Wild Card Game: Baltimore (Tillman) @ Toronto (Stroman) | Tuesday, October 4 | 8PM EST

[C Court]

Hmm, I wonder why Richard Griffin would be boycotted? He hardly ever says anything controversial or out of the ordinary. Pretty much the Jays' version of Doug Smith.

Kelly, I totally understand though. Dude is a total douche and says controversial stuff just to get noticed. Him, Steve Simmons and Dave Feschuk are the absolute worst.

I suppose Griffin reported something that a player didn't like (Donaldson or Jose?) and the rest of the team circled the wagons in support of the team mate. Otherwise he is not controversial.

[Yosemite Dan]

Hmm, I wonder why Richard Griffin would be boycotted? He hardly ever says anything controversial or out of the ordinary. Pretty much the Jays' version of Doug Smith.

Kelly, I totally understand though. Dude is a total douche and says controversial stuff just to get noticed. Him, Steve Simmons and Dave Feschuk are the absolute worst.

I suppose Griffin reported something that a player didn't like (Donaldson or Jose?) and the rest of the team circled the wagons in support of the team mate. Otherwise he is not controversial.

Simmons is next on the dart board. He reported on the weekend that JD is not well liked in the clubhouse. It may or may not be true but that should be enough to get that clown on the wall of shame.

[The_Hater]

Hmm, I wonder why Richard Griffin would be boycotted? He hardly ever says anything controversial or out of the ordinary. Pretty much the Jays' version of Doug Smith.

Kelly, I totally understand though. Dude is a total douche and says controversial stuff just to get noticed. Him, Steve Simmons and Dave Feschuk are the absolute worst.

I suppose Griffin reported something that a player didn't like (Donaldson or Jose?) and the rest of the team circled the wagons in support of the team mate. Otherwise he is not controversial.

Simmons is next on the dart board. He reported on the weekend that JD is not well liked in the clubhouse. It may or may not be true but that should be enough to get that clown on the wall of shame.

Simmons has no friends and no sources so I would take that with a grain of salt.

I am sure about one thing. When you throw 25 players in a locker room for 7-8 months everyone isn't going to get along with everyone all of the time.

[vaff87]

Hmm, I wonder why Richard Griffin would be boycotted? He hardly ever says anything controversial or out of the ordinary. Pretty much the Jays' version of Doug Smith.

Kelly, I totally understand though. Dude is a total douche and says controversial stuff just to get noticed. Him, Steve Simmons and Dave Feschuk are the absolute worst.

I suppose Griffin reported something that a player didn't like (Donaldson or Jose?) and the rest of the team circled the wagons in support of the team mate. Otherwise he is not controversial.

Simmons is next on the dart board. He reported on the weekend that JD is not well liked in the clubhouse. It may or may not be true but that should be enough to get that clown on the wall of shame.

Coming from Simmons, you can pretty much guarantee it's BS. Like Phil Kessel's hot dog vendor.

[JaysRule25]

I remember how hilarious it was when Bautista put Simmons in his place a couple of years ago. I think Simmons was making some snide remark about Jose complaining about our lack of action at the trade deadline, and Bautista basically tweeted "who the hell are you" or something like that lol.

[TR50]

I know he big debate right now is the pitching...but I think what we need even more is the bats to be breathing. They don't need to be the offense from last year, but if we want to go anywhere, let alone past the wild card, we need the bats to be working.

So as much as we could make the case for Liriano (he'll probably pitch at some point tomorrow anyways, and I have a feeling Stroman will be just fine and give us a chance to win), we need a showing from the bats (especially Donaldson, Bautista, Eddie...the big boys).

I think they can do it.

[StopitLeo]

I know he big debate right now is the pitching...but I think what we need even more is the bats to be breathing. They don't need to be the offense from last year, but if we want to go anywhere, let alone past the wild card, we need the bats to be working.

So as much as we could make the case for Liriano (he'll probably pitch at some point tomorrow anyways, and I have a feeling Stroman will be just fine and give us a chance to win), we need a showing from the bats (especially Donaldson, Bautista, Eddie...the big boys).

I think they can do it.

I hope everything will come together offensively. Otherwise I think it is going to be a barn burner.

[SharoneWright]

Griffin's really in the know. He might have dug a bit too close to a real nerve.

[polo007]

Toronto Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro joins Tim and Sid to discuss Aaron Sanchez’s incredible start vs the Red Sox, why the team chose Marcus Stroman to pitch the wild-card & his opinions on the 1-game wild card format.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/shows/tim-and-sid-show/awe-watching-sanchez-mark-shapiro-ts/

[Wo1verine]

Apparently loyalty played a role in Stroman starting - I Personally think you have to go with the best guy and if that's Liriano (like many say) **** feelings, just win.

[RINSE]

Apparently loyalty played a role in Stroman starting - I Personally think you have to go with the best guy and if that's Liriano (like many say) **** feelings, just win.

According to who?

[Asif16]

I know he big debate right now is the pitching...but I think what we need even more is the bats to be breathing. They don't need to be the offense from last year, but if we want to go anywhere, let alone past the wild card, we need the bats to be working.

So as much as we could make the case for Liriano (he'll probably pitch at some point tomorrow anyways, and I have a feeling Stroman will be just fine and give us a chance to win), we need a showing from the bats (especially Donaldson, Bautista, Eddie...the big boys).

I think they can do it.

Completely agree. Our bats in the month of september was brutal to watch. We could barely string any back to back hits together, let alone get any runs it felt like.

The last game against boston was the only game where we were able to put up 10 hits after a very long time. Even some of the outs were hard line drives. Im hoping that last game against boston woke our bats up a bit

[Schad]

Apparently loyalty played a role in Stroman starting - I Personally think you have to go with the best guy and if that's Liriano (like many say) **** feelings, just win.

Isn't a huge gap between them on the 'best guy' thing. From August 1st on, Stroman has an ERA of 3.28, with opponents hitting .245/.298/.360 against him, 8.5 K/9 vs. 2.5 BB/9, and 0.8 HR/9. Over the same stretch, Liriano has a 2.92 ERA, with opponents hitting .222/.288/.386, 9.5 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9.

It's debatable whether Liriano has been better at all, or just gotten a bit more fortune with event sequencing...all of his home runs have been solo shots, which -- given that he gives up baserunners at a damned near identical rate to Stroman -- is basically luck.

[PimpHandStrong]

Apparently loyalty played a role in Stroman starting - I Personally think you have to go with the best guy and if that's Liriano (like many say) **** feelings, just win.

Isn't a huge gap between them on the 'best guy' thing. From August 1st on, Stroman has an ERA of 3.28, with opponents hitting .245/.298/.360 against him, 8.5 K/9 vs. 2.5 BB/9, and 0.8 HR/9. Over the same stretch, Liriano has a 2.92 ERA, with opponents hitting .222/.288/.386, 9.5 K/9 and 2.9 BB/9.

It's debatable whether Liriano has been better at all, or just gotten a bit more fortune with event sequencing...all of his home runs have been solo shots, which -- given that he gives up baserunners at a damned near identical rate to Stroman -- is basically luck.

But, as has been mentioned, Baltimore's much worse v. lefties (83 wRC+ against 107 vs. righties).

[Schad]

But, as has been mentioned, Baltimore's much worse v. lefties (83 wRC+ against 107 vs. righties).

Absolutely. Stroman/Liriano are about on par over the past two months, so other considerations come into play. Baltimore's problems with left-handed starters on one hand, Liriano's proneness to home runs on the other. Stroman's ability to keep the team in the game versus Liriano's chances of shutting them down (or blowing up).

[RalphWiggum]

I personally think Liriano was the better choice for this game. He has pitched great lately, shut down the Orioles last week and the Orioles have struggled with lefties this season. His tendency to be a little wild could also actually have been beneficial against a free swinging Oriole team that doesn't take a lot of walks.

All a moot point as the club went with Stroman for whatever reason.

This game is more than likely coming down to our offense not our starter IMO. We put up 5 or more runs we'll probably win, 4 or less we'll probably lose.

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[Scott Hall]

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[The_Hater]

But, as has been mentioned, Baltimore's much worse v. lefties (83 wRC+ against 107 vs. righties).

Absolutely. Stroman/Liriano are about on par over the past two months, so other considerations come into play. Baltimore's problems with left-handed starters on one hand, Liriano's proneness to home runs on the other. Stroman's ability to keep the team in the game versus Liriano's chances of shutting them down (or blowing up).

Obviously all these things were weighed into the decision, do you think they picked the best option?

To me, Baltimore's huge gap between RHP and LHP should trump the rest of the argument which is like you said, otherwise relatively close.

[tecumseh18]

Hmm, I wonder why Richard Griffin would be boycotted? He hardly ever says anything controversial or out of the ordinary. Pretty much the Jays' version of Doug Smith.

Eh, I wouldn't make that comparison. Smith hates basketball (or at best, views it as a "job"). Griffin obviously loves the game (and also is a basketball fan). He worked in the Expos front office back in the 80s.

Griffin is also a fun writer - not as flashy as Kelly but still likes to throw in bon mots. Smith couldn't come up with a nice turn of phrase if you put a gun to his head.

And finally, Smith always leans pro status quo. He didn't like Colangelo coming in, and didn't like him going. Griffin basically took a flamethrower to JP Ricciardi - when JP was still here! He's got guts.

Kelly, I totally understand though. Dude is a total douche and says controversial stuff just to get noticed. Him, Steve Simmons and Dave Feschuk are the absolute worst.

Kelly is just an empty wordsmith. I wouldn't pay money to read him. But as a writer myself, I enjoy reading him.

[Raps_Swingman]

But, as has been mentioned, Baltimore's much worse v. lefties (83 wRC+ against 107 vs. righties).

Absolutely. Stroman/Liriano are about on par over the past two months, so other considerations come into play. Baltimore's problems with left-handed starters on one hand, Liriano's proneness to home runs on the other. Stroman's ability to keep the team in the game versus Liriano's chances of shutting them down (or blowing up).

I think Liriano's control problems and propensity to give up the long ball pushed the needle towards Stroman here. Walk a couple guys give up a long ball and its a quick lead.

And let's be honest, if you're the manager and you've got a young kid who was solid last year in your playoff run vs. the new guy who do you choose? Is it all numbers? David Price had great regular season numbers, didn't translate. It's all a crap-shoot anyways in a 1 game playoff.