Sonny Grey's nickname should be "skies".  Sonny Skies Grey suggests the deception and ambiguity essential for so many pitchers.

You're Juan Perez, you're turning 35 in the fall, and after almost 500 games in the minors you've finally tasted a little major league success which could, because you are lefthanded, mean earning a major league paycheque for the next few years. And then this. Do you go ahead and get TJ surgery and then spend a year rehabbing? Will any doors even be open for you as a 36-year old?

This story on JPA's bad knee is a bit distressing. JP's quote:

"We tried to take care of it before the All-Star break, and it started getting a little bit better, but bursitis, the recipe for that is rest, and there's no time for that."

At this point, there's plenty of time. There's very little benefit in continuing to play JPA if he's hurt. He's been absolutely dire for the past 3 months; does the team lose anything in making Thole the main catcher for a few weeks, and calling up someone like Nickeas to back up? (or, if you want to get radical, bring up Jimenez for a taste of the majors)

Granted, I'd expect most players to want to play through pain. But the team should recognize that he's hurting and terrible, and sit him down for a couple weeks.

Btw, Franklin Barreto hit two opposite field home runs in today's GCL Jays victory.

Barreto, of course, is a 17 year old SS in his first pro year.

SS F.Barreto (17, Rk): 163ab, 6.9bb%, 21.7k%, 9/13sb, .301avg, .370obp, .540slg, .910ops

that's a pretty studly hitting line i'd say.

OK - so JPA has been hurting since pre-ASG.  Rest is needed.  So what did the Jays do?  They had him play 3 complete games behind the plate right before the break.  Oh yeah, that really is a smart move... ::shakes head::  Checking game logs I see from July 1st to the ASG JPA played 11 games, starting 9 of them (complete games each time) missing just 2 of the 13 games leading to the ASG.  When they knew he was hurting.  When they knew rest was the best recipe for healing.  What possible logic leads you to doing that?  After the ASG he plays the entire game for the first 2 after, gets a day off, and plays the next 4 missing just 1 inning. 

I swear, this team deserves to lose and lose often when they do absolutely idiotic things like that.  It's not like JPA was playing at an amazing level either (617 OPS in July) or that the team was on the edge of contention during that stretch.  You'd swear they were trying to see if they could break him.  Just about as dumb as it gets.  And we wonder why there are so many injuries here.

Juan Perez will get the surgery, as he's still playing ( if only Winter ball and the like). Insurance covers the surgery and costs him nothing (unsure where in MLB contract agreement it falls). He'll be paid a Major League salary for the next 12 months or until next season when he's taking off 60-Day D.L . (a considerable difference), just like Hutchison. We'll find out if he can still pitch then.

Will any doors even be open for you as a 36-year old?

I wouldn't give up if I were him. Ron Villone was still finding work when he was 39. If nothing else, Perez would want to some service time (these next two months will get him over one year MLB service.) He's not very likely to cash a big payday between now and the end of the line, but any service time he can get improves his MLB pension.

Perez has such a violent delivery that I think its a long shot to see him back again but he has nothing to lose so good luck.

I think every single pitcher in this Organization who is coming off an injury needs the "Weighted Ball Program". It's supposed to strengthen shoulders, stablise throwing routine, and returning SOME of one's missing velocity (so then Delabar used to throw how hard).

LHP are a species unto their own, and I have no idea how long they last. It's strange now, because some PEDs are legal if prescribed by a Doctor for injury recovery. I just don't know how long they must be off them to return. And I wish I could remember where I read I out it.

Interesting - Bonifacio's fWAR this year is -0.5. However, Izturis in 2013 rates even worse at -2.0 fWAR (-0.6 bWAR). Yes, his BABIP is relatively low at .250 (although his career BABIP isn't all that much higher at .292), but there appear to be other factors at play as well, as his Fld and BsR numbers are the lowest of his career.

It may be that Izturis no longer has much value even as a utility player.

Dickey's 2013 splits (before today's game):

Home: 12 G, opp. slash line 258/323/519, 18 HR and 21 doubles allowed
Away: 12 G, opp. slash line 238/310/356, 7 HR and 12 doubles allowed

So, basically, no difference except that RA gives up *way* more extra-base hits at home. It seems to me that Dickey is still a very good pitcher, but that he's pitching on the wrong team, as his unusual repertoire is not effective in the RC.

Given how much the Jays have invested in Dickey as their presumptive ace (and in terms of marketing), I fully expect the Jays to turn a blind eye to this fact (i.e., to see if he can "turn things around") and continue running him out there next year, even though it is becoming increasingly evident that he should be pitching in a park where his stuff plays (such as Dodger Stadium, AT&T Park, or the Trop).

Not going to argue his results this season, but are we really ready to conclude after 75IP that Dickey can't pitch at Rogers Centre? Seems a tad premature to me.

I second this! The sample size is way too small to draw any meaningful conclusions

Well, not sure when it happened, but the Jays have moved into first place ... for biggest jump in attendance 2013 vs 2012.  4,436 more per game vs last year.  2nd is Baltimore at 4,294 with the Dodgers 3rd at just over 4k.  3 teams in the 3k's (Washington, Cincinnati, Atlanta).  Meanwhile Miami is at the bottom having lost 10,119 fans per game vs last year, next worst being Philly being down 6k per game.  Jays are now 15th in MLB for attendance, still over 2k per game away from the top 10.

What does this mean? I suspect it says Toronto fans love the sizzle that was sold to them.  Over 30k per game vs Oakland this weekend (31k, 39k, 45k) despite the team being in last place since late June, and never being higher than 3rd (April 2nd & 4th).  Just imagine if they actually start winning again.

Travis d'Arnaud has got hot again and is likely to get the call soon from the Mets, while Syndergaard continues to blow away the Eastern League. This could get very, very painful.

The Jays were in "attendance jump first place" a while ago, and for a few weeks.  I think they recently lost it when they went out west, but now they're back home again they've retaken the lead...

I think it's more likely changes made in the "Roger's SkyDome" are causing Dickey problems. A certain former Restaurant had the windows removed and with a door opened in the back, it could create a minor wind tunnel effect. This is all unofficial scuttlebutt stuff so I'm not sure of the accuracy here.

The way d'Arnaud's career has gone, I expect someone to drop an anvil on him before he can make it to New York.

The Mets have a plan for that.  Travis' new name is Robin.  He's going to be living in a cave with a well-greased batpole (OSHA-approved).