2014 Blue Jays Regular Season Thread

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Hoffman sounds like an interesting pick. A possible #1 overall pick earlier this season, 6-4 tall and can get his fastball to 98 mph, has 3 good pitches. But he had Tommy John surgery and his stock fell. If he can heal properly the Jays might have a steal, and a great pitching prospect. He certainly doesn't lack in confidence:

“The competitor in me makes it hard for me to see, maybe, a bunch of guys get picked ahead of me — guys that I know aren’t better than me, some guys out of high school that don’t really understand the game of baseball yet,” Hoffman said last week. “It’s going to be tough if I fall a little further. But everything happens for a reason, and whatever team takes the so-called risk and drafts me is going to get the best player in the draft.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/sp...gery.html?_r=1

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Jays have a 96.7% chance of making the playoffs: http://www.sportsclubstats.com/MLB/A.../BlueJays.html

Last year at this time it was 0.15%. The 11-game streak only got it as high as 14.1%.

[puffnstuff]

Jays had 74 wins last season, they already have half that number (37) so far this season.

The more you know...

[ignite09]

So what's the average developement time from draft day to starting line up in baseball, four years?

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by ignite09

So what's the average developement time from draft day to starting line up in baseball, four years?

From last year, only 1 guy is in the majors, and from 2 years ago only 4. It takes time.

Hoffman if he recovers from TJ, he'll likely be in the majors in 2017 because of the quality of his stuff.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Hoffman told reporters on a conference call that the experience of getting selected ninth overall exceeded his expectations.

“It still really hasn’t hit me right now, but when it all happened it took my breath away,” he said, after celebrating with family, friends and coaches. “I really didn’t know what to think at all.”

“They’re an organization that’s up and coming and they’re ready to win and they’re ready to win now,” he said. “My feeling on that is as soon as I can, as soon as I’m back on the mound, I’m going to get as far as I can and try to make an impact as soon as possible on that team.”

Hoffman describes himself as a pitcher who’s “going to pound the fastball in there until the other team proves they can hit it.” If and when he signs, he’d rehab in Florida in the hopes of getting his pro career started in a year or so.

As for the injury, Hoffman says he’s “feeling absolutely phenomenal” and has resumed some activity such as riding a stationary bike.

“I’m looking forward to getting something done and as soon as the Blue Jays are ready, me and my family are going to sit down and we’re going to try and get something done as soon as possible,” he said.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...n-first-round/

[Caged Great]

The first 3 picks by the jays were all rated to be in the top 18. Can't complain about that. Add in the ability to sign Hoffman under slot, we'll be able to dump the excess on Reid-Foley getting in effect 3 good firsts.

Nothing really to complain about there.

[Zach]

Jays 10 game road trip in early July before the All-star break will be the key point in the season. If they can go 6-4 or 7-3 during that stretch then things should look good.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Zach

Jays 10 game road trip in early July before the All-star break will be the key point in the season. If they can go 6-4 or 7-3 during that stretch then things should look good.

even 4-6 or 5-5 would be great. That's a hell of a road trip.

[browna]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

even 4-6 or 5-5 would be great. That's a hell of a road trip.

And Ted Rogers' ghost better be cracking open the cheque book around that same time for the July 31 trade deadline.

No matter how things look now, all teams who want to take a shot at Fall baseball need to bolster the depth on the bench, and in the pen, and ideally get a pure veteran leader rental at some position, nevermind any injury replacements or positional needs (which the pen looks to be, save Janssen, right now), to hopefully both make the playoffs and win a round or two.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by ignite09

So what's the average developement time from draft day to starting line up in baseball, four years?

Depends on the player and where they were drafted from (Prep players take longer then NCAA guys usually). For prep guys you should expect 5-6 years (Rookie League -> Short Season -> lo-A -> hi-A -> AA -> AAA. Generally AA is the lowest level a team will allow a guy to proceed to MLB from.

IMO: That was an excellent first day at the draft for the Blue Jays. They'll save a ton of slot allotment on Hoffman and if he recovers properly they have a potential ace level pitcher, I'm not as high on Pentecost (would have preferred Turner) but still a reasonable pick at 11, and Reid-Foley was a 1st round rated talent that they can probably sign with what they save from the 1st round (although I hope they can clean up his arm action some in development... he'll hurt his elbow before long if he doesn't).

[Caged Great]

Here's something for you. The last time the Jays were 5.5 games up in June was back in 1985. So yeah it's been a while.

[ForeverFlameFan]

I wake up every day in happiness knowing there is a baseball game!

[Caged Great]

The Jays took a 6-5 lefty pitcher, Nick Wells, that touched 93 recently and has a plus secondary pitch. Sign me up.

[Sylvanfan]

With the price that ace pitchers are commanding in the free agency years these days, I would seriously draft nothing but pitching. Hitters like EE, Bautista, Cabrera, Francisco, Lind who play at least 70% of the games are so cheap compared to ace starting pitchers who are starting to go for nearly 1 million per start. Good established hitters cost a lot less and play a lot more for a team than trying to get established top of the rotation caliber pitching.

[Caged Great]

They also took Matt Morgan, a defensively talented catcher that can hit a bit.

[Zach]

Can't see the Jays sweeping the Cards. Gonna be a tough series.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Zach

Can't see the Jays sweeping the Cards. Gonna be a tough series.

I couldn't see the Jays sweeping the Tigers are A's either...

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Zach

Can't see the Jays sweeping the Cards. Gonna be a tough series.

After sweeping the other top AL division teams, I think we can safely say that it's possible... Very possible. Plus, the Cards haven't been doing so hot lately.

[Parallex]

Hmmm... they're taking more prep guys then I'd like so far on day 2. Hope they pick up some more NCAA bats before the day is out.