2010 Blue Jays Season Thread - Page 4 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

transplant99 · 03-28-2010, 11:47 AM

Gathright shown the door.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=315791

Jason14h · 03-28-2010, 02:43 PM

My theory is Wells was one of 100 guys on a certain list....

Ziggy Lidstrom · 03-29-2010, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gozer

My Vernon Wells theory:

Surrounded by some of the most talented players in the league: Halladay, Burnett, Rios, and others being very technically sound; Halladay, Zaun, Rolen, Overbay - Wells' strengths weren't being accentuated by his team.
He would (I assume) take batting practice with Overbay and Rolen and those two would fight off pitcher's pitchers and hit to the gaps, and then he would take batting practice with Rios and Thomas and they would swing at anything, and Wells (like any other person) absorbed what made them great.

This year, playing with kids who will take pitcher's pitches and mash meatballs - Wells will trend toward that strategy and that will match his skill set much better. More Rene Bourque and less Daymond Langkow.

Even if it's not Wells doing it subconsciously, pitchers will do it for him.
Last year, opposing pitchers were willing to go deep into counts because the team lacked power (a 3-2 meatball is likely just a single) whereas this year an upgrade of power this year will require a pitcher to throw more early fastballs and less breaking balls. Of course there are scouting reports for everyone - but I do think most teams pitch with a general strategy.

How far am I reaching here?

I think it's a bit of a reach as far as the being influenced by great players portion, but what I think it's worth may never get to the crux of his downward trending career, nor is it worth a whole lot so don't be offended. We will have to wait and see how he plays this year with the kids before we can say he is a better player when there are no other big name players around him who are his senior so as to better 'accentuate his attributes'. LO is the only one...

I just think, early in his career when he was hungry and not as oft injured as he currently is, he was protected in the line-up by, at the time, one of the Game's greatest power hitters: Delgado, leading to his impressive early career accolades. Protection in a line-up can do wonders for hitters. This is why I tend to see your analysis of his hitting style at the end of your theory. I think VW also, straying from the approach that made him the 12o million dollar man and combined with the fact that pitchers are using an effective strategy to keep Wells in check by throwing him more breaking balls. He also had trouble hanging in at an at-bat while letting the ball travel deep enough into the hitting plane, self-admittedly. That could have been him not fully recovered from the wrist problems he had the season before. This residual effect could be why he couldn't trust his natural strength and swing quickness having him commit at inopportune times during untimely junctures.

His troubles could also just stem from him being unable to reconcile personal expectations, personal health, organizational expectations, fanbase expectations that came with his monster contract. If Wells has a better year defensively, doesn't go down with more injuries and improves his plate discipline he would mean a lot to the team going forward. However, I have distinctly recalled throughout his career that scouts said he never was the most disciplined hitter who got by a lot on natural gifts.

We will see what happens to VW, IMo, he needs to return to playing great CF defense to really be an asset. He doesn't need to hit thirty home runs but 45 + doubles would be fantastic. I'd like to see him walk more this season since he's never been a great OBP guy.

Gozer · 03-29-2010, 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ziggy Lidstrom

We will see what happens to VW, IMo, he needs to return to playing great CF defense to really be an asset. He doesn't need to hit thirty home runs but 45 + doubles would be fantastic. I'd like to see him walk more this season since he's never been a great OBP guy.

I'd rather he go back to being a kinda lousy player that capitalized on mistakes and didn't try to do anything else. No walks, just swing for the fences as often as possible.

He's just not the calibre of player of Hill or Lind that have a excel in a variety of strategies. Guess, mash, and somehow expand defensive range.

I've always thought of Wells as a guy who runs more like a bull or moose that has better top speed than acceleration (opposed to the gazelle-like strides of Rios who covered ground quickly but never seemed to speed up), but short of a return to young healthy legs I don't see his defense returning.

