From: kirsch@staff.tc.umn.edu (Dave Heart Condition Kirsch)
Subject: Re: Blue Jay musings...
Organization: Daves R Us (Irkutsk division)
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 23:41:55 GMT

In article <Sep.30.15.16.13.1992.9707@pilot.njin.net> gajarsky@pilot.njin.net (Bob Gajarsky 'and Hutch') writes:
>well, if i were the jay  manager, i'd start cone in 1, 4, 7 (if necessary)

  I'm with Bob all the way here. Don't expect Cito to be. My only concern
with Cone would be how much he's got left in his arm after being used so
heavily by the Mets this year. If he's alright, I'd pitch him in 1, 4, 7.
Especially against the A's, who aren't too familiar with his stuff (like that
slider that makes me want to wet my pants). 
 
>anyhow, that wasn't your question.  the a's do much better against lefties
 than righties.

  *This* is precisely the reason I'd move Key to the pen for the Oakland
series, unless something's seriously wrong with Guzman. I know Key's been
pitching very well lately, but Oakland *kills* LH pitching and Key would give
the Jays more flexibility out of the pen. If I were an A's fan, I'd be happy 
to face Morris three times; that's three times you don't have to see Cone or 
Guzman. Key would actually, IMHO, provide a nice contrast (along with
Eichhorn) out of the pen before getting to Ward and Henke (if he's needed).
I have my doubts about pitching fast/slow/fast pitchers on alternating days, 
but in-game I've always had a tough time hitting a junkballer once I'd timed
a pitcher with good heat, and vice-versa. Mind you, I'm not saying they
*should* go to Key, just that it's a nice alternative to have .. I'd be just
as happy with Flame-Throwing-Starter/Ward/Henke. 
 
  Of course, all this is moot if the A's can't beat the Brewers in any of
their six final games with the Brew Crew, and the Jays struggle against the
sabrmetric offense (tm). I'll say this much; whoever wins this division will 
have *earned* it. The Jays and Brewers must both have ungodly records in
September. 

  I am firmly convinced that anyone who mentions 'choke' nowadays probably
spends 18.5 hours/day in mediot brainwashing sessions and has had a full
frontal lobotomy. A few weeks ago ESPN interviewed a smirking Glenn Davis who
commented about the Jays' reputation for 'fading down the stretch'; the
Sportscenter announcers du-jour immediately concurred. What they weren't
expecting was the on-screen graphic that followed, showing the Jays to have a
.550+ Aug/Sept/Oct winning % every year since 1987. It was over .600 every 
year until Cito arrived. I wouldn't be surprised if this drop was at least 
partially due to Cito's fondness for the everyday lineup, which may tend to
wear down players at the end of the season. Despite their unimpressive
August, the Jays have come back with a pretty strong September thus far
(fingers crossed as sacraments for several religions are prepared). The Jays
and Barry Bonds have a similar problem; they've haven't been at their best 
when every Joe 'Couch Potato' Critic is watching, so they get 'labeled'.
Nothing more, really. I hope they both avenge their 'labels' this year. 

  Oh, yeah, one other thing. My blood pressure insists I ask, "Why does the 
AL East *always* have to be the division with the best pennant race?" 

  Lundy, 
 
-- 
Dave Hung Like a Jim Acker Slider Kirsch            kirsch@epx.cis.umn.edu 
"Blue Jays - break my heart again in '92"    Roberto Hernandez throws peas  
"I believe virtually everything I read, and I think that is what makes me
   MORE of a selective human" - Joe Average, baseball fan and media puppet
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