Graeme Nichols

It’s amazing that within the course of a week, the Blue Jays went from playing meaningful baseball to a team that’s unofficially - but officially - out of contention. Aside from relishing in watching A-Rod wither away as the games become more meaningful, Jays fans can look forward to the fact that Travis Snider - the Jays’ top prospect - has risen through the system and has been called up from AAA. Snider got the nod after it was learned that Matt Stairs had been dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named later.

For those not familiar with Snider, he’s a power-hitting corner-OF/DH type who won the AA Home Run Derby this season. The call up of Snider is intriguing though because it means that his arbitration eligibility has been moved up by one season now. I don’t think Ricciardi cares though because realistically, his GM duties draw closer to an end with each passing day.

Graeme Nichols

…And his name is “Joey Bats”. I know what most of you are thinking, aside from a filthy soul-patch, where does Jose Bautista fit in with the Jays? With an infield already congested with the likes of Joe Inglett, Johnny Mac, Marco Scutaro and David Eckstein, how’s Bautista going to help  the Jays when he couldn’t stick on the Pirates Major League roster - remember this is a guy who’s been in AAA since August 10th.  Well, despite toiling in the minors for the past week or two, it’s a huge reflection on the Jays’ lineup when the newly acquired Bautista is now the team’s current leader in home runs in their lineup with 12.

The acquisition of Joey Bats probably signals the fact that the Jays will now be able to rest MacDonald and Scutaro on a more consistent basis. Regardless, I don’t think the acquisition of Bautista has Jim Mora saying, “Playoffs” but man was last night’s game against the Yankees fun to watch. While Bautista won’t be in the lineup until Friday at the earliest, a Yankees cheap acquisition was busy committing arson on the hill. Last night Sidney Ponson threw two solid innings for the Yanks giving up 8 hits, 7 runs (all earned) while walking one. Apparently the coaching staff forgot to tell Ponson to keep it close last night since he was matched up against the man, the icon, the legend : Doc Halladay. No worries Yanks fans, at least you have Pavano taking the hill on Saturday!

After scattering 5 hits and 2 walks through 7 innings, Halladay turned the ball over to the bullpen after throwing only 94 pitches. Seriously though, irregardless of the score last night, who can remember the last start Halladay had wherein he didn’t register more than 100 pitches?

With last night’s victory, the Jays have taken 4 of 5 games from Boston and the Yankees and now remain 7 games back of the Wild Card with only 3 teams ahead of them in the Wild Card race (Boston, Minnesota and NY). With Boston and Tampa next on the dockett, it’s entertaining for the team to be playing meaningful baseball this late in August. Tonight, Shawn Marcum takes the ball against Paul Byrd who’s throwing against the Jays for the third time in 15 days.

Who’s ready for some entertaining, playoff-teasing baseball?

Graeme Nichols

Well, here the Jays are. At the critical juncture of their season, the Jays currently sit 9 games back in the Wild Card standings behind the Boston Red Sox and 12 games out of first in the East behind the Tampa Bay Rays. And here we are: Fifteen games in a row against the Red Sox, Rays and Yankees. A stretch that’s absolutely critical if the Jays want to improve upon their longshot odds of playing into October. Fortunately, everyone’s favorite red-headed 5th starter is back in the rotation. Yes my friends, the Litsch is back and if you can’t get excited for that than shame on you. At least look forward to the fact that the Doc is getting the ball rolling tonight at Fenway.

If anything, these times should provide some exciting baseball for a fanbase that’s pretty much been devoid of excitement since May. Although to play devil’s advocate, this stretch of games could put the final nails in the coffin that is the 2008 season. Similarly, it could also seal JP Ricciardi’s fate as General Manager. Which leads to the question of why the GM has promised that Cito would return in ‘09 despite the fact that Ricciardi’s job security appears flimsy at best. I don’t recall Paul Godfrey or any other member of the Jays brass addressing the media and giving JP a vote of confidence. So the question deserves to be asked: What gives?

Waivers:

Ok Jays fans. Relax. Just because the Jays placed V-Wells and Johnny Mac on waivers, it doesn’t mean they’re going anywhere. Here’s how the post-trade deadline waivers work according to Paul DePodesta’s blog:

No player can get traded after July 31 without being placed on trade waivers.

Unlike outright waivers, August trade waivers are NOT irrevocable. In other words, if we place a player on trade waivers, and another organization places a claim on that player, we can take him off waivers if we don’t want to lose him or trade him.

Once a player is placed on trade waivers, the other 29 organizations have 48 hours during which to place a claim.

If a player is claimed by another organization, one of two things can happen: a) the player can be traded to (or simply given to) the claiming organization only or b) the player can be pulled off of waivers by the originating Club.

Any trade with the claiming Club has to be consummated within 48 hours.

If a player is claimed on trade waivers, and the originating Club pulls that player off of waivers, he CANNOT be traded for the remainder of the season unless… the originating Club puts the player on trade waivers a second time. If they do this, however, the waivers become irrevocable so any claim would result in the automatic assignment of the player to the claiming team. If a player goes unclaimed, he can be traded to any other team at any time.

Based off reports, don’t expect V-Wells to be claimed because of his massively backloaded contract. Similarly, expect Johnny Mac to be claimed but I’d assume that the team claiming him would be a team ‘blocking’ another contending team from claiming him.

Enjoy the next 15 games everybody!