5:20 PM Eastern
There have been a few points in time this season at which I have thought that the Blue Jays reached rock bottom. A few times at which I have felt the only reasonable title for a blog post that night would be “You Have GOT To Be Kidding Me”. Check the archives – they’re there. The first one was that game in Baltimore in which the Jays blew an 8-3, 8th inning lead for Roy Halladay and then blew a 10-8 lead in the 11th inning of the same game, ending a road trip at 0-9 and signalling the beginning of what would be at least 3 1/2 months of figurative wandering in the wilderness.
As I mentioned, there have been others. But never has there been a time when the Blue Jays were completely handcuffed by a 38 year-old whose closest contact with professional baseball this year had come when he watched games on his living room couch, beer in hand, up until about three weeks ago.
On August 5th, the Red Sox asked Paul Byrd to come out of retirement and join them for the stretch run. Today, he threw six innings of three-hit shutout at the Blue Jays. Tomorrow night in Texas, the Jays face Jim Clancy. Sweet Mother of Cheez Whiz.
It’s amazing that the Jays are 0-6 at Fenway Park this season.
There were a couple of good things to report today, though. Jesse Carlson pitched a perfect 8th inning – that’s SEVEN straight outings for Carlson in which he has held the opposition without a run. Over that span, he’s thrown 6 1/3 innings, allowing two hits, walking no one and striking out 10. Strong stuff.
John McDonald got the start at third base, with Jose Bautista in left field and Adam Lind DHing. That alignment gives the Jays the strongest defense that they’ve had since Scott Rolen and Alex Rios vamoosed. Keeping things that way keeps Randy Ruiz on the bench , which shouldn’t happen the rest of the year (even though he has struck out in his last six at-bats), but it’s nice to see every once in a while, and it certainly helps out the pitchers though it didn’t show today.
Travis Snider walked twice. That’s good stuff. It shows he’s seeing the ball well and is confident at the plate. It looked for a while as though he was falling into his early May “either strike out or roll over and ground one weakly to second” thing. I liked what I saw today.
But Paul Byrd? Come on.
I’m behind on The JaysTalks, and I apologize for that, so here we go, for your listening pleasure:
Here’s today’s -
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Here’s Saturday’s -
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Here’s Friday night’s The JaysTalk -
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And a special extra added bonus, we had a short Rain Delay Programme on Friday night. It’s amazing, a ton of rain was expected this weekend in Boston, but we only got a grand total of 46 minutes of delay. Here’s that show:
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Finally, Wednesday night’s as-yet-unposted edition of The JaysTalk (sorry about that):
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I also owe you a softball update – our season is over, thanks to an ignominious 29-7 loss (not a typo) in our one-game elimination playoff. I hurt my back on the first ball hit to me at shortstop, tried to gut it out and booted a pair of ground balls before moving to first base, wrapping up the game in centrefield because we flip-flopped the infield and outfield at the end. At the plate, I went 2-for-4, scored three runs and was completely robbed of extra bases by an amazing catch by their centrefielder who goes by the name of “Horse”. for some reason.
The Blue Jays This Week is on tonight at 7:00 PM Eastern right along the network and right here on this very website. You’ll hear from Aaron Hill about becoming the Jays’ first 30-homer man in three years and also about potential free agent arrivals over the winter (and yes, I did say “Bone Higgins” in my last question, I believe) and Jesse Litsch will let us know what’s going on with his rehab. Hint – he gets to throw a baseball for the first time post-surgery on October 2nd.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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Mike, thast was an absolute disgusting effort by the Jays today, an each and everyone of them should be ashamed of themselves. These guys have totally QUIT on themselves and the fans of the Jays. I’m absolutely P!@#@d off!! What the hell was Bautista doing in left field on that ball in corner??? He misplayed it and then WALKED over to pick it up!!!! Why is he still here?? 3 hr’s and 19 rbi’s…..there’s no one in Las Vegas who could contribute that???? I like Cito but I think the team has got to go in anew direction next year, hire someone who will get in some players face, (Wells, Bautista, Overbay) and tell them how it is!!! I’m sick and tired of watch these guys half @$$ it after the all star break!! Yeah boo hoo we can’t spend 200 million like the Yanks and Sox but for God’s sake have some personal pride for Christ sake!!! I’m just disgusted by “my” team right now!! Embarrassing!!!
MW: Why is Lyle Overbay included in your rant? And how do you feel now, 11-0 later?
- Blair MartinHi all,
I’ve read quite a few posts about the lack of attendence at Blue Jays game. The low figures are in no doubt related to the fact that the Jays play in the concrete piece of junk known as the Rogers Centre. I’ve been to various ballparks across the northeastern United States, and nothing beats outdoor baseball on real grass.
Let’s face it, Toronto is a city where the people care about what’s trendy. When the Skydome was new, people wanted to experience the new ball park. Eventually fans in Toronto figured out that our stadium wasn’t at all that special. The sightlines in the 500 level are horrible, you couldn’t pay me to sit up there.
What the Jays need is an outdoor stadium. I know its possible. Is Toronto’s climate that much different that New York’s? I bet its better than Minnesota’s!!!
Build us a baseball stadium and the fans will come back.
MW: Toronto doesn’t need an outdoor stadium, though a retractable-roof stadium like the ones in Seattle and Minnesota would be lovely. But we don’t need to sink hundreds of millions of taxpayer money into a new ballpark when the one we have is only 20 years old.
- Lyle OverpaidHey Mike.
I get the feeling that it’s become “politically incorrect” around these parts to dare to criticize Roy Halladay. People that even start to broach the subject on Jay’s Talk are cut off with a whole bunch of peripheral stats thrown at them.
Numbers aside, he has not been very good at all since the beginning of June and given how fast he got to 10 wins, to suggest that he has fell off since then is reasonable and rational.
I know you’re going to rip me but I just had to bring this up because I truly believe most people are scared to talk to you about this because of your anticipated response.
Oh well….
MW: I’m not going to rip you, I’m just going to ask you to back up your contention. How can you put numbers aside? The numbers are the record of what he’s accomplished, and since the beginning of June, Halladay has an ERA of 3.50, a WHIP of 1.22 and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 6.9:1. They may not be otherworldly, as we’re used to getting from Halladay, but to say that he has “not very good at all” is patently ridiculous.
- BrentMike, I couldn’t agree with you more. I can hardly listen or watch the games anymore, especially late into the game. It’s like the Jays aren’t even trying and when they come close, the opposition pulls out a change that just baffles them. There is just no confidence there.
The lack of hitting both yesterday and today has been inexcusable. The work ethic on the hitting side seems to be gone. It’s like the team comes up starting with a bang and then… poof, they’re gone, a bad pitching effort and they fall out of reach… a hitting effort that’s just not enough. There’s been some valiant efforts late in the game but they get quickly snuffed. The game against Tampa on Wednesday which they won on a wild pitch was pure luck. Yeah, teams win and lose games with lucky breaks, but Wednesday’s win was pure luck.
