|
In response to
"Who's going to help a guy out with a Blue Jays mail bag? -- (link)"
by
Name Withheld By Request
|
I wish I could love a thing as much as you love the Blue Jays mail bag
Posted by
con_carne
Apr 22 '09, 09:49
|
April 22, 2009
Mail bag
STEVE RUSSELL/TORONTO STAR
Richard Griffin explains the many things Scott Rolen brings to the table.
Make no mistake, the Jays have been putting on a good show for the fans, but there are still areas of concern that will require constant monitoring in order to finish with a winning record. Start with Dave Purcey, B.J. Ryan, Alex Rios, the injury to Jesse Litsch, the fact that they have played all but three of their games in domes, with a controlled environment and that they have yet to play a game within the division. These are all reasons for concern, but don�t worry, be happy. the baseball�s been fun. On to the mailbag.
Q: Richard,
Is it just me or did someone (see Paul Beeston) roll up your newspaper, smack J.P. Ricciardi across the nose and tell him to behave this season? He no longer does the Wednesday post-game Q & A on the Fan590, and has been persona non-grata on TV thus far. It seems that he was told that he's not the show, so step out of the spotlight that his ego clearly craves. Is this the beginning of the end for the slickest G.M. to never lead a team to the playoffs?
DeShaun, Kozak, Uxbridge, Ont.
A: In 2002 when Ricciardi was hired, Buck Martinez and Carlos Delgado were the public faces of the Jays. He fired Martinez in May and chased Delgado out of town after 2004. At that point, Ricciardi became the one and only face of the Jays. They wheeled him out and put a mic in his hands for every major Jays event. Fans were gushing. It was like a six-month pep rally with an assistant GM (now a blogger) and an Ivy League stats guy off on the side waving the pom-poms.
It�s hard to pinpoint the day the music died, but my best guess is the day when B.J. Ryan�s aching sacroiliac turned into Tommy John surgery and lying became an explainable philosophy of dealing with the unwashed fans. Beeston may have had something to do with the lowered public presence, but I think a growing and welcomed humility may have had something to do with it.
Q: Hi Richard,
Imagine the following:
1) A-Rod's hip continues to hurt, Jeter/Damon/Matsui show their age, Wang continues to struggle while Burnett makes his annual non-contract year DL appearance, and the Yankee bullpen reveals its lack of depth outside of Nick Swisher.
2) Big Papi shows he's past his prime while joining Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek, the Penny/Smoltz experiment fizzles out, and Pedroia and Youkilis come back to earth after unsustainable breakout seasons.
3) Pat Burrell is a bust, the Rays� young arms get figured out by AL hitters, and the kids down south prove last season was a fluke.
4) Baltimore plays to their potential: A team with one good Canadian, a solid CF prospect, and an overpaid second baseman.
5) The Scutaro/Hill combination makes us forget Fernandez and Alomar, Rios and Wells start earning their money, and the league's best bullpen, with mid-season arrivals from Dustin McGowan and trade deadline acquisition Erik Bedard, along with The Doc carries us to our first AL East championship since '93.
Is this possible? Do you realize that we haven't seen the playoffs since people started using the Internet?
Wayne L., Richmond Hill
A: The Red Sox had the Curse of the Bambino. The Cubs have the Curse of the Billy Goat. For the Jays, it seems like Facebook isn�t the only Curse of the Internet.
Q: The one thing about 162 games is, what is supposed to happen, usually does. And that means that sports writers are usually right with their predictions. My question is, can you remember in recent history, any teams that completely surprised everyone. I'm not counting Tampa Bay because they were less of a surprise than the current Jays would be if they made the playoffs.
Bruce Robb, Toronto
A: I disagree that Tampa Bay was less of a surprise than the Jays would be this season if they overcame all odds and advanced to the World Series. Consider that the Rays had never ever finished even at .500 in any season before winning the AL East last year. Sure, in hindsight you can analyze and rationalize the Rays� unlikely rise to the top. Their young starting pitchers came together at once and the long streak of high draft picks finally paid off. But the Jays won 86 games last season and even though they have had to replace three starting pitchers, their team ERA was the AL�s best last year.
As for recent surprise the scope of the Rays last year, recall the Rockies in 2007. They had not finished above .500 since 2000 and had to make a dramatic drive down the stretch to even reach the post-season before being swept by the Red Sox. Or how about the �06 Tigers who had lost 119 games just three years earlier and had just 71 wins a year earlier. How about the �97 Marlins? Two of the classics in World Series history, though, are the �67 Red Sox and the Miracle �69 Mets. The Jays would not be a bigger surprise than any of those unlikely Fall Classic rags-to-riches stories.
