My prediction: KC gets an early lead in the first two innings, but the Jays come back with runs in the 8th and 9th. Unfortunately, Joe (J.R.) Randa homers in extras to extend Toronto's losing tradition.

Sigh...

Toronto wins 15-0.

Vernon Wells is going to hit a home run in his first at-bat. Consider last night:

AB1: Reached on an error
AB2: Drew a walk
AB3: Infield hit
AB4: Double to left-center

There's a pattern here!

Toronto's losing tradition

Toronto definitely has a losing tradition. But it involves the hockey team, not the baseball team.

I'm still peeing myself with excitement over getting Stubby Clapp, one of my all-time favourite ballplayers (and someone who deserved a five-year big-league career but got stuck in the Cardinals organization for half of forever).

We likely won't see him at the ML level at all, unless Berg and Gomez go down, but it's great to have an experienced guy to help Rich and Hill at New Hampshire.

Doc has been outstanding in the past on three days rest, so I'm predicting it's a Jays victory 7-2 for the series win.

Any predictions about tonight's game?

Tom Candiotti hosts a tribute to John Candy before the game. To give the weary bulpen a rest, the Jays announce that they've coaxed John Candelaria out of retirement. As a good-will gesture, ushers walk around to all the kids offering them free...well, you see where I'm going.
On the baseball side, Roy throws a complete game tonight and the Jays take the series.

Yesterday's discussion were so negative so thank you Jays for a victory! Why not predict a series win with Roy on the mound? Roy goes into the 8th with a 6-2 lead. Jays win 7-3.

A priceless quote from the Sun game recap.
Notes: After the game in the Jays clubhouse, Greg Zaun turned to reporters watching the Leafs-Flyers overtime and said, "Hey, did you guys hear the Jays won tonight?" ...

Prediction?

                    IP   H   R  ER  BB  SO
Halladay (W, 3-3)    9   0   0   0   0   8

Book it.

My prediction? Pain. Jays 8-2

Delgado homers and Wells has 3 RBIs. Halladay goes 7 strong allowing one earned and four hits.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/boxscore?gameId=230427122
Stranger things have happened than Craig's prediction.

When I was in Philly last year with my Dad, I got a scorebook and scored the first three games we saw, since I hadn't done that ages. We were late getting to the Sunday game and I decided not to bother, and heading into the Vet we were joking about how I'd feel if it turned out to be a notable game..

That was April 27th, COMN if you don't already know. Oddly enough, not scoring it doesn't really bother me.

In reference to the comment Mike posted regarding the UN and Sudan --- this takes away whatever little credibility the UN had before this. Their actions are riddled with ridiculous double standards (example, against Israel) and moreover, and organization that has Sudan on any sort of Commission on Human Rights simply holds no weight in regards to anything.

I prefer Craig's prediction, but I'll say it's a 10-1 blowout for the good guys and Doc isn't needed for more than seven innings.

If you've been following Mr. Burley's excellent series on Benny Kauff, you won't want to miss the conclusion on THT today. If you haven't read the first two parts, you should.

Kauff was the victim of horrible circumstance in this saga, as the victims of injustice so often are. His case was trumpeted in the courts and the press by a self-promoting (and shady) prosecutor desperate for public attention; he fell afoul of an unscrupulous teammate with nothing to lose, who tried to pin his own crimes on him; his fate eventually rested in the hands of a monomaniacal dictator desperate to show that he was "doing something" about baseball's problems; and he was finally done in by both a legal system stuck behind its time and a judge ignoring a key element of contract law.

As if he wasn't mistreated enough, Kauff was also a victim of anti-Semitism, even though he wasn't Jewish. Tremendous work, Craig. Count on my support in your campaign for his reinstatement.

Can anyone tell me how Phelps looked on his hits last night?

I went to see Bonds play the Mets, but Barry had a freaking cold and wasn't in the lineup. That is a horrid offense without him- they made the Mets look good, which is a tall order.

I see that the Devil Rays are in our sights and ready to take there rightful place at the bottom of the division.

What do you mean Toronto approaching?
Toronto's alive?
Open fire all weapons!

Phelps didn't look good. He's having trouble even getting the ball out of the infield. Somehow he managed two hits out of it, but I don't think that's going to be par for the course.

At this point, Phelps may be the least-valuable player in the lineup. (except when Berg starts)

I didn't think Phelps was all that bad. His two infield hits could have both been solid singles, as they were both line drives (although on the other hand, they both could have been outs). The first one was an absolute rope to Randa at third. The second one was right up the middle and the pitcher just knocked it down. He especially looks lost on fastballs, which is a tad un-Phelps-like. I'm a little worried, but not that much-he'll shake out of it and start hitting for power again.

