Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - What A Story, Mr. Lawrie!

'Cause after all, he'll hit the baseball! There's still a long way to go but Brett Lawrie continues to make his case that he should play his second ever game at the Dome April 1. The Canadian third baseman (who was at the Dome not that long ago) slugged his second homer of the year to help the Blue Jays knock off the Twins 7-4 Thursday afternoon in Fort Myers. Jays fans are hoping for similar results during the season opening series at home April 1-3.

Brett Lawrie is hitting .381 so far this spring with two homers and five runs batted in over 21 at-bats.

In other Jays related news...

The Toronto Sun looks at Jesse Litsch's bid to make the starting rotation. Pitching coach Bruce Walton is confident #51 will make it up north...

“He had Tommy John in 2009 and the next year (2010) he was just trying to get his feet back underneath him. But you get guys coming (in baseball), you have arms coming and he was just standing still and those guys moved past him. But the thing you can’t forget is that he’s still young and I think you’re going to see the real Jesse Litsch show up this spring and into the season.”

One of the locks for the starting rotation, Brandon Morrow, talks about his expected workload for 2011 and the benefits of throwing a simulated game with The Toronto Sun.

“It’s a way to slow down the game a bit. In a competitive situation, you get caught up in trying to get guys out as much as just making your pitches. That’s the main focus of doing a simulated game, is to take the adrenaline out of the picture and just make your pitches.”

Sportsnet's Scott Carson shares his thoughts on what's going on in camp.

Each and every one of the Blue Jays’ prospects, all who where showcased on Sunday's telecast from Bradenton, have shown why the future is so bright after general manager Alex Anthopoulos rebuilt the farm system. Brett Lawrie, Anthony Gose, Adeiny Hechavarria, Travis d'Arnaud and Eric Thames have all shown flashes of talent that will one day see them patrolling the turf at (editor's note - the Dome).

The News-Press out of Fort Myers, Florida has a feature on Jays hopeful John Tolisano, who is trying to become a utility man.

"He's got some ability to play third base," said new Toronto manager John Farrell, "We're going to take a longer look at him throughout the course of his minor league season in the outfield. But he's a guy, because of his versatility and because of his ability to switch hit, who has shown us some line-drive, gap-type power with his bat."

Naples News has more on Tolisano with additional comments from manager John Farrell.

“Sometimes the misnomer is that people think there is a point in time that is etched for a given player to reach his potential, when in fact, it’s the opposite,” Farrell said. “The player tells us when he’s ready for the next set of challenges and (Tolisano is) well along the path of his own development and finding his way to the major league level at some point in time.”

Former Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo speaks to The Baltimore Sun about his trials and tribulations in Toronto.

"Making the club out of spring last year and not throwing for 15 or 16 days, it's one of those things where you go out there and finally pitch and you're not really that crisp," he said. "Mentally, you go home and you feel like you never really had a chance. It's those little things that kind of make you stronger as a person and as a player. All it does is help you in the long run. I'm just going to put it behind me and soak in what I learned. We'll just move on and go from there."

Today, the Jays take on the Evil Empire in Dunedin at 1:05 pm Eastern Standard Time (by the way, remember to set your clocks an hour ahead before you hit the hay Saturday night as we spring ahead to Daylight Savings Time!) as Kyle Drabek gets the start for the good guys. Outfielder Scott Podsednik is also expected to make his spring debut.

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Friday, March 11 2011 @ 11:12 AM EST.

What A Story, Mr. Lawrie! | 78 comments | Create New Account

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

Chuck - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 11:17 AM EST (#231187) #

I'm pretty sure that John Farrell doesn't know what misnomer means.

China fan - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 11:19 AM EST (#231188) #

In other developments, Ricky Romero has been confirmed as the Jays opening-day starter. No surprise there. But it's interesting that Farrell is also hinting at his preference for the rest of the rotation. He wants a power arm in the 2nd and 5th slots in the rotation -- before and after Romero -- to break up the left-handers and to mix up the pitching styles that the opponents will face in any 3-game or 4-game series. This implies that the rotation will be: Romero, Morrow, Cecil, Litsch (or Zep) and Drabek. What do people think about this? Is this a good rotation strategy?

whiterasta80 - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 12:14 PM EST (#231190) #

Based on current personnel I would say yes that's how I would setup the rotation, but ideally I'd want another power arm in Litsch's spot as well. I'd love to see Stewart take that spot before the year is over, but his job may be to make up the extra 30-50 innigns that Morrow leaves on the table.