Q: Hi Richard,
I know this can be answered with a simple �they have committed to not adding salary� but Pedro Martinez is still out there and with Litsch's injury and the 'promising start' could he be had?
Jon Freir, Toronto
A: It seems to me that the window of opportunity for signing Pedro Martinez has slammed shut on the Jays. It would be a no-win situation to give him a contract at the moment. He would need a full, personal spring training that would carry him into June. After a certain number of minor-league starts for Pedro, a decision would have to be made on calling him up. If the Jays had faded by that time from this jackrabbit start, his presence in the rotation for 18 starts would likely not be enough to get the Jays back in the race. If he joined the Jays major-league staff in June and they started to run in reverse, it would be blamed on disrupting the chemistry. No win.
Besides, Martinez at this stage of his career is looking for a team that can carry him to another World Series, not a team that he can carry. That was the Roger Clemens modus operandi when he chose the Yankees after leaving the Jays in �99.
Q: Hi Richard,
I am an avid reader and could not wait until the season to get your insight on all things Blue Jays. So far the Blue Jays have played outstanding baseball and I am impressed with the hitting. Do you think we can keep up with the hitting and how much credit does Cito and his deserve in changing batting stances and most importantly the culture in the clubhouse?
Thanks and I hope we can continue to win.
Anton Forde, Freeport, Bahamas
A: It already looks like the Jays� hitting is settling in to a more realistic level of production. It was silly to expect the Jays to stay as hot as they had showed through the Twins series. Beginning with the A�s series, the Jays heading into Wednesday night had averaged 3.5 runs per game for the last four. That�s a little low by about a run, but more like what we�ll see for most of the season.
Gaston and his staff deserve credit for improving the approach of the hitters, but there was never anything wrong with the �clubhouse culture�. This has always, always been a Jays� clubhouse full of guys that get along. It may be a little like the criticism of the Raptors where everyone is too nice with one another and there is not enough of a visible �edge�. What Gene Tenace and Cito have corrected over the Gary Denbo and Gibby era is that instead of working deep into pitch count as the first option, the new philosophy is to look for the best pitch to hit, the one mistake, that you are going to get in every sequence and jump on that pitch. Sometimes it will be the first pitch. But if you are going to go after the first pitch, you had better have a good swing at it and hit it hard. Otherwise you shouldn�t be swinging at it.
Q: Hi Richard,
Though I'm sure it won't last, it's sure been fun watching the games this year. What do you think about locking in Travis Snider to a decent contract (but potentially cheaper than in the future) now like the Rays did with Longoria? I always worry about keeping these assets long term with bigger clubs eventually buying our prospects out. Is it not a better strategy to invest early once you know you've got something good (though maybe 10 games is a little too early to tell)?
Steve S., Vancouver
A: It would be a mistake to lock Snider up to a long-term deal, even this winter. He is under the Jays control through 2014 and is not eligible for arbitration until after 2011. The proper course of action if Snider continues to progress is to lock him up to a long-term deal following the 2010 season.
Don�t point to the Evan Longoria deal as the benchmark. Give credit where credit is due. The Rays stole the framework of the Aaron Hill deal that was constructed by Jays� assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos as their prototype. The Hill deal was signed at the start of the �08 season (exactly corresponding to the end of �10 for Snider). It replaced his final four years before free agency, bumping up his early years in return for making years 5-6 of his Jays tenure more reasonable. In addition there are two option years for a total of $18 million covering the first two years of what would be Hill�s free agency. Very fair, very smart, very classy.
Q: Hi Richard,
First of all love the mailbag. I have a question regarding Jason Frasor's change up. Is it circle change or is it a splitter? I also seem to remember in his rookie season he had a curve a nasty one at that. Am I mistaken? Also why is it do you think Roy does not use his devastating curve ball as strike out pitch that often any more?
Sean Heffernan, Sunderland
A: Good question. It is a circle change that he worked on on his own this past winter, replacing the splitter that he threw the past couple of years. He is having good success with it. The problem with the splitter is that Frasor has small hands and had trouble spreading his fingers enough and getting full control of the pitch. Jason is generously listed at 5-10 in height. He�s more like 5-8. If you saw him on the street and somebody said he was a pro athlete, you might think harness racing or darts.
Q: Hi Richard, I'd like to get your opinion.
