Quote:
Originally Posted by Machiavelli
2 runs to work with, ahead in the count 0-2, and he throws The Steroid Machine Giambi a freaking slow-motion slider in the middle of the plate.
Someone should have told him we're not playing beach volleyball.
Time to call up League, or get Accardo back in there. BJ just hasn't been the same this season.
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Where do you think Barajas wanted that slider? I sure hope he didn't get exactly what he asked for, but I seriously doubt it, especially after the confusion on the pass ball. Having him behind the plate has led to a noticeable improvement in pitch calling (although Zaun is close, the others were far behind, besides Sal).
BJ just doesn't have the velocity to make his style effective anymore. He used to blast those hard sliders past guys and get looking SOs on 0-2 counts (although maybe a little more low and outside, and with no one on base). He doesn't have the power, and he has been around long enough that guys have a good idea that BJ is going to put it over the plate 0-2 (case in point Giambi). I think calling for a new closer is rash, lets remember BJ is coming off a Tommy Jon (and went 8 for 8 in saves to start the year). If he goes out with Arnsberg and fine tunes his strategy to have a little more finesse he will be fine. It's not like his location has been that bad, he just needs to realize he can't challenge guys the same way he could 2 or 3 years ago. Hopefully he is still recovering a little bit and his velocity will get a little a higher, maybe 2-3 MPH.
I don't know if you were expecting BJ to be 10-10, but I was figuring about an 80-90 percent by the end of the year, a number which would improve as the season went on. Do you seriously think Accardo or League would be 9 for 10? I doubt it.
As for the terrible RISP play, I don't even want to touch it. I tried so hard to stay off the Anti-Gib bandwagon, but somehow managed to get a stray bandwagon rope wrapped around my neck, a rope which was slowly dragging me to death. I'm going climb up that rope. FIRE THE GIB! FIRE HIM SOON JP! I AM SICKING OF COUNTING GAMES BLOWN BY TERRIBLE DECISIONS! If I had a better memory I would probably be twice as pissed.
Beyond that, it was not that bad of a trip, and it will be good for the boys to get home and maybe string together a couple. If the Bsox sweep TB I think the rays might cool off, giving the Jays an OK shot at the Wild Card.