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Tomorrow, it’s Baseball Today in-studio guest Ricky Romero against grandson-of-Bozo-The-Clown Trevor Bell. We’re on the air at 12:30 PM Eastern for a 1:07 first pitch. I’m going to try to get Alfredo Griffin for the pre-game show. Afterwards, The Blue Jays This Week will be on at 7:00 PM Eastern, and we’ll hear from The Captain, talking about the pitching staff and his impending free agency (he wants to come back!), as well as Edwin Encarnacion.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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Is Wells’ plate music louder than any other player on the Jays to drown out the chorus of boos?
MW: Somebody asked that about a month ago – was it you?
- AK47Mike is it just a coincidence that a lot of the players that J.P has picked up over the years have been at the bitter end of their careers, or is it just bad management?
Players that come to mind are Wilkerson, Mench, Koskie, Eckstein, Stewart, Burres, Benitez, and probably Millar: all guys who are were washed up losers, but J.P still saw something in them.
Dellucci is another one. Wilkerson, Mench, Benitez and Stewart weren’t signed by anyone in 2008 for good reason. Burres had two terrible seasons when JP picked him up.
I think J.P is far too persuaded by past impressions, and ignorant of decline, often due to steroids, which could be the reason for Dellucci, Mench, and Wilkerson losing all power.
MW: I don’t think it’s a coincidence, but I don’t think it’s bad management, either. The only ones who were brought in here to play more than a minor role were Koskie and Eckstein, and while Koskie had a bad year, his career is over because of a concussion, not because he’s a “washed-up loser”. Eckstein performed exactly as he had over his entire career when he was here. The bigger problem is that Ricciardi has stuck with some of those guys too long when they showed they didn’t have it anymore (Mencherson comes to mind), but I daresay you’d be awfully happy to trade places with any of those guys you call losers.
- HowardMike,
Joe Dimaggios hitting streak or Cal Ripkens consecutive games streak.
In your eyes which of these has a better chance of ever being surpassed?
MW: I don’t think there’s a good chance either one will, but I’ll go with Ripken’s.
- DylanIn 2010, I think it’s safe to say that three of the five rotation starting spots will be occupied by Halladay, Romero and Marcum. Do you agree? The 4th and 5th spots will be occupied by two of Brett Cecil, Scott Richmond, Jesse Litsch and Mark Rzepczynski. Brad Mills and Fabio Castro are not dominating in the minors. Brian Tallet whoom I am a huge fan of is probably better suited in the bullpen but he did a great job this year. My beef is the constant disrespect of Scott Richmond. I think the popular choice of the 4th and 5th spots are a combination of Cecil-Rzepczynski or Cecil-Litsch. I don’t think that Cecil has done enough to earn a rotation spot for 2010 at this present time. Richmond has actually better statistical numbers then Romero and Cecil in most of the important pitching categories. He has a much better WHIP and strikeout to walk ratio then both those pitchers. I believe he has earned the right to be in the 2010 rotation with Rzepczynski. Performance should be a deciding factor and Cecil should dominate AAA before he is given a rotation spot. My 2010 rotation at this time would be Halladay, Marcum, Romero, Richmond and Rzepczynski. Jesse Litsch would be my first choice to enter the rotation if RIchmond, Rzepczynski or Romero falter. Romero’s WHIP is a little high for my liking and he has got to bring his walks down for long term success. What is your rotation for 2010 at this time?
MW: At this time, it’s Halladay/Marcum/Romero/Cecil and Rzepczynski or Richmond. I agree with you about the disrespect given to Richmond, and I guess you’d say I’m in that camp given the fact that he’s not a sure shot in my rotation. I think it’s because of his age and his path to the majors. The stuff is there.
- DomenickWell Mike I have lost all faith in the Jays management for the following reasons
1. Keeping Millar when he simply can’t produce
2. Not promoting Ruiz…by the way he can’t hit a major league fastball
3. Letting Rios go for nothing
4. Demoting the second best ERA on the team and keeping Carlson, Jansenn, Tallet and League
5. Batting Wells 4th for half the year when he is second worst in the league hitting with RISP
6. Shopping Doc
7. Slashing payroll and still trying to sell that they are tryng to be competitive.
8. Not signing 3 of 4 of their top draft picks
Sorry for the rant Mike but I have been a loyal fan for 20 years and it is a shame that the ownership doesn’t realize that they have a good young pitching staff and are closer to contending than most people imagine. Why should anyone continue to believe in this management team
MW: That wasn’t really a rant. The management team is the one who put together the good young pitching staff and the team’s that’s really close to contending, no?
- KenIn an ideal world, is Scott Richmond a reliever? I ask because he seems to strike a lot of guys out.
MW: What does one have to do with the other?
- ol brucieHi Mike.
At the time that Vernon Wells signed his contract, what was the market for centre fielders with similar numbers? Would he have gotten the same money with similar terms with another team had the Blue Jays not signed him?
