And You Read Your Emily Dickinson and I, My Robert Frost: Toronto Blue Jays 2011 Dangling Conversation Part VII

by hugo on Mar 4, 2011 7:00 AM EST in Toronto Blue Jays Analysis

In Part I, we introduced ourselves and generally discuss the offseason. In Part 2, we discussed the Marcum for Lawrie trade. In Part 3 we discussed the 2011 pitching staff, while in Part 4 we discussed the catching situation. In Part 5 we discussed the Jays' farm system, and in Part 6 we took a look at breakout and fallback candidates.

Hugo: Who is a Jays player you believe is likely to rebound after a bad 2011, and why?

Tom: Adam Lind. I just think his swing is too good to not do better than last year. I think he just he wanted to pull every pitch he saw. I’m not sure if that was coaching or what but I think he’d be better off, especially against LHP to look the other way more. I also think it will help him if he plays in the field more.

JohnnyG: So this is basically a question between Hill and Lind right? I guess you could say EE to a certain extent, maybe even Rzep, but the expectations weren’t the same for anyone else compared to Hill and Lind. I guess I already answered this one above, but I think Hill bounces back. Granted I think Lind does better too. Back in the summer of 2006 I was at the Jays game where Lind was honoured along with two other minor league players for their seasons in their respective leagues (Lind was playing with the Jays at the time). I remember leaning over to my then fiance and saying I like that kid, his swing is great and he gonna be good. So it has been an ongoing joke in my household whenever Lind gets a hit or a HR or anything really and my wife sees who it is, she looks over at me and we both say "I like that kid".... ok maybe its one of those have to be there moments, but it always cracks me up.

Jesse: I think you forgot Yunel Escobar, who I think could easily put together a .280 / .360 / .400 season and be between 5 and 10 runs above average at short.

JohnnyG: I always forget about Escobar, mainly because he didn’t play all that poorly when he come into Toronto so I discount the whole Atlanta part of the season. Granted he started out really well here which is probably influencing my view of him.

Tom: Not that he had a poor year, but I think Cecil could take a step forward. I also think Casey Janssen could step into a bigger role for the team. More a setup guy than a mopup pitcher.

Jesse: Could we say that would be Farrell taking a step forward from Cito?

Hugo: I hope Janssen gets more of a shot with Farrell. He actually had a very nice season. Struck out 8.25 batters per 9 innings with his usual low walk rates, and his usual excellent ground ball rates. He got a bit unlucky on batted balls (.336 BABIP). The only thing with him is that he has 5 quality pitches, but no real standout pitch to use as an out pitch. But of course he didn’t have a bad 2010 by any stretch, just a mostly inconsequential one, so it’s not really a good answer to the question. For an actual rebound candidate, I agree I like Lind.

Tom: The trouble is there are only two guys that really had a bad year and are still with the team. I think Hill will have a better season too, mostly because I can’t see him getting much worse. Jesse Litsch could be in there I guess.

Hugo: Switching gears a bit, the Jays allowed Lyle Overbay to leave with the intention of moving Adam Lind to first base in order to get him out in the field more. They re-signed Edwin Encarnacion and stated he will spend time at first base and DH. How do you see the first base and designated hitter spots shaping up for the Jays in 2011, and do you think they need to pick up at least one more hitter? If so, who would you like to see?

Tom: I think we need another bat. At best we are stretched pretty thin at the moment. As is stands Lind plays first, EE DHes, Bautista plays third and Davis LF every day. If one of them were to get injured or if Davis or Edwin or Lind don’t produce, I don’t know who would fill hole. Do we really want to see McDonald playing everyday if someone gets hurt? I still would have liked to have seen them sign Manny, at least then we could have a fall back if someone were to get hurt.

JohnnyG: Well they don’t NEED to pick up one more hitter, a Lind and EE switch going between 1B and DH would work..... its not ideal and I would like another player. Oh hey look at that, in Cars, the two minivans that get lost in Radiator Springs are called Mini and Van, HAH those crazy Pixar folks.

Hugo: I think EE has serious power and a bat that can help the Jays in a first-base/DH role, but I don’t think his bat really plays as an everyday DH. On the other hand, I’m not sure I’m ready to relegate Lind to a platoon role, so that would dictate against picking up a full-time DH. A lefty DH with whom EE could split time might not be a bad idea. I agree with Tom that the team is spread a little thin offensively as currently constructed.

masterkembo: We’re probably short a bat here - I figure EE is worth about 1.5WAR as a full-time DH, which isn’t terrible, but probably isn’t good enough. Thome would probably be a good pick, but not for what he’s going to cost since he’s probably due for a big regression. There’s not really a whole lot of intriguing options left at this point. How about Albert Pujols for 2012...? I can dream, right?

Tom: So what do you all think would happen if one of the outfielders or corner infielders were to get hurt?

JohnnyG: Kevin Millar coming out of retirement? Likely would be either a young prospect kid getting a chance or a career minor league plugging a hole.

masterkembo: If 3B is injured, bring up Lawrie and plug him in either at 2B or 3B and play Hill accordingly. If 1B is hurt - I don’t know, play EE at 1B and call up whoever is hitting best at AAA and let them DH. If an outfielder gets hurt...move Bautista back to the OF, call up Lawrie and go from there. Or bring up Mastroianni and plug him in. None of those situations are ideal - I’m not arguing that we’re not short a bat, but the Jays can probably make it work if worse comes to worse. I guess right now, a lot of the Jays flexibility is going to depend on how Lawrie is fairing. If he is ready, even to be a league average player, the Jays should have an easier time moving guys around in case of injury.

