Late stage comeback falls short - Jays lose 9-6 and drop series
by JohnnyG on Aug 25, 2011 11:14 PM EDT
in Toronto Blue Jays Game Recaps
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PrintThe Jays lost the game despite scoring 6 runs in the last 3 innings, the problem of course being that the Jays bullpen was equally as ineffective as the Royals bullpen tonight. All of that being said the game itself seems overshadowed by a couple of issues surrounding the team.
In addition to the the most recent horrible news regarding Mike Flanagan, the Jays manager John Farrell had to leave mid game with what is being called muscle spasms, tweets from reporters in attendance are saying it isn't serious but he is on his way to the hospital, I may have had my differences with Farrell this year but I am sure I speak for everyone here when I say I hope he is ok.
Also in the worrisome news category, Travis Snider sent out a rather omnious tweet that has a lot of people worried that the latest MRI had less then good news: I will not break. I promise you that. I will miss you all and can't say how thankful I am for your support on this journey. #keepthefaith
With all of this going on the game seemed almost secondary by the end of the night, which is probably a good thing since it didn't exactly go well.
Brett Cecil didn't have a great start giving up 9 Hits including a HR and 1BB with 5ERs. Camp came in for relief was was even worse giving up 6 hits in 1.1IP allowing a few inherited runners to score. Perez Lewis gave up a Hit and 2 runs (unearned) while collecting one out. Litsch finished out the ninth with one K but he gave up a hard hit ball too
Our hitters decided to take the game off right up until the 7th 8th and 9th when they scored 2 runs in each, of course by this time the lead was a bit much to overcome. The Jays had 10 hits in total 2 each for Encarnacion, Bautista and Lawrie, 1 each for Thames, Johnson, Arencibia and McCoy. Bautista and Johnson each drew 2 walks apiece. Arencibia had a rather impressive HR golfing it off of what seemed like the dirt, looked a lot like a Vladi HR, it was his 20th on the year which matches the total from Buck last year, of course Buck had a bit more of a balanced year at the plate. Encarnacion hit a HR in the ninth with a runner on which was his 13th on the year.
Jays of the Day: None
Suckage: Cecil, Escobar and Lind.
Again this is one of those games that the early deficit caused the WPA numbers to be skewed and it become a lot harder for anyone to pull in any decent WPA by the end of the game.
Tomorrow the Rays come into town for a 7 start. Hopefully Farrell and Colby are back with the team and doing well.
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Adam Lind:
Uber-cold stretch, or worst baseball player of all time?
"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man" - Bill Shakespeare
by craig in calgary on Aug 25, 2011 11:19 PM EDT reply actions
Not that Cooper's the answer but...
with the way the 2010 Lind has re-emerged, David deserves a serious look.
by Fred Draper on Aug 25, 2011 11:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm hoping for a chubby son of an ex-Jay with a fuzzy beard to play first.
Josh Barfield.
"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man" - Bill Shakespeare
by craig in calgary on Aug 25, 2011 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions
I fear he might be Aaron Hill-redux. Yet another position that AA may have to upgrade.
by DavidLondon on Aug 25, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
compare the batted ball numbers
Lind hits 25% more line drives, pops up half as much, and his fly balls are leaving the ballpark over 4 times as often (this year anyway). regressing his BABIP to his xBABIP yields a wRC+ of 128. I wouldn’t be so quick to write off Lind, particularly since he’s never been great at hitting lefties
Total Internet points: 10 000
and anyway
if we do have to upgrade then fine, we put Edwin at first and sign Fielder – even if Lind is the 3 WAR 1B that he “should” be, Fielder is still an upgrade
Total Internet points: 10 000
next year
A lot of people have been looking for the Jays to contend next year, but I don’t see it. I still see too many holes. The Jays are set at RF, CF, 3B, SS, C. With Johnson (if he is re-signed), 2B might be okay. But Thames is a question mark (he is not a LF, and doesn’t hit enough for DH), as is Lind. Encarnacion is hitting very well this year, and will probably play 1B/DH next year, but I’m not convinced that he will keep it up. I expect the Jays to do better next year, but I don’t think they’ll contend until they resolve their big-hitting issues (i.e. LF, 1B, DH). As good as Bautista is, he can’t do everything.
interestingly enough
LF, 1B, and DH are some of the easier holes to fill
Sad, Drunk, And Poorly
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL
and the Jays have plenty of guys to try and fill those spots
Lind, Snider, Cooper, Thames and Loewen. There has to be at least 2 decent hitters in that bunch.
