Official Toronto Blue Jay Thread - Page 14 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Antithesis · 01-07-2006, 04:12 PM

Interesting. At any rate, if that is the case, they've still gotten rid of 40% of it!

And yes, the glass is indeed half-full.

CaramonLS · 01-07-2006, 04:23 PM

This is a garbage trade.

We pay 7 million of the ~12 left on his contract. We get absolutely nothing for him.

We are going to end up paying Hillenbrand 5 Million per season (very likely or higher) in Arb this year, and we could have traded him and actually gotten a decent return (people actually want him on their team).

This is a guy who isn't as good as Koskie is. Koskie WILL put up better numbers than Hillenbrand this season. We are basically paying 8.5 Million for a Hillenbrand this season. That is what this works out to be.

Koskie will have a bounce back year after being injured for most of last season.

Jiggy_12 · 01-11-2006, 04:15 PM

Jays Signed RHP Ben Weber today to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

Link

"Weber went a combined 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 125 games across 2002-03. He went 7-2 with a 2.54 ERA in '02, when the Angels defeated San Francisco in seven games for the club's first World Series title."

Mainly a depth signing, but if Weber regains the form he had with the Angels it could be a valuable move.

Jeez, first Jason Phillips, now Ben Weber...to go with Gustavo Chacin. 3 players who wear big goofy goggles.

flambers · 01-11-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

This is a garbage trade.

We pay 7 million of the ~12 left on his contract. We get absolutely nothing for him.

We are going to end up paying Hillenbrand 5 Million per season (very likely or higher) in Arb this year, and we could have traded him and actually gotten a decent return (people actually want him on their team).

This is a guy who isn't as good as Koskie is. Koskie WILL put up better numbers than Hillenbrand this season. We are basically paying 8.5 Million for a Hillenbrand this season. That is what this works out to be.

Koskie will have a bounce back year after being injured for most of last season.

This is exactly what I thought the Jays would do. Remember Koskie has a had a big problem staying healthly the last few years. I don't believe the Jays could keep a Bench guy with that big of a contract. As for Shea he is the every day DH and will play at first and 3rd but Koskie would not see allot of time. In my view this was a money move it free's up some space if they need a guy later on (i.e. Outfielder).

rockstar · 01-12-2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Jays Signed RHP Ben Weber today to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training.

Link

"Weber went a combined 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 125 games across 2002-03. He went 7-2 with a 2.54 ERA in '02, when the Angels defeated San Francisco in seven games for the club's first World Series title."

Mainly a depth signing, but if Weber regains the form he had with the Angels it could be a valuable move.

Jeez, first Jason Phillips, now Ben Weber...to go with Gustavo Chacin. 3 players who wear big goofy goggles.

How bout Weber's delivery? Guy looks like a robot with some faulty circuitry out there.

I've always been afraid of him and it is for this reason that I hope he doesn't make the team.

Gord Wappel · 01-17-2006, 02:14 PM

I think Koskie had to go.
I say this even though I expect Koskie to have a much better year coming up.
He was brought in last year as a "leader" and he tried to fulfill that role despite the cold bat and the injuries. It would be difficult to do the personality shift required to become an expensive yet not disruptive role player.
Jays eliminate a potential "chemistry" issue and save a few million for what should otherwise be a good spring.

flames_1987 · 01-18-2006, 10:45 AM

Jays re-signed Ted Lilly yesterday 1y/4million. He won't have as much pressure on him this year going into the year as a #2 guy. If he can stay healthy having him in the 4th slot in the rotation is quite a luxury.

The Jays are also suppose to be front runners in the Bengi Molina sweepstakes. I have a mix feelings on the Jays going after this guy, especially if JP ends up overpaying for him

Jiggy_12 · 01-18-2006, 11:58 AM

Benjie Molina is an upgrade over Zaun, and for that I say go for it.

Sign him to a one-year deal. I have no problem with the Jays over-paying for a one year deal if it means we are that much closer to contending this year.

RedHot25 · 01-18-2006, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Benjie Molina is an upgrade over Zaun, and for that I say go for it.

Sign him to a one-year deal. I have no problem with the Jays over-paying for a one year deal if it means we are that much closer to contending this year.

Agreed. Benjie would be a good pick up...can hit, anyways. Zaun tries super hard, but not exactly a #1 guy I would want. GREAT as a #2, though....