I don’t blame Halladay for the losses. He seems to get no run support when he’s pitching. Four runs against someone who you say was drinking beers three weeks ago. Where’s the run support? My feeling it that your best pitcher on your softball team would get the same results.
The whole team seems to be down, as this fan is.
Anyway, I really really like Bautista out in the outfield because he has an arm. Johnny Mac in the infield has been just ‘eh’, which really surprises me.
And Cito. Geez, sometimes he really tries (like switching up the pitchers three times in an inning) but then he doesn’t pinch hit when the opposite handed pitchers come in.
But the team as a whole… we’ll see what happens in Texas.
MW: So far, so good.
- Timthis team resembles the economy. It’s been scrapping along the bottom for months now.
MW: The economy is recovering, we’re told.
- dave_12Michael,
I wanted to ask you about a couple of minor leaguers.
Eric Thames has been on a tear of late and has put up pretty good numbers in only 46 games with Dunedin.
Is he someone you’d expect we might see in the bigs at some point? I know he fell to the 7th round in large part due to an injury.
Also, Brian Dopirak has hit very well in AA and AAA, he’s also 26, do you think he is one of the Sept call ups?
MW: I have never seen Thames play, but at 22 in Dunedin there’s no reason to believe that he might not have a future. I’d be surprised to see Dopirak get a September call.
- Uncle BenI rarely comment, but I’m relieved to know I’m not the only one with the “rock bottom” feeling. Lousy games and streaks are easier to live with when the season is still young. Not so much when September is knocking on the door.
I could use some kleenex, beer, chocolate and fluoxetine right about now.
- LJHere is the way to clear up all that ails the Jays.
Get Jim Ballslie to forget the NHL and instead buy the Jays from Rogers. With the money he is prepared to spend,he can then increase the salary level for the Jays and go after better free agents.
He can change the name of the stadium to Blackberry Field
Look at all the exposure he will get in MLB.
Someone should talk to him.
Mike, Do you have his phone number?
I guess we can only dream ?
- DANNYWell they told us in January this version of the Jays weren’t scheduled to do anything much. Wait until 2010 they said.
I’m waiting…
MW: You still have another four months to wait.
- isabella reyesWe all know that the season is not going well for the Jays, so it is great to see that Rod Barajas is getting some well deserved recognition (in the article below). I couldn’t agree more.
“Barajas a Heart and Hustle Award finalist
Rod Barajas is having quite a season. Later this year, he could be recognized for it.
The Blue Jays catcher has been selected as a finalist for the 2009 edition of the Heart and Hustle Award, presented annually by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association to an active player who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and traditions of the game.
In his second season with Toronto, the 33-year-old Barajas entered Sunday batting .243 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs — just five shy of the career-high 60 he collected in 2005.
Voted on by former Major Leaguers, the Heart and Hustle Award will be presented at the Legends for Youth Dinner on Nov. 6 in New York.
John Barone is an associate reporter for MLB.com.”
- jcSo Mike,
I have a question for your blog. Explain to me how the Blue Jays are a good team but just aren’t in the right division and if they were in a division certainly they’d be contending for a division title? Oh yeah and how long should JP Riccardi keep his job for in your opinion?
CK
MW: This year’s Jays? I doubt they’d be in contention for a division title in another division, except maybe the AL Central. For the answers to your other question – see above. I seem to answer that question every day.
- CoryMike…With September comes potential playoff scenarios and predictions. I heard ESPN’s Joe Morgan saying he wouldn’t want to face S.F. in a short series (wild card) because you get Lincecum and Cain right off the bat, providing the Giants get in. It also happens in other sports, like in the hockey playoffs last year when Columbus was a cool pick because of young phenom goalie Steve Mason, but the Red Wings had other plans…Mike, do you believe or think those “match-up theory” or “the hot guys going in to the playoffs” methods are helpful or is one setting himself up for disappointment or failure?
MW: Playoff series prove nothing about which team is better, just about which team had the better week. You can look at all the variables you want, but in the end, none of them matter.
- chris m.Halladay: 13-8, 3.13 ERA.
Greinke: 13-8. 2.32 ERA. Also a better WHIP and strikeout total.
Mike, in your mind, is there anyway Roy can still catch him for the Cy Young lead?
MW: Who’s to say that Greinke is in the lead? But in my mind, sure, there’s another month and change left – a whole fifth of a season, almost.
- Jamie TMike: Bonus points to you for making a Diamond Jim Clancy reference.
Condolences on the end of your softball season. On a thematic-Paul Byrd note, I came out of retirement this year at the prompting of a co-worker to play softball and I’m reminded every time I step on the field that baseball is the hardest game to master. You can’t hide on offence (the lineup is unchangeable); you can’t hide on defence (the ball will eventually be hit to you)…
Anyways, I think one-game playoffs are a joke. My league’s format is best-of-three; and I think that’s a joke. I’d prefer best of 99 (if it were theoretically possible).
MW: Me, too.
- Adrian, co-alumnusEE’s middle name is Elpidio. EEE anyone?
- NeilMike
I am with you as far as the Jays hitting rock bottom. It seems to me the Jays have a habit of making the so and so pitcher look like the second coming of Cy Young. They cannot beat Paul Bird, they cannot beat Buchholz (not to say Buchholz is a so and so pitcher). Buchholz hs three wins, all against the Jays. Go figure.
I am puzzled by the Jays moves on the september call ups and who they play now. QUestion 1 – They want to play Barajss often so it will help showcase him in the off season. Since when does a team owe a player something that they would play that player who is not likely going to be in their roster next year?
Question 2 – JP said that they would likely call up players with major league experience rather than the rookies like Dopirak. Why would you want to bring up players such as Inglet, who does not have the talent to play in the major league. It just baffles me.
For next season’s move, I also like Adam Kennedy as a possible Jay. Here is a man who hits for average, has a good glove and hits well with men in scoring position. I think Kennedy can be had for a reasonable price.
I hope they shape up next season, watching the Jays lately has been painful – I stopped watching yesterday’s game after the throw-away by Camp
Francis
MW: 1 – I don’t think they do, that’s just Cito trying to say the right thing. 2 – What’s the difference between Joe Inglett and Adam Kennedy?
- francis“Could THIS have been rock bottom?”
There is no rock bottom with this team. To hit rock bottom, you have to care, you have to have shame. These players collectively are indifferent and of course have no shame, save for Halladay. And most of the post game analysis of Sunday’s embarrassment of a game is inaccurate, not to mention unfair to Halladay — saying that he didn’t have his good stuff and was out-dueled by Byrd. First off, if Halladay just gave up a run or two, he still would’ve lost (what’s he suppose to do? Pitch a shutout into the 10th?). And secondly, it’s not Byrd that through 6 innings of 3 hit ball against the Jays, it’s them allowing him to do that to them. It’s not semantics, there’s a difference.
