Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5: GameDay Musings and Out of Date Music

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5: GameDay Musings and Out of Date Music

Seeing as how I did not get out of class and back to my room until 8:28 last night, here's a mailed in Game Report about watching baseball games without seeing them. Yes, it's Gameday...unmasked!

The first thing I check is the MLB.com scoreboard. In this case, I noticed one run for Boston and none for Toronto -- remember, this was around 8:30. I opened up Gameday, clicked Boxscore then Pitchers, and there was Lilly, with only one run and two hits through five innings. The lone run came on a homerun.

"Ortiz," I said to myself. Well, not to myself. Some guy walking by the open door overheard and looked quizzically at me speaking to the empty room, then put me out of his mind until 11:10, at which time he would throw a garbage can at my window. Or something like that. It was probably a different guy. The point is, Lilly wasn't stinking up the joint.

And sure enough, it was Ortiz in the fourth. As I watched Magpie crumble over the choice of pitchers in the sixth and seventh innings, I remarked to myself (this time silently) that I didn't really know what was going on. Gameday following leads to multi-tasking, which leads to a short attention span, which leads to kittens.

I haven't seen much of the Ted Lilly Face what with him on the DL and all, but I certainly saw it tonight. In the top of every inning. His mug shot at MLB.com is a perfect example of the face. The same face that was attached to the arm that threw the ball that landed in the little area where the cars turn around at the former SkyDome Hotel. Yeah. Why Lilly was left to face Manny, I don't know. I remarked at the time that he didn't really pitch all that bad, he was just required to throw 1.4 games instead of 1.

So Chulk came in, retired a fraction of a batter and left with approximately seven men on base. League got two outs on one pitch. Naturally, he was lifted for Schoeneweis after walking Millar. You see, you need the lefty setup man in there for Trot Nixon. Oh, and not just anybody can pitch to Gabe Kapler. That's Speier's job. The list of available pitchers on Gameday was getting shorter by the second: Batista, Frasor, Walker, Marcum, McGowan. Okay, not that short, not after September 1, but Gibbons was still cycling through his bullpen faster than Homer Simpson looking for a vending machine slot without an apple in it.

But it didn't really matter for the rest of the first nine innings; the damage was done against Chulk and I had to be content with the cruel mistress that is the MLB play-by-play service.

...Actually, I'll be honest with you. I didn't see much of the last part of the game on Gameday. Too busy informing others of the latest developments in the chat. The developments weren't occuring in the chat, but on the radio. After 11, instead of Blue Jays baseball on the FAN Radio Network, I was left with lacrosse updates and bad, bad, bad music from a time we shall not name.

A few selected excerpts from the songs that were nowhere near as good as listening to Jerry Howarth call the game:
"This ain't the way love's supposed to be. Let me hear you say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah!"
"I was a workshop owner..." then something about diesel and weasel.
"If there's no good reception for me, then tune me out. We don't need no static with our love." (Magpie chimes in with "That's 'You Turn Me On, I'm A Radio.'" I don't ask why he knows these things, or why that was allowed to be the name of an actual song.)
"We should always stay in love, each and every day. I could never leave her for another girl."

You get the point. You see, aside from Wells' homer in whatever inning it was, it's very hard to follow anything on GameDay without being devoted to it. Much like baseball on TV, I find. I know I'm not the only one without cable, so let's hear from everyone out there who uses GameDay or the inferior CBS Sportsline tracker, Yahoo!'s whatevertheycallit or, God forbid, ESPN Gamecast. What do you get from it? Why, if at all, is it better than listening to the radio? What thoughts can you share with those of us who need to learn how to cope with a delayed Internet broadcast feed and a buggy game tracker that gets stuck on the plate appearance three batters previous while the official scorer determines some trivial matter? Your thoughts are appreciated.

For now, I'll finish with these...uh...lyrics, I believe they are known in a nominal sense. And please keep in mind that this song was presumably popular at one time. The chorus: "A mountain of love, you should be ashamed. We used to be a mountain of love, but you just changed your name."

Posted by Rob on Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 09:00 AM EDT.

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5: GameDay Musings and Out of Date Music | 26 comments | Create New Account

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

Cristian - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 10:30 AM EDT (#127922) #

His mug shot at MLB.com is a perfect example of the face.

I love this line. Are you suggesting that a picture of Ted Lilly's face is a perfect example of Ted Lilly's face?

Heraclitus - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 10:40 AM EDT (#127924) #

Speaking of out-of-date music, I do believe that Gabe Gross was rockin' "Eye of the Tiger" as his coming-up-to-bat tunage.

Cristian - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 10:44 AM EDT (#127925) #

Ignore my previous smartalecky comment. I was reading "his mug shot is a perfect example of his face" rather than "his mug shot is a perfect example of the face."

By the way, cbs.sportsline's gameday is in no way inferior to MLB's version. And it has the added advantage of being more user friendly and easier on the eyes.

VBF - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 11:04 AM EDT (#127926) #

The same face that was attached to the arm that threw the ball that landed in the little area where the cars turn around at the former SkyDome Hotel

huh?

Jacko - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 11:15 AM EDT (#127927) #

Now, now.

When League was brought in, the score was 5-0. He was getting mop-up duty in a game that was getting out of hand.

When the Jays inexplicably tied the game the next inning, it was the right idea to get League out of there and let the "A" guys close out the game.

However, I do agree that burning through Speier and Frasor so fast was a bad idea. Both of them are good for 2 IP, and both of them were throwing gas last night. Why not leave them in? As the old adage goes, the more relievers you go through, the more likely it is that you'll find the guy who doesn't have his stuff working that night.

One last thing -- if Shoney is going to be used to face lefties, why not save him for David Ortiz? Frasor or Speier are both capable of getting Trot Nixon out.

Named For Hank - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 12:06 PM EDT (#127931) #

"I was a workshop owner..." then something about diesel and weasel.

Dude, that's Albert Flasher by the Guess Who! Don't tread on your mighty Canadian heritage there, fella.

Dr. Phil - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 12:34 PM EDT (#127933) #

off topic, but anyone have anything to say about the Batista situation.

fordin's view
"It's taken some time, but the stats have finally caught up to the nagging sense of anxiety."
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050912&content_id=1206845&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor

elliot's article
"And then he dropped a stunner:
"And we need a closer, someone who blows people away.""
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2005/09/11/1212200-sun.html

and by Mike Ganter
"I don't know," Zaun said. "I don't know if he'll make a good closer. I would say he has the stuff to make a good closer, but does he have the command? I don't know. That remains to be seen. The guy's been pitching for 10-plus years professionally and he always has a high walk total. I'm not sure that lends itself to the closer role."
http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2005/09/13/1214925-sun.html

I think that when at least one player, who is probably considered by most as one of the team leaders/spokesperson, comes out and says that they aren't really behind Batista, that says allot.

I was one of the people that tried to stick with Batista when he has struggled throughout the year, allowing far too many hits and walks. But over the past month or two, I have lost all faith in him as a closer. When they brought him into the game in Tampa, I told my roomate that I had to leave because I didn't want to jinx the game, if his failure was due to the fact that I didn't believe in him. Anyway, it didn't work as I left and he blew the game.
I'm sorry, but like Zaun said, we should be surprised when he blows a game, not when he goes 1-2-3.

Jordan - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 01:13 PM EDT (#127934) #

I think it's fair to say that few people would now expect Batista to be the Jays' closer when the 2006 season opens up. Confidence is 80% of closing -- and not just the confidence of the pitcher, but that of his teammates and employers. It seems reasonable to conclude that that confidence is seriously flagging right now.

That said, things always look worse after a few failures, and Batista was very effective in the first half. I still believe he can be a useful pitcher for the Jays, but in a long-relief/swing role -- next season's Pete Walker, basically.

I don't think you need to throw hard to be a reliable closer -- Trevor Hoffman and Todd Jones are two names that spring immediately to mind. But if you want a hard thrower as closer, there is no shortage of candidates already in-house -- Justin Speier, Jason Frasor, Brandon League and Chad Gaudin, to name the four most prominent at the moment. So I'm not sure the Jays will go shopping for a "proven closer" this off-season when they have other needs. Again, it's a matter of confidence, and these guys are going to have to prove to their employers, their teammates and themselves that they have the wherewithal to close for a contender. I think one of them will step up -- at the moment, my money's on Frasor or Gaudin.

