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We'll leave the T.V. and the radio behind and see what the papers are saying about the Jays.

  1. Fordin Notes: Jason Arnold will start the first spring training game against the Redlegs, and tidbits on Hinske, Quiroz, Cash, and the signing of Canadian Jeff Guiel. That's Guiel, not Guile.

  2. Fordin's "Speier's experience of a lifetime" details how Justin Speier grew up in baseball clubhouses since his father had a 19 year major league career.

  3. Jeff Blair talks to my personal baseball hero Frank Robinson in "Robinson waves off fuss over steroids". You tell 'em Frank! Blair also points out that "Canseco keeps steroids in spotlight". When did Canseco get a job writing for the Sporting News?

  4. Larry Millson discusses strategery in "Tosca woos the bunt on his terms". Of course "Toronto will use it when [the] situation demands". Every team does that. We all just have differing opinions about what those situations are.

  5. The Star's Mark Zwolinski tells us that "Speier now guns for success: Jays reliever was rifle expert with U.S. Marine Corps". If I were Manny Ramirez, I wouldn't be crowding the plate on Speier.

  6. Rosie DiManno lets us know that "Jays have high hopes for Phelps". She also lets us know that he'd like to leave too, for a contender. I can only imagine this is a mistake, as the Star said the same thing about Sergei Gonchar. Next they'll be confusing India and First Nations People. Wait, that's already been done.

  7. First it was the Orioles, now Bob Elliott looks at The Red Sox. He better not write about the Pirates. That's my job!

  8. In "Slight starter won't be intimidated", Mike Ganter discusses Josh Towers. I quite like Towers, and I think the Bauxites need to come up with a nickname for him.


That's what I found. Don't you wonder what we'll find tomorrow?

Jays Roundup - We Are Young But Getting Old Before Our Time | 47 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Pistol - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 09:27 AM EST (#63184) #
I quite like Towers, and I think the Bauxites need to come up with a nickname for him.

Towers of Power

(it's an 80s reference as well!)
_coliver - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 09:52 AM EST (#63185) #
Josh (Ol'Single Number Makes You Look Like A Middle Infielder But You Get Lots Of Batters Out) Towers
_Ryan - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 09:56 AM EST (#63186) #
Josh "CN" Towers
_EddieZosky - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 09:57 AM EST (#63187) #
Joe Jackson?

Will the spring training games be available on the Fan again?
_coliver - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:07 AM EST (#63189) #
Joe Jackson? Steppin Out Tonite...!
This song often was played at Exhibition Stadium during BP.
Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:19 AM EST (#63190) #
http://economics.about.com
Nothing in the text of Dimanno's article relates in any way to Josh wanting to leave for another team. Once again, this appears to be a fiction of the Star's aports editorial folk who control titles.

Actually, they just screwed up. That exact subline appeared in an article Sunday about Sergei Gonchar.

Yep, the song is called Stepping Out by Joe Jackson. It's from the "Night and Day" album, which is a must own for fans of the period. He had a greatest hits album about 10 years ago that was amazing as well.

Cheers,

Mike
Mike Green - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:20 AM EST (#63191) #
http://premium.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=2619
COMN for the BP's week in quotes.

I love the Kent quotes, suggesting that the Babe and Gehrig might have been on steroids. Steroids were invented in the mid-30s, and it's doubtful that ballplayers could have been taking them before the late 30s at the absolute earliest.

And why, pray tell, were the expletives necessary? Fuddle duddle, anyone.
Named For Hank - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:21 AM EST (#63192) #
Any nickname for Josh Towers should make reference either to his fear of dogs or that "pick the boys up" plunking he gave to whatever Devil Ray had the misfortune to face him during Night of Ejections Part Two last season.

He's shown a lot of personality in interviews. I like the guy. Hope he does well for us this season.
Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:24 AM EST (#63193) #
http://economics.about.com
I love the Kent quotes, suggesting that the Babe and Gehrig might have been on steroids. Steroids were invented in the mid-30s, and it's doubtful that ballplayers could have been taking them before the late 30s at the absolute earliest.

Kent should have used Maris and Mantle instead of Babe and Gehrig. There's pretty good evidence Mantle was using all kinds of stuff, but for whatever reason people think performance enhancing supplements are a new phenomenon in baseball. They're not.

