2006 Blue Jays Thread

[Resolute 14]

You expect the manager to say "Well, he's trying, but he just isnt doing well enough out there?"

Hill is playing good defence, but not great.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

You expect the manager to say "Well, he's trying, but he just isnt doing well enough out there?"

Hill is playing good defence, but not great.

Yes, from the games I have watched I also agree he has played good defense.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by flambers

Yes, from the games I have watched I also agree he has played good defense.

When you're hitting .182 you better be playing some extremely outstanding defence. No team can afford a dog of a bat like that in it's lineup. Since his initial hot streak when he first hit he majors Hill has shown next to nothing offensively. He doesn't hit for power, he doesn't drive in a lot of runs, he doesn't walk much, and he looks like not much more than a 270-280 hitter to me at best. Which is good enough to platoon at second with Adams.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

When you're hitting .182 you better be playing some extremely outstanding defence. No team can afford a dog of a bat like that in it's lineup. Since his initial hot streak when he first hit he majors Hill has shown next to nothing offensively. He doesn't hit for power, he doesn't drive in a lot of runs, he doesn't walk much, and he looks like not much more than a 270-280 hitter to me at best. Which is good enough to platoon at second with Adams.

Its way too early to panic about his hitting, the Jays will give him time to work his way out of it.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by flambers

Its way too early to panic about his hitting, the Jays will give him time to work his way out of it.

Yup look at Alex Rios. Franlky the Toronto media was on a hard core campaign to run him out of town last year because of his lack of power. Never mind the fact that the dude is a 5 tool player with huge upside - let's get rid of him because he doesn't have enough dingers.

Now this year he suddenly has added that power (HUGE homer last night) and the Toronto media isn't saying boo about being wrong.

The point is - patience with these type of young players will pay off.

[CaramonLS]

To be fair... Aaron Hill is starting at the Major league level this season at a position he has never played before (he was groomed as a SS).

FYI it might not look like it, but since we did have Orlando Hudson who is the best fielding 2B in MLB, Hill is going to pale in comparison at least for now.

I think his defense is at the very least above league average so far this season at his position.

Russ Adams however... is the worst starting shortstop in MLB (defensively). He was ranked as such last year by some of the people who crunch defensive numbers of balls in play and such like that. He isn't doing much better, if at all, this season.

Derek Jeter according to the stats junkies is a below average shortstop. That Gold glove he won last year is a complete joke.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Yup look at Alex Rios. Franlky the Toronto media was on a hard core campaign to run him out of town last year because of his lack of power. Never mind the fact that the dude is a 5 tool player with huge upside - let's get rid of him because he doesn't have enough dingers.

Now this year he suddenly has added that power (HUGE homer last night) and the Toronto media isn't saying boo about being wrong.

The point is - patience with these type of young players will pay off.

that's why those hacks are writing articles, not managing ball teams (thank goodness!) Seeing Vernon Wells do this good so early is also encouraging. Different off season routine this year maybe? He usually takes 2 months to get going.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by habernac

that's why those hacks are writing articles, not managing ball teams (thank goodness!) Seeing Vernon Wells do this good so early is also encouraging. Different off season routine this year maybe? He usually takes 2 months to get going.

I believe he also made a change to his batting stance. Both him and Rios I believe. Though I can't tell by watching, I've heard it mentioned on the broadcasts.

[Sylvanfan]

All I'm saying is that the Jays went out and beefed up their lineup with the likes of Glaus, Overbay etc. The result is that the team has a pretty good lineup. But the weakness is the middle infield, and neither Hill nor Adams is providing outstanding offence or defence at those positions. Contending teams are usually getting one or the other out of those two positions.

In the case of Rios its not like the Jays handed him the starting RF job this year. They had a lot of bodies to compete for those spots and Rios has stepped up and seized it. Rios was a plattoon guy for a lot of the year last year too. Also very different is last year and this year where the Jays were just trying to field a team and get some young guys used to the major leagues. This years team has spent the money, and stated that they want to contend.

I say Adams and Hill should platton at 2nd base and that a defensive ace shortstop be brought in. Play the shortstop for 130-135 games and let Adams and Hill split second base. That way Adams and Hill would both get around 100 or so full games of action and 400 plus plate appearances but the Jays would still get good defence from the short stop position. Something they ain't getting with Adams.

