Thinking the worst they could do was turn me down, I called the Blue Jays office yesterday and asked for a media pass. Imagine my surprise and delight when Jay Stenhouse, the team's Director of Communications, said yes. It was only for the day, but since Gil Patterson, Brian Butterfield and Mike Barnett have all agreed to Batter's Box interviews, I'll be back on the field, tape recorder in hand, for batting practice on Thursday.
I chatted with several players, renewed acquaintances with J.P., thanked Keith again for the interview, and enjoyed a press box seat for the game. The food up there is pretty good, and so was the company. I had dinner with people I've criticized from my cozy armchair, but instead of shunning me as an outsider, the "working" media types who already knew about Da Box had nothing but nice things to say, and others were curious, promising to check us out soon. Oddly enough, I woke up this morning with "Money For Nothing" running through my head. That ain't workin'...
While lurking on the edges of a pre-game scrum surrounding Carlos Tosca in the dugout, I noticed another interested outsider, and struck up a conversation. Matt Tosca, the skipper's 13-year-old son, is in town for three weeks on just his second visit to Toronto. Matt's not a ballplayer, but he's an accomplished violinist, who will be playing the national anthems before a game, either this Sunday or next. I think it's great that he has a passion for music, and his parents deserve credit for encouraging that, instead of pushing him reluctantly into Little League.
I didn't want to get in the way of actual reporters doing their jobs, but was able to hear Matt's dad talking about Mark Hendrickson getting another chance in the rotation on Thursday, ending (for now) the speculation that Corey Thurman would be given that start. Tosca the elder also said that the club would soon go back to 12 pitchers and 13 position players, as there are just three more games in Montreal without the DH. The Jays are creatively juggling about 30 guys through the 25 roster spots, getting maximum return from their improved depth. It probably helps program sales, too.
About 5:45, I headed upstairs. There are pages and pages of game notes available to the press, so I absorbed a lot of trivia. The debacle in St. Louis (it's hard to play 9 against 13) was the sixth time the Jays have been swept in interleague play; not surprisingly, five of those were on the road. The 12 hits Cory Lidle gave up to the Cards were a career high, which (unfortunately) he matched last night -- maybe he should try pitching on short rest, because extra days off sure aren't helping. Matt Stairs, in 37 more games, will become the 11th Canadian to play 1,000 in the bigs. I could go on.
It's amazing that the communications people don't rest on all that advance preparation, but keep the updated stats coming during the game. Mike Shaw (listed in the 450-page media guide they generously gave me as "Manager, Baseball Information") is the voice you sometimes hear in the background on broadcasts, announcing such things as the start time, attendance, scoring decisions and other breaking news to the scribes. "That's Carlos Delgado's major league-leading 34th interleague home run, and he also leads with 99 interleague RBI," for example. Jay Stenhouse, shortly after the Delgado blast -- what were the Pirates thinking, throwing him a cookie with first base open? -- left the press box, then quickly returned with a list of the fastest Jays to 70 RBI in a season. Carlos broke his own record (June 25, 2000, in the 76th game) by 12 games and more than two weeks! George Bell, in his MVP year, was third quickest to 70, also in his 76th game, which wasn't until July 3. Only three other Jays (Carter, Green and Batista) have ever reached 70 by the all-star break, and the record of 80 is likely to be obliterated.
It's a much better view down in the "action seats" than up in the 300 level, but the press box has other advantages, including free popcorn. There are TVs everywhere, and because of the slight broadcast delay, you can watch a pitch on the field, then glance at the nearest monitor and see TSN's "live" shot about 1.5 seconds later. Instant replay of every pitch. There's just one problem with that arrangement; if you keep watching the screen, you won't see the next actual pitch, and if something happens, when the crowd reacts, you look up. By then, you've missed it on TV. Hey, it only happened once.
