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TranslationBrad Mills and Matt Clement pitched pretty well yesterday and Brian Dopirak supplied the shizzle with the swizzle stick as the Jays crushed the U.S. team with a 6-5 victory Wednesday in Dunedin.

 

 

 

This game also marked the return of Casey Janssen to the mound for the first time since missing all of last season with labrum surgery on his right shoulder.  He showed the U.S. a thing or two about a thing or two by working a shutout frame, plunking Adam Dunn (sure to score brownie points with a certain GM!), and striking out a batter. 

Brad "General" Mills allowed just one run on one hit in his three inning start and Matt Clement was even better, working three clean innings with one punchout.  Reid Santos and some shoddy defence allowed the U.S. to score four runs in the eighth, two of them earned, as the Jays made three errors on the day (Millar, Dopirak, Adams).  However, the good guys rallied with a run in the eighth and three more in the ninth to make a winner of Dirk Hayhurst, who gave up a hit and struck out a batter in a shutout ninth.   At the dish, four Jays were perfect including your 2009 ROY Travis Snider.  He went 3-for-3.  Brian Dopirak and Kyle Phillips were 2-for-2 with Dopirak supplying three RBI, including the game winner.  Scott Campbell was 1-for-1.

On the U.S. side of the equation, some guy named Theodore Roosevelt Lilly went four innings and gave up just one run.  J.J. Putz wound up taking the loss while Jimmy Rollins had a two RBI afternoon.  As for how Canada did against the Phillies, things didn't go nearly as well so there's no need for any groundbreaking or cutting-edge analysis here.

==============================================================================================================================================================================

The World Baseball Classic got underway at 4:30 a.m. Eastern Time with China taking on Japan, the 2006 defending champions, at the Tokyo Dome in Pool A action.  Pool A has Japan, China, Chinese-Taipei, and Korea.  Pool B has Cuba, Mexico, Australia, and South Africa in Mexico City.  Pool C features Canada, the U.S., Venezuela, and Italy. Pool D consists of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, and the Netherlands in San Juan.  It's a double-elimination set-up for Round 1 which means if you lose twice, you're out.  The top two teams from each pool advance to Round 2 which will be played at Petco Park in San Diego and Dolphin Stadium in Miami.  The semi-finals and finals will be held at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The Blue Jays taking part in this tournament are Marco Scutaro for Venezuela, Rod Barajas for Mexico, Jose Bautista for the Dominicans, minor league hurler Orlando Roman for Puerto Rico, as well as Scott Richmond and minor league catcher David Corrente for Canada.  Former Jays of note include Corey Koskie and Matt Stairs for Canada, Ted Lilly for the U.S., Frank Catalanotto for Italy, Cesar Izturis for Venezuela, and Felipe Lopez for Puerto Rico.  As for Jays minor leaguers from the past , there's Sharnol Adriana for Mexico as well as minor league pitchers Po-Hsuan Keng for Chinese-Taipei, Diegomar Markwell for the Netherlands, Josue Matos for Puerto Rico, and Vince Perkins for Canada.

Team Canada will managed by former Ernie Whitt with Paul Quantrill helping out on the coaching staff.  Canada's first game will be against the U.S. at the Rogers Centre this Saturday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Eastern.

============================================================================================================================================================================

In other news...........

The Dodgers and Manny Ramirez finally agreed on a two-year deal worth $45-million dollars, Oakland expects new acquisitions Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra, to report to the A's camp today, and New York Mets ace Johan Santana is holding out hope that he'll start on Opening Day.  Speaking of which, just 32 days until the Jays host Detroit at the Rogers Centre!

 

Brad Was Rad! Brian & Matt Were Dope & Phat! | 38 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
TheyCallMeMorty - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 07:30 AM EST (#197042) #
Anyone else going to any WBC games?
greenfrog - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 10:21 AM EST (#197043) #
Did anyone see Janssen pitch? I'd be interested to know whether he maintains his pre-surgery stuff. If he can return to form, he would be a huge asset to the team.
John Northey - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 10:25 AM EST (#197044) #
Didn't notice it anywhere but it seems Cito has Inglett as the #3 CF'er on the team after Wells & Rios.