Chuck - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 12:18 PM EST (#231191) #

I am more confident that there are benefits to a change in pitcher type within a game than between games. I thought somebody somewhere did a study of the latter and found, as much as such a study could reveal, that the day-to-day carryover effect from seeing a certain pitcher type was neglible. The strategy is certainly discussed as if its benefits were a given (like many baseball strategies).

I have always wondered if a strategy in constructing a rotation should consider each starter's average IP per start. Instead of bunching the pitchers likely to require greater bullpen assistance at the back end of the rotation, why not spread them out so the reliever load is better balanced? Now, of course, the challenge is to forecast each starter's likely average IP per start. But perhaps with a 7-man bullpen, this type of strategy would be pointless.

Ishai - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 01:28 PM EST (#231192) #

I think the argument for breaking up the pitching styles in a rotation has more to do with minimizing series-long bad matchups. Certain teams hit certain types of pitching better, and spreading out the hard throwers eliminates the chance of going against an AL Beast in a three games series with only soft tossers.

Dave Rutt - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 01:37 PM EST (#231193) #

spreading out the hard throwers eliminates the chance of going against an AL Beast in a three games series with only soft tossers

Of course, that could go the other way as well - if hard throwers perform particularly well against a certain team, having three in a row in a three game series would be a perfect storm. As Chuck said, I doubt there's any effect produced by rotation ordering.

Magpie - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 01:49 PM EST (#231194) #

I'm inclined to agree that generally it doesn't make a great deal of difference what sequence you use with the starters, with the possible exception of really weird configurations. Some of us are still spooked by the 1989 Jays, who began the year with four finesse lefties in the rotation, and lost 24 of their first 36 games.

That wasn't the only reason why, of course...

Chuck - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 02:16 PM EST (#231197) #

I think that we humans are predictable in our capacity to forget how easily we forget.

You watch a hitter like Aaron Hill chase a slider down and away and the very next pitch -- the very next pitch -- is the exact same pitch in the the exact same same place and Hill chases it exactly as he did just seconds before. The carryover effect is too often barely existent on a pitch-by-pitch basis. Extend that to AB-to-AB or game-to-game and I think you just keep stretching the likelihood of such an effect with every increase in time gap between events.

It's fun to talk about rotation order because it's the spring and it's something to do to bide one's time until the season starts. But like most baseball-related springtime chatter, it's innocuous. But the season is closer than we think. DST will shave off an hour of waiting time.

Matthew E - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 02:24 PM EST (#231198) #

the 1989 Jays, who began the year with four finesse lefties in the rotation

They did? Key, Flanagan, Cerutti... I know they had Jeff Musselman at the end of the '88 season, but he didn't start the '89 season with the big club, did he? Stieb was also there, but I think Clancy had moved on... I don't think Stottlemyre was in the rotation yet... I refuse to go look this up.

Matthew E - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 02:34 PM EST (#231199) #

I refuse to go look this up.

I looked it up. It was Musselman. So there I am.

China fan - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 02:39 PM EST (#231200) #

Scott Podsednik made his Jays debut today, and showed how he can be a useful little player, even when he doesn't get a hit. In 3 plate appearances, he collected 2 walks and a stolen base. As a leadoff hitter, that's as good as a double and a single, even if it doesn't look as impressive.

China fan - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 02:59 PM EST (#231202) #

More spring-training news: Joel Carreno, Alan Farina, Brad Mills and Darin Mastroianni were sent to the minor-league camp today. Two years ago, Mills almost made the Jays starting rotation on opening day. This year, he's one of the first cuts -- which says something about the dramatic improvement in the Jays pitching depth in the past couple years.

Meanwhile, there's a bit more clarity on the pitching situation, with the news that Scott Richmond has arm fatigue and will be shut down for 5 or 6 days, while Jo-Jo Reyes was bumped to the bullpen today. My guess is that Reyes is now competing with Purcey for the sole LH spot in the bullpen, while Richmond will end up in Las Vegas.

rtcaino - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 03:46 PM EST (#231203) #

85bluejay - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 04:29 PM EST (#231204) #

China fan

My recollection is that Jo-Jo Reyes has been the 2nd guy coming in as tandem starters because of the 5 man rotation concept - The manager had said that when minor league games started one candidate would pitch the minor league game so that both starting candidates would get the same opportunity - I think minor league games start around March 14 - so likely next time through the rotation either Drabek or Reyes will start the minor league game - unless, of course there's been a change of plans

Chuck - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 04:31 PM EST (#231205) #

so likely next time through the rotation either Drabek or Reyes will start the minor league game

I believe Reyes is out of options.