I hope Halladay asks to be moved in the off season. I do not want to see him at Spring Training with these clowns. Enough is enough. I want to see him play for players who care, who take pride in their craft, and who take winning more seriously than the current crop of Jays do.
BTW, do the broadcasters have a new policy in place? After each Jays’ loss, they never shows the dugout anymore. It only shows the victorious opposition giving high fives.
MW: I thought I saw them showsing the dugout yesterday or the day before. There’s no debating that Halladay wasn’t great yesterday and that the Jays had no solution for Byrd. But if they allowed Byrd (and Buchholz) to do that to them, why didn’t they allow Derek Holland to do it, too?
- martinHey, Mike:
Any chance that the good Doctor is suffering from Triscadecaphobia? He has sure been stuck on 13 wins for a long while! (Although I suppose technically if he had “trisca…” he would have been stuck on 12, wouldn’t he)?
MW: TrisKa, but yes.
- NormHey Mike,
With all the talk about balancing the schedule I haven’t heard anyone bring up arguably one of the most obvious points:
14 Teams in the AL
16 Teams in the NL
Just in terms of numbers, it’s easier to win the AL West than any other division because you only have to be better than 3 other teams. NL Central, you have to be better than 5 other teams in order to win the division.
Prior to the 1998 re-alignment due to the Tampa and Arizona expansion, each league had 14 teams; 5 in the east, 5 in the central, 4 in the west. Tampa gets added to the AL East, Arizona gets added to the NL West. Tampa coming to the AL East bumped Detroit to the AL Central, and then the wise decision was made to put 6 teams in the NL Central by shipping Milwaukee over there.
For a while I thought that the decision that would have made more sense would have been Detroit just going to the NL Central and Houston coming over to the AL West. That way there would have been 5 teams in each division, in each league. In this scenario, you’re still making 2 teams make a move, but you have balanced divisions.
Geographically this also makes sense. By moving Houston from the NL Central to the AL West you also cut down on traveling for teams in those two divisions. Houston is quite a hike from all the Central division teams, and then you would have 2 teams in the AL West in the same state.
Why was it not important for MLB to have the same number of teams in each division? Have you spoke to any of your counterparts or other members of the baseball media that cover NL teams about this matter?
MW: The problem is that if you have the same odd number of teams in each league, you’d need an interleague game every night.
- SteveMike, This weekend was absolutly horrible. Not only did they get beat, they looked beat from the first pitch on. It seemed like they were destined to lose. Anyways, I’ve been calling for J.P.’s head all year on your blog so I won’t argue that again. What is your take on the only real race left, the Wild Card in the NL – The Rockies or the Giants? Rockies have an easier schedule the rest of the way but the Giants staff seems to be holding their own and the offense is showing signs of life!!! (Btw Zito’s contract now looks 100 times better than Vernons!)
Ro
MW: I think we’ll still see a race in the AL Central, too, at least. I like the Giants more than I like the Rockies, because of San Francisco’s pitching, but anything can happen over the course of a month.
- RoMike.
I think this was rock bottom, I agree with you 100%. This was one day I was glad to be at work instead of listening/watching the Jays. Just wondering, with the Jays in Texas this week if there will be pre-pre-game shows and will there be an in-between game Jays Talk on Tuesday during the double-header, will there be enough time? Thanks.
Peter, St.Catharines
MW: There was a pre-pre-game show tonight, and there will be another on Wednesday. I don’t know how much time there’ll be between games on Tuesday.
- Peterhey Mike a few things i wanted to ask?
1) Is there any truth to the rumor of Adam Lind being asked to go to fall leagues and learn how to play 1st base?
2) Why do you think the payroll will increase in 2010 as you said in a previous post? Has someone come out and said it or is it just rumors swirling around? If so then who are you hearing these rumors from?
3) Does Kyle Phillips have any future with the Jays, or are the Jays sticking to JP Arencibia and hoping he can have a better offensive season next year.
MW: 1 – Nope. 2 – Just rumours. Like you, I’m hearing them mostly from Bob McCown. 3 – I don’t believe the Jays are looking at Phillips as an everyday catcher down the road, but that doesn’t mean he has no future, necessarily.
- RichardMr. Wilner,
At about this time last year, and as Casey Stengel said “you could look it up” I wrote that the optimism you were showing at that point for this season was misplaced and that the Jays could as likely lose 90 games this year as win 90.
Yesterday, I heard you wax poetic about the 2010 Jays as having the potential of being a really good team.
Next year’s Jays are great candidates for 100 losses. Halladay will go over the winter (and the package will be less than the trade deadline offers this year), and 9 candidates for the rotation is not necessarily a good thing. They need a shortstop, a third baseman, a catcher and a run producer and will still have questions in center field and at first base. The defense , as it stands, is putrid.
Good news is, though, that a 30-4 finish will allow J.P. to post a better year than Gord Ash had in his tenure.
Regards,
J.C.
MW: 30-4 would be awesome. Obviously, the Jays have a lot of work to do over the off-season, but it can be done – the question is, is ownership willing to give the team the resources to do it?
- jchenryIt is time for the Rogers Communications/Media empire to let go of these Blue Jays, just as the tribune group and alot of other media companies in baseball let go of their mlb team(disney,time warner etc. Media companies are not particularly passionate about the sport, but rather passionate about the ad revenue it generates for it’s radio or TV assests. The Rogers Empire uses the Blue Jays and the Dome as a low maintainance but huge advertising vechile.
You often complain about our division well it certainly doesn’t help when most of the other owners in the division are dedicated to and passionate about baseball and our owner is a Communications/media ccompany governed by serveral men who likely know nothing about the sport.
- Thomasjays had more ab’s than bos and almost the same runners 10 vs 11 yet were outscored 7-0.
bos obp .324 slug .515
jays obp .270 slug .250
slug% is the difference. it doesn’t matter how many runners you get on, if you dont slug the ball they wont score.
MW: Not always, but usually.
- mannyHey Mike,
I heard late last week on the broadcast from Pat Tabler that JP told him the Jays are replacing the field turf next season with a new one. Can you add anymore to that story?
On that note, I read after Rios left how he complained about the field turf and how his knees/ankles would be sore or hurt. My question is, how bad is it really? I don’t get it. I’ve been on field level stepping on it and it seems just fine. These ballplayers spend what, at most 3-4 hours actually on the field turf a day (including practices, etc.) and their various parts of their bodies hurt? The turf is no worst than walking/running on a sidewalk or playing/practicing basketball on hardwood, etc.
MW: I have heard that the fieldturf will be replaced with an even better, next-generation turf next season. I hadn’t read that about Rios, but a lot of guys have complained. I don’t really get it, either, but their joints must really take a pounding.
- JoachimMike,
The other day (I think it was Friday during the rain delay) somebody from Yukon called in and asked about scouting in Cuba. While the Blue Jays could in practice send Canadian scouts in and out of Cuba, I found this story: http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/postedsports/archive/2008/02/22/paper-chase-ends-for-jays-cuban-defector.aspx
If you could take a look at the 6th paragraph, JP says that there are some restrictions that MLB has put on any team doing that.