MW: The winter that Wells signed was the same winter that Alfonso Soriano got his eight-year, $136 million deal. The next year, Torii Hunter signed a five-year, $90 million deal (same average annual value as Wells). Barry Zito signed his seven-year, $126 million deal (same as Vernon’s) the same winter as Wells did.
- BrentMichael,
How much does Travis Snider remind you of Brian Giles?
MW: Not that much. He has way more power and a better arm, Giles is a better defender. They’re both shortish left-handed hitters who walk a lot, though.
- Uncle BenMike,
In which of the next five years do you think the Jays are most likely to be legit contenders in the AL East?
My guess would be around 2012 or 2013 (when Snider, Lind, Hill, Romero, Cecil, and the young pitchers are all in or close to their prime, and a stronger economy has the Jays’ owner–whoever that might be–spending serious money again).
My next-best guess would be 2010, if only because of the outside chance that the Jays keep Halladay *and* acquire a couple of solid free agents. But a ton would have to break right for the team to win 90+ games and, honestly, I just see too many holes on the team (SS, 3B, CF, C, DH, #2 starter, minor-league positional depth) for that to realistically happen.
I think the most likely scenario is that Doc and Overbay get traded, Scutaro walks, and the rebuilding era begins.
For me, the *worst* scenario (and, unfortunately, one that the team’s track record suggests is quite plausible) would be for the Jays to try to split the difference by fielding a sort-of OK team in the hopes that a modest cluster of fans will continue to come out to the RC. As Einstein (perhaps apocryphally) once said, “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”
MW: I would amend the “sort-of OK” to “good to very good, but not great”. I have no idea in which of the next five years the Jays will be legit contenders, if any. In the A.L. East, they’ll only contend if pretty much everything goes absolutely right for them, and that hasn’t even been close to happening in the last decade.
- GeoffAlong with two more reliable bats the Jays will need, one through seven, a shut down bullpen. Either through trades, signings or bumping projected starters into relief roles, they have to put in place legitimate arms if they are going reverse the trend of one run losses and the lack of come back wins. I don’t pretend to understand how Cito uses his pitchers, but a stacked bullpen might be the least expensive way to accomplish something next year. As of now, too many finesse guys, and not enough quality arms. Beyond Frasor, League(if he can spot his fastball), and Roenicke, I see little upside in keeping the others.
MW: And yet, with the others, they had the best bullpen in the game last season.
- Will, OshawaMike,
Just wondering what happened to Michael Barrett? Is he still injured and do you think he will get recalled once the Sept call ups are announed?
MW: He’s not still injured, he’s injured again. Barrett hurt a finger early in July and had to have surgery. He won’t play again this season.
- Jeff G.Maybe this is wishful thinking, but according to a story in the not to distant past Rogers is open to upping the payroll to the $120 million range, contingent on Paul Beeston staying on. As Mr. Beeston appears adamant that he will not continue as president I think it behooves us, the Jays fans, to be proactive. I thought about trying to get you or one of the well known Jays bloggers to help but in the end I started a Beeston petition.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/paulbeeston/
I don’t receive anything for this it’s a free site and maybe if enough people show they care he’d stay on. I really think it’s for the good of the franchise.
I’m going to go try and not think about today’s game now. Thanks.
- Sean in LethbridgeCan you please tell me the difference between Derek Jeter and Michael Young as canidates for this years’ MVP award. I am getting tired of the media feeling sorry for Jeter because he’s never won the award before, while Michael Young has about the same numbers along with playing better defense. The two teams are both playoff-hopefuls, and I have never once heard Michael’s name in ANY MVP coversations. Granted the Yankees have more wins but then why is Justin Morneau getting, what seems to me like, more attention on while playing for a sub-.500 team. Just wanted to know your take on that.
MW: I haven’t actually heard much MVP chatter in general this year, but it doesn’t surprise me that there would be an “it’s his year” push for Jeter, much like there was for Kobe Bryant in the NBA last year.
- VinceI keep hearing about JP Arencibia falling apart offensively. Do you have any idea what has caused it? It seemed like he would cruise through the minor leagues after the number he was putting up. Do you know why he has fallen off so far? Perhaps an unknown injury, mental issue, mechanical problems or is this just part of his growing pains?
MW: I don’t know anyone who has said Arencibia is falling apart offensively, just that he’s having a rough year with the bat. I would tend to think it has more to do with really trying to concentrate on the defensive side of the game, since he’s so close to the majors. The fact that he refuses to walk doesn’t help his cause, either.
- RichieIf McCowan is right and the payroll next year is around $120 million, what guarantee is there for Rogers that there will be a return on that investment, particularly if the team does not meet the playoffs?
