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If the four-run third didn't do it for me, it was the following sequence when Francisco Rosario had two outs: walk, wild pitch, walk, HBP. It only led to one run, but still...frustration indeed. I knew there was a reason I hated interleague play.

Yesterday's Game: Pass.

Where's Hill? A bit odd, I thought, to have him sit in favour of Russ Adams' bat, such as it is, at second and Shea Hillenbrand's glove, such as it is, at third, not to mention the bizarre Troy Glaus Experiment. Couldn't Aaron Hill have played any of those three positions last night? I understood having Glaus at short when the options were Backup Infielder, Minor League Filler Infielder and Over The Hill Infielder, but Gibbons is really making me think about his decisions lately. Not in a good way.

Adams at 2B: No complaints yet. He does look "different" sometimes, though. You know those plays infielders make that look so smooth, but probably would have the same result if they were just a little bit clumsy and therefore, there's no problem with how they field? Adams does that all the time, from what I can tell. When he knocked down a ball to his left, he probably had no shot at the runner (Borchard, I think) but you couldn't help but think he might have had it if he was a little smoother. Of course, he wouldn't have, but perception often trumps reality, and Adams is an easy target when it comes to his defense.

I Heart Soriano: When he was a Yankee, I wasn't allowed to like him. Then he went to Texas and it was easy to make fun of him -- bad defense, stats inflated by AL Coors. Well, he's right up there with Pujols in HR. And don't look twice, but he's walking now. Yes, Alfonso Soriano is drawing walks.

Anyway, why do I like him now? Simple. With the Jays actually in spitting distance of first place, I've started watching the scoreboard. Now, if only FOX was obsessed with the AL East Beasts, then I could see the Yankees once in a while -- oh, never mind, here they are against the Nationals. About to blow a seven-run lead, but Mariano Rivera is in to nail things down. Sort of. Soriano stole second -- terrible inaction by Rivera, terrible throw by Posada -- then third and home -- Posada again, with a wild throw.

A Daryle Ward walk and Jose Guillen triple later, the Nats are on top of the world, even if their uniforms were beyond bad.

And you know, Soriano's a lot of fun to watch when he's not One Of Them.

I Wonder If Jamie Campbell Saw That: During the game, FOX showed a graphic with the list of players who have led the league in HR and outfield assists in the same year. It's a rare occurence -- possibly because you don't have to be an outfielder to hit homeruns -- and if Soriano does it this year, he'd be the first since Jesse Barfield in 1986. Before him, it was Willie Mays.

Slide, Zimmerman, Slide!
Did nobody else notice Ryan Zimmerman bailing out on a 4-6-3 in the ninth? At least make an effort -- you don't have to be Bill Madlock or end up like Gregg Zaun, but at least try.

Something I Didn't Notice:
Nomar Garciaparra is leading the NL in batting average? Huh?

Closer Update: It's been a while. The leaders are:
1.9-B.Jenks
1.8-C.Ray
1.6-J.Papelbon
1.4-J.Nathan
1.4-T.Jones
Hmm. Maybe this isn't so great after all, but I'll keep tracking it and see how the rest of the season goes. The Tigers have to stop winning sometime, and Jones won't be that fortunate forever. B.J. Ryan is at 0.7 saves above average, in 9th place in the AL (out of 34 pitchers with a realistic save opportunity in the eighth inning or later).

And If You're Wondering: Using this year's conversion rates for each save category, I found that Miguel Batista was at 0.6 above average through June 2005. But then it started. 0.5 below average after July, -1.2 after August (Felix Escalona!) and -2.5 at the end of the year. That would make him the second-worst closer in the AL this year, ahead of only Francisco Cordero (who has since lost his job to the less-bad Aki Otsuka.)
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Nick - Sunday, June 18 2006 @ 11:25 AM EDT (#149225) #
Although the starting infield for the Jays last night was peculiar, the Angels have the lock on worst baseball decision of the week.  They have demoted Jered Weaver to AAA with Colon coming off the DL, despite Weaver being the best pitcher on their major league team since he was promoted a few weeks ago.  I'm just a guy who watches baseball on TV, and Bill Stoneman and Mike Scioscia have won a World Series, but this seems like an obviously wrong choice.  Although I'm sure Jered bumping big brother Jeff from the rotation would be a delicate situation, Stoneman's job is to win major league games.  He seems to be placing a higher priority on making sure nobody's feelings get hurt.  The dynamics of it are interesting though.  Off the top of my head, I can't recall there ever being a similar situation in professional sports (i.e. rising star younger brother vying to take the spot currently held by struggling older brother.) 
Mike Green - Sunday, June 18 2006 @ 12:00 PM EDT (#149227) #
The 93 Dodgers had a somewhat similar situation. Ramon Martinez was the established starter, and younger brother Pedro was the upstart younger brother. They had Pedro in relief that year.  After the season, Dan Duquette liberated Pedro from LA for what seemed to be fair value in Delino DeShields.  The deal worked out pretty well for the Expos.
Mike Green - Sunday, June 18 2006 @ 05:24 PM EDT (#149233) #
Tonight's Boston-Atlanta tilt is worth watching if only for the starting pitchers.  Schilling vs. Smoltz brings together two Hall of Fame contenders in late career.  Both have been superb post-season performers, both have stared down serious injury and both are religious.  I find Smoltz more likable (and the fact that he is facing the enemy will make him easy to root for), but one cannot help but admire the work of both on the mound.
andrewkw - Sunday, June 18 2006 @ 06:31 PM EDT (#149235) #
Welcome back Josh Towers, his contract was purchased, why now?  Vinnie Chulk has been optioned to syracuse..  Source rotoworld

