11:07 AM Eastern
This is one of those years where you don’t have to try to look through the snow to imagine the sight of green grass again, but we do know that the cold, crisp air is on its way out and the sights of dull, gray skies and bare trees will soon be gone because of those five magical words: ”Pitchers and catchers report today”.
It’s a beautiful thing, the official opening of Spring Training. It means that a long winter is just about over and that shortly we’ll be hearing the joyful crack of bat on ball and baseball will begin again.
I could get even more flowery and misty-eyed and talk about things like renewal, circles of life and the like, but I’ll stop here, I think, and just sit back and smile at the idea of the great game’s impending return.
The first official workout takes place tomorrow, though many players have long since made their way to Dunedin, and the position players are required to report by Friday. The first full-squad workout will be Saturday and a week later, on March 3rd, the Grapefruit season opens with the first of a home-and-home against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Will A.J. Burnett get the start for either of those games? I’m not sure, but I sure hope so. Whether he does or doesn’t, we’ll be broadcasting both – and every weekend game this spring, as well as the March 27th night game against the Yankees – along the Blue Jays Radio Network! I’ll be heading down to Dunedin a week from today, Jerry Howarth and Alan Ashby will be there a day earlier, and we can’t wait to bring you another season of Blue Jays baseball on the radio!
Backdating the rotation to set up with Ricky Romero pitching Opening Day, followed by Brandon Morrow, Brett Cecil, Henderson Alvarez and Dustin McGowan, and accounting for the off-day after the first game of the season, I would expect that Morrow will get the nod for the Grapefruit Opener, followed by Cecil, and that Romero will see his first action on Tuesday, March 6th, at home against the Phillies (and Roy Halladay?). That March 6th game just happens to be one of three that we’ll broadcast – audio only – on mlb.com. One of the other ones is a game against the Yankees on my birthday, which should be a blast!
I’m looking forward to a fun spring and a great season, and I’ll cover it all for you on a daily basis beginning on February 28th. Until then, I’ll post as I have most of the winter – sporadically and when news breaks – but I suggest you keep an eye on Shi Davidi’s work over at sportsnet.ca; he’s already down in Dunedin and is staying through that first Grapefruit League game.
Maybe as a send-off to the off-season, I’ll do one more mailbag before I leave for the sunny south, so feel free to leave your questions in the comment sections and I’ll choose a few out of which to make another mailbag.
Please give me a follow on The Twitter, if you’re not already – you can find me @wilnerness590.
My apologies for not having been on much the last few days, I took my family on a lovely last vacation-before-I-have-to-work-every-day-for-eight-straight-months. To Florida, yes, but to the other side (my cousin has a condo she let us borrow). We had planned on seeing a rocket launch at the Kennedy Space Center, but the vagaries of standby flying led to us getting bumped off an Atlanta-Orlando flight by a tour group of 55 Brazilians who missed their connection, which was supposed to have been the flight before ours. After missing out on later flights to Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Fort Myers and Daytona Beach, we wound up renting a car and driving from Atlanta all the way to Miami, where we enjoyed a lovely couple of days that included me getting messed up either by too-crisp bills sticking together or American money all being the same colour and leaving an extra $50 as a tip at some Italian restaurant in North Beach. At least I made some waiter’s night – that never happened to me when I worked at Lime Rickey’s. We missed the rocket launch, but the kids had a great day at the Nickelodeon Suites hotel in Orlando as a consolation prize – breakfast with Dora The Explorer and such!
It’s a good idea to follow Shi Diggity on Twitter as well, you can find him @ShiDavidi.
Comments are welcome – I read them all and reply to most, and remember, you could wind up in the mailbag!
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Mike I know it is early but is there any chance Drabeck is the number 5?. I still think he has a great future? And will Snider break out this year in your opinion?
MW: Sure there’s a chance that Drabek starts the season as the 5th starter. If anyone gets hurt, if Alvarez, Cecil or McGowan don’t show they’re ready, then Drabek is likely the first guy to whom the Blue Jays will turn. And I sure hope Snider breaks out this year. There’s certainly reason to believe he can.
