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Batter's Box Rap

With the first ten games in the books and all
The Blue Jays are playing .300 ball
And because they're having such an awful time
Today's introduction will be written in rhyme.

Now it's easy to be mad at the boys in gray
'Cause they stink out the joint every other day
The starters have been bad and the hitters, too
If Escobar were here, we'd be blaming him too.

Yeah, the Jays have been playing it famine or feast
And that's why they're last in the A.L. East
But I'm here to tell you, don't believe your eyes (fool)
This is just an example of sample size.

Yeah, the fans have to hold off their urge to diss
The Jays'll start winning, 'cause they're better than this
All the bats are just waiting to explode with power
And they'll start it today behind Joshua Towers.

Now every team struggles through the baseball season
And Toronto's no exception, never mind the reason
So everybody chill out and enjoy the game
I'm the Batter's Box rapper, Master G's the name.

Word.


Game 11: Four and Seven? | 122 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Jordan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 12:28 PM EDT (#71814) #
Yes, I'm the whitest man in North America, and yes, tongue was planted firmly in cheek. I'm about as hip-hop as lite beer.
Lucas - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 12:42 PM EDT (#71815) #
Are you Bulworth or Rappin' Homer?

Word.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 12:46 PM EDT (#71816) #
Most of us around here are Homers, Scott. LOL, Master G.

Myers is catching today, and (not that I'm taking credit for this idea, but you heard it here first) Tosca has dropped Reed to seventh, with Cat and Hinske at the top of the order.
_Steve Z - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 12:59 PM EDT (#71818) #
Cuzzi's the HP ump! Should be fun to watch...
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:04 PM EDT (#71819) #
Jason Frasor was just on with Tom. Sounds like a very personable guy with a good sense of humour. Hopefully he'll stick around with the big club.
_superdevin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:15 PM EDT (#71820) #
1 down 8 to go. way to go josh.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:15 PM EDT (#71821) #
No harm done in the top of the first. Mora's bunt single was perfect, all Hinske could do, playing back, was hope it rolled foul. Towers' 0-1 curve buckled Tejada's knees, then the 0-2 was a fastball tailing in on his fists. The next pitch was a big mistake -- hanging curve in the middle of the plate -- but Miguel skied it, thank goodness. Johnson took a double away from Palmeiro (first pitch fastball down Broadway) with a nice running catch.
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:19 PM EDT (#71822) #
Wow - did anybody catch this in the Sinins mail today:

7) A Dominican court ruled that Pirates RF Raul Mondesi owes former major
leaguer Mario Guerrero about $640,000, for Guerrero helping him improve his
skills.

While Mondesi is appealing, his bank accounts have been frozen and the
Pirates are withholding his pay.

I'd like to see what his hourly rate is?
_superdevin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:21 PM EDT (#71823) #
take that javy.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:25 PM EDT (#71824) #
Hinske smacked one to deep right-center and Wells smoked one down the line, but Matos and Mora made nice plays on both potential doubles. Scoreless through one.

High heat from Towers whiffs Lopez, then Josh battled back from 3-0 against Gibbons to get him looking and made Segui look helpless with a lovely change. Cuzzi's strike zone is solid, and he hasn't ejected anyone yet.
_superdevin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:25 PM EDT (#71825) #
strikes out the side. GO JAYS GO.

i wish i wasn't at work.
_superdevin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:28 PM EDT (#71826) #
btw, thanks for the in depth updates coach. since i'm at work i can only watch gameday (listening isn't an option) and your updates make it much more enjoyable. thank you.
Pistol - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:33 PM EDT (#71827) #
I'd like to see what his hourly rate is?

I think I read it was 1% of future salary.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:36 PM EDT (#71828) #
You're welcome. In the Jays' second, Delgado got plunked, then Phelps reached on an infield hit when Mora had to throw off-balance -- Melvin's not my idea of a great 3B. Myers struck out, then Sparky had terrific rips at two fastballs, fouling both off, before grounding into a 6-4-3 DP on an excellent offspeed pitch to strand the runners.

Ainsworth and Towers are similar. Not overpowering, but they hit their spots and can be very deceptive.
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:48 PM EDT (#71829) #
2-0 O's - Mora hit a double that scored Matos and Bigbie. Bigbie had previously stole second.

Mora - steals third.

The O's loves the small ball.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:49 PM EDT (#71830) #
Great play by Woodward to erase the lead runner. Nice scoop, heads-up read, perfect throw.
_Dr. Zarco - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:54 PM EDT (#71831) #
What a rip by Hudson. We haven't seen that from him a whole lot. Just a great swing. He took a middle away fastball and ripped it just to the LF side of center for a double bouncing off the wall. Time to get those two runs back.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 01:56 PM EDT (#71832) #
O-Dog scores on the F-Cat sac fly; 2-1.
_Dr. Zarco - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:00 PM EDT (#71833) #
Matos made another nice catch in center. That's two more times the Jays have flown out to the wall. They keep piling up. Nice to get one run back on good fundamentals, as Woody moved Hudson to 3rd on a groudout before the Cat sac fly.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#71834) #
No way to sugar-coat that Hinske throw; somehow they have given Lopez a base hit on a textbook E-5. Official scoring is even more inconsistent than umpiring.
_Dr. Zarco - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#71835) #
Eh-a Hinske error was generously called a hit for Javy. He backed up, took forever to throw, then threw wide and somehow it's a basehit. Either way, leadoff man on. Now Gibbons followed with a hit. Rough start to the 4th.
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:09 PM EDT (#71836) #
Nice way to get out of it Towers. Pitching very well, hopefully he keep this up for the season.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:10 PM EDT (#71837) #
A very nice back door curve to punch out Bigbie and get out of trouble unscathed. Heart of the order coming up for the Jays, overdue to do some damage.
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#71838) #
about time Vernon.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:19 PM EDT (#71839) #
The Wells homer tied it up, but now Roberts has led off the fifth with a double, and was sac-bunted over to third by Mora. Towers is probably nearing the limit of his pitch count, for a guy who hasn't worked since spring training.
_Dr. Zarco - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:22 PM EDT (#71840) #
Tough break for Towers. Tejada should have struck out on a 1-2 pitch, as he clearly went around, but the 1st base ump said no. Sac fly makes it 3-2.
_braden - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:23 PM EDT (#71841) #
Quite the temper there Miguel.

He must be on 'roids ;)
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#71842) #
Tejada had words with Towers, who expressed frustration with the pitch. Raffy beats the shift with a well-placed single to left, and from where I sit, Josh is all done.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:25 PM EDT (#71843) #
After the walk to Lopez, Tosca agrees with me. It's Kershner time, for two innings if he has good stuff.
Joe - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:27 PM EDT (#71844) #
http://me.woot.net
It's guys like Tejada that make me happy the Jays don't have guys like Tejada in the clubhouse.
Lucas - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:28 PM EDT (#71845) #
Re Vernon's first homer, going ten or so games without a homer is not unusual even for a slugger. In fact, it's to be expected. Last year, Wells had five stretches of at least ten games without going yard including an 18-game stretch in Aug-Sep.

That said, Wells, has just six homers in his last 68 games.
_R Billie - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#71846) #
Towers was angry because he left the outside fastball over the plate but he should be mad at himself with the pitch selection. Tejada was not close to hitting the fastball up and in or the breaking ball low and away. Either of those pitches would have been preferable to throwing a very hittable outside fastball to a fastball hitter.

Jason Kershner comes in and uses his skill to induce a screaming liner at Hudson to strand two runners.
_superdevin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:34 PM EDT (#71847) #
does an hbp count towards obp?

i think it should count against whip too. (even though i know by definition of w+h/ip it doesn't).
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:35 PM EDT (#71848) #
Small-ball for the home team, as a nice Woodward bunt advances the runners to second and third. Cat drives in the run and didn't like the very close out call at first. Tied up again.
Lucas - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:36 PM EDT (#71849) #
Yes, HBPs count toward on-base percentage. And Sac Flies count against. Sac bunts don't count anywhere.

Two sac hits in one game for Toronto?
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:39 PM EDT (#71850) #
A lot of Sparky's OBP comes from HBP; he's the master of the one-pitch walk, leaning into anything inside without making it look obvious.

Cat has two RBI without extending his nine-game hit streak (yet).
Lucas - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:47 PM EDT (#71851) #
Today's fun stat is AL Bullpen ERA (through Friday):

Baltimore - 2.09
Toronto - 2.96
Texas - 3.19
...
Cleveland - 7.49
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:47 PM EDT (#71852) #
On the OOTS (Out Of Town Scoreboard, available for sponsorship) -- What's up with Mike Mussina? Five hits and three walks through three innings, as Boston and Schilling have a 3-0 lead.

