Make your predictions: Aaron Hill
by Tom Dakers on Feb 8, 2010 11:26 AM EST
in Fun
25 comments
No one figured Aaron Hill to have the season he did last year. I took a look back at our predictions from last season and no guessed him to have more than 15 homers, which made a lot of sense since he a total of 28 home runs in his four year career up until then. Add in that he was coming back after missing most of 2008 with a concussion. In fact I made a lot of fun of a TSN TV commentator who called Hill our franchise player before season. That turned out to be far closer to the truth than any of us thought.
We took a detailed look at Hill's season here. He turns just 28 in March so he's still young. Here is his batting line from last year:
Bill James figures him to have 580 PA, a .283/337/.800 batting line, 20 homers and 76 RBI.
CHONE sees almost exactly the same line: 596 PA, .282/.332/.453, 21 homers and 75 RBI.
So give us your predictions for how our favorite second baseman will hit this year. Give us PA, slash line, homers, RBI and anything else you can see in his near future.
25 comments | 0 recs |
Happy Birthday Damaso Garcia and a couple of links.
by Tom Dakers on Feb 7, 2010 6:15 PM EST
in Birthdays
5 comments
Damaso Garcia turns 55 today. He played second base for the Jays from 1980 to 1986 he stole 194 bases for us and is number 28 on our Top 50 Jay's list. His health hasn't been good since his retirement. He had a brain tumor right after he left baseball and then had a stroke in 2001. Last we heard he wasn't doing well but he has beaten the odds before. I hope he has a good birthday.
Here's a couple of links and comments to kill time before the Soup Bowl.
John Sickels at Minor League Ball has a nice profile of Scrabble. The only thing I kind of take issue with is this:
Rzep doesn't have the pure stuff to project as an ace, but if he can sharpen his command a bit more, I think he can be a good number four starter for a long time to come. His debut was impressive and I think he's still an underrated pitcher who will have a better career than many guys who get more publicity.
I always think it is silly to say prospect X can only be a 3rd starter or whatever. If you watched the Jays in 2000 you would never guess that Roy Halladay would have become, well Roy Halladay. Who thought Cliff Lee would be an ace in 2004 when he had a 5.43 ERA or 2007 when he had a 6.29 ERA. Players can surprise you.
Jordan Bastian has a nice profile up on Travis Snider.
I sent a note to Nico from Athletics Nation asking for a scouting report on our new pitcher, Dana Eveland. Here is what he sent me:He sucks. Poor command, no poise. Gets a lot of ground balls, though, has good movement on his fastball and a David Wells like curve. Yet still sucks.
Enjoy Dana!
Yeah a glowing review. I suppose these reports about players that had a bad season where they played last aren't all that useful.
And MLB Trade Rumors had this tidbit:
One reason the Cubs signed Kevin Millar was to loosen up the clubhouse after the Milton Bradley fiasco last season.
Yeah, he sure kept things upbeat at the end of last season for us.
Enjoy the game.
5 comments | 0 recs |
BBB Superbowl picks
by craig in calgary on Feb 7, 2010 1:06 PM EST
19 comments
IT'S SUPER SUNDAY BABY!
Today the Colts and Saints battle for Football Supremacy. Both teams live and die on their offense with 2 of the best Peyton Manning and Drew Brees at the helm.
I personally don't think it will be that close. Manning is just too damn good and the Saints frankly stink on the defensive side of the ball and live by the takeway and other teams mistakes. The Colts don't make mistakes.
Who you got?
Add in from Tom: Just thought I'd add that SBNation is all over the game, and since they pay the bills around here, they get a plug. They have a few bloggers at the game and will have stories no one else has and the stories everyone else has. So go here to see it all. End of commercial. Story it wasn't as entertaining as most of the Super Bowl ads.
Update: SB is running a game thread, if you want to join in, here it is.
19 comments | 0 recs
Jays Trade for Dana Eveland
by Tom Dakers on Feb 6, 2010 3:40 PM EST
in News
27 comments
Here is the press release:
The TORONTO BLUE JAYS have acquired LHP DANA EVELAND from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
EVELAND, 26, appeared in 13 games last season for the Athletics making nine starts and posted a 2-4 record with a 7.16 ERA. The 6-1, 220 lb. left-handed pitcher was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 16th round of the 2002 First Year Player Draft. In parts of five seasons with Milwaukee (2005 & 2006), Arizona (2007) and Oakland (2008 & 2009) the Palmdale, California resident has posted a 13-17 record with one save and a 5.54 ERA in 83 games, 44 starts.
Tom: I don't really understand it, but we want to collect all the pitchers we can get. Here is his career numbers. He had a decent season in 2008. I think our 40 man roster is full so someone will have to be dropped or perhaps Dirk Hayhurst will be put on the 60 day DL. Eveland is out of options, so he can't be sent down unless he clear waivers.
Hugo: I'm snowed in and just got power back, so just found out about this move now. I actually like it quite a bit, as depth moves go. I think it's funny that people here seem to like the pickup of someone like Valdez (or at least think he should/will make the team), a guy with one pitch he can't control at all, but are turning up their noses at a 26-year old lefty starter who has actually shown he can be an effective pitcher. Eveland is still pretty young and while his 2009 was a complete mess, he's only a year removed from a very solid season in 2008. His strengths are keeping the ball on the ground and in the park.
While he obviously struggled mightily in 2009, (although he only made 9 starts) I wouldn't expect another BABIP anywhere near the .390s, so he should bounce back some just on that. He also was hurt by an abnormally low strand rate (63%). His FIP for 2009 was 5.05 (4.09 in 2008 over 29 starts, btw), not fantastic by any means but not nearly as bad as his ERA would suggest and about average for a 5th starter.
