I hope Pat H can get his stuff back to where it was in late 2003. Quality starts, ERA around three and a half, steadying presence in the clubhouse. This would give the team a huge boost.

I've been wondering lately, do Pythagorean records mean anything this early in the season? Can we use it as a predictor of the rest of the season, or is it too early?

My gut says that it's too early to pay attention to a team's Pythagarean percentage right now.

A breakdown of Pat's 2003 ERA, by month:

April 4.66
May 5.06
June 6.12
July 3.26
Aug 3.57
Sept 2.62

I am transfering the transcript of my conversation with the Sports Editor of the Daily Southtown this afternoon and his apology to me and Canada.

#174973 Posted 05/10/2004 06:39 PM by Jeff Geauvreau:

I just spoke with Mr. John Hector , Sports editor for the Daily Southdown . He called me back and apologized on behalf of the Paper for Mr. Cowley Conduct this past weekend in Toronto.

" We do not condone his behavior and I have talked to Joe this morning after we began receiving phone calls from Canada."

"He told me his reasons which I will not share with you for not standing for the Canadian National Anthem."

"We have told him that when he is out working that he represents the Daily Southdown Paper and his personal views cannot conflict with the paper views if he wants to keep working here."

"We view it that he was disrespectful to Canada by not standing for the Canadian National Anthem."

"I apologize on behalf of the Paper to you for his actions last weekend in Toronto and I thank you for calling us."

" His comments on the radio show were in a sarcastic tone and were not to be taken seriously."

"Mr. Cowley is a very good Sportswriter and like a lot of very good people , he walks to the beat of a different drummer."

" We do not want Mr. Cowley views tarnishing the paper or the City of Chicago."

"There is no law that says that he has to stand but we take very seriously the phone calls that we received today from Canada"

The following comments were made by Mr. John Hector , Sports Editor for the Daily Southdown to me ( Mr. Jeff Geauvreau , VP of Marketing for North America for U.S. Tax Recovery Inc.) at approximately 5.09 pm- 5.18 PM central time this afternoon.

#174974 Posted 05/10/2004 06:48 PM by Jeff Geauvreau:

CORRECTION: The Paper is the Daily Southtown.

I for one never took his comments seriously - I never heard them (I've given up on Chicago sport radio), but am well aware of the degree of facetiousness and sarcasm that goes into its commentary (the Detroit comment was a clincher). Not standing for the anthem is disrespectful, sure, but not a hanging offense. All Cowley proved was that he is a lesser Howard Stern, and is probably angling for a gig on "The Best Damn Sports Show"

I believe Pyth records are a better predictor of future performance than actual win-loss records. Essentially they mean that the Jays and Royals have played better than their record and so are likely better, but they don't have any magical power to predict the future.

I think we need a concerted Bauxite effort to get good questions and discussions onto Mike Wilner's shows. I doubt he'd complain about having to answer fewer 'what happened to Sirotka' type questions. Actually, scratch that. He doesn't get 'what happened to Sirotka' questions. Rather he gets 'you know that guy who JP got for David Wells that was damaged goods? What happened to him?' questions. Mike Wilner graces us with his presence on these boards every so often so we should return the favour. I don't mean to suggest that we are worthier fans than the casual fans who call in; but we are more informed. Getting some informed discussion would surely help educate the audience that Mike Wilner reaches.

Ask and you shall receive, Jeff's on the radio now!

And he plugged DaBox

Go Jeff!

And I still say my roto team is better than yours!

Thanks guys for your comments and Mathesond we will see if your Team is better.

Jeff, great job in getting such an immediate response from the editor.
Can you give us a recap of your discussion with Mr. Wilner?

I believe Pyth records are a better predictor of future performance than actual win-loss records.

I have alot of faith in Pyth records as well, but doesn't there have to be some minimum number of games played before we can look to them with any certainty?
We wouldn't expect a team that wins it's first game of the season 5-0 to win every game it plays, so there must be a minmum before we're getting valuable information.

Re: Pyth. records.

Just for the heck of it, lets pick 20% of a season. Which is what, 32 games?

Or, we could hold out for 30% - 49 games (rounding, what are you gonna do?)

Thanks Steve, My job is dealing with U.S. Casino's Upper Management so I am used to getting a response from Management.

If you guys ever need help setting up interviews I am very good at reaching hard to find People. " I still have to talk to or meet Mr. Trump though. :-)"

My discussion with Mike Wilner was basically what I posted. We both talked about respect and how Mr. Cowley made our blood boil. Mr. Cowley showed no respect to Canada this past weekend.

Mike was surprised that I got an apology from Mr. Hector , he then when on to say that the Daily Southtown paper is not looking to sell Papers in Toronto.

It is always a pleasure listening to Mike Wilner with his insightful comments and knowledge of baseball.

There isn't really a point where Pyth becomes meaningful - the more games, the more meaningful it is.

Mike was surprised that I got an apology from Mr. Hector , he then when on to say that the Daily Southtown paper is not looking to sell Papers in Toronto.

Well, yes. But there are people in Toronto (and the rest of Canada) that have friends or family in Chicago.

Why is Berg not in left field :)

Is anyone else a little bit surprised that Hentgen is starting tonight? During April, the Jays held back their fifth starter (Towers) til mid-month, since the numerous off-days allowed them to start Halladay and the rest of the top four on their normal rest without using a fifth starter.

Today would be Halladay's regular start after four days rest, but he's going tomorrow. Tosca could have started Halladay today and Lilly tomorrow, dropping Hentgen in for Wednesday's game (and thus Hentgen wouldn't start in the weekend series against the Red Sox.)

I guess Tosca has gone to a full, five man rotation, instead of having the fifth guy (whether that be Hentgen or miller) be a spot starter who gets dropped when off-days pop up. Personally, I'd prefer Halladay started every fifth day no matter what.

3-0 Jays.

Johnson reached on error
Cat fouled off a ton of pitches and then singled
Wells RBI single
Delgado RBI single
Phelps RBI sac Fly

There's 3 games today and this one can't be on Extra Innings?

Go Vernon!

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-pirates-mondesileaving&prov=ap&type=lgns
More weird news from the world of sports ... COMN for story about Raul Mondesi who will not play for the rest of the season due to personal reasons (ie. salary withheld).

Not exactly stinging the ball, are they?

The game is on MLB.TV with Faulds and Cerutti. It's weird that the EI package only allows games on cable where the MLB.TV package has picked up most local broadcasts (except for San Diego, I believe).

It's O-Dawg Kingman!

Well, that one was stung. Hudson a RH HR. Who'd have thunk it?

Ask and yee shall recieve. O Dog spanks one into pond,

More weird news from the world of sports ... COMN for story about Raul Mondesi who will not play for the rest of the season due to personal reasons (ie. salary withheld).

Yeah, and of course I have him in Barfield.

I expect him back in 2 weeks. No way he follows through.

BTW in the story about Mondesi, the Pirates were going to release Mondesi's wages however Mondesi says he prefers to not play.

O-Dog!

Top of the first... once around the order. KC bullpen is warming up.

As far as I can tell, that is Orlando's first ML homer EVER against a left handed pitcher.

What a monster shot by O-Dog. I could make a strong case he's the teams MVP this season. He's tied for the team lead in RBI's hitting from the bottom of the order. And he's provided gold glove type defence. I believe he has the best range at 2B in the AL.

Anyone find it ironic that the Royals lineup was brought to you by 'Wipe-Out'?

BTW in the story about Mondesi, the Pirates were going to release Mondesi's wages however Mondesi says he prefers to not play.

He got all his money a week or two ago. It's odd timing on his part.

I thought Hudson had a couple pretty good swings right handed against the White Sox where he drove the ball to (moderately) deep center.

Perhaps his RH swing is coming around.

I was one of the few that said it was too soon to give up on him RH!

What a monster shot by O-Dog. I could make a strong case he's the teams MVP this season. He's tied for the team lead in RBI's hitting from the bottom of the order. And he's provided gold glove type defence. I believe he has the best range at 2B in the AL.

I'm with you. I loved Orlando this year, but I love him this year, y'know? Not only is he playing great (did you guys catch the stat about his performance with two outs and runners in scoring position? 7 RBIs before he hit that three-run two-out homer) both offensively and defensively, but he has this huge, wonderful personality.

O-Dog is easily my favourite Jay so far this year.

Royals are getting the bounces and D the jays were getting a few weeks ago.... hopefully the bad luck spreads to the sox and yanks next!