MW: Old, but helpful. Thanks!
- JamesI’m listening to Baseball Today as I write this…
First of all, “Rumble Seat” by John Cougar Mellencamp isn’t common but you probably should have recognized it.
And Paul Byrd was almost a .500 pitcher last year so perhaps he’s not quite THAT bad. Sure he retired but he could have stayed active anticipating this type of situation.
But what I think will be the most interesting to see is if Philadelphia will actually try Pedro Martinez in Brad Lidge’s role. They talked about this rumour on the Sunday Night Baseball broadcast. Pedro was a relief pitcher in the beginning of his career with the Dodgers and I also think he was the first year or two in Montreal.
MW: I’ll take whatever criticism I get on “Rumble Seat”. Didn’t know it. It would be very interesting to see Pedro the closer.
- Rob MThe Jays look like a bunch of lost souls. I don’t believe for a minute the players are not trying to do their best but clearly there is a lack of motivation creeping in with every passing day. Halladay looks lost out there and clearly when he wasn’t moved prior to the trade deadline (after all the trade talk) he was very disappointed although I am sure he would never admit it. Perhaps the more important issue right now is the state of the Blue Jays as a business. Corporate sponsors and general interest in the team has assuredly gone into a tailspin and it is very important to not let that deteriorate to the point where very few people except for the hard core fans will actually care about this team.
A management change is in order and there will have to be some personnel changes on the field as the offense is just too one dimesional. Will a new management make things better? It may not, as the odds are stacked against any team which has to compete with Boston and New York on a payroll basis and Tampa has the the advantage of high drafting for multiple years in succession (say Pittsburg Penguins) but you must try something as the current status quo is not working and if you add in some of the questionable financial dealings I think a change is merited.
MW: A change in the presidency has to come first, and we’ll see what happens when it does.
- mike glattI think the Jays front office situation will need to be sorted out very shortly after the season is over. Stability at the top is a good idea. I think nowadays that Toronto faces a very uphill battle in attracting free agents (division played in, border crossing issues) that a lack of stability in where the team is headed will just compound the problem.
Here’s hoping the Jays light it up in September and take the roll of spoiler seriously and have an impact on the playoff race.
Some guys on the Jays just want to turn the page on this season and come back in 2010, while others want to build on career years. Concerning the silver slugger awards, where do Lind and Hill stand for their positions?
MW: They’re definitely right at the top as far as offensive production for their positions.
- Aaron KerHey Mike,
Wanted to throw out a few scenarios hoping you might be able to answer:
Rain delay similar to what just happened in Boston. Tie game, cannot revert back to previous full inning b/c it was a tie. The teams/umps decide to resume 1 to 2 days later.
1) Johnny Mac was on second base. What if prior to the game being resume he is injured/trade and the team has no more positional players avaliable left on the bench. What if no bench & bullpen players not avaliable?
2) Might be a dumb question. I remember hearing games where there is a game delay where the player stays on the bag during the delay. Even overnight. Is that what literally happens? The player stays on the bag? If true, do they actually sleep on the field. If this is true why is this rule not modified?
Thanks for your insight.
MW: 1 – I have no idea what would happen in that scenario. 2 – The rule wasn’t modified because the runner needs to protect the bag in order to keep a legal claim to it.
- AKPaul Byrd did look pretty good i have to admit, and the Jays really are suckers for those soft tossers. It seems to me Boston really exposed the impatience of the Blue Jay hitters throughout this whole series, throwing a lot of off spead stuff to guys who can’t handle it – ahem, Randy Ruiz just the most prominant example.
Mike, just wondering since you brought it up. Whats your take on the defensive makeup for the Jays going forward ? Wells, Snider and Lind is a horrible outfield, defensively speaking of course. Defense has been the only path to success for the Bluejays throughout the years and it doesn’t seem like it should change if the Jays want to succeed.
I would love a Denard Span/Franklin Gutierrez type outfielder taking up the slack of the slow corner guys, but that just isn’t an option with Vernon there. Our CF is very weak and because of it the Jays are severely limited and punished by being forced to play three guys who just can’t move it.
How do you feel about the defsensive formation of the outfield moving forward ? Should Vernon in center moving forward be as much of a concern ? Where does Vernon move to once it becomes painfully apparent that he is no longer a league average centerfielder ? I know he isn’t bad, but statistically he just isn’t waranting a place out there (glove wise). (And yes i can produce all the numbers from fangraphs to prove my case, but the general gist of the argument shouldn’t necesitate the expansion of an already long post.)
MW: One of the reasons I’m pushing for the signing of Chone Figgins this winter is that he could up the defensive abilities of the outfield, and maybe even push Wells to left eventually. It will be tough for a flyball pitcher with the outfield as currently constituted, it’s true. Denard Span and Franklin Gutierrez, while similar defenders, are very dissimilar players. Span I would love, Gutierrez I haven’t got much use for. It’s very, very harsh of you to point out Randy Ruiz to illustrate the Jays’ failings in Boston – he didn’t even play in two of the three games.
- daveRe: Poster 106 about Rios
Im not really sure what you think is “robust” but 10 for 53 is not. Thats a BA of .192. With one walk. in fifty at-bats. His slugging which is relatively good, because half his hits have been for extras, is 327. Funny thing about this, there are FIVE players in the AL with BA higher than that. This seems more like a prolonged slump, rather than “robust”. I hope you were being ironic.
Cheers
MW: You really thought that guy wasn’t being sarcastic?
- Dave JPossibly it’s just me but does it not seem that Halladay is just going through the motions? Not on purpose mind you, but being on THIS team must be a real downer.
No run support,the manager does nothing regarding a beaning, the team is beaten by a guy who was just throwing batting practice to little leaguers and there is no sign they have hit rock bottom. This has turned into a disaster…Actually, the Jays remind me of the Monty Python group.
By the way, great blog and I feel sorry for you having to sit through those home games of the Jays lately.
Talk about torture…..
MW: It just speaks to how amazing Halladay really is if he can put up those numbers while just “going through the motions”.
- DougHey Mike,
LOVED TBJTW as always. I thought the Jesse Litsch interview was great stuff. Especially the part about Doc getting squeezed. He DOES get squeezed a heck of a lot more than other pitchers of his stature and it drives me crazy. I’ve asked you about this a few times and you’ve never agreed with me so it’s nice to hear others have the same opinion.
This season has been exruciating (barring the first month, of course) but there are bright spots.
1) Aaron Hill and Adam Lind – very good chance to have two 30+ homer guys in the same year – When was the last time that happened?
2) Ricky Romero – need I say more?
3) Travis Snider – once he gets past the steep learning curve of the major leagues… Look out. And he’s 21 friggin’ years old.
4) Pitching depth – the back up to the back ups of the substitutes for the injured replacements have done really well.