I'm not necessarily clamoring for him to make the rotation out of spring training, (though as Tom said, I doubt he would pass through waivers), but it's good to have an option of someone with experience but who still has some potential and upside. If there are injuries or ineffectiveness in some of our young pitchers, he's a much better option to fill in than we had last season in someone like Mike Maroth. And maybe a fresh start in Toronto will help him get his career back on track.
By the way, Jordan Bastian tweeterates that Eveland will come into camp with a shot at a starting job with the Jays.
27 comments | 0 recs |
Make your predictions: First Base, Lyle Overbay and Someone.
by Tom Dakers on Feb 6, 2010 1:00 PM EST
in Fun
6 comments
I figured Lyle would be traded this off season but we are 10 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting and he is still on the roster. We took a close look at Lyle's 2009 season back here. In short, he hit right handers great (.282/.396/.509) and lefties (.190/.256/.278) not at all. He needs a platoon partner. I'd like to see him batting near the top of the order against RHP, but Cito seems to think Jose Bautista should be there. Lyle is 33 this year. Lyle's 2009:
Bill James sees Lyle hitting .267/.359/.443, with 15 homers, 63 RBI and 34 doubles in 525 plate appearances.
CHONE has him .257/.345/.410, with 14 homers, 58 RBI and 26 doubles in 521 PA.
We looked at the other possibilities at first here, but the main ones are:
Randy Ruiz, Cito didn't seem to like the idea of him playing first last year but his mind might change. He's 32 this season. He also could get at bats at DH. Last year Ruiz hit
Pretty decent, eh? Usual small sample size warnings. Ghostrunner on First has a graph showing he chased down and off the plate a lot. Pitchers would likely try to exploit that in he played more but then he'd hopefully try to correct that too.
Bill James figures him to hit .294/.352/.517 with 9 homers, 31 RBI in 194 PA.
CHONE .255/.315/.448 with 21 homers, 68 RBI in 502 PA.
If we could mix James batting line with CHONE's playing time, we got something.
Brian Diporak could also end up with some playing time at first. Bill James doesn't think so but CHONE has him at .240/.288/.397 with 14 homers, 53 RBI in 444 PA. I don't know how he'd get up to the plate that many times hitting like that but ok.
Brett Wallace could also see playing time, especially if he hits as well at Vegas as I think he will.
Bill James sees him hitting .278/.331/.427 with 17 homers, 69 RBI in 544 PA.
CHONE .252/.306/.395 with 15 homers, 55 RBI in 527 PA.
So give us your guesses at who will play and how they will hit. We should end up with between 650 and 700 PA out of each position but some of these guys could see time at DH so it could add up to more PA.
6 comments | 0 recs |
Jays RHP Dirk Hayhurst had surgery today to repair fraying of the right labrum in his shoulder. Expected to be out 4-6 months.
MLBastian
Jordan Bastian
2 days ago
Tom Dakers
6 comments
0 recs
Friday Bantering: Bullpen Numbers and Links
by Tom Dakers on Feb 5, 2010 3:03 PM EST
in News
19 comments
As Jordan Bastian twiterates that the most interesting battle this spring will be in the bullpen. Jordan says that Alex Anthopoulos tells him that there are no plans, at present, to trade off any of the relievers, so we have a bunch of arms for 7 bullpen spots.
Sure things: Kevin Gregg, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor
Sure unless he's in the starting rotation: Brian Tallet
If he's healthy and doesn't make the rotation: Dustin McGowan
Battling out for 3 spots: Jeremy Accardo, Jesse Carlson, Shawn Camp, Josh Roenicke, Merkin Valdez, Jesse Carlson, Casey Janssen, Zechry Zinicola and Scott Richmond.
Depending on how surgery goes: Dirk Hayhurst. Update: Jordan Bastian says Dirk will be out for 4 to 6 months. There is a very sad Garfoose out there.
Longer shots: Lance Broadway (unless he's in jail), Zach Jackson, Steven Register, Willie Collazo and Sean Henn.
Guys without options: Tallet, McGowan, Valdez, Downs, Camp. And Zinicola has to stay on the roster or be offered back to the Nationals.
So pick your 7 men out of that?
Links after the Jump:
19 comments | 0 recs |
A Bleed Cubbie Blue Scouting Report on our New Reliever
by Tom Dakers on Feb 5, 2010 11:21 AM EST
in Analysis
12 comments
I asked Al from Bleed Cubbie Blue, SB Nations terrific Cubs site, for a scouting report on Kevin Gregg and he was gracious to do it. I should lead off by saying Gregg had a really bad year for the Cubs, we have to hope he'll be better for us. Here's Al:
Gregg claimed to have had knee problems most of last year -- that's the reason
that they wouldn't use him for more than an inning at a time (had only three
such appearances in 2009).He was maddeningly inconsistent. He'd look good for a month or longer, then
suddenly start giving up home runs at really inconvenient times, particularly in
this game:http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/FLO/FLO200908020.shtml
HR on back-to-back pitches with one out in the last of the 9th, which tied and
won the game for the Marlins. Lou finally quit on him as closer after this one:http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SDN/SDN200908170.shtml
A double, an IBB, and a three-run walkoff by Kyle Blanks. The Cubs shut him down
for the year after September 20.The quick and dirty scouting report: he walks too many people and the HR allowed
(13) are ridiculous. I'd think he'll have terrible trouble against the LH power
hitters in the AL East, particularly in Yankee Stadium. Even in his decent year
with the Marlins in 2008, he walked too many hitters.Good luck with him -- you're gonna need it. Can we have Jason Frasor in return?
Not exactly glowing but what did I expect. I do hope that our pitching coaches can help him, Cito doesn't tend to like relievers that walk a lot of batters. Thanks for the report Al.
12 comments | 0 recs |
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