From the print edition of the Globe and Mail, William Houston says Jamie Campbell will call most of the games on Sportsnet, but Jim Hughson will call them with Tom Candiotti when the team plays in the west.

Other than that, I haven't seen anything of consequence in the Toronto papers today on the Jays. Elliott and Griffin are still quiet on the payroll increase.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20050204/JAYS04/TPSports/TopStories
Here's a Globe article on the 3 year payroll. It sounds like the 3 year payroll will be an annual thing. So at the end of this season the team will know how much they'll have for 2006-2008.

Annual 3 year payroll commitments. Excellent! Houston, we have signs of intelligent ownership.

Speaking of intelligent ownership, the Cardinals' decision to sign Albert Pujols to a long, long contract, which looked smart at the time, looks positively inspired by the upswing in the free-agent market. On the other hand, I expect the Cardinals will look back at the 2004-05 off-season in 2015 with much regret, on account of the Mulder trade. No one's perfect.

It sounds like the 3 year payroll will be an annual thing. So at the end of this season the team will know how much they'll have for 2006-2008.

That sounds like a really good way of doing it.

http://www.battersbox.ca/archives/00002777.shtml
COMN to cast your ballot in the 2005 pre-season Andujar nominations imbroglio.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1982247
On ESPN Insider, Rob Neyer analyzes the best outfield arms in baseball history.

Jesse Barfield ranks comfortably in the top 10 based on his statistical methodology.

Neyer takes it a step further and identifies Clemente, Barfield, and Meusel as the top 3 with the rest being a bit of a crapshoot.

I'm not surprised by this... what Barfield could do with his back against the outfield wall was jaw-dropping.

COMN for more (apologies to non-subscribers).

PECOTA is out and there are some interesting projections for some jays:

Player Vorp
O-dog 17.6
Adams 14.1
Aaron Hill 12.9
Shea 13.1
Hinske 13.9
Gross 13.4
Rios 5.1
Cat 7.7
Zaun 5.4
Reed -0.2
Koskie 29.9
Wells 33.4

and for fun Delgado comes in at 42.5

Basically Aaron Hill and Gabe Gross will produce equal to Shea and Hinske this year. I know this topic is exhausted but I still thought it was important enough to put out there. I was also surprised at Rios and Cat. Not very good for corner outfielders.

(VORP projections)

Also interesting is that Delgado == (Shea + Koskie).

I think that PECOTA is underselling Rios, frankly.

http://washnationals.blogspot.com
At least for the next little while I imagine Rios is going to be one of those players you have to watch everyday to really appreciate... Eventually though, I'm sure he'll breakout with the power numbers.

Basically Aaron Hill and Gabe Gross will produce equal to Shea and Hinske this year.

Funny, I always thought PECOTAs were projections, not prophecies.

Also interesting is that Delgado == (Shea + Koskie).

Except they're taking two lineup spots instead of just one.

I watched Rios in New Haven 2 years ago and he was amazing! He came through in the clutch every time a big hit was needed. I think he's going to be just fine in Toronto and his power will come around.

A rolling 3-year budget seems a bit weird. Reviewing the budget after at least two years seems to make more sense. Otherwise you don't really have cost certainty.

For example: the budget for the next 3 years is $210M. If Rogers announces after 2005 that the 2006-08 budget will be $200M, then JP knows he has to cut $10M during those years. But the three-year budget could change again the following year, so should JP bother to deal with the $10M cut right away? Or wait for a year (possibly in the expectation that payroll will go back up)? Should he wait two years?

The 3 year budget sounds like a cool idea to me.

A Jesse Barfield memory. The Blue Jays are playing at the Angels. Rod Carew (an excellent baserunner) is on first and breaks toward 2nd, the batter executes a perfect hit and run and Carew cruises into 3rd. The only problem is that he is out by 20ft as Barfield has thrown a strike to the 3rd baseman. Carew is so stunned that he doesn't even bother to slide and basically walks into the tag.

Except they're taking two lineup spots instead of just one.

Yes I thought of making the same comment, but it occured to me jsoh may have been commenting more on Ricciari's assertion that he would need to secure two hitters to replace Delgado's production. But your point is obvious Chuck. Maybe this should have pointed this out to JPR too.;)

Funny, I always thought PECOTAs were projections, not prophecies.

Yup the internet and bookshelves are full of projections this time of year. PECOTA being but one. Pretty innocent observation to be called up on though.

Delgado == (Shea + Koskie)?

2005 PECOTA VORP projection:
42.5 == 13.1 + 29.9

2005 roster spots:
1 > 1 + 1
Where > indicates which is more favourable to the team.

