Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Just Another Manic Monday!

Just another fun day in the baseball world Monday night and the Jays had nothing to do with it as they enjoyed the day off.

With no Jays result to break down, I did a little channel surfing on MLB TV. The one game I didn't stay up for was the wildest game of the night. The Minnesota Twins snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, flushing a 12-2 lead down the crapper in come from ahead loss 14-13 loss in Oakland. The game also ended on a controversial note thanks to a horsebleep call from the home plate umpire.

The Pittsburgh Pirates managed to finally beat the Milwaukee Brewers for the first time since the Clinton administration, or it only seemed that way. The Bucs ended a 17 game losing streak to the Brew Crew that dated back to 2006 with an 8-5 win at PNC Park. However, things got a little heated when Pirates reliever Jeff Karstens was plunked by the Brewers Chris Smith. It was apparently in response to Karstens beaning Ryan Braun back in April. Former Buc Jason Kendall kept calling Pirates pitching Joe Kerrigan by the wrong name. Lost in the hoopla as well was a 4-for-4 performance by Felipe Lopez in his Milwaukee debut. The former Jay also drew a walk in his other plate appearance.

The New York Yankees got a walk-off dinger from Hideki Matsui as they prevailed against Baltimore 2-1. However, the O's saw former Jay Cesar Izturis and Brian Roberts both get thrown out at the dish in separate plays in the eighth.

Finally, the Chicago White Sox tried to give one away against Tampa Bay but Bobby Jenks finally slammed the door shut in the mother of all save nail-biters.

Tonight, Brett Cecil gets to relive his ML debut as he pitches against the Cleveland Indians at Domer's Place. He didn't get the win in that game back in April but it turned out alright in the end! Cecil will throw the first pitch tonight at 7:07 p.m. EDT or thereabouts. Cliff Lee will try not to stink out the joint against the Jays like he did in April.

And as a public courtesy, SAY NO TO DRUGS!

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 11:22 AM EDT.

Just Another Manic Monday! | 50 comments | Create New Account

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

Mike Green - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#202986) #

Gardenhire takes a lot of criticism, but his reaction to last night's loss was spot on- "the umpire may have blown the call, but we blew the lead entirely on our own".

Anders - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 01:13 PM EDT (#202991) #

Well the A's were aided but what I would think is some sub-optimal managing - there are about two to three things I would have done differently (Redmond apparently was unsuccessful bunting, and thats not one of them.)

8th
B Harris singled to center.

M Redmond grounded into double play, first to shortstop to pitcher, B Harris out at second.

J Mauer hit for A Casilla.

J Mauer singled to left center.

D Span grounded out to pitcher.

9th
N Punto struck out swinging.

J Morneau struck out swinging.

M Cuddyer doubled to deep left.

J Kubel intentionally walked.

C Gomez ran for J Kubel.

M Cuddyer to third, C Gomez to second on wild pitch by M Wuertz.

M Cuddyer out at home advancing on play.

Mick Doherty - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 02:55 PM EDT (#203002) #

I wasn't watching the game, but that pbp recap causes me to wonder -- why run for Kubel there? If you're essentially playing for one run -- and with Nathan down in the pen, you are! -- why pinch-run for the *trail* runner?

James W - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 03:56 PM EDT (#203006) #

Cuddyer was quick enough to "score" from 2nd on a wild pitch. I'd say he didn't need a pinch runner at all.

Moe - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 06:47 PM EDT (#203011) #

why run for Kubel there?

The hope must have been to bring both home on a single. There were 2 outs, I run ties the game, 2 gives you win (maybe)

jmoney - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 07:17 PM EDT (#203012) #

Oh yeah Wells in Centerfield can't run down a fly that goes for a triple. Then he gets to hit in his usual 3 spot and hits into a doubleplay.

Good times.

jmoney - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#203013) #

Then in the second he can't run down another fly

Geoff - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 08:23 PM EDT (#203018) #

I just want to put it out there that I'm hoping above all else that J.P. finds a way to trade Roy to Atlanta. All is required is to convince Atlanta that they want to go for it now, not years later. Plus, I'd be happy to see Roy in the pitching mecca. He'd surely be revered in the way he should, and surrounded by other good talent in a veteran rotation of Lowe, Vazquez, Kawakami and the young Jurrjens.

