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Only one game on the farm on Tuesday as Mother Nature and Old Man Winter did their worst, except in Dunedin, where the Jays bats did the damage.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre @ Buffalo (DH)

Buffalo, NY - The Herd's second game against the Yankees affiliate was scrubbed, this time due to snow and cold temperatures. The first game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Thursday and the second game will be played at Coca-Cola Field July 2.


New Britain @ New Hampshire


Manchester, NH
- This game against the Minnesota affiliate was postponed because of precipitation. This game has been re-scheduled on July 27 as part of a twin bill.


Dunedin 10 Daytona 3


Dunedin, FL - Jose Reyes helped get the Dunedin offence rolling by reaching base on an error at short. After Dwight Smith Jr. followed with a walk, Reyes and Smith both scored on a two-run double by K.C. Hobson but the son of Butch was thrown out trying to take third. That would hurt a little bit as Marcus Knecht belted his first homer of the year over the wall in left field to cap off a three-run first. Smith made it 5-0 with a two-out, two-run single in the fourth. A Jorge Flores RBI single and a Reyes RBI groundout highlighted a three-run outburst in the fifth. Run scoring grounders by Smith and Hobson in the eighth inning rounded out the scoring.

Flores doubled, singled and walked and Knecht had a single to join the two-hit club. Smith, Dalton Pompey and Kevin Patterson each had a hit and a base on balls. Reyes was 0-for-3 with a walk. Emilio Guerrero replaced Reyes at short and had a double in his lone at-bat. Pierre and Derrick Chung also got on base via the walk, meaning every Dunedin hitter got to first base.

Casey Janssen pitched the first inning against the Cubs and overcame a leadoff single with a groundout, a strikeout and a lineout to first. Taylor Cole (2-0) took care of the next six innings and gave up two runs on six hits and two walks. He whiffed seven and four of his nine outs in play were on the grass. Danny Barnes tossed a one-hit eighth inning and Blake McFarland mopped up in the ninth but not before Rock Shoulders laid a smackdown in the form of a solo homer. McFarland did register one strikeout.


Lansing @ Wisconsin

Grand Chute, WI - This game was canceled due to Old Man Winter and it will not be made up according to the Lugnuts official website.


Boxscore


*** 3 Stars!!! ***


3. K.C. Hobson, Dunedin - Batting .341 and has only struck out twice in 39 at-bats. However, he has only drawn one walk.

2. Taylor Cole, Dunedin - A 23-5 K-BB total in 17.2 innings and a 2.55 earned run average.

1. Dwight Smith Jr., Dunedin - Slugging a team-leading .532 with 25 total bases.


Today's Schedule & Probable Starters...


New Britain @ New Hampshire, 10:35 am ET - RHP Scott Copeland (0-2, 6.75)
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre @ Buffalo, 6:05 pm ET - RHP Kyle Drabek (1-0, 5.40).
Lansing @ Wisconsin, 6:05 pm ET (DH) - LHP Chase De Jong (0-0, 9.45)/LHP Jairo Labourt (0-0, 4.26).
Daytona @ Dunedin, 6:30 pm ET - RHP Ben White (1-0, 3.60).


Extra Innings...

BallparkDigest.com links a story from the Tampa Bay Times that the Jays are looking at upgrades for Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin.

The Vancouver Canadians will start selling single-game tickets May 10. The home opener is June 18.
Smitty Pancakes Cubs | 21 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
92-93 - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 12:58 AM EDT (#284846) #
It's good to read Reyes got in 4 PA. The Jays will need him back in the lineup quickly if Lind is going to miss extended time.
greenfrog - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 05:22 AM EDT (#284851) #
The Jays' positional player depth is being tested early on. The team could use another bat like Morales to allow them to rest their regulars from time to time instead of riding them until they break.
whiterasta80 - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 07:25 AM EDT (#284855) #
I'd rather Stephen drew but the point remains that if the relatively good start continues we should be eyeing help. It was always a stretch to think that we could rely on Lind, Reyes, and izturis to stay healthy.
scottt - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 07:32 AM EDT (#284858) #
I thought Izturis was the less likely player to get hurt.

However, I thought it was a bad idea to start Lind against reverse-split lefties. At least he did sat a few games, so I can't complain too much.

short - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 02:20 PM EDT (#284892) #
Nolan to Bison and Murphy to Fisher Cats per NH website
John Northey - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 02:39 PM EDT (#284894) #
Curious move.  Nolin in AA wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire - 637 OPS in 37 PA.  He spent all of last year in AA and hit 262/329/388.  Murphy in AAA had just 12 PA (633 OPS for what that is worth) 682 OPS lifetime in the minors with just 6 games in AAA. Of course, Murphy is a catcher and Nolin a SS so I guess the Jays felt they needed middle infield depth in AAA right now more than catching with Kawasaki up and Tolleson the only choice (hits well in AAA 778 OPS lifetime there but might be better at 2B or 3B than SS - given his hitting in the minors one would have to think that or he'd have been up for more than 129 PA lifetime at the age of 30).
short - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 04:37 PM EDT (#284904) #
Kinda surprised Murphy wasn't sent to NH sooner with AJ out
Gerry - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 04:51 PM EDT (#284905) #
Each team needs two catchers. Murphy became expendable once Kratz reported.
Mike Green - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 07:33 PM EDT (#284912) #
Marcus Stroman is working on a shutout so far- 4 innings, no walks, 8 Ks.
Mike Green - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 08:04 PM EDT (#284914) #
Stroman leaves the game with a shutout after 94 pitches- 5.1 innings, 5 hits, no walks, 9 Ks.  Nice. 
uglyone - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 08:34 PM EDT (#284916) #
Stroman Season: 15.1ip, 11.7k/9, 3.5bb/9, 1.17whip, 1.17era
greenfrog - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#284919) #
Stroman excelling in AAA is exactly what I was hoping for. Having one or two SP prospects dominating in the high minors would give the Jays legitimate rotation depth, and potentially reduce the number of areas the team has to address during the season (most likely in July or August).

