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I go away for a week and come back and the Jays have something like a 1 ERA over the last week or so. Last night was a 1-0 victory over the White Sox for the first 4 game sweep in 5 years.


As Magpie pointed out yesterday the Jays have a poor one run record, which is in part due to luck. Last night they had a little luck on their side. Early in the game the White Sox had 2nd and 3rd with no outs and the Jays conceded a run on a ground ball, but the White Sox decided not to take it. In the 8th inning a line drive up the middle would have tied the game but Camp got a piece of it and the Jays turned it into an out. In the 9th BJ Ryan couldn't throw a slider for a strike (and kept insisting on trying) and got bailed out with an easy double play ball to end the game. Is it a good thing he can pitch back to back now?

It's good to see that Gibbons isn't married to Eckstein at the top of the lineup or in for defense the entire game. Last night was the perfect spot for McDonald and sure enough he entered the game. I don't know that Eckstein has to remain the 9th hitter, but until he's consistently at or above a .350 OBP he should stay at the bottom of the lineup.

Having said that, I'm not sure why Stewart deserves consistent playing time right now, or hitting 2nd. Looking at Overbay's .252/.361/.320 makes it seem to me that he'd be a good #2 hitter.

The Rays are in town tonight. Good time to keep the streak going and make up some ground in the standings.
6 May 2008: Welcome to the Deadball Era | 27 comments | Create New Account
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scottt - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 09:21 AM EDT (#184461) #
I think 28 pitches is a bit much to consider using him again tonight.

I'd be surprised if the low era-no hit with RISP approach works with the Rays. Time to score some runs.

We won't see the White Sox again until a 4 game series in Chicago in early September.

Chuck - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 09:26 AM EDT (#184463) #
It's good to see that Gibbons isn't married to Eckstein at the top of the lineup or in for defense the entire game.

The ZLC speaks. John Gibbons listens.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 02:07 PM EDT (#184487) #

I saw the title of this thread, and was hoping it was going to talk about how offense is down all over baseball.

And perhaps how that might be linked to the Mitchell report.

greenfrog - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 03:50 PM EDT (#184500) #
Gibbons seems to have anointed Stewart as his LF, but tonight might be a good time to slot Lind into the lineup. Sonnanstine is quite a bit tougher on RHBs (career 744 OPS against) than LHBs (838 OPS against). On the other hand, Stewart has been playing better of late.

For what it's worth, Stewart is 1-5 career against Sonnanstine with a double and a walk.

brent - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 05:31 PM EDT (#184510) #
Well, the Jays are still on pace to break the MLB record for GDP with nearly two hundred if things continue. Losing Thomas will "hurt" their chances I bet.
Magpie - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 05:46 PM EDT (#184511) #
Those of you who were planning to come down to the Dome on Frank Thomas Bobblehead Day - sorry. They'll be giving away tote bags instead.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news.



jmoney - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:10 PM EDT (#184512) #
Sadly, I haven't had TV this year since my home flooded in February. I've caught the odd game when I can. Last night was the first game I've seen in a few weeks. While it was a well pitched game. The "hitting" was pretty painful to watch. I don't see the Jays ineptitude at the plate carrying them past the more offensively inclined Rays.
Magpie - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:30 PM EDT (#184513) #
Some notes from the Dome...

Got a text message from Liam at 4:54 yesterday that said "just saw The Dude walking down the street."
He confirmed that it was indeed old friend Eric he'd seen at Bloor and Yonge, and passed along this note: "He is one big dude."

The Dude is in the starting lineup tonight along with Gabe Gross, and the Tampa Game Notes include this encouraging word:

THE NEXT PENA?

Non-roster invite Eric Hinske is 2nd American League in slugging (.581) and ranks 13th with a .392 on-base percentage.... he also leads the Rays with 13 extra-base hits and is one shy of Carlos Pena for most homers on club with 6.... Pena, a non-roster invite in 2007, went on to set club single-season records for home runs, RBI, walks, on-base percentage and sluggng.

Also gleaned from the notes...

Whose bright idea was this? Dioner Navarro is a natural RH hitter who began switch-hitting at age 13. In the majors, he has hit .279 (53-190) right-handed and .237 (154-649) the other way.

Troy Percival is the 13th man to save the 7th game of a World Series, and the only one in the last 20 years. You can bet I'll know who the other 12 are before this night is over.

A.J. Burnett on his regular four days rest is 42-35, 3.39 with 8.5/3.58 K/BB per 9 IP. In all other rest situations, he is 30-33, 4.33 with 7.53/4.06 K/BB per 9 IP. Four days rest tonight, by the way.
Chuck - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:40 PM EDT (#184514) #
You can bet I'll know who the other 12 are before this night is over.

And 4000 words later, so will we. ; )
owen - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:44 PM EDT (#184515) #
Whose bright idea was this? Dioner Navarro is a natural RH hitter who began switch-hitting at age 13. In the majors, he has hit .279 (53-190) right-handed and .237 (154-649) the other way.

