2013 Toronto Blue Jays thread

[Hockey]

Kawasaki called back up to the Jays.

Cabrera to the 15 day DL.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Kawasaki called back up to the Jays.

Cabrera to the 15 day DL.

[Drake]

Speaking to Sportsnet 590 The Fan, Arencibia unleashed a torrent of criticism at the two men, both former members of the Jays’ organization. (Dirk Hayhurst, the former pitcher, and Gregg Zaun, the former catcher, both work for Rogers Sportsnet, which is owned by Rogers Communications Inc., which also owns the Jays.)

“I think it’s very unfortunate that the fans have to hear those guys talk as much as they do, because I know — speaking for myself and for the team — that there’s not one person in our clubhouse that respects those guys,” Arencibia said on air. “Because they’re informing the fans the wrong way, and it’s not right.”

He continued, uninterrupted, and appeared to take aim at Zaun.

“One, not a lot of us, including myself, respect a person that used performance-enhancing drugs, and you know, were unable to stick around as a below-average player in the major leagues,” Arencibia said. “I know that I’ve worked my entire career; I’ve worked hard. I’ve never done anything. I’ve never put anything in my body, and I go out there and bust my butt every day. It’s not an easy game.

“And I think, sometimes, you can forget that.”

And then he turned to Hayhurst.

Read more his tirade from this morning here:

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2013/...-of-the-media/

[KelVarnsen]

Maybe JPA should ignore them and learn to hit.

[moon]

I am not sure JPA is really in any place to mock other guys careers or calling them not good enough with the type of play he has offered up in his career.

Also perhaps instead of whining about guys criticizing a last place, sub .500 team perhaps him and his teammates should spend more time working on the basics and not giving these guys tons of reasons to criticize you.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by moon

I am not sure JPA is really in any place to mock other guys careers or calling them not good enough with the type of play he has offered up in his career.

Also perhaps instead of whining about guys criticizing a last place, sub .500 team perhaps him and his teammates should spend more time working on the basics and not giving these guys tons of reasons to criticize you.

Not that I disagree with your overall point, but it's kind of cute how you toss in the "last place" jab.

This is the only division in baseball where the Jays are in last place with their record, and in fact in most divisions they'd be in 2nd or 3rd, and that fact doesn't take in to account that they'd get to pad their record by playing cream puff teams like the Cubs or Brewers more often instead of the Yanks, Rays and Red Sox.

[KelVarnsen]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...ing-with-fire/
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...for-arencibia/

Some more reading about useless, I mean JPA.

“J.P. enjoys the limelight, but it’s a two-way street,” teammate Adam Lind says. “No one cares about high school, college, double-A or triple-A. But now it’s the big leagues and it’s people’s job to critique and analyze – basically talk about it you.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...ing-with-fire/
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...for-arencibia/

Some more reading about useless, I mean JPA.

Lind couldn't have said it any better.

[flames_fan_down_under]

That article by Grange really nails it. The stats he outlines basically confirms that Arencibia is one of the worst players in the bigs.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Not that I disagree with your overall point, but it's kind of cute how you toss in the "last place" jab.

It wasn't meant as a jab but to point out that they aren't criticizing the 27 Yankees but a club that is struggling and needs to get a lot better if they want to make the play-offs.

Jays and Jays fans can whine about the division all they want but the fact is they have to play well enough to finish 2nd/3rd in that division and right now they aren't doing that or coming that close so criticism is warranted for the team and its players. Especially when they are making the kinds of mistakes they are making.

[Karl]

Bautista, Encarnacion & Cecil to all-star game.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/ml...ett-cecil.html

[dustyanddaflames]

I was listening to the afternoon baseball show on The Fan 590, and Hayhurst said he came down to the field after JPAs comments, and confronted him. Arencibia, and I'm paraphrasing, said that he is there to produce home runs and RBI, and he isn't concerned about OBP, etc. I guess if you look at it like JPA, no wonder he is confused w the criticism. What a cat - still hasn't figured it out. And I love the little jab Hayhurst tossed out, telling arencibia he has more passed balls than blocked balls.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by dustyanddaflames

I was listening to the afternoon baseball show on The Fan 590, and Hayhurst said he came down to the field after JPAs comments, and confronted him. Arencibia, and I'm paraphrasing, said that he is there to produce home runs and RBI, and he isn't concerned about OBP, etc. I guess if you look at it like JPA, no wonder he is confused w the criticism. What a cat - still hasn't figured it out. And I love the little jab Hayhurst tossed out, telling arencibia he has more passed balls than blocked balls.