Sylvanfan · 03-29-2010, 11:02 PM

At this point in time there really is no way Vernon Wells can live up to his contract. It's a lost cause. Realistically the best the Blue Jays can hope for is that he'll be able to return to the form he showed in the 2008 season and be healthy enough to produce in that manner over a full season. He hit .300 slugged just under 500 and hit at a 30 home run 110 RBI pace. If he could produce at that level it may serve to somewhat appease Jays fans. There is no way he can perform at a level to match the value of that contract, but if he can produce close to the way he used to it would be a step in the right direction. He's not retiring and he's not going to give the money back so that is the best you can hope for.

Tyler · 03-30-2010, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jason14h

My theory is Wells was one of 100 guys on a certain list....

Pretty much a given after we've seen his performance in the 'post-steroid' era,

flambers · 03-30-2010, 02:46 PM

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=316064

Jays make a few more cuts today

"The Toronto Blue Jays pared their active roster down to 29 players by optioning pitchers Jesse Carlson and David Purcey to triple-A Las Vegas, and assigning outfielder Jeremy Reed to minor-league camp"

Machiavelli · 03-30-2010, 06:49 PM

Carlson, eh?

ricoFlame · 03-30-2010, 07:19 PM

Probably still battling that injury he had last season.

flames_1987 · 03-30-2010, 07:26 PM

No problem with Carlson going down

bluejays · 03-30-2010, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flames_1987

No problem with Carlson going down

I like Carlson and he did well last season for the Jays. I was actually surprised they sent him down, but apparently he's injured which explains it all.

Gozer · 03-30-2010, 10:12 PM

Carlson still hasn't recovered from leading the league in appearances for a good chunk of the start the season.

Thanks again Clarence!

Trojan97 · 03-31-2010, 12:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gozer

Carlson still hasn't recovered from leading the league in appearances for a good chunk of the start the season.

Thanks again Clarence!

Gonna be saying that alot this season unfortunately.

Also, Carlson will be back to the bigs after working the innings he has missed due to his knee injury. Shouldn't be more then a couple weeks, I would imagine.

flambers · 03-31-2010, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gozer

Carlson still hasn't recovered from leading the league in appearances for a good chunk of the start the season.

Thanks again Clarence!

He hurt his Knee in spring training, I believe he only pitched once or very few times in Spring training. Would guess he will be recalled but not for a month or two.

flambers · 03-31-2010, 09:07 AM

Bastian tweeted this morning that the Jays cut the last position player. Raul Chavez was sent down to AAA, while Molina has been named the backup catcher.

Now the last remaining cuts are with the Starting Pitchers and Relief Pitchers.

Wonder if Eveland will be named a starter?

KootenayFlamesFan · 03-31-2010, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Starter Marc Rzepczynski will miss up to six weeks with a fractured middle finger on his throwing hand, Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston said Wednesday.

The sophomore left-hander suffered the injury when he was struck by a line drive during a spring training start against the New York Yankees on Tuesday night.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=316160

flambers · 03-31-2010, 11:34 AM

Interesting game today (yes I know its preseason)... Jays face Doc Halladay for the first time...

So far Jays have 5 hits (4 of them extra base variety) / 4 runs off Doc after the first inning.

Gozer · 03-31-2010, 12:22 PM

Rough news about Zep. Maybe it'll keep him fresh, but I was looking forward to seeing what he could do.

Good thing we unloaded Doc before he went in the tank!

dissentowner · 03-31-2010, 04:49 PM

I honestly have no idea how anybody can watch or follow baseball. Why bother when you know who the challengers are always going to be. No matter how well the Jays draft they will never compete with the NYY or Boston in todays game because the financial field is uneven. Until there is a hard cap in baseball you can write the NYY or Boston on top every season.

moon · 03-31-2010, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissentowner

I honestly have no idea how anybody can watch or follow baseball. Why bother when you know who the challengers are always going to be.

I think most people watch because what you just wrote is complete crap and you don't know who the challengers are going to be any more or less than the other major sports.

Quote:

No matter how well the Jays draft they will never compete with the NYY or Boston in todays game because the financial field is uneven. Until there is a hard cap in baseball you can write the NYY or Boston on top every season.

Plenty of teams with less money have competed with and beat the NYY and Red Sox.