Ah, wrong link--I meant to post about his signing. I don't know if he'll ever make it back--he pitched decently last year, but he's just shy of 37.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 20 February 2024 22:55 (seven months ago) link
Might have decided to cash in and move close to home. Can’t blame him
― Roman Anthony gets on his horse (gyac), Tuesday, 20 February 2024 23:39 (seven months ago) link
FB teaser so I'd click: "Check out Alek Manoah's motto for 2024." I clicked, and his new motto is "They don't give out World Series trophies in Triple-A."
I was rooting for "Shut the fuck up."
― clemenza, Thursday, 22 February 2024 00:09 (seven months ago) link
did he confirm whether or not they give em out in Complex League? 😉
― francisF, Thursday, 22 February 2024 14:40 (seven months ago) link
Alex Manoah 2024 ST debut:
IP: 1.2H: 3 R: 4ER: 4BB: 1K: 0HRA: 0XBHA: 2HBP: Torkelson (by Manoah); Canha (by Manoah); Kelly, C (by Manoah)ERA: 21.60WHIP (inc. HBP): 4.20
― citation needed (Steve Shasta), Tuesday, 27 February 2024 21:11 (seven months ago) link
Yikes. We may have a cerified case of Steve Blass Syndrome here.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 27 February 2024 21:20 (seven months ago) link
Not surprised at all by this outcome
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 04:47 (seven months ago) link
Incredible article about the Ohtani flight tracker and the Blue Jays. Half the roster was at Manoah’s wedding tracking the flight on the golf course!
ROMANO: “I remember where it was. We were sitting by the pool, actually. I was kind of on my phone. And then I was like, ‘NO WAYYYY.’ And then I was telling all the boys. … I was like, ‘Oh, he’s headed there. He’s got to be signing with us.’ So we were all really, really pumped up about it.”But there were also 18 holes of golf to play. So Romano, Kevin Gausman, Tim Mayza and Danny Jansen hopped in their cart for one of the most distracted rounds of golf ever played.GAUSMAN: “I remember somebody said, ‘How about this whole Ohtani thing?’ And I was, like, ‘What?’ What do you mean?’ But as we were playing golf, it just got crazier and crazier.”
THE ATHLETIC (TO JORDAN ROMANO): “What about the story where Kikuchi had an entire restaurant reserved for dinner with Ohtani that night? Did you try to confirm that? Did you even question whether Kikuchi would be in Toronto in December?”ROMANO: “No, because I knew he was. So that made sense. Because I knew he was working out in Toronto. I even knew the place he was working out at. So that was just another piece that just felt like: This is getting real.”TA: “And since you were at this wedding in Puerto Rico, there was no reason for you to think: ‘Why wouldn’t he have invited me to dinner?’”ROMANO: “Exactly.”
But not all of Kikuchi’s teammates were content to assume it must be true. Like Bo Bichette, for instance. He went right to the source.TA: “Did you ever ask anybody, like Ross Atkins or Mark Shapiro, if any of this was true? Or Kikuchi, who supposedly rented out that restaurant?”BICHETTE: “I talked to Kikuchi a little bit about it, yeah. So I kind of knew that the rumors probably weren’t true when he texted me and said: ‘I don’t know what’s going on.’ I figured he would know.”
― Roman Anthony gets on his horse (gyac), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 16:17 (seven months ago) link
Been trying to formulate a joke related to Manoah's wedding; it would help if he were the one throwing the bouquet.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 17:37 (seven months ago) link
I can’t think of one either, so here’s a nice photo of the lads at the wedding receptionhttps://i.postimg.cc/3R71qX96/IMG-6144.jpg
― Roman Anthony gets on his horse (gyac), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 17:46 (seven months ago) link
Gausman, Manoah, Espinal, Romano; far left is Mike on my bowling team; far right, blanking out.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 28 February 2024 18:22 (seven months ago) link
Danny Jansen?
― Roman Anthony gets on his horse (gyac), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 18:27 (seven months ago) link
Jansen
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 28 February 2024 18:34 (seven months ago) link
Vlad's birthday yesterday:
https://jaysjournal.com/posts/a-look-at-vladdys-career-accomplishments-as-he-turns-25
Their conclusion: "It's easy to forget how young Guerrero still is considering how long he's been around, but it's important to remember what he has done for this team and that his best years are still ahead of him."
My conclusion: "There's 2021, and then there's everything else."
― clemenza, Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:36 (six months ago) link
To be fair, one day before Bryce Harper's 26th birthday, I would have summed up his career exactly the same--there was 2015, and then there was everything else. So I know there's lots of time to turn things around. Whether that happens or not--and if it does, whether or not it hpapens in Toronto--nobody knows.
