Blue Jays 2010

O

OnTheWayOut

Check the stats from 2008. Marcum had a very solid record. McGowan took a no-hitter into the 7th or 8th when he was healthy.

Can't think of many minor league pitchers who could do that.
Actually the minors have lots of pitchers that can have flashes or even brief periods of brilliance in the bigs. The really good ones can maintain that level.
 

Toronto Passions

Trusted Since 2001!
Supporting Member
All I can say is since expectations are so low the only way they can surprise us is by exceeding them.
Why is it, that teams seem to play the best under these conditions?
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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Why is it, that teams seem to play the best under these conditions?
Recent history has shown them to play well when there is less pressure and then soon as they are out of the race they pick it up. Last year was a bit of an aberration in that they were hot right out of the gate instead of slowly slipping away. But then they hit the skids after about 40 something games when they realised that they were leading the division. They stopped hitting.

If they can't play relaxed this year, they never will.
 

dj1470

Banned
Apr 7, 2005
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Actually I am a Jays fan.
I have had season tix for over 15 years. They were my parents now mine..
But the Jays are in big trouble this year.
Big, big trouble.
To try to sugar coat it is pointless.
Expect the worst and be, hopefully, pleasantly surprised.
But they will be one of the worst this year.
I say the truth - I'm not band wagon jumper I have supported this team for soooooooooooooo long.
And I always will.
But it's going to be very, very, very rough for the foreseeable future.
Must be what it's like for Cubs fans.

That's all he ever posts.
Oh right before I forget............

Shack, you can once again kiss my ass.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,228
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Toronto
Alex Gonzales. Got him from Boston.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
51,228
9,903
113
Toronto
Actually I am a Jays fan.
I have had season tix for over 15 years. They were my parents now mine..
But the Jays are in big trouble this year.
Big, big trouble.
To try to sugar coat it is pointless.
Expect the worst and be, hopefully, pleasantly surprised.
But they will be one of the worst this year.
I say the truth - I'm not band wagon jumper I have supported this team for soooooooooooooo long.
And I always will.
But it's going to be very, very, very rough for the foreseeable future.
Must be what it's like for Cubs fans.



Oh right before I forget............

Shack, you can once again kiss my ass.
Fair assessment for the Jays.

Having said that it is not a stretch to link your Leafs posting history with this latest Jays post and assume it is a standard trend for you in regards to anything Toronto.

Personally, I like to grasp onto the last possible strand of optimism seeing as it is only the very start of spring training. I'll be happy if they are not mathematically eliminated before mid-September.

BTW, thanks for the offer, but sight unseen I will pass on the ass.
 

Captain Fantastic

...Winning
Jun 28, 2008
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How good is he? Can he hit? Can he field?
Terrible hitter. At times very good, but not great defensively - but I'd say not good enough defensively to justify carrying his bat in an already potentially weak hitting lineup.

Here are more advanced stats:

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/G/alex-gonzalez.shtml
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=520&position=SS
http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzaal02.shtml

Have a look at the defensive metrics, win probability and value.
 

Rockslinger

Banned
Apr 24, 2005
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Terrible hitter. At times very good, but not great defensively - but I'd say not good enough defensively to justify carrying his bat in an already potentially weak hitting lineup.
Thanks. Looks like the Jays are weaker at shortstop this year. (If only Johnny Mac could hit .250.)
 

Kilgore Trout

Active member
Oct 18, 2008
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Chad Jenkins, the first pick in last year's draft has impressed in camp.
Daniel Farquhar a reliever from AA New Hampshire has looked good too.



Toronto Sun Article:
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" Seventeen days into training camp, six days into Grapefruit League games, some impressions start to form. Now, in spring training, first impressions can quickly dissolve into false impressions, but there are a handful of players who are turning heads.

Some of those favourable impressions could turn into immediate benefits for the Blue Jays and for the individuals, but most will be banked and cashed down the road. That’s especially so with such a youth-oriented Toronto organization which no doubt will be in constant flux over the next couple of years as talent bubbles to the top of the system.

So, we present a highly subjective list of players who have perhaps been punching above their weight class, at least as far as their pre-camp expectations are concerned:


J.P. Arencibia C
After a disappointing 2009 season, we learned that Arencibia, Toronto’s first pick in 2007, had been dealing with kidney and eye ailments. He lost 30 pounds and suffered from poor night vision, resulting in a .236 batting average. In retrospect, his 21 home runs were a feat.

