Tagged: reyes

Blue Jays Preview 2013

We may have snow and sub-zero temperature here in Ontario.  Yet, our hearts are filled with warmth and our eyes glisten with hope as another season of Blue Jays baseball is upon us.  This is a feeling that myself and others get every year.  However, this year has even more people anticipating because of what transpired over the off-season.   The future was bleak after a frustrating end to the 2012 season and the defection of their coach John Farrell to the division rival Red Sox.   Then came the winter and AA proving many of us (myself included) wrong.      Alex didn’t just make a splash; he made a tidal wave of enthusiasm through monster trades and gutsy free agent signings.    In a span of less than a week he acquired two legit starting pitchers (Johnson, Buehrle), a perennial all-star/lead-off SS (Reyes), a super utility player (Bonifacio), a former all-star(Cabrera) and John Buck.   All of the aforementioned, less Melky Cabrera were acquired in a trade with the embarrassment called the Marlins.   People were still buzzing about that trade when Melky Cabrera was signed the following day.   Fans were satisfied with the efforts of AA  and the he decided to give them an early Christmas present.   His name?  The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner, R.A. Dickey and his personal catcher Josh Thole.   Poor Johnny Buck was traded away along with some unproven prospects.    There were other minor trades and signings that helped make the Blue Jays favourites to win the World Series.

Predicition:  91-71  1st Place, World Series?

Last year I predicted they would win 88 games.   The Jays actually finished with 73.  It seems year in and year out they do worse than I predict.   Let’s hope that changes this season as a team needs (in my opinion), +90 wins to make the playoffs.

Here is my projected lineup for the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays

  1. SS           Jose Reyes – If Reyes stays healthy, look out.   This guy makes things happen on the base paths and will score 100+ runs with the likes of Cabrera, Bautista and Encarnacion batting behind him.  This marks the first time in a long time that the Jays have a legit lead- off hitter.  Rajai Davis?  No thanks.  Prediction:  .292, 48 SB’s, 115 Runs
  2. LF            Melky Cabrera—  After getting caught using illegal supplements(and then trying to lie his way out of it), Melky has a lot to prove.   Will he remain the .330+ hitter from last season?  Or will he regress.  If he’s the latter, then Jose and Edwin will be licking their chops as he and Reyes will be on base plenty of times.   Truthfully, I see a low .300 average with 10-15 home runs.  Prediction: 93 runs, 17 SB’s
  3. RF           Jose Bautista—Another ‘if’ he stays healthy.   Jose damaged a tendon in his wrist last season and missed substantial time.   He had surgery and some question if he will lose some of his power.   Perhaps he hits doubles instead of home runs.    He’ll still succeed because of the top of the order being on base.   Prediction: 28 HR’s, 123 RBI’s,  100 Runs
  4. 1B           Edwin Encarnacion—After being a Nomad in the field, Edwin has found a home at First Base.   Will he be even better knowing where he plays everyday?  Prediction: 38 HR’s, 115 RBI’s, .278 AVG
  5. 3B           Brett Lawrie—Is our Country’s own ready to bat behind the Bautista and Encarnacion?  If not, perhaps Gibbons goes with Lind or Arencibia.   Can new/old manager John Gibbons harness the aggressiveness of Brett?   If the answer is yes, an all-star appearance could be in the cards.  Prediction:  .269, 14 HR’s, 78 RBI’s, 18 SB’s.
  6. DH          Adam Lind—This selection turns my stomach a bit.  Is Lind finished?  Or can he bounce back to 2009-2010 form?   For Adam’s sake, I hope so.  Toronto fans can be very harsh and Lind is a nice guy who doesn’t deserve it.  If Adam fails, Gibbons will probably use the DH to rest his regulars.   Prediction:  .244, 14 HR’s, losing starting job by end of June.
  7. C             J.P. Arencibia—  Arencibia is AA’s guy.   This guy doesn’t get the credit he deserves.  Yes, we all know he can hit (18 home runs in 102 games), yet people fault him on his defense.   JP has steadily improved his play and to me, is an average Catcher.   Put that with his offense?   How can you complain?  Prediction: .251  27 HR’s, 74 RBI’s
  8. CF           Colby Rasmus—One of my least favourite Jays will bat 8th and play CF.  Will Colby ever mature?   He better as John Gibbons does not take any crap from players.   Look to see Colby ask for a trade and whine about his treatment by Gibbons.  Prediction:  Traded mid-season.  Good riddance.
  9. 2B           Emil Bonifacio—This guy can run and play just about any position.   I can see him spelling the likes of Bautista, Cabrera and Reyes(with of course them playing DH that day).  Having him bat 9th is like having two lead-off hitters.    ‘If’ he stays healthy, Emil and Reyes will torment pitchers and catchers with their base running all season long.

