The Blue Jays Thread. - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

flames_1987 · 03-18-2007, 04:41 PM

I've been very optimistic about the Jays in past years but this year I really am finding it hard to beleive that this team has any chance of finally grabbing a playoff spot. This team just has so much riding on a healthy pitching staff that I just can't feel confident about them. They have among the worst #4-5 guys in ther rotation in the entire American League. To go along with a #2 guy with a whole lot of skill but hasen't shown for a while that he can pitch an entire season. All this and now Chacin having a DUI really isn't making me to optimistic for the year ahead.

The offense is there no doubt, I have a tough time finding a single lineup in baseball I'd rather have then the Jays to be honest. I think in a few years they'll have one of the best pens in baseball to turn to with Accardo, League, Frasor, and Ryan. I just can't see them making a push with Ohka, Thompson, Towers exc. on there back end, having to go up against the Yanks and Sox.

Sylvanfan · 03-18-2007, 04:56 PM

Good to see that Janssen is having a good spring. Last year he did very well early on when hitters didn't really have a book on him. Once they figured out they he didnt' really have a good out pitch, they started to hit him.

But he got a taste of the show and a good indicator of what he needed to make that jump to the next level. Early signs are that he learned the lesson and did add what he needed to his repitoire. He's still a very young pitcher and did rise through the system very quickly for a pitcher.

RedHot25 · 03-22-2007, 02:45 PM

Bad news for the Jays:

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=201116&hubname=

The comeback attempt of Blue Jays pitcher John Thomson may be over.
The right-hander is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam to determine the extent of an injury to his pitching shoulder.

....

"He's just got a tight shoulder right now," general manager J.P. Ricciardi told MLB.com. "We're going to shut him down for five or six days and just give him a chance to build it up a little bit and rest it up a little bit."

ricoFlame · 03-22-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedHot25

Bad news for the Jays:

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=201116&hubname=

The comeback attempt of Blue Jays pitcher John Thomson may be over.
The right-hander is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam to determine the extent of an injury to his pitching shoulder.

....

"He's just got a tight shoulder right now," general manager J.P. Ricciardi told MLB.com. "We're going to shut him down for five or six days and just give him a chance to build it up a little bit and rest it up a little bit."

Well, it was an experiment, and nothing is ever over. some times these things work out.

Cerebral · 03-22-2007, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

Well, it was an experiment, and nothing is ever over. some times these things work out.

Yep, Janssen and Zambrano have both been very effective in camp so far (along with Towers outside of his last start) so it's not the end of the world if Thomson is out.

Flickered Flame · 03-22-2007, 11:41 PM

Just watching sportsnet and they flashed up that both Jays games this weekend will be on sportsnet.

Cerebral · 03-23-2007, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Just watching sportsnet and they flashed up that both Jays games this weekend will be on sportsnet.

Yep, it sounds like Zambrano is getting the start Saturday morning so I'll definitely be watching.

ricoFlame · 03-23-2007, 02:08 PM

TSN, will continue to cover Blue Jays Baseball for a few more years. 4 years x 20 games/year. HD too...nice.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=201158&hubname=

OILFAN #81 · 03-23-2007, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

TSN, will continue to cover Blue Jays Baseball for a few more years. After this year they will bump up coverage from 20 to 80 games. HD too...nice.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=201158&hubname=

I thought it meant it's a 4 year extension starting this year and ending in 2010 (2007-2010) where a total of 80 games will be shown (20 this year, so 60 more after that in the next 3 years?)

ricoFlame · 03-23-2007, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OILFAN #81

I thought it meant it's a 4 year extension starting this year and ending in 2010 (2007-2010) where a total of 80 games will be shown (20 this year, so 60 more after that in the next 3 years?)

Oops, you're right...corrected.

JiriHrdina · 03-23-2007, 04:10 PM

Jays have released Pete Walker - too bad as I always liked the guy but he couldn't recover from shoulder surgery to land a spot.

Also talk on Bluejayway that Janssen was hiding an injured back last season.