An interesting idea, makes use of the guy and keeps the bench as flexible as possible. So now we have Inglett and Bautista in CF as backups who are on the roster already.
timpinder - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 11:29 AM EST (#197045) #

According to MLB.com, A-Rod will be out until May after surgery to remove a cyst on his hip, and he has dropped out of the WBC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7wtNOkuHo&feature=related

Richard S.S. - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 11:32 AM EST (#197046) #

Playing in the crucible of fire named the American League East is the finest training ground of Baseball in the world, everything else, is just 2nd class.  Every decision made, every penny spent, every action taken is magnified in its' time and its' effects.  This is where Baseball matters; even being obsessed with it.  Johan Santana (29)  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/131659-johan-santana-has-a-history-of-elbow-problems was once Roy Halladay's (31)  http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/players/Roy_Halladay/  only competition in the A.L..  Johan (of the 6 yr. $137.5 M. + 1 yr. $25. M.) Santana or Roy (of the 2 yr. $30. M.), who has the best long term value.

There will be many significant decisions made from performances this spring, with the initial decisions starting at 10 I.P. and 20 A.B.  But closer attention must be given to W.B.C. performances, whether exhibition or regular games; split squad and B-games as well must be looked at closely.  Baseball is changing; Draft picks and prospects are valued like GOLD; sign-and-trade is spoken of often, as is eating salary.  This season's signings and trades are not over, everyone is performing for a position this season.  There are a lot fewer jobs available than there are quality to fit them.  It's about to get interesting.

                       

Mick Doherty - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 12:15 PM EST (#197047) #

Brad Was Rad! Brian & Matt Were Dope & Phat!

Just woke up to find it's still 1985? Crap, I probably have a lit paper due tomorrow.

Heraclitus - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 12:23 PM EST (#197048) #
I haven't dug everywhere through the WBC website yet, but does anyone know if they'll be making available game notes, similar to the way MLB does (http://presspass.mlb.com/pp_teamselect.asp)? It would be nice to have something like that to take to the park, especially to have some info on the lesser-known players.



braden - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 01:50 PM EST (#197049) #

Joba Chamberlain didn't fare too well against Team Canada today.  He walked four of the five batters he faced and gave up a single to the other.  Also added a wild pitch for good measure.

Probably nothing but could signal an injury or maybe he's just channeling Rick Ankiel for the day.

John Northey - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 02:46 PM EST (#197051) #
Now that, as a Jays and Team Canada fan, has to be good news.  Joba being super wild and unable to get an out.  Also after 3 innings the Yankees have yet to get a hit.  Joba's last game was 1 IP 3 hits 0 walks or strikeouts 2 runs.  So he has allowed 7 runs now in 1 IP 4 hits 4 walks 0 strikeouts.  Wonder if Yankee fans are getting scared yet?  :)

Of course, as I've said before, spring training, especially early spring, is pretty close to meaningless.  Still, it is fun to imagine the Yankees future ace suddenly pulling an Ankiel.

92-93 - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 04:40 PM EST (#197052) #
"Of course, as I've said before, spring training, especially early spring, is pretty close to meaningless. Still, it is fun to imagine the Yankees future ace suddenly pulling an Ankiel."

Wait, Joba can hit too?! :)

I wonder what would have more value to them - another starting pitcher behind Sabathia, Burnett, and Wang for the next 4 years or a stud hitting OF for a team with an aging, veteran OF.
Matthew E - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 05:05 PM EST (#197053) #

Does one "pull an Ankiel"?

Surely the correct phrase is "twist an Ankiel".

uglyone - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 06:49 PM EST (#197054) #
As long as we're celebrating the demise of Joba, why don't we pile on with the info that ARod might need season-ending Hip Labrum surgery?
Chuck - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 07:14 PM EST (#197055) #
Re the Rodriguez hip business, we see this kind of thing every year at this time and I just don't get it. Why do players get diagnosed as requiring surgery during spring training? Why not when the previous season ends and they have the entire off-season to mend?
scottt - Thursday, March 05 2009 @ 08:33 PM EST (#197056) #
That's really up to the player. I can't see teams giving physicals to their players at the end of the season to find issues which might be treated before the next spring.
Richard S.S. - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 05:30 AM EST (#197057) #

Re the Rodriguez hip business

The A-Roid hip thingy is of interest to Jays fans; without A-Roid, the Yankees aren't that good.  If he has Surgery, and it's a cist removal, then 9-11 weeks to recover.  If  it's a torn labrum repair, then 4-6 months to recover.  If he tries to play through it, didn't Mike Lowell and Chase Utley try that.  How well did that work?  Mike and Chase still had the surgery.  The next 7-10 days should clarify the problem.  Assuming he's out, how does this help the Jays?

andrewkw - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 05:41 AM EST (#197058) #
Unlikely since he has 2 years on his contract but JP should see if the yankees have any interest at all in Rolen this might be their best chance to unload some of his salary.  Other then that remote possibility and the fact we might not get to boo him for a while Arod requiring surgery doesn't really effect the jays much.
Lugnut Fan - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 07:14 AM EST (#197059) #
I will keep my theories on the A-Rod thing to myself, but if he truly had a torn labrum in his hip that apparently occured I doubt he would be able to swing the bat let alone run and he was having a decent spring.  I find it kind of fishy that all of this comes out right before the WBC.  He also played Sunday against the Reds, had a meeting with MLB after the game and then this stuff about a cyst and a torn labrum came out.  Since they take blood tests instead of urine for the WBC, with his recent admissions, it got me curious.  I know that it probably isn't true, but I love a good conspiracy.
Mike Green - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 10:04 AM EST (#197061) #
In the context of an interesting discussion about DIPS over at Primer, the name of Phil Marchildon came up.  He was born in Penetanguishene and had interesting career with the A's in the 40s.  In the middle of his career, he served in the war and was a POW in Germany for 9 months.  He died in Toronto in 1997.

Among the pitchers who outperformed their teammates in career BABIP, Marchildon's name sticks out among knuckleballers and Hall of Famers.  This raised the question of what he threw, and as you can see from the comments in the BTF thread, it is clear that he threw a fastball and later, a curve, but the delivery angle (3/4 vs. sidearm/submarine) and his secondary stuff is unclear.  It occurs to me that we may have an older reader here who may actually remember him.  If so, please share your memories here.
Matthew E - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 10:14 AM EST (#197062) #
I've got Marchildon's book at home, plus the Neyer/James Guide to Pitchers. There may be some details in either of those. Not sure when I'll next be able to check, though.
Mike Green - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 10:22 AM EST (#197063) #
Steve Treder in comment 59 in the BTF thread has excerpts from the Neyer/James book on Marchildon, with statements from his teammate Carl Scheib. 
TamRa - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 12:38 PM EST (#197064) #
Am I the only Jays fan in the world who does NOT want to see Rolen "dumped" - especially to the Yankees?

Not only do I not think it's likely they would take on a two year obligation for such a short-term opening, they could go out and get someone like Tehan and it'd make much more sense or as Olney points out, play Cano at 3B and sign Grudzy or Durham...

But I do not think Rolen NEEDS dumping and I shudder to think who will play 3B in his absence. If they Jays are to have any shot at respectability in the next two years, we need Rolen. I, for one, am not ready to close this window entierly and resign myself to bottom feeding.



John Northey - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 02:01 PM EST (#197065) #
If Rolen is traded then the Jays have put up a big sign saying 'don't bother watching'.  No prospect is ready for third base, and Bautisa/Inglett/whoever at third is not encouraging as more than a stop gap for a 2 week DL stint. 

Overbay could be traded and have Lind move there, leaving DH as a hole (Millar/whoever) but it could be dealt with.  Ryan could be traded and the Jays wouldn't miss a beat most likely with the deep pen.  Those are the contracts that, while not total write offs, are replaceable with cheap talent.  Rolen is not unless a young third baseman comes back in exchange.

JustinD - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 03:01 PM EST (#197066) #
I agree with you completely WillRain. It's not my money so I really don't care if Rolen takes up 12 million this year or whatever, but I do think we need him on this team. Even if Rolen's offense is completely gone, with all the young pitchers we will be throwing out there this year, this team is going to need his defense. Now if that 12 million is precluding us from signing Doc, that's another thing. But I don't see how you can make that case.

In two years, hopefully someone from the farm should be able to replace him. But right now we have no one that is ready just yet.

uglyone - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 03:03 PM EST (#197067) #

I think the affect of the ARod injury on the Jays would be obvious.

If ARod is done for the year, quite simply, the Yanks' offense is WORSE than last year, with the losses of ARod, Abreu, and Giambi and the addition of only Tex.

Suddenly, they're not the seeming guarantee to be significantly improved that most thought they were.

This won't matter of course if things don't go right for the Jays this year, but if a few things do fall into place nicely (hello Cecil, Mills, and Snider), then suddenly the Jays' odds at being competitive have just improved a notch or three.

Mylegacy - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 03:09 PM EST (#197068) #
Couple of things...

Arnsberg in an article at the TO Sun says he's high (metaphorically not chemically) on Mills and Clement. He says Mills really keeps the ball down and throws effortlessly. He says Clement doesn't sweat much for a guy his age - or some other form of damning with faint praise.

Diamond on team Canada looks like a jewel of sorts.

Rolen - ironically IF Rolen is the September - new arm angle - Rolen then he will be one of the FIVE KEYS we need to actually surprise and contend.

The FIVE surprises we need are: (in no particular order) - Rolen to be re-Rolen: Three of Mills, Cecil, Clement, Purcey and Richmond to be Godlike: Janssen and McGowan to be back to near Godlike by June(ish): Rios to FINALLY be Da Man: Lind's new 220 pounds to be POWER muscle not fat: Snider to be the real - actual - for sure - second coming of God: Accardo to be back: Halladay to stay healthy: Cito to take up smoking a variety of hemp - so he can chill out a bit more: Three more Yankees to fall on thier roid soaked swords: Three more Sox to die of unspeakable diseases: the Rays to regress to the norm.....among the KEYS we need to actually surprise and contend are such surprises as....

Mick Doherty - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 03:21 PM EST (#197069) #

Not sure what made me think this, an earlier post I guess, and y'all know I love playing with names, so if the Jays rookie hopes pan out beyond Snider, can we copyright the following for a banner?

Blue Jays '09: a Cecil, B./B. Mills Production

Or is a punny reference to Cecil B. DeMille too much of a reach?

Chuck - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 03:33 PM EST (#197070) #
I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Doherty.
Heraclitus - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 03:59 PM EST (#197071) #
So, from my digging around, it looks like the WBC opener tomorrow is:

Jake Peavy (USA) v. Mike Johnson (Canada)

Johnson's last team was the Wyverns of the Korean league.

Presumably in the following games, the Americans will go with Oswalt, and then Lilly?

For the Canadians, "Ace" Scott Richmond is being saved for the third game.

If everything breaks as expected, the WBC schedule at SkyDome goes like this:

SAT      Can v USA     (USA wins)

SAT      Ita v Ven      (Ven wins)

SUN     USA v Ven      (USA wins)

MON    Can v Ita        (Can wins, Italy out)

TUE     Can v Ven      (?? wins, loser out)

WED    ?? v USA     (both teams advance, winner of this game is pool champion)



ayjackson - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 10:29 PM EST (#197072) #
My mother always told me if you can't say anything nice about somebody, say they don't sweat much for an otd fellah.
Mylegacy - Friday, March 06 2009 @ 10:37 PM EST (#197073) #
I listened to the Jays - Phils game tonight. The Philly announcers were laughing about how good Halladay is and how easy he makes it look. I think this kid has a real good chance of going north with the team.
Mylegacy - Saturday, March 07 2009 @ 01:50 AM EST (#197074) #
In the "B" game with Philly earlier today Scott "Superman" Rolen hit TWO - count 'em - TWO - two run home runs! Millar - not to be outdone hit one three run home run. The Jays won 12 7.

Rolen hitting TWO homers in a month would be good - 2 in a week excellent - 2 in ONE game - PRICELESS! Dare we hope his new found swing is for real? Be still my heart!
Chuck - Saturday, March 07 2009 @ 12:07 PM EST (#197075) #
TimberLee - Saturday, March 07 2009 @ 12:31 PM EST (#197076) #
Goll-ee! It must be fun wandering around in Mick Doherty's brain. The neural pathways apparently don't don't lead down any beaten path.
Andrew K - Saturday, March 07 2009 @ 02:15 PM EST (#197078) #
Where do bauxites go for live chat nowadays? Anyone watching USA v CAN?
HollywoodHartman - Saturday, March 07 2009 @ 02:28 PM EST (#197079) #
Chat doesn't work and no game thread. Boourns! But I may need to get myself a Mike Johnson jersey (through 1 at least).
#2JBrumfield - Sunday, March 08 2009 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#197082) #

Blue Jays '09: a Cecil, B./B. Mills Production

Or is a punny reference to Cecil B. DeMille too much of a reach?

A reach?  You're straining muscles you didn't know you had!!

Clifford - Sunday, March 08 2009 @ 06:45 PM EDT (#197092) #

Re: Phil Marchildon

Born in Penetanguishene, one of seven children of a tinsmith. He started out playing in the Nickle Belt Baseball League for the Creighton Indians in 1936 as a catcher, but when they saw him throwing the ball back faster than the pitcher was throwing it in they asked him to pitch. Word on the velocity of his pitches got around and at age 26 he was asked to join the Toronto Maple Leafs, then a AAA team, for $350 a month. The Leafs were affiliated with the Philadelphia Athletics and Connie Mack called him up. He showed enough that in 1941 Mack signed him for $3500 for the abysmal, offensively challenged  A's.  In Philadelphia he was mentored by Earle Brucker, the pitching coach, who helped him by correcting  his untutored delivery, no more throwing across his body, no more not stepping straight to home, and so on.

Playing for the worst team in the majors he won 16 games, third in the A.L. to the aces of the Yankees (Bonham) and the Red Sox (Hughson), the top two teams in the league. Twice he lost two-hitters, once he lost a one-hitter. The Athletics were awful offensively and Phil won some extra inning games with his own hits.

So, what did he throw? Here are some comments from the day: Ted Williams once called him to the batting cage and said, "What's that pitch you're  throwin;?...it comes up to the plate and, when I start swingin; it breaks in on me, toward the handle. I can't get power on it."  Jimmy Foxx: "That kid Marchildon, what a pitcher he is. I reckon Dizzy Trout of Detroit is the fastest pitcher in our league since Bob Feller's gone, but Marchildon this afternoon was faster than Trout and had more stuff. He's got the darndest fastball I ever saw...but none of the other fastball pitchers can make a ball twitch the way Phil does. It comes down the middle then sails away from a righthand batter. What makes his curve more effective is that you never know what he's throwing, fastball or hook." Tom Henrich: "He's the kind of pitcher who's tough even before he throws the ball." Phil Rizzuto: "When Marchildon is pitching I might just as well leave my bat in the dugout." It sounds very much like a slider.

After  the 1942 season, at age 29, he was called up to be a tailgunner with the RCAF and got shot down on his 28th mission, POW'd in eastern Germany, and in 1945 forced to trek west ahead of the advancing Russian armies. He was emaciated when demobbed but two months after leaving a POW camp he was pitching for the Athletics in Chicago. He hurt his leg and didn't pitch til the next season, 1946, at age 33. In 1947 he beat the Yankees on opening day and went on to win 19 and lose only 9. Allie Reynolds was also 19-9 but with a higher ERA. Reynolds go the award as top pitcher.

At the start of the 1948 season his arm went suddenly dead. Whether the problem was physical or mental, his career tailspinned and in 1950 he was released by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He played Intercounty with Guelph and Waterloo, winning the batting champoionship with a .367 avg. In the 1950s he worked at Avro and after the cancellation of the Arrow made hospital beds for a company in Port Credit until retirement.

Until Ferguson Jenkins won 20 for the Cubs in 1967 Phil Marchildon had won more games in a single season than any Canadian born pitcher.

This information if from an interview with Marchildon in 1969 by the late Paul Rimstead.

Mike Green - Monday, March 09 2009 @ 09:56 AM EDT (#197100) #
Thanks, Clifford.
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