CHICAGO-It was a combination gritty
pitching performance by first-time Jays starter Chien-Ming Wang plus
a clutch hitting performance by Jose Bautista, battling the White Sox
talented closer Addison Reed, slamming a game-tying homer with two
outs in the ninth, just staying fair.
“When I had two strikes, it was swing at a strike” Bautista explained. “I was
lucky he hung me a slider. If you were to ask him I'm sure he'd
tell you that's not the pitch he wanted. I was kind of glad because
today, from (Reed), I wasn't really picking up the fastball.
Yesterday, he was 91-92. Today he was a little harder. Coming out
of his hand, across his body like that, I wasn't picking it up that great. It worked to my advantage that he chose that pitch and hung it.”
But the winning run for the Jays in a
much-needed 7-5 victory scored in the top of the 10th much
less dramatically. With catcher J.P. Arencibia at the plate, White
Sox reliever Ramon Troncoso unleashed a wild pitch cashing Rajai Davis
from third base. Davis had stolen second and advanced to third on an
Adam Lind sacrifice fly. That run was followed by an insurance
marker, an error at the plate by catcher Tyler Flowers dropping a tag
on Maicer Izturis after a double by Mune Kawasaki.
“There
were plenty of situations where a lot of different guys on the team
came through tonight,” the real star, Bautista
insisted. “What Wang did and he hung in there after giving up the
five runs was unbelievable. Clutch pitching from (Brett) Cecil and
(Casey) Janssen. Rajai got two big knocks, stole a base."
What
Wang did was exceptional despite five runs allowed, keeping his team
in the game.
“I’m
very happy to be back and thank you to the Blue Jays for giving me
the opportunity to play baseball in the major leagues,” Wang said
after finishing an interview in Chinese.
If
Wang had not had Jays' offensive support this game would not have
been at all memorable, but the fact that he pitched shutout baseball
for six of eight innings is already unusual.
“He
can still get guys out at this level and he showed that tonight,”
Gibbons said. “Our team revolves around those guys, when they’re
hitting and driving in runs, those guys are dangerous.”
An old adage states, there's no time
like the present. But in the Blue Jays' universe, it's becoming more
of a stark reality that the only time is the present in terms
of pushing back towards .500. With 98 games remaining, the numbers
are daunting, the percentages miniscule when it comes to insinuating
a playoff berth for this highly paid, underachieving roster. The
players are aware.
“There's
still time,” injured shortstop Jose Reyes insisted as he packed his
equipment for a rehabilitation trip to Florida. “But we need to
turn it around, now, starting today. Our division is very tough. Even
the other day, we win three games in a row and we don't gain any
games. If we want to go where we need to go, we need to turn it
around starting tonight. It's getting long. It's June already.”
It
was not easy. For the second night in a row, the Jays took an early
two-run lead, then lost it to a White Sox team that had been
struggling over the past 10 days. With the freshly signed righthander
Wang on the mound, the Jays were on the way to dropping a second
straight game at U.S. Cellular Field, before the ninth and 10th
inning fireworks and heroics.
The
Jays took the early lead on some aggressive baserunning by veteran
Mark DeRosa, scoring on a short passed ball by Flowers. Izturis drove
in the second run with a single.
However
after Adam Dunn had narrowed the gap with a solo homer in the second,
the Sox exploded for four in the fourth inning vs. Wang. Dayan
Viciedo tied it with a line drive single to centre and Conor
Gillaspie followed with a three-run homer to right for the 5-2 lead.
The Jays narrowed the deficit to a run in the fifth on a two-run
homer by Encarnacion, his 18th
of the season.
The
Jays' starting rotation has been in disarray most of the season,
beginning with abandoning Ricky Romero in minor-league camp then
injuries to Josh Johnson, J.A. Happ and Brandon Morrow. They have
filled in haphazardly and with little success. Just hours before the
game, the Jays formally announced the signing of Wang, released from
a minor-league contract with the Yankees.
Wang
had not even met many of his new teammates as he got dressed just
three hours before the game. But his 7-1/3 innings of work were
marred mainly by the three-run homer in the fourth. Several balls
were hit hard but the 33-year-old from Taiwan negotiated his way
through and saved the bullpen that has now thrown 49 innings in the
last 10 games. Now, with converted relieved Esmil Rogers starting on
Wednesday, is this realistically a rotation that can win enough games
to claw back?
“Hopefully
they're the guys,” Gibbons said. “We know what Rogers is. He's
been throwing pretty good. We don't know what (Wang) is, but we'll
see. He's got a track record and he has a good chance to get back to
the big leagues. We like him, enough to bring him in here and give
him a shot. Hopefully that will stabilize us a little bit. Morrow, we
don't know how long he's going to be out. He threw today and felt
great I guess. But still, realistically you never know. So, yeah if
we could somewhat stabilize it until he gets back and then we can see
where we're at with those two.”
The
fact is the Jays can no longer afford to be all about salvaging the
final game of a series after losing the first two -- and feeling good
about that. As such, Tuesday's middle game of the White Sox series
was the key for the Jays, not just for this road trip, but perhaps
for the entire season.
“We
have to do it soon,” Gibbons said after re-joining the team from
his son Troy's graduation in San Antonio. “You look back we were in
position to win that game against Texas, that would have been big,
and then it was back and forth (Monday). Those would have been a
couple of big wins. Until you get to .500, you're, I won’t say
(spitting) into the wind, but basically that’s what you’re
doing.”
Arencibia,
prior to the 10th,
was up to bat three times with a runner on third and less than two
out. He struck out all three times, walking in his other plate
appearance, with nobody on base. He now has six walks and 75
strikeouts and may start losing playing time to the recently recalled
Josh Thole.
“We’re
playing to win, we’re going to throw out the best guys,” Gibbons
said cryptically when asked about more playing time for Thole before
the game.
CHICAGO-Prior to Monday's fog-delayed
10-6 loss to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, Blue Jays interim
manager Demarlo Hale explained his view of the Jose Bautista meltdown. The day before, the Jays' star slugger had been ejected by home plate umpire Gary Darling with the
tying run on second in the ninth, after striking out on three pitches.
“He's an emotional guy,” Hale
said. “I think in the moment of a game he got emotional. But Jose
has always, from my point of view, having been over here this year,
he bounces back and he's been up front whether he's been right or
wrong. Like I said, we've moved forward and I worry about today and
having Jose in a very good frame of mind and he seems to be in a very
good frame of mind.”
Two batters into the game, with Melky
Cabrera on first base, Bautista launched the first pitch he saw from
righthander Dylan Axelrod high and deep down the right field line
just staying fair. Then with one out in the bottom of the first, the
Jays' right fielder raced over and grabbed an Alex Rios drive with a
sliding catch towards the foul line. It seemed Hale was correct in
his assessment.
But the fog rolled relentlessly in
finally making the game unplayable for over an hour as R.A. Dickey
walked off the field in the bottom of the third inning with the bases
loaded, trailing 4-2. When the game resumed, so did Dickey,
benefitting from a baserunning gaffe by Gordon Beckham to escape
further damage. There was no choice. The bullpen was being worn out
daily.
“We'd love to see (Dickey) go into
the eighth inning again, because when you get a starting pitcher that
goes deep into the game, that day of rest does help the bullpen,”
Hale said. “They have been taxed. We've played these extra inning
games, being so competitive and stressful innings, more than
anything, those extra-inning games. We might stay with him a little
longer, just because the bullpen's been taxed. But we're not goin to
push him to the limit where there's a danger also.”
The presence of the fog made it a long
night for everyone, over three hours for Dickey, even though he ended
with just five innings and 97 pitches, allowing seven runs. That
meant another long night of work for the bullpen, although Darren
Oliver was fresh just returning from the DL.
In the fourth inning, Bautista
continued in his quest to silence his critics and lead his team to
victory. Facing Axelrod with two runners on he crushed a fastball
deep into the left field seats. It was his third multi-homer game of
the season and the 20th of his career. The five RBIs tied a career
high.
And, by the way, Hale was managing the
Jays on this foggy night in the Windy City because manager John
Gibbons flew home to San Antonio for the high school graduation of
his son, Troy. If it was an emotional day for Gibbons, it also was
one for Jays' lefthander Mark Buehrle returning to U.S. Cellular
Field after spending the first 13 years of his pro career in the
White Sox organizaton.
“Just like this is home because I
was here for so long,” Buehrle explained his feelings. “Again,
that's something that I kind of reflect on whenever I come back. When
I'm retired I can look back on memories and stuff that I miss. Right
now I'm concentrating on winning.”
Buehrle was asked to take care of his
welcome home media duties before Monday's game in the dugout,
attended by two dozen Chicago media and five TV cameras. He was asked
about the disappointment of where he was in Toronto and the slow
start from a team with great expectations.
“Personally I feel like I've been
pitching better lately,” Buehrle said. “I think me and J.P. have
been working a little better. It started out a little rough. It takes
some time to get used to each other. We've been working better. We're
jelling a little bit.”
It was an unusual admission for
Buehrle suggesting there might have been early season troubles
getting into the same library as Arencibia. The next step, of course,
is getting on the same page. Recall that for one game in Tampa,
reserve catcher Henry Blanco had been called upon to catch a Buehrle
start. Gibbons said at that time not to read anything into the
one-day experiment. Where there's smoke.
One other pitching decision that will
impact the Jays will come on Tuesday after injured starter Brandon
Morrow throws a side session in Chicago. Morrow said that if he comes
through t with no problem, that he will take a flight to Florida on
Wednesday, throw another bullpen and then join a team on a rehab
option for two, more likely three starts. Chances are good shortstop
Jose Reyes will also join Morrow in Florida and will begin his
journey back to the top of the Jays' batting order, almost a monthy
ahead of schedule. The Jays also announced that lefthander Evan
Crawford had cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Double-A
New Hampshire.
PHOENIX-The USA is moving on. Canada
is going home. Attempting to advance to the second round of the World
Baseball Classic for the first time in three tries, Canada lost a
heartbreaking 9-4 decision to a talented group of Americans, in a
sudden-death showdown on Sunday at Chase Field.
Team Canada had been in control of its
own destiny after the seventh inning. They reached the point in the game that manager Ernie
Whitt always dreamed of, heading to the eighth with a lead and with Jim
Henderson and John Axford ready to close out the game. The back end
of the bullpen was what made Canada better.
But, of course, that's why they play
the games. The Brewers' setup man, Henderson allowed the first two American batters to reach base, then a two run double to Adam Jones past Tyson
Gillies to the wall and a run-scoring single by Shane Victorino gave them their first lead. Jones added
another three-run double in the ninth, for six RBIs.
The win sent heavily-favoured Team USA
on to Miami along with Team Italy from Pool D. The USA is now the only
North American representative to reach the second round. Canada will
have to wait another four years. The Canadian bullpen allowed a combined 15 runs from the
seventh inning on in their two losses to Italy and the U.S.
Even in defeat, Canada battled to the
end. Trailing by two in the bottom of the eighth, Canada loaded the
bases with one out against righthander David Hernandez.
