Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

The timing will never be better. Last night, the Dodgers lost outfielder J.D. Drew for 6 to 8 weeks after a Brad Halsey pitch broke Drew's left wrist. The injury is just the latest to plague the Dodgers, who still don't know when they're getting Milton Bradley back from a finger injury.

L.A. needs outfield bodies, and fast, because they still have a shot in the mediocre National League West. But few teams have a proven outfielder lying around to spare, at a reasonable cost. The Devil Rays, for instance, would only jack up the price for Aubrey Huff, knowing the Dodgers' predicament.

But there is one outfielder available who would be a perfect short-term fit for L.A. right now: Frank Catalanotto.

Catalanotto is hitting a solid .284 with an OBP in the .350 range. He can play left or right field, and although he's really only useful against righties, he would make a devastating platoon with another ex-Jay, Jayson Werth. When Bradley and Drew return, he would be an ideal pinch-hitter and spot starter. And he's signed to a relatively cheap contract through the end of next season, so L.A. could either keep him around for '06 or deal him again to a team seeking a veteran bat at a contained cost.

Moreover, the Jays wouldn't have to ask for much (though Russ Martin sure would look nice catching for New Hampshire right now), because the trade would allow them to slide Gabe Gross into left field on a full-time basis, which is what this team really needs going forward. Cat's salary isn't the drag on the club it used to be, thanks to the payroll increase, but he's taking up vital space on the roster, and every few million dollars helps when shopping for free agents.

So there you have it: Frank Catalanotto from JP Ricciardi's Jays to Paul DePodesta's Dodgers for some minor-league spare parts. Gabe Gross goes into left field as the Jays retool on the fly while getting younger, cheaper and better defensively; the Dodgers get a "professional hitter" who can play either corner and approach .300 and who won't cost them anything important. To me, it looks like a no-brainer. What does it look like to you?

Posted by Jordan on Monday, July 04 2005 @ 09:46 AM EDT.

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Mike Green - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 10:28 AM EDT (#121429) #

Aye.

Dave501 - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 10:30 AM EDT (#121430) #

Worst...speculation...ever!

Pistol - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 10:42 AM EDT (#121433) #

It's the perfect trade - the team gets younger, better, cheaper, and the press can take shots at JP for giving up.

Actually, I'm not convinced that Gross would be better than Cat the rest of the year, but then again I'm not convinced that Cat will be better than Gross either.

Cat isn't likely to be on the next Jays playoff team. Gross might. It's time for Gross to sink or swim.

GeoffAtMac - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 11:03 AM EDT (#121436) #

I think it sounds like a decent suggestion, although Catalanatto would make a very solid bench option for Toronto. It is worrisome to have Gross sitting around all the time, with little opportunity to prove himself. I agree with the sink / swim comment -- but the question is, who to liquidate in order to get him in the lineup.

I would say we send Reed Johnson to LA, unless of course we wish to keep him on the bench solely for games against the Red Sox...

Pepper Moffatt - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 11:04 AM EDT (#121438) #

Won't happen. The Jays have a legitimate shot at a playoff spot and there's no way they're going to trade a proven major league veteran without getting one in return.

I'd say it's more likely that Gabe Gross gets traded to the Dodgers.

Dave Till - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 11:17 AM EDT (#121440) #

I'll agree with Pepper on this one. The Jays have a legitimate - if small - chance to make it to the post-season this year. Catalanotto isn't a great hitter, but he's a good one, and he's making a positive contribution. Besides, he enjoys playing here.

And I still have seen no evidence that Gross can be an effective full-time outfielder. He has some tools - and his strong and effective throwing arm has won a game for the Jays - but he hasn't yet proven he can hit for average or power at the major-league level. Handing him a job would be, IMHO, a serious mistake at this time.

Pepper Moffatt - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#121441) #

I'd also like to point out that "should this happen?" and "will this happen?" are two very different questions and I was answering the latter of the two. :)

BCMike - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 12:10 PM EDT (#121447) #

Won't happen. The Jays have a legitimate shot at a playoff spot and there's no way they're going to trade a proven major league veteran without getting one in return.

I'd have to agree, even though I'd probably like to see it happen. With the team only 5 back, it would be a very tough sell to the remaining players. I get the impression that Cat is well liked by his teammates. If JP made the move he would, in the players' eyes, essentially be giving up on the team.

