Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - QOTD / MYOR: I'm Patient Of This Plan

With spring training just around the corner, most teams have their rosters mostly set. There could still be a significant trade or three, and some GM might suddenly realize that the missing piece that will push his team's offence over the top is none other than free agent Brad Fullmer. But for the most part, what you see is what they've got.

So what have they got? Here are two charts, one for each league, summing up the major position player moves this offseason. My definition of "major" has nothing to do with the quality of a player, but rather the amount of playing time he figures to get with his new team (Players Added column) or that he had in 2004 with his old team (Players Lost column). I've also included the number of runs each team scored in 2004.

American League

Team	Runs	Players Added                     	Players Lost            
Ana	836	Finley, Cabrera, Rivera               	Glaus, Guillen, Eckstein
Bal	842	Sosa                               	-                           
Bos	949	Renteria, Payton                    	Cabrera, Roberts          
Cle	858	J Gonzalez                         	Vizquel, Lawton          
CWS	865	Dye, Iguchi, Pierzynski, Podsednik	Ordonez, C Lee, Valentin
Det	827	Ordonez                         	-                           
KC	720	Long                              	Randa, J Gonzalez          
Min	780	-                                   	Koskie, Guzman          
NYY	897	T Martinez, Womack               	Cairo, Lofton               
Oak	793	Kendall, C Thomas               	Dye, Miller               
Sea	698	Beltre, Sexson                    	-                           
TB	714	Bautista, Phelps, A Gonzalez, R Alomar	Cruz, T Martinez         
Tex	860	Hidalgo                         	-                           
Tor	719	Koskie, Hillenbrand               	Delgado

National League

Team	Runs	Players Added                     	Players Lost            
Ari	615	Glaus, Green, Cruz, Counsell, Clayton	Sexson, Hillenbrand, Bautista
Atl	803	Mondesi, Jordan                       	Drew, C Thomas              
ChC	789	Burnitz, Hairston                    	Sosa, Alou               
Cin	750	Randa                              	-                           
Col	833	-                                   	Burnitz, Clayton          
Fla	718	Delgado                              	-                           
Hou	803	-                                   	Kent, Beltran               
LA	761	Drew, Kent, Valentin               	Beltre, Green, Finley     
Mil	634	C Lee, Miller                    	Podsednik, Grieve, Counsell
NYM	684	Beltran, Mientkiewicz               	Hidalgo                    
Phi	840	Lofton                           	-                           
Pit	680	Grieve, Lawton                     	Kendall                    
SD	768	Roberts                         	Payton                    
SF	850	Alou, Matheny, Vizquel               	Pierzynski               
StL	855	Eckstein                              	Renteria, Womack, Matheny
Was	635	Castilla, Guillen, Guzman          	Batista

QOTD: Which are the most improved offences in each league? Who let way too much talent walk? Can the Red Sox lead the Majors in runs for a 3rd straight season? Has Arizona's frenzy of maneuvers given them hope of crawling out of the offensive cellar?

Posted by Jonny German on Friday, February 11 2005 @ 08:57 AM EST.

QOTD / MYOR: I'm Patient Of This Plan | 88 comments | Create New Account

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

_DeMarco - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 09:09 AM EST (#661) #

I found this nugget on rotoworld:

Nationals agreed to terms with RHP Gary Majewski and OF Tyrell Godwin on one-year contracts.
Majewski's chances of landing a bullpen spot have decreased due to the additions of Antonio Osuna and Esteban Loaiza, but there still might be room for him on the team after he had a 3.86 ERA in 21 innings last season. Godwin, a Rule 5 pick, figures to be returned to the Jays

_Jim - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 10:53 AM EST (#662) #

These don't seem too hard... let's try

Which are the most improved offences in each league?
Seattle and Arizona

Who let way too much talent walk?
LA?

Can the Red Sox lead the Majors in runs for a 3rd straight season?
They can, but I don't think they will

Has Arizona's frenzy of maneuvers given them hope of crawling out of the offensive cellar?

Yes.
I don't know how RFK will play, but Washington looks pretty bad.

_Paul D - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 11:06 AM EST (#663) #

I don't understand... why would the Nationals agree to terms with Godwin if they're going to return him to TO? Or do they have to have an agreement with him in order for him to show up at Spring Training? I figured he'd just get the minimum.

