Lineups, courtesy CBSSportsline.com:

Toronto         	Baltimore
Reed Johnson, LF	Brian Roberts, 2B
Orlando Hudson, 2B	David Newhan, LF
Vernon Wells, CF	Melvin Mora, 3B
Carlos Delgado, 1B	Miguel Tejada, SS
Alexis Rios, RF	        Javy Lopez, C
Eric Hinske, 3B	        Rafael Palmeiro, DH
Chris Woodward, SS	B.J. Surhoff, 1B
Dave Berg, DH	        Karim Garcia, CF
Kevin Cash, C	        Jay Gibbons, RF
Justin Miller, P        Erik Bedard, P

I'm sorry, but Dave Berg as the DH? What the hell is going on?
Bedard is a lefty, so Cat's out as the DH, but is Menechino unavailable?

I don't understand that.

Moi non plus. I guess Gibby's trying to give Berg a few at-bats, without taking time from Hudson, Hinske and Woodward. I'd personally rather give him the work as a defensive replacement in a blowout.

Well, Berg played yesterday (as a DR in a blowout) but hasn't started since August 8. Wasn't that the last day Tosca was the manager?
If so, Dave Berg has not started a game under John Gibbons. Until now.

Speaking of "Until now", I just read Ball Four. What a great book.

What a great at bat by Hinske. Smoked that 3-2 curve.

this weekend is the baseball Toronto needs to play all year

Though Miller did give up a run in the first it looked to me like the best inning he has pitched since he's been activated. Maybe he's regaining his command.

I just read Ball Four. What a great book.

Let's go pound some Budweiser...

Anyone care to speculate on what Baltimore's bullpen strategy might be today? They've used alot of pitchers the last two days, will they keep Bedard in the game to rest the bullpen if the Jays can open up a nice lead?

Aaaahhhh...runs feel good!

That's a No Loveshack-Bedard's yanked after 2 2/3rds.

Boy, this is a fun series. Can we play the O's more often please? Nothing cures the hitting woes like Baltimore pitching.

I almost forgot what an offense looks like -- this is fun!

Holy cow Kevin Cash got a hit! :)

He's got to maintain that .192 avg some how ;-)

Walking Wells to face Delgado? Wow... Someone has confidance in their stuff vs lefties.

That's a first. Walking Wells to get to Delgado? With the bases loaded the Orioles can't even cheat to the right side like usual.

I know it's 8-3 and I shouldn't complain, but the Jays have grounded into a ton of 1-2-3 DP's this year. On a 3-1 pitch too.

If you can't drive the 3-1 pitch, take it. At worst it's 3-2 and you have another shot.

Just curious, does anyone know what the Jay's record is for number of runs and hits in a single series?

DJ: it's not always that obvious whether or not the pitch is drivable. Some guys like to pick a pitch and go after it, wherever the location is. Thats what I do, as i find it easier/more effective to change my swing plane/location than it is to change my batspeed.

Melvin Mora is good...very good... this still surprises me everytime I notice.

Well at least Kevin Cash has continued about his normal routine... another punch out.

Tejada needs to stop trying to ruin our fun.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=240822107
Wow.

Calvin Pickering was just called up by KC (Finally.) And he just hit a grand slam in his first AB.

Ouch. That was almost a very costly assumption by Vernon.

I read Ball Four earlier this spring. It gave me two of my favourite expressions: "Smoke 'em inside", and Joe Schultz's favourite curse.

I thought of it recently when the press quoted Dr. Mike Marshall as saying that Prior's mechanics are contributing to his injury problems . . . I think that he also was quoted during Gagné's save streak. This led to me getting Bouton's follow-up book "I'm Glad You Didn't Take it Personally" Let me just warn you that it's not really worth reading. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on Bouton's newest book about his stadium fight, though. Has anyone read "Foul Ball"?

That was an awesome throw by Rios, but Mora was clealy safe.

Alex Rios = Jesse Barfield v2.0?

I've only seen the last 3 innings but Miller is getting hit hard.

God Bless the ground rule double. Men on 2nd and 3rd no outs and then Rios throws a laser at home. Very nice play!

Nah. Rios can hit for average.

Cash could have cost them the out with the high tag but the ump decided the throw beat the runner by half a mile. Looking at the replay on full speed though it would have been a tough call to make on the spot so Justin Miller catches a few breaks. Now if only he would stop grooving fastballs to the outside half of the plate when facing Tejada.

