<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><h2 style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; font-weight: bold" class="article"> Poor lineup management is costing the team wins.</p> </h2> They could’ve been a contender.</p> Instead they’ve been royally plucked.</p> Plucked, rolled in (very) light batter, deep-fried, and served with enough to feed 13 American League teams. It’s a recipe called “Rolled Smoked Jay”, prepared to keep contending teams feeling high… in the standings. As we shall soon see, the master chef of this dish of ornithological delight even prevents runs.</p> (sigh) </p> Since the All Star break the Jays are 18-13. The fact that the Jays have had the best pitching in the AL post-break this really shouldn’t be surprising.</p> Of course, they could be much better than that; the Jays are last in the AL East in runs, home runs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging average: Toronto is averaging about 4.5 runs per game—barely over three (runs on the road) since the All Star Game.</p> The bottom line is this: The Jays offence had held Toronto back from contending in 2007. However, it should be noted, it’s not just poor situational hitting, it has been a lack of a coherent plan by skipper John Gibbons. </p> The Jays limp lumber became obvious to most sentient people save Gibbons. Yes, the line-up has suffered notable injuries this year with Reed Johnson, Lyle Overbay, Gregg Zaun enjoying some quality shelf time with a slow start by Frank Thomas and a non-start by Vernon Wells adding to a bad case of offensive constipation. It’s only very recently that Troy Glaus came out of a horrific slump.</p> Sadly, it has been the Jays philosophy that has hurt them as much as the poor hitting in clutch situations. GM J.P. Ricciardi once famously stated: “Give up outs to score runs? We don’t do that here.” This mindset has cost the Blue Jays a good many wins this year. Often in the National League, runners on first and second—nobody out, or man on second (nobody out) requires a bunt to move base runner(s) over. This is the oft maligned “productive out.”</p> The Jays eschew the productive out for the unproductive out. The Jays had 47 unique opportunities with men in scoring position and nobody out. They break down thusly:</p> •Leadoff double: 19 times •First and second-nobody out: 20 times •Man on 2B, 3B or 2B and 3B with nobody out: 8 times</p> In all of these 47 instances Gibbons let the batter swing away. 47 times the Jays came away empty. On another 56 different occasions the Jays had runners in scoring position with nobody out and came away with a single run. </p> That’s 103 chances with men on base with at least one in scoring position and nobody out and the Jays scored a grand total of 56 runs—all because ‘They don’t do that (give away outs to score runs) here.’ </p> On a club where it is blindingly obvious that they’re struggling to put runs on the board—the Jays have scored three runs or less 51 times, four or fewer 66 times in 116 games—you have to treat every run as precious. Of the Jays 57 losses, 28 of them were by two runs or less.</p> </div></p> Interesting read.</p>
Some of that's interesting but how do you explain the Jays home record then?</p> Is JG only a bad manager when the Jays on the road?</p> Wells, Glaus and Thomas all have sucked most of the year, I'm not sure that's Gibby's fault. Some will say that it's a manager's job to get those guys playing well and try to blame JG for it but please remember to give him credit for Hill, Rios, Stairs and the whole pitching staff.</p> </p> Seriously, how many young pitchers has Gibby broken in this year? How much better off will the Jays be not only next year but for years to come because of it.</p> Arrpy, take a look at all the young talent that has come to be productive in the time Gibby has been here. </p> The Jays lineup is fucked up.</p> Who are you going to send running? Frank the Tank? How about Glaus, or the speedy Greg Zaun. We've all heard tales about how blazingly quick Lyle Overbay is, right? Granted even these guys could get the base more often then not in the situations mentioned in the article but c'mon, people talk about the team needing to manufacture runs but JP didn't build the team that way.</p> Give me a reason why he should be fired? Anyone?</p>
Wow, you made some very good points. They should give Gibbons another couple of seasons, then see how things work out, if they don't, fire him, if they do give him a contract extension.</p> I see a contract extension coming soon for JG. JP really likes him, and trusts him. But Im not sure if I trust JP, he has made good moves and he has made some bad moves.</p> If they give him a contract extension right now, I think it would hurt them. If they do in a couple of years, that would be the best.</p>
I think a lot depends on how this team finishes the season. It may be the only time when they have the whole group together.</p> I'm not a huge fan of either Gibby (could've handled the Lily situation a lot better) or JP (AJ's contract stinks) but I don't think either has done enough to get fired ... yet.</p>