As usual I disagree 100% with Flambers......Whats new?

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

As usual I disagree 100% with Flambers......Whats new?

What ever, I guess I am in the camp saying the Jays do not need to go find another 2nd or SS. I think the McDonald / Hill / Adams Combo is fine.

Personally I do not see it as a problem at all. MacDonald is a great defensive player at 2nd or SS. He will play when Adams or Hill have problems.

[troutman]

Towers is now 0-7. Send the bum to Syracuse!

[flambers]

Originally Posted by troutman

Towers is now 0-7. Send the bum to Syracuse!

When AJ is activated and ready I would guess Jannsen will stay and Towers will get demoted.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by troutman

Towers is now 0-7. Send the bum to Syracuse!

or at least put him in the bullpen. Brutal.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by habernac

or at least put him in the bullpen. Brutal.

Or put him in a rocket and shoot him into the centre of the sun?

[AaronSJ]

I think the scary part is that yesterday was probably Josh's best outing of the season, and yet he was still pulled after 4 innings (albeit after a bad 4th inning). Actually a bit of a questionable call by Gibbons, given that his first three innings were pretty good...

I wouldn't give up on Towers yet. I think he's capable of being an effective #4 or #5 starter... and he was probably the Jays best starter in the 2nd half of last season, and maybe there's hope he can turn it around later this year. But for now, I think he's lost the confidence of Gibbons and is probably best suited for long relief.

The Jays have some good young arms in the system -- Francisco Rosario is a logical candidate to start in Towers place, but there are three other options in Syracuse that may be ready for a shot too (Purcey, Banks, and Taubenheim)...

[flambers]

Originally Posted by AaronSJ

I think the scary part is that yesterday was probably Josh's best outing of the season, and yet he was still pulled after 4 innings (albeit after a bad 4th inning). Actually a bit of a questionable call by Gibbons, given that his first three innings were pretty good...

I wouldn't give up on Towers yet. I think he's capable of being an effective #4 or #5 starter... and he was probably the Jays best starter in the 2nd half of last season, and maybe there's hope he can turn it around later this year. But for now, I think he's lost the confidence of Gibbons and is probably best suited for long relief.

The Jays have some good young arms in the system -- Francisco Rosario is a logical candidate to start in Towers place, but there are three other options in Syracuse that may be ready for a shot too (Purcey, Banks, and Taubenheim)...

Plus AJ Burnett is due to be taken off the DL any day.

[AaronSJ]

I highly doubt it - I don't think we'll see Burnett before July. A.J. hasn't even started throwing and has hinted at his recovery time being at least two months (from April 21st). He took 62 days to recover from similar symptoms in 2004. Furthermore, both Gibbons and Ricciardi have consistently talked about the importance of having him healthy in the long-term while avoiding questions about his short-term status. Reading between the lines, that tells me he won't be around anytime soon.

"When will he be back? On Friday night, a downcast Burnett talked about his most recent elbow injury and compared it to the first post-surgery setback in 2004. He emphasized that he would like to take his time and set a more careful pace on his rehabilitation. In '04, it took him 62 days to return to the active ranks, so mid-July might be a reasonable prediction." Toronto Star, April 25th.

"I have no timetable. I wish I could tell you, but I can't. We're going to rest it, and we're going to rest it, and we're going to rest it. When I pick it up, we're going to pick it up slow." A.J. Burnett, April 27th

[CaramonLS]

Even worse news for the Jays today:

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/news_story/?ID=165508&hubname=mlb

Chacin came off the mound after arguably his worst performance in MLB saying that he felt sore and is going in for an MRI... this isn't looking good at all.

[flames_1987]

In good news, the Jays won again today the offense was again just on fire and Lilly pitched a good game

[flambers]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

In good news, the Jays won again today the offense was again just on fire and Lilly pitched a good game

In other news Jason Fraser gets recalled and Dustin McGowan gets sent back to AAA.

Glaus has his third multiple Homerun game of the season. With 12 HR already he has been a great pickup

Zaun hits another HR.... the guy has not played allot but he is hitting really strong. At the Catcher position combining the stats of Zaun and Molina they have 8HR and 21 RBI's.