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I'll pinch-hit for Coach and set up the log for tonight's tilt; Juan Gonzalez has already gone yard. 2-0 Rangers before you can say "2-0 Rangers."
Game 28: Can it get worse? | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_M.P. Moffatt - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 07:38 PM EDT (#19677) #
http://economics.about.com
Thanks for setting this up.

I make a point of never asking "Can it get worse?" because I generally dislike the answer.

This series is going to be a slugfest. As long as the pitching staff prevents it from getting out of hand, I like the Jays chances for this game.

MP
Gitz - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 07:43 PM EDT (#19678) #
Mike,

I agree. "Can it get any worse than this" is an invitation for a comet to land on your head. Well, not your head, my head. May be an improvement, actually.

Dang, I wish I had Extra Innings. I'm watching the Yankees/Mariners and Red Sox/Royals on Fox and ESPN, respectively, but I miss seeing the A's and, since I'm spending some time with Blue Jays fans, I'd like to see the Jays a bit, too.
_M.P. Moffatt - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 07:56 PM EDT (#19679) #
http://economics.about.com
Lately I've had this strange image in my head of Carlos Tosca going around saying "Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue" like Lloyd Bridges in Airplane.

MP

"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit smoking."
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking."
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit amphetamines."
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."
_M.P. Moffatt - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 08:28 PM EDT (#19680) #
http://economics.about.com
Nice job by Tam in getting the DP and keeping the Rangers in single digits.

I really think the title of this topic jinxed the Jays. Or atleast I'd belive that if I were completely irrational.

MP
_rodent - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 08:51 PM EDT (#19681) #
Good to see the Ranger's houseleague chops, too.
What's the over/under?
_DS - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 09:59 PM EDT (#19682) #
It's almost comical how bad Escoboob is. No manager is their right mind would bring him into a game with it on the line. Hopefully, this means the end of Kelvim as a Blue Jays closer.
robertdudek - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 10:05 PM EDT (#19683) #
Please J.P. - make Politte the closer and give Escobar a mop.
Gitz - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 10:06 PM EDT (#19684) #
Although I can't see Escobar's nightmare, I'm watching another closer struggle, Mike MacDougal. He better learn some control or he's going to hurt someone. Seriously.

I understand an element of wildness can be intimidating, but I don't think Mike knows where the ball is going once it leaves his arm. His stuff is absolutely wicked, but I said it earlier and I'll repeat it: he'll be in the minors by the end of June at the latest.
_Dr B - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 10:32 PM EDT (#19685) #
You can't really blame Escobar. It wasn't a save situation, there was an r in the month, soya bean prices weren't stable, Mars and Venus weren't in apposition...
_snellville jone - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 10:46 PM EDT (#19686) #
MLB TV is going to give a free four-day trial deal this Thursday through Sunday. You have to give them credit card info for blackout restrictions.
_Blalock Rocks - Wednesday, April 30 2003 @ 10:49 PM EDT (#19687) #
Whoa.

In the 9th inning, Hank Blalock hit an eyeball-high Escobar fastball off the base of the RF wall.

Now _that_ is a quick bat.

(Not that he should be swinging for those pitches or anything).

jc
_benum - Thursday, May 01 2003 @ 12:45 AM EDT (#19688) #
11 Games
10.1 Innings Pitched
26! Hits
3 Homers
4 Walks
13 Strikeouts
ERA 13.06
OBA .456
WHIP 2.90

It's strange that the K:BB and K:IP ratios are so good, and the results have been so bad...
_jason - Thursday, May 01 2003 @ 12:58 AM EDT (#19689) #
Well, its still a re-building year, but ouch. At least I can see some young arms with some potential on the horizon; Thurman, Arnold, and Lopez who has pitched half decently out of the Jays awful pen. I'm tempted to say that the Jays should call some of the young guys up and give them a shot considering but ultimately I'm not sure what good that would do.

This Rangers infield, Blalock-Rodrigez-Young-Texira, is going to be great, both offensively and defensively, for many years to come. I think it will be fairly unlikely there will be room for Palmero after this year. Once this team gets a half-decent pitching staff, and they will, they are going to be tough to beat.
_snellville jone - Thursday, May 01 2003 @ 01:55 AM EDT (#19690) #
Palmeiro ain't goin' nowhere- 'cept maybe the DH. Most.Under.Rated.Player.Ever.
Coach - Thursday, May 01 2003 @ 08:48 AM EDT (#19691) #
Sure, it can get worse. It's already been worse -- last April. The team ERA was 6.69 (it's now 5.57) and the BB/K was 105/163 in 2002 (104/192 this season). As I recall, it improved last year, and it will again.

Escobar has been strangely hittable. Hanging splitters will do that, and perhaps he's tipping the fastball, because people are getting good rips at it. The high heater Blalock clubbed was only about 90-91; Kelvim's supposed to have more on that pitch, then nobody could catch up to it. I don't know what the Jays should do with him, because you hate to just walk away from an asset like his arm, but Robert's mop suggestion seems appropriate until he starts getting people out. Especially considering Politte's dominance last night.
Gerry - Thursday, May 01 2003 @ 08:59 AM EDT (#19692) #
In the papers today...Justin Miller might need surgery on his shoulder.
Dave Till - Thursday, May 01 2003 @ 09:35 AM EDT (#19693) #
As someone else pointed out, I wonder whether Escobar's off-field troubles are having an effect on his pitching. Besides the court case (of which I have heard very little), there's all the strife in Venezuela for him to worry about.

Actually, Kelvim is doing mop-up duty right now - his last two outings have been the ninth innings of blowouts.
Coach - Thursday, May 01 2003 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#19694) #
Dave's right that Escobar's been mopping up, but in closer-speak, he's just "getting some work in". The question is tonight, if Doc has the lead through seven, do we see Politte setting up Escobar or (my choice) Lopez setting up Politte? The latter might be the first message that Kelvim understands.
Game 28: Can it get worse? | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.