_DeMarco - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 11:10 AM EST (#664) #

The terms he agreed to probably was the minimum.

Maybe they want to screw the Jays? They signed him for $10 million and then will return him :)

Mike Green - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 11:20 AM EST (#665) #

I expect St. Louis and the Yankees to score fewer runs, and Milwaukee to score more. In the case of the Cardinals and Yankees, it's not so much the moves that were made, but the ones that were not. Both needed offensive depth due to aging and injuries, but chose to focus on pitching. In each case, the approach might work, but I wouldn't bet on it.

The Red Sox should lead the world in run scoring again this year, and Arizona should escape the offensive cellar.

_DeMarco - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 11:36 AM EST (#666) #

LOL!

Jose Canseco is wearing a Jays Uniform on the cover of his new book

_Dan Julien - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 11:48 AM EST (#667) #

Honestly the Canseco thing might be because we were the only team that would allow our logo to be used on the cover...as sad as it would be but to the Jays credit, it is our old uniforms LOL

_Jonny German - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 11:57 AM EST (#668) #

LA did let a lot of talent walk, but they also got a lot of offence back. I have them pegged for a modest decline.

I think Arizona mitigated their gains by signing Counsell & Clayton and planning on playing them every day.

I've also got St.Lou pegged for a big offensive decline, and Milwaukee for a nice upgrade. The Carlos Lee trade was a steal.

_Hosken_Powell_F - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 12:19 PM EST (#669) #

I just checked on Amazon.com, and the picture they have of Canseco's book is exactly the same as his website, except there is no Jays logo, there is a big "33" on his hat and shirt instead of the Jays logo.

_Braby21 - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 12:29 PM EST (#670) #

Isn't he wearing Tampa Bay's uni's?

_Braby21 - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 12:30 PM EST (#671) #

Nevermind I was looking at the pic below, thought you were mistaking those to the new jays uni's.

_Wildrose - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 12:38 PM EST (#672) #

William Houston reports in todays G and M (sorry no link as its on the pay per view), that 135-145 Jay games will be telecast by Rogers and TSN this season.

Jamie Campbell will be the announcer, Tabler, Mullinicks or Darren Fletcher the color man. Hughson and Candiotti will handle West Coast broadcasts.

_John Northey - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 12:45 PM EST (#673) #

Something that doesn't help Canseco's credibility... on his website it states...

Click here to visit the JoseConseco.com store to purchase memorabilia and other items.

Conseco? Sheesh, can't even spell his own name right.

I still think much of what he has said is true, but stuff like that doesn't help.

As far as the logo goes, I'd bet on him getting the one image on there then having MLB or the Jays complain and then he had to change it.

_BCMike - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 12:52 PM EST (#674) #

Jamie Campbell will be the announcer, Tabler, Mullinicks or Darren Fletcher the color man.

That's the best they could come up with? I'm not sure about Campbell, is he going to be better than Faulds(who improved a lot last season IMO)?

Tabler is OK as a backup and Mullinicks and Fletcher were OK on the Score last year, but neither one has much experience as far as I know. Oh well, atleast we get Hughson for the West games.

Dave Till - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 12:54 PM EST (#675) #

Jose Canseco is wearing a Jays Uniform on the cover of his new book

My guess is that they've got covers with Jose wearing each of his former uniforms. We see the Toronto one, the Bay Area sees the Oakland one, and so on.

When Canseco was with the Jays, I used to call him Emperor Jose I, since his body language was that of an exalted imperial potentate forced to associate with commoners. His reaction to a called strikeout was invariably to flip the bat away disdainfully, as if a called third strike was the height of impertinence.

_Ducey - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 01:20 PM EST (#676) #

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=3753
COMN for the BP Triple Play re: the Jays

_DeMarco - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 01:35 PM EST (#678) #

My guess is that they've got covers with Jose wearing each of his former uniforms. We see the Toronto one, the Bay Area sees the Oakland one, and so on.

This is the book that is on Jose Canseco's personal web site, the actual book looks to have the Jays logos blacked out.

_John Northey - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 01:38 PM EST (#679) #

Thanks for the link Ducey.

Interesting to look at the totals for the guys who figure to be on the infield regularly.

