to come to Toronto. Then we’re going to be stuck with two declining assets at the age of 31 and 32 who will surely have multiyear contracts and everybody will be ragging on the Jays going after two guys who has reached their plateau with other teams.
My point is, we really need to learn that we need to develop our own talents to compete and not having to overpay for players that are over the hill. I understand that Figgins and Hudson both have good numbers with high OBP and good average and above average defensively. But so did Vernon and Rio nobody, not even yourself could say they would turn out the way they did. I can just picture you on Jays Talk defending Figgins/Hudson if they were signed in the offseason if they start crapping out. And personally I think they will.
I know draft picks don’t always sign with the teams they get drafted by, but it’s just salt on wound that we didn’t get to sign all our picks. JP explained it came down to money, but I have a feeling that it could be the GM/organization as well. I will continue to maintain that the Jays are not a well run organization and as a potential employee (the kids), they deserve to pick their employer (Jays) and they clearly didn’t like what they saw and that says a fair bit about what JP/Jays are about.
I just really want to know your take on what is wrong with this organization. From the top down. You most likely won’t have much to comment on it, but it would be nice to hear it because something is seriously wrong here and there’s really no end in sight.
Antony
MW: I couldn’t agree with you less, actually. I don’t think there’s anything seriously wrong with this organization, other than the division in which it plays. There’s not a chance that Paxton and Eliopoulos didn’t sign because they found fault with the organization. Neither Wells nor Rio EVER had good obps, but those two are perfect examples of players that the team drafted and developed – you want more of that.
- AntonyWhat are the chances JP Ricciardi can reverse the mistake he made in 2004 and trade Jason Frasor to the Phillies so he can get Jayson Werth back in a Blue Jays uniform playing right field….?
MW: It wasn’t a mistake – that’s revisionist history. Had Werth not been traded, he’d have left as a free agent before his bat really came around, just like he did with L.A.
- jimHi Mike,
Do you thing that the Twins will be able to lock-up Joe Mauer before he hits free agency after next season?
Maybe the Twins could move some payroll to keep the guy. Do you think they would make Morneau available just to keep Mauer?
I really don’t want to see a future Hall of Famer like Mauer end up in Boston or New York just because the Twins can’t afford him. That would be just wrong. Please tell me the Twins can get creative and figure out a way to keep this guy.
MW: I hope they can. Unless, of course, they want to move him or Morneau here to free up some payroll.
- JamieMike,
I’m wondering why your argument for Encarnacion is that it’s been two weeks, when he’s been back from injury for almost 2 months at this point. Yes, he’s only been with the Jays for two weeks, but so what? Why would his performance with the Reds be any different?
That said, I still agree that people need to let up on the guy. This season being what it is, the Jays are right to be (somewhat) using these games as a chance to experiment in a live setting. Still – barring any miraculous, MASSIVE equilibrium shift in his performance for the better for the remainder of the season, are you actually comfortable with the idea of him being the starting 3B in 2010? I’m worried that front office uses the hope (and huge risk) of the “return of Encarnacion in 2010″ as a scapegoat for ignoring Figgins.
MW: I don’t think that’ll happen, because Figgins is a solid left-field option, as well. It’s two weeks that Jays fans have seen Encarnacion hitting .190.
- mattOne more thing…. from JP on with Armstrong today:
“And, you know, the draft in a lot of cases is a crap shoot, and we rolled the dice in some areas—in some areas we won, in some areas we didn’t—but we’ve got good players coming, we’ve got good players in our system, and next year we get nine draft picks based on who we have for players here now, and obviously we probably won’t sign all nine of them, but we’ll try”
So can I take it based on that statement that we can give Scutaro a nice send off from here on out this year? 1st, 2nd and third round picks, 2 for Scutaro, 3 for the missed picks this year and one for Barajas gives me nine.
MW: Sounds like it. But wouldn’t Barajas be a Type B?
- Kevin A.Not sure how MLB CBA works, but could the Jays release V. Wells and let him sit and if he wants to play baseball he would have to renegotiate his contract
Thanks
Mike from Humboldt Sk.
MW: Sure, but they’d have to pay out the entire contract from which they released him.
- Mike EwenMy understanding is at least two GMs have informed Rick Sutcliffe that the reason the Jays were unable to move Halladay was Vernon Wells was part of the package. I have to admit this makes sense as to why few if any were interested.
J.P. of course denies this. What do your snoops have to say?
MW: I don’t believe that to be true.
- Brian ShugarThis offense is so so so awful. I have no idea why Barajas is batting clean-up or why Millar is still on this team. Forget shortstop or catcher.. the Jays NEED a bat. JP was on the FAN today saying they ‘MAYBE’ need to add a bat. MAYBE?! If salary is increasing, sign a LEGIT DH or Jason Bay in the off-season! This offense is sickening to watch night after night.
- RenegadeAlso how dare Cito shake his head on Johnny Mac. He’s the one that has regulated him to a PINCH RUNNER!
MW: Regulated? McDonald didn’t need to make that play on the run.
- RenegadeThis may be the worst game of the year. The team just looks.. dead.
MW: A team always looks dead when it hits like the Jays did tonight, but this was a particularly awful game.
- HalyconMichael,
What do you think the plan will be with Adam Loewen next year?
Does he start the season in AA? Is he the type of guy you’d send to winter ball?
MW: I might ask him to play winter ball, especially since things seem to have clicked for him as the summer has gone on. I think he almost definitely starts in AA next year.
- Uncle BenHey Mike. I know we are in the toughest division, but the AL West is 79-60 against the east, and the Rays and Red Sox are getting trounced. Doesn’t seem like the west is buying the conventional wisdom that the East is the best. This season is now officially a disaster. 28-50 in their last 78 games. Oh dear. Draft picks aren’t signing, Rios for nothing, Millar, Bautista, Mcdonald playing, this is what 100 million gets you. Don’t split hairs, this is the worst season in 16 years, and if Blue Jay fans think any free agents are coming, don’t hold your breath. You had some letters on your blog about if you could tell a team quits, replay the last week of Blue Jays baseball and I think you will find your answer. Sigh.
MW: I don’t think so – they certainly didn’t have any quit in them on Tuesday night. This has absolutely not been the worst season in the 16 years since the Jays made the playoffs, not close.
- daveJays had as many hits as errors tonight. That kinda sums it up. I finally got what I wanted, blowout losses. Now I can, at least, get a lot less worked up emotionally in the middle of a close game.
Every time I think this team might have looke its worst, it seems to show me that it can, in fact, take something it does well and do it very badly. Rolling the ball into the dugout while its in play? Really? Did the ghost of Rios possess Mr. Cecil for a minute there?
Here’s to tomorrow, where it may not be better, but it will be different, since the Angels come to town.
- Greg WMike…One of the amazing things about the ’85 clinching game (the Ron Hassey talk on Jays Talk jogged my memory)…Doyle Alexander kept all those left-handed Yankee sluggers (Griffey SR, Mattingly, Hassey, Pagliarulo) in the park with a strong wind blowing out to right, while Upshaw, Whitt and Moseby all homered to right…Also Doyle pitched a complete game with zero strikeouts, an oddity.
- chris m.is there any reason you didnt print my pro yankee comments
MW: The one in which you said I wished I was a Yankee fan? I thought I did.
- elliott