The Tigers once more proved a resilient and irritating foe, prevailing in 13 innings. On a night when even the Royals might eke out a victory, the Jays managed exactly one hit after the fifth inning.
It's going to be tough for the Jays to stay in this race with performances like the last two nights against an inferior team. They hit when they don't pitch and they pitch when they don't hit.
The future is bright for the Jays though and the pressure is on J.P. to fill the glaring holes in the starting rotation and the offense heading into next year. He has the money and his draft picks are reaching the majors. 2006 is put up or shut up time for J.P. and the Jays.
The future is bright for the Jays though and the pressure is on J.P. to fill the glaring holes in the starting rotation and the offense heading into next year. He has the money and his draft picks are reaching the majors. 2006 is put up or shut up time for J.P. and the Jays.
How ironic that the Jays lost on a day where Reed Johnson failed to get down a bunt.
Perhaps going to names of Red Wings greats in the chat was a bad idea. In fact, I propose that we stop with the name changing thing. It's just not working.
Perhaps going to names of Red Wings greats in the chat was a bad idea. In fact, I propose that we stop with the name changing thing. It's just not working.
Yes. What kind of an idea was that? At the very least, we should have done Red Wings players that sucked. Like...I don't know...Shawn Burr...
I can't stand these callers. Enough about Vernon Wells not being a clutch hitter! The following numbers are from ESPN.com:
RISP: .288/.357/.538
RISP, 2 outs: .279/.354/.628
Honestly. Do these people even bother or do they just spit out the same things over and over?
RISP: .288/.357/.538
RISP, 2 outs: .279/.354/.628
Honestly. Do these people even bother or do they just spit out the same things over and over?
The Jays simply have too many of these games where they fall into a long rut of making easy outs. Not adjusting to what the pitcher is throwing and continuing to make easy outs the entire game. Johnson did not have strikeout stuff so at some point you would figure they would break through.
Chacin gave up more hits but the two runs that the Tigers scored in regulation time were off solo homeruns. In the Jays' case they needed an RBI groundout and then a sac fly with the bases loaded to push two runs across. That's having to work way too hard to produce anything.
The thing is they have a lot of games where the runs do come relatively easily and I'm not sure how to explain it. I think the mediocore power has a lot to do with it. There are going to be nights where you just aren't going to produce with RISP and power is the equalizing factor on those nights. The ability to make the pitcher pay for one mistake or even for a pitch that wasn't necessarily a mistake is an important one.
Chacin gave up more hits but the two runs that the Tigers scored in regulation time were off solo homeruns. In the Jays' case they needed an RBI groundout and then a sac fly with the bases loaded to push two runs across. That's having to work way too hard to produce anything.
The thing is they have a lot of games where the runs do come relatively easily and I'm not sure how to explain it. I think the mediocore power has a lot to do with it. There are going to be nights where you just aren't going to produce with RISP and power is the equalizing factor on those nights. The ability to make the pitcher pay for one mistake or even for a pitch that wasn't necessarily a mistake is an important one.
Somehow, having Batista come in and lose the game doesn't make me feel any better than if it had been Walker, Downs or League :/
I can't stand these callers. Enough about Vernon Wells not being a clutch hitter! The following numbers are from ESPN.com: ...
Honestly. Do these people even bother or do they just spit out the same things over and over?
Vernon Wells Close and Late
.236/.269/.375 .. .644 OPS/.215 GPA in 76PA
Anyone who watches the Jays without blinders will have noticed that Verno has been horrid when the game is on the line. You can claim it's bad luck, or small sample, but don't claim it doesn't exist.
Verno seems to hit fine early in the game (which before you jump all over me, is very important) and when there is a big lead one way or another. However, for whatever reason, he struggles when the game is on the line.
BTW, I'm not blaming Verno for last night, just pointing out something I think was missed.
Because it's always good to have a little context:
NAME G AB R H 2B 3B HR TB RBI BB SO SB CS BAV OBP SLG OPS Russ Adams 47 60 5 21 6 0 1 30 6 6 12 1 1 .350 .409 .500 .909 S. Hillenbrand 63 79 13 26 8 0 0 34 3 6 15 0 0 .329 .384 .430 .814 O. Hudson 61 75 8 24 2 1 4 40 11 9 10 1 0 .320 .393 .533 .926 Eric Hinske 61 63 14 19 6 0 2 31 9 10 18 2 1 .302 .405 .492 .897 Aaron Hill 30 41 5 12 2 0 0 14 6 3 4 0 0 .293 .333 .341 .675 Alex Rios 56 72 6 20 2 0 0 22 8 5 14 1 2 .278 .325 .306 .630 Reed Johnson 48 57 10 14 4 0 3 27 8 1 15 0 0 .246 .283 .474 .757 Vernon Wells 56 72 6 17 4 0 2 27 10 4 6 0 1 .236 .269 .375 .644 Corey Koskie 35 46 5 10 2 0 2 18 5 3 14 0 0 .217 .265 .391 .657 F. Catalanotto 38 44 3 8 3 0 0 11 2 2 7 0 0 .182 .245 .250 .495 Gregg Zaun 53 65 5 11 2 0 1 16 7 11 13 0 0 .169 .286 .246 .532
Needless to say... very small sample sizes. The guy hitting .169 has driven in twice as many runs as than the guy hitting .329 in more at bats.
Nevertheless, Orlando Hudson is a god among men.
Without me even looking at these or any other numbers. Would anyone else think that being left-handed is a huge advantage for close and late situations since the vast majority of closers are right-handed?
I disagree with the whole idea of clutch hitting. It implies that athletic performance at this level is primarily a test of guts and character, not ability.
There are exceptions, but I always assume that major league players all have a fair bit of intestinal fortitude. For one thing, it's more nerve-racking to try to make it to the major-league level than it is to succeed there. (Which is more stressful: a player's first month in the majors, in which he is trying to prove that he is good enough, or an at-bat with a game on the line?)
My belief is that the differences in "clutch hitting" performance are primarily random chance.
There are exceptions, but I always assume that major league players all have a fair bit of intestinal fortitude. For one thing, it's more nerve-racking to try to make it to the major-league level than it is to succeed there. (Which is more stressful: a player's first month in the majors, in which he is trying to prove that he is good enough, or an at-bat with a game on the line?)
My belief is that the differences in "clutch hitting" performance are primarily random chance.
If it helps, it was researched that 78.3% of Vernon's rbis come when the score is within 3 runs.
What's up with Reed Johnson and his lack of high socks?
What's up with Reed Johnson and his lack of high socks?