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Jays Roundup - I Saw the News Last Night

All illustrated with cartoons
So when they come with that opinion poll
They better not use words like
Ideology
Or try to tell me 'bout the issues
Ideology
Whose side are you on?

I'm baaaaaack. Back to thinking about trash talking, malcontents, overpaid prima donnas, and games we already know the outcome to. But that's enough about politics, let's discuss baseball.

I have to admit, I didn't see yesterday's TSN broadcast of the game yesterday, as real life once again got in the way. Chris Zelkovich of the Star gives his views on the broadcast in "Blue Jays broadcasts: Simpler is definitely better".
Enough about the broadcast, what about the actual game? The good guys lost 7-2. If you want more details, you'll have to read Spencer Fordin's "Blue Jays brushed aside", Geoff Baker's "Bosox smack Batista around", and Larry Millson's "Toronto knuckles under".
Fordin Notes on Batista the Philosopher. Is Batista too smart for his own good? Lately it's looked like he's Kelvim Escobar with 40 more IQ points, a much bigger vocabulary, but a worse fastball.
Is Kevin Cash the reason why Miguel Batista is struggling? Richard Griffin offers that theory in "New backup plan needed? Batista struggling with Cash receiving".
Today's game: The 3-5 John Lackey for the 28-15 Angels is up against the 1-0 Justin Miller for the 17-27 Toronto Blue Jays. It's a 7:05 start at the Dome; Spencer Fordin has a game preview. Is anyone going to be there making a lot of noise?

Is anyone else having trouble paying attention to the Jays with a Canadian team in the Stanley Cup finals, the daily events in Israel and Iraq, and a Federal Election going on?

Posted by Pepper Moffatt on Monday, May 24 2004 @ 09:43 AM EDT.

Jays Roundup - I Saw the News Last Night | 13 comments | Create New Account

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

_A - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 10:14 AM EDT (#63130) #

If the Jays could get Jack to throw out the first pitch, Naomi Klein to submit a daily column from Iraq for the programme and dedicate a small portion of the Jumbotron to the Cup Finals, I would be able to concentrate more on baseball. (Yes, I realize what I just said).

Pistol - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 10:15 AM EDT (#63131) #

Lately it's looked like he's Kelvim Escobar with 40 more IQ points, a much bigger vocabulary, but a worse fastball.

I was thinking the same thing yesterday when he was walking the Sox around the bases.

Last night I was thumbing through BP 02 and their comment on him was something to the effect of 'how can someone with so much stuff be so inconsistent while someone that throws nothing but soft stuff low and away every pitch like Jamie Moyer be successful?'.

Is Kevin Cash the reason why Miguel Batista is struggling? Richard Griffin offers that theory in "New backup plan needed? Batista struggling with Cash receiving".

That also crossed my mind as, IIRC, it was an 'issue' in spring training. I'm not big on personal catchers, although my favorite pitcher refused to have Javy Lopez catch him.

Gerry - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 10:39 AM EDT (#63132) #

2003 Jays after 44 games: 22-22, 263 runs scored, 254 runs allowed

2004 Jays after 44 games: 17-27, 201 runs scored, 214 runs allowed

The pitching and defense has been better by 40 runs. The offense is worse by 62 runs. The Jays offense has gone from second best to bottom half. Pitching is in the top half.

Named For Hank - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 10:53 AM EDT (#63133) #

The Cheer Club will be representin' up in 518 today. Probably no drum, but that's all the more reason to come out -- we need your lungs.

_Moffatt - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 10:58 AM EDT (#63134) #

The pitching and defense has been better by 40 runs. The offense is worse by 62 runs. The Jays offense has gone from second best to bottom half. Pitching is in the top half.

Good point, particularly for those who think the bullpen is most of the problem. The problem is that Delgado isn't hitting, Phelps isn't hitting and Hinske isn't hitting. The following players are playing at replacement level (or worse):

Delgado
Hinske
Phelps
Cash
Clark
Berg
Pond
Myers
Hermansen

No wonder the Jays aren't scoring runs!

_Mick - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 11:16 AM EDT (#63135) #

Mike,
So what ya think? You like the Yankees or the Mets this year? And what about this latest war of words?
- "Shoeless?" Joe Jackson

_the shadow - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 11:19 AM EDT (#63136) #

Hey what do you know the Jays have 3 no hitters this year

_Mosely - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 11:32 AM EDT (#63137) #

Mick beat me to it. Joe Jackson. Nice presentation too.

My mom had a funny comment about the Jays on the weekend. She's a long time fan, with a limited knowledge of baseball - like most moms.

(sic) "What's wrong with the Jays this year? Are they even trying out there? And that Hinske, he's the worst. Is he on drugs or something?"

I'm sure she said the same thing to me growing up.

_Ryan Day - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 11:32 AM EDT (#63138) #

I wonder if a "personal catcher" is the answer for Batista... His main problem seems to be throwing strikes, so I'm not sure that Zaun or Myers would be able to do anything about that, unless the theory is that Cash doesn't figure out which pitches are working quickly enough.

For what little it's worth, Cash has 4.87 CERA, Zaun 5.03 and Myers 3.38. Going through Batista's game log, it looks like Cash has been behind the plate for most of Batista's good games; he's just been stuck with the really bad ones, too.

_doctor_payne13 - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 01:12 PM EDT (#63139) #

Good point, particularly for those who think the bullpen is most of the problem.

The bullpen has been just as much of a problem as the offence, the main reason for the decrease in runs allowed is the starting pitching. On the days the offence has shown up, the bullpen hasn't. If you look at all the games the Jays have lost when they had a lead or tie when a reliever came in, it's still fair to say that the pen has been most of the problem.

_Dr. Zarco - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 02:46 PM EDT (#63140) #

Is there any word on Hudson's hammy?

_Jordan - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 02:52 PM EDT (#63141) #

If you look at all the games the Jays have lost when they had a lead or tie when a reliever came in, it's still fair to say that the pen has been most of the problem.

Actually, they�re both to blame. Blue Jays relievers are 21st in the majors (-0.3) in Baseball Prospectus�s Adjusted Runs Prevented. Only three Jays relievers have ARPs above zero: Jason Frasor (9.3), Justin Speier (2.1) and Sean Douglass (2.1 in 4 IP). But Blue Jays starters are 22nd in Support-Neutral Value Added (-1.1); Roy Halladay "leads" the team with a 1.0 SNVA.

Hudson is apparently day-to-day with his hamstring; it's not supposed to be serious.

_Dr. Zarco - Monday, May 24 2004 @ 04:32 PM EDT (#63142) #

Thanks for the Hudson update Jordan. Those are some really interesting numbers you've linked. No surprise to see Washburn at the top of "Luckiest Starters," or Ponson at the top of "Flakiest Starters." It WAS surprising however, to find 2 Indians starters in the "Helped most by Bullpen" category as I thought they had the worst pen out there-but according to these stats they're 20th. Those poor Expo pitchers...

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