So, like, 2 seconds before this thread opened, I posted in the previous one:

"So where's everyone sitting at the game today?

I'll be in centre-left. Beige sweater, next to a friend in a Tigers jersey.

Come say hi."

Fantastic day indeed!!!

Richard Griffen must be dedicating Opening Day to Bauxites. There was the small ode to us fantasy heads a few days ago but here's the entire symphony.

Opening day is usually a time for optimism, except if you work for the Star where knives are sharpened for opening day.

Do not feed the troll, do not feed the troll, do not ....

Nice threads, by the way.

Moffatt and co., this Bud's for you!

The fact is that Ricciardi has changed for the better since he took over in 2001.

The thesis of Rich's column should have read: "This scribe has changed for the better since realizing, finally, there was no alternative."

I'll be at 521F, Row 16, Seat 1, with my lovely cousin visiting from LA. Any Bauxites in my area should say hi. I'm off to the game right now...

http://economics.about.com
Moffatt and co., this Bud's for you!

Thanks.. and thanks again for you and all the others who find all these articles. Makes my life a lot easier!

Cheers,

Mike

the Star-Ledger is now my favourite 'paper...

JAYS OVER PADRES IN SIX!

I read my dad's copy of the Star today. You have to give them credit for building the strongest possible negative case.

One thing I thought was amusing was that they criticized the Jays for using Ricciardi at the centre of their marketing (which I don't think is true, but whatever), in the middle of a baseball preview that features two articles about Ricciardi. It's just like the whole 'out-clause' controversy--the Star is blaming the Jays and Ricciardi for something the Star is doing.

My prediction is 87 wins. 13 games back and in third place.

However, things change quickly. I love this Pedro bashing that's all the rage now. The Red Sox are obviously screwed :)

Nice threads, by the way.

Everyone's crazy bout a sharp dressed man

However, things change quickly. I love this Pedro bashing that's all the rage now. The Red Sox are obviously screwed :)


I think reports of Pedro's death are greatly exaggerated.

However...

It does appear that he's "going Maddux". His fastball has lost some of its zip, which makes his breaking stuff a little more hittable. I predict that his ERA will be north of 3.00 and his K/9 will drop below 9.00 (for the first time since 1995).

Martinez is only 32, most pitchers are still at their peek or just past it by that point so I'm surprised there's this sudden drop off in his game...Since he isn't on my fantasy team, you'll never hear a complaint out of me!

Also, Pedro always sucks on openning day, at least it seems to me he does. Didn't the Jays pound him last year in Fenway?

Are people meeting somewhere after the game?

The first Game Thread of 2004 will be posted around noon or so EDT today.

I daresay JP has changed since he first arrived; I don't know anyone who doesn't evolve in some way, both personally and professionally, when they take on a new job. If Richard Griffin perceives a difference in JP, I won't argue with his perception; he certainly sees more of the GM than the fans do.

But the public side of JP -- the side we see in media interviews, player comments and so forth -- represents maybe 5% of the man, as is the case with most public figures. How much JP has really changed as a GM and a baseball man is something only he and his closest staff can say, and no one else is really in a position to judge. An individual's public-figure status gives those who follow his exploits a false impression of familiarity; we only think we know him. Heck, I take liberties by referring to him as "JP" -- as Ben Stone once said, in polite society you don't address a man by his first name unless he gives you permission.

We all change -- GMs, columnists, bloggers -- according to experience and accumulated wisdom. The important thing is not where we've been, but where we are and were we're going.

As for the sway JP apparently holds over the fan base, I'll only say this: the Blue Jays are a better team today than when JP took over, at about 1/3 the price. The farm system, featuring a mix of the present and past regimes, is very strong and getting even better. The major-league team hustles, and the minor-league squads are motivated. If I support the current GM, I have a very solid, rational basis for doing so.

As a Pedro owner in two leagues let me counter some of the claims of his demise. Let's be realistic here folks. Pedro didn't blow up last night. 7 hits, 1 walk, 5 k's, 2 ER in 6 IP is still deemed a quality start. He had a horrible second inning, yes, but then shut down the O's for the next 4 innings. He's set himself up some tough comparisons. We may never again see the Pedro of a few years ago, and I for one wouldn't expect to. However, he is still one of the top 5 pitchers in the game....except when he faces the Jays. Anyone ever notice how he always seems to get blasted by the good guys?

Here here Jordan. Well said.

Also, Pedro always sucks on openning day, at least it seems to me he does. Didn't the Jays pound him last year in Fenway?

That was two years ago. Last year, Royboy got pounded by the Yanks.

I'm glad i'm not the only one who sees the wisdom in moving to the Central. Heck, I'd go to the NL East before I'd stay here....But you can't screw the attendence out of EVER being able to pack in for a Yanks game.

"Heliocentric cult still alive and well: Copernicus fans still on astronomer's bandwagon"

LOL to Lucas's comment. Nice.

So I can only assume Griffin is ripping off my ideas.

COMN and scroll down to the April 2nd entry for yet another interview with Michael Lewis. As you would expect, it's mostly about the Moneyball reaction. It's well worth the read in any case. On point however, he alludes to the White Jays controversy and has this little nugget of gold about our friend Richard Griffin:

"I know for example, Richard Griffin (of the Toronto Star). He is obsessed about stuff that is written about him on the web."

I'm torn. Assuming he trolls around the Box every once in a while (reading about himself and ripping off Moffatt's ideas) should we ignore him and not feed his ego or be critical of his work and show him how out of touch he really is?

There are plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize Ricciardi, but Griffin grasps at straws:

Where he once said he had to rebuild the farm, he now admits that the cupboard was not exactly bare.

