PunBB

tigerthelion Wrote:The Jays have a payroll of around 100 million, don't they? That should be enough money to put a team on the field to contend with anybody.

Well, let's look at that over the current and last 2 seasons:

- 2006 Jays payroll: $71,915,000 (8th highest of 14 AL clubs)
2006 winning percentage: .537 (7th highest of 14 AL clubs)

- 2007 Jays payroll: $81,942,800 (8th highest of 14 AL clubs)
2007 winning percentage: .512 (8th highest of 14 AL clubs)

- 2008 Jays payroll: $97,793,900 (7th highest of 14 AL clubs)
2008 win% to date: .478 (11th highest of 14 AL clubs)

The Jays are in the middle off the pack in terms of payroll expenditures, and it looks like the their level of competitiveness closely matched ownership's financial commitment in '06 and '07. That's no reason to fire the guy. They're off the pace so far this year, but the season's only half over.....and they lost their big bat to injury for a whole month.

tigerthelion Wrote:Seriously, when is the last time J.P. spent wisely on a free agent? Look at his recent acquisitions. Frank Thomas, Burnett, Eckstein, Shannon Stewart. C'mon. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Exactly as I said before -- nobody's falling over themselves to come play baseball in a market like Toronto. Unless Totonto goes way, waaaay over the offers that the Big Boys get from the New Yorks, the Bostons , the L.A.s, the Chicagos, the Detroits, etc., they are going to be stuck choosing between paying "too much" for lower-tier free agents or standing pat (because evidently the lower-tier FAs don't want to go there too badly, either).

Don't like it? Well get in line with the rest of the fans of clubs in non-preimer baseball markets.

tigerthelion Wrote:Two winning seasons in a row? Big deal.

Maybe not a "big deal", but 22 other franchises can't claim that.

tigerthelion Wrote:I think most fans would trade in two or three or four or even five mediocore winning seasons for one great season and a shot at the WS. Four of those teams on your list won the big one. Toronto hasn't even been close. Every team on your list except Toronto has been in the playoffs recently. Toronto hasn't even been close.

Again, a big part of that can be explained by the fact that nearly one quarter of their schedule is against the Red Sox and the Yankees -- two clubs who spend 1.5 to 2 times more than the Jays can. If Toronto were in the NL West or NL Central , they most likely would have won those divisions the past 2 seasons.

Look, I'm not saying that JP is a "great" GM. I'm not even saying he's a "good" GM. I'm merely explaining why he "still has a job". I think Vernon Wells' contract is absurd. But it must take contracts like that to draw or retain MLB talent in Toronto. I think you're right when you say that "fans aren't looking for mediocrity", and that "most fans would trade in two or three or four or even five mediocore winning seasons for one great season and a shot at the WS".

But the truth is that there are fans of other franchises who have would kill just to have a couple winning seasons in a five-year span for a freaking change. :censored

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:

tigerthelion Wrote:The Jays have a payroll of around 100 million, don't they? That should be enough money to put a team on the field to contend with anybody.

Well, let's look at that over the current and last 2 seasons:

- 2006 Jays payroll: $71,915,000 (8th highest of 14 AL clubs)
2006 winning percentage: .537 (7th highest of 14 AL clubs)

- 2007 Jays payroll: $81,942,800 (8th highest of 14 AL clubs)
2007 winning percentage: .512 (8th highest of 14 AL clubs)

- 2008 Jays payroll: $97,793,900 (7th highest of 14 AL clubs)
2008 win% to date: .478 (11th highest of 14 AL clubs)

The Jays are in the middle off the pack in terms of payroll expenditures, and it looks like the their level of competitiveness closely matched ownership's financial commitment in '06 and '07. That's no reason to fire the guy. They're off the pace so far this year, but the season's only half over.....and they lost their big bat to injury for a whole month.

tigerthelion Wrote:Seriously, when is the last time J.P. spent wisely on a free agent? Look at his recent acquisitions. Frank Thomas, Burnett, Eckstein, Shannon Stewart. C'mon. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Exactly as I said before -- nobody's falling over themselves to come play baseball in a market like Toronto. Unless Totonto goes way, waaaay over the offers that the Big Boys get from the New Yorks, the Bostons , the L.A.s, the Chicagos, the Detroits, etc., they are going to be stuck choosing between paying "too much" for lower-tier free agents or standing pat (because evidently the lower-tier FAs don't want to go there too badly, either).

Don't like it? Well get in line with the rest of the fans of clubs in non-preimer baseball markets.

tigerthelion Wrote:Two winning seasons in a row? Big deal.

Maybe not a "big deal", but 22 other franchises can't claim that.

tigerthelion Wrote:I think most fans would trade in two or three or four or even five mediocore winning seasons for one great season and a shot at the WS. Four of those teams on your list won the big one. Toronto hasn't even been close. Every team on your list except Toronto has been in the playoffs recently. Toronto hasn't even been close.

Again, a big part of that can be explained by the fact that nearly one quarter of their schedule is against the Red Sox and the Yankees -- two clubs who spend 1.5 to 2 times more than the Jays can. If Toronto were in the NL West or NL Central , they most likely would have won those divisions the past 2 seasons.

Look, I'm not saying that JP is a "great" GM. I'm not even saying he's a "good" GM. I'm merely explaining why he "still has a job". I think Vernon Wells' contract is absurd. But it must take contracts like that to draw or retain MLB talent in Toronto. I think you're right when you say that "fans aren't looking for mediocrity", and that "most fans would trade in two or three or four or even five mediocore winning seasons for one great season and a shot at the WS".

But the truth is that there are fans of other franchises who have would kill just to have a couple winning seasons in a five-year span for a freaking change. :censored

The only reason J.P. still has a job is because Godfrey is chums with him. That is the one and only reason. Trust me, man, their friendship is the only reason J.P. wasn't canned already. Everybody in Canada who follows the Jays even in the slightest knows this, especially people who live in Toronto.

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:Again, a big part of that can be explained by the fact that nearly one quarter of their schedule is against the Red Sox and the Yankees -- two clubs who spend 1.5 to 2 times more than the Jays can. If Toronto were in the NL West or NL Central , they most likely would have won those divisions the past 2 seasons.

Historically the Jays do just fine against the Yanks and Red Sox, it's losing too many series against weaker teams that have done them in the past few years. Sure they might have won if they were in another division, but so what? We've been hearing the "AL East" excuse from managment for the past decade, and it's growing tiring. To my knowledge there isn't a division or playoff format realignment on the horizon, so there's no choice but to accept the way things are and find a way to deal with it. The fact that they've got a record over .500 over since 2005 is also misleading. Not once in those years have they been realistically in a playoff race beyond the All-star break. They bow out early and then make a bit of a run in August or September so that their record at the end makes the season look more successful than it really was.

No doubt it is tough to make the playoffs in MLB. As a fan, I don't expect them to make it, though it would be awesome if they did. All I would really like is for the team to be playing meaningful games in September (i.e. be in a playoff race). As it stands, that has not happened once during JP's seven-year reign. He's had his chance, and he's failed. It's time to give someone new a chance.

Despite the Jays' mediocrity, at least we still get to watch Roy Halladay pitch ever fifth day. Another masterful performance last night, two-hitting the Yankees for his seventh complete game of the season. That's one more than any other team in baseball.

grimes Wrote:Despite the Jays' mediocrity, at least we still get to watch Roy Halladay pitch ever fifth day. Another masterful performance last night, two-hitting the Yankees for his seventh complete game of the season. That's one more than any other team in baseball.

I thought that Cliff Lee deserved to start the All-Star game but when I looked at what Halladay has done this season, it's not the slam dunk choice I thought it was . Seven complete games is just ridiculous. Halladay is just a fantastic pitcher, no ifs ands or buts about it.

tigerthelion Wrote:

grimes Wrote:Despite the Jays' mediocrity, at least we still get to watch Roy Halladay pitch ever fifth day. Another masterful performance last night, two-hitting the Yankees for his seventh complete game of the season. That's one more than any other team in baseball.

I thought that Cliff Lee deserved to start the All-Star game but when I looked at what Halladay has done this season, it's not the slam dunk choice I thought it was . Seven complete games is just ridiculous. Halladay is just a fantastic pitcher, no ifs ands or buts about it.

And with an ERA under 3 and a WHIP of 1.00, a lot of his 6 losses have come because of a pathetic hitting effort from the offense. Year after year the man is just incredible on the mound, and he gets overlooked as one of the games absolute best pitchers by most people outside of Toronto. If he hadn't of gotten hurt so much in the past I think he would have 3 or 4 Cy Young's by now.

