SB Nation - Kevin Millar

Building A Cubs Champion: 2010 Edition

Al — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:15:22 -0000

by Charles Rex Arbogast - AP

Like it or not, one of the keys to the Cubs' success in 2010 is a resurgence by Alfonso Soriano. Here, he launches his game-winning grand slam vs. the Astros last July 27.

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Last year about this time, I made this post discussing what I thought should be the makeup of the 2009 Cubs.

Brave, isn't it, of me to post that link when I'd just as soon forget about it. I was shouted down and laughed at (people are still giving me grief for the Kevin Millar thing, and they were absolutely correct), and had the Cubs put that 25-man roster on the field last April, they'd undoubtedly have had a much worse season than they did in real life (case in point: Alex Hinshaw, who I thought was an up-and-coming LOOGY, threw only six major league innings in 2009, posting a 12.00 ERA).

So let me go about this project this year in a different sort of way. A year ago (actually, October 20, 2008 was the date I wrote the post about my proposed 2009 roster) we were all still stunned and angry that the 97-win team that had dominated the National League all season went three-and-out in the playoffs. This was before Lou's "we've gotta get more lefthanded" mantra led us to the Milton Bradley disaster, before popular favorites Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa were let go, and a lot of us were wondering, "How can we make a team that good into one that will win 11 games in October?"

Jim Hendry and Co. were asking themselves the same question, obviously, but came up with the wrong answer. Without rehashing what we've rehashed all summer long, clearly, it didn't work -- and not just because of Hendry's moves, but because players like Alfonso Soriano, Geovany Soto and Mike Fontenot seriously underperformed their 2008 numbers by considerable margins and for various reasons, and because Aramis Ramirez, who is the Cubs' best hitter, missed 50 games with a dislocated shoulder and wasn't at full strength the rest of the season, eventually playing in only 82 games.

I believe in what new owner Tom Ricketts said at his introductory press conference: that the Cubs already have the talent that can win the World Series, and only need a few tweaks to bring the club back to pennant-contending level. I'm also going to assume that what we've heard about player payroll is correct: that it will be increased, if only "slightly", from 2009, and thus will wind up at (approximately) $145 million. That will rank third in baseball, behind the Yankees and Red Sox.

Thus, instead of trying to build a roster simply by picking pieces from here and there, let's use that $145 million to put together a winning team.

Let's begin with players we know will be with the team next year, and their payroll figures (all numbers from the excellent site Cot's Baseball Contracts). These players are under contract for 2010 and will definitely be on the team, followed by their contract amounts:

Alfonso Soriano, $19,000,000
Carlos Zambrano, $18,875,000
Aramis Ramirez, $16,500,000
Kosuke Fukudome, $14,000,000
Ryan Dempster, $13,500,000
Derrek Lee, $13,000,000
Ted Lilly, $13,000,000

That's $107,875,000 for seven players. The Cubs also owe Jeff Samardzija $1,000,000 on the major league portion of his deal (whether or not he throws a major league inning) and $500,000 to the long-ago-released Luis Vizcaino, who pitched 3.2 innings in a Cub uniform. We're now at $109,375,000, leaving "only" $35,625,000 for 18 more players to fill out the Opening Day 25-man roster. That means there are going to be a fair number of minimum-wage players in 2010, because among the players remaining, a number of them are arbitration-eligible, meaning they will be in line for raises.

The first order of business is to remove Milton Bradley from the premises. We have had many long debates about whether and for whom he should be traded, but I believe this is top priority for Jim Hendry and will happen sooner rather than later. Disagree if you wish, but I think the best of many not-so-great scenarios is to send him -- and Aaron Miles -- to the Giants for Aaron Rowand. Between Bradley and Miles, they are owed a total of $23.7 million; Rowand is owed $36 million. Since in doing a deal like this, you would be relieving the Giants, essentially, of $12 million (approximately) by taking the third year of Rowand's contract, Hendry should ask the Giants to split the difference and pay half of Rowand's 2012 contract, which would split the total dollars (approximately $60 million) between the two teams, about $30 million each.

