Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

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Buffalo 2 Pawtucket 5

The big news I guess in this one was Aaron Sanchez pitching out of the bullpen for the first time. He was not great in his inning of work, allowing two earned runs on three hits, and ending up with the L. Maybe somebody can explain the thinking behind the move to me. Is it to get him to the big leagues quicker, or is it to get him focusing less on working through the order and more on executing one or two pitches? Perhaps the ghost of Joba Chamberlain haunts me, but I’d like to see him pitch a full year in a rotation.

Portland 2 New Hampshire 3

Scott Copeland was solid through six innings while John Anderson and Gregory Infante provided three innings of shutout relief to lead the Fisher Cats to victory. At the plate Dalton Pompey doubled, walked, and scored the winning run. Matt Newman and Derrick Chung collected two hits a piece, and Andy Fermin homered at the bottom of the order.

Jupiter 2 Dunedin 5

Kendall Graveman scattered nine hits over seven innings of one run ball. I gather Graveman has a nice little streak going of seven inning starts—tonight was his third in a row. Big Kevin Patterson deserves a mention as he homered and collected two hits. Patterson was followed by Marcus Knecht and wee Peter Mooney in this regard, as they too batted themselves aboard twice.

Kane County 3 Lansing 0

Brent Powers pitched five shutout innings, but the offence was unable to generate any support as Lansing was shutout.

Eugene 9 Vancouver 11

A high scoring affair as Vancouver came from behind in the seventh to top Eugene. Franklin Barreto had two triples and four RBI’s. Max Pentecost continued to hit as well, singling and driving in a run. Roeman Fields did not steal a base.

Greeneville 0 Bluefield 8

Ryan Borucki was very good over five innings and was matched by Evan Smith who pitched the ladder four. Just about every Bluefield hitter hit themselves aboard tonight.

GCL Blue Jays 1 GCL Tigers 8

Deiferson Barreto had two doubles and that was just about it for the Baby jays as they fell the the CGL affiliate for the Tigers.

GCL Blue Jays GCL Tigers RAIN PPD

DSL Blue Jays 0 DSL Brewers 6

Three Stars

3. Franklin Barreto

2. Ryan Borucki/Evan Smith

1. Kendall Graveman

Box Scores

Posted by sam on Friday, July 18 2014 @ 04:43 AM EDT.

Sanchez in Relief | 32 comments | Create New Account

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

AWeb - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 07:31 AM EDT (#289926) #

Sanchez in relief allows him to pitch more often, and keeps innings limits out of play for a while. So many good starters started in the bullpen over the years (Chris Sale, Johan Santana, David Wells come to mind immediately) that is seems like learning MLB pitching that way might be a good development strategy. Of course, Stroman, who was often touted as a guy who would end up in the bullpen, isn't being brought along that way (for now).

I can see the logic - mentally, Stroman might see a BP move as something that might become permanent because he's been rumoured to end up there. If you want to start, it would almost be bad to become a great reliever when you were young, especially in the current era of 1 IP at a time. I haven't heard Sanchez being touted as a BP pitcher much, so again, mentally, it might be easier for him to accept that role in the short-term. Or maybe the rotation is just out of whack in AAA and they wanted to get him some work while bumping him back a few days?

Mike Green - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 07:52 AM EDT (#289927) #

I have said all along that I expected that Stroman would end up as a starter and Sanchez as a reliever. That was the minority view, I'll grant.

In any event, Sanchez has had an endurance issue but pitched very effectively from the pen when he was in Lansing with Syndergaard. From my perspective, it would be great if he ended up as a Gossage-style relief ace. I know that that is horribly out of fashion right now.

ayjackson - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 07:52 AM EDT (#289928) #

I think they're preserving innings. They'll stretch him out again at the end of August and he'll be available to start for the big club in September if required.

Mike Green - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 08:03 AM EDT (#289929) #

Urena singled twice and walked last night. He is now up to .304/.345/.451. For an 18 year old shortstop in the Appy League, that's just fine. Dawel Lugo singled and walked last night. He is at .290/.312/.375, not bad at all for a 19 year old in the Midwest League. Barreto was plunked last night, in addition to the two triples; he's at .308/.396/.454, which is great for age and level. He also made his 13th error in a month last night.

SK in NJ - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 08:31 AM EDT (#289930) #

Sanchez as a starter has declining strike out rates and terrible walk rates. Nothing he has done in the minors suggests that he will be a good MLB starter or a starter at all. If he pitches out of the pen and succeeds, I would leave him there.

