A goofy stat but kind of cool anyway: Hinske is hitting doubles (now 44) at a pace that if he had played the whole season would match or break the all time record. Earl Webb's 67 doubles came in 589 AB's (oddly the same number of AB's Hinske had last year) or .11 double/AB. Hinske's 44 in 390 AB's is almost the exact same ratio. He's still likely to get 50 in approx. 450 AB's which is still pretty amazing.

Hinske also appears to have figured out LHP this year (small sample sizes notwithstanding):

2002:
vs. LHP: 124 AB, 202/293/339, 5 2B, 4HR
vs. RHP: 442 AB, 301/384/520, 33 2B, 2 3B, 20 HR

2003:
vs. LHP: 106 AB, 274/328/500, 18 2B, 2 HR
vs. RHP: 283 AB, 233/333/424, 25 2B, 9 HR

Weird eh?

Eric just silenced the world's most annoying "fan" with a line drive HR to close the gap to 3-2 after a shaky beginning for Hendrickson.

Nice throw by Cash to nail Crawford. Kevin helps himself with great footwork; he bounces from the crouch into perfect throwing position and has a very quick release.

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To close the gap to 3-2 after a shaky beginning for Hendrickson.

When Hendrickson is pitching, we normally just refer to this as "a beginning".

Off The Wall Prediction: Hinske hits 35 homers next year and we don't hear a word about him from the trolls.

Mike

fyi: Tomorrow's game is on channel 423 on Rogers MLB Extra Innings package (2pm start). Unusually, Sportsnet is carrying the Yankees game that night at 7pm (perhaps because it's 9/11).

What the heck did Carl Crawford say today in the newspaper? I was washing dishes and missed the first inning or so.

What the heck did Carl Crawford say today in the newspaper? I was washing dishes and missed the first inning or so.

While Rod Black and Pat Tabler were talking about Hendrickson's inexperience, Crawford hit an end-of-the-bat nubber down the third base line, and Lurch, trying to do the impossible, threw it into the Tampa bullpen. That was the fourth error of the night for the Jays, but they have battled back to a 3-3 tie through five.

Also mentioned in the Hendrickson discussion was how he's never pitched so much in a season. Now over 150 IP, it's no surprise he's showing some physical and mental fatigue. Last year he had a combined 128.2 at AAA and in the majors, shattering his previous career high of 91. He's still a rookie, and has been learning at the highest level, so additional improvement remains possible.

Crawford told the Tampa Tribune, "Not to say [anything] about the rest of their guys, but when you get past Vernon [Wells] and [Carlos] Delgado, you feel like you can get the other guys out. It seems like every time they get behind, they kind of let down a little bit. They ain't really just fighting back. And we're a team that keeps coming back on you."

Bulletin board stuff; very foolish.

If I'm ever in Tampa during the season, I think I'll sit behind that jerk and yell at him for the whole game. He's sure ruined Hinske's night -- a double, a homer and two walks.

Vernon Wells just wrapped one around the foul pole, and it's 5-3 Jays.

Back-to-back jacks -- a MONSTER shot by Delgado, who turned on a hanging curve. It left the yard in about half a second and went all the way to the back wall of the building.

My BBFL team thanks you, Carlos.

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If I'm ever in Tampa during the season, I think I'll sit behind that jerk and yell at him for the whole game.

If you'd seriously do it, I'd be willing to start a fund to get you there. That'd be too funny.

Mike

I'm in for 50$

http://economics.about.com
We could always set it up on PayPal. Between this site, Aaron's site, and Primer, I think we'd have enough money in less than a week. Man that guy is annoying.

Trever Miller walked Baldelli and gave up a long homer to Huff; make it 6-5 Jays.

If I'm going to go yell at the guy, there's no point being clever. He deserves to listen to material as "good" as his own:

"Hey, buddy, your heckling is lame."

"You don't bother the players at all."

"What? I can't hear you."

The D-Rays condone his act, so I don't see how they could eject anyone else for doing it.

Wonderful diving stop by Orlando Hudson for the third out in the eighth. It looks like Aquilino Lopez might get a 2-inning save; he needed five pitches to get three outs.

It's amazing how much the O-Dog has improved his defense. He's definitely top 3 in the league.

If the heckler were a teenager, he'd be boorish and annoying. That he's a grown man is just sad and pathetic.

What's really unfortunate is that he's Canadian. Nice ambassador for our country!

It's amazing how much the O-Dog has improved his defense.

He's definitely making that dive to his left his trademark. I wonder if he cheats to the left to take advantage of his mobility in that direction, much like Roberto Alomar appeared to cheat to his right to take advantage of his mobility in that direction.