85bluejay - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 04:46 PM EST (#231206) #

Chuck,

you don't have to be optioned to start minor league spring games.

China fan - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 04:50 PM EST (#231207) #

If Reyes was still a candidate for the starting rotation, his innings would be gradually bumped up to 4 innings by now. Instead he was reduced to 2 innings today, and it was a bullpen role. All the other main candidates for the rotation -- Romero, Morrow, Cecil, Litsch, Zep, Drabek -- are up to 4 innings (or nearly 4 innings) by now, and they are all starting games, not relieving. Farrell did talk about "tandem starters" at the beginning of the spring, but he quickly changed the structure so that Litsch and Zep would both be starting games, to keep it a fair competition between them. With Reyes held to 2 innings today, there is little doubt that he has fallen out of the competition for a starting role, unless there are unexpected injuries.

Chuck - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 06:04 PM EST (#231209) #

you don't have to be optioned to start minor league spring games.

Sorry. I missed the spring part of your comment.

Thomas - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 08:10 PM EST (#231210) #

Instead he was reduced to 2 innings today, and it was a bullpen role

I'm fairly sure Reyes threw 3 innings today.

MatO - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 08:16 PM EST (#231211) #

Boxscore says two innings.

China fan - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 08:31 PM EST (#231212) #

The boxscore still says that Reyes pitched for 2 innings. But oddly enough, Mike Rutsey of the Sun is reporting that Reyes pitched for 3 innings -- plus a further 25 pitches in the bullpen to build up his pitch count. So maybe the boxscore is wrong. Spring boxscores can be unreliable. Still, the main point is that Reyes was pitching out of the bullpen, and pitched only 2 or 3 innings, rather than the 4 innings that the leading rotation candidates are getting. Farrell has made it clear that, at this stage of the spring, all of the leading candidates will be starting the spring games, so that they can get into their pre-game preparation routines, rather than pitching from the bullpen. So by that signal alone, Reyes is probably out of the rotation race and is better positioned for the bullpen.

jim854 - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 09:18 PM EST (#231213) #

I was at the game this afternoon and Jo-Jo Reyes did pitch 3 innings.

greenfrog - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 09:54 PM EST (#231214) #

Suggested poll question: if Pujols becomes a free agent after 2011, should the Jays make a run at signing him? I know it's way early to be speculating about such things, and I would reluctantly say no (absurd pricetag, player is on the wrong side of 30), but (1) as the Hardball Times recently noted, he's "one of the greatest hitters in baseball history" and a good defensive player to boot; (2) signing him would be a massive upgrade for the Jays, probably for at least five years; (3) he would likely be a monster in the RC; and (4) you need elite players to compete in the AL East.

greenfrog - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 10:02 PM EST (#231215) #

Oh, and just for comparison's sake: in his career, Pujols's has averaged 372 total bases per 162 games. Last year, in 161 games, Jose Bautista racked up 351 total bases. The mind boggles.

John Northey - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 10:25 PM EST (#231216) #

A player like Pujols is almost impossible to get unless you get extremely lucky in the draft (as the Cardinals did). If the Jays open the wallets for anyone who is currently player, Pujols is the guy. I'd give 5 years at $30 mil without too much fear, but 10 years would be too much (what it is rumored he wants). My guess is he wants to either A) set the record for highest per year average (thus $30 mil a year) or B) set the overall record for contract value (10 years at $28 per would be required or 9 years at $31 mil or $35 per for 8...you get the idea).

At his age going beyond 5 years would be a big, big risk. Regardless he will be a big risk due to his cost (minimum of $25 mil per year I'd think is what he'll get unless an injury happens this year or a massive drop off).

TamRa - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 04:41 AM EST (#231220) #

This implies that the rotation will be: Romero, Morrow, Cecil, Litsch (or Zep) and Drabek. What do people think about this? Is this a good rotation strategy?

I agree except with the (possible?) Implication this means Drabek will break camp with the jays. He might, of course, but I don't think one can infer that Farrel wouldn't "put up with" less than his ideal for a half dozen times or so.