Dave Till - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 10:08 PM EDT (#203019) #

I knew the Jays were doomed today, because they were on TSN. I think they've won one game all year that wasn't broadcast by the usual Sportsnet crew.

snider - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 10:23 PM EDT (#203020) #

Did Lind have the flu? He couldn't have needed a rest this close to the all star break could he?

ayjackson - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 11:07 PM EDT (#203022) #

Must we wait a minute longer for Randy Ruiz and Joe Inglett to be summoned to replace Millar and Dellucci? Or Dopirak and Snider?

FREE JODY RUNGLETT!!!! OR BRAVIS DOPIDER!!!!

ayjackson - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 11:19 PM EDT (#203023) #

Also down on the farm is one Angel Sanchez. A former Royal prospect, Sanchez turns 26 in September. Baseball America notes....

Sanchez has been a grinder, slowly working his way up the ladder...makes good contact....doesn't hit for much power...doesn't have exceptional on-base ability....above average speed....

If Sanchez makes it to the big leagues, his glove will be his ticket. He's an excellent shortstop who can make both routine and spectacular plays.

Do we even need a back-up shortstop on the big club (I'm looking at you Jmac)?

Angel is OPSing around .750 at Vegas this year. He could be a good journeyman SS.

Magpie - Tuesday, July 21 2009 @ 11:50 PM EDT (#203024) #

Did Lind have the flu?

Batter-pitcher matchups, I assume. Lind is 1-9 against Lee. Millar was 4-11, Overbay 4-8.

brent - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 03:47 AM EDT (#203025) #

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/double-a-leader-boards-the-pitchers

Zep made Fangraphs already!

TamRa - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 04:01 AM EDT (#203026) #

Figured this would get lost if I put it in the "teatime" thread soooo...

With that and other assesments of the coming Dark Ages around us, lets jump in the WayBack machine and travel back to October 1, 2006. "Your Tampa Bay ball-club had just dropped the 101st loss of the season and I turn to you collectively and say: Little more than two years hence, the Tampa Bay club will represent the AL in the World Series."

How many would have nodded and said "maybe so" and how many would be on the phone to those nice young men in their clean white coats?

scottt - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 06:33 AM EDT (#203028) #

Batter-pitcher matchups, I assume. Lind is 1-9 against Lee. Millar was 4-11, Overbay 4-8.
Two players for which the matchups means little as Lind is having a breakout year and Overbay was hitting .188 against LHP for the year.

Lee was struggling was both teams met earlier, no longer.

Millar was ok, but Overbay went 0-4 and missed a throw in the ninth. without the error, the game would have been tied in the 9th and the Jays would have probably lost in extra frame anyway.

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 09:22 AM EDT (#203029) #

In his career, Cliff Lee has very small platoon splits, as does Millar.

cascando - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 09:53 AM EDT (#203031) #

lets jump in the WayBack machine and travel back to October 1, 2006. "Your Tampa Bay ball-club had just dropped the 101st loss of the season ...

What I remember from that time is everyone acknowledging that Tampa was putting together an awesome stable of young players. I recall worrying about a third potential powerhouse in the division, although I did not expect them to transform so quickly. Nevertheless, the future looked bright, although it wasn't until a new GM really started putting the house in order that they were able to tap (control?) much of that potential.

I don't think the example really suits what is happening in Toronto. However, if the Jays trade Doc, Rolen, Rios, Downs, Frasor, etc., go into the tank this year and next and have a pair of top-5 picks, that could change very quickly.

ayjackson - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 10:12 AM EDT (#203032) #

Millar's career numbers bear little resemblence to what he is capable of now. He can only hit softer throwing lefties and maybe knuckleballers in 2009.

TamRa - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 01:42 PM EDT (#203035) #

What I remember from that time is everyone acknowledging that Tampa was putting together an awesome stable of young players.

Indeed. That is true and I anticipated that reply.

The problem with that reply, however, is that NOT ONE of the key offensive players on the 2008 squad was in the Rays minor league system in 2006 except Longoria who was drafted in June of that year.

The entire starting nine from 2006 to 2008 turned over except for Carl Crawford. It's true one can point to the evolution of Upton and Navarro into starters but that alone (or with EL) wouldn't turn a 61 win team into a 97 win team.

On the starting staff, Shields and Kazmir were already on the team, Garza wasn't in their system, and Jackson was a fringy guy so Sonnastine is the only guy who you could have pointed to in their system during that conversation. And he was, last year, a #4/5 starter which is not what chamionships are built on.

and of the top five bussiest guys in the bullpen in 2008, not one of them was a prospect promoted from within. Of the two internal promotions in the pen, neither was hugely effective and neither played a key role.