BENCH

AA signed a few veterans to minor league contracts with invitations to spring training.   Journeymen Langerhans and Andy LaRoche will compete with Anthony Gose, Moses Sierra for the 5th spot.   A late addition to the 40 man roster is Mark DeRosa.   I have always liked Mark and hope he makes the club.  Rajai Davis will remain the 4th outfielder and Macier Izturis will get playing time at second base when Bonifacio plays the OF.   Josh Thole is R.A. Dickey’s personal catcher.   Look to see him play at least once a week.

Starting Pitching

Last season, Ricky Romero was the opening day starter.   This year, he is the 5th pitcher behind:

  1. R.A. Dickey—The reigning Cy Young knuckleballer will excel in Canada.  Prediction: 20-6, 2.50 ERA, 225 IP’s,  215 K’s
  2. Josh Johnson—Josh hopes his arm troubles are behind him.   He is a free agent at season’s end.  Will AA re-sign him during the season?  I guess that depends on how Josh feels about the Jays and where they are in the standings.   This guy can be a solid #1 pitcher for years to come.  Prediction:  18-11, 3.14 ERA, 2 CG
  3. Brendan Morrow – Can Brendan finally become consistent?   He’s going to be 29 years old this season.  It’s time for him to make the next step.  Prediction: 14-8, 3.31 ERA,  200 K’s
  4. Mark Buerhle—On most staffs, he would be a #2 or 3 starter.  His amazing consistency will be a blessing for the Jays.  Same with how deep he can go into games.  Prediction: 12-12, 3.51, 4 CG
  5. Ricky Romero—Perhaps the pressure got to Ricky.  Only he knows for sure.  I’m not convinced and see him being nothing more than a back of the rotation pitcher.   Prediction: 11-10, 4.05 ERA

Bullpen

Casey Janssen was giving the ball for the 9th and he ran with it.   He isn’t your prototypical closer, yet he gets the job done.  Only 2 blown saves in 2012.   Last year’s opening day closer, Sergio Santos, looks to bounce back from shoulder surgery.   Former first round flamethrower Brad Lincoln looks to become more consistent.   The acquisition of Esmil Rogers will help branch the gap between starter to the 8th inning.  Darren Oliver is back for one more season as the bullpen’s #1 lefty.   Delabar and Loup are penciled in for the last two bullpen spots.   Can Brett Cecil, Happ and the always injured McGowan steal one or both of those spots?   We’ll find out in the next month or so.

Coach

John Gibbons is back for his 2nd stint as the Blue Jays manager.   His first time was not always pretty.   Gibby had runs in with players, but in retrospect, the two main culprits Ted Lilly and Shea Hillenbrand had attitudes and it was nice to see a manager stand up to some spoiled millionaires.  His no nonsense approach should help a clubhouse who apparently had issues.   Will Gibby and Lawrie have run ins?   They may as both are emotional and want to win.   I’m hoping that Lawrie’s enthusiasm is harnessed for all the right reasons.   Good luck John as the whole country is rooting for you and Brett.

 

General Manager

Am I AA’s biggest fan?   No.   I have been frustrated in the past with his coyness and arrogance.  However, this off-season, he has made me a believer.  It takes guts to pull of trades of that magnitude and to sign an All-Star who was suspended for illegal substance use.   Will everything that AA did work out?  Only in a perfect world it would.   I hope the media and fans don’t jump all over him once/if one of the players he acquired doesn’t perform well.   AA traded a lot of prospects to get these guys and some people worry that the prospects could turn out to be all-stars.  The key word in the last sentence is COULD.   To me, making the team a contender and bringing enthusiasm back to a dormant fan base is good enough to me.   Speaking of ‘could’.    Could this be the year?   Is the World Series coming back to Canada?   It could happen.