Go Jays! They have a shot of evening out their (pyth) record tonight!

Jeff, thanks very much for posting that response. If I might make a suggestion, it would be good if you could write the editor and thank him for his response, his forthrightness and his apology. Speaking as someone in that line of work, it takes (a) time, (b) class and (c) guts to issue a personal apology to an angry correspondent (one who isn't even a paying customer) regarding someone else's transgression. No editor really has the first commodity, and not enough have the second and third. Full marks to Mr. Hector. Hopefully, that's the last we'll have to hear about or from Mr. Cowley.

I recall saying something last week about how the rest of the American League should be very apprehensive about the Blue Jays getting untracked. Here you go.

Who were the FAN guys talking about having (unsuccessfully) taken over for Shawn Green for a short spell. I think they said he's playing for the Yankess now? Ergo, I am confused. Did Ruben Sierra have a short stint as a Jay?

Did Hentgen ever find out who it was who said he had minor league stuff?

Does anyone know? With a six-run lead I forsee the possibility of a plunking. Or maybe a series of embarrassing strikeouts.

Sierra played 14 games for the Jays in '97

.208/.250/.354 in 48 AB, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 3/13 BB/K

Did Ruben Sierra have a short stint as a Jay?

Yes, in 1997. I happened to be at Sierra's first game as a Jay.

By the looks of things, I didn't miss much by not realizing he had a stint in T-O ;-)

Or maybe a series of embarrassing strikeouts.

Well, there's one. Benito has looked horrible at the plate.

If O-Dog could hit as good from the right as he does from the left...

Anyway, let's not think that way. Nice job O-Dog.

Hot-Dog

The O-Dog rocks.

OOHHHHHHH!

Your new Jays RBI leader... O"freakin"Dog

O DAWG

Holy Jeepers.

You can tell I'm listening on the internet by my delayed reactions.

hmm, I'm feeling much better about Russ Adams' suckage...maybe we can flip 'im for some pitching :)

Did Faulds just plug my hometown? (Kelowna)

Anyway, sweet job by Hudson. He's been my favorite Jay this year, even before this game.

3 innings, 6 earned runs, 3 walks, 0 K's

BH Kim gets my BBFL squad to a craptacular start.

If O-Dog could hit as good from the right as he does from the left

At this rate it'll be if O-Dog can hit as good from the left as he does from the right.......

The royals have a AAA staff.

Wasn't Mondesi going to retire this year?

Actually Kim's line is 5 hits, 3 BB and 4 earned. I'm kind of hoping that Arroyo is going to get the job.

Actually, two of B-Y Kim's runs are unearned - two scored on a single passed ball!

(fellow Kim sufferer here - and I moved up into 2nd place tonight, too!)

3 innings, 34 pitches. Looks like Hentgen is cruising (seeing only the game tracker at CBS.

I thought that was pretty cool too, Ryan. I'm from Kelowna myself.

I am on the phone with Bob Elliot getting interviewed.

My nephew Ryan lives in Kelowna now and is the local dot.com guru. Unlike like his ludite uncle who lives by the sea.

Ok, I'm a moron. The Jays are on ESPN2.

George Brett just said the 85 Jays were better than the 85 Royals.

The '85 Jays were better than the '85 Royals, substantially so, in all but one respect: George Brett. Well, in managers, too.

I am on the phone with Bob Elliot getting interviewed

Hey Bob, there's a game going on! :)

Very cool. Nice job Jeff.

The Sun writers might get locked out or go out strike Midnight Wednesday.

The interview will be in Wednesday Sun and if not for some reason Bob said on his weekends notes.

Of course I plugged Batters Box and Mike Wilner.

He is at home in Mississauga watching the game while he was interviewing me.

He is a real nice guy , very laid back .

We were chatting about if Alomar will make the Hall of Fame , he said Alomar has very good numbers already compared to other 2nd basemen in the Hall of Fame.

5K's through 5 Innings for Hentgen. I think someone's a little choked at the Royals! Wathching him, his velocity might be a little better tonight. Sportsnet is showing him regularly at 87-88 but it also is showing Anderson at 89-90 which I think is 2-3 miles too high. But his velocity does look a little better (maybe 85-86 rather than the 83-84 he has been throwing) and his curve definitely has more bite to it than in his last few starts.

