Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
In November 2001, the Toronto Blue Jays hired Oakland A's director of player personnel J.P. Riccardi to be their new general manager, hoping that some of Billy Beane's sabermetric pixie dust could revive the declining franchise. The Blue Jays, the first team ever to draw 4 million fans back in 1991, and back-to-back World Champions in 1992 and 1993, had seen their attendance decline steadily in the wake of the strike, with fewer than 2 million fans coming to SkyDome in 2001. Their on field success was in similar decline, with their best post-strike season placing them 26 games behind the 114-win Yankees in 1998, and their record declining in each of the following three seasons.
Riccardi's first year saw the Jays decline by another two games, but their attendance saw a small but meaningful improvement. In 2003, Riccardi's second season, the Jays improved by eight games, winning just two fewer games than in 1998. Things seemed to be going according to plan, with young stars Vernon Wells, Roy Halladay, Eric Hinske, Orlando Hudson, and Josh Phelps leading the charge. But just as quickly the bottom dropped out. Injuries and disappointing seasons shaved 19 wins off the Jays' record in 2004 in a season when many, myself included, expected them to finally disrupt the New York and Boston hegemony at the top of the division. Instead, they broke Tampa Bay's hold on last place.
The Jays bounced back just as quickly last year, improving by 13 games despite finishing eight games below their 88-74 Pythagorean Record (an exact match of their real life 1998 finish). Emboldened by that improvement, signs of weakness from the Yanks and Sox (who tied for the AL East lead and were both eliminated in the ALDS), and an increase in cash flow in the wake of their buying out the lease on the rechristened Rogers Centre, the Blue Jays approved a total of $210 million in payroll increases over the 2006-2008 seasons. With the extra cash, Riccardi went out and signed fellow initialites A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan to absurd contracts and traded for high profile cornermen Troy Glaus (who also makes a pretty penny) and Lyle Overbay.
Still, despite their splashy offseason, I really didn't expect much from the Blue Jays this year. Thus far, I've been wrong as the Jays have been hanging tight in the AL East and Wild Card races and on pace for their first 90-win season since their last World Championship season. But the cracks are beginning to show.
Despite the big pitching contracts and the fantastic performance of Ryan (0.96 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 10.99 K/9), the Blue Jays have been winning this season primarily due to their offense. They currently sport the majors best team OPS and slugging percentage, are third in on-base percentage and are fifth in the AL in runs scored. The men primarily responsible for this surge in offense have been Vernon Wells, who was a key factor in their encouraging 2003 season, but hasn't lived up to that performance until surpassing it this year with a .311/.378/.597 line, and Alexis Rios, a 25-year-old former prospect in his third season who had been demoted into a platoon role entering the season only to take his full-time right field job back with a .330/.383/.585 performance.
The Jays have also gotten fantastic results from their platoon in the opposite pasture as well. Lefty Frank Catalanotto and righty Reed Johnson have been sharing time for three years, but this year they've hit a combined (and evenly distributed) .341/.439/.499, all of which would be career highs for either player. The man who was supposed to platoon with Rios, fallen Rookie of the Year Eric Hinske, has also been experiencing a renaissance, with a .267/.359/.507 line that rivals his career-best rookie season. Amazingly, Wells, Rios, Catalanotto, Johnson and Hinske are not the only Blue Jay hitters experiencing career-best seasons as Lyle Overbay, silencing all the doubters who didn't think he'd perform outside of Miller Park, has reverted to his 2004 form with a .305/.367/.517 line, and 24-year-old second baseman Aaron Hill has stepped up with an admittedly punchless, but otherwise strong .303/.352/.395. All of that easily outweighs the foolish decision to sign Bengie Molina (.286/.327/.425) coming off a career year when they already had Gregg Zaun (currently .301/.375/.510, and yes, that is a completely uncharacteristic slugging percentage) in a limited role. Though they really do need to do something about the fact that they're currently starting the notoriously good-field, no-hit John McDonald (.220/.255/.275) at shortstop.
The concern here, of course, is that six of the spots in the Blue Jay's line-up are filled by hitters having career years that may not be sustainable in the second half. Indeed, Rios has been out since late June with a staph infection in his left leg, Troy Glaus, up to his usual tricks, has missed the last three games with a knee injury, and the Jays are currently one game below .500 for the month of July, even with Johnson and Hinske taking their places.