Well sure, but that's not to say that if he couldn't switch-hit he wouldn't be batting .150 against righties.  Or is that why you posted this bullet, and I am stating the obvious?
ChicagoJaysFan - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:44 PM EDT (#184516) #
Sounds like using Johnny Mac as a defensive sub wasn't a one-off and is going to be done more frequently

"It depends on where Eck is in the lineup," Gibbons said. "If he's still coming to the plate, we probably won't [play McDonald] until the ninth. If he's out of the way, we may do it in the eighth. Who knows?"

Magpie - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:46 PM EDT (#184517) #
I can only find 12 Game 7 saves in WS history. What am I missing?

1925-Red Oldham, Pgh
1926-Pete Alexander, StL
1931-Bill Hallahan, StL
1952-Bob Kuzava, NYY
1972-Rollie Fingers, Oak
1973-Darold Knowles, Oak
1975-Will McEnaney, Cin
1979-Kent Tekulve, Pgh
1982-Bruce Sutter, St.L
1986-Jesse Orosco, NYM
1987-Jeff Reardoon, Min
2002-Troy Percival, An

Magpie - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:50 PM EDT (#184519) #
And 4000 words later, so will we.

I've actually given a bit of thought to investing at least that many words on the most famous of the bunch, as part of a Year In Review....
Magpie - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 06:59 PM EDT (#184520) #
A cool trivia question!

Who holds the National League record for home runs in a season by a designated hitter?

Rob - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 07:26 PM EDT (#184521) #
Maybe they're including pre-1903 Game 7s in the 13. Bob Caruthers? Smilin' Tim Keefe? Red Ehret? Come on, Mags, you know these guys.
Rob - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 07:34 PM EDT (#184522) #
Trivia question...is it Cliff Floyd? (Is he still in the game notes?)
Magpie - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 07:43 PM EDT (#184523) #
No connection to the Game Notes, it just came up in conversation. And none of the pre-1903 post-seasons had a Game 7, as best as I recall. It was a while back, cut me some slack here.
John Northey - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 09:01 PM EDT (#184524) #
Well, this sucks.  First Eck is hurt now McDonald.  Hope Scutaro has his health insurance paid up :P

Inglett I'm sure will be up tomorrow, but if both are gone for awhile who else comes up?

Mike Forbes - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 09:25 PM EDT (#184526) #

Hector Luna or Pedro Lopez are both utilitymen playing in Syracuse. Russ Adams is on the 40 man roster, but who knows if anyone trusts him to play any infield at all.

Dave Till - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 09:36 PM EDT (#184527) #
If Johnny Mac twisted his foot badly enough to not be able to walk off the field, it's probably really bad.

What's up with Eric Hinske? When did he start hitting like that?

John Northey - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 09:56 PM EDT (#184528) #
They were talking about Hinske adding a lot of weight in the offseason.  Makes one wonder...

Still, career years at age 30 aren't that odd and he has lots of time to come back to earth.  

Rob - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 10:18 PM EDT (#184529) #
What's up with Eric Hinske? When did he start hitting like that?

Beats me. Looks fluky. Since when does Hinske walk more than he strikes out? He's not exactly known for adjusting his approach. (I say this without actually having seen him play this year, though. Last I checked, Jays games aren't on TQS.)
Paul D - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 11:10 PM EDT (#184530) #
I was at the game tonight and wasn't sure what happened to Eckstein and MacDonald, can someone fill me in?
jsut - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 11:21 PM EDT (#184532) #
Wilner said there would be no news about macdonald tonight, and he was crossing his fingers that it was only something that would keep him out of the lineup for 4 to 6 weeks.  He also said something about the jays calling up Inglett to play short for 3 days, then to back up Eck.  Apparently he pulled his groin.
timpinder - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 11:22 PM EDT (#184533) #

Eckstein's injury appeared to happen when he dove for Navarro's bloop single to lead off the 3rd inning.  He was seen on the replay wincing and he took his time getting up.  It's being reported as a groin strain.  He stayed in the game for a couple of innings, which normally would be a good sign, except that he was replaced by McDonald when he was scheduled to bat first in the bottom of that inning, which is definitely a bad sign.

McDonald appeared to catch a groove in the turf.  They showed the replay a couple of times and his ankle went about 4" farther than it's designed to go.  Quite ugly, really.  I would be very surprised if McDonald is back withing the next 6 weeks from looking at the replay, and I wouldn't be surprised if he actually broke his ankle.  Hopefully it's "just" a sprain, though.

Magpie - Tuesday, May 06 2008 @ 11:35 PM EDT (#184534) #
Who holds the National League record for home runs in a season by a designated hitter?

Jim Thome, with 4.
brent - Wednesday, May 07 2008 @ 08:35 AM EDT (#184535) #

game 34- WPA heroes Overbay (6), Eckstein (7), Tallet (4)      WPA let downs Scutaro (3), Burnett (6), Rios (9), Hill (10), Stairs (8)

I support JP, but maybe we should be looking for a luckier GM. I mean, two shortstops injured in the same game- ridiculous. Two seasons derailed by injuries- ridiculous.

6 May 2008: Welcome to the Deadball Era | 27 comments | Create New Account
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