Molitor

So I saw the Jays run another delayed steal attempt and it makes me want to roundhouse kick the collective organization in the head. Whether that's justified or not, I don't know. I have no stats to back this up; I can't find any. I do know that so far in 2013, major league teams have been successful stealing bases 73% of the time. The Jays specifically are over 77%. I don't see how the delayed steal has any chance at improving on these numbers. First: I get that it's sneaky and it supposedly catches the SS and 2B off-guard. But how often really? 80% of the time? 70%? 60%? From anecdotal evidence from watching lots of baseball over the years, it doesn't feel any more effective than just a regular straight steal where you get a proper head start. Second: The delayed steal inevitably loses effectiveness the more times you use it and the Blue Jays seem to use it way, way more frequently than any other team I've seen. Granted, I mainly watch Jays games, but I would expect to at least see their opponents use it once in a while. Again anecdotal, but it's not just this year either. I recall being pissed off at other times over the last 5-10 years. Not sure if this is a Gibbons thing or an organizational philosophy or what. If they MUST do it, they really have to pick their spots better. If Bonifacio or Davis are on first base and everyone in the universe is expected them to take off... probably not a good spot! They should just let those guys use their natural speed since they're both above average career base stealer's anyway. If they MUST do it, the team needs to limit the overall attempts to only a small handful per season, and when it seems really probable that the middle infielders are zoning out (i.e. not called from the bench, and when a smart, veteran base runner is on base). I think teams and players remember this stuff when they fall victim to it, it's just human nature to not want to look foolish again. Hell, I still remember playing shortstop as a kid 20 years ago and getting burned on the old base-on-balls-straight-to-second-base trick because I wasn't paying attention. But oh, oh, oh, when it works the television and radio guys oooh and aweee and gush with enthusiasm at the clever little league hijinks and tomfoolery that the Jays just got away with. Is this actually an effective play in major league baseball? I think the Jays need to retire it.

Well, this is pretty lulllzz

'Topes win! 'Topes win! Wow, way to go all Mitch williams on us cj

Charge the mound. Do it

Adam Lind has really lame walk-up music. I'm embarrassed for him.

Haha, I heard this interview too on the drive in this morning. Wow, JP isn't doing himself any favours. That was an incoherent mess and it sounded like he's driven almost completely by emotion rather than any sort of logical reasoning. You'd think a guy with his miserable performance at the plate would want to avoid drawing attention to himself. Good for him though with the charity work. I'm sure he is a good guy, just really immature.