- DAvidI did the exact same thing this past summer in Lake Placid. Tipped a waiter an extra $50. Its the colour of the $$$.
- MarkI assume YEscobar’s elbow is 100% and that the whole team is in great shape. Being a young team the added bonus is that injuries heal faster as well. Looking forward to 90+ wins. (I hope…)
Mike, I’m definitely looking forward to the season getting underway. I am one of those people that will always love the Blue Jays no matter how frustrating some years are. However, I think there are so many interesting storylines here that win or lose, there will be lots to talk about and the future looks good! I also want to say I am looking forward to your coverage- always appreciated your insights although I don’t always agree! Also, can we already get Tom Cheek into the Hall of Fame where he belongs? I think Jerry should be joining him soon after as well.
Anyways, keep up the great work!
MW: Thank you!
- TimHi Mike,
Is there anytime of year better then spring training? I think not!
My question is in regards to Dustin. He pitched a total of 56.1 innings between majors and minors last year. Usually a pitcher only adds 25-30 innings to the previous year leaving him even if they stretch that to under a 100 innings this year. When he hits his cap can he be put on the DL with “arm fatigue” or does he have to stay on the 25 man roster?
MW: McGowan threw a lot of rehab innings and a lot of innings in simulated starts that didn’t count towards that total of 56 1/3. The rule of a pitcher adding only 20% to his innings total of the year before doesn’t really apply to 30 years-olds, it’s more for young guys building stamina to levels it’s never been before. The Blue Jays feel that if McGowan stays healthy, they can get 140-150 innings out of him. The rest may well be for Drew Hutchison.
- ScottyOI remember eating dinner at a Lime Rickey’s downtown before a game at the Dome in the summer of ’92 … good times.
Rasmus: he debuted with Toronto as a #2 hitter but ended up in the #6 spot and he projects to be there or 7th in 2012.
If he returns to the form he showed in 2010, with XBH and high OBP, and if Lind struggles, could you see a scenario where Rasmus ascends to the clean-up spot and Lind drops down to the lower third of the lineup?
Personally, I would want him hitting higher, e.g. 5th, right now, but I assume that having two LH batters in a row with Lind presently 4th negates that possibility.
MW: When Rasmus got here, he was the best two-hitter on the team outside Yunel Escobar, so that’s where he went. Unfotunately, his struggles continued. When Kelly Johnson arrived, he became the best two-hitter on the team, but by then Eric Thames had a firm grip on the spot, despite the ugly .317 OBP in July and August (other numbers were fine, though). This year, it seems likely that Johnson will get the first crack at the two-hole, with Rasmus starting the season, like you said, batting 6th or 7th. But yes, Rasmus is certainly a candidate to move up to the six-hole, or even clean-up, depending on how things go with him, Adam Lind and Edwin Encarnacion. Johnson could wind up in the four-hole, too.
- Adrian, co-alumnusJust wanted to comment on all the negative comments being left by folks who think that the jays need to spend north if 120 million to prove their commitment to wining. I ask you if it’s really that hard to see that securing all this young, controllable, inexpensive talent as a good thing. In my view this team full of is exciting young and under control of full of character guys. The fact that payroll is 27th our whatever it is is a very good thing in my mind. My blood pressure will rise when I start seeing this high end talent walk away because the jays are too cheap to pay market value for their assets. (like the Carl Crawford situation in Tampa). From where I’m sitting aa has been pretty honest about his plan here (maybe a little secretive) Paul Beeston also seems resonably truthful. Not only that their plan is a better plan ryann jays f fans have seen since Pat Gillick. I don’t think that is even remotely debatable. This team is exciting. They are going provide alot of exciting baseball this year and the bigg price tag is coming because all these young players are very good and will want to be paid very well very soon. if you disagree I say have a cup of camomile tea, relax and maybe you might be able to enjoy, what I think will be the most exciting bluejays baseball season since 1993. Mike, I’m interested to know if you think I’m right or not. Thank you.
MW: I do think you’re right, but a lot of fans are sick of hearing about the future and are blinded to the fact that simply upping payroll tends not to usually work – just ask the Orioles, Mets, Cubs and Dodgers. If the young players develop the way the Blue Jays believe they will, payroll will get up to $120 million soon enough just to keep everyone.