It seems like a gloomy future here to me because Rogers is a corporation running a radio, phone and TV business. If 25,000 people show up when they have an $80 million payroll, is there going to be a proportional increase in attendance if that payroll grows to $120 million next year?? That may be the biggest question of all. If there are still 25,000 people showing up on average next year with a significant increase in payroll then what? The other big question is whether a first place team in August and September will draw more than 35,000 or 40,000 on a regular basis.
Rogers is interested in making money. Steinbrenner was a fan who was over-the-top competitive and also had the money to throw around. He wanted to win because he took it personally. McCowan has said several times that Ted Rogers didn’t know a bat from a ball. If the Blue Jays are an entry on a balance sheet first and foremost I sense that there isn’t a lot of reason to believe that anything is going to change.
Is Rogers willing to spend the money to operate a competitive baseball team, with a competitive payroll, while not getting sufficient monetary gains in return to at least recoup the layout of expenses? I sense that this is a problem between a corporation owning a team and an individual owning it at this time.
MW: It definitely is that sort of a problem, but the question is – with an entire country of potential consumers and a media empire, can Rogers MAKE the Jays profitable with a $120 million payroll even if attendance isn’t what drives the profitability? I think the answer is yes.
- Rob MMichael,
Do you think Joe Mauer is going to be a unanimous pick for MVP this year?
I saw someone on one of the sports channels actually pick Mark Teixera. It caught me a little off-gaurd.
MW: Evidently, there’s a whole Derek Jeter debate going on. Mauer doesn’t have a lot of big counting stats because he was out for the first part of the season, but he’s leading the league in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He gets my vote, for sure.
- Uncle BenMr. Michael Wilner
Do you think the Jays have a chance to make a run at a power bat like Jim Thome?
MW: Absolutely – but I think if that happened the fans would be very upset, saying that it’s the same as signing Frank Thomas.
- Brent from SarniaMr. Wilner,
While the masses seem to believe that Lincecum is a shoo-in for the NL Cy Young Award, Chris Carpenter’s numbers are slightly better. The former Jay has had the edge in control, while the opposing hitters have slightly better power numbers against him. At this juncture, I would pick Carpenter. Who would your choice be?
MW: I haven’t even thought about it, to be honest. Now that I have, it’s hard for me to take Carpenter over Lincecum because, even though Carpenter has a better ERA and a slightly better WHIP (0.961 to 1.037), I can’t overlook Lincecum’s 33 extra innings pitched.
- Jake RothHello Mike Wilner
The Jays unlike ALL contending teams, do not have a #2 pitcher. Maybe in the future 2-3 years down the road, but there aren’t any right now. All the contending teams have something in common, they have at least 1 ace to go along with a very strong # 2 starter. The top teams have at least 3 great pitchers, Dogers, phillies, Yanks to go along with a strong bullpen which is also what the Jays lack this year.
If the Jays want to contend next year, they cannot have room for pitchers like Shawn Camp and Jesse Carlson. They have to send League down to the minors because he’s been given many chances to get his act together and hasn’t done so even with his so called “electric stuff”. To fans he is like the Alex Rios of pitching. So called potential but a close to 6 era to show for. What are your thoughts on sending league down to the minors for a while?
To be a contending team next year the Jays need:
1.) Get rid of Carlson, Camp
2.) Get rid of Millar, and Bautista.
3.) Trade for Kurt Suzuki if possible, if not resign Chavez and bring in Bengie Molina who pitchers love to throw to.
4.)Bring in Chone Figgins.
5.)Sign Orlando Hudson.
6.)Sign Nick Johnson.
7.)Sign Xavier Nady.
I believe the Jays can do all this with 90-120 million.
Figgins 3b
Hill SS
Lind DH
Johnson 1b
Nady RF
Wells CF
Snider LF
Molina C
Hudson 2b
*Ask Ruiz to keep the weight off and be less aggressive and that his turn will come as soon as somebody is injured.
*Signing Nady, and Johnson is a must, if Hudson doesn’t sign, then call up Inglett who is Hudson without the D.
* Nady will not cost a lot of money since he is out for the season and he could be a steal for the Jays.
* Bench: Encarnacion, Ruiz. (a bench that may actually have an affect on the game)
Halladay, Marcum,BLANK, Romero, Cecil.
7th inning–Frasor/League/
8th inning–Downs/Stewart
9th inning–Roenicke/Accardo
All this is possible if Rogers decides to increase the payroll. Overall the Jays will be a very good hitting team with higher than average power. They will also maintain the excellent D and have much better relief pitching. The starting rotation may be the biggest question mark but luckily the Jays have around 4-5 more pitchers waiting to make the team. The Leafs have at least 10 different players, the Raptors have shattered their team and built a better one, the Blue Jays are next, hopefully. What do you think Mike?