5) Vernon can only get better from this point on.
Mike- I think Aaron Hill is an amazing second baseman but I think he’d be an even better third baseman in the long run. Great range, quick reactions and a fantastic arm. I’ve been thinking about it ever since your suggestion of bringing back the O’Dog (which I doubt will occur). Thoughts?
MW: I wouldn’t have suggested moving Hill to third if I didn’t think he’d do well there. The last time the Jays had two 30-homer guys in one season was 2006, when Troy Glaus and Wells did it.
- Scott BI’ve previously tried to keep within the guidelines of “Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!”, but I can’t help but point out the Cito Gaston seems to be getting a free pass as far as criticism in the media, they seem to love his second coming.
I never thought that firing Gibby was the right move, but when they did fire him, I figured they had to try something to shake up the team, so I didn’t really mind the change.
Gibbons tenure as a manager was never anywhere as bad as this. In fact the 2007 team was way banged up, and he still lead them to a +500 record.
I’ve been watching the Blue Jays since 1977 and this seems to be the most disinterested group of individuals I’ve ever seen, very similar to the 1997 when Gaston was fired the first time.
I personally think Citos’ laid back style doesn’t work with teams that are not stacked with superstars. He’s too easy on his players, and with the exception of some of the pitchers, there seems to be no consequences for sub-par play.
I’m not saying we need a Ozzie type manager, but I also don’t care if all the players love Cito. In fact the fact that they all love him is a “red flag” as far as I’m concerned.
Cito was never a good manager, even when he won the world series, I think it’s time that the Jays clean house and get someone who’s a little more dynamic (any suggestions who you’d like to see).
PS: Even though I’ve supported JP, I’d be happy to see him go as well, just to give the franchise some new blood. This bunch seems to be cursed!
- Kevin DalyHello Mr.Wilner
I don’t know why you seem to think the jays are “very close to being very good”. Its unbelievable that you keep on reiterating the same thing. The notion that the jays are close to being a very good team is simply untrue and wrong.
Being a Chone Figgins, Nick Johnson/Russ Bryanon/, Jason bay, Orlando hudson away from a good team means that the team is far from being a “very good team”. Their starting rotation is a question mark, their bullpen is a lot worse than it was last year, and they cannot hit. What makes it close to being very good.
Thanks
MW: The question mark starting rotation is pretty much dead middle-of-the-pack using the back-ups to the back-ups, and the bullpen is still made up of the same group that was the best in baseball just last year (though exchanging Janssen for Ryan). Turning over a third of the starting line-up, and specifically bringing in guys who hit left-handed and walk, would make a team that “cannot hit” able to score a lot more runs.
- UltimateBLUEJAYfani think it’s time they start being a little more dilligent about monitoring halladay’s innings and pitch counts earlier in the season, next year.
he’s a stud, and i can’t say for sure that that’s the problem (if there even is one, given that it’s only 3 starts), but he’s not all that young anymore, and there’s a lot of mileage on him.
- Jay BGreat news! Alex Rios has finally caught Vernon Wells in the battle for horrific OBP! A 3rd place worse tie with .306.
- RenegadeHi Mike,
A few questions for your consideration:
i)Do you think the Jays should sign Jason Bay to something like a 5yr/50MM deal (or more)?
ii)I recall Barajas playing 1B a few times last year. How is his defence there? The reason I ask, is the following idea. IF the Jays are going for it in 2010, and would be prepared to re-sign El Capitain (maybe 2/6MM?), could he serve a dual role as backup catcher/ 1B platoon partner w/ Overbay?
iii) Should the Jays go after Matt Murton? What would it take to sign him, in your opinion?
iv) Who, once again in your opinion, will man the hot corner for the Jays in 2010?
MW: i – That would be OK with me, though I doubt he’d earn the money on the back end, but Bay is looking for more. ii – I want a much better bat playing first, even if it’s only against lefties. iii – Matt Murton doesn’t thrill me. He’s fine – he’s not that old, he can hit a bit, he can play defense, but I’m not looking for a platoon partner for Lind or Snider. iv – Either Chone Figgins, Edwin Encarnacion or Jose Bautista.
- Andy McHey Mike,
I just want to confirm that I am not indeed hallucinating right now. Did we just see a first inning that included: 5 runs, 2 outs by Wells and Millar that actually moved runners and scored runs, a 3 run jack by Barajas, and a 9 pitch bottom half by Cecil?
I know it’s only one inning of one game, but I haven’t felt this good since June!
MW: I hope you enjoyed it while it lasted.
- BrandenBy the way, if the Jays blow a 11-run lead then it is officially ROCK BOTTOM.
- RenegadeI wonder if Kenny Williams and Jose Guillen are wondering what they got themselves into with taking the Rios contract off their hands. He’s stinking it up real good. I love the way he was batting third in the first few games and now has been relegated to the seventh hitter. A prime example that talent is only part of the equation that makes up a good ball player.
MW: Jose Guillen couldn’t care less, but at 28 years old, you’re writing off Rios a little too soon.
- Domenickmike, if you were a betting man, who would you take to win this thing?
rance said that although vernon’s offense hasn’t been great, his defence has been “spectacular” do you agree with him? lol.
MW: Tonight it has. You take the team with the lead going into the 8th, but it’s awfully shaky.
- Andy Mcmike, I find it funny how you criticized the waiver claim on kazmir because he was owed big money for 2 years and had a bad season. well isn’t rios worse? he is owed big money for 5 years and is having a bad season. kazmir had 4 good years and is only 25.
MW: I find it funny that you think I criticized the waiver claim on Kazmir. Especially since I said I didn’t think there was a waiver claim on Kazmir, then gave my reasons as to why. Yes, Rios’ contract is far worse than Kazmir’s.
- mannyone thing you have to criticize jp for is his handling of avacardo. casey jansen is hopeless and should not be on this team. avacardo pitched well and it seems his demotion is for personal reasons. jp has an obligation to put the best lineup out there. if he doesn’t like avacardo personally then he should trade him. by constantly demoting him, when he becomes a free agent there is no way he signs with toronto after the way he’s been treated so you might as well play him or trade him.
MW: Maybe it’s just that Ricciardi doesn’t like guacamole. You lose me when you say that Janssen is hopeless. Regardless, Accardo won’t be a free agent until at least the end of the 2012 season.
- mannyMW: I find it funny that you think I criticized the waiver claim on Kazmir. Especially since I said I didn’t think there was a waiver claim on Kazmir, then gave my reasons as to why. Yes, Rios’ contract is far worse than Kazmir’s.
sorry I forgot it was a trade but I think you did criticize it. you said the jays shouldn’t have gone after him, but they should have kept rios, even though rios contract is worse. unless you believe kazmir is washed up after just 1 bad year.