Cheers,

Mike
_coliver - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:29 AM EST (#63194) #
Mike Moffatt, thanks for the Stepping Out lyrics. I remember, more than once, sitting in the North Grandstand after the gates opened watching the Jays take batting practice while that song was playing.

The GA seats would open up two hours before game time when they expected big crowds. That allowed us to watch the Jays hit for a half hour.

I wonder if anyone in da box remembers that.
Leigh - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:37 AM EST (#63195) #
I quite like Towers, and I think the Bauxites need to come up with a nickname for him.

Given that he has walked 28 batters in 232 career innings, how about "Control" Towers.

Not sure if it's original. I heard a buddy of mine use it once, but I am unsure of whether or not he made it up.
Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:39 AM EST (#63196) #
http://economics.about.com
Given that he has walked 28 batters in 232 career innings, how about "Control" Towers.

LOL.. I love it!

Cheers,

Mike
_Mick - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 11:19 AM EST (#63197) #
"Steppin' Out" was our prom theme in 1984. Just sayin'.

"Wells, take a Lilly-covered Halladay in Toronto, Cat. File it -- we've got the Cash for Towers and a Speier, so for what it's Werth, you know we're done rebuilding."
_perlhack - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 11:39 AM EST (#63198) #
First it was the Orioles, now Bob Elliott looks at The Red Sox.

I was going to post this in yesterday's thread, but figured it was just coincidence. But today's article by Elliott seems to indicate that he finds inspiration for his stories elsewhere.

What are the chances his next article is either about Clemens and Pettitte, or the Maddux-less Braves?

[Note: I'm not saying there's anything wrong with this, but rather that its curious.]
_R Billie - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 11:48 AM EST (#63199) #
If nothing else, it's encouraging to hear that Arnold's down velocity was probably more due to mechanics than injury. Let's see how he does this time around. It's good to hear he's still improving his physique too; last time this year he was addressing his soft body issues and now it looks like he's added some muscle. Hopefully it leads to some extra in-game oomph.
_Matt - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 11:52 AM EST (#63200) #
Rosie writes "pitchers have noticed Phelp's preference for fastballs right down the middle." As opposed to, say, backdoor sliders on the black.
_Grand Funk Rail - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 12:01 PM EST (#63201) #
Too bad the 'Towers' chain of retailers went belly up a decade ago (damn you Walmart and Zellers). Josh could have had some nice endorsement deals on his plate.
_Steve Z - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 12:22 PM EST (#63202) #
Sure enough, "Control Towers" has been his nickname for quite some time. There's even a fanpage in that name.
_Dez - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 12:25 PM EST (#63203) #
Nice, I finally 'got' a reference - Street Fighter
_Ducey - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 12:27 PM EST (#63204) #
Lets hope that Josh's nickname doesn't turn out to be "Faulty Towers"
Leigh - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 12:28 PM EST (#63205) #
Sure enough, "Control Towers" has been his nickname for quite some time. There's even a fanpage in that name.

Yeah, I did not think that my friend was that witty.
Pistol - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 12:57 PM EST (#63206) #
If nothing else, it's encouraging to hear that Arnold's down velocity was probably more due to mechanics than injury. Let's see how he does this time around. It's good to hear he's still improving his physique too; last time this year he was addressing his soft body issues and now it looks like he's added some muscle. Hopefully it leads to some extra in-game oomph.

This is the kind of spring training stuff that you read from every team that I like to discount. Hopefully, it works out.

You never hear a player saying they're in the worst shape of their career and they expect to have a bad year.
_David Armitage - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 12:57 PM EST (#63207) #
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=mlb5questions&prov=st&type=lgns
5 Questions with El Artista. (comn)
_Iain - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 01:45 PM EST (#63208) #
I wonder about Tosca saying he would discourage Delgado and Wells from bunting. It ocurred to me that Delgado could get an advantage out of bunting for a base hit. Specifically against the teams that rotate the infield away from third. The point here is not so much the base hit as to possibly get their defence against him rolled back to straight up again. Besides the mayhem he could produce in the infield when they see him drop one down the third base line would be really fun to watch.
_Oggman - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 01:56 PM EST (#63209) #
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2004/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&id=1748433
ESPN's Jayson Stark on the Jays and Rays. Nothing revolutionalry. I also put it in the homepage, so COMN I guess, I've never done it before, so I have no idea if it puts it in my name or not.
_Oggman - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 01:58 PM EST (#63210) #
Well I guess that answers that question.