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Comments

Dustin McGowan

No bad news to report yet. Imagine if some how he has a Carpenter-like return to the majors. It could be a game changer. Your worst starter would be Drabek??? If this were to happen the only thing that would be needed is maybe an extra bat? If Hill and Lind rebound and Snider plays a whole season it has the potential to be a very interesting season. Ahhh…pre-season optimism.

by BillBerg4PM on Mar 4, 2011 10:10 AM EST reply actions

I think if he recovers

the Jays are looking to convert him to a bullpen role

by benk on Mar 4, 2011 10:22 AM EST up reply actions

Ok

If that is the case and he comes back and pitches really well, do you think he has more trade value than Rauch, Dotel, Franciso, etc. because he was a starter and teams might still view him as that?

by BillBerg4PM on Mar 4, 2011 10:54 AM EST reply actions

I think the injury concerns would tip the scale more so then any former starter view.

I think you'll find I'm universally recognised as a mature and responsible adult.
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by JohnnyG on Mar 4, 2011 11:25 AM EST up reply actions

Rec'd the post for JohnnyG's sheer abilty to be off his rocker...

Oh hey look at that, in Cars, the two minivans that get lost in Radiator Springs are called Mini and Van, HAH those crazy Pixar folks.

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Mar 4, 2011 12:35 PM EST reply actions

Oh I got a better one now…

In Winnie the Pooh the two characters are Kanga and Roo… and they are Kangaroos.

Mind Blown.

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by JohnnyG on Mar 4, 2011 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

I have the biggest one for you: Don't you find an eerie Karma in the fact of both these guys have the same nickname?

1.
2.

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Mar 4, 2011 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Is there a cheap bat available?

Is there anything out there that we could pick up right now? I agree, I think Manny would have been great, given us flexibility and allowed us to compete for real this year. What’s $2 mil? Maybe we should have pulled the trigger on that.

Oh well.

And if EE hits, can’t he play 3B and move Bautista to RF?

by Rhinos on Mar 4, 2011 12:47 PM EST reply actions

I think that IF we get another bat it'll be via trade...

Pujols, anyone? ;-p

Maybe Rasmus? :-)

What’s the latest on Chris Carpenter’s injury? If he’s down, the Cards might as well start the fire sale…

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Mar 4, 2011 12:51 PM EST up reply actions

I say: trust our farm system

Tom: So what do you all think would happen if one of the outfielders or corner infielders were to get hurt?

At the outfield I think we can manage: Though we have Patterson and Podsednik, I’d rather see them call up Thames or Mastroiani.

1B: here it’s tricky. You had our depth chart (behind Lind and EE) as Rivera, Shealy and Cooper… Umm… If Rivera works out, I think that’s the way to go. If Cooper earns a chance, we can give him one.
3B: The Lawrie knot… Or we can get McCoy at 2nd and Hill at 3rd? I don’t know… Do we HAVE a depth chart in 3rd? (Behind the Jedi, Lawrie, johnny-Mac (ugh) and Hill(umm..))?

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Mar 4, 2011 12:48 PM EST reply actions

There should be opportunities to aquire a little deph or better options as spring winds down.

As rosters get cut, some cheap deals might become available. Possibly maybe better options than what we have (like McCoy, Podsednik or Patterson).

by Alan F. on Mar 4, 2011 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. Shouldn’t be too hard to find better options than those 3…

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Mar 4, 2011 2:14 PM EST up reply actions

I feel AA is holding his cards on further acquisitions until later in the season.

Why make another move now when you are only guessing at what will be needed? The roster looks pretty good assuming everyone is healthy. Later on, if depth is required at a certain area or if someone doesn’t perform to expectations, then AA makes his move. Some of the players on the farm – like Lawrie, Thames, Mastroianni, several pitchers – could turn out to provide the team with needed depth.

Why not make sure first? I prefer smart buying than throwing money and/or prospects into acquiring someone the team may not need. AA will probably make any such move – if needed – well before the deadline, I get the feeling he likes to be ahead of the other players.

by transmogrifier on Mar 4, 2011 1:14 PM EST reply actions

True. But what do we have for 1B if Lind and/or EE are down?

Festina Lente

by HESS2479 on Mar 4, 2011 2:15 PM EST up reply actions

Bautista, although I don't like that option.

Then there is Rivera, who played there a little for the Angels. Cooper or Shealy could be brought up. The Jays do have some remarkable flexibility at most positions, at least for short term basis. Not to be read as having all star depth, but what team does have that depth at all positions if someone goes down?

As I said above though, if such a thing were to happen then AA would be in a position to make a move depending on how injured Lind and EE were. Then it would be a definite need, but to add a 1B option right now would just be excess baggage unless the Jays were uncomfortable with Lind and sometimes EE handling the position.

Now if that 1B option were Albert Pujols, well that’s another story…

by transmogrifier on Mar 4, 2011 4:53 PM EST up reply actions