So far so good for the crafty BBFL owner who picked up Maroth on waivers last night; five shutout innings vs. the Tribe.
Lucas - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:48 PM EDT (#71853) #
Ummm, what is up with your radio announcer and "Miguel Tah-HEY-dah."
_Dr. Zarco - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:49 PM EDT (#71854) #
Delgado continues to look terrible. Not only making outs, but making them in a very ugly fashion with a lot of K's and weak grounders.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:51 PM EDT (#71855) #
If it's Tom Cheek, he's just being consistent, Scott. He calls I-Rod and A-Rod "Rod-REEK-ez" and the Seattle closer is "Goddardo."
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:51 PM EDT (#71856) #
So far so good for the crafty BBFL owner who picked up Maroth on waivers last night; five shutout innings vs. the Tribe.

Five shutout innings with 7 HITS though coach. Oh wait - your fantasy league doesn't have 3000 stat categories like my stupid league.

I picked up Tiger's fifth starter Nate Robertson the other day. 16 ks in 11 innings.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:58 PM EDT (#71857) #
Eddie, we do count WHIP but also K/BB, where Maroth's doing fine (5/1) today, and IP, where he might make the difference for me this week.

Hey, where are all the Tosca bullpen management critics? He stuck with Kershner for five batters, spread across three innings, and Jason was perfect. Now he brings in ROOGY supreme #1 to face Mora and Tejada. Then we should see de los Santos, with three of the next four batters lefties.
_R Billie - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 02:59 PM EDT (#71858) #
Ligtenberg comes in for a quick inning's work. Let's see if this vaunted offence can manage more than three runs for once.
Gitz - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:00 PM EDT (#71859) #
I'm watching the Moose getting rocked, Coach. Manny just took him DEEP -- over the monster, over the net, possibly on the way to London as I type.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:03 PM EDT (#71860) #
Wow! Great catch by Matos on a 400-foot blast by Myers, then Roberts absolutely robbed Sparky of a single up the middle. Pretty good ball game; one mistake may decide it now.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:06 PM EDT (#71861) #
Holy doodle -- Ligtenberg stays in to face Palmeiro, presumably so he can get Lopez. But he better be careful here...
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:11 PM EDT (#71862) #
Good bullpen management by Tosca so far. It would have been tempting to leave Towers in against Gibbons to try to give him a chance for the win, but Towers looked like he was done. However, Kershner was very lucky that Gibbons hit the ball right at Hudson.

I was surprised to see Ainsworth come out for the 7th inning, and was not surprised to see him give up a few hard hit balls. Mazilli should really get him out of there now. Nice job by the Aussie.

Ligtenberg got to pitch against Palmeiro??? I will be shocked if de los Santos isn't called on to pitch against Gibbons...

Nice K on Lopez...
_Dr. Zarco - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#71863) #
Clutch strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play. I was almost gonna comment that Raines was guaranteed 2nd, since Myers couldn't throw out Bigbie on a pitchout.
_NDG - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#71864) #
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1783863
COMN for ESPN story confirming Prior's injury may be serious. I figure there's three very worried BBFL owners right now!
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#71865) #
Another pitching change? Tosca is using up the pen too fast again!!!!!!!!1
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:13 PM EDT (#71866) #
Cuzzi gave Kerry a nice call on 3-1, but he lost Raffy anyway. Raines in to run, but is erased on the 2-4 double play -- nice throw by Crash.

Now it's Adams, just as good as most southpaws with his reverse platoon split, coming in to face Gibbons.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:14 PM EDT (#71867) #
Spartan, I don't know what game you're watching.
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:15 PM EDT (#71868) #
Coach - He has already used 3 pitchers and we are still in the 8th of a tie game. What if this goes into extra innings?
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:16 PM EDT (#71869) #

Another pitching change? Tosca is using up the pen too fast again!!!!!!!!1


This is defensible. Lightenberg is not great against LHB, so I don't mind playing the percentages on this one. Lopez and Frasor should probably not be used today, but de los Santos and Speier are still available. If the game is tied in the 9th, I predict Adams will stay out there.

Anyone else surprised to see Woody lay down a sacrifice bunt in the 5th inning? I suppose when your struggling to get base hits, it makes sense to scratch out runs any way you can.
Joe - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:16 PM EDT (#71870) #
http://me.woot.net
Coach, the '!!!!!!1' is a dead giveaway that his post was facetious. :)
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#71871) #
facetious

Um, what?
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:19 PM EDT (#71872) #
Cuzzi has been giving a very generous strike zone all day. Especially on low pitches on the third base side of the plate.

