Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Half Way Home and All-Stars

The Jays reached the half way point of the season after Fridays game with a 41-40 record. On one hand it is great to have a winning record at the half way point but unfortunately the recent trajectory has been down. Also the fans have memories of last years fade still fresh in their minds. Many forecastors had the Jays as a 70-75 win team, that looks like a good bet today.

The Jays had a bit of a stinker yesterday, Ricky Romero had a bad one and John McDonald showed why he is an infielder.

Today the Jays bench includes Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill, John Buck and Nick Green. Any lineup with John McDonald, Jose Molina, DeWayne Wise, Fred Lewis and Edwin Encarnacion should be able to easily handle the Yankees, right?

All-Star rosters were announced today. The Jays had three players selected. Two were picked on the "players ballot", Vernon Wells and Jose Bautista. John Buck was selected as an injury replacement for Victor Martinez.

Here are some questions for your Sunday and off-day Monday consideration:

Does anyone think the Jays will finish with more than 81 wins?

Are you happy with the All-Star selections? Are you upset that Alex Gonzalez or Ricky Romero did not make it?

Should Fred Lewis be an everyday player next season?

Does this team need Nick Green and John McDonald?

Posted by Gerry on Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 12:45 PM EDT.

Half Way Home and All-Stars | 31 comments | Create New Account

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

CeeBee - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 01:09 PM EDT (#217877) #

1. no
2. Happy, though any 3 of the mentioned 5 would have been good.
3. yes... if Bautista is playing 3rd and Snider is in right, and no better options are available.
4. for now maybe though I'd be quite happy with a couple of prospects be given a look at least after the trade deadline.

Mick Doherty - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 01:14 PM EDT (#217878) #

Romero is the "best player" on the team so from that standpoint should be an All-Star. But he also fills a position where there are far more options, than, say, catcher -- thus, Buck "is" an All-Star and Ricky isn't. Life ain't always fair.

uglyone - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 01:25 PM EDT (#217879) #

Gonzo deserved the all-star nod ahead of the other Jays, IMO.

Buck was #2 in terms of deserving it.

Bautista #3, and Wells #4.

Chuck - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#217880) #

Nice to see the AS game not sullied by the likes of neophytes like Steven Strasburg. The game is meant to honour established stars, like Omar Infante. That's who the fans want to see.

Chuck - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 01:31 PM EDT (#217881) #

For what it's worth, WAR:

Romero 2.7
Wells 2.4
Gonzalez 2.3
Bautista 2.0
Marcum 2.0
Buck 1.3

scottt - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 01:33 PM EDT (#217882) #

1. Yes, but it really depends on what moves they make.

2. Yes. Romero needs to win more games to get the recognition.

3. Yes, he should be the 3rd or 4th outfielder.

4. No, but they fit Cito's bench usage.

scottt - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 01:58 PM EDT (#217883) #

Well, I know who Steven Strasburg is, but I had to look up Omar Infante.

Apparently, the big question in St-Louis is "Should first baseman Troy Glaus be an all-star?"

jerjapan - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 02:06 PM EDT (#217884) #

Bucks all-star nod can't hurt his trade value at all.

And man, I'm getting tired of seeing the likes of Johnny Mac, Dwayne Wise and Nick Green at the top of the order. I know the front office doesn't want to step on the managers toes, but shouldn't they have SOME input into this? If they don't, shouldn't AA avoid acquiring players like these, since Cito seems insistent on playing them?

Chuck - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#217885) #

Apparently, the big question in St-Louis is "Should first baseman Troy Glaus be an all-star?"

I imagine this is an even bigger question in Atlanta. That said, Glaus has no real reason to be on the team. Joey Votto, however...

But when your roster has Infante and Bourn, it cuts into the spots for deserving players.

SJE - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 02:16 PM EDT (#217886) #

I agree 100% that this can only Buck``s trade value. I don`t know why each of the past few years we see this type of players clogging up the lineup. Wilkerson,Mench,Wasdin,.....

China fan - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 02:23 PM EDT (#217887) #

.....I'm getting tired of seeing the likes of Johnny Mac, Dwayne Wise and Nick Green at the top of the order....

