SSS, I notice that the LV pitchers have figured out something over the last 2 games. It could be that they just needed a change of scenery.
The 14-0 win featured 18 hits by our guys.

Kind of fun to look at the Jays minor league leaders. Who got off to a super-fast start? 20 PA Minimum

OPS: Travis Snider 1.287, Chris Woodward 1.105, Justin Jackson 1.074

Neat to see Woodward off to a good start, especially given he was briefly retired before last season. Jackson trying to revive his prospect status and Snider trying to reclaim a ML job.

HR: Snider, Moises Sierra at 3 each

SB: Markus Brisker (RF A-) 7 SB - 0 CS, Kevin Piller (RF A-) 6-1, Jonathan Diaz (IF AA) 5-0.

Runs Scored: Adeiny Hechavarria & Anthony Gose 11 each

RBI: Snider 15, Marcus Knecht 11

Phew, a few guys really have gotten off to good starts. Be interesting to see where they are at as the season progresses.

AA on the radio broadcast at the moment.

On fifth starter for the start on the 21st: Have their "eye" on someone.

On minor league pitchers, ranking, and fifth starter: Hutchison has been good, but needs to be more consistent with his slider and and changeup. Jenkins has been good, but still needs work. MacGuire behind both. (Doesn't sound like any of these guys will be called up for the start)

When asked about which minor league pitcher has looked best, mentioned Sanchez, Syndergaard, and Nicolino in Lansing and Dyson in Dunedin.

Said Carreno's slider looked good in his last start.

On Cecil, reminds AA of last season (in a bad way). His first start wasn't great, but is last start was up to 91 with the fastball. Still issues with command.

McGowan will be throwing in Toronto this upcoming week, no timetable on return. Wasn't going to pitch for 6 months anyways.

On Woj, looked really good in his last start up to 95 and had all his stuff working. Management still very high on him and he could move to AA with a couple good starts.

d'Arnaud and Gose have started slowly. d'Arnaud coming around, but Gose seems to be fighting his swing. Not concerned, similar to last years slow start for both at AA.

Ashby asked if more teams are inquiring about the Jays' minor league talent. AA said definitely more so this winter that last year.

Really impressed with Drabek's improvement and mentality on the mound, although still has a ways to go. Gave a "nice pitch" to a Drabek strikeout.

On Snider, really encouraged with his power at Las Vegas. Good reports on him, but would like to see more consistency. If he's called up, it'll be for a long term stint.

On Thames, impressed on overall defense/offense improvement.

Echoed Farrell's comments on Lawrie's steal of home, loved the aggressiveness although maybe misplaced.

On Rasmus, had a photo of Rasmus up in Spring training from last year where his leg lift was almost up to his chin. Has improved on his leg lift and his "lines" in the batter's box. Less closed off.

Joy to watch Rajai Davis, think he's in the right role with the team.

Talked a bit about how they've tried to get Kelly Johnson for a while, initially to play LF and leadoff, but he had wanted to play the infield.

Thanks Sam.  One question:

"McGowan will be throwing in Toronto this upcoming week, no timetable on return. Wasn't going to pitch for 6 months anyways. " <-- What?? Six months?

In other news, Hutchison had a much better start today, 5.2 IP 5 H 2 ER 1 BB 6 K. 

Probably he meant McGowan wasn't going to pitch for the whole six-month season - he'd probably get shut down in August, so making his debut in May or June isn't a huge difference in the big picture.

(in fact, you could argue it's better this way, if the Jays need to shut down or limit Drabek or Alvarez in September)

Can Snider be called up for a short term stint? I thought that this option to the minors was the last one he had and so the next time he's up, he has to stay up or be exposed to waivers?

On McGowan, ya wouldn't pitch for the full six month season.

On Snider, I think it's he can be called up once more and sent back down without clearing waivers, but the next time then ya he would have to clear waivers.

I'm reading in between the lines of what AA said very briefly about Snider, but it was to the effect that they are most pleased that he's hitting the ball with authority. Last year when he was sent back down he was slapping the ball. Still, they want to see him hit the way he has been hitting for an extended period of time before they're willing to consider a call-up.

I would say any optimism with Snider is always going to carry some doubt until he produces for at least two seasons at the ML level. Thinking about it, he's really no different than six or seven of the hitters we have at the ML level. Before people jump on me for this, outside of Bautista and Escobar, sustained success at the ML level is not something familiar to this club.

