Blue Jays mail bag

The Jays have officially completed one third of their schedule, on pace for 84 wins. That must be considered a disappointment. But the pitching keeps on pitching and this team could go on another win streak at any time. In this week's mailbag, instead of pointing fingers at J.P. Ricciardi and John Gibbons, some thinking fans are beginning to examine the responsibility of the fans in creating a winning environment for the team. Here we go.

Q: Hey Richard.

Are you as sick as I am with the people writing in saying they are “taking a break” from the Jays? What kind of fans are these? We are less than two months into the season, the Jays are hovering around .500 in arguably the toughest division in baseball and fans think it's time to quit! I know as well as everyone else that it’s been 15 years since we've seen October ball in the T-dot, and I am not making any “it’s hard competing against that kind of money” excuses. I just think that as fans, we are as much to blame as anyone else.

Have you seen the Rogers Centre lately? Of course you have, there are no fans blocking your view! Maybe instead of taking a break from the Jays, the fans need to show the team and the owners how badly we want post-season action by showing up and being LOUD!

Cory Gallagher, London

A: I agree with you that fans who believe they are capable of “taking a break” are not as true-blue fans of baseball as they think. It’s like being frustrated by your children and thinking the solution is to “take a break” from caring for them. It ain’t gonna happen. Sitting here in Oakland and watching the non-fans at the Coliseum not show up and not cheer for a talented young team as they compete for the division shows what the Rogers Centre could become if all Jays fans went through with their threat to take a break.

Toronto and environs has more than five million people. The stadium is in an easily accessible downtown location. The facility is clean, comfortable and never has rainouts. Jays fans don’t realize how good they have it.

Poor K.C. Royals

YOUR MONDAY AFTERNOON BLUE JAYS

Shannon Stewart LF
Joe Inglett 2B
Alex Rios CF
Scott Rolen 3B
Matt Stairs DH
Lyle Overbay 1B
Marco Scutaro SS
Brad Wilkerson RF
Gregg Zaun C
Shaun Marcum P

Aaron Hill, who’d played 50 of the previous 52, was getting a break. Oh, right, and they just scored four runs in the second for a 4-zip lead on those poor K.C. Royals. The K.C.s have lost seven straight, scoring all of two runs Friday-through-Sunday.

For the Jays, it’ll get tougher after this, of course, as they head out for their second extended road-trip in two weeks. This one goes Oakland, Anaheim and, finally, New York. The A’s, who just swept the Red Sox out there, also swept the Jays here in early April – 9-8, 6-3 and 3-2.

Jays’ last trip didn’t go so badly, though – 6-4 overall after that insane 0-3 start in Cleveland. That makes them 10-3 for their last 13. Also, another win today – as the Jays’ crack research department so nicely turned up – will give them their second four-game sweep of the season. No, that’s not what the research uncovered. But, last time they did that twice in the same season was 1991, when the Indians played foils both times. This year’s, now, juggernaut, took the White Sox four here at the beginning of the month.

That four-run second today? A Rolen lead-off double, one-out run-scoring single by Overbay, single by Scutaro, Wilkerson sac fly, Zaun homer. We’re thinking Marcum can make this stand up.

Okay, so Marcum lasted into the eighth, one down, two aboard, Jays now cruising 7-2. Jesse Carlson in to shut the Royals down.

Oop, Mark Teahen single to centre but, for the second straight game, Alex Rios cuts down a runner at the plate with a one-hop strike to the plate. Carlson’s day is done in favour of Jason Frasor. Frase gets out of the inning.

Royals had got both their runs in the sixth without benefit of a hit. Marcum, who plunked his second-last batter of the fifth, plunked his first two here. Then he went and got two double-play balls, neither of which the Jays could turn. Marcum, himself, messed up the first of these when he couldn’t find the bag with his foot on the relay. So, one came in on a Joe Inglett misfire on the second potential double-play, another on a sac fly.

Jays had expanded on their four-run splurge in the second with a two-run Alex Rios double in the fifth; a Marco Scutaro solo in the sixth.

It’s good to be a juggernaut.

Well, this will make for a relatively pleasant flight to the left coast. Behind yet another solid outing from Marcum (5-3) and homers by Zaun and Scutaro, Jays whipped K.C. 7-2 this Monday afternoon to cap a four-game sweep of the Royals.

Jays’ fifth straight win pushed them a season-high three games over .500 (28-25) as they head out for three in each of Oakland, Anaheim and, finally, Yankee Stadium.

“We’re starting to get the offensive swagger you definitely need to win in this game,” said Hill, who got the matinee off. “We’re happy, we’re loose and we’re playing well.”

Blue Jays mail bag

Thankfully, it seems that the relatively successful conclusion to the Jays’ road trip through Minneapolis and Philly has brought Jays’ fans in off the ledges where they had been busily pounding out their last diatribes on some sort of Wi-Fi for Jumpers.com. Now we actually have readers defending J.P.’s legacy and wondering why I am so unfair. What would they be calling me if the Jays were ever to go on a win streak and take over first place? Yikes! In any case, another week, another mailbag. Here we go.

Q: Richard,

I think it's pretty disingenuous of you to describe J.P. (Ricciardi’s) draft record as “four guys, six years.” Those four players all came out of the 2003 and 2004 drafts. Moreover, while it’s accurate to describe JP’s first draft (2002) as a failure, you can't possibly pass judgment on his last three drafts. You know as well as anyone that it takes longer for prospects to develop in baseball than in any other sport. It's too early, even, to judge the 2004 draft when it's not clear what (David) Purcey, (Curtis) Thigpen and particularly (Adam) Lind will become. As for the drafts since, I would suggest that you're misleading fans by implying that we should be expecting to see results already. Yes, it does happen quickly sometimes, but that’s the exception rather than the rule. “Four guys (so far), three years” is a far more accurate description.

Darren Thomson, Vancouver, BC

The presidential seal

Only Roy Halladay gets to shrug off a name check from a man with a nuclear arsenal.

I asked him yesterday about getting name checked by George W. Bush.

"That's cool," Halladay said, sounding it wasn't really that cool. "Any time the leader of a country acknowledges you, it's cool."

So this happens to you a lot?

"It never has."

Okay.

The person who seemed really excited was clubhouse Bush booster John Gibbons. When I told him about it, Gibbons' eyes lit up and he burst out, "Good for George!"

Then he started hollering for Halladay, who was loitering in the hall outside his office with the other pitchers waiting to do their pre-series slide show about the Phillies.

"Doc! DOOOOC!" Gibbons hollered, making the pitchers skittish. They're not used to being hollered at by Gibbons. Halladay actually jogged into the room.

"Tell him," Gibbons said to me excitedly.

But Halladay already knew. His agent emailed him the text from the politico.com.

"Yeah, that's cool," Halladay said. Cool.

I asked Halladay who his favourite president was. No dice. "That's too political for me," he said.

Then I asked who his infield keystone was (Bush picked Phillie Chase Utley).

"(Derek) Jeter," Halladay said. And then as he walked away, and with a smile, "But don't tell him I said that."

Cathal Kelly

Blue Jays mail bag

Talk about variations on a theme this week. I never thought that I would be the most reasonable voice in a welling-up wilderness of flat-out calls for GM J.P. Ricciardi’s head, but it looks like I may very well be. It seems that either people are feeling sorry for manager John Gibbons this week or the realization is that with the injury to Vernon Wells, the Jays’ "chicken-salad offence" has been left out in direct sunlight a little too long and has become something else. Anyway, on to the mailbag.

Q-Dear Richard,

What are the chances of the Blue Jays being contracted from Major League Baseball? Doing so seems like the only way for me to break my obsession with this pathetic team and organization. This season really has me at the end of my rope. If not, is there some form of sports fan rehab available?

James Riswick, Los Angeles

A: The Jays have never been in better financial shape, which makes Ted Rogers and his ivory-tower team very, very happy. Unfortunately, because of the improved performance of the Canadian dollar, the de-improved performance of the Canadian Blue Jays becomes more acceptable to the powers-that-be. It’s like that feeling you have after over-eating a great meal. All you want to do is loosen your belt, lie down and have a nap and everything seems good.

I know you were being facetious about that contraction thing, but the funny thing is I wouldn’t be surprised if the next negotiation with the players association in 2012 brings calls for two teams being contracted by current ownership. Maybe if a couple of teams are vapourized, the Jays could find another Brad Wilkerson, Kevin Mench or Jorge Velandia in the dispersal draft and spur a playoff run. In your darkest Jays moments, just think of the Maple Leafs. Things could be worse.

Wells out 6-8 weeks

The news keeps getting worse on the injury front for the Blue Jays. This afternoon, centre fielder Vernon Wells was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured left wrist and is expected to be out from 6-8 weeks. In addition, reliever Jeremy Accardo was placed on the disabled list with a strained right forearm.

To replace Wells, the Jays are recalling infielder Joe Inglett from Triple-A Syracuse and have purchased the contract of righthanded reliever Armando Benitez from Syracuse. Bemnitez, signed as a free agent at spring training, was nearing the date when he needed to be in the major leagues or else could ask for his release. He was 1-0, with a 3.86 ERA at Class-A Dunedin and had a scoreless inning in one appearance.

Wells in Friday night's game made a diving catch landing awkwardly on his left side. He was examined this morning, undergoing an MRI that revelaled the break. Wells had begun to find his stroke again, raising his average to .2381 and leading the team with 25 RBIs.

Accardo's last appearance was Friday, pitching two-thirds of an inning, allowing one run. Already on the DL are David Eckstein, John McDonald, Brian Wolfe and Casey Janssen.

Richard Griffin

New bats face Tribe

Kevin Mench only found out about coming to his new home north of the border at 3 a.m. on Thursday morning following a doubleheader in Oklahoma City. He packed, hopped a plane to Cleveland made his way to the ballpark and was in the starting lineup facing C.C. Sabathia.

Jays

Alex Rios rf

Aaron Hill 2b

Scott Rolen 3b

Vernon  Wells cf

Kevin Mench dh

Lyle Overbay 1b

Rod Barajas c

Brad Wilkerson lf

Marco Scutaro ss

Roy Halladay p

Indians

Grady Sizemore cf

Franklin Gutierrez rf

David Dellucci lf

Victor Martinez c

Jhonny Peralta ss

Travis Hafner dh

Ryan Garko 1b

Asdrubal Cabrera 2b

Casey Blake 3b

C.C. Sabathia p

Mench said he didn't feel as nervous as when he was a rookie even though it's a chance to start his career up. He pointed around the room at guy that he knew -- Rod Barajas, Wilkerson and Texas residents Vernon Wells and B.J. Ryan. Coincidentally, Mench was given the locker next to Roy Halladay in the visitors clubhouse at the former Jake. It was a Mench line drive that broke Doc's tibia on July 9, 2005. He smiled when asked about it and recalled trying to reach Halladay that night to find out if he was alright and to apologize. He never did reach him but had a chance last night.

Wilkerson had gone home for a few days after being designated for assignment on April 30. He called the chance to play for the Jays "intriguing". He claimed that he had jammed his throwing shoulder at spring training and that it affected his start with the M's. He said he was as healthy as he had been at any time since the start of the 2005 season.

Let's see now. In November, J.P. offered a contract to Shannon Stewart, then signed Matt Stairs, then offered Reed Johnson arbitration, then signed Shannon Stewart then released Reed Johnson then called up Adam Lind then sent down Adam Lind then signed Brad Wilkerson then purchased Kevin Mench all the while ignoring Barry Bonds. Hey, Jim Edmonds and Jaque Jones are looking for work.

Richard Griffin 

   

Blue Jays mail bag

It was a tough night for the Jays on Tuesday. Just as the they were getting healthy around the diamond and defining roles with Shannon Stewart, Matt Stairs, Adam Lind and most especially at shortstop with David Eckstein dropping to ninth in the order and being relieved late in games when they have a lead by the sublime defender John McDonald, just when all that is happening, the injury bug strikes again. We’ll see what these guys are made of now as they wait for both shortstops to get healthy. Now on to the mail bag.

Q: Hey Richard,

Is it time to replace B.J. Ryan yet? Each game he saves seems like an absolute marathon.

Also, with the way the Jays are pitching, is this the best rotation we've ever had? How would you compare it to the ‘92 rotation (Jack Morris/David Cone/Jimmy Key/Juan Guzman)?

Wayne L, Richmond Hill

A: No it is not time to replace B.J. Ryan. To a man, the Jays’ other bullpen guys and his teammates insist that when B.J. swings through that bullpen gate and runs out to the mound for the ninth inning, the whole team is energized. Ryan is still a couple of days shy of his one-year anniversary for his Tommy John surgery (May 10), so what he has done since rejoining the Jays has been nothing short of amazing. He is Batman to Jeremy Accardo’s Robin except they both wear their underwear inside their pants.