Yeah if Cash had done his job DEFENSIVELY (which is about all he can do with that horrid, horrid batting avg.).

Mora would have been out.

Calvin Pickering currently has the mythical, magical 5.000 OPS. Has anyone ever started their career with 2 consecutive HRs?

Nevermind. He's had at bats before this season. Still.....5.000 is a beautiful thing to see.

I found that was one of the toughest things about umpiring, when you've got an easy call to make, and at the last second the fielder has a brain cramp and screws up the play. It's tough to reverse the call when it's that close and you've barely got time to think.

Home run Calvine Pickering........2 for the day.....Am I the only one really excited for this guy? What a thrill.

And just like that Pickering has more homers than Alex Rios. ;)

Not fair; Rios has yet to bat against Scott Erickson.

Well that's interesting. Dave Borokowski, who started against the Jays Friday, is now coming in to pitch relief.

Even when they're swinging the bats well, the Jays can't buy a hit with the bases loaded.

Alex Rios = Jesse Barfield v2.0?

Sorry. No one who actually saw Jesse throw could possibly be confused about this. No one now active can throw like Jesse could.

Alex does have a hell of an arm, though.

Magpie - agreed. Rios has a very good (and accurate) arm but Barfield had a GREAT arm. There really isn't much of a comparison.

Hey you don't have to tell me, Barfield was my favorite Jay growing up. I was merely making an (admitedly exagerrated) celebration of that great throw by Rios. He's made several similar great throws this year and while his arm may not be as good as Barfield's it's still pretty dang good.

Anyone know why Kerry Wood came out after 4.1IP?

Because the Jays aquired him in a trade for Rookie Ball pitcher Bryon Bell of course... Why else?

Getting a bit scary here.

THe O's have been pressing all night, The Jays have just tried to hold on (no runs sicne the fourth.) Hopefully they can....God, I am worried though.

Jesus Christ.

Frasor gets 1 out, then walks Surhoff and Garcia. It's not supposed to happen like this! :mad:

I'm almost speechless .......wow

See I think Frazor is going to get out of this Jam just fine, but its situations like these that make Frazor scare the hell out of me as a closer.

Oh man. This has disaster written all over it.

Thank you Alex Rios!!

It's been said before, but I love Alex Rios.

If Frasor and Chulk are closer and set-up men respectively next season, we ain't going anywhere. I'm just happy that they're coming back to earth before giving Ricciardi a false sense of security.

A closer should be a priority big time next season, whether Frasor gets out of this or not.

Rios!!!!!!

Oh thank God. What a catch. Well, the Jays were a little lucky in this game, but a win is a win and it feels good. I'm a bit upset that the Jays were unable to score any runs off of a taxed O's BP, but I'll get over that ;)





God, that feels good. :)

Say what you want but he's only blown one save I believe.

Scott I agree. I wonder if Ricciardi might consider flipping Frasor to another team for something good. He's cheap, has an ERA under 3.00 and 16 Saves, just looking at his numbers what kind of value would he have? Or perhaps we could just pick up a closer and move Frasor to the setup position.

I'm puzzled by what happened to Chulk. He was brilliant in the first half and now he's close to playing himself off the team. Did he get dead arm after the first half and never recovered?

Ticker on the TV said Wood was ejected for hitting Jeff Kent.

wonder if Ricciardi might consider flipping Frasor to another team for something good. He's cheap, has an ERA under 3.00

Um, isn't this the exact type of player JP would be looking for?

I wouldn't be worried that JP & Co will think that Frasor is some Uber-closer based on a few saves.

As Ryan Glynn pitched a complete game shutout for Syracus today, what da ya think of bringing him up for a looksee dropping Sean Douglass.

Um, isn't this the exact type of player JP would be looking for?

Sure which means that there are likely other GMs out there who would also be interested. If you think Frasor's value is higher than his performance is likely to be then it makes some sense to trade him if there's another GM out there willing to pay for him.

wonder if Ricciardi might consider flipping Frasor to another team for something good. He's cheap, has an ERA under 3.00

The only time I see JP doing that is if Frasor is still saving games at this pace and coming up for a contract extension. At that point the Jays would find a new cheap "closer" (likely witin their system or the Rule V draft) and turn Frasor to a team looking for a pitcher boasting a high save total...If all works out correctly, we'll just kick back and reap the benefits of a team like the Pirates biting on Frasor.

