Mop Up Duty Mop Up Duty A Baseball Blog dedicated to answering the questions rarely asked. Main topics include fantasy baseball, sabermatics, forgotten leagues & players, expansion, bios, etc. Updated almost everyday! 
Articles
Jays Draft Recap
2009-06-10 16:50:00 The first day of the MLB draft is done. The Jays selected four pitchers with their first five picks. Pick 1 (20th) - Chad Jenkins From reports Jenkins fits the Jays mold of a near MLB ready pitcher that can fill the back half of a rotation but ultimately lacks the upside of a front-line starter. ... More About: Draft , Recap
How to fix the Batting Order Blues (Jays)
2009-06-09 16:18:00 How to fix the Batting Order Blues (Jays ) The Jays offense has been less than stellar as of late. Here’s my optimal lineup for the next month or so. Note: This is my perfect world scenario batting order and most likely isn’t going to happen. Optimal Jays Offense Scutaro Hill Lind Rios Overbay (sub with Millar vs lefites) Rolen Wells Harper (sub with Bautista ...
Back at the Keyboard
2009-06-08 19:51:00 My first post in two weeks! I’ve been out of action on vacation and a self imposed five day exile. I hit up Vegas during this span and a Bisons games. Here’s a small trip report during my absence. — Two days before I headed out on my trip I went down to Buffalo to see ... More About: Las Vegas , Back , Keyboard
Rios Really Is Cursed
2009-06-06 16:10:00 Rios Really Is Curse d © Callum for Mop Up Duty | Baseball News Sabermetric | Baseball History Bio, 2009. | Permalink | | Add to del.icio.us Post tags: alex rios, Curse, Douchey Behaviour, toronto blue jays $25+ of Free Baseball Media Files More About: Toronto Blue Jays
Rios Victim of Home Run Derby Curse?
2009-06-02 13:30:00 Rios Victim of Home Run Derby Curse ? In 2007 Alex Rios was having what is known to be a “break out” season. Before the All-Star break, Rios had launched 17 home runs into the seats of ballparks around the league. During the Derby, Rios pounded out 19 bombs, losing to Vladimir Guerrero in the final round ... More About: Commentary , David Beckham , Season
Liveblogging the Jays This Weekend
2009-05-30 18:37:00 Liveblogging the Jays This Weekend I’ll be liveblogging both Jays games this weekend, beginning with today’s game at 1pm and tomorrow’s matchup between Ricky Romero and Jon Lester. Follow us on Twitter to get the link for tomorrow’s game or hit up The Score Live Blogs. Go Jays. © Callum for Mop Up Duty | Baseball News Sabermetric | ... More About: Boston Red Sox , Live , Toronto Blue Jays
Latino Exhibit Unveiled at the HOF
2009-05-29 13:30:00 Latino Exhibit Unveiled at the HOF Last August I took a trip to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. We at Mop Up Duty (okay, maybe just me) have a great affinity for Latino baseball (especially the way it influenced the Toronto Blue Jays teams of the 80’s). Above, you can see I ... More About: Fidel Castro , Johan Santana , Latino
Checking In On Adam Loewen
2009-05-28 15:23:00 Checking In On Adam Loewen Okay, so I don’t even want to talk about the Baltimore series because it was just straight up ridiculous. If it is any consolation, we can harken back to when the Jays f’d over the O’s by stealing Adam Loewen . Or did they f themselves? Let’s find out. For those of you ...
Minute Maid Park Review
2009-05-27 15:00:00 Minute Maid Park Review Frequent commenter Tight PP recently took a road trip to Houston to see the Astros play in Minute Maid park. Pinch-hitting today for Mop Up Duty, you will find his review below. Minute Maid Park, Houston Texas I found myself in south Texas during Opening Week so I figured pop byy Houston for some NL ... More About: Commentary , Minute
Jose Gets Beat Down
2009-05-26 17:18:00 Jose Gets Beat Down Former Toronto Blue Jays slugger and admitted steroid user Jose Canseco fought MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighter and beast of a man Hong Man Choi last night in Yokohama Japan. Canseco, who is broke, did it for the money and had no qualms stating that fact. It is obvious that he has ... More About: Jose , Beat down
The Best of the Rest: Dustin Ackley
2009-05-25 13:49:00 The Best of the Rest : Dustin Ackley In the baseball world, there is a consensus that flamethrowing pitcher Stephen Strasburg will be the first to be chose in the 2009 first year player draft. But after him at #2? Odds are it will be UNC 1B/CF Dustin Ackley. Ackley, a 3rd year player at UNC can really hit, ... More About: Commentary , University of North Carolina , Scout , Prospect
Mop Up?s Spill of the Day
2009-05-23 19:11:00 Mop Up’s Spill of the Day El Dominicano/Canadiense Connecion My boy Jorge Arangure Jr. over at ESPN has a pretty awesome blog called “La Esquina” that I have mentioned before. It covers all of the goings on in Caribbean baseball. A few days ago he penned a post that discussed how, in an effort to ramp up ...
