The Jays began their preseason schedule today with a game against the Pirates.
Thames hit a home run, Lawrie with 4 RBI's as the Jays won 7-1. Kyle Drabek gets the Win, with Cecil, Drabek, Hoey, Richmond, Tepera, Gil and Perez all throwing no hit innings.
Yesterday the backup players played the starters, with the backup players winning 4-1.
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4th Vs Pirates - Win 8-5
5th Vs Detroit
6th Vs Phillies
7th Vs Red Sox and Vs Pirates
8th Vs Yankees
9th Vs Astros
10th Vs Astros
11th Vs Braves
12th Vs Orioles
13th Vs Team Canada
14th Vs Yankees
15th Vs Astros
16th Vs Rays
17th Vs Braves
18th Vs Phillies
20th Vs Red Sox
21st Vs Orioles
22nd Vs Phillies
23rd Vs Rays
24th Vs Braves
25th Vs Red Sox
27th Vs Yankees
28th Vs Orioles
29th Vs Red Sox
30th Vs Twins
31st Vs Phillies
April 1st Vs Pirates
2nd Vs Tigers
3rd Vs Tigers
Regular Season.
Last edited by Caged Great; 03-04-2012 at 02:19 PM.
Wow, don't normally follow baseball hardcore, but why not start now! Never knew they played so many preseason games.
Let's go Jays!
They play so many games in order to allow the starters to slowly ramp up the innings from 1 or 2 up to 5 or 6 before the real games start to prevent injuries. If it wasn't for that, they'd probably play 10 less games.
Really hard for me to temper my expectations for Brett Lawrie this season. He seems to have the confidence and he hits the ball extremely hard. Preseason is preseason but still cool to see Lawrie producing already.
Really interesting to see how Bautista's tone has changed from season to season. The guy has really blossomed into a leader. Seems to be a great attitude in the clubhouse, although I'm not sure how much chemistry really does matter in baseball.
The glowing reports of Mcgowan have got me very excited to watch him pitch this Spring. My eyes will be on him and Cecil
Predictions for this upcoming season? I'm going to go with an even 90-72. While I don't think they have enough for the playoffs, I do think the bolstering of their relievers should be a benefit long-term.
Snider 2-4 with 3 RBI, and nearly killed Alan Ashby hitting him in the chest with a foul ball knocking him from his chair.
Gose 1-1 with a double, RBI and scored from second on a weak groundout to the pitcher.
Lawrie 1-3 + RBI
Hechivarria 1-3 + RBI
Laffey gave up a run in 2 innings, Darren Oliver gave up 2 runs in his inning, Coello gave up a HR and 2 runs.
Chavez and Beck walked a pair but got out of it unscathed.
Cordero Santos and Janssen pitched well in theirs.
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I always find it so encouraging when you read stories about the coaching staff helping the players fine tune their mechanics from pitchers and batters and thereby bettering them. Drabek was quoted as saying in the off-season, despite what the coaches telll him, he was persisitent to do things his way. He admitted that by following the coaches suggestions he has improved in the off season. Hopefully this is goodnews for the Jays.
""We found out during the season I was stepping across my body quite a bit and that didn’t allow me to reach my glove-side fastball, outside to a righty, very well," Drabek said Wednesday. "That was one of the things over the off-season we talked about and I worked on it a little at home by myself.
When I got here I was working with Dane (Johnson, roving pitching coach) and (pitching coach Bruce Walton), it’s allowing me to see the plate more and control my pitches better."
Walton and Johnson, along with input from manager John Farrell, came up with the idea of the box over the winter and presented it to Drabek in January. "
Blue Jays reliever Jesse Litsch will be shut down for six weeks after having an arthroscopic procedure to clean an infection out of his right shoulder. Litsch, who's expected to be a middle/long reliever this year, was released from the hospital Saturday.
Blue Jays reliever Jesse Litsch will be shut down for six weeks after having an arthroscopic procedure to clean an infection out of his right shoulder. Litsch, who's expected to be a middle/long reliever this year, was released from the hospital Saturday.
Litsch became even more valuable as a long reliever. He brings consistency and reliability to the bullpen and Farrell can trust him to get the job done. With him and Janssen, these veterans will be important relievers for the Jays.
Thankfully, Litsch's surgery is minor as stopping an infection and hopefully not anything to do with his shoulder's physiology. However, sometimes with these things, one thing can seem to lead to another problem such as hampering his mechanics. Hopefully, the Jays will have better luck with their pitchers this year.
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Snider and Thames going toe-to-toe for the starting LF gig - great to see as a fan of the team. Both with impressive opening games, and should make for a great competition going forward. As Rico said - great for the club too, in that one of these pieces could make for a great trade chip with a strong spring, if the club chooses to explore that as an option.
With Snider and Thames, I hope that the loser of the battle gets the DH job. It's a win win as they might both be 260-280 hitters with 20+ HR abilities. Better than Lind or EE who could platoon at 1st to better effect (EE kills lefties and Lind righties).
Alternately, you could have Snider in LF, and Thames in Right with Bautista thrown at 1B with Lind/EE at DH instead. Lots of different alternatives.
I'm hoping that they both have a great spring. Will make for interesting decisions moving forward.
With Snider and Thames, I hope that the loser of the battle gets the DH job. It's a win win as they might both be 260-280 hitters with 20+ HR abilities. Better than Lind or EE who could platoon at 1st to better effect (EE kills lefties and Lind righties).
Alternately, you could have Snider in LF, and Thames in Right with Bautista thrown at 1B with Lind/EE at DH instead. Lots of different alternatives.
I'm hoping that they both have a great spring. Will make for interesting decisions moving forward.
I doubt it unfortanetely, if Snider loses the battle I bet he is sent to AAA.
Jays have to many outfielders. They will need to keep EE and a backup SS and a back catcher.
Remember the Jays have Baustista, Ramsus, Snider, Thames, Davies and Francisco all outfielders...
2012 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread
