I think that's becoming clear, as well. AA has made comments the last few days about Vizquel still having the arm to handle the left side of the infield, which seems to be suggesting that the doubt they had was as to whether his arm could still handle long throws when backhanding a ball at short.

I don't know how relevant it is, but I think it's probably worth at least noting that John Farrell was Cleveland's farm director when Francisco was coming up. I think the club likes him more than the internet seems to. There probably are enough at-bats for Thames as the backup at the corners and DH, but I don't think he'll wind up in that role.

Nothing an individual player can do, baring a total collapse or a super-duper whooper spring (I'm hungry), to win or lose their position on the 25-man Roster, if it's not up for competition.   To the best of my knowledge, one Bench position and one Starting position are the only competitions this Spring, Left Field Is Not.

Toronto is very dominant this Spring, 14 wins: 10 wins giving up only 2 or fewer runs, 1 giving up 3, all won by at least 2 or more runs; 4 losses: 1 run loss (3-4) in 10 Innings, two 2-run losses (2-4, 3-5) and a blowout 4th game of the spring.   You can talk about "working on stuff", "kids playing", "small sample", and more, but everyone is in the same boat.   This team must be better than 79-81 wins.

By the way: Aaron pitched a decent spring game: 5.0, 3 H, 2 R/ER, 1 HR, 3 SO, 7/1 GO/AO; against most of Boston's Statring 9.

I am done with Snider. I think it is time to move on. Thames is a better player.

I am rapidly approaching that point with Lind as well. Let's see Cooper play instead. (Though if Snider is to stay, let it be at the expense of Lind, not Thames.)

If his swing looks good, I think Snider should get the job.  He's still young (younger than Thames) and has the potential to be a middle of the order bat.  Lots of players didn't get going until their age 24 season.  I think everything else is pretty set in Jays management's minds.

I predict a trade is going to happen before opening day.  I don't know who or to who, but there seems to be a need (another starter) and assets in hand. 

I want to note, if the Jays do make the playoffs this year, it is NOT going to be because of the hitting.  Most likely because of the starting staff.  With all the rumors around AA and starters from other teams, I think something is going to be people we never imagined. 

The reason I say this is because I think Fransisco makes the team and I bet one of these assets or more are moved on.

If we were Tampa Bay, the better defender would get the job, and that's Snider hands down. That's also the correct decision.
And I like Thames more than most Bauxites.
Trumbo - .254/.291/.477
Thames - .262/.313/.456
Trumbo finished 2nd in ROY voting and is almost a full year older than Thames.
Finally, here is a bit of Thamesanity.

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/21827/eric-thames-the-jeremy-lin-of-mlb

Say you aren't hindered by options, position, or contract situations. What player do you not give regular at bats to?

Snider, Thames, Encarnacion, Lind.

For me, it's Lind, and it's not even that close.

Tell that to Brian Tallet.

I agree with you that the bashing of Rasmus is pretty evident already and probably relates to his demeanour and the fact he's not homegrown. If you listen to the FAN or read other mainstream media sources, their coverage of the Jays has been very positive the past month, but a cloud of negativity surrounds Rasmus. Now that he isn't at 3B regularly, people have even come to accept Encarnacion.

Both Thames and Snyder are going to, at this point in their careers, have hot streaks, cold streaks, warm streaks, and cool streaks.  Both of them can (and will) add something positive to the Blue Jays on any given day.  One swing of the bat can win a game by either party.  Both players add more to the Blue Jays than Ben Fransisco.

Neither Snyder and especially Thames have anything left to prove in AAA.

If just one or the other is selected, a series of bad ABs may result in a trip to Las Vegas, and we could have a shufflling process that will burn out options (sorry, I do not know how many, if any, options each player has).

If AA is serious about having the best 25 players...keep both...and hopefully keep McCoy if there is room for him and Omar.

Davis makes a heck of a fifth outfielder and pinch runner!

Break up the Jays! 

Man! They look good in spring this year!

AA on the radio a couple of days ago said he found it "hard to envision" a scenario where both made the team and stated the at-bats just weren't there for both of them. Based on his tone, even if Francisco were to begin the year on the DL, I'd think McCoy would perhaps be the leading contender for that other bench spot.

I think it's reasonable for the Jays to want to make sure that Snider can maintain his progress consistently for a longer period of time, rather than a couple weeks of spring training or a couple of weeks in Las Vegas.

And yet AA didn't indicate this is a development move. In fact, he implied the direct opposite : And the minute we need to make a change, or we have a need, he's going to be right there waiting for us.

(There are even people on this thread who think that Snider can be a back-up 3B! Has he even done a single practice at 3B over the past two years?)

Your reading comprehension continues to astound me.

Bautista needed a week of practice because he wasn't going in for one game. Had that been the case they wouldn't have hesitated to put him there for a few days, just like they won't hesitate to do the same with Encarnacion if Lawrie is banged up.

Vizquel is getting playing time at 3B in spring training so Farrell can see his arm strength and if he can still handle the position.

Snider would get ABs by being the first man off the bench for the majority of the positions on the field. Each of the last few years we've had 4th OFs receive 300-500 PA. Stairs was a lock for 400 when he was here. Stop trying to nitpick and pretend like the 5 games of backing up 3B were a major part of the equation.

Eric Thames said in an article (I can't remember when) that he worked too hard (in2010/2011 offseason) building up upper-body strength before this Spring and it effected his throwing and his hitting and his defense.   I have read another athlete remarking about working too hard on lower-body strength and it restricted his running, his speed and made him more suspectible to injury.  

I guess you can still work out if your routine is better tailored to your basic needs.   Apparently Thames figured it out.