Blue Jays 2008 Season

[shack]

I wish everyone would get their facts straight before trashing the guy.

Using facts takes away most of the fun when criticizing.

It's not like Gibbons who was picking fights with many of the players. Ted Lilly, Shea Hillenbrand,

Semi-flake and total flake.

 

[lawyerman]

You're probably right. I really like Rolen and even though Gibbons seemed really down to earth, fighting with players is a huge problem and he looks even more like a jerk than he actually is. I am glad Cito came back. Again, a very classy individual.

The offence is almost non-existent at this point. They really do need Weels and Hill back in the lineup.

The shortstop situation is still not resolved as Eckstein and McDonald are riding the pines.

Scutaro has been a decent replacement but they should put Eckstein back in the lineup and maybe put him at second base if he is not as accurate throwing the ball from the shortstop position to first base. Inglett has been a very solid backup and maybe he should go to the shortstop position.

 

[shack]

You're probably right. I really like Rolen and even though Gibbons seemed really down to earth, fighting with players is a huge problem and he looks even more like a jerk than he actually is. I am glad Cito came back. Again, a very classy individual.

The offence is almost non-existent at this point. They really do need Weels and Hill back in the lineup.

The shortstop situation is still not resolved as Eckstein and McDonald are riding the pines.

Scutaro has been a decent replacement but they should put Eckstein back in the lineup and maybe put him at second base if he is not as accurate throwing the ball from the shortstop position to first base. Inglett has been a very solid backup and maybe he should go to the shortstop position.

I think a lot of the pieces are in place but somehow the whole is less than the sum of its' parts (although many parts seem to be performing below manufacturers' standards).

They're not far off but I suspect it will be someone other than JP to finish the assembling.

 

[lawyerman]

I think a lot of the pieces are in place but somehow the whole is less than the sum of its' parts (although many parts seem to be performing below manufacturers' standards).

They're not far off but I suspect it will be someone other than JP to finish the assembling.

I agree. I think JP has been here long enough and even though the Jays cannot compete with the Red Sox and Yankees in terms of payroll, the team should be more competitive.

 

[IraHayes]

Some bad news on Aaron Hill in the star today, looking like he might even miss the whole season:

The Jays, meanwhile, opened their second half of the season with some sobering news on Aaron Hill. The popular second baseman has been out since late May with a concussion, and has not shown any significant improvement.

In fact, Hill remains unable to exert himself, a condition that could threaten his season and his career.

"I don't want to say his season is over, but we are preparing for a worst-case scenario," Ricciardi said.

 

[teassoc]

Just checking tonight's game. 6 - 3 down against Baltimore. Litsch is a real liability these days even as a number 5. Starting to remind me of Josh Towers (but thankfully without the big contract). Trouble is they don't seem to have a replacement. At least they have Marcum returning.

 

[lawyerman]

Just checking tonight's game. 6 - 3 down against Baltimore. Litsch is a real liability these days even as a number 5. Starting to remind me of Josh Towers (but thankfully without the big contract). Trouble is they don't seem to have a replacement. At least they have Marcum returning.

I think that teams are starting to finally find Litsch out. I like the kid's attitude because he battles out there and I hope he snaps out of his funk.

 

[lawyerman]

Okay he is 7 for 47 in July .... He is 33 years old with boat loads of cash ie 10 plus million for years to come ... Hey if his bat comes around in September when everyone has their call ups up it won't mean anything to a fan if he
finishes with good numbers .... We won't agree on this issue cause you seem to be a big fan of Rolen and I hope he comes around but this still looks like a bad trade ... His numbers have detoriated lately but his contract is back loaded so his salary goes in the opposite direction ..

Salary
2003: $7,000,000
2004: $8,000,000
2005: $11,000,000
2006: $11,000,000
2007: $12,000,000
2008: $12,000,000
2009: $12,000,000
2010: $12,000,000

I like Troy Glaus as well but I think that Rolen is a better player overall. Rating this trade this early is unfair and can only be judged later on.