Thanks for reading and let’s go Blue Jays!

The Faith has been restored

Dear Mr. Alex Anthopoulos,

Thank you for restoring my faith in you and the Blue Jays organization.   For the past few weeks, I have been preparing to write a blog blasting you for not making the Jays better.   Well, this past week has definitely proved me wrong and I appreciate that.  Honestly, I would much rather write something positive about Canada’s team than negative.   In the midst of the NHL strike and an ever growing disgruntled fan base (both hockey and Jays fans), you have inspired hope and dreams.  Dreams of finally making the playoffs and possibly the World Series.    In one evening (mind you this deal probably took days and maybe even weeks), the Jays went from a potential bottom feeder to a World Series contender.   The odds for them to win the World Series after that one evening;  15-1.    However, AA was not content with those odds.   Two days later, Melky Cabrera was signed to shore up the left field position.   The odds are now 11-1.

For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, or to some who don’t know all the names in the trade, let me tell you.   Tuesday evening, a story broke via the world wide web (I believe it was Jon Morosi of FOX Sports and Ken Rosenthal) of a trade between the Miami Marlins and the Toronto Blue Jays.   The Miami Marlins trade All-Star SS Jose Reyes, a STUD in the making Josh Johnson, a workhorse called Mark Buehrle, super utility Emil Bonifacio and former Blue Jay, John Buck.    What do the Jays exchange?  The enigma name Yunel Escobar, hot shot prospect Adeiny Hechavarria, young Henderson Alavarez, backup C Jeff Mathis and prospects Justin Nicolino, Jake Marisnick and Anthony DeScalfani.   If you want, please re-read the previous two sentences ………….finished?   Good.  After hearing of the deal, a friend of mine said that it almost sounded like a trade from a fantasy baseball league!

Now for my synopsis of this team changing trade:

To me, the Jays win this deal, hands down.   Perhaps four years from now people may think otherwise.  Remember the contracts Vernon Wells and Alex Rios signed?  At the time, fans were pleased with those contracts.   Hopefully this will not be the case.   IF the Jays contend this year and make the playoffs, then it can never be questioned.   I personally believe that both sides should ‘win’ a trade for their own reasons.  This happens in quite a few trades.   In this case, perhaps not.  The Marlins were clearly dumping salary and unless Alvarez turns into a top starting pitcher and the prospects become all-stars, then they lose.   It’s a travesty what Miami’s Owner Jeffrey Loria has done and I hope Karma comes to bite him in the butt.

The Players:

Jose Reyes   SS  –  He gives the Blue Jays an All-Star lead-off man who wreaks havoc on the base paths.  His glove is above average too.

Josh Johnson  SP –  A front line starter in the making.   Someday he will be the leader of a starting staff.  The past couple of years have been filled with injuries and hopefully he came remain healthy for the Jays.   I am expecting big things from him and hopefully he doesn’t disappoint.

Mark Buehrle SP – A veteran starting pitcher who has poise and endurance.  He is an innings eater, which is something the Blue Jays lacked last season.   He isn’t cheap (18 and 19 million owed in the final two years of his current contract) but he should help the young starters.

Emil Bonifacio Util –  This guy could be the hidden gem of this trade.   Most Blue Jay fans probably have never heard of him.  Well, you will.   He can play various positions (LF, CF, 2B, SS and 3B) and is an excellent base-stealer.  The day after the trade, I predicted that he will be the starting 2B and bat 2nd.   The latter has changed since then.

John Buck C – Former Blue Jay was thrown in because of his salary.  Buck is owed 6 million this year.  Ironically, he left the Jays two years ago because they didn’t want to pay him that much.   And the fact J.P. Arencibia was waiting in the wings.

The Marlins receive:

Yunel Escobar SS  –  Remember when you were a kid and there was an ugly wart on your foot?   It was gruesome and bothersome?   Eventually you had enough and went to get it removed.   That is what AA did with Escobar.  Yunel was a wart on the Blue Jays wing and it HAD to be removed.   His lackadaisical attitude and opinions were not good for the organization.   He is not a smart man as you don’t need to be in order to hit a baseball.   Honestly, I believe my wife’s guinea pigs have a combined IQ higher than Escobar.   Good riddance.