*by contract extension I mean unrestricted Free Agency or a scenario in which the Jays feel an unaffordable arbitration settlement would be awarded.

*by contract extension I mean unrestricted Free Agency or a scenario in which the Jays feel an unaffordable arbitration settlement would be awarded.

Cat has been placed on the 15 day DL, which I assume spells the end of his season.

Dave Maurer's been called up.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-bluejays-catalanotto&prov=ap&type=lgns
Confirmed, Cat's done for the year. COMN.

Too bad about Cat, but hopefully the surgery now will have him at 100% next year.

So Maurer takes one of two empty spots on the 40-man roster. This brings them to 39, am I right?

I'm interested to see if JP wants Cat back and what position he would play.

The OF is set with Johnson, Gross, Rios, and Wells.

The 1B and DH position is open but there's no way you want a guy with 10 HR power in either position. Playing in the AL the Jays need offence from both positions.

The Cat has been never played a full season in his 8 year career. He'll be a 31 yr old injury prone player next season.

I would pass on the Cat and use his salary towards a power hitter or proven veteran reliever.

At least we can play Crozier everyday when he comes up in September.

Just say no to re-signing Cat next year. Great guy, but we don't have room for him in the OF, and giving him a 1B/DH job would further kill our power next year if Carlos is not re-signed.

Speaking of which, Carlos Pena's ISO is .224 and his BB/K rate is the best of his career this year. He's only 26. Sleeper 1B option next year? If he's not non-tendered, we can certainly trade for him, though I don't know how highly Detroit thinks of him.

If Frasor and Chulk are closer and set-up men respectively next season, we ain't going anywhere

I tend to agree - I think they're both ML pitchers, and there's a role for them in the bullpen. But we still need an upgrade.

(Unless, of course, this is the trial by fire that they are currently enduring.)

Anyway, this is the moment. The league seems to have adjusted to them. Can they adjust to that?

Oh thank God. What a catch.

I missed the end of the game (there were women in the house, what can I say?). Was it not a routine F RF?

It was a sharp liner to right field, Rios had to dive forward and catch it. Had he missed, it would've rolled to the fence, clearing the bases and tying the game, or maybe even leading to an inside-the-park homerun. He really had to hustle just to get into position to make the diving catch.

I'm not sold on Frasor or Chulk.

I was a fool coming into the season thinking Lopez and Kershner would do a solid job again like the previous season when both were far and away the best relievers. 2 months into this season both guys aren't even in the majors and have been passed by the Mauers, Federicks, Douglass's, Nakumara's of the world.

the only chance for the jays to get a true closer is if they sign troy percival, who i remember reading was a free agent after the season. other than that, we have to get lucky.

frasor and chulk are not closer and setup material. they are good 7th inning options, maybe frasor in the 8th if he can cut down the walks, but that's it.

scott williamson is also a free agent i think. if he's healthy, that's another closer option. jp has to bite the bullet and spend for a legitimate closer. enough with trying to get lucky with rule 5 picks and signing middle relievers like ligtenberg. spend 3-5 mil on a closer. it's necessary.

Wow, that's weird. I was just about to come in here and suggest that the Jays go after Williamson. He's the only RP that stands out to me on the free agent list. He would come at about 3.5-4 Million I would imagine. He's hurt right now but his numbers are great and he's only 28.

You know it's been a strange season when Gregg Zaun has impressed you more defensively (arm withstanding) than Kevin Cash has. That was just a terrible job at tagging Mora and it only reminded me how good Zaun has been on multiple occasions this year at blocking the plate.

The way I look at it, the Jays could possibly afford both Williamson and Sexson if they lose Delgado and Catalanotto. But they wouldn't be able to sign anyone else.

Meh. In my dreams. :)

Thomas: i agree. that was a really bad tag, and he didn't deserve to get the out call. Not that I am angry about that missed call.
Nice to see the arm come out, and finishing the game with a no-guts-no-glory kinda catch.

Does anybody have any idea how much the Jays will have to spend in FA after losing Delgado and Cat's salary but at the same time adding the bump in salaries to Doc, Wells, Hinske, and Batista?

