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Monday, May 12, 2008

Griffin: Unhappy Stewart looking like odd Jay out

Look what I can’t do!...Don’t let me do it!

Here is a man in crisis. From a personal standpoint, Stewart needs to play and succeed in order to re-establish his major-league career, if he is to have one more free-agent contract in him.

The hard truth is, it ain’t gonna happen here.

“That’s the hardest thing,” Stewart agreed. “The reality of it is that this role that I’m in, I’m not doing anybody any good right now. I’m not doing the team any good. I’m not doing myself any good. It’s like, what am I going to do next year? Hopefully, I’ll keep working till I find it. They might want to do something else. It might get to the point where they might want to bring in other guys and see what they can do.”

The reality is that an in-season parting of ways might be the best solution for an unhappy Stewart and an impatient, near-panicky Jays management.

Repoz Posted: May 12, 2008 at 08:31 AM | 15 comment(s)
Related News: General, Toronto

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1. Mike Webber Posted: May 12, 2008 at 09:04 AM (#2777569)

Was this written after Wells got hurt? I gotta think Stewart just found his way into the lineup frequently, and if not the should cut him.

2. Dan Szymborski Posted: May 12, 2008 at 09:26 AM (#2777581)

Talk about delusional. Stewart hasn't been an asset to anyone since 2004 - him actually playing is probably the worst thing for his future job prospects.

3. Mike Emeigh Posted: May 12, 2008 at 09:29 AM (#2777585)

Was this written after Wells got hurt?

Yep. Joe Inglett was scheduled to start in LF yesterday, according to the article. Sounds like Stewart could be the next one out the door.

-- MWE

4. Toolsy McClutch Posted: May 12, 2008 at 11:11 AM (#2777658)

Man, Griffin has such an axe to grind, it's impossible to read him. Panicky how? That they're trying different things to win some games? Rather than trotting out the same lineup?

5. MSI Posted: May 12, 2008 at 11:50 AM (#2777691)

Slug over 300 and then we'll talk. Or we'll cut you. Either way, he should be packing his bags and Lind or Coats should be called up.

It's actually funny becuase now two former-A's FA that JP has signed are going to be cut from the team. With Reed's defense and lefty mashing abilities, he would have been better to keep.

6. Cooperstown Schtick Posted: May 12, 2008 at 12:07 PM (#2777702)

Stewart seems like a good, intelligent guy who has a profound self-awareness and view of the big picture that a vast majority of major leaguers don't have. I'm not reading any indignation whatsoever into his remarks.

I hope the guy lands somewhere where he can be happy and productive (at least to the level of which he's capable at this point).

7. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: May 12, 2008 at 12:22 PM (#2777724)

A picture is worth a thousand words. Follow the link just for that.

8. Petunia Posted: May 12, 2008 at 12:38 PM (#2777750)

I mean, he signed a minor-league deal with the Jays in the preseason, and it was mostly a surprise that he even made the team. I don't think he has all that much chance to catch on again with another team, barring a disastrous injury -- but it's pretty telling that the team he IS on has just suffered just the type of disastrous injury that he should be hoping for, and even that hasn't gotten him a steady job.

9. John Northey Posted: May 12, 2008 at 01:11 PM (#2777791)

The problem is he was handed the starting job in LF when Lind was sent down. Since then he has played in every game, starting and playing the entire game in 5 of 6, and is hitting 182-217-273. For the past 4 games he has had 4-6-1-4 PA's and went hitless with 1 walk and 2 GDP's.

Now, that is nowhere near enough of a sample to say he is washed up, but it sure doesn't encourage a manager to keep him in the lineup. Lind was given 6 games where he hit 053-100-053 over 20 PA's before the Jays got sick of him. I guess this means that Wilkerson & Mench have 4 more games to start hitting or else the Jays will go get someone else from the scrap heap.

Yes, JP & Gibbons are in full panic mode.

10. MSI Posted: May 12, 2008 at 01:13 PM (#2777795)

I'm still checking globesports every day to see if JP has been fired yet. Unfortunately, I think I'll have to wait until the end of the year.

11. Paul D - Canada's Endy Chavez! Posted: May 12, 2008 at 02:07 PM (#2777829)

Reed's numbers are very similar to Stewart so far.

12. ...and Toronto selects: Troy Tulowitzki Posted: May 12, 2008 at 06:12 PM (#2778084)

The joke is, coming into the winter and Ricciardi settling for either Stewart or Johnson for '08 line-up. He's got a funny way of trying to contend year in and year out that smart cat.

13. Crispix Attacks Posted: May 12, 2008 at 07:30 PM (#2778146)

I predict they waive Stewart and then sign Carl Everett. And then waive Brad Wilkerson and sign Rondell White. And then waive both of them and trade for Brian Giles and Tony Clark. And then sign Shawn Green. And Terrence Long. And Phil Nevin. And then make a secret deal to sign Ken Griffey Jr. and compensate the Reds for buying him out. And then get caught and have to forfeit several draft picks.

It's important to build for the future, but you also want to take opportunities to win now, with proven commodities.

14. Shut the #### up, Plaschke Posted: May 13, 2008 at 02:15 AM (#2778676)

Reed's numbers are very similar to Stewart so far.

But Reed has excellent "secondary" skills: namely, defense, baserunning and bunting.

With Wells injured, I'd rather have an OF of Lind-Johnson-Rios than whatever the hell they are trotting out there nowadays.

Here's a stat for you: The Jays have played 5 consecutive games without scoring a run off the starting pitcher.

15. Guy LeDouche Posted: May 13, 2008 at 08:49 AM (#2778726)

"Here's a stat for you: The Jays have played 5 consecutive games without scoring a run off the starting pitcher."

That's a fairly negative attitude. We're just trying to get into their bullpen, then we show 'em how we do.

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Monday, May 12, 2008

Griffin: Unhappy Stewart looking like odd Jay out

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