Magpie - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#127937) #

Here's what I've noticed about Batista:

Overall 	ERA   W  L  SV SVO  G  GS  CG     IP  H  R  ER  HR  BB  BB/9  SO  K/9  AVG
2003								
Pre-All Star	3.00  6  4   0   0 22  15   1  108   106 41  36   6  31   2.6  76  6.3 .260
Post-All Star	4.22  4  5   0   0 14  14   1   85.1  91 44  40   7  29   3.1  66  7.0 .277
						
2004
Pre-All Star	4.02  8  6   0   0 19  19   2  123   114 56  55   9  56   4.1  73  5.3 .253
Post-All Star	6.07  2  7   5   5 19  12   0   76.2  92 59  51  13  40   4.7  31  3.7 .303
						
2005
Pre-All Star 	2.97  4  2  15  17 37   0   0   39.1  37 18  13   3  10   2.3  25  5.8 .242
Post-All Star 	4.66  1  4  12  17 26   0   0   29    35 15  15   5  15   4.7  23  7.1 .294

It's the same thing three years in a row now. Batista established a new personal high in IP in 2003, and another new high in 2004; this year, of course, he's already made more appearances than in any of his revious seasons.

In none of these years does this look like a workload beyond his capability. But there it is...

Mick Doherty - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 01:29 PM EDT (#127939) #

Trevor Hoffman and Todd Jones are two names that spring immediately to mind.

I was thinking of another Jones, ol' couldn't-break-a-pane-of-glass Doug Jones, who must have had close to 300 career saves, though I'm too lazy to look it up.

Magpie - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 01:45 PM EDT (#127940) #

No reason I couldn't have added the three years together:

Overall 	ERA   W   L  SV SVO   G  GS  CG  IP    H    R  ER  HR  BB  BB/9  SO  K/9  AVG
2003-2005	3.46 18  12  15  17  78  34   3 270.3 257 115 104  18  97   3.2 174  5.8 .253
2003-2005	4.99  7  16  17  22  59  26   1 191   218 118 106  25  84   4.0 120  5.7 .290

First one to suggest that the Jays keep Batista as the closer through next year's All-Star Break, while training his apprentice, and then trading him after a good first half wins a No-Prize for Suggesting the Bleeding Obvious.

Cristian - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 01:55 PM EDT (#127942) #

Magpie,

I like your chart showing the three years separately. An argument for moving Batista to the pen was that he wasn't used to pitching 200 innings and therefore wasn't going to be effective as a starter. Apparently, he tires in the second half no matter how few innings he's responsible for. Next year, I say we make him a starter for the first half and pitch him every third day. After the all-star game (which he'll surely start having won 17 games by the break) we shut him down and thank him for the memories.

jsut - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 01:56 PM EDT (#127943) #

Maybe they'll have Batista close the first half of the season and Speier close the second. ;)

Mike Green - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 02:06 PM EDT (#127946) #

Calvin Pickering was DFAd by KC. If he chooses free agency, I'd be interested.

Rob - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 02:35 PM EDT (#127947) #

VBF, it's meant to be humour, but very few things turn out as funny as they appeared to be at 2:15 in the morning.

You see, the homer by...one of the two scary guys, it doesn't matter which one...landed on top of Windows, perhaps near Sightlines. Thus, intentional hyperbole could place the monster homerun shot out of the stadium and perhaps even into the drop-off zone at the hotel.

VBF - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#127948) #

Ah, yes, humour.

For Cheer Clubbers out there, David Wells is pitching for the Red Sox Wednesday and it wouldnt be the same without some pot roast chants.

R Billie - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 05:55 PM EDT (#127949) #

I thought the Jays should have traded Batista at mid-season when his stock was still good. Even if you think he's a decent closer he makes too much money at $4.7m or whatever it works out to for a guy with his lack of history in the role. $4.7m isn't bad for what he was signed to do which was to provide innings as a #3 or #4 quality starter.

But the number one thing for a closer is to command the ball. If you can command the ball you should be able to hold down a 2 or 3 run lead 9 times out of 10. If you don't have an out pitch and keep getting singled (and now homered) and allow a high number of walks on top of that there is no reason you should be holding down the closer role.

Speier was one of the worst pitchers in the first half but one of the best in the second. The Jays could have made a trade with Batista after Halladay went down. They might have gotten something useful and cleared nearly $6m of salary room to use over the next two years.

I kind of feel the same way about Hillenbrand. He's a great April player but beyond that he is basically an average hitter taking up almost 10% of the payroll. You're probably going to have to give him a raise next year to do approximately the same thing.

