MLB FanHouse

On Deck: They Were Once Friends

Mullet — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:40:00 EST

Filed under: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Red Sox, Yankees, Blue Jays, Angels, Cubs, Cardinals, St. Louis, Toronto

On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.

Chicago Cubs (52-35) at St. Louis Cardinals (49-39) - 3:55 PM ET

It's sad to see a friendship go south as apparently the one between Tony La Russa and Jim Edmonds has now that Edmonds is with the Cubs and La Russa is playing ultra-sensitive. But in reality, La Russa and Edmonds are mere players in the larger war that is Cubs vs. Cardinals, with first place on the line and growing ever so further away from the Cardinals. Today, Kyle Lohse is going to have to continue his 2008 magic (remember when nobody wanted Lohse? Yeah, well now he's 10-2) against Ted Lilly.

Boston Red Sox (52-37) at New York Yankees (45-42) - 3:55 PM ET

The Yankees held a team meeting after losing 7-0 to the Sox on Thursday. Afterward, Joe Girardi held the Yankees' feet to the fire in a team meeting. So what happens the next day? Sure, they lose again. Guess that whole team meeting thing didn't really work out. And they now have to answer to Hank Steinbrenner, who came out and said that the players have to "buck up".

Wait, that's it? No irrational statements or threats of death? Just a piece of intangible advice? Hank! It's like I don't even know you anymore.

Toronto Blue Jays (41-46) at L.A. Angels of Anaheim (52-34) - 9:05 PM ET

As the Blue Jays dangle one starter to acquire their third shortstop, another starter is about to hook up in a classic pitching duel. Roy Halladay pitched a shutout his last time out, and the man who leads all of baseball in innings pitched goes against John Lackey, who has an obscene ERA of 1.44 this season after going 5-0 in June. Lackey himself almost had a shutout on Sunday against Dodgers, going 8 and 2/3's of shutout ball.

Everyone else:

Pirates at Brewers 7:05 ET
Rangers at Orioles 7:05 ET
Mets at Phillies 7:05 ET
Athletics at White Sox 7:05 ET
Nationals at Reds 7:10 ET
Indians at Twins 7:10 ET
Astros at Braves 7:10 ET
Royals at Rays 7:10 ET
Marlins at Rockies 8:05 ET
Padres at Diamondbacks 8:10 ET
Dodgers at Giants 9:05 ET
Tigers at Mariners 10:10 ET

On Deck: They Were Once Friends originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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David Eckstein's Scrappiness May Not Save Him Much Longer

Mullet — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:16:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, MLB Rumors, Toronto

It looks like David Eckstein can't rely on his scrappiness to rescue him much longer, as the Blue Jays are reportedly in the market to replace him and his offensively challenged partner John McDonald. The Jays are willing to trade A.J. Burnett and his opt-out clause to get that shortstop.

"They're offering Burnett to any team that needs pitching," an American League general manager told the (Toronto) Sun. "They've told us they're not happy with either David Eckstein or John McDonald."

Eckstein, who the Blue Jays inked to a one-year deal before spring training, is hitting .273 with a .360 on base percentage this season, but has struggled in the field. McDonald, who is a defensive specialist signed a two-year deal last fall for $3.8 million, but is only hitting .163 in 29 games so far this year.

The Jays caused heads to be scratched by signing Eckstein while they already had McDonald. Now they don't like either of them? Too bad NFL rules don't apply where one guy plays offense and one guy plays defense. As for who that new shortstop might be? Well I assume that Jimmy Rollins is off the table. Other than that, your guess is as good as mine. I'm not sure there's a shortstop out there that would be available for Burnett while making Jays fans forget the two they have at the same time. Perhaps a better idea would be to trade Burnett for Adam Dunn ... but that's only because I want to see if Dunn either retires on the spot or chokes J.P. Ricciardi.

David Eckstein's Scrappiness May Not Save Him Much Longer originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:16:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shaun Marcum Gets Good News

Tom Fornelli — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:26:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, MLB Injuries, Toronto

As I mentioned over the weekend, the Toronto Blue Jays had to place Shaun Marcum on the disabled list due to some problems with his elbow. More specifically, the fact that it had been hurting him the past few weeks. Marcum was scheduled for a visit with the famous Dr. James Andrews on Monday to find out what exactly was wrong, and to see how long he's going to be out.