Jordan - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 12:15 PM EDT (#121448) #

I know JP has said that he's not trading established players for minor-leaguers, and generally I agree with that. But in a sense, he would be getting a big-league regular in Gross, who's 7 for his last 18 in limited action after an 0-for-11 start to the year. And sometimes you need to take a step back before you can move forward: Billy Beane used to do that, dealing away veterans like Kenny Rogers and Billy Taylor in advance of acquiring other veterans for his stretch drives.

But okay, let's agree that he can't deal Cat for spare parts. So here's a deal that JP could make without getting static: Catalanotto to LA for Mike Rose, the Dodgers' backup catcher.

Rose can hit pretty well (he's an RH), and he has a tremendous batting eye (a .407 OBP for Sacramento last year). He's not much behind the plate, but he would only need to spell Gregg Zaun twice a week or so. The Dodgers would then call up Dioner Navarro, who's ripping up the PCL, to learn from Jason Phillips; at this point, they simply need his offence. And the Jays desperately need a backup catcher who can swing the bat. How does that look?

Marc Hulet - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 12:28 PM EDT (#121450) #

If the Jays were to make a trade with LA, I would like to see them try for 1B James Loney, who has fallen from grace somewhat do to his lack of power development. He's only 21 in double-A and could develop into a poor man's Mark Grace or John Olerud.

Another option would be Joey Thurston, a former top prospect who has turned into a future scrappy utility player, who would be a nice alternative to Menechino.

sweat - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 12:28 PM EDT (#121451) #

Is L.A. still loaded with quality relief pitchers? I do like the idea of improving ourselves at catcher/replacing huck.

Mick Doherty - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 12:33 PM EDT (#121452) #

But okay, let's agree that he can't deal Cat for spare parts.

Doesn't hypthetically dealing Cat even up for a backup catcher qualify under this exclusion? You have to get more for Cat than Mike Rose if only from the external and internal (clubhouse) PR perspective. Dealign one of your few tradeable big league chips for a backup catcher, while perhaps defensible from a practical standpoint, doesn't exactly play in Peoria, if you know what I mean.

Jordan - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#121455) #

You have to get more for Cat than Mike Rose if only from the external and internal (clubhouse) PR perspective.

Perhaps, but if you make that deal for Cat, you can at least say: "We're really getting two major-leaguers for the price of one. Rose plays 2-3 times a week, because Zaun simply can't keep playing this often and Huckaby is a black hole in the lineup, so our offence from the catcher's spot will improve. Plus, Gross is ready to be a regular, and he'll get 5-6 starts a week, improving our defence in the process. Simply put, we're a better team today and tomorrow for making his deal." That may not play in Peoria, but I think it would be true.

Mind you, if JP could somehow get Jason Phillips instead (perhaps by throwing in a bullpen arm), that would make everything much easier. But the Dodgers have the same problem: like any would-be contender, they don't want to be seen to deal away starters, especially for a stop-gap solution like Cat.

It may be that there is no good trade fit for Cat. If the Jays can only deal him in return for another full-time starter, then I don't see a market, because contenders looking to pick up extra bats won't want to deal starting players either, and non-contenders would have little interest in adding a veteran hitter like Catalanotto anyway. If that's the case, then Cat will probably stay in Toronto all season and Gross will continue to accumulate rust on the bench. And I just don't think that's in the club's best interests.

Nigel - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 01:04 PM EDT (#121456) #

I think trading Cat, by himself, is a tough deal to make from the perspective of both sides. Cat is a useful, but not great, hitter. He has defensive limitations, but is not terrible, in left. His salary is not really cheap for what he brings to the table but its not a terrible deal. In short, he's got some value to his current team (enough that I think all the comments above about just giving him away for a backup catcher apply) but he's not extremely valuable in the market.

Given all of that, I think he is the logical choice to trade with one of the current bullpen arms (Chulk; Fraser; Batista) or one or more of the minor league arms for something of real value - either at the deadline or, more likely, after the season's out. If the Jays had an obvious internal replacement that was killing the ball at AAA then I'd say the deal would happen at the deadline rather than after the season. Much as I would like to see Gross playing in a full platoon, I think the message to the public of trading Cat now would be bad. JP has said a few times now that winning games is now the focus of trades.

