Two sacrifice flies in the last two innings made the difference, as the Jays managed a split with the BoSox. Chalk this one up to the bullpen, which bailed out Gustavo Chacin, and the bats, which never quit and continued to grind it out. Shaun Marcum is having himself quite the big-league debut.
I can't really complain about today's split -- in the first game they only gave up three runs to the mighty Boston offense, and in the second game they gave up more but managed to scratch out seven runs.
Good show, gentlemen.
Is that it for the Chacin Rookie of the Year campaign?
Good show, gentlemen.
Is that it for the Chacin Rookie of the Year campaign?
Excellent ballgame! An absolute treat. Many predicted that the AL standings would remain unchanged after today. But who would have predicted that this would be so because the Jays, D-Rays, Tigers and (probably) Orioles all won?!?
I didn't agree with some of Gibby's decisions -- I would have left SS in to face Renteria and Ortiz, for instance -- but they worked out.
I *would* have given the Jays credit for some perfectly-executed small ball in the eigth inning; if you read the play-by-play, the sequence (walk, single, sacrifice, sac fly) made sense. What the boxscore won't show, though, is that Sparky tried unsuccessfully to bunt with a man on first (a suspect play), only to later single. Then Aaron Hill successfully bunted with two on and nobody out (a smart play), and the Jays got the precious run they were playing for.
The Jays had some real quality at-bats, and some really clutch performances out of the 'pen.
Games like this are character-builders.
I didn't agree with some of Gibby's decisions -- I would have left SS in to face Renteria and Ortiz, for instance -- but they worked out.
I *would* have given the Jays credit for some perfectly-executed small ball in the eigth inning; if you read the play-by-play, the sequence (walk, single, sacrifice, sac fly) made sense. What the boxscore won't show, though, is that Sparky tried unsuccessfully to bunt with a man on first (a suspect play), only to later single. Then Aaron Hill successfully bunted with two on and nobody out (a smart play), and the Jays got the precious run they were playing for.
The Jays had some real quality at-bats, and some really clutch performances out of the 'pen.
Games like this are character-builders.
I think Chacin's RoY chances were finished a while ago. He needed 16+ wins.
The pen was outstanding today. 7.1 IP of two hit ball!
The pen was outstanding today. 7.1 IP of two hit ball!
I mentioned this in the game chat and it didn't go over too well. What does everyone think about Kenji Jojima, the catcher, who just finished his 2005 season in the Pacific League. I can't seem to find his 2005 numbers, but from what I've heard, he had a very good season this year. From 2002-2004 he racked up 95 homers (36 in 116 games in 04) and hit .330 and .338 in 2003 and 2004 respectively. He had a 1.087 OPS in 2004 and iirc has his first season of free agency this year. I don't know what the park factors are like for Fukuoka Stadium (where the fans sell out every game to see him), and he is of 29 years of age. Is this someone JP would be interested in or is he the next Kaz Matsui?
From the game I watched at the Fukuoka Dome, it is a hitters park. Tony Batista will finish with over 30 HR. The field is shorter than MLB. Same as in Korea. Cut those HR by a third or half realistically facing MLB pitchers. IMO
The one thing I didn't get about the game was all the strikeouts. Those pitches that kept getting Hillenbrand and Wells, I mean I understand it's hard to hit a 90 mph fastball, but come on, it's up around your head! I played baseball for 5 years and if I had put a swing on that pitch I would be reamed when I went back to the dugout.
Earlier today after game 1, it's only 9.10 pm here in BC, I was lamenting our lack of offense. This evening we get 6 runs, This evening every seven seconds on the TV our announcers kept repeating how horrible the Sox pitching was tonight.
We REALLY need another two, at least slightly better than league average, hitters.
Our pitching borders on beautiful with more beauty coming on stream as we watch and even more when the spring bulbs bloom.
If JP thinks we can't get the bats we need he might be right to try and add another ace to the staff, either by free agency or trade. With Stroids on the retreat the few really powerful, clean hitters are going to be priced sky high.
Almost everybody needs pitching. We just might be able to challenge with pitching and defense. At least we make every game interesting. BUT, if you've no (or little) power I think you need to add speed to P & D.
We REALLY need another two, at least slightly better than league average, hitters.
Our pitching borders on beautiful with more beauty coming on stream as we watch and even more when the spring bulbs bloom.
If JP thinks we can't get the bats we need he might be right to try and add another ace to the staff, either by free agency or trade. With Stroids on the retreat the few really powerful, clean hitters are going to be priced sky high.
Almost everybody needs pitching. We just might be able to challenge with pitching and defense. At least we make every game interesting. BUT, if you've no (or little) power I think you need to add speed to P & D.
12 LOB—my goodness. I've never seen so many bases-loaded single-run innings.
What does everyone think about Kenji Jojima, the catcher, who just finished his 2005 season in the Pacific League.
I think he's a terrific player, one of the six or eight (quite possibly two or three) best catchers in the world. I also remember when he couldn't hit water falling out of a boat - that was four years ago, but it's a risk that he could revert to that.
I also know he's got a broken leg which ended his season last week. As such, he's a risk - a catcher with bad pins is not a good bet to be productive or even in the lineup. He must fully heal before anyone will roll the dice.
He is scheduled to be a FA after this season, so Softbank might post him in an attempt to wring some more value out of him, since they can get a compensation payment for Jojima if he goes to MLB even though he's a FA. If he's posted, making him eligible to be signed by an MLB team, he still has to decide he wants to play in MLB, and I've seen nothing to indicate that either way.
Overall, I think signing a free-agent catcher to a big contract is a bad move, since their shelf life is less than other players. But what we've seen is that Japanese position players are actually a pretty good bargain, and the pitchers ain't too bad either. If you could bring Jojima in at a cost of $20-28 million for four years (including the compensation payment) you'd be doing well.
Jojima is one of the highest-paid players in Japanese history, but he's still only earning $4.4 million this season on a one-year contract.
If they brought in Jojima, the marketing department would probably love it: every night would be Japanese night!
Considering that Japanese night does pretty well, it might be a shrewd move from a marketing standpoint, much like bringing in Koskie was.
Considering that Japanese night does pretty well, it might be a shrewd move from a marketing standpoint, much like bringing in Koskie was.
Thanks for the info, Craig!
Is that it for the Chacin Rookie of the Year campaign?
Good thing I didn't get all those "Chacin for Rookie of the Year" t-shirts made. I ain't kidding.
Shrewd yes, but something like him can increase attendance by a few thousand every night. Jojima fever would be huge. And it can't be bad to have a city thousands of kilometers from Toronto rooting for the Jays either.
Furthering the thought to sillier lengths ... if you could also sign Hideki Matsui as a FA to play left field, the Jays could become Japan's new favourite team. Not that I expect either of these to happen....
Someone just asked J.P., and he said this Japanese catcher would probably be far too expensive to bring over. He says it's also about "known quantities", so they prefer to sign free agents or make trades.
Now, what Bauxite made the call?
Now, what Bauxite made the call?
I confess. I had to get it out of my system. I had to know. My voice came out rather girlish on the air though. :(
No more calls sir, I promise!
Okay folks, off the Kenji bandwagon. Single file, ladies first.