Results tagged ‘ John Buck ’
‘Graphing the Jays’ power
During last night’s 11th inning win over the Tigers, the Jays got home runs from Jose Bautista (who else?) and Adam Lind. Right now, there are eight guys on the team who’ve hit at least 10 home runs this season, and two guys stuck at eight. This team has a real shot at getting 10 guys with double digits in home runs, which is amazing.
Here’s how I’ve done in getting autographs of these guys:
1. Jose Bautista (42): I sent to him during Spring Training, and haven’t received anything back yet. Here’s hoping!
2. Vernon Wells (23): Doesn’t sign TTM, as I found out back in the summer of 2006 when I first started this hobby. But I have a handful of certified auto’d cards of him.
3. Aaron Hill (19): I have four cards signed TTM from him. Two back in 2006 and two in 2008. I’ve got another couple out to him now, and hope to get them back this fall.
4. Adam Lind (18): Doesn’t sign TTM, but before he made it to the Bigs, I loaded up with a dozen or so of his certified autograph cards.
5. Alex Gonzalez (17): No longer with the team. I don’t have anything of his.
6. Lyle Overbay (16): After a horrendous start to the season, Overbay has been one of the club’s best hitters. I’ve got him three times over the years — once on a ball, once on a Topps card and this year on an 08 Ginter card.
7. John Buck (14): I don’t have anything of his.
8. Edwin Encarnacion (13): In addition to being unable to hit, he’s also unable to sign. He hasn’t responded to two TTM requests in the last two years.
9. Fred Lewis (8): I finally found a card of his (a rookie card, when he was with SF) and sent it off a couple weeks ago. He’s shown to be a good signer to other collectors, so I hope I get it back. He’s become one of my favourite Jays this season, and also one of the most exciting to watch.
10. Travis Snider (8): Snider goes through stages in which he signs, then goes a stretch without signing. I have one of his certified autos, but sent to him TTM a few weeks back on a Topps rookie card.
Home opener notes
You can’t win ‘em all, I suppose. It was too bad to see the Toronto bullpen squander a good chance to win, but that pen has been good enough all season that it’s bound to lay an egg every now and again. Poor Jason Frasor, with two blown saves already. We expect more out of him, and I’m sure we’ll see it.
The Good:
Vernon Wells: Another big game for V-Dub, who blasted his fifth homer of the season. If he keeps it up like this, he’ll shatter last year’s mark before the long weekend in May.
Adam Lind: The slugger keeps rolling after a career year last year. After picking up his Silver Slugger award in a pre-game ceremony, Lind picks up a pair of hits and drives in three. He also had three Ks, but without his RBIs, the Jays wouldn’t have even reached extra innings.
The Bad:
John Buck: I’m not on an anti-Buck crusade, really. I was glad when the Jays signed him and happy to see him hit one out last night. But 0/4 on runners stealing is Zaun-esque, and Buck needs to improve in that area.
Edwin Encarnacion: Three errors this season already?
Buck Watch: Buck was back, which made for a lot of muting of my TV. I haven’t quite yet turned to the radio broadcast, but that day is coming. I’m not sure how Encarnacion’s mother pronounces his last name, but for years, MLB announcers have pronounced it “En-carn-a-see-own.” Cool. But Buck goes with something like “En-carna-syonne.” It’s awkward when Buck is saying it one way and Pat Tabler is saying it the other way.
Are you familiar with White Sox pitcher Sergio Santos, who used to play in Toronto’s system? Anyway, he began his pro ball career as an infielder, and switched to pitcher for the start of 2009. Pretty cool. Anyway, as Santos is warming in the pen late in the game, we get this gem from Buck: “Sergio Sanchez, a converted pitcher, warming up.” Thanks.
Watchability: Despite a loss, the Jays continue to be an exciting team, and offence is always fun to watch. The vibe at the home opener was electric. Four out of five baseballs.
5-1!
What another bunch of late-game heroics for the Blue Jays. After a bit of a snoozer for the first seven innings, the Toronto offence finally woke up just in time. A monster eighth, including home runs by Alex Gonzalez and Jose Bautista, paved the way to a Toronto comeback against Baltimore. Toronto edged the O’s 5-2 after trailing until the eighth inning. In the ninth, Edwin Encarnacion added an insurance home run to help out the cause.
The Good:
Alex Gonzalez: Two home runs for a guy the Jays picked up to help out defensively is a real asset. Gonzalez now has four home runs through six games.
Casey Janssen: Six games into the season, Janssen has three wins. Talk about pitching well, but also being in the right place at the right time.
The Bad:
Lyle Overbay: Toronto’s 1B went 0-4 to drop his season average to .087, yikes.
John Buck: Had an 0-for day as well.
Numbers Game: The number of Toronto’s stolen bases through six games: 1. Alex Gonzalez has the lone Blue Jays steal.
Buck Watch: No Buck today! Sam Cosentino did play-by-play today for the first time that I’ve heard, at least. He filled in admirably. There were times he didn’t appear comfortable, but being alongside longtime colour man Pat Tabler must’ve helped. Either way, I’d take Cosentino over Buck, but I expect Buck’ll be back before long.
Watchability: I’ll admit I was flipping back and forth between this one and the Masters for the first handful of innings, but the late game heroics were awesome. The eighth inning was great, and helps this game early three and a half balls out of five.
Game 1 notes
Final score:
Rangers 5, Blue Jays 4
This was a game of ups and downs, just as the Blue Jays season will likely be. But given the loss, were there more downs in this one? Not really. The late innings were frustrating, but Toronto did a lot of things well and despite moving to 17-17 all-time on Opening Day, this was a good showing.
The good:
Shaun Marcum: With a no-no into the seventh, Marcum left little doubt he’s no longer feeling the affects of his Tommy John surgery. He looked in control with six strikeouts and
Vernon Wells: V-Dub was clutch with a first-inning two-run home run with two outs. In the eighth, he added a clutch RBI to restore Toronto’s lead after Texas had made it 3-3.
Adam Lind: 3-for-3 with a home run. About as good an Opening Day as you can ask for.
The bad:
Travis Snider: 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. Yikes.
John Buck: 0-for-4, but the real problem was his leaving four runners on base.
Jason Frasor: He gets the loss after his blown save, but I thought his pitch selection was good. He battled well in the ninth and will hopefully be better next outing.
Numbers Game: Frasor’s ERA on the day ends up the same as his jersey number: 54, ugh.
Buck Watch: What did anyone think of the debut of Buck Martinez? I didn’t understand Sportsnet’s decision to “reassign” Jamie Campbell, as I always thought Campbell made for a good call and had a natural play-by-play voice. Martinez, on the other hand, has a grating voice that gets under my skin. Sure, he’s got great knowledge of the game, but his mispronounciation (“Jason Frazier?”) and head-scratching comments (“Marcum had a Tommy John injury?”) make me wonder if it’ll be a long season. I don’t know what the over/under on me muting my TV and tuning into the Jays’ radio broadcast is, but it might be before long.
Watchability: This game was exciting, with a potential no-hitter going into the seventh inning and late-game heroics. I give this four baseballs out of five.
malcolmmacmillan
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