Toronto Blue Jays 2011
- Thread starter plyrs99
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I heard Alan Ashby say on the radio today, that he thinks Kyle Drabek, right now, is the second best pitcher on the starting staff while Brandon Morrow is the best pitcher. So, he thinks there is no chance Drabek gets sent to Las Vegas when spring training ends.
While Drabek is a virtual lock, Ashby also said Zep is pitching very well. Better and sharper than Jesse Litsch. He did'nt spell it out; but, since Litsch can be optioned, Litsch may start the season down in Las Vegas while Zep sticks with the Jays.
That would create a starting rotation of Romero, Morrow, Cecil, Drabek, Rzepcynski.
Stewart is a lock to get sent to Vegas for more seasoning. Casey Janssen is likely going to go to Vegas too since he has one option left and there's very little breathing space in the bullpen.
I get the feeling AA hopes to convert Jason Frasor, Jon Rauch, Frank Francisco, and Octovio Dotel into class B free agents next year so he can scoop up more round 1A comp draft picks in the 2012 draft.
While Drabek is a virtual lock, Ashby also said Zep is pitching very well. Better and sharper than Jesse Litsch. He did'nt spell it out; but, since Litsch can be optioned, Litsch may start the season down in Las Vegas while Zep sticks with the Jays.
That would create a starting rotation of Romero, Morrow, Cecil, Drabek, Rzepcynski.
Stewart is a lock to get sent to Vegas for more seasoning. Casey Janssen is likely going to go to Vegas too since he has one option left and there's very little breathing space in the bullpen.
I get the feeling AA hopes to convert Jason Frasor, Jon Rauch, Frank Francisco, and Octovio Dotel into class B free agents next year so he can scoop up more round 1A comp draft picks in the 2012 draft.
Of course way too early to panic! I'm not worried about starting pitching or the bullpen - that should be a real strength.
It's the batting line-up that I'm not sure about, and possibly defence given the number of errors made. So many of them seem to be swinging at the first pitch and getting themselves out in 4 pitch innings, quite depressing watching it on mlb.com.
It's the batting line-up that I'm not sure about, and possibly defence given the number of errors made. So many of them seem to be swinging at the first pitch and getting themselves out in 4 pitch innings, quite depressing watching it on mlb.com.
It's only preseason but I can't say I'm overly impressed with the offense (5 runs in 4 games so far). In fact that is deplorable for spring training, where its usually the pitchers that struggle. I like AA but giving Bautista that big a contract was not wise. Expect a correction in his stats this season.
The guy I'm curious about is Kyle Drabek. Some are projecting him for ROY.
The guy I'm curious about is Kyle Drabek. Some are projecting him for ROY.
Another Cuban is likely going to be declared a free agent in the next month or so.
Outfielder Leonys Martin batted .326 with a .492 on base percent in Cuba's top league in the 08/09 season.
He's been living in Mexico for a few months trying to establish residency.
He's expected to go for a bit more than what Hechavaria got from the Jays. Maybe 4 years , 12 million or so.
His strength is his speed and defence. Seems like an Anthony Gose type of guy who can also hit.
Apparently Alex Anthopoulos and Tony Lacava have disappeared somewhere and it's rumoured they are on some classified scouting mission.
Martin has been working out for scouts in Mexico while his status gets resolved.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=10253
http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/02/t...-sign-cuban-defector-leonys-martin/#more-6245
Outfielder Leonys Martin batted .326 with a .492 on base percent in Cuba's top league in the 08/09 season.
He's been living in Mexico for a few months trying to establish residency.
He's expected to go for a bit more than what Hechavaria got from the Jays. Maybe 4 years , 12 million or so.
His strength is his speed and defence. Seems like an Anthony Gose type of guy who can also hit.
Apparently Alex Anthopoulos and Tony Lacava have disappeared somewhere and it's rumoured they are on some classified scouting mission.
Martin has been working out for scouts in Mexico while his status gets resolved.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/?p=10253
http://jaysjournal.com/2011/03/02/t...-sign-cuban-defector-leonys-martin/#more-6245
Just wondering, what ever became of Magowan and Richmond? I know they were both injured, but that was a couple of years ago.
