It's not even Wednesday and this week is already proving to be a hand wringer for Blue Jays fans. To recap:
- Brandon Morrow throws 9 pitches in Monday's game against the Nationals and pulls himself out of the game with an injury. Turns out to be a side strain and he may or may not go on the DL. So much for getting lucky when he avoided an injury from the come backer to the leg.
- Vlad Guerrero issues an ultimatum to the Jays - either call him up to the Show or release him. Since when is baseball an exercise in hostage negotiations? And since when it is professional to walk away from a club that was willing to take a risk on an aging player only to place your own timeline on your comeback. Prior success does not automatically dictate that the Blue Jays had to move Vlad into the Show and Vlad certainly didn't give the Jays any strong reasons to elevate him based on his play in AAA. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained and in this case, no big loss for the Jays.
- The Blue Jays have optioned Jan "The Brazilian Bomber" Gomes back to AAA and have called up two more arms for the bullpen. For those counting, that makes 8 arms in the pen and 3 bodies on the bench (McCoy, Vizquel, Mathis). More than likely, this is a move designed to get more time before making a final decision on whether or not Morrow has to go on the DL.
What does all of this mean in terms of on-field product? The answer is yet to be seen. But here's hoping that the Jays get through the Nationals in one piece and when Philly comes to town this weekend, let's play strong but quietly and avoid waking a sleeping giant.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Here's to Bucking the Trend
Since June 1997, when interleague play was introduced, the Blue Jays have played 270 interleague games. The team's record over those 270 games is not pretty. In fact, one could say that the team's record has fallen out of the proverbial ugly tree. The Jays have lost 145 games and won only 125 games. That is far from.500 ball and leads one to question: If the Jays were better in interleague play, would the team have made the playoffs in prior seasons?
This year, more so than in recent memory, that question may prove to haunt the Blue Jays if the interleague woes continue. With 18 interleague games scheduled for AL teams (the Jays have already played 5 games with a 2-3 record thus far) and an abnormally tight AL East, going less than .500 in interleague play this year could have a true detrimental impact. All of this is hypothetical at this point and the Blue Jays could tear through the rest of interleague play, but history says that is unlikely. [Though, if history is always looked to as a predictor for the future, that would ignore progress in a vast array of societal areas - for example, if historical trends, as a predictor, were correct in the last U.S. Presidential election, Obama would not be in office - and we all know that the U.S. people bucked that historical trend.]
I don't proclaim to have an answer here and I'm really not saying anything new. Jays fans have been fretting over our interleague woes for nearly 15 years. I suppose I should remain proud that when interleague play truely counted for the Jays, we came out on top, twice. But in today's day and age, interleague play is not limited to the World Series or the All-Star game. It is a key component of the schedule, making up more than 10% of the season, and the Jays have to figure something out and quickly.
I'll be at the Rogers Centre for at least one interleague game this week, maybe two, and hopefully I can witness the Jays starting to buck the historical trend. Here's hoping anyways.
This year, more so than in recent memory, that question may prove to haunt the Blue Jays if the interleague woes continue. With 18 interleague games scheduled for AL teams (the Jays have already played 5 games with a 2-3 record thus far) and an abnormally tight AL East, going less than .500 in interleague play this year could have a true detrimental impact. All of this is hypothetical at this point and the Blue Jays could tear through the rest of interleague play, but history says that is unlikely. [Though, if history is always looked to as a predictor for the future, that would ignore progress in a vast array of societal areas - for example, if historical trends, as a predictor, were correct in the last U.S. Presidential election, Obama would not be in office - and we all know that the U.S. people bucked that historical trend.]
I don't proclaim to have an answer here and I'm really not saying anything new. Jays fans have been fretting over our interleague woes for nearly 15 years. I suppose I should remain proud that when interleague play truely counted for the Jays, we came out on top, twice. But in today's day and age, interleague play is not limited to the World Series or the All-Star game. It is a key component of the schedule, making up more than 10% of the season, and the Jays have to figure something out and quickly.
I'll be at the Rogers Centre for at least one interleague game this week, maybe two, and hopefully I can witness the Jays starting to buck the historical trend. Here's hoping anyways.