― clemenza, Sunday, 17 March 2024 18:43 (six months ago) link
Votto homers off Wheeler on the first pitch he sees as a Jay. Rolls ankle on a bat immediately afterwards, leaves game
― francisF, Monday, 18 March 2024 01:15 (six months ago) link
(as previously reported in the Votto thread)
― francisF, Monday, 18 March 2024 01:19 (six months ago) link
I haven't a clue what Santiago Espinal is worth, but this is what we got:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=mcelva000chr#
Hasn't pitched in the majors yet.
― clemenza, Thursday, 21 March 2024 21:48 (six months ago) link
the main thing, i think, is he doesn't need to be on the 40 man. inning eater at best if he makes the bigs, by the looks of it.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 21 March 2024 22:20 (six months ago) link
Something else fell through for tomorrow, so think I'll watch the opener at the Canadian HOF. They're going to be showing every Friday game there for the rest of the season.
― clemenza, Thursday, 28 March 2024 00:29 (six months ago) link
Going to leftfield with the girlfriend to watch. Screw work and making money!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 28 March 2024 01:13 (six months ago) link
Varsho Cove, I think they call it.
― clemenza, Thursday, 28 March 2024 01:33 (six months ago) link
Watched the first six innings at the (Canadian) HOF, left because their feed was kind of choppy. I had a cardboard stand-up of Fergie Jenkins looking over my right shoulder the whole time. About 30 people were there.
They flashed a graphic of Berrios's GS the last five years (excepting the COVID season):
2018 - 322019 - 322021 - 322022 - 322023 - 32
Not as amazing as Khris ".247" Davis's streak--GS is a lot more predictable than BA, plus the COVID year intrudes--but still eye-opening. Apparently Berrios has never missed a start in his career.
― clemenza, Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:57 (six months ago) link
Not watching--down on them already!--but Turner has a single/double/HR is his first three AB...ah, just walked. Should get one more AB, but hasn't had a triple since 2020.
― clemenza, Sunday, 31 March 2024 19:29 (six months ago) link
Jays are getting n__-h__ by Benny Blanco from the Bronx, a 30-year-old making his eighth major league start and with a career ERA near 5.00.
(My sourness and sarcasm is 100% directed at the Jays. His name is Ronel Blanco, and obviously a great story.)
― clemenza, Tuesday, 2 April 2024 01:54 (six months ago) link
He's thrown 81 pitches through 7, has a 10-0 lead; who knows, but hope they give him one baserunner.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 2 April 2024 01:58 (six months ago) link
Whoah--10 pitches, 1-2-3. Kiner-Falefa, Biggio, and Springer left to go. (He walked one earlier in the game, so back to Springer.)
― clemenza, Tuesday, 2 April 2024 02:02 (six months ago) link
One.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 2 April 2024 02:08 (six months ago) link
Two! Jesus, this is fast.
Did it! CG no-hitter. Almost got in under 100 pitches but walked Springer on a full count. Even exciting on a laptop.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 2 April 2024 02:13 (six months ago) link
Just seeing the highlights now. Great play by Abreu in the 9th.
Third game in five where the Jays have been hapless at bat. Even with their big first game, now hitting .184 as a team.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 2 April 2024 03:20 (six months ago) link
Well todays (technically yesterdays) went much better. Glad I stuck around until the end
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 3 April 2024 05:21 (six months ago) link
Looks like their haplessosity was in effect for most of the game, till Groucho took charge, but a win is a win is a win. Hope Berrios keeps it up; a Cy contender would be something to root for if the team meanders.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 3 April 2024 16:28 (six months ago) link
Pathetic. Now hitting .176 as a team.
― clemenza, Thursday, 4 April 2024 03:05 (six months ago) link
It turns out that the big off-season strategy to overhaul the offense by signing every utility infielder on the market wasn't such a bright idea.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Thursday, 4 April 2024 07:14 (six months ago) link
Now I get it: we've built our offense around wild pitches and passed balls.
― clemenza, Friday, 5 April 2024 20:22 (six months ago) link
Green made it interesting in the 9th, but the pitching at least came through today.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 5 April 2024 20:54 (six months ago) link
manoah in dunedin today: 1.2 IP, 5 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 58 pitches, 26 strikes
― mookieproof, Sunday, 7 April 2024 16:58 (five months ago) link
"Manoah walked the first four batters he faced, throwing just two strikes in his first 18 pitches."
― clemenza, Sunday, 7 April 2024 18:23 (five months ago) link
José Berríos: 18.2 IP, 2-0, 1.45 ERA
rest of team: 75.0 IP, 3-6, 5.98 ERA
― clemenza, Tuesday, 9 April 2024 16:51 (five months ago) link
From the Canadian HOF FB feed: Davis Schneider's parents at the Hall today.
https://i.postimg.cc/zf6Vy7Mj/davis.jpg
― clemenza, Tuesday, 9 April 2024 19:21 (five months ago) link
Is he Canadian?!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 9 April 2024 19:21 (five months ago) link
Just looked him up--no, New Jersey. You don't even need to be Canadian to be inducted, much less displayed.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 9 April 2024 19:28 (five months ago) link
Ya. He hasn’t reallly done much. Pretty low bar imho !