Scott Williamson is a guy I would love to see. Was lights out with the Reds and with Foulke there he ain't going to be the closer. I would like to see him cut down on his walks but he gets a ton of K's and batters hit very poorly against him. Oh yeah the injury season will drive his price down, hopefully the same will happen with Glaus and Sexson (two other players I really like and would love to see in a Jays uni)

Scott Williamson is a guy I would love to see.

He looks like he'd be a good choice, but I am beginning to believe that any established pitcher is likely to crash and burn when acquired by Toronto. Everything is a little different here: the turf bounces funny, the mound's probably a little different, and the ball flies out of the park when the roof is closed. This tends to discombobulate pitchers who were used to doing things a certain way.

With a couple of conspicuous exceptions (Clemens, Cone), pitchers who are successful in Toronto have come up through the farm system, so the Toronto environment is the norm for them.

I get the feeling that, if the Jays acquire Williamson, he'd become Kerry Ligtenberg II.

Ron, it's hard to tell, cause I'm not sure how much money guys like Reed Johnson and Justin Miller will make, along with the rookies. I'm sure someone else can help out in that regard, but if I just give all those guys 500K, then it gives the Jays about 15M to work with by my count.

That's 15M to fill the following spots:

SS
C
1B
DH
RP
Bench

If they keep Gomez at SS for .9, use Quiroz at C for .5, and keep Menechino on the Bench for .5, then they're left with about 13M to get a 1B, a DH and a Closer.

At least that's how I see it.

Damm I get depressed thinking about the "budget"

You would think with Delgado gone it would free up JP to do a lot but in reality he has so many holes to fill he needs a lot more money to do it.

No matter what JP needs to find 2 bats who can hit HR's and drive in runs. That's the biggest weakness of the club. Considering how terrible the offence is with a hot hitting Delgado I shudder to think how bad it will be if he isn't replaced.

After the two big bats, he needs to find a proven closer.

It will be a very interesting off-season.

Hinske: $3.0M
Wells: $2.9M
Ligtenberg: $2.5M
Halladay: $10.5M
Batista: $4.6M (might be a little off)
Lilly: $3.1M (see Batista)
----------
= $26.6 (approx)

Those are the only "big" money players, hopefully I didn't miss any. Most of the others (Rios, Gross, Cash Johnson, Towers, Miller, Frasor, Chulk) should make below $1 million. Hudson could get $1M or more. I don't see Woodward being tendered a contract, and Speier, who is also arby eligble, is questionable (the Jays want him back, but at what price?).

Hard to say exactly how much we will have to spend. My guess is anywhere between $15-20M, probably closer to $15M.

The present needs are:

SS
1B
DH
CL (closer)

Let's see Ricciardi try and work his magic.

I'm most curious at what they'll do at SS. I don't really want to see Woodward/Gomez there again, but who should they go after?

Available:

Orlando Cabrera
Jose Valentin
Omar Vizquel
Christain Guzman
Rey Sanchez
Nomar Garciaparra
Rey Ordonez
Barry Larkin
Royce Clayton
Craig Counsell
Alex Gonzalez
Edgar Renteria
Rich Aurilia
Deivi Cruz
Neifi Perez

Nomar would cost all of the Team's spending money, and I loathe José Valentin. Orlando Cabrera and Edgar Renteria are too expensive. Everyone else...

They should go for Valentin at short. He can Dh a bit when Adams is ready, plus he's 35, so he probalby won't need more than a 2 year contract. And he's awesome defensively, and can smack the ball.

If Rich Aurilia can get over his "don't want to play on turf or on the East coast" attitude, he'd be a lock at SS. The Jays tried to sign him last year, and I believe JP offered him a 2-year deal (at least what I remember reading, could have been 1 year), but Aurilia turned it down for the reasons above. If he's willing to sign, he'd be a cheap stopgap.

I have a feeling we'll be signing Craig Counsell though. He seems to fit Ricciardi's "dirtbag/draw walks" motto, and he'll probably come cheap. He's an older David Eckstein, basically.

I don't like any of those SS's (I know JP won't sign Nomar or Renteria). Considering SS is behind getting 2 bats and a closer (as well as other bullpen arms) in the list of needs, I expect to see Woody let go with Gomez starting with Adams backing up.

I need to talk to JP and bring up 4 names I would love to see in a Jays uni (Koskie, Sexson, Glaus, and Williamson)and ask him about his "thoughts" on the players rather then asking if he was interested in signing any of these players since I know that would tampering. Now only if the toll free number on the Fan worked for I.

