You know what? The kids are all ri-i-i-ght, the kids are all ri-i-i-ght, the kids are alright! (John-Ford Griffin with 4 RBIs in his first ML start. Hey...)
And Josh Towers finishes his fine season with 208.2 innings and a 3.71 ERA.
Very happy to see Josh get a complete game and to finish above 500 on the season. He deserved it.
Looking at the team I like how Ford-Griffen is playing when given a shot and would like to see more. To me the ideal thing for 2006 is to dump Hinske and Koskie or Hill while putting Hillenbrand at 1B and FG at DH. Trade for an outfield big bopper (Manny sure would be nice) and trade away Cat and Rios while Gross and Johnson share RF. Don't think it will all happen that way but it could be good.
Looking at the team I like how Ford-Griffen is playing when given a shot and would like to see more. To me the ideal thing for 2006 is to dump Hinske and Koskie or Hill while putting Hillenbrand at 1B and FG at DH. Trade for an outfield big bopper (Manny sure would be nice) and trade away Cat and Rios while Gross and Johnson share RF. Don't think it will all happen that way but it could be good.
Please , oh please not Manny. I couldn't stand his attitude, or lack of. There's got to be somebody else out there who they could get.
In his last 14 starts, Towers never gave up more than 4 ER's (he only give up 4 er's once). Something very good happened to Towers this season. I'm not sure what he changed during the season because at the beginning of the season he looked like the usual Towers of old.
Towers gets my nod as the surprise Jays player of the year.
Hopefully he'll be back in the rotation next season as a number 4 or 5 starter.
Lilly should be let go.
Towers gets my nod as the surprise Jays player of the year.
Hopefully he'll be back in the rotation next season as a number 4 or 5 starter.
Lilly should be let go.
I am pretty sure you will never see Manny Ramirez in a Jays uniform. JP likes players with a strong work ethic like Hill who go out and earn their playing time. If he thought Rios was playing lax, I doubt he's going to pay $10+ million for someone to loaf about.
Don't get me wrong Manny is a great player and would make a good DH, but I highly doubt Ricciardi is impressed by some of the plays he's made in the field. Like the attempted "bare hand" off the wall. He's known for being somewhat lazy, and hey, he earns the money at the plate.
That said Towers deserved this win, too bad he didn't get another two I believe he was entitled to (blown in the 9th).
Don't get me wrong Manny is a great player and would make a good DH, but I highly doubt Ricciardi is impressed by some of the plays he's made in the field. Like the attempted "bare hand" off the wall. He's known for being somewhat lazy, and hey, he earns the money at the plate.
That said Towers deserved this win, too bad he didn't get another two I believe he was entitled to (blown in the 9th).
I had a thought tonight, and it's nothing personal, but Russ Adams and Aaron Hill are boring when they're both in there manning the middle. I sure hope Orlando Hudson is the long-term plan for 2B. The team needs that sparkle.
Am I the only one who finds it strange that we're talking about Batista taking big strides in learning the role of closer by virtue of Gregg Zaun in September? I mean, shouldn't they have ironed that out in spring training?
I wouldn't really care if these guys didn't come back: Rios, Hinske, Koskie.
The foundation should be: Halladay, Hudson, Wells.
Think there's any way we can get Carlos Delgado back in a trade with the Marlins? I'm not kidding, it's not that far fetched, it's only if the pride of the Blue Jays front office might not allow it.
Am I the only one who finds it strange that we're talking about Batista taking big strides in learning the role of closer by virtue of Gregg Zaun in September? I mean, shouldn't they have ironed that out in spring training?
I wouldn't really care if these guys didn't come back: Rios, Hinske, Koskie.
The foundation should be: Halladay, Hudson, Wells.
Think there's any way we can get Carlos Delgado back in a trade with the Marlins? I'm not kidding, it's not that far fetched, it's only if the pride of the Blue Jays front office might not allow it.
At the beginning of the year BP ripped the Koskie signing. I disagreed at the time, but have changed my mind. It seems we have an unmovable player in Koskie. And in order top keep him playing we have to move one of Hudson, Adams or Hill. Right now, I'd prefer an infield of Hill, Adams, and Hudson at 3rd, short and 2nd.
However, that said, I think if Koskie produced anywhere close to his career line of .276/369/455, this conversation would not be taking place. Batting at that clip, I'd take him over ODog.
However, that said, I think if Koskie produced anywhere close to his career line of .276/369/455, this conversation would not be taking place. Batting at that clip, I'd take him over ODog.
I was watching BP by left field today and witnessed a truly funny moment. My new favorite non-Jay is Jose Lima.
-It started before the Royals took the field. Jose came out and gave the nearby security guard a big bear hug. The security guard didn't even know him.
-Jose then started to shag balls and every ball he caught he tossed to the fans. Every fan had a ball by the end.
-Jose then tossed a ball to a fan, who while making the catch, let go of his sunglasses and they fell into the bullpen. Jose went inside, picked them up and put them on.
-He then proceeded to give a striptease.
-Then he made a $5 bet with a fan that involved him throwing a ball. (I couldn't hear the details).
-Then a batted ball went sailing into the stands and struck a little girl in the arm. As soon as the girl started to weep in pain, Jose jumped over the wall, picked up the child and comforted her until paramedics arrived.
-We as fans, then gave Jose a standing ovation. What a class act. Shame he can't pitch.
-It started before the Royals took the field. Jose came out and gave the nearby security guard a big bear hug. The security guard didn't even know him.
