2011 Blue Jays/MLB Thread

[maplesyrup]

So heading in to free agency (and knowing that Japanese pitchers seem to often not work out) I think Yu Darvish could be quite the addition. Here's a little vid for those who haven't actually seen him pitch... Man, he's got sick stuff;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLGB69siot8   

 

[maplesyrup]

A great piece when consider Ortiz for the Jays;

http://jaysjournal.com/2011/10/18/david-ortiz-on-the-2012-blue-jays-a-realistic-option/

"for the critics or those skeptical to cite career numbers, Ortiz has had an OPS of at least 1.091 at Rogers Centre in each of the last two seasons, at least .933 at Fenway, and .913 at Yankee Stadium." 

I mean sure, it could be s  "Thomas" situation and his numbers fall right off a cliff but man, these (among some others noted in the piece) are some pretty staggering numbers to consider. 

 

[Peter D.]

"As we sit here today, the role would primarily be DH but we like he can play some first, play some third and we'd like to find out a little bit more about him in left field."

I found this tidbit that Encarnacion may play a bit in left field quite intriguing.  I couldn't help but think that Snider and/or Thames may not be with the team come spring training. 

 

[Kin]

And considering that you are a Torontonian baseball fan sounding negative and rather contrite  in this conversational circumstance is beyond comprehension.

You need to learn what words mean.

 

[Kin]

I was reading this article about Chris Carpenter (http://www.unionleader.com/article/20111030/NEWS15/710309957) and toward the end it made mention of Colby Rasmus getting a world series ring. Seems weird to me. I don't think he deserves one. Does this make sense to anyone else?

It's a pretty long standing tradition that players on a world series winning team, or any playoff team, will vote as to whether or not guys who played part of the season with the team get a share of the playoff money or a half-share or quarter-share or what have you.

Given that Rasmus started 87 games for the Cards, and played well for them, it seems pretty reasonable that they'd consider him a reason they made it into the playoffs and deserving of a cut.

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules when it comes to World Series rings and who gets them, I'm pretty sure that's up to the individual team, but if they're just giving rings to everyone who gets a full share then that makes a degree of sense.

 

[maplesyrup]

Bengie Molina was a fun case last year. Having played for both the Rangers and Giants, he was getting a ring regardless. 

 

[Kin]

Yeah, I know. He'll be sort of a DH-utility guy, but, primarily DH, which is what's important. His numbers as a DH last season were pretty good. So, if he's in the field for 1 game a week or something like that? Oh well.

I'd be a little careful though about chalking up his performance to not playing in the field. It was such a drastic split in the first and second half split for him which coincided with him getting bumped off 3rd that I think you'd need more than one year of evidence to say that he was hampered offensively by his defensive responsibilities.

On the other hand, he has three years in a row of pretty drastic first and second half splits so I think the Jays probably still need to look at him as an option, rather than a surefire everyday player.

 

[bustaheims]

Once again cementing their value as an award and demonstrating their irrefutable accuracy in measuring defensive proficiency, Rawlings today announced that Derek Jeter was award the Gold Glove at shortstop for the 2011 season - in spite of his -1.3 dWAR, his -6.5 UZR and his many other well below average defensive metrics.

 

[hockeyfan1]

And considering that you are a Torontonian baseball fan sounding negative and rather contrite  in this conversational circumstance is beyond comprehension.

You need to learn what words mean.

I don't need to learn anything.  I am very good in conversations with people (outside of using a keyboard).  I feel somewhat 'constricted' when using a keyboard whereas I find conversations flow with more fluidity in person.

Of course, if I had to write/type a shirt story, I obviously wouldn't have much of a problem.  Which is exactly what I did once to receive a top prize in a local ss competition.  Certainly not bad for someone who "needs to learn what words mean".

 

[Peter D.]

Mike Quade's not going to be back to manage the Cubs next year. 

Is it a foregone conclusion that Francona takes over?

 

[Bullfrog]

May I butt in with some observations?

Your use of "contrite" does not make sense. I'm not sure the word means what you think it means. Additionally, the long, polysyllabic, non-rhythmical, alliterative phrase is difficult to read (irony intended.) I surely hope you don't speak like that in common conversations. Perhaps it's your sense of keyboard constriction that makes you unconsciously use unnecessarily complex words and sentence structure.