If I'm going to go yell at the guy, there's no point being clever. He deserves to listen to material as "good" as his own:

While I'd certainly join the club to help fund your flight to Florida (you'd be on your own to buy the matching white shoes and belt), I don't think that you really could carry on yelling at this guy.

I think the very sense that you are normal human who feels shame would preclude you from yelling more than one or two stupid remarks at him. You'd quickly realize you were being an ass and would stop. Whatever portion of the heckler's brain that processes shame and embarassment must have been baked away in the Florida sun.

Great catch by Reed Johnson, charging in on a sinking liner.

Carl Crawford on first, 3-2 to Baldelli, Cash called another slider, getting the strikeout but giving himself no chance to thwart the steal. With first base open, they walked Huff to get to Pete LaForest. Good idea; Lopez popped him up to finish it. Even when you beat these guys, it's a nailbiter.

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If I'm going to go yell at the guy, there's no point being clever.

The guys stuff is pretty lame. It reminds me of the time my 12 year old sister was heckling Nolan Ryan. It was so bad, it was hilarious.

Wow. Lopez is fearless out there. Why on earth would Seattle let this guy go?

Was I the only one who thought the Jays might drop the pop up?

Mike

In addition to what Chuck said, stadiums generally have rules against harassment of other fans. As much as I'd like to see (and hear) you do it, I think you might get a visit from security sometime around the second or third inning.

Why on earth would Seattle let this guy go?

When you already have Hasegawa, Rhodes, Sasaki, and a couple of quality rookies in Soriano and Mateo, it's easy to see why they would let him go. It must be nice to have so much pitching depth that they wouldn't even miss him.

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When you already have Hasegawa, Rhodes, Sasaki, and a couple of quality rookies in Soriano and Mateo, it's easy to see why they would let him go. It must be nice to have so much pitching depth that they wouldn't even miss him.

Pitching? I meant they could use him at third.

Mike

Speaking of heckling. Skydome security once went after me Grimlock for heckling. Me Grimlock hated bullpen Escobar, and one time, while sitting in the front row of the 200 level, Joe Crede was up. And me Grimlock yelled, "Hey Escobar, it's Joe Crede, remember him?" The week before, Crede him a 2-run shot off Escobar in Chicago to blow what would have been a Halladay win. Then me Grimlock said, "You owe Halladay bonus money!" Security then came and told me Grimlock not to bother the players!! Considering Halladay finished 19-7 last year...

Another time in 1996, teenaged Grimlock brought a "Fire Cito!" sign to the SkyDome and showed it to the fans at the back row of the 500 section (ah, $4 seats!) and then put it away. The bunch of tattletales TOLD on us Dinobots, and security came and took my sign, well before the game started. They wouldn't heed me Grimlock's argument that "It's because of our love for the Jays that we have this sign!"

Another time, sitting two rows behind the "In the Action" seat, the ump called a ball that, to me Grimlock, looked like it was a strike. Me Grimlock yelled at the ump, "That was a STRIKE! Ump! Strike!" Me Grimlock was quickly told to "Can it." by the surrounding fans.

Another time, me Grimlock was admonished for using an empty chair next to me to make noise. No wonder the SkyDome's always so quiet. They do it all the time in Montreal!

Grimlock,

You should have been able to rip security apart with your dinobot powers. I'm surprised you let them off so easy.

New Haven was down to Akron 9-0 after 5 and 1/2 but rallied for 2 in the 6th inning and 5 in the 8th to make it a game. They're in the ninth 9-7 Akron. Dustin McGowan was hit hard, and we'll see how David Bush responds to the pressure tomorrow night.

What's really unfortunate is that he's Canadian. Nice ambassador for our country!

Chuck, it could be far worse. Your "ambassador" could be George W. Bush.

Sigh.

Anyone notice that Reed Johnson, in only 338 at-bats, is second in the league in HBPs, with 19?

That sucks Grimlock. Between Skydome security and the Constructicons, you and the Dinobots don't ever seem to catch a break.

I was sitting in the section (behind homeplate but with a $7 ticket) of a friend who works as an usher and due to the ageism of his colleague I was asked if I *actually* had a ticket for that seat. I didn't but she only asked because I was 18, what if I did have the ticket? And who was I hurting anyways, the seats hadn't been sold. Regardless, I moved down the thirdbase line and ended up sitting behind the Miss Teen GTA winners. You tell me if I won or lost on that deal.

This isn't the right place to post this but...

I think there could be an interesting review of the Pitching staff at year end comparing the Law v.s. Boss picks.

Caveat: I'm guessing here (I'd love to have the details...)

