Okay, I don't know how I managed to double-post the minor-league baseball thread, nor can I seem to get rid of it. So, since I can't find anything to replace it, it's open-mike day again! First topic to catch hold rules the roost.
http://economics.about.com
Q: Will Glendon Rusch get more than a minor-league deal this off-season?
Mike
Q: Will Glendon Rusch get more than a minor-league deal this off-season?
Mike
http://www.snpp.com/episodes/1F22
'Tis a fine barn, but sure 'tis no pool, English.
'Tis a fine barn, but sure 'tis no pool, English.
It's 2005. The Jays went 88-74 in 2004, have signed some complementary pieces and the young pitching is ready to rock. A trip to the World Series is a distinct possibility.
Is Carlos Tosca still the manager?
Is Carlos Tosca still the manager?
Yes, but only for two reasons, a) because he has a superb coaching staff surrounding him and b) he's the GM's hand-picked choice. In 2005 if the young talent hasn't pushed them within 2 or 3 games of a playoff spot, Tosca should start looking for a new job.
http://economics.about.com
Is Carlos Tosca still the manager?
Yes, but only because Kent Williams has a prior commitment.
Mike
Is Carlos Tosca still the manager?
Yes, but only because Kent Williams has a prior commitment.
Mike
Remember when Glendon Rusch and Grant Roberts were supposed to be the other offer on the table for David Wells, which Gord passed up in favour of Mike Siroka and assorted useless items (which shortly became all useless items)? The rumour at the time was that because Boomer wanted to go to New York, Ash took the ChiSox deal to spite him, since Wells had badmouthed the team and city. That's quite possible, and at the time, Rusch and Sirotka were considered fairly equal-value commodities (assuming a healthy Sirotka, of course). The ChiSox deal was an unmitigated disaster, of course, but it's not like the Mets deal would have been all that either. It's still amazing that this was all the Jays could get for a 20-game-winning lefty; of course, when said lefty forces your hand, a la Roger Clemens, what else can you do?
That Simpsons site is just scary. I'm a fan, a big fan, but the fact that anyone would record and report a piece-by-piece description of Scatchy's dismemberment by the flying knives is just mind-boggling to me. There's something not quite right with these people.
"Why does a guy whose T-shirt says 'Genius at work" spend so much time watching a cartoon?"
That Simpsons site is just scary. I'm a fan, a big fan, but the fact that anyone would record and report a piece-by-piece description of Scatchy's dismemberment by the flying knives is just mind-boggling to me. There's something not quite right with these people.
"Why does a guy whose T-shirt says 'Genius at work" spend so much time watching a cartoon?"
http://economics.about.com
That Simpsons site is just scary. I'm a fan, a big fan, but the fact that anyone would record and report a piece-by-piece description of Scatchy's dismemberment by the flying knives is just mind-boggling to me. There's something not quite right with these people.
Completely. Have you tried reading the reviews? You learn two things about them:
1. They take themselves way too seriously and feel cheated whenever they feel an episode is lousy (which is about 90% of the time). I love the comments that say, "I haven't watched a good episode in 3 years and I've seen them all". I actually get hate-mail like that for my About site. I mean, jeez, if it bothers you that much...
2. They have a knack at completely missing the point. See the reviews of "You Only Move Twice" (starring Albert Brooks as Hank Scorpio). There's a least a couple reviews that said, "I've never seen a James Bond movie, but this episode didn't make any sense".
The Simpsons writers fully admit the character of Comic Book Guy was modelled after the regulars of that Usenet group.
Mike
That Simpsons site is just scary. I'm a fan, a big fan, but the fact that anyone would record and report a piece-by-piece description of Scatchy's dismemberment by the flying knives is just mind-boggling to me. There's something not quite right with these people.
Completely. Have you tried reading the reviews? You learn two things about them:
1. They take themselves way too seriously and feel cheated whenever they feel an episode is lousy (which is about 90% of the time). I love the comments that say, "I haven't watched a good episode in 3 years and I've seen them all". I actually get hate-mail like that for my About site. I mean, jeez, if it bothers you that much...
2. They have a knack at completely missing the point. See the reviews of "You Only Move Twice" (starring Albert Brooks as Hank Scorpio). There's a least a couple reviews that said, "I've never seen a James Bond movie, but this episode didn't make any sense".
The Simpsons writers fully admit the character of Comic Book Guy was modelled after the regulars of that Usenet group.
Mike
At the time of the Wells trade, Rusch was an intriguing prospect who was just getting his toes wet in the Majors. Sirotka was a major league mainstay who had won 15 games the previous year.
I disagree that Sirotka and Rusch were fairly equal commodities at the time. A healthy Sirotka was infinitely better than Rusch.
