well now he's in trouble for liking a tweet where a reporter got called a "wop" this dude literally cannot stop embarrassing himself online. this has to be having a serious impact on incoming offers at this point.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 29 November 2021 16:23 (two years ago) link
the best RHP in jays history is…roger clemens
*ducks*
― k3vin k., Monday, 29 November 2021 17:58 (two years ago) link
If you think of peak as two years, unquestionably--those were two of the greatest seasons by any post-war pitcher anywhere. Obviously the guy was thinking more in terms of players who represent the franchise, though, and Clemens probably had one eye on the Yankees the minute he arrived here.
(The guy who gets lost in the shuffle for the Jays is Carter. Overrated, for sure, and you can't put him ahead of Bautista, but still crucial to Jays' history, beyond even the big HR.)
― clemenza, Monday, 29 November 2021 18:07 (two years ago) link
Is there anybody else ever who did what Clemens did with the Jays--stay for one or two seasons only, both epic (11.9/8.1 bWAR...I guess the second wasn't quite as epic), then move on? There must be.
― clemenza, Monday, 29 November 2021 18:26 (two years ago) link
Last thing, looking over his stats: to show just how much K/BB ratio has been cheapened the past few years, Clemens lifetime ratio is 2.96 (Maddux and Johnson are over 3.00; Pedro is over 4.00). Of the 14 guys who pitched 30+ innings with the Jays last year, all but two exceeded 3.00.
― clemenza, Monday, 29 November 2021 18:33 (two years ago) link
Ray is probably about to do it :,(
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 29 November 2021 18:33 (two years ago) link
Apparently Ray and Matz are both unvaccinated and would not have been allowed to play in Canada next season, which may have made those decisions a little easier for the Blue Jays
― Piven After Midnight (The Yellow Kid), Wednesday, 1 December 2021 17:05 (two years ago) link
Signed with the Cubs, apparently, a few hours before the lockout? And broke the news himself you-know-where.
― clemenza, Friday, 3 December 2021 00:31 (two years ago) link
MLBTR had predicted stroman would land at Five years, $110MM. I am certain he tweeted away at least a year off what he could have gotten.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 3 December 2021 01:06 (two years ago) link
He's pitched in 29 MLB parks--every park except, yes, Wrigley.
― clemenza, Friday, 3 December 2021 02:41 (two years ago) link
I don't really have any strong feelings about this--pre-COVID, I was getting out to three or four games a year.
https://www.blogto.com/sports_play/2021/12/toronto-blue-jays-rogers-centre-upgrade/
― clemenza, Wednesday, 22 December 2021 17:15 (two years ago) link
Marcus Stroman won't stop tweeting.
Manclown and his boys need to figure it out and stop ruining the game of baseball. https://t.co/gfQz4ctQas— Marcus Stroman (@STR0) February 6, 2022
I wonder if other players feel about Twitter Stroman like I felt when Madonna would let loose with some harebrained comment as Obama tried to make his way through a landmine during the 2008 election: please, just disappear for a few months.
(Hoping I can dodge the expected Madonna-love/Obama-antipathy such a post would be greeted with on ILX.)
― clemenza, Monday, 7 February 2022 23:58 (two years ago) link
RIP, Morbs
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 8 February 2022 01:58 (two years ago) link
excellent dave stieb video
(48 minutes...part 1 of 4?!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlviajJlctQ
― the world's undisputed #1 fan of 'Spud Infinity' (Karl Malone), Wednesday, 2 March 2022 06:59 (two years ago) link
Will definitely take a look. Jays thread title circa 1985: "Dave Stieb Won't Stop Tweeting."
― clemenza, Wednesday, 2 March 2022 14:15 (two years ago) link
Jesse Says Relax
― Andy K, Thursday, 3 March 2022 02:13 (two years ago) link
Jack Morris or Dave Stieb? https://t.co/CceTcM6f4V— Jay Jaffe (@jay_jaffe) February 25, 2022
― Andy K, Thursday, 3 March 2022 02:15 (two years ago) link
i can't believe that's supposed to be a 4 part series. incredible
― the world's undisputed #1 fan of 'Spud Infinity' (Karl Malone), Thursday, 3 March 2022 02:20 (two years ago) link
lol
>Tom Collins@TommyCollins99Feb 25Replying to @jay_jaffeJack Morris
>Greg Thompson@gregthompson07Feb 25Oh, Tom
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 3 March 2022 18:28 (two years ago) link
Was looking for a famous birthday today to talk about on a supply job, and it's Joe Carter's 62nd.
― clemenza, Monday, 7 March 2022 16:47 (two years ago) link
All these rumours about Freeman are crazy. It makes such little sense. I doubt he’d want to DH full time - and moving Vlad back to 3b would be crazy. He’d be a great player to have if we didn’t already have an all star 1b and didn’t have needs elsewhere (3b/2b) that needed addressing. Maybe they don’t want to give up the farm for Chapman, but is Bryant really that bad of a signing for 3b? Is Story or Correa as a 2b or SS and siding Bo over and then letting our spare parts play 3rd until (if) Groshans or Martinez are ready not a better option / use of money?
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 15 March 2022 06:06 (two years ago) link
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/blue-jays-agree-on-contracts-for-vladimir-guerrero-jr-10-others-002410791.html
Vlad gets $7.9 million for one year. Not sure how that compares historically--going into his fourth year at 23, coming off an epic season--but I'm glad they avoided arbitration, never a good thing for future negotiations.
― clemenza, Friday, 25 March 2022 20:17 (two years ago) link
Fucking Pete Walker got a DUI last night. Along with doing like double the speed limit. Fucking selfish asshole. He’s worked all kids of magic with our staff, past and present and now he fucking risks his job because he’s too fucking unless to call an Uber?!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 26 March 2022 17:06 (two years ago) link
OK what's the new thread named, cuz we need a new one
2022 Toronto Blue Jays - Chappy Bird Friends
― francisF, Saturday, 9 April 2022 00:01 (one year ago) link
not that though X^D
why did they take berrios out, i don't have sound on
― francisF, Saturday, 9 April 2022 00:02 (one year ago) link
Because of all the base runners.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 9 April 2022 00:05 (one year ago) link
This has been quite the game so far!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 9 April 2022 02:15 (one year ago) link
love the opening day bullpen game, very 2020s
― mookieproof, Saturday, 9 April 2022 03:04 (one year ago) link
Jays came back from down 7, Raptors came back from down 24.
― clemenza, Saturday, 9 April 2022 03:10 (one year ago) link
raptors? it's like i don't even know you
― mookieproof, Saturday, 9 April 2022 03:12 (one year ago) link
I'm very indiscriminate in my bandwagonism--Leafs too right now.
― clemenza, Saturday, 9 April 2022 03:18 (one year ago) link
(tbf i don't actually know you and also please carry on! auston matthews is awesome)
― mookieproof, Saturday, 9 April 2022 03:24 (one year ago) link
Oh Clem - I found all the fridge magnate calendars I had told you about! From 2006 (calendar has pics from the Burnett and Ryan signings lol) to 2014 with a couple years missing and then a Reds calendar too somehow.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 9 April 2022 04:24 (one year ago) link
Great--would still love to get them in a trade, will message you.
― clemenza, Saturday, 9 April 2022 06:40 (one year ago) link
Those were two fine games, despite the starters not doing so great
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 9 April 2022 23:39 (one year ago) link
pic.twitter.com/rjlw3z5J9o— No Context Blue Jays (@No_Context_Jays) April 9, 2022
― mookieproof, Sunday, 10 April 2022 00:05 (one year ago) link
AL Cy Young obviously just a formality this year...Don't think I appreciated how really good Manoah was last year--should have finished much higher than 8th for ROY (maybe fourth).
