The Blue Jays Thread: 2008 Season

[ricoFlame]

um, the jays have 10 doubles....that's pretty good.

[mikey_the_redneck]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Downs is hurt btw, he hurt his foot last night covering a base. That's why he didnt pitch today

That incident looked so un-athletic.

[ShaolinFlame]

Bastian on Richmond and Accardo

I initially thought the negative response from some Blue Jays fans about promoting Richmond was odd. Yes, Richmond missed his chance to participate in the Summer Games in China, but he was the first to say that pitching in the Major Leagues was his dream.
Richmond's stance should have ended any controversy, but there are still plenty of fans north of the border of upset over the situation. Now, with Richmond being sent back to the Minor Leagues before the end of the Olympics in Beijing, there's been more fuel added to the fire.
The bottom line is this: Richmond finally received a chance to showcase his ability on the big league stage. It was a brief stint, but it was a way for him to better put himself on the Blue Jays' radar screen. The Olympics will be ending soon. Richmond's goal of having a big league career won't.

Accardo has been out with a right forearm strain since early May, but he's been working through rehab appearances in the Minor Leagues lately. In 11 rehab outings between stints with the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays, Class A Dunedin and Triple-A Syracuse, Accardo has a 4.50 ERA over 12 innings.
If he's healthy and ready to go, Accardo could certainly be activated when rosters expand in September. Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said recently that the club may also consider just shutting Accardo down, giving the right-hander ample time to simply get ready to rejoin Toronto's bullpen next season.

Too bad for Accardo, especially after the promise he showed last year. Lets hope he regains his form.

[JiriHrdina]

Wow I totally forgot about Accardo.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Wow I totally forgot about Accardo.

The other guy who was missed is Casey Janssen.

[Super-Rye]

Originally Posted by flambers

The other guy who was missed is Casey Janssen.

I guess when your starting pitching and bullpen are some of your bright spots in the season you don't really notice 2 of your best guys missing.

[Antithesis]

Too bad Janssen is probably going to continue to be missed, the surgery he had results in something like only 5% of recipients ever playing in the majors again.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Antithesis

Too bad Janssen is probably going to continue to be missed, the surgery he had results in something like only 5% of recipients ever playing in the majors again.

only one, Mark Redman, ever made it back on a regular basis.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

only one, Mark Redman, ever made it back on a regular basis.

wow, i didn't know that. those are some tough odds to overcome. yikes.

[Caged Great]

Some made it back, but really sucked and had 8+ era's and went to the minors to never be heard from again. Sirotka was the last Jay to have that injury. Janssen though is apparently doing very good and it is possible that he might beat the odds.

[Sylvanfan]

One Jays reliever who has been throwing well lately is Brandon League. Seems to have got his stuff back that he showed in 2006. Hopefully Janssen can make a recovery and get a chance to compete in MLB again. Rough to have a guy that young possibly lose his career before he even plays two full seasons. But thats pitching for you, and why you stock up on it. Tough position for guys to stay healthy.

[Sylvanfan]

I'm thinking the Yankees might pay Burnett 25 million a year so they don't have to face him. 6 innings 11k's, but like deja vu....Jays down 1-0 going to the bottom of 6.

[habernac]

wow, they just took the lead on a bad play by Damon.

[flambers]

Wow, Jays are lucky Damon plays for the Yanks!

[JiriHrdina]

Just saw the highlights - what a tremendous hustle play by Overbay in the 9th.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by flambers

Wow, Jays are lucky Damon plays for the Yanks!

They're lucky that the Yankees sent Melke Cabrera to the minors because he was hitting .247 and put Damon in center field. Damons bat in the lineup is more the good enough. But he's nothing near the player he once was defensively.

Really solid game by AJ Burnett tonight, always seems to have his A game for the Yankees. Maybe he should stay with the Jays...seems like Cito Gaston's presence is making him pitch like the player his stuff suggests he could be.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

They're lucky that the Yankees sent Melke Cabrera to the minors because he was hitting .247 and put Damon in center field. Damons bat in the lineup is more the good enough. But he's nothing near the player he once was defensively.

Really solid game by AJ Burnett tonight, always seems to have his A game for the Yankees. Maybe he should stay with the Jays...seems like Cito Gaston's presence is making him pitch like the player his stuff suggests he could be.

Put me in the category of people thinks the Jays can spend their money better elsewhere. The guy hasn't pitched consistently well in his career, and now that he has a chance to really cash it in he has a huge year. He's what, 31? The money he will command this offseason will be astronomical, and I'm sure a team like the Yankees will break the bank for him.

Good for A.J in having a huge year, and I'll be rooting for him in every one of his 6 or so starts remaining, but I think it would be a mistake for Ricciardi (or new Jays GM) to spend what he will no doubt command this offseason.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

They're lucky that the Yankees sent Melke Cabrera to the minors because he was hitting .247 and put Damon in center field. Damons bat in the lineup is more the good enough. But he's nothing near the player he once was defensively.

Really solid game by AJ Burnett tonight, always seems to have his A game for the Yankees. Maybe he should stay with the Jays...seems like Cito Gaston's presence is making him pitch like the player his stuff suggests he could be.

No kidding he missed two fly balls that 99% of the CF in the league would of caught in my opinion (I was surprised he only received one error). The Yanks need to find a better Center Fielder.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

Put me in the category of people thinks the Jays can spend their money better elsewhere. The guy hasn't pitched consistently well in his career, and now that he has a chance to really cash it in he has a huge year. He's what, 31? The money he will command this offseason will be astronomical, and I'm sure a team like the Yankees will break the bank for him.

Good for A.J in having a huge year, and I'll be rooting for him in every one of his 6 or so starts remaining, but I think it would be a mistake for Ricciardi (or new Jays GM) to spend what he will no doubt command this offseason.

I would bet Burnett will opt out of his contract and the Jays will receive two first round picks when he signs else where...

As for next season's starters the Jays will promote one of the young guys to take his spot.

[Cowboy89]

Put me down in the camp of looking forward to seeing this team play a whole season with Cito as Manager. .600 baseball gets you into the playoffs, and with the pitching they have, it would be interesting to see what they could do in that situation. That being said I've been a die hard my entire life, and the past 10 years have been the same old "one step forward, two steps back" with great individual performances, but never a year where both offense and pitching play well and key people don't get injured.