Comments on: The Final Four http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/ Covering the MLB with a focus on the Toronto Blue Jays Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:15:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: isabella reyes http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42440 isabella reyes Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:45:21 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42440 The fans had a horrible season. The team started out great and we all thought 'maybe....' then they fell right into the toilet. From the beginning Wells wasn't delivering. If Ricciardi had been a player/GM he would have been the one we jeered, but he wasn't on the field and Wells was. Yes, we were angry and frustrated and that anger and frustration grew and grew until, by the 3/4 point, this was as cranky and ornery a band of fans as you would ever not want to see. Wells caught the runt of that anger. But I still contend that the previous 16 years had not much to do with it. The fans had a horrible season. The team started out great and we all thought ‘maybe….’ then they fell right into the toilet. From the beginning Wells wasn’t delivering. If Ricciardi had been a player/GM he would have been the one we jeered, but he wasn’t on the field and Wells was. Yes, we were angry and frustrated and that anger and frustration grew and grew until, by the 3/4 point, this was as cranky and ornery a band of fans as you would ever not want to see. Wells caught the runt of that anger. But I still contend that the previous 16 years had not much to do with it.

]]> By: isabella reyes http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42401 isabella reyes Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:11:00 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42401 MW: The contract doesn’t make fans (including you) think that Wells had a poor season last year when he didn’t. He didn't have a terrible season last year, but he was the best of a terrible bunch. And he did not have a fantastic season. I'm sticking to my guns. Wells isn't being booed because he is the target of our frustration over the past 16 years. He isn't, Mike. He's being booed because he almost never saw a double-play ball he didn't hit straight at 2nd base. He's being booed because with 2 men on and fewer than 2 outs he relentlessly flied out or grounded out or hit into the above-mentioned double-play. He killed just about every rally he came within 2 miles of. Over and over again Wells didn't get the guys on base over. He didn't get the rbi, the tying run or the go-ahead run. I'm sorry, but the fans' frustration was simple and straightforward, there was no historic gloss, no 'why isn't he more like Paul Molitor?!' It was all 'what in hell are we paying for?!' MW: It was all "what in hell are we paying for", it's true, but with no regard to what he'd done last year, or in previous years, or the fact that he's 30 years old and in the top five in almost every offensive category in team history. Very rarely are such players treated the way Wells was this season. MW: The contract doesn’t make fans (including you) think that Wells had a poor season last year when he didn’t.

He didn’t have a terrible season last year, but he was the best of a terrible bunch. And he did not have a fantastic season. I’m sticking to my guns. Wells isn’t being booed because he is the target of our frustration over the past 16 years. He isn’t, Mike. He’s being booed because he almost never saw a double-play ball he didn’t hit straight at 2nd base. He’s being booed because with 2 men on and fewer than 2 outs he relentlessly flied out or grounded out or hit into the above-mentioned double-play. He killed just about every rally he came within 2 miles of. Over and over again Wells didn’t get the guys on base over. He didn’t get the rbi, the tying run or the go-ahead run. I’m sorry, but the fans’ frustration was simple and straightforward, there was no historic gloss, no ‘why isn’t he more like Paul Molitor?!’ It was all ‘what in hell are we paying for?!’

MW: It was all “what in hell are we paying for”, it’s true, but with no regard to what he’d done last year, or in previous years, or the fact that he’s 30 years old and in the top five in almost every offensive category in team history. Very rarely are such players treated the way Wells was this season.

]]> By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42367 TheSunkenZealot Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:37:37 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42367 explain comment 92? why is defense '1/3' of the team? why hitting 1/3? i thought offense should be 1/2 and defense should be 1/2 since you only play half the game scoring and half the game defending MW: Defense is one of the three components to putting a team together. It's independent of hitting and mostly independent of pitching. It's kind of like three components to a football team are offense, defense and special teams. No one is suggesting that special teams are on the field a third of the time. explain comment 92?
why is defense ’1/3′ of the team?
why hitting 1/3?
i thought offense should be 1/2
and defense should be 1/2
since you only play half the game scoring and half the game defending

MW: Defense is one of the three components to putting a team together. It’s independent of hitting and mostly independent of pitching. It’s kind of like three components to a football team are offense, defense and special teams. No one is suggesting that special teams are on the field a third of the time.