Rios's infection, which apparently spread to rookie pitcher Ty Taubenheim, prompted the Blue Jays to disinfect what appears now to be a clearly poisoned clubhouse. Supposed franchise savior Riccardi has criticized his rookie pitchers in the press and, after the team lost its first two games in a series in Kansas City two weeks ago, said his three, four and five hitters were "killing" the team despite the fact that Wells, Glaus and Overbay are all are having excellent seasons and his team is on pace for a ten-game improvement over last year. Then came this whole Shea Hillenbrand mess.
For those who missed it, Hillenbrand and his wife applied to adopt a child, expecting they wouldn't be awarded a kid until the offseason. Instead, they were matched with an expecting mother in June who delivered last Friday, causing Hillenbrand to leave the team temporarily to be with his wife and newborn daughter. Upon returning to the team, Hillenbrand was outspoken about not being immediately reinserted into the lineup or even being congratulated by team officials on his family's new addition. The strife appears to have been the last straw in a season of discord between Hillenbrand and management and resulted in his being designated for assignment yesterday (Jason Phillips has been called up to take Hillenbrand's spot on the roster, while Gregg Zaun will likely become the team's new DH, at least until Rios returns and the position can be used for a rotation of the team's strong bench players).
The Blue Jays apparently believe that Hillenbrand is a clubhouse cancer and that his removal from the team is addition by subtraction, especially given the strong showings of their bench player and Hillenbrand's habit of disappearing late in the season (career numbers in August: .262/.304/.404 and September: .271/.302/.408 vs. overall .288/.327/.448). But the circumstances surrounding Hillenbrand's departure could have as negative an effect on this team as his presence supposedly did. Either way, the Yankees will be the first to get a look at the post-Shea Jays tonight in Toronto.
Here's hoping all of this Hillenbrand hubaloo doesn't overshadow tonight's absolutely top-notch pitching match-up of staff aces Mike Mussina and Roy Halladay. Last April, Halladay faced off against Randy Johnson in what was one of the most exciting pitchers duels I've ever seen, a 2-0, double complete game classic that the Blue Jays won when Eric Hinske hit a two-run homer just over Yankee Stadium's short right field porch. Here's hoping, with the location flipped, we see a similar game with a similarly inverted result tonight.
Toronto Blue Jays
2006 Record: 52-42 (.553)
2006 Pythagorean Record: 51-43 (.547)
Manager: John Gibbons
General Manager: J.P. Riccardi
Home Ballpark (2005 Park Factors): Rogers Centre (102/102)
Who's Replaced Whom?
Current Roster
1B – Lyle Overbay (L)
2B – Aaron Hill (R)
SS – John McDonald (R)
3B – Troy Glaus (R)
C – Bengie Molina (R)
RF – Reed Johnson (R)
CF – Vernon Wells (R)
LF – Frank Catalanotto (L)
DH – Gregg Zaun (S)
Bench:
L – Erik Hinske (UT)
L – Russ Adams (IF)
R – Chad Mottola (OF)
R - Jason Phillips (C/1B)
Rotation:
R – Roy Halladay
R – A.J. Burnett
L – Ted Lilly
R – Shaun Marcum
R – Casey Janssen
Bullpen:
L – B.J. Ryan
R – Justin Speier
L – Scott Schoeneweis
L – Scott Downs
L – Brian Tallet
R – Vinnie Chulk
R – Brandon League
DL: R – Alexis Rios (RF), L – Gustavo Chacin, R – Pete Walker, R – Ty Taubenheim
Typical Lineup
R – Reed Johnson (RF)
L – Frank Catalanotto (LF)
R – Vernon Wells (CF)
R – Troy Glaus (3B)
L – Lyle Overbay (1B)
S – Gregg Zaun (DH)
R – Bengie Molina (C)
R – Aaron Hill (2B)
R – John McDonald (SS)
SS Jeter
DH Giambi
3B Rodriguez
C Posada
RF Williams
1B Phillips
LF Cabrera
2B Cairo
Looks like we're going to have to trade for Abreu or Sori to get Bernie out of the outfield...
afdkjlw reoljadf Bernie vs a RHP ytrtlvd nvanwre nreeew wrwouavc jwmnfldsfldsz
And people wonder why folks complain about Mr. Torre. Its not that I want him fired, or that I know anyone who could take over for him, but the little things that are so overtly stupid - like playing Bernie vs a RHP instead of Guiel - drive me nuts. Because they get repeated over and over and over . . . after he (Torre) talks in the papers about not wanting to play Bernie against righties!
Let me guess. Bernie's seen Halladay before, so we have to play him against the tough righty.
His numbers against Halladay don't look very good, at least not recently, so it can't be that.
But his overall numbers vs Halladay are .348/.367/.565 in 48 ABs, so I'm guessing that's the reason why.