-Jose then started to shag balls and every ball he caught he tossed to the fans. Every fan had a ball by the end.
-Jose then tossed a ball to a fan, who while making the catch, let go of his sunglasses and they fell into the bullpen. Jose went inside, picked them up and put them on.
-He then proceeded to give a striptease.
-Then he made a $5 bet with a fan that involved him throwing a ball. (I couldn't hear the details).
-Then a batted ball went sailing into the stands and struck a little girl in the arm. As soon as the girl started to weep in pain, Jose jumped over the wall, picked up the child and comforted her until paramedics arrived.
-We as fans, then gave Jose a standing ovation. What a class act. Shame he can't pitch.
Who knew Jose Lima was like that?
Here's a weird quote of Greinke's after today's game, seems like something a D-Ray or Pinella would say...
Toronto batted around and scored five runs off Zach Greinke (5-17) in the fourth on Guillermo Quiroz's run-scoring walk and two-run doubles by Griffin and Catalanotto.
``I'm tired of grand slams, so I'm not throwing balls down the middle no matter who it is,'' Greinke said of the bases-loaded walk to Quiroz.
Looks like Greinke has finally lost it..
Here's a weird quote of Greinke's after today's game, seems like something a D-Ray or Pinella would say...
Toronto batted around and scored five runs off Zach Greinke (5-17) in the fourth on Guillermo Quiroz's run-scoring walk and two-run doubles by Griffin and Catalanotto.
``I'm tired of grand slams, so I'm not throwing balls down the middle no matter who it is,'' Greinke said of the bases-loaded walk to Quiroz.
Looks like Greinke has finally lost it..
Oh, Jose Lima is definitey a personality. He's the handshake guru.
the bases-loaded walk to Quiroz.
That at bat made a very large impression on me at the time. What I noticed was this: Greinke was having trouble throwing his fastball for strikes. He was trying to throw his fastball to spots, right on the black, he was just missing, and Quiroz was disciplined enough to watch them go by.
But his curve and his changeup during the very same at bat - oh, people, it was beautiful to watch. He was changing speeds on his change of speed - they came in at 68, 72 and 78 mph, with nasty movement - and Quiroz was lucky indeed to foul off the third one.
Greinke's only 21 years old, even if he can't pass for a day over 17, and he badly needs a team behind him. He needs some guys who can catch the ball, and tonight he had outfielders who had trouble fielding ground balls cleanly. Not to mention Angel Berroa. But if he stays healthy, he is going to be wonderful to watch.
I know that everyone, myself included, has been wondering what has made the difference this season for Towers. He seems to have turned a corner. I was just mulling it over and thought, perhaps its Arnsberg? What does everyone think about this? Is it something else or maybe a combination of things?
The difference is, he's not giving up homeruns this year. It's as simple as that.
That is pretty simple, and begs the question: why is he giving up fewer home runs?
Throwing his two seamer more with late, downwarm movement. He's simply getting more groundballs. I'm assuming it's from trusting his stuff a bit more and learning how to pitch effectively at the major league level -- with out overpowering stuff.
That is pretty simple, and begs the question: why is he giving up fewer home runs?
Hey, I just posted a Game Report that talks about nothing else, really! The short answer: 1) he's evolved into a groundball pitcher; 2) he's dialled back his own instinct to challenge everybody.
Towers has stuff and style. What got them for him is his attitude and intensity. He gets my vote for #2 starter next year.
Towers seems like a good guy & had an admirable campaign. He should definately have a spot behind Roy next year, but he is NOT a #2.
He makes opposing hitters furious at times, but could not be dominant on his best day.
Towers, like a lot of other control artists, is typically successful as long as he stays one step ahead. But...when he doesn't?
In a hitter's L, a #2 starter should be a lot closer to a 1a than a strong #3.
He makes opposing hitters furious at times, but could not be dominant on his best day.
Towers, like a lot of other control artists, is typically successful as long as he stays one step ahead. But...when he doesn't?
In a hitter's L, a #2 starter should be a lot closer to a 1a than a strong #3.
Let's look at the AL era leaders, wherein Towers is now #12 between Contreras and Haren. The Angels have #4 Washburn, #5 Lackey, and #8 Colon, the CWS have #3 Buehrle, #9 Garland, and #11 Contreras, so on those two staffs Josh would be fourth in era, albeit with a decent 4:1 K to BB ratio. The Twins have #2 Santana, and #5 Silva, so on that staff he would be third. But that's it.
Look at the Oakland staff: Blanton is #10, Haren is #13, and the great Zito is #19. Josh would be second on that staff in era. He'd be seond in Cleveland to #1 Millwood, and in Texas to #7 Rogers, although that's debatable at this point in Kenny's career.
At Fenway, Josh would be the Ace. Wakefield is #22, Wells #30, Arroyo #34, and Clement (remember him?) is #36.
The Orioles let his get away, and he's ours. Chalk one up for the Good Guys.
Look at the Oakland staff: Blanton is #10, Haren is #13, and the great Zito is #19. Josh would be second on that staff in era. He'd be seond in Cleveland to #1 Millwood, and in Texas to #7 Rogers, although that's debatable at this point in Kenny's career.
At Fenway, Josh would be the Ace. Wakefield is #22, Wells #30, Arroyo #34, and Clement (remember him?) is #36.
The Orioles let his get away, and he's ours. Chalk one up for the Good Guys.