The California native’s blonde locks, perma-tan and perpetual five o’clock shadow scream laid-back surfer dude, but his manic mannerisms contradict that perception.
So even when he was enjoying his finest big league campaign in 2011, most Jays fans never felt entirely comfortable with him on the hill.
Sure, the fidgety right-hander, who just inked a two-year, $5.9-million deal, struck out more batters per nine innings, allowed fewer home runs and posted a nifty 2.26 ERA in 2011, but it still seemed like the 6-foot-3 reliever was coughing up hits at the most inopportune times.
Though he limited hitters to a .228 batting average in 2011, the opposition hit .346 against him with two outs and runners in scoring position. And with runners on second and third base or with the bases loaded, batters were five for nine against him. So while Janssen improved in 2011, he needs to pitch better with runners in scoring position.
Janssen's $5.9-million contract is also a little confounding. Prior to finalizing this two-year deal, the Jays had offered the right-handed reliever a one-year, $1.8-million pact. So does $5.9 million over two years (also a $4-million team option for 2014) mean that the club believes Janssen is worth $4.1 million in 2013? It seems like the Jays overpaid for a reliever who looks to be their fourth or fifth option out of the pen.
Used primarily in the eighth inning last season, Janssen – in a revamped bullpen that will boast Sergio Santos, Darren Oliver, Francisco Cordero and Jason Frasor – will likely be used in the sixth or seventh inning. Deploying Janssen in the seventh inning makes sense; he held hitters to a .173 batting average in that frame in 2011.
And it should be noted that Janssen was more effective against left-handed hitters in 2011 (.216 batting average against him) than right-handed batters (.242). His dexterity against left-handed hitters should influence the Jays’ decisions on whom they bring north in April. Oliver is the only southpaw reliever that’s guaranteed a job, so with Janssen posing as their second lefty, the Jays could keep promising young right-hander Joel Carreno rather than less effective left-hander Luis Perez.
Overall, the decision to sign Janssen should turn out to be a good one for the Jays, even if they overpaid for his services. The fidgety hurler improved in 2011 and his effectiveness against left-handed hitters makes him a solid seventh-inning option. But the California native still has to pitch better with runners in scoring position before Jays fans will stop fidgeting in their seats when he’s on the mound.
Spitting and scratching are associated with baseball more often than love.
But diamond fans tend to wax romantic about their game, and its leisurely pace has been known to inspire a trivia contest or two. One favourite pastime amongst seamheads is to dream up all-theme teams. For example, an “All-Fruit” squad would include Darryl Strawberry, Bob Lemon and The Georgia Peach (Ty Cobb himself).
So in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are the top five Valentines to play in the big leagues:
5. Joe Valentine
Selected by the White Sox in the 26th round of the 1999 draft, this 6-foot-2 right-hander pitched professionally for 12 seasons. Though he hurled in just 42 big league contests – all with the Reds between 2003 and 2005 – the journeyman reliever also enjoyed stints in the A’s, Astros, Brewers and Phillies organizations. He also toed the rubber in Japan, in the independent Atlantic League and in Mexico. Valentine might be best known, however, for the poignant 2005 Newsday article in which he discussed being raised by two gay women.
4. Corky Valentine
This 6-foot-1 right-hander won 14 games for the Reds in 1954 and 1955, before returning to the minors in 1956 where he would help propel the Southern Association’s Atlanta Crackers to league crowns the next two seasons. During his pitching career, he doubled as a policeman in the off-season and walked the beat full-time after he hung up his spikes. Valentine used to joke to his colleagues that Russia wasn’t the first country to launch something into space, some of the home run balls he surrendered were in orbit long before the Soviets were concocting the Sputnik.
3. Fred Valentine
An All-American quarterback out of Tennessee State University, Valentine opted to sign with the Orioles in 1956. The switch-hitting outfielder played seven big league seasons with the Orioles and the Washington Senators between 1959 and 1968. His best season came with the Senators in 1966, when he slugged 16 homers and swiped 22 bases. He’s currently the vice-president and secretary of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association.
2. Ellis Valentine
This five-tool talent, who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, was part of the Expos’ vaunted late-’70s outfield that also included Andre Dawson and Warren Cromartie. Valentine enjoyed three consecutive 20-home run campaigns from 1977 to 1979 and recorded a whopping 24 outfield assists in 1978. Unfortunately, his career was derailed by drug and alcohol abuse and he was dealt to the Mets for Jeff Reardon on May 29, 1981. After short stints with the Mets, Angels and Rangers, Valentine was out of baseball by age 31. Following his big league career, the troubled outfielder cleaned up his act and now works as a drug/alcohol counsellor in Lancaster, Calif.