JP can't afford to take risks, and Williamson is an injury risk---two out of three doctors suggest another TJ surgery is in order for him.

JP can't afford to take risks, and Williamson is an injury risk---two out of three doctors suggest another TJ surgery is in order for him.

Actually the exact opposite is true. JP has to take risks because of his 50 million budget. He can't go out and sign all the proven injury free players because he doesn't have the budget. He needs to go bargain hunting and go after players who have had their value hurt one way or the other ie. Sexson with his injury

This is much like what Beane did with the A's after losing Jason Giambi and replacing him with Jeremy Giambi, David Justice, and Scott Hatteburg.

Glaus or Sexson in a Blue Jays uniform would get me in the car and to the Skydome to watch a game! But I think, realisticly we fill our SS gap with a vetren who can help Adams along (Vizquel would do nicely) and aquire an arbitration eligible slugger like Adam Dunn.

http://www.mathesond.mindsay.com
And there are no proven injury-free players when guys like Garrett Anderson spend extensive time on the DL with potentially lifelong arthritic conditions after never having spent a day on the DL before

I'm not sure how replacing Delgado with Sexson is like replacing Jason Giambi with the Moneyball crew, and I also disagree with your risk analysis. JP himself has said on a number of times that he can't take risks because his margin for error is so small with the limited payroll, and that strikes me as quite logical.

I think one problem JP has is convincing high-profile players like Glaus or Sexson to come to Toronto. Unfortunately, Toronto seems to be on the list of places many players would prefer to avoid. With luck this will change as the team becomes a perennial contender :)

In the meantime, I hope the Canadian dollar keeps going up!

Could this be an indirect swipe at the Jays (at least, the Ash-era Jays)?

From an article on the Cardinals by Gammons on ESPN.com:

"It's a thrill to pitch for a team that shows up to play as hard as it can every day," said Chris Carpenter, whose comeback has been a significant part of the evolution of their pitching staff. "These guys don't take days off, or innings off, or at-bats. It's amazing, and it all starts with the stars. Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols never take a pitch off."

And there are no proven injury-free players when guys like Garrett Anderson spend extensive time on the DL with potentially lifelong arthritic conditions after never having spent a day on the DL before

How is it misleading to call Glaus and Sexson injury prone?

Sexson popped his shoulder out if its socket on a checked swing this year. Twice.

Glaus shut it down this year and opted for surgery to treat a frayed labrum and torn rotator cuff.

Those are not freak injuries, they are serious problems. And even after corrective surgery, they may recur again.

They are both great hitters. But the Jays can't afford to sink 10MM+/year into either of these guys, and then have them spend time on the DL. I'd feel more comfortable bringing Delgado back than those two.

I would be happy with Delgado back as well for the right price. Does anyone have any idea who JP might be thinking of to fill the DH slot?

Does anyone have any idea who JP might be thinking of to fill the DH slot?

Delgado.

I doubt that you will see Sexson in a Jays' uniform. JP has said that he has no interest in locking all the team's budget into one player, which would happen with Sexson, who will get at least $8 million next season and probably a three year deal. One year of injury problems will not prevent GMs from paying him based on his proven history, especially since he's still young.

Glaus is a little bit more of a possibility but there is not a big market out there for slugging third basemen. If the Dodgers lose Beltre, Glaus could very well end up in LA.

There really isn't much on the free agent market in terms of SS. The Jays would probably be best to save their money, re-sign Gomez and give Adams a shot. If he flops they still have Hill, who would be playing in AAA, and Tablado in AA. Plus keep around someone like Julius Matos in AAA and they should be OK. I'd spend the buget on a closer, a lefty and some pop at 1B/DH.

Everything is a little different here
Dave, are you suggesting a sabermetric-like Canadian exchange rate for a pitcher's ERA?

I've always thought Williamson was terribly overrated; and, he's made not secret that he wants to start. Percival would cost$9M a year.

Is it possible to find a "proven closer" who is languishing in AAA and might be had cheaply? Why, yes ... his name is Byung-Hyun Kim, who I suspect would not have much issue with the whole idea of "changing countries" to play ball.

Did JP not say a month ago that there would be an increase in the budget for 2005. I never heard how much.

a sabermetric-like Canadian exchange rate for a pitcher's ERA

I forget who first said it, but don't you have to multiply by 9, divide by 5, then add 32?

Or double it and add 30 if you are the lazy type.