From 1998-1999, Jose Lima went 37-18 with a 3.65 ERA for the Astrodome-based Astros. Since then, he's gone 29-38 and hasn't had an ERA below four and a half (usually way, way above) till this year's limited action. He's living proof that the label "20-game winner" just doesn't have the, shall we say, cachet it once did. He's also 0-1 in one lifetime Skydome start with a 13.50 ERA. All of which to say, despite his 8 innings of shutout ball against Arizona late last month, this is a game that the Blue Jays and Miguel Batista should approach with confidence. Slugging Howie Clark again plays first base; Josh Phelps again sits. Today's question: should Phelps be playing his way out of his funk, or is he simply playing himself deeper into it? What's up with Josh Phelps?
Definitely not his slugging percentage!
It's a shame to see Josh sit but Clark did have a good night last night so maybe they want to see if he can repeat. I don't really like the idea of sitting Phelps in back to back games but, as much as I hate to say it, he hasn't done anything special this year.
It's a shame to see Josh sit but Clark did have a good night last night so maybe they want to see if he can repeat. I don't really like the idea of sitting Phelps in back to back games but, as much as I hate to say it, he hasn't done anything special this year.
If Phelps keeps this up, he could be the next Jack Cust
Nobody should ever run on the Jays. No matter who is back there.
Seriously, this rocks. Such a contrast from last year.
Seriously, this rocks. Such a contrast from last year.
What's the deal with the Fan online? It says that the streaming of the game is prohibited by MLB, seems odd. I know they do this with nba games but I didn't think baseball aswell, anyone know another online station that has the game?
Pat Tabler tells us that Maury Wills was Dave Roberts' boyhood idol. Wait, me thinks, is Roberts 50 years old?
Alas, he is not. He is just 32. He was born in 1972 (in Japan), Wills' final season.
I'm guessing that Roberts had Wills as a base stealing coach during his 2+ seasons in LA, thus the tribute of wearing Wills' number.
Alas, he is not. He is just 32. He was born in 1972 (in Japan), Wills' final season.
I'm guessing that Roberts had Wills as a base stealing coach during his 2+ seasons in LA, thus the tribute of wearing Wills' number.
If Phelps keeps this up, he could be the next Jack Cust
Aside from the obvious L/R difference, Phelps and Cust are dissimilar in one fundamental way: Cust draws walks, Phelps doesn't. Cust is often criticized for being too selective. No one has every hung that rap on Phelps.
If Cust has a comp, it's Ken Phelps, not Josh.
Aside from the obvious L/R difference, Phelps and Cust are dissimilar in one fundamental way: Cust draws walks, Phelps doesn't. Cust is often criticized for being too selective. No one has every hung that rap on Phelps.
If Cust has a comp, it's Ken Phelps, not Josh.
My bad, Chuck. I was only looking at the comp of being a touted minor league slugger who's 2004 major league production borders on bland.
Call me radical, but I am of the opinion that an extra 15 walks for Josh (Ithis season) wouldn't cause his value to appreciate all that much
Call me radical, but I am of the opinion that an extra 15 walks for Josh (Ithis season) wouldn't cause his value to appreciate all that much
Okay, so how many times are these announcers going to mention the fact that Lima once sang the national anthem?
We. Get. It.
We. Get. It.
I think this is the second year for MLB to prohibit streaming of games (so they can sell their own package of course), but I have listened to a number of games online on the Fan this season. This must be a recent development. I wondered how long it would go on.
Great throw by Reed Johnson... I think he's shed the 4th outfielder label.
Batista and Lilly have reduced their ERA's to what I would consider extremely respectable numbers. The front three pitching like they should could result in a .500 record by the All Star Break.
I listened to the game online last night, so this is the first night that they've used this policy. Perhaps it has something to do with interleague play, but it would be strange to start the idea on the second day of it. Whatever the case I hope it's not a permanant thing.
God Damn! I know Rod Black feeds the children and all, but listening to him makes Faulds sound like Vin Scully.
Looks like Halladay will be back for saturday, great news. COMN
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20040609&content_id=766398&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp
Oops. Thats just plain ugly. Try again, COMN.
Oops. Thats just plain ugly. Try again, COMN.
HOWIE FRIGGIN CLARK
When it rains, it pours. 2 home runs........yeesh
When it rains, it pours. 2 home runs........yeesh
I guess we don't need Carlos after all..........
Sorry to be too late with the info, but the internet stream for MLB games is almost always blacked out on the Fan 590. However, lots of other stations neglect to black out their streams -- tonight I listened to 980kruz.ca from sweltering Boston.
Going to Fenway tomorrow for the first time. I'll be wearing my Jays hat, so pray that I return to Toronto safely and with all of my apendages.
Going to Fenway tomorrow for the first time. I'll be wearing my Jays hat, so pray that I return to Toronto safely and with all of my apendages.
I've missed JP's interview. Can anyone post a bullet point transcript?
Hank, if you yell as loud as you do in the Dome then I wouldn't put good odds on you leaving unscathed. :)
The Jays are now 6th in the AL in ERA after tonight's effort.
The Jays are now 6th in the AL in ERA after tonight's effort.
http://journals.jevon.org/users/keith_talent
Rod Black is an idiot.
They show a picture of Vernon and Green standing together, Black wonders out loud: 'Just imagine if Green was still playing in Toronto, they Jays would be pennant contenders for sure!'
Yeah, Rod, that's what's missing, a $16M man hitting .230, that's why we're not in first-place: thanks.
Pat and Rod sure have pedestrian thinking for professional broadcasters. I think the average fan has more insight than these two.
Love Batista, loved that interview, putting the praise back on the team, very shy to talk about himself.
Rod Black is an idiot.
They show a picture of Vernon and Green standing together, Black wonders out loud: 'Just imagine if Green was still playing in Toronto, they Jays would be pennant contenders for sure!'
Yeah, Rod, that's what's missing, a $16M man hitting .230, that's why we're not in first-place: thanks.
Pat and Rod sure have pedestrian thinking for professional broadcasters. I think the average fan has more insight than these two.
Love Batista, loved that interview, putting the praise back on the team, very shy to talk about himself.
JP was on the radio with Wilner after the game and called Curtis Thigpen a strong linedrive hitter with high onbase potential. The possibility of being an offensive catcher. And a dirtbag in the tradition of Reed Johnson to boot.
On Joey Metropoulis, not the Jays 'prototypical' offensive player but they like his power potential. I would guess he's not going to be a good average hitter but could be a homerun threat.
On Joey Metropoulis, not the Jays 'prototypical' offensive player but they like his power potential. I would guess he's not going to be a good average hitter but could be a homerun threat.
tonight I listened to 980kruz.ca from sweltering Boston
980 kruz is still good, then? Excellent. Last time I wanted to use them, they didn't have the game. Had me worried. And trust us, the weather's just as bad here.
Rod Black is an idiot.
True, but Tabler had the crown jewel of the evening. After Batista struck out LoDuca on a really ugly swing on a high fastball, Pat speculated that it was 'due to it being interleague play and probably not having seen Batista before'. I don't usually shout at my TV screen, but that got me to.
980 kruz is still good, then? Excellent. Last time I wanted to use them, they didn't have the game. Had me worried. And trust us, the weather's just as bad here.
Rod Black is an idiot.
True, but Tabler had the crown jewel of the evening. After Batista struck out LoDuca on a really ugly swing on a high fastball, Pat speculated that it was 'due to it being interleague play and probably not having seen Batista before'. I don't usually shout at my TV screen, but that got me to.
http://journals.jevon.org/users/keith_talent
'due to it being interleague play and probably not having seen Batista before'
YES! I couldn't believe that either. But what are ya gonna do? There are people like Pat and Rod, who do think Ron Howard is the greatest director in Hollywood. 'Speaker's Corner' is the TV best suited for these two, not MLB broadcast. Whatever. TSN doesn't have too many games so I guess it doesn't make sense for them to hunt out quality guys.
Reading ESPN I found myself in rare agreement withJoe Morgan.
'due to it being interleague play and probably not having seen Batista before'
YES! I couldn't believe that either. But what are ya gonna do? There are people like Pat and Rod, who do think Ron Howard is the greatest director in Hollywood. 'Speaker's Corner' is the TV best suited for these two, not MLB broadcast. Whatever. TSN doesn't have too many games so I guess it doesn't make sense for them to hunt out quality guys.
Reading ESPN I found myself in rare agreement with
Okay, I admit it. I was wrong in predicting that Batista would struggle tonight. Very inspired performance. Someone once said that Batista was a more talented version of Lidle. Pitchers that were, for the most part, only effective when hitters were golfing in the dirt. Sadly, at the time, the argument didn't really sound that bad. Fortunately, whoever said that was only half right. Batista's velocity, command (lately), and savvy are hard to ignore. How many years was he signed for? Hopefully a handful. With Doc, Lilly, and Miguel at the front of the rotation, the Jays will be back in 3rd in no time.
How many years was he signed for? Hopefully a handful. With Doc, Lilly, and Miguel at the front of the rotation, the Jays will be back in 3rd in no time.
The Jays were pretty smart with their pitcher signings this season and had an obvious plan. If Im not mistaken it goes:
Hentgen - 1yr
Lilly - 2yrs
Batista - 3yrs
Halladay - 4yrs
Gambling on the assumption that there should be one good young starting pitcher ready to make the jump from the farm each season to replace the guy who's contract runs out that year.
The Jays were pretty smart with their pitcher signings this season and had an obvious plan. If Im not mistaken it goes:
Hentgen - 1yr
Lilly - 2yrs
Batista - 3yrs
Halladay - 4yrs
Gambling on the assumption that there should be one good young starting pitcher ready to make the jump from the farm each season to replace the guy who's contract runs out that year.
I'm so glad we signed VDLS and lost that scrub Trever Miller...
http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mlb/news/mlb_news.jsp?ymd=20040609&content_id=766779&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp
Slightly off topic, but i bet the Angels are sure glad that they signed Mondesi. COMN for link. Apperently he has gone and torn his right quadriceps muscle running to fist.
Slightly off topic, but i bet the Angels are sure glad that they signed Mondesi. COMN for link. Apperently he has gone and torn his right quadriceps muscle running to fist.
One more day for me to day, "HOWWWWWEEEEEEEEE"
Two home runs in two days for "slugging Howie Clark"!!!
And he can pick it too, Dave Roberts had no clue what happened!
Final Note: I get the MLB Extra Innings package and it was so cool to watch the game with Vin Scully. It is amazing that he is still broadcasting and he still does it so well. And he does it alone!!!
Two home runs in two days for "slugging Howie Clark"!!!
And he can pick it too, Dave Roberts had no clue what happened!
Final Note: I get the MLB Extra Innings package and it was so cool to watch the game with Vin Scully. It is amazing that he is still broadcasting and he still does it so well. And he does it alone!!!
Last year I turned on a Dodger game and it took me a few innings to realize that Scully was doing the game by himself.
I believe that the broadcast on TV is also the radio broadcast as well.
Having listened to him broadcast both games you can tell that his preparation is excellent (and to do the game by yourself you have to be prepared or have a lot of awkward moments). However, I noticed that a lot of things he brought up about players in game 1 were the same ones he brought up in last nights game (like Reed Johnson's photo of Ty Cobb in his locker).
I believe that the broadcast on TV is also the radio broadcast as well.
Having listened to him broadcast both games you can tell that his preparation is excellent (and to do the game by yourself you have to be prepared or have a lot of awkward moments). However, I noticed that a lot of things he brought up about players in game 1 were the same ones he brought up in last nights game (like Reed Johnson's photo of Ty Cobb in his locker).
Yes, Scully does have a tendency to repeat himself a lot, but c'mon, most Senior Citizens do!
By the way, I tuned into the game around 9:30 after Jay went to bed to catch the last couple of innings, but they were already done the postgame interviews. Wow.
By the way, I tuned into the game around 9:30 after Jay went to bed to catch the last couple of innings, but they were already done the postgame interviews. Wow.
From the ESPN game summary:
WP - J Lima
Batters faced - J Lima 28; D Sanchez 3; M Batista 30
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - J Lima 11-8; D Sanchez 1-2; M Batista 11-5
Umpires: HP - Chris Guccione, 1B - C.B. Bucknor, 2B - Chuck Meriwether, 3B - Mike Reilly
Time: 1:57
Att: 18,003
Weather: indoors
Wind: 1 mph
Game Scores: J Lima 49, M Batista 85 More
Less than two hours. Wow.
I arrived at a pub after my ultimate frisbee game at around 9:00, and was very confused when I looked at the TV and saw everyone getting high fives.