The Blue Jays Thread: 08/09 Off-Season Thread - Page 10 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

flambers · 02-11-2009, 03:54 PM

An interesting article..

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news...=.jsp&c_id=tor

"Prospects to watch

J.P. Arencibia: Between tours with Class A Dunedin and Double-A New Hampshire last season, Arencibia hit .298 with 27 homers and 105 RBIs. Considered the catcher of the future for the Jays, the 23-year-old Arencibia -- the 21st overall pick in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft -- will likely open the season with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Brett Cecil: Cecil -- selected by the Jays with the 38th overall pick in the 2007 Draft -- is the top candidate for a rotation job among the prospects being considered. The 22-year-old left-hander, who features a plus slider, has gone 9-5 with a 2.41 ERA across four Minor League levels in his two professional seasons. Cecil went 8-5 with a 2.88 ERA between stints with Dunedin, New Hampshire and Triple-A Syracuse in '08.

Brian Jeroloman: The Jays will strongly consider Barrett and Chavez for their backup catching role, but the club isn't ruling out Jeroloman. The 23-year-old, who was a sixth-round selection in the 2006 Draft, is considered the top defensive catcher in Toronto's farm system. Last season he hit .252 with six homers, 36 RBIs and a .369 on-base percentage between Double-A and Triple-A.

Brad Mills: Like Cecil, Mills has enjoyed a quick climb through the Minor Leagues. The 24-year-old left-hander, who features a deceptive delivery, was selected by Toronto in the fourth round of the 2007 Draft. In two seasons within the Jays' system, Mills has gone 15-5 with a 1.96 ERA across four levels. Last year, he went 13-5 with a 1.95 ERA with stops at Class A Lansing, Dunedin and New Hampshire.

Ricky Romero: Romero, 24, has had a gradual climb up the organizational ladder since being taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2005 Draft. Over the past four seasons, the lefty has posted a 12-14 record with a 4.34 ERA -- finally reaching Triple-A in '08. Between stints with New Hampshire and Syracuse last year, Romero went 8-8 with a 4.55 ERA over 164 1/3 innings. "

nik- · 02-20-2009, 10:23 AM

Tickets for single games went up for sale today FYI.

I got my tickets for my trip out east this summer, can't wait. Haven't seen the Jays play live in like 15 years.

ShaolinFlame · 02-20-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Sherman also learned that the Jays tried to trade Vernon Wells this winter. Wells is owed $100MM over the next six seasons, and has a full no-trade clause. He hired a personal trainer who will shadow him this season in an attempt to keep him healthy.

Via MLBTR (On Feb 16)

Interesting...

Gozer · 02-20-2009, 01:44 PM

I'm glad we checked around.

If we could've landed a top flight SS or a top of the rotation picther for him then we could trot out Lind-Rios-Snider (albeit that's a defensive downgrade from last year), but I don't think he has the trade value to make that happen (and evidently he doesn't)

Gozer · 02-23-2009, 01:50 PM

Vernon Wells, MRI, sigh.

Pagal4321 · 02-23-2009, 02:03 PM

Ahhh the hilarity of it all.

Gozer · 02-23-2009, 02:13 PM

JP: Wells out a month.

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news...=.jsp&c_id=tor

Gozer · 02-23-2009, 02:45 PM

Oh my sweet heaven.

Tao:
Snappy notes that the injury has created some usefulness for José Bautista, who will get time in centre while Vernon recovers. Snider will play in both left and right, and Vernon might DH to start the season.

They couldn't wait until freaking spring training to crush any remnants of 'I can't pay my mortgage, just got laid off, and have two kids on the way BUT I voted for Obama' type hope for this season!?

ShaolinFlame · 02-23-2009, 04:21 PM

Jose freaking Bautista in center field... So much for 'at least we're strong up the middle'

And with a Hammy, who knows how long he'll be DHing and/or not playing a defensively superb CF.

If Rios or Snider craps the bed in the first month, the Jays will really be in trouble. Even worse, Wilkerson is off the market!!!

Someone not named Roy Halladay needs to step up in a really big way if this team is to have any chance.

Oh and by they way, I have heard that this Manny Ramirez character plays in the outfield, and could be a slight improvement on Mr Bautista.

GirlySports · 02-24-2009, 01:15 AM

Have the Jays ever lost 100 games? Other than their first year or two?

They'll lose over 100 this year

Sylvanfan · 02-24-2009, 08:30 AM

I think the Blue Jays are going to be so bad they make the economy look good. Roy Halladay will get to win 20 games for a 70 win team.