Sigh.
It doesn't help that Guiel is 0 for 7 career vs Halladay, and that Torre doesn't know what a small sample size is.
BTW, Dotel had a setback today. He's been shut down pending another visit to a specialist.
Why Wilson couldn't be the long guy is beyond me. Why Torre would rather have Chacon on the roster over Smith is also beyond me.
Also, does anyone think we will see a bloody undershirt in his furture?
That would be somewhat like Roy Hobbs wouldn't it?
Slick.
"According to two people who have spoken with George Steinbrenner, his top choice to boost the Yankees' offense is Washington's Alfonso Soriano.
The Yankees will more likely wind up with Abreu or Kansas City's Reggie Sanders. "
That really bites.
And the Jays announcers take up the A-rod debate...
Not.
Drag racing groupies? Boston barmaids? Sheep shaggers?
I'm gonna smell like a pirate hooker by the time I get home; better be 8-0 Yanks by then.
It's a very broad analysis, but it's interesting to see how the numbers have been consistent at least over this season and last.
Miggy! Bengie, seriously, Benjie, come on now. A 250 lb Kelly Stinnett.
But it's Derek. He shouldn't ever bunt.
The part of Jorge Posada on the basepaths will be played by Johhny Damon today. Enjoy the show.
I think it has a lot to do wit the strike/ball calls behind the plate. Gimabi and Arod have been masacred by the Umps this year. ESPN, I hate to say it, had a good piece on Clemens and his adjustment to new strike zones. I think Giambi is also adjusting to the bad calls he is getting this year and swinging more aggresively.
S'okay, boys. Just keep scoring a run an inning and we'll be fine.
That's Andy's job. What a hacker he is. Hack hack hack.
Now Michael Kaye has taken to sexist remarks. Just stick with afformentioned and the other 3 or 4 multisyllabic words you actually know! What a fucking baffoon!
He went on a monologue about how wives call the shots. Vernon Wells will play "where the wife tells him too," "it's just one less headache in his life." A tad condescending and 1950's kitch. Even Kaat was like what the fuck are you saying Michael.
Please don't say that. You sound like Skip (someone please pay a cabby to run him down and kill him) Bayliss. There is no "tie," in baseball, either you are safe or out. Just like the bat passing home plate on a check swing doesn't have anything to do with whether it's a strike or not.
Hilarious.
That was funny. That is why I like O'Neill in the booth, he rags on Kaye consistently and I love it.
Man, football training camp already?
Dont buy the hype if you're a Giants fan. They blow now, and will blow in September, October, November, and December.
http://tinyurl.com/nyeq5
Ozzie had a bad day avoiding homosexuals in Boystown, out near Wrigley. He really wanted a sandwich from my favorite deli out there, but became frustrated with all the boys and went with Rogers becuase he "looked tough last year with that reporter."
Hey, take it easy on Ozzie. Every racial slur and derogatory remark about gays means something different in Venezuela. Chavez just changed the lauguage. "He's a dictator, he can do that, got a problem bitches?" Ozzie said yesterday.
I know. It's amazing. We are winning with little or no help from Arod and Giambi.
I like the paper, though. They often have interviews with Yankee players and coaches that you don't see anywhere else.
Jorge is looking good tonight.
Stop it, I live in LA now. You are making me long for my New Paltz and Newburgh drinking days!
Fuck! I never really believed he'd pitch for the club this year anyway.
How sad that A-rod's 2000th won't come at home. Just like his 400th HR.
Of course he is, I'm not an Arod hater. But those two aren't giving is what a 3/4 combo should be, that's all I'm saying, and Giambi has been downright horrific, at least in the past he would get on base.
(By the way, what did the ESPN play-by-play guys say about that A-Rod throw)
Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca has had some time to reflect on the way he angrily flapped his lips at Alex Rodriguez a couple of weeks ago - but time apparently hasn't healed a thing. Lo Duca, a notorious hothead, is still steaming about A Rod's post-grand slam Look How Great I Am showboating in the last game of the recent Subway Series. "Listen, I know he was struggling and all that," Lo Duca said, "but what does that have to do with me and me protecting my pitcher? I mean, I don't mind him staring at the ball - Barry Bonds does that all the time - but when he gestured to his dugout, throwing out his arms, that really got to me. Especially with me having a young pitcher out there (Alay Soler) who's struggling himself." So, what about the next time A-Rod does the same thing against you guys? "I'm doing my job and taking care of it," Lo Duca said without getting more specific, or really needing to.
And Moose can't get an out. There goes the lead and the ballgame. ESPN and Michael Kay couldn't be happier.
But seriously, Moose, suck it up sometimes.
I hate to say that I agree with Lo Duca. I am one of those guys who thinks Manny Ramoriz should get hit every time he showboats, it has to be consistent on all sides. Dhowboat, get plunked! It's what seperates us from the fucking NFL.
Hmm, big inning for the Jay's. That's why you don't throw the ball away Arod. Understand?
He was only 60 feet away. No excuse for that.
The error didn't help, but when Moose falls, it sure happens fast and hard.
Look, I am not one of those Arod bashers, but Joe clearly wanted to give up the run in trade for the out. Bad throw, bad decision, that simple. Don't defend the bad plays, it gives less credibility to the legitimate defense of his regular play.
I never thought I'd feel sorry for a tall, handsome athlete worth 1/4 of a billion... but I do.
Tell me about it! The media has been unfair to him. Now, when it's warranted, it looks like piling on.
Let's go JD, earn the paycheck!
DJ, then.
I cannot tell you how sick I am of this A-Rod/fans/media soap operar. It's annoying as hell.
Okay, Alex, showtime!
Plus, Ryan is good. It's like sending Mo in for us.
And Giambi goes the other way...
He's right.
(Seriously.)
Everyone needs to kiss Posada. He is having a career year behind the plate and helping us with his bat with a higher BA w/RISP than most everyone on the team. Where are all you freaks who wanted us to sign a top-tier catcher last year because Jorge was "dropping off?" Jorge will stop being one of the best catchers in the game when he is damn good and ready! As far as I'm concerned, only Pudge has been better over the last 10 years.
But he's awesome since the break, right?
Thanks, Gameday.
Solo shot by Melky.
1,2,3 ninth for Mo's 402nd save.
But Jorgie has been great. He's one of my favorites. I'm not one of the "freaks." I was defending him here last year. He's always been streaky, and now that he's north of 30, every slump is seen as the beginning of a terminal decline. But he started catching late. And perhaps because he's been so hesitant to block the plate, he hasn't been as beat up as many other catchers. I'd like to see the Yanks get a young catcher for him to mentor and share time with, but I think he's still got a few good years in him.
I'll tell ya, if Chacon is the long man, what the hell is that clown from Columbus doing in the pen now that we have Ponson? Smith is as good as anyone out there but Rivera!!!!! Use your fucking heads Torre and Cash! I so miss the days when there were 4 starters and a long man who would compete for that 4th spot. It worked better and made room for another offensive player on the bench, you know, like a baseball team. In 10 years will most teams be carrying 15 pitchers, 10 of which blow ass? Christ!
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060704&content_id=1540078&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Halladay showed no eveidence he was tiring. It was a bad decision going to Ryan. Like I said, if you aren't Rivera or Gagne, the reason you are in the pen is because you aren't good enough to start or close games, usually, and Ryan isn't Gossage or Eck.
http://tinyurl.com/etvut
Well, the good news is that Ryan's thrown 36 pitches. If the Jays don't score, it's Jeter, Giambi, A-Rod, Jorge against a lesser Toronto pitcher.
I have to disagree there. Farns is better than no one out there in close games.
I am of the mindset that you NEVER let a player go unless you have equal or better talent coming in, no matter what the cost. That is how you sustain a good team. We need to lock up Posada for a few more years and hope something comes down the pike, whether from the minors or via a trade or free agency.
That's six outs in a row that have been strike-outs.
I wonder if someone really did convince Torre to use Mo in these situations. Or maybe he just felt it was time for Mo to get some work in.
http://tinyurl.com/o6eur
Now we'll need Mo and Farns.
And good play by Miggy.
See above posts re: Posada!
Well, night folks.
Why did I NOT wanna say at the top of the inning that Rivera was due for one of those...?
should have won 3-0, but shit happens
A bat.
Exactly. If we miss the playoffs it will be because of games like the ones we played yesterday and tonight, that simple. Boston doesn't blow these games, they beat up on weak teams and the NL, that is why they are a better team and lead in the stadings, it's not rocket science.
Still, no reason for New York to be.
Although I wouldn't include Ted Williams with Babe Ruth there. If Arod isn't one the best ever, then Ted Williams shouldn't be metioned in the same breath with Babe Ruth.
Get well. Get plenty of rest and eat right!
Yours truly,
Ben
Cairo, OTOH, earned his paycheck tonight.
Eh, mark it down to just one of those nights. Mo doesn't give up walkoff homers very often. Our offense is good enough, and it'll get better when Hideki gets back.
