Baseball Think Factory: "According to a source with knowledge of the situation, former Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi will be joining the cast of ESPN’s Baseball Tonight starting in March ... An official announcement regarding Ricciardi is expected either later this week or early next week."
Additional BBTN newcomers could include Aaron Boone and Nomar Garciaparra. Well, at least the BBTN infield will hit for power!
"...but I'm not looking forward to the inevitable blabbing about his tenure in Toronto, Rogers, the Halladay trade negotiations, Toronto fans/media, excuses for never winning 90 games, Frank Thomas, Shea Hillenbrand, AJ Burnett, etc. I expect it will be sort of like the Keith Law situation all over again. Sigh."
You forget that they are preaching to an American audience who could not care less about the Jays. I expect he will be asked to talk about New York and Boston a lot. Most of his comments will start with, "Well when I was GM of the Jays, I learned about how difficult it is to compete with the Yankees..."
"I've heard JP on XM since his firing and he mostly talked about how tough the AL East was."
Then again, thats pretty much the truth, isn't it?
"Then again, thats pretty much the truth, isn't it?"
Well, if we know the truth, then it can't be a lie, can it?
I've heard JP on XM since his firing and he mostly talked about how tough the AL East was. He went on and on about it actually, it got quite boring, he was definetley in defense mode still.
No way!! Can't imagine it. Totally strengths and weaknesses during his tenure. His weaknesses were major though and negated everything else. Sad. It looked so good there for a while. Too bad he couldn't control his own personality.
"And that is the difference between the good ones and the bad ones...
The bad ones can't see past the barriers while the good ones look for ways to go around them."
And so far A.A. appears to be doing that which is a good thing IMO.
Just got my copy of Baseball Prospectus 2010, it's a rather depressing read for Jay's fans. States that JP left the Jays barren with only two decent hitters on the team under 27 (Lind, Snider), neither of which has much defensive value. Overall they like AA except for the Wallace trade, as they think Wallace may be Overbay version 2.0. Whereas Baseball America said in this year's edition of their prospect handbook that Wallace could eventually hit for a batting title he is such a gifted hitter. I'll go with the Baseball America on this. They also mention that trading Chavez to the Mariners was odd for a team so early in the contending process as Chavez is a future middle of the order threat. I don 't recall BP mentioning much about Chavez during his breakout year last year and now that the Jays trade him they call it a mistake, perhaps some leftover JP bias here?
The one thing they suggest which is interesting is that AA should trade HIll while his value is at a max. They think he's more than peaked and will be "exposed" in the coming years. Depending on the return it might be worth it, thoughts anyone?
Vegas odds are out. The Jays over/under is 71 wins. That ties them for the bottom with the Royals, Pirates and Padres. The Orioles, Nationals and Indians are within 2 wins.
Yankees, Sawx and Phillies are the only teams over 90 wins.
AL playoff teams would be Yankees, Red Sox, Angels and White Sox/Twins (tie) - 3.5 out of 4 the same as 2009
NL playoff teams are Phillies, Cardinals, Dodgers and Braves - 3 out of 4 the same as 2009
Interesting bit on Baseball America about Jake Eliopoulos, perhaps it wasn't all bad that the Jays didn't sign all of their top picks:
I have no idea what the chances are that Purcey will be a successful starter in a couple of years, but I am sure that they are more than Tallet's.
With Purcey's extremely poor control, do you figure he has a chance to be usual in any role for anyone?
With Purcey's extremely poor control, do you figure he has a chance to be usual in any role for anyone?
Sure. For example, through age 28, Brian Tallet had walked 4.6/9 and struck out 5.3/9 over 90 innings.
Through age 27, Purcey is at 4.7 & 7.3, respectively, in 113 innings.
Tallet certainly turned into a useful player - though moreso in the bullpen, IMO, where he can be used for long relief and spot starts. Purcey may or may not harness his control, but 2010 is the year to figure out who's going to be useful and how.
David Purcey is a 27.9 year-old LHP, under team control for 5 more years, able to pitch 200+ innings this year
This assertion is based on what exactly?
To pitch 200 innings, he'd need 32 starts averaging over 6 innings per start. He has never averaged even 6 innings per start at any level of professional ball. But suddenly, he'll be able to do this in 2010, in the majors? He'll be able to pitch, every fifth day all season long, with enough control to keep his pitch count down and effectively enough to merit staying in the game?
This sounds good.....
And so on a back field at Toronto's Spring Training complex, McGowan fired an assortment of pitches to Travis Snider, Joey Gathright, Randy Ruiz and J.P. Arencibia, the first hitters he has faced since leaving a game after four innings on July 8, 2008, with a sore right shoulder.
More than 19 months later, McGowan appeared to thrive. His pitches were sharp, and Gathright even visibly buckled when one curveball crossed the plate, muttering as he left the batter's box.
David Purcey is a 27.9 year-old LHP, under team control for 5 more years, able to pitch 200+ innings this year
This assertion is based on what exactly?
IF THEY STAY HEALTHY: Ricky Romero made 30 starts,183.0 IP, slightly more than 6.0 IP/G. He should be able to make 33 starts with up to 213.0 IP this year. David Purcey made 33 starts, 187.1 IP, approx. 5.2 IP/G. He should be able to make another 33 starts with up to 217.1 IP this year. Dana Eveland made 30 starts, 168.0 IP, approx. 5.2 IP/G. He should be able to make 33 starts with up to 198.0 IP this year.
Every other pitcher on this staff is inning limited. Until you can show me five pitchers, and only five pitchers, who will make 162 starts for this team, don't discount anyone. Someone must pitch 1458+ innings for this team. Tell me who.
Until you can show me five pitchers, and only five pitchers, who will make 162 starts for this team, don't discount anyone.
Where is it written that the 162 starts have to come from only 5 pitchers? The Jays have at least 10 starting pitchers, all of whom I imagine will make some starts in 2010. The carousel will be all the busier in Halladay's absence.
Where is it written that the 162 starts have to come from only 5 pitchers? The Jays have at least 10 starting pitchers, all of whom I imagine will make some starts in 2010. The carousel will be all the busier in Halladay's absence.
IF HEALTHY: First you keep the pitchers, out of options, to start the season for at least 15 starts, to gauge their ability. Add in enough of at least 10 starting pitchers to fill out the rotation and send the rest to the minors. When most of the Pitchers start reaching inning limitations, both here and in the minors, who starts the rest of the season.
Just look at the histories of Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Brandon Morrow and Dana Eveland, to name a few, for abuse of inning limitations.
Try to look at the bigger picture, or you run the risk getting bogged down in the details of now.