This would also accomplish equalizing the 2010 payroll -- or come close -- to what Bradley and Miles would have been owed ($11.7 million) and what Rowand is owed ($12 million). I think the Giants would be willing to do this, because you are taking $6 million off their 2012 payroll, while leaving their 2010 and 2011 payrolls where they are now, since Bradley is owed $12 million in 2011.

I concede that Rowand has had two pretty poor offensive seasons in San Francisco (at least in part due to injuries). But in 2007, he had a fine hitting year in Philadelphia, and I believe that he has at least a chance to return to that level in Chicago. If you were looking at the possible acquisition of Rowand in a vacuum, you wouldn't do it -- but the necessity of removing Bradley from the team makes this probably about the best way to accomplish that. At best, this could turn into a Hundley-for-Grudzielanek-and-Karros sort of deal.

So, now the Cubs have a center fielder (with Fukudome moving back to his original position, right field, improving the outfield defense at two spots), but we are now at eight players and have only $23,625,000 left. They're fortunate that Geovany Soto is not yet arbitration-eligible, so let's say the Cubs bump him up to $825,000 from the $575,000 he made in 2009. That's a pretty good raise, given the bad year he had. Now we're at $22,800,000. Backup catcher Koyie Hill made $475,000 in 2009 and had a good year for a backup. Let's move him up to $600,000, leaving $22,200,000.

I'm going to leave the double-play combination alone for 2010. It's likely that by 2011, Starlin Castro will be the Cubs' starting shortstop -- but for now, because Lou and Jim like them, Jeff Baker and Ryan Theriot will return. Baker made $415,000 in 2009 and had a good run after he was acquired from Colorado -- one of Hendry's best moves last year. Let's pay him $500,000, and Theriot $700,000, both up from 2009. That's 12 players, and $21,000,000 remaining for the other 13 -- we're getting to the point where we can actually think about signing a free agent or two or making a deal.

Among our 12 signed players so far are nine hitters -- so, given the current fad of having 12 pitchers on your staff, we have room for four more offensive players. I like Andres Blanco and Sam Fuld -- both performed well in backup roles in 2009. Neither hits much, but both play outstanding defense and neither is going to be expected to start more than a handful of games. Fuld made $401,500 and Blanco $400,000 (the minimum) in 2009, and let's give them both raises to $425,000. We are at 14 players and have $20,050,000 left. We'll need one more outfielder and also a guy who could fill the role that was filled in 2007 and 2008 by Daryle Ward, and in 2009 by Micah Hoffpauir.

Sad to say, I'm non-tendering Micah. He's 30 in March and didn't really do well most of last year -- he's a one-dimensional player, since he's really not a very good outfielder, and didn't do well in the dimension (hitting) he was supposedly good at. Since we're no longer locked in to the "lefthanded" mantra of a year ago, the Cubs can put the minimum-wage Jake Fox -- bumped up to $500,000 for his good performance of a year ago -- in this slot, and re-sign Rowand's close friend Reed Johnson for $3 million to fill in when his buddy hits the brick wall at Wrigley too many times.

So, we now have $16,550,000 left for nine pitchers -- which means we're going to have to fill most of the bullpen with minimum-wage guys. That's actually fine with me -- look at the disaster that was Aaron Heilman last year (in my opinion, Heilman should be non-tendered) -- and the Cubs have a couple of real good prospects, in my opinion, to fill middle-relief roles in Justin Berg and Esmailin Caridad. They get the minimum $400,000 each, leaving $15,750,000 for seven more pitchers. It was reported earlier this week that the Cubs are negotiating a two-year deal with John Grabow; reported figures are "between $6.5 and $7.5 million" for the two years. Let's assume for this post that it's in between, and Grabow gets $3.5 million for 2010. We've got $12,250,000 left and six spots to fill on the pitching staff. Carlos Marmol is going to close; he made $575,000 in 2009, so let's bump him to $800,000. Angel Guzman will be his primary right-handed setup guy (Grabow's the lefty setup guy, or should be, if Lou would ever use him right). Guzman made $421,500 in 2009; he could be renewed at $500,000.