I can understand not wanting to pinch hit a rookie for a veteran, but when the rookie is Travis Snider who hit two home runs in his first game against the Twins, and the veteran is Jose Bautista, why wouldn't you? Why would Cito not want to see how the rookie reacts to being inserted into the ball game to break a tie in the eighth inning?
I think for Snider's development he should be placed in to all sorts of situations, especially when it's relieving a utility fielder with the game on the line.
Thanks,
Andrew Stewart, Oshawa, Ont.
A: I agree with you 100 per cent. After that game in the Metrodome, I went back into Cito�s office to ask him if he had considered batting Snider for Bautista trailing by a run in late innings. He said at the time that he didn�t want to do it then for the reasons you mention, but also that he might have done it the next time up in that same game of the situation arose again. I don�t see why the next time up (which never happened) was any more important than having Snider represent the game-tying run in late innings vs. a right-hander when there was no left-hander warming up in the pen as a deterrent. My honest feeling is that he regretted not doing it at the time and just couldn�t say so.
Q: Hey Richard a couple of things I just wanted to touch on.
1. Does it bother you that David Wells still holds a grudge?...Check out Sportsillustrated.com where he gets interviewed about his new job with TBS, he takes a big time shot at you even after all these years! Any Boomer stories you would care to unearth?
2. At what point do the Jays get serious about the �09 season? I know that 7-3 isn't a HUGE deal but with a guy like Pedro Martinez a free agent and Jake Peavy on the trade-block, how far into the season do we need to get before that magical payroll increase Godfrey spoke of becomes reality?
3. If you were the owner of the Blue Jays how long ago would you have fired JP? Personally I would have canned him right after he released Frank Thomas or at the latest when Gaston was brought back.
Looking forward to an answer, especially on the Boomer front. Thanks for the great column/mail bag and keep up the good work
Christian Robinette, Toronto
A: The David Wells thing I find amusing. I was alerted to his SI.com rant by a couple of readers. My daughter Shannon called me in the press box from her dorm room at Guelph University and she couldn�t stop laughing. She had just read the Boomer interview and couldn�t believe that nine years later, he�s still obsessing about her father.
The thing about Boomer is he couldn�t stand anyone making reference to his ample girth, even in jest, especially in print. It seems that in Boomer�s world he is the only one allowed to be flippant and insulting in a humourous way. As evidence see his best (kept in the) cellar autobiography in which he disses Jays� fans, media and the city in very unflattering terms. This is a guy that liked to present himself as a broad-minded renaissance man, yet was a regular guest on Florida shock-jock Bubba the Love Sponge�s radio show. In one of those sessions, he made fun of his manager, Tim Johnson, and his sad lies about Vietnam in his first Jays spring training, from the training room in the clubhouse at the Bobby Mattick complex. That was Boomer�s boss and there were no repercussions, but when I said he �emerged from the shower wearing an extra large towel� he got bent out of shape. As for his association with Bubba, his regular shtick was to make fun of and humiliate four groups - women, the mentally challenged, minorities and those that didn�t agree with him. Sponge was eventually fired for slaughtering a wild boar in studio. Boomer is more of a Dark Ages Man and good luck to TBS.
As for part two of the question, we�ve covered the Pedro situation and unless there�s another team that steps up for Derek Lowe to A.J. Burnett type money, it looks like the Cubs would be the logical Jake Peavy landing strip.
As for Ricciardi�s past and future with the Jays, there were plenty of opportunities to let him go, but when the Jays decided to cut payroll by $15 million this year and without a full-time president and CEO, there was no way to convince a primo candidate that this is where he wanted to be. That and the fact that there was nobody, other than Paul Beeston (who is still convinced he is interim) to conduct the GM search and interview. Look for the end of this current year to be the moment of truth for J.P. There will be candidates available. There are a couple already here. A new president will be in place. The payroll should be going up. The team looks like it�s headed in the right direction. Simply, with all GM skills of the position aside, Ricciardi is the wrong guy in the wrong town.
Q: Hi Richard,
When Jesse Litsch got injured and was put on the DL, I was a bit disappointed. That�s three of our top four starters on the DL but then I got excited because I thought this would mean Brett Cecil would get an early call up to show what he's got! Why didn't the Jays call him up? Should I expect him to get a call up this year?
Michael P., Toronto
A: I would expect Cecil to get a call-up later this year. But there are technical reasons in the Basic Agreement for holding a guy back other than the fact that his first start in Vegas stays in Vegas.