He got some good news, as it doesn't appear that Marcum is going to miss too much time.

During an examination in Birmingham, Ala., Andrews confirmed Marcum was suffering from strained ligaments around the elbow and forearm. The injury wasn't deemed to be severe, and Andrews gave Marcum the go-ahead to begin a throwing program as soon as Saturday.

According to the team's website, there's still no established timetable for Marcum's return. He is eligible to be activated from the 15-day disabled list in time for Toronto's July 4-6 road series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but it's more likely that the Blue Jays will take extra precaution, meaning Marcum could be sidelined until around the All-Star break July 14-16.

While it's good news that Marcum will not be needing surgery and that it's an injury that should heal with rest, it still comes at a bad time for the Jays. They had lost seven in a row before beating the Pirates on Sunday, and have lost 14 of their 19 games in June to fall behind everybody in the AL East. Considering how well everyone else in the division has played this month, by the time Marcum makes it back to the mound, Toronto may be completely out of the race.

Shaun Marcum Gets Good News originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:26:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Dugout: March of the Coaches

Nick Dallamora — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:53:00 EST

Filed under: New York, Seattle, Blue Jays, Mariners, Mets, AL East, AL West, NL East, Toronto, The Dugout

"It's your fault. It's all your fault."

Later, Willie, John, John, and not Ozzie. You were all bums.

The Dugout

	Online Host Welcome to Manager Chat!
	YippeeKaiYayOldBitch: what've you been up to?
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans: Just dickin' around. Lotta TV and crap. You?
	YippeeKaiYayOldBitch: keepin' busy. scrapbookin'. clippin' coupons. lotsa scissor work. whatta' 'bout you john?
	gibbon_and_receibon: Honestly? I've been whipping the tar out of my dog for three straight days.
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans: Jesus, dude. That's horrible.
	YippeeKaiYayOldBitch: yeah that's not cool man.
	gibbon_and_receibon: i mean...my wife. yeah, i've been bustin' up my old lady all weekend. she's so...weak...and defenseless and stuff...
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans: lol
	YippeeKaiYayOldBitch: lol nice
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: What're you idiots doing? Shouldn't you be at the unemployment office? Or the ** ing office? You **s.
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans: Yeah we'll see you there in a few weeks Ozzie.
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: What're you crazy? My boys are first in the division. I'm not going anywhere.
	YippeeKaiYayOldBitch: don't matter. you swear and yell too much. 'till you start actin' like a professional.
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: You think anyone gives a **sack? I can say whatever I want as long as I'm winning games. **, if we keep these North/South World Series hopes alive I can get away with anything.
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans: You lie.
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: Oh yeah? Hey buddy. C'mere.
	SomeDude: sup
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: Hey is this coffee too hot? /dumps carafe on dude's face
	Online Host SomeDude's skin is peeling off of his skull. His hair falls in soft clumps to the floor.
	SomeDude: WHALAAAA GGAAAAHHDD WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUUUUU
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: cubs chisox world series
	SomeDude: aw dude that'd be sweet
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: Plus, I'm Latino. No way I don't play the race card and everyone knows that.
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans: Tried that, man. That's no good for anyone.
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: Because when a black dude complains about his race all people hear is "wha wha we were promised reparations and affirmative action isn't good enough wha wha wha" Do yourself a favor and invest in a sexy accent.
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans; This is why everyone hates you.
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: Also why everyone loves me. Like I give a ****.
	SomeDude: bro can i get your autograph
	OzzieOzzieOzzie: /stomps burnt face
	CoachRandolphAllTheFans: lol
	YippeeKaiYayOldBitch: lol classic

Photos link to player info. WordUpThome.com Photo Credit: Getty Images

The Dugout: March of the Coaches originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cito Gaston Is Running Out of Pitchers

Tom Fornelli — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, MLB Injuries, Toronto

Now that Cito Gaston has re-emerged from whatever cave he's been in the last eleven years to return as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, and put J.P. Ricciardi's job in serious jeopardy (okay, so Ricciardi is probably the one who put his job in serious jeopardy), he has to be wondering if he'll have any starting pitchers left at the end of the season. The way A.J. Burnett is ~~begging~~ talking, odds that he won't be a member of the Blue Jays after July 31 are looking pretty good. Jesse Litsch has followed up his 7-1 start to the season by going 0-3 with a 6.46 ERA in four starts this month.