HaloBrad - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 01:18 PM EDT (#121457) #

here in SoCal, the Dodgers are taking a beating for their poor on-field moves and their poor treatment of fans by the new regime. Picking up Cat, who may be a good fit for them both on the field and in the clubhouse, won't satisy the not-so-savvy Lasorda-dodger-blue fanatics who think the team has 12 million they are pocketing which needs to be spent to fill Drew and Bradley's shoes. I would guess they will try to trade for the biggest name they can dangling some decent young relief pitching and over-hyped minor leaguers.

The Bone - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 01:20 PM EDT (#121459) #

I tend to agree that it is far more likely for Gross to be traded to L.A. - I simply don't believe that either is going to be part of the next World Champion Jays team...This isn't necessarily anything against Gross because I think he'll be a perfectly serviceable major leaguer...but I think Left Field is where we will target a middle of the order threat in the offseason - because we need a middle of the order threat and where else are they going to play? The only other possible options it seems are C and 1B/DH (and only then if we cut bait with Hinske as Shea is staying around, and we don't need one of Hill or Koskie to DH)

So if we need a Left fielder ony for the 2nd half of the season, then which is better for our team's fortunes going forward? Trading Cat (public perception that we are giving up, but we potentially increase Gross' trade value if he plays well as a major leaguer in the 2nd half for a subsequent offseason trade), or Trading Gross (known quantity at the top of our lineup, better return in a deadline deal for a stretch run, but maybe less of an overall return for Cat + Gross than if they were done in reverse order)?

Dave Till - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 01:36 PM EDT (#121461) #

I'd also like to point out that "should this happen?" and "will this happen?" are two very different questions and I was answering the latter of the two. :)

Sorry for the misinterpretation. :-(

I guess the question is whether Gross is good enough to be the Jays' everyday left fielder (or at least good enough to fill Cat's shoes). I say no; some people say yes.

I'm not anti-Gross, though; I'm a Jays fan. Nothing would make me happier than to see Gabe start to hit copiously. (I don't think a 7-for-18 stretch is sufficient evidence, especially considering how he hit in Syracuse this year.)

Pepper Moffatt - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 02:13 PM EDT (#121465) #

Heh - I posted that before I even saw your reply, Dave. :)

As far as "should they do it?", I really don't know. Depends on what they could get, I guess. I think you'd want to get something you could use in the immediate future, or else the optics of it look pretty bad.

R Billie - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 02:44 PM EDT (#121472) #

I think Gabe should have an opportunity to play. But you already have Rios not playing regularly. So in order for it to happen someone needs to be dealt. I think the question is, would you want to get someone better than Cat to play left or DH in 2006 and 2007. In a perfect world, yes. But we don't know yet whether it will be possible.

So your option is to take a risk with Gross which I don't mind doing. Or keep Cat which is safe but possibly an inefficient use of roster space and salary. I think clubhouse and fan politics should come into play more today than in 2002. But it shouldn't stop the team from making a move which will be best for the team for next year.

Chuck - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 03:24 PM EDT (#121477) #

Tangentially related to the Catalanotto vs. Gross issue is the question of how the game of musical chairs plays out once Koskie returns.

If Hillenbrand is not dealt and if Hill is here to stay, then Hinske starts seriously looking like the odd man out. Koskie may end up taking his place in the 1B/3B/DH rotation (though that would probably really play out as a 3B/DH rotation between himself and Hill).

Would Ricciardi simply release Hinske with another full year on his contract? He may have to. Hinske had breathing room to start the season since there seemed to be enough AB to go around. That may not be the case soon enough.

Mike Green - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 04:00 PM EDT (#121481) #

The Hinske deal was for 5 years and signed in March 2003. It's got 2 years to run after this one. I suspect that is why the team has gone so far with him. It is, as they say, sunk cost.

SK in NJ - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 04:22 PM EDT (#121485) #

I don't see the point in dealing Gross to the Dodgers, unless the Jays are getting back established major league talent. Now is not the time to make Jayson Werth trades (though I liked the deal at the time and moreso now). It is time to start packaging prospects for legitimate talent. Gross by himself is going to net something along the lines or worse than Jason Frasor. But in a package with some young talent, or Hudson, etc, who knows.

Cat to the Dodgers is a seperate issue. That's a deal I would be looking to make, if only to rid the team of some excess bodies. I like Catalanotto, but with a .742 OPS (as a platoon player) and a $2.7 million price tag for next year, he's most certainly someone I would look to move by the deadline, preferably for a back-up catcher. That solves a black hole situation with Huckaby, and the team already has a ready LF prospect to take over. Gross/Johnson platoon should be able to be effective until the team is able to (hopefully) improve the position from outside the organization.

Will JP do it? My guess is no. Catalanotto is the Scott Hatteberg of the Toronto Blue Jays.

I have a feeling we'll see Hinske either designated for assignment, or dealt in a deal where the Jays get a big contract. Mike Sweeney has been my prediction since the payroll hike was announced, and I'm sticking to that. He's a dirtbag, doesn't K, .300 hitter, lots of doubles, etc. In other words, JP's fantasy.

jvictor - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 04:53 PM EDT (#121489) #

Okay; sunk cost. Hinske is the odd man out here. Rid ourselves of him, and the Cat is gravy. No need to trade for "whatever". The clubhouse is sent a message: "If you don't perform, your gone; who cares how much you are owed". The Jays lose little on defence. Gain more on offence. It makes the return of Koskie easier to deal with.

Simple questions: Money, lengnth of contract disregarded, who should the Jays get rid of? Next question; money and length of contract taken into account, who should the jays get rid of and what (offence, defence, chemistry, lineup flexability, etc.) do they lose by cutting the strings on Hinske?

I have nothing personal against Hinske; I would wish him an average career somewhere other than here; and that is the high side. Here he is making things more difficult than they should be.

SimonB - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 05:30 PM EDT (#121496) #

I think Hinske is the obvious man out in this spot. At this point he doesn't deserve regular at bats. The ideal situation is to deal him to a team in need of a left handed hitter or bench player (LA might have some use for a corner infielder), pay some of his contract and take a Scott Wiggins in return. Then Cat, or more likely Hillenbrand, could slot in to play first base, Gross and Reed platoon in left, Hill stays at third and whoever isn't playing first base (probably Cat) becomes the DH. It is probably more in the Jays' interest to play Gross everyday than Hinske. Even if no one will take him, he is at this point a good pinch-hitter, and he needs to be benched. I think that is the extent of his value.

Obtaining a Mike Sweeney in a deal where Hinske goes the other way is wishful thinking. KC is going to want prospects, prospects, prospects, not an overpaid deadweight to take over from Sweeney. Even if the Jays tossed in some prospects, I just don't see the Royals biting on Hinske.

TamRa - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 05:45 PM EDT (#121500) #

I suggest that this is a bad idea for an entirely separate reason:

We don't know yet how either Cat or Gross plays into far more significant potential deals. I refer you, by way of example, to the oft-rumored Burnett deal:

Given the fact that Burnett has expressed both a willingness to play for the Jays, and a willingness to sign an extension, he's not excluded simply because he's a FA right now.

So, if I may be so bold as to speculate, the Marlins must receive not only guys who are going to be part of their future but guys who will service their current potential in this year's pennet race. With that in mind, IMO,

Bush > Cabrera/Penn
Gross/Cat > Bigbe
Speier = Julio

and taking on Encarnacion to either use or flip is gravy. In fact, go ahead and get busy on a deal like this and then you can send HIM to the Dodgers (or Padres, Cardinals, Braves, etc) for something you covet.

Thus, in my estimation, trading either of those guys just to be moving them along is not a good idea until all the potential big deals in which they may be a useful component have been put to bed one way or the other.

SimonB - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 05:49 PM EDT (#121502) #

This thread and the All-Star thread got me thinking about some recent trade history. Remember when JP dealt Felipe Lopez to Cincinnati for over-the-hill prospects? Or how about when he released Chris Carpenter because he wanted the major league minimum? Remember when JP took Aussie Luke Prokopec instead of Canadian Eric Gagne back for now All-Star shortstop Cesar Izturis?

What could have been...Just imagine how the Toronto rotaion would look right now if you could slot Carp behind Doc and ahead of Chacin and Lilly.