So you prefer to see Wells, Hill and Gonzalez playing 162 games a year? Because that's the alternative. It's a little silly to blame Cito for this. If Cito refused to give a day off to any of his starters, they'd burn out or get injured and we'd be the first to criticize him. He has to give some starts to the bench players. And if you don't like the bench players, talk to AA about it, not Cito.

Spifficus - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#217889) #

I think jerjapan's talking about putting them in the same position in the lineup as the person they're replacing instead of putting them at the bottom of the order which is more appropriate, and if Cito can't do that, don't give him the tools of his own folly. At least, that's what I gathered from it.

Personally, I'm fine with the 'keep players in their comfort level' school of thought, but I can certainly see the other side of it.

Spifficus - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 02:52 PM EDT (#217890) #

And that's what I get for not checking out the order before I post. Didn't notice where Wise was hitting. Huh.

92-93 - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 03:00 PM EDT (#217891) #

and John McDonald showed why he is an infielder.

I can't blame JMac for that one, it was clear ARod yelled MINE as he rounded first base.

I have no problem with resting players, it's just strange to see it the day before an off day with 4 more coming via the All-Star break next week. I guess Clarence wanted to give Vernon two days in a row off if he was going to rest him, like you often hear being done with catchers. First a 3 run HR and now as I write this 2 guys nailed at the plate on balls hit to CF...looks like that decision is working out for Clarence!

rtcaino - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 03:03 PM EDT (#217892) #

If they don't, shouldn't AA avoid acquiring players like these, since Cito seems insistent on playing them?

Agreed, AA should get bench guys with high OBP and SLG to fill out the bench, in case Cito uses them at the top and middle of the order. They should also be good defensively in case they are needed in the field. Of course, our bench would be near all-stars and better than most our starting position players, but at least Cito couldn't mess up when he rests players!

westcoast dude - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 03:07 PM EDT (#217893) #

Adam Lind is back which is nice to see, but those two outfield assists in one inning by Dwayne Wise following his three run dinger off the foul pole takes the ice cream cone on the 4th of July.

westcoast dude - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 03:29 PM EDT (#217894) #

Oops! He dropped the icecream cone--did I jinx him?

TamRa - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 03:29 PM EDT (#217895) #

Does anyone think the Jays will finish with more than 81 wins?

Yes, but not by much. I'm still confident in my pre-season "83"

Are you happy with the All-Star selections? Are you upset that Alex Gonzalez or Ricky Romero did not make it?

Pretty much. I'm not much of a Gonzo booster but given the reslts for the guy who DID make it (Andrus) I gotta say that alex was robbed. But since I'm a bit surprised we landed three spots my ire just isn't up about it.

Should Fred Lewis be an everyday player next season?

Depends on the moves between now and then, particularly whether they figure out a better option as a lead-off hitter.

Does this team need Nick Green and John McDonald?

Not especially - particularly not both. There was a rumor referred to on MLBTR to the effect that J-Mac was one of the options the Yanks were looking at to bolster their bench. No idea if there's anything to that.

China fan - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 04:17 PM EDT (#217896) #

The rehabbing Travis Snider has been promoted to Dunedin today, after four games in the GCL.

Lord, how the Jays could use a hot-hitting Snider these days.

Alex Obal - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 04:35 PM EDT (#217897) #

Happy Dewayne Wise day, everybody.

scottt - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 06:20 PM EDT (#217900) #

Wells's last hit was on Monday and he's been striking out a lot over the last 3 days. A long break here is not a bad idea.

I'm looking forward to Litsch winning a game before the break. Also, it would be nice to win the upcoming Boston series, with all the players they have on the DL and all.

Now that I look at it, the July schedule seems pretty easy: Twins, B-Sox, Baltimore X 2, KC, Tigers and Indians. Most of the games at home, too.

jerjapan - Sunday, July 04 2010 @ 08:01 PM EDT (#217901) #

Agreed, AA should get bench guys with high OBP and SLG to fill out the bench, in case Cito uses them at the top and middle of the order. They should also be good defensively in case they are needed in the field. Of course, our bench would be near all-stars and better than most our starting position players, but at least Cito couldn't mess up when he rests players!