MW: I didn’t think they should have let Rios go for nothing, because I thought they’d have been able to at least get something back in the off-season, but the more I look at it, the more I understand that it was a gamble they didn’t want to take. I still don’t get why they couldn’t have moved him earlier and gotten a return, though. But no, I don’t think that the Jays should have claimed Kazmir. It’s not that he’s washed up – especially not at his age – but the contract isn’t a good one, and why should the Jays take on another bad contract?
- mannyMike,
whats the difference between the three outfielders (in terms of scouting, arms, etc.)
MW: The metrics will disagree with me, but in my eyes Lind is an adequate outfielder with a below-average arm, Wells is an average defensive centrefielder (relative to his compatriots) with an average arm, and Snider will wind up being an above-average corner outfielder with an above-average arm.
- TheSunkenZealotMW: Maybe it’s just that Ricciardi doesn’t like guacamole. You lose me when you say that Janssen is hopeless. Regardless, Accardo won’t be a free agent until at least the end of the 2012 season.
accardo era .250 whip 1.44 ba .246
jansen era 5.81 whip 1.77 ba .346
I think that is hopeless and his numbers just got worse tonight. who do you think deserves to be on the team?
MW: So you’re telling me I’m wrong for not wanting Kazmir because of one bad year and you’re willing to write off Janssen after 31 innings?
- mannywats the status of the contract of jason frasor?
do you think they can get something productive out of him (via trade)? this bullpen doesn’t need THAT much help, and their offence does. his resume may improve in sept.
MW: Frasor will be a free agent after next season. It’s too late for them to trade him now for any return until the off-season.
- TheSunkenZealotRE: post 48.
Sorry Mike,
I meant to ask you,
whats the difference between left, center and right field.
MW: Centre needs the most range, right needs the biggest arm, left is left.
- TheSunkenZealotMike
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=p&stats=fld&lg=al&qual=y&type=0&season=2009&month=0
I knew rookie Romero was a decent\above average defender at his position but are you surprised that he is leading the AL in range factor for pitchers?
Granted range factor isn’t an all telling defensive stat, but then again none are at the moment.
Also do you think Hills rather lackluster fielding stats are because of his slow start defensively this season? it may just be me (and probably is) but seems to have gotten better and better as the season has gone on.
MW: I am surprised, but I don’t know how much I buy range factor – it’s just one of many things that should go into developing a picture of a fielder. Hill has dropped and bobbled a lot of balls this season, though he’s recovered nicely more often than not.
- Randyaj burnett career era 3.84 age 32
kazmir career era 3.92 age 25
how is 12 mil for 2 years for a starting pitcher a bad contract?
in his past 11 starts only twice he gave up more than 5 runs.
you’ve always said pitching is hard to come by and you have an opportunity to get a 25 year old coming off 1 bad year on a 2 year contract and you pass? remember the jays were willing to pay burnett more money than that.
- mannyMW: So you’re telling me I’m wrong for not wanting Kazmir because of one bad year and you’re willing to write off Janssen after 31 innings?
then why are you writing accardo off and demoting him? why doesn’t jansen get demoted?
MW: I’m not writing Accardo off at all.
- mannyHi Mikey
As a follow up to post #2, a retractable roof stadium like Safeco is interesting, although highly unnecessary. In Seattle the roof is viewed by some as gimmick. Check out the link.
http://deadspin.com/5337402/why-your-stadium-sucks-safeco-field
MW: It’s kind of cool that the roof is as unnecessary as it is. Here, not so much.
- Lyle OverpaidMike,
At the end of the year, would you do Morneau for Overbay (gives them someone for next year), Snider, and one of the younger arms? (League, Zep, Cecil)
I’m surprised the Jays have never made a move for Morneau, but I guess its the Twins who really wouldnt want to trade him.
MW: Ya think? I actually don’t know if I’d do Cecil and Snider for Morneau. I guess I’d have to, but I’d probably wind up regretting it.
- Jamie TMike, re my Post #18 — I “googled” triscadecaphobia, and came up with a valid response and definition, so I thought that spelling was good. In looking further, it seems that the use of the “k”, as in your correction, is the more accepted spelling, and in fact that there should also be an “i” in it, making the complete spelling “triskaidecaphobia”. The “i” comes from the Greek word “kai” (meaning “and”), which in turn puts together the prefixes for three and ten to make the total thirteen. Quite logical, when all is said and done.
MW: Marvelous.
- NormMike, I’m wondering if there is a “dumber” comment in the history of baseball than Cito’s (almost daily) “we win as a team and we lose as a team”, which he seems to think is tremendously insightful?
Since baseball is a TEAM sport, isn’t the result ALWAYS a “team” result?
I’m not sure what Cito is trying to do with this particular comment, but I really find it annoying.
MW: I think Cito is trying to make sure that credit and blame is spread around but yes, it’s a team sport, it’s impossible to not win or lose as a team.
- NormAdam Lind will hit 50 doubles and 30 HR’s yes or no?
MW: Sounds good to me.
- DennyHi Mike
I think it is time to let someone drive this BLue Jay ship. JP has been too close and been too long on the job. This bunch of players, as you say, are smitten, snake bitten and for some reason, cannot win enough games. There is always excuses but let’s get on with it and move on.
Bring someone new with a different approach. The good jays team of the past, the team of mid 1980s and early 1990s were teams that can score runs, play consistent and execute fundamental baseball to a tee, a must for any good teams.
Enough is enough. We do not want a Toronto Maple Leafs 40-year rebuilding plan. Call it unlucky, but JP has not been able to take this team to the next level.
As a fan, I don’t expect the ship to turn on a dime, but it must show signs of steady, continuous improvement so that each year, the Jays are in a position to battle it out for a play-off spot. If they make the play-offs once every three or four tries, I would be content. I don’t think that is too much to ask. I wonder how clouded your memory is of those teams from 1985-1993. Many of them certainly had their flaws.
Francis
MW: It’s not too much to ask, but given the neighbourhood in which the Jays reside, it’s unlikely unless they put a lot more money into the team.
- francisHey Mike. Thanks for clearing up that Scott Rolen stuff I was wondering about. I still eat The Cavemans fossel fries and mammoth burgers. Was he cool with you on a personal level off the record?
MW: Every once in a while.
- Matt in BCGreetings. Mike ,I’d like to hear your opinion on Rzepczynski. How high do you see his ceiling? Seems to me that at his major issue thus far is a lack of control of the strike zone (but then, I guess that applies to almost all pitchers). From what I’ve seen, any time he’s been in trouble is due to wildness; I can’t remember him ever really getting pounded for hits. In fact, when he’s in control of the strike zone, he’s nothing short of dominating! I understand ceiling really means nothing, but how much potential do you think he has? How about a comparison to David Cone, at least ‘stuff-wise’?
Would the Jays have been in the hunt this year if they’d had a strong season out of the 4 spot? What could their record have been if they had ’06 Glaus or even Well’s, or ’07 Thomas (remember, he really struggled the first 40 games, but would have carried the team from then on)? How close were they to signing/ trading for Ibanez last year? An I incorrect in believing there was talk of him last year? All the talk of how far the Jays are from competing, seems to me that they’re not that far away, even consiring all that’s gone wrong.
