Spring Mid-Term Report

Jays have their last off-day of the Spring today although there are lots of cars at the Dunedin sites nd activity at Minor league complex. Still some uncertainty re final roster to head North.
Thuis a great day to write the mid-term report from this viewpoint.


More than half way through Spring training and time for the latest report as Jays 2010 team takes shape. There are still some questions remaining notably in the rotation with fifth starter, the final decision on closer, and the outfield.

Pitching to start with. Rotation right now. Cito has confirmed that Marcum will start on opening day despite losing all of last season to Tommy John surgery. Although only two official games and five scoreless innings of work he has had other sessions in Dunedin. I think his relative! age at 28 and leadership helps him over Romero the only other real option Jays have.

Thus now it looks like Marcum, Romero, Rzepzcynski, Morrow, and ( #5 ?) Brian Tallet maybe. He has had one great outing and two not so great although with some better fielding yesterday and some run support he would have been fine. Right now without McGowan or Litsch and any other pretender looks like Tallet by default. Cecil last year’s hope has had injury and not pitched sufficiently. Purcey on the other hand has had three outings but is still battling it out. He has not looked a shoo-in by any means.

Interesting to see Dana Eveland get the start tomorrow against Tampa. I think he has done well so far but would put him in long relief. Young Kyle Drabek is already off to AAA, but I think Jays fans will be seeing him in 2010 if only through the usual injuries to starting pitchers. If not, it will be September when the younger rotation arms are reaching their innings limit. He is an excellent prospect and one for fans to look forward to.

Closers still a battle between Frasor his job to lose and he is being pushed hard by Kevin Gregg and Scott Downs. Downs in particular in five games and five innings of work has yet to give up a run or even a hit and could well beat out Frasor. Frasor is his own worst enemy with his slow approach and inconsistency does not inspire any confidence the way for example BJ Ryan did (in his years before surgery).Downs on the other hand, very consistent and reassuring. Gregg on the other hand has had some rough times and right now would be third in my book. Interesting decision for the last ten days of spring.
Forgotten man Jeremy Accardo looked very good yesterday but has not been mentioned in the closing role and presumably will be added as set up to the bullpen.

Relievers. Jesse Carlson was awful in his one appearance and has to step it up with time running out. Roenicke in his four outings has been average with a rough outing yesterday against the Tigers. Shawn Camp looked awfully good in his last outing and should go north. Casey Janssen tremendous spring with four games .000 ERA. In fact I am surprised he has not started a game to compete for that rotation role.

Infield. First base: Lyle Overbay has it locked up, but Randy Ruiz and Brian Dopirak playing very well Lyle is becoming trade bait. Lyle has been his usual reliable self with three doubles in his six hits. He had that mental lapse yesterday not hustling over for the pop up but should be starting. Dopirak will start in Vegas but undoubtedly will be seen in September call up if not before if he continues his form.

Second base: is Aaron’s no doubt at all. He is having a very good spring with .467 average before yesterday’s game including two home runs, seven hits and nine walks providing lots of RBI opportunities for the big bats behind him Lind and Wells could have great RBI seasons if both Bautista and Hill continue their current spring showing . Backup at second right now is Brad Emaus but he will probably not go north unless as utility guy on the bench. I would imagine management would prefer him to get everyday play in Vegas. Johnny Mac is the utility guy although everyone has loved Mike McCoy who could have been another option in infield. In eight games he has average of .615 with eight hits, five runs and three walks. He is like a pocket David Eckstein hustle, hustle… he has been injured over the last week and we may not get the chance to see him again but I do hope we will see him during regular season in Toronto. Fans will love him the way they do Johnny Mac.

Short stop: a big disappointment. Gonzalez is solid enough but has no bat and nothing special. I guess he will be it until Hechavarria has had chance to settle in AAA but I can’t see putting $10 million in the minors for long. Johnny Mac of course has been filling in all over the place and remains backup although his hitting .333 certainly appears to be much better with multi- hit games let alone singles.

Third base: of course is the big question. Encarnacion is recovering but has not played yet and do the Jays risk him anyway or put him on 15 day disabled list and give him rehab time? He is slated to play at the weekend but he is coming off wrist reconstruction surgery and that is not insignificant. Do Jays take more time evaluation prospects? Does Bautista take it meantime and if so what happens in the outfield? Emaus has played very well at third and maybe deserves a shot to see what he can do but at the expense of Travis in the outfield? This is one situation to watch this week.