Ranchlander · 03-24-2007, 01:19 PM

Looks like alot of these 'experiments' aren't working out. Jays don't have the pitching to compete.

ricoFlame · 03-24-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranchlander

Looks like alot of these 'experiments' aren't working out. Jays don't have the pitching to compete.

zambrano is shutting out a yankee lineup with every starter except posada playing today. he's looked solid to say the least.

RedHot25 · 03-24-2007, 01:34 PM

How can they not be working out when we haven't even played a single inning of real baseball yet? (real as in the actual season).

And edited to add is all it takes is one....

CrusaderPi · 03-24-2007, 03:22 PM

What do the Jays really need out of their 'throw enough crap at the 4th and 5th rotation spots and hopefully something sticks' experiment? If they can find two guys that'll eat 5-6 innings a night and will only be slightly under .500 they've got enough jam at the top of the rotation to make a playoff push. If their top two guys go down it won't matter who is 4 and 5, the season rises or falls with General Roy Bandaid and Captain A.J. Bandaid.

Cerebral · 03-24-2007, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ranchlander

Looks like alot of these 'experiments' aren't working out. Jays don't have the pitching to compete.

The reason why the Jays went out and signed three project guys in Zambrano, Thomson and Ohka is because it was likely only one or two of the guys competing for the #4 and #5 spots in the rotation would work out. As it stands now, Zambrano has been stellar in the pre-season, Ohka has been pretty good and Thomson has some injury concerns. Add in Towers who has been good outside of his last start, Janssen who has been pretty damn good and a guy like Marcum and I think the Jays are extremely happy with how things have played out.

As of right now, I think the last two spots in the rotation should go to Zambrano and Ohka (assuming Zambrano is healthy). JP spoke very highly of Zambrano heading into training camp and I can see why. If he continues pitching like he has in the pre-season, there is no reason to think he won't put up above-average numbers for a #4 starter.

CrusaderPi · 03-24-2007, 03:59 PM

I liked Zambrano enough when he was in Tampa. He kind of got painted unfair with the Mets because he was traded for Kazmir and got hurt right away.

Gord Wappel · 03-25-2007, 10:05 AM

Watched a bit of the Jays/Yankees.
Zambrano looked great but the NY commentators were talking about how the odds are really stacked against coming back early from Tommy John surgery and they were surprised the Jays were being so aggressive. They mentioned a magic amount of months needed and even if you feel great, only one pitcher they could think of ever really beat the clock without a setback.
They also talked about how Zambrano likes to do his own thing for pitch selection and doesn't like taking too much direction from the catchers, coaches.
Also glad Janssen turned it around after I watched him get bopped in his first inning.
I am still optimistic - its spring.

CaramonLS · 03-25-2007, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrusaderPi

I liked Zambrano enough when he was in Tampa. He kind of got painted unfair with the Mets because he was traded for Kazmir and got hurt right away.

I agree, he is a guy who still has some upside (Yes, I know he is 31), throws hard and can give you quite a few innings.

The reason I say he has some upside is that he was converted to a Pitcher very late in his career, and hasn't thrown a lot of innings in his career. He has pretty decent stuff, but the major knock on him is control. I think he still can (albiet quite slim) get his stuff under control. And at the price tag, it is a risk worth taking.

I believe Ohka will make the team as well, the only one you have to worry about is Thomson who is making it on the DL.

Also, Gerry was talking about Janssen using the Splitfinger (thanks for that tip off Cerebral), so at least it is official and hopefully he can make this team. I think this is exactly the pitch he needed as he doesn't have a lot of stuff which goes from in to out of the zone and it has really made the hitters think, multiplying the effect of his other pitches. He was always around the plate before, and still hard to hit.

By all reports he has been dominating and deserves a chance to start. His only mistake yesterday was to Arod, but really, its Arod and its spring training. Lets see Arod do that in the regular season

.

Antithesis · 03-25-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

By all reports he has been dominating and deserves a chance to start. His only mistake yesterday was to Arod, but really, its Arod and its spring training. Lets see Arod do that in the regular season

.

Correction: Let's see A-Rod actually do that in a point of a game (or the season) where it would actually matter.