This article makes a good case for Halladay starting the All Star game:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10886156">http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/10886156</a><!-- m -->

grimes Wrote:No doubt it is tough to make the playoffs in MLB. As a fan, I don't expect them to make it, though it would be awesome if they did. All I would really like is for the team to be playing meaningful games in September (i.e. be in a playoff race). As it stands, that has not happened once during JP's seven-year reign. He's had his chance, and he's failed. It's time to give someone new a chance.

I can't blame you or any fan for having those sentiments. It's understandable that fans become frustrated when a GM has 7 years at the helm and the team hasn't played any meaningful September games. But fan frustration aside -- the real question is this: given the resources available to that GM, is it reasonable to expect more from the team? In other words, is the team underachieving, or are they about where they should be?

You may tire of the "excuses" that Boston and NY's payrolls dwarf Toronto's, that Boston and NY can afford to put so much more money into their farm systems, that Boston and NY have a huge advantage in the FA market, etc. Your lost patience, however, does not lessen the very real impact that those "excuses" have on the Jays' efforts toward winning the division.

You can also attempt to claim that head-to-head records with the Sox and Yanks don't correlate to the Jays' season standings in the East in recent history, but that's not altogether true either. From the 2002 season to the present, the Jays have a 107-131 record vs Boston an NY. Now that's not at all "poor" -- especially when the talent on the Jays roster has been inarguably lesser than that of BOS or NY. But it's certainly no surprise that Toronto hasn't won the division posting a .449 win percentage against the top two divisional foes since 2001.

It's statistical probability.

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:I can't blame you or any fan for having those sentiments. It's understandable that fans become frustrated when a GM has 7 years at the helm and the team hasn't played any meaningful September games. But fan frustration aside -- the real question is this: given the resources available to that GM, is it reasonable to expect more from the team? In other words, is the team underachieving, or are they about where they should be?

You may tire of the "excuses" that Boston and NY's payrolls dwarf Toronto's, that Boston and NY can afford to put so much more money into their farm systems, that Boston and NY have a huge advantage in the FA market, etc. Your lost patience, however, does not lessen the very real impact that those "excuses" have on the Jays' efforts toward winning the division.

You can also attempt to claim that head-to-head records with the Sox and Yanks don't correlate to the Jays' season standings in the East in recent history, but that's not altogether true either. From the 2002 season to the present, the Jays have a 107-131 record vs Boston an NY. Now that's not at all "poor" -- especially when the talent on the Jays roster has been inarguably lesser than that of BOS or NY. But it's certainly no surprise that Toronto hasn't won the division posting a .449 win percentage against the top two divisional foes since 2001.

It's statistical probability.

The thing about stats is that you can use them to prove anything that's even remotely true. I just did a quick count and from 2005-present (the later stages of JP's famed "five year plan"), I have the Jays head-to-head vs. Boston and NY at just a shade below .500, 60-61. That's not bad considering the opposition.

I'll suggest that the Jays have been underachieving the last few years, at least in terms of the expectations JP set for himself and this team. In any event, even if they're just where they should be as you say, that's still no reason for JP to keep his job. I heard recently that he is presently the longest serving GM in baseball (I haven't verified that, but certainly he's up there). To me that title should be reserved for someone who overachieves. If this team is ever going to make the playoffs, it's definitely going to take an overachiever, and it's clear JP isn't one.

Way to go Morneau!

grimes Wrote:The thing about stats is that you can use them to prove anything that's even remotely true. I just did a quick count and from 2005-present (the later stages of JP's famed "five year plan"), I have the Jays head-to-head vs. Boston and NY at just a shade below .500, 60-61. That's not bad considering the opposition.

Grimes, I'm not trying to dredge up obscure data to prove a shaky premise. I merely listed the record of Toroto vs the two franchises who dominate the AL East for as much of JP's tenure as I could find. Those records aren't being used prove a "remote truth"; they are
a simple, purely objective, factual account of reality.

grimes Wrote:I'll suggest that the Jays have been underachieving the last few years, at least in terms of the expectations JP set for himself and this team. In any event, even if they're just where they should be as you say, that's still no reason for JP to keep his job. I heard recently that he is presently the longest serving GM in baseball (I haven't verified that, but certainly he's up there). To me that title should be reserved for someone who overachieves. If this team is ever going to make the playoffs, it's definitely going to take an overachiever, and it's clear JP isn't one.

