Tom Candiotti just finished advising Mark Hendrickson to improve on the location of his pitches, saying that he needs to do that in order to be more successful. Well, yes, but this is like telling a hitter that he has to hit the ball harder in order to be effective.

Am I the only one who likes Candiotti way way way better than Cerutti, just based on his attitude?

I agree, Hank. Candiotti still isn't great, but I think he's a big step up from Cerutti (damnin with faint praise.....).

Sportsnet HD is now on Rogers Digital on channel 277 (the other HD channels are 280-289). Right now it's just simulcasting the Rogers HD Preview Channel 280. The digital program guide shows it simulcasting the regular Sportsnet broadcasts starting at 6am tomorrow. Looking ahead on the schedule, it appears they intend to just simulcast the low-def Sportsnet programming even after the first ball game, rather than showing replays of the HD games.

And the F-Cat looked so good charging the ball too ...

Nice defensive substitution, Carlos.

Cash makes a bad decision throwing to 2nd and makes a poor throw. He makes the play at first and the Indians still need a hit to tie. Now they can win the game without getting a hit.

He then fails to catch the throw home resulting in both runs scoring.

Arghhhhhhhhh!

What a horrible 9th inning.

For those who weren't watching:

1. Cash throws the ball into CF trying to nail the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt. Runners on 2nd & 3rd, no outs.

2. Which leads (indirectly) to Bordick throwing home on a slow roller by Lawton, and throwing it over Cash's head.

2 runs score, 5-4 indians, game over.

Not to second guess too much, but why wasn't a well rested Aquilino Lopez sent out there today for the 9th? 4-3, 9thinning. Isn't that a textbook situation in which to use your closer?

Despite the strong arm, Cash isn't very accurate with his throws and he needs a lot of work on blocking pitches and making good decisions. Right now, he's a poor defensive catcher.

It's a little surprising to me that the Jays have decided to bring up such a raw catcher and give the bulk of the playing time from mid-August to the end of the season. I'm not sure how it helps Cash's development or the team's morale.

Jacko - was it not the F-Cat, instead of Bordick, who threw over Cash's head from 1B?

%#&$!

Two games under .500 going into a September schedule with some pretty weak competition isn't too bad. Finishing at or slightly above .500 is still very possible. 85 wins looks to be a dream unless J.P. suddenly acquires Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Tim Hudson and Mark Prior.

If JP has so indoctrinated his club that small ball doesn't pay then they shouldn't be terrified it will for the opposition. Taking the gift out should be the policy posted on the manager's door: no thinking, no decisions, but policy.

I find Candiotti a bit too repetitive. What's so bad about Cerutti?

Actually, no.

According to the Game Cast, the O-Dog came in to play 2B in the 9th inning. It says that F-Cat was a first base (weird eh?)

jc

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/gameLog?gameId=230831105
Ah, but the throwing error was by F-Cat. So why was he playing 1B?

I suppose he's a more reliable option than Josh Phelps, but they could have always put Carlos into the field (it feels weird saying that Delgado is their best defensive option) and let their pitcher hit for himself in extra innings.

jc

...and Lawton's grounder was to first base... I was watching it from afar and went back in to see the replays when it happened. Maybe GameCast is having a problem.

You scooped me, jacko :-)

J.P please trade Lidle ! Take the Sun Flower seeds or a B Prospect.

I would have rather seen Phelps boot the ball at first than the F-Cat.

Rough game.

Cerutti should get the Nobel Prize just for putting up with Faulds. And Rob, if you're passing by, a runner on first automatically goes on a 3-2 pitch with 2 outs. No need to scream like it's a surprise.

On the positive side for Faulds, he seems to legitimately care what viewers think about Blue Jays home runs. He asks us every time there is one! How very thoughtful of him...

It's a little surprising to me that the Jays have decided to bring up such a raw catcher and give the bulk of the playing time from mid-August to the end of the season. I'm not sure how it helps Cash's development or the team's morale.