Ricciardi (AKA the Scout)

Lidle: good number 3 starter. Pretty much a known quantity. Isn't he? Turns out, NO (I don't blame him though)

Sturze: has always had good stuff. I Scouted him before he was a pro. Change of scenery and a good pitching coach could make a sleeper. Ummmm...NO

Tam: sinkerballer had a bad year last year but isn't done yet. Ummmm...NO

Creek: good stuff. control problems are fixable. Ummmm...NO

Law

Lopez: Lost stock due to 'Age-gate' but still one of the best Rule V options available. Ummmm...YES!

Kershner: Good Minor League numbers, worth a flyer. Ummmm...YES!

Miller: Good Minor League numbers, worth a flyer. Ummmm...YES!

Whos Idea?

Linton: Probably Law. Good Minor League numbers. The strange thing is, his numbers with the Jays were pretty good. Tosca no like?

Service: Good K rate, probably Law but who knows? See Linton above on performance with the Jays

Towers: J.P.? Both of them would have liked his walk rate. Good performance with the Jays (so far)

Davis: Michalak Mark II. Nobody is putting up their hands up on this one.

Acevedo/Reichert: ewww

Wayback Wasdin: 16 hits in 5 innings? You're kidding right?

The D-Rays condone his act, so I don't see how they could eject anyone else for doing it.

I would imagine that they would have an issue with somebody "abusing" another fan.

(Not that I'm condoning what the guy does, but it is different than what you are proposing to do.)

http://economics.about.com
I think there could be an interesting review of the Pitching staff at year end comparing the Law v.s. Boss picks.

To be fair to JP, I'm sure he had a hand in picking the players you assign to Keith Law. I imagine that KL suggests a lot more players than the Jays actually pursue, and JP has to decide which of Keith's recommendations are worth pursuing and which ones are not.

I don't think anyone will dispute that Keith is doing a terrific job for the Jays. If I owned the Reds, he'd be the first guy I'd be interviewing for the vacant GM job. Fortunately for Toronto that's not at all likely to happen.

Mike

The guys stuff is pretty lame. It reminds me of the time my 12 year old sister was heckling Nolan Ryan. It was so bad, it was hilarious.

Maybe we should fly your sister down to Tampa to heckle the guy then. Was that the time you were telling me when she was heckling someone that "you're old like my dad" or something?

I moved down the thirdbase line and ended up sitting behind the Miss Teen GTA winners. You tell me if I won or lost on that deal.

If they stood up to cheer a lot, you won.

If they did the workout routine during the seventh-inning stretch, you won big.

http://economics.about.com
Maybe we should fly your sister down to Tampa to heckle the guy then. Was that the time you were telling me when she was heckling someone that "you're old like my dad" or something?

Yep.. that's it. Texas Rangers vs. Cleveland Indians, August 21, 1992. Retrosheet has the box score here. A few of her (very loud) comments were:

"You're older than my Dad!!"

"Maybe you should consider retiring"

"Do you like fishing?"

"I think you're too old!"

I've never seen a base coach laugh as hard in my life as the Indians first base coach did at those comments.

I don't think she'd do it to well anymore, given that she's now 22. The last time we went to a game together was at the Batter's Box outing. The only player she made fun of was Jose Valentin who she calls "Dirty Cop". But she kept it pretty quiet.

Mike

It makes me sad to see people condemning a fan for doing what his paid ticket entitles him to do. This isn't a broadway show or golf.

I think the Tampa guy is funny. It's more in the delivery than the material. And he's a good sport too.

Would I rather be surrounded by 50,000 hecklers, or 50,000 people who took a wrong turn looking for the symphony? The former, thank you very much. If I want the feeling of a coma-induced crowd I'll visit a hospital.

And by the way, I don't even heckle.

Here's the deal when it comes to being a fan at SkyDome:

"Fire Cito" signs get taken away, "Vote Catalanotto" signs get you seat upgrades.

"Oh Gawwwwwd, not ACEVEDO" gets you shushed by ushers, blue horn blowing and shouting "charge" so loud you can't talk for three days after gets you seat upgrades.

Basically, be positive and they give you stuff. This year my wife and I have scored the Fan of the Game tickets, and the GM Driver's Seat upgrade to the "In The Action" seats, and a number of 'unofficial' seat upgrades, which are basically ushers, security people or Ryan Greer coming up to you in the upper deck and telling you that if you go to such-and-such a section in the 100 level they'll show you where to sit. And on the third of this month I was loud enough that I got one of the black new logo hats for free.

Heck, when we had the "Vote Catalanotto" sign (in the middle of All-Star voting), they told us to sit in the fifth row in left field, and Frank came over and gave me a baseball! I felt like a ten year old. It was pretty much that Hollywood-defining-childhood-baseball-love moment, except it happened when I was 28.