Six complete for Pat. If he pitches the seventh without getting touched up he could leave the game with an era around 5 or less. Great game for him so far. Perhaps rising to the challange of the great games thrown by Miller and recently Batista?

And a very economical 74 pitches thrown too I might add.

What a night ! Jays kicking butt , I get on the radio with Wilner and get interviewed by Bob Elliot.

8-0 , Have to love it !!!!!!

I hope the Sun writers do not go out on Strike or get locked out after Wednesday midnight.

Go Jays !!!!!

He is at home in Mississauga watching the game while he was interviewing me.

He is a real nice guy , very laid back .


Elliott may be a nice guy, but he did not impress me at all when I heard him on the FAN a few weeks ago during the evening commute.

- he complained about the "no name" Blue Jays outfield, while failing to mention Rios and Gross at AAA
- he blasted the bargain basement bullpen and the lack of a "proven closer"; he failed to mention it was a massive upgrade over what we had in 2002
- when asked about pitching help that might be on the way, he said that David Bush was a good bet to be the next closer

Stormin Norm was interviewing him (not Wilner for some odd reason) and he took everything he said at face value.

Bad, bad, bad...

Yup, unless theres a stike or lockout you'll get slightly more than your 15 minutes worth. So Jeff, your above replacement level. Way to go.

Figures I'd sit Hentgen in The Leftovers tonight.

Of course, if I'd started him, he would have gotten blown out in the first.

Ah, Pattie's tiring rapidly now. It is time to really see if the bullpen is back now. Back when its time to pick up their team mates great game without any serious damage.

Whatever the result of the pen in this situation a great great game for Hentgen. And a good sign for the Jays.

I have to agree completely with Tosca on pulling Hentgen. He was starting to leave a lot more pitches up in the zone. Although he had only thrown 90 pitches he gets to leave having given up only one run. They have Halladay going tomorrow so there's no need to save anyone in the pen. The pen's pretty well rested anyway with Miller's long outing yesterday.

1. Rogers Sportsnet brought back the radar gun display. Yesssssss.

2. Nakamura amazes me. I have no idea how he strikes guys out without breaking 80 MPH. He's the new Doug Jones.

Movement.

Movement is a pitcher's best friend.

Toally agree with you on that one, Robert.

There should be a pitching equivalent to the saying "Drive for show, putt for dough". Unfortunately, "Velocity for show, movement for dough" isn't particularly catchy. But the same principle applies, which is why I shake my head whenever I see people practice nothing but they're oversized driver at the range. :)

Umm.. their oversized driver.

Is grammar for show or for dough?

http://me.woot.net
I'm among those who are absolutely in love with O-Dog this year. Aside from his hitting exploits today, his ability with the glove is mind-boggling. But the best thing, the absolute best thing about Orlando Hudson is his giant grin. He makes ridiculous plays look easy and does it with a million-watt smile. I can't get enough!

No dispagaging the Dog but give me Cash. I love seeing the disaapointment of speed merchants sneaking into second or getting caught off first base with the snap throw down the line.

Defense for dough, offense for show.

Make that, disparaging and disapointment.

Wasn't Ozzie Guillen's nickname One-Dog? Maybe it wasn't, maybe it was just another Hawkism.

There should be a pitching equivalent to the saying "Drive for show, putt for dough". Unfortunately, "Velocity for show, movement for dough" isn't particularly catchy. But the same principle applies, which is why I shake my head whenever I see people practice nothing but they're oversized driver at the range. :)


"Guns for show, knives for a pro."

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels -- a classic for the ages.

Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels -- a classic for the ages.

And the only good thing Guy Ritchie has done.

Lance Johnson was One-Dog because he wore #1. I wonder if this makes Willie Harris the new One-Dog.

Lefty, I'm with you on that, too. It's a Cheer Club mandate to encourage opposing baserunners to steal.

Six in a row!

I was wondering why a passed ball scoring 2 would count as two earned runs for Kim. I should have trusted my baseball knowledge rather than CBS Sportsline's gametracker.

And the only good thing Guy Ritchie has done

....must...avoid...obvious...Madonna...joke...

