Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Jays Roundup

Jays Roundup - The Impression That You Sell

Passes in and out like a scent
But the long face that you see comes from living close
To your fears

After this weekend's SWEEP, Toronto now has a better record than the Mariners. What teams can they catch this week?

Because of Mother's Day related festivities, I only saw the last two innings of yesterday's game. Fortunately I can read more about it in such articles as Spencer Fordin's "Miller, Jays complete sweep", Scott Merkin's "Oh-for, Canada: Sox swept", Jeff Blair's "Confident Miller grinds out first win", Richard Griffin's "Miller tattoos White Sox: Decorated Jays starter gets first win in 18 months", and a second article by Richard Griffin titled "Bottom feeders helping the Jays to thrive".
Fordin Notes: Woody should be ready to play today, Greg Zaun's excellent performance as a Jay, and some fine charity work performed by the Lady Jays.
Today's game features a couple of pitchers who are desperate for a second win. The 8:10pm start at Kansas City pits the 1-2 Pat Hengten for the 12-18 Jays against the 1-3 lefty Brian Anderson for the 9-20 Royals. Expect to see comments such as "why is Dave Berg starting in left" a lot this series, as lefties will be starting each again for Kansas City. Spencer Fordin has a preview of tonight's game.
We've had a lot of conversations on the Box of the importance of velocity to a pitcher. Former Dodgers pitching great Don Newcombe gives his views in Larry Millson's "Radar gun has its limits, former pitching stars say".
At least a couple Bauxites were at the opener for the Intercounty League's Toronto Maple Leafs. Neco Cockburn of the Star gives us the scoop in "Baseball Leafs open on winning note: Walkoff homer beats the Royals Spoljaric fans nine in five innings". I highly recommend attending an IL game if you live in an IL city. There are teams in Oshawa, Toronto, Brantford, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Stratford, Guelph, and Barrie. It's quality baseball, and one of the cheapest forms of entertainment that you'll find.

Stat Du Jour

Major League Equivalent EQAs for OF/DH players in the Jays system

Name	Team	PA	EQA	MjEQA
Her'sen	Syr'cse	19	.363	.324
Cat	Toronto	111	.283	.283
Wells	Toronto	143	.253	.253
Phelps	Toronto	133	.248	.248
Johnson	Toronto	108	.244	.244
Pond	Syr'cse	101	.277	.240
Vito	Dunedin	126	.320	.233
G'loway	C'lston	99	.328	.226
Tingler	Dunedin	140	.320	.224
Rios	Syr'cse	132	.254	.223
Guiel	Syr'cse	67	.255	.221
Medina	Dunedin	24	.291	.219
Negron	Dunedin	110	.290	.212
Godwin	NewHam	118	.256	.207
Reiman	C'lston	70	.312	.206
Gross	Syr'cse	109	.233	.204
Griffin	NewHam	94	.254	.201
Clark	Toronto	46	.201	.201
Smith	C'lston	103	.285	.194
Snavely	C'lston	86	.305	.193
D'nport	Dunedin	124	.245	.189
Waugh	NewHam	12	.232	.188
Davis	C'lston	51	.276	.188
Patrick	C'lston	61	.271	.185
Clapp	NewHam	21	.224	.180
Hall	Syr'cse	98	.194	.167
Waugh	Dunedin	86	.213	.160
Sin'ton	NewHam	87	.195	.155
Jova	NewHam	93	.150	.126
Berg	Toronto	25	.000	.000

Data available at Baseball Prospectus Statistical Reports.

What's your take?

Posted by Pepper Moffatt on Monday, May 10 2004 @ 08:37 AM EDT.

Jays Roundup - The Impression That You Sell | 77 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

_alsiem - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 08:49 AM EDT (#66756) #

Nice change seeing the Jays put it together. Aren't we lucky that Miller made it through waivers when the Jays made the snap decision to acquire Douglass. J.P. would be looking pretty foolish now if he was 3-0 for the Yankees. I'm sure the Yankees never bother to check the waiver wire though. I'm hoping for continuing success against KC.

_Keith Talent - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 08:53 AM EDT (#66757) #

Why is Dave Berg starting in left?

