How can we be going into the end of September with no players on the bench?

by Tom Dakers on Sep 30, 2009 12:13 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 5 comments

So here it is September and rosters expand, at least for most teams. It works out well that rosters expand at this time of year because at the end of a long season players often have little injuries that kind of accumulate and since either teams are out of the race so it doesn't matter if everyday players get a day off or teams are going to the playoffs and they want to rest players. Either way extra players are useful.

Or would be, if we bothered to call them up. The Jays have a rash of minor injuries. So many that Kevin Millar played third base last night. So many that we had just 3 healthy bodies on the bench to fill in, in case of more injuries. The 3 were Randy Ruiz, Kyle Phillips and Raul Chavez. A DH and 2 catchers. Being fair, any of the three of them could play first if needed. So what would have happened if Jose Bautista had hurt himself in that awkward sliding catch? Or if Milar was hurt trying to make that double play. Or if Aaron Hill had been hit by the pitch instead of Adam Lind and had to come out of the game?

What about tonight? If Lind can't play after being hit in the elbow with the pitch, presumably Randy Ruiz would DH. So we would have two catchers left as backups. Yeah, i know, we'd have to move someone off the 40 man roster to make room for someone else, but we have several players on the 40 man that have no place in the teams future. Major league teams do that all the time. The Red Sox just today added a player.

Yeah I know the games don't mean anything to the team right now, but don't the players matter? If Hill got hurt tonight, he'd have to try to stay in the game. Isn't that taking a chance that something small becomes something bigger? I know it isn't likely but why should we be in a spot where it is even possible. We wouldn't let something like that happen in the middle of the season, why are we letting it happen now, when it can have any extras bodies? Is it just because we are too cheap to pay the few dollars? The pro-rated major league minimum for the last 4 games of the season wouldn't be much money. Wouldn't a major league team be more willing to spend that than take a risk?

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It’s just another indicator of the malaise that surrounds this club off the field.

This one is also on Beeston. If JP is not going to be here next year, he should be let go immediately and promote one of the assistants to run things until a new GM is chosen. Sorry, but this situation is inexcusable.

I think the final day’s attendance is an indicator that there is still interest in this team and the really low attendance in the weeks before is an indicator that the average fan is cheesed off at the current management (owner, GM, manager).

by siggian on Sep 30, 2009 12:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why don't the games matter?

Are tickets cheaper for the fans in September than they were in April? How about advertisement dollars? Is it cheaper for a 30 second ad during a September game than in April? I hate that argument that it doesn’t matter (Not a shot at you Tom) To me this is Cheap-assed ownership. Why would JP or Cito not want to promote players to fill the roster, its not like they are writing the cheques.

I know games don’t matter in terms of a playoff run, but I still watch everygame. I honeslty am getting a sour taste in my mouth from this organization, and I can’t be the only one. Sure Ownership might save a couple bucks now, but what a rediculous short sighted vision. For every dollar he saves now, he probably costs himself $2 in future revenue from alienating the fanbase. Toronto hasn’t fully backed the Jays for many years, why chase the remaining ones without fielding a real team?

RIP Bodhi - Not tragic to die doing what you love. You want the ultimate thrill, you gotta be willing to pay the ultimate price.

by craig in calgary on Sep 30, 2009 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah you are right

All games are worth something or why play them.

by Tom Dakers on Sep 30, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

They’re all worth something and worth nothing. In the broad sense, Game 7 of the World Series is meaningless. In the cosmic sense, baseball on the overall is meaningless. So if you’re going to take the attitude that regular season games are “meaningless” unless a team is fighting for a playoff spot, why watch any games at all?

I refer you to one of my favorite comic strips:

http://abbiegrace.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451dbb169e2010536326972970b-800wi

"Look at me! I'm Tomokazu Ohka of the Montreal Expos!"

by jessef on Sep 30, 2009 4:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs