Jays Roundup - Must be Getting Early, Clocks are Running Late.

Wednesday, June 02 2004 @ 09:30 AM EDT

Contributed by: Pepper Moffatt

Paint my love a morning sky, it’s all cold.
Dawn is breaking everywhere, light a candle, curse the glare

It wasn't a commanding victory, but a win is a win. Plus Vernon Wells performance helps my Fish Candy a great deal, so I'm smiling this morning!

  1. How did the Jays manage to pull off a victory with Jason Kershner starting the game and an "expansion level quality" lineup on the field? Find out with Chris Hester's "Wells' homer carries Jays", Jim Street's "Mariners tumble vs. Blue Jays", Geoff Baker's "Big loss overshadows Blue Jays victory", and Mike Ganter's "Power, failure".

  2. Fordin Notes (by Chris Hester). I guess someone told Justin Miller, "C'mon, all the cool kids are doing it", as he's the most recent Jay to jump on the DL bandwagon.

  3. How many Jays will be on the All-Star team? Right now, Delgado is the only position player who shows up on the voting radar, as he's only behind Jason Giambi in AL 1st base votes, according to Spencer Fordin.

  4. Tonight's rubber match features the 3-2 Ted Lilly for the 23-29 Jays vs. the 1-6 Joel Piniero for the 19-32 Mariners. It's a 10:05PM EST start, so if it's another long one, only our west coast and college student readers will see the end of it. Chris Hester has a game preview.

  5. I really wish Stephen Brunt would write more articles on baseball, because his "Delgado is a reminder of how Blue Jays used to do business" is both an absolute must-read and right on the money.

  6. Yesterday we got a report on former Jay Pat Borders in the Star. Today we get Globe reporter Larry Millson's "Olerud is still the same, even if his swing isn't".

  7. Here's a fun one on the Jays most unconventional interviewer: "With `Cabbie,' all's fair: Sportsnet personality can do the impossible: Get athletes to relax on camera" by Chris Zelkovich.


Random Thoughts

The Jays get a lot of press for being a stathead or Moneyball team. But is there a GM in the game who puts more emphasis on getting "quality" guys than J.P. Ricciardi? It seems that in about half the deals he makes he's getting rid of a malcontent and bringing back a guy who is considered a good teammate. He dumped noted headcase Felipe Lopez on the Reds, and brought back Jason Arnold who might be one of the nicest guys I've ever met. He acquired Dave Berg and Mike Bordick, both noted team players, and has held on to Berg despite many thinking Berg has no use on this team. Then there's Raul Mondesi. I think this emphasis on good guys is what sets a J.P. Ricciardi team apart from a Gord Ash team; it's not just adherence to so-called Moneyball strategies and principles.

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