These are the thoughts that keep me whimpering in my pillow.
regards,
MW: They’re not far away – or at least, not far enough away that they can’t get there relatively easily if they want to. There’s no apostrophe in “Wells”. I really like what I’ve seen so far out of Zep – he’s done it against some big-hitting teams and held his own more often than not. David Cone was one of the best pitchers in baseball for a lot of years, so I think you probably need to take a deep breath there. If the Jays had had one more big hitter this year, there’s a chance that some to a lot of those one-run losses could have been turned around.
- S. CharlesAs of this morning, the Blue Jays sit 23 games behind the Yankees and 16 1/2 games behind in the Water Closet race. What happened to the team I used to love?
I am one of the three million people who now remember sitting in the snow swept stands at the Ex on opening day in April, 1977. I lived and died with each win or loss for over twenty years (well, it did affect my mood), but for the last six years I’ve pulled for the opposition nightly in hopes that things would get so bad that somehow the team would be given a hope and a direction as in the days of olde.
Again, what happened? I believe the decline in the franchise began with the team’s sale to Interbrew (InBev) in 1994 – a faceless, Belgian company that corporately did know or care anything about baseball. Labatt was different in that, as a Canadian company, they seemed to feel that winning was important to the company’s national image. I never got this feeling, or any feeling at all, re Interbrew’s reign. The five years of Interbrew began the downward slide in supportive ownership, which became an avalance under the Rogers conglomerate. Ted Rogers, as a team owner, could not have been less like e.g. a Ted Turner who actually cared about whether the team won or loss. Unlike the two decades under Labatts, Mr. Rogers cared about money over winning which is the exact opposite of what I believe is a necessary mileau for a successful team. Knowing, nor caring, nothing in particular about baseball, Mr. Rogers hired a FAN, Paul Godfrey, as President of the Blue Jays. This move was a unproductive as hiring me, or any other fan, as CEO of a professional team. Bringing nothing of consequence from a baseball point of view Mr. Godrey hired Mr. Riccardi in the fall of 2001. Mr. Riccardi began house cleaning the organization from top to bottom so that all hires were beholded to him, thus restricting baseball expertise in the organization to himself and his friends.
For almost eight years now, Mr. Riccardi has been an average GM with remarkably little good luck. Trades/signings which might seem to make sense at the time all too often turn out to be unfortunate in the long haul.
And that’s pretty much it – years of indifferent ownership, coupled with adequate but not inspired (or lucky) baseball expertise.
What will make it better? A good start would be ownership that has winning as its priority, and sees making money as a result of the former. Plus, a GM who comes with a proven record of sucessful (winning) performance on the baseball side: something Mr. Riccardi did not bring nor develop over the last almost eight years.
MW: I don’t think ownership is going to change anytime soon and, to be fair, the team was hemorrhaging money when Rogers bought it – it’s only natural for them to want to get that under control before funnelling extra money into the team, which they did. If you look at the Jays’ front office, you’ll see that it’s made up of several people who have experience in other organizations, it’s not as though Ricciardi cleared everyone out and then brought in his friends. His closest advisor for years was Bobby Mattick.
- kenl77Fun note: Matt Vasgersian refers to Lind as “the Blue Jays second baseman” on MLB Tonight before doing an interview with Lind.
MW: Mistakes happen.
- KevinThought you might find this interesting. Here are the players by month on my 2009 Jays calendar…
January- AJ Burnett
February- Matt Stairs
March- BJ Ryan
April- Lyle Overbay
May – Roy Halladay
June- David Eckstein
July- Aaron Hill
August- Scott Rolen
September- Dustin McGowan
October- Alex Rios
November- Greg Zaun
December- Vernon Wells
Talk about a team that is gutted from last year!! It got to its most ridiculous when Rolen was traded within a day or so of me turning his picture up! Where is this team headed?????
MW: Wow, why would they have put Burnett, Zaun, Eckstein and Stairs on the 2009 calendar????
- JohnMW: The metrics will disagree with me, but in my eyes Lind is an adequate outfielder with a below-average arm, Wells is an average defensive centrefielder (relative to his compatriots) with an average arm, and Snider will wind up being an above-average corner outfielder with an above-average arm.
Why do you think that the metrics are wrong about the Blue Jay outfielders. Of course the media in every city feels the same way about the players they watch everyday, so I guess there’s no real reason why you should be different. At least you admit the metrics disagree with you. Most “journalists” in other cities wouldn’t admit to that or even be aware of it.
___________________________
What a great NL pennant race we would be having now in the non-divisional format. The Phillies, Cardinals, and Dodgers would all be a life and death struggle for the NL Championship and World Series berth. Unfortunately what we have now is three teams in cruise control while two very mediocre teams (Giants and Rockies) compete in some very artificial wildcard race.
MW: I didn’t say the metrics were wrong, just that they’d likely disagree with me. In a non-divisional format, teams would be playing wildly different schedules than they have, so records would be very different. But suspending that notion, the Dodgers would have a one-game lead on the Cardinals and Phillies, with the Rockies and Giants tied for the fourth and final playoff spot, 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis and Philly.
- stat ladymichael,
was holding on the pregame show last night with this but had to jump & couldn’t chime in unfortunately.
i heard a very interesting piece of info from a personal & completely reliable source over the weekend that i just had to share with you.
i actually even find this somewhat newsworthy to be honest with you.
and perhaps you can ask cito this directly if you feel compelled to do so.
cito apparently asked joe carter at some point to strongly consider coming out of retirement to dh/pinch hit for the jays this season.
perhaps over the winter i’m assuming (didn’t ask to confirm about that part)
but did you ever hear of this?
don’t know what to think of this to be honest with you michael. when did he hang them up? can’t remember myself.
but based on the team not signing anyone over the winter
& only inviting millar to camp for this spot, gotta imagine there’s some possible truth to this. don’t you think?
crazy if true i’m thinking….
MW: You’re really letting your imagination run away with you. There’s not a chance that happened. Carter retired in 1998, and will be 50 in March.
- darrell bishopSince I know you love to rip/make fun/condescend of fans that can’t spell ie (avacardo) –well in your response to post #17 it’s showing not showsing. J
MW: Uh-huh. Go back and read that comment. Your eventual apology will be accepted.
- CoryMike, what do you think of this story?
“The Yankees’ Sept. 27 home game against the Boston Red Sox has been rescheduled from 1 to 8 p.m. — putting the first pitch well after the sundown start of Yom Kippur”
I guess ESPN has other priorities. Also, do you think Kevin Youkoulis (sp?)will play?
MW: It’s a Sunday – isn’t the rule that if the Yankees and Red Sox play each other on a Sunday it has to be at night? There has to be a game played that night, MLB isn’t going to change its schedule for the minority of the fanbase that observes Yom Kippur. I doubt Youkilis will play.