Both in spring training this year trying to come back.Just wondering, what ever became of Magowan and Richmond? I know they were both injured, but that was a couple of years ago.
McGowan says he's fully recovered.Just wondering, what ever became of Magowan and Richmond? I know they were both injured, but that was a couple of years ago.
Richmond pitched yesterday (?) poorly. Gave up 3 runs I believe.
McGowan is a long, long way away from fully recovered.McGowan says he's fully recovered.
His type of injuries (torn labrum in July 2008 and then a torn rotator cuff added on for good measure in July 2010) are together usually fatal for pitchers and 90% retire from baseball after 3 years or so of trying to come back.
He'll be doing really well if he pitches in MLB by June 2011.
http://www.torontosun.com/sports/baseball/2011/03/03/17486896.html
The guy who is generating the most buzz in camp has got to be Brett Lawrie with the way he's played. His fielding at the new position, 3rd base, has been excellent and he's raking the ball really good too, batting .400 so far.
I've got a good feeling about Brett Lawrie. He could be the best 3rd baseman in the history of the franchise.
Outfielder Eric Thames has also impressed and he's got a chance to be on the team some time this year assuming AA is able to trade away the contract of Juan Rivera. Among the hitters Yunel Escobar is also smacking the ball with a lot of confidence this spring.
On the other side, J.P. Arencibia, if you exclude his MLB debut game only has 2 hits in his last 48 at bats. I've got the feeling 'the book' has been written about how to get him out and it's up to him to counter adapt to that.
If he can't and he's batting .150 at the end of May there's a good chance he gets sent back to Las Vegas and Bryan Jeroloman takes his spot.
As for pitchers, Mike Wilner thinks the top 4 spots are Romero, Morrow, Cecil, Litsch.
Drabek may get sent down to Las Vegas for the first month of the season so that the team can own his rights till the end of the 2017 season instead of the 2016 season.
Romero was very sharp today and Zach Stewart struck out 5 batters in pitching the final 2 innings of the game.
Stewart had an era of about 2.25 in July, August, Sept last year.
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=tor
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2011_03_06_tormlb_pitmlb_1
I've got a good feeling about Brett Lawrie. He could be the best 3rd baseman in the history of the franchise.
Outfielder Eric Thames has also impressed and he's got a chance to be on the team some time this year assuming AA is able to trade away the contract of Juan Rivera. Among the hitters Yunel Escobar is also smacking the ball with a lot of confidence this spring.
On the other side, J.P. Arencibia, if you exclude his MLB debut game only has 2 hits in his last 48 at bats. I've got the feeling 'the book' has been written about how to get him out and it's up to him to counter adapt to that.
If he can't and he's batting .150 at the end of May there's a good chance he gets sent back to Las Vegas and Bryan Jeroloman takes his spot.
As for pitchers, Mike Wilner thinks the top 4 spots are Romero, Morrow, Cecil, Litsch.
Drabek may get sent down to Las Vegas for the first month of the season so that the team can own his rights till the end of the 2017 season instead of the 2016 season.
Romero was very sharp today and Zach Stewart struck out 5 batters in pitching the final 2 innings of the game.
Stewart had an era of about 2.25 in July, August, Sept last year.
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=tor
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2011_03_06_tormlb_pitmlb_1
Batting numbers are looking a lot better now especially for Lind, Snider, Rivera and Bautista.It's only preseason but I can't say I'm overly impressed with the offense (5 runs in 4 games so far). In fact that is deplorable for spring training, where its usually the pitchers that struggle. I like AA but giving Bautista that big a contract was not wise. Expect a correction in his stats this season.
The guy I'm curious about is Kyle Drabek. Some are projecting him for ROY.
Some of the pitching staff haven't, as yet, performed as I'd expected - particularly Romero and Litsch. Makes the task of deciding who goes down that much easier I suppose. Not that I'm suggesting these two to go down!
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I don't know what's gonna happen with the Blue Jays this year, but I've got tickets for the home opener and I am pumped for this season!
Bet on this: Barring injuries, Travis Snider is gonna break out this year. 30+ HR, 100+ RBI's, book it.
