Blue Jays 2009

[salsamarc]

just some questions I being asking myself:

1- should the Jays stick with Overbay at first or should they look elsewhere?

2- Is BJ Ryan playing hurt and we do't know and/or could he play a few games as a set up man?

3- Barajas is a very good catcher is he signed through next year or are the Jays looking for a new catcher?

4- hard to critizice Lind and Snyder they are playing great, I can see Rios moving down the lineup if things continue this way

 

[ckupets04]

Ryan definately isn't playing well. I don't know what they can do with him though.

He had 32 saves last year out of 36 chances, so that was good. Not the same player this year - at least at this moment.

At least Halladay got a well deserved win. Thank goodness for that and Jays continued strong offence.

Alan Ashby during the radio broadcast was suggesting that maybe one option could be that they only bring BJ Ryan in for the time being in games that are not too tight, (then again todays game was 5-1 which wasnt too tight), just let him get his work in during games when the Jays are either losing big or winning big until he has resolved his issues and is pitching better and then move him back into the closer's role.

 

[OnTheWayOut]

Caught Ryan's "act" today and agree this guy is not a closer at this point in time. I was never a big fan, his delivery is really whacked. I think he does it on purpose to make batters think he's out of control but I think they all figured out he can hit the plate. Perhaps if he had plunked a few guys along the way ala Randy Johnson the hitters might have some fear and he might have an edge.

Anyway, this guy needs to shape up or ship out.

 

[Rockslinger]

He had 32 saves last year out of 36 chances, so that was good.

The "save" is the most meaningless stat in baseball. Here is why. Come in with a 3 run lead, surrender 2 runs, get a "save".

 

[RayFinkel]

The "save" is the most meaningless stat in baseball. Here is why. Come in with a 3 run lead, surrender 2 runs, get a "save".

What about the 'Hold' ?


.

 

[blueline]

The "save" is the most meaningless stat in baseball. Here is why. Come in with a 3 run lead, surrender 2 runs, get a "save".

How do you feel about coming in with a 3-0 lead. Give up 4 runs top of 9th. Your team scores 2 in the bottom to win 5-4. Blown save but he gets the win.

 

[Rockslinger]

What about the 'Hold' ?

What are the criteria for a "hold" again?

 

[mmmburritos]

BJ Ryan blew chunks today. Sometimes after Tommy John surgery pitchers are never the same.

The Jays should send him down and have him work on his mechanics in the minors. If he can't get things sorted out, then I think he's done.

 

[ckupets04]

How do you feel about coming in with a 3-0 lead. Give up 4 runs top of 9th. Your team scores 2 in the bottom to win 5-4. Blown save but he gets the win.

I seem to remember a season almost a decade ago when John Frascatore got a lot of wins in just that manner. It was crazy.

 

[RayFinkel]

What are the criteria for a "hold" again?

It's when a middle relief pitcher, enters the game with a lead, and leaves the game with a lead.....he gets credited with a HOLD

Pretty fuckin' lame, eh!


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[The Bandit]

What are the criteria for a "hold" again?

What a useless statistic....win/loss, do, even a save doesn't mean alot unless the guy came in a run up and the bases loaded.

 

[benn]

It's when a middle relief pitcher, enters the game with a lead, and leaves the game with a lead.....he gets credited with a HOLD

Pretty fuckin' lame, eh!


.

A hold (abbreviated HLD or H) is awarded to a relief pitcher who:

enters the game in a save situation; that is, one of the following three conditions applies:
his team has a lead of no more than three runs, and there are at least three outs remaining
the potential tying run is either on base, at bat, or on deck
there are at least three innings remaining in the game but no more than four
records at least one out;
leaves the game without his team having relinquished the lead at any point.
Note that since the hold is not an official Major League Baseball statistic, the definition above can vary.

 

[lawyerman]

just some questions I being asking myself:

1- should the Jays stick with Overbay at first or should they look elsewhere?

2- Is BJ Ryan playing hurt and we do't know and/or could he play a few games as a set up man?

3- Barajas is a very good catcher is he signed through next year or are the Jays looking for a new catcher?

4- hard to critizice Lind and Snyder they are playing great, I can see Rios moving down the lineup if things continue this way

I think that the Jays should stick with Overbay and show that they have confidence in him. This guy has went through off-season hernia operations and has struggled. They have to know where he is at physically and if they start second guessing Overbay this early in the season by not playing him, that will ruin his confidence even further. It can't go on forever and they do have Kevin Millar for backup purposes.

Who knows if Ryan is hurt or not. He should be plugged in when the game is not on the line in middle relief and try and get his confidence back. He is not a closer at this time and should be moved immediately.

This is Barajas' final year of his contract. He can certainly call a good game but he has struggled big time early. The Jays are always looking for a catcher. Michael Barrett would be a capable backup.

I wouldn't move Rios down in the lineup yet because that is sending out a message to him that they are not happy with his play and that will affect his confidence (see Overbay). It is way too early in the season to be doing something as drastic as that because the team is winning right now and nothing really needs to be changed. Not all players are going to be playing at a high level at all times.

