Thanks for all these updates Gerry!

Any idea on where Loewen will start?

And anyword on, Hechevarria? Where he will start? If it is still going down?

Agreed - great updates as always, Gerry.

I'm glad to hear Stewart's AA-bound. It helps confirm the new organizational stance of not promoting too quickly.

And Alvarez' developing curveball... it really feels like he's ready to storm up some prospect lists this year.

Thanks Gerry for the updates. Few questions.
Is Santiago Nessi in Dunedin?
How have Carlos Perez and Moises Sierra looked?
Does it look like Gustavo Pierre will be able to continue playing ss?

I am not sure about Loewen, he has been playing down here with the AA team.  I see Adam Calderone, Darin Mastroianni and Eric Thames in AA.  The fourth spot is between Loewen and Moises Sierra.  I haven't seen Sierra either this in the last few days so I am not sure which of them will be in AA.  I should know tomorrow.

Nessy is in camp although I haven't seen him play in any games.  Same for Carlos Perez.  Remember today was the first day I saw the A teams playing games, they had been on the road for the last two days.

I haven't seen Sierra.

Pierre does look like he can play shortstop.  He made one play today where he went into the hole, fielded the groundball, jumped and spun to throw to second for the force.  The players on the bench were cheering him after that play.  I will have pics of Pierre later but he is 6'3" or 6'4" which is tall for a shortstop.  He has very broad shoulders but the rest of him is thin.  If he really fills out he might have to move to third, if he stays slim he could stick at short.  He does appear to have the arm and range for short.

Is it possibly Egan Smith finishing the Lansing rotation? He seems the logical choice unless he's hurt or something.

I'm impressed that Bell got the promotion to AA - should I take this to mean he had an impressive spring?

Thanks Gerry!

That AA pitching staff looks nails.

Thanks Gerry, these updates are a fantastic lead-up to the season. It has me very excited about the talent down on the farm. As people mentioned yesterday in the roundtable (which was great, btw), I think success this year should be judged solely on how our young players develop, at every level, from the big club to the GCL.

I would also add that it's great to hear about Pierre and his potential, although he will have big shoes to fill with a name like Gustavo (insert sarcasm here).

I"d also like to hear what people think about Loewen and where he should start. I was very surprised to hear he might be in New Hampshire, for two main reasons:

1) his extreme "youth" in terms of AB's, aprroximately
400, and;

2) the fact that he didn't exactly crush it last year (nor should he have been expected to).

Would it not make more sense to start him back in Dunedin and let him build up a bit more confidence, particularly in light of the new philosophy of slowing down the promotion schedule? I'd say 150-200 followed by a promotion sounds about right, but what do I know?

Keep up the great work, to the entire BB team.

Tolisano will play some third base this year.  Otherwise Jackson and Pastornicky will both be in Dunedin and will split playing time at shortstop.

Is this typical?  I know consensus in the organization seems to be to slow down the developmental push for young players, but having the youngsters play multiple positions / share playing time at their primary position seems a little counter to this?

Gerry, this minor league updates are great, thanks!

Loewen:

On one side Loewen hasn't shown he has mastered the FSL yet.

On the other side Loewen is a free agent after this season and the Jays need to know what Loewen can do before then, and possibly "be nice" to him so he will resign with the Jays if they want him to.

Press Conference set for 12:30 EST

I can't find info re a press conference?

Hech?

press conference was for a 4 year, 18 million dollar extension for Lind.

Plus 3 club options.

I am curious to see how much the options are for.

What a great idea! He's had a whole one good year! These kinds of contracts always work out just fine.

Doesn't sound too bad, but it's like someone else was implying...has this club learned nothing from Wells and Rios?

What a great idea! He's had a whole one good year! These kinds of contracts always work out just fine.

It must take a lot of effort to be cynical about a deal like this. They just locked up Lind through his prime, a player with a good minor league track record, and after two seasons of progressive adjustments had a breakout year (one in line with his minor league numbers). Oh, and then tacked on 3 years of flexibility beyond that. These are things to be giddy over, not stewing in a pot of pessimism.

I understand, there are risks, but there are also risks crossing the street. The appropriate thing to do is to look both ways before crossing, not stop crossing altogether.

It must take a lot of effort to be cynical about a deal like this.

No, not at all. In fact, it was frighteningly easy. But I don't think it's necessarily cynical to insist on more than one good year before opening the vault.

