Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - The Blue Jays Playoff Bandwagon

The Blue Jays Playoff Bandwagon - First Official Meeting

I'm not sure if an unofficial bandwagon can have an official meeting, but WE'RE GOING TO THE GAME. And we want you to join us. And tickets are FREE.

This Wednesday, Robert Dudek and I want you to join us for the First Offical Meeting of the Blue Jays Playoff Bandwagon. It's going to be my first game of the year, after my rather hectic spring... and to celebrate, I thought I'd invite a crowd to celebrate Being In Contention... not coincidentally, on $2 Wednesdays.

So, to Batter's Box readers, we are offering the chance to watch the game with Robert and I... just e-mail me (Craig) at tybalt4@yahoo.com to book yours. I only bought 20 tickets, so some may be disappointed but you can always get a $2 ticket and join us anyway. We're going to be in Section 512, Rows 5-6-7... I tried for 200-level outfields, but there weren't any left. We will meet outside the Dome at a time and place TBA.

Unfortunately, Jordan and the Coach can't make it. But we're going to have a whale of a time. Life is so much better above .500.

Posted by Craig B on Monday, May 26 2003 @ 01:12 AM EDT.

The Blue Jays Playoff Bandwagon - First Official Meeting | 19 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Gitz - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 02:27 PM EDT (#13455) #

I'm still waiting for the ZLC to send me a free plane ticket to Toronto, so, with enormous regret, I will not be able to attend. Grrr.

Have fun, kids. Will this be young Jay's first Jay game?

_A - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#13456) #

I hate to hijack a forum but in this afternoon's Top Story at ESPN.com they've got an article by Rob Neyer suggesting Roger Clemens is the BEST pitcher post WWII, beating out Spahn, Gibson, Seaver and Maddux.

I'm left wondering what happened to Koufax, Ryan, Johnson and any number of others that strike me as more far dominant than Spahn.

Mike D - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 04:50 PM EDT (#13457) #

I'm with you, A. I think a good case can be made for the consistency of Randy Johnson, but to me the most impressive performances, relative to era, since WWII would have to be Pedro in 1999-2000 and Maddux from 1994-95.

In particular, comparing Pedro's numbers (hits, K's, ERA) relative to league averages -- and even the average of the next ten best pitchers -- are stunning for 1999 and 2000. Unless we hold durability questions against Pedro, there's a case to be made there.

_Jabonoso - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 05:10 PM EDT (#13458) #

Gibson and Koufax, then the rest...

_Jonny German - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 05:13 PM EDT (#13459) #

Roger's line today against the Red Sox: 5 2/3, 10 hits, 8 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. Curiously, he threw 134 pitches. This puts him nicely in line for career loss number #154. BOO-YAH!!

Coach - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 05:43 PM EDT (#13460) #

Craig, save me one of those tickets. Mrs. Coach just said "you'll be parked in front of the TV anyway, you might as well go." She really does know me well, and how much can one guy be expected to do on moving day, anyway?

_Jurgen - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 05:56 PM EDT (#13461) #

Mike D:

Pedro's first Cy Young season with the Expos is almost as good (221 ERA+) as Clemens' best ever (226 ERA+ that same year with the Jays), and he wasn't half bad that first year with the Bosox, either (160 ERA+).

Which leads me wonder... Has anyone ever been as dominant as Martinez from '97 to '00? That more than anything else makes me hesitate handing out the "best pitcher" award to any of his contemporaries.

_Chuck Van Den C - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 06:32 PM EDT (#13462) #

Roger Clemens: ERA+ 142, 4100 IP.
Sandy Koufax: ERA+ 131, 2300 IP.
Randy Johnson: ERA+ 144, 3000 IP.
Warren Spahn: ERA+ 118, 5200 IP.
Pedro Martinez: ERA+ 171, 1900 IP.
Nolan Ryan: ERA+ 112, 5400 IP.

I am entirely comfortable with Roger Clemens being at the head of this pack. While others have had matched or surpassed his peak years and others yet have surpassed his longevity, no one on the list matches his combination of effectiveness and duration.