Looking at the schedule, if you induldge the symbolic and really meaningless notion that Drabek would get his first start against the Astros on May 20 (which would be cool if it were a road game but it's not) then five time before that series Romero and the guy who would proceed him would face the same team. It's not a huge issue long term if that's Reyes or Zep.

I'd love to see Stewart take that spot before the year is over, but his job may be to make up the extra 30-50 innigns that Morrow leaves on the table.

Not logical - Stewart's inning ceiling this year will be lower than Morrow's. His previous high is 10 innings less than Morrow's, and Morrow is 2 years older (the whole inning limit thing is said to apply more to pitchers under 25 than those older)

TamRa - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 04:46 AM EST (#231221) #

My guess is that Reyes is now competing with Purcey for the sole LH spot in the bullpen, while Richmond will end up in Las Vegas.
.....
With Reyes held to 2 innings today, there is little doubt that he has fallen out of the competition for a starting role, unless there are unexpected injuries.

I don't think it's so much "Reyes falling" as concerns about Purcey's wildness returning. As much as I've rooted for him, Big Dave is doing this to himself.

Richard S.S. - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 10:57 AM EST (#231226) #

But it's interesting that Farrell is also hinting at his preference for the rest of the rotation. He wants a power arm in the 2nd and 5th slots in the rotation -- before and after Romero -- to break up the left-handers and to mix up the pitching styles that the opponents will face in any 3-game or 4-game series.

The only 3 power arms we presently have available are Morrow (176.1 inning limit), Drabek (209.0 inning limit) and Stewart (166.1 inning limit). So Farrell's idea's not lasting long.

Before Street & Smith's was acquired by Sporting News, their Baseball (Team Preview) Edition included pitch types and speed thrown for Starting Pitchers and top Relievers. Now I have trouble finding out that information, can anyone help?

With Romero (LHP), Morrow (RHP), Cecil (LHP), Litsch (RHP), just changing arms is enough difference, whether or not it's a power arm is just gravy. It's who they choose to follow Litsch (180-ish innings limit) that is more important. Drabek or Rzepczynski (191.2 inning limit) should fit the Fifth Starter spot, only who pitch for Morrow once his limits are reached?

jim854 - Friday, March 11 2011 @ 09:18 PM EST (#231213) #

I was at the game this afternoon and Jo-Jo Reyes did pitch 3 innings Reyes might be a consideration for Fifth Starter, but with the injury to Carlson and the control problems of Purcey, who's the Left-handers in the Bullpen?

christaylor - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 01:33 PM EST (#231228) #

"as much as such a study could reveal, that the day-to-day carryover effect from seeing a certain pitcher type was neglible. "

Unless we're thinking of different work, I think this study was about the "knuckleball hangover" idea, which is a similar idea but little different. If someone has done work on breaking up lefties and righties in the rotation, I'd like to read it.

Alex Obal - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 03:25 PM EST (#231231) #

Suggested poll question: if Pujols becomes a free agent after 2011, should the Jays make a run at signing him?

Good one. The terms are a bit vague though. I mean, of course the Jays should take a run at him, though they'll probably get outbid. I'd rather ask whether Pujols is worth it to the Jays at $X over Y years, y'know? 240/8? 270/10? 300/10?! Not sure which of those would be most interesting for a poll.

Anyway, I'll throw it up there sometime soon.

Flex - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 04:06 PM EST (#231233) #

Rather than pick one and have us say yes or no, why not expand the range of those options and let us choose among them?

Alex Obal - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 04:25 PM EST (#231235) #

Even better.

Dan C - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 05:19 PM EST (#231237) #

From MLBTR

Jays claimed Cesar Cabral. Its an interesting pick up, obviously no risk as the jays didn't give up anything. They moved McGowan to the 60 day DL.

China fan - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 05:52 PM EST (#231238) #

The Cabral acquisition is an odd one. He's a Rule 5 draftee, so the Jays have to keep him on the major-league roster for the whole season, or give him back. Just when you thought the bullpen was already vastly overcrowded, Anthopolous picks up another reliever. How many guys will he have to trade to make room for Cabral? (Or does he just want to look at the guy for a couple weeks for $25,000?)

At the age of 22, Cabral has never played above High A, and his numbers are not particularly impressive, although his peripherals are okay. Another brilliantly inscrutable deal. Dear AA, please tell us, what is the method in your madness?

