BallHype User Blog - mopupduty

Cuban Baseball: My First-Hand Account

Mon, 1 Feb 2010 12:44:49 +0000

	This past week I travelled to Havana, Cuba with former Mop Up Duty writer Early to experience Cuban baseball and to immerse ourselves in the Cuban culture. Early’s father (and also former Mop Up Duty writer Daperman) had always regaled us on the Havana Cuba Sugar Kings and we were fascinated by ... — full article at mopupduty.com

Was Dave Stieb Squeezed Out Of A Perfect Game?

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 12:53:06 +0000

	After Matthias’ excellent posting yesterday on Dave Stieb vs. Roy Halladay, I started to think about the perfect game that Stieb lost in the bottom of the 9th inning vs. New York in 1989. I was able to finagle some old footage of the game and it is amazing to see how close came to actually achieving — full article at mopupduty.com

Better Blue Jays Pitcher: Stieb or Halladay?

Wed, 6 Jan 2010 12:50:05 +0000

	Common Traits Started MLB careers at 21 Effectively (due to Stieb's arm injury) ended their Toronto careers at the age of 32. Each have over five all-star appearances Led the AL in innings pitched at least twice in their careers Tagged with rare and elusive term 'True Ace' Both were perfecti — full article at mopupduty.com

Greatest Roy Halladay Moments

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 12:47:41 +0000

	With the recent departure of Roy Halladay, I have been reflecting on his time in Toronto. To me it seems like a blur of superhuman performances and total domination of the opposition. It is tough to pick highlights because there are so many, but with the wound so fresh, the following are the Roy ... — full article at mopupduty.com

Memoirs of Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:47:41 +0000

	Memories of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team of the International League circa 1955. — full article at mopupduty.com

A New Pitching Statistic: The Ensured Loss

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 12:47:41 +0000

Relief pitcher’s appearances in games that their team is losing are treated marginally by statistics. The major categories to measure a reliever’s success are traditionally W/L, K, ERA SV% and the Games Held% and Inherited Runners Scored. Now, relief pitchers do not take as many decisions as ... — full article at mopupduty.com

Epic Games in Blue Jays History: Mookie Wilson’s Arrival in Toronto

Tue, 8 Dec 2009 12:36:34 +0000

	Mookie Wilson was traded along with Lee Mazzilli from the New York Mets to the Toronto Blue Jays on July 31, 1989 for Jeff Musselman and Mike Brady. Mookie ended up playing 2 and a half seasons in Toronto which was more than enough time for him to become a fan favourite. In 1990, Mookie belted a ... — full article at mopupduty.com

Kelly Gruber Hits for the Cycle

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 13:14:32 +0000

	On April 16, 1989 the Blue Jays pounded the Kansas City Royals 15-8 at Exhibition Stadium. But this was not your run of the mill pounding of the Kansas City Royals. On this date Kelly Gruber became the first Toronto Blue Jay in franchise history to hit for the cycle (a single, double, triple & hom — full article at mopupduty.com

Defense in Baseball

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:01:57 +0000

	Baseball is one of the few games where defense is as exciting if not more exciting than the offensive part of the game. One of my favourite things to watch is a slick-fielding infielder range to his right or left to snag a groundball and come up throwing in one effortless motion and fire a ... — full article at mopupduty.com

Dustin McGowan: The Next Mark Prior or Chris Carpenter?

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 16:13:38 +0000

	I have followed Dustin McGowan’s career ever since he was drafted in the first round of the 2000 draft by the Blue Jays. Ever since baseball writers routinely misspelled his name (”Magowan”) while describing his electric stuff. He was one of those players who had a great arm but couldn’t trust ... — full article at mopupduty.com

Tony Fernandez Day

Thu, 3 Dec 2009 12:59:23 +0000

	In what may or may not be the first installment of a (possibly) recurring “Epic Games” theme, Tony Fernandez Day is as good a place as any to start. — full article at mopupduty.com

Scutaro's 2009 Season: Not An Outlier?

Tue, 1 Dec 2009 12:33:51 +0000

	Although it seems to be Scutaro posted numbers over and above his norm, they are not wildly out of line from his minor league stats.. — full article at mopupduty.com

Kelly Gruber, The Greatest Jays 3B of All

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:07:02 +0000

	I am not ashamed to admit it. Kelly Gruber is my favourite position player for the Toronto Blue Jays of all time. According to my baseball card, Gruber was “hard nosed and a fine athlete.” Kelly was a 5 tool player who played 6 positions. The following is my profile on the Greatest Blue Jays 3B. — full article at mopupduty.com

Derek Jeter kickin' it on a beach with Minka Kelly

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:43:06 +0000

	I hate him because I want his life. — full article at mopupduty.com

Josh Roenicke's Brown Sugar

Thu, 3 Sep 2009 17:05:01 +0000

	Hi everyone, Mr. X here and it has been a posting rennaissance for me over the last week and a half. Thanks to Baseball’s Hottest Wives, Blue Jays Wives & Girlfriends & Mr X’s Leftovers much interest has been generated in the significant others of Major League Ballplayers. Thank you for visiting e — full article at mopupduty.com

A Tale of Two Pitchers

Wed, 2 Sep 2009 11:41:35 +0000

	A couple of games ago I watched Brett Cecil’s start against the Texas Rangers where he and some Jays relievers combined to almost squander an 11 run lead. This shaky behaviour is not atypical of Cecil and it got me to thinking about who I would rather have, Cecil or Tommy Hanson? — full article at mopupduty.com

Leftover Baseball Wives & Girlfriends

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:39:39 +0000

	Yesterday I wrote a post on the Blue Jays’ wives. While doing my research, I stumbled across a few others that are not associated with the Jays. In the interest of being thorough, here are my leftovers: — full article at mopupduty.com

Toronto Blue Jays' Wives & Girlfriends

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 11:51:51 +0000

	Spurred on by the success of the “Baseball’s Hottest Wives“ and “Top 10 Derek Jeter Bimbos” posts, our resident sleuth Mr. X (more of Mr. X’s work can be found here) went into deep cover to find out what kind of wives and girlfriends your favourite Jays are pulling in. — full article at mopupduty.com

Best Blue Jays Pics of '09

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:51:28 +0000

	So there’s not too much to write about lately. Well maybe there is but I don’t feel like it. And can you blame me? The most riveting Jays news is the impending shut down of some young starting pitchers. Around the game playoff races are heating up but aren’t hot just yet. I feel miserable that ... — full article at mopupduty.com

Adam Loewen Heating Up

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 15:03:08 +0000

	At the end of May this season I wrote about the struggling Adam Loewen. Well Jays fans, it looks like things are starting to turn around for him! — full article at mopupduty.com