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Good column in the Star today about the Jays bullpen. Yes, it's by Richard Griffin, who admits that "even the fiercest critics" are realizing what the ZLC has known all along about the renaissance of baseball around here.

Tosca's standing by Cliff Politte as his closer, citing Dusty Baker's faith in Robb Nen a while back. Carlos is the man who has to manage all those personalities, and he supports his guy. Ricciardi mentions Juan Acevedo's saves in 2002 and earlier this year, and suggests the word "closer" may be obsolete:

"We have to go with the best way that we can win games. Because we don't have that flat-out closer-type guy."

J.P. also said "once we get him rolling," which suggests Juan's been working closely with Gil Patterson and Bruce Walton on some changes. Sounds like an opportunity to at least share the high-leverage work in a bullpen without a nominal closer. Whatever makes Politte better, I'm all for it.
Posted by Coach on Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 01:42 AM EDT.
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_King Rat - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 02:01 PM EDT (#99247) #
'...And I specifically recall blew I don't know how many saves."-Carlos Tosca.

Huh?

Quibbles aside, I think Tosca's approach is the right one for now. If Politte continues to struggle then it's nice to have the bullpen depth to close by committee, but two blown saves over a month is not cause for panic.
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_Pfizer - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#99248) #
Wait a minute, if he continues at this pace, he'll blow half his saves! Half! Quick, trade Stewart for UUU!
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_Donkit R.K. - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#99249) #
Acevedo has some success as a closer last year after lots of mediocre baseball in the previous yeas. Even this year he picked up 6 saves before he embarrased the boss in Chicago. I think that as long as Politte is struggling we should have Acevedo as the closer. He was alright against Baltimore and maybe he's just built for the closer's role. I think it's worth a try.
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_Cristian - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#99250) #
According to Marty York (cue finger gun at the camera), the Jays are interested in acquiring Tom Gordon to shore up the pen. As well the Jays are apparently trying to work a deal with the Yankees for Jeff Weaver.

Even with Weaver's troubles in the Bronx, this last one sounds a little bit far fetched to me. I can't imagine that a Jeff Weaver trade negotiation would get past the opening pleasantries. More likely, Steinbrenner has bought into the Jays as a silent partner and is trying to bring down the Yankees from within. The bulk of the article deals with the Steinbrenner/Torre feud.
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_Donkit R.K. - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:23 PM EDT (#99251) #
Tom Gordon doesn't sound so bad , and before this season I would be very happy to see Weaver come to Toronto but I'm not exactly enamored with him so far this year. If the Jays got him cheap, and his contract is cheap (is it? would the Yanks eat some of it?) it might be worth the risk just in case it's another case of Whitson's disease.
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Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#99252) #
http://economics.about.com
Flash Gordon has great periphs and is only making 1.4 this year. If the Sox don't want a whole lot for him, I'd pick him up in a heartbeat. I can't imagine he'd come too cheap, though, as the Sox and Yanks could also use bullpen help. I don't think the Jays can win a bidding war though they probably could drive up the price for one of the other contenders.

JP wouldn't take Weaver if you offered Jeff to him for free. JP is into character guys and Weaver is more obnoxious than the Jerky Boys.

Mike
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robertdudek - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#99253) #
Tom Gordon would be an excellent choice! Depending, of course, on how much of his salary we'd need to cover and what we'd have to give up.

I don't see the ChiSox dealing unless they are way out by late July. UNless the Twins get it in high gear soon, the Pale Hose should be within shouting distance.
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_Eric C - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#99254) #
Weaver makes 4.1 million this year, 6.25 next year and a whooping 9.25 in 2005. For Kevin Millwood, that's okay, but I can't see JP paying 9 million for a decent starter. As someone pointed over at Primer, his K rates have been dropping, and that can't be a good sign. I say no thanks.
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_Donkit R.K. - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:51 PM EDT (#99255) #
Now that I see Eric C's numbers on Weaver, it's a resounding no thanks. And with Flash only making 1.4, I think he'd be a nice pickup.
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_Chuck Van Den C - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:54 PM EDT (#99256) #
Tom Gordon would be an excellent choice! Depending, of course, on how much of his salary we'd need to cover and what we'd have to give up.

Well, ever since Kenny Williams read Moneyball, I doubt he'd be prepared to go the Durham route again (dealing away a very useful player AND picking up his salary for the balance of the season).
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_AGF - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 03:58 PM EDT (#99257) #
Coach, how can you be happy about a closer committee. Isn't Politte a member of the Toronto Walruses?
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_Spicol - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 04:07 PM EDT (#99258) #
Acevedo has some success as a closer last year after lots of mediocre baseball in the previous yeas.

Look deeper into the story and you'll notice that Acevedo had success in Comerica Park only.

Home: 46.1 IP, 34H, 1HR, 11BB, 24K, 0.78 ERA, .210 BA against
Away: 28.1 IP, 34H, 3HR, 12BB, 19K, 5.72 ERA, .298 BA against

Aside from pitching at home in 2002, he's been extremely ordinary over his entire career. Acevedo is not a closer and the Yankees found that out the hard way. Either Osuna or Hammond would have been much better options.
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_Lefty - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 04:30 PM EDT (#99259) #
Looking all the way back to 1995, Acvedo appears to be a good year bad year kinda guy and this is his bad year. But perhaps getting outta NY is like starting another season fresh.

Put me in the group who says give this guy the ball in the ninth. The way Pollitte is going and until he proves otherwise Acevedo can and will not do any worse.

As mentioned by JP this guy has a track record closing games and thaty counts for something.

Remember Pollitte was pulled off the scrap heap, and rightfully so but because he has proven he is not scrap it doesn't make him the hier apparent. He got the job cuz Kelvim the Destroyer imploded.

Go for it JP. Your the boss.
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_Lefty - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 04:35 PM EDT (#99260) #
Tick tick tick, I see the metre's getting ever so close to 100,000.

Coach I'll be expecting a fireworks display when I log on after 100k.
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Coach - Tuesday, June 24 2003 @ 05:25 PM EDT (#99261) #
AGF, I'd rather own an effective Politte sharing the SV stats than the June version. The word "committee" is as misleading as "closer". If he can convince the manager, I think J.P. would like to alternate Politte and Acevedo in the highest-leverage situations, which would even let some SV fall to Trever Miller or Aquilino Lopez. The fact is, the team has a weak spot, and they are constantly looking at ways to improve it. Flash Gordon might be worth a try, but I'd have a lot of doctors check his wing.

With any luck, we'll reach 100,000 tomorrow, maybe while some of us are at the Jays game. It's been a very good week.
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