Then there is that whole Roy Halladay taking a line-drive off his head incident on Friday night against the Pirates. Halladay left the game immediately and underwent a CAT scan. The scan showed no broken bones, and Halladay hasn't been experiencing any headaches or other signs of a concussion, so it's looking like he won't be missing his next scheduled start.

The same cannot be said for his teammate Shaun Marcum, who has been placed on the disabled list.

Marcum, second in the American League with a 2.65 ERA, was to fly to Florida on Saturday to be examined by Dr. Steve Mirabello. Marcum will also see noted orthopedic Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

"Hopefully, we'll get good news and then after 7-10 days of a rest period, we'll make a decision and go from there," Blue Jays pitching coach Brad Arnsberg said.

Marcum says that he's been experiencing pain in his right elbow the last few weeks, but that hasn't seemed to stop him from pitching well over that span. Gaston has made no announcement as to who will take Marcum's place in the rotation, the team called up outfielder Adam Lind to take his place on the roster, and they'll probably just bump A.J. Burnett up a day to take Marcum's place on Tuesday.

Cito Gaston Is Running Out of Pitchers originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cito Gaston's Return as Manager Is Bad News for J.P. Ricciardi

Josh Alper — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:35:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, Toronto

I've long wondered why Cito Gaston never got another shot as a major league manager after being fired by Toronto in 1997. He might not have been the second coming of Whitey Herzog in the dugout but the guy won big and mediocre managers got recycled with great regularity. That said, I'm surprised that he's back managing the Blue Jays and it has to do with the guy in the general manager's office.

J.P. Ricciardi, like mentor Billy Beane, has tended toward managers that pretty much pushed the buttons he ordered them to push. Gaston isn't of that school. Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star writes that his hiring came from over the GM's head and was a move by team president Paul Godfrey to help flag the fortunes of a team that's lost a lot of local support.

Make no mistake, the hiring of Gaston was not the embattled GM's idea. The statistics-driven, micro-managing Ricciardi likes his managers to be beholdin' to him - see Carlos Tosca and John Gibbons, two men never considered to manage elsewhere, but given the chance of a lifetime with the Jays. Gaston is not J.P.'s type: a proven winner more popular than J.P. himself. He is, however, nostalgic president Godfrey's type.

Griffin also mentions that Ricciardi's flap with Adam Dunn is fueling the fire that will claim his job in short order. That embarrassment, coupled with his failure to win enough games, looks like the straw that broke the camel's back.

Cito Gaston's Return as Manager Is Bad News for J.P. Ricciardi originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 22 Jun 2008 09:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adam Dunn Wants None of J.P. Ricciardi's Lame Apology

Pat Lackey — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:52:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Reds, AL East, NL Central, Cincinnati, Toronto

It's a slow Saturday afternoon and you know what that means: it's time for an update on everyone's favorite baseball soap opra: As the Dunn Turns. When we last left our characters, J.P. Ricciardi said he was very sorry for saying out loud that he thought Adam Dunn sucked. Adam Dunn, however, wanted nothing to do with Riccardi's apology.

"He apologized to me, the organization," Jocketty said. "He wanted to talk to Dunn. I don't think Dunn wanted to talk to him."
[...]
"I'll probably see him in Toronto (next week)," Dunn said. "Sorry doesn't fix it. He wasn't talking about baseball. Say I stink all you want. I'm OK with that. He was criticizing me as a person."