The game wasn't a classic, but it was entertaining. You know the manager is playing to win when he makes a defensive replacement for a guy who's 4-for-4, with his team up by five. Howie Clark, admittedly no Brooks Robinson at third, is now hitting .611 -- but it's a soft .611 -- so it's hard to believe he'll be returned to Syracuse when Shannon Stewart is fit to play. Catalanotto and Delgado both went deep, but impressed me more with hustle plays. Cat, who had another terrific night, flew down the line to beat out an infield hit, then scampered to third on a Wells single. Carlos, ignoring the big lead in the ninth inning, ran 50 yards into right field, as fast as I've ever seen him move, in pursuit of a foul ball that went into the seats. Tremendous effort from a guy who used to go all-out only on selected plays.
The bullpen was pretty good. Trever Miller got his lefty, stayed in to fan the righty Sanders, but for some reason wasn't allowed to face Craig Wilson. Tam had the sinker working, but did his usual high-wire act. It wasn't Aquilino's best inning, mostly because of his own error, when he took his eye off the throw after a nifty play by Delgado. Lopez did figure out a way to keep hitting machine Brian Giles from doing more damage -- he drilled him. Facing the next tough lefty, Simon, was no sweat for the unflappable rookie. Cliff Politte, appearing in yet another non-save situation, didn't exactly dominate (I'm hoping he heats up when the weather does) but had a lot more giddy-up on his fastball than he did Saturday, blowing one by Sanders for the K, and everyone who did make contact was late. O-Dog's sparkling catch to end the game was a result of good positioning in anticipation of what his pitcher was throwing.
I was gently admonished for the sin of "cheering in the press box" when I clapped for Phelps' dinger, a faux pas that will not be repeated. In my own defence, that's what fans and coaches do; it was a reflex -- thank goodness I didn't holler, or jump up and down. Without protocol restraints, I'll be part of tonight's big crowd (it's a $2 Wednesday) rooting loudly for Doc to win his team record ninth straight, but I'm already excited about wearing the media badge again on Thursday and talking to the coaches. I'm very grateful to everyone connected with the Jays for extending such courtesy to a mere blogger. Thanks also to my co-authors for lending their talents to this project, and most of all, I'm indebted to the hundreds of regular readers and thousands of occasional visitors who have made Batter's Box a hit.
I chatted with several players, renewed acquaintances with J.P., thanked Keith again for the interview, and enjoyed a press box seat for the game. The food up there is pretty good, and so was the company. I had dinner with people I've criticized from my cozy armchair, but instead of shunning me as an outsider, the "working" media types who already knew about Da Box had nothing but nice things to say, and others were curious, promising to check us out soon. Oddly enough, I woke up this morning with "Money For Nothing" running through my head. That ain't workin'...
While lurking on the edges of a pre-game scrum surrounding Carlos Tosca in the dugout, I noticed another interested outsider, and struck up a conversation. Matt Tosca, the skipper's 13-year-old son, is in town for three weeks on just his second visit to Toronto. Matt's not a ballplayer, but he's an accomplished violinist, who will be playing the national anthems before a game, either this Sunday or next. I think it's great that he has a passion for music, and his parents deserve credit for encouraging that, instead of pushing him reluctantly into Little League.
I didn't want to get in the way of actual reporters doing their jobs, but was able to hear Matt's dad talking about Mark Hendrickson getting another chance in the rotation on Thursday, ending (for now) the speculation that Corey Thurman would be given that start. Tosca the elder also said that the club would soon go back to 12 pitchers and 13 position players, as there are just three more games in Montreal without the DH. The Jays are creatively juggling about 30 guys through the 25 roster spots, getting maximum return from their improved depth. It probably helps program sales, too.
About 5:45, I headed upstairs. There are pages and pages of game notes available to the press, so I absorbed a lot of trivia. The debacle in St. Louis (it's hard to play 9 against 13) was the sixth time the Jays have been swept in interleague play; not surprisingly, five of those were on the road. The 12 hits Cory Lidle gave up to the Cards were a career high, which (unfortunately) he matched last night -- maybe he should try pitching on short rest, because extra days off sure aren't helping. Matt Stairs, in 37 more games, will become the 11th Canadian to play 1,000 in the bigs. I could go on.
It's amazing that the communications people don't rest on all that advance preparation, but keep the updated stats coming during the game. Mike Shaw (listed in the 450-page media guide they generously gave me as "Manager, Baseball Information") is the voice you sometimes hear in the background on broadcasts, announcing such things as the start time, attendance, scoring decisions and other breaking news to the scribes. "That's Carlos Delgado's major league-leading 34th interleague home run, and he also leads with 99 interleague RBI," for example. Jay Stenhouse, shortly after the Delgado blast -- what were the Pirates thinking, throwing him a cookie with first base open? -- left the press box, then quickly returned with a list of the fastest Jays to 70 RBI in a season. Carlos broke his own record (June 25, 2000, in the 76th game) by 12 games and more than two weeks! George Bell, in his MVP year, was third quickest to 70, also in his 76th game, which wasn't until July 3. Only three other Jays (Carter, Green and Batista) have ever reached 70 by the all-star break, and the record of 80 is likely to be obliterated.
It's a much better view down in the "action seats" than up in the 300 level, but the press box has other advantages, including free popcorn. There are TVs everywhere, and because of the slight broadcast delay, you can watch a pitch on the field, then glance at the nearest monitor and see TSN's "live" shot about 1.5 seconds later. Instant replay of every pitch. There's just one problem with that arrangement; if you keep watching the screen, you won't see the next actual pitch, and if something happens, when the crowd reacts, you look up. By then, you've missed it on TV. Hey, it only happened once.
The game wasn't a classic, but it was entertaining. You know the manager is playing to win when he makes a defensive replacement for a guy who's 4-for-4, with his team up by five. Howie Clark, admittedly no Brooks Robinson at third, is now hitting .611 -- but it's a soft .611 -- so it's hard to believe he'll be returned to Syracuse when Shannon Stewart is fit to play. Catalanotto and Delgado both went deep, but impressed me more with hustle plays. Cat, who had another terrific night, flew down the line to beat out an infield hit, then scampered to third on a Wells single. Carlos, ignoring the big lead in the ninth inning, ran 50 yards into right field, as fast as I've ever seen him move, in pursuit of a foul ball that went into the seats. Tremendous effort from a guy who used to go all-out only on selected plays.
The bullpen was pretty good. Trever Miller got his lefty, stayed in to fan the righty Sanders, but for some reason wasn't allowed to face Craig Wilson. Tam had the sinker working, but did his usual high-wire act. It wasn't Aquilino's best inning, mostly because of his own error, when he took his eye off the throw after a nifty play by Delgado. Lopez did figure out a way to keep hitting machine Brian Giles from doing more damage -- he drilled him. Facing the next tough lefty, Simon, was no sweat for the unflappable rookie. Cliff Politte, appearing in yet another non-save situation, didn't exactly dominate (I'm hoping he heats up when the weather does) but had a lot more giddy-up on his fastball than he did Saturday, blowing one by Sanders for the K, and everyone who did make contact was late. O-Dog's sparkling catch to end the game was a result of good positioning in anticipation of what his pitcher was throwing.
I was gently admonished for the sin of "cheering in the press box" when I clapped for Phelps' dinger, a faux pas that will not be repeated. In my own defence, that's what fans and coaches do; it was a reflex -- thank goodness I didn't holler, or jump up and down. Without protocol restraints, I'll be part of tonight's big crowd (it's a $2 Wednesday) rooting loudly for Doc to win his team record ninth straight, but I'm already excited about wearing the media badge again on Thursday and talking to the coaches. I'm very grateful to everyone connected with the Jays for extending such courtesy to a mere blogger. Thanks also to my co-authors for lending their talents to this project, and most of all, I'm indebted to the hundreds of regular readers and thousands of occasional visitors who have made Batter's Box a hit.
