Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Small Comfort
I'm not sure which feels better, clubbing AJ Burnett or Josh Beckett, so hopefully Beckett will pitch against the Jays next time they meet up and I can compare.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Trade Deadline Roundup
I wanted to get to this earlier but given the long weekend and the no internet, drinking, boating, camp fires, playing with the kids and other various things that distracted my attention, I just couldn't. Also there was the fact that they JUST DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!
Well they did do one thing and that thing was freaking unbelievable. How exactly it makes sense to trade a player that is knocking down the door to play right now for a player that may not play for 4 years mystifies me. I understand that atos has wanted this guy forever and when he saw his chance he felt he just had to take it, but maybe he needs to learn some impulse control.
Hard on the heels of this mystery, we get the news that none of Overbay, Downs, Gregg, Frasor, Buck or Bautista could be moved for something acceptable. Look I am convinced on Bautista, since next year he's under control and even if he falls all the way back to pre-2010 levels, he's still an acceptable 3B and a plus utility player, just probably very expensive. Downs has a pretty good chance at being type A, though a lot of things have to fall into place, and the payoff isn't for years, so maybe it's worth the gamble, though I say no. Everybody else on the list, they should be gone for whatever they can get. The team cannot by hurt by moving any of them, and players like Arencibia, need to be here, Snider and Lind don't need Overbay in the player rotation taking away at bats and playing time at 1B, and how many pitchers from the minor leagues could see some innings over august if these relievers weren't here. I for one would like to see more Purcey.
Very disappointing. Maybe the wallet is going to open over the next 2 seasons and there will be some FA signings to make up for this loss of opportunity to improve the team for 2012 contention. But there is no reason this team can't compete then, and this was a golden opportunity to move in that direction. Right now it looks like the plan is to acquire as many prospects as draft picks as possible and look really tough and then compete - who the hell knows when???
Yankees up next to start the august beat down, but don't worry it will all be good because Draft Picks!!!
Well they did do one thing and that thing was freaking unbelievable. How exactly it makes sense to trade a player that is knocking down the door to play right now for a player that may not play for 4 years mystifies me. I understand that atos has wanted this guy forever and when he saw his chance he felt he just had to take it, but maybe he needs to learn some impulse control.
Hard on the heels of this mystery, we get the news that none of Overbay, Downs, Gregg, Frasor, Buck or Bautista could be moved for something acceptable. Look I am convinced on Bautista, since next year he's under control and even if he falls all the way back to pre-2010 levels, he's still an acceptable 3B and a plus utility player, just probably very expensive. Downs has a pretty good chance at being type A, though a lot of things have to fall into place, and the payoff isn't for years, so maybe it's worth the gamble, though I say no. Everybody else on the list, they should be gone for whatever they can get. The team cannot by hurt by moving any of them, and players like Arencibia, need to be here, Snider and Lind don't need Overbay in the player rotation taking away at bats and playing time at 1B, and how many pitchers from the minor leagues could see some innings over august if these relievers weren't here. I for one would like to see more Purcey.
Very disappointing. Maybe the wallet is going to open over the next 2 seasons and there will be some FA signings to make up for this loss of opportunity to improve the team for 2012 contention. But there is no reason this team can't compete then, and this was a golden opportunity to move in that direction. Right now it looks like the plan is to acquire as many prospects as draft picks as possible and look really tough and then compete - who the hell knows when???
Yankees up next to start the august beat down, but don't worry it will all be good because Draft Picks!!!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Thinking about the Trade Deadline
Well the non-waiver deadline again fast approaches, and what to make of it? The Jays are in the lucky position to have at least 5 useful players (Buck, Overbay, Downs, Frasor, Encarnacion and Gregg) that they really have no interest in keeping that could bring varying degrees of something useful back. They also have 1 thing that could bring something really good back (Bautistsa), that it's a toss up as to whether they want to bring back, and a bunch of things (everybody else in the bullpen, a starter if the price is right, Wells?) that could be traded as well. There is every possibility (hope? Wallace and Arencibia and Snyder oh my!) this could be a very different looking team by the time the deadline comes and goes.
