Blue Jays 2008 Season

[teassoc]

I gave up following it on the internet after the 4th innings. Don't know what the game plan was but it seemed at that point it was how can we finish this game in the shortest possible time. They took 6 pitches in the 3rd innings and 9 in the 4th. Pathetic.

 

[RTRD]

I was at the game....

what a great standing ovation for Reed Johnson when he came in to pinch hit in the bottom of the 9th...

not bad for a back outfielder eh ?

...and I was caught totally off guard.

I'm not a Blue Jay fan...don't' know the history...what was the deal behind that?

 

[hunter001]

...and I was caught totally off guard.

I'm not a Blue Jay fan...don't' know the history...what was the deal behind that?

Blue jays released him this spring. He is a bit of fan favorite because of the way he plays the game. He missed some of last season with back surgery. In the spring the Jays signed a older player (Shannon Steward) to compete with Johnson for the left fielder job. Even though Johnson had a better spring and has a better arm in left the Jays decided to release Johnson (Fearing reoccurring back problems and maybe $$ issues). Soon after the release the Cubs scooped Johnson up the 1/3 (I think) of what he was going to make in Toronto.

 

[Rockslinger]

Where in the world is ALEX RIOS? When was the last time he hit a home run? When will be the next time he hits a home run? .260 hitters have to hit home runs. .360 hitters don't.

 

[hunter001]

Where in the world is ALEX RIOS? When was the last time he hit a home run? When will be the next time he hits a home run? .260 hitters have to hit home runs. .360 hitters don't.

He started get things turned around then Gibbins shuffled the batting line up again.

 

[OnTheWayOut]

Where in the world is ALEX RIOS? When was the last time he hit a home run? When will be the next time he hits a home run? .260 hitters have to hit home runs. .360 hitters don't.

I can tell you where he's NOT ....... he's NOT on my fantasy team anymore! *lol*

 

[boffo]

Maybe Rios has been hit hard by all the steroid testing because he needs a little something extra to generate any power.
That's why he signed a long term deal before the season started, - he knows no more juice means no more power means no more money.

 

[teassoc]

Makes you wonder doesn't it - not just Rios - with the whole team being unable to score runs and hit home runs.

Poor start by Litsch. How can someone who has been so good pitching wise all of a sudden give up 5 hits in one innings? Now down 3 - 0, with no hits by the Jays. Similar to Halliday last night. Not as bad (yet) as Burnett was with his game before last though. Is that lack of scoring runs getting at the pitchers now?

 

[teassoc]

One (with the benefit of hindsight) Jays management decision put yesterday's game out of reach. That was to bring on Camp with 2 out and 2 on in the seventh, after Carlson had already got one of those outs. By the end of the seventh, the Jays had gone from 3 - 0 to 7 - 0. Loss went down to Litsch when it was really about Camp's inability to do what he was brought on to do and the terrific Cub's strength in scoring from 2 out situations (as in the previous game). Yahoo sports summary simply talks about how good Lilly was on the batting performance of Lee etc.

 

[hunter001]

Poor start by Litsch. How can someone who has been so good pitching wise all of a sudden give up 5 hits in one innings?

He isn't an overpowering
pitcher so if you try to be to perfect it is easy to get messed up. If you have a team that you know might not score more then 2 run behind you then you start thinking that you have to be perfect on every pitch.

 

[Rockslinger]

Ok, I know that I keep beating up on ALEX but surely he can do much better than no home runs since May 1st and a .268 batting average. Jays will not lose to-night.

 

[boffo]

I get the feeling when '08 is over and done with the Blue Jays season can be summed up in two words: "No hitting". That's all you're going to need to say.

And, that's probably got A.J. Burnett fuming because he wants to cash in big time in off season free agency and cream puff hitting is putting a dent in his W - L record and by extension his pocketbook; but, my conservative approach is don't trade him and take the two top 50 compensation draft picks next year.

Burnett options:
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/444404

 

[hunter001]

Sure, Rios signs a new seven-year contract with the Jays that guarantees him $69,835,000 (the second-richest in club history) the pressure is off, and he goes AWOL.

I am still not convinced that it doesn't have more to do with being moved up and down in the line up with no one of significance batting behind him. He started out fairly well then Gibbons start moving him around.

 

[hunter001]

A few more losses and the season is down the shitter before the all-star break.

 

[Esco!]

It's already down the shitter!!

 

[hunter001]

It's already down the shitter!!

With the right trade they could still make a run at the wildcard. They have shown that they can go on a run with starting pitching alone. Alas the "right trade" seems unlikely.

 

[teassoc]

I don't know what's worse 4 hits or giving up 5 home runs. Batting and pitching is pathetic.

 

[hunter001]

I am surprised that no one mentioned Burentt saying he would really love to leave the team but is dedicated to winning in Toronto. If he is traded I can't imagine him going anywhere but Oakland to help them with the wildcard.

 

[Brownie69]

I am surprised that no one mentioned Burentt saying he would really love to leave the team but is dedicated to winning in Toronto. If he is traded I can't imagine him going anywhere but Oakland to help them with the wildcard.

I can't remember the last time that Oakland was a buyer at the trade deadline....

 

[hunter001]

I can't remember the last time that Oakland was a buyer at the trade deadline....

It looks like they might be close to the wildcard so JP might be able to help out his old friends.