Here's my guess: the Jays are thinking of committing to Quiroz as their catcher of the future, but want to give Cash an extended run first to make sure of their judgment. They did this last year with Joe Lawrence.

http://www.bluejayway.ca/features/me/melist.php
That was disgusting, embarrassing, and unacceptable. I feel like entering the Fan Protection Program, changing my name and cheering for the Padres or somebody.

I know we're supposed to be patient, but that ninth inning was like a gob of spit on my patience. Cripes, the 1919 White Sox couldn't have given away a lead as handily. I wasn't this mad when the '94 Series was cancelled. I wasn't this mad in '95. If these guys don't shape up I'm going to have to reconsider some things.

I hope someone from the Jays' organization is reading this.

Dave,

And I think that the Lawrence experiment went on for far too long. It might have cost us a winning record last year. I mean if you can't tell that a player isn't major league ready based on his play in AAA and 20 games in the majors, then it's taking you too long (I speak of Lawrence here).

Let Cash watch and learn from the dugout and give him 8-10 starts in September. Then send him to the AFL or winter league. Cash is going to start next year in AAA and Quiroz won't be ready for the majors until 2005, so I don't think they have to make a decision on Cash this year.

Wow, that must have been an ugly ninth. I missed the entire game, and have just seen the replays. It appears that both Cash and Cat made off-balance throws, off the wrong foot.

Cash messed up on the bunt. It's highly unlikely that he was going to start a double play, and if it was going to be so close at second that he had to rush, he should have thrown to first. Cat's a shaky first baseman when he plays there so rarely, and it's too bad he was out there in that situation.

Robert, I don't think Cash is a "poor defensive catcher," just a rookie who is trying too hard to make an impression. Maybe Kevin should watch most of the Yankees series, because he's already putting too much pressure on himself. When he relaxes and plays the same defensive game that got him here, he'll be fine. I wish I was as confident about his bat.

C'mon you guys, why the freaking out now. This season is competitively done; toast. The complaining should have been in early July when the team was in the wildcard picture. All the players know it. JP and CT know it. Let Cash play and learn. Earlier in his call-up he looked pretty athletic behind the plate and as has been touted here many times he is a recognized defensive catcher. This is the time of season to project, not June. That was the time to be steamed. At this stage I really don't care if they're 2 or 3 games above or below .500, though it would be nice to finish ahead of Balt.

Lefty,

Cash can't hit major league pitching. I agree he should play occasionally, but I think he can learn just as much or more watching from the dugout. When he starts hitting AAA pitching with consistency is the time to make him your regular catcher.

The fans that pay to attend and those who watch on TV still expect the team to try their best to win games.

Robert,
I agree with you %100 with respect to the fans but; the fans have already been burned this year in the form of the bullpen and shoddy defense which took the steam right out of them and the team. Anybody that stuck with the Jays during the past two months is not going anywhere now. I have spoken at length in this forum about the average fans expectations.
Its Sept. and the fans know its time to see the kids. I believe though, Cash should be in positions where he has a chance to suceed on the offensive side of the game. If theres 27 games left let him play 8 - 10 as you mentioned. The sky isn't falling because of Kevin Cash. Theres been plenty of catchers who had long careers who couldn't hit water if they fell out of a boat. Perhaps his playing is JP's regognition of the importance of the defensive side of the game as was mentioned by him in the BB interview but who really knows.
Indeed though, it will be the fans who determine whether this is a winning franchise just as much as the Jays top prospects. Without them there is no Delgado or Doc. Perhaps a discussion on fan expectations and how they fit into the puzzle of a winning franchise would be in order before the seasons out.

By last night, Sportsnet HD diverged from the Rogers HD preview channel and starting showing a 3-minute repeating cycle of Sportsnet HD previews (which continues now, contrary to the interactive program guide).

This includes 1 minute of highlights from an HDNet broadcast of the Sept 7, 2001 Jays game in Detroit. The preview shows Lyon pitching, Phelps catching, Gonzalez at short, Izturis at 2nd-base, Cruz in CF, Mondesi trying to steal a base, etc. (At least this is better than their basketball preview, which is still in low-def.)

Lefty,

Well that's assuming Cash can become a good defensive catcher. I'm not convinced he'll be able to do that. At least, I don't want him "working on his defence" at the end of a close game.