Was right on the left field line at SkyDome yesterday, front row, and just two balls hit there the entire afternoon! It looks to be more colourful this weekend in left with ManRam to loaf there.

Hope Berg can stay awake with his 'chronic fatigue syndrome' and all.

'Twas a good sweep.

_MatO - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 08:56 AM EDT (#66758) #

Actually, Griffin's article has the "Bottom Feeder" headline. The headline writer hard at work again. I'm not sure the term 'bottom feeders' for the bottom of the order is a very good term to use(not Griffin's fault). However' I'm surprised Griffin didn't write an article about how small ball may have cost the ChiSox a game or two in the series :-).

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 08:58 AM EDT (#66759) #

Weird.. that byline wasn't there a half hour ago on the site. I'll change that in a minute.

RE: Berg in left. He's there because he destroyed lefties last year and somebody in decision making authority thinks it's a new found ability that Berg has and not some kind of sample size fluke.

_tag - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 09:04 AM EDT (#66760) #

You're right, that roster move did take cajones. Miller looked real sharp yesterday and should win at least ten games this year. Of course, he may lose ten games getting there. It's good to see the Jays heading to K.C. on a winning note, but more lefties? Damn, it never ends, does it? Expect Beltran and Sweeney to step up, though. You can only hold pro hitters down for so long and Hentgen, determined as he is, won't fool K.C. twice.

_Tenobia - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 09:36 AM EDT (#66761) #

One thing leads to another win?.

I hope Pat's hip is OK and he can give us a good start.

Mike Green - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 09:39 AM EDT (#66762) #

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/groundballs-flyballs-and-line-drives/
COMN for studes' interesting study of three types of balls in play- ground balls, line drives and fly balls. We are well on the way to new statistics that will everyone separate out the roles of individual pitchers and their defence in run prevention.

Mike Green - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 09:41 AM EDT (#66763) #

Oops, unfortunate word deletion. It should be "new statistics that will help everyone separate out the roles of individual pitchers and their defence in run prevention".

_tag - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 09:56 AM EDT (#66764) #

I just read J Cowley's disparaging comments about this city. Is he out of his damn skull? Chicago is more slum than suburb and is widely regarded as one of the dullest cities within their blood soaked borders. Please. The team is a talented group of pretenders and once "O-E-O" Maag-Leo leaves (probably to the A.L. West) they're done. Is it "Be Gone" or "He gone"? Either way, eventually, They gone...to the bottom of the Central.

Pistol - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:04 AM EDT (#66765) #

No BBFL update thread yet, but here are the updated Barfields, with a new 1st place team this week:


Rank	Team	                W- L- T	WPct	GB
�1	team junior felix	40-16-4	0.700	-
�2	Ghost Man On Third	39-19-2	0.667	2.0
�3	Canadian wannabe	39-20-1	0.658	2.5
�4	Edmonton Decepticons	36-23-1	0.608	5.5
�5	Slippery Pete	        35-24-1	0.592	6.5
�6	Pistol Nine	        34-23-3	0.592	6.5
�7	Middleclass Elitists	31-25-4	0.550	9.0
�8	Good Sports	        32-27-1	0.542	9.5
�9	Freddy Beach Fracas	31-27-2	0.533	10.0
�10	Capers	                31-29-0	0.517	11.0
�11	HOMER JAYS Simpsons	27-31-2	0.467	14.0
�12	Schroedingers Bat	25-29-6	0.467	14.0
�13	TMG Eh's	        23-29-8	0.450	15.0
�14	The Sweaty Guys	        25-34-1	0.425	16.5
�15	W-A-M-C-O	        25-35-0	0.417	17.0
�16	MonkeymenCubed	        22-35-3	0.392	18.5
�17	Vancouver Cyphers	22-36-2	0.383	19.0
�18	Ben's Men	        21-37-2	0.367	20.0
�19	Anarchist Archivists	19-37-4	0.350	21.0
�20	1-Tool Wonders	        18-39-3	0.325	22.5

_Christopher - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:12 AM EDT (#66766) #

Aren't we lucky that Miller made it through waivers when the Jays made the snap decision to acquire Douglass.

Quick waiver question. If another team had been interested in Miller, could the Jays have pulled him back? And if that had been the case, would they have?
However it went down, I'm glad we still have him.

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:17 AM EDT (#66767) #

Good call, Tenobia. The song is One Things Leads to Another by The Fixx.

The title (though not the lyrics) seemed appropriate for a winning streak.

Craig B - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:32 AM EDT (#66768) #

Not! Last! Place! Whoo-hoo!

We'll be returning to last place next week, we have a tough matchup against the Middleclass Elitists...

_Jordan - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:33 AM EDT (#66769) #

Gotta hand it to the Jays -- their timing is impeccable. The Maple Leafs were knocked out of the playoffs on May 4; since then, including that night, the Blue Jays are 5-0, all at home.

Pistol - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:47 AM EDT (#66770) #

Quick waiver question. If another team had been interested in Miller, could the Jays have pulled him back?

Nope.

_Jacko - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:47 AM EDT (#66771) #

Ruben Mateo

Is this the righthanded hitting outfielder we're looking for?

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:50 AM EDT (#66772) #

Mateo's 2001-2003 vs LHP: 273/327/367 (139AB)
Berg's 2001-2003 vs LHP: 264/310/384 (242AB)

You don't seem to be gaining much by having Mateo over Berg.

_Ryan Day - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#66773) #

Mateo's at least a good outfielder, and probably has more upside than Berg.

Of course, he'd also probably injure himself getting out of bed, so it might be a moot point.

Mike Green - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#66774) #

I'm quite sure that Mateo would hit for more sock than Berg. The platoon splits are over a small sample. Mateo has a consistent record of good minor league performance, and he's 25. Plus he's a much better defensive outfielder.

My understanding of Berg's role: he is on the team to back up Orlando Hudson, and to start occasionally against tough lefties. It may very well be that with Howie Clark and Chris Gomez on the roster, Berg is superfluous.

_alsiem - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 11:25 AM EDT (#66775) #

It may very well be that with Howie Clark and Chris Gomez on the roster, Berg is superfluous.

I'll pare down to the core of your statement, Berg is superfluous. The only reason he's own the team is his guaranteed contract.

_Jacko - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 11:54 AM EDT (#66776) #

I'll pare down to the core of your statement, Berg is superfluous. The only reason he's own the team is his guaranteed contract.

It's only 700K.

IMO, it's not a very good reason to keep him around. I bet that some other team might actually be able to use him (if they DFA'ed him, they just might find a taker).

Mike Green - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 11:59 AM EDT (#66777) #

In six weeks, Rios may be up and Clark may be down. If that is the case, Berg may have a role. Roster composition decisions and service time rules sit together uneasily.

_alsiem - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:05 PM EDT (#66778) #

It's only 700K.

I know it's crazy but why else is he up. I think that when you have such a small pay roll, even 1/50 th of it in the minors makes you look bad.

That's just my opinion. I don't think that Berg is terrible but there are others that can help more. Now what do you do with Zaun? I was reading that he needs 67 more games to get the full MLB pension. Business dictates that he stay in Syracuse but if the Jays can't use him some other team could. I don't want to upset anyone here but Zaun hits as well as Crash (small sample yes) and has an arm. It seems like we've seen the Jays nail more runners this year than in the previous 5.

_Jacko - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:12 PM EDT (#66779) #

Now what do you do with Zaun? I was reading that he needs 67 more games to get the full MLB pension. Business dictates that he stay in Syracuse but if the Jays can't use him some other team could. I don't want to upset anyone here but Zaun hits as well as Crash (small sample yes) and has an arm. It seems like we've seen the Jays nail more runners this year than in the previous 5.

You trade one of them.

By the time Myers comes back, you can bet your bottom dollar that some team will require a catcher with "major league veneer". Not sure which one to deal (maybe the one that gets back more in return).

They're both fine players, but there's only room for one. And Zaun deserves to get some PT in the majors rather than rotting in Syracuse.