Consider that a full season of major-league service is anything that adds up to 172 days in the majors, whether you were on the roster the entire year or not. If the Jays had called either Cecil or Brad Mills up the day after Litsch was hurt, the new kid�s service time on the roster for the balance of the year was 174 days, through October 4. That would mean that unless you shipped him out for a period later in the year - and if he was pitching well that might be tough - Cecil or Mills would earn a full year of service and be eligible to become a free agent a year sooner. Thus, in that light, it became easy to bring a guy like Bill Murphy up and throw Brian Tallet into the rotation. If and when it�s determined that Litsch�s injury is longer-term than first thought, then that will be the day that Cecil or Mills gets the call.
Q: Mr. Griffin,
A couple of baseball quirk questions:
1. After a runner(s) is/are stranded, and knowing that many athletes are superstitious, is there any rhyme or reason as to who brings the stranded batter his hat and glove? (Hopefully it's not as boring as simply who�s closest to them in the field)
2. Follow up on the around the horn after the strikeout (which you answered last season). Why is the 1st basemen left out of the fun? (I think I've seen the opposite vs. lefties where the 3rd basemen is left out)
Ian Donnelly, Toronto
A: Usually if a middle infielder is the final out, his double-play partner brings him his glove. If it�s an outfielder, another outfielder brings his glove. If it�s the first or third baseman, it may depend on which dugout you are in, first or third base. Make no mistake, the guy�s glove is never forgotten. Somebody is always on it. That�s teamwork.
There has to be a routine for the �around the horn�. If it�s a routine groundball, which the majority of outs are, then the first baseman receives the throw and fires it to the shortstop to begin the sequence. He turns away and goes back to his position. After a strikeout, the throw usually is snapped down to third base and ends up at third base so the pitcher can consistently get the ball back from the same player. It�s an important part of routine, walking off the mound to the third base side to receive the ball back, that pitchers like Roy Halladay require.
Q: Hey Richard,
In last week's mailbag you note that Scott Rolen has rebounded. As I've watched him this spring, I have been very impressed with his seriousness - he has a look of fire about him when fielding and hitting. What a great example for Adam Lind and Travis (Boom Boom) Snider. Do you see a difference in him this year, besides his obvious return to good health?
Bryan Willis, Vancouver
A: In Minneapolis, Snider cited Rolen�s influence on him as far as how to play the game right, as in not watching his upper deck home run, flipping his bat and strutting around the bases. Rolen obviously seems more comfortable and relaxed in the clubhouse because in addition to being his second year around these guys, he is also contributing with the bat. There has never been a Jays� third baseman with a more accurate arm. Every throw no matter Rolen�s body position when fielding, arrives at the same spot. Amazing.
Q: Dear Mr. Griffin,
I feel like the batting approach put forward by Cito and Gene Tenace has worked very well for the majority of the players. Being aggressive and looking for a fastball to drive as opposed to working the count has improved the batting of many Blue Jays this year, most notably Aaron Hill. However, I feel with regards to Alex Rios, that he hits best when he works the count. He was extremely good at working the count, and you were confident even if there were two strikes on him, that he'd find a way to foul off enough pitches, until he got a good pitch for him. He just seemed to get more comfortable as the count progressed.
I just really feel like this new approach does not work for him, and has made him a much worse hitter this year. Obviously part of it you could say that he's struggling, and he'll snap out of it, which is true. But the bottom line, I just feel like Alex Rios needs to ignore the new batting philosophy of Tenace and go back to doing what he did best. Do you agree?
Peter Mendelsohn
A: I think that the philosophy worked for him last year when the new coaches arrived, so it�s not what they are telling him, but how he is implementing it. If you are going to swing at the first pitch, it had better be the pitch you were looking for and you had better hit it hard. Rios is not doing that. His timing is off and that is how slumps happen. When he break out of it, he will get his numbers back up to reasonable levels.
Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection in his mailbag Wednesdays in this space. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**
April 22, 2009 at 11:23 AM in Mail bag | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
April 20, 2009
Griff's Power Rankings, Week 2
(Opening Day ranking in parentheses)
1-Marlins (10)
Every six years from �97 on they win it all
2-Dodgers (11)
Hudson cycle has GM Colletti pimped
3-Cubs (6)
Early season cruise control
4-Red Sox (3)
Dice-K with WBC hangover
5-Yankees (4)
Wang not wight. A.J. the new ace?
6-Mets (5)
Bullpen suddenly a strength
7-White Sox (16)
Despite frigid weather Quentin-Dye hot
8-Phillies (1)
RIP the great Harry Kalas.
9-Blue Jays (24)
They are proving otherwise
10-Rays (2)
Shaky start for AL Champs.
