The Blue Jays Thread: 2008 Season - Page 55 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Gozer · 08-28-2008, 02:43 PM

Basically, Marcum's problem is that he is throwing too close to the middle of the mound (relative to previous outings), and I infer that is killing him because the fastball ends up going straight toward the pitcher (instead of at an angle that a wider release point would cause) and that causes the fastball to differ from the curve or slider.

The first 1/3 of the balls flight path should be the same regardless of the pitch (moving across the plate), thereby "hiding" it and requiring the batter to pick up the speed and rotation.

If the first 1/3 of the flight path looks different (fastball is coming straight at the plate, breaking pitches moving across the plate) the pitcher makes the pitches easier to identify. Marcum doesn't have the pure stuff to dominate without fooling batters.

I'm mostly just trying to deduce this, any other baseball aficionados care to elaborate or correct that?

calculoso · 08-28-2008, 10:38 PM

Sportsnet: Jays have designated Matt Stairs for assignment (trade to a contender in the works) and have called up Travis Snider.

Prototype · 08-28-2008, 10:43 PM

Over Under on JP getting fired... I'm going to say November 17th, 2008.

Flickered Flame · 08-28-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculoso

Sportsnet: Jays have designated Matt Stairs for assignment (trade to a contender in the works) and have called up Travis Snider.

Phillies maybe? I've read they have been looking for a left handed bat.

Machiavelli · 08-29-2008, 12:24 AM

Cool....we get a look at Snider, perhaps?

habernac · 08-29-2008, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calculoso

Sportsnet: Jays have designated Matt Stairs for assignment (trade to a contender in the works) and have called up Travis Snider.

I'm a Stairs fan. Too bad the Jays didn't get him until he was 40 years old. Best of luck to Matt!

Flickered Flame · 08-29-2008, 07:46 AM

Rosenthal says it is the Phillies.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8...0813162&ATT=49

Gozer · 08-29-2008, 08:32 AM

Wish you the best Stairs, you were class every step of the way. Might've been the Jays MVP last year, but this year it just wasn't there.

Good move by JP to move him to somewhere he can win. I'm now cheering for the Phils the rest of the season.

Snider called up!? I really hope he locks down the 4th OF / DH spot next year.

JiriHrdina · 08-29-2008, 09:23 AM

Re. Snider:

"In 18 games with Class AAA Syracuse, he was batting .344 with two home runs and 17 RBIs."

Damn! Get this kid up here and let's see what he can do.

Sylvanfan · 08-29-2008, 09:32 AM

I thought the team was going to keep Snider in AAA for the rest of the year and than send him to the Arizona Fall League. Looks like he maybe forced their hand a bit. With September coming fast and the team holding a 68-84 record, why not give him a look.

flambers · 08-29-2008, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

With September coming fast and the team holding a 68-84 record, why not give him a look.

Dang I know the Jays have struggled this year but their record is 68-65....

As for Snider its a good decision to call him up....

Wonder if the Jays wil move any other players before the Waiver trade deadline (Aug 31st)......

flamesaresmokin · 08-29-2008, 12:53 PM

I'm pretty excited to see this kid in action. Hopefully he can push for regular duty.

Gozer · 08-29-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flambers

Wonder if the Jays wil move any other players before the Waiver trade deadline (Aug 31st)......

I'd bet that Exstein to the Angels is better than 50%

Zaun, if anyone will take him.

flambers · 08-29-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gozer

I'd bet that Exstein to the Angels is better than 50%

Zaun, if anyone will take him.

Yep, I agree the most likely guy to get moved is Eckstein....

Wonder if the Red Sox would call the Jays about Burnett especially since their #1 guy (Beckett) is now seeing Dr Andrews which is usually a bad sign.....

ShaolinFlame · 08-29-2008, 02:05 PM

I hope Snider stays down. If he plays next year he could end up having arbitration a year earlier. Is that worth it for a month of ABs?

In other news, Semen-Excrement or not excrement? (Sorry I had to - Gozer will feel it)

Machiavelli · 08-29-2008, 02:11 PM

Stairs to Philly is a done deal.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=247859&l...=secStory_main

"I can tell you that I am going to a contender, so that makes it a little easier to swallow," Stairs said on Thursday.

Best of luck to a good Canadian boy!

Antithesis · 08-31-2008, 02:53 PM

After today's win vs. the Yanks - which pretty much seals the deal for THEM (yes!!) - the Jays sent David Eckstein to the D'Backs for minor league pitcher John Beck.

http://sportsnet.ca/baseball/2008/08...backs_rumours/

calculoso · 09-02-2008, 05:00 PM

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/M...639186-ap.html

Quote:

The Blue Jays activated outfielder Brad Wilkerson off the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and recalled right-hander Shaun Marcum, outfielder Kevin Mench, right-hander Scott Richmond, catcher Curtis Thigpen and right-hander Brian Wolfe from Triple-A Syracuse.

Those are some impressive September call-ups...

octothorp · 09-03-2008, 08:07 PM

Had no idea they called Snider up, just turned on the TV to see him earn a clutch bottom-of-the-ninth, two-out base hit to tie the game. I like what I've seen in that one at bat.

SportsJunky · 09-03-2008, 09:21 PM

There is talk that Snider could be a 20 year old DH come next year as he's not really suited to be a full time position player. I'm not sure where Toronto invests in another bat for next year if that is the case. Every other position is locked up assuming Hill comes back. Move Overbay maybe and replace him with a big bat?