A Story Forgotten: Halladay?s Reinvention
2009-05-21 13:45:00 A Story Forgotten : Halladay’s Reinvention Around baseball, many baseball writers are having a love-in when it comes to KC Royals starter Zack Greinke. He has been absolutely dominant through the first month and a half of the season with an ERA hovering around half a run. Greinke was selected by the Royals in the first round (sixth ...
The Arnsberg Influence
2009-05-20 12:50:00 The Arnsberg Influence “He’s so prepared,” Roy Halladay said. “He’s one of the guys, more like a teammate. Look at his track record with all the young arms.” 41 games into the season, the Toronto Blue Jays have the third-best team earned run average in the majors (3.90) go behind the Kansas City Royals (3.59) and the ... More About: Commentary , Sabermetrics
Liveblogging: Blue Jays vs. Red Sox
2009-05-19 17:01:00 Liveblogging: Blue Jays vs. Red Sox The Blue Jays own the AL’s best record at 27-14. They begin a nine-game road trip Tuesday night at Fenway Park when they play the Boston Red Sox for the first time this season and have a 3 1/2-game lead over the Red Sox after a four-game home sweep of ... More About: Commentary , Blog
J.P. is getting too much credit
2009-05-17 18:15:00 J.P. is getting too much credit This comment came from eyebleaf. I’m not trying to call him out, he’s got a great site over at sportsandthecity.com that you should bookmark/rss. This comment was in response to yesterday’s Romero demotion article (more like rant). We?re in first place. Don?t shit on J.P., give the man some props. My response ... More About: Credit
WTF Romero sent down to AAA??
2009-05-16 18:48:00 WTF Romero sent down to AAA?? From the National Post Two weeks ago, he said reliever Brian Tallet and rookies Brett Cecil and Robert Ray were “holding the fort” until Janssen, Romero and Litsch recovered from injuries. But all three substitutes have pitched well enough to keep their jobs, he said Friday. Traditionally, a player who goes down with an injury gets his job back when he his healthy. “We’re breaking tradition,” Ricciardi said. So Janssen and Romero are officially stuck in the minors until further notice. They are off the disabled list and on options to the minor leagues. Technically not sent down to AAA but the end result is the same. Re-activited starter Ricky Romero is going back down to Vegas while Robert Ray stays up with the big club. WTF? Frankly I’m getting tired of all of these mixed signals. J.P. is like a hot date that’ll tease you all night long. Is this a money move? Earlier in the year the Jays allowed Romero into the rotation becaus...
Victor Martinez hitting an even .400
2009-05-16 02:28:00 Victor Martinez hitting an even .400 Catcher/firstbaseman Victor Martinez upped his average to .400 last evening, going 4 for 5. I’ve always thought that if anyone has a chance to hit .400 in todays current game its Martinez or Joe Mauer. Oddly enough both are catchers (well sort of). A strong second half in 2008 forced the Indians to find a spot in the batting order for catcher Kelly Shoppach. With Ryan Garko having a poor season the Indians opted to split catching duties between Shoppach & Martinez and position Victor at first on days that he’s not behind the plate. The knock of Victor has been that he’s tired in the latter months of the season. Will the decrease in behind the plate responsibilities combat this trend? Protection While Choo has been solid in the number four spot behind Martinez but outside of a half-season in 2008 he’s largely unproven. The lack of a true #4 hitter (unless Hafner can return to form or Matt LaPorta can quickly develop)... More About: Victor
An Exercise in Contrasts: Greinke vs. Eaton
2009-05-15 17:20:00 An Exercise in Contrasts: Greinke vs. Eaton  In one sequence of pitches on Saturday, Greinke followed a 96 mph fastball with a 69 mph curveball. Tony Randazzo, the home plate umpire, remarked to Olivo in the middle innings, “He’s got good stuff.” “I hope he goes to the ninth inning,” Olivo replied. Sure enough, with his pitch count well under control, Greinke struck out Chris Davis to finish the game. Olivo met the pitcher halfway between home plate and the mound. “You’re the best,” the catcher told him. “You’re going to win the Cy Young Award some day.” Maybe that will happen this year. Greinke, the Royals’ electric armed right-hander, has put together a start to the 2009 season that has everyone reaching deep into the history books. In spectacular fashion, he’s taking what many saw as great potential almost squandered and setting off a wild explosion of talent so far this year, making an early case fo...
