John McDonald

[TigersFanB406]

Do you Jays fans like this guy? I think he is just great and wish the Tigers wouldn't have borrowed him and sent him back to you guys. He doesn't get the media attention of a Wells or Thomas but he is one of my favourite Jays.

Keep up the good work Johnny Mac (except against the Tigers).:clapping

[Chris from NY]

I rave every chance I get about how much I like John McDonald. He hustles everytime he is in the field and i sfantastic defensively. I was unhappy when he was traded to Detroit and, naturally, elated when the Jays reacquired him.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I love the guy. I always admired his humbleness and hard work.

Then I found out he was also the Jays' emergency catcher! :clapping Just amazing...

[PJ-34]

I rave every chance I get about how much I like John McDonald. He hustles everytime he is in the field and i sfantastic defensively. I was unhappy when he was traded to Detroit and, naturally, elated when the Jays reacquired him.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Big_Mac]

i love johnny mac. just love everything about him, he ain't flashy but he always gets it done.

[starkeeper]

Macdonald is the antithesis to Bonds. Bonds represents everything bad about pro athletes and Johnny Mac represents everything good about them.
I think he's great.

[Chris from NY]

Although I wouldn't be complaining if McDonald hit like Bonds on top of all his other characterisitcs.

[Brad Chadford]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Johnny Mac come into the game as a relief pitcher if Gibby REALLY needed him to....

Great thread guys. Maybe it's time some fans in Toronto started a Johnny Mac Fan Section and showed up with pro-Johnny Mac signs. Maybe call it the Mac-Pack?

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Next time me and my friends go down we're gonna make a fan club sign. Not sure who we'll make it to, but Johnny Mac is a definite possibility.

On another note, isn't it wierd that he's called "Johnny Mac" when it's actually McDonald. Hmm...

[PJ-34]

I don't ask those kind of questions...

[Big_Mac]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Johnny Mac come into the game as a relief pitcher if Gibby REALLY needed him to....

did he not pitch once against the yanks? or was the menichino, used to get those two mixed up when they both played together.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Menechino has 1.1 IP over his career. One inning w/ Oakland in '00 and 1/3 inning w/ the Jays in '04. His career ERA is a whopping 27.00.

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

Just thought I'd throw together some of J-Mac's best moments from this year so far:

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=586448&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive07/071907_tornya_mcdonald_throw_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/07/19/tormlb-nyamlb-1&vid=7758&mid=200707192096571&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=584132&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive07/070807_cletor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/07/08/clemlb-tormlb-1&mid=200707082075360&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=575367&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive06/060107_chator_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/06/01/chamlb-tormlb-1&mid=200706011999618&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=571917&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive05/051507_baltor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/05/15/balmlb-tormlb-1&mid=200705151966895&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=566663&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive04/041907_bostor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/04/19/bosmlb-tormlb-1&mid=200704191918887&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

And, la crème de la crème...

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=583919&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive07/070707_cletor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/07/07/clemlb-tormlb-1&mid=200707072073224&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

I love Johnny Mac!!!

[morepepper]

Just thought I'd throw together some of J-Mac's best moments from this year so far:

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=586448&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive07/071907_tornya_mcdonald_throw_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/07/19/tormlb-nyamlb-1&vid=7758&mid=200707192096571&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=584132&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive07/070807_cletor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/07/08/clemlb-tormlb-1&mid=200707082075360&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=575367&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive06/060107_chator_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/06/01/chamlb-tormlb-1&mid=200706011999618&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=571917&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive05/051507_baltor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/05/15/balmlb-tormlb-1&mid=200705151966895&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=566663&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive04/041907_bostor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/04/19/bosmlb-tormlb-1&mid=200704191918887&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

And, la crème de la crème...

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=583919&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive07/070707_cletor_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/07/07/clemlb-tormlb-1&mid=200707072073224&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

I love Johnny Mac!!!

Thanks for those sweet clips. Johnny Mac is the good kind of wicked.

[PJ-34]

Last one is the season best as far as defensive plays goes for the Jays foresure, Vernon Wells hasn't done much defensivly this year. When I say that I mean he hasn't dove for much, he hasn't made the "huge" catch. Nice clips though.

[Big_Mac]

beautiful, thanks for the clips rhp

[PepperMartin]

Johnny Mac is a free agent at the end of this season.

Time to get out the "Sign Johnny Mac" signs!

[TheKingofKings]

Fortunately for the Jays, now that John McDonald is the starting SS, I am sure he will re-sign with Toronto, the only club among 30 that would let him be their starting SS.

