Are Diamonds a Girl's Best Friend? The Big Spending 2006 Toronto Blue Jays thread

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From BP:

STAT OF THE DAY

Bottom 5 2006 AL Second Basemen, by PECOTA Projected VORP

Player, Team, Projected VORP

Aaron Hill, TOR, 11.4
Mark Grudzielanek, KCA, 13.3
Adam Kennedy, LAA, 13.4
Ron Belliard, CLE, 15.2
Jose Lopez, SEA, 18.3

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 20:03 (twenty years ago)

That's some elite company he's in.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 20:40 (twenty years ago)

Is Hinske really going to play LF on a regular basis? The only decent fielders in our everyday lineup will be Wells and Molina.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:19 (twenty years ago)

BP staff down on getting rid of Orlando Hudson; not enough hitting to win (they see 2d if NYY or BOS implode).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:24 (twenty years ago)

Well ... BP is also down with the White Sox route to success (great starting pitching, great defense, home runs) and the Jays should have been able to follow that model if they wanted to. They certainly play in the right ballpark for it. This year's team will be lucky to finish in the top five in the AL in runs, which probably won't be enough to compensate for what they're giving up in defense.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:42 (twenty years ago)

I thought BP was more down w/ what the White Sox appeared to be built to do (decent pitching, great defense, slappy small ball offense) in conjunction w/ what folks thought they were doing (OH THANK GOD FOR REAL BASEBALL), not what their numbers actually revealed (the great pitching / defense / homer trifecta).

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:46 (twenty years ago)

I don't think so ... when has BP ever been high on a small ball team?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:51 (twenty years ago)

"down ON" Hudson's absence ... they don't think the Jays have the '99-04 Delgado-like thumper they need to win (this was said at the Yogi Berra Museum panel).

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:54 (twenty years ago)

OK, I misunderstood you ... I thought you (and BP) meant that they didn't have enough hitting to win with Hudson, so trading hitting for defense vis a vis Hudson/Glaus made sense.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 17:58 (twenty years ago)

uh oh:

Bottom 5 2006 AL Starting Left Fielders, by PECOTA Projected VORP

Player, Team, Projected VORP

Reed Johnson, TOR, -2.4
Scott Podsednik, CHA, 3.2
Shannon Stewart, MIN, 5.2
Jeff Conine, BAL, 9.5
Garret Anderson, LAA, 16.6

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 18:03 (twenty years ago)

Fortunately the Jays have 173 outfielders so they'll be able to spread out the damage among them.

Johnson had a good season last year but I'm not sold on him as a 400-AB per year guy, and definitely not if it means AB's taken away from Cat or Hinske.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 18:12 (twenty years ago)

And Stewart's intangibles are worth at least an extra 20.0 in VORP. The guy nearly won an MVP award, how inspirational is that?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 18:14 (twenty years ago)

Burnett on the DL already! Just 'cautionary'... Talk about pre-Opening buzzkill...

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 30 March 2006 14:33 (twenty years ago)

He's going to pitch one more time (3-4 innings, or so they say) in spring training and then go on the DL. Something does not compute.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 30 March 2006 15:51 (twenty years ago)

They want to really make sure he's hurt before they waste a DL slot on him?

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 30 March 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

They want the transition from 15-day DL to 60-day DL to be seamless?

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 30 March 2006 15:54 (twenty years ago)

what's that bullshit about podsednik, the guy was my MVP in '05

― gear (gear), Saturday, 1 April 2006 05:57 (twenty years ago)

< / http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:N1C3a5pSEwwKZM:espn-att.starwave.com/i/page2/v2/columnist/kruk_35x48.jpg >

― gear (gear), Saturday, 1 April 2006 05:58 (twenty years ago)

podsednik, the guy was my MVP in '05

heh, ESPN sez YR HIRED!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 1 April 2006 16:15 (twenty years ago)

http://www.moldova.net/images/smilies/Dance_Emoticon.gif

― gear (gear), Saturday, 1 April 2006 18:06 (twenty years ago)

Aahhh what a good game last night.
Over 50,000 attendance!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 13:12 (twenty years ago)

Halladay = teh man

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 5 April 2006 16:32 (twenty years ago)

First heartbreaker of the year -- blowing a 6-0 lead to the DRays and losing 9-8.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 8 April 2006 01:09 (twenty years ago)

Halladay will miss his next start due to a muscle strain in his arm. The season is falling apart already.

OK, not really. The Jays don't need a fifth starter from now until the end of the month, so once Burnett comes back they can use their #2-#5 starters until Halladay comes back. Still, fuck an arm injury.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 12 April 2006 01:37 (twenty years ago)

Well Lilly is back now. so there's that. i guess. hurrah?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 12 April 2006 03:56 (twenty years ago)

This coming week is $2 Tuesday, Yanks @ Jays. Anybody interested?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 12 April 2006 17:38 (twenty years ago)

I have $2!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 12 April 2006 17:55 (twenty years ago)

Awesome. I can't run down to the box office tomorrow, but I can do it on Friday. There should still be tickets left then.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 13 April 2006 02:08 (twenty years ago)

Sounds good, dude.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 13 April 2006 02:18 (twenty years ago)

Jays are in a rain delay, Josh Towers is getting rocked, so I'm hoping for the rainout.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 16 April 2006 17:55 (twenty years ago)

Jays fall behind 4-0 in the first, now they lead 10-5 and counting. Cue the TV commentators talking about how the "old" Jays would be dead and buried with a 4-0 deficit, but the "new" Jays are confident that they can make comebacks if they have to. They've been saying some variation of this during almost every game this year. I have one problem with this: they said exactly the same things LAST YEAR TOO.