Anyone else notice Bigbie's nod after Towers got him looking with a curveball to end the 4th? It looked like he was saying to Towers "good one, you got me." It's very refresing to see good sportsmanship out there.
Joe - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:21 PM EDT (#71873) #
http://me.woot.net
facetious.
_NDG - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:22 PM EDT (#71874) #
I'm an accredited Tosca 'bullpen management basher' (BMB for short), but I agree with Coach, Tosca's done fine so far. The Tosca I complain about would have used at least five pitchers by now. His moves so far have made sense (as all he has is short men) and having Speier warm up while Adams struggles makes sense. It's removing pitchers for now apparent reason that drives me nuts.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:22 PM EDT (#71875) #
Excuse me if I missed the humour. I'm losing patience with armchair managers who offer knee-jerk criticism of the skipper's every move.

When the Jays pull this out, let's give credit where it's due -- a simply perfect job of getting his matchups by Tosca, and excellent execution by his relievers.
Craig B - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:22 PM EDT (#71876) #
Man, Cuzzi's zone is wiiiiiiiide.

Good recognition by Adams that a dropping a little breaker over the high outside corner would get him a strike call. 80% of umpires, that's a ball.
Joe - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:22 PM EDT (#71877) #
Sorry Joe, Just looked up Facetious - I thought it wasn't actually a word, haha

Well i guess there was some humour in it, but i'm still a bit concerned with the bullpen manageing
Leigh - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:23 PM EDT (#71878) #
Am I the only one that thinks that, especially with the new Ligtnebergesque sideburns, Terry Adams looks an awful lot like Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys?
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:25 PM EDT (#71879) #
Am I the only one that thinks that, especially with the new Ligtnebergesque sideburns, Terry Adams looks an awful lot like Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys?

HAHAHAHAHA
Craig B - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:25 PM EDT (#71880) #
Sorry to sound like a knee-jerk idiot casual fan, but where the hell is the offense? The is SkyDome with the roof closed, and we can't score runs. Not a good sign.
_Steve Z - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:25 PM EDT (#71881) #
Move over Miller, Arnold, and Bush! After tossing six shutout innings last start (O BB, 8 K), Chris Baker is throwing a no-no through five today. (Sorry to divert you from the riveting Jays game...)
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:25 PM EDT (#71882) #
So much for Cat's hit streak -- Berg pinch hit for him, grounding out to second. Gomez hitting for Hinske is a bit of a head-scratcher, though.
_R Billie - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:26 PM EDT (#71883) #
Pinch hitting with Dave Berg and Chris Gomez? Is that really a net gain? Is that worth taking Cat's bat out of the game should things last beyond Ryan's tenure?
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:26 PM EDT (#71884) #
I'll give credit for where its due - good call with the pinch hit by Tosca, too bad we don't have better betters than Berg and Gomez though.
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#71885) #
Lordy, why is Hinske being pinch hit for by Gomez???

If Tosca really wanted Gomez in the game, he could have hit for Woody...

Berg to 3B, Gomez to SS, Hermansen to LF?
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#71886) #
where the hell is the offense?

There's a .132 hole in the cleanup spot; that will have ripples.
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#71887) #
Am I the only one that thinks that, especially with the new Ligtnebergesque sideburns, Terry Adams looks an awful lot like Ricky from the Trailer Park Boys?

Actually - I was thought the 2003 Hinske could have been Ricky's younger brother.
Craig B - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#71888) #
Actually, he's got the sleepy eyes, so he's sort of a cross between Ricky and Julian.

Good one though.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:28 PM EDT (#71889) #
They just pitched around V-Dub to get to Delgado; how often has that ever happened?
_Harry Heatherin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:30 PM EDT (#71890) #
Delgado looked like he was in pain (ribs?) swinging on that first pitch. Is there something wrong? He looked bad on the swinging K too ...
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:30 PM EDT (#71891) #
Oh man, that wasn't pretty
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:31 PM EDT (#71892) #

They just pitched around V-Dub to get to Delgado; how often has that ever happened?


Not often, but it makes sense. Ryan is the anti Ligtenberg. Hell on lefties, ordinary against righties.
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:31 PM EDT (#71893) #
Is your mother proud Carlos?! Come on.
_NDG - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#71894) #
Great, that hit by Gomez probably ensures that he will pinch hit for Hinske for the next month. I take back my comment that Tosca's doing fine.

As I watch Delgado flail away, I checked the stats, we're not imagining things, the Jays have struck out 15% more than any other AL team so far (that team being the Tigers). In fact only two NL teams have struck more than the Jays. Not good.
_Andrew K - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#71895) #
If Chuck McSlim* stays anywhere near this form, do you think anyone will pay $14M for him?

*Delgado
_R Billie - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#71896) #
What looks bad about Carlos is his approach. Every year it's the same story with him. When he hits to left field he's as dangerous as anyone in the game. When he tries to pull everything he's harmless. He was clearly trying to pull Ryan on pitches he should have been smoking off the left field wall. Instead he strikes out weakly.
Craig B - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#71897) #
Ryan's a tough guy to hit against, though. Give the guy a break.

He's going to win his share of games this year. He might yet win this one.
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#71898) #
Whoops.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:34 PM EDT (#71899) #
Speier left a pitch right over the plate, and Bigbie jacked it out.

There are 15 more 10-game stretches to come; this one may be the worst for the Jays' bats. But it is painful to watch.
Gitz - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:34 PM EDT (#71900) #
Billie, you wanna stand in there against Ryan batting left-handed? Sure, Delgado's struggling now, but Ryan is tough on left-handed hitters, no matter what approach Delgado takes to the plate.
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:37 PM EDT (#71901) #
Can't blame the pitching if they lose this - again the fault of the hitters.

I'm thinking of the first and second no about out situation in the 3rd or 4th - should've at least cashed in one run.
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#71902) #
"no body out" I mean
_R Billie - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#71903) #
Speier gives up the solo shot to put Baltimore ahead. It's unfortunate the bullpen will get the blame when that's the first run they've allowed in relief of Towers. Just too many hitters looking completely lost at the plate right now.
_NDG - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#71904) #
The thing that worries me about Carlos is that he is a notoriously fast starter. His career OPS in April is over 1000. He was the one complaining that spring training is too long. A 900 OPS season by Carlos is not going to help the Jays chances.
_Andrew K - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#71905) #
Now I think that game is a lesson as to why small ball can pay off. I guess you all disagree that it pays off in the long run?
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:42 PM EDT (#71906) #
Andrew - Playing for the big innings work when you actually have guys that can hit.
_R Billie - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#71907) #
Gitz, tough on lefties or not, Delgado's approach was terrible. He was also batting well under .200 coming into the game (in the third week of April I might add) and wasn't close to hitting the righty Ainsworth either. He's just plain swinging the bat badly and lapsing into some poor habits. Until he starts taking those low pitches on the outer half to left field he's going to continue to look just as helpless as he looked today.
Gitz - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:45 PM EDT (#71908) #
Ah, I see that Craig and I had the same thought re: B.J. Ryan.
Gitz - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:46 PM EDT (#71909) #
OK, fine then just pinch-hit Miguel Batista for Delgado, then. See where that gets you. Give me a break. A left-hander like Ryan is going to give Bonds problems.
Gitz - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:48 PM EDT (#71910) #
I didn't mean that to sound as harsh as it did, Billie. If we were in a bar when I made that comment, I'd be smiling. True, I'd be in Candada, so that would make me happy!
Gitz - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#71911) #
I'd even be in Canada. And, no, I'm not trying to break the BB record for most consecutive non-accidental posts.
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#71912) #
I'm starting to get a little concerned about the Orioles. They are going to be a very competitive team this year.
_Spartan - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#71913) #
Game over - god they better turn this around.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#71914) #
Just in case anyone wasn't sure, the Jays have never gone 0-5 at home to start the season before. This really sucks.
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:51 PM EDT (#71915) #
I'm starting to get a little concerned about the Orioles. They are going to be a very competitive team this year.

It's FAR too early to say that!

/actually, I'm scared as hell too.
_Andrew K - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:52 PM EDT (#71916) #
I know Tosca wanted to play meaningful baseball in September but if something doesn't improve we aren't going to be playing meaningful baseball in May.
Coach - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:53 PM EDT (#71917) #
The thing to remember is, they're 3.5 games out of first with 151 to play, and it is frankly impossible to keep hitting this poorly as a team.
Gitz - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:54 PM EDT (#71918) #
I don't think it's too early to say the Orioles are going to be competetive. Clearly, they will be. Their offense is improved quite a bit, and while we can't expect Lopez to keep his Piazza imitation going all year, they're a better team this year. Their pitching is unpredictable, however, but the offense is going to keep them in a lot of games.

It IS too early to be so down on the Jays.
_Harry Heatherin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#71919) #
I'm a quick panicker, but I am comforted by:

  1. 2005 is (has always been) the year (eyes on the prize!)
  2. the Yankees are not winning.
_R Billie - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:59 PM EDT (#71920) #
Everyone in the AL East is a competitive team this year, including the Devil Rays. The Jays are going to find themselves below .500 at the end of the year if they continue on like this.
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 03:59 PM EDT (#71921) #
It's FAR too early to say that!

I should have used the sarcasm tag here. I thought the "/actually, I'm scared as hell too." comment would have given it away. The O's lineup is scary as hell, and so long as they get quality starts from one or two of their starters and the pen keeps this up - they're going to battle.
_EddieZosky - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 04:00 PM EDT (#71922) #
Wilner's taking calls after the out of town scoreboard.
_Cristian - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 04:01 PM EDT (#71923) #
The Jays go up against Eric Dubose tomorrow, who is on my BBFL squad, so I guarantee their bats will do better.
_Steve Z - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 04:02 PM EDT (#71924) #
Thank goodness for an exciting start to the season by the Minor Jays!
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 04:04 PM EDT (#71925) #

It's FAR too early to say that!

actually, I'm scared as hell too.

And make not mistake, I'm not reacting to how bad the Jays have been.

Baltimore has a fantastic young starting rotation, especially their young lefties. Riley, Dubose, and Bedard may end up outperforming Lilly, Hentgen, and Towers. However, there's no guarantees that they will turn potential into performance -- everyone remembers the frustrating slow development of Carpenter, Escobar, and Halladay in the 1999 and 2000.

Hitting wise, the additions of Tejada, Lopez, and Palmeiro make their lineup very solid, possibly better than Toronto. Defensively, they might be better as well.
_Jacko - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 04:10 PM EDT (#71926) #
Hijack:

Calvin Pickering watch in Omaha.

After a 2HR, 7 RBI game yesterday, his numbers stand at:

BA: .542
OBP: .636
SLG: 1.833
HR: 10
RBI: 26

That's in 24 AB. Pickering has more RBI than AB right now.

This obviously can't last, but it is pretty cool and unexpected :)
_superdevin - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#71927) #
no matter the sample size that is one crazy sample.
Craig B - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 05:52 PM EDT (#71928) #
I'm starting to get a little concerned about the Orioles. They are going to be a very competitive team this year.

I just don't see their pitching holding up. Though it is young and potentially good, it's also young and potentially horrid. Young pitchers, even promising ones, tend to skew to the bad side.

I do think the world of Riley, but the other guys don't impress me a whole lot yet.

It IS too early to be so down on the Jays.

Well, it's too early to be down on the team, but it's certainly not too early to be down on the results.

This has not been a tough stretch of games. Six against Detroit, two against Baltimore, and they're 2-6 in those games. Those are putrid results, especially given that four of those losses were blowouts. I'd take the 1-2 against the Red Sox if they can manage to take five of eight against two of the weak sisters in the AL.

We know this is a much better team than they've showed, and even that's not *absolutely* horrible. They've played better than a 3-8 team. But if the team continues to look promising and still lose ballgames, there will be Big Trouble.
_LogicBomb - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 06:19 PM EDT (#71929) #
These are certainly depressing results. After such a huge amount of hype the Jays are definately struggling, not terrible, but struggling. These losses will eventually turn in our favor. Even Alex Rodriquez is looking awkward as hell.
Mike Green - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 10:13 PM EDT (#71932) #
Ever the contrarian, I am as optimistic as it is possible to be after a 3-8 start. The bullpen is taking some shape. Some nice pitching options have been acquired should injury or ineffectivness plague some current members of the staff. The bats will return.

I remember the 1989 Jays, which had more talent than this team, starting out 12-24, and winning the division. I'm not suggesting that this version will do the same, but I'm not at all worried by the start to the season.
robertdudek - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 10:36 PM EDT (#71933) #
I was at the game and that makes it 0 and 5 for me this season. I've never seen Delgado swing at so many balls in the dirt. He needs a day off tomorrow.
robertdudek - Saturday, April 17 2004 @ 10:44 PM EDT (#71934) #
Hinske should have made the play, but it should not go down as an error. Errors are given on bad throws and mishandles. Hinske let the ball take an extra long hop and his throw was basically online but too late. You can't give a player an error just because they have a weak arm.
_Chris B. - Sunday, April 18 2004 @ 01:04 AM EDT (#71935) #
Has anyone noticed any subtle differences in Delgado's batting mechanics from last year???? Is he "cheating" fastballs because of a sore knee????
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