Outfield. Up for grabs. Vernon in centre is the only lock from here. He has been playing very well this spring and injury free, looks sharp and appears to be over his own wrist injury. Batting .391.

Left and right field: They have been rotating. Lind of course is the DH but has also had some playing time in left as has Travis. Bautista has been excellent with bat and glove but may have to be at third. Gathright has played outfield in right and in centre but has definitely not made the position his. He does bring extra speed but if he can’t get on base not much point and at this time he looks like being the odd man out. He says himself he is a slow starter but unfortunately on this team he does not have the option of waiting until May or will Jays take him anyway to use as pinch runner ? to steal bases? Seems an expensive spot on the bench. Travis Snider of course has been tried in both left and right and has had his problems, his hitting has been patchy but that one spell last week of three consecutive home runs in three at bats in the two games show me that he cannot be left out. There is no other player in the organization that has that capability. He has to be taken north and given time if only until Encarnacion has had his rehab. Jays have had sub- par outfielders before in for their bats. George Bell was always an adventure in left and as for Rios in right, he was not only an adventure he was a liability. Travis has shown tremendous improvement in that category making one tremendous diving attempt for a play last week. When did anyone ever see Alex do that or go hard into a wall in right? Jays management have been giving Jeremy Reed a lot of playing time to see if he can break in. Hitting .400 in thirteen games he has shown promise but surely not over Travis?

DH will be Adam Lind, but if Randy Ruiz is in the squad then Jays have a tremendous back up not just for Adam but also for Lyle Overbay at first.
Guys on the bench. Johnny Mac. And Randy Ruiz. But the big question is Encarnacion and we will have to wait to see him next week to answer that one. My money would be on 15 day disabled list to start the season.

Leadoff: When Marco Scutaro was traded Jays thought they had a problem at leadoff. Jose Bautista however has changed that perception. He has had a great spring which Cito says is due to everyday play and continuing his play of last September. With three home runs two of them leading off games, he has done enough to convince me he can fit leadoff although he doesn’t walk much. No walks to date.

Other performances: JP Arencibia catcher with power three spring home runs, one for the future. Lubanski, Cooper, Jeremy Reed mentioned above. Brad Emaus but he was also excellent last spring, hard to break in with Aaron. Ochinko with two hit game last week and of course how can we ignore McDade and his game winning heroics at the weekend.

For Cito supporters please change the channel here. (and I qualify this by saying I have noted positive changes in Cito’s managing style this spring and give credit to him)
Travis Snider is the young 22 year old outfielder who has had a rough few years in his personal life and came to the Jays organization with huge promise. Baseball is obviously his life in many respects now. His home run power was and still is worth the admission fee and generates the most anticipation every time at bat.
Starting slowly, in the last few games Travis has shown his power with three home runs which puts him on top of the organization for now at least. In addition he hit his three in three consecutive at bats over two games showing at minimum that he is in his groove. For those of you have never seen a Travis home run, the two in Dunedin are still travelling west somewhere. They are all usually moon shots.
Travis however has his problems. He gets down very easily and the last week or so struggling with his bat and glove, he has been trudging back to the dugout with the whole world on his shoulders. But give me Travis diving for a ball in the outfield and running into the wall to try for one any day. He can only get better with his glove.
NOW if there is ever an opportunity for Cito to show his reputed skills with young players then it is with Travis. But for some reason Travis is not one of the favoured few.
After the three home run performance by Travis, Cito was asked if he would make the team. “I wouldn’t think so” said Cito.
Now Cito is old school and mano macho but I would suggest that Travis is a different fish and needs a different approach. I honestly believe that Cito sees the huge potential in Travis and is trying to mould him but sometimes people need different approaches and sometimes a more supporting approach would be more beneficial.
Travis needs huge confidence building, he is a young kid (22) who is an exciting player to watch and far, far, far better than watching Alex Rios which Jays fans had to suffer through day after day last two seasons grossly underachieving at every a bat and latterly in the field and Cito stubbornly refused to do anything about him. Double standard here Cito, you can do far more for Travis by encouragement.
What you could have said was “Certainly if he continues to play like this and work as hard as he is doing then he has an excellent chance”.
Don’t ruin this kid Cito. Even if you do have plans to send him to Vegas AAA try just a little to show some understanding and give some encouragement to one of the most exciting young players Jays have had for a long time.

This is your last season Cito, you can give the Jays fans a huge legacy of your stay in Toronto if you can give Travis the coaching he needs. And from here, he should be in Toronto with daily support and coaching. Vegas will be emotional destruction of this huge talent.