John McDonald, Toronto Blue Jays

Dale and -- on -- patriots Friday Sports Radio WEEI mutt and Bradford and taking your calls right up until 2 o'clock at 617. 7790850. Toll free 8885250850. Verizon cell -- eighties pound WEEI free call emails Galen Holley at WE eEye dot com an episode of another episode of the chapter as the shortstop turns for the Red Sox Alex Gonzales signs in Toronto. Is now teammate. Providence, Rhode Island native John McDonald joins us here ATT hotline AT&T. Your world delivered John Mike and rob.

Morning Oreo. I'm drew prairie yes you John thanks for instance for coming on. The it's a grudge lace and crystal ball and on resigning the new deal and what wanted to -- do you think that that you would be coming back to Toronto.

Yeah I don't know what. Expect -- in the off season I was I was hoping that they're going to be a couple looking disinterested in and I direct I'm in Toronto has formed when the American League east. -- obviously it's it's a tough decision when you're you're one of the three teams not auction in New York. And you're you're up against it every year but it's been it's it's been tremendous especially there from New England can become Bakken play in Boston three times you're gonna go to New York. The be closing in Baltimore -- it's quick trips up to up to draw from -- fan so it's been it's been really nice.

The giants as Mike you referenced we're talking a lot about the shortstop positions both I guess of the Red Sox and blue jays. First we'll talk about a guy that you played with -- school -- freeagent now. He tells a little bit about in my fair and just sing his praises loved by as a reference before -- doctor Brian Butterfield who obviously coaches you guys a lot about him. -- just to get your perspective for what type of player he has.

Is that a tremendous well I'm not gonna let the -- last couple years we came up too -- system together we were. Shortcut -- combo. From like 97. 2000 I think when when he left the organization. And there's a great player back then that didn't get the recognition because he was the second baseman which are subject any place second in the tremendous second baseman Bret. It was weird because we we didn't play well together at the milk. We will do a whole lot of switching around but he didn't get the exposure shortstop in the minor league and he started getting that is in his big league career. And the more and more he was allowed to play over there the better -- become. And I thought it was always very good hitter. The guy at the plate. He's not a big base -- so hidden at the top of the order for -- was was good and bad news because I'm based so much but he wasn't necessarily -- base stealer. So I mean I know a lot of it is now I haven't got the elder at the top of the order when he gets on you'd think in double already. Insistence still second might -- third. He's just been a very solid baseball player over the years and to have a break -- year what you did last -- this first you're really playing every day and he took advantage of.

Joba taken a bunch of phone calls warning for people talking about the playing surface -- Ronnie played on the Turkey played the natural grass can you explain. What if any differences there are defensively trying to make that move from a financial services versus what they haven't Toronto.

You know I I think you know for fuel to -- them Mara and playing on and under wraps his whole career. We put half our games up there on the terror and it is separate address when you -- have -- to play 81 games done on grass and there. Anyway so. That this now like you're gonna change as a player because you're playing mortgage on the tour that doesn't work that waist -- just as many -- elsewhere. If it's. It's a little differently to position yourself little bit different on the -- I don't know how the ball can get through known spots where you you'd think you might go to better angle to the -- slow down a little bit. He's really trust the hops a lot more I think you have to work a little harder than you do get to the draft because you take for granted you're gonna get a lot of good hops on the -- And your first billion. After a long homestand are in the short post and I think we take more ground balls. Just too Big East flops again put it takes you know five minutes into taking ground balls that it -- like you never left the --

And a lot of people moving calling in terms of analyzing school row. They -- well you know he's always done for one year and clearly you've been with them for a long time more than most. How how would you say it is that it's just this -- the case of a guy peaking later in his career into business because he's getting more chance.

I think it's -- it's a combination of -- do you learn over the course of your career. And eat you expect to get better as you get older because you're gonna have much more of an intelligent baseball player -- strikes don't discipline especially Marcos case -- grown. Over the course of his career. His -- were tremendously hard on on. Of the defense but you know I think you already did have a career rusher in what is first your plan. And I think first for any team you'd love to have a player to have three years like that Burrell and then getting them. But that's you know not always the case in in free agency -- at a steady increase in in his playing time in his production. I'm in his overall quality its flashy guy thought he played one of the best shortstop for the first five months this season clear the field on. And for the for the first five -- he was tremendous play in the sense that not only shop on the turf but when when we went on the road as well.

We're talking to John McDonald blue jays shortstop peered Daylon holly -- Bradford in WEEI. We talked about Marco scooter Rahal -- is defensively. Your team signed a pretty good defensive shortstop yesterday alaskans knowledge you've seen a ball John. How would you compare the two are they other similar defensively. All of what are other differences between Gallic Gonzales and it -- scooter.

How while I enjoyed watching I -- like smoke don't let Russia. Outs and impress me a lot. On commodore and I know we've been -- been injured a little bit during the first half of the year and -- you get treated over the possibility. Yeah we play them a couple of times that the vehicle series and I thought he played tremendous in the very similar to how -- played during the course of the year. Have been really watch remarkably shortstop for the last two years and I haven't seen yet. Our whole lot better over those two years. I know out is that these had a tremendous reputation as shortstop his whole career. And I mean I expected nothing less than what I saw from last year but still look impressive how well he played I think he's just been doing it longer. You know what those come on the scene at shortstop in the last couple years so it's tough to compare that you left -- last year you do -- but I haven't remarkably short you know as long as let's not let.

What was it what was he reference to heal injuries that scooter had the end of the year did that really. The -- has his productive this and all are what what was that.