So if you had said to me on October 1 2006 "Sure, I'll buy that because they have a great system full of young prospects who could help them win in just a couple of years" (you admitted you wouldn't have said that soon) then your statement would have been exactly incorrect because nothing of significance from that system contributed to the 2008 season except Longoria (and it's unlikely anyone thought in the fall of 2006 Longoria would be ROY in 2008).

The bottom line? The Rays went from 61 wins to 97 with only minimal impact from that great farm system everyone was raving about, with only Longoria making a major impact.

Moe - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 02:53 PM EDT (#203038) #

The bottom line? The Rays went from 61 wins to 97 with only minimal impact from that great farm system everyone was raving about, with only Longoria making a major impact.

Well, some players were added through trades in which Tampa gave up someone highly ranked. Garza comes to mind here. So your analysis is not quite fair. And of course they got lucky with some of there veteran signings for little money (Percival, Hinske etc.).

cascando - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#203040) #

Indeed. That is true and I anticipated that reply.

The problem with that reply, however, is that NOT ONE of the key offensive players on the 2008 squad was in the Rays minor league system in 2006 except Longoria who was drafted in June of that year.

Well, as you said, Longoria, Upton, Crawford, Kazmir, Shields, Navarro, Young (Garza), Jackson, Sonnastine were all part of that "stable of awesome young players" in the organization. In Oct. of 2006 we also knew that Tampa had the first pick in the next draft and that they would likely take David Price. In any case, that covers the entire rotation, 3B, LF, CF, and C from the 2008 club. A pretty solid base. I'm not sure why it is matters whether they were in the minors or learning on the job in Tampa. I also don't see how this is particularly relevant to the Jays, who lack that kind of high-end young talent.

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#203041) #

Tampa Bay had a different issue. Reasonable people doubted (on the basis of years of poor performance) that management had the capability to turn that raw talent into a good functioning ballclub. There were certainly signs by 2006 that the Steinberg/Friedman regime was different, and that the potential for a very good club was there. As Chuck pointed out a while ago, the managerial turning point probably occurred when Upton was moved to centerfield in 2007 which was followed by the brilliant 2007-08 off-season.

Management here has been much better than the prior Rays regime, with the result that the club has been a better than .500 club rather than a 60-70 win club. For this team to win in the future without Rolen, Scutaro and Halladay and a reduced budget would require both managerial brilliance to fill in holes and much better performance and health from the young pitchers than would be reasonable to expect.

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 04:44 PM EDT (#203042) #

Mariano Rivera scored the mother of all easy saves today. Ahead by two, bases clear, two outs in the ninth. The LI for the situation, according to Tango's charts, is 0.5.

davidcanavan - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 05:30 PM EDT (#203043) #

Does anyone have a scouting report on Carlos Perez, the catcher in Rookie ball? He is 18 and posting a 917 OPS in rookie ball, and has walked almost twice as many times as he struck out both this year and last

TamRa - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 08:06 PM EDT (#203044) #

Well, some players were added through trades in which Tampa gave up someone highly ranked. Garza comes to mind here. So your analysis is not quite fair. And of course they got lucky with some of there veteran signings for little money (Percival, Hinske etc.).

Actually during that time period, it's JUST Garza. Still, that's not a deal you anticipate at the close of 2006. No one would have supposed Young would be dealt so quickly. Well, Bartlett in that deal to but he wasn't an offensive factor in 2008.

Well, as you said, Longoria, Upton, Crawford, Kazmir, Shields, Navarro, Young (Garza), Jackson, Sonnastine were all part of that "stable of awesome young players" in the organization.

Right. But It's hardly like our cupboard is bare. We don't have the depth in our system they did/do, but Snider, Lind, Hill, Romero, Cecil, JPA, Zep, Mills ...are not insignificant players either. The thing is, the Rays had to flesh out that young core with other talent (particularly building a good bullpen) and get lucky on top of that.

And more to the point beyond that, the Rays had to improve by 36 wins to make that progress in 2 years. The Jays' hill to climb is no worse than half that.

I also don't see how this is particularly relevant to the Jays, who lack that kind of high-end young talent.

How much worse is Snider than Longoria? Better question, how does Snider as a Jay on July 21 2009 compare to Longoria as a Ray on October 1, 2006 - in terms of near term potential to make a big impact on the team? In that sense, not worse at all. Better in fact because you are talking about a guy in AAA with major league time in already as oppose to a player freshly drafted.

How does Lind's results compare to Upton's? Hill's to Crawford's?
Judgeing by OPS+, Lind is at 142 - Upton was at 107 last year (and 82 this year) and he's only one year younger. Hill is at 109 this year and Crawford was at 87 last year (although his pattarn the last few years is just a bit higher than Hill's 109). And both are 27.

Is Romero pitching as well as Kazmir did in 2006 (outside of K rate)? Can Cecil be better than Shields (Cecil is five years younger)? Can JPA be as good as Navarro has ever been? Can Zep be as good as Jackson was last year?

Yes to all these.

I don't think the Jays are humbled by the Rays in these comparisons. On results, I think they match up well among the players you named.

TamRa - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 08:22 PM EDT (#203045) #

For this team to win in the future without Rolen, Scutaro and Halladay and a reduced budget would require both managerial brilliance to fill in holes...

Was it reallly brilliance that stumbled over Carlos Pena when he wasn't even THEIR first choice? Was it brilliance that figured out that Jason Bartlett would turn into Rod Carew out of years of being little more than John McDonald? That Ben Zobrist would turn into a stud three years or more after they acquired him? That castoff pitchers like Howell and Balfour would turn into rocks of the bullpen?

Or was it luck (the same sort of luck we got with Scutaro, Downs, Carlson and others to be sure)?

...and much better performance and health from the young pitchers than would be reasonable to expect.

Why would it be unreasonable to expect that Marcum, Listch, Romero, Cecil, Zep, Richmond, and Mills would not be able to preform to the level of (in 2008 and 2009)

Kazmir - 3.49/6.62 - Romero is doing this well already (K's aside) why is it unreasonable to assume he won't continue? He might not...but it's not unreasonable.

Sheilds - 3.56/3.75 - Both Marcum and Listch have been this good when healthy

Garza - 3.70/3.80 - Ditto

Sonnanstine - 4.38/6.61 - No reason to say it's unreasonable a guy like Zep could be this good (since it's not really a high bar to reach

Jackson - 4.42/Neimann - 3.61 - Cecil can reasonably do this well over the coming few years.

what's unreasonable to expect is that Garza, Shields, and the other guys who have been remarkably healthy will, as a group, remain so.
IMO.

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 09:21 PM EDT (#203048) #

WillRain, I called the moves brilliant in the 2007-08 off-season before they bore fruit. Bartlett hit very poorly in 08 and very well so far in 09. What made the move brilliant is that Bartlett was a good defender and a good hitter before his fluctuations of the last 2 years. By solidifying the defence, the team gave the young pitchers a base upon which to grow. But, it wasn't so much the big moves as the small ones. The acquisition of Zobrist, Aybar, Gross et al. gave the organization very good depth at very low cost.

As for the Jays situation, I like Brett Cecil, Shaun Marcum and Mark Rzepczynski as much or more than anyone. The odds are pretty good that one of them will take a step forward and be a very good pitcher. The odds are also pretty good that one of them will hurt his shoulder and pitch poorly, if at all in the majors. The key though is to recognize that some of the recent excellent individual ERA results have been built on defence, and with Rolen and Scutaro gone and Wells and Rios getting older, the team defence is likely to be not as good.

Magpie - Wednesday, July 22 2009 @ 10:08 PM EDT (#203050) #

Wild stuff tonight. Overbay's first RBI since June 21. Chavez's first walk since September 18.

TamRa - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 01:25 AM EDT (#203055) #

As for the Jays situation, I like Brett Cecil, Shaun Marcum and Mark Rzepczynski as much or more than anyone. The odds are pretty good that one of them will take a step forward and be a very good pitcher. The odds are also pretty good that one of them will hurt his shoulder and pitch poorly, if at all in the majors.

Higher than the odds are for Shields/Kazmir/Price/Neiman/Garza?

The key though is to recognize that some of the recent excellent individual ERA results have been built on defence, and with Rolen and Scutaro gone and Wells and Rios getting older, the team defence is likely to be not as good.

Why should we assume that? Hands up everyone who though when we dealt for Scutaro he'd be the best defensive SS in the AL at ANY point.