I must point out "again" that Rolen was hurt at the beginning of the year and has been playing hurt for the last while. You can tell in his swing but he doesn't bitch about it like Glaus did. Glaus was complaining that the turf did not bode well for his oft injured legs.

There is another interesting point is that Glaus hits behinds Albert Pujols who is only arguably the best hitter in baseball. That is a dream job. As long as he has Pujols in front of him, his RBI numbers should always remain high and he has always been a home run hitter as well. I'm not sure that the batting average will hold up. Right now it's at .286 and I doubt that will increase during the course of the year.

 

[lawyerman]

You're probably right. Let's put this to rest.

 

[teassoc]

That's what the Jays overall problems is ... They have 17 million dollar player, 12 million dollar player and 2 11 million dollar player who aren't performing at the level of their contract ... 17 million gets you 9 home runs , 11 million dollar player 5 Home Runs 12 million just 30 RBI's and 11 million for a 4.84 ERA .. Feel free to match these the stats with the salaries ... We can't say our sports teams don't spend money .... They just don't know how to spend it ..

The best way for the Jays have gone was tried to trade Troy Glaus for propects ... Both Glaus and Rolons remind
me of when the Jays got Raul Mondesi ... History just repeating itself ...

The real question is how can so many of the team be under performing? Doesn't make sense.

They need a quality DH. Stairs is not the answer and wasn't supposed to be.

 

[lawyerman]

It was nice to see that the bats bailed out the pitching last night.

I am not blaming Marcum as this was his first start off of the DL.

Lind is starting to look like the player the team expected him to be. Great to see.

 

[teassoc]

Lind is the perfect example of why JP was hired too come here ... Drafting and having a strong farm means you avoid having to have a lot of monster contracts on your roster ...

Trouble is some of these prospects don't last in the big league. Litsch as an example sent down today probably because other teams 'found him out'. Possibly same thing is going to happen to other young pitchers around the MLB. The real test is how they adapt and stay ahead.

Sending players down worked with Lind. He was losing all confidence when he first came up. Refreshed he seems a totally different player.

Zaun (when he is playing) and Stairs are the weak links batting wise right now. Can't send them down though but they don't need to be every day players though.

 

[teassoc]

Jays winning 2 today .... Last year on this date ... 50-50 ... This year 51-51 .. Wow can you say consistant ...

Not finished yet!

 

[salsamarc]

Lind is the perfect example of why JP was hired too come here ... Drafting and having a strong farm means you avoid having to have a lot of monster contracts on your roster ...

I am sure Frank Thomas agrees with you

 

[lawyerman]

Not finished yet!

That is the great thing about baseball. It's not over till it's over.

Let's hope the Orioles don't make a comeback.

It is highly unlikely though. Only one more inning to go.

 

[blueline]

That is the great thing about baseball. It's not over till it's over.

Let's hope the Orioles don't make a comeback.

It is highly unlikely though. Only one more inning to go.

I tell ya, it sure gets late early in some games.

 

[teassoc]

Over now. That's 51 - 51 but disguises the fact that Jays have played a lot more road games than home games. Chances to go ahead a bit with the next home series versus Seatle and then the slumping Rays (who don't have a good road record anyway).

 

[shack]

Trouble is some of these prospects don't last in the big league. Litsch as an example sent down today probably because other teams 'found him out'. Possibly same thing is going to happen to other young pitchers around the MLB. The real test is how they adapt and stay ahead.

Litsch lasted longer than a certain Roy Halladay on his first go round with the big team. Can't say that being sent down is necessarily a bad thing in the long run.

 

[lawyerman]

Litsch lasted longer than a certain Roy Halladay on his first go round with the big team. Can't say that being sent down is necessarily a bad thing in the long run.

They did the right thing by sending Litsch down. When he was pitching well, you can tell that he was like a bulldog out there and attacking batters.

When I have been watching him recently, he doesn't have the same competitiveness as before.

I also believe that the batters found him out. He will have to make some adjustments with his pitch location and approach.

 

[stever]

Lind was losing confidence because Gibbons didnt know how to use him. Cito lets him play everyday and now look at the results. Gibbons pretty much killed this team.