Cito's not around to jerk with his playing time anymore and he'll thrive.
Bet on this: Barring injuries, Travis Snider is gonna break out this year. 30+ HR, 100+ RBI's, book it.
Cito's not around to jerk with his playing time anymore and he'll thrive.
I'd take that bet. Let's say Travis plays 150 games. That's a full season, with occasional days off to rest, but no real injury time.I don't know what's gonna happen with the Blue Jays this year, but I've got tickets for the home opener and I am pumped for this season!
Bet on this: Barring injuries, Travis Snider is gonna break out this year. 30+ HR, 100+ RBI's, book it.
Cito's not around to jerk with his playing time anymore and he'll thrive.
If he plays 150 games, he will not hit at least 30 home runs, nor will he get to 100 r.b.i.'s.
If I'm wrong on both, I'll donate $100 to a charity that you name. Are you willing to do the same ?
Quote from Ken Rosenthal at Fox Sports:
--
Brett Lawrie, the Blue Jays' rookie third baseman, nearly beat out a routine groundball to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter on Saturday. After the play, Jeter looked over to Rodriguez at third as if to say, “Who the heck was that?”
The Jays recently clocked Lawrie at 4.12 seconds going home to first from the right side. That time is exceptionally quick, Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield said, considering that, “Power guys don't get out of the box that well.”
Lawrie, 21, is batting .324/.361/.559 this spring, and Butterfield said his transition from second to third base is proceeding, “quicker than you think.” The Jays could send him to the minors to further refine his defense, and to prevent him from becoming eligible for a fourth year of arbitration. But if they keep Lawrie, Jose Bautista could play his preferred position, right field.
“I'm going to go down swinging,” Lawrie said. “I've worked my ass off all spring to get where I'm at right now. I'm just trying to make the decision as tough as possible.”
Lawrie, 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, led the Double-A Southern League with 16 triples and 250 total bases last season despite being the second-youngest player in the league. He said he runs out even routine groundballs because, “I don't take things lightly if I screw them up.”
The kid does not lack confidence, that's for sure.
Told Jeter looked surprised the play at first was close, Lawrie replied, “I was safe. The first-base coach thought I was safe. The umpire doesn't really have his head on straight. I guess it's spring training for him, too. But I got there.” "
----
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Alex-Rodriguez-looks-ready-for-another-huge-season-031911
--
Brett Lawrie, the Blue Jays' rookie third baseman, nearly beat out a routine groundball to Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter on Saturday. After the play, Jeter looked over to Rodriguez at third as if to say, “Who the heck was that?”
The Jays recently clocked Lawrie at 4.12 seconds going home to first from the right side. That time is exceptionally quick, Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield said, considering that, “Power guys don't get out of the box that well.”
Lawrie, 21, is batting .324/.361/.559 this spring, and Butterfield said his transition from second to third base is proceeding, “quicker than you think.” The Jays could send him to the minors to further refine his defense, and to prevent him from becoming eligible for a fourth year of arbitration. But if they keep Lawrie, Jose Bautista could play his preferred position, right field.
“I'm going to go down swinging,” Lawrie said. “I've worked my ass off all spring to get where I'm at right now. I'm just trying to make the decision as tough as possible.”
Lawrie, 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, led the Double-A Southern League with 16 triples and 250 total bases last season despite being the second-youngest player in the league. He said he runs out even routine groundballs because, “I don't take things lightly if I screw them up.”
The kid does not lack confidence, that's for sure.
Told Jeter looked surprised the play at first was close, Lawrie replied, “I was safe. The first-base coach thought I was safe. The umpire doesn't really have his head on straight. I guess it's spring training for him, too. But I got there.” "
----
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/Alex-Rodriguez-looks-ready-for-another-huge-season-031911
I think the young Mickey Mantle holds the record from home to first.The Jays recently clocked Lawrie at 4.12 seconds going home to first from the right side. That time is exceptionally quick,
You think ?I think the young Mickey Mantle holds the record from home to first.
Think you could document that thought at all, or is this just something you've pulled out of thin air ?
