Monthly Report Card and Dirk who ?

No game today. Jays have off day.

Dirk Hayhurst has turned a few heads in Dunedin this month.
Currently posts a .000 ERA in six games, seven innings, faced twenty six hitters, five hits and twelve strikeouts, and that’s it friends. No runs, no walks.

Who is Dirk Von Hayhurst ? Ex-Padre. born March 24 , 1981. The Jays signed him to a minor league contract for the 2009 season, with an invitation to major league spring training.

In 2008 he appeared in 10 games, three starts, for the Padres, posting a 0-2 record with a 9.72 ERA. Made his debut in August 2008 against Barry Zito. The 6'3", 200 lb., right-hander spent most of 2008 with Portland (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, going 2-3 with two saves and a 3.75 ERA in 46 games, two starts. He added 98 strikeouts in 84.0 IP. The native of Canton, Ohio had been released by the Blue Jays on February 10, 2009 to make room on the roster for RHP Matt Bush. But is still with camp and pitches against the Braves tomorrow.
BUT friends you have to check this out…for those of you have not already found this. Dirk is also a great writer and extremely funny.

Check out his 'Non-Prospect Diary' for Baseball America. He also writes for the Canton Repository his hometown newspaper in Canton (Ohio)

Baseball needs more Dirk von Hayhursts… to balance out some of the negatives.

No game today and a perfect opportunity to provide the monthly report card on the Jays after watching them here for the last four weeks.

Starting with the hitters. Cito I will include you at the end.
A ++
Jason Lane without a doubt…. There is always one standout in spring who comes out of nowhere to make the fans sit up. Jason was that guy this Spring. Lane .375 avge18 games, 48ab 8 runs, 18 hits 5 doubles, 5 hrs 12 rbis 2 walks
Emaus also makes the A++ Great power in his bat and good insurance for Hill at second if needed. .333 avge 19 games, 39 ab 13 hits 11 runs, 4 doubles, triple 3 hrs and 11rbis

A+
Lind Snider, but with Snider outperforming Lind.. Hill looked very good and showing no signs of last year’s concussion. .314 avge 14 games, 35 ab, 4 runs and 11 hits 7 doubles, 5 rbis.
Kevin Millar definitely an asset. 250 avge but 11 games, 24 ab 3 runs 6hits, 2dbles 2 hrs 9 rbis. Toronto fans will also like him, he is a fans player, and a lot of fun.
Rolen, I thought looked very good, strong, focused and hitting for power, had two great hustlng triples. 9 games, 18ab, 3 runs, 6hits, 2 dbles, 2triples and HR with 3 walks.

B+ Barrett, in the last ten days Michael Barrett has really turned it up. And deserves the backup catcher role. I still feel Chavez has a better arm but he will be playing a lot more in AAA than he would in Toronto. Barrett’s bat is very good and his arm is above average.
Campbell, this young guy, I think he is still only 19 had a great spring, great prospect .257 avge 19 games, 35 ab 9 hits 3 dbls 1 triple and 9 rbis. Watch this one. Mathews really liked this guy hustle, .259 avge. 10 games 20 ab 5 hits, 3 runs 2 doubles.

B Overbay. Lyle started to show signs but at first very tentative swings. 238 avge. 8 games, 21ab, 2 runs, 5 hits, 1 dbl 1 HR and 4 rbis…
Wells, Vernon out most of spring with hamstring injury, hard to judge but he did look good this week.

B- Barajas but only because we have not seen enough of him this spring as he was at WBC. 4 ganes 10 ab a nd 2 hits not enough.
B- Johnny Mc. Definitely not the starting SS this season, did not have a good spring despite being out there with Scutaro on WBC duty. .143 avge, 14 games, 35abs 5 hits, 2 dbls 2rbis is not going to do it.
B- Chavez also, showed a great arm and pickoff throw. His bat not as strong as Barrett but will be a great defensive backup one day.
B- Rios 333 avg. 6 games 12 ab. 2 runs 4 hits 2dbls and 2rbis 3 walks. Will need to really achieve this season as there are several better players waiting. I wish he could capture some of the younger guys.