It would have
been sweet for Adam Loewen to be the hero, returning to Chase Field
for the first time since he defeated Team USA as a pitcher in a thrilling 8-6
victory in 2006. He was almost a hero, again, but second baseman Brandon
Phillips dove to his left to rob the Canadian left fielder of a hit,
leaving Canada a one-run deficit.
Reliever Steve Cishek entered to issue
an intentional walk to Pete Orr, re-loading the bases. Tim Smith then
pinch-hit for Cale Iorg, who was 1-for-11 in the tournament. Smith
grounded to second. The Americans added a run against Scott Mathieson
in the ninth.
No shame. Following the embarrassing defeat at
the hands of Team Italy on Friday, nobody, except those in the dugout
wearing Team Canada uniforms, would have imagined being still alive
and taking a lead into the eighth inning against the powerful
Americans, with six outs to go and a real chance to advance.
How did they get to that point? Seven
years ago, on March 8, 2006, Loewen was a young 21-year-old
pitching prospect, starting the biggest game of his life vs. Team
USA. On Sunday, facing a different, but just as talented group of
American players, Loewen, now an outfielder, had lined the go-ahead
single for Canada in the sixth inning scoring Joey Votto, against
lefty Glen Perkins. That was the lead they needed to protect.
But to even get the ball into Henderson's
hands with that lead, reliever Phillippe Aumont pulled off another Houdini
escape in the seventh. With runners on second and third and one out,
Aumont got a popup and a groundball to third with a nice play by
Taylor Green. Recall that in a loss to Team USA at the Rogers Centre
in 2009, Aumont loaded the bases and then retired the side, including
two strikeouts.
After Team USA tied the score in the
fourth, Canada had needed a major re-group. Any baseball emotion,
momentum or karma left over from the huge, sprawling, brawling
victory over Mexico the night before, only carried Canada through the
first three innings, Sunday.
Canada had led 2-0 behind 21-year-old
Jameson Taillon, making his firtst internationals start for Canada.
He was electric through the first three innings, but in the fourth,
some shoddy defence led to Team USA tying the score and after that
the aura was gone, it was “game on.”
Leading off the bottom of the second,
Justin Morneau rocketed a double up the alley in right centre field.
Michael Saunders followed with a long flyball home run that just
stayed fair inside the right field pole. They were Canada's two best
player. Canada led 2-0, but should have had more.
Chris Robinson and Loewen singled
back-to-back and an error on the hit by left fielder Shane Victorino
put runners on second and third, with nobody out. But Canada failed
to score. Back in 2006, when Canada upset Team USA 8-6 at the same
ballpark, they had taken an 8-0 lead against Dontrelle Willis and Al
Leiter into the bottom of the fifth and even that was almost not
enough.
Canada remembers that history. A total
of nine members of this Team Canada were also in the dugout on March
8, 2006 when they shocked the baseball world. The list included
manager Ernie Whitt and coach Greg Hamilton; Morneau, Stubby Clapp,
Pete Orr, Chris Robinson, Adam Loewen, Scott Mathieson and Paul
Quantrill. Clapp and Quantrill are now coaches. Loewen was a pitcher.
That early premonition of not enough
runs proved prophetic in the fourth inning as Team USA pulled even
wth a pair of runs against Taillon. With two on and nobody out, Green
became confused by the bunt defence. Playing in on the grass, as
Zobrist pushed one towards third, Green inexplicably retreated
towards the bag. By the time he came back and made the play, Zobrist
was safe and the low throw bounced away from Votto scoring the first
run. Adam Jones tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
PHOENIX-Less than 24 hours after the
Team Canada train fell off the tracks against Italy, a stunned group of baseball players needed a fast start on Saturday against Mexico to getback some of that
national esprit de corps into the first-base dugout. Fortunately,
in the top of the first inning they did just that, scoring four runs against
Brewers' righthander Marco Estrada with the big boys in the order
doing their thing.
Canada on the way to a 10-3 victory
that sets up a showdown with Team USA, scored four runs in the first
to bring some of their pre-tournament swagger back. They strung
together five straight hits, capped by an RBI double by Justin
Morneau, a two-run single by Michael Saunders and a line drive over a
drawn-in infield by catcher Chris Robinson. But they needed more.
While Marco Estrada settled down and
kept Canada at four runs, followed by lefty Cesar Ramos, Mexico began
its rally. After allowing an unearned run on an errant first-inning
throw by first baseman Joey Votto, righthander Chris Leroux settled
down and finished three just at his pitch count.
The key defensive play for Canada,
that allowed them to hold onto a one-run lead, came when Robinson
blocked the plate as he took a throw from Tyson Gillies. Trying to
score from second base, Karim Garcia crashed into the Canadian
catcher. Robinson never tagged him, bu Garcia never touched the plate
and when he reached the dugout he was the first out of the inning.
Earlier in the inning, Robinson had
been felled by a foul tip to the high, inner thigh that left him
doubled over on the ground. A couple of pitches later, came the
bone-shaking collision. Canada has just two catchers on the roster,
so could ill afford to lose their starter.
Mexico scored two more runs in the
fourth, before Andrew Albers could escape, but Canada still held onto
a slim 4-3 lead. At the end of that first Albers inning, and looking
back to Phillipe Aumont retiring the first two batters in the seventh
vs. Italy, facing 16 batters, Canada's bullpen had allowed 11 hits,
two walks and 10 runs, while recording four outs.
Canada was going to need more runs if
it was going to survive and remain alive. In the fifth inning they
finally broke through again against lefthander Cesar Ramos. Using a
familar strategy, manager Ernie Whitt asked Robinson to bunt,
following a leadoff double by Saunders. Again, as he had done the day
before, Robinson laid down a perfect sacrifice to third base. After a
walk to Adam Loewen, Pete Orr singled through the right side for the
fifth Canada run.
Recall, the day before vs. Italy,
Whitt had bunted in the fourth inning, with runners on first and
second, trailing by four runs. Then, with two men in scoring
position, Loewen struck out and Orr popped to third base. Italy went
on to overpower the bullpen and win 14-4. Whitt stuck with the
strategy, but this time he was trying to extend a one-run lead in the
sixth – and did.
Albers, who has had a solid 12 months
for Team Canada, settled down to shut Mexico down through the sixth.
Then in the top of the seventh the heart of the order did it again
for Canada. Morneay crushed a line drive up the alley in
right-centre, scoring Taylor Green, who had walked. It was Morneau's
second hit and secon RBI of the game. Canada added another on a
fielder's choice.
But the seventh and eighth is where
Canada's bullpen hit the wall on Friday, allowing eight runs while
recording four outs. This time, with a four-run lead, Whitt handed
the ball to Trystan Magnuson.
The lanky great-nephew of the late
hockey star Keith Magnuson, was asked to pitch two innings and then
hand the game over to Canadian closer, John Axford. Normally the
eighth inning would belong to Brewers' righthander Jim Henderson, but
he had pitched against Italy on Friday and Magnuson had already
breezed through the seventh vs. Mexico.
Canada's offence made it easier,
tacking on a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, as Mornau and
Saunders each collected his fourth hit of the afternoon. In fact, the
2-5 spots in the batting order, Green, Votto, Morneau and Saunders,
combined to go 12-for-17 with three walks.
The game got ugly in the top of the
ninth inning, as a hockey game broke out. Ithe ill feelings started
when Robinson led off the ninth with a bunt single leading 9-3. The
Mexican pitcher Arnold Leon reacted by throwing inside to Rene Tosoni
with Gorman warning both benches. The next pitch hit Tosoni and the
fireworks exploded.
This was not one of those fake
baseball fights. This was a hockey brawl. Numerous punches were
thrown and skirmishes erupted in ebbs and flows all over the field.
As Canada retreated to its dugout, they began playing to the crowd,
waving to the Canadians to raise the roof and tugging at the front of
their jerseys to show the Canada name. It was about then that a water
bottle was fired and hit pitching coach Denis Boucher in the back of
the neck at full force.
That created further bedlam as one of
the Canadians fired the offending water bottle at someone in the
stands, while Boucher had to be held back as he tried to climb over
the dugout.
When action resumed, it seemed that only Leon and Tosoni
were tossed, but the confrontaton continued in the stands as fights
erupted all around Chase Field. A dangerous moment occured when a
ball was thrown from the stands thast sailed past first-base coach
Larry Walker's ear and rolled onto the field.
PHOENIX-There was always a stated
primary goal and an understood secondary one for Team Canada,
entering the tournament opener against Italy at Chase Field on Friday
afternoon. The primary reason for winning was to set up a situation
wherein a win over Mexico on Saturday would ensure a berth in the
second round. The unstated reason was to at least win one game and
avoid the qualification round for the next WBC in 2017. Both goals
were scuttled by a 14-4 loss to Italy, moving them to 2-0.
Once again, as in 2009, there will be
some questioning of the strategy by manager Ernie Whitt in the wake
of a loss, although this time it could be directly attributable to
Canada's lack of major-league pitching depth. Recall in '09 at the
Rogers Centre, following a tremendously exciting loss to Team USA in
the opener, Whitt held back Scott Richmond, his bast available
starter to have him face Venezuela in Game 3, allowing Vince Perkins
to face Italy, an unkown baseball power at the time.
Unfortunately, in the one-and-done format of double elimination that year, Italy pulled off the upset and
Richmond was left on the sidelines without being used, as Canada
ignominiously headed home. With Italy already having a win over
Mexico on Thursday, Friday was almost a must-win for Canada. This
time they had their best, most experienced pitcher, Shawn Hill on the
mound.
But once again, Whitt was unable to
avoid controversy in another loss to Italy. Prior to the Italy game,
Whitt had stated his intention of removing Hill before he exceeded 50
pitches, the reason being that if Canada advanced to the second
round, they would need Hill for the Tuesday start in Miami, to open
Round 2. More than that number and Hill would need four days off,
missing Tuesday's start.
However, you basically have to win two
of three in this round to worry about your pitching rotation next
week and when Whitt removed Hill with two outs in the third inning,
the game got away from him. Tied 1-1 with a runner on first,
Mathieson, who pitched in Japan in 2012, walked Anthony Rizzo, gave
up a bloop single to Alex Liddi and then surrendered a three-run
blast to Chris Colabello. All of a sudden Canada trailed 5-1 with a
steep hill left to climb.
Whitt continued to fuel the second
guessers and Russell Martin continued to feed the fires of Canadian
national wrath for his premature withdrawl at the last minute. A key
moment when the game was close came in the fourth inning. Canada had leadoff runners on first
and second, with lefthander Chris Cooper on the mound. Catcher Chris
Robinson, one of two righthanded hitters in the lineup, replacing
Martin as the starter, bunted the two runners over, even trailing by
four runs. Canada played for two and scored zero, as Adam Loewen
struck out and Pete Orr popped out to third base.
But it was Canada's obvious lack of
top tier pitching that shone through as the game progressed. Whitt
had been hoping that his piggy-back starters, Hill and Mathieson
might combine for six innings in their 90 pitches, turning over a
lead to the bullpen for the final nine outs.