I hope some team out there still overvalues him and makes a trade for him that benefits the Jays. He is incredibly overrated, IMO. Stuff that never translates to performance is not a good thing.

PeterG - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 09:07 AM EDT (#289931) #

Not everyone has immediate success. He was only drafted out of HS in 2010. The above view is far too pessimistic if not downright unfair.

Ryan Day - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 10:30 AM EDT (#289933) #

I agree it's pessimistic to suggest Sanchez has no chance of improving, but by the same rationale it seems premature to promote him. He's been promoted pretty aggressively for a guy who can't find the strike zone, and even this year - on the verge of calling him up - the Jays admit he can't keep his arm angle consistent.

If you do believe Sanchez can get it all sorted out, promoting him - and starting his service clock - seems like a really bad idea. You might get 20-30 decent relief outings this year, but at the price of making his theoretical elite starter years less affordable.

On the other hand, perhaps the Jays don't think Sanchez will ever improve his control enough to be an effective starter, and relief is where he can maximize his value. Throw one or two pitches, max effort for an inning or two at a time.

Another possibility is that this is all just a bluff designed to increase Sanchez' trade value. I'm not sure about this sort of thing, though, as you'd think other teams can see those big walk numbers just as easily as we can. I'm sure there are plenty of teams who think they could fix him, but a project has different trade value than a prospect.

Richard S.S. - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 10:31 AM EDT (#289934) #

Can someone explain how a stud prospect can fall so far so fast? If he can't throw his best pitch for strikes every single time, what's he doing outside of Vancouver? Age means nothing if you can't do the Job. What can be done?

SK in NJ - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 10:59 AM EDT (#289935) #

I don't think it's unfair. He is walking 5 per 9 for his career, and was walking over 5 per 9 before his promotion. Combine that with fewer strike outs every year, and what exactly are we looking at? Never is a strong word, so I won't say he has no chance of being a good starter, but I'd say the chances are pretty darn small. Compare him with Norris, who is combining stuff and performance, it is like night and day.

uglyone - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 11:11 AM EDT (#289936) #

Well, he didn't fall so far so fast. A 25-50 ranked prospect falling into the 50-75 range a season later is not unusual. And he's fallen simply because he hasn't performed. "stuff" can only take you so far - you have to dominate the minor leagues if you want to be a top 50 prospect.

uglyone - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 11:16 AM EDT (#289938) #

But don't get to worked up about it. Stroman was ranked (just) outside the top 50 by all the rankings, and he's outpitched pretty much every pitcher ranked ahead of him this year.

Mike Green - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 11:40 AM EDT (#289940) #

For what it's worth, there are two ways of dealing with a prospect like Sanchez, in my opinion. The first is "go slow until he gets it right". On that theory, you wouldn't have promoted Sanchez from New Hampshire to Buffalo given his performance there and you probably wouldn't have promoted him from Dunedin to New Hampshire to start the year. This theory involves him being a major league-ready starting pitcher from the date of arrival in the big leagues. This is the theory that the club has used for Daniel Norris, so far with great success. Norris clicked after about 25 pro appearances. Sanchez had 61 pro appearances prior to this season. That is quite a bit of development time, but it is true that many pitchers need longer than that in the minors to "click".

The second way is to switch gears and to move him to the pen with the idea that he will likely find it easier to become a major league pitcher first in the pen, and that he may or may not end up in the pen or in the rotation depending on how things go. That is certainly the path that the club has had him on since his promotion to Buffalo. I don't agree at all with ayj that the club could stick him in the rotation in September after a few major league stints in the bullpen. That would be bad development strategy. He has not come remotely close to succeeding in the high minors, and he needs to have success either there or in the major league bullpen before there is a natural progression to a major league starting role.

uglyone - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 11:43 AM EDT (#289941) #

The promotion to AAA was still a clear mistake, imo.

Gerry - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#289943) #

There are other factors that go into a promotion. The relationship between pitching coach and pitcher is important. The Jays might have felt that Randy StClaire would be better for Sanchez than Jim Czaikowski. The Jays did say that at the time of his promotion but sometimes they say things to justify a decision already made.

Mike Green - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 11:58 AM EDT (#289944) #

That's a reasonable view, uglyone, but it's water under the bridge. You can either "undo" it and just let him start in Buffalo until he gets it right or send him back down to New Hampshire, or you can change course. They seem to have changed course. The middle developmental position of essentially throwing him into the major league rotation without either significant experience in the major league bullpen or some record of success in the high minors would be a recipe for failure.