I disagree that Sirotka and Rusch were fairly equal commodities at the time. A healthy Sirotka was infinitely better than Rusch.
Is Carlos Tosca still the manager?
Unless he's a much better manager by then, no. Tosca handles a pitching staff very poorly and keeps a bench full of hitters for no apparent reason. By 2005, team leaders like Wells and Hinske will be older and more confident, and the Little Napoleon bit will have worn thin; there'll be no Raul Mondesis to bench so that he can play hero. If next year's team wins 88 games (and they'll need a serious infusion of pitching help to do that), it would be because Tosca learned how to adapt his style and gained wisdom about dealing with pitchers; frankly, he strikes me as too stubborn and set in his ways to do that after 2,000 games in the dugout. JP may give him a soft landing in the organization, but he won't hesitate to pull the plug when he thinks the team needs a different kind of leader.
Unless he's a much better manager by then, no. Tosca handles a pitching staff very poorly and keeps a bench full of hitters for no apparent reason. By 2005, team leaders like Wells and Hinske will be older and more confident, and the Little Napoleon bit will have worn thin; there'll be no Raul Mondesis to bench so that he can play hero. If next year's team wins 88 games (and they'll need a serious infusion of pitching help to do that), it would be because Tosca learned how to adapt his style and gained wisdom about dealing with pitchers; frankly, he strikes me as too stubborn and set in his ways to do that after 2,000 games in the dugout. JP may give him a soft landing in the organization, but he won't hesitate to pull the plug when he thinks the team needs a different kind of leader.
Give Tosca a bullpen that inspires some confidence and I'm sure Tosca stops playing Russian Bullpen Roulette every game.
What Simpsons site is everyone referring to by the way?
What Simpsons site is everyone referring to by the way?
http://www.snpp.com/
The Simpsons Archive is the Internet's clearinghouse of Simpsons guides, news and information, voluntarily maintained by members of alt.tv.simpsons. You are invited to contribute your FAQs, news items, capsule submissions, lists, guides and other paraphernalia for inclusion in the archive.
The Simpsons Archive is the Internet's clearinghouse of Simpsons guides, news and information, voluntarily maintained by members of alt.tv.simpsons. You are invited to contribute your FAQs, news items, capsule submissions, lists, guides and other paraphernalia for inclusion in the archive.
That Simpsons site is just scary.
Oh, yeah. Like, wayyyy too scary. The "Did you Notice" section is the worst part...they don't even get the jokes.
from the site:
Nelson defines epidermis incorrectly
No crap. That's the point. It's funny.
Oh, yeah. Like, wayyyy too scary. The "Did you Notice" section is the worst part...they don't even get the jokes.
from the site:
Nelson defines epidermis incorrectly
No crap. That's the point. It's funny.
Some thoughts on Carlos Tosca:
- As far as I know, Tosca has the respect of his players; if he can keep that into 2005, he'll still the manager. If he doesn't, he'll follow Jimy Williams' career path. I don't think the manager's tactical abilities have that much of an effect on a team's results; Cito Gaston won two world titles despite not making many managerial decisions of any kind. (I'm a big fan of Cito's, by the way, at least in his early years.)
- While Tosca uses relievers like compulsive cleaners use Murphy Oil Soap, at least he hasn't overworked his starting pitchers. (Can you imagine what Tim Johnson would have done with, or to, Roy Halladay?) The real test of his bullpen usage, as Cristian points out, will be what he does when he has an actual bullpen to work with, as opposed to a collection of arsonists.
- Tosca is probably lucky that he hasn't had too many extra-inning games this year. Jim Fregosi, who was an even quicker hook than Tosca, used to burn out his entire bullpen about twice a year because he'd get caught out in unexpected long games. Sometime down the road, Tosca's going to make three pitching changes in the eighth inning, two in the ninth, and then be stuck when a game goes 15 innings. Maybe that's what Tanyon Sturtze's role is: somebody you can leave out there when everybody else is used up.
- As far as I know, Tosca has the respect of his players; if he can keep that into 2005, he'll still the manager. If he doesn't, he'll follow Jimy Williams' career path. I don't think the manager's tactical abilities have that much of an effect on a team's results; Cito Gaston won two world titles despite not making many managerial decisions of any kind. (I'm a big fan of Cito's, by the way, at least in his early years.)
- While Tosca uses relievers like compulsive cleaners use Murphy Oil Soap, at least he hasn't overworked his starting pitchers. (Can you imagine what Tim Johnson would have done with, or to, Roy Halladay?) The real test of his bullpen usage, as Cristian points out, will be what he does when he has an actual bullpen to work with, as opposed to a collection of arsonists.