True, very few if any can be compared to Rolen defensively but that doesn't mean who the next guy is will be poor - heck, we don't know for sure that either player won't be resigned.

And, by the way, Carlos Pena is a fine defender in TB - he leaves after 2010. Ditto Carl Crawford (if his option is exercised), Bartlett and Navarro after 2011. And that's just glove wearing folk.

AWeb - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 07:38 AM EDT (#203056) #

I seem to recall Tampa being a historically awful defensive team just before they turned it around. In 2007, the Devil Rays were the worst fielding team in the majors, making a lot of errors and not making a lot of plays to make up for it. fangraphs.com has the team at -57.7 UZR for 2007. In 2008, they were the best team (UZR of 74.2). As I understand it, that's a 130 run improvement from one year to the next, just on defense. Defensive numbers can be pretty unstable, but that's how the Rays became an elite team - they discovered defense and found everyone a proper position to play.

This is the type of problem that the Jays don't have - a huge, obvious hole in the team which once fixed can make a huge difference. Not only was the defense a huge problem, but it was easily and cheaply solvable for the Rays. To make this sort of difference on the Jays, you'd have to replace 2009 Vernon Wells with 2003 Barry Bonds. A "problem" the Jays have, as many have pointed out in the last few years, is that they lack gaping holes, which makes improvement difficult for a non-elite free agent signing team. They need superstar-level players to make a big jump, because they are getting reasonable/good performance out of almost every position.

Jim - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 11:24 AM EDT (#203064) #

Saw a note from Morosi on Fox Sports via MLB TR and it said that the Rays are interested in Frasor.

If they could turn Fraser + into Brignac that would be a great deal.

Gerry - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#203069) #

Dustin McGowan blew out his knee in conditioning drills and will be unable to work out for 6 weeks.

FisherCat - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#203070) #

Can someone tell me how the Sox were able to exchange Julio Lugo for a spare part, but the Jays couldn't do the same with BJ Ryan??

I mean if a washed-up, overpaid, weak-hitting and error prone SS is worth a AAA role-player. Then why isn't a LH reliever that was somewhat successful less than 12 months ago worth some fodder?

Whatever happened to the old adage "If he's left-handed & can breathe, sign 'em up"?

Am I to assume that Duncan has some monetary baggage that the Sox inherited?

Noah - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 12:19 PM EDT (#203071) #

Ricciardi just confirmed on the Fan590 that Halladay talks were intiated because he informed the team that he plans on testing free agency. This is from Bastian's twitter.

Moe - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 12:26 PM EDT (#203072) #

Am I to assume that Duncan has some monetary baggage that the Sox inherited?

No, Duncan is on a one year $835k contract and under control for a few more seasons. The Sox still pay Lugo's salary, but that would be true for the Jays and BJ as well. It's more likely that no one would want BJ given that he didn't want to to the minors and only agreed to go down once he realized no one wanted him in the majors.

Maldoff - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 02:38 PM EDT (#203082) #

So can we officially call Zep "effectively wild"?

Mike Green - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 02:40 PM EDT (#203083) #

Julio Lugo has hit a lot better than Kevin Millar this year, and Millar is not a middle infielder. Lugo has, as I said a couple of weeks ago, some value to a club. You just don't want to mark him down as your starting shortstop for the rest of 2009 and 2010.

Mike Green - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 03:14 PM EDT (#203085) #

Maybe I missed the report here, but apparently Dustin McGowan recently underwent surgery for his knee.

Jim - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 03:26 PM EDT (#203086) #

You didn't. In classic Blue Jays style they didn't tell anyone for 3 weeks. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't call Zep 'effective' today.

dan gordon - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 03:28 PM EDT (#203087) #

Down by 1 run in the bottom of the 9th, man on 2nd, nobody out. Your cleanup hitter, who is hitting .319 is available on the bench. You decide not pinch hit for either your number 7 or number 8 hitters, who are both hitting in the .240's. They both make outs. You do pinch hit for your number 9 hitter with another hitter. How many other managers in mlb would not have used Rolen to hit for either Bautista or Barajas? I know Gaston does not like to pinch hit, but this is the kind of thing that used to drive me crazy the first time around with him. I don't care if Bautista's feelings are hurt by being lifted, you've got to do what you can to try to tie the game. If you don't want Rolen to play in the field at all today, OK, pinch hit him for Barajas and put Chavez in to catch if you tie the game.