Monday, May 28, 2012
We All Have to Be Accountable
Let's start with the inspiration for this entry. Following the despicable ouster of Alvarez this weekend, and a myriad of prior umpiring wrongs this season, tonight any one who watched the Boston-Detriot game (or caught the "lowlight" on TSN/ESPN) saw the unthinkable - an at-bat continuing beyond strike three. No, this was not an occasion of the catcher dropping the ball and not making the tag (and in event, the at-bat doesn't continue in that scenario). In the second inning, Mike Aviles struck out swinging, but only he didn't. Homeplate umpire Jeff Nelson called a foul tip and on the appeal to first, Bill Welke determined that catcher, Gerald Laird, dropped the ball or it hit the ground first. Either way, wrong and wrong. Aviles missed the ball by a clear two inches and the ball landed cleanly in Laird's glove. Not so, said the umpires; the inning continued and Aviles' subsequent single sparked a rally.
Jim Leyland was rightfully infuriated and promptly tossed. After the game, he had one of the better interviews this entire season regarding the state of umpiring affairs. The media were admonished to finally write something and hold the umpires accountable. Leyland just wants what every self-respecting fan and lover of the game wants - for all players, owners, managers, fans AND umpires to be held accountable. Displays of the nature seen in Boston today are wretched and embarassing and overall inexcusable. Competence and quality are two factors that can weigh into an average person's discipline or dismissal from employment, so why not in umpiring?
Speaking of being held accountable, let's talk about the Blue Jays. I understand the irony of starting this blog and naming it "Punching Tickets" in the same week that the Blue Jays' pitchers handed out 25 walks over four games. I'll leave the genesis of the name for another day, but for now let me just say that when the Jays' pitchers are on, they have the stuff to be great. Apparently, when they're not on...well, it can get ugly in a hurry.
So yes, our pitchers need to be held accountable. I have to think, however, that the boys are doing a good enough job for the rest of us and fans don't need to add to the tension. But I digress.
Speaking of being held accountable and, more importantly, punching tickets, today Drew Hutchinson took the mound and punch tickets he did. Sure, there were three more walks, but that was over seven innings. Over those seven innings, Hutchinson held the Orioles to three hits, topping the performance off with nine Ks. Punching tickets!
It was a great comeback for the rookie and for the Jays in general after a very rough road trip. The Jays took flight early and won 6-2. KJ was back in the lineup after a couple days to rest his hammy and got to test it out early and often (two doubles and one homerun later, I expect his hammy to be a little sore tonight).
Here's hoping that the Jays stay in flight. After all, they can make up three games on the Orioles with a sweep of this series and I have a strong feeling that the boys are dusting of the brooms used to clean the clubhouse.
Jim Leyland was rightfully infuriated and promptly tossed. After the game, he had one of the better interviews this entire season regarding the state of umpiring affairs. The media were admonished to finally write something and hold the umpires accountable. Leyland just wants what every self-respecting fan and lover of the game wants - for all players, owners, managers, fans AND umpires to be held accountable. Displays of the nature seen in Boston today are wretched and embarassing and overall inexcusable. Competence and quality are two factors that can weigh into an average person's discipline or dismissal from employment, so why not in umpiring?
Speaking of being held accountable, let's talk about the Blue Jays. I understand the irony of starting this blog and naming it "Punching Tickets" in the same week that the Blue Jays' pitchers handed out 25 walks over four games. I'll leave the genesis of the name for another day, but for now let me just say that when the Jays' pitchers are on, they have the stuff to be great. Apparently, when they're not on...well, it can get ugly in a hurry.
So yes, our pitchers need to be held accountable. I have to think, however, that the boys are doing a good enough job for the rest of us and fans don't need to add to the tension. But I digress.
Speaking of being held accountable and, more importantly, punching tickets, today Drew Hutchinson took the mound and punch tickets he did. Sure, there were three more walks, but that was over seven innings. Over those seven innings, Hutchinson held the Orioles to three hits, topping the performance off with nine Ks. Punching tickets!
It was a great comeback for the rookie and for the Jays in general after a very rough road trip. The Jays took flight early and won 6-2. KJ was back in the lineup after a couple days to rest his hammy and got to test it out early and often (two doubles and one homerun later, I expect his hammy to be a little sore tonight).