MW: I appreciate the hard work. Stewart is going to be a starter, so we’ll knock that one out, and Carlson was a big part of baseball’s best bullpen last year, so I think you’re being a little hasty dismissing him. I also don’t think that Aaron Hill gives you great defense at shortstop, nor am I an Xavier Nady fan. I think you can find a better DH on the market than him. What do you do with Overbay?
- UltimateBLUEJAYSfanHi Mike: This is more of a question than a comment. I need your memory and wisdom on pitchers. There was a pitcher that pitched for TB about 5 years ago. He was a starter, and I think he set a record for the most lossed in a season (19 or 20). The following year he worked out of the “pen” for the Blue Jays. The year after that he was with the Yankees ( I sure hate to use a capital letter for that word). As a matter of fact I think he was involved in a bench clearing.
It’s driving me crazy Mike.
What’s his name…please?
Jim
Newcastle
MW: Tanyon Sturtze. He didn’t set a record for losses or anything when he was a Devil Ray and he started out in the rotation with the Jays.
- Jim GosleighMike,
If the Jays go on a Colorado-Rockies type 20+ game winning streak, isn’t it still possible they can make the playoffs? If they do, what will be their starting rotation (playing meaningful games in Sept.)?
MW: They’re not going to. The rotation would be Halladay/Romero/Richmond/Tallet/T.J. Beam, I’d wager.
- TheSunkenZealotMike…Does the lead-off hitter of any given inning have to come up twice for it to be considered “batting around”? I’ve heard that term used if nine batters come up (like the Jays’ first inning) but I believe that would be incorrect.
MW: I think you have batted around if you send nine guys to the plate in an inning.
- chris m.Congratulations on a pair of fine interviews in the last week. Mike Lowell was one of your best ever. Kevin Millar was very good as well. I suppose it helps when the person being interviewed is cooperative and really wants to talk, as was the case with Lowell. I seem to remember you had Dave Stieb on Baseball Today” back in July and he was terrible as he gave only mono-syllabic answers.
In regard to Millar, now that Matt Herges and Brendan Donnelly are out of Baseball, Millar is one of only three replacement players still active in baseball from the infamous strike of 1995 (Jamie Walker of the Orioles and Ron Mahay of the Royals are the other two). I know you try to avoid uncomfortable situations and antagonism in your interviews (as well you should), but it would be interesting to see if Millar still faces resentment from certain individuals all these years later. I had a job working for the Yankees AAA affiliate in Columbus Ohio from 1997 through 2000 and I can attest the hostility toward the guys who served a replacement players was profound, and not just from the AAA players who felt they were being kept out of the majors by a replacement player taking a roster spot. Major leaguers on re-hab certainly helped stir the sentiment against the replacements. I wonder if much has changed given the strength of the player union.
MW: I think a lot has changed. Millar is a guy around whom both teammates and opponents gather during batting practice, and whenever the Orioles or Red Sox come to town, the players are drawn to him. I think Donnelly is still hanging around with the Indians, though. You’re exactly right on the interviews – the subject makes it, no question.
- Jim in OhioMW: I think you’re reading this the wrong way. No one is saying that fans shouldn’t be (very) partisan or shouldn’t want to see the team win. But the fact of the matter is that no matter how good your team is, you’re likely to come to the ballpark and have at least a one in three chance of seeing your team lose. Does that mean it wasn’t worth coming to the game? Is there not utility in seeing a good, close game no matter who wins? Sure, you leave disappointed if your team loses, but you still saw a good game. But the question is fair, I think – if you only support your team when you feel it has a chance to win, are you really supporting your team?
No, of course you support your team win or lose. But I’ve heard these comments before in this blog and on the call-in. You’re there to support your team and also in my opinion there to be quite vocal about it. The Jays haven’t won for years and years, but we loyal fans are still there and still cheering for them even when they make it hard to cheer. A great ball game is all very well. But a winning ball game is priceless.
In any case. I may not be the only one posting this article but just in case no one else has…
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Sports/OtherSports/2009/08/22/10559371-sun.html
How is the golden boy doing down in Chicago?
MW: It’s interesting that you link from the London Free Press and not the Toronto Sun. Going into Sunday’s game, Rios is hitting .242/.257/.424 in nine games, with one homer, one stolen base and eight strikeouts against one walk.
- isabella reyesHi Mike,
I remember an interview Paul Godfrey gave before he left the Jays were he was asked about the mistake of picking the A.L East. He said it wasn’t a mistake because of the money that they make when the Sox and Yanks come to town.
If that is still true, isn’t it fair to expect them to spend close to those teams on the best players they can get? I realize our attendance is nowhere near those teams, but which came first the chicken or the egg? When they were winning the SkyDome was filled.
I don’t expect them to win it all every year but a playoff round or two would be nice…
MW: The payroll disparities weren’t there when the new divisional alignment happened – turns out that was a huge mistake, the biggest the organization has ever made, especially if they actually did have a shot at being in the Central.
