Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Organization View

The last stop on our minor league organization tour is with the relievers and there are a lot of them. By my count there are at least 65 relievers in minor league camp plus a few more already assigned to extended spring training. With smaller roster sizes in some minor league stops there are probably 40 jobs available plus I assume about 10 DL spots. That's 50 places for 65+ guys. The other change we see is a very large number of imports, whether by signing or claiming, that could fill the AAA and AA bullpens. Where is the room for home grown guys like Sean Stidfole, Mike MacDonald, Zach Dials, Daryl Harang and Seth Overbey?

Here they are by level:

Major League (10): BJ Ryan; Scott Downs; Jesse Carlson; Jason Frasor; Jeremy Accardo; Brandon League; Brian Tallet; Brian Wolfe; Shawn Camp; Jason Frasor

AAA (10): Bryan Bullington; Brian Burres; Dirk Hayhurst; TJ Beam; Fabio Castro; Rick Bauer; Mike Maroth; Mike MacDonald; Ken Takahashi; Sean Stidfole

AA (9): Reid Santos; Jonah Bayliss; Chad Beck; Zach Dials; Daryl Harang; Seth Overbey; Rommie Lewis; David Shinskie; Orlando Roman;

A+ (9): Tim Collins; Cody Crowell; Edgar Estanga; Alan Farina; Edward Rodriguez; Celson Polanco; Adrian Martin; Nate Starner; Conor Falkenbach

A (11): Matt Bush; Bobby Bell; Russ Buckwalter; Danny Farquhar; Mike Barbara; Frank Gailey; Chris Holguin; Chuck Huggins; Ryan Koch; Brian Letko; Joe Wice

Extended (14): John Anderson; Dustin Antolin; Jason Armstrong; Matt Daly; Scott Gracey; Yorman Mayora; Willy Mendez; Dan Miller; Jay Monti; Hunter Moody; Ryan Page; Jared Potts; Jason Roenicke; Tyler Ybarra

Unknown: Billy Carnline; Chase Lirette

The major league bullpen is a question as there are too many candidates. Per Cito there are five jobs semi-decided out of seven spots. The four lefties, BJ Ryan; Scott Downs; Jesse Carlson; and Brian Tallet plus righty Jeremy Accardo are in. That leaves Brandon League; Jason Frasor; Brian Wolfe and Shawn Camp fighting for two spots. Frasor and League look to have the inside track in this race.

They Jays signed or claimed seven players in the off-season who will make up the bullpen in Vegas. Mike MacDonald and Sean Stidfole are probably on the bubble and could end up in AAA or AA depending on need and even if they are in AA the Jays might have too many arms. Where will Casey Janssen pitch? Is his arm ready for starting? He could be in the AAA bullpen mix too.

The Jays also have several new players who could be in the AA bullpen, by my count at least six of them. That doesn't leave room for home grown guys like Dials, Harang or Overbey. The only Jays bullpen prospect in the top half of the organization would be Zach Dials and he will be back in AA. Dials pitched in the AFL with mixed results.

Some of the other notable home grown relievers are Tim Collins, Cody Crowell, Alan Farina, Bobby Bell and Danny Farquhar. Tiny Tim Collins dominated A ball last season and has earned a promotion to Dunedin. Cody Crowell was promoted to Dunedin in the middle of last season and will likely go back there to start the season. Alan Farina was injured for much of 2008 so his starting position in 2009 could be in Dunedin or Lansing. If he is healthy the Jays would likely push him to Dunedin. Bobby Bell was a 2008 draftee and reportedly has one of the best change-ups in the organization. Bell came to Lansing last season in the last week of 2008 and will return there to start 2009. Danny Farquhar had an excellent 2008 with his unusual delivery keeping hitters off balance. Farquhar could start or relieve and will probably pitch in Lansing to start the season.

Chase Lirette and Billy Carnline are still in the organization despite having not pitched much over the last two seasons, are they finally injury free and ready to play?

Here is my prediction....

Major League (8, one on DL): BJ Ryan; Scott Downs; Jesse Carlson; Jason Frasor; Jeremy Accardo; Brandon League; Brian Tallet; Jason Frasor

AAA (8): Brian Wolfe; Shawn Camp; Bryan Bullington; Brian Burres; Dirk Hayhurst; Fabio Castro; Ken Takahashi; Sean Stidfole

AA (8): Reid Santos; Chad Beck; Zach Dials; Daryl Harang; Rommie Lewis; David Shinskie; Orlando Roman; Mike MacDonald;

A+ (8): Tim Collins; Cody Crowell; Edgar Estanga; Alan Farina; Edward Rodriguez; Celson Polanco; Nate Starner; Conor Falkenbach

A (11): Matt Bush; Bobby Bell; Russ Buckwalter; Danny Farquhar; Mike Barbara; Frank Gailey; Chris Holguin; Chuck Huggins; Ryan Koch; Brian Letko; Joe Wice

Unknown: Billy Carnline; Chase Lirette

That completes our organization view. Check back in early April to see who goes where.

Posted by Gerry on Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 11:39 AM EST.

Organization View - Relievers | 16 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Dave Rutt - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 12:05 PM EST (#196840) #

Love this series, Gerry!

I'll assume the second Jason Frasor means Casey Janssen?

Mike Green - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 12:10 PM EST (#196841) #

With an $80 million payroll, having relievers earning over a million each in the minors is an embarrassment. The club could do worse than trying to move Frasor to the rotation.

Maldoff - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 01:47 PM EST (#196843) #

Gerry, what about guys like Eric Fowler, Evan Crawford and Robert Leffler?