BTW, when I was at the game last Tuesday, I sat by the bullpen. During the 7th inning stretch, Zaun has us in hysterics with his halfhearted attempt to do the moves from "Ok Blue Jays"...

Mike Green - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:13 PM EDT (#66780) #

The most interesting story for me so far is the Anaheim Angels. Despite injuries to Salmon, Anderson, Brendan Donnelly and Erstad, they're winning. With Kotchman up, assuming he can stay healthy (!), the Angels may be even better. In fact, if Kotchman hits like he can and Erstad recovers, the Angels are going to have a similar problem to the Blue Jays with guaranteed contracts but on a much, much larger scale. I'm a big Scioscia fan, and I quite like Bill Stoneman, and I'm sure they'll figure it out.

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:35 PM EDT (#66781) #

In six weeks, Rios may be up and Clark may be down.

Wilner mentioned this the other day, and I think it's way premature. Rios isn't hitting at all in Syracuse. A 264/303/416 line translates into a .253 EQA (.223 MjEQA). If he hasn't learned to hit AAA pitching yet, how is he going to fare in the show?

I'm sure Rios will put together good/great numbers in AAA by the end of the season, but there's absolutely no need to rush him.

_Cristian - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:44 PM EDT (#66782) #

Of course Rios can't be rushed but the Jays are in a bind. If Rios is to be an effective part of the 2005 club, then he'll need to see some major league action this year. At least if he's on the big club this year, Mike Barnett can work closely with him.

_Steve Z - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:45 PM EDT (#66783) #

Re: Joe Cowley

He's the same BBWAA voter who left Delgado (and Vernon Wells) off his MVP ballot, while including both Esteban Loaiza and Frank Thomas, as well as A-Rod (at #2).

He's the same BBWAA who, according to Mike Wilner, "remained seated during the Canadian anthem" before yesterday's game.

He's the same writer who, according to Wilner, will not be allowed back at the Dome, if the Jays' formal request to MLB is granted.

(Is it the same Joe Cowley who threw an ugly no-hitter for the Sox in 1986? That, I'm not sure about)

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:49 PM EDT (#66784) #

If Rios is to be an effective part of the 2005 club, then he'll need to see some major league action this year.

Why not call him up in September when rosters expand?

I don't know if it's all that necessary. Of course, this is just anecdotal, but Eric Hinske did fine in 2002 without any MLB experience.

I don't really see the Jays being in a bind at all. If we bring up Rios now he's likely to hit around .220. We can find tons of guys who will do that (or better). I think playing every day in Syracuse will help him more in 2005 then letting him rot on the bench in Toronto. Right now there's no way Rios starts against a righty, so once the Jays start playing AL East opponents, there won't be many opportunities for him to play.

_Cristian - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:49 PM EDT (#66785) #

Can we get a link to the Joe Cowley column in question?

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#66786) #

His comments were printed in this Bob Elliott piece.

_Steve Z - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 01:00 PM EDT (#66787) #

Can I anyone remember the last switch-hitting catcher to suit up for the Jays? (I can't!)

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 01:10 PM EDT (#66788) #

Nice question Steve Z. I couldn't either.

And there's a reason I couldn't. I looked it up, and the last one I could find was Alan Ashby. And the Jays traded him away in 1978!

_Steve Z - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 01:25 PM EDT (#66789) #

A few other links (in order of relevance?):

- The Jays have a new ticketing deal.
- Jack Etkin, Rocky Mountain News, has: Staff Reduction
- and, special to the News, Roy Halladay provides his Guest View on the four-man rotation.

Mike Green - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 01:39 PM EDT (#66790) #

Mike M, I can't agree that if the Jays call up Rios in June, he's likely to hit .220 for the rest of the season. His minor league record in 2002-2003 is not consistent with that, and I can tell you from listening to a fair number of the games this year that he is hitting the ball hard, and has had a run of bad luck. It is a small sample.

That said, if Rios is hitting .275 with little power in mid-June, he'll be left in Syracuse. But, if it's .310 with medium range power (let's say he's slugging .480-.500), he'll be here. And once he's here, regardless of when that is, he will play pretty much every day, I am quite sure.