]]> By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42366 TheSunkenZealot Mon, 26 Oct 2009 03:06:01 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42366 you say there are three sides to a baseball team, i say there are two defense and pitching both combine for one purpose - reducing the amount of runs as much as possible. I call that a half, because you use your defense and your pitching at the same time. if you say pitching and defense take up 2/3, it is like saying power and speed take up 2/3. MW: No, it's not. you say there are three sides to a baseball team, i say there are two
defense and pitching both combine for one purpose – reducing the amount of runs as much as possible.
I call that a half, because you use your defense and your pitching at the same time. if you say pitching and defense take up 2/3, it is like saying power and speed take up 2/3.

MW: No, it’s not.

]]> By: Dan http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42351 Dan Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:42:25 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42351 Mike, I commented earlier on Vernon needing to man up and face the media like Pettite and Arod. And the funny thing is you mentioned me to be naive. I played college ball at tue D1 level, and totally believe them to be liars, but that is not the issue. I love the jays, and vernon as I have watched him progress since AAA days. He has been an outstanding player, I just do not want to see him shy away from any questions. As a leader he has that responsibilty. I would love to hear him open and honest about his struggles, than to shy away. He is the face of the franchise, and I miss hearing him! Keep up the good work! MW: Again, you're saying you want him to be open and honest and yet you're citing Pettitte and A-Rod as examples. Would you rather him show up in front of the microphones and just say things he doesn't feel or mean? Mike,

I commented earlier on Vernon needing to man up and face the media like Pettite and Arod. And the funny thing is you mentioned me to be naive. I played college ball at tue D1 level, and totally believe them to be liars, but that is not the issue. I love the jays, and vernon as I have watched him progress since AAA days. He has been an outstanding player, I just do not want to see him shy away from any questions. As a leader he has that responsibilty. I would love to hear him open and honest about his struggles, than to shy away. He is the face of the franchise, and I miss hearing him! Keep up the good work!

MW: Again, you’re saying you want him to be open and honest and yet you’re citing Pettitte and A-Rod as examples. Would you rather him show up in front of the microphones and just say things he doesn’t feel or mean?

]]> By: TheSunkenZealot http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42350 TheSunkenZealot Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:23:51 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42350 mike, the jays had the best pitching in 2008. they did not have a good team. pitching is only one half of the side of baseball; you can't lose 2-1, 3-2, 3-0. it is like cherry-picking in basketball. if one man is at the other end of the court for a full game, you can score 120 points, but you will always give up 130+. there are two sides to a baseball team. the jays had the best half in 08. MW: The are actually three, and the Jays had the best 2/3. mike,

the jays had the best pitching in 2008.
they did not have a good team.
pitching is only one half of the side of baseball; you can’t lose 2-1, 3-2, 3-0.
it is like cherry-picking in basketball.
if one man is at the other end of the court for a full game, you can score 120 points, but you will always give up 130+.
there are two sides to a baseball team. the jays had the best half in 08.

MW: The are actually three, and the Jays had the best 2/3.

]]> By: Norm http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42322 Norm Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:43:42 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42322 Mike, there have been a number of comments recently concerning the desirability of going after Orlando Hudson. I'm not sure I agree -- it seems if he was so desirable, he would have been starting most (or all) of the playoff games. Instead, he gets 4 ABs in the NLCS, with Ronnie Belliard getting virtually all the innings at 2b (not sure if he played at all in the Divisional series). Is/was he hurt, or has his skill set declined so badly that Belliard beats him out? Or did he get into Torre's "O-dog house"? MW: He's definitely in Torre's O-Dog house. I can't imagine a world in which Ronnie Belliard grades out to be better defensively than Hudson, so I'm interested in seeing the numbers at the end of the season. Belliard caught fire at the plate after his August 30th trade to the Dodgers, hitting .351/.398/.636 for L.A., while the O-Diggity hit .227/.354/.364 over that same stretch. Mike, there have been a number of comments recently concerning the desirability of going after Orlando Hudson.