11-Angels (7)
Adenhart death weighs heavy
12-Mariners (22)
Junior�s return settles clubhouse
13-Braves (9)
Chipper thinks Atlanta no Vegas
14-Twins (15)
Interesting little team�again
15-Cardinals (18)
Albert Pujols forever the key
16-Royals (19)
Yeah that�s right
17-Tigers (20)
Leyland embarrassed last year
18-Padres (30)
Division must really suck
19-Reds (21)
Team on the rise
20-Orioles (28)
Nobody wants to pitch vs. O�s
21-Pirates (26)
Somalia�s favourite team
22-Diamondbacks (8)
How can this rotation rank this low?
23-Indians (12)
Pavano�s the man�oops, I meant Sizemore
24-A�s (26)
Rotation is crazy young
25-Giants (13)
Production from infield a problem
26-Brewers (14)
Absence of Sabathia thins out rotation
27-Astros (17)
Pudge not making impact
28-Rangers (23)
Kinsler awesome offensive force
29-Rockies (27)
Off to Rocky start
30-Nationals (29)
Bullpen is Happy Squanderer (Expos ref.)
April 20, 2009 at 09:46 AM in Power Rankings | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBack (0)
April 15, 2009
Today is the 62nd anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking baseball�s colour barrier and players all around the game wearing uniform No. 42 to honour his memory. It was April 15, 1947 when Robinson, after a 1946 season with the Royals in Montreal, was in the opening day lineup for the Brooklyn Dodgers. It�s one of the most important events in sports history.
Jackie�s wife Rachel is still one of the most stunning people I�ve ever interviewed. Without her presence and calming influence, the whole experiment would have failed. It�s an important part of the history of the United States and the civil rights movement. My three oldest children read some stuff about Jackie Robinson and ended up doing a major school project on his story. If you have children, have them go to the library and read a book about the great experiment that changed sports and society. On to the mail bag.
Q: Do you think it�s time to give a shout-out to the Jays scouting department? I know JP got ripped over and over for bringing in new people and for selecting Russ Adams. But Adam Lind, Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch, Brett Cecil, Brad Mills, J.P. Arencibia, David Cooper, Travis Snider, Casey Janssen, Ricky Romero, David Purcey are some good finds. I think it�s an impressive lot.
Doug Hereshko, Buffalo
A: First of all, Ricciardi was never ripped for brining in new people to his scouting department. He was ripped for the ungracious way he dispatched the good people who were in place when he arrived, many of whom have gone on to win further MLB scouting awards and recognition. His �cupboard is bare� comments with regard to the farm system he inherited were ill advised and later on in his Jays� career, he even admitted to his lack of social graces and finally half-heartedly apologized.
Ricciardi has come a long way in toning down his ego through the years. Shout out to that. Seven straight years of missing the post-season helps. His drafts have even been better as he came down off his high (school) horse and decided that it was actually okay to take a talented kid, even though he wasn�t a collegian (see: Travis Snider).
As for the 11 players that you mention in your question, four of them have yet to play in the majors. Wait and see. The seven pitchers named have totalled 56 ML wins. In seven June drafts, those 11 players, plus Aaron Hill is not shout-out-able. Maybe a whisper-out is more appropriate. If by the end of �09, some of those pitchers have done some solid work in the majors, there is a shout-out due.
Q: Hi Richard,
I'm a long time fan of yours and anxiously look forward to your mailbag each week. With the Jays putting the jinx on prognosticators with their quick start in the American League, I'm wondering how much of this has to do with Cito Gaston's management style? Is this quick start a glimpse of better days to come (a year or two down the road)? When I glance at the standings it seems like the American East teams are upside-down; and what's with the Mariners' quick start without Ichiro?
Thank you!
Jason Tan, Toronto
A: A lot of this quick start has to do with Gaston�s management style. Some of it has to do with playing three straight series vs. teams in the AL Central that are still feeling their way into �09. Last year the Jays were 24-12 vs. the AL Central, playing two games under .500 against the rest of their opponents. But Cito has definitely had an impact on the Jays, especially the offence, especially Lind and Snider.
In addition, Scott Rolen has bounced back, while Hill�s return to health has been a factor. A year or two down the road for the Jays is too hard to predict, but there is a nice young influence on this club, that if some free-agent pieces were added could turn into something good. They need to jump back into the free-agent pool as soon as they know where they stand in 2010.
As for the M�s quick start without Ichiro, they added a couple of pieces in trades and some of their veteran pitchers have rebounded. It�s a long year.