“I like our bullpen, so we're going
to try to keep all of our pitchers, our starting pitchers and our
piggyback pitchers, at right around 45 pitches,” Whitt said prior
to the game. “Hopefully that will get us to about the fifth or
sixth inning, and then I'm comfortable with our bullpen after that.
And then our bullpen guys, I really don't want to pitch them
back-to-back days, so we'll try to separate that a little bit.
This game today is very important. We're going to do whatever we can
to get a victory.”
But Canada refused to buckle against a
bullpen without the services of closer Jason Grilli, who exceeded his
pitch limit in saving the game vs. Mexico. In the seventh, after a
disputed hit-by-pitch of Justin Morneasu loaded the bases, Michael
Saunders stroked a two-run single to right, narrowing the deficit to
two runs. Brian Sweeney retired pinch-hitter Tim Smith with the tying
run at first.
Philippe Aumont came in for the bottom
of the seventh and after retiring the first two hitters, gave up
three more runs, capped by a two-run double by Drew Butera, son of
the Blue Jays' scout Sal. Two of the hits were broken bat, but the
three runs broke Canada's back.
Italy piled on the Canadian bullpen,
adding five runs in the bottom of the eighth, mercifully sending
Canada to its first mercy loss in WBC play. Clearly Italy's Mike
Piazza is a better hitting coach than Larry Walker of Team Canada.
Canada must now win games against
Mexico on Saturday and the U.S. on Sunday and rely on other factors
to fall into place in order to advance to the second round on
Tuesday. But at least Shawn Hill is eligible to pitch at Marlins Park
– or more likely back with the Tigers in Lakeland.
For the Blue Jays, this uber-eventful past week at home is either the beginning of the end or the end of the beginning.
They either find out that nobody on the farm is ready to replace their three injured starters and begin to spiral out of control through the standings, or they discover that some of the guys on the farm actually will thrive with better defence and more thorough scouting of opposing hitters.
Anyway, wasn’t Hutchison going to be shut down at 150 innings, anyway? So instead of taking the final month off, he can take it in the middle of the season. That’s a glass-half-full view.
Of course, the other view is that the Jays are toast and might as well start re-arranging the deck chairs and offering up contracts of veterans on one-year deals at the trade deadline.
This has been the story of the Jays’ roller-coaster season thus far. What’s down is up and what’s up is down. When they’re expected to win, they lose. When disaster looms, they bounce back and string Ws together. For the seven days starting on Monday, the Jays were 3-3, losing a series to the Nationals and sweeping the Phillies, without Roy Halladay, both at the Rogers Centre.
What makes the week so truly unusual is that nine pitches into Thursday’s series opener vs. the Phillies, the Jays had lost three games in the week and had lost three starting pitchers to the disabled list.
On Monday, Brandon Morrow strained his left oblique. On Wednesday, it was Drabek tearing his ulnar collateral ligament, likely headed for Tommy John surgery and on Friday it was a sprained UCL suffered by Hutchison. The organization and its fans are still reeling.
The frustration shone through in this most telling quote of the week from manager John Farrell that was spoken even before the Hutchison injury: “This is a challenge. Nobody gives a (bleep) about the Toronto Blue Jays except the people in the clubhouse.”
Frustration and defiance.
It’s significant. The three missing pitchers have totalled 207 2/3 innings, 37 starts and 16 wins. Those are tough numbers to replace. As of Sunday night, the Jays had not announced pitchers for either Tuesday or Wednesday at Miller Park against the Brewers.
The bullpen was amazing and busy over the six games this week. Overall, the Jays’ pen was 2-1 with one save, working 32 innings, allowing 26 hits, 8 runs, 7 earned, 11 walks and 27 strikeouts. Multiple inning relief performances, even by one-inning relievers, were the order of the day.
Leading the way in terms of bullpen work were: Luis Perez 5.1 IP; Villanueva 5 IP; Laffey 4.1 IP; Frasor 3.2 IP; Beck 3.2 IP; Janssen 3 IP; Cordero 2.2 IP; Oliver 2 IP; Coello 2 IP; Crawford 0.1 IP.
The starters combined to pitch 23 innings. Frasor led with four relief appearances.
The Jays on Sunday flew in 13 Jays fathers, including the infamous Tony Rasmus, father of Colby, who was vilified by Cardinals manager LaRussa and the organization for his allegedly meddling ways when it came to his son’s batting. Needless to say his disdain for the Cardinal organization was mutual. Rasmus said he hasn’t seen his son this happy playing ball in years.
“It’s a big deal,” Tony Rasmus said of the Jays’ gesture of flying all the families in for Father’s Day.
“The first thing my wife said was, ‘Did St. Louis ever do this?’ So we were really excited about the opportunity to get to do this.”
The Jays this week signed 22 of their 54 draft picks, including OF D.J. Davis, an outfielder from Stone County High School, in Mississippi. He is the son of Wayne Davis, a former Blue Jays’ farmhand from 1983-86. The Jays signed Davis for $1.75 million, according to Baseball America, saving $250,000 on the slot for No. 17 overall. The Jays signed 11 of their 14 picks in the first 10 rounds. The three Jays picks remaining before the July 13 deadline are No. 22 RHP Marcus Stroman, No. 50 LHP Matt Smoral and No. 81 RHP Chase DeJong.
MLB POWER RANKINGS
Last week’s rankings in parentheses
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (1)
Are always good early, but for L.A. the 162-game season always marathon of hope
2. New York Yankees (2)
A-Rod tied Gehrig’s record for slams, paid tribute to Iron Horse
3. Washington Nationals (4)
Harper, Strasburg best 1-2 punch under 24 in baseball
4. Texas Rangers (3)
Rangers pitching melting down so fast, Al Gore is investigating
5. Tampa Bay Rays (5)
Matt Moore starting to live up to hype. Now what about the bats?
6. Cincinnati Reds (9)
Chapman million dollar arm and two-cent brain; Votto rules
7. Atlanta Braves (6)
Feeling the heat....and it’s not even the dog days yet
8. San Francisco Giants (7)
Cain’s perfect game and Blanco catch highlight the week
9. Baltimore Orioles (11)
Everyone waiting for O’s collapse, but pitching hanging in
10. Chicago White Sox (8)
Sale and Peavy fuel a surprising renaissance
11. Los Angeles Angels (10)
Who knew Trout could help entire franchise swim upstream
12. New York Mets (12)
Worst idea in sports? Allowing MLB to overturn scorer’s decisions
13. Cleveland Indians (14)
Damon’s bid for 3,000 hits may not end well
14. Boston Red Sox (15)
When Sox get healthy this ranking should head north
15. St. Louis Cardinals (16)
They do miss the 10-year face of the franchise
16. Miami Marlins (13)
Found out hotel this week is near where man’s face chewed off (see below)
17. Toronto Blue Jays (17)
Starting pitchers falling faster than Nik Wallenda with the hiccups
18. Detroit Tigers (18)
Catcher Alex Avila’s injury demonstrates his true value
19. Arizona Diamondbacks (22)
D-backs slowly climbing back to respectability
20. Pittsburgh Pirates (20)
Have not finished .500 since George H.W. Bush was prez
21. Philadelphia Phillies (19)
Most disappointing team in baseball
22. Oakland A’s (23)
This is team that will continue to improve as year goes on
23. Seattle Mariners (21)
Seems everyone that faces them goes to hill with “no-hit stuff”
24. Minnesota Twins (24)
Can franchise support both M’s – Mauer and Morneau?
25. Kansas City Royals (26)
Hosmer and Hochevar will need to help them move forward
26. Milwaukee Brewers (25)
Miller Field magic melts away like Gouda cheese on a hot sidewalk
27. Houston Astros (27)
Seems everyone that faces them went to hill with “perfect-game stuff”
28. Colorado Rockies (28)
Canadian LHP Jeff Francis in second tour of duty
29. San Diego Padres (29)
If I became a free agent this is where I would want to write
30. Chicago Cubs (30)
Going nowhere. Dempster and Garza and pray for trade
THE ESSAY: WARREN CROMARTIE SPEARHEADS BASEBALL’S RETURN TO MONTREAL
The Expos experience was always something special for those major-leaguers that played in Montreal, whether it was the Jarry Park years from 1969-76, or the Olympic Stadium era from 1977-2004.
Those Expos players, especially in the years from ’75 to ’94, remained friends even after they left the organization in trade, even after they eventually retired. Whenever they get together, they still laugh, they cry, they reminisce, exchanging war stories of working, playing and partying in Montreal, enjoying the city, the organization, the fans and growing up with each other.
The fact is I have never seen a closer group of athletes in my 40 years in baseball, from spring training through the end of each season. Maybe it was the fact of being an English minority in a foreign land, living among fans that respected their space, yet lived and died with their on-field exploits.
Unfortunately major-league baseball is now gone and apathy seems to rule.
Montrealers have accepted too easily their team is gone, uprooted to Washington D.C. to become the Nationals. Quel dommage.
For one of those Expos players, former outfielder/first baseman Warren Cromartie, a man who has always found the time to return on a regular basis for various functions and charities, including an annual ALS fund-raiser to find a cure for Lou Gehrig’s disease, the outgoing and popular Miami native finally had had enough and wanted to do something to correct the absence of pro baseball.
I talked to Cro by phone the day that Gary Carter passed away. I spoke to him again at the Kid’s memorial service in Palm Beach Gardens. On both occasions, he was passionate and adamant, angry that the city seemed not to remember the Expos, especially in the early ’80s and early ’90s.
There were no shrines, no museums, no Expos logos, no fans wearing retro jerseys, nowhere to go for a history lesson on baseball in Montreal — the Expos, the Royals, anything.
Whenever Cro spoke individually to fans in the city, he knew they were still passionate about the Expos and about pro baseball, but, from his point of view, the various levels of government in Montreal and Quebec were neglecting, no, burying an important part of their sporting history.
As such, with a little help from his former baseball friends, many of whom he had spoken to about the project only after Carter’s death, Cromartie formed an association called the Montreal Baseball Project (MBP) whose goal is to ultimately bring professional baseball back to the city, a move that he hopes will lead to the return of the big boy, major-league baseball.
Realistically, it won’t be that easy, maybe it will be impossible. MLB is more than ever a closed fraternity that seems to not want to expand to Canada, but Cro certainly deserves credit for trying.
This past weekend, June 14-16, featured a series of events for MBP, kicked off with an introduction of former Expos stars on the field before an Alouettes-Blue Bombers exhibition game last Thursday.
The list of former Expos on hand for the festivities included Cromartie, Andre Dawson, Tim Raines, Ellis Valentine, Larry Parrish, Wallace Johnson, Bryn Smith, Stan Bahnsen, Bill Gullickson, Rodney Scott, Rowland Office and Bill “Spaceman” Lee. Nice.
Further to a presence at the football game, the friends of baseball in Montreal staged a Friday golf tournament on Ile Perot and organized a Saturday dinner that was preceded by a Fan Fest and various clinics for young baseball players in the city. The beneficiary of any money raised was the Cedars Cancer Institute. The beneficiary of any attention raised was baseball in Montreal.
Cromartie’s efforts and those of his former teammates are admirable, but it will be a long grind. The first priority is to get a solid ownership group together. Cromartie is well aware of that. The second thing is to find a location for a stadium, one that could start small and be expanded if the idea catches on. The group can’t just start with a demand for major-league ball.
But a return at any level of pro ball, especially if it was affiliated with a major-league team, especially the Jays, would be preferable to having no ball at all. As such, good luck, gentlemen. Let’s get pro baseball back in Montreal.
THE RANT: DUSTY BAKER AND DEREK LOWE EXCHANGE INSULTS. WHAT’S NEXT?
Reds manager Dusty Baker and Indians pitcher Derek Lowe just plain don’t like each other and it’s turned into a nasty war of words. But, really, why is this considered bad and what makes this any different than the silly Cole Hamels-Bryce Harper incident that cost the Phillies’ pitcher a five-game suspension?
Make no mistake about it, the Office of the Commissioner is paying attention to a potential Baker-Lowe 2 this Monday in Cleveland.
The recent fallout of what turns out is a four-year-old feud is this: On June 13, Lowe came to the plate in Cincy and was low-bridged by Reds starter Mat Latos by a 96 mph fastball.
Lowe turned his head and glared at the Reds’ dugout, specifically at Baker, who waved his index finger back and forth in Dikembe Mutombo fashion. “Don’t bring that weak stuff in here,” is the gist.
The two men had a similar thing going on four years ago when Lowe was with the Dodgers and was nasty as well. Here’s how the back-and-forth went. On Wednesday after the game, Lowe was asked by reporters about the chin music from Latos.
“Dusty will deny it. It has everything to do with him. You can go ask him. He’ll deny it like he has no idea. They’ve been trying to do this for years. I’d always come up with men on base. To say it didn’t come from Dusty, Mat Latos was with the San Diego Padres the last four years. He has no idea what’s going on.
“Again, you can ask him and he’ll say he doesn’t know (anything) about it like he always does. This goes back to my last year with the Dodgers. He made up some story. A lot of people got involved. People almost got fired over it. You can go ask him right now and he’ll say he has no idea what you’re talking about. But just watch the game. Mat Latos has nothing to do with anything that has gone on. How would he know? Why would you throw a 96 mph fastball, first pitch, inside to a pitcher? Ask him.”
Then on Thursday morning before the series finale, Baker was asked for any response to Lowe.
“He had some words for me. I really didn’t want to make a public thing or a public spectacle. He’s the one who brought it up. He had some choice words for me. I really don’t care if he respects me. It doesn’t matter. No. 1, you’ve got to ask him why he hit Joey Votto in the back two years ago.
“Yesterday, he took exception to a ball inside that didn’t hit him, then hit Brandon Phillips after that. I’m not denying nothing. I didn’t order anyone to hit him. I told (Mat Latos) to buzz him and make him uncomfortable. That’s what happened. Nobody hit him. Then he hit our guy.
“What he was talking about was something that he said and did a few years. You got to ask him what that was. You got a lot people involved in the situation that didn’t need to be involved in the situation. It didn’t come from there. Go ask him since he made it public. Understand what I’m saying. I’ll let it rest at that since he’s such a big man running his mouth talking about himself.”
Now here Dusty is admitting that he asked his pitcher to “buzz” Lowe. And then Lowe responds soon after by hitting Phillips. How is that different than what Hamels said and did?
As journalists and fans we get mad at those in sports that speak in clichés and without emotion. Then when someone does speak the truth, they are criticized again. We can’t have it both ways.
I don’t think Hamels should have been suspended and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Lowe and Baker not liking each other. But, really, if Hamels is going to be suspended, why not Baker, who said he had his man knock Lowe down and how about Lowe who clearly retaliated by hitting Phillips.
For the commissioner, it’s about consistency in the message. He shouldn’t have suspended Hamels, but what now? All or nothing.
AL ROUNDUP
The resurgent Yankees marched into Washington and swept the Nationals three games in front of full houses, extending the Bombers’ win streak to nine games. The Nats sure looked good in Toronto earlier in the week and sure looked bad at home. All of a sudden the Yanks’ rotation is shaping up with Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes, CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte.
The Angels have a tough decision when RH Jered Weaver returns from his sore back this week. He will likely bump RH Garrett Richards (2-0, 0.86 ERA) back to the minors. OF Vernon Wells had thumb surgery to repair a torn UCL in his thumb and is out at least until the end of July. The Angels have taken off without the former Jays’ star.
The O’s were happy to have 2B Brian Roberts back on the field after a year away with a concussion. His average is back to normal, but he has yet to produce an extra-base hit. It’s all about timing and he hasn’t got that back yet.
Rookie LH Matt Moore has won three straight decisions for the Rays and is heading towards the form that everyone expected after his dazzling playoff performance last year. “I like the fact that he commanded his breaking ball without trying to overthrow it, and then it started becoming a strike,” manager Joe Maddon told Rays media. “Now they have to honour the fastball and breaking ball mentality. That makes it very difficult.” 3B Evan Longoria began a minor-league rehab on Saturday at Triple-A Durham.
The A’s Cuban CF Yoenis Cespedes came off the DL stint recovered from his thumb issues. But now he has been battling left hamstring woes, although he remains active. If the following story sounds familiar it is because it is. OF Manny Ramirez asked for and was given his release by the A’s because he was not being promoted from the minor leagues fast enough. Manny had finished serving his 50-game MLB suspension for a second PED failure, but the A’s kept him at Triple-A. Ramirez asked for his relief. It parallels the story of Jays’ minor league DH Vlad Guerrero who insisted he be recalled right away or given his release. He still has not re-signed.
The Rangers have been trying to seamlessly integrate right-hander Yu Darvish into the North American style of pitching. However, after noticing that he was struggling with fatigue issues, the Rangers gave him an extra three days between starts and he responded with 11 strikeouts in a 6-2 win over the Astros. OF Josh Hamilton had been sidelined on the weekend with dehydration and a stomach virus. It’s a condition that has run rampant in one form or another through the Rangers clubhouse. Starter Derek Holland had the worst case, going on the DL and losing 15 lbs. He wants to play again on Monday in San Diego.
The White Sox will start former Jays right-hander Zach Stewart on Monday against the Cubs. Veteran John Danks is still not ready to return to the active ranks.
NL ROUNDUP
The Nationals invaded Canada for three games and left no prisoners, behind the impressive play of 19-year-old outfielder Bryce Harper and 23-year-old right-hander Stephen Strasburg. The last time Washington made as big an impact in Canada was ’04 when they swooped in and stole the Expos back to D.C. We will always remember. It was nice that at the same time, they were celebrating the 200-year anniversary of the War of 1812, conveniently forgetting that with the help of the British, we went in and burned down their White House. I think they are still ahead by stealing the Expos, our national NL team. The first visit by Harper to Canada will forever be remembered for his classic answer to the unfortunate TV broadcaster that asked him if he might be celebrating Tuesday’s monster homer off the Blackberry sign in centre field at the Rogers Centre with a nice Canadian beer, since the drinking age is 19 in Canada. Harper’s response: “That’s a clown question, bro.’ ” Harper and his family are Mormons. As good as Harper and the Nats were in Toronto, they were swept by the Yankees. In Saturday’s game, Harper was 0-for-7 with five strikeouts.
The Marlins offence has been struggling and hitting coach Eduardo Perez has been taking some heat but gets a spirited defence from manager Ozzie Guillen. The art of Tweeting has never seen a more prolific practitioner than LF Logan Morrison, who is raucous and irreverent. He got in trouble last season and was sent briefly to Triple-A New Orleans as punishment. 3B Hanley Ramirez suffered a slight fracture of his nose as a baseball rattled off his face in a batting cage. Much maligned closer Heath Bell has converted 11 straight saves and has not blown an opportunity since May 4.
The Giants highlight of the week was Matt Cain’s perfect game against the Astros. He threw 125 pitches and was supported by a sensational diving catch in right centrefield by Gregor Blanco. The lowlight came when 1B Aubrey Huff injured his right knee hopping the short fence in front of the dugout to join in the celebration.
Mets manager Terry Collins was so concerned about Canadian left-fielder Jason Bay and his second concussion in the past 12 months that he sent him home for the weekend after crashing headfirst into the wall on Friday. Bay, who Collins feels may be done for the year, was booed by idiot Mets fans as he was helped off the field.
Cubs Canadian right-hander Ryan Dempster knows he’s trade bait at the deadline. He is 3-3, with a 2.11 ERA and would be a solid acquisition for teams, including the Jays. “I’m not naive, I’m not oblivious to what’s going on,” Dempster told Chicago media. “But it’s really kind of, not out of my control, actually it really is in my control. It’s one of those things if I focused on that and I worried about that, I wouldn’t be doing a very good job as a teammate to those guys in there, and I wouldn’t be doing a very good job for myself if I wasn’t focusing on what I need to do.” Dempster has been 10 years in the majors and the last five with the same team, meaning he can veto or approve any trade.
The Braves lost NL ERA leader Brandon Beachy to right elbow soreness and the DL. He will be replaced in the rotation by RH Jair Jurrjens, recalled from Triple-A. Jurrjens at one time was considered one of the bright young starters in the game.
The Astros optioned Brett Wallace back to Triple-A Oklahoma City after 1B Carlos Lee returned from the DL on the weekend. How far has Wallace’s star fallen since he was regarded as the Jays’ first-baseman of the future in a follow-up to the Roy Halladay deal?
THIS WEEK IN BASEBALL HISTORY
6/18/76 The A’s eccentric owner Charlie Finley showed his hatred and disdain for the new rules of free agency. He sold stars OF Joe Rudi and CL Rollie Fingers to the Red Sox and LHP Vida Blue to the Yankees at the June 15 trade deadline, but commissioner Bowie Kuhn, who often had butted heads with the irascible insurance magnate from Chicago, negated the deals citing “the best interests of baseball.” ... 6/18/86 the Angels’ Don Sutton posts his 300th career victory. It was against the Rangers, a three-hitter... 6/19/38 after consecutive no-hitters, Johnny Vander Meer worked into the fourth inning against the Boston Braves before ending his hitless streak at 21 innings... 6/20/90 former Expos star C Gary Carter, then with the Giants, caught his 1,862nd game, eclipsing the MLB record of Al Lopez. Carter later went to the Dodgers and back to the Expos... 6/20/86 The struggling White Sox fired manager Tony LaRussa after a slow start, replacing him with future Phillies and Jays skipper Jim Fregosi. LaRussa signed shortly after that with the A’s... 6/21/39 the Iron Horse, Yankee 1B Lou Gehrig announces his retirement after it is discovered he is suffering from ALS. His illness ended his consecutive games streak at 2,130... 6/21/64 On Father’s Day, Phillies pitcher Jim Bunning tosses a perfect game at Shea Stadium that I remember seeing live on TV. The closest thing to a hit was C Jesse Gonder ripping a line drove speared by 2B Tony Taylor. Bunning was the second pitcher ever to record no-hitters in both leagues... 6/22/90 the struggling Braves fire manager Russ Nixon and replace him with Bobby Cox. Pretty good move... 6/23/63 eccentric White Sox outfielder Jimmy Piersall hits his 100th career HR and famously circles the bases backwards. Pitcher Dallas Green was not amused, but the fans and his teammates were.
Birthdays this week: Lou Brock 73, Andres Galarraga 51, Lou Gehrig 109, Dickie Thon 54.
MINOR LEAGUE ROUNDUP
Triple A Las Vegas (39-31)...The 51’s lost to Colorado Springs 16-4 on Sunday. 1B Adam Lind was 2-for-5 and is batting .412. C Travis D’Arnaud is batting .335 with 15 homers and 48 RBIs. SS Adeiny Hechavarria is hitting .332 with 47 RBIs. LF Travis Snider was 2-for-5 in his second game back and is hitting .337. RHP Jesse Chavez is 7-2 with a 3.84 ERA... AA-New Hampshire (24-43)...The Fisher Cats beat Bowie 4-3 in 13 innings on Sunday. 1B Mike McDade was 1-for-6 and is batting .308. The biggest disappointment has been the back-to-back first-round draft picks from 2009-10, RHP Chad Jenkins (2-6, 5.84 ERA) and RHP Deck McGuire, who pitched 5 innings on Sunday and is 2-8, 6.62 ERA. RHP Joel Carreno is 1-4 with a 4.71 ERA... A-Dunedin (41-23) ...CF Jake Marisnick is batting .262, with three homers, 26 RBIs and eight steals. RHP John Stilson is 3-0, 2.82 ERA. LHP Sean Nolin is 7-0, 2.35 ERA... A-Lansing (47-22) ... the Lugnuts beat Great Lakes 9-2 on Sunday. LF Kevin Pillar hit his third homer, with four RBIs and is batting .319 with 27 stolen bases. Pitching is the story at Lansing as RHP Aaron Sanchez leads the way with 6-0, 0.77 ERA. He worked four innings with no decision on Sunday... A-Vancouver (2-1) ... the Canadians lost 7-3 to Spokane. 1B Balbino Fuenmayor was 2-for-4 and is hitting .429.
ONE FOR THE ROAD
This week’s road trip takes the Jays and me to Milwaukee and Miami. I’m covering those two stops and am looking forward to Miami. Not so sure about Milwaukee. I think the last time I was in Milwaukee for the all-star game a few years ago, it rained for two days, including Home Run Derby Monday and at the hotel I was assigned, the bellman that brought me to my room proudly told me that this was the hotel — located near Marquette University — that notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer used to lure some of his victims. Didn’t see that referenced in the online brochure.
That was also the all-star game that ended in a tie and prompted the rule change where the all-star winning league earns home field advantage at the World Series. Not Bud Selig’s proudest moment as he sat confused in the field-side box seats in the 12th inning as managers and umpires told him there was no more pitching.
The post-all-star game party was held in tents just outside the Brewers stadium and I remember being unable to order a Miller Lite. Only Bud and Bud Light, ironically in the shadow of Miller Park. Bud was the official beer of MLB and all that, but had nothing to do with making Milwaukee famous. Strange.
Are there two more polar opposite cities in terms of reputation than Wisconsin’s biggest little city on the shores of Lake Michigan and Florida’s capital of cool with South Beach, art deco and all.
Last time I was on Miami Beach, was for a winter meetings. The Clevelander is my favourite South Beach night spot, with outdoor bar set up around the swimming pool with rickety foot bridges, throbbing dance music and cold beer. Joe’s Stone Crab for lunch is a must. The most bizarre place I went to was with Jeff Blair of the Globe & Mail, a Goth bar called The Kitchen. It was pitch black inside, with no lighting and you had to feel your way around. The music was equally bizarre. Blair loved it.
Oh, by the way, the hotel I chose is on the MacArthur Causeway, which was in the news recently right near my lobby, when some nut job ate the face off another guy. I detect a trend with me and road hotels. From Florida, the team heads to Boston and will be joined for coverage by The Star’s Brendan Kennedy.
Earlier in the afternoon I had talked to John McDonald for 10 minutes, which is always a feel-good occasion, a slamdunk in combating cynicism. But to then see the 24-year-old catcher from Miami and the 26-year-old pitcher from East L.A., neither of whom is married or has kids of their own, to hear these two young men describe their own devastated feelings when they heard about the death of young Ryley earlier in the day makes you forget, not forgive, all the anti-social behaviour that seems to dominate recent news about pro athletes.
It's not easy for athletes to dedicate a game to someone because that can backfire in the heartbeat of a three-run homer. But to have Romero and Arencibia respond the way they did to the tragedy of Ryley's leukemia, a horrible disease that snuffed out the life of a smiling boy they had played catch with and got to know the family as recently as April 2, to have the two men step up and pretty much combine for the win with seven innings of 3-hit ball and a game winning two-run homer, speaks volumes to the character of the two young Jays. This is a good Jays clubhouse from Jose Bautista on down.
On to the mailbag.
Q-Hi Richard,
Given the rapid decline of guys like Jorge Posada, Derek Jeter, Miguel Tejada, etc. etc. at around the 36 to 37 age mark, I have to speculate at what age you would see a decline for Toronto's late blooming superstar. At 30 years old, it would be sad to think that we really only have 5-6 years and then a rapid decline after that. With that said, given the lack of miles on Jose's body, compared to guys like Jeter and Posada (a catcher no less) who have played since their early 20s plus the post season, would you say he could be productive well into his 40s OR is age the determining factor?
Maresh F, Toronto
A-Unfortunately, steroids had a lot to do with guys being productive well into their 40s. I remember talking to current Dodgers GM Ned Colletti (another Fishel Award winner by the way) when he was an assistant GM under Brian Sabean at the Giants. It was just before Barry Bonds signed his last contract and the Giants had commissioned an off-season study to gauge the declining numbers that could be expected of major-league player after they turned 40.
The study showed a remarkable consistency in players performances dropping off the table after 40. However, the Giants relented and gave Bonds one more huge deal. He turned that study on its ear and now we know why. But, now, with mandatory performance-enhancing drug testing since 2004 and, more importantly, with the rank and file of players in the union disgusted with what went down during the steroid era, you're seeing a return to the normal “best before” dates in baseball, including Jorge Posada and others. That means that at the end of this contract, when Bautista is 36-years-old, he'll likely have one more three-year contract in him. But if he remains at the levels he's playing rigtht now, it will be a great deal for the Jays.
Q-Hey Richard,
I wanted to know how Brett Lawrie is doing defensively down at AAA recently and if we can expect a call up soon, his hitting stats (.334BA, 9HR, 31RBI) are superb! Also, with Aaron Hill struggling to start the year again (.238, 0HR) it seems like it would not be in the best interest of the team to re-sign him long term. Have they thought about moving Lawrie back to 2nd, having either Hechavarria or Justin Jackson play short (when they're ready) and move Escobar to 3rd?
Josh Cymbalista, Thornhill
A-Lawrie, in his first season at third base after two years at second base in the Milwaukee farm system, made six errors in his fist 10 games at AAA-Las Vegas in April, but has committed just four miscues in his last 30 games at the hot corner. The Pacific Coast League, because of uneven field conditions, constant wind, etc. is not the easiest venue in which to learn a new position. He's adapting well.
As for Aaron Hill, the decision will not be whether to re-sign him long-term. He already has a Jays' contract that, following 2011, contains two option years that must be picked up or declined by the same deadline as any other 2011 free agent, 15 days after the end of the World Series. What you are suggesting is that they decline the options. The numbers for those two seasons are $8 million per year, which for a veteran starting second baseman are reasonable figures, but unless Hill steps it up in the next four months, he might have trouble even earning Type B status which means the Jays could let him go at the end of the year and receive no compensation. Look instead for GM Alex Anthopoulos to explore offers as the summer goes on from other teams that might have faith in Hill bouncing back with a change of scenery. The flexibility that comes with his contract is a positive in making any deal.
I think with all the effort they are putting in towards making Lawrie a third baseman, they would prefer to keep him at that infield position while going with Hechavarria and Escobar up the middle and making the determination of which one plays second, which plays short at a later date.
Q-Hi Richard,
After watching EE's atrocious performance vs Tampa recently, I am wondering if you can remember a game in the last 20 years that a Toronto player was been worse? Closest I could find was a 6-3 loss to Cleveland on Sept. 9th, 1998 when Alex Gonzalez SO 6 times and left 7 runners on base, but at least he didn't make any errors. Thanks Richard.
Adam Steeves, Kitchener
A-I honestly believe that the Encarnacion game at first base on Wednesday, May 18, was the absolute worst game of first base I have ever seen in 39 years in major-league baseball. In the first inning he went to his right and clanked a groundball with a chance for a force play at second. It was ruled a hit. In the second he charged a squeeze bunt by Sam Fuld, gloved it cleanly, saw there was no play at the plate, turned and underhanded an awkward parabolic feed to first base that pulled Hill off the bag. EE looked like one of those guys whose fingers get stuck in the bowling ball late and he lobs it halfway to the pins. In the third inning with B.J. Upton on first, EE fanned with his glove on a low pickoff throw from Jesse Litsch that bounded down the right field line and gave B.J. two bases. That same inning, Casey Kotchman bounced one to first base that ate EE up. He batted it down and it almost seemed like he wanted to throw himself on the ball like a grenade in case it exploded. It didn't. Finally, in the eighth, John Jaso ripped a hard grounder through Edwin that reminded me of the Charlie Brown grounder that spins the Peanuts character upside down with glove and clothes flying everywhere. He emerged from the game with an oh-for-4 and two errors. Worst ever game.
Q-Griff,
As I watch this team I can't help but see a group a few hitters away from contending. Where could AA find a spot in our lineup for another bat? I'm guessing Prince Fielder is too much to ask for, but what about Nick Swisher? Lastly, despite all the '2012' talk, would AA try and grab a rental on someone like Fielder if we were within reach of the playoffs?
Ray S, Toronto
A-The Jays could use a few more hitters, specifically at second base, third base, in left field, centre field and at DH. Could they build a winner with a base of Arencibia behind the plate, Lind at first base, Escobar at shortstop and Bautista in right field? Yes. As for a rent-a-player concept this yeart, the Jays might do it but only if the contract was about to expire and there would be Type A compensation on the way back with a first round and a sandwich pick. Fielder qualifies in that regard. Swisher does not. In fact Swisher is no better than Eric Hinske. Under those conditions, the mid-season acquisition of a star falls inside the Jays' master plan from which they have not deviated thus far. However, the Red Sox and Yankees are not going to stand still either. Their money pit is deeper. My guess is that the Jays will hang around the .500 mark all season and the issue of contending in September does not arise.
Q-My question is the Jays need a 3rd baseman, so what about a 28-year-old David Wright who is under team control for 2 yrs (club option)? It will cost a ton of prospects which the jays can afford. They can afford him salary-wise and when his contract is up the team should be good, and the chances of him re-signing would be good and other top-tier free agents may come.
Scott MacDonald, Tilbury
A-Brett Lawrie has a chance to be as much of an impact player as David Wright and he's seven years younger. Besides, Wright on May 16 went on the DL with a lower back stress fracture. To me the most impressive moment of Brett Lawrie at spring training came at Steinbrenner Field against the Yankees. He smashed a hard grounder three steps to the right of Derek Jeter, who moved over, gloved it and made a strong throw to first base. But by that time Lawrie was already well past the bag with an explosive burst. The quickness of the big man stunned the first base ump who called him out. In the seventh inning in the Jays clubhouse (media is allowed in during games in the spring) Lawrie and J.P. Arencibia were getting ready to go across the street to a Kenny Chesney concert and Lawrie was asked about the play. Matter-of-factly, even though he was trying to make the team and had been screwed, he shrugged and said "step and a half." Without protestation or invoking the malice of the baseball gods, he gathered up his teammate and headed for the Big Sombrero II. He's going to be a big leaguer soon.
Q-Hi Richard,
With a semi-platoon at catcher between Jose Molina and JP Arencibia and an obvious weakness at DH spot, would it not make sense for the Jays to bat Arencibia as a DH when Molina is the catcher? While his average isn't great, he has loads of upside and is showing good power and would be a better option than Rivera. It would also allow him to develop more consistency at the plate knowing he's at least getting regular at-bats?
A-It was never a strict platoon with the two catchers. At spring training, the idea was that Molina would have the youngest of the starters, Kyle Drabek, plus his prized peronal project from 2010, Brandon Morrow, with whom he had worked so well when John Buck was the starter. When Morrow was disabled at the end of the spring, Molina was handed Jo-Jo Reyes. When Morrow returned, Reyes went to the J.P. camp. The feeling was that with Arencibia having three of the five members of the rotation, he could ease his way towards more playing time. When Romero missed a start in Tampa and Drabek was moved up, that start came the afternoon after Morrow threw in a night game. It's difficult to conceive of the veteran Molina catching a day game after a night game. Arencibia stepped in behind the plate for Drabek and the two rookies worked well enough that they did it again five days later. Now it seems Drabek is also Arencibia's guy, and other than Morrow, Molina's schedule behind the plate will be determined more by schedule than by pitcher. The truth is that four of five days in the lineup is easy enough for Arencibia. Besides, DH'ing isn't really a day off. The Jays want Arencibia to be more concerned with guiding his pitchers than with what he contributes offensively. And teams with two catchers on the roster don't really like having one of them DH just in case the starter is nicked up and the DH must then enter to catch, meaning the pitcher must hit in the lineup for the rest of the game. Managers don't like being embarrassed.
Q-I'm not sure if you noticed how unbalanced the interleague play is: of the Jays' 6 series, Toronto plays 4 NL teams playing over .500 ball. Boston plays one! Yankees play 2. Toronto's already in tough being in the AL East, now this. They can pretty much kiss a playoff berth goodbye, if they ever had a chance to begin with....
M Wilson
A-There cannot possibly be a tougher inter-league road trip than the Jays have in June where they fulfill their entire 9-game interleague obligation, totally DH-less, starting in Cincinnati against the defending NL Central champs, then on to Atlanta to face one of the game's best starting rotations, finally to St. Louis against the perennially powerful Cards. Remember that's nine games with only eight hitters in the lineup. At least the Jays don't have a DH like Frank Thomas that can't play a position. Manager John Farrell can use the matchups and still manage to get at-bats for anyone because they all play a position – some of them two positions, not all of them well. By the way, those may be three of the six hottest ball parks in baseball mid-summer. I'm going to go to Brookstone before that trip to see if they've invented a small fan I can put in my shorts.
Happy St. Patrick's Day which, by the way, marks the 12th anniversary of Jays' manager Tim Johnson's spring training firing following his 88 win debut season with the Jays and the anniversary of Jim Fregosi being hired in 1999.
GM Gord Ash had continued to back his beleaguered manager all winter, including an uncomfortable week at the winter meetings in Nashville where Johnson's one-hour manager's interview session devolved into an embarrassing mea culpa.
Johnson had admitted to exaggerating his degree of service in the Vietnam era claiming in some clubhouse bull sessions with players that he had gone overseas.
His role, in fact, had been at Camp Pendleton training mortar artillerymen. But the whole thing wasn't going to work.
It got so bad at spring training in Dunedin with snide comments behind Johnson's back both in the clubhouse and on the road, including Jays' newly acquired lefthander David Wells going on the Bubba the Love Sponge Morning Show and regularly ridiculing his skipper that Ash decided that the change had to be made in a St. Patty's Day Massacre.
Major League Baseball umpires like officials in all pro sports are looked upon as a necessary evil.
However, I have known a lot of umpires personally through the years and away from the field in relaxed social settings, most of them are funny, charming, smart and family oriented. Of course we don't want to generalize because there are others that are total pinheads — probably in the same ratio as in any other segment of life.
MLB umpires are currently trying to get the word out about their online auction that they are conducting on behalf of their charity, UMPS CARE.
The online auction began on March 9 and goes until this Sunday, March 20.
There are some great items, more than 200 up for bid that include a ton of signed memorabilia, VIP experiences, golf, hotel stays and more.
All of the money goes to fund the UMPS CARE initiatives, which benefit children (hospital visits/Build-a-Bear workshops for children with serious illnesses and VIP game experiences for children awaiting adoption are two). Visit: http://www.umpscare.com/index.php for more information.
Now, to the questions:
Q-Richard,
With Brett Lawrie showing his natural ability on the ball diamond what are the chances he leaves spring training as the starting 3B and move Bautista back to RF? If Lawrie is as talented as we think, doesn't he seem to be of the same breed as A-Rod, Pujols, Heyward, with that being said, age shouldn't come into play as those 3 examples all started the careers at a young age like Lawrie. I know he will probably start in AAA but wouldn't our lineup be stronger with him at 3B and Bautista in RF?
Scott C.,Niagara-on-the-Lake
A-Sure, the Jays could easily make the decision to begin the season with Brett Lawrie at third base and live with the learning curve that he requires at third base from a positioning, react-to-the-ball-off-the-bat, still-needs-his-reps type thing. But they likely won't. Manager John Farrell is a huge and important supporter of Lawrie in the majors. The rest of the non-uniformed organization is more cautious. He has made some nice plays at third base, including flawless feeds right on the money to start double plays and many going to his left. Part of the reason for sending him to Vegas, of course, is that three weeks in the minors would ensure that Lawrie remains under Jays' control through 2017 instead of 2016. A player needs six full years to earn free agent status. A full season is 172 days of accumulated time. The 2011 season is 181 days long. Another part of the reason for farming him out is that they need to find a landing spot for current right fielder Juan Rivera, the Jays' version of brown shoes with their opening day tuxedo.
Rivera does not fit the Alex Anthopoulos criteria. He is not young, he's not controllable and the reason they even have him is that the Vernon Wells transaction needed to be made in order for the Jays' financial flexibility moving forward and Rivera's $5.2 million 2011 salary was part of what the Angels insisted the Jays take on. Currently the Jays starting outfield of LF Travis Snider, CF Rajai Davis and RF Rivera may rank 14th among 14 AL outfields. Check out any Fantasy Baseball preview magazine and look for Jays' outfielders in their 2011 rankings. As soon as you moved Bautista back to right field, with the Lawrie move to start at third base, the outfield rank would rise considerably.
It's probably unfair at this stage to Lawrie to compare him to A-Rod, Albert Pujols and Heyward at the same age. None of those three players was changing positions in the year they reached the majors and by the time they were 20 or 21, due to where they grew up, I would safely estimate they had far more repetitions on both sides of the ball than has Lawrie has, even growing up in the baseball hotbed of British Columbia and participating in the various Baseball Canada programs. If you're asking what I would do, I would send Rivera to another team and pay a large portion of his salary and I would install Lawrie at third base and bat him ninth. We've all at one time or another had to learn on the job.
Q-Hello Richard,
Much has been made of the Jays selection of Romero over Tulowitzki- including DiManno's recent article. How would the first 7 or 10 picks in that draft look today based solely on the player and not the selecting team's needs?
Thanks,
Martin, Edmonton
A-Here's one man's rankings, using the advantage of 20-20 hindsight, of the Top 12 first round picks from the 2005 draft. I'll put an asterisk next to the guys that were selected after Ricky Romero: 1-*Troy Tulowitzki (Rox); 2-Ryan Braun (Brewers); 3-Justin Upton (D'backs); 4-Ryan Zimmerman (Nats); 5-*Clay Buchholz (Bosox); 6-*Matt Garza (Twins); 7-*Jacoby Ellsbury (Bosox); 8-Romero; 9-*Colby Rasmus (Cards); 10-Jay Bruce (Reds); 11-Andrew McCutcheon (Bucs); 12-Alex Gordon (Royals).
Q-Hi Richard,
Always look forward to your insights, especially off-field things we'd have no other way of knowing. Two questions: First, have the Jays considered inviting Jimmy Key as a guest instructor? He'd be great with some of the left-handed starters, especially if he could teach them his borderline-legal pick-off move! Second, everyone always says Johnny Mac is a lousy hitter, but in about 150 at-bats last year he had 23 RBI. In 600 ABs, my simple math projects this to 92 RBI. Or, combining the last three years and extrapolating those 489 ABs up to 600 would give about 66 RBI. It's not great, but it's not terrible. Is he really that bad a hitter? He's certainly a great human being and a wizard fielder. Thanks!
Richard W., Toronto
A-As for former Jays' lefthander Jimmy Key, I have never heard his name mentioned around the Jays as even being interested in the prospect of teaching the organization's young pitchers. He had a great pickoff move which helped him control the opponent's running game, but whenever John Farrell looks for an example to teach his young lefthanders, especially Brett Cecil, in terms of a lefthander being in total control of the game, he points to Andy Pettitte. It's probably a better idea that a young pitcher has seen the guy pitch and Jimmy retired in '98. Some guys just have no interest in coaching.
John McDonald is a much better hitter now than when he first joined the Jays from the Indians. A lot of credit for his early improvement should go to former Jays' hitting coach Mike Barnett. McDonald is what he is. That is a guy that can fill in nicely off the bench for a game or two, but that you don't want starting for a prolonged period. He reaches 10 years in the majors sometime in May. That's a pretty good career for a guy with his limited hitting ability. That's really good for him and his family and he's a great human being, one of the best...but, he's not a good hitter.
Q-I know it's just Spring Training but Brett Lawrie has looked really good so far, what is the chance of him making the team in April or is he looking like a September call-up? I have a friendly wager with a buddy that he will be called up after July 1st, am I going to lose $100?
Matt S., Toronto
A-For his chances of making the team out of the spring see the first question today. As for your bet on being called up after July 1, you might have a better chance of winning if you specified “before July 1.”
Q-Hi Richard:
Why would the Twins give up a good young starter such as Kevin Slowey?
Stu, Erin, Ont.
A-They haven't. The problem in a lot of major-league camps is that outside observers look at a club's areas of depth and ask themselves how their club could possibly use that perceived depth to shore up another perceived weakness on the roster. So when the Twins had what seemed like six major-league-ready starters in the rotation and a lack of experienced relievers in the bullpen and when two Jays' pro scouts showed up at a B Game in which Slowey was getting his work in, 2+2 became 5. Six starters is not depth. Ten starters is depth. There are injuries and failures to launch that occur every year in the majors and if you don't have guys in the minors ready to step in, then you aren't going to compete. The Jays currently have three top starters, plus four guys competing for the final two spots. That's seven starters, plus in the minors they will have pitchers on the rise like Zach Stewart, Henderson Alvarez, Chad Jenkins, Deck McGuire, plus holding-tank guys like Brad Mills and Robert Ray. That's more like the depth required to trade a starter for bullpen help. If a Slowey deal ever happened, good for the Jays, but unnecessary.
Q-Hey, Richard:
Love to pick your brain on M.L.B. rules involving player movement, so here we go again. This young Dominican pitcher that A.A. is trying to find a way to hang onto has 'run out of options' at the ripe old age of 22. I presume that's because Boston signed him at 17? Are these kids that teams sign from countries not subject to the draft subject to the same rules as U.S./Canadian kids (i.e. after 5 years go on the 40-man roster or be exposed to waivers? Will the same thing apply to the two Venezuelan kids the Jays signed last year. Why didn't the Jays go that route with Hechevarria?
I was in Dunedin last spring, partly because you made it sound so good (and it was!), & this year I'm in Phoenix. With the exception of not getting to see my beloved Jays, this is even better!
Bruce S., Courtenay, B.C.
A-Young lefty Cesar Cabral did not run out of options with Boston, but as you point out, since he had not been added to the Sox' 40-man roster after he had been a professional for five years he was eligible for the Rule 5 in December. The three options are just for roster players. If Cabral had been on the Red Sox roster, he would not have been eligible for the Rule 5 from which he was plucked by the Rays. But if he had been on the Sox' 40-man, as soon as they sent him to the minors this spring that would have become his first option. He could move up and down all year and it would still only be one option.
As far as the Jays' Venezuelans are concerned, it depends upon the signing dates when the clock starts. My understanding is that they have until the end of the 2015 season and then they must be protected on the 40-man or exposed to the Rule 5. Hechavarria is a different story. He was signed to as major-league contract due to the fierce competition for his services. He is signed for four years, through 2013. The club has already used one option and now having optioned him to AA-New Hampshire have exercised a second. If they send him to the minors again in 2012, then he's out of options for 2013 and must make the major-league team or be exposed on waivers. Once he starts playing for the Jays, then his service time accumulates just like any other player in terms of arbitration and free agency, but because of his original major-league contract, he's had a head start in terms of being held down in the minors.
Q-Richard:
Do you see 1B/OF as a possible future destination for J.P. Arencibia?
Good hitting catchers have been moved in the past to save their knees (Biggio, Delgado)
Jamie N., Brooklin, Ont.
A-The Arencibia question is a good one. The Jays have some good catching prospects coming up through the farm system led by Travis D'Arnaud who is slated to start the year at Double-A New Hampshire. If Arencibia's bat is for real as demonstrated by his PCL numbers at Vegas in 2010, then they will have to find a place for him to play. It's not a bad thing having a catcher with that offensive capability – see Mike Piazza. It's not bad having two catchers with major-league ability on your team – see Anaheim Angels. But at some point you have to make a decision. Trading one guy is possible. It's too early to predict for Arencibia and the Jays, but first base would be more likely than outfield if they decided to keep both he and D'Arnaud with a third catcher brought in to back up.
Q-Richard,
What is the latest update from Dustin McGowan?
Tom Z., Richmond Hill, Ont.
A-I wrote about McGowan's latest mound session at minor league camp on Monday. He is on the 60-day DL but that makes no difference to his status. He can still stay at extended camp in April and continue to work at coming back. He can pitch in all the minor league games he needs but if he pitches for one of the affiliates his rehab-option time starts to add up. McGowan if he ever returns will come back as a reliever and has accepted the organization's decision. The thought being that the pitches from 80-110 as a starter are more fatigue-inducing, maybe damaging than 10-20 pitches in one inning, even doing that every two days. McGowan is a gamer who won't give up the dream and to the Jays' credit they have not given up on him as they did Chris Carpenter, which came back to haunt them as he won Cy with the Cards. McGowan had elite stuff before the injuries, but the results were not that elite even when healthy so expectations if he is able to complete his unlikely comeback should be tempered. Just seeing him on the mound in a major-league game again would be emotional, because July 8 will mark the third year of not pitching in a regular-season pro game at any level. That's tough.
Q-Hi Richard,
Expanding on a question from last week, is there any minor leagues that play without a DH as does the National League? Or is the NL the only professional league that doesn’t use the DH?
Cheers,
Jeff Jay, Haliburton, Ont.
A-The Japanese Central League and the National League are the only pro leagues that have pitchers in the batting order. The Golden Baseball League (Independent) based in California did, but they have merged with other independent leagues and have been swallowed up by the DH rule. I used to be a big NL supporter with no DH, but it's becoming ridiculous to have kids come to the majors because of their arms and then be handed a bat. It's sad to lose the purity of the game, but it's time.
Q-Hi Richard,
I'm discussing the Kevin Slowey from the Twins possibility you made the point that if the Jays did acquire him it would be to set up another deal in moving one of their starting pitchers. My question is why are you so comfortable with Romero (ace not doubt), Morrow (170 inning pitch limit), Cecil (a good 3rd at least for sure), but then 2 huge questions marks in Kyle Drabek (never done anything in the show before), Litsch, Z, Reyes? In my opinion they have 3 good starters but I am worried that one will end up on the DL at some point, and then many question marks beyond them.
Thanks,
Mike, Cambridge, Ont.
A-I'm comfortable with that five-man rotation because the Jays as an organization are continuing to insist they are setting up for 2012 and beyond and really need to find out about Drabek, Zep. Jo-Jo and Litsch. It's not to say they're tanking in 2011, but if they replaced one of those back-of-the-rotation guys with Slowey, having to give up solid parts because the Twins aren't going to give him away, what does that accomplish. However if the Jays keep Slowey in the rotation and then move a guy like Cecil for something good, then it makes sense. I would not make the Slowey trade if I was running the Jays.
Q-Hi Richard,
What's your take on Eric Thames? He seems to be an under-the-radar young talent who's developing quickly. Could we see this guy make an impact with the Jays anytime this year? The outfield is probably the weakest area for the team right now, is there an opportunity for him to see some time?
Colin W., Mississauga, Ont.
A-Eric Thames has been an eye-opener at camp this spring, so much so that heading into the weekend he leads the Jays in Grapefruit League at-bats. Defensively he's a work in progress and can only play left field, but with just two left-handed bats in the starting lineup and with only Corey Patterson as a projected bench player from the left side, I could easily see Thames spending some major league time at some point this season. In his second year at Pepperdine, the most beautiful campus in America, Thames was being heavily scouted by the Red Sox and Yankees and should have been at least a second-round pick. He had torn a hamstring in Junior College and late in his next draft year tore a quadriceps that dropped his value down to the 7th round where to his credit, J.P. Ricciardi's Jays took a chance. Thames is now a yoga freak for flexibility and strength, cutting back on his weight training, and it has paid off. This past winter, he studied YouTube video of Jose Bautista and others to get prepared for his swing earlier and has been great this spring.
The likeable righthander has accepted the Jays' offer of arbitration and will return on a one-year contract for 2011 – unless, that is, the Jays decide to avoid the hearing and offer him a couple of years at a reasonable and very affordable rate as a setup man and part-time closer.
Last summer Frasor truly believed he would be moving on, but the fact that he pitched well enough over the past two years to qualify as a Type A screwed him. Nobody was going to offer a good setup man a multi-year offer and have to give up a first, second or third round draft pick. Maybe he should have given up a couple of more bombs and dropped to a B. That's the Catch-22 of his position.
The system works very much against guys like Frasor. There were 51 relievers on the free agent market and 25 of them were either A or B meaning there was compensation attached. Every club has young guys that need to pitch in the majors. They ask themselves, “Is the difference in middle relief between Frasor and our own guy enough to give up a high draft pick?” Not likely. The coincidence is that the guy he was traded for in 2004, outfielder Jayson Werth, is about to hit the free-agent jackpot.
On to the mail bag.
Q: There is an article in the Ottawa Citizen saying that councillors from the City of Ottawa are talking to the Blue Jays organization about bringing an affiliated professional baseball team to Ottawa. There seems to be a certain level of interest from the organization since, according to the article, Blue Jays officials have already visited the Ottawa baseball stadium to inspect it. Do you think this is a feasible possibility? If so, what team could come to Ottawa? Triple A?
Marcelo Mills, Ottawa
A: Don't discount the story of the Jays coming to Ottawa. Even before he took over as Jays' GM in the summer of '09, I had a long conversation with Alex Anthopoulos as assistant GM about the demise of minor-league baseball in Canada. I was expecting him to hem and haw and go over the usual excuses of “exchange rate, working visas, lengthy travel, etc.” Instead he went on about how he could not understand the death of minor-league baseball north of the 49th either. How it was all American B.S. and if he took over as GM one day, that would be a priority to get the minors back into Canada. He has already done it once, moving the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts to Vancouver. Thankfully they did not remain the Lugnuts. That would be as oxymoronic as Utah Jazz. If it doesn't work out with Ottawa, I'm saying right here, right now that if an interested group in Montreal was to step up with a legitimate place to play and financial backing that the Jays would consider that as well for a Triple-A franchise. Ottawa is getting first crack, but the AAA-Las Vegas contract is for another two years. Proximity and lack of temptation for young players works in Ottawa's favour – although the Sirens of Gatineau beckon. There used to be an expression when I was growing up, “What happens in Hull, stays in Hull.” The Jays are willing to take their chances. When the Expos were in Ottawa, they could always call a player up in the morning and he'd be there by noon. That was also a help to winning on the field.
Q: With the possibility of losing three key relievers in the Jays' pen, what are the chances the Jays pursue Canadian Jessie Crain, a reliable reliever with a career 3.45 ERA? If not, what other relievers may Alex Anthopoulos target this off season through free agency?
Matthew Lee, Toronto
A: The three key relievers that may be lost so far this off-season must include Kevin Gregg and Scott Downs who both declined arbitration and lefty swing man Brian Tallet, who has now signed with the Cardinals. I'm guessing that the third key Jays reliever that you actually had in mind was Frasor, but now that he has accepted arbitration with the Jays he is officially on the 40-man roster under a one-year contract with just the dollar amount to be determined by an arbitrator. As for the Jays possible pursuit of the Toronto-born Jesse Crain, I would do it if I was Alex Anthopoulos. Crain, who grew up in Colorado and attended the University of Houston, has just three career saves, but has great stuff and made $2 million with the Twins in 2010, going 1-1, with a 3.04 ERA and one save in 71 appearances. He allowed 53 hits and 27 walks in 68 innings, with 62 strikeouts. With Crain and Frasor, the Jays could possibly go to spring training with the position of closer up for grabs, basically like they did last year with Frasor and Gregg. Because of the status of the Jays in 2011, as still under construction, there is no reason to believe they have any interest in relievers like Rafael Soriano, Matt Guerrier, Dan Wheeler, Grant Balfour, or any other Type A reliever that would cost them a top draft pick. They do, however, have interest in Scott Downs if his options dwindle, but of all the Type A non-closing relievers on the market, he has the best chance of finding a multi-year deal with a contender.