I'm going tonight, but I'll be arriving late, around 8:30.

Anyone want to meet up and make noise?

Oh God, Mike. Can we not debate the role of the UN?

Mike,

You are hereby forbidden to make any more political references at Batter's Box ;-)

Hey, I like the occasional reference.

Just please, let's not talk about the UN. On that note, I will hijack the discussion.

Baseball is going to plug "Spider-Man 2" with advertisments on the bases.

What does everyone think?

Baseball is going to plug "Spider-Man 2" with advertisments on the bases.

What does everyone think?


Bully for them.

Why does everyone get their knickers in a twist over advertising in baseball? As far as I'm concerned, they can plaster the uniforms with as much advertising as they like. The only real issue is determining how the owners and players will split the booty, but they can work that out when they sort out the next collective barganing agreement.

Auto racing, tennis, soccer, golf -- they're all saturated with advertising, and it hasn't affected the quality of play.

Is that a joke Craig? I could support ads for the team or for mlb.com. I wouldn't like it but whatever. To put something so temporary on the bases is wrong.

Hey, I like the occasional reference.

Just please, let's not talk about the UN.

Seconded.

Thirded. Please. Pretty Please.

(I'm a refugee from Primmmmmer)

The Leafs are gone, potentially for a year and half, and the Raptors are a joke. This is the Jays chance to steal the spotlight in Toronto. It's time they take advantage of it and win back the fans. They need to play infinitely better than they have though if they want to accomplish that. Barely beating the Royals like last night won't quite cut it. They need to dominate some games and go on a run like they did last May and June.

I am appalled. Ads on the bases?

Disgusting.

As someone that contributed to a lot of the exploding political threads at Primer (mostly due to a boring job I've since quit), I shouldn't say anything....

I'm glad politics have stayed off this site mostly, but seeing as there's a demand for it, I've invited popular anarcho-syndicalist pundit Retardo and the neocon wacko Nierporent guy over to discuss US policy in Central and South America 1950-1980. If people clap loud enough, maybe they'll do their extended version of "Henry Kissinger: War Criminal or Real American Hero" that the crowds seem to love.

dp, you don't want to get banned, do you? :)

Sorry about that. My intention wasn't to start a big political discussion, it was to inform people about a story I feel that is important that people may have missed.

That being said, if George Bush or the Conservative Party of Canada had put Ernst Zundel on a race-relations committee, I bet you dollars to donuts somebody would be bringing it up.

I'm all for a truce. I won't talk about the UN or the Sponsorship Scandal if the rest of you won't talk about Dubya or the war in Iraq. Deal?

All this talking about what we're not going to talk about must CEASE IMMEDIATELY.

Do you kids want to be like the real U.N., or do you want to squabble and waste time?

You keep using words like "Pasghetti" and "Momatoes" You make numerous threatening references to the U.N. and at the end you repeat the words "Screw Flanders" over and over again.

dp, you don't want to get banned, do you? :)

Can I rant now about how Da Box is trying to push a pro-saber agenda on the baseball community through the selective removal of contrarian posts? That was the craziest thing in that whole thread (over at Primer, a great one for those of you that missed it)- the guy pretty much accused them of moving to the registration system so that they could censor those who didn't fall into line with the pro-Moneyball "ideology". Multiple levels of delusion going on there...and he kept calling DIPS "DRIPS", like he was waiting for someone to laugh...

if the rest of you won't talk about Dubya or the war in Iraq.

War? Iraq? When did this happen?

Dp, I remember the "DRIPS" thread on Primer.

The thing you have to realize over there is that some of those guys are trolls. No matter how long RossCW stays in an argument, he's still a troll. Yes, he doesn't call people names or swear. That just makes him a really good troll. (I think he's the best I've ever seen, surpassing even RM).

Anyways, sorry to discuss another site on the box.
Back to the Jays.
Um..
Man, when you talk about them everyday sometimes you run out of things to say!

Allright, how about the Expos?
Craig or another of their fans, is their hitting really this bad? Was last night's game a sign of things to come or a fluke?

In regards to tonights game, im trying to make it but it involves coaxing and or bribing my friends into giving me a lift. If I do show up i'll try to drag them to 518 and of course i'll be wielding...

THE HAMMER OF WISDOM!!!

OK, so I'll just show up in 518.