- GabeI’m looking forward to Jerry’s first “Hello friends….” of the year. Those are two magic words to me.
A couple of questions:
Has Romero officially been announced as the Opening Day pitcher or is it a given? What if someone pitches stronger out of spring training (i.e Morrow)?
Also, are there any player interviews you’re excited to do? I’m looking forward to hearing how the newly acquired players feel about the team!
MW: If he’s healthy, Romero is the Opening Day starter, no question. I’m excited to sit down with Darren Oliver, who is supposed to be one of the best people in the game and with Omar Vizquel especially.
- IcebergHello Mike
Nice to see you back and yes, even YOU are entitled a vacation.
Question – looking at the most probable Jay starting line-up opening day, there really is no easy out is there? It seems that everyone in the line-up (if they play to their capabilities) are a threat to score. Having said that, the Jays do not really have anyone to come off the bench who has a lethal bat. Do you see any value for bringing someone like Matsui as a threat in late innings?
Can’t wait for the season to start
MW: I don’t see any value in bringing in a guy like Matsui for that reason. If you look around the American League, you’ll find that there aren’t many teams, if any that have that big-time bat on the bench waiting for the right pinch-hit opportunity. But yes, this bench (Mathis, Vizquel, David, Francisco) has no pop at all on it. But the good thing is that there aren’t many regulars who would need to be pinch-hit for – Davis hits lefties well if you have to get Lind out against a tough LOOGY. The best weapon on the bench, though, is Davis’ speed. They’ll likely benefit more from his pinch-running than from the total pinch-hitting of the bench as a whole.
- FrancisHey Mike!
Great to see you back and can’t wait to hear the games from the Spring Training.
Since mlb’s game day audio won’t be broadcasting from all spring training games does that mean that they won’t be blocked online? I don’t live within 590′s broadcasting area.
MW: Honestly, I have no idea. I think that there’s an MLB audio Spring Training package, though.
- Tavora_RE: US money. The 50 on each corner is a dead giveaway for a $50 bill.
MW: I think it’s more that they were new and stuck together. But the same-colour thing certainly doesn’t help!
- timMike what are the chances of the jays signing Jorge Soler? Are they good or is he likely to sign elsewhere
MW: He’s likeliest to sign elsewhere because there are so many teams in competition, but as the story always is with the Blue Jays, we have no idea where they are in their negotiations with any free agent.
- JessicaI heard Zaun talking about Rasmus on PTS, saying Rasmus didn’t always show hustle last year. Did you see that?
Looking forward to the season and your commentary.
MW: I didn’t see that, what I saw was a guy who didn’t look like he was going especially hard but who wound up covering a ton of ground. Rasmus seems very Devon White-like in the way he goes after a ball.
- kateConsidering the only position spot not filled is left field(between Snider & Thames), I’ve been wondering what the batting order will be.
The first 4 spots I believe are set:
1. Escobar
2. Johnson
3. Bautista
4. Lind
As for who hits where from 5 to 9, I think is pretty interesting. This is how I see it.
5. Encarnation
6. Snider/Thames
7. Lawrie
8. Arencibia
9. Rasmus
On paper this looks to be a formidable line up no matter where you bat guys. Can’t wait for spring training to get going, it’s way too long.
MW: I think the bottom may start the season as Encarnacion/Lawrie/Rasmus/Arencibia/SniderorThames. But Lawrie and Rasmus may flip at the beginning.
- RobGreetings, Mr. Wilner.
A request. Would it be possible for you to link your visit on the Fan with Dirk Hayhurst? Just finished listening to his interview, would love to hear your interaction with him on the show. Heck, would love to read a post of your meeting him, and of some of your thoughts on him and the story in the Star.
Amusing (to me, anyways) story: asked for Mr. Hayhursts first book for Christmas, got ‘The Baseball Diaries’ by Derek Jeeter. I’m from the damn the Yankees and Jeters been highly over-rated for years.
Enjoy the warm weather!