The Jays' offense overperformed in the first half last year, and they're definitely overperforming right now. However, I'm encouraged by the SEXEE HOME RUNS, which were lacking last year. The pitching staff's ERA is one of the highest in baseball, and they're definitely better than that. Once the pitching and hitting numbers start to ressemble their actual talents a little more, I think the jury is still out as to whether we may have something here.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 00:37 (twenty years ago)

Never would I have predicted Rios to get off to the start he has.
Shame we couldn't get into today's match, eh? (how often can you say that about the J's?!)

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 01:23 (twenty years ago)

Rios has one motherloving walk so far. That sexxy .382 is gonna dip to a hungover .260 quicklike unless he starts sipping the Garrett juice.

WTF is up w/ Molina hitting fifth? And Overbay hitting 7th?

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 01:55 (twenty years ago)

xpost
Yeah, this would have been a great game to see live. Next month I think the $2 game will be against Tampa Bay, which is too bad because Boston and Oakland are playing on other Tuesdays during the month.

I was thinking the exact same thing re: Rios and The Angry Walk. Francoueur-esque, even.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 02:08 (twenty years ago)

What are you two on about?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 02:20 (twenty years ago)

We're harshing your buzz, obviously. :)

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 02:23 (twenty years ago)

Alex Rios (through today's game):

.390 BA
.386 OBP

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 18:55 (twenty years ago)

Tight like Tom & Katie!

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 19 April 2006 19:13 (twenty years ago)

That was one hell of a game. The good = bullpen looked great, big Jays comeback fueled by HOME RUNS. The bad = Burnett injured again.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 22 April 2006 03:25 (twenty years ago)

What exactly happened to him?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 22 April 2006 16:58 (twenty years ago)

he left with right elbow discomfort. he's meeting with dr. james andrews on monday (uh oh).

― maura (maura), Saturday, 22 April 2006 17:14 (twenty years ago)

I hope this doesn't turn into Al Leiter all over again.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 22 April 2006 17:47 (twenty years ago)

apparently burnett thinks that the problem is stemming from built up scar tissue from his last tommy john surgery.

― maura (maura), Saturday, 22 April 2006 18:43 (twenty years ago)

So the J's go for the sweep tonight. That coupled with a BoSox loss would tie them for the AL east lead! GO new guy!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 27 April 2006 15:10 (twenty years ago)

New guy has a 4+ ERA in the minors so far this season. Did they bring him up in September last year? The name doesn't sound familiar.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 27 April 2006 16:02 (twenty years ago)

I don't think so - I've never heard of new guy* either. His other stats (K/BB, whip) and his AA, A numbers are better than what his current era would indicate.

*you do realize this is what we're going to have to call him from now on... even if he becomes the next Halladay

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 27 April 2006 16:10 (twenty years ago)

FIRST PLACE, SUCKAZ!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 29 April 2006 03:33 (twenty years ago)

*HOORAY CURRENT HALLADAY!*

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 29 April 2006 05:28 (twenty years ago)

I hope this game wraps up by sundown. I really wanted to go shopping today.

It's 10-6 in the fifth, Towers will take the L, and now I can start openly rooting for ARod to hit a grand slam. I could use the fantasy stats.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 29 April 2006 18:31 (twenty years ago)

Traitor!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 29 April 2006 20:18 (twenty years ago)

Don't worry, he went 0-4 (albeit with three runs scored and two walks).

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 29 April 2006 22:29 (twenty years ago)

This game ... my team vs my fantasy team ...

Don't throw a 1st pitch fastball to Wily Mo!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 May 2006 01:27 (twenty years ago)

U DUMASSSSSS!!!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 May 2006 01:28 (twenty years ago)

Jays mail question for Rance: how can a 16-year pitcher improve his velocity?

Rance's answer: a) have someone look at his mechanics, b) STRENGTH PROGRAM.