- BrianMike…From reading the comments lately, one can establish the definite separation of:
a) Baseball fans primarily, who happen to like/love/follow the Blue Jays or,
b) Blue Jay fans primarily who like/love/follow baseball.
I believe there is a difference and I know I fall into the A selection. Given this time of year and the standings, Josh Beckett vs. C.C. Sabathia gets me more excited (would be better if Boston was closer) than Ricky Romero vs. Bell. That of course would be different if the Jays were in a playoff hunt and it may sound like I’m a fair-weather fan, but I always like to see games later on in the season where there’s something on the line for both teams. I guess I love the game of baseball as a whole more than just how the Jays are doing. Mike, do you see the 2 types of fans I’m describing?
MW: I don’t see many at all of the “A” version in Toronto. There’s also another type of fan – the fan who loves the Blue Jays when they’re winning but otherwise doesn’t follow baseball at all.
- chris m.Mr. Wilner,
I’ve always thought that Aaron Hill belongs in the three or four spot in the lineup. This year, he has turned into a power hitter, with a mediocre OBP. In my opinion, those aren’t the numbers of a two hitter. Do you think that Hill belongs in the position he is or that a change should be made, whether it be this year or next?
MW: Those aren’t the numbers of a three or four hitter, either, though. If he doesn’t pick up his walk rate, he can’t stay at the top of the line-up, but I don’t expect him to be a 30-homer guy on a regular basis either.
- Jake RothMike,
I know the Jays get back the picks they didn’t sign this year and get it next year. But, was it smart for them to only sign 2 out of the 5 players? And do you think they could get better players next year’s draft?
MW: I don’t think it’s a matter of smart or not smart. Obviously, it would have been preferable for the Jays to sign four of the five, but it’s not just up to the Blue Jays. Can they get better players next year? Who knows?
- Raps FanHello Mr.Wilner
Thanks for the reply on my last post. I have a little more to say regarding your comments if you don’t mind.
On my last post, you said Carlson was apart of one of the best bullpens in baseball and that dismissing him is not the right thing to do. He has an era of OVER 5. That’s atrocious. The league has figured him out and his slider is not as effective as it was last year. Camp, on the other hand, will be 35 next year if I’m not mistaken and his stuff is even less effective than Carlson’s.
If Johnson comes in to play 1B, they can always trade Overbay for a strong relief pitcher. I’m not sure if its safe to rely on League all year and Frasor is getting older.
Why wouldn’t Nady be a good fit on this team? I understand he is a bit overrated but he will not cost nearly as much since he hasn’t played for most of this season and he is a very good hitting right fielder.
I also asked you about Howie Kendrick last month but you didn’t respond. How about trading for him? He is a good young bat with a strong arm. They could go this route if Hudson signs with another team. Hill should be comfortable with playing at SS since he was drafted as one or 3b given his arm power.
MW: If you look closely at the majority of relievers in the majors, there’s little or no correlation between their numbers one year to the next. The league hasn’t necessarily “figured out” Carlson, he’s just had a bad year. Next year, he’s still under control and cheap, and he could very easily turn it around, so there’s no reason to just get rid of him. As for Camp, ERA for relievers seems to mean a lot to you, so why doesn’t his 3.23 mark make you a fan? He’s had a very good year, and he’s still under control and cheap, too. I don’t think they can get a strong relief pitcher for Overbay, but it depends on your definition of strong, I guess. I don’t like Nady, maybe it’s just me. He’s another right-handed hitter who doesn’t get on base enough, and the Jays have enough of those, thanks. Kendrick I like, but I don’t think it’s worth moving Hill off second unless you’re really improving the defense.
- UltimateBLUEJAYSfanMW: I think Donnelly is still hanging around with the Indians, though
FYI Mike, Donnelly has pitched out of the bullpen for part of this season for the Marlins. He’s had a good spell of around 20 innings and was recently put on the DL.
MW: Yeah, I saw today that he just went on the DL. He was with the Indians last year – my, how time flies.
- ThomasHey Mike,
Have you ever checked out Hit Tracker online? I find it nteresting to see Hill’s (http://www.hittrackeronline.com/detail.php?id=2009_1139&type=hitter) HR spray Chart vs. Lind’s (http://www.hittrackeronline.com/detail.php?id=2009_788&type=hitter).
I like seeing Lind’s power to all fields!
Keep up the good work.
- Kevin A.I was shocked when I read that we were unable to sign 3 of our top 4 picks.
I think that Griffin wrote yesterday that Boras and the Jays were “only” $300,000 apart on the Paxton deal.
What’s the point in giving more than slot money to low picks when we could throw a little more at our top ones?
Sure we get the picks back next year but obviously that sets us back even further.
Frustrated fan… keep up the good work MIKE!
- Trevor BellMW: Not that much. He has way more power and a better arm, Giles is a better defender. They’re both shortish left-handed hitters who walk a lot, though.
