Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
No, it's not a contractual clause, it's the latest Jays roster move. Scott Service has been released, and Kevin Cash has been called up to take his place. Carlos Tosca:

I expect to catch him at least two or three times a week, let him get his feet wet. There are some guys here that he's caught -- Hendrickson, Thurman, Towers. We're getting ready to play a ballclub that has a great deal of speed. Kevin's going to be part of our future, and basically we want to take a look at him.

The future is beginning to begin now.

After a brutal start to the year, Kevin Cash caught fire at Syracuse and leaves with this line:

326 AB, 37 R, .270/.331/.442, 28 2B, 2 3B, 8 HR, 37 RBI, 29 BB, 81 K

No one here needs to be told that that's a really unfortunate BB/K rate, but at least he's walking once every 10 at-bats and he's posted better walk numbers in the low minors. Cash's power was really coming on there at the end: he has the ability, I think, to crank out 15-20 dingers a year in 400 ABs. But I can't see his big-league average cracking .250: expect to see a lot of swings and misses. When I first began looking at Jays prospects last year, I called Cash the second coming of Buck Martinez, and that's still what I think: great defensively, decent power, respectable batting eye, don't expect much BA. All that remains to be seen is how he handles pitchers, frames strikes and blocks the plate.

If you haven't seen Cash in the field, though, you're in for a treat. Enjoy the first several baserunners he guns down; attempts will decrease as word about him gets around the league. Cash will either be an important part of the team's future or will be dealt to acquire one: either way, his performance in the next year is critical.
Cash for Service | 19 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Jordan - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 01:36 PM EDT (#95015) #
Thanks to Pistol for the alert.
_Matthew Elmslie - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 02:02 PM EDT (#95016) #
The future is beginning to begin now.

No, I think this is still the present.

(It's weird, though; it's been the present for as long as I can remember.)
_Mick - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 02:56 PM EDT (#95017) #
What a great headline.

Calls to mind the perhaps apocryphal story that Bill Veeck, back when the White Sox owned the rights to young minor league first baseman Norm Cash, was desperate to deal Cash to the Yankees or A's, or whoever had his rights at the time, for veteran OF and "professional hitter" Andy Carey.

Apparently he wanted the headlines to blare "Cash and Carey"!
_Brent - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 03:01 PM EDT (#95018) #
Matthew, that was very poetic.

If you haven't seen Cash in the field, though, you're in for a treat.

I second this. When I was in Dundein this spring, I was treated to Cash gunning down runners trying to steal second...from his knees. Granted it was a drill, but the shear ease of his throwing motion was quite astounding. I'm very excited to see him play.
Dave Till - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 03:10 PM EDT (#95019) #
I'm looking forward to seeing Cash play. I want to see this legendary throwing arm in action. (I think they called him up because Rafael Palmeiro stole a base on the weekend.)

No, I think this is still the present. (It's weird, though; it's been the present for as long as I can remember.)

As Kehlog Albran (and Dan Quisenberry) once put it: "I have seen the future, and it is just like the present, only longer."
_Brent - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 03:19 PM EDT (#95020) #
BTW, what was Cash's nickname again? I recall someone calling him "Money", but I may be just making that up.
_sef - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 03:25 PM EDT (#95021) #
I'm not so sure of the Buck Martinez comparison...yes, Cash struggled mightily at Syracuse, but he's shown the ability to hit for a .270ish average at A and AA while doing a good job of getting on base. Couple that with respectable numbers in '03, and on an absolute basis at least, he's a much better hitter than Buck (whose career line reads .225/.284/.343).
Craig B - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#95022) #
BTW, what was Cash's nickname again? I recall someone calling him "Money", but I may be just making that up.

If it's not "Cash Money", we're all making a serious mistake.
robertdudek - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 04:09 PM EDT (#95023) #
Buck was doing that in a relatively pitcher-friendly era. I think Buck had less power, even adjisting for era, than Cash will. And of course, by the time he got to the Jays he was the slowest ballplayer I have ever seen until Edgar Martinez' health problems this year.
Coach - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 04:47 PM EDT (#95024) #
It's not just Cash's arm that is exceptional. He has the quickest feet you'll ever see on a catcher. Last year, I saw him outrun a couple of very good bunts and turn them into routine outs.

expect to see a lot of swings and misses

So far, Kevin has an unfortunate habit of taking a very long time to adjust to each new level, and AAA was no exception. I saw enough of him in 14 AL at-bats (and a couple of Syracuse games on TV) to recognize a weakness for the high-and-tight fastball. He swung at all of them without hitting very many.