MW: That’s more up to the techy guys than me, though I’d be surprised if it wasn’t in the Audio On Demand section. It’s from Feb. 21, at 8:00 pm.
- BuffaloSojournOn the night of the Darvish hysteria I asked you on air if you thought getting Darvish would result in the Jays actually being picked by ESPN for a Sunday night game. You thought it would have happened. Just wondering what your thoughts are on that topic now. I know it’s early and there are no big names on the Jays, but they may do big things this season. There are 2 Sunday games vs Yu’s Rangers (May 27, Aug 19). There is also Albert’s Angels (May 6, July1) and Prince’s Tigers July 29.
MW: It’s certainly possible. You’d have to imagine ESPN would want any Sunday game in which Darvish is pitching, though all Texas home games in August are at night anyway. July 1st will stay in the afternoon – it’s Canada Day!
- RezzerHey Mike what do you think the odds are that an alternate starter works their way on to the starters list to start the season?
Why do I get the feeling that barring a miracle, Romero followed by Morrow, Cecil, Alvarez and Dustin are already set in stone???
I’d like to see a bit more of a competition for the the final two spots and yes, you can argue there will be one but I think one of these guys would have to be plain awful and someone else be a major surprise to unseat one of them.
Odds are 90/10, what do you think?
MW: If those five stay healthy through the spring, that’s the starting five.
- Garyhey Mike,
any idea if Rogers will be live streaming the games ‘gratis’ to subscribers this year, as they did for the final 2 months of last season?
“Lime Rickey’s”? is that the place near SQ1 on Hurontario st.?.. it’s been 20 years since i lived in Port Credit On. but if that is the place i remember, then- i spent game 6 of the ’93 World series there, and couldn’t keep away from the TV while my date picked through her Ceasar salad and contemplated our future.. when the Carter home run jubilation subsided, i looked over to an empty table and a note on a napkin that said “don’t call me”,.. i didn’t, and i have no regrets. And i can’t remember how big a tip i left that night nor if i even paid the tab…
another spring, another clean slate, another season of Ball ahead of us..
All is well with the world..
Enjoy ….
MW: No idea on the first question. As for Lime Rickey’s, the Sussex location in Mississauga is not the one at which I worked, though my wife was wroking there at that time (not that night, though, because she was at her sister’s wedding).
- frankmichael,
- darrell bishopspring training… i for one as good as it gets my friend. hopes for your team eternal,
the smell of the freshly cut grass in the morning, the crack of the ball off the bat during bp, the snap of the ball as it hits the leather glove, the taste of a steamed dog with mustard from the vendor as it takes over your taste buds, down at the fence getting into some leisurely, idle chatter grabbing a few autographs from your baseball heroes, sitting in the stands in your shorts, t-shirt and cap basking in the sun, and knocking down a dozen beers or more as you get absolutely blottoed trying to remember who you watched play the day before.
good times indeed my friend. always my favourite time of yr. no doubt.
Mike-
I’m getting excited to see a competitive team in the vintage early 90′s style uniforms this season.
I had to pay $70 for a ticket (500 level) to last years home opener. I missed the deadline again this year. do you have any ticket connections?
Thanks, and lets go Blue Jays!
MW: I don’t have ticket connections, but if I did I’d probably do some sort of ’80s music trivia quiz to win them.
- Adam G.Hey Mike, Great work as always… what are the main things to watch this offseason interms of battles for positions?? i assume snider/thames and cecil/drabek/McGowan… but other than that, are there any other interesting developements that you are watching carefully? maybe Anthony Gose?? Any body else a real consideration to make the team that would surprise us? Cant wait for the season… Glad i bought my jays pass this year!
MW: The thing I’m looking forward to the most, I think, is watching Escobar, Vizquel and Hechavarria taking infield together! But I don’t think we’ll see any surprises on the team unless somebody gets hurt in the spring.
- BennyMike:
How does McGowan looks this spring? If he goes back to his old way of pitching, he could still be an ace? Thoughts?
Thanks,
James
MW: I’m just on my way down to Florida now, but all reports indicate he’s looked quite good. I don’t know if he could still be a legit #1 on a big-league staff, but it’s certianly possible.