Our payroll drawer is nearly empty (you can almost count the remaining Benjamins, right?); we have $10,950,000 remaining and still need to fill three spots, one in the pen, and two in the starting rotation, and here's where it gets a bit dicey (and this is why I left this part for last). First, you can fill one of the starting spots with Randy Wells, who made the minimum last year and certainly deserves a raise; let's put him at $750,000 (or maybe even a bit less; he's renewable, meaning you don't have to give him that much of a raise until he's arb-eligible next year), leaving $10,200,000. The Cubs have five free agents: Rich Harden, John Grabow, Kevin Gregg, Chad Fox and Reed Johnson. I already re-signed Johnson and Grabow above; Gregg and Fox, thanks for your service, see you in another uniform next year (and please, Jim, not another minor-league invite for Chad Fox. He's done).

But what to do with Harden? If you offer him arbitration, he'll almost certainly accept. To paraphrase Longfellow's nursery rhyme, "When he's good, he's very, very good; when he's bad, he's horrid". If Harden accepts arbitration, he's likely to get pretty close to all the remaining dollars in the drawer -- so reluctantly, we say goodbye to Rich, without the arb offer, unless you can somehow agree ahead of time to get him to sign for $8 million or so. That's not unreasonable given his $7 million salary in 2009 and his mediocre performance.

For the sake of argument, then, let's say we have this $10,950,000 available for our two remaining spots. One of those spots is going to go to Sean Marshall, who, I believe, deserves another shot at the starting rotation after doing a good job as a swingman in 2009. Lou misused him as a LOOGY -- Marshall can clearly do better than getting one LH batter out -- and I'd like to see Sean, now 27 and with four major league seasons under his belt, get a shot at starting. Sean made $450,000 in 2009, and could be paid $600,000 in 2010. In this scenario Samardzija makes the team, likely because the Cubs are paying him the $1 million whether he makes it or not. Otherwise there are other possibilities, including Arizona Fall Leaguers John Gaub and Andrew Cashner, or maybe someone else who will have a good spring (and please, let's not have another David Patton scenario), for this final spot.

That leaves $10,350,000 (or just under $10 million if you use Gaub or Cashner, who would make the minimum). You could consider signing someone like Jon Garland, who just got his option declined by the Dodgers and is a free agent. Garland made $7.25 million in 2009 and had a "typical" Garland year, which is as an inning-eater; you could probably get him for about $8 million for 2010. Garland has made at least 32 starts for eight straight years, and has pitched no fewer than 191.2 innings in any of those eight. Doing that would take the pressure off the staff, especially if Ted Lilly isn't ready for Opening Day, and would let Marshall play the "swingman" role again. Or you could give that last rotation spot to Tom Gorzelanny, who made $433,000 in 2009, and save the money for a midseason acquisition.

Note that I haven't gone all DeRomantic here and proposed bringing back Mark DeRosa, although I think he'd still be a solid addition, even at age 35, for the right price, and a note in this St. Louis Post-Dispatch article indicates the Cubs may indeed make DeRo an offer. I also haven't retained Mike Fontenot, who could probably be traded -- I mentioned above non-tendering Heilman, but it may be possible that both Fontenot and Heilman could be dealt, even for low-level prospects. In fact, my 2010 team as proposed above has only two players (Rowand and Garland) who were not with the Cubs at some point in 2009 -- unless they decided not to go with Jake Fox in the bench role and instead signed a free agent (or one who soon will be) such as Ross Gload or Chad Tracy, whose option was declined by the Diamondbacks yesterday. Still, despite all the travails, injuries and bad performances in 2009, the Cubs won 83 games. With performances returning to career norms, better health and a little luck, just a few tweaks could have us returning to the postseason in 2010.

Cowboy Going....Kevin Millar Files for Free Agency

Tom Dakers — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:57:03 -0000

The first step towards us being Millar free next season happened today, Kevin Millar filed for free agency today. Let the balloons fly, strike up the band, actually....save some of the balloons for when he actually signs with someone else. Until then the unthinkable might happen.

Anyway, good luck Kevin. Nothing personal, I hope things go well for you.

The Season That Was: Kevin Millar

Tom Dakers — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:42:34 -0000

More photos » by Darren Calabrese - AP

It was tough to watch at times this year. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Darren Calabrese)

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When we signed Kevin Millar I was less than thrilled but I really didn't imagine he would make the team. In 2008 he hit .234/.323/.394 at age 36, he did hit 20 home runs but I've never been a big fan of 1B/DH types that slug under .400. I guess I was in denial through spring training, figuring that common sense would win out and he wouldn't be on the team at the end of spring training. It was all one of those jokes that I don't really get. Or so I thought.

But then he made the team and I thought, ok, Overbay doesn't hit lefties so Millar could be ok as the right handed half of a first base platoon. There were the odd bells going on in my head when I heard Cito and JP talking about how he could play outfield or third, neither of which he played in a while. I likely wasted more words on Millar than on any other Jays this season.

When we did the Community Projections, Millar wasn't even on our radar screen.

	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009 - Kevin Millar	78	251	29	56	14	0	7	29	31	49	0	0	.223	.311	.363

So what he did was much in line with what he did the year before. Fewer homers, but thankfully fewer at bats. Not enough fewer at bats but fewer. Fangraphs had him at a -0.6 WAR.

Millar hit .191/.285/.330 against RHP and .250/.333/.390 against LHP. so well he was a bit better against lefties than Lyle Overbay was, but when you figure in his defense, I'd still rather have had Lyle in against them.

He hit a lot better on the road (.256/.345/.376) than he did at home (.190/.277/.349). I really don't know why that would be.

He got on base well with RISP (.238/.351/.325) but didn't hit or slug any better. Likely it is the small sample size but maybe he locked into the strike zone better with runners out there.

Cito had him bat clean up in 11 games and he hit .186/.255/.395 in the role with 2 home runs. Mostly he hit in the 7th spot and did his best work there (.280/.336/.432).

By month he hit:

April .343/.395/.514

May .218/.283/.364

June .200/.298/.300

July .178/260/.333

August .240/.345/.440

Sept/Oct .195/.327/.293

So he started off the season great and had me questioning myself. But that quickly passed. We quickly banned the C-word around here, being far to silly for grownups to be saying, but it wasn't an issue after April 30th.

His longest hitting streak was 5 games, right at the end of the season. He goes into next season ready to build on it. Just, you know, not with the Jays. Please.

His favorite team to play was the Cleveland Indians (.471/.471/.882). Least favorite? Yankees (.000/.148/.000) in 27 at bats.

Defensively he was poor. Fangraphs has him at a -7.8 UZR/150, but I should mention that it was over a small sample size. He made 4 errors for a .990 FA. I may not me the most unbiased observer but I thought he looked terrible at the position. He also played 21 innings at third, which were interesting to watch, mostly at the end of the season. Cito, in his wisdom, decided Millar at 3B was better than Lind in LF and wouldn't move Bautista from the outfield to play third. Millar really didn't look out of place. I'm glad he didn't have to do it longer.

So, given any luck or baseball sense from our new GM, we shouldn't see Millar swinging a bat for us again. He's 38 next season, I really can't see any major league team paying him to play next year, but you never know. He did give us some thrills in April. I'm sure a lot of us remember the game in April against the A's where he walked, moved to second base on a wild pitch that didn't get far from the catcher and hustled home on a Lyle Overbay single. That won us the game 1-0. Helped along by 7 scoreless innings from Ricky Romero and a B.J. Ryan save. Kevin was Jay of the Day 6 times for us this season. I don't have a count on how many times he got the Suckage Jay award.

Today in Orioles/Camden Chat History

Stacey — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:46:22 -0000

Photo via boston.com

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I'm home sick from work today. Good story? So you get bonus coverage on Camden Chat today.

It was on October 21st, 2007 that Kevin Millar rallied the Boston Red Sox with a commercial on FOX before the game and, more offensively to most Orioles fans, threw out the first pitch at Fenway Park while joking around and embracing members of the Red Sox team. Outrage filled much of Birdland at the disgustingness of it all. Here is SC's take, written the night it happened, and then later stories on the same topic:

Memo from me to Kevbo: GET OFF MY PLANE

Kevbo: "Ain't no thang, y'all, dang."

Kevgate: Reactions to the (now definitely overblown) Millar Saga.

You'll see from the comments that most of us on Camden Chat at the time were not amused, although I think in the heat of the moment many people might have been a bit more bitter than warranted. I didn't comment in any of them, mostly because I remember being conflicted about it. When it comes to the Yankees and Red Sox I try to never be the person who comes off as whiny or jealous of those teams, and sometimes it's hard not to sound that way even if it's justified. Plus in the case of this event, I really, really liked Kevin Millar.