What is Towers doing back?  I'm all for him replacing Ty, but as already mentioned the Jays only need 4 starters right now.  Chulk seemed to be doing fine and that somehow got him a ticket to syracuse.



Maldoff - Sunday, June 18 2006 @ 07:30 PM EDT (#149237) #

There are some aspects to this transaction that surprise me, and others that don't.  I don't mind Towers being called up, with Lilly being pushed back a day and Taubenheim moving to the bullpen.  While I like Ty and what he's given to the team, I think in the end he's a middle reliever.  Watching the game on Friday, he seemed to have 2 pitches, and its tough to succeed with that sort of repertoire in the rotation.  Towers' time was now to come back up, and hopefully he'll regain the chip on his shoulder.

What bothers me with this transaction is Chulk being sent down.  He has pitched very well since being recalled, and there are a few guys (eg Tallet and Rosario) who have been considerably worse since Chulk's recall. The only thing I can think of is that the Jays are keeping Tallet only until Thursday when Burnett comes off the DL, and keeping him just in case Downs needs to spot start for Lilly or relieve Towers early (so that they still have an alternate lefty to SS LOOGY). The rationale behind keeping Rosario is confusing to me. They must think his psyche is weak, and he couldn't handle the demotion.

Mike Green - Sunday, June 18 2006 @ 08:23 PM EDT (#149238) #
I have opened a new thread for discussion of the Towers-Chulk roster move.
Steve Birnie - Monday, June 19 2006 @ 09:10 AM EDT (#149249) #

Just a quick note about interleague play: There were 42 interleague games played this past weekend, and the American League dominted, going 29-13, including 19-11 in National League parks. Minus the Jays and Indians getting swept, the AL went 29-7, including 19-5 in NL parks without the DH.

The AL is now 49-35 in interleague games this year.

Mike Green - Monday, June 19 2006 @ 09:48 AM EDT (#149251) #
The Royals did not seem to be an embarrassment probably for the first time all season as they took 2 of 3 from the Astros this weekend.  They'll probably break the 50 win plateau when all is said and done this season. 
Frank Markotich - Monday, June 19 2006 @ 12:13 PM EDT (#149255) #

I listened to a bit of the radio broadcast while in my car on Sunday. Warren Sawkiw attributed the Jays' problems to date in interleague play to the fact that "in National League parks it's a different style of baseball", yadda yadda.

Interesting that the Al was 19-11 in NL parks over the weekend - why didn't the other AL teams have so much trouble adapting?

I can think of any number of reasonable explanations - the hitters were a little fatigued with few off-days recently, they weren't familiar with the Marlins' young starters and didn't prepare adequately, or (most likely) it was just one of those things that happen over 162 games. Like being faced with a different style of baseball makes you unable to hit with runners in scoring position.

I haven't participated in the general slagging of Sawkiw, but this just irritated me no end. Sawkiw seems to be one of those "analysts" who has to say something rather than nothing to fill up the dead air , and who feels morally obligated to throw an explanation out there for everything, whether it makes sense or not.

 

 

 

Leigh - Monday, June 19 2006 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#149258) #
one of those "analysts" who has to say something rather than nothing to fill up the dead air , and who feels morally obligated to throw an explanation out there for everything, whether it makes sense or not.

Commonly referred to as "Buck Martinez Syndrome"
Oleg - Monday, June 19 2006 @ 02:57 PM EDT (#149264) #
totally off topic question, but im not sure where to put it. i just read in the dan fox chat transcript on prospectus about an article that keith law recently wrote for espn describing the jays' farm system as the worst its been since the early 90s. i came here looking for discussion of the article, but couldn't find anything. are things like this bueried in the discussion of other topics or are they just not discussed. i often find it's the case that there's a noteworthy event concerning the jays and it doesnt receive its own thread. rather i have to look through about ten recent threds and use ctrl-f to find someone mentioning it and then the subsequent discussion.
Gerry - Monday, June 19 2006 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#149270) #

Oleg:

I have not heard of this article but if anyone can find it we would be happy to discuss it.  Most of Keith's work is available to ESPN insiders only and that might be why it has not been seen.  The Blue Jays system is being ranked lower by organizations such as Baseball America, it might be due to Law's opinion re: drafting or it could also be because the Jays have graduated a lot of their recent draft picks (Adams, Hill, Janssen, etc.).

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