China fan - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 06:01 PM EST (#231239) #

I just took a look at the scouting report on Cabral from Soxprospects.com. He sounds good -- but good enough at age 22 to take a spot in a major-league bullpen for an entire season? Here's the report on Cabral:

Lefty with a solid frame. and a delivery. Pitches exclusively from the stretch. Fastball sits between 91-93 mph and tops out at 95 mph. Secondary pitches include an excellent 81-83 mph circle changeup, a mid-70s slurvey curveball, and a sharp 79-82 mph slider. Gets a lot of swings and misses with his changeup, which has nice downward movement. Excellent command and control, attacks hitters.

Flex - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 07:15 PM EST (#231241) #

I think this is exactly the year you take a chance on a 22-year-old with that kind of potential.

92-93 - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 07:50 PM EST (#231242) #

Johan Santana was once a 21 year old claimed off waivers who had pitched the year before in the Midwest League. When there's an available LHP with that repertoire, you grab him and figure it out later. As much bullpen depth as the Jays may have, there really isn't that much on the left side, and Purcey's 4.0 BB/9 last year and early spring control struggles don't inspire confidence in him being the bullpen's lone LHP.

Alex Obal - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 08:04 PM EST (#231243) #

Presumably his new manager knows a bit about him, too.

Mike Green - Saturday, March 12 2011 @ 10:22 PM EST (#231244) #

My understanding is that Cabral picked up an extra couple of ticks on the fastball when he was moved to the pen (as often happens). This aint Johan Santana. If they're very, very lucky, he'll be Jesse Orosco.

China fan - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 05:01 AM EDT (#231248) #

It's nice to see the Jays finally beginning to pick up Rule 5 prospects again -- it can sometimes be a good way of acquiring prospects, and I agree that this is a rebuilding year where the strategy could make sense. But I wonder about Cabral. Let's hope that the Jays have scouted him heavily and spotted some potential that others haven't seen, because there is little, on the face of it, that grabs your attention about Cabral's potential. Mentioning him in the same breath as Santana seems a bit of an over-reach. He wasn't ranked in the top 20 prospects of the Red Sox at the end of last season. Even when the Rule 5 draft took place in December, the Jays could have picked Cabral, but they didn't. He was picked 14th in the Rule 5 draft -- four slots LOWER than Brad Emaus. Marc Hulet, assessing the draft after it happened, did not choose Cabral as one of the seven best picks in the draft. (I'd welcome Marc's analysis now, if he sees this.) However, Marc did have a couple nice things to say about Cabral at the time of the draft -- here is what he wrote on Baseball Analysts:

Cabral is a southpaw that produces above-average ground-ball rates but he gave up a lot of hits in high-A ball in 2010. He had a BABIP-allowed of .391 and a very unlucky LOB-rate; Cabral had a favorable FIP of 2.60 (His ERA was 5.81).

Gerry - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 09:35 AM EDT (#231251) #

From Ken Rosenthal's notes column:

The Blue Jays are building impressive pitching depth.

Manager John Farrell told reporters that left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes, who is out of options, could make the team as a reliever. Righties Jesse Litsch and Kyle Drabek are the favorites for the final two rotation spots, possibly leaving lefty Marc Rzepczynski to start the season at Triple A.

Right-hander Zach Stewart also will open at Triple A, and the Jays are excited by the progress of righty Henderson Alvarez, who has touched 97 mph and changed the grip on his slider, creating more tilt. Alvarez likely will open at Double A.

bpoz - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 10:08 AM EDT (#231252) #

China fan, IMO you may have asked a very important question concerning AA's reasons for claiming Cabral. I always try to figure out AA's thinking & strategy because it is never simple. He has said that he thinks 2-3 moves ahead.

IMO his scouts advised that he claim this hard throwing LHP with control.
Can he convince Theo E to trade? I like the idea of those 2 going head to head. I believe that they will cooperate because neither caused the other to miss the playoffs last year and they are not serious rivals this year. I would guess player to be named.
Each year Cabral will have to be put on the 40 man or risk the rule 5. IMO neither Theo nor AA want him in the majors this year. So Cabral could be traded to Theo and then be demoted.

I am most likely way off but I do enjoy the complexities.