Q: Just a quick question regarding your opinion of the current depth of talent at the position of catcher throughout the Blue Jays organization. With John Buck having re-signed with the Marlins and Miguel Olivo a free agent, the Blue Jays essentially have J.P. Arencibia, Jose Molina and Raul Chavez as their top tier talent in the catching spot. Considering Arencibia is still essentially untested at the major league level and Molina is strictly a back-up and Chavez a fill-in at best, what perceivable talent is there available within the organization that we could realistically see develop up to the major league level by 2012?
Martin Keogh, Toronto
A: Even though free agent Miguel Olivo has declined arbitration with the Jays, all it means is that the Jays must negotiate with him as a free agent on an equal footing with every other team and if he does sign elsewhere, they will receive a sandwich draft pick between the first and second round. But Olivo knows the Jays interest in him and knows it's on a short-term basis, maybe two years, plus an option. Then, their homegrown catching will be in charge. Since the World Series years, their depth at catcher in the farm system has never been better. Don't even count Chavez and realize that Molina's role as a 50-60 game backup is etched in stone. The Top four catchers on the farm include Arencibia (25), Travis D'Arnaud (22), Carlos Perez (20) and Brian Jeroloman (25). Baseball America ranked Arencibia, D'Arnaud and Perez among the Jays' Top 15 prospects in the 2010 Prospect Handbook, while Jeroloman is the most polished defender, slated to start at AAA-Las Vegas. It's a bright future.
Q: Don't you think the timing is right for the Jays to offer John McDonald an opportunity to play every day? If he's not the best choice at third base, why not move Hill to third and take advantage of McDonald's range at second? They'll have Davis when they want to bring speed off the bench and Bautista can stay in right where he's most valuable defensively. McDonald's bat showed promise in 2010, so why not make this move?
Chris M., Collingwood
A: McDonald's window of opportunty as a starting shortstop has closed. None of those scenarios makes any sense with the 36-year-old veteran ending up as a starting shortstop. The Jays are prepared to give Yunel Escobar every opportunity to start and contribute, but there is a caveat in that Escobar's performance tailed off as the season progressed, despite the euphoria of his initial 10 games. But they are reassured by knowing Johnny Mac is there as a steadying force and a mentor for the mercurial talents of the young Cuban shortstop. Hill could move to third base but it won't be to make room for McDonald at second base. McDonald is one of my five favourite Blue Jays ever, but he will not be the starting shortstop, nor does he expect to be given that opportunity. He is what he is.
Q: No question, just an observation. I find it odd no one has referenced, or at least I haven't read one, Dave Stieb's 1985 season numbers relative to Felix's numbers this season. I recall Stieb finishing 2nd in the Cy Young award voting but after looking it up he was actually 7th which is ridculous in hindsight. I recall that generating quite a buzz in Toronto at the time.
Ross Marshall, Toronto
A: I agree that a Cy seventh for Stieb in 1985 would not have happened today with the increased awareness of sabermetrics. Stieb's wins against replacement (WAR) ranked second only to Cy winner Bret Saberhagen that year, however his inflated bases-on-balls (95) would have cost him even with a modern review of his stats. It was an impressive season for Stieb as the Jays reached the post-season for the first time, but I don't think it matched up with Felix Hernandez 2010.
Q: Hello Richard,
In your opinion, what is the status of Dustin McGowan. I just love this guy. Do you think there is a chance he can recover to be anywhere close to the pitcher he once was. Thanks, Joe Badali, Aurora A-McGowan's continuing but ethereal presence in the Jays' organization reminds me of the storyline of the Nicole Kidman 2001 opus, The Others, involving the unseen parallel spiritual presence in the same house as the former Mrs. Tom Cruise and her two bratty kids. Sure we know about McGowan, the former first round pick, and his unfortunate recent injury history over the past two years, but his rehab has made him seemingly invisible. He is still in the building but only seems to be active when nobody else is around, avoiding the light and steering clear of others that may ask too many questions. It's both scary and sad. He is battling hard to get back from his labrum and rotator cuff shoulder woes (which are always worse than elbow) and the organization to its credit has stayed with him, giving him opportunity, but for every three steps forward he takes two back. Call it the Dr. James Andrews Waltz. Having not pitched since 2008 due to labrum and rotator cuff woes in his right shoulder, McGowan heard a pop as he was throwing this past June and had another surgery to repair damage. Few pitchers have come back from labrum problems after two years off. One exception is Gil Meche, who had the operation in 2000 and successfully resumed his career in 2003. But there are more failures than successes. Jays fans are familiar with Mike Sirotka who joined the Jays from the ChiSox after the 2000 season. He had tweaked his shoulder on a tour of Japan and the Jays didn't know that it was a labrum issue. He had surgery and in spring training of 2003 was cut by the Cubs in a comeback attempt. It ended up costing GM Gord Ash his job and led to the extra step in all trades of having a complete physical before any trade is official. Robb Nen was a top closer for the Giants before shoulder surgery in 2002. He never threw another big-league inning although he struggled for two years to come back. How about Mike Harkey, Jim Parque and former Jay, Robert Person? Q-There were news reports early in November that the Jays were not ruling out Kevin Gregg's return. Could you see the team handling back-to-back save situations by using him on the first night and then testing potential future closers (e.g. Zach Stewart, David Purcey) on the second? I enjoy the mail bag!
Adrian Zenwirt, Toronto
A: There are several issues that need to be addressed here. It takes two to tango and I believe both sides are inclined to stay off the dance floor. On Gregg's part, he was not treated well by the Jays fans who were quick to jeer whenever he struggled to nail down a 1-2-3 save – being astute and knowledgeable fans. Then there was the issue of the manager Cito Gaston who twice removed his closer in the middle of a save opportunity before he had a chance to blow it. The first time Gregg reacted with anger and incredulity. The second time with a shrug and a resigned air. Then consider the fact the Jays refused his option year in October for one and also for two years, insisting they would like to see who was out there and, oh by the way, if we can't find anyone else better we'll get back to you. Try using that argument with your wife when asking for a trial separation. From the Jays' side, you pretty much have to stick with what they've been saying about still being interested in Gregg if you are going to offer arbitration. Otherwise it seems like a cold, ruthless ploy to get a sandwich pick – which of course it is. But what if they had said we have no interest and we're moving on and then he had accepted arbitration? Oops. The issue Gregg had of struggling on back-to-back nights is another issue. It's real and it's spectacular. It says here Gregg will not return under any circumstance with mutual feelings.
Q: With Jeter hitting the free agent market and the report he is looking for 6 years and huge dollars, I have a wishful thinking question. Would it make sense for the Jays to sign him for 2-4 years, have him move to 3rd base, bat 2nd and mentor the young players on how to be a winner. I would have to think a move like this would be very similar to the Jays of the early 90's bringing in Molitor and Winfield. With bringing in Jeter for that amount of years could work out well, for 1 or 2 years play 3rd base until Hechavarria is ready for the majors, then move Hill to 3rd, Adeiny to short, Escobar to 2nd and Jeter to DH. If my memory serves me correctly Molitor was a DH when he was with the Jays and he was never a power threat, he was the same kinda hitter Jeter is. The experience and leadership Jeter would bring to the clubhouse would be as a commercial says...priceless. Would AA look at a move like this?
Scott Cochrane, Niagara on the Lake
A: The Jays already have one classy player making $20+ million dollars that is not worth it with regard to performance on the field. Do they really need a second albatross contract in Jeter and make no mistake about it, he would not come to a non-playoff team for anything less than $20 million. As for moving to third base, the only team he will make a position move for is the Yankees. Next, with regard to clubhouse presence, it would be “...the Yankees do it this way...the Yankees do it that way.” and the Jays are trying to build their own brand right now. We saw how that backfired with Kevin Millar, who was helping promote the “Red Sox way” in his disastrous one-year stint with the Jays. A guy like Jeter does not consider himself a mentor and at that price he could not be treated as such. Molitor was looking to be a part of a winner before he packed it in. Jeter has been to the playoffs every October but one since his rookie year in '96 and does not need to go elsewhere. What Jeter needs to do is come to terms with both the Yankees and reality and get himself back in pinstripes for three years $45 million.
Q: During this Free Agent season with all the hotstove rumors going around and people speculating on contracts etc. One thing I have always wondered is how much influence the actual Players Association has in players' decisions. Example being Cliff Lee - I have read some articles that mention the PA will be pushing for him to get close to if not exceed CC Sabathia's per year price. How do they actually do that and can it be detrimental to a player to accept a contract perceived as "team friendly" Thanks !
Joel G., Almonte, Ont.
A: The Players Association has a huge influence on contracts and an inordinate influence with agents, who though they are all independent of the MLBPA are all sanctioned and closely aligned via meetings and e-mails, etc. One of the great baseball negotiating ironies is that collusion is a one-way street with clubs being fined for comparing notes, but agents can freely exchange info on offers they have received before any deal is done. Yeah, I know that's part of any collective bargaining agreement. The pressure from the union is tremendous not to give “home town discounts” because of the ripple effect it has on other free agents that may be comparable in years and production. One guy that I love as a man of principle that was criticized within the industry by players and agents was catcher Darren Fletcher who adored his time both in Montreal and Toronto and gave both teams breaks when it came to staying a little longer. He heard about it for years, treated almost like a reverse-scab. As for Cliff Lee getting CC money, I don't believe that will be a case of the union pushing him. This is his career moment to cash in and he earned it by getting two teams – the Phillies and the Rangers – to the World Series in the past two years and by issuing fewer four-balls than the Ryder Cup.
Q: Love the blog - thanks for keeping us baseball diehards up to date and entertained during the long off season! My question has to do with the MLB network. Do you know if there is any chance they bring the network to this side of the border? Why don't we have it? It would instantly be a favourite of mine, and I probably would pay whatever rip off fee Rogers would charge.
Isaac Oziel, Thornhill
A: Hey, before we get the MLB Network, how about Sportsnet ONE? I would in fact pay for both. How can you possibly lose bringing Hazel Mae and her MLB Network sports desk hosting duties back to TO. Surely that would count as Canadian content. I do believe people are working on it, but remember that making Canada happy has never been major league baseball's priority.
Blue Jays - baseball blog
Richard Griffin began working for the Star as baseball columnist on Feb.13, 1995. Griffin began his career in major-league baseball with the Montreal Expos in 1973 while attending Concordia University. He became director of publicity in 1978. Griffin is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as '93 winner of the Robert O. Fishel Award and has been at all or part of every World Series since 1978.
TheStar.com
Copyright Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. All rights reserved. The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Toronto Star or www.thestar.com. The Star is not responsible for the content or views expressed on external sites.
Distribution, transmission or republication of any material is strictly prohibited without the prior written permission of Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. For information please contact us using our webmaster form. www.thestar.com online since 1996.
Recent Comments