You really think he has more power than Giles who has a lifetime SLG% greater than .500 despite hitting in SD for the last six years?
If so, do you think we can expect Snider to slug in the .550s or higher sometime in the future?
MW: Yes, I do. But I thought you were only talking about the current-day Giles, whose power had been gone for years.
- Uncle BenMW: I think you’re reading this the wrong way. No one is saying that fans shouldn’t be (very) partisan or shouldn’t want to see the team win. But the fact of the matter is that no matter how good your team is…
did you actually say “your team”? I thought we were not allowed to say “we” or “our” team.
MW: You’re being a jerk (given your last comment, which I deleted), and normally I’d delete this one, too, but I think you’re again reading me wrong. Fans are not members of the team, but the team is certainly theirs. Ownership is different from membership.
- willHey Mike,
haven’t written on the blog for awhile, mostly because the Jays have been out of contention for so long?
Was interested to hear your thoughts on the NL Cy Young award?
Do you think Lincecum is a lock? What do you think of carpenters chances? He missed a few starts but is still at the top of the league in Wins and ERA. His Era is about .30 below Lincecum’s era and his WHIP is better also.
Who do you think is the frontrunner?
MW: See above.
- joshMW: It’s interesting that you link from the London Free Press and not the Toronto Sun. Going into Sunday’s game, Rios is hitting .242/.257/.424 in nine games, with one homer, one stolen base and eight strikeouts against one walk.
The internet is a wonderful thing.
Obviously this stuff is being leaked from other organizations who are not friends of JP Ricciardi. I’m not surprised. He’s made enemies quite apart from the Halladay circus and the Adam Dunne fiasco. A friend of mine who was a Jays supporter in NY until a couple of years ago listened regularly to WFAN. He told me that Ricciardi was on every five minutes. They had him on, clearly, because he was so outspoken about everything. He said things about other clubs and their personnel that my pal never expected to hear out of a GM’s mouth on radio. That kind of stuff makes enemies real fast. There hasn’t been a lot to leak about in TO for a while, but now there’s the Rios thing and the Halladay debacle, so stuff’s being leaked.
MW: I have never spoken to a baseball executive with another team who hasn’t had very nice things to say about Ricciardi.
- isabella reyesMike, what’s your take on Bob Elliot’s article regarding trade offers for Rios that JP did not take before the deadline? I’m not saying its 100% accurate but Bob is the only journalists in this City I trust the most with stories.
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2009/08/22/10562686-sun.html
MW: I have a hard time believing what the scouts were telling Bob. If someone had offered them half of what they could have gotten for Halladay and taken on Rios’ entire contract, I doubt that team would even have had time to finish the sentence before the Jays accepted.
- JoachimMike,
One thing I’ve noticed about Vernon’s stats this year that is odd is his left/right splits. Vernon has always had higher batting avg. and OPS in previous seasons against lefties. As his career numbers show he has traditionally crushed left-handed pitching and been an average hitter against righties:
Career vs. LHP
.310/.368/.503/.871
Career vs. RHP
.271/.316/.463/.778
2009 vs. LHP
.215/.284/.339/.622
2009 vs. RHP
.269/.311//.428/.739
His numbers vs. righties are close to his career averages but do you have any idea what has caused the sharp decline in his abilities to crush left-handed pitching?
MW: I don’t. It’s another of the mysteries of this Wells season.
- ScottHi Mike,
I apologize if this has been addressed before. Why did the Jays demote Accardo? Are there other issues that may have played a role? What’s your take? Also, do you think Accardo would be a good closer/set up man in 2010?
N.B. “Super Extendo Jays Talk” rocks hard, like early 80s Van Halen.
MW: Check back – it’s been addressed. And early 80s Van Halen did, indeed, rock hard. Thanks!
- MarkAs a cheap option behind the plate the Jays could sign Carlos Ruiz from Philadelphia. He’s not afraid of taking a walk and you could do worse (Rod Barajas). If Tampa doesn’t pick up the option on Zaun’s deal he could also be a cheap option. I’m assuming the Jays would bring in a cheap veteran to split time with Raul Chavez before JP Arencibia is ultimately brought up and groomed by one of those two. Other options could be Henry Blanco, Ramon Castro, Miguel Olivo, Mike Redmond, Mike Rivera, and Ramon Hernandez or Jason Varitek (not happening) if their options are not picked up. Also I’m not sure if Chris Ianetta will be available. I guess I’m just trying to show that there are a lot of other options besides Rod Courageous.
MW: Sure there are, but Ruiz and Iannetta aren’t among necessarily them – neither are free agents. None of the options you list are terribly thrilling.