Last year VORP...
Delgado/Hudson/Hinske/Woodward/Gomez (Woodward/Gomez=one players playing time) = 41.4/27.4/-2.2/-2.6/7.2 = 71.2

This year projected VORP...
Hinske/Hudson/Koskie/Adams/Hill (Adams/Hill = one players playing time, but very similar so shouldn't affect anything if Adams is everyday all year as expected) = 13.9/17.6/29.9/14.1/12.9 = 88.4

Hillenbrand, who will get the bulk of injury playing time (neither Koskie or Hinske are projected to get 500 AB's), is a positive on the VORP at 13.0 so he won't drag the totals down too much during the fill-in time.

So the infield, sans Delgado, should be better. DH has to be better one would think as well. The outfield should be too with Wells 2005>2004 and no more Dave Berg in the outfield.

Always nice to read positive things.

Gitz - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 02:21 PM EST (#680) #

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=3754
Gary Huckabay's leaving BP, eh? (COMN)

He's not been super visible the last two years or so, anyway, but does anyone know if he's going the Keith Law route, i.e. moving up to The Show?

Mike Green - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 02:29 PM EST (#681) #

That was a sweet farewell, eh?

Working for a big league club is probably not the best place for an "overprotective dad". That worry ulcer will just get aggravated.

Gerry - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 02:36 PM EST (#682) #

Gitz:

Huckabay has scored a gig with your A's.

Gerry - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 02:39 PM EST (#683) #

To add to my previous post, here is a comment from Athletics Nation re: the BPro Walnut Creek Pizza Feed.

Around 50 baseball fans and a lot of fantasy players convened at the Pyramid Alehouse last night for a Q & A session with James Glick and two other staffers (one was approx. McClefsky and I forgot the other one) from Baseball Prospectus. It was nice to be around other obsessive baseball nerds. Huckabay showed up for about twenty minutes but he can't talk anymore because Billy won't let him.

Gitz - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 02:40 PM EST (#684) #

Thanks, Gerry. That is where my thoughts would have leaned, if I had the ability to use my brain anymore.

So Law to the Jays ... Huckabay to the A's ... who goes to the Dodgers now?

_Mick - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 03:24 PM EST (#685) #

who goes to the Dodgers now?

John Gizzi!

_Michael - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 03:27 PM EST (#686) #

It is sad that Gary is leaving BP as his writing was always really good and he was always the life of the pizza feeds.

If LA is looking for someone I can make myself available. :)

_DeMarco - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 03:41 PM EST (#687) #

I'm interested in the LA job as well.

I would even work for the Brewers if they called.

Gerry - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 03:50 PM EST (#688) #

The brewers hired someone, Matt Olkin, IIRC. The Diamondbacks hired someone. I would say that a majority of teams now have a "numbers guy" on board.

_Jim - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 03:51 PM EST (#689) #

Mat Olkin is with Seattle isn't he?

Named For Hank - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 03:53 PM EST (#690) #

I'd like to also throw my hat into the ring as totally available. I don't know much about this numbers stuff, though -- is that some kind of requirement?

_Rob - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 03:57 PM EST (#691) #

http://www.tbsource.com/tbSPORTS/index.asp?cid=73105
There's a neat little story on Lloyd Moseby in Thunder Bay's Source (he was in town for some Lakehead Sports Celebrity Dinner). COMN.

"I've turned down jobs, I've told all the organizations that I will only work in Toronto..."

At the dinner Moseby said the reason he was fired was because he refused to act as a spy for manager Jim Fregosi.

_Moffatt - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 04:22 PM EST (#692) #

I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination for a position in Major League Baseball.

_Michael - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 04:23 PM EST (#693) #

How many AL teams can expect their offense to improve by as much as the Jays will this year (2005 runs - 2004 runs)?

I'd say maybe only 2 (Seattle and Oakland).

How many NL teams?

Maybe 3? Arizona? Mets? Florida?

It wouldn't surprise me if the Jays are in the top 3 in offense improvement (2005-2004). And I expect them to be in the top 5.

Of course having a terrible 2004 offense makes this easier, but even that doesn't make Montreal/DC a lock this offseason.

I think you have to favor BOS as the most likely team to lead the majors in offense again. They had quite a gap on everybody else and they should only get a bit worse this year (regression to the mean), and likely the yankees will too. Although if Giambi can re-become MVP Giambi (maybe 10-15% chance?) then the yankees have a decent chance for top offense too.

_Mick - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 04:26 PM EST (#694) #

I think you have to favor BOS as the most likely team to lead the majors in offense again.

Even with the bizarre management they've displayed recently, can you ever set the Rox as any less than 1:1 even money to do so?

_Chuck Vna Den C - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 05:17 PM EST (#695) #

Sad to see Huckabay leave BP. He was my favourite writer there, though it's true he's been fairly invisible for a while now. Good for him that he has parlayed his baseball savvy into a consulting job.

Jim, I believe you are correct that Matt Olkin is in Seattle. Bavasi and Olkin... quite the incongruous pairing.

While there are certainly many downsides to steroids, look what they did for Canseco's teeth! Come on Troy, straighten and whiten?

_Chuck Van Den C - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 05:19 PM EST (#696) #

Thankfully I took a pass on taking a shot at Canseco's staff for mispelling his name. My staff is no better.

Mike Green - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 05:28 PM EST (#697) #

Chuck, I hate to be a Friday afternoon spoilsport, but I think Jim has the correct spelling of Olkin's first name- Mat. It is an unusual spelling.

Lucas - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 05:35 PM EST (#698) #

Even with the bizarre management they've displayed recently, can you ever set the Rox as any less than 1:1 even money to do so?

This year, I would take that bet.

_Ron - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 06:22 PM EST (#699) #

http://nydailynews.com/front/breaking_news/story/279973p-239878c.html
Canseco said he injected Wilson Alvarez with roids. He also hints about Clemens, Sosa, and Boone.

COMN for details.

I'll be watching 60 mins this Sunday!

_CaramonLS - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 06:31 PM EST (#700) #

Boston looks to be the Favorite, but Texas with the addition of Hidalgo could very well boost their production a touch.

Add + 1 year to all the young players and they could easily content for the #1 offense.

_Jonny German - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 06:32 PM EST (#701) #

Even with the bizarre management they've displayed recently, can you ever set the Rox as any less than 1:1 even money to do so?

The last three years, Colorado has ranked 11th, 6th, and 12th in the Majors for runs scored. I'll see your park factor and raise you a bumbling front office.

_Magpie - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 06:43 PM EST (#702) #

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=klapisch_bob&id=1988521
Today's Hot Stove Heater at ESPN (COMN) is about infielders making relay plays. Derek Jeter is nominated as the best in the game; the article itself also discusses how Roberto Alomar reads the third base coach and throws behind the runner.

And it also provides a detailed account of how relay plays can go wrong. This discussion actually comes from Cal and Billy Ripken's website, which is mostly dedicated to youth baseball and instruction. Billy's example came from a Jays game last year at Baltimore:

Bottom of the sixth inning, one out and Melvin Mora on first base. Orioles lead, 7-2, with Miguel Tejada coming to bat... Tejada rips a ball down the left field line, but not into the corner. Frank Catalanotto cuts off the ball and knowing that he doesn�t have a play on Mora going to third decides to throw back to second base in hopes of keeping Tejada out of scoring position. Mora had been held at third by coach Tom Trebelhorn. Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, no one is covering second, and the ball rolls untouched toward the middle of the infield. Tejada moves up to second and waves Mora home. Mora scores to make it 8-2.

It was April 23, 2004 - Catalantto was given an error on the play. Bauxites at the time wondered a) why no one was covering second; b) why Cat threw there in the first place.

Billy speculates that the 2B was used to the turf in Toronto and assumed the ball would make it to the wall. He therefore drifted into position to act as a trailer for the shortstop, the relay man on the play. However, Cat cut the ball off aggressively and was in position to hold the batter to a single. Delgado read the play correctly and did not trail the runner.

The second baseman who was out of position was... Howie Clark.

_Pete Warren - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 06:50 PM EST (#703) #

Bret Boone. Now there is a guy that I truly do believe Canseco is telling the truth about. He went from a scrawny singles hitter 2nd basemen, to a 45 home run guy. He also got absolutley massive. Nobody gains that much weight in 3 months

_doctor_payne13 - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 06:57 PM EST (#704) #

Jamie Campbell will be the announcer, Tabler, Mullinicks or Darren Fletcher the color man. Hughson and Candiotti will handle West Coast broadcasts.

Any word on whether or not Campbell will handle all the games regardless of the TV network, ala Swirsky with the Raptors? It'd make my year if Rod Black never calls a Jays game again...

_Magpie - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 07:08 PM EST (#705) #

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/11/sports/baseball/11chass.html
The puzzling spectacle of Jason Giambi's weird mea culpa - "I apologize - I just can't say what I'm apologzing for" seemed easy to understand when one remembers that while the Yankees may have wanted to void his contract, the "evidence" of Giambi's steroid use was... elusive and inaccessible. It resided in sealed grand-jury testimony. The contents of the testimony had leaked, but the testimony itself could not be used.

Except here's Murray Chass writing in today's New York Times: (COMN, registration required)

A person with knowledge of the contract said that before they signed off on Giambi's seven-year, $120 million deal, the Yankees acquiesced to his request and removed all references to steroids from the guarantee language routinely included in contracts.

In which case, there was never any possibility that they would have been able to void the contract. No matter how much they might have wanted to.

Lucas - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 07:25 PM EST (#706) #

The last three years, Colorado has ranked 11th, 6th, and 12th in the Majors for runs scored. I'll see your park factor and raise you a bumbling front office.

I was thinking NL only. I'd still happily take even money that they don't lead the lead in scoring.

Mike Green - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 08:09 PM EST (#707) #

In which case, there was never any possibility that they would have been able to void the contract. No matter how much they might have wanted to.

That may or may not be so. I'd want an ironclad legal opinion that proof of steroid use during 2003 or 2004 could not form a basis for voiding the contract, regardless whether there was specific contract language on the issue. The Yankees decision to not void the contract might result from an inability to prove use.

Joe - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 08:11 PM EST (#708) #

http://me.woot.net
A person with knowledge of the contract said that before they signed off on Giambi's seven-year, $120 million deal, the Yankees acquiesced to his request and removed all references to steroids from the guarantee language routinely included in contracts.

Wow. if that's true, then the Yankees tacitly agreed to Giambi's steroid use. So much for the clean-livin' Yankees!

_Magpie - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 08:58 PM EST (#709) #

The Yankees decision to not void the contract might result from an inability to prove use.

There's that as well, which is the only reason I can see for Giambi speaking in the way he has been. There is still no admission by Giambi on the public record - just a leak of sealed testimony.

Named For Hank - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 09:01 PM EST (#710) #

If that's true about Giambi's contract...wow. Just wow.

And when I say "wow", I mean the kind of wow that really sucks.

_JackFoley - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 09:14 PM EST (#711) #

I love it. I hope the Yankees have to pay him every cent of that contract.

_Magpie - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 09:24 PM EST (#712) #

http://yankeefan.blogspot.com/2005/01/what-will-jason-do.html
I hope the Yankees have to pay him every cent of that contract.

That may work out better than a lot of people are expecting. From SG at Replacement Level Yankees Weblog: (COMN)

With a rudimentary form of steroid testing in place last year, it's probably a safe assumption that Giambi was not on them last season. His thinner appearance when he reported to spring training would also seem to indicate as much. So it's not completely unreasonable that how he performed prior to his ankle injury and battle with the parasite and tumor is indicative of how he may perform without the benefit of PED.

Prior to spraining his ankle and going on the disabled list on May 22, Giambi's hitting stats (projected to 150 games):

AB: 525
R: 83
H: 142
2B: 29
HR: 38
RBI: 100
BB: 100
SO: 113
AVG: .270
OBP: .406
SLG: .540
OPS: .946

I'm sure the Yankees will take that. Happily.

_Joseph Krengel - Friday, February 11 2005 @ 09:48 PM EST (#713) #

http://www.canadasdebate.com
In which case, there was never any possibility that they would have been able to void the contract. No matter how much they might have wanted to.

No, but if he does mention steroids in public he could find himself facing felony indictment, and that could upset his contract.

_Braby21 - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 12:26 AM EST (#714) #

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=fanball-marinerssexsoncharge&prov=fanball&type=lgns
Richie Sexson was charged w/ a DUI, COMN for details.

_John Northey - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 09:26 AM EST (#715) #

An interesting thing with steroids, as I recall back with the Ben Johnson scandle the reason many felt athletes should be banned for life is the 'jump start' they got on muscle development which can never be fully removed even after getting off the juice. ie: if pre-steroids you could lift 175 lbs and with steroids you could lift 250 lbs then after steroids are stopped you would be somewhere in the middle, thus still benifiting from the steroid use. So Giambi should have the ability to hit somewhere between his pre-steroid level (whenever that might have been) and his during-steroid level, not going all the way back to his pre-steroid hitting level.

_Chuck Van Den C - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 09:41 AM EST (#716) #

Tom Wilson sighting... he signed a minor league deal with Colorado.

_Braby21 - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 10:27 AM EST (#717) #

http://bluejays.scout.com/2/350039.html
COMN for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Position Prospect Review.

_Braby21 - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 10:28 AM EST (#718) #

http://bluejays.scout.com/2/350209.html
COMN for the New Hampshire Fisher Cat Pitching Prospect Review.

_Ron - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 02:57 PM EST (#719) #

Marty York strikes again!!! Looks like he was trying to stir the pot yesterday by reporting VC and Mitchell got into a fight.

The guy needs to stick to MLB and CFL because he's always wrong in whatever else he covers.

Mitchell said they were goofing around, VC had no idea what the reporter was asking, and Mama Carter's comments didn't match the one's that were mentioned in York's article.

Dammit Marty, why did you have to let me down? You were beginning to get on my good side after you broke the story that Rogers was going to increase the payroll...............

_Braby21 - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 04:31 PM EST (#720) #

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-nets-raptors-carter-mitchellf&prov=ap&type=lgns
Marty wasn't making it up. Vince's mom made it up, she also said that she talked to Mo Pete about it, and Mo said later he hadn't talk to her at all since he got traded.

So basically Marty was doing his job, you'd think Vince's mom would be a pretty legit source.

COMN for the report that Michelle Carter was lying.

_Ron - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 05:31 PM EST (#721) #

Looks like Mama Carter needs to shut her pie hole.

I know a lot of other Rap fans have been shitting on York today over his story but it looks like he was just lied to.

_CaramonLS - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 05:32 PM EST (#722) #

I'd have more respect for Mitchell if he did fight Carter, but nonetheless, this just appears to be some slandering by VCs mom.

Seriously though... 1/2 the Raptors need a good punch in the face.

_Braby21 - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 08:03 PM EST (#723) #

Ya they do.

Things are horrible right now, I'd say I've lived and died through the Rapts in their first 10 years, and they're losing my interest. Not so good, I can't even imagine how the casual fan is reacting.

UNLESS they're going for the hardcore NHL fans by getting their coach to try and fight all their players...hmmmmmm.

_CaramonLS - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 08:11 PM EST (#724) #

I really like Sam Mitchell as a coach, hes got the right makeup, demands hard work, and wants every ounce out of you.

If he had some better players who would actually play a hardworking game, that would be great.

_Braby21 - Saturday, February 12 2005 @ 10:46 PM EST (#725) #

I agree, I just think that he may need to learn how to treat his players a bit better. I get the feeling that he jokes around sometimes and yells others. He'll probably get the feel for it soon, I just hope Toronto still has a couple players who want to play for him.

_Grimlock - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 01:21 AM EST (#726) #

Not so good, I can't even imagine how the casual fan is reacting.

The casual fan doesn't know how bad the Raptors have been the past 3 years. The Raptors were still in the playoff hunt as of 2 weeks ago and are still only 4.5 out with 30 to play.

_Braby21 - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 02:29 AM EST (#727) #

But doesn't the casual fan read about players who want out of Toronto? And players who are "fighting" w/ their coach?

_Brian - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 09:54 AM EST (#728) #

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1108249810907&call_pageid=969907739730&col=970081600908&DPL=IvsNDS%2f7ChAX&tacodalogin=yes
COMN for Griffins take on the payroll increase.

_Grimlock - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 10:22 AM EST (#729) #

But doesn't the casual fan read about players who want out of Toronto? And players who are "fighting" w/ their coach?

They do, and at the same time fill the place out. Even against loser opponents, attendance doesn't drop below 13000. The Raptors are still one win streak away from the playoffs. As long as that is true, they appear better than they actually are.

Raptors radio and TV coverage tends to be generally more positive than they deserve, especially when contrasted with Blue Jays and Leafs coverage. Chuck Swirsky and those guys that host the Rap are SO buddy-buddy with the players that they rarely criticize them, no matter how poor they are.

_Marc - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 10:36 AM EST (#730) #

http://washnationals.blogspot.com
Here is a nugget from today's NY Post... Listed under 5 players poised to breakout...

"5. Orlando Hudson, Blue Jays - The majors' best defensive second baseman got his righty swing down last year, so he is poised to upgrade his competent, but not spectacular offense."

... Nice to see Hudson getting some recognition.

_Andrew K - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 10:41 AM EST (#731) #

I don't see anything too outrageous in Griffin's article (it seems to be lacking substance of any sort really).

But I don't much like the implied criticism that, if he wins with the Jays, he will then move elsewhere, especially when it's followed by a paragraph explaining that, if he loses, he'll be sacked. Why should the organisation expect him to show more loyalty to it than it does to him?

_Andrew K - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 10:42 AM EST (#732) #

... the "he" in question being Ricciardi of course

_miVulgar - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 12:06 PM EST (#733) #

I don't see anything too outrageous in Griffin's article (it seems to be lacking substance of any sort really).

Really? I like the revisionist history component where he converts years of baseless GM bashing into cries for increasing the payroll:

Maybe those pesky media critics aren't so dumb, after all.

... and then again, maybe they are, Griff!

_CaramonLS - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 03:11 PM EST (#734) #

No doubt the Raptors TV guys are huge Homers (well not as much as coach is a BJ homer here). Theres a couple times I've heard them berate officals and definately lay it on thick when the Raps score.

_Moffatt - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 03:31 PM EST (#735) #

It's actually quite flattering that you hold Coach (and by extension us) to the same standards you hold the mainstream media to.

_Ron - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 04:12 PM EST (#736) #

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2005/02/13/929889-sun.html
I just found out JP was interested in signing Troy Percival.

_Cristian - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 04:27 PM EST (#737) #

Ron,

I think JP's interest in Percival was identical to his interest in Magglio. If either was discounted due to injuries the Jays would have looked at each more closely. Both players found a sucker to pay them market value. Strangely, it was the same sucker both times.

_Mick - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 04:59 PM EST (#738) #

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1990846
Barry Larkin to the Nationals (sort of). COMN.

_CaramonLS - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 05:14 PM EST (#739) #

I was using a relative comparison, and no it was ONLY Coach I was refering to, none of the other Bauxites.

_Keith Talent - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 09:11 PM EST (#740) #

I saw Jose Canseco on 60 Minutes. The man is obviously lying about McGwire. Mike Wallace read Jose's own book to him: "More times than I can count I injected Mark McGwire, we would often go to the bathroom stall...."; Jose: "It might have been once or twice, I don't really remember." I'm pretty sure anybody would remember whether something they had done was an isolated incident or not. "Two or three times" is more believable than "once or twice".

_JackFoley - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 09:17 PM EST (#741) #

No Homers Allowed!

_Dan H - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 09:33 PM EST (#742) #

No Homers Allowed!

We're allowed one

Named For Hank - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 09:37 PM EST (#743) #

Just one? Man, I'm screwed.

_Matthew E - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 09:41 PM EST (#744) #

The man is obviously lying about McGwire. Mike Wallace read Jose's own book to him: "More times than I can count I injected Mark McGwire, we would often go to the bathroom stall...."; Jose: "It might have been once or twice, I don't really remember."

Well, that could be true if Canseco is incapable of counting to one or two.

_Lefty - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 11:29 PM EST (#745) #

http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spqna134144454feb13,0,1750056.story?coll=ny-sports-print
A nice little interview with Cat. COMN.

_jsoh - Sunday, February 13 2005 @ 11:38 PM EST (#746) #

From that Cat interview, on being asked if, as a native NYer, he'd like to play in the Big Apple:

Whether it would be for the Yankees or the Mets, it would be an ideal situation.

Right. JPs gotta get on the horn and see if Minaya will part with David Wright for Cat. The only thing to be done is to get Frank to legally change his name to Samuel Sosa.

Sheesh. For Sammy Sosa, Wright is a bargoon!

_Paul D - Monday, February 14 2005 @ 08:33 AM EST (#747) #

I caught a bit of 60 minutes, and they went through Jose's career, and who he introduced to steroids along each piece of his career. They stopped before they got to the BJs though.

Has anyone seen his book? Does he allege to have introduced any Jays to Steroids?

_DeMarco - Monday, February 14 2005 @ 09:41 AM EST (#748) #

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1108249810907&call_pageid=969907739730&col=970081600908
Richard Griffin finally speaks COMN

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