Perhaps you're right. This isn't Little League. To the unbiased eye, the Jays have done as well as can be expected in that divsion under JP. But since "as well as can be expected" isn't "good enough", I guess it's time to change it up. I'm not even being sarcastic here -- I realize that the status quo is rarely going to save your job in professional sports management.

But when JP gets the axe so Toronto can find that "overachiever", prepare yourself for a big step backward, as they are likely to bring in someone who is more of an "underachiever" than JP. Then, instead of a tepid dissatisfaction with "mediocrity", you might be forced endure the WOE of going sub-.500 for 8 consecutive seasons.

Trust me, that tastes a heckuvalot worse.

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:

grimes Wrote:The thing about stats is that you can use them to prove anything that's even remotely true. I just did a quick count and from 2005-present (the later stages of JP's famed "five year plan"), I have the Jays head-to-head vs. Boston and NY at just a shade below .500, 60-61. That's not bad considering the opposition.

Grimes, I'm not trying to dredge up obscure data to prove a shaky premise. I merely listed the record of Toroto vs the two franchises who dominate the AL East for as much of JP's tenure as I could find. Those records aren't being used prove a "remote truth"; they are
a simple, purely objective, factual account of reality.

grimes Wrote:I'll suggest that the Jays have been underachieving the last few years, at least in terms of the expectations JP set for himself and this team. In any event, even if they're just where they should be as you say, that's still no reason for JP to keep his job. I heard recently that he is presently the longest serving GM in baseball (I haven't verified that, but certainly he's up there). To me that title should be reserved for someone who overachieves. If this team is ever going to make the playoffs, it's definitely going to take an overachiever, and it's clear JP isn't one.

Perhaps you're right. This isn't Little League. To the unbiased eye, the Jays have done as well as can be expected in that divsion under JP. But since "as well as can be expected" isn't "good enough", I guess it's time to change it up. I'm not even being sarcastic here -- I realize that the status quo is rarely going to save your job in professional sports management.

But when JP gets the axe so Toronto can find that "overachiever", prepare yourself for a big step backward, as they are likely to bring in someone who is more of an "underachiever" than JP. Then, instead of a tepid dissatisfaction with "mediocrity", you might be forced endure the WOE of going sub-.500 for 8 consecutive seasons.

Trust me, that tastes a heckuvalot worse.

Highly unlikely.

Great show put on by former Red, Josh Hamilton. He made it worth my while to watch the derby, which has become quite a mundane affair for the most part. Morneau won the derby trophy but that takes a backseat to the display put on by Hamilton. He wasn't just hitting jacks over the wall in simple fashion, but he was hitting moonshots out, one after another. He put a couple of 500+ foot bombs over the wall. I don't follow the Rangers much but when I saw that Hamilton had 95 RBI's at the break, it made me take notice. Then, last night, he had all the spectators at Yankee Stadium standing and applauding for a memorable show. Yeah, I think Hamilton is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.

Esthete, do you like that Hamilton trade? It did get the Reds a stud pitcher so I guess it was a win-win for both teams.

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:

grimes Wrote:The thing about stats is that you can use them to prove anything that's even remotely true. I just did a quick count and from 2005-present (the later stages of JP's famed "five year plan"), I have the Jays head-to-head vs. Boston and NY at just a shade below .500, 60-61. That's not bad considering the opposition.

Grimes, I'm not trying to dredge up obscure data to prove a shaky premise. I merely listed the record of Toroto vs the two franchises who dominate the AL East for as much of JP's tenure as I could find. Those records aren't being used prove a "remote truth"; they are a simple, purely objective, factual account of reality.

I agree, but so too is the stat I cited. Reality can be different depending on how you look at it.

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:

grimes Wrote:I'll suggest that the Jays have been underachieving the last few years, at least in terms of the expectations JP set for himself and this team. In any event, even if they're just where they should be as you say, that's still no reason for JP to keep his job. I heard recently that he is presently the longest serving GM in baseball (I haven't verified that, but certainly he's up there). To me that title should be reserved for someone who overachieves. If this team is ever going to make the playoffs, it's definitely going to take an overachiever, and it's clear JP isn't one.