- James HoHi Mike,
A a fellow 1970er with a wife and two kids under 12, I congratulate you on taking some time with your family before the season. While I envy the idea of spending 8 months covering the ins and outs of a major league team, I can only imagine how hard that must be on your family. I suspect your wife must be a very understanding lady.
On to baseball… If you were to choose one player on the roster to hit second behind Escobar and ahead of Bautista this year, who would that be? My thought would be Johnson if he can produce something near his career average OBP.
MW: That’s my initial thought, too. Him or Rasmus.
- LennieMike, if AA and Farrell feel that Mcgowan doesn’t have the strength to go fairly deep into games on a regular basis, do you think there is really room in the bullpen for him? He’s a great story and we’re all pulling for him but I don’t see who’s spot he would take out there. And obviously if there’s no spot in the pen and he’s out of options there is likely only one ending to the saga.
Secondly, why does it seem that Perez is a shoe-in for a pen spot when Litch, in my opinion, had a very solid year. They already have a situational lefty with Oliver so who is the better long man?
Enjoy spring training.
MW: Thanks! Litsch is probably the better long man, but he has options left and Perez doesn’t. As for McGowan, if they don’t think he’s strong enough to be able to start, they would probably put him on the disabled list to start the season.
- steveVladimir Guerrero could probobly drive in an extra 20-30 runs this season even if the rest of his stats would be the same as last year. That could give the Jays an extra 10 wins.
MW: Vladimir Guerrero would not add 10 wins to any team. If that were true, don’t you think someone would have signed him before Spring Training opened?
- tomasCecil looks like a human again and not shrek, so i’m looking for a bounce back year from him. I listened to you on the radio last night with Dirk the novelist, right now I can’t get enough jay talk, I grew up on skates but everytime a leaf player passes gas I don’t really want to hear about it!
- DanHi mike
You have probably heard zaun on prime time sports last night.
I am surprised he took a swing at Rasmus. I thought his observation was off base but then again, I am only a fan
Thoughts?
MW: I answered that above. To summarize, Rasmus eats up a lot of turf despite the fact that it doesn’t seem like he’s going that hard. Guys who don’t run out ground balls don’t get thrown out by half a step and guys who take it easy in the outfield don’t run down balls in the gaps and at the wall like he did.
- FrancisHi Mike. Wanted to get your thoughts on John Farrell’s suggestion that Kelly Johnson might hit second in the order this season, amongst other issues with the lineup. I think it makes a lot of sense to have KJ hit second given his high OBP. My concern with the lineup is principally with Adam Lind hitting cleanup. His power numbers are decent but it does not make up for his poor OBP. Still, I don’t know who else you can put at cleanup. Lawrie, Snider, and even Thames are guys maybe who eventually get there, but I wouldn’t want to rush it. Rasmus scares me in a lot of ways because, while I AM convinced he is a great fielding #8, I have no idea if he is even going to be a passable hitter in the major leagues. JP Arencibia, I hope, can continue to improve at the plate (mostly his patience needs to improve, in my opinion). I think his long term max potential is maybe 30 home runs, and a 320-330 OBP. That would be ok. Yunel and Jose are the gems of this team, Jose more obviously so than Yunel, but the Jays are extremely lucky to have Yunel as well. As far as shortstops go, he is a top 5 guy in the majors, in my opinion. Edwin Encarnacion is fine as our DH – he’ll do a decent job. So ya, I think the Jays could really use a (much) better first baseman / cleanup hitter. Any thoughts on how / if this will be addressed via the lineup?
MW: First of all, to Rasmus, he’s already had a star-level offensive season (at the age of 24!), so I’m stunned that you’re not sure if he’s even going to be a passable big-league hitter. He’ll be far, far better than that. Lind has to do better, and his staying healthy and having a year at first base under his belt should do nothing but help that.
- SandyHi Mike,
I am writing from California with a request. If you get a chance to talk to Kyle Drabek, can you please find out, and subsequently write about, what steps he took this past off season to get ready to compete for a spot in the rotation. Thanks.
