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Archives The Playoffs Begin!
Not for the Blue Jays, of course, but for three of their minor-league affiliates. It's a far cry from previous years, when Toronto farm teams slogged their way through uninspiring and uncompetitive seasons. This year, the New Haven Ravens (AA), Dunedin Blue Jays (High-A) and Auburn Doubledays (Short-Season A) are all battling for their respective leagues' pennants. We'll bring you semi-regular updates of their progress over the next couple of weeks. New Haven is playing New Britain (Twins) in the Northern Division Championship Series, while Dunedin will be playing the Fort Myers Miracle (also the Twins) in the FSL's Western Division. I'm not yet sure who the Doubledays are playing; their season ends on the 6th.

A few brief minor-league notes: Guillermo Quiroz is still recovering from the collapsed lung he suffered recently. He's coming along well and isn't expected to carry any long-term effects from the incident, but he very probably won't be suiting up for New Haven through the playoffs. It's faint praise to say that you have to admire a guy who catches a game and cranks a home run with a collapsed lung. If his health permits, Quiroz should open 2004 at Syracuse, and what he does there will tell a lot about the Blue Jays' catching plans for the foreseeable future.

Some key final stat lines:

Gabe Gross, Syracuse: 182 AB, .264/.380/.456, 16 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 31 BB, 56 K
Alexis Rios, New Haven: 514 AB, .352/.402 /.521 , 32 2B, 11 3B, 11 HR, 11 SB, 39 BB, 85 K
David Bush, New Haven: 7-3, 2.78, 14 GS, 81 IP, 73 H, 19 BB, 73 K, 21.9% KBF, 4 HR
Dustin McGowan, New Haven: 7-0, 3.17, 14 GS, 76 IP, 78 H, 19 BB, 72 K, 22.2% KBF, 1 HR

BTW, the Jays' September callups are Brian Bowles, Dan Reichert, Vinny Chulk and Howie Clark.

John Neary and I will be co-producing a mammoth end-of-year review of all the key Jays' prospects in the system; look for it around mid-to-late September.
Posted by Jordan on Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 12:04 PM EDT.
The Playoffs Begin! | 37 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Matthew Elmslie - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 12:27 PM EDT (#92942) #
Chulk, really? That's a little surprising; I wasn't expecting anyone to make their debuts in September. Werth or Thurman yes, Chulk no. Maybe they figure he's iffy enough that they aren't going to sweat the service time thing.
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Gerry - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 12:32 PM EDT (#92943) #
New Haven put Quiroz on the DL and Jose Umbria came down from Syracuse to replace him. Umbria had been sent to Syracuse when Cash went to Toronto.

Does anyone know if Gross, who was promoted earlier in the year, can be demoted for the playoffs?

Dunedin's opponent won the first half title and then finished last in the second half.
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_Jordan - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 12:34 PM EDT (#92944) #
Admittedly, Chulk's recall is listed on Syracuse's Website, but not elsewhere: the official Blue Jays site doesn't have anything yet on the callups. Chulk did pitch better in the second half of the season at Syracuse, and since any major-league future he might have is pretty clearly going to be in relief, he may log a fair bit of bullpen time in September. He can't be much worse than another fleet of Tanyon Sturtze appearances.
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Dave Till - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 12:41 PM EDT (#92945) #
He can't be much worse than another fleet of Tanyon Sturtze appearances.

Which is worse: a fleet of Tanyon Sturtze appearances, or being gang-swarmed by killer bees? Discuss amongst yourselves.

And: is "fleet" the correct collective noun for Tanyon Sturtz appearances? I suggest "launch", "fusillade", or perhaps "infestation".

I hope Quiroz recovers fully.
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Gerry - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 12:42 PM EDT (#92946) #
More playoff notes:

John Ford Griffin is at 80% and might play at DH for New Haven in the playoffs.

The NH rotation is Gassner, McGowan, Bush, Reimers and Baker.

Dunedin have a must win in game 1 of the playoffs. In game 2 they will face Eric Milton. Milton is down on a rehab assignment.
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robertdudek - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 12:42 PM EDT (#92947) #
I'm looking forward to seeing Chulk.
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_Jordan - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 01:07 PM EDT (#92948) #
The NH rotation is Gassner...

Woo-hoo!

In game 2 they will face Eric Milton. Milton is down on a rehab assignment.

That just ain't fair. Both the Rock Cats and the Ravens have worked hard to get to the playoffs, and here comes a ringer working out a few kinks before heading back to the majors. Milton could be unfairly dominant, or he could be unconcerned with results and only wanting to get his 40 pitches in; either way, he doesn't belong in another league's playoff game. Why couldn't he do a rehab start for Rochester instead?
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Craig B - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 01:36 PM EDT (#92949) #
The IL season is over as well, I think. It is odd that he would go to AA instead of AAA if they both have games, though.
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_perlhack - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 01:45 PM EDT (#92950) #
And: is "fleet" the correct collective noun for Tanyon Sturtz appearances? I suggest "launch", "fusillade", or perhaps "infestation".