So all you Season's Pass holders and other cheapseat dwellers like me, if you're around section 524 and you hear some guy shouting charge so loud that it sounds like it hurts, lemme tell you: it does. Please join in and take some of the load off of my vocal chords, and good things will happen. I'll be there for every remaining home game, wearing either last year's road gray jersey or a cheap reproduction '80s dark blue batting practice v-neck, with bright orange shoes either way.

Would I rather be surrounded by 50,000 hecklers, or 50,000 people who took a wrong turn looking for the symphony? The former, thank you very much

And I'll take (reluctantly) the latter. De gustibus not est disputandum. I don't think it's sad that constant heckling turns people off; I think it's sad that the guy is constantly celebrated by the TV guys and the press for yelling at people.

Just a quick note that Baseball America has Rios listed as one of its 10 finalists for Player of the Year. Its a strong list of finalists so I would not expect him to win. Congratulations none the less.

It makes me sad to see people condemning a fan for doing what his paid ticket entitles him to do.

Tickets in specific and the law in general certainly permit all forms of behaviour that are, strictly speaking, legal, even if exceedingly annoying and selfish.

Should the fine print on tickets include the phrase "being an asshole can result in ejection"? Should human behaviour have to be governed so oppressively?

This isn't a broadway show or golf.

Ooooohhhhh golf. Can't mess with the sanctity of such a refined institution as that. Better to clear out the boors and send them to the ballpark where they can be celebrated.

Also present on BA's Player of the Year awards... a couple familiar names for Blue Jay fans -- Barfield and Fielder.

Me Grimlock don't use Dinobot powers on the ushers, cuz me Grimlock, after all is a good guy who don't beat up humans. The Constructicons were bad mothers, especially when they became Devastator, but that's ok.


Would I rather be surrounded by 50,000 hecklers, or 50,000 people who took a wrong turn looking for the symphony? The former, thank you very much. If I want the feeling of a coma-induced crowd I'll visit a hospital.


Me Grimlock agrees. It's a sporting event. Just this year, me Grimlock have been to games where Raoul Mondesi and Billy Koch were visibly upset on the playing field by thousands of hecklers. Well, someone threw an orange at Mondesi, but he was already mad. What's the difference between chanting someone's name and shouting lame insults?

What me Grimlock didn't like was being admonished by the fan police. Me Grimlock didn't yell the whole game, just those two things at Escobar. Me Grimlock flashed "Fire Cito" for about 10 seconds, with no ushers in sight, and the fans at the back row, TOLD on us. The ushers even said so, "We hear that you have a 'Fire Cito!' sign." Me Grimlock was riding the ump for TWO pitches and was told to be quiet. Banging the seat, Expo fan style, was "going too far. It hurt his ears." One time, me Grimlock yelled to Otis Nixon that "his time is up soon... Shannon Stewart is coming." to which a fan told Grimlock to "Know the game." Toronto fans aren't only quiet, but they like to silence those who have the audacity to make noise and have a little fun. Me Grimlock is much quieter these days.

Basically, be positive and they give you stuff.

Me Grimlock has twice won the Mr. Sub competition in the 6th inning. But it's not that hard, although me Grimlock saw a dumb blonde botch it on alumni weekend. If 25000 people are yelling "1", maybe the answer's 1!!!!

I've found that the most effective anti-heckler strategies are to simply shout the opposite, louder. Don't make it about the heckler, because often that's what hecklers are looking for.

I agree about preferring a loud crowd to a quiet one, but the vocally negative crowds we get at the 'Dome are often a real downer. The number of times I've heard people give up on our players during at-bats ("yeah, and here comes strike three, inning over, this guy sucks") is pretty much uncountable, but what really bothers me is that when the player doesn't strike out, they don't cheer or anything, they just start grumbling about the next guy up to bat.

Sitting behind these "fans" and really cheering on the Jays, loudly, tends to annoy them. I've been asked on a couple of occassions to "tone it down" by the negative nellies in front of me, and both times I've said that I would if they would.

Who comes to a baseball game expecting quiet?

Toronto fans aren't only quiet, but they like to silence those who have the audacity to make noise and have a little fun. Me Grimlock is much quieter these days.

Yeah, those are the people I hate. If you're not shouting anything offensive, tell them to stuff it or move. Or just ignore them.

The last few games I was at (the NY series, Friday against the Tigers), we got our section rockin' pretty good just by setting the "loud and proud" example. Anyone who objects to "CHARGE" or "GO JAYS GO" should just plain ol' go home, and I don't have a problem telling them that.