Lansing Lugnuts roster

http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3984123

 

left-handers Evan Crawford, Aaron Loup and Matt Wright

right-handers Chad Jenkins, Ryan Shopshire, Dustin Antolin, Matt Fields, Scott Gracey, Nestor Molina, Dave Sever, Brian Slover, Ryan Tepera and Steve Turnbull

Sean Ochinko, Karim Turkamani, Jon Talley behind the plate

infield Balbino Fuenmayor, Ryan Goins, Mark Sobolewski, Ryan Schimpf, Oliver Dominguez and Kevin Nolan

outfield Kenny Wilson, Eric Eiland, Bradley Glenn and Chris Hopkins

catcher A.J. Jimenez will begin the season on the Disabled List.

But I don't think it's necessarily cynical to insist on more than one good year before opening the vault

The more years you wait, the more money ends up coming out of that "vault". Contracts that are signed before the player has a track record of success at the big league level have the greatest opportunity to be great contracts. The Longoria, Braun and even Aaron Hill contracts carried risk, but they were educated signings and now look great, much like I think this signing will. 

Wells initial long term deal turned out very good. It was the subsequent extension that was not good.

Hinske would be the better example.

However, Lind had a solid track record of success through the minors. His recent year is pretty much in line with his career development.

No, not at all. In fact, it was frighteningly easy. But I don't think it's necessarily cynical to insist on more than one good year before opening the vault.

Heh. It is more than just one good year, though. He also had an average year with the bat in '08 that showed he was developing after his rough transition year of '07. Combined that with his minor league track record, and now is the perfect time to extend him. There still is risk, and that's why the team's getting a discount, but the risk of an out-and-out bust or requiring a platoon have been reduced dramatically.

My reservation about this deal is not really about Lind's bat over the next 4 years.  It concerns positional flexibility.  Wallace will hopefully be your first baseman.  This deal commits the organization effectively to the idea that Snider will be an outfielder over the next 4 years, and with Wells being ideally suited to a transfer to a corner, the move forces a long-term glut at the corner OF/1B/DH slots with the middle IF/CF/3B being short.  Of course, trades are possible but it is easier to make a trade when one is not forced to. 

And I am very disappointed that Carlos Perez isn't on the Lansing roster.  For purely selfish reasons. I was hoping to take a look at him this summer.

Interesting that Dominguez was bumped to Lansing while Gustavo Pierre remains in short-season ball (I assume he won't be in Dunedin). Gerry, any idea why this is the case?

So the Jays are acknowledging that Zach Stewart "needs to develop his off-speed pitches" and is being sent to the AA level, rather than AAA.   I have a sneaking suspicion that we may have slightly overrated this guy.  If I recall correctly, many Bauxites had rated him as the team's best prospect (before the Halladay trade).  I'm not sure whether he'll live up to that level of hype, especially when we don't even know if he'll become a starter or a reliever.

I agree. It's odd that both Pierre and Perez are not with Lansing. I guess they'll be in Auburn later this summer. Really hoping that Balbino has a great year.

http://www.nhfishercats.com/news.php?a=382

Pitchers

R   Bell, Robert 
R   Drabek, Kyle
R   McLeary, Marty
L   Perez, Luis
R   Stewart, Zach
       
R   Boone, Randy
R   Buzachero, Bubbie  
L   Collins, Tim
R   Dials, Zach 
R   Farquhar, Daniel   
R   Magnuson, Trystan 
R   Martin, Adrian
       
Catchers

Jeroloman, Brian
Jaspe, Jon
       
Infielders

Cooper, David 
Crabbe, Callix  
Diaz, Jon
Emaus, Brad   
Mayorson, Manuel
Sanchez, Luis 
Quintana, Al
       
Outfielders

Calderone, Adam
Loewen, Adam  
Mastroianni, Darin
Thames, Eric   
       
       
Disabled List  
R   Bongiovanni, Vince 
Shoffit, Sean
R   Rodriguez, Kenny

Moises Sierra and Carlos Perez are both injured. Neither injury is considered serious. Perez DH'd today in a game.

I am flying back tonight so no Saturday update until tomorrow. But I did see Kyle Drabek pitch six shutout innings against the AAA team today.

I agree. It's odd that both Pierre and Perez are not with Lansing. I guess they'll be in Auburn later this summer.

At this time of year, Extended Spring in Florida is often where guys who didn't get enough reps during ST end up. I wouldn't assume that they won't end up in Lansing when they join a team.