Blue Jays mail bag

The Blue Jays continue to plod along in the middle of the pack but it seems a lot less depressing to watch the games. The Canada Day debacle was a microcosm of their season. They take a 6-2 lead, but you know it could have been more what with the brutal Vernon Wells baserunning play - being thrown out at third on an apparent line drive single over short and the brutal fielding play by Jesse Litsch that snapped the Jays shutout string at 21 innings. You could feel the baseball gods looking over your shoulder pointing and giggling and when Scott Downs entered with his 26-inning scoreless streak in hand, the vibes were all bad for the eternal pessimists that most Jays fans have become. In any case, the Jays are playing better baseball even if they're still not going anywhere. Enjoy. Here is this week's mail bag.

Q: I can't recall the Jays ever having a fixture at shortstop for the past six or seven years that I've followed them; only an endless parade of one year stopgaps or prospects that don't pan out (David Eckstein, Royce Clayton, Mike Bordick, Russ Adams, Alex Gonzalez). Do the Jays have anyone in their farm system at SS that you think could one day be the Jays’ full-time shortstop, for more than one year? If not, are there any above-average shortstops eligible for free agency after this season that you could see the Jay's signing? Or do you think the Jays futility at short will continue?

Marcus Hunke, Edmonton

A: That is a very keen observation. In both 2002 and ’03 the then-young Jays’ GM J.P. Ricciardi made a college shortstop his first pick in the June draft – first Adams out of North Carolina, then Aaron Hill out of L.S.U. But during the Ricciardi era it’s been a revolving door at that position. The primary shortstops each season have been: ’02 Chris Woodward and Felipe Lopez; ’03 Woodward and Bordick; ’04 Chris Gomez and Woodward; ’05 Adams; ’06 John McDonald and Hill; ’07 McDonald and Clayton; ’08 Eckstein and Marco Scutaro. Out of those 10 different names, only Lopez, Woodward, Adams and Hill grew up in the Jays' farm system.

There was stability at shortstop before that. Basically Alex Gonzalez was the man from 1995-2001. Prior to that, after two makeshift seasons in 1977-78, the Jays had gone with Alfredo Griffin (1979-84), Tony Fernandez (1985-90 & 1993) and Manny Lee (1991-92).

There are some good prospects down on the farm. My favourtie, a kid we saw a couple of times during the Grapefruit League season this spring is 19-year-old Justin Jackson of the Lansing Lugnuts. The 6-2, 175 lb. right-handed hitter was selected 48th overall in ’07. He’s still a few years away, but could be a good one.

Q: Hi Richard,

After 68 games played, former Blue Jay phenom turned disappointment, Eric Hinske of the Tampa Bay Rays is batting .267 with 13 HRs, 44 RBIs, slugging .533, and donated his 2007 World Series ring to charity (ok, I made the last one up but you see my point). All we need now is for Josh Phelps to resurface with the Cubs and hit a walk-off 2-run home run with Reed Johnson on base to clinch the NL Central. Excuse me while I go set fire to my J.P. Ricciardi bobblehead (I tried to ignite my Alex Rios bobblehead but it refuses to heat up and go on a hot streak).

Kevork Hacat, Toronto

A: There doesn’t seem to be a question in there, but I liked the letter so much I just had to include it in this week’s mailbag. Hinske is the ’07 equivalent - a rejected, supposedly underachieving hitter going from the Jays to a World Series winner - of Brad Fullmer in ’02 going from being Jays DH to the same role for the World Champion Angels. As for the Ricciardi bobblehead, I’ve heard if you tap it on the head, it apologizes to the Adam Dunn bobblehead only to have the Ashton Kutcher bobblehead leap out and yell “Punk’d”. By the way, I also have the Demi Moore bobblehead that came with the Kutcher doll and you don’t want to know what that one does.

Q: Hey Richard,

With Joe Inglett continuing to hit and produce at the top of the Jays lineup how is Gaston going to be able to take him out when Hill returns to health? Or does it still look like Hill won't be getting cleared to play anytime soon?

Matt M., Calgary

A: The Aaron Hill situation is alarming in that when the club indicates he is out “indefinitely” that is exactly what it means. Hill banged his head on David Eckstein’s elbow in a game in Oakland on May 29 as both men charged into short centre field tracking a short flyball. Hill came out of that game and was checked by doctors. He flew to Anaheim with the team, but the next day while out with his wife and some friends felt some scary concussion symptoms. He was examined by doctors and did not play the rest of the trip. Re-examined several times since, he has been removed from the team’s day-to-day activities and there is no timeframe for his return. That all makes Inglett a key player for the Jays, but if Hill does return, there is no decision to make. Inglett goes to the bench and makes that area of the Jays stronger.

Q: Good Day Richard,

I have a two-part question for you. In your honest opinion what do you think they Jays will do if they are out of the race by the trade deadline? Will they trade A.J. Burnett and other veterans, and if so, do they let J.P make the moves? I know it's still early but my friends and I have already given up on the season, it’s a trend that is picking up around here and we're not even at the all-star break yet.

Jonathan Sanchez, York, Ontario

A: The trade deadline (without having to put a player through waivers and possibly losing him for nothing) is July 31. The Jays under Cito Gaston seem capable between now and then of hanging around the .500 mark. Is that out of the race? Statistically no. Realistically yes. Clubs that normally conduct fire sales of veteran players at the trade deadline are those clubs that are spending on payroll beyond their means in the hopes of winning “right here, right now” with a bunch of contracts that expire at the end of the year with potential free agents and guys a year away from being free. The Jays are not in that category. They planned and can afford their current payroll and most of their veterans are locked in to 2009-10 and beyond. Therefore, A.J., with his opt out, is the only real trade possibility in the fire-sale category.

In baseball you cannot trade future draft picks, so in taking very young prospects you’re generally looking at players that you yourself passed over in the draft a couple of years ago. At this stage, anyone in a pennant push that wants Burnett is not going to give major-league parts if he can opt out at the end of the year.

As for J.P. conducting the negotiations, the man is still in charge and has pride in his legacy. He is not mailing it in, it’s just that there is insufficient postage on the envelope of his career.

Q: Who is this guru that Roy Halladay has that you speak of (in last week’s mail bag)?

Sean Court, Lethbridge, Alberta

A: The guy’s name is Harvey Dorfman. (No, this is not the Tim Conway character – Dorfman on Golf, etc.). This guy is an author of books on psychology, self-enhancement and leadership training with titles like “The Mental ABCs of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement”. When Halladay went back to Class-A ball after failing at the major-league level in 2000, he needed help and went to the books and teachings of Mr. Dorfman. In fact, if you pay close attention on game days, you may see Doc going through one of Dorfman’s tattered, well-worn books in front of his locker. By the way, the Mitchell Report says nothing about performance-enhancing books. Dorfman has latched on to mega-agent Scott Boras and also works with some of his clients.

Q: Hi Richard,

I can't help wondering if J.P. is signing his own pink slip. He fires the Jay non-productive hitting coach Gary Denbo, then offers him a job in the minors. Denbo was a disaster with his philosophy with the Jays how is this going to work in the minors. One would think the instructors would all be on the same page through out the organization. Also am very sorry to see Ernie (Whitt) go. A class guy with a class act.

George Pengilley, Brampton, Ont.

A: I believe J.P. signing his own pink slip is much better than his wearing one. As for Denbo, it’s merely a case of being pragmatic. The Jays are on the hook for another season of Denbo’s services. He signed a two-year contract. In fact, much os the stuff he teaches and the style he does it, with reinforcement of hitting mechanics, watching video and spending countless hours in the cages is all good stuff for minor-leaguers that have not yet reached a hitting identity on their own. Denbo has a better minor-league track record than a major-league one and as long as he’s still being paid by the Jays why not make use of an asset. Just don’t let him around Rios, Wells, Overbay, Rolen and Stairs.

As for instructors being on the same page throughout the organization, that’s one of the things that gets the Jays under Ricciardi in trouble. No two hitters are alike, so work with them individually rather than trying to force them into a cookie-cutter hitting style.

Q: Hi Richard,

I was wondering if you had any insight into why baseball has such an extensive minor league system compared to all the other pro sports?

Jordan Furness, Red Deer, Alberta

A: Branch Rickey, the man who signed Jackie Robinson in baseball’s greatest social experiment and breakthrough, is also the man responsible for the game’s extensive farm systems. When he was with the Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers in the ‘30s and ‘40s there were only 16 major-league teams. In those days, players once they were under contract were signed for life. Rickey used rural America for the Cards and Dodgers in the ‘40s like Epy Guerrero used the Dominican for the Jays in the ‘80s. Sign as many players as you can and maybe a few will pan out in the majors. But, in order to do that, Rickey needed somewhere for them to play...thus the start of a farm system. Other teams caught on and minor leagues formed.

Baseball is the most intricate of all the major sports and the common belief is that a high school player takes three to five years to develop the skills and knowledge to play in the majors. No other sport has a stepping stone development system like baseball and therefore the different levels of farm teams – Summer-A, low A, high A, Double-A and Triple-A. Basketball has the D-League. Hockey has the AHL and a couple of smaller circuits. Football has the CFL and the Arena League.

Q: Hi Richard,

It seems like Nick Leyva waves in everybody and it seems to be working. Is he a brilliant third base coach or has he been lucky so far? I'm guessing a combo of the two. Also, would you consider him an improvement over Marty Pevey?

Thanks for your time,

Rob MacKay, Calgary

A: Marty Pevey wasn’t the problem. But when the Jays decided to bring in Cito Gaston to manage, part of his acceptance was bringing Leyva and Gene Tenace with him. With Leyva coming in to coach third, there was nowhere for Pevey to go except gently into that good night.

As for Leyva waving everybody, he still is finding out what the runners can and cannot do for him. The best way to find out is to send them all. It all depends on the situations, too. The Jays had been having trouble scoring runners from third base, so why make them stop at third, when it’s been a graveyard? I did notice in the Seattle game on Canada Day, he was a lot more conservative; for instance when there were no outs and the bases were loaded. Maybe Canada Day was his chance to show his knowledge of his adopted country and become progressive conservative at waving runners.

Q: Just a question about how a pitcher is credited with a win. I know that a starting pitcher has to pitch five innings in order to qualify for the victory, but if they don't then the official scorer will award the victory. Correct? I only point this out because I feel that Felix Hernandex was robbed of a victory last week. He pitched 4.2 innings, leaving only after he sprained his ankle. His team was up four runs on a grand slam that Felix himself had hit! Seattle ended up winning the game 5-2, with Rowland-Smith picking up the victory for pitching two innings of scoreless relief. Couldn't the official scorer have used his professional judgment to award the victory to Felix instead? He was the most deserving pitcher.

Darren Low, Toronto

A: There is no professional judgment if a starting pitcher fails to go five innings – no matter what the circumstances. Throw all the relievers into a pot and that’s the pool from which the official scorer makes his call to victory. It sounds to me like you might have Felix in a Fantasy League and you don’t feel as bad for Felix as you do for yourself. If you had Rowland-Smith you’d be high-fiving the scorer and singing Waltzing Matilda for the Aussie stud reliever. Hey, dude, rules are rules no matter how silly they sometimes seem. How about the same save being awarded for entering a game with a three run lead, a man on first and two outs in the ninth…or the bases loaded and a one-run lead with no outs in the ninth. Makes no sense.

Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection in his mailbag Wednesdays in this space. *Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

The Blue Jays continue to plod along in the middle of the pack but it seems a lot less depressing to watch the games. The Canada Day debacle was a microcosm of their season. They take a 6-2 lead, but you know it could have been more what with the brutal Vernon Wells baserunning play - being thrown out at third on an apparent line drive single over short and the brutal fielding play by Jesse Litsch that snapped the Jays shutout string at 21 innings. You could feel the baseball gods looking over your shoulder pointing and giggling and when Scott Downs entered with his 26-inning scoreless streak in hand, the vibes were all bad for the eternal pessimists that most Jays fans have become. In any case, the Jays are playing better baseball even if they're still not going anywhere. Enjoy. Here is this week's mail bag.

Q: I can't recall the Jays ever having a fixture at shortstop for the past six or seven years that I've followed them; only an endless parade of one year stopgaps or prospects that don't pan out (David Eckstein, Royce Clayton, Mike Bordick, Russ Adams, Alex Gonzalez). Do the Jays have anyone in their farm system at SS that you think could one day be the Jays’ full-time shortstop, for more than one year? If not, are there any above-average shortstops eligible for free agency after this season that you could see the Jay's signing? Or do you think the Jays futility at short will continue?

Marcus Hunke, Edmonton

A-That is a very keen observation. In ’02 and ’03 the then-young Jays’ GM J.P. Ricciardi made a college shortstop his first pick in the June drafts – first Adams out of North Carolina, then Aaron Hill out of L.S.U. During the Ricciardi era it’s been a revolving door. The primary shortstops each season have been: ’02 Chris Woodward and Felipe Lopez; ’03 Woodward and Bordick; ’04 Chris Gomez and Woodward; ’05 Adams; ’06 John McDonald and Hill; ’07 McDonald and Clayton; ’08 Eckstein and Marco Scutaro. Out of those 10 different names, only Lopez, Woodward, Adams and Hill grew up in the farm system. There was stability at shortstop before that. Basically Alex Gonzalez was the man from 1995-2001. Prior to that, after two makeshift seasons in 1977-78, the Jays had gone with Alfredo Griffin (1979-84), Tony Fernandez (1985-90&1993) and Manny Lee (1991-92). There are some good prospects down on the farm. My favourtie, a kid we saw a couple of times during the Grapefruit League season this spring is 19-year-old Justin Jackson of the Lansing Lugnuts. The 6-2, 175 lb. righthanded hitter was selected 48th overall in ’07. He’s still a few years away, but could be a good one.

Q-Hi Richard,

After 68 games played, former Blue Jay phenom turned disappointment, Eric Hinske of the Tampa Bay Rays is batting .267 with 13 HRs, 44 RBIs, slugging .533, and donated his 2007 World Series ring to charity (ok, I made the last one up but you see my point). All we need now is for Josh Phelps to resurface with the Cubs and hit a walk-off 2-run home run with Reed Johnson on base to clinch the NL Central. Excuse me while I go set fire to my J.P. Ricciardi bobblehead (I tried to ignite my Alex Rios bobblehead but it refuses to heat up and go on a hot streak).

A-There doesn’t seem to be a question in there, but I liked the letter so much I just had to include it in this week’s mailbag. Hinske is the ’07 equivalent -- a rejected, supposedly underachieving hitter going from the Jays to a World Series winner -- of Brad Fullmer in ’02 going from being Jays DH to the same role for the World Champion Angels. As for the Ricciardi bobblehead, I’ve heard if you tap it on the head, it apologizes to the Adam Dunn bobblehead only to have the Ashton Kutcher bobblehead leap out and yell “Punk’d”. By the way, I also have the Demi Moore bobblehead that came with the Kutcher doll and you don’t want to know what that one does.

Q-Hey Richard,

With Joe Inglett continuing to hit and produce at the top of the Jays lineup how is Gaston going to be able to take him out when Hill returns to health? Or does it still look like Hill won't be getting cleared to play anytime soon?

Matt M., Calgary

A-The Aaron Hill situation is alarming in that when the club indicates he is out “indefinitely” that is exactly what it means. Hill banged his head on David Eckstein’s elbow in a game in Oakland on May 29 as both men charged into short centre field tracking a short flyball. Hill came out of that game and was checked by doctors. He flew to Anaheim with the team, but the next day while out with his wife and some friends felt some scary concussion symptoms. He was examined by doctors and did not play the rest of the trip. Re-examined several times since, he has been removed from the team’s day-to-day activities and there is no timeframe on his return. That all makes Inglett a key player for the Jays, but if Hill does return, there is no decision to make. Inglett goes to the bench and makes that area of the Jays stronger.

Q-Good Day Richard,

I have a two-part question for you. In your honest opinion what do you think they Jays will do if they are out of the race by the trade deadline? Will they trade A.J. Burnett and other veterans, and if so, do they let J.P make the moves? I know it's still early but my friends and I have already given up on the season, it’s a trend that is picking up around here and we're not even at the all-star break yet.