I believe the correct phrase is "a gaggle of Tanyon Sturtze appearances". But don't quote me on it.
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Pistol - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 01:55 PM EDT (#92951) #
The IL season is over as well, I think. It is odd that he would go to AA instead of AAA if they both have games, though.

It's not too uncommon to have a starter work a rehab start in AA. The Twins have done it before. I went and saw Joe Mays last year in New Britain.

54 extra base hits for Rios this year. Not too shabby. Of course Gross had 23 for Syracuse in 182 ABs which is even a better %.
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_Eric C - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#92952) #
Maybe they figure he's iffy enough that they aren't going to sweat the service time thing.

I believe Septemeber call-ups don't count towards arbitration service time.
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_Matthew Elmslie - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#92953) #
Eric C: That's also my understanding, but isn't there some clock that starts ticking even in September? I have the impression that there is, but I'm not sure what.
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_R Billie - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 03:59 PM EDT (#92954) #
September call-ups don't count towards arbitration-related service time. With Vinny he appears to have good stuff, his sinker in particular but his results haven't been tremendous though he's had very good stretches. The Jays will have a lot of tough 40-man roster decisions to make this winter so it's in their best interest to get a good look at guys they aren't sure about.

Let's just say I'd rather see Chulk and Thurman in the pen next year rather than see guys like Sturtze, Tam, and Creek signed. If you're actually going to free a 40-man spot and spend money on bringing someone in, make it someone bankable I think. Otherwise go with the replacement level folks. The Jays tried to bring in "experience" this year but they may have actually made the pen worse than it was in 2002.
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_Spicol - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 04:03 PM EDT (#92955) #
I don't think the Jays care about starting Vinnie Chulk's service clock. Unless he develops in a hurry and exceeds all expectations, he won't be performing well enough in 2006 to be making big bucks through arbitration.
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_Spicol - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 04:42 PM EDT (#92956) #
September call-ups don't count towards arbitration-related service time.

Really? I've never heard this before...I'm looking through the CBA and can't find it.
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Craig B - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 05:15 PM EDT (#92957) #
Spicol, service time is defined in Article XXI of the agreement. As you indicated, there's nothing in the CBA about September time not counting towards service time.

The term "Active List" doesn't appear in the agreement, and unfortunately I don't know whether September call-ups are placed on the Active List or not. I have always understood that it does count. That would mean that time that Chulk is on the active roster and eligible for games is service time.

Incidentally a "year" is 172 days on the Active List (which only applies during the regular season... players do not get service time for preseason or postseason play). Only days between the first scheduled game of the regular season and the last scheduled game of the regular season count. So if you add a guy to the roster in November, his clock only starts when the season begins in March.
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Craig B - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 05:17 PM EDT (#92958) #
Just as an additional note, in the minor leagues, at least, the "Active List" is the players actually eligible to play in the game. So if Chulk is eligible to play in games as September call-ups are, logic dictates he must be on the active list.

Not that logic has ever stopped MLB before.
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_Jabonoso - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 06:43 PM EDT (#92959) #
Gideon and John N thanks in advance for your hard and good work.
Auburn may not need to have to play to be declared champion in its league.
Like the chances of New Haven even without Gross, Arnold and sadly Quiroz.
Dunedin without a scary line up has to have very good pitching and specially perform with the bullpen.
Twins minor league teams did pretty good this year, they have a champ already in the Pulasky division.
Looking forward for updates.
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_Wildrose - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 06:57 PM EDT (#92960) #
J.P. was on a radio broadcast several weeks ago, and stated that the Jays would not have many September call ups as has been the tradition due to "service time issues".

With the high cost of arbitration this is a sound philosophy. Chulk and Cash are up to see if they can "cut it". I'm still a little surprised however, that they did not utilize Jason's Werth service time a little more judiciously.
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_jason - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 07:02 PM EDT (#92961) #
Someone has to figure this out. For the last 2 months Mike Willmer has been saying that September doesn't count as service time, and then laast week he said he was wrong and that it does count.

How about a "murder of Tanyon Sturtze appearences"?
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_Dylan - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 08:46 PM EDT (#92962) #
I think what is causing some confusion is that being on the Sept roster does count toward arbitration clock, it doesn't count toward service time in terms of being considered a rookie for following years.
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_Spicol - Tuesday, September 02 2003 @ 09:20 PM EDT (#92963) #
I think what is causing some confusion is that being on the Sept roster does count toward arbitration clock, it doesn't count toward service time in terms of being considered a rookie for following years.

Maybe. The rule there is that players retain their official rookie status only if, in their previous season or seasons, they have not exceeded a total of 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on the active roster (excluding September, as Dylan said, when rosters are expanded from 25 to 40).
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Mike Green - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 09:23 AM EDT (#92964) #
Dunedin won the opener of its series with Fort Myers last night 3-2. Jesse Harper was brilliant in throwing 7 shutout innings, and Jamie Vermilyea got his first taste of what will hopefully be a long career of playoff action, and predictably allowed one hit and one run in .2 inning. Raul Tablado was the hitting hero, reaching base 3 times and driving in two.

Vince Perkins gets the start against Eric Milton tonight in Fort Myers, and the Ravens get things going with New Britain tonight as well. Too bad that the Jays are not playing the Twins; it would be nice if the farm system rivalry had an echo at the major league level.
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Pistol - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 11:29 AM EDT (#92965) #
Jamie Vermilyea got his first taste of what will hopefully be a long career of playoff action, and predictably allowed one hit and one run in .2 inning

Why is it predictable?
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_Jabonoso - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 12:06 PM EDT (#92966) #
me like Perkins chances against a rusty Milton. With all his tools it quite interesting to see how he is up to the challenge...
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_benum - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 12:47 PM EDT (#92967) #
me like Perkins chances against a rusty Milton

Are Jabonoso and Grimlock the same person?
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Mike Green - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 01:30 PM EDT (#92968) #
Pistol,

I love Vermilyea as a pitcher. I didn't mean it as an insult, but just that he's moved up so fast for an unheralded pitcher, it's not really surprising that he might feel the pressure in his first playoff action.
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_R Billie - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 04:36 PM EDT (#92969) #
I don't think giving up a double in three batters faced while striking out one is necessarily feeling the pressure. Maybe he just happened to give up a double. I frankly think Dunedin's manager was guilty of overmanaging by bringing in Maureau who hasn't had a great year to try and strand Vermilyea's inherited runner. I hate when managers go for the matchup rather than the more talented pitcher. There's nothing to say that runner wouldn't have been stranded if Vermilyea stayed in.

I liken it to Tosca wanting to change pitchers everytime someone gives up a baserunner late in the game; despite the fact that the guy brought in usually isn't better than the guy leaving. Very few pitchers throw perfect innings on a consistent basis; managers looking for perfection out of a pitcher just because it's late in the game and happens to be post-season are being a little unreasonable.

Vermilyea has been tremendous over 3 or 4 inning stretches this year and I think it's a bit ridiculous to pull him after 2 outs and 1 baserunner.
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Mike Green - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 06:41 PM EDT (#92970) #
I agree. Vermilyea was a starter in college, and has, as you say, been brilliant in 3-4 innings stints in Auburn and Dunedin. It doesn't make sense to let him face only 3 batters in the playoffs.
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_Jabonoso - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 07:33 PM EDT (#92971) #
R Billie, are you reading the boxscore or is there, somewhere, a game summary?
No Grimlock, Benum, just tired of using I so much...
Update: Rios went deep, N Haven 2, N Britain 0
Dave Gassner pitching.
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_Jabonoso - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 09:54 PM EDT (#92972) #
New Haven won the first game 3-1.
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_R Billie - Wednesday, September 03 2003 @ 11:31 PM EDT (#92973) #
I just assumed he faced three batters from the boxscore. Harper went a full seven, then Vermilyea got two outs and gave up a double (not necessarily in that order) and then was pulled presumably because a lefty was due up.
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Pistol - Thursday, September 04 2003 @ 10:03 AM EDT (#92974) #
Ravens win 3-1. Highlites include:

* Rios hit a first inning 2-run HR
* Godwin goes 3-3 with the other RBI
* Jordan's man Dave Gassner threw 4 shutout innings (but oddly only 4 innings - injury?)
* Chacin, DeJong, and Peterson combined for the final 5 innings allowing only an unearned run
* Attendance was 4,684 (all tickets were free)

Gassner could be the most overlooked Blue Jay prospect. He led the Eastern League in ERA this year and you never hear anyone talk about him (besides Jordan). His K rate is 5.7/9 innings which isn't great which is probably why he's low on the radar, but he only gives up 1.7 BB/9 innings and keeps the ball in the park - 0.6 HR/9 innings. It'll be interesting to see if he can keep that up in Syracuse next season.
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Pistol - Thursday, September 04 2003 @ 10:07 AM EDT (#92975) #
Vince Perkins got roughed up a bit in game 2 in the FSL giving up 7 runs, 5 earned, in 4 innings.

Eric Milton went 3 scoreless innings for Fort Myers (so he won't pitch game 2 in New Haven tonight).
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Pistol - Thursday, September 04 2003 @ 10:19 AM EDT (#92976) #
My man, big Vito, did it! Triple Crown winner of the NY-P league.

.351 vs. .343
12 Hrs vs. 9 HRs
67 RBI vs. 49 RBI

Over 68 games he put up a .351/.469/.605 line. Not bad for a 15th round pick.
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Gerry - Thursday, September 04 2003 @ 10:43 AM EDT (#92977) #
* Jordan's man Dave Gassner threw 4 shutout innings (but oddly only 4 innings - injury?)

Gassner gave up 5 hits and 4 walks in 4 innings, so he was lucky to get out of there with so little damage.
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Coach - Thursday, September 04 2003 @ 10:48 AM EDT (#92978) #
Congratulations to Vito. Remember, the D-Days promoted his main competition in all three categories, Aaron Hill. How awesome was that lineup early in the season?

Quite the learning experience for Perkins to face a big-league star. Vince is a work in progress who might someday have "the light go on" and start harnessing his stuff, but there was a lot of pressure last night.

Great way for the Ravens to begin.
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