The Jays are giving the AL a primer on how to suck.

The Jays have had 415 PA with (at least) a man on third base; they're hitting .206/.328/.304. They have struck out as many times as they have hit (69 H/69 K...symbolic--n'est-ce pas?); they have walked almost as often as they have hit (61 BB). In 415 PA they have just 21 extra base hits with a man on third.

The Mariners have had 348 PA with (at least) a man on third and are batting .272/.369/.356 and despite almost 70 fewer PA they have six more hit with two more for extra bases.

The Royals have had 319 PA with (at least) a man on third and are hitting .311/.384/.422 with 20 extra base hits despite almost 100 fewer PA.

The Angels, like the Mariners, have had 348 PA with (at least) a man on third and are batting .295/.400/.421 with 27 extra base hits (8 HR).

These are the four lowest scoring teams in the AL (11. Royals, 12. Blue Jays, 13. Angels, 14. Mariners)--even among the lightweights of the AL the Jays offense in clutch situations is abysmal.

Team        BA  OBP  SLG  2B 3B  HR  BB
Royals    .311/.384/.422  15  0   5  32
Blue Jays .206/.328/.304  15  0   6  61
Angels    .295/.400/.421  18  1   8  50
Mariners  .272/.369/.356  19  0   4  42

David Eckstein is on the trading block and with men on third he’s hitting .308/.379/.384--absent the X-Factor, the team is batting .197/.324/.298 in that situation. Dear God, if they deal Eckstein we may see a team intentionally load the bases in the ninth inning with nobody out and a one-run lead to better their chances of closing out the game. 

Don’t you wish you could make them go stand in the corner or something? I think Paul Godfrey might be missing out on a classic marketing opportunity--"This Blue Jays’ man on third situation is brought to you by Depends. For those times when you know you’re about to wet yourself in public."

"If I hit like that--I’d wear a dress."--Mickey Mantle

Well, at least J.P. Ricciardi is giving Jays’ fans a taste of what being a Leafs fan feels like.

Best Regards

John

Happy July 4th to all our American friends out there. This is one of my favorite days of the year. Family, friends, baseball, independence, and gratitude for all those who paved the way to freedom.

The big news today is obviously the demotion of Jeff Francoeur. I know I am biased, but I just don't agree with this. I realize Jeff was struggling. I'm not naive. But, you don't suddenly send a guy, who has played virtually every day for the past 3 years, to the minors and not expect the move to have ramifications. Atlanta's intentions are good. They want Francoeur to work on his swing and regain his confidence, but why does that have to be done in the minors? It's not as if the Braves have a bunch of superior alternatives for the right field position. And another thing...it would really be refreshing, every once in a while, for a team to realize that they aren't that good! The Braves don't have anywhere near the talent of the Phillies, Mets, or even Marlins right now with all the injuries they have suffered. Why not sit Francoeur a few more games and have him work on his hitting through extra instruction or batting practice? But you demote him and expect his confidence to come back? Think about your own jobs. Imagine the boss telling you, "Sorry John, we're going to demote you from management so you can work on your analytical skills, but don't worry, you'll be back in the board room in no time!" I don't know about you, but I'd be pretty pissed. That type of action either gets someone to work harder and return with a vengence, or it destroys a person completely. For Atlanta's sake, let's hope it's the former.

So apparently Jose Reyes got into a shouting match with Keith Hernandez on the Mets charter from New York to St. Louis over comments Hernandez made during the Mets telecast last Sunday.  I'm really not sure what to make of this. Hernandez is a bit of a goof ball, but he's a very entertaining announcer. He's also one of the best players to ever wear a New York Mets uniform. So I respect Keith, and he's entitled to his opinion. The thing that drives me a little crazy, though, is the constant criticism that Jose Reyes receives. I would LOVE to have a guy on my team with the athleticism, enthusiasm, and competitive drive of a Jose Reyes. So he's going to screw up every once in a while. But he's only 25. He has some maturing to do. Give him a break already. The positives that Reyes brings to an organization far outweigh the negatives...at least in my opinion.

I got a kick out of the Joe Girardi post-game press conference yesterday. These reporters are funny. How many times does a manager have to say that "the meeting was between my team and me" for reporters to realize they should stop asking what the meeting was about? And people wonder why players are gun shy about speaking to the media.

That was one hell of a comeback by the Diamondbacks yesterday. For a moment, I actually didn't believe it. Since I'm signed up for ESPN scoring alerts (thanks to Brian Joseph) I was receiving a text message every few minutes. I thought my Blackberry was malfunctioning, but nope, it was just the Diamondbacks pulling off an amazing 9th inning rally.

In case you missed it, The Hardball Times has posted its Pitch f/x catalog. I've become a Pitch f/x junkie as of late so this is right up my alley! I've even started to experiment with some plots and graphs myself!

Anyone else think that Texas is becoming a legitimate contender? Michael Young, Ian Kinsler, Josh Hamilton, Milton Bradley, and now Chris Davis. Here are two very good scouting reports on Davis...one by the guys at Saber-Scouting and another by our own Alex Eisenberg.

One of the great things about the Tampa Bay Rays is the incredible depth of their system. They lose their 3rd baseman, they bring up Evan Longoria. Jason Bartlett goes down, and they recall Reid Brignac. Troy Percival gets hurt, and Grant Balfour and Dan Wheeler pick up the slack. Tampa Bay is in an enviable position. Instead of giving up talent to acquire help from outside the organization, all they have to do is look to their own system.

Finally, I want to send out our condolences to John and Jeri Sickels. Jeri recently lost her brother, Jack Jackson,in a midwest flash flood last week. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Sickels and Jackson family.

...The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Orioles are apparently interested in Toronto Blue Jays Shortstop David Eckstein. They don't expect the asking price to be to high, as the Jays have a back log of middle infielders that could come in a do the job.

...Set-Up Man turned Starter Joba Chamberlain was on "The Show" with Kevin Kennedy and Rob Dibble on XM Home Plate 175. Here's what he had to say about going from a starter to reliever to Starter in the Majors.

“It’s just something I’ve done my entire life until last year when I got called up. It’s just something you see as a challenge. To be good for one inning is great, but also to be good and to be dominant for six and seven innings is a whole lot different. I wanted that challenge and I wanted that feeling that you get from starting a game instead of coming in the middle and it’s a great opportunity to come in and it worked out great.”

...According to the gang at the Miami Herald the Marlins are interested in Cincinnati Reds Catcher David Ross. They also go on to say they (The Marlins) aren't really interested in Colorado's Yorvit Torrealba, Paul LoDuca of the Nationals and KC's Miguel Olivo.

...If you don't know the story of Texas Rangers Outfielder Josh Hamilton, they you really haven't been paying attention. He enjoyed one heck of a year in Cincinnati last year, and then was promptly traded to Texas. Hamilton was aware of jealousy in the Reds club house towards him.

"I even heard comments that I was signing too many autographs for the fans," he says. "It just got worse as the year went on."

The discord played no factor in the trade, but, Krivsky said: "There were issues in the clubhouse. Maybe that stuff would have gone by the boards had he stayed."

...With the signing of their second round pick Dennis Raben, the Seattle Mariners have now inked 31 of their 50 draft picks from this years first year player draft.

The players to watch and what to watch for this weekend:

Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees (7/3-7/6)

The series started on Thursday and second baseman Dustin Pedroia extended his hitting streak to 11 games in the first inning then later scored the first run of the Red Sox 7-0 rout of the Yankees.  Pedroia caught fire in Philadelphia in the middle of June and in those 15 games since then, he is hitting .523 with 16 runs scored in 15 games.  Pedroia has 13 games of three hits or more -- tied with Yankees outfielder Johnny Damon for the league lead -- this season.  His hot streak has brought his season average up to .309 with nine homers, 39 RBI and 57 steals and might mean an All-Star nod whether the power of Red Sox Nation keeps him ahead of Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler in the voting or not.  Sure, Josh Beckett, Mike Mussina and Joba Chamberlain take the hill this weekend and A-Rod is a hot topic on and off the field but Pedroia's recent explosion is something to watch for in this battle for second place in the AL East.

Pat Burrell, Philadelphia Phillies vs. New York Mets (7/4-7/7)

In nine seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Pat Burrell has been called a lot of things but never All-Star.  While the votes aren't there, Burrell is having a big contract year in the shadow of Chase Utley.  This season, Burrell is on pace to have career highs in doubles, home runs, walks, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.  Late in close games, Burrell is 14-for-44 with five home runs, 15 RBI, 16 walks and a 1.304 OPS.  Against the Mets especially, Pat the Bat loves to go yard.  He has more home runs (41) against the Mets than any other team (the next closest is the Marlins with 24).  There is no love lost between Burrell and former teammate and current Mets closer Billy Wagner who said that Burrell called him a "rat" during a team meeting while with the team.  In his career, Burrell homered twice in 16 at bats against Wagner and is responsible for two of Wagner's blown saves.  The way this season is going, a Burrell-Wagner match-up this series could end with the fireworks Philadelphia will be looking for this weekend since the Phillies moved their usual Fourth of July fireworks display to next Wednesday and Friday against the Cardinals and Diamondbacks.

Xavier Nady, Pittsburgh Pirates at Milwaukee Brewers (7/4-7/6)

The Pittsburgh Pirates are the owners of three outfielders with possible All-Star credentials -- Xavier Nady, Jason Bay and Nate McLouth.  Of the three, Nady owns the highest batting average and slugging percentage heading into their weekend series with the Brewers.  Against Milwaukee this season, Nady is 6-for-11 with two homers and in his career, Nady is 9-for-17 with two doubles, three home runs and nine RBI against Milwaukee's ace Ben Sheets.  Someone from the Pirates has to go to the All-Star game, Nady's recent six game hitting streak could be enough to put him ahead of Bay and McLouth for that spot.  With the team just four games under .500, the Pirates need Nady, Bay and McLouth to continue performing like they have all season.  If they do, Pittsburgh has a shot at finishing above .500 for the first time since 1992.

Nomar Garciaparra, Los Angeles Dodgers at San Francisco Giants (7/4-7/6)

When is the last time Nomar Garciaparra played shortstop?  Answer: August 21, 2005.  On Friday, Garciaparra returns to the Dodgers from the DL and into the only position he played from his second game in the Majors in 1996 until that date when he "temporarily" moved to third base as a Cub to fill in due to an injury.  Maybe Garciaparra can stay healthy this time around -- he has only played nine games this season -- and the Dodgers need that with four position players including shortstop Rafael Furcal still on the DL.  The last two seasons with the Dodgers, Garciaparra has put up decent numbers but in his limited playing time this season, Nomar is 7-for-31 with one homer and five RBI.  Outfielder Andruw Jones also returns on Friday and the two will try to jump start the Dodgers who are fortunate enough to be in the worst division in baseball and just one and a half games out of first place despite being three games below .500. 

Emil Brown, Oakland Athletics at Chicago White Sox (7/3-7/6)

One name that will not be thrown around during the All-Star selection show on Sunday is Athletics outfielder Emil Brown.  Too bad Brown does not play against the White Sox every day or else he might be All-Star material.  This season, Brown went 3-for-7 in their first two games against the Sox and has a .301 average with six homers (the most he has against any Major League team) and 20 RBI in 166 at-bats against Chicago.  He is also a perfect 11-for-11 on steal attempts against the White Sox.  Brown was not in the lineup against the White Sox on Thursday but should be against them on Friday with Mark Buehrle on the hill.  Against Buehrle, Brown is 16-for-36 with three home runs and nine RBI and has hit safely in 12 of 13 games against him.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that Brown was born and raised in Chicago.

Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs at Saint Louis Cardinals (Friday 7/4)

The Cubs have not been the same team recently dropping six of their last eight.  Now, they face a weekend series against their division rivals holding on to a two and a half game lead over the Cardinals.  On Friday, they begin their quest to keep their shrinking lead from getting smaller with the return of their ace Carlos Zambrano who has owned the Cardinals in recent history.  Since 2005, Zambrano is 7-0 with a sub-2.00 ERA in 10 starts against the Cardinals and the Cubs are 9-1 in those starts.  It looked like Zambrano was headed to an All-Star roster spot before he suffered an injury on June 18.  Now, Zambrano tries to improve on his 8-3 record and 3.13 ERA and keep the Cubs two steps ahead of the Cardinals and possibly pitching his way back into All-Star contention.  Zambrano faces Braden Looper who is 2-1 in four starts against the Cubs.

Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (Saturday 7/5)

Even if he was not on the worst team in the AL East, Roy Halladay would be an All-Star contender this season.  He is 9-6 with a 2.90 ERA, leads the Majors in complete games with six and is coming off his first shutout of the season over the Mariners.  Halladay faces John Lackey who is 6-1 with a 1.44 ERA in nine starts.  The two pitchers faced each other once in 2006 but neither were around when the game was decided.  The Jays have already dropped four of six to the Angels and Halladay will be trying to keep his team from dropping their first season series to the Angels since 2002 -- the year the Angels won the World Series.  Over the past two seasons, Halladay and Lackey are an impressive 50-23 combined and both have played their entire career with the same clubs.  The Angels are one of the few teams Halladay has not done particularly well against.  He is 5-5 with a 4.80 ERA in 13 starts against the AL West leaders.  In 239 career starts, Halladay has given up 11 or more hits 15 times with three of those games coming against the Angels.

Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins (Sunday 7/6)

On Sunday at 2 PM, the All-Star teams will be announced on TBS.  It will be shocking if Cliff Lee does not occupy one of those spots on the American League roster.  With an 11-1 record and a 2.26 ERA, Lee could find out he was named the starter for the American League team by the time he takes the mound in the bottom of the first inning of their game on Sunday against the Twins scheduled to start at 2:10.  Compare Lee's 11-1 record with the rest of the Indians pitching staff who are 26-47 -- 21 games below .500!  In the his four no decision, Lee left the game tied or with the lead only to see his team blow the lead and lose three of four of those games with all three losses coming in extra innings.  A case could be made that Lee is actually better than his 11-1 record indicates.  Lee already pitched a gem against the Twins earlier this season.  On April 18, the Indians beat the Twins 4-0 behind eight innings of two-hit ball from Lee. 

Georger Sherrill, Baltimore Orioles vs. Texas Rangers (7/4-7/6)

Somehow the Orioles are two games above .500 going into their weekend series against the most potent offense in baseball.  The Orioles have mustered up 43 wins so far this season and George Sherrill has won or saved 29 of them.  Second in saves behind Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels, Sherrill has stepped up for the Orioles in a big way since joining the team in 2008 after playing with the Mariners last season.  Unfortunately, Sherrill has blown two of his last three save opportunities including last Sunday against the Nationals which led to their 12th consecutive Sunday loss and prompted the club to create a unique fan promotion this Sunday called "We Win, You Win."  If the Orioles beat the Rangers on Sunday, every fan in attendance wins a free ticket to a future Orioles game.  It is likely that Sherrill will be involved should the Orioles be in position for a win on Sunday.  Not only will his 24 teammates be counting on him, the tens of thousands of Orioles fans that turn out will be counting on Sherrill with a little more invested in the outcome than normal.  The good news for Sherrill is the Rangers are 1-37 when behind at the start of the ninth inning.

 

- Chad Billingsley pitched 8 strong innings without allowing an earned run, and James Loney doubled, homered, and drove in 2 runs as the Dodgers beat the Astros, 5-2.
- Cole Hamels allowed just one run over 8 2/3 innings, and Pedro Feliz went 3-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBI as the Phillies beat the Braves again, 4-1. Ryan Howard and Chase Utley also hit homers for Philadelphia.
- Aaron Rowand and Jose Castillo each had 2 hits and scored 2 runs, and Rich Aurilia blasted a 3-run homer as the Giants surprised the Cubs, 8-3. Tim Lincecum struck out 8 in 6 solid innings for San Francisco.
- Brandon Phillips went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI, Jerry Hairston Jr. reached base 3 times, and scored 2 runs, and Johnny Cueto pitched 7 strong innings as the Reds rallied to defeat the Nationals, 5-3. Elijah Dukes doubled, homered, and knocked in 2 runs for Washington.
- Justin Duchscherer gave Oakland another quality start, and Jack Cust and Donnie Murphy took Javier Vazquez deep to help the A's stop the White Sox, 3-2. Vazquez tossed a complete game 4-hitter while striking out 10 in the loss for Chicago.
- Matt Joyce went 4-for-5 with 2 doubles, and Ivan Rodriguez drove in 3 runs as the Tigers doubled up the Mariners, 8-4. Ichiro Suzuki and Jose Lopez each had 3 hits for Seattle.
- Chad Tracy doubled in 3 runs, and Conor Jackson singled in 2 more as the Diamondbacks erupted for 6 runs in the 9th inning to stun the Brewers, 6-5. J.J. Hardy went 4-for-5 with 2 doubles and a home run, and Manny Parra threw 6 scoreless innings for Milwaukee.
- Jon Lester pitched a complete game 5-hit shutout, and Mike Lowell and Jacoby Ellsbury drove in 2 runs apiece to lead the Red Sox to an easy 7-0 win over the Yankees.
- Mark Grudzielanek went 4-for-5, Jose Guillen added 2 hits and 3 RBI, and Billy Butler double and homered as the Royals exploded for 7 runs in the 6th inning on the way to a 10-7 victory over the Orioles.
- Jeff Baker hit a home run and drove in 4 runs, and Ryan Spilborghs singled in 2 runs in the bottom of the 11th inning as the Rockies walked off with a 6-5 triumph over the Marlins. Jorge Cantu had 2 hits, a home run, and 2 RBI for Florida.
- Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado each had 3 RBI, and Mike Pelfrey pitched another strong game for New York as the Mets blew out the Cardinals, 11-1.

(Photos of James Loney and Billy Butler by Bill Richardson, BDD)

Thursday's Scoreboard