The Blue Jays Thread: 2008 Season

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Bobblehead

I just think that letting your top pitchers start more games is a good thing, especially when you are a team like the Jays with (currently) 2 upper tier starters.

The Jays are in the perfect scenario to try it.

With McGowan gone for the year and Litsch rebuilding himself in AAA, guys like Purcey (although he's earned a shot), Parrish, and Richmond are taking up 2 spots in the rotation. I'll never understand how you take those starts away from the best pitcher in baseball and give them to AAAers with no legitimate proof that starting him on less rest will increase his chance for injury.

At the very least the Jays should have Doc, Burnett, and Marcum pitching once every five days regardless of days off.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by JayP

The Jays are in the perfect scenario to try it.

With McGowan gone for the year and Litsch rebuilding himself in AAA, guys like Purcey (although he's earned a shot), Parrish, and Richmond are taking up 2 spots in the rotation. I'll never understand how you take those starts away from the best pitcher in baseball and give them to AAAers with no legitimate proof that starting him on less rest will increase his chance for injury.

At the very least the Jays should have Doc, Burnett, and Marcum pitching once every five days regardless of days off.

Why not even try having Halladay and Burnett go with 3 days rest for the rest of the season, work Marcum in every 5th day, and fill in the rest as needed? I mean isn't a manager supposed to manage things. Really if the Jays legitimately want to stay in it, and try to knock off two of the three teams in front of them, wouldn't this give them the best chance? Especially since they have a good enough pen that they can get 3 innings of good relief on most nights.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by JayP

At the very least the Jays should have Doc, Burnett, and Marcum pitching once every five days regardless of days off.

They will, and have been.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Why not even try having Halladay...go with 3 days rest for the rest of the season,...

I can't find a link, but I think I remember Mike Wilner (the Rob Kerr of the Jays) said something to the effect of that was tried before and would never be tried again with Doc.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by zukes

If they sweep the Rays this becomes a 4 team race all of a sudden. Somethign like 27 of their remaining games are against either Boston, New York or Tampa. The Jays actually control their own destiny somehow.

So much for sweeping the Rays. Garza just beat the Doc for the 2nd time in a couple of weeks. I am really hoping the Rays can hold off the Sox and Yanks and win the division. What a great story they have been and will become if they do win the division.

[Machiavelli]

Big opportunity lost today, especially with both the Sox and Yanks losing (I'm being a big presumptuous on the latter).

Sigh.....

[ricoFlame]

garza was great, sometimes a guy just beats you.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by JayP

Burnett has been a great pitcher this year. It's simply a matter of looking past useless stats like ERA.

It makes you wonder if the reason for Burnett inconsistent pitching this season and last season was because of Gibbons' tactic. I never like Gibbons from the start and I always feel he was not the right person for the job. In order to get a respect from the players, you should show that you respect them as well. Gibbons fought with a few of them.

Anyways, since Gibbons got fired I think Burnett only had bad start since. The Jays' bat also been better. JP should keep Cito Gaston next season so we can see if Burnett is really a good pitcher or not.

[Flickered Flame]

Zaun would welcome a trade. Since Cito has come in Zaun's playing time has been cut back a fair bit. I wonder if the Marlins would take him?

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_tor

[SteveToms]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Zaun would welcome a trade. Since Cito has come in Zaun's playing time has been cut back a fair bit. I wonder if the Marlins would take him?

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...tnerId=rss_tor

Why would anyone want Zaun?

[Jason14h]

Why would anyone want Zaun?

Defensive replacement for throwing out potential base stealers

[moon]

Originally Posted by SteveToms

Why would anyone want Zaun?

Because like every other Jay this season he is really a superstar that just has had bad luck and was stiffled by Gibbons.

I am imagine, like everyone else, now that Gibbons is gone and the luck will change all Jays, including Zaun should return to their normal .400/60/150 numbers that they would have put up this season normally.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by moon

Because like every other Jay this season he is really a superstar that just has had bad luck and was stiffled by Gibbons.

I am imagine, like everyone else, now that Gibbons is gone and the luck will change all Jays, including Zaun should return to their normal .400/60/150 numbers that they would have put up this season normally.

Apparently the words "career averages" are meaningless to you.

[moon]

Originally Posted by JayP

Apparently the words "career averages" are meaningless to you.

Career average are meaningful when players are at the average point in their careers.

When they are older-Stairs, Zaun even Wilkerson and Mench.

Coming off injuries-Rolen

or young enough that one or two "big" seasons skew the "average" than career averages tend to lose their meaning.

It isn't surprising that many of the Jays hitters are struggling they haven't proven that they have the health, age or consistency to reach any supposed career averages. It is the reason why they haven't "turned around" their seasons like many Jays fans seem to expect them to do despite playing over 100 games and the evil John Gibbons having left and the great Cito Gaston coming in to save the day.

The fact is it is a poorly constructed line-up filled with bad-mediocre hitters.

[Machiavelli]

Well Zaun, Barajas is a better all-round player and catcher than you are, so it's no surprise that since your fan-boy has gotten the pink slip, you've found yourself watching more often than not.

Too bad, so sad. You're not a starter on any team. Your own GM said that no one wants you. Even watching the game right now you couldn't pick up a lead-off triple. Thanks for the memories.

[OILFAN #81]

"We'll gladly move him if we can find someone who wants him and that's where we're at," general manager J.P. Ricciardi said Tuesday. "Right now there's been no takers for him, there's been no inquiries about him.

"Maybe he doesn't want to hear that, but that's just the way it is. We know he's unhappy, we're aware of that and if we can move him we will."

Zaun's flaw is that he is not good at baseball.

[Sylvanfan]

Rather than wanting to be moved...he should be happy he still has a job in the majors.

[ShaolinFlame]

Zauns baby attitude is starting to piss me off. How can a guy who has been a career backup act like this to the organization that finally gave him a chance (more than one mind you) to be a starter.

There is a reason you are a career backup Greg. And your finally one bases loaded infield pop fly away from never playing again.

Baseball players are almost as bad as Basketball players.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by moon

Career average are meaningful when players are at the average point in their careers.

When they are older-Stairs, Zaun even Wilkerson and Mench.

Coming off injuries-Rolen

or young enough that one or two "big" seasons skew the "average" than career averages tend to lose their meaning.

It isn't surprising that many of the Jays hitters are struggling they haven't proven that they have the health, age or consistency to reach any supposed career averages. It is the reason why they haven't "turned around" their seasons like many Jays fans seem to expect them to do despite playing over 100 games and the evil John Gibbons having left and the great Cito Gaston coming in to save the day.

The fact is it is a poorly constructed line-up filled with bad-mediocre hitters.

So what's your excuse for Wells (29), Rios (27), Scutaro (32), Wilkerson (31), Overbay (31), and Mench (30)?

The average age for an MLBer is about 29 and I'm sure it's higher for batters since they tend to have longer careers than pitchers. All those players are in what should be their peak years and all are below career averages.

It's hilarious that you judge Gatson by not pulling a team 10+ games out of the division lead back into the race in just over 30 games.

I'll make this simple:
Gatson 19W, 14L = .576 Winning % (which is 4th in the MLB, 2nd in the division)
Gibbons 35W, 39L = .473 Winning %

No improvement there whatsoever, hey?

[ricoFlame]

another loss to the rays. yeesh. 3-2 today.