Those aren't mutually exclusive. There were some gems in the system, but not a lot of depth. Ricciardi has also changed the way things are run.

Where he once insisted on one walk for every 10 at-bats to be included among his favoured farmhands, he now admits that Alex Rios and Vernon Wells can play in the same outfield, even though they combine for one BB every 15 ABs.

Did he ever insist on that target? I know it's an ideal goal -- it still is, if you listen to him talk about Wells & Rios -- but I think he'd be a fool to insist upon it to the exclusion of all other factors.

Where he once said that taking high school players in the draft was ill-advised, bordering on dumb, he now says that when the time is right, the Jays will dip into the teen-aged talent pool.

Again, not mutually exclusive -- though I can't recall Ricciardi saying it was "dumb" to draft high school players. He'll probably continue to focus on college players, but will take a high school pick when the situation warrants it.

He admits the course he now pursues is all about budget.

All about budget? Yup, no basis whatsoever for his strategy other than that it's cheap. The Red Sox are running on largely the same principles -- they just don't have to be cheap about it.

And really, Griffin's editors need to automatically cut out any references to computers. There's being clever, and then there's beating a horse until its ghost has bruises.

http://economics.about.com
Assuming he trolls around the Box every once in a while (reading about himself and ripping off Moffatt's ideas) should we ignore him and not feed his ego or be critical of his work and show him how out of touch he really is?

As long as he keeps writing for the Star, I'll keep linking to him. If people decide to ignore his articles, that's fine with me.

It's obvious from his column that he read a few recent Batter's Box threads. My suggesting that he was "ripping me off" was intentionally hyperbolic, particularly since it wasn't likely him that wrote the headline. But as Griffin's column shows, people are paying attention to the Batter's Box and the comments we're leaving. The Box is providing better quality stuff than the newspapers, such as Coach's Jays Preview for free, which has to scare the local fishwrap somewhat.

Cheers,

Mike

The Box is providing better quality stuff than the newspapers, such as Coach's Jays Preview for free, which has to scare the local fishwrap somewhat.

Damn you Moffatt! Now I have to get fish and chips for lunch. Mmm... fish...

http://www.mudvillemagazine.com/bug/weblog.php
Whoops. COMN now for the link.

http://economics.about.com
Damn you Moffatt! Now I have to get fish and chips for lunch. Mmm... fish...

Damn.. that does sound really good right now!

COMN and scroll down to the April 2nd entry for yet another interview with Michael Lewis


Cristian, is this the text of the March 1st SI interview? I think you forgot to activate your COMN :)

Please post the link, I'd love to read it again. The "Women's Auxilary" stuff was hiliarous.

Thanks,

jc

http://bluejayscheerclub.com
Man, I need fish and chips now, too.

Prediction: Griffin's next article will reference fish and chips.

The HD broadcast is screwing around with my Sportsnet reception so no game for me. First the Oilers are eliminated and now this.

Jacko,

It's not the SI article. It's an interview with Michael Lewis. I posted the link in my second post but here it is again. Scroll down to the Friday, April 2nd entry.

I've said it before; whats most gauling about the musings of RG is that he thinks I'm an idiot. Apparently only RG has the vision to see through the hyperbole of the Jays Front office. My reason and observations have no creadence because I am excited by the play of the Jays, the refurbishing of the minor leagues, and the thinking behind actions of the front office. So be it. I believe the future of the Jays will prove that my faith is well placed, and RG's bile is misplaced.

Oh yea, while I may be an idiot I resent being reminded of it. And please powers that be at the Star, you have to know that treating your customers as idiots is not a good way to sell papers.

jason

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/april
ESPN Page 2's 2004 MLB predictions will leave you in stitches.

Among my favourites:
April 15 -- Blue Jays reliever Justin Miller, already required to cover the tattoos on his arms when pitching, gets a facial tattoo similar to Mike Tyson's. The league office rules Miller must wear a burka on the mound for the remainder of the season.

April 17 -- Alex Rodriguez's record-setting five home runs are not enough for the Yankees to beat the Red Sox, as Derek Jeter makes nine errors in a 15-12 loss

May 23 -- In honor of Bartolo Colon's birthday on the 24th, the Angels offer a free "Colon-Oscopy" to the first 10,000 fans in attendance for their game against the Orioles. Only three people show up, setting the mark for the lowest single-game attendance in league history.

July 24 -- Not wanting to let Barry Bonds beat him with another home run, Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa orders an intentional walk to the slugger with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth of a 3-3 game.

August 15 -- Alfonso Soriano admits he died of old age in 1974 and is neither alive nor 43 years old.

August 27 -- President Bush pulls back even in the polls by highlighting the fact that, as a fan of the Red Sox, John Kerry is a loser.

Sept. 2 -- The Reds are fined $50,000 by the league for having a Bong in plain view in their locker room.

Sept. 9 -- The YES Network buys the broadcast rights to Red Sox games and refuses to air them in New England.

Sept. 27 -- The league office changes its mind on the Expos 2005 schedule, announcing instead that the team will play its games in Indonesia to save on labor costs.

COMN for the entire season's worth. There are many, many good ones left to read.

http://www.thestar.com/static/PDF/040405_C11_jays_numbers.pdf
COMN for a fun piece in the Star on the story behind each player's number. Among the more amusing comments was Batista saying he gave up 43 in Arizona to Mondesi after Mondesi told him he had 43 tattooed all over his body (Batista gave it to him, said he didn't care...Mondesi gave him a Rolex anyways). And Kershner gave up 46 to Lightenberg this year in favour of 23 -- he hopes this change also cuts his ERA in half.