2005 Salary:
4 > 4 + 5.5
Shea's salary approximate.

Salary commitment:
53 << 4 + 19

Commitment in years:
4 < 1 + 3, especially when you consider their ages - 33, 29, and 32 for 2005.

I have no idea what kind of job Campbell will do, but I'm encouraged by the idea of Hughson and Candiotti calling games. I thought that Hughson and Martinez were a pretty good team.

Interesting setup though. Maybe they want to make sure Hughson's doing something now that there's no hockey?

I seem to remember Barfield throwing out Ricky Henderson from the base of the wall on an attempted tag-up at home plate at the Ex. Never seen anything like it, before or since.

Barfield definitely had the best arm I have ever seen. Other players that are supposed to have great arms (like Mondesi) don't even come close to what Barfield use to do.

Anyone have an idea of what Josh Barfields arm is like?

Ricciari's assertion that he would need to secure two hitters to replace Delgado's production

That certainly was in my mind at the time.

As for Jonny's breakdown...

2005 Salary:
4 > 4 + 5.5
Shea's salary approximate.

Thats not quite a fair comparison. Yes, Delgado is only getting 4MM this year per terms of his contract, but its not as if the Jays really could have signed him for 4MM this year, no matter how they worked out the backloading.

By average annual value, its more like

2005:
13 < 4 + 6
(estimate for Shea)

Anyone have an idea of what Josh Barfields arm is like?

A little wild, and prone to get sore as the season wears on. Can still make the throw from deep in the hole.

Oh. wait. Josh *Barfield*. Never mind then.

:)

With a little hijack; I have a QOTD for everyone.

What is your favourite baseball song?

Paramaters:

1. Must be about baseball... Gary Glitter does not count..... sigh.
2. It doesn't have to be well known, but if it is; we will be entertained, not just you.
3. We need the performers, as well as the song title.

I'm just on the last weekday of my vacation, and thought about making a baseball song CD for opening day.....

Here's my 2 by the way.

Right Field - Peter, Paul and Mary
Click here for the immortal lyrics that remind me of my youth in the Birchmount Baseball League.

Say Hey - The Treniers

Click here to listen to a sample of the song

Let the nostalgia fly..

Gosh, unless you count story songs like "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request," then I think you have to go with almost anything by The Balladeer of Baseball, Terry Cashman, particularly "Talkin' Baseball (Willie, Mickey and the Duke)."

From the Globe article linked by Pistol above.

But optimism was in the air in the office of the Blue Jays general manager, who sat smiling underneath a picture of his all-time favourite player, Paul Molitor, and with family pictures looking at him from his desk.

Funny I would have thought Ricciardi's favorite player alltime would have been some Red Sox masher like Carlton Fisk or someone. But instead its toolsy Paul Molitor.

One of my alltimers as well. Nice one JP.

If I were a betting man I would say the JPR figures he might have a bit of Molitor in F-Cat. Both toolsy, hit for great average and both made of glass in the first part of their careers.

I wonder Molly is pictured in powder blues?

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_cubs.shtml
COMN for the lyrics to "Dying Cubs Fan." Awesome. Picture a filk song (that's no type, those of you who know the word get the idea) and you've got it.

Maybe they want to make sure Hughson's doing something now that there's no hockey?

My guess is that Hughson was probably their first choice (as he should be - he's excellent), but wasn't interested in travelling with the team. I'd heard that he was very happy to be settled in BC with his family.

Barfield memory-
Sitting in the right field bleachers with a runner on third less than two out - don't remember any other specifics - and I recall praying for a fly ball to right. Sure enough it comes, medium deep. I turn to Red Wegman (who happens to have red hair) and say "this is gonna be fun." Yep he was out by a comfortable margin, but I remember marvelling at how the ball carried for so long with hardly any arc at all. I wonder how many injuries that arm saved catchers?

http://www.darrylstrawberry.org/lyrics.html
Greatest baseball song...ever... COMN. :)

http://washnationals.blogspot.com
I would rather see/hear the same play by play announcer for all 162 games (or however many Rogers shows). Is Candy going to be the regular colour guy, or just on the West Coast? I really don't like him all that much as a colour guy... I find him rather monotonous. Campbell has got to be better than Faulds though. Almost anyone would be...

What is your favourite baseball song?

'Piazza, New York Catcher' by Belle and Sebastian

I wonder how many injuries that arm saved catchers?

It didn't save Buck Martinez... if any one else had been in RF that night in Seattle, Phil Bradley would have scored standing up without a throw.

Ya never know...

