"This was the worst [expletive] road trip I have ever been on.". - Josh Towers
The best thing to be said for yesterday's game was it was quick. If you really want to know the gory details, read the boxscore or Spencer Fordin's game report,
The Astros not only swept the Jays this weekend, they had to rub salt in the wound by sending out Roger Clemens yesterday, the most disliked of all the ex-Jays floating around the game. Thankfully there are many Jays alumnus around who deserve our love, respect and understanding. Rather than focus on the events of the weekend, or indeed the bleak look of the immediate future, let's catch up with some old friends.
Pete Munro
Munro was thought to be in the running for a job in Houston's rotation over the course of the winter, but was waived in March when the #5 position was handed to Tim Redding. He wound up in the Yankee organization - he must be atoning for some sins. Munro has started 13 games for AAA Columbus and sports a not-so-fine 5.51 ERA. In 65 Innings he was struck out 41 and walked 24. Chances of a promotion to the Bronx are probably not too high.
Eric Crozier
Eric we hardly knew ya! The other side of the Josh Phelps trade is also a Yankee. He started with Munro in AAA, but was sent to the AA Trenton Thunder on May 24th. Crozier was hitting for a little power at AAA, but since arriving at Trenton he has struggled, hitting just .200/.260/.267. He's at least playing for a team with a cool name.
Tom Wilson
Tom Wilson is back in AAA, his spiritual home, with the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the PCL. He is putting up a mighty fine .341/.431/.591 line in 44 at bats. He seems to be splitting time with Pascual Matos. Wilson was with the Mets very briefly last year. I actually caught one of his games on Fox and Joe Morgan was criticizing him for moving too early to his position behind the plate and tipping the hitter as to the pitch location.
Jason Kershner
Just up the road from Mr WIlson in Portland we find Jason Kershner toiling away for the Beavers in the San Diego organization. Jason is enjoying himself in the North West putting up a 1.76 ERA in 15 Innings, (15/2 K/BB), his season did not start so well though, he spent 6 weeks or so in Pawtucket as a Red Sox, where he was stung for a 5.68 ERA in 19 Innings. He was traded to the Padres on May 19th for future considerations. I liked having Kershener on the Jays, he was a pretty good LOOGY (if that's not damning with fainst praise), who shouldn't have been asked to start.
Dave Berg
The Red Sox organization still has some Old Friends around, Dave Berg is the only one left at AAA. He is putting up a .296/.374/.413 line in 203 at bats. I have been able to find no reported sightings of him in the outfield
Simon Pond
Pond is also in the Red Sox system, just not at AAA, he is with AA Bowie of the Eastern League. Like Kershner he had a brief stint at Pawtucket, but was pretty quickly demoted. He has 120 at-bats for Bowie and has a .242/.305/.442 line.
Chris Woodward
Having tried and failed to be a starting shortstop with the Jays, Woody has reverted to the utility role I always figured he was best suited for. Not content with merely manning the infield though Chris has branched out into a utility-everywhere role. He has started at first, third, short, leftfield and rightfield for the Mets and has also seen some time at second and even in centre. We used to complain about Dave Berg in left, can you imagine Chris Woodward in center ? He's hitting at a decent, if far from great, clip too, with a .765 OPS in 70 at bats. With niggly injuries to Cameron, Beltran and Floyd, Woody has been very useful for the Mets.
Chris Gomez
There are ex-Jay infielders everywhere it seems. The Orioles have one, of course, in Chris Gomez, who has recently done a nice job filling in for Brian Roberts. Gomez has started games at all the infield positions for the Orioles and has been wielding a fearsome bat, he's putting up a .371/.457/.457 line in 70 at bats, no dramatic home run exploits yet though. Something for Orioles fans to look forward to.
Orioles fans are also starting to appreciate the true genius that is Chris Gomez. At the 'Orioles Hangout' they have a whole thread in praise of Chris Gomez.
GOMEZ DON'T HIT HOME RUN AGAINST JAYS
Anyone know (or indeed care) if Homer Bush is playing anywhere ?
Links
Fordin Notes. Spencer discusses the road trip, Eric Hinske's frustrations at sitting for three straight days, and Gibbon's explanation of the Schoeneweis affair.
Mark Zwolinski looks at the upcoming schedule and concludes it won't be east for the jays to get back in the race with St Louis, Milwaukee and Baltimore due up and plenty for John Gibbons to worry about.
Jeff Blair "Manager John Gibbons's confidence in Hudson and Hinske is clearly shaken"
Peter Gammons mentions Speier and the SS Loogy as possible trade targets, but questions if teams should give up prospects for middle relievers.
If there was any justice in the world Chris Carpenter would be starting tonight.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20050613101204965