Blue Jays @ Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim | May 3-6

[SharoneWright]

That wasn't the real Brandon Morrow tonight, it was like some kind of amazing hybrid version.

And the hybrid version is starting to show up a little more. It's early, but his groundball rate is way, way up, his walk rate is well down, and he's throwing fewer pitches per at-bat and per-inning. There are some less hopeful things -- strikeout rate has fallen off massively in the early-going, and his BABIP is unsustainably low -- but there seems to be a bit of an evolution afoot.

Looks good at this point. I wonder (worry just a little) if he even can throw 98 at this point...... I'm fine with a new approach if its intentional. If he's losing mustard and adapting, that would be a red-flag in my book.

(I know they've been telling him to throw more 2-seamers instead of 4-seamers,,, so it does sound intentional,,, and on balance I agree the results are good - but I would expect to see the occasional 98mph pea thrown into the mix)

Outstanding start tonight!

At 92mph, there ought to be no innings cap this year either... Could bode well in October.

[CapeCrusader]

That wasn't the real Brandon Morrow tonight, it was like some kind of amazing hybrid version.

And the hybrid version is starting to show up a little more. It's early, but his groundball rate is way, way up, his walk rate is well down, and he's throwing fewer pitches per at-bat and per-inning. There are some less hopeful things -- strikeout rate has fallen off massively in the early-going, and his BABIP is unsustainably low -- but there seems to be a bit of an evolution afoot.

If Drabek can reach his potential...and Morrow can keep improving and Romeo keeps on being Romero we got one hell of a front to the rotation

Yeah then hopefully we'll spend some dollars on players.

[Randle McMurphy]

That wasn't the real Brandon Morrow tonight, it was like some kind of amazing hybrid version.

And the hybrid version is starting to show up a little more. It's early, but his groundball rate is way, way up, his walk rate is well down, and he's throwing fewer pitches per at-bat and per-inning. There are some less hopeful things -- strikeout rate has fallen off massively in the early-going, and his BABIP is unsustainably low -- but there seems to be a bit of an evolution afoot.

Looks good at this point. I wonder (worry just a little) if he even can throw 98 at this point...... I'm fine with a new approach if its intentional. If he's losing mustard and adapting, that would be a red-flag in my book.

(I know they've been telling him to throw more 2-seamers instead of 4-seamers,,, so it does sound intentional,,, and on balance I agree the results are good - but I would expect to see the occasional 98mph pea thrown into the mix)

Outstanding start tonight!

At 92mph, there ought to be no innings cap this year either... Could bode well in October.

Morrow was throwing 95-97 against Seattle on the weekend. He also hit 96 a few times today. Velocity isn't a problem.

[nonc]

the reality is another month with Lind like this cannot continue, he needs to be put on waivers like Rios, a trade would be even worse. we don't regret Rios and we wouldn't regret Lind.

Bautista to first, Thames to right, Snider to left.

I have nothing but faith in Alex, but not the patience to neglect this season.

[SharoneWright]

Morrow was throwing 95-97 against Seattle on the weekend. He also hit 96 a few times today. Velocity isn't a problem.

Great. I missed most of today's game. I guess his 'transformation' is so noticeable, it just caused me to raise a Spockian eyebrow.... I'm not skeptical, just cautiously optimistic.

[kcthekid]

the reality is another month with Lind like this cannot continue, he needs to be put on waivers like Rios, a trade would be even worse. we don't regret Rios and we wouldn't regret Lind.

Bautista to first, Thames to right, Snider to left.

I have nothing but faith in Alex, but not the patience to neglect this season.

Thames to right?....

[nonc]

the reality is another month with Lind like this cannot continue, he needs to be put on waivers like Rios, a trade would be even worse. we don't regret Rios and we wouldn't regret Lind.

Bautista to first, Thames to right, Snider to left.

I have nothing but faith in Alex, but not the patience to neglect this season.

Thames to right?....

personally i couldn't care less where Thames goes, i'm indifferent to the preferences of guarding against more sac-fly opportunities, or guarding against him being abused second-to-third....the point is that's not the point.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

strikeout rate has fallen off massively in the early-going

That was definitely a worry, it's good to see he's got 17 K in his last 15 innings.

[LLJ]

Two straight up dominant games from Morrow. It's stretches like this that absolutely convinces you that it's way too early to say he's peaked.

[Back2back2back]

Bautista and Lind were awful last night.

Great game by Morrow! One of his best games as a JAY.

[Al_Oliver]

the reality is another month with Lind like this cannot continue, he needs to be put on waivers like Rios, a trade would be even worse. we don't regret Rios and we wouldn't regret Lind.

