2011 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Maybe his hitting. His defence was an absolute joke.

Hes a natural second basemen converted to third. Its also his first big league series. Cut him some slack, his defense will come with time and experience

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by Wise Gamble

Lawrie what a beauty!!! Jays have a great line up....too bad they're in such a tough division.

The jays are looking like they could be an absolute beast of a team in a year or two. If they go ahead with re alignment and increasing playoff teams we could be seeing some post season baseball pretty soon imo.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Hes a natural second basemen converted to third. Its also his first big league series. Cut him some slack, his defense will come with time and experience

I'm curious to know why he was converted from a 2nd baseman to 3rd? Was it based on the Jays thinking they had more of a need for a 3rd baseman, or was it based on them thinking that Lawrie would be better suited to be a 3rd-baseman? How was his performance at 2nd? Is there any reason to think that the Jays could move him back there if Hill isn't with the team long-term?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by octothorp

I'm curious to know why he was converted from a 2nd baseman to 3rd? Was it based on the Jays thinking they had more of a need for a 3rd baseman, or was it based on them thinking that Lawrie would be better suited to be a 3rd-baseman? How was his performance at 2nd? Is there any reason to think that the Jays could move him back there if Hill isn't with the team long-term?

Actually, Lawrie was a catcher to start, but was terrible defensively.

He was then moved to 2B because that's a fairly easy position to play, but he was terrible there too. So he moved over to 3B because it's a slightly easier position to play and has been there since.

He'll likely have to be moved to LF at some point, but if he gets to even below average defensively at 3B, his bat will more than make up for the bad D.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

He was then moved to 2B because that's a fairly easy position to play

I don't think 2B is all that easy... I'd call it a middling defensive position, less important then SS, CF, and Catcher but more important then any of the corner positions. Third Base suits Lawrie more though he has a good arm and enough range to field the position adaquatly... I'll grant that the glove needs work though. I think he could be an average fielder at the position if he keeps working at it.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Lil Pedro

Hes a natural second basemen converted to third. Its also his first big league series. Cut him some slack, his defense will come with time and experience

No! I expect gold glove material from our Canadian Savior!

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I don't think 2B is all that easy... I'd call it a middling defensive position, less important then SS, CF, and Catcher but more important then any of the corner positions. Third Base suits Lawrie more though he has a good arm and enough range to field the position adaquatly... I'll grant that the glove needs work though. I think he could be an average fielder at the position if he keeps working at it.

IMHO - 4 tiers of defense in baseball

T1 - C / SS (Obvious reasons)
T2 - 2B / CF
T3 - 3B
T4 - Corners / 1B

Reason I would say 2B > 3B - having to throw / move to either side for a DP, and you need a lot of range, but can get away with an average arm.

3B = much less range, more reactionary, but you need a very good throwing arm.

[Glorious #1]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Actually, Lawrie was a catcher to start, but was terrible defensively.

He was then moved to 2B because that's a fairly easy position to play, but he was terrible there too. So he moved over to 3B because it's a slightly easier position to play and has been there since.

He'll likely have to be moved to LF at some point, but if he gets to even below average defensively at 3B, his bat will more than make up for the bad D.

Just curious but have you ever played Baseball? No way is 2B a fairy easy position.

I don't mean to be rude but in the many years I have played I'll admit I've gotten my butt handed to me every time I've tried 2B. I'm a great corners defender at my best, average at my worst. I have major respect for my teammates who play a solid 2B.

So really, I am open to your opinion. What is your argument for 2B being a "fairly easy position."

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Glorious #1

Just curious but have you ever played Baseball? No way is 2B a fairy easy position.

I don't mean to be rude but in the many years I have played I'll admit I've gotten my butt handed to me every time I've tried 2B. I'm a great corners defender at my best, average at my worst. I have major respect for my teammates who play a solid 2B.

So really, I am open to your opinion. What is your argument for 2B being a "fairly easy position."

I've played every position except P, C, 1B. I found 2B to be the easiest for me of the various positions, but I have pretty decent lateral movement from playing in net in both soccer and hockey. My arm's a little erratic over longer distances, so it helped to not have to throw the longer distances (don't like giving the 1B a hard time with digging it out or jumping). I prefer the outfield though because I'm pretty good with routes to the ball and catching it. Plus if I'm off by a few feet, it's not a big deal.

[Sylvanfan]

Second base is important because of the range you have to cover, and the ability to turn the double play. You don't get too many bigger guys playing there, it's generally the smaller quicker guys who can get rid of the ball quickly. lots of LH hitters in the bigs so if you can range far to your right you can take away a lot of hits, and the 6-4-3 double play can turn an inning for a pitcher, and it's the 2B's job to make that turn.

