Late At Night, Sink Your Heart Into Mine / I Will Never Try to Forget Your Northern Eyes: Saturday Morning Banter

by hugo on Feb 27, 2010 11:31 AM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

Hi everyone. There's still plenty of snow on the ground and my friends and family back in NY just got hammered with the white stuff, but today in DC sure feels like Spring is just around the corner. Certainly, Spring Training is.

A few notes from Jays' camp, all courtesy of the tireless fellow marathoner Jordian Bastian:

Cito Gaston seems to like Joey Gathright and his chances of making the Jays. Asked what he has to do to make the team, Cito said "Just go out and play." With a different manager that could be seen as somewhat cryptic or a non-answer, but coming from Cito to me it sounds like Gathright has a bit of a step up. Maybe not, though.
Randy Ruiz isn't the only one to impress the Jays with a new 2010 physique. Jays' first-round pick Chad Jenkins has reportedly showed up to camp having shed 25 pounds and has apparently looked fantastic on the mound so far. Jenkins would ordinarily be slated to start at Lansing this season but assistant GM Tony LaCava thinks that the big righty has a chance to stay in Dunedin with a strong spring. I have to admit, I like Jenkins quite a bit. I think, coupled with a Jays organization that seems to value infield defense, he could be an effective starter for a long time.
Finally, Travis Snider is going to experiment this spring with a different swing. Specifically, he'll try lowering his hands, which Moonraker says "[s]implifies the load." Apparently the Jays have been trying to get Snider to try this since last season, but he was understandably reluctant to make mid-season adjustments in his swing.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend so far. I've got a few depositions coming up next week so I'll be working, unfortunately, but I did get a great run in this morning. Today's title comes from the song "Edmonton" by the Rural Alberta Advantage.

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Alright, I am really amped that these Jays players are getting lean and mean! Great work Ruiz and Jenkins!

by aagoodfella on Feb 27, 2010 12:09 PM EST reply actions

This is the story every year...

Is nice and all but last year it was Vernon that was in the ‘best shape ever’. It’s the story that writers do each year in spring, because really there isn’t that much to write about, so let’s talk about the ones that lost weight.

The stories you can count on every spring:
Player X has come in with a new attitude.
Player Y is in the best shape ever.
Player Z is happy to be here and just happy to compete for a job.

Is great and all…let’s see if it converts to playing ability.

by Tom Dakers on Feb 27, 2010 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

true, if being skinny was enough

I’d be in the majors!

At the same time, it can only help to improve your physical condition. I would never argue that part of what helped Doc be as good as he was over as many starts and innings as he was and stay healthy wasn’t his ridiculous fitness regimen. Of course it doesn’t always correlate to results, but it’s not bad to see either.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Feb 27, 2010 12:22 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah it's one of those we see every year...

And it’s good and all…now prove something.

On the skinny thing, Jordan Bastian Twitted that one of the Jay’s execs said he “had a ‘bad body’ from a scouting perspective” and he’s running a marathon tomorrow.

by Tom Dakers on Feb 27, 2010 12:26 PM EST up reply actions

Adam Lind

Adam Lind ramped up his nutrition last year (i.e. protein shakes, etc) and his power numbers went through the roof. Hill got bigger and stronger too, and he had a solid season too.

I think physical condition makes a potentially huge difference in a player. We’ll see if it does in the aforementioned players.

by REMO on Feb 27, 2010 2:16 PM EST up reply actions

yea, but I never really bought into the Wells story last year. He did not look that fit to me. Ruiz looks like a monster.

by aagoodfella on Feb 27, 2010 8:09 PM EST up reply actions

actually looking at that picture, I would say Wells is looking pretty fit too. Even better than last year.

by aagoodfella on Feb 27, 2010 8:12 PM EST up reply actions

I know fitness discussion is a recurring spring training theme, but hasn’t positive fitness changes led to better production in many athletes?

There’s something that excites me about Ruiz’s offense if we can get him in a role that doesn’t effect Snider. It is also nice to see Jenkins cutting the weight back instead of turning into a David Wells. I can only imagine if he had gained 25 instead of losing 25

by Joey P on Feb 27, 2010 10:06 PM EST up reply actions

On Jenkins, On Dancer, On Prancer, on Vixen....

I’ve been saying ALL winter that there is a very good possibility that from 2012 on our starting rotation COULD very well be: Drabek, Morrow, Jenkins, Stewart and Alvarez. Just to remind folks – Henderson Alvarez BEGINS 2010 as a 20 year old with an 89 – 94 mph heater, and a change up BA calls his “best pitch”. As he matures he should add velocity and refine his third pitch to be a serious horse.

What that all means is that guys like Marcum, McGowan, Litsch, Scrabble, Cecil, Romero, Mills and OTHERS – are not just in a battle for their playing lives this year – BUT – will be facing that battle in 2011 and 2012 IF they last that long.

IF – WHEN all these YOUNG starters start to fall into place AA will have lots of trade bait.

On my use of “capitals” (like “BUT – IF – WHEN” as opposed to “Ottawa, Washington and London” which are “capitals” of a different species) – I use them in contexts where whem I’m talking I’d add emphasis. As a former Management Consultant who made his living giving seminars – it drives me nuts not being able to represent my writing as dynamically as I communicate in a verbal form. To understand what I’m REALLY saying – you’ve got to be able to watch me say it. Ya – I know I suffer from sort of “oral” obsession – BUT – PLEASE don’t get me going down THAT road – it leads in all sorts of weird and wonderful directions. Bugger it – time for a scotch – single malt natch.

by Mylegacy on Feb 27, 2010 1:05 PM EST reply actions

I need to take up Management Consulting

if it involves drinking scotch at 1 in the afternoon. I’m waist-deep in dusty old documents preparing to grill some witnesses at deposition next week.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Feb 27, 2010 1:10 PM EST up reply actions

AA once called Alvarez their best pitching prospect, prior to Rolen/Halladay trades.

by REMO on Feb 27, 2010 2:19 PM EST up reply actions

Hugo - for your sins...

When you get as OLD as I am – you’ll be able to rest and drink scotch any ol’ time you want!

In fact – time for a double. Smooth, very smooth.

by Mylegacy on Feb 27, 2010 5:38 PM EST reply actions

Legal profession

Hey, Hugo

Interesting piece. Really enjoyed it.

Admit it, Hugo, you’re keen on Jenkins because his nickname is “Judge,” aren’t ya?

Maybe you can help me out here. What’s black and brown and looks good on a lawyer? I’ve always wanted to know.

by SirJock on Feb 27, 2010 6:29 PM EST reply actions

haha, heard that one before, a dobermann

I always tell people that lawyer jokes are hurtful and unfounded, and it is just those bad 99% of lawyers who give the rest of us a bad name.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Feb 27, 2010 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

hey Hugo...

it’s so darn cold outside, this morning I saw a lawyer with his hands in his own pockets.

sorry…. had to.

lol

by Andy Mc on Mar 1, 2010 12:56 AM EST up reply actions

Finally, Travis Snider is going to experiment this spring with a different swing. Specifically, he’ll try lowering his hands, which Moonraker says “[s]implifies the load.” Apparently the Jays have been trying to get Snider to try this since last season, but he was understandably reluctant to make mid-season adjustments in his swing.

Tony Gwynn credited this exact move for his ability to hit to all fields and strike out so rarely. Gwynn had inhumanly strong wrists though, and I haven’t heard anything about Snider’s. However, if he’s got the wrist strength to add that speed coming through the zone, it could be the key to him getting contact on breaking balls this year.

by dexfarkin on Feb 27, 2010 8:57 PM EST reply actions