Jeez if that's how J.P. is rationalising his performance then there is truly no hope for him. I am being honest when I say I could stomach his offensive stats if J.P. actually played sound defensively. If he could from time to time throw out someone trying to steal second, or block a ball that bounces in the dirt, and maybe even catch the whole starting pitching staff, then I could say "Hey at least J.P. *insert part of his job here* adequately". But I can't. I will give him the HR, yes he is first in majors amongst catchers in HR. Even that lead he has is tenuous. Buck, Wieters, Posey, Rosario, Lucroy, Santana are all within reach of surpassing J.P.. However the RBI thing is something that J.P. isn't even all that proficient in. Amongst catchers he is 8th, which is OK, however amongst the AL that puts him in a tie for 47th. You're really showing us J.P.. Never mind momentum swallowing strike outs, and advancing runners because you can't catch a pitch, and never walking, and never throwing out someone who steals.

Since May 28th J.P. has hit 3 HR, 11 RBI. Mark De Rosa 2 HR and 10 RBI in the same span as a platooning infielder who barely plays. You really suck J.P.

[bluejays]

JP's always had the tools, but I'm not sure of the work ethic - just lazy, just very laid back. Having said that, an all round average catcher is all an MLB team needs. Let's face it, 2nd and CF need to be upgraded first (IMO). I actually can't stand the smug look on both Hayhurst and Zaun's faces during broadcasts, so I'm happy JP laid it into those guys. As for Hayhurst claiming he "confronted" JP after the comments, I can only reply with a big LOL. What a ######.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by fleury

JP's always had the tools, but I'm not sure of the work ethic - just lazy, just very laid back. Having said that, an all round average catcher is all an MLB team needs. Let's face it, 2nd and CF need to be upgraded first (IMO). I actually can't stand the smug look on both Hayhurst and Zaun's faces during broadcasts, so I'm happy JP laid it into those guys. As for Hayhurst claiming he "confronted" JP after the comments, I can only reply with a big LOL. What a ######.

I think CF is the least of the Jays worries. I don't think Rasmus has been all that bad and I feel he is undervalued by a lot of Jays fans. Sure he strikes out a lot, but he brings decent centre field defence, can hit for power and hits doubles and walks from time to time. I do agree that 2B is a huge need for the Jays (as I type this Bonifacio makes a great play at 2nd). Not sure what AA's plan is for 2B. I think starting pitching is still a major weakness for the Jays going forward.

[moon]

Good to see JPA come through with a solid HR or RBI like he is there to produce.

I agree with Fleury he is a ######.

[troutman]

I think Melky is going to get suspended with about 20 other players after the all-star break.

[dustyanddaflames]

They actually were talking about rasmus during that conversation - and rasmus is actually statistically having a better season than Adam Jones (not a sabermetrics guy, my apology). He truly is under appreciated around these parts - and I think a lot of that is due to the raw talent he possesses.

As for Hayhurst - I really like him. Honest, but blunt - no matter who he is talking about, even himself. Zaun is, well, Zaun. A blowhard who talks about himself a whole pile - but I guess if I had as long of MLB career as he did, I might too.

[mrkajz44]

Rasmus is easily the most unappreciated Blue Jay. Some people look at a few stats and just say "he strikes out too much". With sabermetrics I think we've lost appreciation for some of the intangibles that are important, especially on defense. Taking good routes to the ball, hitting the cut-off man (some guys just don't get that for some reason??), smart baserunning, etc. I also think he has way better speed than anyone thinks.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think Melky is going to get suspended with about 20 other players after the all-star break.

I will be curious to see who is on the formal list of players that may get suspended.

If I recall Melky served a suspension last season for this particular offense?