Fresh of the trade for The Jays' willingness to look at Gangné leads us to this question: We know that you can never have too many arms, but at what point does following that truism creep over the line to goofy self-parody?
Okay, we're mostly kidding about that last bit. It's probably a good thing that the Jays, under Alex "Doogie" Anthopoulos are being all OCD about making sure that they get someone at every workout, because who really knows what you might find. And it doesn't cost them anything to show up and have a look see.
Of course, the depressing part about this for us is that the Jays could bring in 100 bullpen arms, and we know that we're still going to have to sit through 60 Shawn Camp outings this year. (And yes, we know he put up okay numbers, but we have an irrational hate-on for Shawn Camp. Can't help it. It drives us batshit crazy when we see that guy running out of the pen.)
I like Shawn Camp. He was pretty awesome a lot of last year. I think you should give him another chance.
ReplyDeleteI like Camp, too. Not as much as Cito likes Jesse Carlson, but you know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteShawn Camp is OK by me, used appropriately of course. Which pretty much disqualifies him under terms of use by The Manager.
ReplyDeleteI feel you though, Tao. We all have our guys like that. For me, back in the day, it was Frank Wills. Hated that dude and every inning he pitched from the pen.
re: Gagne...I dunno. I guess so. I suppose I'd rather see a report stating "the Jays plan on having a scout in attendance" than wondering why they never have a look at these barely-warm bodies. Unless the report concerns John Halama.
Gagné doesn't fit except as a guy to flip at the deadline. The question is whether there is any reason to think he can make himself tradeable between now and july. If he they think he can then the next question is whether this will impede anyone's development. Since there is no "closer of the future" on the team, the answer seems to be no. The last question is whether he'll take innings away from someone else who might turn himself into a tradeable asset, like Jason Frasor. I don't see Frasor as any contending team's "late inning" specialist, so this seems like a low risk low reward situation.
ReplyDeletemy main worry is how Cito would handle Gagné. He is a washed up veteran after all, so i could easily see him being trotted out there night after night to give up HRs after Carlson loads the bases.
it DOES cost SOMETHING, the scouting dept. has an operational budget I am sure..but it's probably a tank of gas, + a night at ho-jo...but still
ReplyDeleteI hope the Jays invite B.J. Ryan to spring training. That guy was lights out a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteI hope the Jays invite B.J. Ryan to spring training. That guy was lights out a few years ago.
ReplyDeleteno way the Jays could afford him, given that they're already paying $6 million of Roy's salary this year. Way to hamstring the organization AA ...
I loved Frank Wills. Bill James said that he had the single best pitch in the league at times. "A splitter which was missing the L."
ReplyDeleteI like having a dude who can get a ground ball when needed; much like The Ack in his good years.
For me it was Miguel Batista.
ReplyDelete"They should sign Gagne eh, cuz he's Canadian."
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many times we're going to hear that phrase over the next few days.
"Yeah, like, y'know? The Jays never signed no Canadians when J.P.was there. They shoulda signed Eric Gagné when he was getting all them saves for the Angels. If they did, they mighta won the World Series by now."
ReplyDeletePlease promise me you'll keep calling Anthopoulos "Doogie".
ReplyDeleteAngels?
ReplyDeleteIt's probably because any time Shawn Camp comes into the game, we're down huge.
ReplyDeleteGagne wants to be a starter this go around..
ReplyDeleteYou douchers!
There aren't enough Pearl Jam references in the world!
ReplyDelete"Yah, well, maybe Gag-Knee didn't play for the Angels, but it doesn't matter. He's, like, a french guy, so he barely even counts as Canadian, right? I mean, he wears, like, a visor and stuff."
ReplyDeleteI always hated Esteban Loaiza. For good reason, I think.
ReplyDeleteShawn Camp is cursed with the "serviceable" tag. He's boring and devoid of anything worthwhile. He's instantly forgettable. He's a shittier version of Jason Frasor, for God's save. He's a one year stop gap that's stuck around for 3 years.
ReplyDeleteJust like, you know, what's name from back in day.
Alex "Doogie" Anthopoulos?
ReplyDeleteThe way that I hate Camp, you'd swear he posted a 5.00+ ERA last year.
ReplyDeleteI'm still convinced that he gave up a shit-ton of inherited runners, even if I can't find those numbers. So his shittiness got put on other pitchers' tabs.
And even if that isn't true, I still hate him.
I'm on board with irrational camp hatred. Nobody will ever convince me to like him so don't even try. The hatred is rather benign anyways.
ReplyDeleteSort of like a skintag on my consciousness...
i like camp when we're getting white-washed. when i see him trotting out, i know we're getting 3 innings and saving the good arms for a tense situation. when i see him coming out in a lead, tie, or 1-run situation, i scream at the tv.
ReplyDeleteBTW, try Wifi blocker to block all spy transmitters in your room or at work.
ReplyDeleteI dunno about Gagne....there is nothing worse than a power pitcher who's pitches have straightened out...is there a Billy the Kid comeback planned too?
ReplyDeleteI always hated Esteban Loaiza. For good reason, I think.
ReplyDeleteLoaiza had douche hair. That was the best reason to hate him.
I got very sick of watching Brandon League. Stupid Weezer glasses, dumb arm-sleeve tats. Throws 98 and never wants to throw a strike. I bet he threw 90% of his pitches at the middle of the strike zone and just guessed about where they'd end up.
ReplyDelete