TOTAL RUNS SCORED
Yankees 516
Red Sox 514
http://tinyurl.com/kvwuk
Then read this:
https://bronxbanter.baseballtoaster.com/archives/12076.html
Then you'll have some idea of where Williams and Rodriguez rank all-time.
Wow, that was painful.
Uh, that's because Rodriguez's extire career has overlapped (to a suprisingly perfect degree) Barry Bonds' emergence as not just the best hitter in baseball, and not just the best hitter of the last 30 years, but the 2nd best hitter to ever pick up a baseball bat (and debatably simply the best ever). There's a very strong case to be made that A-Rod is the starting shortstop on the All-Time Greats Team.
They say the Yankees won't admit it if they don't have to, in order to keep other teams from taking advantage.
I don't know if he's really hurt or not. They think he is because they've supposedly seen him sitting in the dugout holding his shoulder as if it hurt. And Leiter said the way his shoulder is dropping and the ball is sailing is typical of what happens when you throw with a sore shoulder. (I guess he'd know.)
But they also said it could just be mental.
Even though the Red Sox are hurting as well, they have a very favorable schedule...outside of Oakland, it doesn't really get tough until their five games against us in mid-August, and even those games are all at Fenway.
Lost in the midst of these bitter losses is the fact that our pitching has been really outstanding over the last couple of weeks. A couple of Moose one inning hiccups, a brief case of Ponson nerves, a Kris Wilson meltdown, and the usual short Jaret outing...but otherwise, really really good. In fact, Mo may be the biggest disappointment...but even with his scuffling, he's still saved our bacon a couple of times and set a personal milestone.
But all this anemic offense is putting so much pressure on the pitching, which is why the memory of these lapses lingers...
News on Matsui is good.
News on Cano is OK.
News on Dotel is bad.
Somehow, we are just 2.5 games behind the WS for the WC. Minn is VERY hot and on our heals at 4 games out.
Moose was surprisingly candid. Perhaps they caught him off guard. Apparently, he's something of a press favorite these days:
http://tinyurl.com/zdk7r
LoHud says Posada was equivocal, and Jeter didn't stick around to answer questions. Even Torre's defense was half-hearted. Only Rivera stood by A-Rod.
438 Mussina has always been tactless.
-----------------------------------------
Almost all of Rodriguez's errors this year have been on throws, and those happen when he drops his elbow and the ball sails.
"It's definitely important for me to get on top of the baseball and make sure (the throw) is truer," he [Rodriguez] said.
Third-base coach Larry Bowa, who is the infield instructor, said Rodriguez takes more practice grounders in pregame drills that anyone on the team.
"He takes 35-40 groundballs every day and throws everything chest-high," Bowa said. "As soon as the game starts, he drops his arm slot down and the ball sails. I don't know what else you can do.
"To me, when you drop your arm like that, you're trying to guide the ball instead of just getting on top and throwing it. Until Alex realizes he's got a cannon and doesn't need to guide it, it's going to be a mental thing with him.
"It's almost like, 'I don't want to make a mistake here.' That's what it looks like to me. Instead of just saying you know what, I'm going to throw this baby right over the top, and if it goes 50 rows in the stands, it goes 50 rows in the stands.' Everybody makes aggressive errors. But these aren't aggressive errors."
1-for-4, a double, a walk, a run, in the middle of 2 of NYY's 4 runs, 2 nice defensive plays, 1 error. Heck, ARod was one of the NYY Stars of the Night.
Personally, I'm very troubled and angered by Torre's innuendo and measured responses regarding ARod. Torre has a history of defending Yankee players to the point of absurdity. I don't think Torre ever said an unkind word about Kevin Brown of Jeff Weaver. David Cone goes 4-14, 6.91 and it was always one or two bad pitches. Which is fine. It's part of his job, I suppose. But there is one exception to this kid-glove treatment, and it has been this way since day one. Torre praises Big Papi more than the praises Alex Rodriguez.
In the history of baseball, five runs never scored because of one error. Every other time a player makes an error, Torre looks to the pitcher to pick him up.
Why hasn't the "master motivator", the "Ol' Ball Coach", The Boss himself called A-Rod into his office and said, "Just relax and be yourself and $$$$ them all. You're going to be just fine."
You know, like he did before last season, when A-Rod went out and won the MVP.
On another note, I couldn't be happier with the addition of Larry Bowa to the coaching staff. I think he was pretty awful as a manager, but it sounds like he's a fantastic coach.
THANKS!
http://tinyurl.com/zu9q2
I didn't think it was terrible what he said. He basically wants what ARod wants.
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