Pistol - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 02:16 PM EST (#196844) #

While there seems to be a surplus of relievers for the Jays it's probably safe to assume that there's going to be two players on the DL at the start of the season. But it would be nice to see the Jays flip some relievers.

Pitchers that are relievers in the low minors are tough to consider prospects. And I can't think of anyone that the Jays have brought up through the system as a reliever (and Adam Peterson comes to mind as someone that didn't work out). Most of the relievers in Toronto were picked up off the scrap heap, signed as FAs, or acquired in trade. League is the closest, but even he started in the low minors for three years and then did both roles for two.

I'd like to see the Jays try Tim Collins as a starter in Lansing and see what happens. I don't think there's anything to lose, and possibly something to gain.

timpinder - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 02:20 PM EST (#196846) #

Blair's live blog from the Phillies game had a couple of interesting bits. Blair was asked how Brandon League looked and after answering the question he added:

"But I know this: One of those righties is going to be dealt. Bet on it".

I imagine that League and Accardo have the most value, but Frasor will probably go to dump salary. Camp or Wolfe won't bring much back and the same can likely be said for Janssen until he proves he's recovered.

Blair also confirmed that there is no chance Arencibia makes the team and he is headed to AAA. Barrett will be the #2 catcher and will play a couple times a week.

China fan - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 02:20 PM EST (#196847) #

Jeff Blair's live blog of today's game is a great way to get your Jays fix. He has comments on every conceivable roster-construction issue. He says we can bank on the Jays definitely trading a right-handed reliever this spring. He made the comment after a question about Brandon League, although he didn't necessarily predict that League will be the one traded.

His live blog: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090226.wjays_game_live0226/BNStory/GlobeSports

China fan - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 02:21 PM EST (#196848) #

Sorry to duplicate Timpinder's comment -- we posted at exactly the same time.

Matthew E - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 07:33 PM EST (#196861) #

Kind of an odd comment. You'd think that a lefty would bring more in trade, particularly since all the lefthanded relievers in baseball wear Blue Jay uniforms.

uglyone - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 08:03 PM EST (#196862) #

3-year Splits for our Right Handed Relievers:

B.Wolfe (28): 67.1ip, 2.4k/bb, 1.03whip, 2.81era, .647oops
B.League (26): 87.1ip, 1.9k/bb, 1.28whip, 2.89era, .650oops
J.Accardo (27): 148.2ip, 2.4k/bb, 1.28whip, 4.00era, .674oops
C.Janssen (27): 166.2ip, 2.0k/bb, 1.27whip, 3.89era, .713oops
J.Frasor (31): 154.1ip, 2.1k/bb, 1.31whip, 4.37era, .670oops
S.Camp (33): 154.1ip, 2.5k/bb, 1.58whip, 5.19era, .841oops

So when does our man Brian Wolfe start getting some respect?

TamRa - Thursday, February 26 2009 @ 10:10 PM EST (#196868) #

I remember reading somewhere that both Farina and Bell would likely be tried as starters this year but I can't source it. Might be a good thing to ask the Farm Director about next interview.

Lugnut Fan - Friday, February 27 2009 @ 07:12 AM EST (#196870) #

WillRain,

That would make sense. Farina was a piggy back starter with Starner at the start of last season. That would seem to make sense.

John Northey - Friday, February 27 2009 @ 10:02 AM EST (#196873) #

8+ relievers per level? Sheesh.

Lots of guys we see on these lists will be gone by the time opening day hits that is for sure. Hopefully the Jays find homes for a couple via trades as some teams have very, very weak pens. Last year the worst ERA's out of the pen (over 5) were in Texas and Cleveland. Next worst was Pittsburgh & Detroit at 4.69 with Baltimore being the only other one over 4.50. ERA isn't always the best indicator, especially with relievers, but geez does that stand out for Texas and Cleveland. FYI: The Jays were the only team sub-3.00 in the majors despite the lowest strikeout total. As you might have guessed the 4 worst walk totals went to 4 of the 5 teams with 4.50 ERA's (Cleveland walked fewer than all but Arizona). So I suspect those are the teams to watch for as all of them will be looking for depth in event of injury/ineffectiveness (a place to send some AAA/AA guys) or for ML quality where the guy can take a significant workload. Given only Downs had over 60 IP (Carlson dead on 60) last year our guys have the quality but not the endurance (or at least proven endurance). 3 guys with 60+ appearances (Carlson, Downs, Ryan), none with 70, just one more over 50 (Frasor).

Might be harder to trade these guys than I expected. Quality but not quantity of innings and all teams with weak pens need that endurance. Still, quality helps and JP might get lucky and find a match or two.

Timbuck2 - Friday, February 27 2009 @ 12:42 PM EST (#196876) #

Gerry - Just wanted to thank you for all the work you are doing with these topics. I really enjoy reading about all the players throughout the Jays organization!

Gerry for Prime Minister!

vw_fan17 - Friday, February 27 2009 @ 03:15 PM EST (#196883) #

John - sure, teams might want a guy who can handle 100 IP, but - we could also offer them TWO guys who are each good for say 50-60 IP..

For example, a Tallett/Frasor deal for an RH 1B/DH-type (since Lind/Snider/Overbay are all LH)?

TimberLee - Saturday, February 28 2009 @ 08:45 AM EST (#196896) #

I just wish to be counted among those who appreciate Gerry's work on this. Thank you. It's great to see projections for the entire system in one place.

Nick Holmes - Saturday, February 28 2009 @ 09:31 AM EST (#196898) #

Count me in on the thanks as well.
I've printed the series in very large text for my Grandmother's nursing home where they're a big hit with the residents and some of the staff. It helps them a lot with the spring training games.
Cheers.

Organization View - Relievers | 16 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.