FYI, top five single season ERA+:

Martinez: 285, 245, 221, 196, 189
Clemens: 226, 211, 177, 176, 175
Koufax: 190, 187, 161, 160, 143
Johnson: 198, 196, 190, 184, 178
Ryan: 194, 142, 141, 138, 128

_Chuck Van Den C - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 06:37 PM EDT (#13463) #

I should have added Gibson to my list:

Bob Gibson: ERA+ 127, 3900 IP.

Top 5 ERA+: 258, 164, 149, 148, 139

_Spicol - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 06:55 PM EDT (#13464) #

I think Greg Maddux has to be included. Talk about consistent.

ERA+ 146, 3750 IP

Top 5: 273, 259, 191, 191, 171

_Jurgen - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 07:11 PM EDT (#13465) #

Chuck:

Martinez's 189 ERA+ season was in '01, when he only pitched 116 innings. I don't think that qualifies. Throw in the above mentioned '98 season with Boston instead.

He still obliterates everyone else... and they all happened in 5 of 6 consecutive years.

_Chuck Van Den C - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 07:23 PM EDT (#13466) #

Martinez's 189 ERA+ season was in '01, when he only pitched 116 innings.

Oops, good catch. I guess I wasn't watching too closely.

Spicol listed Maddux's top 5 ERA+. Here is his 7-year run that started in 1992: 166, 171, 273, 259, 162, 191, 191.

Pedro Martinez is currently in year 7 of this run that started in 1997: 221, 160, 245, 285, 189 (just 116 IP), 196.

These just have to be the top two post-war peaks ever (am I missing someone obvious?).

While I don't begrudge Clemens (or Seaver) his place at the top of the all-time list, I have more enjoyed the Maddux and Martinez peaks to Clemens' career.

_Jurgen - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 08:14 PM EDT (#13467) #

While I don't begrudge Clemens (or Seaver) his place at the top of the all-time list, I have more enjoyed the Maddux and Martinez peaks to Clemens' career.

I agree, especially li'l Pedro.

Maddux and Clemens are obviously impressive, but Martinez has another advantage (in admittedly fewer innings): he hasn't had a big game meltdown like Clemens in the 1999 ALCS against Pedro, or some of Maddux's mediocre playoff outtings.

Post-season career:

Clemens: 3.46 ERA, 132.2 IP, 124 K
Maddux: 3.23 ERA, 184 IP, 121 K
Johnson: 3.09 ERA, 108 IP, 124 K
Ryan: 3.07 ERA, 58.2 IP, 63 K
Spahn: 3.05 ERA, 56 IP, 32 K
Seaver: 2.77 ERA, 61.2 IP, 51 K
Gibson: 1.89 ERA, 81 IP, 92 K
Martinez: 1.12 ERA, 24 IP, 31 K
Koufax: 0.95 ERA, 57 IP, 61 K

Craig B - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 08:19 PM EDT (#13468) #

Craig, save me one of those tickets. Mrs. Coach just said "you'll be parked in front of the TV anyway, you might as well go."

Please send her my best, and my utmost apologies.

People, I still have some ungodly number of tickets left. Get to that e-mail! tybalt4@yahoo.com and if you want to bring one guest (child, parent, significant other, what have you), we should be able to accomodate you. I want these tickets spoken for!

Or else I'm going to have to go to Primer and invite them. And then we know quite well, that all heck is going to break loose.

_Spicol - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 08:48 PM EDT (#13469) #

Craig...I have my own season's pass so I won't need a ticket. If I'm able to make it to the game, I'll be sure to say hello to everyone, but thanks for the offer. You are an extremely generous kinda guy!

Given the size of the group, are you going to get BB put onto the Jumbotron?

Craig B - Monday, May 26 2003 @ 09:01 PM EDT (#13470) #

Spicol, you better believe it. www.battersbox.ca is going on the Jumbotron.

Craig B - Tuesday, May 27 2003 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#13471) #

Apparently there was some confusion amongst some readers... lurkers and other readers are more than welcome!

There are still lots left.

_Donkit R.K. - Tuesday, May 27 2003 @ 07:20 PM EDT (#13472) #

...If only I didn't live half a country away....

_Elijah - Tuesday, May 27 2003 @ 10:02 PM EDT (#13473) #

If I only didn't live a full country away... but I'll be at the Jays games in Oakland and Anaheim in August!!

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The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.