Alex Obal - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 03:30 PM EDT (#203088) #

I'd certainly be very happy to pinch-hit Joe Inglett in that situation. Probably Randy Ruiz, too - why not? Edgardo Alfonzo, not so much.

Mike Green - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 03:37 PM EDT (#203089) #

That was what one might call an inefficient loss. The offence should have generated more than four runs. The pitching/defence should have prevented fewer than five. You look at the boxscore and you shake your head.

Is Kevin Millar going to homer every game until August 1 just to make it impossible for the club to release him?

ramone - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#203090) #

Bastain tweets that Dellucci gone and Inglett up.

Alex Obal - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#203093) #

... and Mark Buehrle throws a perfecto against the Rays!

Gerry - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 08:58 PM EDT (#203106) #

Mike Wilner interviewed JP Ricciardi on the fan today. Some of his comments have been reported in the media regarding Halladay but I was intrigued by a couple of comments in particular. Love him or hate him but JP likes to talk and as a fan I prefer to listen to the GM rather than have a GM who says nothing.

Mike Wilner did a good job of interviewing JP, I thought. Wilner asked JP about possibly coming back as GM after 2010 (11.40 mark). JP said he would have to think about that, that it would be a younger team and a different direction. He kinda came in that way.

To me that means that the Jays are going younger, lower payroll, and back to 2003, 2004.

In regard to Kevin Millar (12:50 mark) JP said that they have their eyes open to the DH performance and that they will do "some things" soon.

In regard to Ruiz JP said there is a reason he is 31 and has stayed in the minor leagues. So don't expect to see Ruiz anytime soon.

VBF - Thursday, July 23 2009 @ 11:03 PM EDT (#203112) #

In regard to Ruiz JP said there is a reason he is 31 and has stayed in the minor leagues. So don't expect to see Ruiz anytime soon.

Not making the complete comparison, but I'm pretty sure someone had to have said that about Jack Cust too. If you never plan on using him, why have him taking up a roster spot at AAA? (Though I guess the answer is, 'who else would take it!')

Alex Obal mentioned to myself at yesterday's game that the White Sox like Gordon Beckham alot, but envision him as a shortstop. He's been playing third as Josh Fields has been terrible. You've got to imagine that they'd like to have a smooth fielding and solid hitting third baseman, so I wonder if Rolen and maybe Frasor (or Downs?) would be enough to get Ramirez. The Sox in exchange move their .815 OPS third baseman to shortstop and acquire an .850 OPS at third base for their playoff run, increasing production at both positions.

Thomas - Friday, July 24 2009 @ 01:11 AM EDT (#203116) #

In regard to Ruiz JP said there is a reason he is 31 and has stayed in the minor leagues. So don't expect to see Ruiz anytime soon.

I don't get this either, unless Ruiz was signed purely as a Triple-A space filler, as he's hit at Las Vegas about as well as one could hope. However, I don't see the point in seemingly ignoring Ruiz's Triple-A performance. If I was a minor league free agent next year, I'd hesitate before signing with the Jays if I figured that my performance would be ignored simply because I had little big league experience.

Maybe this is an indication that JP intends to call up Dopirak on August 1, which isn't necessarily the wrong move as Dopirak has more long-term value to the club than Ruiz. Nevertheless, I would have thought the team could have rewarded Ruiz with some plate appearances in August and given Dopirak a bunch of time at 1B/DH in September, in order to evaluate him for the coming season.

Ryan Day - Friday, July 24 2009 @ 01:56 AM EDT (#203117) #

Not making the complete comparison, but I'm pretty sure someone had to have said that about Jack Cust too.

Not exactly - Cust made it to AAA when he was 22, while Ruiz didn't get there until he was 29. Which is odd, of course, because he's hit quite well wherever he goes. But he's been through a lot of organizations in that time, and apparently no one was very impressed. And while they may have said that about Cust, they also probably said it about Hee Seop Choi, Calvin Pickering, and Jeremy Giambi.

All of which is to say "who knows?" In the case of Ruiz, though, I don't see what the Jays have to lose - I can't imagine him being much less valuable than Dellucci or Millar.

Dewey - Friday, July 24 2009 @ 10:51 PM EDT (#203137) #

There's a nice piece on Tony Kubek�for my money one of the very best baseball broadcasters ever--in today's NYT. He and (if my memory is correct) Don Chevrier were a fine team doing Jays games for a stretch.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/sports/baseball/25kubek.html?hpw

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