The link I added has a target="_new" attribute added to the anchor, so it will open a new window. Minor pet peeve of mine when navigating thru a site, I hate being taken off it. Can you tell who designs dotcoms for a living?
Craig B - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 02:01 PM EST (#63211) #
. The point here is not so much the base hit as to possibly get their defence against him rolled back to straight up again.

I don't think it will happen. Even if Delgado does drop down a good push bunt or two against the shift, I think the defense will accept it as a cost of doing business. The shift, make no mistake, is inviting Delgado to hit against it. If they can do that, it's done its job...

Now if Delgado wants to actually get good at it, that's another thing.
_Steve Z - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 02:06 PM EST (#63212) #
At least we have the most quotable GM in baseball:

It's too bad we don't have RPI ratings in baseball. Our RPI would be off the charts. We would definitely make the NCAA tournament with our RPI rating."

How 'bout this one:

I wouldn't call any of our moves blockbusters. We're more like the little chihuahua that keeps coming at your ankles.

One more:

We've got to be like Seabiscuit. If we get a little cracck, we've got to take advantage of it. It might be the only we get."

But a slightly less metaphoric V-Dubya ends it off with:

"They can put us in the AL Central. I think we might have a better chance over there."
_Steve Z - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 02:13 PM EST (#63213) #
Stephen Brunt wrote a column today about Grunwald's Raptors, cotrasting the franchise with the Jays under "resident genius" JP.
Leigh - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 03:06 PM EST (#63214) #
If we get a little cracck, we've got to take advantage of it.

Context is very, very important.
_Jays fan - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 03:19 PM EST (#63215) #
Greg Maddux duex.
_JackFoley - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 03:55 PM EST (#63216) #
Trump Towers.

You have your ace and three kings, and then your trump card. And I can't pass up a The Donald reference.

Anyway.
Thomas - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 04:05 PM EST (#63217) #
Sorry, I don't know how to link website with COMN thing, and I don't really have the time to learn right at this second, but I was taking a short break from work and I found a short Q & A with Batista on Yahoo Sports.

His answer to number one cracks me up. I love the guy already.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=mlb5questions&prov=st&type=lgns
Thomas - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 04:07 PM EST (#63218) #
Sorry, my article already got posted. Anyhow, his answer to number one is still funny.

And to be technical, it's Fawlty Towers.
_A - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 04:36 PM EST (#63219) #
Thomas, in the form where you add your name, there's the Email and Homepage (both listed as optional) fields. Paste the URL in the Homepage field and add COMN after the reference to your article. Works every time ;-)
Pepper Moffatt - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 04:39 PM EST (#63220) #
http://economics.about.com
Here's another fun link sent to me by a regular Batter's Box reader. Apparently former Jay Joey Lawrence is trying out as a wide receiver for LSU. Woah!

Cheers,

Mike
_Steve Z - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 05:01 PM EST (#63221) #
In addition to Guiel, the Jays added two other minor league free agents recently (appearing in the media guide): "The General", Robert (Derek) Lee (LHP), as well as RHP Todd Ozias.
_EddieZosky - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 05:24 PM EST (#63222) #
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/tor/photos
Here are today's AP photos COMN - inlcuding pics of Rosario and Arnold throwing off the mound.
_Matthew E - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 05:39 PM EST (#63223) #
http://www.miscellaneousetc.com/archives/001854.html
COMN for an interesting . . . 'piece'? . . . sort of about the Jays.
_EddieZosky - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 05:44 PM EST (#63224) #
uhh...that's really weird.
_Warse - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 07:04 PM EST (#63225) #
http://www.cbc.ca/storyview/MSN/2004/03/02/Sports/bonds_balco040302
The following a non Jays related article caught my eye. Personally, I would describe its contents as unsurprising. COMN for the link.
_Jeff - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 07:07 PM EST (#63226) #
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1749052
Speaking of wierd ... the Brewers have done it again and needlessly extended Geoff Jenkins contract. COMN At least Gord Ash still has some influence.
Mike Green - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 08:36 PM EST (#63227) #
It looks to me like Rosario has really hit the weights for his legs. He was 6', 160 lbs. He looks like he's at least 180 now, and maybe more. That should take a load off his arm.
_Shane - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 10:04 PM EST (#63228) #
It looks to me like Rosario has really hit the weights for his legs...That should take a load off his arm.