C Adams and on his way to AAA Vegas.Sad to see this guy every year just cannot make it. And we all remember the Hill and Adams sell, the Jays infield basis for the franchise. Whatever happened ?

Inglett, .211 avge and hard to know where to put this guy. 14 games, 38ab 4runs, 8hits 1 dble, 1 triple and that’s it. 2 errors.
Thigpen also. 27 abs 4hits but 2hrs. one a walk off game winner. Where will he be catching if Chavez is AAA, Jerolman at AA.. Back up to Chavez ?

Difficult to rate: Howie Clark 5 games 7ab and 3 hits. Cody Lee Haerther with his 1,000 average in his two at bats…will check him out throughout the season. Patterson and Phillips. Scutaro looked good but not enough games.
Buck Coats certainly not the fireball he was in spring training 2008 11 ab 3 hits.

My big concern with the hitters: Of the 106 rbis so far. Campbell 9, Emaus 11 Lane 12, Lind 8, Millar 9, and Snider 8. That is more than 50%... from 6 players four of whom who may not even be in the lineup.

Pitching: always difficult to rate as they all maintain they are tweaking, adding new pitches or “working on something”. Starting rotation
B + Litsch, not bad all spring.
B + Purcey and Mills
B. Halladay had two lousy outings with 5 hrs given up…
B Richmond
Number 5 is still a fight between Romero and Mills,

Bullpen:
A++ Carlson tremendous spring. 3 innnings 0.00 ERA.
A++ Hayhurst also. 7 innings 5 hits and 0.00 ERA
A + Camp also excellent. Downs above average.
B . BJ Ryan still mixed results but hard to judge a closer who needs the 9th inning adrenaline to get him fred up.
Tallet average not great , Accardo a couple of bad outings. Same with League especially yesterday with giving up 3 runs.
Should not go up: Frasor. Wolfe still injured Janssen who know re his shoulder.. but don’t start him until he is stronger or his arm could be finished. And McGowan will he or won’t he start before All-Star break ? I doubt it…

Sorry to see Maroth and Clement optioned and I for one hope that Clement proves them wrong. I like his arm and his experience. And I think he could be in Toronto before end of the summer.

Competitions. Outfield.
Lane Before yesterday’s game. .375 average 18 games, 48 ab 8 runs, 18 hits, 5 doubles, 5 hrs 12 rbis. 2 walks That is on track for a 40 HR 100rbi season.
Now Lind who is his compettition..325 avge 15 games, 40 at bats 4 runs 13 hits, 1 double 1 triple 1 hr 8 rbis. 4 walks. I donlt know friends it looks clear to me…
Snider: 361 avge 13 games 36 ab 5runs 13 hits 3 doubles, 3 hrs 8rbis 1 walk . Does lind deserve this over Lane ? his stats are worse than Snider.
Catcher: Looks like Barret has the back up role.
DH good question, should be Millar and backing up Overbay. But will depend on what they do in the outfield with Lane and Lind… Should be Lane and give Lind daily paly in AAA, he is still only 21… but don’t put him on the bench pinch hitting at he ene dof every game…or platooning DH with Millar.

And Cito leave you to the last BUT I think you had a great Spring camp here, far better than last year’s confsuon with Reed, Frank Thomas and Shannon Stewart and a slew of pitchers who didn’t work out.
AND I give you A++ for yesterday’s game showing a new aggression. Double steal of Wells and Rolen and delayed steal to score.
I know that many Toronto fans would love to see more of this in Toronto… makes for a much beter game to watch and it looks as if this team will need every edge it can get.
But overall I have been more impressed than I thought I would be and I hope this team can shock a few observers who have already written this team off.
Will be interesting to see how many words I have to eat in the next six months.


And finally friends will leave you with this one.
In 2013 Hall of Fame nominees will now include Biggio, Bonds, Clemons, Schilling and Sosa…
Any bets?