SK in NJ - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:02 PM EDT (#121504) #

I believe Peter Gammons said that Sweeney would have already been traded if it wasn't for his salary, so there is a pretty good chance that the Royals will have to either eat up a contract or absorb some of Sweeney's salary if they decide to trade him. Considering they have younger guys like Huber ready to go (or close to ready), and Sweeney is already 31 looking to go to a contender, it makes sense.

Obviously, I didn't mean Sweeney straight up for Hinske, more like Hinske and some prospects, though I have no clue what Baird would want. Sweeney makes $12.5 million if he's traded, so if the Jays were to add him and get rid of Hinske at the same time, the only effect it would have on the major league payroll is adding about $8 million in 2006 and $7 million in 2007.

Again, not necessarily advocating this, but just something I sense is a good possibility, or at least something JP would look into very closely given the type of player Sweeney is.

Ron - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:08 PM EDT (#121505) #

There's been talk that Encarnacion is being packacked with AJ (I believe Juan will be a FA after this season).

I just looked up his numbers and he's having a career season. He's outperforming V-Dub at the plate.

His line of .283/.363/.471/.833 is pretty good. Heck if Juan was dealt to the Jays he should be the cleanup hitter.
He's hitting better than every single Jay.

King Ryan - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:28 PM EDT (#121506) #

Remember when JP took Aussie Luke Prokopec instead of Canadian Eric Gagne back for now All-Star shortstop Cesar Izturis?

Dear Mr. Griffin

This is a myth. It has been refuted time and time again by dozens of different people close to the situation. Gagne was never offered for Izturis.

And Izturis may be an "all-star," but that doesn't mean he's any good.

King Ryan - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:30 PM EDT (#121507) #

Oops. Even after previewing I forgot to fix it.

Who did the Jays get back for Felipe Lopez? I don't remember and I can't find it.

VBF - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:32 PM EDT (#121508) #

Someone mentioned this earlier, but I will re-iterate it:

Izturis: ranked 9th among NL shortstops in OPS.

'Nuff said.

Ron - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:36 PM EDT (#121509) #

Felipe Lopez was involed in a 4 team deal. The Reds are looking like the real winners at this point because Lopez isn't in his prime yet and he already looks like a stud.

The Jays got back Jason Arnold and John Ford-Griffin (I'll bet anybody $50 that neither become ML calibre players). The A's got Durazo and the D-backs recivied Elmer Dessen.

VBF - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:39 PM EDT (#121510) #

Ryan, It was a three team swing with Cinci and Oakland, with Jason Arnold coming to the Jays.

That would look really good right now had Arnold not gotten injured but we shall see. Still plenty of upside.

VBF - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:40 PM EDT (#121511) #

Beaten by Ron!

He had a more right answer anyways.

Named For Hank - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 06:59 PM EDT (#121513) #

Ron, what are the terms of the bet? How many games would one of the two have to play in the majors for me to claim the $50?

Ron - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 07:24 PM EDT (#121515) #

I would say 600 games (on the 25 man roster) for Ford-Griffin and Arnold.

I don't need anything in return if they don't reach that goal.

Ron - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 07:24 PM EDT (#121516) #

Meant to say "or" not "and".

TamRa - Monday, July 04 2005 @ 11:48 PM EDT (#121543) #

Remember when JP dealt Felipe Lopez to Cincinnati for over-the-hill prospects?

No one hated the Lopez deal more than me but the guys we got back were certainly not "over the hill" at the time of the trade.

Or how about when he released Chris Carpenter because he wanted the major league minimum?

Bit more complicated than that. Carp wanted a major league deal and you can't cut a major leaguer's salray more than 20% under the CBA. Carpenter made $3,450,000. Thus the least contract JP could possibly have offered Carpenter was $2,760,000.
Admitedly JP misread the market for Carpenter, but it is not as you suggest.

Remember when JP took Aussie Luke Prokopec instead of Canadian Eric Gagne

Already been scolded for that one...

now All-Star shortstop Cesar Izturis?

Yeah, sure. But he also let that non-All Star bum Delgado go so we could replace him with All Star Shea Hillenbrand too! ;)

Oy, the insanity sometimes...