Bautista to first, Thames to right, Snider to left.

I have nothing but faith in Alex, but not the patience to neglect this season.

If you paid attention to AA, then you will know that he has consistently said that trade is his preferred option and especially closer to the deadline, assuming he likes what he sees (obviously)

[Lucky26]

the reality is another month with Lind like this cannot continue, he needs to be put on waivers like Rios, a trade would be even worse. we don't regret Rios and we wouldn't regret Lind.

Bautista to first, Thames to right, Snider to left.

I have nothing but faith in Alex, but not the patience to neglect this season.

This ain't softball, you put your best fielder and thrower in right field. Thames isn't either one of those, Snider is.

[pinklemo]

everybody seems to enjoy themselves at the romero household, except lind.

[guvernator]

Awesome stat of the day:
Brett Lawrie: 26 DRS in 68 games at 3B since callup last season.

EDIT:
Hes basically on pace for the best defensive season at 3B in the last decade (and probably all time but there are no DRS stats for 2002 and seasons before - so I can't be sure). Scott Rolen had 30 DRS in 2004. The pace Lawrie is on, He will eclipse it before June. But it is early, so small sample size alert.

Fanboy alert *Regardless, if Lawrie wasn't so reckless, he would be the perfect candidate for 10 year deal because hes as a complete player as you are gonna find in baseball.*

[pinklemo]

the reality is another month with Lind like this cannot continue, he needs to be put on waivers like Rios, a trade would be even worse. we don't regret Rios and we wouldn't regret Lind.

Bautista to first, Thames to right, Snider to left.

I have nothing but faith in Alex, but not the patience to neglect this season.

This ain't softball, you put your best fielder and thrower in right field. Thames isn't either one of those, Snider is.

plus unlike rios, lind can be tradable, he has a fair contract that teams can work with. we can trade him for another struggling player who has potential similar to lind. AA did it twice with Hill and League, why not Lind?

[pinklemo]

Awesome stat of the day:
Brett Lawrie: 26 DRS in 68 games at 3B since callup last season.

EDIT:
Hes basically on pace for the best defensive season at 3B in the last decade (and probably all time but there are no DRS stats for 2002 and seasons before - so I can't be sure). Scott Rolen had 30 DRS in 2004. The pace Lawrie is on, He will eclipse it before June. But it is early, so small sample size alert.

Fanboy alert *Regardless, if Lawrie wasn't so reckless, he would be the perfect candidate for 10 year deal because hes as a complete player as you are gonna find in baseball.*

he's been great defensively, lets see the power numbers though.

[guvernator]

Awesome stat of the day:
Brett Lawrie: 26 DRS in 68 games at 3B since callup last season.

EDIT:
Hes basically on pace for the best defensive season at 3B in the last decade (and probably all time but there are no DRS stats for 2002 and seasons before - so I can't be sure). Scott Rolen had 30 DRS in 2004. The pace Lawrie is on, He will eclipse it before June. But it is early, so small sample size alert.

Fanboy alert *Regardless, if Lawrie wasn't so reckless, he would be the perfect candidate for 10 year deal because hes as a complete player as you are gonna find in baseball.*

he's been great defensively, lets see the power numbers though.

Yeah, slugging has been down to start the year but as the weather heats up you will see him put more ball up in the air. I think he has it in him to replicate Rolen's rookie season. Actually, Rolen's offensive play plus a bit more speed should be a decent projection for Lawrie's career. Hopefully he doesn't carry the same injury label.

[Duffman100]

Awesome stat of the day:
Brett Lawrie: 26 DRS in 68 games at 3B since callup last season.

EDIT:
Hes basically on pace for the best defensive season at 3B in the last decade (and probably all time but there are no DRS stats for 2002 and seasons before - so I can't be sure). Scott Rolen had 30 DRS in 2004. The pace Lawrie is on, He will eclipse it before June. But it is early, so small sample size alert.

Fanboy alert *Regardless, if Lawrie wasn't so reckless, he would be the perfect candidate for 10 year deal because hes as a complete player as you are gonna find in baseball.*

he's been great defensively, lets see the power numbers though.

Hopefully he doesn't career the same injury label.

And that's really the worry, with the way he plays. He needs to stop throwing himself into the wall in 9-1 games and definitely stop JUMPING AT HOME PLATE.

[pinklemo]

there's a reason why mlb players dont run at every groundball, its not cause they aren't putting in the effort, its the injury risk. not sure why the coaching staff hasn't told lawrie to cool it a bit. The way he plays he can pull a hammy or may be something more serious from running fast from ground balls.

[J.Kim]

Morrow threw only 2 pitches, pretty much...

vs. RH


vs. LH