With a guy like Lawrie his meal ticket is his bat so a guy like that gets moved around based on that tier chart until they find a place where he's good enough.

[Cheese]

JAYS PROMOTE ALVAREZ FROM DOUBLE-A

The 21-year-old Alvarez has posted an 8-5 record in 15 games. He has thrown one complete game and has posted a 2.86 ERA on the season. In last five starts in Double-A, he's 4-0 with a 2.20 ERA.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Cheese

JAYS PROMOTE ALVAREZ FROM DOUBLE-A

The 21-year-old Alvarez has posted an 8-5 record in 15 games. He has thrown one complete game and has posted a 2.86 ERA on the season. In last five starts in Double-A, he's 4-0 with a 2.20 ERA.

I saw this last night, who got sent down/released?

[Caged Great]

Ledezma

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Ledezma

right off the 40 man roster, ouch!

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by zukes

I saw this last night, who got sent down/released?

Toronto Blue Jays outrighted Wil Ledezma to Las Vegas 51s.

http://mlb.mlb.com/team/transactions...11&team_id=141

also in there from the other day...

Toronto Blue Jays signed free agent Cuban OF Kenen Bailli.

[Caged Great]

I'm curious to see what Alvarez can bring. Apparently he has a 100 MPH fastball with a plus change up. He doesn't really have a strong 3rd pitch at the moment, so he won't be a starter for long if he can't develop one soon.

[Caged Great]

Canadian RHP Thomas Robson was signed a couple days ago. John Stilson has signed for 500K.

There should be a lot more in the next couple days.

Pitcher

Tyler Beede - 1st round - (High School)
Kevin Comer - 1st Supplemental round - (High School)
Daniel Norris - 2nd round - (High School)
John Stilson - 3rd round - Signed
Anthony Chin - 5th round - (High School)
Anthony DeSclafani - 6th round - ?
Mark Biggs - 8th round - (High School)
Andrew Suarez - 9th round - (High School)
Aaron Garza - 10th round - (High School)
Nicolas Wiper - 14th round - (High School)
Cody Glen - 15th round - (High School) - Apparently has committed to college, not going to sign
Brady Dragmire - 17th round - Signed
Luke Weaver - 19th round - (High School)
Joel Seddon - 20th round - (High School) - Turned down 1 million, likely not to sign
Aaron Nola - 22nd round - (High School)
Jerrick Suiter - 35th round - (High School)
Chris Cox - 39th round - Strange situation as he can hold out and then sign as a free agent with any team. Would take a lot to sign him.
Jake Eliopoulos - 43rd round - (No School)
Charlie Lamar - 49th round - (High School)

1B

Richard Prigatano - 16th round - (High School)
John Coy - 45th round - (College)

SS

Christian Lopes - 7th round - (High School)
K'Shawn Smith - 23rd round - (College)
Austin Nola - 31st round - (College)

3B

Austin Davis - 47th round - (High School)

Outfielders

Dwight Smith - 1st Supplemental round - (High School)
John Norwood - 12th round - (College)
Jacob Wakamatsu - 48th round - (High School)

Signed

Anderson (OF - 1st Round), Musgrove (RHP - 1st round), Gabryszwski (RHP - 2nd round), Stilson (RHP - 3rd Round),
Robson (RHP - 4th round), Burns (SS - 11th round), Dragmire (RHP - 17th round), Berti (2B - 18th round),
Mooney (SS - 21st round), Rollins (LHP - 24th round), Arce (1B 25th round), Atkinson (SS - 26th round),
Lovelace (OF - 27th round), Vega-Rosado (SS - 28th round), Cole (RHP - 29th round), Patterson (1B - 30th round),
Pillar (OF - 32nd round), Champlin (RHP - 33rd Round), Munoz (C - 34th round), Sikula (RHP - 36th round),
Williams (RHP - 37th round), Taylor (RF - 38th round),Baligod (OF - 40th round), Barrett (SS - 41st round),
Davis (LHP - 42nd round) , Broussard (RHP - 44th round), Farrel (RHP - 46th round), Brown (RHP - 50th round)

Unofficially Signed, but have dollar frameworks in place Dean (3B - 13th round),

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I'm curious to see what Alvarez can bring. Apparently he has a 100 MPH fastball with a plus change up. He doesn't really have a strong 3rd pitch at the moment, so he won't be a starter for long if he can't develop one soon.

wont have to wait long..he gets his first start Wednesday against the A's

[Karl]

Ugh...disappointing. Jays having runners at 1st & 3rd with nobody out and no runs scored....

[Caged Great]

Here's something scary to think about. EE has a higher OPS than Lind.