Jonathan Sanchez, York, Ontario

A-The trade deadline (without having to put a player through waivers and possibly losing him for nothing) is July 31. The Jays under Cito Gaston seem capable between now and then of hanging around the .500 mark. Is that out of the race? Statistically no. Realistically yes. Clubs that normally conduct fire sales of veteran players at the trade deadline are those clubs that are spending on payroll beyond their means in the hopes of winning “right here, right now” with a bunch of contracts that expire at the end of the year with potential free agents and guys a year away from being free. The Jays are not in that category. They planned and can afford their current payroll and most of their veterans are locked in to 2009-10 and beyond. Therefore, A.J. with his opt out is the only real trade possibility in the fire-sale category. In baseball you cannot trade future draft picks so in taking very young prospects you’re generally looking at players that you yourself passed over in the draft a couple of years ago. At this stage, anyone in a pennant push that wants Burnett is not going to give major-league parts if he can opt out at the end of the year. As for J.P. conducting the negotiations, the man is still in charge and has pride in his legacy. He is not mailing it in, it’s just that there is insufficient postage on the envelope of his career.

Q-Who is this guru that Roy Halladay has that you speak of (in last week’s mail bag)?

Sean Court, Lethbridge, Alberta

A-The guy’s name is Harvey Dorfman. (No, this is not the Tim Conway character – Dorfman on Golf, etc.). This guy is an author of books on psychology, self-enhancement and leadership training with titles like “The Mental ABCs of Pitching: A Handbook for Performance Enhancement”. When Halladay went back to Class-A ball after failing at the major-league level in 2000, he needed help and went to the books and teachings of Mr. Dorfman. In fact, if you pay close attention on game days, you may see Doc going through one of Dorfman’s tattered, well-worn books in front of his locker. By the way, the Mitchell Report says nothing about performance-enhancing books. Dorfman has latched on to mega-agent Scott Boras and also works with some of his clients.

Q-Hi Richard,

I can't help wondering if J.P. is signing his own pink slip. He fires the Jay non-productive hitting coach Gary Denbo, then offers him a job in the minors. Denbo was a disaster with his philosophy with the Jays how is this going to work in the minors. One would think the instructors would all be on the same page through out the organization. Also am very sorry to see Ernie (Whitt) go. A class guy with a class act.

George Pengilley, Brampton, Ont.

A-I believe J.P. signing his own pink slip is much better than his wearing one. As for Denbo, it’s merely a case of being pragmatic. The Jays are on the hook for another season of Denbo’s services. He signed a two-year contract. In fact, much os the stuff he teaches and the style he does it, with reinforcement of hitting mechanics, watching video and spending countless hours in the cages is all good stuff for minor-leaguers that have not yet reached a hitting identity on their own. Denbo has a better minor-league track record than a major-league one and as long as he’s still being paid by the Jays why not make use of an asset. Just don’t let him around Rios, Wells, Overbay, Rolen and Matt Stairs. As for instructors being on the same page throughout the organization, that’s one of the things that gets the Jays under Ricciardi in trouble. No two hitters are alike, so work with them individually rather than trying to force them into a cookie-cutter hitting style.

Q-Hi Richard,

I was wondering if you had any insight into why baseball has such an extensive minor league system compared to all the other pro sports?

Jordan Furness, Red Deer, Alberta

A-Branch Rickey, the man who signed Jackie Robinson in baseball’s greatest social experiment and breakthrough, is also the man responsible for the game’s extensive farm systems. When he was with the Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers in the ‘30s and ‘40s there were only 16 major-league teams. In those days, players once they were under contract were signed for life. Rickey used rural America for the Cards and Dodgers in the ‘40s like Epy Guerrero used the Dominican for the Jays in the ‘80s. Sign as many players as you can and maybe a few will pan out in the majors. But, in order to do that, Rickey needed somewhere for them to play...thus the start of a farm system. Other teams caught on and minor leagues formed. Baseball is the most intricate of all the major sports and the common belief is that a high school player takes three to five years to develop the skills and knowledge to play in the majors. No other sport has a stepping stone development system like baseball and therefore the different levels of farm teams – Summer-A, low A, high A, Double-A and Triple-A. Basketball has the D-League. Hockey has the AHL and a couple of smaller circuits. Football has the CFL and the Arena League.