This is the last year Snider has options, meaning he should be able to go up and down all season without need for waivers, e g 2011 McCoy. Not that that would be anywhere close to a good idea.

there's an interesting logistics problem in the short term with McGowan's theoretical re-hap stint.

Wilner says he starts throwing tomorrow, and thus one can presume his first game action would be right around the first of May. I've speculated 3 starts in Dunedin, with the first on May 1, and then three in AA, though the details are not really that important.

With Cecil down there, there are 4 slots filled by important guys. AA hinted that Wojo might be promoted with a few more good appearances but he can't, or he would fill the AA rotation not leaving an opening for McGowan.

And when McGowan is in Dunedin, all five spots will be filled by "important guys" so there's no chance that a guy like, say, DeSclafini can be fast-tracked until all that clears up. Ultimately, it seems to me that until someone is promoted from AA to AAA, (McGowan aside) there's a necessity to slow-track everyone until and unless injuries create openings.

Take Stilson for instance - there's a good argument for advancing him quickly, but even if you say you wantto move him before Wojo (arguable) and wait until after McGowan works his way through (necessary) you still have to concede Tepera in order for him to have a turn. That's just an example.

It's a good problem to have, but it will back for an interesting dynamic in terms of the progression of pitchers through the system.

I wouldn't worry too much about this TamRa. There's always innings to go around at the minor league level. If a guy has an extra off day or if a non-prospect gets bumped it won't be that big of a deal.

Ryan Tepera, Casey Lawrence, and Sean Nolin are not the type of arms that block anybody from getting their work in, so I don't see what the problem would be.

Also not sure McGowan would need any time in AA before a callup. It's possible he'll only see Dunedin and come straight north.

Anyone know why Evan Crawford is so highly regarded by the Jays management? AA and Farrell were suggesting he's a long term piece...kinda confused because relievers are the most volatile in terms of performance and hard to predict.

It seems the Jays favor a 1/2 season in one level, 1/2 the season at another level lately for top prospects rather than staying at one level the whole year.

In AA we have...
Cecil - ML before, could be stuck at AA until proves he deserves to return, doubt will be sent to AAA

Hutchison - 14 in A, 11 in A+, 3 in AA last year - probably will get 7 starts in AA before moving to AAA or majors, can't see him staying in AA all year

Jenkins - 13 in A, 24 in A+, 18 (so far) in AA. Could shift to AAA with 5 or 6 more starts in AA if effective.

McGuire - 19 in A+, 6 games in AA so far. Giving up tons of HR this year (5 in 10 IP) so in AA until he gets that under control

Tepera - spent full season in rookie, full in A, full in A+, so I expect a full AA season this year.

So my tea leaf reading is Hutchison and Jenkins moving to AAA or majors by the end of May/early June opening two slots - one for McGowan and one for Dyson/Nolin/Stilson/Woj depending. If McGuire improves then we could see 2 of those 4 moving up and a 3rd once McGowan is ready.

If I was a starter in AAA I'd be fearful for my job. The Jays, I suspect, didn't so much avoid Vegas as just didn't have hot prospects ready for it yet. 3 AA'ers could be promoted by June quite easily, with 3 in A+ being ready to move to AA. A very nice situation for the Jays, not so nice for Murphy (31), Richmond (32), and Redding (34) who I see as easily dropped since guys in the 30s in AAA are not viewed as having much of a future. Laffey (due to his spring), Carreno (prospect), and Chavez (28 but seems OK so far) should be safe but only Carreno is really safe imo. Carreno is the only guy on the pitching staff in AAA under 27 so pretty much everyone else is filler.

Sure it's only two starts into the season, but Kyle Drabek sure looks like he is really on the cusp of greatness. We've know the physical tools are there, but to see them in action recently is really impressive. The way he's two seaming the ball in on LH is vintage Halladay. The CB is being thrown for strikes, yet he spikes it every so often that hitters just look silly (see Andino today). The change up too has looked really impressive and every so often he pumps a four seamer up there that reminds you of John Beckett and his run with the Marlins that one year. The scary part is he is still developing and there's no reason that he won't improve. People mention his penchant for "losing" it on the mound, but he's starting to channel it in more positive ways that it has almost become a non-issue. Might I mention he is athlete who will probably win a GG or two. If you scout his last two starts you'd probably just write front of line starter.

John Northey- Agree with your analysis except I really can't see the Jays sending guys like Jenkins and Hutch to LV. Especially Jenkins (groundball pitcher). That hard ground would eat him alive and do no amount of damage to his psyche. I think the Jays have made it pretty clear that NH is essentially AAA for their elite pitching.