Overall, I like that Cito gets his last hurrah, and I'm not suggesting dropping tons of money on an elite bench - I'm suggesting if Cito can't resist the temptation to play Johnny Mac in left field, or to bat Green lead off, or Millar cleanup (shudder) than don't sign mediocre bench veterans like this ... go with AAAA talent like McCoy and Hoff, who could at least have some upside, and who can be shuttled back and forth between the minors and the majors with no ruffling of feathers. If you want to rest a few guys, give McCoy a few weeks with the big club and shuffle him around - especially since that's the role he would play if he ever earned a Johnny Mac type gig.

It just seems to me that Cito feels he owes it to these veteran players to play more (or play in key situations) than he should. Letting Wise bat against Rivera in the 9th with Wells on the bench, for example (if you overlook that whole game-tying hit thing .... in fact, Wise made me look pretty bad today).

westcoast dude - Monday, July 05 2010 @ 02:10 AM EDT (#217907) #

Bautista's outfield assist nailing Nick Swisher at the plate--for the second time--showed why Jose's an All-Star. Granted, AGon deserved to go too, and he had a perfect strike to the plate along with Wise. Bottom line: they lost the game, but they didn't get beat. Three OAs: more like DOAs. Not only is Molina good looking, he's the uncommon denominator.

Mike Green - Monday, July 05 2010 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#217909) #

Happy Dewayne Wise day, everybody.

In the city of Andy Warhol, Wise took more than his share of the fame. Cue Bowie.

jmoney - Monday, July 05 2010 @ 03:03 PM EDT (#217913) #

I'd agree that I don't like seeing Johnny Mac, Nick Green, or Kevin Millar get regular at bats. However, all those options are better then what Aaron Hill is doing these days.

Mick Doherty - Monday, July 05 2010 @ 03:16 PM EDT (#217914) #

Now that I look at it, the July schedule seems pretty easy: Twins, B-Sox, Baltimore X 2, KC, Tigers and Indians.

Matthew E - Monday, July 05 2010 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#217918) #

1. They might. I picked 80 wins at the start of the season, and I couldn't possibly be more on track for being right about that, so I'll stick with my prediction.

2. It's the All-Star team. Who cares? I can't recall the last time I was moved to pay attention.

3. I like Lewis. I think he should be an everyday player about as much as Frank Catalanotto (who I also liked) should have been. In other words, I'd rather have a superstar there, and barring that I'd rather have Lewis in some kind of effective platoon, but I'm content enough with Lewis as a regular.

4. No.

TamRa - Monday, July 05 2010 @ 04:24 PM EDT (#217920) #

now that i look at the post-deadline schedule....I'm a bit worried about my prediction after all....August 1 to the end of the year is ROUGH.

Gerry - Tuesday, July 06 2010 @ 05:09 PM EDT (#217975) #

It appears that Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells are both still sick and out of tonights lineup.

scottt - Tuesday, July 06 2010 @ 07:10 PM EDT (#217980) #

Okay, I'll give you BAL, KC and CLE as not-exactly earth-shattering (though I suspect they all say the same thing about TOR) ... but it'sentirely possible that MIN, BOS and DET all make the post-season this year. I'd hardly call this an "easy" stretch.

Let's just look at it from a Pythagorean angle:

Boston +68
Minnesota +47
Detroit +3
Toronto -2
Kansas City -37
Cleveland -66
Baltimore -149

And half of the Red Sox is on the DL.

Besides, if July doesn't look easy now, it will come August.

Jim - Wednesday, July 07 2010 @ 10:34 PM EDT (#218044) #

but it'sentirely possible that MIN, BOS and DET all make the post-season this year. I'd hardly call this an "easy" stretch.

It's almost completely out of the question that all three of those teams make the playoffs. It's more likely that none of them make the playoffs then all three. The Yankees are 7 games ahead of Detroit and Minnesota.

For Boston, Detroit and Minnesota to all the playoffs... well... the Tigers and Twins would both have to outplay the Yankees by 7 games and the Rays by 5 games to start.

It's probably a one in a thousand shot that Boston, Minnesota and Detroit all make the playoffs.

If the Yankees and Tampa finish ahead of Boston and the White Sox beat Min/Det then none make the playoffs. That's 50x more likely.

Half Way Home and All-Stars | 31 comments | Create New Account

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