Adeiny Hechavarria SS – He was the SS of the future.   Adeiny’s glove is legit but his hitting still lacks.   In order to acquire great players, you need to trade someone with potential.   Personally, having Reyes for the next five years is worth moving Adeiny.

Henderson Alvarez SP – At age 22, the sky is still the limit for Alvarez.   Or has he reached his potential?  I personally see him as 4th or 5th starter with maybe one above average season.   It’s too bad that the Jays couldn’t have kept him in AAA for one more year.

Justin Nicolino SP  – Considered a top five prospect, but #1, 2 or 3.

John Marisnick OF – Apparently the Marlins preferred him over Gose.

Anthony DeSclafani  SP –  A 6rdp that has good stuff and should be a major league player

Jeff Mathis C – He was moved because of the backlog of catchers owned by the Blue Jays.  It’s too bad as he is a great backup catcher.    But when you are receiving players like Reyes, JJ and Buerhle, then Mathis is a guy you sacrifice.

The Jays payroll jumped over 40 million for the upcoming season because of this deal.   They now sit roughly at $115 million.   But wait, there is still the Melky signing to talk about.   First, let’s look at the monies for the above acquired players.   Buerhle and Reyes both have backloaded contracts.  Meaning, they will make respectively, 11 and 10 million this season.  However, Mark will earn 18 and 19 for 2014 and 2015.  Reyes?   His annual salary jumps to 22 million a year for 2015-2017.  Yikes.   That Miami owner is a smart man.  A douchebag, but intelligent.  He signs these guys to huge contracts, gets a stadium built with taxes payers money and when the team goes  to crap, he moves the players with exorbitant amount of money owed.  I don’t agree with it and it’s too bad people like him are in baseball.

The trade has yet to be official as the Owner’s Meetings are currently being held.  That and the magnitude of players and money have slowed the process.   Plus, there are no games currently being played, so why rush?   Unless you’re a Blue Jays fan and might think the deal could be rejected by Commissioner Bud Selig.  I doubt it as the deal is legit.   Miami wanted to dump salary and rebuild.  The players they received should help them do so.

Yesterday, the Jays signed Steroid user Melky Cabrera to a two year contract worth 16 million.   Cabrera was suspended 50 games last year for using PED’s.   He was having an All-Star season and I wonder how he will be this year without the drugs.  Will he be the player from 2010?  When the Braves released him.  Or could he be the all-star from 2011?  When he played for the Kansas City Royals.   This is a gamble worth taking and I hope it works out.    This contract is cheap compared to what Melky could’ve received if he hadn’t been caught.   Probably 20 + a season.

So with this week’s acquisitions, here is my projected starting lineup for the Toronto Blue Jays:

  1.  Reyes                   SS
  2. Cabrera                                LF
  3. Bautista                RF
  4. Encarnacion        1B
  5. Lind                        DH
  6. Lawrie                   3B
  7. Rasmus                                CF
  8. Arencibia             C
  9. Bonifacio             2B

That is a pretty stellar lineup and could inflict damage on starting pitching.   The only weak spot is the DH.   Can Adam Lind bounce back?   Perhaps, but I think that ship has sailed.   AA needs to move him and sign a cheap DH.   Or, use it as a ‘floater’ position.   Perhaps Buck can play there occasionally as well as players in the field.   It wouldn’t hurt to give the likes of Reyes and Bautista a day off without actually not playing.

In closing, I want to say that my faith in AA has been restored.  My self and countless others have bashed this guy for the past season.   Most of it was legit, the trade with the Astros last summer still bothers me, his secretness and lack of contact with the media.   AA and the organization needed to do something as the roster was not complete and hasn’t been for years.  Last winter, the team lacked starting pitching, a left fielder and second baseman.    They ended the season the same way.   In one week, AA has strengthened all three.

Congratulations Alex and thank you for restoring hope in a Country that wants to be Blue Jays fans.

World Series?   I guess we will find out in just less than a year from now.

 

Thanks for reading and it’s a great day to be a Blue Jays fan.