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Archives Sunday Roundup - Monday Morning, Monday Morning

Closing in on me
I'm packing up and running away
To where nobody picks on me

A long afternoon for the Jays as Kelvim Escobar defeats his former team with nine strikeouts and plenty of offensive support. Ted Lilly's ERA jumps to 4.27 in advance of his first All-Star appearance and Kerry Ligtenberg's ERA begins to resemble Orson Wells in Touch of Evil.



Game Summaries: MLB.com's Spencer Fordin on Kerry Ligtenberg's formula for distress, Geoff Baker on Ligtenberg and Company's lack of confidence, and the Canadian Press on Kelvim Escobar's emotional day.

In Fordin's Notes column, Ricciardi says Toronto's top two draft picks should be in the fold no later than the beginning of August. Ricciardi isn't sweating the negotiations because draftees David Purcey and Zach Jackson pitched long college seasons and wouldn't have thrown many pro innings this season anyway.

Richard Griffin sees reduced playing time for Alex Rios when Cat and Wells return, and he doesn't like what he sees.

Thurman Munson's son is engaged. Seattle DFA's Rich Aurilia. Ken Griffey strains yet another hamstring.

Posted by Lucas on Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 11:02 AM EDT.
Sunday Roundup - Monday Morning, Monday Morning | 10 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Matthew E - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 12:27 PM EDT (#52618) #
This is what we need more of out of Griffin: constructive suggestions.

I'm not sure I entirely share his concerns, though. What have we got, theoretically - six players (Catalanotto, Wells, Johnson, Rios, Phelps, Delgado) for five positions (LF, CF, RF, 1B, DH)? There's no reason a rotation system couldn't work. Getting a day off once every six games won't stunt anyone's development. And that's all assuming nobody's hurt or needs to miss a game for any other reason.
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_Smiley - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 12:28 PM EDT (#52619) #
Would it make any sense at all for the Jays to pick up Aurillia?
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_Bryan501 - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 12:33 PM EDT (#52620) #
it could make sense as long as they dont have topay the remainder of his salary.
it'd be a good audition, cause the way i see it, the jays need a right handed ss to platoon with adams next year.
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_Moffatt - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 12:36 PM EDT (#52621) #
It's one of those no-win situations for the Jays with their critics. If they have the same number of guys as positions, they lack depth. If they have more guys than positions to fill, they're stunting someone's growth. I'd just ignore the talk. Given how this year is gone, I can't see a situation in which a guy is hitting but still can't make his way off the bench.
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Coach - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 12:39 PM EDT (#52622) #
Smiley, I think "settling for" Gomez and Menechino instead of Aurilia was one of the few lucky breaks for the Jays this season.

There's no reason a rotation system couldn't work.

Agreed, Matthew, though I see it as four guys for three spots. Wells and Delgado play as often as they are able, Cat sits vs. LH while Sparky, Phelps and Rios take turns sitting vs. RH. Reed pinch-hits and/or comes in for Cat defensively once or twice a week. Having options will be a huge plus, compared to the last month or two.

Great J.P. quote about Zaun in Fordin's notes:

"He's always been able to hit. What I'm really surprised by is he's caught better than I thought. And he's a dirtbag: He took the plate away twice in that game, took the plate away the other day on Ichiro. We lost Myers, but we gained him, and we gained a better player overall."

That's not knocking Crash, whose power has been sorely missed. Zaun's arm, glove and heart have been revelations; he's one of the biggest reasons this team didn't fold. It wouldn't surprise me if he's traded to a contender, but the clock may also be ticking on Kevin Cash, and a Zaun-Quiroz combo next season does have appeal.
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_Jordan - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 12:51 PM EDT (#52623) #
a Zaun-Quiroz combo next season does have appeal

If for no other reason than the Z's at each end.
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Mike Green - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 01:52 PM EDT (#52624) #
Of all Barry Bonds' achievements this season, drawing 71 intentional walks by the All-Star break might the most amazing. Barry turns 40 in 2 weeks, and is an inspiration to graybeards everywhere.

In his current series with Arizona, he received one IBB from Randy Johnson (!) and 3 from Brandon Webb. His current line of .365/.629/.794 speaks for itself.
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_My Names not Ry - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 04:21 PM EDT (#52625) #
dont know if I resent or resemble that 40 year old crack!!! :)
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_Nigel - Sunday, July 11 2004 @ 06:15 PM EDT (#52626) #
On the number of outfielders, I think that it will end up resembling a fairly strict platoon in left between Cat/Johnson unless JP is able to trade Cat before the deadline (always possible if he gets healthy and hitting after the break). Johnson might spot Rios or Phelps once and a while but I think you will see a LF platoon. Its probably forshadowing of what we may well see in '05 with a Gross/Johson platoon.
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_Loveshack - Monday, July 12 2004 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#52627) #
a Zaun-Quiroz combo next season does have appeal

I hate to suggest it but would that then be Zuiroz? (pronounced Zeroes?)
[ Reply to This ]
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