Rance to kids: take steroids and U will throw fast!!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 May 2006 01:38 (twenty years ago)

Papelbon = Mr. April = no match for the Jays' offensive machine

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 May 2006 01:45 (twenty years ago)

WE HAVE BROKEN PAPELBON!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 4 May 2006 01:46 (twenty years ago)

Phew!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 4 May 2006 01:55 (twenty years ago)

BJ Ryan -- the REAL Mr. 0.00 ERA!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 4 May 2006 01:57 (twenty years ago)

So the question on all our mids: How much longer are the J's going to let Aaron Hill embarrass himself?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 7 May 2006 01:43 (twenty years ago)

I've been wondering the same thing ... how long until MacDonald takes his job? Or maybe Hinske can learn another position?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 7 May 2006 06:24 (twenty years ago)

Lackey vs New Guy -- double no-hitter through 4.5 innings! Lackey hasn't allowed a baserunner! And Rance Mulliniks is saying that all the games should be like this because the fast pace is good for the players and the fans!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 7 May 2006 17:04 (twenty years ago)

I jinxed both of them!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 7 May 2006 17:19 (twenty years ago)

Why would you jinx new guy?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Sunday, 7 May 2006 18:55 (twenty years ago)

He still won the game! And the TV commentators jinxed him a lot more than I did.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 7 May 2006 19:16 (twenty years ago)

Halladay vs Taco Man -- double no-hitter through 3.5 innings!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 8 May 2006 22:50 (twenty years ago)

Not anymore, it's Taco Time.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:11 (twenty years ago)

4.5 innings of double no-no, just like yesterday. Mmmm ... juicy taco!!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:13 (twenty years ago)

Again.. why you jinx?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 8 May 2006 23:51 (twenty years ago)

http://www.allgoodluck.com/images/perfumes/jinx.jpg

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 9 May 2006 00:21 (twenty years ago)

Sheehan in Prospectus:

"John Gibbons might be onto something.

Gibbons called on closer B.J. Ryan with one out and the tying run at the plate in the eighth inning of last night’s game against the A’s. Ryan got the final five outs for his eighth save, striking out three in the ninth inning.

I took particular note of the Ryan’s appearance, because it came on the heels of my piece yesterday that again called for a more aggressive approach in using top relief pitchers. As a matter of fact, Gibbons stands out from the pack as far as his willingness to do that. Yesterday’s five-out save was Ryan’s third of at least that length this season, on the heels of another Sunday and a six-out save on April 28 against the Yankees. To give you an idea of how unusual this is, just two other established closers have saves of that length this season (Brad Lidge and Chris Reitsma, each with one).

This may not be a fluke. Keith Woolner checked it out and found that last year, Gibbons’ used his closer, Miguel Batista, for more five-out or longer saves than any other manager in the game..."

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 11 May 2006 16:33 (twenty years ago)

I was wondering about this the other day. I know when Escobar was closing for the J's he didn't really appreciate being brought out in the eighth. I don't think it's a bad idea but I'm wondering if Ryan is okay with the practice or not.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 12 May 2006 14:14 (twenty years ago)

I think pitchers who "need to know their role," ie come in the same inning every damn time, ought to be shoved in a time machine and be called on in the 2nd for long relief by Casey Stengel.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 12 May 2006 14:56 (twenty years ago)

I've noticed this too.

I remember watching this game as well, when Gibbons brought him into the game in Boston with two on, nobody out, and the Red Sox leading 5-3 in the eighth. Ryan retired the heart of the Red Sox order to prevent the lead from getting worse. Shawn Marcum pitched the ninth (gave up a run, and the Jays lost 6-3) but the strategy was flawless -- bring in Ryan with runners on to pitch to Boston's best hitters and bring in a lesser pitcher in the ninth to pitch to the bottom of the order with nobody on. I don't think a lot of managers would have done this.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 12 May 2006 16:33 (twenty years ago)

as the Prospectus guys have pointed out, managers (incl Torre) change style in the postseason, they should ask themselves why.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 12 May 2006 16:35 (twenty years ago)

I havta say, I think Gibbons is a good coach. I didn't even like Cito Gaston but i think Gibons is allright.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 12 May 2006 17:05 (twenty years ago)

THIS IS NOT HOCKEY, THIS IS BASEBALL.

WE CALL THEM "MANAGERS" HERE.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 12 May 2006 17:21 (twenty years ago)

And Cito Gaston was arguably the worst manager the Jays ever had.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 12 May 2006 17:22 (twenty years ago)

OK, maybe we should leave Tim Johnson out of the discussion.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 12 May 2006 17:23 (twenty years ago)

The way people talk about him 'round these parts you'd think Gaston invented the fucking sport - I'm glad someone agrees with me!

xpost (who???)

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 12 May 2006 17:24 (twenty years ago)

haha, exactly :)

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 12 May 2006 17:26 (twenty years ago)

Wow! New guy pitching a(nother) gem tonight!
A.J. who?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 18 May 2006 03:01 (twenty years ago)

Or Gustavo who?

If he could pitch against the Angels every time then he'd be the runaway Cy Young winner.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 18 May 2006 03:13 (twenty years ago)

Seems like I wasn't the only one influenced, fantasy-wise, by last nights game! Mine's already paying off!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 19 May 2006 05:19 (twenty years ago)

I'd been closely watching New Guy over his last couple of starts, and my pitching staff isn't exactly not-ass right now with my best two guys on the DL.

ONE GAME BACK!

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 19 May 2006 06:06 (twenty years ago)

again.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 19 May 2006 06:25 (twenty years ago)

I just noticed that the Jays are 2-2 in one-run games this year ... or more precisely, they've only been involved in four ORG's. That's the fewest in all of MLB, the next fewest is eight and most teams are over ten.

