Anyone have translation from the paternity league to MLB?

Seems like Dirk Hayhurst had an interesting trip to NYS:

Ladies and gentlemen...looks as if Daniel Norris has figured out this pitching thing. Matthew Smoral...you're up!

After watching Vernon Wells continue his career-long abuse of Mark Buehrle, Buck asked Tabler who his own Buehrle was. The first guy Tabler thought of was Jimmy Key. And yup... Tabler had 15 hits in 39 AB with 3 HRs against Key (.385/.400/.744). Tabler also had 16 hits off Frank Tanana and 17 off Scott McGregor. Tabler hit just 47 career HRs, and Willie Hernandez was the only other pitcher he hit 3 HRs against.

Buck modestly said he did never find that type of pitcher for himself to hit against. But he was 10-29 with 3 HRs (.345/.367/.690) against his old team mate Larry Gura. The most hits he had against anyone were against Frank Viola (13-36), and he had 11 hits against Tommy John (11-38) and Floyd Bannister (11-36.) Buck hit 58 career HRs and Bannister was the other pitcher he took deep three times.

Amazing play (again) by Lawrie, and you kind of have to agree with Jose Reyes on this one:

I don't know what the team was doing when they tried to make him a second baseman.

Nice research, Magpie.

You know, Buehrle has really turned his season around. He's on pace to pitch around 200 IP with an ERA+ of around 100. Another nice year for him, especially considering his awful start and his move to the AL East. His remaining contract is starting to look pretty reasonable.

Most of us had high hopes for Dickey, JJ and Morrow, but Buehrle has arguably been the best of the lot.

I'm okay with Buerhle as number 5 or 4. Drebek at 5. RA as a 2 and Morrow as a 3. Is there a true Ace out there available in the offseason?

We acquired TWO last off season and that worked out well. Going with RA, Buehrle, Huch, Drabek, Nolin, Stroman, Happ, Romero, Morrow might be our best bet.

We acquired TWO last off season and that worked out well. Going with RA, Buehrle, Huch, Drabek, Nolin, Stroman, Happ, Romero, Morrow might be our best bet.   Yeah, if playoffs aren't the goal.

So what do you suggest? Giving up more prospects for unnamed #1? Or overpaying a #2 in Free Agency?

People who seldom pay attention to the bigger picture occasionally ask (place nicer word than stupid here) questions. A.A. has be all-over the webby with his offseason plans. 1) Acquire a Starter. 2) Acquire a 2B.

He's had discussion pre-non-waiver deadline about Starter and 2B that no one even sniffed out. Nothing happened, but those discussion usually continue in Offseason. A.A. will not waste his time or the Team's resources in acquiring less than the best possible. Suggesting otherwise is stupid.

Yes. Prospects are the current market inefficiency. Their value is based on perceived future value, which is fine. But really...what is Stroman going to become? A future ace? Doubtful. A #2? Doubtful. A first division 3rd starter...probably. There are no bats in the system higher than low A. And when I say bats, I mean impact bats. There could be a couple in 4 or 5 years with Dean, Nay, and Barreto. EE and Bautista have a couple years at most at a high level. Making playoffs now is the goal so yes I would trade more prospects especially since the International prospects are showing potential in Short Season.

Sorry for the random thought rant. It's late and I'm on my iPhone.

I agree with you about prospects being the new market inefficiency, but which 'ace' pitchers are available, affordable with our needs to upgrade at 2B, C and LF, and pitch for a team who needs our prospects?  Felix Hernandez?  Matt Cain?  Chris Sale?  These guys are super expensive and not necessarily available. 

When posters say we need to upgrade the top end of our rotation, who exactly do you mean to target?

Garza... He's not an ace, but he's had success in the AL East, eats innings, and won't cost a pick (due to the trade). Seems like a no brainer to me.

Garza is in line for a fairly large contract (based on supply and demand). He's also had injury issues over the last year. Could happen, but I don't see it happening. I could see them trying to pry away someone like Iwakuma (good, cheap, and controllable for the next two years). Not sure there is a match there, though.

But Garza is also a no-brainer to the rest of the GMs out there, so he's gonna be pricey.  Also, the Jays are around 135 million in payroll for 2014, assuming they decline the option on Lind, wave goodbye to Davis but exercise their options on Derosa and Jansenn, and then don't sign any free agents, leaving holes at LF, C and 2B.  

Is a high-end starter even an option going into next year?

If the only consideration were improving the on-field product, I would prefer that any exchange of prospects for established players occur after we have seen some improvement from the core of pitchers currently on the roster. Absent a large improvement from Dickey, Morrow, Happ, Romero, or Johnson (who we may or may not re-sign), this team will be going nowhere even if we were to somehow acquire an ace, or sign Garza.

If the team wants to maintain its success at the gate (and on TV) though, some sort of off-season splash is going to need to be made. My sense is that a very large proportion of the increased attendance comes from season ticket holders. I just can't see the team maintaining its attendance momentum if it keeps the same cast of characters around. So I see either a large overpay on the FA market in the team's future, or an even more painful gutting of the farm system.

If it were my money, I would plunk down 80 million over five for Jose Abreu.