SB Nation User Blog: bunner

Uh Oh...

bunner — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 17:05:39 -0000

According to Peter Gammons' note here, Milton Bradley is a priority for the Jays.

• Interesting how many GMs think that if the Dodgers get CC Sabathia, the Giants will get big into Manny Ramirez, and Billy Beane and the A's will continue to move fast on Rafael Furcal. Also, expect Toronto to make good on its promise to Milton Bradley that he is the Blue Jays' priority.

I like Milton's bat, hopefully Cito can keep the attitude in check.

BA Top 10 Jays Prospects

bunner — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:45:55 -0000

The full article can be found here: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2009/267166.html

but here are the players:

1. T-Snid

2. JP Arencibia

3. Brett Cecil

4. Justin Jackson

5. David Cooper

6. Kevin Ahrens

7. Brad Mills

8. Ricky Romero

9. Marc Rzepczynski

10. Brad Emaus

The system is really starting to get better and deeper, it has to do with (as mentioned in the article) the shift in focus from college to high school and international talent.

ManRam in Tdot...

bunner — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 18:56:36 -0000

So it's been rumoured the Jays have an interest in Manny and JP has downplayed it saying he's not interested so they will almost for sure make a run at him now...

Question is: Manny in Toronto, good or bad for the Jays?

My Opinion: Manny would have been perfect for the Jays in 2008, they needed a huge offensive lift and a DH both of which Manny are. However, going into 2009 I'm not sure that offence is the team's biggest worry. The emergence of Adam Lind, the return of Aaron Hill and the re-emergence of Alex Rios' power stroke should help the offence. Plus if Travis Snider tears the cover off the ball in AAA (which is where I think he should start the season at) he'll be ready to play full time at some point in 2009, you won't be benching Manny so there might not be room for Tsnid to play which would be a shame.

As for pitching...If (read: when) AJ Burnett opts out the starting rotation is left with Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan (will he be ready or healthy?), David Purcey (very unproven) and one of Brett Cecil, Scott Richmond or someone else. That is a far cry from the rotat ion 2008 started with containing Doc, AJ, McGowan, Marcum and Litsch.

My vote is to spend the money on a starter or starters (AJ or someone else) and sign an experienced/cheaper option to DH that you won't feel bad benching if Travis Snider shows he's ready for fulltime DH duty at some point in 2009.

Although it would be nice to see Manny rip apart the Red Sox at the Skydome (yes I said SkyDome) everytime he plays them!

Your thoughts???

Random Thoughts

bunner — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 01:19:50 -0000

Moved From Diaries - Hugo

I've been thinking about who might be available and who might be a decent fit for the Jays. From the FA list a lot depends on what happens with AJ Burnett but on the trade front there are a few interesting names that 'could' be available:

1B Adrian Gonzalez SD: Apparently there are some that feel there could be a fire sale in SD this off season. AGon could be their best bargining chip next to Jake Peavy. Being that he has a SD-friendly contract he doesn't 'have' to be moved however he would get them a nice haul in return. I'm not sure what the Jays could offer to get AGon but he'd be a GREAT fit into the Jays lineup. I think SD would want Travis Snider or Adam Lind in any package and that might be too much.

3B Hank Blalock Tex: He's apparently on the block in Texas, he could be a decent fit as a DH/3B replacement when Rolen goes on the DL or even be a replacement 1B if Overbay is moved. Blalock has been slowed by injuries recently and could be had cheap but he still has 30HR pop in his bat and a a LH hitter is something this team lacks. Would someone like Brandon League be enough to get Blalock? or too much?

SS Ryan Theriot ChC: This is a bit of a stretch...but the Cubs could be players in the Furcal race and this would leave Theriot without a spot in the lineup, would be a good fit for the Jays. Not sure what the Cubs would want in exchange.

C Gerald Laird, Jarrod Saltalamaccia(?) Tex: The Rangers have Laird, Salty, Teagarten and Max Ramirez at catcher, the Jays have a hole behind Barajas. I see Salty and Laird as the most likely to go, what would the Jays have to do to get one? Texas could use bullpen help the Jays have depth there. Salty is a nice long term option for C/1B/DH all places the Jays could use an upgrade.

I can't think of any others off the top of my head, but will add to the list as I can, please comment or add other potentials you know of.

What would YOU do?

bunner — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:30:10 -0000

With the comments from Richard Griffin on what he'd do if he were GM of the Jays, wonder what people in the Jays community would do if they were GM?

I have 2 schools of thought on this one, but will post the most fun one...I'd have to put together a strong business plan to Teddy Rogers for the extra cash, but with NYY falling, Boston not as dominant as in the past and TB being new to winning (who knows what they'll do next year), the AL East is at it's most vulnerable right now!

1. Let AJ Burnett walk, he's a nice to have as a # 2 but with Marcum/McGowan behing Doc we're still pretty strong, hoping Purcey can improve in his 2nd year leaves only 1 hole.