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 9 April 2024 19:34 (five months ago) link
C'mon, he's probably the game's greatest hitter right now. Career slugging pct.:
1. Schneider - .6072. Alvarez - .5893. Judge - .5844. Trout - .5835. Ohtani - .5596. Acuna - .5337. Stanton - .5298. Betts - .5299. Arenado - .52610. Soto - .525
― clemenza, Tuesday, 9 April 2024 19:45 (five months ago) link
*minimum 161 career plate appearances
― clemenza, Tuesday, 9 April 2024 19:46 (five months ago) link
Lol. I guess that’s something
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 9 April 2024 19:52 (five months ago) link
I think playing the Mariners has cured your team.
― JoeStork, Wednesday, 10 April 2024 01:05 (five months ago) link
Painful playoff memories will not fade so easily.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 10 April 2024 01:29 (five months ago) link
as evidenced by John Schneider being booed as he went to take Berrios out, lol
― francisF, Wednesday, 10 April 2024 03:18 (five months ago) link
It wasn't--it was Francis plus four others in the HOF or--Sale--close. The graphic said these were the five lowest in the modern era...maybe by "modern era" they meant this century.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 September 2024 20:43 (one month ago) link
I goofed: lowest WHIP, not ERA.
https://jaysjournal.com/posts/bowden-francis-blue-jays-best-uncovered-gem
― clemenza, Wednesday, 4 September 2024 20:47 (one month ago) link
now i'm debating going back to MLB:The Show so I can use that undoubtedly beautiful card on some fools
― francisF, Wednesday, 4 September 2024 20:53 (one month ago) link
was at the game today and there was a guy behind me telling anyone with ears that he was Addison Barger's uncle; showing off his official batting practice pass with his name (Barger) on it. did chat a little with him, he'd flown up from Seattle the day before and was *really* enjoying Toronto.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 11 September 2024 04:08 (three weeks ago) link
blue jay nation, i deliver news from the cardinals broadcast - jim edmonds just said the first interesting thing i can ever remember him saying. he said that vlad jr was hitting .383 since the all-star break. i double-checked, because jim edmonds is not to be trusted, and he was right! so i ask, "is vlad jr 'back', or maybe he never left?"
happy 500th rbi to him today
― z_tbd, Saturday, 14 September 2024 21:14 (three weeks ago) link
He's definitely back (for now), and the Jays are about to pay very dearly for the combination of not getting him locked down earlier and his impressive resurgence.
― clemenza, Saturday, 14 September 2024 21:18 (three weeks ago) link
Berrios is now 16-9, 3.44. A Cy Young ballot only has 5 spots, and you can't make a case for him as one of the AL's five best pitchers, but if a ballot had the 10 spots and MVP ballot has, I think he'd finish in the Top 10. So my $100 bet maybe wasn't all that bad.
― clemenza, Saturday, 14 September 2024 22:18 (three weeks ago) link
Vlad needs 9 hits in 7 games for 200; still has an outside shot at the batting title, but he'd probably need for Witt to go into free-fall.
― clemenza, Sunday, 22 September 2024 23:32 (two weeks ago) link
only need 6 now and is only 7 points behind Witt!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 23 September 2024 05:13 (one week ago) link
Yeah, I messed that up. Sample scenario:
Vlad goes 11/22 (205/615), finishes with .333.Witt goes 7/22 (213/639), finishes with .333.
That would be a dead heat. So: if Vlad can have a big finish, he won't need Witt to fall apart at all.
― clemenza, Monday, 23 September 2024 11:26 (one week ago) link
What’s going on here, George Springerhttps://streamable.com/o24sf8
― gyac, Tuesday, 24 September 2024 11:59 (one week ago) link
That's funny...He hasn't been down there a lot this year; he's just trying to familiarize himself with what a first baseman looks and feels like.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 24 September 2024 12:40 (one week ago) link
Blue Jays commentary is very knowledgeable - just watching some of last nights game on mlb.tv and selected the sportsnet stream and they were reeling off a load of info about Justin Slaten. I don’t think I’ve heard a single commentary team tell me about his strikeout to walk ratio before.
― gyac, Wednesday, 25 September 2024 19:55 (one week ago) link
Jays fans are spoiled in that regard. the broadcast team is fantastic.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 26 September 2024 00:09 (one week ago) link
Also, the camera angles are so dynamic, you really get up close to players in the on deck circles
― gyac, Thursday, 26 September 2024 00:46 (one week ago) link