Were you there last night, Jobu? I could hear the hammer's power through the radio.

I *swear* I heard an Eric Hinske song/chant when he came up to bat one time. Anyone figure out who/where it was coming from?

I heard it to! Couldn't tell if they were cheering him on or making fun of him, though.

I'm glad you heard it as well. I thought I was going crazy, or it was just in my mind because I was trying to come up with Hinske cheers.

Hey Bird Droppings, can you describe exactly where that $5 parking garage is?

From your last post, I think it's the one in the short office building with lots of protruding triangular points. Just north of the Dome, with the entrance on Front St. I think the building also has a big RBC logo on the side.

Is this the right place? I can't take TTC this evening, and I'd much prefer to pay $5 instead of $10 to park...

It's on the corner of Front and Blue Jays Way, on the same side of Blue Jays Way as the Dome. Parking entrance is a block away from BJW, around the side. You drive under the building.

Credit where credit is due. Nakamura for 3 followed by Frasor for the 9th was an intelligent response by Tosca to the situation.

Now, how about a discussion of bullpen use for today. You've got Doc on the mound today on 3 days rest, and a day off tomorrow. Nakamura is obviously unavailable. If there was a day to use 4 relievers, today might be it. It'd be better if Doc didn't go more than 90 pitches. Ligtenberg and Kershner definitely need the work and DLS, Adams and Speier all would be OK/good with it.

Doc is perfectly capable of throwing a complete game 90 pitch shutout, but otherwise I'd be inclined to play a little reliever roulette for today only. I'd certainly want a lefty in to face Beltran late in the game if it's close.

I can understand the desire to keep the political discussion to a minimum, but please, never hold back on the Simpsons references.

I wouldn't dislike the Jays game host if he wore a Duffman costume, for example. :)

Just got back from an offsite and wanted to mention this:

I tuned into the Braves-Padres games last night to hear the announcers mention that the Yankees were rumoured to be acquiring Bonds. Has anybody else heard this?

Was this mentioned in anotehr thread? I can't believe it's true.

Joe Sheehan made the following observation in Prospectus Today (subscription required)

More about the Jays:


                                       AB   AVG   OBP   SLG
Eric Hinske and Josh Phelps 2002      831  .288  .364  .507
Eric Hinske and Josh Phelps 2003      845  .254  .342  .452
Eric Hinske and Josh Phelps 2004      203  .251  .323  .355


That's gotta stop.

Any comments?

It's on the corner of Front and Blue Jays Way, on the same side of Blue Jays Way as the Dome. Parking entrance is a block away from BJW, around the side. You drive under the building.


Ok, I think it's the building I originally described.

I was confused there for a sec because I thought John turned into BJW. Peter = BJW, which means you've directed me to the building I originally described.

Just to confirm, the driveway is on the south side of Front, between BJW (Peter) and John?

Thanks,

jc

The Sun has a full page of stats from all the teams in the Major Leagues. I allways like this display because you can look at each ML team as a whole. But here's what struck me about the Jays. They have the fewest homers in the AL. Whats up with that?
jason

I just dumped Phelps in my mixed ESPN league. He may yet break my heart and crack 30 homers -- 100 at-bats is obviously not a great baromoter -- but from what I've seen, he's not been hitting the ball hard at all. Hinske is not driving the ball either, but it looks like his timing is wrong; since he's more patient than Phelps, I expect him to come back quicker than Josh, if Phelps comes back at all.

Just to confirm, the driveway is on the south side of Front, between BJW (Peter) and John?

I believe that is correct, but I am bad with street names. Worst case scenario, if you can't find it there's a well-signed $5 lot across from the convention centre a bit further along Front.

Oh, but it's not a driveway! It's an alleyway behind the building. The driveway is off of that.

I fear I am making this more confused. The alley is off of Front street. It's why you don't see the sign unless you know about the lot already.

I'd disagree with Robbie's comments about the UN, but I'll say no more. I'd actually support talking politics on this board, but I'm probably in the minority and I won't if other people don't. I just think we're mature enough to have intelligent conversations about it and not let it affect the baseball community that's grown here.

I just dumped Phelps in my mixed ESPN league.

Man, was that bad timing. I mean, I don't know if he's going to be worth hanging onto for the rest of the season or not, but: bad timing.

Matthew, it's one of those ridiculous 10-team mixed leagues, and I needed to clear a spot for Angel Berroa. Given the choice of Berroa and Phelps, fantasy-wise, and for such a shallow league, it was an easy choice, since DH types are pretty easy to find.