"Bill Lee"

You're supposed to sit on your ass and nod at stupid things
Man, that's hard to do
And if you don't, they'll screw you
And if you do, they'll screw you, too

When I'm standing in the middle of the diamond all alone
I always play to win
When it comes to skin and bone

And sometimes I say things I shouldn't
Like....
And sometimes I say things I shouldn't
Like....

(Warren Zevon)

I looked at the Blair article and I want to barf when I see Schoenweis's salary for the next 2 seasons.

Is anybody going to the QnA with JP on the 15th? I would think with all the diehard Jay fans in Da Box, some of you guys must be season ticket holders.

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/beastieboys/paulrevere.html
Paul Revere by the Beastie Boys:

I did it like this, I did it like that
I did it with a whiffleball bat

Last night I was listening to Buddy Holly's version of Chuck Berry's 'Brown-Eyed Handsome Man'. Man, it's a great song, and I think it counts as a baseball song. I had to play it again once it had finished.

I just heard on the radio that the Marlins and south Florida have come to an agreement about their stadium -- they're getting an all-new retractable roof stadium, and when it's completed the team will change their name to the Miami Marlins.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?id=113789
Hillendbrand has just signed a one year deal with the Jays for 3.87 million.

LOL at Demarco. Don't forget "Hey Ladies" by the Beasties...

And I've got more hits than Sadaharu Oh

You can't forget the classic Beastie Boys baseball line:

I got more action than my man John Woo
and I got mad hits like I was Rod Carew

If those songs by the Beastie Boys qualify, then surely they are both trumped by Simon & Garfunkel's vastly superior "Mrs. Robinson"...

What is your favourite baseball song?

Im going to have to go with "Ok, Blue Jays" on this one.

Only other song I can think of is Centerfield by John Fogarty.

For some reason I think "Jack & Diane" by JC Mellencamp should have a baseball reference in it, but I dont think it does. Maybe it's just the whole "midwest small town Americana" feel of the song.

Awesome... this is turning into a great compilation.

Let's not forget the Simpsons "We're talking Softball"

Also of note:

"Alomar" by the Rheostatics
"Cheap Seats" by Alabama
"The Greatest" by Kenny Rogers
"Joltin' Joe Dimaggio" Betty Jane Bonney

And who can forget that CD by Bernie Williams......

Centerfield by John Fogerty

Which is of course our baseline here. (So to speak.)

I'd like to point out, though, that it does reference my choice in post 35.

Also worthy of mention: Springsteen's 'Glory Days'.

Billy Joel, "Zanzibar" ...

"Rose, he knows he's such a credit to the game But
the Yankees grab the headlines every time"

Bit of an ironic turn a quarter century later.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Meatloaf's "Paradise by the Dashboard Lights".

Granted, it's a horrible, horrible song. But it does have the Scooter...

Good job by the Jays to avoid arbitration there. If they can get 90 rbi and a decent average out of Shea in middle part of the order this year they should have a decent tradeable asset in a guy that can play third if a team is willing to use him that way.

I'm still not crazy about Hillenbrand but it's better than having no-one established to DH and it's just a year to year commitment for now. Shoenweiss I still don't understand and unless he develops a new pitch to get righties out, I doubt I ever will understand.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article.jsp?content=20050204_141419_5972
The Jays have come to terms with Shea Hillenbrand. I don't think anyone has posted this. COMN. His salary will be $3.87 million. One year contract. The article says he is Delgado's replacement at 1st - I think we're all hoping that doesn't happen much! Pretty reasonable cost; it could certainly be worse.

Thats not quite a fair comparison. Yes, Delgado is only getting 4MM this year per terms of his contract, but its not as if the Jays really could have signed him for 4MM this year, no matter how they worked out the backloading.

I think it's fair. I think you're double-counting if you say Delgado's contract is less favourable this year AND through the life of the contract. Why do you say the Jays couldn't have signed the same contract? Why do you say MM instead of M?

What is your favourite baseball song?

4-6-3, by Buck 65. Not truly a baseball song, despite the name, but it rocks at any rate. I highly recommend checking it out. Especially if you happen to be in charge of music at the Rogers Centre, it would be a fabulous choice to play as a reliever comes on with an runner on first and less than two out...

'Piazza, New York Catcher' by Belle and Sebastian

This is an awesome choice. And still funny (funnier?) now that Piazza is married.

Right now it looks like the projected 25 man roster will make a shade under $50 million in 2005.

Why do you say MM instead of M?

M = Thousand
MM = Million

If those songs by the Beastie Boys qualify, then surely they are both trumped by Simon & Garfunkel's vastly superior "Mrs. Robinson"...

Mrs. Robinson was never about baseball, for me, despite the Joltin' Joe line. Didn't like plastics, did like...