MatO - Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 12:02 AM EDT (#121545) #

Don't forget that Carpenter was coming off labrum surgery the results of which are usually not good. He signed with STL and spent 2003 in the minors and not pitching very well. It was only in 2004 that he made it all the way back and then some. It's not like he ever was that great a pitcher for the Jays.

SimonB - Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 01:36 AM EDT (#121546) #

Still...he was our opening day starter in 2002.

His ceiling was always seen as equal to or, as I remember it, higher than Doc's. I was astonished when they let him walk, even with the major shoulder surgery. You just don't let top-notch pitching prospects go for free.

I know I oversimplified everything a bit, just felt like being cynical when I saw some of the names on the NL Team. Felipe would look mighty good right now. He didn't really get much chance in Toronto.

Lefty - Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 01:44 AM EDT (#121548) #

I think theres an issue here that seems to be forgotten. Ricciardi loves Cat. Thats why he signed him to a decent and fair two year deal.

In the longer term, this year and next Cat = bench strength.

In the near term, I don't think JP is going to be flipping "burgers", but doing a deal for real help.

But the team does have to do something at catcher. At some point Zaun is going to turn into a pumkin again. Not many division championship calibre teams have a near replacement level backstop.

King Ryan - Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 05:08 AM EDT (#121553) #

There's not much you can do at catcher except pray that somehow Quiroz can get healthy.

I know people got all hot and bothered when it was earlier suggested that the Jays sell high on Miggy, but I hear the Red Sox could use some bullpen help...

Jonny German - Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 08:43 AM EDT (#121555) #

You just don't let top-notch pitching prospects go for free.

Do you let them go for $2,760,000? How about when they're coming off surgery which doesn't have a high rate of success? And when they've shown very little performance to back up the tools?

Good thing you're not a D'Backs fan, think how chapped you'd be about letting Hillenbrand go for Adam Peterson...

mistermike - Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 11:01 AM EDT (#121560) #

I think Hinske is the obvious man out in this spot. At this point he doesn't deserve regular at bats. The ideal situation is to deal him to a team in need of a left handed hitter or bench player

I can't understand why Hinske is still playing today, let alone when Koskie returns.

Why not let Gabe Gross get the majority of Hinske's at-bats, and play the Cat/Johnson combo a bit more as well? There is no way that these guys could be any less productive than Hinske. They could only be an improvement.

Moving Hinske to the bench when Koskie returns seems like a done deal. Why not just speed up the process? The bonus is we get a chance to showcase Gross at the same time.

R Billie - Tuesday, July 05 2005 @ 05:17 PM EDT (#121607) #

One thing about Lopez is that he and a lot of his teammates love hitting in their homepark this year. I don't know if anything has changed from past years but his home/road splits are a bit extreme, especially in homeruns (11 versus 3 on the road). His OPS at home is .990 versus .837 on the road, mostly due to a .600+ slugging % at home.

Now a .308/.351/.486 shortstop which is what he is on the road is still very good. But it took 4 mediocore seasons for him to finally reach that level. He's also having an unusually good year versus righthanded pitching where his three year split shows a .644 OPS which is including this year where his OPS against righties is over 1.000.

Now there's nothing to say that Lopez hasn't figured out a lot of things at the age of 25 with a few seasons under his belt. And it's also safe to say that the Jays thought they were getting a lot more in Jason Arnold than what they ended up with; i.e. a guy with borderline average velocity and questionable control. But I'd rather wait and see whether this is a trend for Lopez or an unusually hot half season.

In any case, the Jays did not do the best job of handling Lopez at a very young age where they pushed him into the majors at age 21 in a very raw state and still dealing with a lot of character and makeup issues. My own personal feeling is that character and makeup can be taught in the right environment and with the will and patience of the team. Bat speed, range, arm, and power in one package cannot be taught. A couple of more years in AAA and a couple of years in the majors to develop (as Rios is getting) might have done Lopez a lot of good.

Inevitably when dealing with raw talent players like Lopez and Escobar, if you push them up too soon and expect too much right away you get needlessly frustrated and see them develop on other teams just as they actually get good.

brent - Saturday, July 09 2005 @ 03:03 AM EDT (#121971) #

Amen to that comment about not rushing the unready prospects!

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