1. Bobby Valentine
Best-known for his managerial career, Valentine was a first-round draft pick of the Dodgers in 1968. As a player, he never lived up to his promise and would serve in utility roles for the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Mets and Mariners before retiring in 1979. Thirty-two games into the 1985 season, he was named manager of the Texas Rangers and would continue in that capacity until he was fired midway through the 1992 campaign. The loquacious skipper’s next big league gig came with the Mets from 1996 to 2002. In 2000, he guided the Mets to a World Series berth against the Yankees. Valentine would later manage the Chiba Lotte Marines of the Japanese Pacific League from 2004 to 2009 before working as an analyst on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball in 2011. He was hired as the Red Sox new field manager in November.
New Brunswick native Matt Stairs will be pinch-hitting for Jim Rice and Dennis Eckersley in Boston this season.
No, the stocky Maritimer isn’t participating in a Red Sox alumni game, he has been hired as a studio analyst by the New England Sports Network (NESN) and will split duties with the two Hall of Famers on the station’s Red Sox pre- and post-game shows.
Despite referring to Stairs as a “Frederickson” native in their press release, NESN appears to be excited about adding the 19-year big league veteran to its roster.
Best known for his beer league physique and self-deprecating humour, Stairs was baseball’s every man who suited up for a big league record 13 teams before retiring last August. His nomadic career, which saw him toil for a club in every division, should benefit him in his new role.
Stairs, who belted a big league record 23 pinch-hit homers, told the Bangor Daily News that he’s slated to work 20 to 30 contests for NESN, but that number could increase as the season progresses.
“As a player, you always had to watch what you said. You couldn’t always tell the truth. You had to sugarcoat things and be nice. Now I’ll get to speak my mind,” he told the paper.
A gritty, old-school type, Stairs is likely to provide analysis in the same vein as Blue Jays Sportsnet personality Gregg Zaun. In other words, don’t be surprised if Stairs utters the phrase, “He plays the game the right way” at some point during his first appearance.
Stairs joins Jack Graney, Claude Raymond, Jean-Pierre Roy and Derek Aucoin on a short list of Canadians who landed broadcasting gigs following their big league careers.
Given Stairs’ propensity for changing teams, it’s difficult to say how long this role will last. There’s also no word as to whether Stairs will pinch-hit for beloved Sox colour commentator Jerry Remy in the ninth inning of telecasts, but judging by Stairs’ penchant for late-inning heroics, it might not be a bad idea.
One underpublicized revelation out of the Toronto Blue Jays’ State of the Franchise event on Monday was that the club is considering adding Tom Henke’s name to its Level of Excellence.
It’s an honour that’s overdue for the top relief pitcher in Blue Jays history. A two-time all-star and member of the 1992 World Series-winning squad, the bespectacled closer racked up a franchise-leading 217 saves and compiled a tidy 2.48 ERA in eight campaigns in Toronto.
As early as this season, Henke could become the 10th member of an exclusive group of Jays immortalized at the Rogers Centre. George Bell, Dave Stieb, Joe Carter, Roberto Alomar, Tony Fernandez, Cito Gaston, Pat Gillick, Paul Beeston and Tom Cheek are all currently celebrated on the club’s Level of Excellence.
The news that a ceremony for Henke could be in the works got me thinking about what other players are worthy of this honour.
Of course, a debate can be waged about what constitutes “excellence.” The names of serviceable, longtime Jays like Lloyd Moseby and Jim Clancy, for example, are sprinkled all over the Jays’ all-time, statistical leaderboards, but few would consider them to be “excellent.” Then there are players like Roger Clemens and Paul Molitor who were outstanding during their short tenures in Toronto, but, in my opinion, weren’t Jays long enough to merit a perpetual tribute from the club. And if there was a “Level of Very Good” at the Rogers Centre, Shawn Green, John Olerud, Duane Ward and Fred McGriff would surely be on it.
But the Level of Excellence should be reserved for the truly elite who starred with the Jays for an extended period. Alomar’s five seasons in Toronto is the shortest tenure of any player on the Level of Excellence, so let’s set that as the minimum term a player requires for consideration.
With all of this in mind, here are four former Jays – in addition to Henke – that I believe are worthy of a place on the Level of Excellence:
Carlos Delgado
This Puerto Rican slugger is the Jays’ all-time leader in most meaningful offensive categories, including home runs (336), slugging percentage (.556), on-base plus slugging percentage (.949), total bases (2,786) and RBIs (1.058). A three-time Silver Slugger Award winner during his 12 seasons in Toronto, Delgado finished second to the steroid-enhanced Alex Rodriguez in the 2003 American League MVP voting. It’s baffling as to why the Jays didn’t set a date to honour Delgado the moment he announced his retirement.