Pistol - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 01:44 PM EDT (#66791) #

By the time Myers comes back, you can bet your bottom dollar that some team will require a catcher with "major league veneer".

He had a career year last year on a 1 year contract and no one wanted him. I'm not sure why this year would be different, short of an injury.

I was reading that he needs 67 more games to get the full MLB pension

I believe it was 1 year and 67 games and he was hoping to get the 67 games out of the way this year and hoped to get the other year over the next several seasons. Zaun seemed resigned to the fact that he'll probably continue to bounce back and forth from AAA to the majors with various teams. Zaun's service time isn't a consideration for the Jays.

_Andrew Edwards - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:07 PM EDT (#66792) #

Another one: Slate has at backup catchers. Featuring Greg Zaun.

_Christopher - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:22 PM EDT (#66793) #

Another one: Slate has at backup catchers. Featuring Greg Zaun.

That's fabulous.

Thomas - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:31 PM EDT (#66794) #

St. Louis needs a backup catcher and you'd think they could use one of the two. Cody McKay isn't a big leaguer, unfortunately. He looks lost at the plate

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:31 PM EDT (#66795) #

That's the best article I've read in a long, long time. The idea is what inspired me at age 27 to start wearing catcher's gear again. :)

_Mike Wilner - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:37 PM EDT (#66796) #

"He's the same writer who, according to Wilner, will not be allowed back at the Dome, if the Jays' formal request to MLB is granted."

Sorry, I don't know how to italicize.

Anyway, I never said that there was any sort of formal request to MLB, but I do understand that Cowley is no longer welcome at SkyDome.

And just for the record, it's not the same guy who threw that ugly, ugly no-hitter back in '86.

Keep up the good work! And make sure you listen to the pre-pre-game show tonight (7:05 Eastern), I'm going to replay some of the Pat Hentgen interview from last night's Blue Jays This Week in which he reacted to that Royal who last week said Hentgen had minor-league stuff.

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:40 PM EDT (#66797) #

But, if it's .310 with medium range power (let's say he's slugging .480-.500), he'll be here.

Well, to do that he'll have to hit around .350 and slug around .580 for the next six weeks to get upto that level. If he does, then yeah, call him up. I can't see it happening, though.

_tag - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:49 PM EDT (#66798) #

Thanks for the Slate link, it was an interesting article. A bit over done, though. Maybe we will, ultimately, be dissapointed with Zaun's production. But, so far, he's done an admirable job. However, it would be difficult to be dissapointed, considering that expectations are not really all that high. Most of Zaun's contributions qualify as gravy, anyway.

Also, Cash was considered to be in a favourable learning environment last season (Wilson/Myers). That environment has, at the very least, improved with Zaun's presence (if not stayed the same). Cash is not only playing regularly, but contributing to the point of being counted on (on O & D) and a backup's success (while nice to have) is not desperately required at this point.

Zaun has undoubtedly exceeded expectations, considering that there really weren't any to begin with.

_Jeff Geauvreau - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 02:57 PM EDT (#66799) #

Thanks for dropping by Mike and setting us straight about this Cowley character.

Anybody know what Paper he writes for ? I would love to send a letter to the editor about this jerk and so called writer.

Jeez guys like this make my blood boil.

_Rich - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#66800) #

I had the good fortune to be in Clearwater for the game the effectively ended Joe Cowley's "career". The Jays were playing the Phillies and Smokin 'Joe did his best Rick Vaughan / Rick Ankiel imitation. I don't think he made too many more appearances after that.

_Christopher - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:02 PM EDT (#66801) #

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/index/dspro.html
Anybody know what Paper he writes for?

COMN to link to the Sports section of the Daily Southtown

_Jordan - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:05 PM EDT (#66802) #

The thing to remember about Rios is this: he will be called up when, and only when, it serves the Blue Jays' interests -- calculated in both the short term and the long term. They won't bring him up to play twice a week, they won't bring him up if he's not in control of his strike zone, and they won't start his service clock too early. We'll see him in Toronto when he's ready to help the big club win games and when he's here to stay. For my money, that won't happen until his OBP is at least .350 and his SLG is nosing around .500.