Actually Johnson gained the nickname by playing in Alabama, it had nothing to do with jersey,... my brother met him at an autograph session where he signed a card 1006, my brother said, "excuse me what is the 1006," thinking it was of some signifcance, and he had to settle his curiousity. Johnson replied, "man, thats not 1006, thats my name, I am number one dog (not 1006 but 1dog)."

I hope the Sun writers do not go out on Strike or get locked out after Wednesday midnight.

I agree, in general. I wouldn't mind if The Sun changed the locks on the building and simply "forgot" to give Steve Simmons a new key, however.

On Elliott, Jack's thoughts echo mine. I've been less-than-impressed by the E-Mail exchanges Elliott and I have had. In one exchange where he was talking about the scouts Ricciardi fired, he included Epy Guerrero's name. For those who may not recall, Guerrero quit shortly after Gord Ash took over as GM. Elliott was aware of this, of course, but seemed to want to cast Ricciardi in the worst possible light.

Who is this boob on the air with Mike Wilner? Unbelievable, he just phoned and listed his picks for the season, and asked Wilner to comment...and after such a promising call about Phelps and where his power is...wow, a followup saying that Hentgen pitching well is good.

Reed Johnson is a 5 tool player! 4 life

Speaking of callers, does "Alan from Toronto" do anything besides listen to The Fan all day long? Every time I tune in, he seems to be on the air asking one of the hosts a question about something or other.

Great game tonight. The runs scored were just the icing on the cake. Hentgen pitched admirably, especially considering the arrogance of some youngster (he's probably young, did anyone figure out who said it?) questioning a former Cy Young winner (with a WS ring) competing in the Show.

Unfortunately, I was forced to listen to the SNET broadcast. Has anyone noticed that the sound quality (especially the crowd) is always superior on the regional channels (151-3)? Is this intended?

Big Joe seemed to visit the booth for an unusual amount of time. While yes, it was more or less a blow out, Faulds is usually way too quick on the draw booting his guests (J.P., Cito, Michael Lewis, etc). Anyway, those three were funny as hell, probably more than intended. What a joke. As if Faulds and Cerutti were not brutal enough already, Joe Carter and his impressive verbal skills were sandwiched between Toronto's favourite orators.

BTW, nice job Jeff. But, Wilner sure clowned you at the end of your call.

does "Alan from Toronto" do anything besides listen to The Fan all day long?
I'd put money on him being a cabbie...Before today I hadn't listened to a FAN call-in show for months (being out of town) and the first person I hear on the air today, "Alan from Toronto" -- Only if he had slightly more depth to his sports knowledge.

I hope the Sun writers do not go out on Strike or get locked out after Wednesday midnight.

Jeff, for your sake it'd be nice if they waited a few hours, otherwise, STRIKE, STRIKE, STRIKE...Apparently they get paid an avg of 60K/yr. Now as much as I believe everyone deserves a living wage, that's far beyond the necessities of life and way more than any of their columnists are worth.

He is at home in Mississauga watching the game while he was interviewing me.

I hope the Sun writers do not go out on Strike or get locked out after Wednesday midnight.

I stopped reading the Sun in high school having been in Bill Lankhof's sons gym class growing up in Mississauga...I didn't know who was more annoying, the senior's lame tirades in the Last Word or the son's childish behaviour in the high school - I think half the class went blind constantly rolling their eyes back into their heads. And this was in phys. ed., not exactly the most high brow subject, especially by Clarkson S.S. standards!

I think JP may be regretting leaving O-Dog off the "long-term contract" gravy train with Hinske and Wells after this season.

Unfortunately, "Velocity for show, movement for dough" isn't particularly catchy

Speed for show, break for dough. Cheers!

Joe Carter and his impressive verbal skills were sandwiched between Toronto's favourite orators.

I'm not sure what's stranger... the fact that this was the first time all year I've been able to watch all nine innings on TV, the fact that the first time I did it I got landed with a three-man booth with Cerutti, Faulds, and Carter, or the fact that I *enjoyed* it.

Joe said a couple of things I think are dumb, but for the most part it was an enjoyable broadcast, numerous Faulds errors notwithstanding. Carter's crack about McLelland - "but he can't run" - was funny.

As for the O-Dog - ever since he got to Toronto, he's been my favourite Jay. Love the personality, love the defense.

Faulds had another special call last night....

"ground ball to the shortstop, er caught by the shortstop"