I would like to have seen sy least one stolen base by now. Just sayin'.

 

[mac]

I think that the Jays should stick with Overbay and show that they have confidence in him. This guy has went through off-season hernia operations and has struggled. They have to know where he is at physically and if they start second guessing Overbay this early in the season by not playing him, that will ruin his confidence even further. It can't go on forever and they do have Kevin Millar for backup purposes.
)

i don't think Overbay's career is such that he gets an automatic berth to a position on a team that has very little chance of winning a playoff spot. He should have to earn his way on this line as should everyone. This team has to be scarpy and tough if they are going to even win half the time and i certainly hope that Cito creates that atmosphere.

 

[lawyerman]

i don't think Overbay's career is such that he gets an automatic berth to a position on a team that has very little chance of winning a playoff spot. He should have to earn his way on this line as should everyone. This team has to be scarpy and tough if they are going to even win half the time and i certainly hope that Cito creates that atmosphere.

He has had a rash of injuries going back to that broken hand in 2007. Like I said before, it is too early in the season to make that type of decision. If he doesn't improve, then they must do something with him. The Jays are a cash strapped team and since the dollar has taken a tumble as compared to last year, they will try and stick with Overbay for the time being. Buying him out will not help matters and I don't think that he would be viable trade bait either.

I do agree with you mac that if something doesn't change soon, then Overbay should be riding the pines and earn his way back in the lineup.

 

[teassoc]

I think that the Jays should stick with Overbay and show that they have confidence in him. This guy has went through off-season hernia operations and has struggled. They have to know where he is at physically and if they start second guessing Overbay this early in the season by not playing him, that will ruin his confidence even further. It can't go on forever and they do have Kevin Millar for backup purposes.

Who knows if Ryan is hurt or not. He should be plugged in when the game is not on the line in middle relief and try and get his confidence back. He is not a closer at this time and should be moved immediately.

This is Barajas' final year of his contract. He can certainly call a good game but he has struggled big time early. The Jays are always looking for a catcher. Michael Barrett would be a capable backup.

I wouldn't move Rios down in the lineup yet because that is sending out a message to him that they are not happy with his play and that will affect his confidence (see Overbay). It is way too early in the season to be doing something as drastic as that because the team is winning right now and nothing really needs to be changed. Not all players are going to be playing at a high level at all times.

I would like to have seen sy least one stolen base by now. Just sayin'.

I agree but it seems like Millar is going to feature quite a bit. That'll take the pressure off Overbay. Some kind of platoon arrangement might be best.

Looks like Gaston has the same strategy in mind with Snider and Bautista.

Rios seems to have been a streaky batter so I wouldn't change his or anyone's position right now. There was too much of that last season.

Sounds sensible to bring Ryan on earlier, where he is under less pressure. It would be good if Accardo could be brought back but his Spring Training results were not great.

 

[blueline]

One would have to think there is something physically wrong with Ryan. It is hard to imagine how he could lose that much velocity. Before surgery he was at 90-92, after surgery 88-89 and early this season 84-85 or so? I know location plays a big part in how successful a pitcher can be, but there is a big difference locating an 88-89 mph fastball vs. a 84 mph fastball. Major League hitters will tee off on that pitch. Those are meatballs and hitters will eat them up all day long. 4-5 mph may not seem like a lot, but it is definitely cause for concern. I saw this last season with Beckett. At the end of the season he was down in the very low 90's and he was getting hit hard, very hard. In the end, he did have some various problems (elbow, then the oblique). Same with Papelbon a couple of years ago and at one point in the season last year. His velocity dropped significantly and he ended up having minor shoulder problems. Dice-K is now a bit of a concern as he is topping out around 90, way lower than where he was in the WBC. The first thing I would do, would be to at least get him checked out, but wait til after the Red Sox series in a few weeks.

 

[blueline]

I think that the Jays should stick with Overbay and show that they have confidence in him. This guy has went through off-season hernia operations and has struggled. They have to know where he is at physically and if they start second guessing Overbay this early in the season by not playing him, that will ruin his confidence even further. It can't go on forever and they do have Kevin Millar for backup purposes.

Jays fans are going to like Millar. He is a good guy and his teammates will enjoy having him around. This is a low risk-high reward type of signing that will pay off. I know he is still adored in Boston, they even brought him back to throw out the first pitch in game 7 of the 2007 ALCS - while he was still a member of the Orioles. Good signing.

 

[Captain Fantastic]

The "hold"...

What are the criteria for a "hold" again?

It's when a middle relief pitcher, enters the game with a lead, and leaves the game with a lead.....he gets credited with a HOLD

... Also known as "doing your job" in some quarters.

 

[salsamarc]

I think Gaston is doing a great job.....can you honestly tell me the idiot of Gibbons would have started BOTH Lind and Snider in opening day ???

Cito will work with his players and will inspire confidence by letting them play through a slump, lawyerman is right is too early to mess with the team chemistry specially since they are winning so far