Thanks for stopping by, Mike! It's great to hear from you. Count me as one Canadian who'll be quite happy if Mr. Cowley can only get back into Skydome by buying a ticket. And yes, that was perhaps the ugliest no-hitter I've ever seen. The Pat Hentgten clip sounds great!

Craig B - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:06 PM EDT (#66803) #

Thanks for the Slate link, it was an interesting article. A bit over done, though.

A *lot* overdone in my opinion. If this guy gets anthologized in "Best American Sportswriting" then Jordan's work belongs in Pulitzer Prize territory. When someone starts talking about the "welfare babies of sports" in his opening lead, and isn't writing an article about taxpayer-funded stadia, it's not a good sign.

The sad thing is that there's an interesting article on backup catchers, trapped inside Rodrick's piece, screaming to get out.

Rodrick does get one point from me, though, for referring to Krueter as Chan Ho Park's "manservant". Unfortunately, he also loses one for having gone back to the well; it's the second allusion to master-servant relationships in the paragraph.

_Steve Z - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:08 PM EDT (#66804) #

Mike, thanks for the correction. I'll be a little more careful listening to you next time :)

Can you give us the heads-up on any of your upcoming interviews for BP radio?

_Steve Z - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#66805) #

Let me get this straight... There are two different Joe Cowleys? One who threw the ugly no-hitter for the ChiSox in '86, and another who's a "beat" writer for the same club??!

_Jordan - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:31 PM EDT (#66806) #

If this guy gets anthologized in "Best American Sportswriting" then Jordan's work belongs in Pulitzer Prize territory.

Sounds good to me. Time to clear some more shelf space in the trophy case....

_Jeff Geauvreau - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#66807) #

I left a voice mail message for Mr. Michael Waters Editor of the Daily Southtown to call me regarding Mr. Cowley conduct.

Editor Michael J. Waters (708) 633-6751

Craig B - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:32 PM EDT (#66808) #

Time to clear some more shelf space in the trophy case....

Jordan's also leading the "Win A Date With Eudora Welty" sweepstakes.

Craig B - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:36 PM EDT (#66809) #

I can't believe I'm in ninth place all-time on Primer for total comments. That's disgusting. What a monument to two years of ******* the ***.

_Jordan - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#66810) #

Coming, Eudora!

Named For Hank - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#66811) #

I left a voice mail message for Mr. Michael Waters Editor of the Daily Southtown to call me regarding Mr. Cowley conduct.

It's fine by me if he wants to slag Toronto, particularly if he's a Sox-loving home writer (because it's part of a homer's job to hate the opponent and by extension their city). But to not stand for the anthem? That's disgusting.

_Andrew Edwards - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#66812) #

I can't believe I'm in ninth place all-time on Primer for total comments.

What a cool feature.

For the record, I have 747 comments at Primer, so you'r enot the only one who's wasted a lot of time.

_Andrew Edwards - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#66813) #

747, btw, puts me 91st all-time.

_Paul D - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:48 PM EDT (#66814) #

What a monument to two years of ******* the ***.

You had to censure the word dog?
:)

Under my current alias I have 30 posts at primer. That puts me well down the list.

_Jordan - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:53 PM EDT (#66815) #

I have 135 comments at Primer as "Gideon," but at least twice that as "Gideon Clarke," which isn't worth hunting for. Probably a couple of dozen as the Beeah Guy, too.

_Moffatt - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 03:54 PM EDT (#66816) #

I'm probably around the 100 post mark at Primer.

I really don't want to know how many posts I have on this board. I imagine I have 3 spots in the top 10 because I keep changing my name. :)

Gerry - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:11 PM EDT (#66817) #

And make sure you listen to the pre-pre-game show tonight (7:05 Eastern), I'm going to replay some of the Pat Hentgen interview from last night's Blue Jays This Week in which he reacted to that Royal who last week said Hentgen had minor-league stuff.

Mike:

I heard the interview last night. Pat sounded a little peeved that he did not know which guy had made the comments. I don't suppose you have found out any more today?

If we see a hit batter early in the game, Pat might have found out for himself.

Craig B - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:13 PM EDT (#66818) #

Paul, you're The Other Canadian, right?

_Paul D - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:23 PM EDT (#66819) #

Paul, you're The Other Canadian, right?

Yeah, I have been for a while. Before that I was just Paul D, now i'm Paul D (AKA the Other Canadian)

_The Morphing Ry - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:25 PM EDT (#66820) #

Under my "Ryan" name on Primer I have 267 comments, but that total has to be inflated by some drive-by posters who used that name. There's no way I made that many posts.

I haven't decided yet if I'll continue to use "Ryan" or go with my boastful "The Original Ryan" over there.

robertdudek - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:35 PM EDT (#66821) #

I don't often resort to ad hominem attacks, but it seems appropriate in this case:

(The writer) Joe Cowley has smeg for brains.

_Gwyn - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:44 PM EDT (#66822) #

I really don't want to know how many posts I have on this board

I used to have a script that worked this out, I'll see if I can find it and run it again...

_Paul D - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:44 PM EDT (#66823) #

_Jacko - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#66824) #

I think that the best respone to Cowley would be to write a letter to his paper singing the praise of Chicago, and end it by saying that it's unfortunate he doesn't leave his hotel room to see all that's great about Toronto.

Unfortunately, sending any correspondence to Cowley's employer drawing their attention to his comments is more likely to get him a raise than get him fired.

Remember, controversy sells newspapers.

_Andrew K - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 06:21 PM EDT (#66825) #

Just my 0.02 UKP on some of today's issues. This Cowley character can write whatever he wants about Toronto - no need to pay any attention to it, and I doubt many of his readers will either. Calling Canada a third world country is a bit steep though!

If he was intentionally snubbing Canada by not standing for the anthem then the Dome would do well to refuse him entry as a journalist in future. Really, it's just childish and disrespectful... and if a Canadian journalist did the same in an American ballpark there would be hell to pay. I doubt that complaining to his editor would do much good because it's all good for sales, but if he can't report on some baseball games any more then that genuinely hurt his career.

Re Zaun and the article on backup catchers. I didn't like it at all - too much vitriol. Did the writer's wife go off with a backup catcher or something? Okay, bench players get paid for often not doing much, but that's the nature of a 25 man roster but we don't pay Zaun much and we don't expect much. Personally I feel sorry for the guy, who has to pray that he gets 1 year + 67 days in the majors before he retires, to get his pension. That must be a worrying situation. And I like the look of Zaun; he seems to be trying properly enough and his arm/bat really isn't that bad on the showing we've had (which is all we care about).

_Chris B. - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 06:26 PM EDT (#66826) #

There was a blurb in the N.Y. Post regarding Miguel Batista. It basically talked of Batista's struggles with base-on balls and how in a recent contentious meeting of the minds Batista told Toronto officials he doesn't really care for the game of baseball.

_NDG - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 06:39 PM EDT (#66827) #

No one yet has mentioned the Barry Bonds episode yesterday ... I know Barry in on another plane when it comes to baseball, but walking him with no one out in the tenth inning? How can this possibly be a good move? One single and one contact out scores him, I know we joke about how bad the Giants hitters are but this is going too far.

_Jeff Geauvreau - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 06:39 PM EDT (#66828) #

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.

_Jeff Geauvreau - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 06:48 PM EDT (#66829) #

CORRECTION: The Paper is the Daily Southtown.

Thomas - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:14 PM EDT (#66830) #

Idiotic comments by a reporter whose mockery of an all-star ballot has been surpassed by these idiotic comments. I'm happy with teh sports editor is dealing with complaints from Canada and not trying to brush them under the rug. However, it's a shame they won't go very far in disciplining him.

_Matthew E - Monday, May 10 2004 @ 10:18 PM EDT (#66831) #

Let me get this straight... There are two different Joe Cowleys? One who threw the ugly no-hitter for the ChiSox in '86, and another who's a "beat" writer for the same club??!

Like Jim Kelly and Jim Kelly in Buffalo.

Named For Hank - Tuesday, May 11 2004 @ 07:04 AM EDT (#66832) #

Cowley was dink of the day on the FAN 590 this morning.

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