2. The BIGGEST move would be to make a deal with the devil (Scott Boras) and sign Mark Teixeira to a 5 year deal $19-$22M, he'll give us the much needed power that's been lacking from this lineup.

3. Fill the biggest hole in the lineup at SS with either FA Orlando Cabrera or Rafael Furcal, either is a productive top of the order bat with sound Defense at SS

4. Fill the last spot in the rotation with FA SP Oliver Perez, Derek Lowe or Randy Wolf, someone that can eat innings and keep their team in the game.

5. Sign minor league FA 3B Dallas McPherson, give him a chance at meaningful DH ABs and he'll be a fill in for when Rolen goes on the DL.

6. Lose Zaun, keep Barajas as the everyday C and get a quality defensive minded backup.

7. Trade Lyle Overbay, he's got a nice bat but no power for a 1B and with Teixeira he's easily expendable. Get some bench depth and some youth

This leaves the Jays with a lineup like:

SS Cabrera or Furcal

RF Alex Rios

CF Vernon Wells

1B Mark Teixeira

LF Adam Lind

3B Scott Rolen

2B Aaron Hill

DH Dallas McPherson

C Rod Barajas

Bench: keep Stairs, Scutaro, Inglett, back up catcher, maybe keep Wilkerson

Rotation: Doc, McGowan, Marcum, Oliver Perez, David Purcey

Bullpen: Janssen, League, Downs, Carlson, Tallett, Ryan

With a team like this the city would have some high hopes and deservedly so, this is a team that could make a run at a pennant and for sure the wildcard. I do realize it's a pipe dream and it's highly unrealistic to beleive that Ted Rogers would spend an additional $30M+ on the team but it was all for fun!

What would YOU DO?????

Two Words JP: You're Fired!

bunner — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:40:01 -0000

I was personally hoping the Jays would throw in the towel and trade the likes of AJ Burnett, Gregg Zaun/Rod Barajas, Matt Stairs, David Eckstein and even (if they could get a king's ransom) Roy Halladay. I feel that this team is not close to competing in the AL East of even seriously for the WC and they need to start with young players and build a strong core and then surround it with some vets, enough of this patch work system we've had for a while now.

But, then I heard grumblings the Jays were looking at Bay and/or at Ibanez to help boost the offence and thought that even though it may not be great to continue patching a lack luster team at least JP was looking to do something and was trying to show the players and fans that he had faith that with a little tweak the team may get right into the WC/AL East hunt.

In the end JP did nothing...which is by far the worst possible thing for the team. JP has proven once again he has no sense of direction for the team. He's not trying to rebuild and he's not trying to seriously make a run for a WC. He has told the players and fans that he doesn't know what to expect from his team and he's not willing to guide them down a path whether it be for now or the future.

So now the Jays will lose AJ Burnett and get 2 supplemental draft picks for him and with JPs draft history who knows what to expect from them. They still do not have a SS for the future that can play everyday, catching both offensively and defensively is a gaping hole as is producing runs on offence. Which moving Burnett along could have filled a few of those holes at least.

The only hope I have is that the upper management blocked JP from making any moves because he will not be the one running the team in the future and they did not want him screwing things up more. I pray that the off-season brings the removal of JP as GM and that his replacement has a plan for the team that he will actually execute!

ICE...COLD...BEER

bunner — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:48:43 -0000

I'm not sure if you guys have read this or not but it is absurd in my mind.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2008/07/16/6171536-sun.html

I was at Rogers centre a few weeks back, ordered a beer and got ID'd (I'm 30), then a few innings later went to a different beer stand and ordered beer and didn't get ID'd, so did the person that didn't ID me get fired because apparently to someone else I looked under 30. OH WAIT, it's subjective, how can you rate someone's work performance on something so subjective and then fire him without even a warning even though in the past he's never had problems at work...sounds like a lawsuit to me!

Also wanted to say I just found this site and so far it's really great, keep up the good work

Who to choose

bunner — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 16:53:15 -0000

In my fantasy league I have to drop one of the following prospects and I'm not quite sure who to drop. Please let me know your thoughts...

Mat Latos: is he injured?

Dellin Betances (I can only protect him as a prospect the rest of this year)

Chris Carter (Oakland)

It's more about who is closest to the majors for me here, I have a lot of good pitching already. Let me know your thoughts, thanks. I'm leaning towards Betances but still unsure.

On the Topic of Bailing...

bunner — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 15:01:05 -0000

I'm currently in 3rd in my 10 team 5x5 but I have absolutely no offence and 2 of my OFs (Corey Patterson and Chris Duncan) just got sent down and Papi is on the DL. So I think I'm going to bail...how does this offer sound:

To Me: JJ Putz, Billy Butler, 1st round Free Agent draft pick 2009

To Him: Brad Lidge

I think I'm getting a huge steal here because Putz is as good as Lidge when he's on, and Butler is awesome (hopefully will be by next year anyways when I'll need him)

Thoughts?