Q-Hi Richard,

It seems like Nick Leyva waves in everybody and it seems to be working. Is he a brilliant third base coach or has he been lucky so far? I'm guessing a combo of the two. Also, would you consider him an improvement over Marty Pevey?

Thanks for your time,

Rob MacKay, Calgary

A-Marty Pevey wasn’t the problem. But when the Jays decided to bring in Cito Gaston to manage, part of his acceptance was bringing Leyva and Gene Tenace with him. With Leyva coming in to coach third, there was nowhere for Pevey to go except gently into that good night. As for Leyva waving everybody, he still is finding out what the runners can and cannot do for him. The best way to find out is to send them all. It all depends on the situations, too. The Jays had been having trouble scoring runners from thirds base, so why make them stop at third, when it’s been a graveyard. I did notice in the Seattle game on Canada Day, he was a lot more conservative for instance when there were no outs and the bases were loaded. Maybe Canada Day was his chance to show his knowledge of his adopted country and become progressive conservative at waving runners.

Q-Just a question about how a pitcher is credited with a win. I know that a starting pitcher has to pitch five innings in order to qualify for the victory, but if they don't then the official scorer will award the victory. Correct? I only point this out because I feel that Felix Hernandex was robbed of a victory last week. He pitched 4.2 innings, leaving only after he sprained his ankle. His team was up four runs on a grand slam that Felix himself had hit! Seattle ended up winning the game 5-2, with Rowland-Smith picking up the victory for pitching two innings of scoreless relief. Couldn't the official scorer have used his professional judgment to award the victory to Felix instead? He was the most deserving pitcher.

Darren Low, Toronto

A-There is no professional judgment if a starting pitcher fails to go five innings – no matter what the circumstances. Throw all the relievers into a pot and that’s the pool from which the official scorer makes his call to victory. It sounds to me like you might have Felix in a Fantasy League and you don’t feel as bad for Felix as you do for yourself. If you had Rowland-Smith you’d be high-fiving the scorer and singing Waltzing Matilda for the Aussie stud reliever. Hey, dude, rules are rules no matter how silly they sometimes seem. How about the same save being awarded for entering a game with a three run lead, a man on first and two outs in the ninth…or the bases loaded and a one-run lead with no outs in the ninth. Makes no sense.

Comments

[Jim Forsythe]

Um, exactly which "pack" are the Jays in the middle of? Have I been in a coma and missed something, or are they sitting last in the division with the fourth worst record in the AL? That's what you call the "middle of the pack"? Richard, are you feeling OK?

[Sivart]

Hey Richard, seeing as how there doesn't seem to be much hope for the big leauge team this year I have resigned myself to following their minor league teams in anticipation of prospects helping them in the future. One player in particular has caught my attention with eye-popping numbers (albeit in a very low level). Tim Collins with their low "A" ball team, the Lansing Lugnuts, has absolutely ridiculous numbers right now. 1 ER in 37 innings, only 13 hits allowed and 54 strikeouts. Is this kid (1989 birthday) a good prospect, or just a lefty taking advantage of poor hitters in a very low level?

[Joe Anderson]

Just a note from a browser that just discovered Mr. Griffin's column or blog or whatever. He clearly knows the game/business and since he started with the Expos he also knows the real game. Since we don't have a Canadian team playing real baseball I'm a Blue Jay follower and I'll be looking regularly at this site for updates and information on their fortunes. I'm impressed by what I've read.

Joe Anderson

[vhigge]

The Jays are stil trying to figure out their line up and field, and the season is half over!

Is it any wonder the team is losing?

What does J.P. Riccardi take us for - Putz's?

[vhigge]

"The World doesn't need a Saviour, and neither do I"
-"Lois Lane"
"Superman Returns"
June 2006.
Cue Scene [Ballpark.]