Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

So how was Ted the Tease tonight?

New York - Bottom of 1st
D Jeter homered to right.
R Cano homered to left.
G Sheffield flied out to center.
A Rodriguez to second on wild pitch by T Lilly.
H Matsui doubled to deep right, A Rodriguez scored.
J Posada walked.
B Williams fouled out to catcher.
T Martinez singled to center, H Matsui scored, J Posada to second.
B Crosby grounded out to pitcher.

New York - Bottom of 2nd
D Jeter walked.
R Cano singled to center, D Jeter to third.
S Marcum relieved T Lilly.

Any questions?

Posted by Magpie on Friday, September 23 2005 @ 06:45 PM EDT.

Jays 0, Yankees 5 | 32 comments | Create New Account

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

VBF - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:17 PM EDT (#128723) #

Was anyone else caught off guard by Palmeiro's allegations about Miguel Tejeda?

King Ryan - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:18 PM EDT (#128724) #

Any questions?

What did John Gibbons get ejected for?
Why can't the Jays hit Shawn Chacon?
How awesome is this bullpen?
Can we have Delgado back now?

Ron - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:36 PM EDT (#128725) #

Ted baffles me. Sometimes he looks like an all-star pitcher and then sometimes he looks like he belongs in the minors.

When Lilly was aquired, A's fans told me to get ready to be frustrated at his inconsistency.

Boy are those Yankee hitters selective at the plate. They drew 7 walks and look at the pitches-strikes:

Lilly 50-27, Marcum 31-16, Walker 28-16, League 14-7, Chulk 30-19, Frasor 14-9

"Any Questions"

1. If you're the Jays GM do you offer Lilly arbitration this off-season?

2. Do you have faith in GQ (whos hitting stats in AAA and MLB are awful) developing into a starting catcher for the Jays?

3. Why has Adams power been zapped ever since he became the leadoff hitter (a leadoff hitter with a .248BA and .317OBP)?

4. Why hasn't JFGriffin recieved more playing time?

5. Do you think the Jays can finish 7-2 so they finish above .500 this season?

6. Does anybody have ESPN Insider? Their's a little blurb about the Jays and AJ.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate Koskie's performance this season?

8. Are you surprised Jason Frasor has once again put together a fine season?

9. What happened to Darrin Fletcher?

10. Did you also laugh at the fat man who danced in the stands?

Twilight - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:37 PM EDT (#128726) #

Anyone like the reference to us there? :)

They brought up the playing of New York, New York at Rogers Centre and said it upset a lot of fans.

"If you go to some of the Web sites, you'll find a lot of really upset fans, a lot of the hard core fans out there."

Haha, I'm hardcore.

Mick Doherty - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:38 PM EDT (#128727) #

If the Jays finish 7-2, it almost guarantees the Yankees the AL East (four games left with the Bosox, after all) ... so, yeah, I think they can!

Twilight - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:49 PM EDT (#128728) #

1. If it was me, no. What the Jays need more than anything is consistency, and they're definitely not getting it from him. I would rather see Dustin McGowan out there, because at least he can throw the ball hard and (usually) control where it goes.

2. Not yet. They said they want to use him as a backup catcher to replace Huckaby, and I'll say ok, that's cool, and he can be Chacin's personal catcher given their long history together. He also throws runners out pretty well, and is decent defensively. Huckaby hasn't hit a whole lot either so I don't think we'd lose much there, but I sure hope they have a one-year extension for Gregg Zaun in mind.

3. I don't know. Maybe he feels a lot of pressure hitting in the #1 spot and can't focus as well? It's really odd, because he was really swinging it well before.

4. Can't explain that one either. I would like to see him more too.

5. I don't think so. Maybe they can take 3 from Kansas City, but they'd have to in effect beat the Yankees twice and the Red Sox twice. That's pretty difficult.

6. I'd also like to read that. Maybe they can get AJ to be the #2 starter and try to deal Lilly to a ball club that's really hurting for pitching.

