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Toronto wastes another Halladay gem

JEFF BLAIR

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 4:25 PM EST 30/04/08

Youkilis's two-out single in the ninth inning ruins fourth consecutive complete game by Jays ace ...Read the full article

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  1. Graham Magus from Toronto, Canada writes: Disgraceful offensive effort. Hopefully Halladay will go to a winning team someday because his talents are being wasted on Gibby's $hit show of a team.
  2. Juan Valasquez from Canada writes: I feel terrible for Halladay.
    He should demand a trade or pull the ace out of his sleeve and request that Gibbons be canned. Something has to be done, this is getting absolutely hilarious/tragic.
  3. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: There is something terribly wrong in the Blue Jay clubhouse.... Doesn't really matter what it is.... Gibbons has got to go. I'd suggest the GM should probably follow.... I think he interferes to much.

    Cheers
  4. K M from Guelph, Canada writes: Too sad. The line up has been based on salary for too long. It needs to be based on who's hitting in the last week or two. The 3,4,5 slots should be assigned by highest average - not highest ego. Gibby and the hitting coach should go first. These batters need to stop leaning forward to meet the ball when they hit. It leads only to pop ups and ground outs. Gibby is trying some positive things - squeezes and hit and runs but really isn't Runners in Scoring Position the ultimate offensive number. Make the changes now to the lineup or Gibby (and hitting coach) should be left behind.
  5. Jordan Pohn from writes: Aren't the Jays statistically destined to win between 82 and 92 games. I see no reason to complain until JP's magical computer simulations (outdated pirate copies of Oakland's software) say the Jays chances of making the playoffs are less than 10%. At this point he will probably can Gibbons...Does a baseball manager really have an impact on predicted win rate? Why throw away money canning Gibbons if he's competent enough to write in a line-up? Speaking of which, was the Jay's original expected win rate 87, or are we dealing with faulty data?
  6. Robin of the Hood from hammatown, Canada writes: I feel bad for Halladay. I hope he demands to be traded. He deserves to play for an actual contender and the Jays don't certainly don't deserve to be wasting his talent and efforts.
  7. B G from Canada writes: Thank Gawd for Scott Rolen. He's the only guy on the team who hits the ball with authority. If I see this team hit into another weak double-play grounder I'm going to jump off the Green Monster.

    Is it just me or can Vernon Wells not field a rolling ball properly anymore? I swear that's the fifth or sixth time this year he's bobbled one. Not saying he would have got Papi at the plate, but is it really asking too much for someone making $176MM? Worst contract ever, by the way (other than Zito's).
  8. pat fuller from saint john, Canada writes: i just got a feeling that if this team got a few wins in a row we could start kickin some serious a$$.i like the new line up changes but didn't vernon hit some leadoff last year and smashed the the ball very effectively?i dont care if he is getting payed to be a cleanup hitter or not, we need his bat.So,Mr.Gibbins ,if your readin this please try vernon,eckstien,rios and rolen and lets get some wins rollin and wakeup this sleepin giant.This is a good team that is going to do some damage. We just got to ride it out, even if you want to punch the TV like I did tonite!!
  9. Popeye Dillon from North Vancouver, Canada writes: Scot Loucks: looks like the Leafs have a baseball team too!
  10. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Popeye..... lol ..... you beat me to it. :)

    After reading all the other posts I was about to ask when MLSE bought the jays?

    Cheers
  11. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Check this out.... any hockey fan.

    Cheers

    http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20080429SamDonnellon_AretheFlyersplayingCanadasteam.html
  12. Rob C from Canada writes: First fire Godfrey, then Ricciardi - He is brutal - I want Gord Ash back...Better still Pat Gilliick - Fire JP now and let his assistants run things, then get a real GM in the offseason. (This team isn't going anywhere this year - JP is just guessing his way through the job - he had everyone fooled)
  13. Larry Boutilier from Sydney, Canada writes: Has anyone else noticed that Gibbons ALWAYS leaves his
    pitchers in until after its too late.His record of leaving them in too long
    goes from day one, you could look it up.Managers are paid to have
    foresight.Relievers are supposed to come in BEFORE the starter
    gets tired , not after he gives up winning runs.
    Halliday doesnt have to pitch complete game does he?
    Its not like he had a 3 run cushion.
    Just once I'd like to see pitcher change BEFORE the damage is done.
  14. mike mc from Miramichi, Canada writes: 6 inning with Zaun on and no outs, Rios should have been bunting automatically. I don't care if he is a slugger. In a close game like that bunt is auto to try an manufacture a run. Instead he strikes out looking and a double play later inning is over. Gibbons strikes again. Even Boston was expecting a bunt, that was why they were trying to hold Zaun. I don't blame JR for the players he has brought in, he is trying to make a team. I blame Gibbons for not being able to motivate this team, which on paper should challenge for the pennent. Come on JR pull the trigger on Gibbons and bring in Valentine, or Showalter or Whitt. This is a bigger decision then for any one player, this is for the sake of the team. Don't let a chance for the playoffs slip away in April. Gibbons should have been gone at the end of last season.
  15. Larry Boutilier from Sydney, Canada writes: Over the past six years the batting order has been based on
    salary and past (way past) performances.Wells as cleanup how often?
    What a joke! The one place you cant hit to, especially with man on first, is to the s.s. Whats the one place Wells hits to 90% of the time?
    You could look it up. You would think he could adjust a little.
    He's paid a hundred million to hit into double play after double play? Give us a break. Even I could hit better than that. Move your feet in the box Vernon!The ball will go someplace else. But of course he doesnt know that.
    As if he cared.
  16. Sherlock Hemlock from Canada writes: Halladay is a real class act. Too bad the rest of the team keeps letting him down.
  17. D G from Canada writes: JPR is making JFJ look like a freakin' genius. Sorry Gibbon's haters but a baseball manager has the least impact on a game than any other major sport coach. Baseball GM's should be fired for bad teams and not the Managers.

    A couple of comments. Halliday had only thrown something like 90 pitches going into the 9th. There is no way you take him out in the 9th. Hindsight is a great thing but there was nobody Gibbons could have brought it that had a better chance than Halliday to get out of the 9th unscatched.

    Bunt with Rios? Come on! First thing is he probably can't bunt. Secondly, he is a good hitter and there is a better chance to score one or more runs with him hitting than with him bunting, even if he could bunt. Third thing is many years ago Bill James statiscally proved bunting is a bonehead play unless maybe you are in the 9th inning in a tie game. One of your 27 outs is not worth it to advance a runner 90 feet to second base.
  18. a b from Newcastle, Canada writes: Besides the DEAD bats on this team, the defense chokes at key time as well. I can't believe Wells did not get on ERROR on his outfield hack job on the game winning hit. There is NO way a slow, bad knee Ortiz should have scored on that hit. Come on Vernon....Start pulling your weight....Bat & Glove.
  19. S H from Windsor, Canada writes: This team should be a contender. Make changes now before it is too late!...and build a real ballpark up there would ya!
  20. Bobby S from Toronto, Canada writes: Someone please explain to me why John Gibbons still has a job? I've given up on this team, they have the pitching, but can't hit. Vernon Wells seems like the 2nd coming of Vince Carter, and Roy Halladay has the Mats Sundin syndrome, y'know a nice guy you just wish gets a chance to play on team that can win because it isn't going to happen here.
  21. boz dobbs from toronto, Canada writes: Not only is Vernon Wells a hacker at the plate,he,s turned into George Bell in the outfield,I,m afraid his gold glove days are far behind him now.Devon White could come out of retirement and still have better range then Vernon.
  22. mike mc from miramichi NB, Canada writes: Sorry DG but there are guys like Scotty Bowman, Joe Torres, and Tony la Russa and then there are the Paul Maurice’s and John Gibbons. Check and compare the records. Gibbons should be back as Bull Pen Catcher where he started. As for Rios not being able to bunt, he gets paid 5 million a year to play ball, take some bunting practice. If Billy Martin was his coach he would know how to bunt. Jeter on the Yankees bunts when necessary so Rios has no excuse. I don’t know who Bill James is but if Lou Piniella, Franconna, or Billy Martin had been coach last night Rios would have been bunting. Another problem is Gary Denbo, a guy who bumed around the minor leagues for years, now the Jays hitting coach. What's wrong with Jesse Barfield a pure hitter who should be the hitting instructor.
  23. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: Will say it again... there is something seriously wrong in the Blue Jay clubhouse. I think its JP influencing Gibbons. GM does not belong in the clubhouse.

    Get a real manager..... then get rid of the general manager.

    Cheers
  24. P McLean from Canada writes: Scott Loucks- great point about GM interference. Oakland's model is a good one, but I think that* is the weak point:everything is run out of the GMs office, even during the game.

    Bunt with a guy on 1st? In the 6th? *Maybe     you bunt if he's on second, but not on first. mike if you don't know who Bill James is, maybe you should read up on that before posting on here. Or read Baseball Between the Numbers. Your bunt scenario only works in the 9th inning. The reason it is done is because people like yourself won't criticize the manager for bunting the guy over and having him be stranded on second base when the next two guys get out. But you will criticize him for what he did last night, forgetting the fact that Rios can't hit a home run with his hand that far apart on the bat. You'd be lovin' it if he hit a home run, but he's an idiot when the fact that baseball is a game of failure gets proven time and time again.
  25. Gavin Nettlefold from Canada writes: Halladay has had Cy Young-worthy seasons every year since 2003. His record belies how good he really is; he just can't seem to get any offensive support when he's in there.
  26. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: P McLean writes: :everything is run out of the GMs office, even during the game.

    --------

    Far more popular opinion than you may realize P McLean.... hence Gibbons is just JP's puppet..... and if we think it.... what do the players think?

    Shannon Stewart instead of Reed Johnston caused this me thinks.

    JP gone asap might save the season..... Gibbons can stay if he can work without someone pulling his strings. I think the players still respect him (not sure on that one).

    Cheers
  27. Cole H. from Toronto, Canada writes: I can't believe I just read that Rios should be bunting....in the 6th inning no less.
    Wow. Just wow.
  28. John S from packalunchville, Canada writes: It was a tough loss and Vernon should wear the collar for it. If he wasnt given an error it's because the Boston scorers wanted to give credit to Ortiz' blazing speed.
    Lemme see here...cant agree with anyone puttin Jesse Barfield forward for batting coach. He has a lifetime avg of .257, never hit over .290 and couldnt lay off high fastballs. Anyway Denbo comes with all kinds of good references so for myself anyway the jury's still out. Bobby Valentine may have been an effective manager, but he's got baggage and that's why he's managing in Japan. He's also a dork.
    Bill James may have all kinds of stats but Jays desperately need runs..from ANY source...and manufactured runs count. If Rios wasnt bunting , a hit and run would've forced him to concentrate on making contact...and serve to avoid the DP.
  29. mike mc from miramichi NB, Canada writes: Sorry P McLean but a bunt was called for. This was a pitchers duel and a man on 2nd with one out means two chances to drive him in without the chance of a double play. Ask Roy if he would have liked to have had one run last night. As for Rios hitting a home run, he has hit 7 home runs since the all star break last year including 2 this year. Toronto has already lost 7 games this year by one run. Waited all last year for big guns to produce but they never did. Is this what we will see again this year? Until HR’s start coming need to win with small ball
  30. P McLean from Canada writes: Mike, you can say stats shmats if you want, but a man on first with no outs leads to more runs than a man on second and one out. If it's the ninth inning and you nly need the one to win the game, maybe you bunt, but any other time you are giving away an out for less expectation of a run. Why do you think Oaklnd consistently contends with players a lot of teams deem not good engouh? Because they don't give away outs. What's the guarantee they would have scored him anyway? You still needed a lot of things to happen, and you had one less out to work with. Sorry, small ball is not called for.

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