Lock up Marco to a contract?
2009-05-14 16:10:00 I’d like to get everyone’s thoughts on this one. Is it worth locking up Marco to a medium-term contract? Marco’s deal with the Jays ends this season. 2009 was his last arbitration season, so he’ll be eligible for free agency in 2010. The projected future SS of the Jays Justin Jackson (who will return to High A ... More About: Contract , Toronto Blue Jays , Lock
Luck catches up with Scott Richmond
2009-05-14 03:55:00 I don’t want to be that guy but since I took some shit in the comments section for sharing my thoughts on Richmond earlier in the year (Everyone needs to stop over-rating Scott Richmond) I’ll make this post. Scott has quickly added a few runs to his ERA, seeing it shoot up to 4.28 (along with ... More About: Luck
Doc Halladay is Good
2009-05-13 19:57:00 Doc Halladay is Good I imagine my shocking and controversial headline will incite some rage and perhaps some skepticism… I usually meander on about this ratio, pitch selection, etc etc. With Doc we don’t have to do this. And to be fair it?s a bit of a pain in the ass (since he’s got about five plus ...
Doc vs. AJ: Things To Watch
2009-05-12 16:02:00 Doc vs. AJ: Things To Watch I am as amped up as anyone to see my favourite pitcher this side of Dave Stieb (Roy Halladay) pitch against the prodigal son with the electric arm tonight. Last year I penned an article discussing how AJ lives and dies by his deuce. Everyone knows that Burnett?s fastball is electric, ... More About: Commentary
Contention Time = Send down Snider and replace him with?
2009-05-11 19:59:00 Hopefully this post isn’t construed as negative. In-fact its quite the opposite. At the beginning of the season I wanted nothing to do with Travis Snider at the MLB level. It wasn’t so much that I though he wouldn’t hit, I’d just rather save his pre-arb years for more competitive baseball. Low and behold competitive ... More About: Time , Send
Alomar Settles AIDS Lawsuit
2009-05-06 16:14:00 Alomar Settles AIDS Lawsuit Former Blue Jay Roberto Alomar and his ex-girlfriend have settled her explosive lawsuit claiming he made her have unprotected sex even though he had AIDS. Ilya Dall sued Alomar in federal court in February for $15 million (U.S.). Her allegations he demanded sex without a condom despite showing signs of AIDS were ... More About: Hall of Fame , Toronto Blue Jays , Aids
Live Game Notes: Tribe vs Jays May 5th
2009-05-06 14:36:00 Early is back with live game notes from yesterdays come from behind win at the Rogers Centre. Enjoy! - What a crazy game yesterday afternoon. After yesterday’s back and forth affair which the Jays bullpen fell apart they fell apart again today, costing Brett Cecil a win in his MLB debut. Cecil pitched 6 innings of 6 hit (5 ... More About: Notes , Live , Game , Early , Tribe
Why I don?t think Scott Richmond?s success will continue
2009-05-05 19:48:00 Why I don’t think Scott Richmond ’s success will continue Starting off with a sidebar I’m not sure how far back everyone’s baseball memory goes. One of the greatest single-season pitching performances in my baseball lifespan was Greg Maddux’s strike-shortened 1994 season. That season he went 16 - 6 with a 1.56 ERA in a huge hitters season. ... More About: Success , Toronto Blue Jays , Sabermetrics
Heidi Watney Bio
2009-05-04 13:41:00 Heidi Watney Bio Above is a screencap I took of NESN field reporter Heidi Watney during a Red Sox/Yankees game at Fenway. I thought baseball field reporting reached its peak with Erin Andrews (below), but I was wrong. Watney, who turns 28 this month, was a National Merit Scholar and attended the University of San Diego on ... More About: Boston Red Sox , Fresno , Heidi , Miss California
Adam Lind walks the walk
2009-05-03 18:51:00 Oh yeah baby, Adam Lind definitely walks the walk this season. Last season in right around 350 PA Adam walked 16 times. This season he’s already taken 15 free passes. Adam is seeing almost one pitch more per PA (which is huge), with an average plate appearance consisting of 4.67 pitches vs 3.74 last season. His 16 ... More About: Toronto Blue Jays , Walk , Walks
Reigniting the Phillies/Mets Rivalry
More articles from this author:2009-05-02 20:37:00 Reigniting the Phillies /Mets Rivalry The New York Mets sure don’t need any extra motivation playing against the defending World Series champions. Daniel Murphy hit a two-run homer, Mike Pelfrey pitched 5 1/3 effective innings and the Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-4 on Friday night in the first meeting between the two rivals. Before the game, general manager ... More About: Commentary , Jimmy Rollins , Ryan Howard 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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