Two years later, though, I think it stinks. Not in an irrational, knee jerk way that many expressed when it happened, but in an objective way. It was never a secret to Orioles fans that Kevin Millar, while happy enough to be an Oriole, always wanted to be a Red Sox. And frankly, if we looked at it objectively, who could blame him? But it doesn't excuse palling around with them and rooting them on while a member of a division rival.

Right now, going into the 2010 season, I have expectations for the Orioles. I expect them to get better, I expect them to put a better product on the field each year and ultimately I expect them to compete. It was hard to have any expectations of the 2007 Baltimore Orioles. I mean, look at the roster. At that point in time the most we could ask for was to not be embarrassed, and that's just what happened. It was one more thing on top of Dice-K t-shirts being sold in Camden Yards gift shops and the like.

At any rate, it was a long time ago, so I doubt any of us have an emotional reaction to it now. Ultimately this event, like fretting over a sweep at the end of the season coasting the team a draft spot, is something winning teams don't have to worry about. And hey, maybe when the Orioles are in the postseason next year, Kevbo will come back to throw out the first pitch :)

Adam Lind Hits Three Homers, Jays Beat Red Sox

Tom Dakers — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:43:54 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

about 1 month ago: Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Millar follows through on a solo home run against Boston Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz in the third inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Travis Snider (45) waits on deck. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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Blue Jays 8 Red Sox 7

That was just a terrific game to watch, it had everything you could want.

We gotta talk about Kevin Millar, I have a rant coming about how a team could have to use Millar at third base in September, but we will save it for tomorrow. Millar had a terrific game. He was 3 for 4 at the plate, with a homer and a double. His last time up he needed a triple for the cycle, but knowing that it would cause a tear in the fabric of reality if he did it, to save the universe,he popped out.

Defensively, he made all the plays, including turning a double play at second base when the Jays had the shift on for David Ortiz, jumping over (if you can call it that) the runner coming into second. He also started a double play from third. Kevin we've (ok, I've) taken a lot of shots at you this year, and I don't apologize for any of them, but today I raise a glass to you.

I don't suppose you all have noticed this but Adam Lind is a heck of a player. His first two homers tonight were massive shots to center, the third he got smart and pulled it down the line hitting the Pesky Pole. His 3 tonight gives him 35 on the season and 114 RBI. When he came up in the 9th, with a chance at a fourth, Jonathan Papelbon hit him in the elbow with the first pitch of the at bat. I don't think he was trying to hit Lind but he was clearly trying to push him off the plate. Cito made the point with the plate umpire that he hit a guy that had 3 homers on the night. Papelbon appeared to apologize to Lind at the end of the inning. I hope Lind can play tomorrow.

Jose Bautista started off the game right, taking the first pitch over the Green Monster and Aaron Hill hit his 36th homer of the year. We hit 6 home runs today after 3 yesterday in a short game. The Red Sox must be worried about their pitching going into the playoffs.

Ricky Romero pitched pretty well tonight, going 5 innings, allowing 7 hits but just 1 walk and 2 earned. He did throw too many pitches, but then the Red Sox are a good team and he only gave up 2 runs. Brandon League and Jesse Carlson each pitched a good inning. And then Shawn Camp came in the game. He was awful and Cito left him in too long, finally pulling him after J.D. Drew hit a 3 run homer to make it a 1 run game. Fortunately Jason Frasor got a tough 4 out save. Frasor is going to be a personal favorite for the rest of his career for me, half because he saved me from throwing my laptop across the room. Frasor held up well to the pressure of all those loud Red Sox fans and he struck out Kevin Youkilis with the tying run on second.

Jays of the Day are Frasor (.243), Lind (.194) and Millar (.098, who'd have thought he'd get another JoD this season?) Honorable mention to Hill, Romero and Bautista (leadoff first pitch homer and a nice sliding catch). Suckage Jay is Shawn Camp (-.182).

That was a really fun game and we got to put off the Red Sox playoff celebration for a little bit. Yes I'm pissed off at Cito for leaving Camp in too long and I'm more pissed off at JP for having a team that has no replacements on the bench in September. What would have happened if Johnny Mac or Hill had twisted an ankle tonight? Or Wells or Bautista? But let's enjoy the game tonight and rant tomorrow.