Though I'm always willing to cut other people in the stands some slack because even if they suck, they suck less than the majority of Torontonians who are sitting at home. ;)

Law rules!!!

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Who comes to a baseball game expecting quiet?

Anyone who has ever been to the Skydome?

I've never see a crowd at a baseball game more apathetic than at the Skydome. I swear 5000 people at an Expos game make as much noise as 30000 at a Jays game. I'd much rather go to an Expos game because the crowd is into the game and everybody is genuinely having a good time. In Toronto it seems people are trying to figure out where they'll go to eat after the game.

Last summer I went to a couple of Phillies games at the Vet. That was wild. I really wish Toronto was more like that. I loved Derek Zumsteg's idea of cheer clubs. You should certainly be leading one. At any rate, I'd certainly like to meet up with you at a game before the season is out.

The occasional heckling is funny but too much of it gets old really, really fast. I'd rather have positive energy at a game and I wish the Jays would do more to promote that. Given the experiences that you've had (getting seat upgrades, etc), it sounds like they are doing things on the micro level.

Mike

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/20020718balls.shtml
This is the correct link. Sorry about that.

Sitting behind these "fans" and really cheering on the Jays, loudly, tends to annoy them. I've been asked on a couple of occassions to "tone it down" by the negative nellies in front of me, and both times I've said that I would if they would.

Me Grimlock don't understand why it would upset them. Presumably, they're so negative to prepare themselves for what they perceive as inevitable failure but a good result by the players should make them happy. I mean, if Homer Bush woulda got a base-hit, then me Grimlock would have cheered and not grumbled!

Me Grimlock don't want to leave the impression that he's a negative fellow, he's really not, only occassionally to players he strongly dislikes. And even then, it's not even the entire game like that loudmouth in TBay, it'll be maybe a couple comments, that's it.

At the SkyDome, when you make any noise, people look at you like you're nuts. It's a baseball game! Winfield Wants Noise!

Thanks for the link, that was a neat article.

I can tell you that the Jays do offer substantial group discounts that are based not on total attendance but on total number of games attended: you get 30% off for bringing a group to one game, 40% for two games and 50% for three games. I called them up because I wanted to give away some Jays tickets to my loyal customers as a back-to-school promo, and as a result I've been giving away tickets to the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday games against the D-Rays. I think that the minimum number to qualify as a group is 20.

How many people on here have season's passes or tickets to cheap seats over the last few weeks of the season? We should totally organize a ruckus-causin' group. And I'll further abuse work resources here to make an eight-foot Batter's Box Cheer Club banner (or something like that).

Me Grimlock don't want to leave the impression that he's a negative fellow, he's really not, only occassionally to players he strongly dislikes. And even then, it's not even the entire game like that loudmouth in TBay,

Notice how the T-Bay guy who was supposedly only heckling Hinske ended up starting in on other players because Hinske hit a double, a homer and had two walks? Hinske should take that as a triumph.

And I'll admit to heckling a Jay this year: Acevedo. I tried to give him a chance, I really did. I feel bad for the guy, but he stank for us.

Notice how the T-Bay guy who was supposedly only heckling Hinske ended up starting in on other players because Hinske hit a double, a homer and had two walks? Hinske should take that as a triumph.

One time, me Grimlock, sitting in RF, told Koskie he's gonna strikeout next time up. Koskie, of course, homered. Me Grimlock said next inning "Koskie, you showed me man! You're the best!" Haha... Hinske should most certainly take it as a triumph.

As for Fat Acevedo, man, yeah, that guy was brutal for us... no wonder the Yankees released him!

In an amusing coincidence, one of my customers (who I just gave Jays tickets to, which is how it came up) is Koskie's cousin. So she's used to much better seats than the ones I'm giving out.

That Koskie story shows the danger of heckling the opposition: get on 'em enough and they'll have a drive to show you up.

I made a banner that read "DEREK: Was that at-bat worth $30,000?", but I never got to use it -- I brought it to opening day where he was promptly injured in his second appearance and left the game, and then later in the season when I brought it out again he was on fire that night. So I threw the damn thing away.

I was heckled once while playing in front of a bunch of WWII veterans in Yountville, CA the summer before I started college. Granted, I was getting shelled on the mound, but did that deserve the "Peeeeeeeeeyoooooooou. You stink"?

Well, in truth, yes, I was pretty awful. I didn't particularly feel much resentment, just embarrassment for getting the beejesus knocked out of me. I did redeem myself at the dish with a few hits, but we still got clocked, and I took the loss. Heckling is fine, as long as you're not obnoxious about it, and as long as the media does not glorify it, as Craig said.