If you're going by that last round of AP pics, I agree, he didn't look too frail a la Pedro Martinez, which I was surprised by. I had assumed that when people like BA said he'd be probable for a future in the bullpen, they were saying so because of a slight build and a Tommy-John elbow, but the cat looks to have good size. And as an aside, I thought Arnold's legs looked quite thick a well, while his mug looked a little like Kevin Brown. Now, if you don't mind I must get back reading my Glamour magazine.
_greenfrog - Tuesday, March 02 2004 @ 11:39 PM EST (#63229) #
Excerpts from Jim Callis's chat wrap on baseballamerica.com. Quite a bit on Jays prospects:

...

Q: Mark L. Peel from NorthSideBaseball.com asks:
Just curious what you think Dustin McGowan's upside is.

A: Jim Callis: Hi, Mark. His fastball, curveball and slider are all power pitches, and his changeup and command keep improving. If it all comes together, he can be a No. 1 starter.

...

Q: Dean Quinton from Brooks, Alberta asks:
Hi Jim, how close did Brandon League come to making the list? He was mentioned in the round table discussion but no one really nailed it down to how close he came. Than you.

A: Jim Callis: We talked about him, but he wasn't super close. He has a terrific arm but got knocked around too much in high Class A to make the list at this point. Wouldn't shock me at all, though, if you see him on next year's list.


...
Q: Al from Queens, NY asks:
I was surprised to see Toronto's Francisco Rosario on the list after a year of inactivity (TJ surgery). Even more surprising was Arizona's Adriano Rosario being left off the list, given his success in the MWL, his age and pure stuff. Do you think a good argument can be made that the wrong Rosario was put in the top 100?

A: Jim Callis: We got the right guy. Francisco is already throwing in the mid-90s with no soreness, and he's going to rocket up this list. Adriano can light up a radar gun, but I've also talked to scouts who think his fastball is straight and his slider is inconsistent. There's also question as to whether his listed birthdate is legitimate.

Q: Ted from Brooklyn asks:
it seems like what could be a landmark class of pitchers is under-represented in the top 10. what are the chances that 5 years from now you will regret ranking Rios or Sizemore over some of the high upside pitchers?

A: Jim Callis: To paraphrase Paul DePodesta: It's an art, not a science. We're not going to get every guy right. But we feel we've done the best possible job putting together this list. And hitting prospects are going to succeed more often than pitching prospects. I'm looking at the hitters in our Top 10: Joe Mauer, B.J. Upton, Delmon Young, Rickie Weeks, Alexis Rios, Kazuo Matsui, Grady Sizemore and Prince Fielder. I'll be very surprised if at least 5-6 of those guys aren't perennial all-stars.

...

Q: John from Canada asks:
What do you think of the Jays' minor leaguers? If you can, could you name the Jays that are in the top 100? Thanks.

A: Jim Callis: I won't do this for every club, but for the Jays we have: OF Alexis Rios (6), RHP Dustin McGowan (18), C Guillermo Quiroz (35), OF Gabe Gross (72), RHP Francisco Rosario (87) and SS Aaron Hill (96). RHP David Bush, RHP Vince Perkins, SS Russ Adams and RHP Brandon League also received varying degrees of support.

...

Q: Jeff from Los Altos, CA asks:
How close to pitchers Brad Sullivan and David Bush come to making the top 100? I was a bit surprised neither was on the list, especially Bush.

A: Jim Callis: I addressed Sullivan a little earlier. With Bush, he was close. We've loved him since he was a warrior as a closer at Wake Forest. But he doesn't have a true out pitch, just solid stuff, and he didn't miss a ton of bats last year. I ranked him 89th on my personal list, but that was the highest of the five of us who hashed it all out.
_R Billie - Wednesday, March 03 2004 @ 02:14 AM EST (#63230) #
Rosario is listed at 195 on the Jays' site which is a heck of a lot bigger than the 160 he once was. Hopefully a good deal of that is muscle.

Jason Arnold looks like he has Popeye arms. Let's hope his mechanics and fastball holds up this time around.
Jays Roundup - We Are Young But Getting Old Before Our Time | 47 comments | Create New Account
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