With pitchers and catchers already in camp and the balance of the squad arriving on Friday, Dunedin began the annual welcome of the Toronto Blue Jays to this delightful Florida coastal town just west of Tampa Bay. The traditional welcome of the Jays is the address by a Toronto executive to the Dunedin Council of Organizations (DCO), a 100 strong group of local opinion leaders, community activists and volunteers.
This year the DCO was treated to an informative talk by Tony LaCava, the Jays’ Assistant General Manager for Player Personnel. LaCava was joined on the dias by Dunedin’s “Mr. Blue Jay”, Ken Carson, who spent 25+ years with the Jays as their first Trainer and later Director of Florida Operations and now a Sr. Consultant with the team. LaCava announced that Carson had been recently named Executive Vice President of the Florida State League. He will continue his current duties with the Blue Jays.
LaCava discussed the Jays management’s vision for the team going forward. First, there will be a concerted effort to build depth through player deals and scouting to lay in the necessary talent to improve the Jays’ win column. LaCava said that “Alex Anthopoulos is becoming known as a GM who is willing to put his money where his mouth is.” Plus, LaCava, who has a scouting background like Anthopoulos, said that the team now has grown to 53 scouting personnel on staff.
“That’s a real army working for us in the scouting department,” added LaCava. The scouting staff has divided their attention three ways - professional, amateur and Latin America. “We are especially proud that we had a good signing year in the 2010 Draft. Fortunately, with the $11.6 million available to us, we were able to put on a total of 20 signees with bonuses of at least six figures, “ said LaCava.
LaCava also noted the team’s commitment to Latin America with the newly improved academy now operating in the Dominican Republic to identify and develop young talent.
Responding to a question regarding Toronto’s status as just another mid-market team in baseball, LaCava agreed that Toronto was the 4th or so largest metro area in North America. “But more significantly,” he said, “we are now in a position to invest in winning. Mr. (Paul) Beeston has said that the Blue Jays brand is not just a Toronto brand. We intend to continue the brand’s development into a nation-wide all Canada brand, from coast to coast.” Noting that, “everyone understands that winning is the key,” LaCava says the new organization is ready take on the challenges of the Eastern Division of the American League. “Our goal is 85 wins and then we can go from there,” he said.
LaCava said he is happy with the development in the Jays minor league system, noting that the Jays have been ranked as high as number 4 in prospects. He said that two new teams have been added to the farm club organization, Bluefield, WV and Vancouver, BC (short season), “with the goal of providing a proper place for our young talent to play early as they work their way up the organization.”
Quickly commenting on the Jose Bautista deal, LaCava said the 5 year deal “reflects the team’s confidence in Jose as a producer plus he has become a leader, instilling in other players the importance of their own accountability.”
Noting that new manager John Farrell and his own staff have solid experience as players and coaches understand and have committed to upper managements plan. He added, “they know what they have to do.”
Hazarding a guess at the way the Jays lineup is looking for 2011, LaCava said that expectations are that the position list will look as follows:
LF Travis Snider
CF Rajai Davis – his speed is an asset and he looks like a great leadoff hitter.
RF Juan Rivera
3B Jose Bautista
SS Yunel Escobar – Yunel will be a great partner for Bautista on the left side of the field.
2B Aaron Hill
1B Adam Lind
C J.P. Arencibia - His outstanding work at AAA last year helped him get ready this year.
DH Edwin Encarnacion – EE has been “struggling” defensively, but his bat is still an asset.
LaCava said that the pitching staff is developing nicely with some strong starters ermerging like Brett Cecil and Brandon Morrow and hopefully Kyle Drabek, Jesse Litsch and others. And the bullpen is also being rebuilt with the likes of Frank Francisco, Octavio Dotel, Jon Rauch, Casey Janssen, David Purcey and others.