Would you trade Batista and Hillenbrand for Delgado even with Carlos making another $4m or $5m on top of them? In one instance you have a given star player in the middle of your lineup while the other positions could potentially be filled in other ways. The other way you're still spending a lot of money but the return you're getting is average at best. The only reason the Jays are even near .500 at the moment is because they had a $12m ace in Halladay. What they need is more Halladays, not more Batista and Hillenbrands.

Bid - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 06:17 PM EDT (#127950) #

It's true, what Magpie says about Shea. I'll bet looking at the league averages for the position would find him a little better in average and obp, and under in homers and slugging. I love having him here...he's a real citizen, but it's a lot of money, even valuing his intangibles higher than I do.

Mike D - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 06:59 PM EDT (#127951) #

From Peter Gammons:

If the Marlins do not make the playoffs, they will lose $20 million-$30 million, likely cannot get a ballpark built and will have to try to trade Carlos Delgado to the Mets before Omar Minaya, the Mets' GM, starts tinkering with acquiring Manny Ramirez.

If I'm J.P. and if Carlos is really on the block, I'm telling the Marlins not to make any deal before consulting with me and Mr. Rogers.

Cristian - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 07:04 PM EDT (#127952) #

I was cheering for the Marlins but now my NLWC dreams lie with the Phillies.

sigh...I miss Gammons.

Nick - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 08:31 PM EDT (#127953) #

Keep in mind that Delgado's contract is back-loaded. He is "only" being paid $4M this year. He is scheduled to be paid $13.5M in 2006, $14.5M in 2007, and $16M in 2008. He also has a $16M option for 2009 that becomes guaranteed based on how Delgado does in MVP voting and whther he earns postseason MVP awards (unsure of exact specifications). If the option doesn't become guaranteed, the team has a right to exercise a $12M option. If the option is declined, Carlos would get a $4M buyout. For those keeping score at home, that's $48M guaranteed over the next 3 years. Carlos will turn 36 years old in 2008. I love Carlos, but just keep these facts in mind while clamoring for his return.

Nick - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 08:38 PM EDT (#127954) #

Keep this in mind too: Carlos just hit his 30th HR of the year tonight to give him 105 RBIs on the season. Going into tonight's game his line read: 298/392/573 (BA/OBP/SLG). I do miss Carlos.

Mick Doherty - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 09:29 PM EDT (#127955) #

A Carlos Delgado for Lastings Milledge deal might make both teams very happy in the short and long runs, respectively.

Jordan - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 10:05 PM EDT (#127956) #

So long as he stays in the National League.

Named For Hank - Tuesday, September 13 2005 @ 11:26 PM EDT (#127960) #

                          AVG    HR    RBI    SB
Hillenbrand              .292    17     75     4
League Avg at 1B         .277    13     46     2
League Avg at 3B         .267     9     37     4

I've been having a thought lately about complaints about different players costing too much money and how they could be traded away to save money: If this was the 2003 Blue Jays, I'd care about the team saving money. The '05/'06 Jays, I don't care at all about the team saving money.

They have more money to spend. I don't give a damn about "overpaying" unless it directly impacts some other part of the team, and with the team significantly under budget right now that doesn't seem to be an issue. And the idea of trading away a player just to save money with the team being at the edge of contention is wrong wrong wrong in so many ways.

I'm all for upgrading a position and saving money in the process. Absolutely, 100%, I'm all for that -- you upgrade and give yourself the flexibility to upgrade elsewhere. But downgrading at a position to give yourself the flexibility to maybe upgrade another position? I think that's foolishness. And I don't think the team will do that.

GeoffAtMac - Thursday, September 15 2005 @ 09:13 AM EDT (#128025) #

I was discussing the whole "what are the Jays going to do for the 2006 seasons", and we were thinking about the following:

What about a package deal to Cinci?

Perhaps

Batista + Hillenbrand + Prospect of Cinci's choice

for

Adam Dunn or Wily Mo Pena

It's been said before, but Cinci needs pitching, and Toronto needs power. Perhaps Batista + Hillenbrand + Bush or Batista + Hillenbrand + Gaudin etc. Just wondering what other people are thinking....

P.S. On the subject of Calvin Pickering being DFAed, I definitely think the Jays should investigate.

Red Sox 6, Blue Jays 5: GameDay Musings and Out of Date Music | 26 comments | Create New Account

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