Mrs. Robinson isn't even remotely about baseball, but Joe D is referenced in service of an idea Paul Simon is trying to express, even if he actually had Mickey Mantle in mind when he wrote it. Those Beastie Boy lines are just clever wordplay.

Having rid themselves of Sammy Sosa, the Cubs are now working on dealing Kyle Farnsworth.
It's believed the Cubs tried to include a Farnsworth-for-Jorge Julio swap in the Sosa deal with the Orioles, but Baltimore wouldn't go for it, even though it was probably an upgrade for them. The Braves are one of the teams that could be interested in the hard-throwing right-hander.

What do you think of Farnsworth in the Jays pen?

Couldn't you use k for thousand and M for million? SI unit style?

Ron gets no respect. ;)

http://www.lyrics007.com/Tom%20Cochrane%20Lyrics/Big%20League%20Lyrics.html
Not sure of the exact lyrics but I always felt that "Big League" by Tom Cochrane was the Canadian hockey equivalent of "Centerfield". A couple of minor wording changes and it could very well be about baseball.

COMN for the lyrics.

Joe D is referenced in service of an idea Paul Simon is trying to express, even if he actually had Mickey Mantle in mind when he wrote it.

The way I understand it is that Simon mentioned DiMaggio as a representative of his generation (variously called the Greatest generation, the G.I. generation, or the World War II generation) in a last-of-the-heroes kind of way. Mantle, by comparison, was a member of Simon's own Silent generation, who were aware that they were a quite different breed of cat from the G.I.s, and sometimes felt inferior on that basis. So when Mantle asked Simon why he hadn't mentioned him in the song instead of DiMaggio, Simon couldn't bear to tell him the truth and instead said, "Syllables, Mick. The syllables didn't work out."

Not that I think Simon had thought out the generations to the degree I seem to be suggesting he did.

Farnsworth would be a good pickup, epecially if there's ever a brawl. That guy is built like a **** brickhouse.

Plus his K/IP ratio is over ten. That's good too.

Couldn't you use k for thousand and M for million? SI unit style?

Grimlock, me Green think you could.

M = Thousand
MM = Million

Depends on who you ask.

Like me, when I see MM I think of doughnuts.

In completely unrelated news I finally got my Season Pass!

I hope their attempts at hiding its existence won't completely destroy the wonder that was the Cheer Club of last year.

Tyler, I sadly won't be out to too many games this coming season because of this whole fatherhood thing. But the good news is that I put Jobu in charge while I'm MIA.

If those songs by the Beastie Boys qualify, then surely they are both trumped by Simon & Garfunkel's vastly superior "Mrs. Robinson"...

hehehe It's great to have a Grammy voter in the audience.

hehehe It's great to have a Grammy voter in the audience.

LOL. We can always play you the Lemonheads version if you want something more contemporary!

Jeez, it's a sign of my advancing, almost thirty, age that I can somehow place "Lemonheads" and "contemporary" in the same sentence.

I'm in my car and Swirsky has Jim Bowden on the FAN. Swirsky says to Bowden:

"What a great job you did and as GM of the Reds and now you're doing in Washington"

I almost drove off the road.

Useless Tyler,

Is the Star Pass still lurking on the Jays site somewhere? The way people have been talking suggests it is (even if it's only by renewal). More info pray tell.

"What a great job you did and as GM of the Reds and now you're doing in Washington"

I almost drove off the road.

A simple "ARE YOU KIDDIN' ME" aimed at the radio, will work wonders at keeping you on the straight and narrow, and your auto insurance rates affordable :)

"Syllables, Mick. The syllables didn't work out."

Damn! That's exactly what my old boss would say to me when he hacked into my pulitzer-worthy copy!

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/index.jsp?c_id=tor
J.P. Riccardi article form the Jays website. Basically just a few quotes about the new budget. COMN

If you want a Season's Pass you just have to call the ticket office up and ask for one. And then fork over $166. They don't advertise it because it annoys normal season's ticket holders.

Tyler, I sadly won't be out to too many games this coming season because of this whole fatherhood thing. But the good news is that I put Jobu in charge while I'm MIA.

Fatherhood? Pshaw! Someone doesn't have his priorities straight.

Useless Tyler,

Is the Star Pass still lurking on the Jays site somewhere? The way people have been talking suggests it is (even if it's only by renewal). More info pray tell.

It's rather irritating and took me a while to find out - they've hidden it in the bowels of their phone system. Essentially call their number at 341-1234, get to ticket sales (1), get to flex packs (1), talk to an agent, ask him if the pass is back and LO AND BEHOLD it magically is!
$162 and well worth it for someone who goes to as many games as I do.

Ron gets no respect. ;)

I'm the Rodney Dangerfield of Da Box

If you want a Season's Pass you just have to call the ticket office up and ask for one. And then fork over $166. They don't advertise it because it annoys normal season's ticket holders.

Why does everyone keep saying it's $166? Logically at double the price of last year's it'd be $162, and they told me on the phone it's $162.

Did I secretly get cheated out of a precious $4?

http://www.canadasdebate.com
I'm assuming that nobody is mentioning "Along Came Joe" because they can't find the name of the recording artist.

Along Came Joe,
Sweet singing Joe,
Moving to TO,
I hope it doesn't now;
Along came big bad bashing Joe...

There's $4 in stupid tax on the Season's Pass.

There's $4 in stupid tax on the Season's Pass.

A SEASON'S PASS TAX?

DAMN YOU MCGUINTY! HE SAID ONTARIANS WOULD NOT BE PAYING A PENNY MORE!

Bloody Liberals.

Useless Tyler,

You're forgetting, Toronto isn't in Ontario; it's the centre of the universe :)

/flame on :)

Useless Tyler,

You're forgetting, Toronto isn't in Ontario; it's the centre of the universe :)

/flame on :)

Don't you get me started...

All the other cities are just jealous of us.
Especially Calgary.

And all the provinces that get equalization payments. Stupid BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, PEI, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
Especially New Brunswick.

It's not a Season's Pass Tax, it's a Stupid Tax.

From Jamey Newberg (BBRRS: granite dipped in cement) ...

The Rangers have announced that they have agreed to undisclosed terms on a one-year major league contract with righthander Pedro Astacio, and have claimed righthander Ryan Bukvich off waivers from San Diego. The addition of the two pitchers brings the roster to a full 40 members.

It's not a Season's Pass Tax, it's a Stupid Tax.

Meaning what, then?

Favourite Songs?--a bunch from "Damn Yankees". "Shoeless Joe from Hannibal Mo." or "We thought about the Game"

A great politically incorrect lyric from the latter--

"Remember those chicks from Kansas City
Built for comfort, dumb but pretty.."

It's a sketch by The Frantics... customers keep buying things at a store, and the clerk says "That'll be five dollars, plus fifty cents Stupid Tax." Finally, one customer says "Hey, there's no such thing as a Stupid Tax," and the clerk replies, "Aha, it's obvious that the Stupid Tax does not apply to you, sir. But there is a fifteen cent Gullible Tax." The customer pays it.

What is your favourite baseball song?

Well Mr. Burns had done it,
The power plant had won it,
With Roger Clemens clucking all the while,
Mike Scioscia's tragic illness made us smile,
While Wade Boggs lay unconscious on the barroom tile...

We're talkin' softball...
From Maine to San Diego.
Talkin' softball...
Mattingly and Canseco.
Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw.
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law.
We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.

We're talkin' softball...
From Maine to San Diego.
Talkin' softball...
Mattingly and Canseco.
Ken Griffey's grotesquely swollen jaw.
Steve Sax and his run-in with the law.
We're talkin' Homer... Ozzie and the Straw.

It's a sketch by The Frantics... customers keep buying things at a store, and the clerk says "That'll be five dollars, plus fifty cents Stupid Tax." Finally, one customer says "Hey, there's no such thing as a Stupid Tax," and the clerk replies, "Aha, it's obvious that the Stupid Tax does not apply to you, sir. But there is a fifteen cent Gullible Tax." The customer pays it.

There's a tax on all wicker goods in Toronto
There's huge buildings with no windows
And streets with no curves
And inside you find little girls in suits
Running around with black balloons
And munching on edible oil products

I know this might seem a little unrealistic but is the home opener sold out? I went on the site for tickets to the game and I can't click the "T" on the schedule to buy tickets for it. I'm committing myself to a 4 hour drive from Ottawa for this game but if I can't be guaranteed tickets I'm not making the trip.

I know this might seem a little unrealistic but is the home opener sold out? I went on the site for tickets to the game and I can't click the "T" on the schedule to buy tickets for it. I'm committing myself to a 4 hour drive from Ottawa for this game but if I can't be guaranteed tickets I'm not making the trip.

No, they just haven't gone on sale yet.

Best ballpark song I ever head was at Kauffman Stadium in KC. Don't know what the title was but one of the lyrics was "She's a vegetarian/She don't eat meat, but she sure liked the bone". BRILLIANT!!!

Best ballpark song I ever head was at Kauffman Stadium in KC. Don't know what the title was but one of the lyrics was "She's a vegetarian/She don't eat meat, but she sure liked the bone".

