In the Star today, Richard Griffin's "Pathetic pitching is Jays' problem" takes a shot at "Teflon-covered" Carlos Tosca, but is mostly fair:
Typical of the disappointment Ricciardi has suffered with his leaky pen, the three left-handed relievers, Doug Creek, Trever Miller and Jason Kershner, have combined to allow 47 runners in 23 1/3 innings. The right-handers have not been much more efficient. The bullpen's first-batter (in)efficiency is only 50 retired in 88 appearances. Yikes!
It's not as colourful as "Zombie-like cult of statistical seamheads", but there's a mention of "J.P.-worshipping fans" -- feel free to take that as personally as I do. I'll cop to respect and admiration for Ricciardi and gratitude that he signed on here for five years to fix the mess Ash made. I'll admit to hope, just like the skipper. I even like J.P.; he's honest and open (sometimes to a fault) about what he's doing with the team, and he's a high school coach. Funny, too -- Justin Miller may need shoulder surgery (they will know by the middle of next week) so the GM said, with a straight face, "That's what happens when bad-body guys try to work out."
Even the revered Pat Gillick had his Bill Caudills. J.P. isn't supposed to bat 1.000; he's supposed to pass on the bad pitches offered by rival GMs and swing at the good ones. You foul off a few (Prokopec) and you hit a few (Hinske, Politte) and you miss some. Everything the man does is low-risk, high reward. The moves that do work out save a fortune -- two terrific Rule 5 picks in as many years -- and the others (call them mistakes if you must) don't cost much. The AL April standings don't negate the draft these guys had last June; the farm teams will be even stronger next year. Turning a microscope on the first month of Doug Creek or Jeff Tam is a ridiculous way to evaluate J.P.'s organization. Try binoculars.
I'm probably a source of amusement in the front office; I've got wackier ideas than Mike Moffatt, and I'm not afraid to suggest them. I prefer Reed Johnson to Jayson Werth. I would have released Escobar by now if he couldn't be dumped in a trade. Dave Berg is my 2B -- Hudson's got one more chance in Syracuse to calm down his out-of-control game. I'm listening to trade offers for O-Dog; Russ Adams isn't far away in my world. I think the manager is too rigid on the lefty-lefty thing and Wells should hit sixth.
Worship? Not in the ZLC. I call 'em as I see 'em.
Typical of the disappointment Ricciardi has suffered with his leaky pen, the three left-handed relievers, Doug Creek, Trever Miller and Jason Kershner, have combined to allow 47 runners in 23 1/3 innings. The right-handers have not been much more efficient. The bullpen's first-batter (in)efficiency is only 50 retired in 88 appearances. Yikes!
It's not as colourful as "Zombie-like cult of statistical seamheads", but there's a mention of "J.P.-worshipping fans" -- feel free to take that as personally as I do. I'll cop to respect and admiration for Ricciardi and gratitude that he signed on here for five years to fix the mess Ash made. I'll admit to hope, just like the skipper. I even like J.P.; he's honest and open (sometimes to a fault) about what he's doing with the team, and he's a high school coach. Funny, too -- Justin Miller may need shoulder surgery (they will know by the middle of next week) so the GM said, with a straight face, "That's what happens when bad-body guys try to work out."
Even the revered Pat Gillick had his Bill Caudills. J.P. isn't supposed to bat 1.000; he's supposed to pass on the bad pitches offered by rival GMs and swing at the good ones. You foul off a few (Prokopec) and you hit a few (Hinske, Politte) and you miss some. Everything the man does is low-risk, high reward. The moves that do work out save a fortune -- two terrific Rule 5 picks in as many years -- and the others (call them mistakes if you must) don't cost much. The AL April standings don't negate the draft these guys had last June; the farm teams will be even stronger next year. Turning a microscope on the first month of Doug Creek or Jeff Tam is a ridiculous way to evaluate J.P.'s organization. Try binoculars.
I'm probably a source of amusement in the front office; I've got wackier ideas than Mike Moffatt, and I'm not afraid to suggest them. I prefer Reed Johnson to Jayson Werth. I would have released Escobar by now if he couldn't be dumped in a trade. Dave Berg is my 2B -- Hudson's got one more chance in Syracuse to calm down his out-of-control game. I'm listening to trade offers for O-Dog; Russ Adams isn't far away in my world. I think the manager is too rigid on the lefty-lefty thing and Wells should hit sixth.
Worship? Not in the ZLC. I call 'em as I see 'em.