MW: I’m sure there will be lots of attention paid to Drabek. Fret not!
- Cali Fanmichael,
- darrell bishopthe pessimists, the cynical ball fans that follow this baesball team are always going to be there. probably no changing that as we all know too well.
but the homers in turn with their unrealistic and wildly outlandish hopes for this club are in away just as infuriating no doubt.
and has always been very easy to poke fun at them indeed.
at the end of the day it really isn’t all that difficult to take a reasonable approach as to what this team may end up accomplishing in truth. you just have to assess matters with good reason in mind is my way of thinking on this.
this is a young team, in a very tough division, with certainly more than a few question marks
within the current roster to figure out.
and you have to take into account such things as injuries that are going to happen and most likely a few of your key players having an off year.
these things it seems happen to most ball clubs unfortunately.
and that’s why i don’t see this team winning anymore than 109 or 110 games this season at the most. probably a best case scenario in fact.
but hopefully it’s enough to get us in the playoffs this year.
managing expectations michael. that’s what it’s all about my friend.
we’ll see….
I’m so glad that baseball and your blog are back.
Its been a long winter.
MW: Thanks, but you do know that the blog has been here all winter, right?
- Mark K.Don’t have much of a comment besides I’m absolutely thrilled to get the season started again…..it’s been a long lonely baseball-less few months. Also really excited to hear you on the wireless for 27 whole games. Do you have a call planned out for the first Bautista Bomb a la Buck’s “swing and a drive”? Hope so
MW: Catch-phrases aren’t for me, I prefer to watch things happen and let the call come organically.
- ~julie~Mike…By Omar Vizquel stating it’s probably his last year, does he somewhat force John Farrell to include him on the team even if he has a sub-par spring? Or would he simply join another team? I don’t think any baseball fan would like to see a sure fire HOF player end his career in Spring Training.
MW: Roberto Alomar did, but I think the plan was to have Vizquel on the team regardless of his announcement.
- chris m.you should’ve stopped by my place in Boca…on your way to orlando
MW: Why didn’t you call me?
- lukeI was fine with the fact they did not sign Darvish BUT, now after seeing the results of the money and hype this Linsanity kid has created you really have to wonder what if?
- wojo19This kid came out of no where and Darvish was already some what of a phenom plus the chinese vs japanese factor? which are the more crazy fans? LOL
michael,
- darrell bishopa thought to share. and in it i suppose a prediction here…
i understand our blue jays 1b, projected cleanup hitter this yr. adam lind invested quite a bit of time and energy in training, rehabbing etc… to give himself an opportunity to have a much more healthy and in turn a more productive season coming up. with lower back issues i believe being the main issue.
if indeed this attempt and the fruits of his labour turn out to be justified i’m saying this…
2012 will be the young man’s best rbi season total to date in his career thus far.
not entirely sure where the hr total will get him to or ba or ops either but assuming with good health in tow those aspects of his hitting stats are going to look very decent as well.
i like this guy michael. i have always liked this guy. and believe that season he had a few back wasn’t a fluke. far from it actually.
just needs the fortune of some restored health to get back to where he was.
pulling for lind big time no doubt. as we all should be if any of us are true fans of this ball team.
especially homers like me that regardless can still recognize a pretty good ball player when i see one i think.
go get em’ adam. we need you brother….
michael,
and what about rajai davis for this yr. coming up?
he definitely has those table setting type qualities in his game, in particular because of his world class speed on the basepaths.
so what do you think?
if by chance snider or thames fail to impress greatly thru spring training or out of the gates as the season moves along in lf any chance of him being a fixture there for at least this season? or a strong platooner with one of those or perhaps francisco? pretty sure he hits the lefties quite well in any event.
and have our top flight defensive cf already so could hide his defensive shortcomings out near the bullpen. another win/win right there.
sure he won’t give you the power type hitting stats you typically want out of that position, but if he killed it by chance out of the leadoff spot or even if he just did his thing getting on base out of the 9th spot… that could be a very useful weapon in this team’s hitting lineup arsenal no?
he’s an absolute terror on the basepaths. we all know that…
cause’ if he’s on his game. gonna need to get the man his at bats this season.
much too dangerous an ingredient to shun from the lineup me thinks.
i don’t know if you know this, but you can’t teach speed michael…
and go ahead… you can use that one if you want to my friend…
MW: I’ll wager that Davis starts against pretty much every lefty the Blue Jays face this year, at least. He’s also a very, very powerful weapon off the bench.