From that first group I would say to atos, trade them for whatever you think the best deal is, with the only potential keep to think twice about being Encarnacion. The haul already seems to be pretty good from the Gonzalez + parts for Escobar + Part trade, so I don't think there is any reason to not roll the dice a little, just squeeze whoever for everything you can get right up to the last minute. Encarnacion is a little more tricky, as you probably have to eat salary to trade him, and he still may develop into something, and is (I believe) still under control for some? years.
The really tricky guy here is Bautista. I think the answer here is trade him if somebody offers you a good everyday player, or a good starting pitcher or closer (though those things are highly unlikely), or the mother lode of prospects (what idiot would do that?). I have no faith at all that Bautista can repeat this year again, but what I do have faith in is that he can be a 750-800 OPS 3rd Baseman who hits 7-8th in the lineup and plays stellar defence and chips in 15-25hr. Any team that is going to contend needs a player that like, and finding one to play 3rd is not that easy. Unless you can trade him for a guy who's going to take over 2nd and put Hill at 3B, or for a crazy haul of stupidity, then I don't see the benefit of a trade.
The really interesting thing to see is if atos can do something completely out of left field, like swoop in and snatch a Haren from a trade between a contender and dumper. That would be pretty cool, and something that I just don't understand why it doesn't happen more often at the trade deadline.
In conclusion, what I see is a lot of parts coming back, and those parts being packaged up with some other stuff that's already here over the winter, for the couple of parts that really need to be added for the future. With everything else hopefully being depth. I really doubt any kind of "franchise" player is coming back in these deals. Really that's good, but one can dream.
From that first group I would say to atos, trade them for whatever you think the best deal is, with the only potential keep to think twice about being Encarnacion. The haul already seems to be pretty good from the Gonzalez + parts for Escobar + Part trade, so I don't think there is any reason to not roll the dice a little, just squeeze whoever for everything you can get right up to the last minute. Encarnacion is a little more tricky, as you probably have to eat salary to trade him, and he still may develop into something, and is (I believe) still under control for some? years.
The really tricky guy here is Bautista. I think the answer here is trade him if somebody offers you a good everyday player, or a good starting pitcher or closer (though those things are highly unlikely), or the mother lode of prospects (what idiot would do that?). I have no faith at all that Bautista can repeat this year again, but what I do have faith in is that he can be a 750-800 OPS 3rd Baseman who hits 7-8th in the lineup and plays stellar defence and chips in 15-25hr. Any team that is going to contend needs a player that like, and finding one to play 3rd is not that easy. Unless you can trade him for a guy who's going to take over 2nd and put Hill at 3B, or for a crazy haul of stupidity, then I don't see the benefit of a trade.
The really interesting thing to see is if atos can do something completely out of left field, like swoop in and snatch a Haren from a trade between a contender and dumper. That would be pretty cool, and something that I just don't understand why it doesn't happen more often at the trade deadline.
In conclusion, what I see is a lot of parts coming back, and those parts being packaged up with some other stuff that's already here over the winter, for the couple of parts that really need to be added for the future. With everything else hopefully being depth. I really doubt any kind of "franchise" player is coming back in these deals. Really that's good, but one can dream.
Friday, July 16, 2010
The Alex Gonzalez Trade
There are really only 2 things to be said about this trade
1) You hope that some worse veteran shortstop doesn't get traded for a better return between now and the trade deadline, because atos really has to take the best he think he can get for these assets. Gonzalez cannot play any better than he did the first 1/2 of the season, so I can't see how he could do anything in the 2nd 1/2 to make the Jays better. But if somebody trades the equivalent of John Macdonald for a bona fide mlb starting pitcher...