7. I would give him 6/10. I think he is capable of more than what we've seen so far. He can hit, and well, but has not done it consistently. If he had played in more games I think he would be closer to 20 HR though. I don't think he was a great pickup, if Hill was playing 3B I don't think we'd have a huge difference in terms of production, though Koskie does play a good 3B.

8. Not at all, Frasor is turning out to be a very reliable relief pitcher. I can see closer in his future. He has a wicked fastball and changes speeds a lot.

9. I have no idea. I was a fan of Fletcher.

10. Not really, I'm a fan of more clever humour, and IMO, that's right up there with someone getting kicked in the nuts.

Good questions.

jim854 - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:55 PM EDT (#128729) #

There is no way the Jays can finish 7-2. It's more likely they will finish 2-7.
Tonight against another very average pitcher, they looked absolutely lost and in a fog. It can't be that all these guys having great games against us are Cy Young material.
The hitting of this club needs a major overhaul before they can seriously contend for the playoffs.

nicton - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 10:56 PM EDT (#128730) #

Koskie gets no higher than a 2 in my book. I think he's been a huge disappointment.

I'd look to deal Lilly. If not, I'd non-tender him...

Jim - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 11:02 PM EDT (#128731) #

Oh I like these:

1. No.
2. No.
3. I don't think it's related to where he is hitting in the order.
4. I doubt you'll see much of him against teams in pennant races, they deserve the best lineup the Jays can field.
5. They could, but they won't.
6. Yes.
7. (-3)
8. No.
9. I don't know.
10. I have no idea what you are talking about.

Thomas - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 11:12 PM EDT (#128733) #

7. N/A. You can't properly evaluate a player who breaks his a bone in his hand relatively soon into the season, spends two months on the DL, comes back with almost no time in the minors and certainly has had his timing and swing upset. I don't think Koskie can get a proper grade this season; I give him a mulligan. I think the effects of a hitter breaking a bone in his hand are fairly significant.

9. Nothing. He did the games he was scheduled to broadcast.

Mike Green - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 11:13 PM EDT (#128734) #

The Phils rallied for 5 in the ninth to pull off a 1 run victory. Is it my failing memory or have they come back in the ninth inning down by 4 or more runs at least three times this season?

With the 'Stros losing to the Cubs, their wild card lead is down to 1 game. Fun.

King Ryan - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 11:18 PM EDT (#128736) #

1. Offer Lilly Arbitration? Nah.

2. Have faith in Quiroz? Nope.

3. This won't be a popular answer, but I think the power that Adams displayed early on was -- well -- a fluke. He was never a power hitter in the minors.

4. I don't think Griffin is in the Jays plans...I think he was just promoted as a reward for a nice season in AAA. Like Gross and Werth, I doubt the Jays will ever give him a fair shake.

5. I have no idea what the Jays schedule is like, but based on their uninspired play this month, I don't think it even matters. A solid "no."

6. Don't have ESPN Insider. Visiting ESPN.com probably causes seizures nowadays.

7. Koskie's performance---I don't know, how about a 4. He's basically been Eric Hinske with a better glove.

8. Yes. I like Frasor, but I was very worried he would be the reincarnation of Aquilino Lopez. According to B-Pro, Frasor and Chulk have been two of the best relievers in the MLB at stranding inherited runners. Very surprised and pleased.

9. Fletcher retired after the 2002 season.

10. I don't know what you're talking about. But I probably would have.

Magpie - Friday, September 23 2005 @ 11:38 PM EDT (#128738) #

I asked for it, so I guess I have to play! Good questions, Ron:

1. If you're the Jays GM do you offer Lilly arbitration this off-season?

I don't, which is why it's probably a good idea I'm not the GM. Lilly drives me crazy and I'm sick to death of it. I suspect, however, that this is not really a sound basis for decision-making.

2. Do you have faith in GQ (whose hitting stats in AAA and MLB are awful) developing into a starting catcher for the Jays?

I think he still has a chance, and I'm pretty sure he'll hit more than Kevin Cash. Whether he'll be a 125 game guy or the RH part of a platoon... we shall see.

3. Why has Adams' power been zapped ever since he became the leadoff hitter (a leadoff hitter with a .248 BA and .317 OBP)?