Now, Riccardi was clearly out of line here. And I've already said that I thought that his apology left a lot to be desired. The one thing that kind of sticks with me, though, is that stuff like this gets said about Adam Dunn all the time. Now maybe it happens because he's a huge guy that plays the outfield like a moose on rollerskates and only bats .240 or .250 every year, or maybe it happens because there's actually something to it. Honestly, I don' t know. It's just something that's worth noting.

Adam Dunn Wants None of J.P. Ricciardi's Lame Apology originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JP Ricciardi Kind of Apologizes to Adam Dunn

Pat Lackey — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:07:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Reds, AL East, NL Central, Cincinnati, Toronto

Perhaps with three managers and a GM getting the axe in one week, JP Ricciardi feels a little bit of heat. He probably should because barring a miraculous second half, he's probably going to be looking for a new job come October. Whatever the reason, he's rethought his stance on Adam Dunn just a bit and decided to apologize to the Reds' slugger today.

"It's my fault, I take full responsibility for it," Ricciardi told The Globe and Mail newspaper of Toronto on Thursday. "I tried to get Adam's phone number from the Reds ... and if he wants to talk to me, I'll talk to him and apologize personally. But I apologize to him and the Reds. I need to be better than that. I let my guard down".

I love that the apology is, "I need to be better than that," and not, "I was wrong." So, basically what JP is saying is, "I still think you suck, but I shouldn't have said it out loud." Now that Ricciardi's put all this behind him, he can help focus on what's really important: hiring retread managers and trading for awful relievers that were probably about to be released anyways.

JP Ricciardi Kind of Apologizes to Adam Dunn originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:07:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Return of Cito Gaston

Mullet — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, Toronto

The news that has come down from the Toronto Blue Jays that John Gibbons and his coaching staff have been relieved of their duties (read: fired) comes as no surprise ... as J.P. Ricciardi had recently been given the go-ahead to fire Gibbons from upper management.

Here's the surprise: Cito Gaston, the man who led the Jays to back-to-back World Championships in '92 and '93, is back at the helm as Blue Jays manager. He was already with the club as a special ambassador and special assistant to the CEO (read: stay around the ballclub in case we need a new manager, maybe) so the transition will be somewhat smooth. The fact that Gaston, who was relieved of Blue Jays managerial duties himself in 1997, has gone this long without landing another manager's gig is puzzling. He's had plenty of success with the Jays, and should command instant respect in the clubhouse ... especially following the somewhat combative Gibbons.

Managing in the A.L. East has become an exponentially tougher challenge with the Yankees and Red Sox having become perennial beasts, and the Rays emerging this year as a legitimate winner. Gaston may be taking on an impossible chore. We wish him well much the same.

The Return of Cito Gaston originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's a Lot on J.P. Ricciardi's Mind These Days (Like Perhaps Firing His Manager)

Mullet — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, MLB Rumors, Toronto

I'm sure many of you are confused as to why Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi would go ape-nuts on Adam Dunn out of the blue, as am I. The incident, for which Ricciardi has apologized for (coincidentally after the Jays were no-hit by Dave Bush for seven innings and Ricciardi realized he might need to trade for Dunn after all and wants to make sure Adam isn't still a bit ticked off), seemed a bit odd.

But perhaps, if you will give me a little leeway to speculate (all right, maybe more than a little), something written at the bottom of the Globe and Mail article gives a bit of insight as why Ricciardi irrationally attacked Dunn. He had some stuff on his mind:

Ricciardi will rejoin the team today in Pittsburgh for a three-game series against the Pirates, under increasing pressure to sever ties with manager John Gibbons. Ricciardi would say only that "the team is not playing well" and would not tip his hand beyond that, but sources say he has already been given the go-ahead from club president and chief executive officer Paul Godfrey to fire Gibbons.

The last time a blurb like that came out, it was the beginning of the end for Willie Randolph. So could it be, and it's a stretch, that Ricciardi, faced with the decision to fire his manager, let some bubbling emotions boil over? After all, firing a manager can be stressful. Let's just hope that if the deed is done for Gibbons, at least it's done at an hour that the press can still make their deadlines.