CaramonLS · 01-26-2006, 03:56 PM

Molina rumors keep persisting, Buster Olney claiming it is the best fit.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/...e=olney_buster

Oh, Molina might have nice numbers, but look at how terrible he batted vs. RHP last season:

.253/.295/.361 (avg/OBP/slg). Absolutely horrid numbers. He is a career .670 OPS vs. RHP.

He makes up for it by absolutely crushing LHP though:

.393/.430/.648 (1.077 OPS). Awsome numbers, but we wont be facing much at all in the way of lefty pitching in the AL East. Tampa has the most lefties.

Zaun on the other hand batted: .241/.352/.364 for a .715 OPS. vs. Righties. Provides better defense than Molina.

Now, the guy we signed, Jason Phillips would work well in the Platoon with Zaun if he took all the lefty ABs: He had a .270/.353/.472 for a very respectable .825 OPS last season. He also provides very good defense from the catcher position.

Is the very slight upgrade in offense with Molina worth it over the Zaun/Phillips Platoon? I think not. Not worth the rumored ~4 million.

Factor defense in? I think it is at best a wash without Salaries included. With Salaries included, I don't see it as an upgrade at all.

flames_1987 · 01-27-2006, 12:03 PM

I agree, Molina to me does nothing to this team but add salary. With Zaun, Phillips, Quiroz all in the mix I feel confy with our catchers.

Sylvanfan · 01-27-2006, 12:17 PM

More than batting average, fielding pct, and all those other gorgeous numbers that get thrown around, a catchers feel for the game, and ability to call pitches and work with pitchers is the number one thing you want. If your catcher has the trust of his pitchers and a head for the game than thats the most important thing you get in a catcher. It's an intangable quality that can't be measured by stats unless you dig deep into pitchers that the catcher has worked with. I don't know if Molina is an upgrade over Zaun at that part of the game, but thats the aspect of the game I'd want to upgrade if I was looking at a new catcher.

flambers · 02-06-2006, 04:02 PM

Well it looks like its official the Jays have signed Molina.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story.asp?id=153864

This is a move I think the Jays had to make.

JiriHrdina · 02-06-2006, 04:23 PM

^^^I like it. I didn't think it would happen but I like it. Contract doesn't seem bad either. What does this mean for Zaun? Does he back up Molina or do the Jays give that job to Quiroz or that other chump they signed?

flames_1987 · 02-06-2006, 04:36 PM

Was this a move the Jays made because they don't think Quiroz is big league ready? I'd have to say so. Molina/Zaun catching this year would sure solidify the Jays catching position. Phillips and Quiroz on the farm?

Something we haven't had for a while, and that's depth at the catcher position.

Jiggy_12 · 02-06-2006, 07:26 PM

Hmmm, I can't really complain about this deal. He's a pretty solid player.

Zaun won't be too happy though, he finally got a chance to start on a regular basis last year and did a pretty good job.

phiten · 02-10-2006, 12:57 PM

I hereby announce the jays 2006 World Series Champions, Bosox win the Pennant, but the jays offensive depth will come through in October

gotta miss the O-dog and his web gems

flames_1987 · 02-10-2006, 02:05 PM

The 2 gold gloves on Molinas resume sure stick out. 4.5 million is a lot less then I thought the Jays we're going to spend to get him along with it being only a one year deal, it's really not that bad at all.

If this team can stay healthy, it has a chance to do something

moon · 02-10-2006, 05:49 PM

It was a nice move by the Jays and even with as much as I hate the Sox, I still don't see how this team finishes higher than third in the East.

I have them behind the Yankees, Red Sox, Indians, White Sox, Angels, A's and maybe Texas. They still don't have an elite bat, although improved on their good bat quality.

If everything goes right for them I could see them squeezing into the wild card but for me they would need too many guys to have career years for that to happen.

phiten · 02-10-2006, 05:58 PM

As far as I am concered, there deeper than last years version of the white sox's. Hey how many playoffs did they make when Carlos was hitting .320,45hrs,130 rbis. You look at successful teams there built on the rotation (Burnett,Halladay,Chacin) these guys are studs, with McGowan coming up through the mill. Bullpen-BJ Ryan is a stud. and there lineup is deadly. There hard hitting, power pitching is going to take them to the World Series. And believe me I am not biased I am an A's fan