Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
Every new problem brings a stranger inside, but what do the newspapers bring?

  1. Fordin Notes for busy Jays fans on the go, has the 411 on Bob File, Josh Phelps, and the impact Mike Bordick had last year.

  2. Rosie DiManno (I spelled it right this time!) investigates the next great Jays closer in "Lopez learns ins and outs of closer's role". I guess there's more to it than not giving up runs.

  3. Larry Millson's "Prospects bright behind the plate" looks at future Jays starting catcher Guillermo Quiroz. I'm surprised how quickly Q could come back from a collapsed lung. I had one, and it wasn't fun.

  4. Jeff Blair let's us know that "Gagné refuses to dwell on Cy Young success". Has any athlete ever said, "Now I've won this prestigious award, I think I'll take baseball less seriously?" Anyhow, I for one think that Gagné will not be a Fighting Jay anytime soon. We will get to see him at the Dome from June 8th to the 10th, though we might not get to see him pitch, as the Jays are not planning to give the Dodgers any leads for Eric to protect.

  5. In order to have an article that doesn't mention the firing of Jays scouts, Bob Elliott decided to write about the Orioles instead.

  6. Mike Ganter tells us that "Hinske sees the light". Apparently the light has to do with "a hand injury and a weight problem". This should all cause us to remember the immortal words of Aerosmith: The light at the end of the tunnel may be you.

  7. The Contra Costa Times has a piece on former Jays farmhand Michael Rouse. Are the Jays going to regret sending Rouse to the A's for Cory Lidle, if they don't already?

  8. Speaking of former Jays farmhands, Todd Lorenz of MLB.com tells us that "Versatile [Ryan] Freel always giving it all". Good to know, Ken.


Anyone else thrilled to be back at work on a Monday morning?
Jays Roundup - Now She’s in Purple, Now She’s the Turtle, Disintegrating | 29 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Matthew E - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 09:31 AM EST (#77176) #
I don't recognize the thread title reference.
Pepper Moffatt - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 09:38 AM EST (#77177) #
http://economics.about.com
I don't recognize the thread title reference.

It's either really tough, or really easy, depending on your taste in music. I think I should make more "mainstream" references from now on. I should also eventually migrate out of the early 80's (horror!)

It's an early 80's new wave song, and the lead singer is female.

Cheers,

Mike
Mike Green - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 09:59 AM EST (#77178) #
In the print version of the Star, there's an interesting comment by Hinske on last season. He admits that he might have come back from the wrist injury too soon.

Banarama, the Go-Gos, Blondie, I don't know. If you'd chosen a Eurythmics or Talking Heads tune, I might have had a chance.
Pepper Moffatt - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 10:01 AM EST (#77179) #
http://economics.about.com
If you'd chosen a Eurythmics or Talking Heads tune, I might have had a chance.

Nah, we already talk about Dave Stewart too much here. :)

Cheers,

Mike
Gerry - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 10:13 AM EST (#77180) #
It's an early 80's new wave song, and the lead singer is female.

A combination of native american reference and irish mythology.
Pepper Moffatt - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 10:17 AM EST (#77181) #
http://economics.about.com
A combination of native american reference and irish mythology.

Yup. Very highly underrated band.

Cheers,

Mike
Pistol - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 11:09 AM EST (#77182) #
J.P. Ricciardi, Toronto's general manager, said he wants to see a consistent presence in the DH slot this season. He wants Josh Phelps, who played in 119 games last year, to start on an everyday basis.

Sounds good to me.

Hopefully CT resists the urge to bat Myers at DH more than once a week.
Mike Green - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 11:14 AM EST (#77183) #
Pistol, I concur with the thought, with the friendly amendment of a limit on Myers DHing to once every 2 weeks.
_WillRain - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 11:31 AM EST (#77184) #
Put me down in the bunch that's rooting for Bob File...

I miss Ryan Freel...
_Scooter - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 12:09 PM EST (#77185) #
Hmmm... Christine by Siouxie and the Banshees.

It could be the line about "22 faces disintegrating" (reduction *is* what spring training is all about) or the one about "sweet savages lost in our world." Either way, don't go mainstream. I for one like the challenge.
Pepper Moffatt - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 12:16 PM EST (#77186) #
http://economics.about.com
Christine by Siouxie and the Banshees.

Yep.. I absolutely love the song. Never could figure out what it's supposed to be about, tho.

Cheers,

Mike
_Scooter - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 12:26 PM EST (#77187) #
That was the great thing about 80s alternative pop. The song could be about pretty much anything: schizophrenia, drugs, art, politics, TV commercials, who knows – and even though a baseball angle probably wasn't intended by Siouxie or any of her English Banshees – it still works for me... :)
_dp - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 12:51 PM EST (#77188) #
loved the banshees reference. in the '90s, Battery did a great cover of this song.
Craig B - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 02:52 PM EST (#77189) #
That was the great thing about 80s alternative pop. The song could be about pretty much anything: schizophrenia, drugs, art, politics, TV commercials, who knows

All the best 80s songs were about sneakers, though.
_John Neary - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 04:09 PM EST (#77190) #
Pistol and Mike,

Let me propose a further friendly amendment: if Kevin Cash is hitting .142 on May 1, then Myers and Werth split the catching duties the rest of the season, and Phelps gets to DH every day.

John
_Grand Funk Rail - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 04:13 PM EST (#77191) #
OK...enough already fellas.
The 80's music references are starting to wear a LITTLE thin.

Everyone knows Classic Rock rules the planet, anyway.

"Now when I listen to a really good song, I start nodding my head, like I'm saying 'yeeess' to every beat. Yes Yes Yes, this rocks. And then sometimes I switch it up like. No, No, No! Don't stop-a-rockin'!
"
Pistol - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 04:14 PM EST (#77192) #
I don't think 80 April ABs are going to tell you a lot about Cash. You have to find out what you have with him at some point.

To me the key is:

1. Phelps - as many ABs as possible
2. Cash - enough to figure out if he can hit
3. Myers - whatever is left after 1 & 2 prior to GQ getting called up
_Matt - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 04:32 PM EST (#77193) #
WOW.... check out this rumour

scroll to March 1st if it isn't there already

" ... What moves will Paul DePodesta, the Dodgers' rookie GM, make this year? National League West insiders say they wouldn't be surprised to see DePodesta send Adrian Beltre to the Yankees, who could move Beltre to second base, or to swing a deal with friend J.P. Ricciardi that would put Eric Gagne in a Blue Jays uniform and bring blue-chip prospects to L.A." (San Diego Union Tribune)



That sounds kinda suspect to me.... It would seem a move like bringing gagne here would be very un-jay-like..... but a paper seems to think it could happen...
Mike Green - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 04:35 PM EST (#77194) #
I'm with Pistol.

For what it's worth, Cash and Werth have similar minor league offensive records. Cash'll give you much better D, of course.
_Shane - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 04:39 PM EST (#77195) #
1. Phelps - as many ABs as possible
2. Cash - enough to figure out if he can hit
3. Myers - whatever is left after 1 & 2 prior to GQ getting called up


Agreed. Perhaps the only person not totally on board with this appears to be the Manager, and in fairness that has yet to play it self out. One way or another, at some point Carlos isn't going to be able to pen in Myers and Johnson onto line-up cards every which way and every day. There isn't enough of a track record to see if he actually falls prey to playing pet favorites, but sometimes I think he has to atleast make you wonder.
_Matt - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 04:47 PM EST (#77196) #
scuse me.... here's the link

http://attheplate.com/rookies.htm
_whizland2000 - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 09:37 PM EST (#77197) #
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20040301&content_id=643661&vkey=spt2004news&fext=.jsp
arnold to face reds

click on my name
_Wilson - Monday, March 01 2004 @ 09:53 PM EST (#77198) #
Sporting News has released there major league ranking guide for the major leagues, which were ranked by major league scouts.

They have a category called there Fab 50

Roy Halladay # 7

Vernon Wells # 19

Carlos Delgado # 23

1st baseman

Carlos Delgado # 3 ( behind Thome and Pujols, must be a National

League publication ey?)

Josh Phelps # 26

2nd baseman

Orlando Hudson # 12

Dave Berg # 41

3rd Baseman

Eric Hinske # 24

Shortstops

Chris Woodward # 31

Catchers

Kevin Cash # 32

Greg Myers # 36

Outfielders

Vernon Wells # 5

Frank Catalanotto # 59

Reed Johnson # 63

Alexis Rios # 76

Starting Pitchers

Roy Halladay # 1

Miguel Batista # 74

Ted Lilly # 78

Pat Hentgen # 84

Josh Towers # 160

Closers

Justin Speier # 28

Relief Pitchers

Terry Adams # 37

Aquilino Lopez # 55

Jason Kershner # 94

Kerry Lightenberg # 104

Valerio de los Santos # 122

Bob File # 133,

Just thought I'd share this recent reading. Interesting thoughts here on some of the players!
_Ryan01 - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 08:48 AM EST (#77199) #
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1078009810485&call_pageid=969907739730&col=970081600908
Sorry I couldn't wait for the today's Roundup thread. What the hell is the deal with the headline in DiManno's latest article: "Jays have high hopes for Phelps - He'd like to leave, too - for contender"

Then it doesn't mention anything about him wanting to leave.
Mike Green - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 09:18 AM EST (#77200) #
Xerone, the print copy of DiManno's article has the headline "Jays have high hopes for Phelps", with nothing about him wanting to leave. I'd put it down to a headline writer with an overactive imagination.

That's an interesting stat that Rosie has cited- Phelps hitting .411 over the last 2 years when he puts the first pitch in play. Actually espn.com has the stats at 0-0 count as .407/.435/.722 (6HBPs). That's excellent. When he gets ahead in the count 1-0, his stats are .404/.415/.808. Even very marginal improvements in pitch discrimination would mean fabulous performance from him.
Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 09:21 AM EST (#77201) #
http://economics.about.com
I just finished this mornings Jays Roundup. I guess Ryan and I noticed the same thing. The secondary headline in DiManno's article is a leftover from Sunday.

Cheers,

Mike
_Ryan01 - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 09:42 AM EST (#77202) #
Thanks Mike & Mike, that eases my mind a little.

Hitting .400 is solid but not all that uncommon for a power hitter on the first pitch. Cat hit .453, Delgado .410, Vernon .403, Myers .400
I'm sure you already realize this M. Green but it really just means that the ball fell in for a hit 4/10 times he put it into play. That isn't really all that outrageous to begin with. Then add a few dingers in there that have a 100% chance of being a hit it really isn't all that impressive of a stat. You can't strike out on the first pitch which is why BA's on early counts are so much better.
Craig B - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:05 AM EST (#77203) #
Overall, though, only 6% of first-pitch strikes become base hits.
Craig B - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:07 AM EST (#77204) #
Sorry, that should be 8%.
Jays Roundup - Now She’s in Purple, Now She’s the Turtle, Disintegrating | 29 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.