Perhaps you're right. This isn't Little League. To the unbiased eye, the Jays have done as well as can be expected in that divsion under JP. But since "as well as can be expected" isn't "good enough", I guess it's time to change it up. I'm not even being sarcastic here -- I realize that the status quo is rarely going to save your job in professional sports management.

But when JP gets the axe so Toronto can find that "overachiever", prepare yourself for a big step backward, as they are likely to bring in someone who is more of an "underachiever" than JP. Then, instead of a tepid dissatisfaction with "mediocrity", you might be forced endure the WOE of going sub-.500 for 8 consecutive seasons.

Trust me, that tastes a heckuvalot worse.

It's certainly possible, but it's far from "likely." JP is average at best, so realistically they're probably most likely to end up with someone who is also average. That doesn't mean it's not worth taking a shot at getting someone great (and accepting the risk of picking someone who's a dud). Ownership wants to keep the fans interested here, and I don't see them going cheap on a GM should they decide to fire JP. They'll want to bring in someone with a proven track record.

There is no doubt that if Jays ownership is sensing that current fan interest is waning and fan frustration is mounting, then a change in General Management should be imminent, regardless of whether or not JP is the better option of any potential candidates. But if a change is in the cards, then the time is now for god sakes; if the Jays were to finish a handful of games over .500, it would further complicate the issue.

But I still caution that change for the mere sake of change is risky business when you have already been a “winning” franchise for the better part of a decade. I did some digging and discovered that during that dismal wreck of a 2004 season, Delgado, Wells, Halladay, and Catalanotto all missed a month apiece (minimum) due to injury. So if you exclude that season's record as an anomaly, the Jays' overall record from 2002-present is 461-444 (.509) and their division record is 209-192 (.521).

To me, firing a GM whose teams have produced those results – when the Yankees have gone 239-171 (.583) in the division and the Sox have gone 233-179 (.566) in the division in the exact same period -- is risking the bird in hand for the two in the bush. It’s hedging a bet that you can become the near equal of Boston and New York in terms of depth and talent, despite having a far smaller budget and far smaller chance of signing “impact” free agents.

Who do you think is the brilliant baseball mind that can pull it off? And is he willing to come to Toronto instead of some AL Central, NL Central, or NL West team? I sure as heck don’t know who it is.

I guess we'll have to wait and see......

tigerthelion Wrote:Esthete, do you like that Hamilton trade? It did get the Reds a stud pitcher so I guess it was a win-win for both teams.

Tiger, I’ve never been more conflicted about a trade in my entire life of sports fandom. I have as much love for Josh Hamilton as any hetero dude can possibly have for a professional male athlete. As a Ranger, he's still my favorite player. And that's saying alot.

I’ve always said that I’d take a young stud pitcher over a young stud position-player in a heartbeat, but since that very thing happened to the most impressive Reds player I think I’ve ever seen in person, I’m constantly second-guessing that mode of thinking. I will say this: if (and that is a gigantic IF) what we’ve seen from each of these players so far this season will continue for the next 3, 4, 5+ years, then I guess I’d have to say that I like the trade, because it might be the best opportunity to acquire a young pitcher of this caliber the Reds will get in awhile. But damn, it comes at a big price. Especially when out outfield sucks as far as I'm concerned. Griffey's done, and Dunn is whiffey. I want 'em both out of here.

I see a decent number of games at GABP, and I typically get good seats when I go down there – and let me tell you this: Hamilton's skills truly are eye-popping. I have never seen a guy at his level of MLB service hit the ball as hard as he does as consistently as he does to as many parts of the field. The only guy I can think of who came anywhere close was Vlad Guerrero when he was with Montreal. There has never been a more apt description as “the ball jumps off his bat”. You saw the Derby…what impresses me even more than the 500-foot moonshots are the “humpback” line drives that actually have topspin – and still clear the fence. There just aren’t too many guys with that kind of power. I saw him hit opposite-field HR at the ballpark last year that I absolutely could not believe. I just sat there in my seat laughing to myself even after the next AB had begun. And it’s not just his power. He’s an all-around ballplayer. Good speed, good glove, good instincts, great arm – the whole package.