Tomorrow the Jays go for the sweep against Tim Wakefield (11-4, 4.33). Roy Halladay (16-10, 2.90) starts for us. Edwin Encarnacion is out with a groin injury. The Red Sox called up a player just today, you would think the Jays, with no replacement players, would, you know, call someone up too. You would think.

Nice Start for Brian Tallet, Jays Beat Tigers

Tom Dakers — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 03:50:38 -0000

More photos » by Duane Burleson - AP

Detroit Tigers left fielder Ryan Raburn missed it, Rod got the homer. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

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Blue Jays 6 Tigers 4

Great to see Brian Tallet have a good start, it has been awhile. But 6.1 innings with only 7 hits, most of the bloop single variety, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts make you feel much better about using him as a starter. He would have been better off if Cito pulled him after the 6th inning. He gave up a couple of hits and Jeremy Accardo came in. Accardo was lucky to get out of the inning. Accardo gave up 3 singles and a deep fly out that we were lucky Jose Bautista caught and then a hard fought strikeout to end the inning. Scott Downs got through a scoreless inning and Jason Frasor pitched a perfect 9th for the save.

We should have scored more off Nate Robertson, who gave up 6 hits and 5 walks before leaving the game with Crappy Pitching Disease. In a heck of a smart move by Tigers manager Jim Leyland, Robertson was getting shelled in the 4th inning. Leyland didn't have time to get someone up throwing in the pen, so he sends the trainer out to tell Robinson he is injured and needs to come out of the game. Then the reliever can warm as long as he needs. It didn't do that much good, we got 3 runs off Armando Galarraga.

We got 12 hits, including 2 homers and 8 walks, so we should have scored more, but then it is hard to score when you have a few automatic outs in the lineup. Bluebird Banter mascot, Kevin Millar, had a terrible 0 for 4, though he did take a walk. I said this during the thread but will say it again. If I could ask Cito one thing, I'd ask "what could Kevin Millar do to get you to keep him out of the lineup?" It is way beyond ridiculous now.

Rod Barajas had a solo homer and Randy Ruiz had a 2 run shot and a infield single. Aaron Hill had the softest 4 hits you will ever see, three bloop singles, falling between the infielder and the outfielder and a ground single that just missed the pitcher's glove. Marco Scutaro took 3 walks. Vernon Wells was 2 for 3, with a walk and 2 RBI. Even Edwin Encarnacion had 2 hits.

Jays of the Day are Tallet (.220 WPA), Vernon Wells (.189), Adam Lind (.136) and Jason Frasor (.097). Honorable mention to Ruiz. Jamie Campbell made a big deal about how all is homers were solo shots. Jamie, when you bat behind guys that can't get on base it is hard to do anything else. Suckage Jay? Oh take a guess. Yep, Millar gets yet another Millar award. I'd like to say 'collect 10 and win your release from the team but he is well over 10.

The bad news tonight was that Adam Lind was hit in the leg by a pitch and left the game after the defensive half of the inning. I hope he is ok. We had fun in the game thread today. Winning is better than losing. And we have won 5 of our last 8 games. Yeah I know it isn't much but we'll take small victories where we can get them.

Tomorrow night Scott Richmond goes against Edwin Jackson.

Oh and congratulations to Derek Jeter for passing Lou Gehrig for most hits by a Yankee. Any time you pass Lou Gehrig in anything, you know you have an accomplishment.

John MacDonald Hits a 3 Run Homer and Jays Win. Two Very Unusual Happening.

Tom Dakers — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 03:47:32 -0000

by Frank Gunn - AP

2 months ago: Minnesota Twins catcher Mike Redmond, back, hangs his head as Toronto Blue Jays' John McDonald is congratulated on his three-run home run by teammates Edwin Encarnacion (7) and Kevin Millar, back left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

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Twins 3 Blue Jays 6

When we were at the games in Seattle during batting practice John McDonald was pulling every pitch down the left field line and most of the balls went over the wall. Safeco isn't a small park and I was impressed that he could hit the ball out so consistently and generally all within 15 feet of the foul poll. Anyway, tonight he did the same thing I watched him do in Seattle, but it was when it counted, with 2 guys on base.

We only scored in one inning tonight, 6 runs in the 6th. McDonald had the big hit but there were other big moments. Jose Bautista and Adam Lind singled. Vernon Wells fouled off 4 pitches before walking. Kevin Millar walked. Edwin Encarnacion slugged a single right through the third baseman and Johnny Mac homered. 5 hits and 2 walks that inning. I read somewhere that most times winning teams score more runs in one inning than the loser scores in the game, I believe it.

Mac had 3 hits on the game but the other two were bloop singles that were lucky to fall. Bautista and Encarnacion had two hits each. Randy Ruiz was the only one in the team to go 0 for. But he did drive home a run with a sac fly.

Ricky Romero had to fight through a rough first three innings 3 innings, but he went 6.2 innings, gave up 7, 3 walks and struck out 4. He left with a runner on but Jesse Carlson got the 3rd out on a strikeout. He's been great lately, used too much but pitching great. Scott Downs pitched a good 8th and Jason Frasor got the save.

Jays of the Day are Johnny Mac (.319 WPA) and Edwin (.157). Bautista and Millar get the honorable mention. Millar did well with a hit and a walk. And in consideration of that I will make no editorial comments about him. Suckage Jays are Ruiz (-.129) and Scoot (-.120). I don't think it is fair for either, Ruiz had the sac fly and Scoot singled and stole a base, but numbers are numbers.

E5 made as nice a play as you are ever going to see at 3rd today, if he keeps making plays like that we are going to have to find him a new nickname.

Tomorrow Carl Pavano (11-11, 5.09) goes against the Jays and Roy Halladay (14-8, 2.98). Let's score some runs again guys. I really really would hate Doc to lose to Pavano.

Chris Richard

R.J. Anderson — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:10:36 -0000

Hours after CC Sabathia went all Shiva the Destroyer on Carlos Pena's season, 35-year-old Chris Richard took a walk. The free pass was his first in the major leagues since April 30^th, 2003. It's been a while, but Richard has been in the majors for extended periods of time before. In some ways, this lowers the "Aw" factor associated with players like Michel Hernandez and Winston Abreu, in others it ups it.

When Richard was demoted, he was a 29-year-old with 982 plate appearances in the majors and two seasons removed from playing in 136 games. In that season with Baltimore, he hit .265/.335/.435 That's not stellar, but it's not awful either (since 2005 Kevin Millar has hit .252/.347/.405 and still finds work based on clubhouse motivational skills...seriously).

He's not your typical organization soldier. In his first major league at-bat he popped a homer. Literally 12 days later he was dealt for Mike Timlin. In 2003 he was traded or Jack Cust. In 2005 he was in the Rangers minor league system, then the Pirates in 2006 and since 2007 the Rays. Not a bad list of accomplishments for a 19^th round pick out of Oklahoma State University.

His performance, well, does it even matter at this point? I'm certainly not going gaga over the idea of Richard starting for the Rays, but whatever. At least he's a nice story and supposedly a nice guy. He's one home run from career number 35 and 17 plate appearances from 1,000. Here's hoping he can achieve such in these next few weeks.

Cito Decides if He Can't Win Why Not Chase Fans Away

Tom Dakers — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 21:37:10 -0000

More photos » by Darren Calabrese - AP

2 months ago: New York Yankees' Nick Swisher, right, slides safely into second base as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Marco Scutaro fields the throw after a Blue Jays error in the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

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Yankees 6 Blue Jays 4

I don't really want to talk about the game. Cecil was ok but pitched from behind in the count too much. Randy Ruiz hit a homer and was about a foot and a replay off of having two. The plate umpire made a terrible call at home when Bautista tried to score in fourth.

But let's talk about Cito. Kevin Millar once again hit cleanup going 0 for 4 but only striking out twice. Sort of a victory for him. Millar is hitting a big .216 now. Why is Cito running him out there? Is he hoping the embarrassment will make Millar quit? Won't work, a guy that will wear a beard like that can't be embarrassed (sure Tom, take a shot at his looks, isn't how he'd playing enough for you). Millar along with the 0 for 4 missed catching a throw from Edwin Encarnacion on an amazing play Edwin made, diving for a ball and making a good throw. And Edwin gets the error. There is no justice in the world. Can we not try Ruiz at first or bring up Brian Dopirak, please???

Not only did Millar play, Cito sat Snider and Lind so that John McDonald could play LF. Yeah, the guy that can't hit well enough to play SS even with an amazing glove and he plays LF. To be fair Mac had a single, a bloop that fell between the second baseman and the right fielder. Cito, Snider should be playing every day and definitely not sat so Mac can play LF.

Jose Bautist did walk twice and had a triple to center but he's hitting .218, hasn't he proven he shouldn't be out there enough yet? He's ok as a bench player but let's try the other guys.

It was nice to see Encarnacion back. He walked and scored twice.

Jay of the Day is Batista (.241 WPA). Honorable mention to Ruiz and Jesse Carlson who pitched a great 1.1 innings. Suckage is Cecil (-.195), Casey Janssen (-.109), Wells (-.187, he hit the ball hard the first two times up, Cano made an amazing play against him) and Millar (-.161). Hill came close to Suckage with his 0 for 5 day.

It would be nice to see if we have the horses to play against teams like the Yankees next year but Cito keeps sending out guys that won't be here, so it is impossible to tell.

Doc Throws a 1 Hitter Against the Yankees

Tom Dakers — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:56:34 -0000

More photos » by Darren Calabrese - AP

2 months ago: Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roy Halladay works against the New York Yankees during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darren Calabrese)

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Yankees 9 Jays 6

That's what you get for writing off Roy Halladay. He was as good as you'll ever see a pitcher be. 1 hit, 3 walks and 9 strikeouts. Just amazing. I know he had a couple of poor starts but all pitchers have the odd bad start. Doc became the 3rd pitcher to get to 2000 innings as a Blue Jay. Dave Stieb and Jim Clancy are the other two. It was just great watching him pitch. He's amazing when he's on, but expecting him to be on every start of a season is a little much even for Doc.

The Jays had 10 hits and 7 walks tonight. Adam Lind had 3 hits. Aaron Hill and Joe Inglett had two hits each. Marco Scutaro had his first hit in 19 at bats and 2 walks. Travis Snider walked twice. Even Vernon Wells got on 3 times, a hit, an error and being hit by pitch. We had 2 batters hit by pitch today but then the Yankee pitchers had no control at all today.

Every Jay batter got on base except, of course, our cleanup hitter Kevin Millar. Come on Cito, I know you like veterans but this is just a disgrace to have him bat cleanup.

We could have, maybe should have gotten more runs. We had the bases loaded 3 time. But then we scored 6 runs with Millar batting clean up and John McDonald played 3B.

Richard Griffin's subject to rag on JP with, Eric Hinske looked awful in the outfield and was 0 for 3. He totally misplayed 2 'doubles'.

Jays of the Day are Doc (.324 WPA), Vernon Wells (.117) and Adam Lind (.107 on a 3 for 4 day). Suckage? Guess. Struck out with the bases loaded and hit into a DP. Yeah, Kevin Millar. Craig suggested that we change the name of the Suckage award to the Millar award. Works for me.

Tomorrow is a 1:00 Eastern game. Andy Pettitte (12-6, 4.03) goes against Brett Cecil (6-3, 5.42). Cecil is getting two more starts and then he's shut down for the season. Yeah, Pettitte is a lefty. Yeah, Millar is likely going to play. Yep, I go a little grayer every time he starts. Want a little fun trivia. Tonight Millar hits cleanup, we win easy, get 6 runs. Our last win? The last time Millar hit cleanup, we scored 18 runs. See it works.

No I'm really really tired of Millar playing and far more tired of seeing him bat cleanup, Brian Dopirak should be in Toronto. I'm also tired of McDonald at 3B when we have guys in Vegas that could play the position that we'd like to see, could be part of the team in the future. Doesn't it make sense to look at guys that could help us in the future? Not us. No no. We play guys that aren't going to be with the team next year. Even if we don't want to see what these guys can do, wouldn't it be something for the fans to watch? We know what Millar can do (sadly). We know what McDonald can do (he can't hit well enough to play short and we are playing him at third? At a time we can call up extra players?).

Shouldn't rant after a nice win, but still.