Q: It is great to see the Jays back on the field, and off to such a positive start! I have a couple of quick questions for you, Richard. First of all, what is going on with Jesse Litsch? He didn't look comfortable, to my unprofessional eye, in his first start against Detroit, and I know he struggled at the end of spring training. Given the problems of Marcum, McGowan and Janssen, should I be worried?
My second question is about Ricky Romero. He has looked very relaxed and confident, especially late in spring training and in his first start against the Tigers. He took his time getting here, but it appears he is ready to run with his opportunity. What is your take? Have the Jays put a plan in place for his innings, so HIS arm doesn't get into trouble like those mentioned above?
Jon Empringham, Woodstock
A: I�ve got to assure readers that this question came in before Litsch�s Monday start vs. the Twins in which he hurt his forearm/elbow and was placed on the disabled list and before Romero�s Tuesday start in which he established that he may finally be ready to compete at the next level.
Those are two pretty good observations. Even Litsch when speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon thought that adding the cut fastball may have contributed to his physical woes. Litsch, McGowan, Marcum and Janssen all on the DL have really hurt the Jays, but the repercussions have not yet caught up with them thanks to the relentless offensive production on many nights.
One caveat on Romero, he has not had a winning record in any professional season. His status as the sixth overall draft pick in 2005 and the first pitcher chosen were unwarranted, but finally he is beginning to pay off and look like a major-leaguer. He�s a good kid and his attitude has matured.
Q: Why is Travis Snider batting ninth? Hasn't he already proved that he can handle the bat with last year's stint and his strong spring training? And why is Marco Scutaro, frequently mentioned as a borderline starter, batting leadoff?
Wayne L., Richmond Hill
A: I also have questions about Scutaro batting leadoff. Do you really want to end the season with Scutaro having the most at-bats of anyone on your team? As for Snider in the nine-hole, I have no problem with that � for the moment. The kid is just 21-years-old and working him in slowly in terms of responsibility is good. He will not stay there all year. The next question continues the discussion.
Q: Richard,
Good win by the blue birds on opening night with a huge offensive output. I had a question about the starting lineup though. Currently, with Scutaro, Hill, Rios, Wells, they have all right-handers in the top half of the lineup. Would it not make more sense if they put Hill as the leadoff hitter and slide Snider into the two-hole? Watching Scutaro strike out looking twice in his first two ABs make me think that we would be better off with Hill as the leadoff hitter and it would create a better righty/lefty flow in the batting line up. Would dropping Scutaro into the nine-hole create a sense of demotion for Scutaro?
Louis K., Richmond Hill
A: As I said, I hate Scutaro batting first, but I like Hill batting second. I do think it�s a problem having the top four in your batting order all being right-handed hitters. Sure, from Wells on down to the nine-hole, Gaston on most nights against a right-handed starter will go right-left-right-left-right-left, but the four righties at the top makes it too easy for an opponent to manage his bullpen in late innings.
By mid-season, in the wake of the quick start by certain players, I would amend earlier suggestions and I would like to see Rios-Hill-Lind-Wells-Snider-Rolen-Overbay-Barajas-Scutaro.
I don�t believe that Scutaro would at all be affected by a drop to the nine-hole. He�s a major-league starter and that�s more important. It would also allow for John McDonald to get some starts at short without completely disrupting the batting order. As of now, with five pinch-running appearances while earning $1.9 million, Johnny Mac, among guys earning money for just running, he ranks second behind Usain Bolt.
Q: Richard, your answer to last week email sounds like you are not objecting to trading Halladay.
Have you changed (or lost) your mind, or maybe you just talk to JP too much. I think next year should be a very good year for the Jays because many of the Jays are on the last year of contracts and that is when career year happens. Therefore, we should keep Doc till the end of this thing. BTW can you ask JP to answer mailbag for one week and let us know ahead of time.
Davy P. San Jose
A: I bought the first season boxed set of the TV-show Lost, thinking it was indeed about the search for my mind. No such luck. It�s still lost. As for talking to J.P. too much, hey, I said I�ve lost my mind. I haven�t changed it. Any trade for Halladay would be with his cooperation. If he believes the Jays are headed in the right direction into a playoff position by next year, then the Jays� brass would likely be looking at the same picture and he would not be traded at the deadline.
I am interested in what�s best for Doc. The Jays will go on whatever direction they are headed, but if that direction later this season is �south� then it would only be fair to Halladay and probably the best thing for the team, to explore a trade for two major-leaguers and a top prospect.