Yes, he’s still pitching, but wouldn’t it be nice to see the Jays add Halladay’s No. 32 to the Level of Excellence when the Phillies are in town for an interleague series from June 15 to June 17? Unquestionably the best pitcher in franchise history, Halladay recorded two 20-win seasons, was named the American League Cy Young Award winner in 2003 and was selected to six all-star teams during his 12 seasons in Toronto. Though there’s a Hall of Fame case to be made for Delgado, Halladay is likely the next player to be inducted with a Jays cap on their plaque.
Just when you thought all the year-end awards were over... we pull you back in! OK, OK, so someone maaaay have dipped into the New Year's punch a bit early and neglected to post this before the clock struck midnight on Dec. 31. I'm not going to name that person so let's move beyond blame and towards appreciation for a few more nostalgic nods to the past year.
Worst Projectile Thrown On the Ice At A Hockey Game
It isn’t an octopus. It isn’t a catfish. It isn’t a rat. It’s not a hotdog. It is a freaking DEAD DUCK.
The duck was thrown onto the ice by a fan of either the San Jose Sharks or the Anaheim Mighty Ducks (we still aren’t really sure) in San Jose at the HP Pavillion on Boxing Day. Now if this is someone trying to help turn Anaheim’s season around or perhaps start a new Ducks tradition, they may want to start by throwing the dead waterfowl onto the ice in Anaheim. I really hope this doesn’t start something a trend, as a rink full of dead ducks just isn’t the image the team wants associated with it. And let's hope this whole throwing-dead-versions-of-our-team's-name thing doesn't catch on in places like Florida, Phoenix or Ottawa.
-- PARKY
The Best Canadian Baseball Player To Play For The Toronto Blue Jays in 2011
The Toronto Blue Jays are a baseball team. From time to time they excite fans with the promise of fielding better teams which result in possible playoff implications. However, most times (at least every year since 1993) those promises are empty, resulting in many Red Sox and Yankee bandwagon-ers. Well if there was something fans needed to cheer for in 2012, it could be B.C. native, Brett Lawrie. He burst on the scene with a positive and incredibly infectious attitude. Playing with heart and passion, his explosive power and dazzling fielding make him just the rallying point fans in Toronto needed. Look for Lawrie to continue exciting fans in 2012, and here’s hoping the rest of the Jays play with the same heart Lawrie brings to the park every game.
-- PARKY
The Canadian Best in the World at a Sport Nobody Watches
Winning seemingly every event he entered in 2011, Patrick Chan has taken the men’s figure skating world by storm and, unfortunately, not enough people know about it. CP even named him Canada’s male athlete of the year after he went undefeated in 2011, winning all five ISU events he participated in. He won in record fashion and shows no signs of slowing down, even learning a valuable lesson in PR when he spoke about the different ways in how China embraces figure skating culture versus Canada.
That was a kick in the gut, I don't know how else to describe it.
The Blue Jays have been outfoxed by Rangers' GM John Daniels for the second consecutive winter. Kudos to Daniels, he made a smart bid. Daniels leveraged his team's new cable-contract into exclusive negotiation rights with the most intriguing pitcher prospect to crop up since Strasburg, and he did it through sheer logic; Daniels took the highest posting fee ever paid to a Japanese player ($51.1M), decided Darvish was a stronger prospect, and bumped up his offer by a percentage point or two ($51.7M). It was an aggressive bid, but not an exorbitant one. The Rangers now have a 30-day negotiation window to negotiate and sign a contract with Darvish.
What this boils down to for Toronto fans is that Yu Darvish won't be a Blue Jay, Japanese yen will not be flocking to Rogers Centre, and Paul Beeston likes the posting process even less than he did twenty-four hours ago.
In terms of public relations, it seems everything went wrong for the Jays. Firstly, the team's own broadcaster botched the coverage. Briefly mentioning that Texas had won the bid in an off-hand statement while throwing to a Leafs highlight package they'd already shown (twice) detailing a game they themselves had aired ninety minutes earlier? It's a long winded question born out of confusion and dampened enthusiasm.
Although, if I had to find a theme for this year's off-season, I'd say confusion and dampened enthusiasm might be two of the front-runners.
If that seems like a trick question I made up to mess with Yankee fans for the next decade or two, think again. Turns out Donnie Baseball earned his way into the Evansville Ballet for this season's performance of Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker. Or maybe they just let him in because he's famous. Either way, Mattingly's resume now lists an appearance as 'Mother Ginger' in the Christmas classic, complete with costume makeup and a tent-sized dress. I love the holidays.
The first time I saw Sergio Santos pitch, I was horrified.