- darrell bishopMike
Lind and EEs splits seem to scream for a full platoon at 1B. Is that even being considered? And do you think that is the right move?
MW: I don’t think there should be a full platoon at first base – at least not yet – but I don’t think Adam Lind should be hitting clean-up against lefties, either.
- DanMainly, I just can’t wait for opening day but it will still be fun to hear what all the reporters have to say about spring training. The player interviews are awesome.
I’m most excited about watching the underpaid Jose Bautista and I hope he stays that way. It will be fun watching Colby Rasmus for a whole year and I hope he stays out of trouble. Mike are you at all worried about Rasmus? More so then Escabar? That being said my favorite players this year: Bautista, Rasmus and Escobar.
MW: I’m not worried at all about either Rasmus or Escobar.
- HabThanks for answering my questions Mike.
I have a random one here to help resolve a bit of a disagreement. Who was the pitcher in the Jays system a couple of years back that threw hard but wasn’t very tall? I think he’s been traded since…
I hope that’s enough information to go on!
MW: I think you’re probably talking about Tim Collins, who was traded to Atlanta in the Alex Gonzalez/Yunel Escobar deal and is now with Kansas City.
- Icebergmichael,
- darrell bishopjust saw our man, john lott’s piece in the post today on my man… brett cecil. awesome article indeed.
certainly a load of valuable insight into what’s been going on with the guy since last season finished up.
and soooo excited to see what he brings this yr. for 2012.
sounds like young brett has definitely reconfigured both his body and mind to get back to where he was results wise 2 seasons ago.
15 wins in his rookie yr. michael as you know.
not too shabby. impressive actually, needless to say.
and a cool dude too. definitely has a presence about him it seems.
so absolutely hoping for the best for my man brett c.
,expecting big things from the lefty.
still see a bit of jimmy key in him in his overall makeup….
and let us know what you hear on how his velocity is shaping up this spring michael.
cause’ if that’s back as well, would have to think he’s well on his way to re-establishing himself as a cornerstone of this rotation again.
here’s hoping…
michael,
- darrell bishopso saw an article and interview with our phenom hitting catcher j.p.a. this morning.
just brewing with an abundance of confidence isn’t he?
i love it…. especially out of the ever so vital catcher position. nice to see indeed.
here’s my take on this young man and the situation this team found themself in last yr. with the early season acquisition of mike napoli soon to be discarded to the rangers much to the chagrin of alot of blue jays fans here in this city… (after the fact)
j.p. had a ton of homers and rbi’s for a rookie catcher last yr.
this we all know.
if he compounds on those numbers even moreso this yr. which people are looking for and gets better behind the plate which probably will come with the territory on the premise of being a yr. older, a yr. more experienced and a yr. better etc….
then i think we’re all gonna be ecstatic that the scenario played itself out as it did and mike napoli didn’t take up half his appearances behind the plate and at bat last season… which i think was the method of plan all along in any event…..
and throw up 30-35 homers this yr. and 85-90 rbi’s as a 2nd yr catcher piggybacking off his so vital 1st full yr. in the majors and the memories of mike napoli will soon to be distant no doubt.
especially when considering we’re trying to build a young up and coming ball team to contend with for many yrs. going forward.
and if he falls flat on his face by chance… then we got travis d’arnaud wating in the wings…
this organization has got it all figured out it seems.
sweeeet….
Mike –
Re: Post #27. I acknowledge that Rasmus had a ‘star’ season in the majors in 2010 with the Cards, at least based on conventional stats. But in that year he also had a pretty high BABIP of about .355. He was certainly excellent as a minor league player, so that is evidence that he’ll come around eventually. Completely agree that, given he is still young, the best is yet to come. Let’s hope it happens this season!
-Sandy
- Rasmus