I'm sure I heard (or read?) AA mention that presently (I guess as long as we're in Vegas)the normal progression for starting prospects is AA to the majors, with AAA being used if said pitcher is then optioned back to the minors.

If Drabek is going to win a Gold Glove (I have no idea how to predict such a thing unless the P is a converted college SS) he's going to need to learn to finish his delivery in a better fielding position. Right now he's still falling off to the first base side too much, IMO.

I don't think Anthopoulos has ever stated that he won't send a top pitching prospect to Las Vegas. This is a bit of an urban legend. In fact the evidence shows that he sent Drabek last year to Las Vegas (for 15 starts, in fact) and it clearly has not hampered Drabek's development. Maybe it was even good for Drabek's development to deal with the challenges of the PCL. This year Anthopoulos sent Carreno and Chad Beck to Las Vegas, and both are good prospects (although Beck is getting a bit old and has been overtaken by Crawford). Sure, some pitchers are promoted from AA straight to the majors, but it's not an iron-clad rule. If there's a log-jam in the New Hampshire rotation, it's not inconceivable that one of the pitchers could be sent to Las Vegas.

Is Brisker a freak athlete?  I see he's listed over 200 lbs, but he also already has 8 SBs so there must be some wheels there.

Brisker is big, strong, fast...and can't hit. Big athlete, non prospect.

Drabek who was definitely considered a true prospect as a starter was promoted from AA to the majors and only afterward sent to AAA. Carreno who may be considered a prospect as a starter within the organization, went from AA to the najors prior to being sent to AAA. Perez and Beck, who I've never heard being considered major league quality prospects as starters went to Vegas prior to their major league debuts.

I'm not sure why there would be any significance in being "optioned" to Las Vegas, versus being promoted there from New Hampshire. Is there something about a brief exposure to the majors that somehow inoculates them against the PCL hazards? Drabek and Carreno had a few games in the majors before they arrived in Vegas, but why is that significant? They're both young and relatively inexperienced. If the PCL environment is as terrible for pitchers as it is sometimes reputed to be, I don't think Drabek or Carreno would be somehow immune to those hazards, just because they had a few games in the majors before they arrived in Las Vegas.

The idea of New Hampshire on the way up and Vegas on the way down, rightly or wrongly, comes from the man himself.

Q. How do you decide between Las Vegas and New Hampshire?

A. The one thing we've talked about is on their way up we'd like to keep them in New Hampshire. On their way down, send them to Las Vegas. That's kind of the rule of thumb that we have for the most part.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2012/02/25/toronto_blue_jays_alex_anthopoulos_spring_training/

I don't have an explanation but I've heard AA say that the current team philosophy about pitching prospects is  "AA to majors on the way up,can go to AAA on the way down" 

Of course Cecil was sent down to AA rather than AAA thus confusing it a bit. Plus AA has shown he isn't locked into a rule either.

We should see a bit of a logjam this year in AA (with any luck) so I'm sure some kids will be pushed to AAA. If a kid in AA has an ERA sub 2.50 I think you have to push him to AAA and let him take his first real lumps (Hutchison - I'm looking at you) so they can learn how to deal with adversity before they reach the majors. For 'older guys' you get Cecil (25), Jenkins (24), and Tepera (24) in the rotation although with ERA's of 6.94, 4.15, and 5.14 I don't see any being pushed to the Vegas Challenge anytime soon.

So my betting is on Hutchison getting exposed to either Vegas or getting a few starts in the majors then sent back to Vegas to learn how to deal with a situation where his ERA won't be 3.00 or less (which is what he's had at all levels he has performed at).

Cecil was given the choice of Vegas or New Hampshire and chose New Hampshire. So he actually sent himself to AA.

Jonny, thanks for digging up the AA quote about Vegas and New Hampshire. It's interesting that AA portrays it as a "rule of thumb," but I confess that I don't really understand the logic behind it. And it seems to be a rule with a number of exceptions, which suggests that the logic is flexible.

Syndergaard tonight: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. Not too shabby...

Its an interesting rule of thumb, but so far it hasn't really been tested as the top prospects aren't ready for AAA yet anyways, regardless of where it is. Hutch might be ready, but I agree with the team on starting him in AA at first. Take it slow, give the kids time. No need to rush their service time clocks.

The extreme environment in Vegas could be useful too, as I mentioned earlier, as a learning tool. Players will be exposed to failure, both fair and unfair, in the majors so it is good to test their ability to cope in the minors first I'd think.

Of course, if they are ready early (like Alvarez) then just bring them up.