There's a Lot on J.P. Ricciardi's Mind These Days (Like Perhaps Firing His Manager) originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adam Dunn 'Not Converting Dollars To Loonies Just Yet'

Eamonn Brennan — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:11:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Reds, Cincinnati, Toronto

It's OK to like Adam Dunn. Really. Not just because he's good at baseball, though he is. If you need another reason, like him because he's often unfairly maligned by old-media types for his low batting average despite all the inherent flaws in the stat. Dunn produces, but he doesn't get much of the credit. Like him anyway.

J.P. Ricciardi, as you might have heard, does not. Dunn was asked to respond to Ricciardi's needlessly harsh comments, and (via Big League Stew) Dunn was, well, you'll see:

I've said it all along, it doesn't bother me what people say or think, especially someone outside of the organization who has no idea of anything that goes on here. He's not even in our country. This guy's in another country talking ****. [...] He doesn't even know me. If he knew me, fine. Say what you want. But this guy doesn't know anything about me other than what he sees on whatever SportsCenter they have on up there. That's it. [...] I don't care about the perception people have of me, if anything happens, it looks like I ain't going to Toronto. I can eliminate one team. I'm not converting my dollars into looneys [sic] and twoneys just yet. They're really good, actually.

Canadaphobia ... check. Deriding someone for only watching SportsCenter* ... check. Reference to hilariously named Canadian currency ... yep. It's official. This is the perfect soundbite. Adam Dunn wins.

*Though, in Canada, isn't SportsCenter called something different? It's like Sports Night or something, right?

Adam Dunn 'Not Converting Dollars To Loonies Just Yet' originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:11:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Note to Banquet Planners: Don't Sit J.P. Ricciardi and Adam Dunn at the Same Table

Josh Alper — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, Reds, AL East, Cincinnati, Toronto

The Toronto Blue Jays rank next to last in the American League in home runs and slugging percentage. J.P. Ricciardi knows this, so when he went on a Toronto sports talk radio show the GM of the Blue Jays had to expect questions about how he planned to rectify those numbers.

One caller asked about a potential trade for Adam Dunn, the Reds slugger who has been the subject of many trade rumors. Ricciardi said he hit for a low average and struck out too much, leaving homers as his only selling point. The caller pointed out the Jays don't actually hit any homers (not adding that they also hit for mediocre average and strike out too much) and Ricciardi went loco.

"Do you know the guy doesn't really like baseball that much? Do you know the guy doesn't have a passion to play the game that much? How much do you know about the player? There's a reason why you're attracted to some players and there's a reason why you're not attracted to some players. I don't think you'd be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here ... We've done our homework on guys like Adam Dunn and there's a reason why we don't want Adam Dunn. I don't want to get into specifics."

How much do you enjoy your job, J.P.? It's getting clearer and clearer that you aren't that interested in doing it anymore and this rant is just the latest example.

Without touching the question of whether or not Dunn would be a good fit for Toronto, what is Ricciardi thinking by going off like this? Just say "I don't feel comfortable commenting on specific players" and then don't make a move for him. Going off like this is highly unprofessional and if being too effusive in praise is tampering, this has to be some kind of anti-tampering.

As for Dunn's like of baseball, his lack of passion led him to miss all of 15 games over the last four seasons. He hit 166 home runs over that span so whatever his issues with average and whiffs, he's productive. Whatever his feelings about the game, I'd rather have a player who produces like Dunn and is indifferent toward baseball than Shannon Stewart, say, who may love the game but isn't very good at it.

(H/T BBTF)

Note to Banquet Planners: Don't Sit J.P. Ricciardi and Adam Dunn at the Same Table originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 09:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Everything Going Wrong in Toronto Is Vernon Wells's Fault

Josh Alper — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, Toronto

A.J. Burnett is probably the least popular man in Toronto right now. His remarks about a potential trade to the Cubs have led to him being called a hoser and worse by Blue Jay watchers. Not far behind, according to Steve Buffery of the Toronto Sun, is Vernon Wells.

Wells, who can't get mentioned in the local rags without mention of his $126 million contract, is called on the carpet because he hasn't raked Burnett over the coals for saying he'd accept a deal to Chicago. He's criticized for not chastising the home crowd after they gave Reed Johnson a standing ovation over the weekend, for not showing enough passion and, more than anything, he's blasted for not producing more on the field.