Here's hoping that the Jays stay in flight. After all, they can make up three games on the Orioles with a sweep of this series and I have a strong feeling that the boys are dusting of the brooms used to clean the clubhouse.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
The Ump That Broke the Fan's Back
I have been a Blue Jays fan since I was old enough to bounce in a jolly jumper. I remember the thrills of the back to back World Series wins - albeit, I wasn't old enough to truly "enjoy" them. I have stayed the course through the post-lockout era, the rise of Halladay, the Riccardi era, the lose of Halladay and the new AA rebuilding phase. Through all of this, I cannot remember a season for which I have been so excited. Did I expect the boys to lead the AL throughout the season - no (but it would have been a great surprise if they did). Do I think they can still improve? Absolutely, life is growing and getting better. Some games have been harder to endure than other (last night's laugher in Arlington for example). But at the end of the day, I am, always have been and always will be a Blue Jays fan.
Like all self-respecting sports fans, I have strong opinions. Until now, those opinions have been saved for my loved ones, friends, select colleagues who share a love of the Jays, and occasionally my meager number of Twitter followers. So what has finally pushed me over the edge and into the self-indulgent realm of blogging? That's simple - MLB umps!
As a life long baseball fan, I have seen all the blown calls, exaggerated strike zones, revenge strikes and hyper-inflated egos. The Ump that finally broke this fan's back is the illustrious Marty Foster (of course, Bill Miller's ego of late was probably responsible for pushing me to the edge of sanity). On a 2-2 count, Henderson Alvarez is thrown out for losing control inside (and not hitting the batter mind you). Foster basically pushes JPA out of the way to make the botched call. It was a pathetic display of an Ump having the power to completely change the course of a game in a moment all the while being WRONG. Other umpires should be embarrassed for Foster. Foster should hang his head in shame and his actions should be reviewed by the MLB. Should, should, should - but none of this will occur. Instead, Foster will go about his business, which includes ejecting 77 players since 1996 - I wonder how many were truly warranted.
So thank you Marty Foster for freeing my voice and finally enraging this fan to the point of seeking an online forum to vent against the travesty that is MLB umping. Yours is the only profession of which I know that employees can be so blatantly wrong, so frequently, and not be fired for incompetence. Well, no more, says this fan. While I fully understand that adding another voice to the legions of fans screaming to the rafters about injustices in the ballparks across North America will not change a darn thing, it will at least make me feel better. And, hey, it also gives me an opportunity to discuss one of my favourite topics - my beloved Blue Jays (who are still alive in the 11th as I write this, despite the umps' best efforts).
Like all self-respecting sports fans, I have strong opinions. Until now, those opinions have been saved for my loved ones, friends, select colleagues who share a love of the Jays, and occasionally my meager number of Twitter followers. So what has finally pushed me over the edge and into the self-indulgent realm of blogging? That's simple - MLB umps!
As a life long baseball fan, I have seen all the blown calls, exaggerated strike zones, revenge strikes and hyper-inflated egos. The Ump that finally broke this fan's back is the illustrious Marty Foster (of course, Bill Miller's ego of late was probably responsible for pushing me to the edge of sanity). On a 2-2 count, Henderson Alvarez is thrown out for losing control inside (and not hitting the batter mind you). Foster basically pushes JPA out of the way to make the botched call. It was a pathetic display of an Ump having the power to completely change the course of a game in a moment all the while being WRONG. Other umpires should be embarrassed for Foster. Foster should hang his head in shame and his actions should be reviewed by the MLB. Should, should, should - but none of this will occur. Instead, Foster will go about his business, which includes ejecting 77 players since 1996 - I wonder how many were truly warranted.
So thank you Marty Foster for freeing my voice and finally enraging this fan to the point of seeking an online forum to vent against the travesty that is MLB umping. Yours is the only profession of which I know that employees can be so blatantly wrong, so frequently, and not be fired for incompetence. Well, no more, says this fan. While I fully understand that adding another voice to the legions of fans screaming to the rafters about injustices in the ballparks across North America will not change a darn thing, it will at least make me feel better. And, hey, it also gives me an opportunity to discuss one of my favourite topics - my beloved Blue Jays (who are still alive in the 11th as I write this, despite the umps' best efforts).
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