That would be Dead Eye Dick, with their one and only hit, "New Age Girl". Pretty snappy tune, I think it was on the Dumb and Dumber soundtrack.

Farnsworth would be a good pickup, epecially if there's ever a brawl. That guy is built like a **** brickhouse.

Well willingness to fight seems to be the only reason the Yankees would want to keep Tanyon Sturtz. Maybe each AL East team could have their own goon. Maybe Hinske could justify that contract after all.

That could be a QOTD: Who would be each AL team's goon if there were "orchestrated" fights (you know: goon vs goon)like in hockey? You would need someone, big tough, and expendible.

Off the top of my head I would say:

Toronto: Hinske maybe Koch
New York: Sturtz. Although Kevin Brown likes to punch things.

Toronto: Hinske maybe Koch

Justin Miller could scare 'em all off.

http://www.canadasdebate.com
Waiting for a Don Zimmer joke...

I'd pick Koch. Scrawny guys are always a safe bet.

http://bluejays.mostvaluablenetwork.com/
Mike in CT- I’m a little late but it’s good to hear there was someone else who’s a Blue Jay fan who got to see Rios that year! I went to about 12 games and enjoyed the heck out of seeing Rios play. I was really impressed then and I think he can be one heck of a player at the big league level. New Haven is also where I developed an appreciation of David Bush. He was so good with his control and did a great job of hitting his spots and keeping the hitters off balance. I don’t think he’ll ever be a star but I think he can be a very solid #2 for a long time.

http://bluejays.mostvaluablenetwork.com/
Quick thoughts on the Hillenbrand deal. I thought he was going to make over $4 so I’m glad to see the number under $4. But, it still seems like a lot of cash. Now that the Jays are flush with a bunch of new cash I have to wonder where he’s going to fit into the plans this year. JP has already talked about making a deal or two sometime in June or July and I wonder if Hillenbrand is going to find himself shipped off to a contender or packaged in a deal to get another player. It’s pretty clear he was not the #1 choice to come into Toronto so now I have to think he could find himself elsewhere.

the best baseball song I know...

I don't know the name or artist, but on the 'NBA LIVE 2001' sound track the is a really dumb (and catchy) rap tune which contains the line:

"I hit the Home Run to left field like Carter did to Phillie! Really"

Is Sportsnet ever going to let us know who their broadcast team is or are they waiting for the NHL to go away before anything happens? I heard that they aren't showing any Grapefruit League games. That should make their Opening Day broadcast worth taping. Brand new crew doing their first game ever. Can anyone say 'recipe for disaster'? At least we'll get a better home run call than Rob Faulds' 'what do ya think about that?'.

http://bluejays.mostvaluablenetwork.com/
What do you think of Farnsworth in the Jays pen?

Not a big fan. But, I guess it all depends on how the deal works out. If we’re giving up Lightenberg and no salary than I’m all for it. If not, I don’t think I want to pay around $2 million (assumption, he made $1.4 last year) for him. He’s been up and down a lot. I wouldn’t be surprised to see League and Frasor put up better numbers.

At least we'll get a better home run call than Rob Faulds' 'what do ya think about that?'

I thought that call was great. Actually, I liked Rob Faulds' voice when he did the Jays games way more than I will ever like Jim Hhughson call anything. In fact, I still have nightmares about those slapstick jokes and repeated phrases when he did the playstation 2 game, NHL 2003. *shudder*. Rob Faulds had a very contemporary voice which I had just grown accustom to.

What do you think of Farnsworth in the Jays pen?

Not a big fan

The phrase "big fan" comes up in the list of reasons why the Jays might not want Farnsworth. Then again, it could be a nice gimmick. The Jays could put Kyle out in the bullpen, but he'd have to wear a straightjacket. They'd get Arnsberg to undo the coat when he gets put into games. You could also have "Kyle Farnsworth Beat the Heat" electrical fan night. It might work.

And you almost hit his salary, he's making 1.975.

don't know if anyone's mentioned this one but i think it's kanye west

"most hits out the chi since sosa and andre dawson"

the best baseball song I know...

I don't know the name or artist, but on the 'NBA LIVE 2001' sound track the is a really dumb (and catchy) rap tune which contains the line:

"I hit the Home Run to left field like Carter did to Phillie! Really"


Hilarious because as soon as I heard these lyrics, this song became one of my favorites. It's Choclair's "Let's Ride" if anyone is looking for it

You scooped me, Dan. I was about to pay tribute to the immortal Choclair.