Hic sunt fortuna dracones
also Encarnacion
Hic sunt fortuna dracones
Lind will be at .230 or lower by October.
Arencibia will be at .198. This team needs an infusion of hitters.
Well
Considering that Lind hasn’t taken a walk in a month, batting average isn’t that bad a stat to use to measure this particular slump.
by siggian on Aug 26, 2011 12:09 PM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
uh, yeah it is
you can show that Lind’s been bad by using stats that are actually illuminating
Total Internet points: 10 000
oh yeah and
it’s funny to me that I’ve pissed off enough people on this site that when someone retorts me, they get automatic recs
Total Internet points: 10 000
wow, that is quite the ego there ...
I think it was rec’d because it is funny and not meant seriously … as in avg = obp in the absence of walks …
by Playoffs!!!!1 on Aug 26, 2011 3:54 PM EDT up reply actions
This may be true
A day that will live in infamy: August 4th, 2011
7 pissed off members of the Aaron Hill fanclub
High five!
Sad, Drunk, And Poorly
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL
omgonoz.gif
Sad, Drunk, And Poorly
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL
I know, I know, the peripherals are okay, and suggest that Lind has been somewhat unlucky. However: if you look at him at the plate, he looks awful. He rarely walks (no walks in all of August!), has really bad swings, and strikes out a ton. Is August just a slump, or was his early-year performance just a hot streak? As Jays fans, we want to believe the former, but the latter is a real possibility.
Apparently, Cecil was under the weather tonight… as per Wilner’s tweet from Cecil’s wife.
Wilnerness590 Mike Wilner
As we learn from @jcecil27 tonight – Brett Cecil is dealing with strep throat and a fever. Explains this a bit. #bluejays #Jays
by blueandwhite31 on Aug 25, 2011 11:20 PM EDT reply actions
They (apparently) look the same
"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man" - Bill Shakespeare
by craig in calgary on Aug 25, 2011 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
Update
Shi Davidi
Travis Snider essentially done for season with tendinitis in right wrist. Needs 4-6 weeks of rest.
Total Internet Points: 185000 (Thank you to JMac for making me a winner in a bet)
New Official Internet Points Bank Owner (Unlike Kirby the scam)
Well
(For the 3rd year in a row), next year will be his breakout year
Sigh.
"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man" - Bill Shakespeare
by craig in calgary on Aug 25, 2011 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions
rough season for Snider and Drabek. /sigh
I hope they bounce back next year. Maybe both of them should go to winter ball
by Sniderlover on Aug 26, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
idk but for Drabek do you think its better for him to take a baseball free offseason
the season was such a mental mess for him, i think its better for him to that a break and rest
Total Internet Points: 185000 (Thank you to JMac for making me a winner in a bet)
New Official Internet Points Bank Owner (Unlike Kirby the scam)
maybe but he also needs to sharpen his command big time.
he won’t have to care about his stats there and can basically pump fastballs to improve his command
Winter ball teams care a lot about stats
In winter ball, if you don’t produce, you don’t play. It’s not a developmental league.
I feel for Snider. He's still young, though
Drabek is a total bust who needs to be unloaded. And I’m sure AA is trying.
They are the same age
give or take a few months
37. There is no 'overkill.' There is only 'open fire' and 'I need to reload.'
wow, really?
a rookie pitcher with control problems? that’s very rare!
Rookie power pitcher.
I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
Twitter is the thing with all the tweets...
Never happens, like ever.
I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
Twitter is the thing with all the tweets...
omgonoz.gif
Sad, Drunk, And Poorly
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL
This gif you keep posting doesn't load.
I am disappoint.