― clemenza, Tuesday, 12 April 2022 13:12 (one year ago) link
bleacher report had his as their darkhorse Cy winner!!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 12 April 2022 14:24 (one year ago) link
This should have been obvious, but it made me laugh anyway: start to google "Vladimir," and auto-correct fills in Putin first, Vladdy second. Sorry, famous Russian writer, your time has passed.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 12 April 2022 18:31 (one year ago) link
VLAD
― ✖, Thursday, 14 April 2022 01:40 (one year ago) link
what a game
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 14 April 2022 04:48 (one year ago) link
Before the game today, Buck Martinez announced he had cancer (didn't specify what kind) and would be off the broadcasts for a while.
I placed a $100 bet today online that Manoah would win the Cy Young. The payout would be $1,600...If I had any nerve, I would have bet $1,000, but I don't and I didn't.
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/blue-jays-broadcaster-buck-martinez-leaving-tv-booth-following-cancer-diagnosis-1.5864738
― clemenza, Sunday, 17 April 2022 23:56 (one year ago) link
Ya, sad news about Buck. Wishing him the best, and also your $100 bet!! (I love Alek, but if I had to bet on a young arm winning the Cy, I’d go with McClanahan)
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 18 April 2022 00:14 (one year ago) link
… tho Manoah will get more innings and more shots at QS
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 18 April 2022 00:15 (one year ago) link
The odds were so good; it's probably close to unheard of to get 16-1 on a guy who was actually picked by a name publication to win (was it Bleacher Report?).
I may have posted about this before, but I've been amazed at times by Buck's ability to call a play or an outcome in advance and have it turn out exactly as he predicted (and not make a big deal of it afterwards). I know he's got the usual array of flaws, but I think he does have a good understanding of the game.
― clemenza, Monday, 18 April 2022 00:44 (one year ago) link
Sad news about Buck.
Does anybody know what were the preseason odds on Ray winning the CY last year? I'm trying to get some perspective on this 16-1 number for Manoah.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 18 April 2022 09:28 (one year ago) link
Ya, bleacher report was the “publication”!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 18 April 2022 14:55 (one year ago) link
My guess is the odds on Ray winning were much longer than that. The difference to me, though, is that Ray kind of came out of the blue; he was coming off a season where he only pitched 50 innings (injury? can't remember) and had been traded to a new league. He had a very good 2017, but that was three years ago. Manoah was excellent in 2021, and might have won ROY with more innings--he feels like a legitimate candidate, whereas I don't know if anyone was talking up Ray last spring. Here are the current odds from one site:
https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/mlb/cy-young-odds/
This is the first time I've paid attention to this, so it's just intuition and guess work--wasn't even on my radar until I heard those odds the radio yesterday, and my brother-in-law knew how to place the bet.
― clemenza, Monday, 18 April 2022 15:06 (one year ago) link
Found their 2021 Cy Young chart:
https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/mlb/2021-cy-young-odds/
If I'm reading it correctly, Ray isn't even listed till midway through the season.
― clemenza, Monday, 18 April 2022 15:12 (one year ago) link
Duh--if you hover your cursor over the 2021 graph, you can get the odds on a given day. So on July 28, Robbie Ray was +4750, almost three times the +1600 I got with Manoah. Going back to his game logs for 2021, Ray's record as of July 27 (he started against the Red Sox on July 28):
8-5, 3.12, 112.1 IP, 91 hits, 142 K, 27 BB
Cole's record on July 27:
10-5, 2.74, 125 IP, 95 hits, 166 K, 26 BB
Cole has a definite edge, but that seems reasonably close--betting $100 at that point and getting a potential 47-1 payoff definitely a better bet than what I just made. (I can't remember who else was contending at that point...I never took Ohtani that serious as a Cy Young contender because of his IP.) But betting Ray in mid-April, no matter what the odds, I think I made the better bet. Ray the rest of the way in 2021:
5-2, 2.44, 81 IP, 59 hits, 106 K, 25 BB
― clemenza, Tuesday, 19 April 2022 18:50 (one year ago) link