2) If Tim Collins really does turn into something, it will be an interesting example of atos' ability to judge the talent in his own possession. I fully expect you have to give something to get something, and the Braves weren't going to make a trade of a cheap youngish player they control even if they are tired of him for an older guy who could go to crap any moment without getting something more valuable back. If the Braves really do get a steal here then it will be illuminating. If anybody should know whether or not Collins has it, it should be the Jays.
1) You hope that some worse veteran shortstop doesn't get traded for a better return between now and the trade deadline, because atos really has to take the best he think he can get for these assets. Gonzalez cannot play any better than he did the first 1/2 of the season, so I can't see how he could do anything in the 2nd 1/2 to make the Jays better. But if somebody trades the equivalent of John Macdonald for a bona fide mlb starting pitcher...
2) If Tim Collins really does turn into something, it will be an interesting example of atos' ability to judge the talent in his own possession. I fully expect you have to give something to get something, and the Braves weren't going to make a trade of a cheap youngish player they control even if they are tired of him for an older guy who could go to crap any moment without getting something more valuable back. If the Braves really do get a steal here then it will be illuminating. If anybody should know whether or not Collins has it, it should be the Jays.
All Star Break Roundup
Let's be honest here, there isn't really anything interesting to say about this team that isn't a rehash of things already said. The outlook for the rest of the season probably isn't very good, with a lot of solace taking coming from individual performance and not team success. Basically i'm looking forward to Wallace, Arencibia and Drabek making their debuts sometime, and what atos can get for the parts of this team that don't figure into the future plans.
If anybody needs an example of why we should think the future is bright for this team, I give you no better example than tonights opponent the Baltimore Orioles. They were supposed to better this season, and they are 29-59. The Jays who were supposed to be much worse are 44-45. Can you name me the Baltimore SP that you'd rather have than any of the Jay's SP's? I don't really even have to bother thinking about that question.
If anybody needs an example of why we should think the future is bright for this team, I give you no better example than tonights opponent the Baltimore Orioles. They were supposed to better this season, and they are 29-59. The Jays who were supposed to be much worse are 44-45. Can you name me the Baltimore SP that you'd rather have than any of the Jay's SP's? I don't really even have to bother thinking about that question.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
How the Staypuft Marshmallow Pitcher Got His Groove Back
Well I have no idea actually, but who won't take 7 shutout innings from your #5 starting pitcher. Baring some crazy major change in direction somewhere Litsch is just holding this spot until Drabek is ready to come up and ultimately claim his spot. But everything the pasty white chunky dude does to increase his trade value is a good thing. Come late July he might look pretty good to some desperate team in any division other than the AL East.
And I still think he has an outside chance to claim the ultimate prize in the who has a better career contest, Jesse Litsch or Joba Chamberlain?
And I still think he has an outside chance to claim the ultimate prize in the who has a better career contest, Jesse Litsch or Joba Chamberlain?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Stupid answers to stupid questions
Good game yesterday, was a nice workmanlike win with some hitting. They are still above .500 so I guess that's something.
I thought this was quite the humorous headline at bluejays.com though.
Bautista searching for answers to end slump
Hey I got your answer right here - You Suck! Accept it.
Glad to be of help.
I kind of like Bautista, he certainly seems to be proving that he's a legitimate answer at 3B for a couple of years if you don't need to have him hit higher than 8th or maybe 7th in the lineup. I think Encarnacion is going to find himself on the outs when Snider gets back. But let's be honest, he's never really going to be more than an 800OPS guy on a regular basis.
I thought this was quite the humorous headline at bluejays.com though.
Bautista searching for answers to end slump
Hey I got your answer right here - You Suck! Accept it.
Glad to be of help.
I kind of like Bautista, he certainly seems to be proving that he's a legitimate answer at 3B for a couple of years if you don't need to have him hit higher than 8th or maybe 7th in the lineup. I think Encarnacion is going to find himself on the outs when Snider gets back. But let's be honest, he's never really going to be more than an 800OPS guy on a regular basis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