And that’s where I really have to wonder if this trade was wise. Talent like Josh’s doesn’t just vanish in a few seasons. I firmly believe Josh will be one of the marquee names of this generation of players. He’ll be a superstar, barring a plague of injuries (which was one of the Reds’ concerns given his past hard-core drug use). He’ll contribute to your team for 150 games a year as opposed to “every fifth day” as is the case with a pitcher. And pitchers are often not as reliable over the long-term. Just one arm injury can completely “ruin” a pitcher. Even if they stay relatively healthy – pitchers sometimes just “lose it” so to speak, for no good reason. That just doesn't seem to happen to five-tool position players.

Now don't get me wrong -- Volquez is legit. He can bring it, and his changeup is filthy. He has some control issues, but I do expect that to improve over time. But I'm simply not as sure of his long-term success as I am of Hamilton's.

The Horrible Esthete Wrote:

tigerthelion Wrote:Esthete, do you like that Hamilton trade? It did get the Reds a stud pitcher so I guess it was a win-win for both teams.

Tiger, I’ve never been more conflicted about a trade in my entire life of sports fandom. I have as much love for Josh Hamilton as any hetero dude can possibly have for a professional male athlete. As a Ranger, he's still my favorite player. And that's saying alot.

I’ve always said that I’d take a young stud pitcher over a young stud position-player in a heartbeat, but since that very thing happened to the most impressive Reds player I think I’ve ever seen in person, I’m constantly second-guessing that mode of thinking. I will say this: if (and that is a gigantic IF) what we’ve seen from each of these players so far this season will continue for the next 3, 4, 5+ years, then I guess I’d have to say that I like the trade, because it might be the best opportunity to acquire a young pitcher of this caliber the Reds will get in awhile. But damn, it comes at a big price. Especially when out outfield sucks as far as I'm concerned. Griffey's done, and Dunn is whiffey. I want 'em both out of here.

I see a decent number of games at GABP, and I typically get good seats when I go down there – and let me tell you this: Hamilton's skills truly are eye-popping. I have never seen a guy at his level of MLB service hit the ball as hard as he does as consistently as he does to as many parts of the field. The only guy I can think of who came anywhere close was Vlad Guerrero when he was with Montreal. There has never been a more apt description as “the ball jumps off his bat”. You saw the Derby…what impresses me even more than the 500-foot moonshots are the “humpback” line drives that actually have topspin – and still clear the fence. There just aren’t too many guys with that kind of power. I saw him hit opposite-field HR at the ballpark last year that I absolutely could not believe. I just sat there in my seat laughing to myself even after the next AB had begun. And it’s not just his power. He’s an all-around ballplayer. Good speed, good glove, good instincts, great arm – the whole package.

And that’s where I really have to wonder if this trade was wise. Talent like Josh’s doesn’t just vanish in a few seasons. I firmly believe Josh will be one of the marquee names of this generation of players. He’ll be a superstar, barring a plague of injuries (which was one of the Reds’ concerns given his past hard-core drug use). He’ll contribute to your team for 150 games a year as opposed to “every fifth day” as is the case with a pitcher. And pitchers are often not as reliable over the long-term. Just one arm injury can completely “ruin” a pitcher. Even if they stay relatively healthy – pitchers sometimes just “lose it” so to speak, for no good reason. That just doesn't seem to happen to five-tool position players.

Now don't get me wrong -- Volquez is legit. He can bring it, and his changeup is filthy. He has some control issues, but I do expect that to improve over time. But I'm simply not as sure of his long-term success as I am of Hamilton's.

That's quite an answer, if I must say so.

Hamilton is on my "guys to watch" list now, for sure. Sadly, the Indians don't really have any of those guys, save for possibly Sizemore and Martinez. :x Carmona has been injured too much this season so I don't know how his future will pan out. Sizemore's average is still lower than I'd like, but everything else he does is impressive. Hafner is terrible. Peralta still hasn't learned discipline at the plane and still hasn't learned how to play effectively at shortstop.

Anyway, the All-Star game was pretty good this year, IMO. The Colorado pitcher getting out of that bases loaded jam was a nice piece of pitching. I didn't see the middle innings of the game, but I saw the last seven or eight innings and the first few innings. I only noticed three blown calls by the umps and two of them were in the same inning (11th). :oops: