Blue Jays Announce Webster Award Winners

by Tom Dakers on Sep 16, 2011 2:29 PM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays News

The Blue Jays announce their Webster award winners for Most Valuable Player at each of their Minor League affiliates.

Las Vegas: David Cooper (1B, .364, 51 2B, 9HR, 96 RBI, .974 OPS)

New Hamphire: Travis d'Arnaud (C, .311, 21 HR, 78 RBI, .914 OPS)

Dunedin: A.J. Jimenez (C, .303, 4 HR, 52 RBI, 11 SB, .770 OPS)

Lansing: Jake Marisnick (CF, .320, 14 HR, 77 RBI, 37 SB, .888 OPS)

Vancouver: Justin Nicolino (LHP 6-2, 1.33 ERA, 61.0 IP, 39 H, 13 BB, 73 K)

Bluefield: Chris Hawkins (OF.313, 5 HR & 52 RBI, 14 SB, .853 OPS)

Gulf Coast League: Joge Vega-Rosado (SS,.317, 4 HR & 30 RBI, 22 SB, .850 OPS)

Dominican Summer League: Jairo Labourt (LHP 0-4, 2.23, 36.1 innings, 29 hits, 14 BB, 29 k)

Congratulations all.

The Jays also announced other organizational awards:

John Hendricks gets the Al Lamacchia Award for top amateur scout.

Tom Clark gets the Pro Scout of the Year.

Dennis Holmberg gets the Bobby Mattick Award for excellence in player development.

Anthony Gose gets the Community Service Award.

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Why did Gose get the Community Service Award?

I’m not inferring that he shouldn’t have. I just am not sure how he is involved in the community and am pretty curious. I love athletes who are active in their own communities through charities or organizations

"Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals... except the weasel."

by dannyofbosnia on Sep 16, 2011 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

. GOSE strengthened the partnership developed by the Fisher Cats with the community as the go-to-guy for community appearances and initiatives. Always volunteering to visit with sick children and their families, one of those families, the Arsenaults, was particularly affected by their time with Anthony after they initially met at the ballpark in early June. Anthony developed a relationship with their son, Donnie, who spent the summer enduring grueling rounds of chemotherapy. Later in the season they presented Anthony a green bracelet that read ‘Keep the Faith-Team Donnie’ as a token of their appreciation which Anthony wears proudly each day. The Bellflower, California native was the only player to work all four sessions of the Fisher Cats baseball Camp in addition to offering his services for several other camps and community initiatives.

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by Tom Dakers on Sep 16, 2011 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow thats great..I'm glad he is a part of the organization, in terms of sheer baseball talent and potential and his humanitarian persona as well...

He kind of reminds me of Vernon Wells a bit in that way..Thanks for posting the quote

"Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals... except the weasel."

by dannyofbosnia on Sep 16, 2011 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions

That's pretty cool.

by Alan F. on Sep 16, 2011 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

So if d’Arnaud comes up next season and manages to steal the starting catching job from JPA, what do you guys think AA does with JPA?

As great as it would be to have him coming off the bench, I feel like if that was the situation, AA would be better off trading him as his value will probably never be higher than it is now.

Thoughts?

by Huey2k2 on Sep 16, 2011 2:34 PM EDT reply actions

He'd be traded if D'Arnaud proves better

He has too much value as a cost-controlled MLB average + catcher not to make use of that to fix up other areas of the squad.

by TtD on Sep 16, 2011 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

If that happens, could you imagine if d'Arnaud breaks the Blue Jays catcher record for homeruns for the third consecutive year by a different catcher

"Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals... except the weasel."

by dannyofbosnia on Sep 16, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Just don´t think d´Arnauld will come up before september….
I guess we´ll see JPA and Molina again… or if AA values the pic for Molina higher some other experienced C as a backup

"Touch ´em all, Joe!"

by jaysfanfromeurope on Sep 16, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions

Or maybe they go in house with jeroloman

fWAR Since Trade: Shaun Marcum: 2.8 Brett Lawrie: 2.4

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by Bluebirdz on Sep 16, 2011 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Or convert McCoy. He plays every other position anyway.

by Defense Counts! on Sep 16, 2011 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions

That won't happen

Could happen 2013. In that case AA trades JPA. But I think its more likely JPA gets traded after 2013. I see d’Arnaud in Vegas next year with a call up at some point in the season, provided he continues progressing. In 2013, he would likely share catching duties with JPA.

To every complex problem, there is an answer that is simple, easy to understand and wrong

by TO Steve on Sep 16, 2011 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

That won't happen either

AA isn’t going to put d’Arnaud and JPA into a competition; but nor is d’Arnaud going to wait for 2 more years until he becomes the regular catcher. d’Arnaud could probably be an average MLB catcher right now: when he’s ready, he’ll be handed the starting job.

At some point, AA is going to trade either d’Arnaud or JPA, depending on what deals present themselves. Trading JPA fits AA’s strategy a little more (trade the more established player, try and find the perennial all-star). If both JPA and d’Arnaud are do well in the first half next year, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a trade at the deadline; otherwise next off-season. This, of course, assumes d’Arnaud continues to impress and doesn’t suffer injury.

by gabrielsyme on Sep 16, 2011 3:27 PM EDT up reply actions

OR

JPA full time DH and backup catcher, d’Arnaud starting catcher…

Here's my attempt at a witty sig. Didn't really go so well, methinks.

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by Cam Oegema on Sep 16, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

JP doesn't hit well enough to be a full time DH

he has much better value as a trade chip

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 16, 2011 3:56 PM EDT up reply actions

One problem though

If the Jays are truly going to fight for contention in 2013, will AA hand the catching duties over to a rookie? It’s one thing to do it this year when it’s really about developing a squad, but it’s something else to do it for a contender expected to make a serious push for the playoffs.

by siggian on Sep 16, 2011 4:04 PM EDT up reply actions

if he's good

then yeah, he will

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by benk on Sep 16, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

I seem to remember a certain Buster Posey helping in a playoff tun

fWAR Since Trade: Shaun Marcum: 2.8 Brett Lawrie: 2.4

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by Bluebirdz on Sep 16, 2011 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Buster

Posey

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 16, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

dammit

didn’t read Bluebirdz’s comment

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 16, 2011 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

"but nor is d'Arnaud going to wait for 2 more years until he becomes a regular catcher."

Maybe I’ve read this out of context, but I don’t really think d’Arnaud has a say when he is going to become a/the regular catcher. His defence is good and improving (from what I’ve read), so his bat will determine whether or not he becomes a regular catcher.

by Alan F. on Sep 16, 2011 6:34 PM EDT up reply actions

His bat profiles to be better than JP's

Sad, Drunk, And Poorly

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world. - JL

Twit Twat.

by Pikachu on Sep 16, 2011 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions

not quite as good power

but more contact and more walks

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Yeah, I have a reasonable number of followers. Bite me.

by benk on Sep 16, 2011 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I would expect a full season at AAA for d’Arnaud next year, with perhaps a cup of coffee in September (or maybe, if he destroys the ball, moving into a timeshare with JPA for the second half).

No need to rush him. JPA was adequate this year, and should be better next year.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

by Jevant on Sep 16, 2011 3:50 PM EDT up reply actions

6 Jays and manager get baseball america awards

Baseball America all star announcements TODAY:
Triple A Player of the Year and overall minor league all-star, Brett Lawrie; Overall minor league all-stars also include 2nd team players pitcher Drew Hutchinson, catcher Travis d’Arnaud, centre fielder Jack Marisnick. Justin Nicolino Pitcher of the Year and all-star for Short Season league. Rookie league all-star out field Eric Arce and Manager of the Year Dennis Holmberg. CONGRATULATIONS ALL

by northernjay on Sep 16, 2011 3:01 PM EDT reply actions