Jays Roundup - Mother, Mother

Friday, September 24 2004 @ 09:07 AM EDT

There's too many of you crying
Brother, brother, brother
There's far too many of you dying
You know we've got to find a way
To bring some lovin' here today - Ya

No game yesterday.

1. Fordin Notes on Brandon League and Alex Rios:
   
   
   "He's got close to 400 at-bats. People have made adjustments on him and he's made adjustments back," said J.P. Ricciardi, Toronto's general manager. "He's done better than I've expected, as far as that part. And as far as the grind of playing every day, he's held his own."
   
   He's done better than just hold his own. Rios has Toronto's second-highest batting average (.288), and he's vaulted to the top of the rookie leaderboard in several statistical categories. He leads all the American League's first-year players in average, multi-hit games (32), triples (six), stolen bases (13) and assists (10). And he's second in a bunch of others.
   
   
   
   
2. Mike Rutsey discusses the city of Toronto's indifference towards Carlos Delgado in "Delgado's legacy? A yawn":
   
   
   But in a city that worships the Maple Leafs -- a fourth-line centre receives more adulation -- and gets excited over athletes that are heralded in the U.S. -- think Vince Carter before his trade demands -- Delgado doesn't seem to raise much of a pulse. It's not as if the phone lines are jammed at The Fan with callers imploring the Jays to re-sign him.
   
   The indifference, given his credentials, is stunning.
   
   
   
   
3. Continuing on the Delgado theme is Shi Davidi with "Delgado's at-bats dwindling":
   
   
   Some baseball people suggest Delgado could fetch a contract similar to the five-year, $70-million US deal Vladimir Guerrero received from the Anaheim Angels last fall. Others peg his price closer to the two-year, $12.75-million extension David Ortiz received from the Boston Red Sox earlier this season.
   
   Realistically, Delgado's value is probably closer to Guerrero's than Ortiz's, because of his track record and off-field contributions. Few players are as generous with their time or as genuine in their charity as Delgado, an asset to be considered at contract time.
   
   
   
4. Even ESPN is getting into the Delgado discussion. See Chris Green's "Cheering Delgado's Dissent:
   
   
   Baseball has nothing to do with politics, right? In fact, baseball is deemed a solution to our deepest rifts -- political, generational, whatever. Consider the now-official cliché: I-Couldn't-Talk-To-My-Dad-About-Anything-But-We-Could-Still-Watch-The-Ballgame-Together. The guys you vote into the All-Star Game are supposed to transcend the guys you vote into office in November. So in baseball, it doesn't matter if you're liberal or conservative, if you're for the war or against the war.
   
   Except if you're against the war.
   
   
   
   
5. Mike Rutsey discusses what the bullpen might look like next year in "'Pen closes the door: Jays auditioning new relievers":
   
   
   The plan has Miguel Batista auditioning in the closer's role and switching Justin Miller into a sixth- and seventh-inning role.
   
   Along with those moves, the Jays are going to take a hard look at flame-thrower Brandon League, who can whistle it to the plate in the high 90s and has topped the 100 m.p.h. mark on a number of occasions at double-A.
   
   A rehaul of the 'pen is a top priority for Ricciardi. If he can fill the key spots internally, it will enable him to spend what money he has on the club's offensive needs.
   
   
   
   
6. In "One clear reason to hang with Blue Jays" Richard Griffin gives us a reason why we should continue to watch Blue Jays games. Yes, you read that correctly:
   
   
   There's good reason for fans to attend the final weekend: Show some appreciation toward Carlos Delgado and prepare to bid him adieu. The classy Puerto Rican first baseman will likely be winding up his Blue Jays career as their career leader in most major offensive categories. He deserves a send-off.
   
   
   
   
7. Tonight's 7:05PM EST start in Tampa: RHP Josh Towers (9-6, 4.92 ERA) vs. RHP Scott Kazmir (2-2, 6.38 ERA). Spencer "Stay Away From My Mom" Fordin has a game preview.
   

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