- RobertLooking at big picture, I dont know if the angels have a 3B ready and willing to let figgins walk, but lets say that they are willing to re-sign him, do the Jays have to overspend or outspend the Angels offer, after all hes on a contending team, nice city? and will it be money winning or what that he wants to be here? cito gaSTON fan?
and will the jays get the same draft pick numbers for the un-signed burnett picks?
thanks
MW: I’m sure they’ll have to outspend the Angels if Anaheim is interested, and they get almost the same draft picks back, just one pick farther down.
- nickHi Mike
I was just catching up on listening to your past baseball shows you conduct at noon. Great interviews with Frank Viola and Mike Lowell !!
I am impressed by both Ruiz and Snider. Ruiz, with his patience and Snider, with his attitude and approach at the plate.
I listened to the Fan590 last Friday and the conversation came to the Jays starting pitching next year.
One of the panel members stated that the pitching would be in jeopardy and went on stating something like this – well, I don’t see Romero as the ace, but he could easily be a No 2, then Cecil, I don’t see him as an ace either, but he surely has no 2 stuff. The same with Marcum, not an ace, but very good pitcher.
My thought was – well, here it is, you have three pitchers with No 2 stuff. Wouldn’t they make a good starting pitching staff, with and without Halladay? Mind you, if Halladay stays and Marcum is healthy, this would be an awesome pitching staff.
Francis
MW: Potentially, yes, and you’d have to imagine they’d get a major-league ready good pitcher back for Halladay should they trade him in the off-season. I haven’t been impressed with Ruiz’ patience – he’s a pretty free swinger.
- francisHello Mike,
If a Thome signing would be much like a Frank Thomas signing, would Vladimir Guerrero be a better guy to pursue? How much would he be asking for? Would it be out of the Jays’ price range? Or perhaps this is not a good idea…
Who would you want to DH next year?
Also, is there any chance they make Ruiz the DH and save the money for a new shortstop/catcher/3B. It just seems that there are going to be a lot of DHs without work this winter so they might come at a very good price.
MW: I like the idea of bringing in Thome, I just said I didn’t think it’d go over well with the fans. I could handle him DHing, or Russ Branyan, Nick Johnson, Bobby Abreu – those would all be good fits. I don’t see Ruiz being the everyday DH next year.
- Ryan HallHi Mike,
I wonder what our record was when Rios/Wells were batting 3/4? Probably a lot better than it’s been since.
Hypothetical question for you as Jays GM: in the off season, if you offered Halladay and Wells as a package for absolutely nothing in return and a team wanted to make the deal, would you do it?
I guess what I’m asking is : Would freeing up Wells contract be more beneficial to the Jays future than either keeping Halladay or getting some players in return for him.
MW: In my mind, no it wouldn’t. The Jays were 34-26 this season with Rios/Wells batting 3/4.
- OzRobHi Mike:
- Win GenoeTo me, Adam Lind has a similar batting stance to George Brett, so I’d be very surprised if Adam didn’t do well.
Also, as an old pitcher, I’d say that young Mark “Zep” has a good shot at becoming one of the best Bluejay pitchers of all time, if he continues to develop the way that I think that he will. And you can tell them that, for encouragement sake…..regards Win G.
Sorry Mike I have no idea what happened but somehow my message was submitted before I was done. What i was going to say was that Im not familiar with the rules of waivers or releasing. I was going to ask if when a ball club releases a player are they responsible for the entire contract until another club signs the player to a new contract? Or does the player get the old released contract money as well as the new contract? if the team is only responsible for the contract until the player signs a new one why not tell vernon “either re-work this contract or else we release you” He is potentially faced with the prospect that he might not play again for a couple of years. Sure he gets the money still but ultimately Im sure he’d rather be playing. So again…im sorry if that wasnt rational or reasonable. Have a great day Mike
MW: It’s not irrational or unreasonable, but it would never happen. If Wells was to be released, the Blue Jays would be on the hook for the remainder of the entire contract, except for the pro-rated portion of the major-league minimum that would be paid by whatever team he signs with. If he was to be released, he would find a job the SECOND he cleared release waivers (72 hours, I believe). Vernon at $21 million a year is way too much, but Wells at the minimum? That’s a fantastic bargain.
- GrantIs it a guarantee that Rod Barajas is gone after this season? He appears to work well with the pitchers and that has to be important. His defence is competent. While it would be nice to get more offence from a catcher the last thing this team needs is an all offence no defense catcher like Mike Napoli or Benji Molina. I always wondered why Mike Napoli didn’t play more often and then I heard that the Angels ERA is about a run and a half lower when Mathis catches. That’s shocking! I don’t know the exact numbers or how to research it but to my recollection, it was a huge difference.
MW: I point you to the following article: http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/6/19/919142/please-everyone-stop-using I think the Blue Jays would do awfully well to have a catcher like Mike Napoli.
- DomenickMW: I have never spoken to a baseball executive with another team who hasn’t had very nice things to say about Ricciardi.
