Jays Roundup - Now You’re Punching

Monday, April 26 2004 @ 08:31 AM EDT

And you’re kicking
And you’re shouting at me
And I’m relying on your common decency

Yesterday the Jays got what they needed: They beat the tar out of someone. Is it just me, or does Delgado run himself out of more innings than the rest of the Jays combined?

1. There was all kinds of fun in yesterday's 15-3 rout of the Orioles. Here's what the reporters have to say in: Spencer Fordin's "Jays score early and often in rout", Jeff Blair's "Birds of a feather all hit together", and AP's "Jays hammer O's".

2. Today's matchup features the 0-2 Ted Lilly for the 6-12 Blue Jays against the 2-1 Brad Radke for the 12-6 Twinkie. It's an 8:10 start at the Metrodome. Mr. Fordin has a game preview.

3. Fordin Notes on the pitching moves we discussed yesterday. A couple of other writers also wrote about the moves: Jeff Blair of the Globe in "Miller gets call from Blue Jays" and Mike Rutsey of the Sun in "Jays reload arms".

4. It appears that Canadian Erik Bedard has one more chance to prove himself before the Orioles send him to AAA Ottawa, as reported in Jeff Blair's "Canadian stays in rotation".

5. Teams that own Vernon Wells in fantasy leagues got a sigh of relief yesterday. His performance yesterday was the focus of Geoff Baker's article "All is Wells with Jays".

• Sometimes you have to cut a player loose for their benefit. Werth might have a great season with the Dodgers but he probably wouldn't have in limited time as the 4th outfielder. It never looks good trading someone off the roster for a AA player though.
  
  
• I guess the Jays were in a something-for-nothing mode. Looks like they were committed to Pond (or Hermansen? Both, I guess?) and Werth got in the way. I don't like this deal, but then I don't know what else they were offered for Werth. At least they got a potential righty reliever, which is better than nothing.
  
  
• I'm certainly underwhelmed. The numbers were decent last year even for being way to old for the leagues. Any word on why he appears to have missed a year and a half from 2000-2002. TJ surgery maybe?
  
  
• Sportsnet has now changed it to Jason Frasor as well. A 27 year-old pitcher who split time between A & AA regardless of stats tends to equal; not much. I stood up for JP yesterdays Round-up in regards to pitching trades but I'm not sold on this move.
  
  
• Ouch. I know Werth mor eor less had to be moved, and that must have made JP's position difficult in negotiations, but I have trouble seeing this as a good deal. Has Werth fallen that far?
  
  
• Frasor looks like nothing. Maybe this was a favor deal for DePo. Too bad- I liked Werth.
  
  
• Well, not nothing. The guy had a lights-out year as a closer, in his first year in the role. He's old, but the year-and-a-half he missed to injury put his development clock back. I'm happier to have him than not. Frasor probably won't amount to anything; he also could be Brendan Donnelly. We just don't know.
  
  
• I'm disappointed in the trade. I was looking forward to seeing what Werth could do, and I don't think Frasor addresses any organizational needs.
  
  
• As for Frasor's age, last year JP stumbled across another "older" prospect with good K rates by the name of A. Lopez - so you never know.
  
  
• Still, it seems like we lost on this deal!
  
  
• Frasor looks pretty good, as shown by his 2003 stats (available at the Baseball Cube). He could very well turn out to be the next Donnelly or Weber, which would mean the Jays could save a couple mil by not having to go out and get the next Terry Adams. It's not a steal, but I don't think it's at all a bad trade.
  
  
• given Frasor's consistently stellar peripherals and the fact that he throws in the mid-90's, he's potentially a better closer than anyone on Toronto's major league roster. I really can't see Kerry L. or Justin S. ever assuming the role of full-time closer...
  
  
• Josh Boyd commented during the AFL: "Frasor... has caught many scouts' eyes with his impressive arm strength. ...In 50 relief appearances, Frasor rang up 86 in 61 innings, using a 93-95 mph fastball and hard breaking ball."
  
  
• This is not unexpected, nor is it really significant. If the decision had been made that Werth was going to be exposed to waivers, and with the Mets likely to have claimed him, getting something for him makes sense.
  
  
• If anything, I might compare Frasor to a guy like Chulk...and just about the same age too once you take missed time due to TJ into account. He has ability but will be in tough to break a major league roster because his type of skillset is common among affordable major league vets. I personally don't think age matters as much as tools for pitchers anyway...Frasor's probably developed all he's going to develop but what he's got ain't bad. The Jays basically traded one guy who wasn't going to play regularly for another who probably wouldn't have gotten a chance any time soon in LA.
  
  
• I don't see anything wrong with this deal...Toronto loaded with outfielders moves excess talent to an organization loaded with excess middle relief arms, both teams win.
  
  
• When you have depth like the Jays do at OF, I think it is be worth it to roll the dice on someone like Frasor. He might not be Wagner, but he might be a very decent (and very cheap) cog in the bullpen for a couple years. In that case, he'll bring a bigger return than keeping Werth around with Gross/Rios/Griffin around.
  

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