I love Doc, but as he heads into 2010, the final year of his contract, he does not want to be on a team still rebuilding. He was promised the last extension that the Jays would contend by 2008. He took less money that year to allow Ricciardi to bring in more players. The Jays owe Halladay more than he owes them. He�s already fulfilled his part of the deal.
Q: Hi Richard,
Like many baseball fans in Southern Saskatchewan, I was very happy when I found out that Scott Richmond was going to be with the team on opening day. I still remember watching him play with Moose Jaw a while back. What do you think his chances are of sticking with the Jays for the entire season?
Dwayne Walter, Regina
A: Richmond is on the razor�s edge of being a major-leaguer. He�s like a Yugo in NASCAR. Everyone�s pulling for him but he doesn�t have all it takes to compete in the long run. At 29-years-old, the Jays may have been his only chance to make a rotation, marching in place while all the other spring candidates were moon-walking off the stage.
I believe that when Gaston told Richmond to go play for Canada in the WBC and not to worry about his spot, that Cito felt morally obligated to include Richmond in his season opening rotation. Now it�s up to Richmond to keep it. In the last half of March, the North Vancouver native did nothing to prove he belonged in the rotation but made it as the fifth starter anyway. Unless he begins to throw some quality starts on the board, as soon as Litsch returns and one of the young lefties develops enough, I fear Richmond may be the first casualty. He has minor-league options left.
Q: Hi Richard, love the mailbag, keep up the great work.
My question may be more fantasy than reality. You've mentioned numerous times that the Jays appear to be holding out for the 2010 season and that '09 is a 'development' year for lack of a better term. Should the Jays be only a handful of games out come the trading deadline do you see Riccardi being a buyer or will he stand pat? Sounds like there could be some pretty good fire sales at the end of July this year.
Tim McDonald, Marysville, WA
A: The Jays were the first ones to mention that 2010 was the realistic target, to claim that this was a development year. We are just the reporters. Interim prez Paul Beeston claimed earlier in the month that if they were in contention at the deadline that the Jays could be buyers. They are not pleading poverty as an ownership by going with the $80 million payroll. They are admitting that they are not planning on winning this year.
Q: Richard,
With the upcoming 92/93 reunion weekend coming up and so many past Jays heroes in attendance, do you think there is a chance the jays might bring our old friend BJ Birdy back? I�m sure Ace could stand aside for a few moments so BJ can get the recognition he deserves and a proper chance to say a goodbye that we fans were denied after the �99 season.
Stuart Stark, Toronto
A: The beginning of the end for BJ Birdy came during the �93 World Series when he invited the Philly Phanatic to Toronto to join him on the field at the SkyDome during games. I don�t know if BJ at the time was suffering from a bad back, bad elbow, strained wishbone or what, but the Phillies� mascot kicked his tail-feathers. It was embarrassing and I don�t think Birdy ever recovered from the humiliation deep down in his bird-brain. Besides, the rumour is that Birdy left the Jays� organization under less than friendly circumstances and any return to the nest would be a longshot. I tried Tweeting him.
Q: Baseball like all sports has changed dramatically since its early days. I don't believe it's fair to try and compare players of yesteryear to today's players but so many numbers from the early years of baseball are hard to make sense of. The numbers put up by pitcher Cy Young look ridiculous. How was he able to record 511 wins, pitch 749 complete games and pitch over 7300 innings? How fast was his fastball if he was able to toss that many innings? Did pitchers back then just throw junk to ensure their arms didn't give out? Any help you can be in figuring this out would be much appreciated.
Jacob Bestebroer, Chilliwack, BC
A: It�s impossible to say how fast Denton True (Cy) Young actually threw his fastball. The first attempt to determine a pitcher�s velocity was in the �40s with Bob Feller of the Indians. They took a motorcycle and revved it up to 100 miles per hour. As it approached the back of the mound, Feller began his windup, releasing the pitch just as the motorcycle passed him on the left. If his pitch arrived at home plate before the motorcycle then he was throwing 100. If it sounds bizarre, check his book. Luckily there was no backstop.
You�re right. Pitching back in the 19th century was different. The same ball, scuffed and dirty was used until they lost it. It was the deadball era. The spitball was legal. I believe Cy and his fellow Hall-of-Famers threw mostly fastballs. There were no pitch counts, a two or three-man rotation. No Tommy John surgeries. In fact there was no Tommy John. It was a different, simpler time. Don�t even bother comparing any of the stats.
Q: Wow you grew up in Jamaica as well. I am a big fan of the column and was quite amazed to hear you grew up in the Caribbean. How did you end up first getting exposed to baseball?
Jason McFarlane, Upton, Barbados
A: In the late �50s and early �60s when not listening on the Motorola shortwave radio to John Glenn in space we sat in our living room on the north shore of Jamaica, overlooking Duncans halfway between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios and listened to every World Series game each October. It seemed the Yankees were always playing somebody in the Fall Classic, so I listened in awe and Mickey Mantle became my hero. I attended several Test Matches between the West Indies and international cricket opponents before ever setting foot in a major-league ballpark.
Q: Hi Richard,
Just two quick questions:
1) I'm going to see a Tigers game in June, do you have any suggestions on what to do while in Detroit?
2) What, in your opinion, would be a great road trip for a baseball fan to take in games?
Rob Kirsic, Brampton
A: Walk softly and carry a big stick. No, seriously, I would recommend staying at a hotel in Greektown and walking to the ballpark. After the game there�s the Hockeytown bar and restaurant across the parking lot that�s a must see, plus the old theatre district surrounding Comerica Park. In Greektown there�s a street called Monroe filled with Irish pubs, cute eating places and a great hip-hop club called Marilyn�s on Monroe.
A great road trip for me would involve driving to Detroit for a game, going around the lake to Cleveland for the Indians, south to Columbus for a Triple-A game, then to Cincinnati to see the Reds. From there to Louisville for another minor-league contest, then across to Pittsburgh for a visit to one of the best parks in the majors, then up I-79 and across to Buffalo for another Triple-A game then back to Brampton capped off by a Jays game the next day. Seven games in seven days. The schedule would have to cooperate.
Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection in his mailbag Wednesdays in this space. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**
April 15, 2009 at 12:05 PM in Mail bag | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack (0)
April 14, 2009
Litsch on DL; Tallet in Rotation
The Jays today placed Jesse Litsch on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right forearm/elbow. He underwent an MRI this morning and will not pick up a baseball for two weeks before the injury is re-evaluated. Litsch began feeling pain after striking out Justin Morneau in the first inning on Monday night. He pitched two more innings and two batters into the fourth, unable to go any further after throwing a second strike to Delmon Young.
"I pretty much had pain on every pitch, but I tried to battle through it," Litsch said prior to tonight's game. "It was probably not the right thing to do, but you're going to learn from your mistakes. Hopefully, I get back here with the team sooner rather than later."
Litsch has never had any arm or shoulder problems in his life and did not know how to react properly to the pain. There is no firm prognosis on his return, until the two weeks of total rest are over. But he feels that if he's back able to contribute later this season, he wants to be completely healthy.
"Whatever I have to do to get healthy is what I'm willing to do," Litsch said. "It's a combining of all your pitches. The cutter, I throw that a bunch, that could be the main cause. It could be the sinker or the four-seamer. I felt it on the four-seamer, but after that I felt it on every pitch. Most likely it is the cutter, but it's a strain and I've just got to work through it.
"This is the first time I'll ever miss anything. It's the first time I've ever pulled myself out of a game. It's troublesome, but at the same time, I've got to be smart about it. It's a long career. Hopefully I've got a long career ahead of me. I'm only 24-years-old, so I have to be smart."
His replacement in the rotation will be lefty reliever Brian Tallet, who will go on Saturday vs. the A's at the Rogers Centre. He is expected to throw about 70 pitches.
Recalled from AAA-Las Vegas was lefty reliever Bill Murphy, a 28-year-old selected off of waivers from the Diamondbacks last spring. He was an invitee to spring training. Murphy made one appearance in Vegas, pitching two innings. He will fill Tallet's bullpen role.
"It was a shock," Murphy admitted of his promotion. "It's early and there are a lot of great guys down there in Triple-A. We were in Salt Lake and we were on the way back to the hotel when manager (Mike) Basso gave me a shout and told me to come back to the field."
The logical step might have been to call up either Brad Mills or Brett Cecil and give them a chance to start, but neither one has really earned a recall in his first start. Besides, putting them on the roster now and if they stayed for the year, would give them a full season of service time and could move their free-agency up a year. Instead, they will fill with Tallet for the moment.
"We discussed it last night," assistant GM Tony LaCava said. "There's quite a few left-handed hitters here (with the Twins). Oakland has quite a few left-handers as well. We felt (Murphy) gave us the best option. Tallet (as a starter) gives us the best chance to stay in games and win games.
R.G.
April 14, 2009 at 06:59 PM in Blue Jays | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
|
Responses:
|
Replies are disabled on threads older than 7 days.
|
|