I just found myself wandering around Baseball Prospectus for an hour and found another reason to be happy about how this team is doing so far this season: their baserunning.

So far this season they are leading the majors in EqBRR (Equivalent Base Running Runs, a measure of a players contribution on the basepaths - in runs - above what would be expected) with a total of 5.54. After the Jays its a bit of a step down to the Angels (3.39) and the Rockies (3.06).

Leading the way on the Jays this year are Wells (EqBRR = 1.48), Scutaro (1.28) and Hill (1.18). Rios is in the basement (below the catchers, who are the only others on the team in negative figures) with a total of -0.75, which seems to be due mostly to errors in 'Air Advancement.' Judging from his history his numbers seem likely to improve.

Interestingly, this proficiency on the basepaths seems to be a relatively new phenomenon. In the Gibbons years, the Jays generally did quite poorly. 13th place overall in 2004 (EqBRR = -4.63), 10th in 2005 (-1.2), 29th in 2006 (-15.55.... oh, Bengie), and 25th in 2007 (-8.35). Last year was a bit of a rebound from the horrendous numbers of the previous two: the Jays finished in 15th place overall, with a total of -3.62. Would any of the recent change have to do with Cito?

Back in 1992 the Jays were 6th overall (EqBRR -0.20) led by Devon Whites EqBRR of 5.61. The next year the Jays finished 5th (-1.97) Led by Paul Molitor's impressive 6.53 (which was offset by Olerud's -6.61).

Also, it's interesting just how bad the league is in baserunning, according to EqBRR. Many years in the past several decades there have been very few teams in positive figures. Does this suggest that baserunning is de-emphasized in the current game, or that the formula for EqBRR needs some sort of adjustment?

Weather permitting. It doesn't look good at this point with 90% possibility of thunderstorms through the afternoon and evening according to The Weather Network.

Who prayed for rain?

Mike,

Is the infield D that much of a concern?  Any errors would result in a lower ERA and surely the organization would be tracking the nature of the hits. No?

I guess it would undermine confidence of the pitcher but the younger guys likely are used to lousy D being just a year removed from A ball?

JP/Dick Scott should have filled the infield in Las Vegas with 4 stellar AAAA gloves for Brett Cecil's benefit? I find criticisms of the organization like this to be difficult to comprehend. 

Filling empty spots in AAA with potent, non-prospect bats like Ruiz and Harper is exactly what JP was criticized for not doing in Syracuse for some many years, leading to uncompetitive squads that apparently played a big role in our banishment from New York to Nevada for the next two years.  Much has been made of the fact that Las Vegas is not a very healthy stop for developping our star pitching prospects.  Experts such as Gerry and Marc have suggested that in the next 2 years, Toronto must do everything it can to prove to other potential AAA cities that we are committed to fielding competitive minor league teams if we hope to get out of their odd couple relationship with LV.

Building your entire AAA team to suit one prospect completely goes against this approach and sets an awful precedent.

And besides, what of the "free Scott Campbell" bandwagon?  These messages boards were filled with calls to test him at AAA all last year.  Does it only take six AAA errors to thin the ranks?

Sorry Mike, I misread your post as asking for four AAA glove men as opposed to AAAA middle infielders. Seems like a much more reasonable request.

I do agree that it's pretty hard to defend why Adams is still with the organization, hot bat or not, and playing 2b to boot.  Placeholding for Brad Emaus, I suppose. If I remember correctly, the scouting on Emaus is hot bat, poor range and he may be up to replace Adams by midseason, which may make this all moot.

I still think it's hard to put too much stock into middle infield defence as the cause of Cecil's struggles, no matter how hard we would like to think Adams' arm and glove is for the young lefty's confidence or numbers.  I don't much about Sanchez either, but I assume he's passable.  How much is adding a stellar glove at 2b really going to make a difference? 

That was one ugly performance by Tallet today. The patchwork rotation is starting to pitch like one would expect of the 11th/12th guy down the depth chart. 

I must say I really don't like pitching Frasor in a frigging 11-2 game. Use Bullington for 2 innings. Guy is garbage-time only anyways. If his arm falls off who cares. Keep all the good arms ready so you can maybe keep tomorrow's game close when Burres starts to "tire" (I'd say suck but that seems rude).    

Castro has pitched three innings so far in AAA, 70 pitches, four hits and two walks allowed.

In the who starts next contest, it looks like the next starter will be either Murphy or Cecil.  Burres, Bullington and Castro look to be out of the running.  Mills is still a wildcard.

Can you name that year?

Some clues:

1. The Jays won their first home game of that season before a crowd of less than 20,000.
2. After the first week of May, they would never see the view from the top of the division again that year.
3. The opening day pitcher, whom I shall not name, was 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA that April, losing only to the Royals. Then 5-10, 6.16 ERA the next four months.

And had a strong April much like this year. Here's hoping that remembering the past will help the Jays to avoid a May six-game losing skid at home that they accomplished that year.