The Blue Jays Thread: 2008 Season - Page 11 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

habernac · 04-27-2008, 04:24 PM

I think they must be reading this, lots of lineup changes and a win for a change! Rolen with a good day, Rios had a bunch of hits as well.

Jiggy_12 · 04-27-2008, 06:26 PM

I didnt see the game, but the boxscore shows they used Ryan in the 8th inning, and Carlson in the 9th to close it out? Anyone know why?

JayP · 04-28-2008, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

I didnt see the game, but the boxscore shows they used Ryan in the 8th inning, and Carlson in the 9th to close it out? Anyone know why?

Ryan came in in a 3-2 game. The Jays tacked on 2 more in the top of the 9th to make it 5-2.

Gibbons made the smart move and didn't wear out his closer's arm with a 3-run lead in the ninth. Smart use of relief pitchers from a manager who still buys into the traditional baseball logic that saves mean something.

CaramonLS · 04-29-2008, 07:46 PM

I'm strangling people if I am Halladay. A complete Travesty he is 2-4.

Machiavelli · 04-29-2008, 08:17 PM

Another complete game loss for Halladay thanks to the Jays' inept hitting and lazy OF play by Wells (Ortiz is slow; if that ball is fielded cleanly at least there's a play at the plate).

I think Litsch now has the best record for starters at 3-1.

habernac · 04-29-2008, 08:35 PM

what a pitching duel. An inch away from getting a run in the top of nine, but gold glover Wells needs to get that ball cleanly. A crying shame Halladay doesn't get any run support here (with apologies to Lester, who pitched a terrific game).

ShaolinFlame · 04-30-2008, 06:42 PM

At least Tabby is back. I was getting so sick of Rance. He is not that bad of a color guy, but he has the absolute worst chemistry with Jamie. And who was that other dude doing color for a series (was it KC? I know TB was Rance...)

More Tabby + Jamie!

EDIT: According to this http://mlb.mlb.com/team/broadcasters.jsp?c_id=tor it must have been Fletch. I hear his voice so rarely I often forget what it sounds like.

bluejays · 04-30-2008, 08:11 PM

Great pitching today from both sides, and to be honest, I don't really mind that they lost the game today because they actually showed some intensity (and because I have Papelbon in my pool - 2 wins yay!). One player that has really been bugging me all year for the Jays is Aaron Hill. The guy has is pretty good, but why the hell does he have to swing at everything? There's no such thing as patience from him (and I have him in my pool too

).

Machiavelli · 04-30-2008, 08:43 PM

Gibbons has to go.

He keeps Downs, who is still recovering from biceps tendinitis or whatever it's called, in a game where he had a deep bullpen.

The lack of offense doesn't help.

CaramonLS · 04-30-2008, 08:47 PM

I really question not bringing in MacDonald in the 9th as a defensive replacement.

There is a good chance that he could have gotten to that ball and perhaps knocked it down (on the Manny scoring play in the 9th inning, 2 out), if not, made the play.

JayP · 04-30-2008, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I really question not bringing in MacDonald in the 9th as a defensive replacement.

There is a good chance that he could have gotten to that ball and perhaps knocked it down (on the Manny scoring play in the 9th inning, 2 out), if not, made the play.

McDonald had just pinch-run at the top of the 9th. He moved to DH knocking Stairs out of the game. Scutaro and Zaun were already out of the game from a pinch-run scenario. You move McDonald to SS and there goes Eckstein and your bench is depleted.

You have to trust your pitcher to get you into extras.

Jiggy_12 · 04-30-2008, 10:01 PM

Blue Jays are just brutal this year. They are so completely un-clutch and are quickly becoming the laughing stock of the American League.

Sylvanfan · 04-30-2008, 10:52 PM

To make matters worse, McDonald as a pinch runner got picked off by Papelbon. Mind you that just saved Vernon Wells the embarassment of grounding into a double play about 3 pitches later. Sad thing is that a lot of the other so called good American League teams are off to pretty sketchy starts as well. The Jays may have been good enough to stay alive long enough had they gone through April with like a 18-11 record while the other teams play catch up. They're not good enough to come back from 11-18 and get back in it.

JayP · 04-30-2008, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

To make matters worse, McDonald as a pinch runner got picked off by Papelbon. Mind you that just saved Vernon Wells the embarassment of grounding into a double play about 3 pitches later.

I doubt Wells gets the same pitch if McDonald doesn't get picked off.

The fault is completely on McDonald. You can't get nabbed trying to fake a steal and distract Papelbon in that situation.

Sylvanfan · 04-30-2008, 11:04 PM

It was an 0-2, or 1-2 count on Wells, chances are Wells would have eventually chased a splitter and struck out. But yeah picked off with none out by a right handed pitcher can't hapen, that sort of thing snuffs out an inning before it gets a chance to start.

Saint Troy · 05-01-2008, 08:26 AM

The Jays are inventing new ways to completely waste brilliant starting pitching. Awful baserunning (how does Scutaro not tag up on Rios' sac fly with NO ONE OUT to get himself to third, and MacDonald getting picked off? when you are a pinch runner? by a rightie?), weak defence (Wells' pop gun arm, and error the night before, Eckstein's nightly horror show) and zero clutch hitting (Save for Stairs and Rolen). Ugly month.

flambers · 05-01-2008, 09:21 AM

What a sad team, not sure I have seen a Blue Jay team that is so offensive challenged. In my view the blame is solely on JP, if this slide conitinues the Jays need to fire him. Its his team and this is a bad team.......

kermitology · 05-01-2008, 03:26 PM

I just watched a video of one heck of a catch by Reed Johnson

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...OM9JDlBg&hl=en

I loved watching that guy play..

Jiggy_12 · 05-01-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kermitology

I just watched a video of one heck of a catch by Reed Johnson

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...OM9JDlBg&hl=en

I loved watching that guy play..

Biggest mistake of JP's tenure so far was getting rid of Reed....that guy has heart that nobody else on this team save for a few seem to have.

What a catch, complete reckless abandon...wow. I love the left fielder's reaction, kind of a "did that just happen?" look on his face as he just stood there.

ShaolinFlame · 05-01-2008, 06:39 PM

^^^Eckstein seems to care a lot, Rolen I haven't decided on yet (although he is hitting like a monster). You've also got Matt Stairs with a lot of heart, Doc, and the young bullpen guys really seem to care. I don't see lack of heart being an issue with this team, especially with the way JP has dealt with it in the past (IE- Shea Hillenbrand). I just wish he would hire a freaking manager with some heart. Should have gone after crazy Lou!

Watching right now, it seems the jays can't score runs properly. Too many missed opportunities, especially to beat the bosox. That is unless AJ can throw down, with no HRs (unlikely). At least they got a clutch 2 out hit to score the first run.

This team hurts to watch sometimes. My anti-gib attitude has been growing steadily for the past 18 months (although I still like JP, albeit less so after the Big Hurt saga).

Is Mickey Brantley still the hitting coach? I seem to remember him being replaced this season. If so, the guys might just be having a hard time adapting to the new coach's strategies and suggestions. If they aren't hitting with the above average numbers they are capable of by June, I am going to question the new guy (or Mickey If I'm crazy). HIT BOYS, HIT!

Random thoughts.

EDIT:
What do you guys think of Sam Costantino? His increased presence this year is beginning to get on my nerves. He was pushing it with that boxer, talking about how big he was...