I guess they've hit the magic combination of great hitting and bad pitching (with a few star exceptions like Halladay and Ryan) which leads to them either getting blown out or blowing out other teams every night.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 20 May 2006 22:47 (twenty years ago)

Time to take Josh Towers to the glue factory.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 25 May 2006 01:08 (twenty years ago)

Him and Adams!

Adams i was not expecting.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 25 May 2006 12:56 (twenty years ago)

EDGARDO ALFONSO!!!

(signed to a AA contract)

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Thursday, 25 May 2006 23:06 (twenty years ago)

Double A??? HA!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 25 May 2006 23:18 (twenty years ago)

THE ALFONSO ERA HAS BEGUN.

Is any team more fucked than the Jays when it comes to middle infielders? Our best hitting SS can't field, our best fielding SS got hurt, our 2003 first round draft pick isn't hitting (although he's coming around as of late), the guy they called up from the minors (Figueroa) has a grasp of the strike zone that extends from his shoes to the roof of the Rogers Centre, and now we've got to watch a likely washed-up Edgardo Alfonso? Am I forgetting anybody? Oh yeah, they let Troy Glaus play short one day, as if that wasn't an injury just waiting to happen to our top home run hitter.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 18:28 (twenty years ago)

can I send you my Alfonzo shirt?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 30 May 2006 19:05 (twenty years ago)

YES!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 31 May 2006 03:34 (twenty years ago)

Baltimore 7, Toronto 5

Toronto was 30-0 when leading after seven innings; Baltimore was 1-30 when trailing after seven.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 9 June 2006 04:53 (twenty years ago)

that was a weird game. loewen got kind of hosed by the o's pen. apparently his next start will be against the jays at the rogers (rodgers?)centre w/ lots of family in the house.

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Friday, 9 June 2006 17:24 (twenty years ago)

Eatlardo Alfatso and his .162/.279/.189 just got released.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Monday, 12 June 2006 23:16 (twenty years ago)

at the rogers (rodgers?)centre
It's pronounced "skydome".

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 12 June 2006 23:40 (twenty years ago)

4-2 in one-run games ... no other team has played in fewer than 13 ORGs, and the league average is around 16 to 18!

These numbers are kinda blowing my mind.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 16 June 2006 06:30 (twenty years ago)

I wonder if Barry will be a Wright Believer by weekend's end? (i'm not looking fwd to today's game, tho.)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 24 June 2006 17:04 (nineteen years ago)

2nd place AFTER the halfway point? O_o

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 5 July 2006 20:04 (nineteen years ago)

What's with the STAPH INFECTIONS?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 17 July 2006 14:03 (nineteen years ago)

SARS?

It's weird tho, eh? I was reading about it and they kept repeating that it's "most certainly not the clubhouse. No sir."

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 17 July 2006 15:00 (nineteen years ago)

BIRD FLU

― David R. (popshots75`), Monday, 17 July 2006 15:01 (nineteen years ago)

do the jays play on turf?

― BUTT LIKE A HOLE, BLACK AS UR SOUL (Adrian Langston), Monday, 17 July 2006 16:50 (nineteen years ago)

sure do.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 17 July 2006 17:36 (nineteen years ago)

Heh... bird flu!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 17 July 2006 18:02 (nineteen years ago)

Severe Acute Baseball Research Syndrome!

― c('°c) (Leee), Monday, 17 July 2006 18:14 (nineteen years ago)

The wrath of the baseball gods is coming down on that idolatrous, numbers-worshipping Ricciardi!

― c('°c) (Leee), Monday, 17 July 2006 18:16 (nineteen years ago)

turf burn + unsanitary locker room = super resistant staph infections. the rams had a big problem with this just a coupla years ago.

― BUTT LIKE A HOLE, BLACK AS UR SOUL (Adrian Langston), Monday, 17 July 2006 20:29 (nineteen years ago)

also, and this has nothing to do with anything, but i wish the entire infield was grassy so they could force teams to play in the rain. all sports are enhanced by rain. and sleet.

― BUTT LIKE A HOLE, BLACK AS UR SOUL (Adrian Langston), Monday, 17 July 2006 20:34 (nineteen years ago)

and hungry wild cats roaming the grounds.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 17 July 2006 22:04 (nineteen years ago)

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― BUTT LIKE A HOLE, BLACK AS UR SOUL (Adrian Langston), Monday, 17 July 2006 22:21 (nineteen years ago)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/etienne_saint/inside20skydome.jpg

― gear (gear), Monday, 17 July 2006 23:03 (nineteen years ago)

gear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

― BUTT LIKE A HOLE, BLACK AS UR SOUL (Adrian Langston), Tuesday, 18 July 2006 18:15 (nineteen years ago)

Hillenbrand criticizes Blue Jays, waits to be traded

By ROB GILLIES, Associated Press Writer
July 19, 2006
TORONTO (AP) -- Shea Hillenbrand criticized the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday and said he expects to be traded.
"I love my teammates here, but I'm waiting to be traded," Hillenbrand said during a profanity-filled tirade. "I should have been traded two months ago."
Hillenbrand was upset that nobody in Toronto's front office congratulated him for adopting a baby girl last weekend. The Blue Jays' designated hitter left the team last Friday to be with his family and didn't return until Tuesday.
"They wonder why they are not winning," Hillenbrand said. "It's the atmosphere."
Hillenbrand, left out of the starting lineup Wednesday night, added that he should have just stayed home.
The Blue Jays entered Wednesday's game against Texas in third place in the AL East with a 52-41 record. The second-place New York Yankees are in Toronto for an important four-game series starting Thursday.
The team held a players-only meeting before Wednesday's game. It was unclear what it was about.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi chastised the team just before the All-Star break, saying his 3-4-5 hitters were killing the club. Center fielder Vernon Wells objected to the comments when asked about it at the All-Star game.
The Blue Jays have been short-handed this week because of Hillenbrand's absence and injuries to slugger Troy Glaus and right fielder Alex Rios.
When Hillenbrand and his wife, Jessica, applied to adopt a child in June, they figured the season would be over by the time they received any news. But they were matched quickly with a woman who gave birth last Friday.
Hillenbrand flew to California last weekend and stayed there to fill out the necessary paperwork. He wasn't in the starting lineup for the second consecutive day Wednesday.
"He hasn't played in four days and we like the lineup we have in there," manager John Gibbons said before Hillenbrand's outburst.
Hillenbrand pleaded to stay with the Blue Jays in late May when reports surfaced about a possible trade to the Los Angeles Angels for second baseman Adam Kennedy.
Hillenbrand entered Wednesday's game hitting .301 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs. The six-year veteran was traded to the Blue Jays by Arizona before last season.

There has been increased pressure on Toronto to win this year after Ricciardi spent millions to acquire A.J. Burnett, B.J. Ryan, Glaus, Bengie Molina and Lyle Overbay in the offseason.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 22:11 (nineteen years ago)

congrats to chea but i hope it's his wife who is teaching the baby how to walk

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 19 July 2006 22:22 (nineteen years ago)

fuck this team. trade vernon wells now.

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 00:47 (nineteen years ago)

TORONTO (AP) -- Shea Hillenbrand was cut by the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday night after he was chastised during a team meeting and refused to sit in the dugout with his teammates.
Hours before, Hillenbrand criticized the organization and said he expected to be traded. The designated hitter and corner infielder was upset because he wasn't in the starting lineup for the second consecutive game and nobody in Toronto's front office congratulated him on adopting a baby girl last weekend.
The Blue Jays held a meeting before Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to Texas. Hillenbrand, reached by The Toronto Star during the game, said manager John Gibbons admonished him in front of the team.
"Gibby called a team meeting and then he stood up and reamed me out in front of my teammates," Hillenbrand told the newspaper. "I'm very disappointed about what he did and I find it very unprofessional."
Hillenbrand was designated for assignment during the game and was not in the locker room afterward.

"It will do wonders for the clubhouse," Gibbons said.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi cited irrevocable differences and said: "His version of events are different from ours."
Hillenbrand was batting .301 with 12 homers, 15 doubles and 39 RBIs. The Blue Jays have 10 days to trade, release or send him outright to the minors.
With the trade deadline approaching July 31, Hillenbrand figures to draw interest from at least a couple of contending teams looking for offense.
"I love my teammates here, but I'm waiting to be traded," Hillenbrand said during a profanity-filled tirade before the game. "I should have been traded two months ago."
Hillenbrand, who will turn 31 next week, left the team last Friday to be with his family for the adoption and didn't return until Tuesday.
"They are making me feel like I did something wrong," Hillenbrand said.
He added that he should have just stayed home, and the team should trade him if it's not going to play him.
"They wonder why they are not winning," Hillenbrand said. "It's the atmosphere."
The Blue Jays (52-42) are in third place in the AL East. The second-place New York Yankees visit Toronto for an important four-game series starting Thursday.
Ricciardi said Hillenbrand's dismissal had nothing to do with his family absence.
"No one is bigger than the organization," the GM said.
The Blue Jays have been short-handed this week because of Hillenbrand's absence and injuries to slugger Troy Glaus and right fielder Alex Rios.
Hillenbrand's locker was empty after the game.
The move shocked Hillenbrand's teammates.
Right-hander Casey Janssen called it crazy and catcher Gregg Zaun said he didn't see it coming.
"It's just weird, but obviously they felt like it had to be done. I stand by their decision," outfielder Frank Catalanotto said.
Team leader Vernon Wells said Hillenbrand took the news hard.
"It hit him pretty hard," Wells said. "Normally, you see Shea with a smile on his face and joking around. It was hard for a lot of us to take. It's just something you don't see that often. I know it hit me hard."