I’m not sure I agree — it seems if he was so desirable, he would have been starting most (or all) of the playoff games. Instead, he gets 4 ABs in the NLCS, with Ronnie Belliard getting virtually all the innings at 2b (not sure if he played at all in the Divisional series). Is/was he hurt, or has his skill set declined so badly that Belliard beats him out?

Or did he get into Torre’s “O-dog house”?

MW: He’s definitely in Torre’s O-Dog house. I can’t imagine a world in which Ronnie Belliard grades out to be better defensively than Hudson, so I’m interested in seeing the numbers at the end of the season. Belliard caught fire at the plate after his August 30th trade to the Dodgers, hitting .351/.398/.636 for L.A., while the O-Diggity hit .227/.354/.364 over that same stretch.

]]> By: Uncle Ben http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42317 Uncle Ben Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:28:40 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42317 MW: Jeter did make himself into a better fielder this year, you’re right. But a guy who hits .230/.280/.310 for ten years and then has one year where he hits .270/.335/.420 is still a below-average to poor hitter. Would you tell a woman who was 300 pounds who worked her way into a svelte 130 pounds that she was still fat? MW: Apples and oranges. MW: Jeter did make himself into a better fielder this year, you’re right. But a guy who hits .230/.280/.310 for ten years and then has one year where he hits .270/.335/.420 is still a below-average to poor hitter.

Would you tell a woman who was 300 pounds who worked her way into a svelte 130 pounds that she was still fat?

MW: Apples and oranges.

]]> By: Amy http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42300 Amy Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:18:15 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42300 I was rooting for the Dodgers, but Congratulations to the Phillies and I hope they win the world series. I was rooting for the Dodgers, but Congratulations to the Phillies and I hope they win the world series.

]]> By: mike glatt http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42296 mike glatt Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:39:54 +0000 http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2009/10/15/the-final-four/#comment-42296 Mike, I don't know why JP and baseball people in general sign position players to large contracts (with a very small percentage exception). Mid market teams like the Jays must focus their dollars on the position (pitching) which has the greatest influence on the outcome of the game. This is not just a baseball decision, it is a business decision. The pitcher is in control of every play your team is on the field. If they do their job well, the rest of the players still have to field and hit etc but you must have pitching first. The anologies are goaltending in hockey (if you don't have one you will not win(just ask the Leafs). In football it is the quarterback (just ask the Argos). Alex Ovechkin can score 60 goals but if your goalie lets in a few softies all that goes for not. I have no problem with the contract that was given to B. J. Ryan and if you watched the games he pitched in early on when he got here, the team took on a whole new confidence level when he was there. The only thing they did wrong was over use him and unfortunately he broke down. Not his fault. MW: The Blue Jays led the major leagues in pitching - by far - in the 2008 season. They finished in 4th place. Mike, I don’t know why JP and baseball people in general sign position players to large contracts (with a very small percentage exception). Mid market teams like the Jays must focus their dollars on the position (pitching) which has the greatest influence on the outcome of the game. This is not just a baseball decision, it is a business decision. The pitcher is in control of every play your team is on the field. If they do their job well, the rest of the players still have to field and hit etc but you must have pitching first. The anologies are goaltending in hockey (if you don’t have one you will not win(just ask the Leafs). In football it is the quarterback (just ask the Argos). Alex Ovechkin can score 60 goals but if your goalie lets in a few softies all that goes for not. I have no problem with the contract that was given to B. J. Ryan and if you watched the games he pitched in early on when he got here, the team took on a whole new confidence level when he was there. The only thing they did wrong was over use him and unfortunately he broke down. Not his fault.

MW: The Blue Jays led the major leagues in pitching – by far – in the 2008 season. They finished in 4th place.

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