It sure looks like he deliberately changed his approach - made a conscious effort to work the pitcher into deep counts and try to get on base. It actually worked very well indeed for the first couple of months - he was hitting for average and drawing lots of walks. He's just gone into the dumper since September rolled around. Happens to a lot of guys in their first full season at this level. So I'm not worried at all about him.

4. Why hasn't JF Griffin recieved more playing time?

Mainly because they've played so many games against teams in the pennant race, and on the rare occasions they have played an also-ran, they frequently happened to see a LH pitcher on the mound. But agreed, he could have seen a little more action than this. Seattle and Tampa both started a couple of RH pitchers.

5. Do you think the Jays can finish 7-2 so they finish above .500 this season?

No. If they go 4-5, my pre-season prediction will be Right on the Nose, and I'll be bragging about it all winter. So be forewarned.

6. Does anybody have ESPN Insider? There's a little blurb about the Jays and AJ.

Not me.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate Koskie's performance this season?

Meh - 5.0, with the injury penalty. If he's played at this level for the whole season, about 6.0 - better than the run-of-the-mill guy, but not a star. He doesn't hit for much of an average, but he draws some walks, he hits some homers. He still plays a good third base, but his defense, like most of his game, has been a little erratic this year. He needs to stop playing baseball with that hockey mentality, though.

8. Are you surprised Jason Frasor has once again put together a fine season?

Not a lot - Frasor throws harder than anyone else in the pen, and I think he has by far the best makeup of the guys in this pen for late-inning relief. His heater straightens out sometimes, and he doesn't have great breaking stuff, which makes him a little slump-prone.

9. What happened to Darrin Fletcher?

Retired. :-)

10. Did you also laugh at the fat man who danced in the stands?

I wouldn't dream of it.

VBF - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:13 AM EDT (#128743) #

10. Did you also laugh at the fat man who danced in the stands?

I don't understand how he got through security. Aren't fans forced to wear shirts with sleeves at Yankee Stadium?

Named For Hank - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:18 AM EDT (#128744) #

Lilly's first inning prompted me to wonder if he could throw such a thing as an "all hitter".

Afterglow - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:23 AM EDT (#128745) #

1. If you're the Jays GM do you offer Lilly arbitration this off-season?

Well they're in NYC now, so they might as well dump him in the Hudson to sleep with the fishes.

2. Do you have faith in GQ (whos hitting stats in AAA and MLB are awful) developing into a starting catcher for the Jays?

Seems to be a fastball pull-hitter that strikes out a lot... like most backup catchers. He'll be a backup his whole career.

3. Why has Adams power been zapped ever since he became the leadoff hitter (a leadoff hitter with a .248BA and .317OBP)?

He was dying with anticipation for the season premier of Lost season 2. He'll come around in the next week. But oh, that Desmond!

4. Why hasn't JFGriffin recieved more playing time?

He hit .248 at AAA.

5. Do you think the Jays can finish 7-2 so they finish above .500 this season?

Probably .500, they may take 1 game each from NYY and BOS and win the final series against the Royals (please end on a high note, please end on a high note).

6. Does anybody have ESPN Insider? Their's a little blurb about the Jays and AJ.

Paying for web content is evil!

7. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate Koskie's performance this season?

3 for some of his defensive plays and when he was starting to come around before getting injury. Otherwise it's painful watching him swing through hittable pitches. It seems that all his hard hit balls are to the opposite field.

8. Are you surprised Jason Frasor has once again put together a fine season?

No, he has good enough stuff that he should be the closer.

9. What happened to Darrin Fletcher?

He now teaches jui jitsu in the Czech Republic.

10. Did you also laugh at the fat man who danced in the stands?

I'm a Jays fan. I have the inability to laugh.

VBF - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:30 AM EDT (#128746) #

Actually, there's only a dress code if you sit on the 200 level. Nevermind then.

R Billie - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:32 AM EDT (#128747) #

I think you absolutely offer Lilly arbitration but try to cut a deal with him before it gets to the possiblity of scheduling a case. I mean his ERA is 5.72. Even if he gets a raise I doubt he figures to get much of one. You can trade a lefty like Lilly.