― gear (gear), Thursday, 20 July 2006 02:47 (nineteen years ago)

Holy fuck! weird!
I've heard Hilly could be a douche-bag sometimes and was wondering for a while if it was maybe not so true; since things seemed to be going well for him here.
So is this all Shea being Shea? or are Ricciardi and the org the ones committing douche-baggery?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 20 July 2006 03:04 (nineteen years ago)

Considering Shea's history of being a playing-time crybaby and Ricciardi's history of being a reasonably smart guy, I'm siding with the GM on this one.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 20 July 2006 11:24 (nineteen years ago)

From what i've read it seems like Gibbons and Ricciardi are taking a lot of heat for this.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 20 July 2006 13:52 (nineteen years ago)

"congrats to chea but i hope it's his wife who is teaching the baby how to walk"

-ha!

― jonathan quayle higgins (j.q. higgins), Thursday, 20 July 2006 16:22 (nineteen years ago)

no love lost re: shea but jp and gibby shouldn't come out of this clean. frankly i'm at the point where i'd love to see both of them gone.

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

it sounds like gibbons was being a dick first, i.e. "He hasn't played in four days and we like the lineup we have in there," manager John Gibbons said before Hillenbrand's outburst.

― gear (gear), Thursday, 20 July 2006 16:54 (nineteen years ago)

so i can see shea's pov, though he went to far after that. i don't think he just came out and said this without other provocation, too.

― gear (gear), Thursday, 20 July 2006 16:55 (nineteen years ago)

From what I've read it seems all this really started when Shea wrote that the team was a "sinking ship" on a clubhouse chalkboard.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 20 July 2006 17:08 (nineteen years ago)

ohhhh

― gear (gear), Thursday, 20 July 2006 17:18 (nineteen years ago)

MAN OVERBOARD

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:19 (nineteen years ago)

he also apparently tore the canadian flag off the jays' canada day jersey "as a joke"

still, between jp's impatient outbursts and gibby's weird bullpen decisions and the number of weird positional changes they've made together (moving glaus to ss, turning blue-chip starter mcgowan into a long reliever then back into a starter in the span of six months, the whole league/chulk/frasor debacles), jp and gibby haven't historically acquitted themselves very well in the player management department.

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:35 (nineteen years ago)

i mean the only thing ricciardi has proven to be worse at than nurturing talent so far is finding it

(sorry, i realize hindsight is 20/20, but trading guys like felipe lopez and cesar izturis away for NOTHING and then going after fucking russ adams ahead of SCOTT KAZMIR in the 2004 draft... gah)

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:37 (nineteen years ago)

good thing jp's got a five year deal too! down with the ship old boy!

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:38 (nineteen years ago)

Seriously, tho, how many folks thought Kazmir would pan out?

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:39 (nineteen years ago)

Also, while losing Lopez turned out to be k-stupid, Cesar ain't so swell.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:41 (nineteen years ago)

I actually think Gibbons has been quite resourceful. Considering the depth we have on the bench I think he's done a good job at getting the best possible match ups against the team/pitchers we're facing. I maybe don't agree with every single pitching change he's made - but you never will with mangers.

xpost

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 20 July 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

Jay Jaffe in Prospectus chat:

Ricciardi DFAed Shea Hillenbrand after he criticized the front office in response to a statement JP made about how his 3-4-5 hitters (Vernon Wells, Troy Glaus, and Hillenbrand) were "killing the team."

Now, I looked up the three players' OPSes in those slots: 987, .875, .901 respectively. Glaus is about 40 points below his PECOTA weighted mean in that spot, but the others are well above theirs. I don't care how specific his criticism was to a particular game, series or slump, but he's getting way more out of this trio than he could have expected, and ripping his players in public is inexcusable under the circumstances -- hey, JP, you built this team, you hired this manager, so if you've got a problem with how they're performing or who's batting where, the idiot brushing your teeth is the guy to blame.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 20 July 2006 19:39 (nineteen years ago)

morbs, even worse than that is that ricciardi ripped rookies like casey janssen and ty taubenheim in the same tirade.

and raposa, while there wasn't necessarily a chorus of approval for kazmir specifically, lots of people in toronto at the time were calling for JP to draft (duh) more starting pitching, and he would've been as likely a pick as any. as for izturis, dude's won a gold glove. (i'm gonna assume you haven't seen much of adams..)

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 19:58 (nineteen years ago)

I was being a mite facetious in my Kaz post. But, yeah, I've heard about Adams' defensive wanderlust.

― David R. (popshots75`), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:04 (nineteen years ago)

sorry, understand we actually had people defending the adams pick up here in toronto.. argh

and "defensive wanderlust" aint the half of it. toronto had to switch him to 2b not because he lacked range (which he did), but because he couldn't. throw. to. first.

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:27 (nineteen years ago)

i think that just means he's "scrappy"

― gear (gear), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:31 (nineteen years ago)

i didn't know you spoke darrin fletcher, gear

― mark p (Mark P), Thursday, 20 July 2006 20:58 (nineteen years ago)

boy, that 6th inning was a joy to behold!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:24 (nineteen years ago)

Yes - but still not as good as the 11th - I'm glad I decided to go!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 21 July 2006 12:56 (nineteen years ago)

I think JP was trying to pull an early-season Leyland (2006 version) with his public bitchfest ...

I think a lot of this was inevitable -- this is what happens when you have five or six 3B/1B/DH types on the roster and no proven middle infielders. People are bound to complain about playing time and you're never gonna have your best nine hitters out there because there's no room in the field for all of them.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Saturday, 22 July 2006 14:28 (nineteen years ago)

Stengel's solution was often to play the best hitters out of position.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 22 July 2006 14:52 (nineteen years ago)

Now that the Jays have essentially blown their season on the current road trip, what do we have to look forward to for the rest of the year?

-- players saying "ah, fuck it" and telling the press what they really think about Shea Hillenbrand

-- more "fire Ricciardi, he's a chump" talk from Toronto sportswriters

-- someone writing an article comparing Florida's trio of rookie pitching sensations with AJ Burnett, followed by "calculations" that point out that Burnett makes 28972398 times more money than all of them combined, and therefore Florida received a 185298745982% return on their investment by letting Burnett walk.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Friday, 4 August 2006 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

there's always Halladay's hope of beating out the Twins for the Cy...

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 15:19 (nineteen years ago)

How long until Reed has enough AB's to qualify for the batting race? (i think he's still ahead of Ichiro)

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 15:53 (nineteen years ago)

If Liriano goes on the DL, then it helps Halladay's cause, er maybe. Liriano/Santana might have split votes, whereas now, Johan might pick up the support of people who

1) were stupid and didn't vote for him last year ("what a comeback for the Twins and Santana following an off-year")
2) don't think a rookie should be winning the CY (an offshoot of the "pitchers shouldn't win the MVP award" "argument" that robbed Pedro of the award in 1999)

xpost

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 15:59 (nineteen years ago)

I'm voting for Liriano for ROY, MVP and CY.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:02 (nineteen years ago)

Even if he's out for the year (just for argument's sake)? What if he melts down in the last month a la Chris Carpenter 2005?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:11 (nineteen years ago)

Then he's voting for Barry Bonds for MVP, ROY, and CY.

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:12 (nineteen years ago)

Nope, Gagne.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:14 (nineteen years ago)

pwned

― David R. (popshots75`), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:16 (nineteen years ago)

Shastax has precedence!

― c('°c) (Leee), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:30 (nineteen years ago)

Wow, I'd never seen that pre-ILB snippet.

Dig the ironing of one S. Shasta Esq., who has been known to misrepresent a Small Sample Size, arguing against Gagne's CY by singling out his few bad appearances from that year.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:58 (nineteen years ago)

(and I say that with luv)

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 17:59 (nineteen years ago)

i don't think a closer--or at least a closer utilized in the manner they are now--should ever win the cy young.

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 18:05 (nineteen years ago)

In what way could a closer be utilized to be worthy of a Cy Young, in your opinion?
Closing out the game from the 2nd inning on or something?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 18:44 (nineteen years ago)

sure!

i wouldn't give a kicker the mvp in football, either*

unless the kicker is really, really awesome and there are no other decent candidates among the every-down players (so yes, closers should win the cy young in certain cases, i guess) : /

― gear (gear), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 18:52 (nineteen years ago)

like Mike Marshall usta!

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 19:07 (nineteen years ago)

Football parallels do not compute!
Hockey?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 9 August 2006 19:51 (nineteen years ago)

Awww... Hinske gone?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 17 August 2006 13:47 (nineteen years ago)

You'd think he could have gotten more for Hinske than a player to be named later and cash.

Rios' season could very well be a fluke.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Thursday, 17 August 2006 14:19 (nineteen years ago)

Agreed!

This may sound weird, but I'm going to miss Hinske.
BTBNL is a bullshit deal and we still have to pay part of his salary next year!
And Boston of all places.

Schoeneweis, however, I will not miss. A BTBNL is a steal for that clown!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 17 August 2006 18:24 (nineteen years ago)

i welcome hinske as his arrival helps to usher out trot nixon. i see a wily mo/hinske platoon in right for the bosox next year.

― otto midnight (otto midnight), Thursday, 17 August 2006 18:54 (nineteen years ago)

Reed's now on the leader board in 6th place with a .331 avg

― francisf (aaron ef.), Thursday, 17 August 2006 20:13 (nineteen years ago)

Gibbons and Lilly are fighting now? When did John Gibbons turn into Billy Martin?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 10:37 (nineteen years ago)

Steve effin' Phillips said last night "the players can't always be wrong." hmmmmmm?

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 12:08 (nineteen years ago)

WTF is going on with this team!!??

Didn't expect to be saying this, but it looks like Gibbons might have to go!

And who wil replace Lilly as our "proven" #3 next year?

Tune in tomorrow for another episode of... the J's of Our Lives

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 17:22 (nineteen years ago)

I guess Shea wasn't the clubhouse cancer after all...

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 18:28 (nineteen years ago)

Unless it spread!

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 18:30 (nineteen years ago)

He was the tumor.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 18:40 (nineteen years ago)

But what kind of cancer was he? Skin? Lung? Throat? Ovarian?

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 18:55 (nineteen years ago)

What's the most useless organ in the human body?
Whatever it is - that's what he was the cancer of.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 20:04 (nineteen years ago)

tonsil, appendix or male nipple.

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 20:07 (nineteen years ago)

Nipple cancer would totally suck.

Just like Shea does.

OH YEAH

― David R. (popshots75`), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 20:08 (nineteen years ago)

http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=lilly+gibbons&c=news_photos

― Steve Shasta (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 22 August 2006 20:23 (nineteen years ago)

did you mean BILLY GIBBONS?

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Wednesday, 23 August 2006 06:10 (nineteen years ago)

So every article I've read on the "incident" has mentioned the look on Halladay and Burnett's faces as Gibbons went down the hall to fight Lilly. Any idea where i could see a pic of this - I can't find one anywhere!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 24 August 2006 15:00 (nineteen years ago)

From the recap of yesterday's Red Sox-Jays game:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=260903102

"We expect improvement over last year, manager John Gibbons said, thinking back to his team's 80-82 finish last season. "Plus, if I'm not mistaken, there's playoff money when you finish in second place. So that ain't bad. There's a lot of trainers and some of those guys who could use that money."

Really? Playoff money for finishing second and not making the playoffs? This can't only be news to me.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 4 September 2006 09:42 (nineteen years ago)

"if I'm not mistaken"

I guess he's mistaken.
Still - I'll be pretty happy if they can finnish second.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 4 September 2006 16:49 (nineteen years ago)

That was my question -- is he talking out of his ass or is there any truth to it?

Finishing second with only about 85 victories (looking like a possibility) would ring a bit hollow though.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 05:47 (nineteen years ago)

So hard to please! It's all about breaking up the Yankees/BoSox monopoly on 1st/2nd in the AL East, for me.If they somehow did it with 45 wins it wouldn't make a dif to me!

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 5 September 2006 11:58 (nineteen years ago)

Jesus Christ didn't Halladay play dodgeball in school? That should be a major part of his offseason regiment if you ask me.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 10 September 2006 20:25 (nineteen years ago)

OH JESUS

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Sunday, 10 September 2006 20:38 (nineteen years ago)

SRSLY HOW R TEH BLUEBIRDS STILL 2 BEHIND TEH DEADSOX FOR 2ND IN TEH EASTS?

― Jimmy Mod's Champion Erotic Fantasy Team 2006 (The Famous Jimmy Mod), Thursday, 14 September 2006 02:54 (nineteen years ago)

haha omg meatloaf just sat in for two innings of the jays' radio broadcast. here's a sample:

(aaron hill comes up to bat)

meatloaf: "hey, someone told me that aaron hill hit home runs in all three games against the devil rays this weekend."
jerry howarth: "actually, it was just a couple, but boy were they memorable."
meatloaf: "well, you know what they say -- TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD!! HAHAHAHAHAHA"
jerry howarth (totally doesn't get it): "uh, no. no it's not."
meatloaf: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA"

― ^@^ (map), Monday, 18 September 2006 23:29 (nineteen years ago)

That did not seriously happen, did it?

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 00:20 (nineteen years ago)

you aint lived until you've heard jerry howarth shill for bat outta hell 3 (out october 31st btw)

― ^@^ (map), Tuesday, 19 September 2006 00:35 (nineteen years ago)

SECOND PLACE??!!??

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 05:57 (nineteen years ago)

A two-hitter no less – I'm glad I went to the game.

I'm not sure if they can hang on tho - the J's (Halladayless) will be playing the Tigers and Yankees; while the BoSox have a "mighty strugle" ahead vs. the Devil Rays and the Orioles.

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 13:46 (nineteen years ago)

The Yankees will be playing their B-team, so we've got that going for us.

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:02 (nineteen years ago)

Yankees B-team > Orioles

― Thermo Thinwall (Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 26 September 2006 15:54 (nineteen years ago)

BP published their Marginal Payroll/Marginal wins data today. Assuming that a team of replacement players making the MLB minimum would win 48.6 games (.300 winning %age), their calcs show how much money a team spent to gain each win over that minimum.

AL East results:

            
          W  L   Payroll       Marginal Payroll  M-Wins Cost per M-Win
NY Yankees  97 65  $194,663,079  $185,507,079      48.4   $3,832,791
Toronto     87 75  $71,915,000   $62,759,000       38.4   $1,634,349
Boston      86 76  $120,099,824  $110,943,824      37.4   $2,966,412
Baltimore   70 92  $72,585,582   $63,429,582       21.4   $2,963,999
Tampa Bay   61 101 $35,417,967   $26,261,967       12.4   $2,117,901

The Jays were by far the most efficient spenders in the division, and in the entire AL only Oakland, Minnesota, Cleveland and Detroit were more efficient (the latter two just barely, by about $50K/M-win).

Maybe BP will now STFU about the Jays (= Ricciardi) spending money frivolously and predicting the team's downfall on a weekly basis. When they're paying Ryan and Burnett $10 Million each to be on the DL and/or post 6.00 ERAs for all of 2010 it might be a different story, however.

Full article here : http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5600

― NoTimeBeforeTime (Barry Bruner), Monday, 9 October 2006 21:24 (nineteen years ago)

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