- Tosca is probably lucky that he hasn't had too many extra-inning games this year. Jim Fregosi, who was an even quicker hook than Tosca, used to burn out his entire bullpen about twice a year because he'd get caught out in unexpected long games. Sometime down the road, Tosca's going to make three pitching changes in the eighth inning, two in the ninth, and then be stuck when a game goes 15 innings. Maybe that's what Tanyon Sturtze's role is: somebody you can leave out there when everybody else is used up.
I don't think Tosca is long for the job. I think he's basically Art Howe. Not that he's going to get fired; he just won't have his contract renewed, a la Jim Fregosi. When's his contract up, anyway? Whenever it is, Ricciardi should have found a kindred spirit to install in the dugout by then.
I'm the 'No' side of the Tosca 2005 question. His skills are heavily skewed towards teaching rather than winning.
I really hope the Box asks J.P. a "Management-Manager" relationship question in the upcoming interview. According to Robert & Craig's pre-season review, Carlos loved the running game in his minor league career. That said, it baffles me that Carlos has adopted the organizational philosophy and abandoned the stolen base, but continues to use his bullpen in a manner that can't possibly be in line with management's idea of good bullpen usage, regardless of the lack of bullpen talent.
I really hope the Box asks J.P. a "Management-Manager" relationship question in the upcoming interview. According to Robert & Craig's pre-season review, Carlos loved the running game in his minor league career. That said, it baffles me that Carlos has adopted the organizational philosophy and abandoned the stolen base, but continues to use his bullpen in a manner that can't possibly be in line with management's idea of good bullpen usage, regardless of the lack of bullpen talent.
http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
I'm intrigued by Larry Dierker's availability. He did an interview with Rob Neyer not long ago regarding his book "This Ain't Brain Surgery," and seemed to have a very solid grasp of the statistical principles that Ricciardi and the gang favour. He strikes me as a very open-minded type, which would probably bode very well for communication and co-operation between the dugout and front office.
That said, I think Tosca does deserve a shot with a better equipped pen. If the pen had performed better - AKA more of his pitching changes had worked - he would receive less criticism for them.
Though I would be perfectly happy if he'd just stay in the dugout more often.
I'm intrigued by Larry Dierker's availability. He did an interview with Rob Neyer not long ago regarding his book "This Ain't Brain Surgery," and seemed to have a very solid grasp of the statistical principles that Ricciardi and the gang favour. He strikes me as a very open-minded type, which would probably bode very well for communication and co-operation between the dugout and front office.
That said, I think Tosca does deserve a shot with a better equipped pen. If the pen had performed better - AKA more of his pitching changes had worked - he would receive less criticism for them.
Though I would be perfectly happy if he'd just stay in the dugout more often.
My hope is that Tosca is long gone by 2005- he's a nice guy, but his late inning management has made the end of games unbearable, even with the bullpen as crappy as it is. He also causes more commercial breaks, which inevitably lead me to change the channel more, and subsequently miss lots of crucial plays by forgetting to flip back in time. At least at the end of the inning you have an idea of how long til the game resumes.
On a less aesthetic rant, if Tosca managed his pinch hitting and bullpen like this and the Jays played in the NL, I think he'd be criticized even more than already, not to mention the Jays having a worse record than what they've achieved at this point. He survives because it doesn't matter as much in the AL. Maybe this is an exaggeration, but I see Tosca more as the head coach of a football team, where the offensive and defensive co-ordinator are the main play callers, but the head coach has free reign to overrule them at any time. Mike and Gil seem like the ones to me who are really steering the Jays in the right direction.
On a less aesthetic rant, if Tosca managed his pinch hitting and bullpen like this and the Jays played in the NL, I think he'd be criticized even more than already, not to mention the Jays having a worse record than what they've achieved at this point. He survives because it doesn't matter as much in the AL. Maybe this is an exaggeration, but I see Tosca more as the head coach of a football team, where the offensive and defensive co-ordinator are the main play callers, but the head coach has free reign to overrule them at any time. Mike and Gil seem like the ones to me who are really steering the Jays in the right direction.
He also causes more commercial breaks, which inevitably lead me to change the channel more, and subsequently miss lots of crucial plays by forgetting to flip back in time. At least at the end of the inning you have an idea of how long til the game resumes.
Aha! I just came up with the solution to this... it turns out that if you watch the game with the radio on and the TV muted, you can flip the channel and turn down the radio, but still know when to turn back. Plus you get the pleasure of Tom & Jerry instead of the TV guys.
Aha! I just came up with the solution to this... it turns out that if you watch the game with the radio on and the TV muted, you can flip the channel and turn down the radio, but still know when to turn back. Plus you get the pleasure of Tom & Jerry instead of the TV guys.
Glendon Rusch's contract status, major or minor, is less intriguing than Adrian beltre's, IMO.
Larry Dierker seemed like a better manager before he let pitching coach Vern Ruhle go.