Frankly, I would have traded him after last year. He just came off a good year in which he had an All-Star appearance and he had two more years under control, one at a very reasonable $3 million or so. You could have gotten something GOOD back for him.

The idea is to keep UPGRADING the team's talent level. Batista, Hillenbrand, Lilly, etc. These are not guys you keep as they get more and more expensive. You trade them at the best possible opportunity to hopefully upgrade on talent in the long run while keep lots of payroll room free to add more examples of them or better examples of them in the future.

Now you can't optimally trade Lilly because his ERA is almost 6.00. Not the Jays' fault necessarily; stuff happens. You just have to hope that he comes back healthy next season and does better. And hopefully you're able to add or develop talent such that he's relied upon as more of a 4th starter than a 2nd. But in my mind, both Lilly and Batista and Hillenbrand are GONE by mid-2006 if there's a decent market for them and the Jays look to be falling short.

Paul D - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:38 AM EDT (#128748) #

I have a question.
At the start of the year, I thought it was announced that Jim Huson would be doing some of the West Coast games.
What happened to that idea?

StephenT - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:49 AM EDT (#128749) #

I think Hughson was just a rumour, never announced.

Ducey - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:53 AM EDT (#128750) #

Absolutely you offer Lilly arbitration.

He had a great year last year. He has been hurt most of this year including no spring training. It would be unrealistic to expect him to be anything but inconsistent. How did Halliday do last year with shoulder troubles?

You can hold this year against him to keep his salary down next year. If he is healthy next year he will be a good bargain. Where else the Jays going to find as good a pitcher for the same money next year?

How many of you guys asking to cut Lilly are the same guys that criticize JP for letting Carpenter go?

Twilight - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 01:12 AM EDT (#128751) #

>How many of you guys asking to cut Lilly are the same
>guys that criticize JP for letting Carpenter go?

I'm one of them, and I was going to say because Lilly's older than Carpenter and I doubt he will develop into a strong pitcher, since his last couple seasons he has had an ERA over 4.00 and he continues to struggle later in the game (he'll give you 5 innings, but usually no more). But then I decided to check my facts and found out that Lilly is only 29 years old. So I think I'll revise my opinion and say keep Lilly for another year. If they can pull together a better offense, there is definitely room for a Lilly in the rotation. I guess my point is with their current offense they are going to need 5 aces to win a pennant.

rtcaino - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 01:30 AM EDT (#128752) #

There is no question you offer Lilly arb.

Best case scenario as I see it is this:

1- Lilly Pitches well and increases his value.
2- Between the development of McGowan, Bush and/or Jackson, Lilly's marginal value over the next best pitcher decreases, making him more expendable in a trade.
3- We get a good player for him.
4- That player is David Ortiz... OK. Maybe not.

Alexander - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 01:39 AM EDT (#128753) #

SOME ANSWERS TO SOME QUESTIONS:

1. If you're the Jays GM do you offer Lilly arbitration this off-season?

Why not? They just dont have enough to replace him with. Yet.

2. Do you have faith in GQ (whos hitting stats in AAA and MLB are awful) developing into a starting catcher for the Jays?

No, not yet. Show me something!

3. Why has Adams power been zapped ever since he became the leadoff hitter (a leadoff hitter with a .248BA and .317OBP)?

Excellent question!

7. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate Koskie's performance this season?

6/10. The man has been hurt. Again. Has he had an injury free season in his career yet? Surely somebody on this board holds the answer.

10.(a)

Yes, this season could be described as soul-crushing.

Cheers
Alex

JustinD - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 01:40 AM EDT (#128754) #

I dont pay for Insider as I refuse to pay for internet content. But I work at a News station and the sports director has it and leaves it signed in on the computer so I have access to it. Anyways, the "article" was pretty worthless. It just stated stuff all of us already knew. It was basically a 2 sentence blurb about how the Jays have sent scouts to AJs last few starts and his relationship between Arnsberg.

King Ryan - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 01:48 AM EDT (#128755) #

Would you guys rather have Lilly or Burnett, all things considered?