Before long, the rotation depth 1-6 could be Dickey / Buehrle / Morrow / Hutch / McGowan / Stroman, with the next tier consisting of Happ / Redmond / Rogers / Jenkins / Nolin (I'm assuming Sanchez likely won't be ready until 2015 at the earliest).

Pretty solid overall, although we all know how quickly SP depth can evaporate.
Eephus - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 09:58 PM EDT (#284920) #
Watching Stroman in Spring Training I was definitely impressed by the stuff (that slider is just evil) but he looked a little overmatched by major league hitters (Which is fine, they're pretty good at what they do ya know.) I think Marcus can and will be a good one but I'm going to completely forget about him as an option until he's got at least 90+ innings at AAA under his shoes. Keep in mind, the dude has only pitched 146 innings in professional baseball. I'm willing to wait and enjoy the show in the meanwhile.
Mike Green - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 10:21 PM EDT (#284921) #
142 innings for a successful collegian is close to par.  Mike Mussina threw 180 minor league innings before he got the call to the Show.  Roger Clemens, 125 innings.  Justin Verlander, 118 innings. Matt Harvey, 235 innings. Gerrit Cole, 200 innings.  Jered Weaver, 154 innings.
Eephus - Wednesday, April 16 2014 @ 10:48 PM EDT (#284923) #
I'll tell you what, if Stroman can keep that kind of company, I don't think anybody will complain...
John Northey - Thursday, April 17 2014 @ 12:00 AM EDT (#284924) #
What is very good about Stroman is that in spring he was hit hard - 11 IP 21 hits 16 runs 4 HR 4 BB 9 SO.  Getting hit hard like that then coming back in AAA to do well (5 walks in his 2nd game the only real negative) so far is a very good sign. Rather than doing a Romero he is pulling together and improving. If that keeps up he'll be up here by mid-season ... right now Morrow looks like the weakest link but we all know the injury bug that has plagued the Jays and could make things more interesting.

I'd figure right at this moment Happ is #6, Redmond #7, Rogers #8, then Stroman at #9.  If he keeps it going he'll pass Rogers quickly and Redmond as well on the depth chart.  Happ will take a bit more time to pass due to his higher salary and track record (mediocre but acceptable).  If someone goes down for a month plus then I could see Stroman called up for an extended look (unlikely today, but in a few weeks it'd be a lot more possible).  If they are down for just 2 weeks though it'll be Happ, Redmond, Rogers.

The young pitching is looking good.  Stroman, Sanchez, McGuire all close along with Nolin (wild in AAA but the K's are there still).  A+ showing hope for the near future also with Norris and Boyd off to good starts.

PeterG - Thursday, April 17 2014 @ 09:07 AM EDT (#284926) #
You might want to include Liam Hendricks on that depth chart. He would be ahead of McGuire atm, maybe more if he keeps pitching shutout ball.
Mike Green - Thursday, April 17 2014 @ 09:17 AM EDT (#284927) #
Dalton Pompey tripled and singled last night batting out of the 3 hole for the 11-2 D-Jays.  He's now hitting .348/.423/.435 and is 6-6 stealing bases.  He hasn't been hitting lefthanders so far this year (he is a better hitter from the left side), but that is the only blemish on an excellent start. You can hear an interview with him here.
ramone - Thursday, April 17 2014 @ 09:47 AM EDT (#284928) #
On a Blue Jay Plus podcast they had Chris King from Baseball Prospectus I believe and he said Pompey should just abandon switch hitting as he's not good from the right side, but clearly is from the left side.
Mike Green - Thursday, April 17 2014 @ 09:54 AM EDT (#284929) #
He has had more home run pop from the right side over his minor league career to date, so it might be that he could develop.  In the interview, he says that he was told to switch-hit by his mother when he was very young.  Nonetheless, it is certainly something that the club might discuss with him. 
uglyone - Thursday, April 17 2014 @ 12:45 PM EDT (#284942) #
Yup i'm getting excited about pompey too. His track record is starting to look just plain good through and through.

Age 18 (Rk/Rk+): 270pa, 14.1bb%, 21.5k%, .299babip, .239/.358/.367/.724, .349woba, 113wrc+
Age 19 (Rk+/A-/A): 82pa, 12.2bb%, 17.1k%, .356babip, .286/.375/.429/.804, .373woba, 129wrc+
Age 20 (A): -------- 511pa, 12.3bb%, 20.7k%, .329babip, .261/.358/.394/.752, .350woba, 115wrc+
Age 21 (A+): 53pa, 11.3bb%, 17.0k%, .432babip, .348/.423/.435/.858, .403woba, 157wrc+

By all reports he has the 2 defensive tools and the speed tool to play at the mlb level. More encouragingly he also has the "6th tool" of plate discipline, with a consistently very good bb% at every level.

He clearly doesn't have the power tool, and never will.


It all comes down to his hit tool - right now its still a big question mark, with his average stuck in the mid to high 200s, and a K-rate over 20%, which is too high for a no power hitter.

Obviously he won't keep up his insane babip this year for very long, but hopefully we see him progress up nearer to a .300avg this year and down nearer to a 15% k-rate.
Smitty Pancakes Cubs | 21 comments | Create New Account
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