This website provides some advice on speaking concisely:
http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/wordsuggestions/complexabstract.cfm

additionally, a list of simple words and phrases to use as substitutes can be handy:
http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/wordsuggestions/simplewords.cfm

We all need to learn.

The above provided with sincerest intent (i.e. not to be an ass.)

 

[maplesyrup]

Mike Quade's not going to be back to manage the Cubs next year. 

Is it a foregone conclusion that Francona takes over?

Pretty close to, I think.

 

[hockeyfan1]

May I butt in with some observations?

Your use of "contrite" does not make sense. I'm not sure the word means what you think it means. Additionally, the long, polysyllabic, non-rhythmical, alliterative phrase is difficult to read
(irony intended.) I surely hope you don't speak like that in
common conversations. Perhaps it's your sense of keyboard
constriction that makes you unconsciously use unnecessarily
complex words and sentence structure.

This website provides some advice on speaking concisely:

http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/wordsuggestions/complexa
bstract.cfm

additionally, a list of simple words and phrases to use as substitutes can be handy:

http://www.plainlanguage.gov/howto/wordsuggestions/simplewords.cfm

We all need to learn.

The above provided with sincerest intent (i.e. not to be an ass.)

Don't worry Bullfrog, I do speak much better in person.  It's just
that some people (like Nik) have a tendency to put thenselves on this self-righteous pedestal and make one feel as if they've said something so wrong (based on a conversational topic), especially to something said that he takes objection to.

I'm not used to people who are like him, I guess.  Something I need to learn. 

He also needs to learn to be better, too.  :

 

[Kin]

Of course, if I had to write/type a shirt story, I obviously wouldn't have much of a problem.

I think I'd title mine "The Loneliest Waistcoat"

Which is exactly what I did once to receive a top prize in a local ss competition.  Certainly not bad for someone who "needs to learn what words mean".

Yeah, well, I won second place in a "Least Self-Righteous in a Conversational Circumstance" trophy too.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Here is a link to all the potential MLB free agents for 2012...

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=An6F_1pA67Fyj.Lfz9vxB8A5nYcB?slug=jp-passan_ultimate_free_agent_tracker_baseball_110211

 

[maplesyrup]

McDonald resigned with Arizona. 

 

[Peter D.]

McDonald resigned with Arizona. 

I was a little surprised by that.  I'm not upset that we lost Johnny Mac the baseball player as for the most part he is quite replaceable.  But he was a fan favourite and fans embraced him, so it sucks he won't be back in that sense.

I do wonder though if Arizona offering him another two-year guaranteed deal was the deal breaker.  I could see Anthopoulos telling him he'd like to bring him back on a year-to-year basis.  I'd still like to see him back as a coach one day with the organization.

 

[maplesyrup]

McDonald resigned with Arizona. 

I was a little surprised by that.  I'm not upset that we lost Johnny Mac the baseball player as for the most part he is quite replaceable.  But he was a fan favourite and fans embraced him, so it sucks he won't be back in that sense.

I do wonder though if Arizona offering him another two-year guaranteed deal was the deal breaker.  I could see Anthopoulos telling him he'd like to bring him back on a year-to-year basis.  I'd still like to see him back as a coach one day with the organization.

I just hope Lawrie and Escobar soaked up as much as they could while he was here. I'd have liked to have seen him spend more time with Hecharravia(sp?) this spring too.

 

[Deebo]

McDonald resigned with Arizona. 

I was a little surprised by that.  I'm not upset that we lost Johnny Mac the baseball player as for the most part he is quite replaceable.  But he was a fan favourite and fans embraced him, so it sucks he won't be back in that sense.

I do wonder though if Arizona offering him another two-year guaranteed deal was the deal breaker.  I could see Anthopoulos telling him he'd like to bring him back on a year-to-year basis.  I'd still like to see him back as a coach one day with the organization.

He was on TSN radio today, he said he was surprised that the diamondbacks offered him a deal and that he thought he had a good chance of getting good playing time there so he accepted the offer without going to market.

 

[Kin]

If McDonald was done as a player then, yeah, I'd be fine with bringing him back on as a coach(although not everyone makes that transition just because of what they were as a player) but otherwise? I don't think you want to use a roster spot on an infield coach.