China fan - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 10:24 AM EDT (#231253) #

Well, Farrell has now confirmed that the Jays won't keep Cabral on the major-league roster this year. They will try to work out a trade with the BoSox, so they can send him to the minors. If that doesn't work, they'll put him back on waivers. My question: doesn't it boost the trade price when the Sox know that the Jays have targeted Cabral so visibly? Must be hard to drive a good bargain under those circumstances.

ayjackson - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 12:01 PM EDT (#231254) #

Interesting on Alvarez - 97mph FB, major league curve, now a slurve that has become a true slider - yet still no strikouts in five or six innings this ST. He`s an enigma.

On Cabral, if the price isn`t right, they waive him and move on. No big deal.

jerjapan - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#231255) #

AA and Theo both know the value of Cabral - that of a player just waived by the Sox. The return is going to be minimal regardless.

85bluejay - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 12:54 PM EDT (#231256) #

AA and Theo both know the value of Cabral - that of a player just waived by the Sox.

Well, the Sox didn't waive Cabral, he was a rule 5 pick, not protected on the 40 man roster, which is different.

I will be surprised if the 2 sides are able to agree,being divisional rivals - maybe if the Sox want to take a flyer on a catching prospect like Yan Gomes.

ayjackson - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 05:05 PM EDT (#231260) #

I know it`s only spring training, but I`m really starting to think that this waiting around for the clock to strike midnight for Bautista is a waste of time. I think the shoe fits!

DaveB - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 05:26 PM EDT (#231261) #

Having Cabral around for a few weeks is a great way to evaluate exactly how much the Jays would be prepared to give up for him in a trade. The Jays could certainly use a lefty in their system but as mentioned elsewhere the leverage is all on the Red Sox side. They may not have wanted to lose him in the first place and figured he would make it through the Rule V draft. There's something there to make the Rays interested enough to put in the claim. Farrell undoubtedly has knowledge of the Sox' progress reports on him and may have worked with him in ST last year. He had a nice 1.2 IP outing against the Jays last week, no hits, two strikeouts, two ground outs, a bunt pop-up vs. minor leaguers. It was his best of three appearances this spring and the waiver claim for him was put in a few days later.

A few notes from his 2010 season. Outstanding at A Greenville, one ER in 31.1 IP over 17 appearances, 7-35 BB/K, high GB rate. Basically your unhittable lefty to earn a promotion to Salem in early June. Cabral's ERA and WHIP at Salem took a huge hit from a few bad outings. He may have tired from a heavy workload (45 games, 79.1 IP) for a 21-year-old in his first full season as a reliever: In one of his last appearances in late August he gave up five hits, three walks and eight ER in one-third of an inning. Ouch. Without tracking down all of his 28 appearances for Salem, I found four outings that produced a total of 22 hits and 15 ER in five IP. Take selective stat-picking for what it's worth (not much). Highlights including a hitless Salem debut in June over two innings (two groundouts, 4Ks), his first save a week later with 2.2 hitless innings, 1BB-5Ks. He had four blown saves, two of which led to his only wins for Salem.

Chuck - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 07:40 PM EDT (#231263) #

There was a recent time -- very recent! -- in this team's history when there were enough qualified LH relievers on hand that they weren't looking for the next Bob McClure on the trash heap. Memories of Trever Miller here, where handedness trumps skill as a job requirement.

Gerry - Sunday, March 13 2011 @ 09:11 PM EDT (#231264) #

BTW excellent headline #2, you are an oasis of joy!

Dustin McGowan is now a reliever.

His transition to the bullpen is being made with that same cautious approach in mind. The club felt that if McGowan was forced to throw a lot of pitches in one outing, it would increase the odds of there being more medical problems.

That lack of endurance in the future also would cause problems for the club on the field.

"The thing that you run into there is, what is the fatigue level, once you get to 80 pitches and above?" Farrell said. "Is that where more damage takes place? Because if that's the feeling -- [and] that's the feeling of the medical staff -- now, you're looking at a five-inning starting pitcher.

"That's why we have to bring him back in a role that doesn't have limitations, that doesn't affect everybody else on the staff."

...........................

The club's decision to change his roles was made in conjunction with McGowan, whose main goal is to get back to the big leagues in any way possible.