Wells is hitting an unspectacular .276, and a frustrating .255 with runners in scoring position. He leads the weak-hitting Jays in RBIs, but he should, he usually bats cleanup. He also has stranded too many base runners. And, quite frankly, he's not even that spectacular defensively anymore.

Right now, Wells is five points off his career average, two points above his career OPS+ and, if he gets two hits in a row, right on track with his career average with RISP. In short, Wells is having a Vernon Wells season. If your problem is with anyone, it should be with J.P. Ricciardi for signing him to a franchise player contract when Wells isn't a franchise player.

Everything Going Wrong in Toronto Is Vernon Wells's Fault originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toronto Is Angry With A.J. Burnett

Eamonn Brennan — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, Toronto

It was only a matter of time until the backlash to A.J. Burnett's latest opus -- in which he told Cubs reporters that he pretty much can't wait to don Cubbie blue -- generated some backlash. Today is that backlash:

Put your foot in your mouth, much, A.J.? Breakfast, lunch and dinner? [...] Burnett's comments infer that baseball is not the all-consuming pastime hereabouts that it is in Chicago. And there may be some truth to that, but don't tell that to the customers who prop up the payroll. Those fans would point out that a winning team in Toronto would have this town a-twitter morning, noon and night with 4 million-plus in the seats each season.

As I don't live in Toronto, I can't attest to whether the fans would really pack the Rogers Centre four million strong. It does seem a bit of a stretch. Of course, it is fair of Burnett to say that people care more about baseball in Chicago than in Toronto. They do. This is not necessarily to Chicago's credit.

No, A.J.'s real sin is honesty. What? A professional baseball player wants to leave Canada and play for a landmark franchise with a die-hard fan base? How dare he! Now, Canadians are angry. And you wouldn't like Canadians when they're angry.

Toronto Is Angry With A.J. Burnett originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A.J. Burnett Would Enjoy Being a Cub

Mullet — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:40:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago, Blue Jays, Cubs, AL East, NL Central, MLB Gossip, Toronto

Poor A.J. Burnett isn't making any friends north of the border these days. First, he sarcastically tipped his cap to a booing Blue Jays crowd after being pulled from a bad outing. Then, a Chicago Sun Times reporter asked him about a possible trade to the Cubs to which Burnett responded:

"As of right now I'm a Blue Jay, and I'm going to pitch to the best of my ability as long as I'm part of this club," he said. "But if something were to happen and I'd have the opportunity to go to a place where baseball is breakfast, lunch and dinner, that would be awesome.

"Right now my focus is with this club, but if something like that were to happen, I'd accept it with open arms."

Hmmm. Perhaps Burnett was merely trying to be nice knowing the reporter was from Chicago, but it was still probably a little stronger and more honest than the Blue Jays, and especially their fans would have wanted it. Trying not to burn bridges in Chicago before he gets there, he might have burned a bridge or two in Toronto. After Sunday's loss to the Cubs, Burnett was asked about the quote, and about how fans might perceive it:

"Who would not want to play for the Cubs, bottom line?" he said.

In a post-game media scrum, Burnett took pains to emphasize his commitment to the Jays. If Toronto fans take exception to his comments, so be it, he said.

"I don't really care if the fans take it," he said. "If they can't read the part that I said where I'm at right now in my mind, then whatever. I'm a Blue Jay now. I'm a Blue Jay until they tell me otherwise. I'm proud of that." (...)

Teammate Vernon Wells said Burnett "seemed shocked" at the Sun-Times story when the two discussed it before Sunday's game. Wells did not say who initiated the discussion, but was ready with his own answers when reporters approached him.

"[Burnett] knows the situation," Wells said. "He knows he can opt out at the end of the year, obviously. He's a grown man. He can say what he wants to say. All we care about is if he's still loyal to this team, which I know he is."

Sounds like Burnett isn't going to be appearing at any fanfests in Toronto anytime soon, since the fans, and not the organization, seems to be where his ire lies. And it also sounds like Burnett might be using the opt out clause he has in his contract after this season (the third season of five in the contract he signed) if he doesn't get traded first.

We know Burnett hearts the Cubs, but is the feeling mutual? I have to wonder if the Cubs would even want a guy who has had some injury history on his resume. You would think having Kerry Wood and Mark Prior would scare the Cubs off x-rays for good, no matter how long Burnett's been injury free.

A.J. Burnett Would Enjoy Being a Cub originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mariners' Manager's Solution to Slumpbusting? Hire a Stripper!

Will Brinson — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Seattle, Blue Jays, Mariners, Toronto

John McLaren will probably be regretting his most recent statements to the press when Monday morning rolls around, because he decided to indirectly imply that strippers are funny and that they should (and have been) used to bust slumps in baseball.

'We need a laugh,' he said. 'A dancer, or something. Something just to break things up.'

When he was coaching in Toronto, McLaren said, the Blue Jays once brought a stripper to the clubhouse during a slump.

'It got mixed reviews,' he said. 'Some of the guys that are pretty close to the Lord weren't too happy.'

Now, whether you like strippers (raises hand) or do not like strippers, this is not even a remotely smart statement. And it is not because we live in some new age world where old school baseball guys are no longer allowed to have blow up dolls in the clubhouse.

It is a dumb statement because McLaren's statement could immediately fire up both women and the Christian right wing. While both are wonderfully pleasant people, if my team had the worst record in the American League (21-35), I would be keeping my profile as low as possible. In fact, I would probably just go hide out in Thee Dollhouse during my off days.

H/T: Tuffy

Mariners' Manager's Solution to Slumpbusting? Hire a Stripper! originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Continuing Misrepresentation of David Eckstein, Sparkplug for Hire

Josh Alper — Wed, 28 May 2008 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, Toronto

David Eckstein was back in the starting lineup for the Toronto Blue Jays last night and that means that some of our favorite words were back in the Toronto Star today. Richard Griffin managed to refer to Eckstein as both "gritty" and a "sparkplug" in his story about the diminutive shortstop.

That will win him some love from anyone who likes to play the David Eckstein Drinking Game - they said gutty, DRINK! - but the rest of his column won't win him anything but jeers. Griffin, like so many baseball writers and announcers, mistakes Eckstein's hustle for something that translates into victories.

The Jays were a remarkable 12-7 with Eckstein out of action. The majority of shortstop play was handled by Marco Scutaro. The former A's bench player, making his first appearance back at McAfee Coliseum since being dealt to the Jays, entered last night batting .323 with nine RBIs in 19 games as a shortstop.

Actually, the remarkable thing is that the Jays put Eckstein back in the lineup. For all his grit and sparkplugginess, the team was 13-18 with Eckstein in the lineup. You'd think writers who rave about Eckstein's intangibles would notice something like that and blow it out of proportion.

Scutaro may not have the name recognition or crush factor that Eckstein possesses but he's not really any worse a player. Eckstein gets on base more, Scutaro has more power, neither is a good fielder and neither should start on a team that wants to contend. Scutaro's been better in '08, though, and should remain the starter.

(H/T Baseball Musings)

The Continuing Misrepresentation of David Eckstein, Sparkplug for Hire originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 28 May 2008 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toronto's Offensive Problems Run Deeper Than Drug Testing

Josh Alper — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, Toronto, PEDs

There's been a lot made of the drop in offense in the American League this season with reasons ranging from weather to a paucity of good young players used to explain why the bats aren't thumping as they have in the past. There's been another reason tossed around as well, the presumed disappearance of steroids in the post-testing game of baseball.

Jeff Blair of the Toronto Globe and Mail picks up on this during a look at the scuffling Toronto Blue Jay offense in general and Alex Rios in particular. He describes J.P. Ricciardi watching Rios take a called third strike and say, cryptically, that we'll see a lot less balls in the seats.

If you're J.P. Ricciardi, you can't just attribute it to the Mitchell report or anything like that, because you're an employee of Major League Baseball and, well, he just can't go there, you know?

I think if Ricciardi could use something like that to explain away his team's offensive production, he'd be wise to do it actually. Wouldn't make it true but it might give him an out.

Using PED's to write off the decline in offense makes no sense. It doesn't take into account that the players using weren't just power hitters, weren't just hitters and didn't just play in the American League. It doesn't explain why the National League is outpacing its 2007 performance to this point in the season and it certainly doesn't explain why Rios and the Jays can't hit.

Even if it were true that the lack of steroids had returned us to the Dead Ball era, it doesn't begin to explain Toronto's problems. Ricciardi is arguing that the lack of balls flying over the fence is what's driving down offensive numbers. It's not true.

Take the Blue Jays. They've hit 30 home runs in 47 games and are scoring 3.79 runs per game. If it were true that good offensive baseball were reliant on the home run, then Minnesota and Oakland, with fewer homers per night than the Jays, would be lagging behind them. They aren't though, in fact each team is scoring more than a half-run per game more than Toronto.

Hell, it's still just May and offense might pick up and start to resemble years past. Even if the league averages rise, though, expect Toronto to be at the bottom of the pack.

(H/T BBTF)

Toronto's Offensive Problems Run Deeper Than Drug Testing originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Wed, 21 May 2008 10:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Armando Benitez Re-Surfaces With the Jays

Matt Watson — Mon, 12 May 2008 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, MLB Injuries, Toronto

The Blue Jays presciently added a bit of depth to their outfield on Friday, acquiring Kevin Mench from the Rangers for cash considerations and signing Brad Wilkerson. Just hours later, Vernon Wells celebrated by breaking his wrist while attempting a diving catch. He'll miss the next 6-8 weeks.

The Jays will attempt to fill Wells' spot in the lineup by sliding Alex Rios to center and using Wilkerson in right field. Jeremy Accardo also went on the DL, and the Jays filled his spot in the bullpen with a familiar name, purchasing the contract of Armando Benitez from Triple-A Syracuse.

Yes, in case you lost track, Benitez signed a minor league deal with the Jays back in March and has down on the farm ever since. He only pitched a total of one inning for Syracuse after straining a hamstring and spending most of his time (seven whole innings) with Single-A Dunedin, but he's back in the big show, where he hopes to avoid picking up where he left off last year, which was pitching horribly for the Marlins down the stretch.

Can Benitez provide the Jays another weapon in their bullpen? My first reaction was that the guy was toast, but upon further reflection, he did strike out better than a batter per inning last year, even while getting shelled with the Marlins. So long as he's not put into a high pressure situation, there's no real reason to think he can't stick around a while with the Jays, perhaps providing inspiration for another failed closer trying to work his way back to the majors.

Armando Benitez Re-Surfaces With the Jays originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Mon, 12 May 2008 19:28:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If It's Tuesday, the Blue Jays Must Be Making a Wild Change in Organizational Thinking

Josh Alper — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Blue Jays, AL East, Toronto

Earlier today we talked about how well the Blue Jays have been pitching of late. On more than one occasion we've discussed how poorly the Blue Jays have been hitting all season. That's why their decision to send Adam Lind to the bench after 19 at-bats is such a curious one.

It's true that Lind has struggled in those at-bats, just one hit and one walk, but making a call that quickly is asinine. Lind's proven himself time and again at AAA and didn't make a fool of himself in the big leagues during an extended cameo last summer. He may not be a star but you need to actually take the time to find out.

Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star makes a strong point when he says that the latest move shows the Jays have a real problem with indecisiveness.

Consider that on Nov. 2, the Jays signed Stairs to play in left. In December, they offered Reed Johnson arbitration to platoon in left. In February, they signed Stewart to battle for a platoon spot in left. In March Johnson was released. In April, Thomas was released. Stairs entered a DH platoon with Stewart and Lind was promoted. And then came yesterday. All we can say is stay tuned.

At this point, it's only a matter of time until Lloyd Moseby gets a call. This kind of haphazard team building starts at the top and is a bad sign for J.P. Ricciardi's job security.

(H/T Baseball Musings)

If It's Tuesday, the Blue Jays Must Be Making a Wild Change in Organizational Thinking originally appeared on MLB FanHouse on Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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