Jason14h · 02-24-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

I think the Blue Jays are going to be so bad they make the economy look good. Roy Halladay will get to win 20 games for a 70 win team.

Roy Halladay will not finish this season on the Toronto Blue Jays

JayP · 02-24-2009, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gozer

Oh my sweet heaven.

Tao:
Snappy notes that the injury has created some usefulness for José Bautista, who will get time in centre while Vernon recovers. Snider will play in both left and right, and Vernon might DH to start the season.

They couldn't wait until freaking spring training to crush any remnants of 'I can't pay my mortgage, just got laid off, and have two kids on the way BUT I voted for Obama' type hope for this season!?

Why isn't Rios just moved to centre? He's already a much superior centrefielder than Wells and should be there anyways.

After re-reading the article this could be a blessing in disguise. Rios should be playing CF for this team. It doesn't sound like Wells will miss any of the regular season - he'll only have to DH, which is where he helps the team the most with his declining fielding skills.

flambers · 02-24-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayP

Why isn't Rios just moved to centre? He's already a much superior centrefielder than Wells and should be there anyways.

After re-reading the article this could be a blessing in disguise. Rios should be playing CF for this team. It doesn't sound like Wells will miss any of the regular season - he'll only have to DH, which is where he helps the team the most with his declining fielding skills.

Remember this is spring training, Jays are likely looking to find a backup outfielder in case of injuries. Personally I think its a great idea to play José Bautista in the field. It will be interesting to see how he performs in spring training.

If this was the season openner there is no question that Rios would be the Centre Fielder IMO (assuming Wells was hurt).

Gozer · 02-24-2009, 09:13 AM

Maybe this is the time to slide Rios into centre full time (backed up by Inglett if Wells is out). Wells is pulling up lame too often to have such a demanding position when he isn't even our best CF (IMO).

If Snider and his cannon can hold down RF and we'd have Wells in LF then that's a stellar (at least above average) defensive outfield.

zukes · 02-24-2009, 09:53 AM

Just trade Wells to the Yankees now and get it over with. They need a CF, we could use the space to sign a pitcher next year. This year is a write off, build for 2010. Get rid of the albatross contract.

flambers · 02-24-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zukes

Just trade Wells to the Yankees now and get it over with. They need a CF, we could use the space to sign a pitcher next year. This year is a write off, build for 2010. Get rid of the albatross contract.

Good luck with that, Wells has minimal trade value and with a contract as large as his... Jays will get no takers IMO.

Gozer · 02-24-2009, 10:29 AM

From MLBastian http://mlbastian.mlblogs.com/

Cito:

If Opening Day were today, the lineup would look something like this:
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B (L)
6. Scott Rolen, 3B
7. Adam Lind, DH (L)
8. Rod Barajas, C
9. Travis Snider, LF (L)

Gozer: Higher than I would have thought for Rolen. I suppose he is a veteran in there that should excel at situational hitting and working the count. As long as he's healthy that works. The bottom of the order is a HUGE upgrade over last years clusterfudge of Mencherson Zaun and whomever else. Cito likes protecting Snider at 9th, I assume that is partly gamesmanship against a pitcher that expects to relax against an unknown bottom-of-the-order guy. (It can't be that he's a rookie and just not that good. Can't be)

Cito mentioned he might flip Lind and Overbay, but I propose an alternative.
1. Lyle Overbay, 1B (L)
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH (L)
6. Scott Rolen, 3B
7. Marco Scutaro, SS
8. Travis Snider, LF (L)
9. Rod Barajas, C

Overbay leads off working the count with doubles power.
Hill is a no-brainer at #2.
Best three hitters in the heart of the order.
Rolen and Scoots can dirtbag and grind with base stealers in scoring position.
The Great White Pasty Hope and Rod the Bod can combine for 1hr and 7ks per game and our power strokes are behind non base-stealers. Rod's perfect at #9 swinigng for the fences as a lefty masher between two quailty LH batsmen. Snider is still not in a pressure spot.

RedHot25 · 02-24-2009, 05:11 PM

Wells is out only for 2 weeks now apparently: http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=268463&l...s=topStory_mlb

Toronto Blue Jays centre-fielder Vernon Wells expects to miss two weeks after an MRI showed he re-injured the left hamstring that kept him on the disabled list for a month late last season.

....

Wells said the worst-case scenario would limit him to starting as designated hitter when the regular season begins April 6 against the Detroit Tigers.

ShaolinFlame · 02-25-2009, 03:11 PM

Jays lose 6-1 in Duneden to the Yanks.

http://www.tsn.ca/ctvnews/?id=268585

'What did you have for breakfast A-Roid?'