It was two seasons ago in mid-April, game seven on a schedule that had gone nearly perfectly for Toronto. The Jays arrived home in first-place after going 5-1 on a season opening road-trip, and returned to the Rogers Centre to face the sputtering White Sox.
The crowd was electric, the building was packed, and the Jays were winning by a run when White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen pulled his starter and called for a righty from the pen. As the reliever warmed up on the field, broadcast commentators in the press box dug through their press kits and came away with the same analysis: converted shortstop, former Blue Jays farmhand.
He was tall and bulky, and when he snapped his fastball into the catcher’s glove it could be heard in the rafters. It was the sixth inning and the bases were loaded. The Blue Jays were in first place. The crowd was roaring. And then the lights went out.
There’s a sense of helplessness a dominant reliever can inflict on his opponent. It’s a feeling of submission, where hope is absent and luck seems thin, and there’s probably nothing your team can do this late in this game to counter that guy.
That was my first glimpse of Sergio Santos. The Jays lost that game in eleven innings, but in my memory the wheels had fallen off somewhere near the seventh. Santos finished the series in Toronto without allowing an opponent to reach base, or a ball to be hit out of the infield. The first two batters he faced grounded out weakly, the rest were punched out on strikes. Santos was not a closer yet, but he had put us on notice.
The Band You Love to Hate is an easy target. They're insanely popular, having sold something in the region of a gazillion albums around the world, but there's also a certain cache to the Nickelbacklash. The fact 55,000 people in Detroit signed a petition to block the band from playing the halftime show during the Lions' Thanksgiving game was picked up by every media outlet with a chuckle. Of course, it didn't dent the Alberta-bred band's album sales any.
This is all to say that Chad & Co. are an easy target. Or at least they seemed like one. Atlanta Braves relif pitcher Peter Moylan certainly thought so when he decided to call the band out on Twitter, suggesting they take some performance lessons from the Foo Fighters. The band, or whomever does its tweeting, then unexpectedly came right back with a question of their own, asking Moylan, who played just 13 games in 2011, if watching fellow Braves hurler Craig Kimbrel was better on the bench or on TV. Ohhh, NickelBUUUUUUUUURRRRNNN!
Now the question is whether this outburst of awesome will change any Nickelback haters' minds or make them hate the band even more for forcing them into like territory for a brief second. Tough call. Oh, and just in case you haven't decided yet, there's this.
It’s amazing what one bad month can do to a franchise. In August the Red Sox were a juggernaught, by late-September wrecking-balls were swinging through the clubhouse. First to go was Terry Francona, manager-turned hero-turned scapegoat. There reason behind his firing was some B.S. about beer or chicken, or whichever excuse you choose to follow in the wake of forty grown millionaires failing to adequately babysit themselves. In his place the Sox have hired Bobby Valentine.
I’d like to go out on a limb and predict that, at this point in their careers, there’s not another franchise in baseball that would take Bobby Valentine over Terry Francona. But politics are politics, and when everyone involved is busily trying to save face, intriguing decisions are bound to be made. Intriguing being the most polite way I can word this.
Valentine’s in a tough spot. If he wins, it’s because he’s got a stacked lineup that is suppose to win. If he loses, he loses. The fact is he’s entering a pressure cooker under a new GM who’s got World Series expectations on his shoulders. Add the fact that Valentine’s had noted difficulties playing nice with bosses at nearly every other juncture of his career and the plot of this soap opera seems bound to get thicker.
As an avid fan of a division rival, I’m pretty pumped about this.
Here’s a rundown of Bobby V’s resume:
Retired as a ballplayer at 29. Began managing with Texas Rangers at 35. Was fired by George W. Bush in 1992 (despite a solid 45-41 record). Had a successful managerial debut in the Japanese Pacific League before being fired after his first season due to personal conflicts with the GM. Hired as bench boss by the Mets in 1996. On June 9, 1999 was ejected during a game vs the Blue Jays, only to return an inning later in disguise (fake moustache) which cost him an additional three-games. Named “Sports Humanitarian of the Year” for 2001 by the NJSWA. Led the Mets to the famed “Subway Series” against the Yankees (Yanks won in 5). Was fired by Mets’ GM Steve Phillips in 2002 which the media speculated was due to an ‘uneasy’ relationship. Returned to Japan where we won the Japan Series and the inaugural Asia Series. Starred in the documentary “The Zen of Bobby V” which became an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Was fired by his JPL club after the team’s president launched an alleged smear campaign to turn the fans against him. Also of note, once claimed on the Food Network that he was inventor of the ‘wrap’ sandwich, which potentially indicates that he is hundreds of years old and native to either Greece or Mexico.