Before Friday's game, J.P. told a group of us that Cash (finally) is keeping his front shoulder closed and trying to use the whole field. If he can keep that approach and avoid slipping into his old pull-crazy habits, he might be a pleasant surprise. I still don't think we can judge him as a big-league hitter until he's had plenty of AB over a full season.

This complicates things for Tom Wilson. He won't catch as often, maybe once a week, and might be reduced to pinch-hitting most days. When Delgado's the DH, Tosca will be tempted to use Wilson at first, but I remain opposed to anything that cuts into Josh Phelps' playing time.
_Pfizer - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#95025) #
I was at the game on Saturday, and I'm honoured I caught Service's last game as a Jay. Or perhaps last game ever, period.

Tosca was unbearable in the 9th though. My only heckle of note was after the 5th or so visit to the mound:

"Carlos, gimme another minute, I'm ready to come into the game!"

I wasn't up to my usual antics though, I was trying to score the game, and doing a poor job of it. I still really enjoy it though.
_perlhack - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 05:49 PM EDT (#95026) #
Buck was doing that in a relatively pitcher-friendly era. I think Buck had less power, even adjisting for era, than Cash will. And of course, by the time he got to the Jays he was the slowest ballplayer I have ever seen until Edgar Martinez' health problems this year.

Anybody remember Jeff "feet-first slide 10 feet short of third base" Burroughs. Most people could walk faster than he ran.
_Mick - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 06:31 PM EDT (#95027) #
Speaking of ex-Rangers outfielders (Burroughs), the slowest ballplayer possibly in the history of the game was undoubtedly Richie Zisk. His 8-for-23 career steal success rate doesn't really tell the story. How this guy hit 26 triples ... well, playing in the old Pittsburgh and Texas ballparks, which were, uh, spacious ... but still, that must have involved some outfielders falling down.
Coach - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 06:54 PM EDT (#95028) #
Einar Diaz is no track star. On Friday, Eric Hinske dove to stop a Diaz one-hopper in the hole, picked himself up, double clutched, then threw to second just in time for the force out. To my astonishment, O-Dawg's relay to first completed the double play. I'm pretty sure Edgar Martinez (maybe even Buck, before the broken leg) could have beat it out, but Diaz was still chugging along, and it wasn't really close.

A Richie Zisk triple -- the most exciting two minutes in sports.
_Jordan - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 06:59 PM EDT (#95029) #
Slowest ballplayer: Ron Cey. 'Nuff said.

To touch on Pfizer's point: the last three innings of Blue Jays games have become impossible for me to watch. It's not just the awfulness of the bullpen, it's the maddening regularity with which Tosca pops out to make pitching changes. I thought he'd turned it around a while back, when Trever Miller was allowed to face three right-handed batters and struck out the side in the ninth, but apparently not. I know it's a standing complaint, but if I can't sit through the key final innings, I'm sure less dedicated fans switch channels and don't come back. I don't mind losing, necessarily; but I hate losing boring, ugly, and predictably.
_StephenT - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 09:11 PM EDT (#95030) #
I've seen Cash play in a few SkyChiefs games in Ottawa. I've seen stolen bases against him. I don't actually remember him throwing anyone out trying to steal. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he's the next Ivan Rodriguez (defensively or offensively).
_Cristian - Monday, August 11 2003 @ 10:45 PM EDT (#95031) #
You have to love the catching platoon in Toronto now:

Cash and Crash.

If that doesn't stick, I suggest we change Myers' nickname to Tango.
_Spicol - Tuesday, August 12 2003 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#95032) #
I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think he's the next Ivan Rodriguez (defensively or offensively).

My impression, fueled by 7 games in 2002, spring training games and reading as many scouting reports as possible, is that his arm is good, not great, and his gold-glove reputation comes more from his intelligence and quickness...blocking pitches, backing up plays and fielding.
_Jordan - Tuesday, August 12 2003 @ 01:38 PM EDT (#95033) #
If that doesn't stick, I suggest we change Myers' nickname to Tango.

I like it. Opens up sponsorship deals with Air Canada too.
Cash for Service | 19 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.