I don’t doubt it. Most senior executives are extremely careful what they say and who they say it to. A good GM does not run his mouth to the press. You’ll note the leaks are anonymous. You won’t get another team’s GM to trash Ricciardi. You will simply get leaks of info that don’t put Ricciardi in a good light.’
MW: There’s really no getting through to you, is there?
- isabella reyesHello,
I’m not the biggest ERA fan and I realize Camps ERA is a good one but he is going to be too old to stay on a contender with the stuff he has. An 85-88 mph fastball without sharp location. When I said, “get rid of Carlson and Camp”, I meant get rid of them for next year by sending them to the minors and if the Jays need them, they can call them up. I don’t think they deserve to be apart of a team that is going to be trying to contend next year.
Even if you are not a fan of Nady, he will be relatively cheap and will give you 20+ homeruns, 90+ rbi’s and a .290+ average. Thats a good bat if you ask me.
MW: You used Carlson’s ERA as the reason to get rid of him. Camp’s is very good, you can’t have it both ways. Nady is a career .280 hitter and has hit more than 20 homers exactly once in his career. He’s also driven in more than 72 runs exactly once, so I don’t know how you’re coming up with those projections.
- UltimateBLUEJAYSfanI like the guy so I don’t want to pile on but Vernon Wells is having one of the worst seasons I have ever seen a player have.
How many times has he struck out this year compared to those previous?
MW: Wells has struck out 66 times this season, which has him almost right dead on pace to hit his career 162-game average (89).
- Halyconalso i cant help but wonder what the season would have looked like if Ruiz had all of Millar’s at-bats this year…
MW: It wouldn’t have been much different. Millar really hasn’t played that much.
- Halyconrios vs crawford head to head
guess which is which
305/449/755
348/498/846
MW: What do you mean head to head? Oh, you mean this year? Rios is on top.
- manramMichael,
Darin Mastroianni has had a pretty good year in the minors and he seems to be a very good base stealer, certainly a commodity the Jays could use. He doesn’t hit for any power but he does seem to know how to take a walk.
How is he as a defensive CF?
Do you see him challenging Vernon Wells for the CF job in the near future?
I hope that Vernon’s contract doesn’t prevent the Jays from moving a more deserving candidate from playing CF in the future.
Thank you Michael, and good night.
MW: I have never seen Mastroianni play, so I can’t tell you how good a defender he is. He’s fast, so you’d think that would help. I don’t think he’s on the cusp of the majors yet, but when he’s ready, if he stays this good (or gets better) and can outplay Wells in centre, one would think that the Jays would move Wells to a corner.
- Uncle BenHi Mike,
Just wanted to compliment you on your blog I read it all the time and listen to the Jays Talk, (unfortunately i’m going back to school soon and won’t be reading/listening as much).
As much as I would love to have a job like yours I don’t think I could handle some of the stupid people. I give you a great deal of credit for dealing with all the people who aren’t grateful for what you do and they make snarky remarks like #34. As i’m sure that you spend,countless hours responding to comments.
Anyways, sorry for wasting your time I just wanted to make sure you were aware some of us actually appreciate what you do and don’t just take it for granted.
Thanks again Mike
MW: I’m happy to have my time “wasted” this way anytime! Thanks!
- Steven McInnisHi Mike….wow, that’s the worst I’ve seen Roy pitch. It seemed no matter what he did like you reported he was nickled and dimed all night. Too bad for him I hope it doesn’t get to his head in the off season and he asks to bolt. I think with all the young pitching we (Blue Jays)have on their major league roster it would go down as volumes learned in having these kids watch 1st hand how Roy prepares himself to pitchand his work ethic on his off days….I can’t see a pitching having the same effect, therefore its vital he finishes out his contract with us and in the event the Jays are out of it by July then we should trade him for a pennant run and get someone for the future instead of the draft picks. Does it also seem like the rest of the team is going through the motions and don’t all have their heads in the game, last night alone I saw Bastita misplay a ball to his left, Suctaro you got it no I got it on a ground ball and Snider trying to throw BJ out a third instead of conceeding the base and keep the double play in tact..(granted it hit BJ’s hand to handcuff Bastita at 3rd) considering Doc is a ground ball pitcher give up the base and hope for a doubleplay ball to get out of the jame. Also whether Vernon strikes out or not I’m more curious as to how many times Vernon came up to bat with runners in scoring position while he was at the top of the order (batting 4th) I feel that stat is far more important then his strikeouts as most 4, 5 hitters are apat to strikeout anyways. The reason the fans wanted him out of the spot was it seemed he never produced and that was the purpose of hitting him there. Your thoughts.
Thanks…Mark
MW: There’s no question that Wells didn’t produce in RBI situations when he was hitting in the 4th spot. I don’t have the RISP numbers as a clean-up hitter, but they were pretty ugly. There has definitely been a letdown on defense since Rolen and Rios left town, but I don’t think it’s because their heads aren’t in the game.
- Mark Feeley