The Next Big Thing
No word from any of the more reputable outlets, home pages, talking heads. No roster moves. But a Syracuse Blog is reporting that the reason Adam Lind was removed from yesterday’s game was that he has been promoted to the major league club:
Lind, who entered Friday with a .330 batting average, six home runs and 50 RBIs, was removed from the game after the third inning. Toronto had promoted the 24-year-old outfielder.
Kind of odd that what should really be headline-grabbing news is hidden on the second page at the end of some generic quotes from Lind and Jordan DeJong, who don’t mention it directly. But then their manager makes a denial that anything has changed which really sounds that a confirmation that something major has:
We’ve got the same group of players. They may choose to take somebody up there to help out at this point in time, but these guys are here to further their career and create an opportunity somewhere. “That’s something that’s not any different today than it was yesterday.
I’m running with it. (Out of sheer desperation for it to finally be true).
The Mockingbird 
About time! Now will he get a real shot at playing full-time or be relegated to platoon duty. Even if JP isn’t enamored with Lind he should at least give him a chance to up his outgoing trade value.
Congrats on the ‘Albert’ award that you earned over at the Hardball Times. Well deserved.
matthias
June 21, 2008 at 3:29 pm
You figure holding him back this season is to try and swap him for a big LF? I used to think that J.P. still really liked him because he’s pretty much promised the LF job to him next year but now I’m just confused. If they trade Lind for anyone but Jason Bay I might freak out.
Sweet! I hadn’t noticed that. Despite my repeated attempts to restart a feud with him/get him fired/run over his dog, John Brattain continues to be the patron saint of this blog. I’m not sure about his suggestion that someone should snap me up though- maybe he just wants me out of the picture???
halejon
June 21, 2008 at 6:18 pm
If you didn’t read the comment on the Drunks, Sportsnet is reporting that Marcum is on the DL. http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2008/06/21/marcum_out/
Torgen
June 21, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Yeah, Andrews…that really sucks. Too many breaking pitches, perhaps? I wonder if the Jays go to Parrish or Purcey. Well, not really. Parrish on wins and the fact that otherwise nobody will ever sign a minor league deal with us again.
halejon
June 21, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Not related to this post, but relevant to the team considering the current series. This year we’re something like 6-15 against a lefty starter. Now obviously we’re without Thomas and Glaus, but our lineup is so righty heavy that you’d never think we’d be below .500, let alone that much. If we were just 10-11, we’d be two over .500 and just a half game back of the O’s. (Didn’t the O’s beat us with a lefty? Maybe ahead of the O’s.) Are lefties pitching us differently this year, or are we getting the same pitches and not hitting them?
Torgen
June 21, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Don’t forget we also lost Reed and Rios-who-can-hit, too- both of whom killed lefties last year. Anyway, I’ll look into it…
halejon
June 21, 2008 at 10:54 pm
One almost wonders if Lind was called up on someone other than JP’s orders… Freemasons rule the country!
Conspiratorially yours,
Johnny Was
johnny was
June 22, 2008 at 12:30 am
It’s not just about specific players crushing lefties–Eckstein, Stew, and Hill are the only righties with positive platoon splits, and Stew’s aren’t even very good. (And two of them are on the DL.)
Torgen
June 22, 2008 at 1:31 am
<<>>>
Curses … foiled again!! My master plan unmasked!!
Heh … seriously though–I do realize there is always something new to learn when it comes to baseball and it’s difficult to learn from folks who agree with you 100%.
Your dissenting opinions are the sort of feedback I crave–“You suck buddy!” despite its merits as a criticism aren’t really helpful. Your critiques on this blog on the other hand are quite useful.
I may not always agree but I always learn something and that’s huge.
Keep dishin’ the hard stuff–I’m a big boy and I can take my medicine like a man.
If I didn’t write for three outlets plus my radio work I certainly would be up for a feud–it would be a ton of fun but alas time does not permit.
But your heart is in the right place. 😉
Best Regards
John
John Brattain
June 22, 2008 at 6:46 am
Cito sez Lind has the job: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/sports/story.html?id=e9289549-2402-4305-a241-1cd2c37b5f22
Torgen
June 22, 2008 at 12:03 pm
And no mention of a platoon! Somewhere out there, Shaun Green just kicked something soft and fluffy.
halejon
June 22, 2008 at 12:34 pm
What would be the point of a platoon? The righty would probably hit worse against lefties.
Torgen
June 22, 2008 at 12:55 pm
No point at all. But I think the question you’re really asking is “why the hell is Kevin Mench on this team”, right?? Theoretically, he should start hitting lefties eventually, and Lind wasn’t doing so great against them even in AAA. Then there’s Shanny (gives voodoo doll’s ankle a few twists). But yah, it’s a stupid idea. Kind of like giving a huge number of at bats to washed up players while a legitimate prospect with major league experience goes on a rampage in AAA for months.
halejon
June 22, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Can we make Lind the #3 hitter? He’s matched his on base performance from his first stint and added a homer for good measure.
Torgen
June 22, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Haven’t you heard? You only like him because he’s the “next big thing” and hasn’t had (or been given) a chance to really flop this year. It’s way too premature to make him the #3 hitter when he already have…errr…yeah…ok, then.
halejon
June 22, 2008 at 6:35 pm