- Shmuel YitzchokWell Mike, I just read the Jays called up 3 players and Accardo isn’t on the list (Inglet, Hayhurst, and Wolfe). It seems pretty clear where he stands in the organization when he’s behind those Wolfe and Hayhurst and pretty much the 10th reliever.
I don’t get that because he’s pitched well, certainly, arguably better than four guys in the Jays pen now. JP keeps saying how he like guys with good “arms” and well, Accardo probably has the 2nd or 3rd best arm (in the bullpen).
MW: I don’t get it, either.
- JoachimHey mike, Do you think the Jays should/could trade Zep for Yonder Alonso. The Reds need a lot of pitching help, and they have Votto at 1st already.
cheers
MW: Yonder is certainly a top-level prospect, but so seems Rzepczynski to be.
- Dave JWhat is with the Jays management and Jeremy Accardo? The Jays made 3 call-ups today none of which are Accardo. I’m sorry but I don’t buy the idea that he was sent down because he had options left. Casey Janssen was rushed back here and has done NOTHING worthwhile since. Accardo was doing just fine up in the Bigs and was demoted for no reason other than attitude issues. Need proof?
http://www.lvrj.com/sports/56171742.html
“There’s really no rhyme or reason to some of the decisions that are made, and that’s out of your hands as a player,” Accardo said Saturday. “They told me I was, but nothing surprises me,” he said. “If they don’t, they don’t. Hopefully that means I’ll be with another squad next year.”
So.. how soon before he gets his walking papers? Trade to the Brewers for JJ Hardy along with another piece from the Jays side? Thoughts?
MW: I don’t think that’s proof of “attitude issues”, but I don’t know why Accardo has been jerked around so much this year. Does it mean he’ll wind up somewhere else next year? Of course not, the Jays still control his rights through the end of the 2012 season.
- RenegadeHey Mike,
Just saw Accardo wasn’t a September call-up, are the waiting for the MiLB to wrap up, or did he just get horribly shafted?
Jack
MW: See above.
- JackMike…Isn’t it strange that the players accused of steroid use have selective amnesia when questioned about it. As Mark Twain once said, “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.”
- chris m.There is some consternation in White Sox Land over this week’s fire sale. It appears that fans are a little peeved that Williams has thrown in the towel after going out and getting Jake Peavey and Alex Rios.
It’s true that ol’ Captain Potential might have a break-out year next year, but this year he has continued to wear that familiar dazed expression every time he’s at bat.
I still haven’t forgotten the Mike Sirotka debacle. So if Kenny Williams is on the hook for US$55M of unfulfilled potential, that is just fine by me.
MW: I’m sure it is. Peavy got hurt again, so there’s nothing you can do about that.
- isabella reyesAny idea what Accardo did to have Wolfe called up instead of him? In the Las Vegas Review Journal Accardo says he hopes he’s on another team next year.
MW: See above.
- ClintHey Mike still loving the blog but I have to ask you, why does it seem, at least the play-by-play voices on radio and TV for the Jays, get just as excited when another team gets a hit, a home run, scores, makes a nice catch as they do for the Jays? I don’t know if you’ve seen any US broadcast clips but when Lind hit the GRAND SLAM they were barely even talking about the at-bat!!
I’d love to hear our broadcasters do the same thing, along with fans throwing back the ball at Rogers Centre when a homer is hit by the opposition just kind of make it seem like we have some spirit for the home team.
MW: I think it’s awful when broadcasters ignore what the opposition is doing, it’s difficult to listen to. What’s wrong with giving credit to the other guys? We’re supposed to be broadcasting the games, not just the team with which we’re affiliated, no?
- SleepyHey mike, Do you think the Jays should/could trade Zep for Yonder Alonso. The Reds need a lot of pitching help, and they have Votto at 1st already.
cheers
MW: Yonder is certainly a top-level prospect, but so seems Rzepczynski to be.
————————–
That doesn’t answer the question. Do you think they should do such a thing??
MW: At this point, I think I would have to say no, but I’m not sure.
- Dave JYour belief that the Jays are close to success cannot be founded on our outfield.
Bautista is an average hitter, at best
Cito sits out Lind occasionally, even though he DH’s sometimes. But day after day he continues to play Wells. At this point, in game 2, Vernon is 0 for 6 in the double header. His fielding is acceptable, even good, at times, but I daresay good fielding outfielders are probably readily available…….the Jays need production at the bat and that is not coming from Wells. Snider may be the ‘future’ but he is going to have to make some serious improvements. Other than a couple of good games at the beginning of his recall, he has been horrid at the plate.
What is the reason for your optimism about next year?
MW: See above.
- Lex M.Showsing is not a word.
MW: Correct. Again, look at the comment to which you’re referring.
- CoryHi Mike,,,boy is it getting really hard to cheer on these Blue Jays. Can you give me your opinion on a few thoughts.
A) When Cecil pitched the other night I was wondering who in the world is calling his pitches? He threw 2 wonderful curves to a hitter for swinging strikes as they were up 11 to 4…..with an 0-2 count I was wondering what kind of pitch he would throw to waste a pitch and he threw the same curve that left the park to make it 11 to 7…..is Rod that silly of a catcher to be calling that type of pitch to a major league hitter….even Rance could believe he threw 3 curves in a row. My question is with all these young kids on the mound doesn’t Brad relay in the pitches and locations to help these kids…everytime we play the Angels that all you ever see is their manager calling every pitch?
B) When is Cito going to sit Wells…..no matter how many catches he makes all these guys are major league outfielders…we need hitting it’s getting way to painful to keep watching Wells up to bat……do you think Cito will finally sit him and save him from going 0 for September?
C) After watching Rios in Chicago since the waiver claim JP has to feel good now for the move of letting him go for nothing?
D) I see Johnny Mac is hitting again, you got to feel for a guy that is so defensively good, do you think the Jays will try to re-sign him and do you think Johnny Mac will want to stay and play for a guy who never wants to play him?
E) With all the hitters swinging and missing do you see any of the hitting coaches being sent packing this off season….Snider is starting to look like Vernon’s brother up to bat…that can’t make this kid feel good?
F) Thoughts on how good of a job Cito has done since that 9 game losing streak…..during all the Jays success since Cito’s return last year all you kept hearing was how many games he won in a one year period…. since that losing streak I really haven’t heard much said about Cito…your thoughts on his performance since then?
Thanks
Mark
MW: A – I wouldn’t call Barajas silly. Sometimes tripling up on a pitch is a good idea, sometimes it isn’t. Mike Scioscia doesn’t call pitches for the Angels. B – He’s not going to be sat. Wells won’t be able to get out of his funk on the bench, and it’s not like he’s costing them in the standings. C – That one’s not a question. D – I can’t imagine that McDonald would come back to the Jays if he had another suitor who was offering him actual playing time, even as a back-up. And good for him. E – Nope, it’s not the coaches, it’s the players. F – I think the same of Cito as I always have.
- Mark Feeley