Thisrighthere!
twitter.com/#!/TFSML
by TonyFernandezSavedMyLife on Aug 26, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
And he seems to want to play here
He says he looks forward to getting into this hitting environment (more free swinging) then what he had to deal with in Arizona. Could be a good sign for him staying next year, which even in a down year means significant production increase at 2B.
by Playoffs!!!!1 on Aug 26, 2011 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions
oops, there was supposed to be a link to fangraphs
by Playoffs!!!!1 on Aug 26, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions
OK, so the Johnson trade was another case of AA picking up a (potentially decent) player who had lost his team’s support (like Escobar, Rasmus). Good.
potential 5~6 WAR player
Awesome!
Sad, Drunk, And Poorly
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL
HUZZAH!
EXTENSION!
Sad, Drunk, And Poorly
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL
"I will not break. I promise you that"
Looked pretty broken this season .236/.282/.368 tho he still may well (and hopefully) turn it around. Should’ve said “I will re-transform with a bionic wrist” or something
So, according to Fangraphs, the 5 qualifying players with the lowest OBP in the majors this year are
Vernon Wells, Miguel Olivo, Alex Rios, Alex Gonzalez, and Aaron Hill. How weird is that?
The man in the white shirt.
HAHA
Sad, Drunk, And Poorly
My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL
Not to mention that that was the driving force on us acquiring
Frank Francisco, Yunel Escobar, Kelly Johnson, and Dwight Smith Jr (drafted for Olivio), and saved the team ~150M dollars in the process.
by Playoffs!!!!1 on Aug 26, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions
I love the description of Alex in an SB nation article yesterday as the GM...
you LEAST want to be calling your favorite team’s GM.
Too bad JPR’s core was so defective to begin with,
by Fred Draper on Aug 26, 2011 11:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Say what you want about JPR's career as GM
but he ran the position like a Boss. He may not have been as smart or as good as AA is turning out to be but JP used the dome as his personal gym/office, hired the best looking team of models to do all his press and day to day managing and made himself into a celebrity in T.O. and MLB. In the end he worked from home and phoned it in -all the while making a lot of cash going away. He then landed on his feet and may well rise again with the ‘cough-cough’ Mets.
Yeah it didn’t end well and a lot of his ideals were proven misguided but he was pretty cool on the job. I think AA is the best argument for hiring non-player GMs.
I have met both GM’s and I was blown away by JPR. You would hardly notice AA at an office party. 2 totally different styles but ask yourself which character would you be most like?
Thisrighthere!
twitter.com/#!/TFSML
by TonyFernandezSavedMyLife on Aug 26, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know
But after meeting with AA, I’d be checking my wallet to see if I’d traded my twenty for a 10 and a 5.
by siggian on Aug 26, 2011 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
I bet when he was a kid he got someone to give up a 1952 Mickey Mantle card
for a deck of playing cards and half a pack of gum.
The man in the white shirt.
half a pack of gum
to be named later..
by jaysbrazil on Aug 26, 2011 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And the cards, of course, have already all taken their turn on the spokes of his bike
The man in the white shirt.
I knew exactly what kind of kid he was
He’s the guy that would get pokemon cards banned at school because he ripped everyone off for pennies.
Can we start the Gose watch yet?
depends, I guess
I would like to be the character that can look down at the world series ring on my hand upon retirement
Hmm
JPA, Thames, Hechavarria, Perez, Marisnick, Jenkins, Sierra, etc.
There was some talent in the system, so JPR wasn’t that bad. The real problem was a lack of top-quality talent and a completely broken trust with the Jays fan base. JPR has always been decent at scouting prospects. He had problems scouting established players so we ended up with Menchersons, meddling with coaching staffs, and communicating with fans.
JPR also looks bad because of how well AA’s moves have worked.
Hech was signed by AA.
Thisrighthere!
twitter.com/#!/TFSML
by TonyFernandezSavedMyLife on Aug 26, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions
OK
But that was one of AA first moves as GM, which means that JPR had at least directed the Jays to scout him intensively.
I don’t want to get into defending JPR, because I was pretty fed up with him by the end and I wanted him gone. But I also acknowledge that there were some areas in which he did an at least acceptable or good job, and scouting prospects was one of them.
IMHO, JPR did not get fired for failing to provide talent. He got fired because he could no longer sell his vision to the fans or Rogers management. Neither believed him or in him.
AA was involde from the beginning though, as the AGM.
Once over the hill, you pick up speed.
"Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
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