Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
There's a lot of pressure when you play Tampa Bay. You're supposed to beat Tampa. Losing to Tampa is profoundly discouraging. So, yeah! Good game!

It was a profoundly uninteresting ball game, as was reflected by the Chat, much of which turned to a discussion of which picture of Scarlett Johannsen was the most pleasing to contemplate. As is my wont during Friday Night Chats, I went fishing for Game Report Ideas, having not had an original idea of my own for Quite Some Time now. Rob (also known as "the other Rookie") happily shared some of his research on the worst hitters in Tampa Bay history. This is indeed an interesting subject, but the wealth of available material suggests that it might best be suited for a full length book rather than a Humble Game Report.

I had to absent myself from the Chat for awhile, and just now looking over the log, I came upon the following disturbing exchange:

[20:44]  Hall really really wants to pick off Zaun
[20:44]  Catchers are strange dudes
[20:45]  Kinda like goalies
[20:45]  goalies are complete loons

As an old goalie myself, I'd like to have a word with PaulS. You have to some explaining to do, sir.

Anyway, the score was 10-3 by this time. Or was it 10-5? No one was quite sure. Baseball fans were arguing with one another - we were absorbed, engrossed in a gripping debate, exchanging our views, each arguing for their particular point of view. The clash of minds and wits - you've heard of the Algonquin Round Table? Well, it was nothing like that. But gradually, a consensus emerged, and the consensus was that this

was the one we liked best.

Meanwhile, back at the ball park, Gustavo Chacin was improving his record to 8-5. There are a few items of interest in connection with young Mr Chacin's season that I'd like to share with you.

Gustavo Chacin is putting together one of the finest seasons by a rookie pitcher in team history. Chacin's next start will be his 20th of the season - he hasn't missed a turn, and assuming he's not traded or injured, he should end up making some 30-32 starts this season. Only two Toronto rookies have ever made 30 starts in a season: Jerry Garvin in the inaugural 1977 season, and Phil Huffman in 1979. Garvin and Huffman both lost 18 of those starts: there is no way Chacin is going to duplicate that awful accomplishment. He's already won more games than Huffman, who went 6-18. Garvin, who was 10-18 in 1977, is one of just two rookie Toronto lefties to win 10 games in a season; the other was Jeff Musselman, who went 12-5 in 1987, working almost entirely in relief.

Chacin's season is obviously not the best by a Toronto rookie pitcher - that was Mark Eichhorn's amazing 1986 season - but he has an excellent chance to win more games than any Jays rookie starter, ever, and Eichhorn's overall rookie record of 14 wins is not out of reach. At the moment, the best season by a rookie starter would be Juan Guzman's 1991 campaign - Guzman was only called up in early June of that year, after Dave Stieb was injured. He made 23 starts, and the last of those was a 3 inning tuneup for the playoffs. Still Guzman and Garvin are the only rookie starters to win 10 games in a season. Chacin looks pretty likely to be the third.

And so - it's not a scientific ranking, by any stretch of the imagination. But here are the best seasons by Blue Jays rookie pitchers. And no, I didn't forget Jimmy Key. It just wasn't that great a year...

Player              Age  G  ERA  W  L  SV  GS  CG SHO IPT    HIT  R   ER BB HR  SO  BFP  ERA+
Mark Eichhorn 1986   25 69 1.72 14  6  10   0   0   0 157.0  105  32  30 45  8 166  612  246
Juan Guzman 1991     24 23 2.99 10  3   0  23   0   1 138.7   98  53  46 66  6 123  574  142
Mike Timlin 1991     25 63 3.16 11  6   3   3   0   0 108.3   94  43  38 50  6  85  463  134
Billy Koch 1999      24 56 3.39  0  5  31   0   0   0  63.7   55  26  24 30  5  57  272  145
Roy Halladay 1999    22 36 3.92  8  7   1  18   1   1 149.3  156  76  65 79 19  82  668  126
Duane Ward 1988      24 64 3.30  9  3  15   0   0   0 111.7  101  46  41 60  5  91  487  119
Bob File 2001        24 60 3.27  5  3   0   0   0   0  74.3   57  28  27 29  6  38  299  145
Aquilino Lopez 2003  28 72 3.42  1  3  14   0   0   0  73.7   58  31  28 34  5  64  316  138
Kelvim Escobar 1997  21 27 2.90  3  2  14   0   0   0  31.0   28  12  10 19  1  36  139  159
Victor Cruz 1978     20 32 1.71  7  3   9   0   0   0  47.3   28  10   9 35  0  51  199  230
Jeff Musselman 1987  24 68 4.15 12  5   3   1   0   0  89.0   75  43  41 54  7  54  381  109
Darren Hall 1994     29 30 3.41  2  3  17   0   0   0  31.7   26  12  12 14  3  28  131  141
David Bush 2004      24 16 3.69  5  4   0  16   1   1  97.7   95  47  40 25 11  64  412  132
John Cerutti 1986    26 34 4.15  9  4   1  20   2   1 145.3  150  73  67 47 25  89  616  102
Dave Stieb 1979      21 18 4.31  8  8   0  18   7   1 129.3  139  70  62 48 11  52  563  101
Jerry Garvin 1977    21 34 4.19 10 18   0  34  12   1 244.7  247 127 114 85 33 127 1046  100

And now I know what to do next Friday night! Aaron Hill, and the rookie hitters...

Jays 11, Devil Rays 6: New Kids in Town | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Named For Hank - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 09:18 AM EDT (#122906) #
I dunno, there's something really fake-looking about her with that hair colour.
Thomas - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 10:33 AM EDT (#122909) #

Your Daily AJ Burnett update:

From the Miami Herald:

Discussions between the Marlins and Orioles are intensifying over a proposed trade that could send pitcher A.J. Burnett and, perhaps, third baseman Mike Lowell to Baltimore.

But the Marlins are continuing to talk to more than six teams about Burnett, who is being eyed strongly by the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox.

The Orioles might present the Marlins with an opportunity to unload Lowell, who has been mired in a prolonged slump and is owed $18 million over the next two seasons.

According to a source with knowledge of the talks, the Marlins likely would receive reliever Jorge Julio, right-handed pitching prospect Hayden Penn and possibly outfielder Larry Bigbie and lefty reliever Steve Kline. The Marlins also could throw in minor-league outfielder Eric Reed.

From the Baltimore Sun:

The Orioles remain in the running to acquire pitcher A.J. Burnett from the Florida Marlins, according to an industry source, with the package expanding to possibly include third baseman Mike Lowell. One source said the discussions have heated up, though some insiders believe the Chicago White Sox remain the favorites to land Burnett.

Burnett is a free agent after this season, and the Marlins have conceded that he won't re-sign. The Orioles want a front-line starter for the rotation, and they'd become a better match if willing to absorb Lowell's contract, which pays him $18 million over the next two seasons.

According to the source, the Orioles would acquire Burnett, Lowell and minor league outfielder Eric Reed for a package that includes reliever Jorge Julio, outfielder Larry Bigbie and Double-A pitcher Hayden Penn.

Magpie - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#122912) #
I had some vague interest in taking a chance on Lowell (if Florida would take Hinske's bad contract, we could take a flier on Lowell's) - but I'm not so sure anymore that Lowell's just off to a bad start. He did hit 27 HR last year, but he hit more than half of them before the end of May.
Jacko - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 11:03 AM EDT (#122913) #
Is anyone headed to section 518 for today's game?

I think taking on Lowell's contract, even if it helps land Burnett, would be a terrible move.

Have there been any stories on the asking price for Austin Kearns? He's been tearing the International League a new one since his demotion...
John Northey - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 11:11 AM EDT (#122914) #
Interesting to see what is on the table. If I was a Florida fan I'd be a bit nervous though. Tossing one of your best in the rotation, during a pennant race, just to dump the salary of a guy who was a cornerstone just a year ago? While Penn is a good prospect, he won't help until 2006 at least, probably 2007.

Baltimore's package - suck up $18 million via Lowell plus..
Jorge Julio - 4.14 ERA 41 IP 5 HR 13 BB 36 SO career 3.72 ERA
Larry Bigbie - LH outfielder - 268/332/397 (lifetime 275/338/410)
Hayden Penn - RH - Majors 6.75 ERA 33 IP 6 HR 19 BB 14 K plus AA 4.04 ERA 62 IP 7 HR 23 BB 67 SO but is just 20 years old, turns 21 in October.

Penn is a hot prospect due to age, but he isn't ready yet, and probably should spend 2006 in the minors. Bigbie is a backup with little potential to be more. Julio is a decent reliever, but nothing special. If they could get Chacin from the Jays along with Cat or Gross then they'd be just dealing with the Orioles to dump salary and dream of the future. I know I'd be pissed if I was a fan of that team. As a Jay fan I'd just be hoping AJ doesn't sign with Baltimore, although that is a strong possiblity given his wife is from there iirc.

Guess we'll see soon enough what happens eh?
Named For Hank - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 11:24 AM EDT (#122915) #
Is anyone headed to section 518 for today's game?

I'm down in the camera bay today and tomorrow. Look for me in a dark blue shirt and ever-lengthening hair. Anyone coming for batting practice?
VBF - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 11:49 AM EDT (#122917) #
I'll be there for BP tomorrow. Hey NFH, do you know a guy called Chuck from the booth too?
Magpie - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#122918) #
Is anyone headed to section 518 for today's game?

I'll be in the press box. The guy in the black tee-shirt with the ever-vanishing hair...

VBF - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 12:06 PM EDT (#122919) #
Yes sir, how bout that Heckler in Tampa, baby! LOOK, now he's gone and written his own book about heckling! And hey look, it's the price of a Hinske batting average, baby!

http://www.booksurge.com/product.php3?bookID=GPUB03143-00001

Rob - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 12:25 PM EDT (#122920) #
By the way, the worst five hitters in TB history (using the HACKING MAAS formula):
Brent Abernathy, 2002 - .242/.288/.311
John Flaherty, 1998 - .207/.261/.273
Carl Crawford, 2003 - .281/.309/.362
Vinny Castilla, 2000 - .221/.254/.308
Kevin Stocker, 1998 - .208/.282/.313

And the five worst GPA's (minimum 450 PA):
Abernathy in 2002
Toby Hall, 2003: .253/.295/.380
Crawford in 2003
Miguel Cairo, 1998: .268/.307/.367
Chris Gomez, 2002: .265/.305/.410
Flex - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 12:29 PM EDT (#122922) #
"now he's gone and written his own book about heckling!"

What's next, a book by one of those drunken idiots who run on the field?
Named For Hank - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#122923) #
I've met Chuck a few times. He knows my father from back when my father was at the lab that processed all the film he shot for the Jays.

Might see you at BP. Keep an eye peeled for me milling about.
Flex - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 12:47 PM EDT (#122926) #
How about a book by the guy who gets up in the middle of every inning to get a beer and makes you stand up to let him go by: "I Was A Constant Irritation."
mathesond - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 01:37 PM EDT (#122929) #
Say, did anyone read Jeff Blair today in which he suggested Morneau might be available? While I don't know if Hudson would be enough/too much to get him, and infield of Koskie, Hill, Adams, and Morneau might not look to shabby.
Magpie - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 01:44 PM EDT (#122931) #
Terry Ryan just signed a second-baseman, so if he's shopping Morneau (gasp! drool!) I don't think Hudson would be: a) what he wants; b) anything near enough.

First guy he'll ask about is Aaron Hill. For starters....

Named For Hank - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 01:52 PM EDT (#122933) #
I read that, about Morneau. Blair's just speculating because of reported clubhouse tensions, but yeah, getting Morneau would be great.

Can I say again how much I love what the Globe has done with their baseball coverage? The full page Blair On Baseball (okay, so a bunch of it is pictures, but they're always good pictures) is great, Blair being more opinion-y is great, and it's always good for a laugh or two. For instance, there's the Three Jeers, Three Cheers box every week, featuring three bad and three good things that have happened in baseball, usually a name and then a couple of lines of description. But today, one of the Cheers reads simply:
JIM BOWDEN, GM, Nationals:
He's trying.
Named For Hank - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 01:57 PM EDT (#122935) #
I don't know if that fully conveys the humor of it, but try to picture it with long blurbs about Tejada giving up his Home Run Derby spot to Ortiz and Rich Harden's near-perfect game on either side of it and just the formatting of it makes me giggle.

By the way, his Jeer about Fox's All Star coverage again made me happy that I watched the MLB International feed. Fox makes me thank the heavens daily that neither Sportsnet nor TSN have expressed any interest in buying helmet cams or flyover wire cameras. Polished, minimal presentation that clearly shows what's happening, that's what I'm into.
Jefftown - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 02:10 PM EDT (#122938) #
Wow, quite a lot of nerve by whoever wrote the book description calling him the "sport's greatest fan." There are at least three "famous" fans in Milwaukee who are much better than this guy.

Maybe I'd take the book if I were GIVEN $12.99.
Flex - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 02:22 PM EDT (#122940) #
I want a book by the wife/girlfriend attending her first game who keeps asking, "But if they hit the ball, why isn't it automamtically a 'hit'?" Call it: The Blissfully Ignorant.
Flex - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 02:23 PM EDT (#122942) #
... Automatically....

Typos kind of get in the way of the humour, don't they?
Jefftown - Saturday, July 16 2005 @ 02:25 PM EDT (#122943) #
Another TB futility notable...

Greg Vaughn, 2002: .163/.286/.315 in 297 PA (salary: $8.75 million)
Jays 11, Devil Rays 6: New Kids in Town | 21 comments | Create New Account
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