I he -- his plan to fashion a -- foot which is on the patent Tor completely off so. If you would be -- was given a couple weeks of rest he would have been absolutely fine but it just so happened that it happened at September. When we -- out of playoff race so there was. He can -- and then the year -- there was no there was no point in. As Mexicana happy facility Clinton who already have the strength so I -- that would provoke the less he went into retreated to help the and I got to play a little more.

What was your reaction when when you heard I don't know did you just hear about the -- signing yesterday the -- something was in the works before. I know I thought -- okay cars so and soul alike -- before and I'll stand.

But I know that those plan on my body called me yesterday and it is listen -- can get -- throughout --

And that's that's a I didn't want to get I want -- to this footnote the league source the fifth fifth.

So I so would be so when you're about the signed in in Dave mentioned Al Gonzales to the TU. What's your reactions that one of the impetus behind you signing is that a drawing card for you.

Not outlook so do you know -- I look at the whole situation I was looking that had a great have a great time in Toronto. You know I can they -- have gone out try to find it to replace the play but. You know when you don't know what else is out there what other opportunities -- gonna be out there that it's I'm I'm comfortable the people in Toronto or are familiar with me. Now it is just it's been a great situation on the past couple years so. To be able to stay there was nice that's coming on board I've had -- thing. I finally try an endlessly inside the Toronto last size. Signed a multiyear -- she's three years ago and did that science science a month later committed certain -- so nothing -- surprises me anymore. With -- with what to any relation is gonna do I was in China make a ballclub better and if they feel that they're bringing in -- so ballclub stronger than it you know I think that's a positive.

the guy sit next B rob Bradford along with. Al-Qaeda as the afternoon show here Glenn Norton way were huge on that Ronald blue jay bandwagon this year they were -- about your team. Like they had stopped in the blue jays quite frankly you guys got to a great start and it it kind of is you set out of the playoff race September. Can you pinpoint one reason why things didn't click in the second half the -- in the first after your team.

We needed everything to go right for the for the whole season we we -- that has some that we got -- a very good start. Are pitching Lester was thrown -- better than they've donated the year before obviously didn't do about the such -- hot start. We need everything go right and we get -- injuries happen and we had young pitchers any injuries and not even understood the young -- which which we did have but. Injury how wanna say doc got hurt a little bit during the year we had. Let's just switch has no hope. I -- and although it just came right Wii injury after injury and we got a good start and now we did we deplete our staff a little bit a couple of guys get banged up. And then looked little banged up that it's just it's you know kind of went into little downward spiral we routine that could afford had any injuries last year and we had too many.

And you mentioned dark and that's one of things he actually said at the All-Star. Game right before the game in terms of analyzing the blue -- situation whether he's against there weather's gonna go. Can you talk about oh what type of teammate Roy Halladay we know he's a great pitcher -- why would a team say okay you know what this is the guy were -- unload our farm system for. You you've seen him up close war or a similar reasons.

You're not gonna find more prepared player in in the game how much he works on attacking each individual in each individual lineup. A he comes to work every day and he has a plan of what he used to be successful for his next start and that means a workout and a certain day that's what he's doing. Is his mental preparation of going over lineups and hitters. That it's in Becky he never stops working he's not you know going to be the most -- guy you're not gonna sit around and have an hour conversation with a because that's not like in the ballpark. He can evolve quite get himself compared to pitch whether restriction that day or five days from now. And he's very focused on what he's doing I really appreciate the way he plays himself you know there's not even have a good time. What happens now why has no idea it would come of the ballpark -- ballpark so whenever you get the ball in his hands he can dominate your lineup and help team went. And I love that mentality.

Did you see him obviously who's -- like trade rumors with them. And will continue to be this offseason but do you see him as -- like the swing in. Balance of power wherever he goes is -- is -- it wherever he goes is he going to be the guy automatically that puts that team at the head of the class.

I'm gonna put it this way it went. -- if you can view Roy Halladay had a dominant pitcher in baseball and the fact that he has had to -- And now when would -- pitch against the Red Sox and the Yankees spoke. We have we moved around our rotation. Anytime that we can move around rotation the last five years have been in Toronto they've moved it around seductive face threats that communities as many times as you possibly could during the course of the year. That they had to push guys back from the dead ahead. -- and pointer in the field and because yet he's just series against Boston -- and in New York. Where he concludes the first billion -- and and this -- second -- New York. That's and he was -- if you want the ball every time that we faced the best teams he can face Anaheim they're gonna move them around so he can pick the best teams because it gives us the best chance to win. And he's still goes out dominates. And it it paradigm -- We will switch off power I don't see how I can't because he's you not only pitch well against. Every inning every team in baseball but he could very well against New York knee -- be deputized by Tampa. I think this on the bat well against them. -- any -- in his in his routine well glass like you're.

Another any guys' job that you talk about facing the you may put that Halladay category in the American League in terms how dominant he has.

I'd I think god I have flashes of going through it CC sabathia has gone to adopted some stretches where he's just been been dominant. I know I just Beckett has been that way over the course whose career has -- ways been very good but I think. Just watching -- over the last the last five years I haven't seen the consistency really out of out of anybody over that over that time period. On CNET that you don't you know fighting treacherous. But doc seemed to do it. Good game -- game -- and we that your losses. It's you know 213. To 21 enough then it's because we being given the run production that you know -- he deserves sometimes.

Well John we thank you for a taken a few minutes here on the Friday after Thanksgiving and now we know what the rule as Major League Baseball or mcdonalds signs. They'll be another shortstop side very quickly.

You can do it guaranteed that compressors congratulations on the deal while deserved -- And have a great Thanksgiving. And that's job thank you very much appreciate it I mean are areas John McDonald shortstop of the Toronto Blue Jays joining us on the eighteenth -- hotline eighteen teeth. Your world delivered her.