I suppose it makes sense to offer Lilly arbitration. I, as well, forgot that he's only 29. But I don't feel like they need to. Josh Towers has pitcher better this year than Lilly did last year, and with all the young pitching talent the Jays have, I feel the money might be better spent elsewhere. But by offering him arb you don't have anything to lose, and you have a lot to gain if Lilly can actually stay healthy.

So I'm going to contradict what I said earlier and concede that offering Lilly arbitration is a good move.

BrockLanders - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 01:50 AM EDT (#128756) #

Since returning from the DL, Ted the Tease's fastball has been routinely in the mid to high 80s. His velocity is definitely down 3 to 4 mph. I just hope this shoulder condition isn't chronic. He's certainly not worth the trouble unless he's cracking at 93 to 93 mph, which really sets up his change and curve.

Named For Hank - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 05:11 AM EDT (#128760) #

But in my mind, both Lilly and Batista and Hillenbrand are GONE by mid-2006 if there's a decent market for them and the Jays look to be falling short.

Not that I believe that Hillenbrand is in the long term plans of the club, but you realize he's the best hitter on this team this year, right? If they've either upgraded the other 8 spots in the lineup (either through trades or FAs or young guys developing) or they're getting something much better back for him, I can support moving him in the middle of next year, but if not, why?

Why do people continue to talk about Shea Hillenbrand like he's some kind of black hole of suckage when he's so clearly not?

When trying to improve your team's offense, I'd guess that the worst place to start would be getting rid of your strongest offensive player.

Andrew K - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 06:21 AM EDT (#128761) #

Okay, here are my answers:

1. Blue
2. Aquarius
3. Medium tight
4. Jelly
5. Only after midnight
6. I prefer cream to chocolate, but yes in principle
7. �30 per hour
8. Bicycle
9. British Airways
10. Slug pellets, with pepper a close second

Skills - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 09:29 AM EDT (#128763) #

This is just for anyone who feels tempted by insider. It is totally worthless and there is rarely any content worth reading that you can't find somewhere else. The thing about Burnett and the Jays blows our hair back with the startling discovery that the Jays might be interested in signing him. Of course, we've all known this for months, but have not had the foresight to set up a website and charge people 20 bucks a month to find out. To sum up, as we already knew the Jays are interested in Burnett, and as you now know ESPN Insider is about as useful as the mess I'm about to go make in my toilet after a night of heavy drinking.

Flex - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 10:05 AM EDT (#128765) #

I'm with NFH on Hillenbrand. I said before the season that he was a solid acquisition and I couldn't understand all the griping about him. Frankly, there are a lot of problem spots on this team, and Shea Hillenbrand isn't one of them. He's produced exactly the year that he was acquired to produce. Would that that were true of everyone.

Dave Till - Saturday, September 24 2005 @ 12:02 PM EDT (#128768) #

My answers to the questions:

1. If you're the Jays GM do you offer Lilly arbitration this off-season?

No. The Jays have Halladay/Chacin/Bush/Towers/Downs, and Lilly isn't better than any of these guys. And McGowan and Marcum are now waiting in the wings.

2. Do you have faith in GQ (whos hitting stats in AAA and MLB are awful) developing into a starting catcher for the Jays?

I'd like to see him go through an entire season without collapsing a lung before passing judgement. Assuming that Zaun is returning, Quiroz is a better backup catcher than Huckaby.

3. Why has Adams power been zapped ever since he became the leadoff hitter (a leadoff hitter with a .248BA and .317OBP)?

I think he has been concentrating on reaching base.

4. Why hasn't JFGriffin recieved more playing time?

He's not really a prospect.

5. Do you think the Jays can finish 7-2 so they finish above .500 this season?

No, but you never know.

6. Does anybody have ESPN Insider? Their's a little blurb about the Jays and AJ.

No, but that's been covered elsewhere.

7. On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate Koskie's performance this season?

About a 4.

8. Are you surprised Jason Frasor has once again put together a fine season?

Not really. He throws hard and throws strikes.

9. What happened to Darrin Fletcher?

[THIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED TOP SECRET]

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