PeterG - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 12:48 PM EDT (#289947) #

so, the outstanding ST was just a mirage? The talent is obviously there. In fact, AA said there was much debate as to whether to send hiim to Buffalo or NH at the start of the season. Tough crowd here....relax, he'll be fine. Btw, he was hitting 97/98 on the gun last night according to the broadcast and two of the three hits were lightly tapped seeing eye singles, so not as bad as the stats look. He may have been over throwing a bit as well, knowing he was only going to go one inning. I would prefer to see him in long relief, followed by a return to starting.

ComebyDeanChance - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 02:19 PM EDT (#289950) #

sam, I assumed the reasoning behind the move to the pen was to keep him pitching while not doubling his innings up from last year. That may be wrong, but it was what struck me at the time. I think his previous high has been 90 ip and he's already up around 100.

uglyone - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#289952) #

Peterg - his numbers in ST were pretty bad actually. There were just some overexcited media like buck who fell in love with his stuff anyways.

hypobole - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 02:44 PM EDT (#289954) #

Changing the subject, the draft signing deadline is 5 pm today. The Jays are able to spend a few hundred thousand. Anyone hear any rumours?

PeterG - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 02:48 PM EDT (#289957) #

I saw 3 of the ST outings on tv and he looked dominant......clearly he has outstanding stuff but is inconsisitent , like many pitchers graduating to the show. Way too early for pessimism.

85bluejay - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 03:01 PM EDT (#289958) #

Speaking of the draft, any ideas as to why 7th rd. pick Zack Zehner hasn't signed - he's a senior who didn't have a particularly great senior yr. & was expected to be an easy sign? I hope the jays can spring a nice surprise with 1 of the HS tough to sign guys.

Also, it looks like the other TJ guy Erick Fedde may not sign - likely Scott Boras takes it to 4:59 - apparently he wants 3 mil.

Gerry - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 03:26 PM EDT (#289961) #

I think Zehner decided to get his degree. Not a bad choice for a 7th round pick.

PeterG - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 03:34 PM EDT (#289964) #

Zehner is not a senior. Check the college website and u will see that he is, in fact, a junior.

SJE - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#289965) #

Zehner is not a senior, and should not have been drafted in round 7 unless you were 100 percent sure he was signing. If he does not sign then $192,000 in draft cap space has been lost. Post round 10 is where you take a flyer on a player. Whoever make this miscalculation should be fearing for their job.

PeterG - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 03:45 PM EDT (#289966) #

Nats are going to sign Fedde but not their 2nd pick, Suarez. No rumours on Jays but apparently serious talks between Mariners and Rays concerning Price.

Richard S.S. - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 04:25 PM EDT (#289968) #

Zehner:
1. was discussed ad nauseum here: http://www.bluebirdbanter.com/2014/6/7/5789514/2014-draft-signing-table
2. go there, you'll get more info than you need.

85bluejay - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 04:36 PM EDT (#289969) #

Sorry about that - when he was drafted MLB draft tracker listed him as a senior.

smcs - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 05:11 PM EDT (#289970) #

If he does not sign then $192,000 in draft cap space has been lost. Post round 10 is where you take a flyer on a player. Whoever make this miscalculation should be fearing for their job.

But his signing amount would eat into that $192,400. Based on the guys the Jays drafted in rounds 6 and 8, he would have signed for around $160,000, giving the Jays an extra $42,000 in bonus money (192,400 - 160,000 + (5% of 192,400)). As it stands, the Jays can offer over $500,000 to the Post Round 10 picks. It seems like they didn't bank on Zehner giving them a huge discount anyways, and saw him as an 8th round guy they could get in the 7th round, and save some money. Having a 7th round pick not sign isn't something someone should get fired for, especially after no one really got fired after Bickford didn't sign last year.

mendocino - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 06:03 PM EDT (#289971) #

Zechner is a redshirt junior, MLB Tracker doesn't have a symbol to tell you, just goes by years in college (etc. 4 years your marked as a SR) Next year he should have class symbol 5S.

Richard S.S. - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 06:18 PM EDT (#289972) #

Draft is over. It is apparent they never had any intention of going over Budget to sign anyone else. The other explanation is that no one else was worth signing.

PeteMoss - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 06:57 PM EDT (#289974) #

Perspective - Sanchez is one year older than Max Pentecost who was just drafted and is playing Vancouver.

Most scouts love his stuff. He's still striking out over 7 guys per nine in a league that he is extremely young for. No reason to panic yet.

ayjackson - Friday, July 18 2014 @ 08:10 PM EDT (#289976) #

Anybody who thinks the Jays are turning Sanchez into a reliever are kidding themselves.

Sanchez in Relief | 32 comments | Create New Account

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