So far this spring, in full health and having had corrective eye surgery, Arencibia has been impressive, both at the plate and behind it. He has hit a pair of home runs, one of them a game-winner.

Arencibia is destined to go back to Las Vegas this year, with an ETA at the big-league level in 2011.


Chad Jenkins SP

Last year’s first-round draft selection came to camp looking like a five-year veteran.

He has impressed the Blue Jays brass — as well as his teammates — with his ability to throw predominantly strikes with his vicious hard sinker.

A college draft pick, Jenkins expects to start the season in the high-A Florida State League. Given his level of maturity and the impression he is making here, Jenkins could beat a quick path back into a Blue Jays uniform by mid-2011.

Dustin McGowan SP

Even though he is coming off two years of frustrating inactivity because of shoulder and knee injuries, the 27-year-old right-hander has had the best pure stuff in camp and has passed every test without pain.

The Jays are proceeding very carefully, trying to avoid a setback. Tuesday, he will pitch a simulated game against real batters and the next test after that will be to pitch an inning or two in a Grapefruit League game.

His progress could be a key to the composition of the Jays starting rotation and could push Brian Tallet back to the bullpen.

Dan Farquhar RP

After starting at class-A ball last season, Farquhar moved seamlessly into the closer’s role at double-A New Hampshire.

He comes at hitters from three different arm angles with nasty, moving sinkers and a sweeping slider that is almost unhittable by a right-handed hitter.

It’s uncertain if he will start the year at New Hampshire or Las Vegas, but Toronto could be on his itinerary by 2011."
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http://www.torontosun.com/sports/columnists/ken_fidlin/2010/03/07/13147686.html
 

dagwood69

Member
Aug 9, 2009
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theres a big bat out there for the Jays,,,apparently they have talked to him,, Jermaine Dye ,,44hrs 120rbis in 2006 and 29 hrs 85 rbis in 2009,,,how good would he look behind Vernon? and hes a decent fielder as well,,only drawback is age and hes looking for lots of $$$
 

mandrill

Well-known member
Aug 23, 2001
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theres a big bat out there for the Jays,,,apparently they have talked to him,, Jermaine Dye ,,44hrs 120rbis in 2006 and 29 hrs 85 rbis in 2009,,,how good would he look behind Vernon? and hes a decent fielder as well,,only drawback is age and hes looking for lots of $$$
The Jays talking to Dye is a like a Welfare recipient negotiating to buy a Porsche. Unless Jermaine is on the downslide of his career - a la Frank Thomas - and unlikely to make an impact, he is simply to rich in calories for the diet plan.
 

dagwood69

Member
Aug 9, 2009
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The Jays talking to Dye is a like a Welfare recipient negotiating to buy a Porsche. Unless Jermaine is on the downslide of his career - a la Frank Thomas - and unlikely to make an impact, he is simply to rich in calories for the diet plan.
well he still hasnt found a job and he doesnt want to be a bench player like some teams have offered. His best years are probaby in the past but hes still a threat ala Dave Winfield. The Jays are looking at him as a starter. His salary last year was around 1.2M. Hes younger than greybeard Thomas
 

Captain Fantastic

...Winning
Jun 28, 2008
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If the price is right - i.e., one year at $2 million or so plus incremental and achieveable performance bonuses totalling no more than another $3-4 million.

theres a big bat out there for the Jays,,,apparently they have talked to him,, Jermaine Dye ,,44hrs 120rbis in 2006 and 29 hrs 85 rbis in 2009,,,how good would he look behind Vernon? and hes a decent fielder as well,,only drawback is age and hes looking for lots of $$$
Then I agree with what you posit. Except for the "decent fielder" part. He's now a terrible outfielder with limited range but above-average arm.
 

Hurricane Hank

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May 21, 2008
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In a year when the Jays have NO CHANCE of playing .500 ball, why sign Dye? I would be more inclined to give Ruiz or Snyder more at bats. They work for less, and have more upside.

Don't kid yourselves. The Jays pitching is likely to be terrible this year. To have a decent season they need Lind and Hill to be as good as last year (not likely) and Wells to come out of his 2 year coma.

Non hitting SS and 3rd base aren't going to help the cause. I don't see this team winning more than 70.
 
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