Talking about pop culture and the Jays...anyone seen the music video with a white boy rapping on muchmusic where his crew and him are all wearing Jays hats? Just thought it was cool that Canadian(Toronto?) artists are starting to wear the colors proudly.

Your right Dan. Kids and teens are starting to wear the hat too. Don't mean to hi-jack but I was walking in my school halls today and counted 7 people wearing Blue Jays hats in about one minute and I don't even go to school near Toronto.

Its cause that new greyish hat is stylin

JDog: actually I'm the only one with the grey one. The popular one is the black logo on black hat and the regular black one.

I have a grey one too, and my girlfriend recieved the baby blue one for christmas.

Yeh I know that around Brock University, I see the logo more and more, it's a great feeling as a Jay fan

Don't be hating on Calgary Tyler....

On behalf of Edmontonian bauxites, carry on Tyler.

Uh oh. Everybody get down! We're about to have ourselves a good old fashion prarie flame war! YEE HAW!

I got the grey and the old school baby blue, love that one. I see guys wearing the grey all the time, havne't really seen many blacks. But ya, the jays new ish is a lot more trendy then their old ugly blue/red hats.

Regarding the idea of a designated goon for each MLB team:

I'd pick Koch. Scrawny guys are always a safe bet.

I agree. Koch looks like he could be pretty mean, and as Tyler Durden said, "Skinny guys fight 'till they're burger."

I dunno if he could hold his own against a monster like C.C. Sabathia, though.

Anybody with any common sense at all knows that the centre of the universe is in London, Ontario. Right around the intersection of Dundas and Adelaide.

Over at the Baseball Graphs Blog, Studes has taken a look at the real origin of the Cubbies' curse. Check it out...

It's a sketch by The Frantics... customers keep buying things at a store, and the clerk says "That'll be five dollars, plus fifty cents Stupid Tax." Finally, one customer says "Hey, there's no such thing as a Stupid Tax," and the clerk replies, "Aha, it's obvious that the Stupid Tax does not apply to you, sir. But there is a fifteen cent Gullible Tax." The customer pays it.

Except that it's the Idiot Tax, and the Tax he has to pay (after he turns away to the magazine in his hand) is the Not-Paying-Attention Tax.

I heart the Frantics, yeah. Amazing how I can remember that sketch I saw the last time oh, twenty years ago?

What is your favourite baseball song?

4-6-3, by Buck 65.

I remember Rich back when he used to be a clerk at the Blowers Street Paper Chase in Halifax when I was still in high school. His Chin Music tape is one of my very favourite hip-hop records of all time.

Don't be hating on Calgary Tyler....

It's not so much hating as it is disappointment in what a failure Calgary is. A failure to host a decent olympic games, a failure to be a decent enough city to warrant being Alberta's capital (I mean, really, ALBERTA), a failure to bring the Stanley Cup back to Canada, and so forth.

And of course Calgary's streak of failure politicians lives on with their insistence on electing Stephen Harper.

On behalf of Edmontonian bauxites, carry on Tyler.


And carry on I shall, for the sake of those brave Edmontonians, Canada's next best chance. Just stop giving Anne McLellan such close calls. It's not funny anymore.

I dunno if he could hold his own against a monster like C.C. Sabathia, though.

Frankly, I'd pay to see Bartolo Colon against David Wells.
It'd be like a sumo match.

But what's so evil about New Brunswick? I thought we were a pretty harmless bunch.

Signed,

A displaced Hamiltonian in N.B.

Talking about pop culture and the Jays...anyone seen the music video with a white boy rapping on muchmusic where his crew and him are all wearing Jays hats? Just thought it was cool that Canadian(Toronto?) artists are starting to wear the colors proudly.

I don't recall any white people, but in the video I'm thinking of, not only do all the rappers wear Jays hats, but their very name is a reference to club - The Black Jays! (which now that I think of it, probably means we're thinking of two entirely different videos :-))

I wonder if the name is also a reference to the "White Jays" debacle.

Another Toronto-based rap act that references the Jays are Point Blank (out of Regent Park, for the Torontonians on the board). They're fairly underground, but their video does get played now and again on some of the rap-only shows on Much. One of the lyrics goes as follows:

"Wearin' blue and grey, reppin' the Leafs and Jays..."

Pretty cool stuff. Makes me feel all ghetto inside.

And yes, the rapper is wearing a Jays hat in the video.

For those interested in hearing it, the song is called "Want It Wit Us". It's quite good if you're into that kinda stuff.

But yeah, there does seem to be a rise in 'Blue Jay reppin'', now that a strong hip-hop culture has grown out of Toronto.

In alot of big cities across America, the local team's baseball logo is often appropriated as a symbol of general civic pride and representation. We see this most often in New York where the Classic "NY" has taken on a life of its own. We also see it in Boston obviously, where I think wearing the "B" not signifies Sox' fandom, but in general Boston pride as well.

Unfortunately for baseball fans in Toronto, the dominance of Hockey, and more specifically, the utter love-afair with the Leafs, means that the blue Maple Leaf has always held this position in the town, leaving no space for the Blue Jay logo to take on any added significance. Ofcourse, the fact that the club is intent on changing it every other year doesn't help, but that's another story.

But yeah, now that alot of rappers and generally "fashionable" personalities are being seen with the Jays stuff on in videos and what not, the logo does seem to be rising to take on a new, more widespread meaning, which is good.

Correction on the lyric:

"Young Bloods sportin' blue and grey, reppin' the Leafs and Jays."

...which leaves two questions...

1) Who are the Young Bloods?
2) Do they know about the Cheer Club?

The Youngbloodz are a rap group from down South (Southern States), but I'm guessing they were referring to the youth of Toronto.

Baseball hats are now hot, that's why you see 100 yanks hats in Ja Rule and Terror Squads "New York, New York" and also in most of Terror Squads latest music videos.

Hockey team hats? Not so hot

Well Tyler I hope you aren't serious. Failure to host a decent Winter Olympics? I beg to differ.

Not being the Capital of Alberta. I don't remember the last time a province changed its capital city, but its been a very long time. Does that mean Vancouver is a shit hole?

Flames Failure to bring the cup back to Canada? This coming from someone in the city of Toronto? Please. Calgary wasn't expected to go as far as they did, and they definately aren't the complete and utter failures like the Leafs are.

Failure of Alberta politicians? Haha well I guess its better our guys are a bit right of center than being complete Liberal nutjobs.

http://www.canadasdebate.com
Yeh I know that around Brock University, I see the logo more and more, it's a great feeling as a Jay fan

Wow... I wouldn't admit going to Brock. Then again, you can apparently walk and talk.

Not being the Capital of Alberta. I don't remember the last time a province changed its capital city, but its been a very long time. Does that mean Vancouver is a shit hole?

Actually, Kingston was the capital of Ontario before 1812, so lets ease off on the regionalism. Each province has it's flaws; and ALL of our politicians are nutjobs. Of course, if you do want to debate this stuff, COMN and sign up for my site.

Back to baseball...

Flames Failure to bring the cup back to Canada? This coming from someone in the city of Toronto? Please. Calgary wasn't expected to go as far as they did, and they definately aren't the complete and utter failures like the Leafs are.

I wouldn't be calling a team that can make the playoffs every year and can fund its own operations a failure when your team prefers to miss said playoffs and beg for money from the government.

1967: It's the new 1918!

But what's so evil about New Brunswick? I thought we were a pretty harmless bunch.

I lived in New Brunswick for four years and it was pure hell. The people were not kind to me and the ordeal I went through is largely responsible for making me the twisted monster you see before you now.

I grant you that I might not have been seeing the province at its best but I have no fondness for the place.

Bah! We still haven't fully recovered from your four years here. :-)

It's surprising how much the Jays hat is getting around. I mean, its virtually impossible to buy a jersey anywhere except SkyDome and the only hats available outside of the Dome are the grey and black one. The Blue Jays need to seriously think about setting up another bullpen store in the suburbs. I think it would do pretty well.

Yeah, you can get the crappier versions of the jersey at Nicholby's and some sports stores, but the only place I've seen the good ones is the Dome.

I suppose "crappy" isn't fair, because the cheaper ones are still very nice, but the colours are all wrong, which is a bit of a crime.

FYI: George Bell threw the ball that Buck Martinez got hurt on, not Barfield.

No, the play went like this. Phil Bradley was on base and Gorman Thomas hit the ball to right field. Bradley came around to score, and Barfield threw home to get him. Bradley crashed into Martinez and was out. Thomas tried to advance on the throw and Martinez, with a broken leg, tried to throw to third to get him, but his throw sailed into left field. Thomas came around to try to score but Bell threw to Martinez to get him. The old 9-2-7-2 double play.

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/vanlinglemungo.shtml
A late arrival for best baseball song - Van Lingle Mungo by David Frishberg COMN

Yes, Matthew's account is correct; but for those who don't remember the play, it's important to know also that Buck was throwing from a sitting position--and that Gorman Thomas was pretty gingerly 'running' to home plate. He and Buck were old team-mates at Milwaukee, and Thomas clearly saw that Buck was seriously hurt. I always felt he more or less ran into the tag: he certainly made no effort to avoid it.