[Chris from NY]

Fortunately for the Jays, now that John McDonald is the starting SS, I am sure he will re-sign with Toronto, the only club among 30 that would let him be their starting SS.
How many times have you actually seen McDonald play? did you simply just look at his batting stats and think to yourself "This guy blows, just look at the low amount of HR's he's hit. His batting average isn't good. He obviously isn't capable of being a starting shortstop!"

Maybe there was a little somebody named Omar Vizquel that happened to be playing an average of over 150 games at short for Cleveland when Johnny Mac was trying to make it to the majors.

[TheKingofKings]

Maybe there was a little somebody named Omar Vizquel that happened to be playing an average of over 150 games at short for Cleveland when Johnny Mac was trying to make it to the majors.

It doesn't mean he was good enough to be playing in the MLB, doesn't even mean they wanted him to be on the MLB roster.

Vizquel was probably acquired and subsequently re-signed by the Tribe because of it's lack of talent at the position.

[BoofBonser26]

Vizquel was probably acquired and subsequently re-signed by the Tribe because of it's lack of talent at the position.
Umm...no. Vizquel was acquired and re-signed because he was a Gold-Glove caliber starting shortstop fan favorite.

Jonny Mac is amazing. I wish he were still here in Cleveland.

[Chris from NY]

Plus Vizquel was traded to Cleveland two years before John McDonald was even drafted. And if I'm not mistaken (someone feel free to correct me if I''m wrong) Vizquel was re-signed to a four year contract before the 1996 season, therefore, before McDonald was drafted. After that, I'm pretty sure they kept him around because he was clearly one of the best shortstops in the game.

[SouthPaw77]

Watching Johnny Mac play the game is an absolute treat. The man plays baseball the way it was meant to be played -- with hustle and heart.

Virtually every night, Mac makes two plays that leave you dumbfounded. Even when he commits an error, he finds a way to make it right.

Example -- in a game at Fenway earlier this summer, McDonald couldn't make a play on a ball up the middle which would have had runners on the corners and two outs for the Red Sox. Instead, he picks the ball off the outfield grass, turns and fires to third and picks the runner off for the final out. Unreal. He seems to have that extra sense that Roberto Alomar had. Always thinking ahead and catching runners off-guard.

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- if John McDonald could consistently hit half as well as he defends he'd be an All-Star.

[Ontarioguy]

It seems like every time I watch SportsCentre he's there with some rediculous play from deep in the whole.

[BoofBonser26]

Plus Vizquel was traded to Cleveland two years before John McDonald was even drafted. And if I'm not mistaken (someone feel free to correct me if I''m wrong) Vizquel was re-signed to a four year contract before the 1996 season, therefore, before McDonald was drafted. After that, I'm pretty sure they kept him around because he was clearly one of the best shortstops in the game.
I was a little too young at the time to care about Omar's contract details, but I know that even when it was clear Omar could no longer make the greatest contributions to the team at SS after '04, even GM Shapiro admitted to thinking a little bit like the fans and being tempted to resign Omar because he's...Omar. One of the all-time Indians greats.

[starkeeper]

What a double play by Hill and Johnny Mac in the 8th tonight to save the Jays and Jannsen so far!!

[Richmond Hill Phoenix]

I have nothing to say. Just watch. http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=598380&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive09/091007_tordet_mcdonald_def_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/09/10/tormlb-detmlb-1&mid=200709102200924&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

One more. Again, nothing to say: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl.jsp?w_id=596062&w=mms%3A//a1503.v108692.c10869.g.vm.akamaistream.net/7/1503/10869/v0001/mlb.download.akamai.com/10869/2007/open/tp/archive08/083107_seator_macdonald_rbi3b_tp_350.wmv&pid=mlb_tp&gid=2007/08/31/seamlb-tormlb-1&mid=200708312181551&cid=mlb&fid=mlb_tp400&v=2&mType=w&urlstr=&mUrl=&type=v_free&_mp=1

[Big_Mac]

unbelieveable, i don't know how many times i've said that when speaking of johnny mac this year. wow.

[stryder]

I love the guy. I always admired his humbleness and hard work.

Then I found out he was also the Jays' emergency catcher! :clapping Just amazing...

I'm so thrilled to see John has such a following and all the great things everyone has said about him.

Just a quick note, that "humbleness and hard work" has always been a couple of his best traits for as far back as I can remember. I couldn't be prouder that one of the ELHSers made it so far.

Great job!! ;)

[PJ-34]

Yep, and he not only is in the majors, but has the respect of probably ever baseball fan and player. One of my favourites foresure.