"[McGowan] was consulted all along the way," Farrell said. "All that he has been through, all the information, from the doctors to the surgeons, all of that has been outlined very clearly to him. He's in agreement with it, and I think more than anything he wants to get back on the mound and compete."

timpinder - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 08:16 AM EDT (#231269) #

I was at that game and met Lawrie and got his autograph. That kid is going to have lots of power. He's only 21 but had lots of muscle mass already and the ball explodes off his bat. I told him I was hoping to see him in May or June, and he replied, "Tell me about it". I think he's confident and driven and could force the Jays' hand in a couple of months.

jgadfly - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#231279) #

Marc Hulet has posted his top 30 Jay prospects and as usual it is both interesting and informed writing ... http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/top-30-prospects-the-toronto-blue-jays/

Kelekin - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#231280) #

I am glad they finally announced this for McGowan. The idea that he was going to make it back as a starter just didn't make any sense. On that note, does anyone know if they're going to move Bobby Bell back to relief? He has too much of an injury past to have been made a starter in the first place.

Gerry - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 02:38 PM EDT (#231287) #

Dane Johnson told me that Bell will "likely" be moved back to relief. Managers and coaches are reluctant to be definitive until they see how the staffs come together with injuries and trades, etc.

Kelekin - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 02:56 PM EDT (#231290) #

Thanks Gerry. I thought Bell was a great mid-round pick and he proved me right in relief his first couple seasons, but the change to starter just didn't suit him.

China fan - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 02:58 PM EDT (#231291) #

Marc Hulet ranks the Jays minor-league system as the 3rd-best in the majors. Nice!

Original Ryan - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#231301) #

The Cesar Cabral era is over, as the Rays have apparently re-claimed him.

Mike Green - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 04:31 PM EDT (#231304) #

Old friend Spencer Fordin reports that Mitchell Page has died. At the time he played, I was not aware of how great his rookie year was, nor how little money he ended making.

Chuck - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 04:40 PM EDT (#231305) #

I was not aware of how great his rookie year was

Those of us playing Strat-O-Matic knew!

Kelekin - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 04:44 PM EDT (#231306) #

I think it's great to see our pitching depth (I would say 4th in the league), but I really hope we can add some big infield bats to the organization this year. I was disappointed we didn't get to sign Kris Bryant, although it was assumed we wouldn't.

I expect Ahrens to have a way better season than last, but how much better really is important. Outside of Ahrens, McDade and Sweeney (I am extremely high on this kid) and potentially Hawkins, we don't seem to have much in the way of non-shortstop infield depth in our minor league system. This is something I am a little concerned about, as Lind is only a lock until 2013, Hill is likely going to be going year-to-year with options and be gone by the end of 2013, and who knows if Lawrie ends up staying at 3B long-term.

Either way, now that we have stockpiled a lot of arms (and I am sure we will get some more), I'd like to see AA take a lot of infielders this draft.

Mike Green - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 05:07 PM EDT (#231307) #

I was an NL APBA player from about 1982, Chuck. Terry Kennedy, Bill Madlock, Garry Templeton, Juan Bonilla and Jason Thompson was my infield- all Pirates and Padres.

China fan - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 05:37 PM EDT (#231311) #

....This is something I am a little concerned about, as Lind is only a lock until 2013....

I wonder if it's too early for us to write off David Cooper? Although it's going unremarked, he's having himself a nice little spring training, with an OBP of .423 (but no power). Combined with his improvements in the second half of last season, and his move to Las Vegas this season, I wonder if he might still have a chance to redeem his first-round draft-pick status.

Flex - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 06:35 PM EDT (#231313) #

Gregg Zaun has been announced as a full-time analyst on Sportsnet and will be doing some radio as well. He was on PrimeTime with McCown who asked him about the Jays. Curiously, Zaun didn't sound terribly impressed. He thinks they'll hit a lot this year, but he didn't sound convinced about the pitching. "They need some power arms," he kept saying. I don't know if this means he's just out of the loop on this team, or whether either of these positions (on offense and pitching) is legitimate.

Or maybe he's just trying to establish himself as the gruff truth-teller about this team.

mendocino - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 08:04 PM EDT (#231315) #

Bobby Bell's bio @milb has his status as Voluntarily Retired List

Kelekin - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 09:56 PM EDT (#231316) #

China Fan: Yeah, I have to agree that Cooper has a shot, or at the very least, I`m assuming he could end up being almost the same as Wallace career-wise. However, when you grow up watching Carlos Delgado day in and day out, you can`t help but pine for that level of talent from our 1st basemen!

Mendocino: Interesting find. Nothing`s been listed on BA and Gerry just mentioned something that would be to the contrary, so it could just be the MiLB website being it`s silly pre-season self.

Gerry - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 10:29 PM EDT (#231317) #

I can't remember if I heard that Bell would be a reliever a month ago or longer, but I have reached out to some contacts to try and confirm.

TheBunk - Monday, March 14 2011 @ 11:55 PM EDT (#231318) #

Greg Zaun also didn't know who the Jays replaced the bullpen members like Scott Downs who left via free agency. As of right now, he doesn't seem informed enough to make a qualified judgement.

TamRa - Tuesday, March 15 2011 @ 02:16 AM EDT (#231322) #

Dane Johnson told me that Bell will "likely" be moved back to relief. Managers and coaches are reluctant to be definitive until they see how the staffs come together with injuries and trades, etc.

Apropo of nothing, given I have NO connections at all - but i'd speculated that given the mediocre talent projected for the AA rotation, the Jays might - even though it's pretty obvious Bell's future, if he has one, is in the pen - stick with him in the rotation until Jenkins and/or Alvarez are promoted just because of the lack of decent alternatives (beyond the Clint Everts of the world)

All that to ask this: (if he is not, in fact, retired) If they have decided to move him to relief again, is that because they don't think he can physically hold up to starting (which would invalidate my speculation) or because he simply doesn't have the pitches or endurance to start?

Kelekin - Tuesday, March 15 2011 @ 02:32 AM EDT (#231323) #

Bell spent most of his college career battling serious inuries, which is the reason he fell so far. He had a fantastic freshman season, okay sophomore year, and then most of his junior and senior seasons plagued with injury. I thought the move to starter was a bad one, despite his minor league success, due to the injury history. Of course, then he got injured again. So really, I think durability is a huge concern. It`s like with Sam Dyson when he comes back from TJ - I don`t even believe someone with his injury history should be tried as a starter.

CeeBee - Tuesday, March 15 2011 @ 09:00 AM EDT (#231325) #

"Greg Zaun also didn't know who the Jays replaced the bullpen members like Scott Downs who left via free agency. As of right now, he doesn't seem informed enough to make a qualified judgement."
In all fairness to Zaun, and he admitted it as well, he has been trying to win a job in San Diego(Arizona) and is planning to head down to Florida in the next week to get up to speed on the Jays.

Gerry - Tuesday, March 15 2011 @ 09:03 AM EDT (#231326) #

Bobby Bell has retired. I don't have any details other than a confirmation. I will be at minor league camp in ten days and I will find out more then.

Bell is the third pitcher to voluntary retire this off-season, earlier Chuck Huggins and Michael Kelly retired.

Kelekin - Tuesday, March 15 2011 @ 12:23 PM EDT (#231336) #

I wonder if it was all too much stress on his arm.

Thanks Gerry.

MatO - Tuesday, March 15 2011 @ 01:05 PM EDT (#231341) #

Heard a bit of Wilner on the radio. Romero will miss his next spring start as a precaution with a finger issue (blister?) he developed in his last start. Francisco has a shoulder issue (supposedly not serious) and won't pitch before the weekend. Podsednik's foot is in a cast so he definitely won't make the opening day roster.

Gerry - Tuesday, March 15 2011 @ 08:34 PM EDT (#231354) #

A couple of ex-Jays had notable days today.

Brett Wallace was 4-5 with 7 RBI's including a grand slam. Wallace is hitting .350 for the spring.

Wallace's salami came off Kevin Gregg who gave up five runs in a third of an inning and now has a 13.50 ERA.

bpoz - Wednesday, March 16 2011 @ 09:59 AM EDT (#231361) #

Gerry, have a great time in Florida. Have fun in the ocean? with the minor league kids. Your reports are always sweet and I am looking forward to reading them.

SK in NJ - Wednesday, March 16 2011 @ 01:45 PM EDT (#231370) #

Off-topic, but can anyone tell me how good of a view one gets if they sit at Field Level Outfield 135/row 4 at Rogers Centre? Might be able to secure tickets to those for Opening Day but not sure whether they are good or not. Any help would be appreciated.

James W - Wednesday, March 16 2011 @ 02:31 PM EDT (#231372) #

You'd be right down in the left field corner, so you wouldn't see much of the Jumbotron. You also wouldn't be able to follow a fly ball the entire way, or see what's happening in the left field corner. Other than that, they're pretty good seats. At normal times, you'll see all the fielders and be able to follow most of the play.

rtcaino - Wednesday, March 16 2011 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#231374) #

Gose and Lawrie double steal in todays game. Perhaps a sign of things to come (sometime in 2012).

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