Lind likes Blue Jays

[LittleOzzy]

Adam Lind never has been part of a more talented major league roster.

And he can’t wait to get to work.

Speaking from his home in Florida last week, Lind said he’s excited about the start of spring training next month and the prospects for the Toronto Blue Jays’ 2013 season.

“It’s nice to finally have an elite lineup from top to bottom and an elite pitching staff from top to bottom,” Lind said. “This is the most anticipated season I’ve had in baseball.”

It didn’t look that way in early October.

After a disappointing 73-89 finish, Toronto manager John Farrell left the team to accept his “dream job” with the Boston Red Sox. He was replaced by John Gibbons, who posted a 305-305 record with the Blue Jays between 2004 and 2008.

Then the fun really started.

A blockbuster trade with the Miami Marlins brought in starting pitchers Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle, second baseman Emilio Bonifacio and shortstop Jose Reyes. A later deal with the New York Mets netted reigning National League Cy Young award winner R.A. Dickey, and left fielder Melky Cabrera was added as a free agent from the World Series champion San Francisco Giants.

Those players join returning center fielder Colby Rasmus, right fielder Jose Bautista, first baseman Edwin Encarnacion, third baseman Brett Lawrie, catcher J.P. Arencibia, starting pitcher Ricky Romero and designated hitter Lind in a clubhouse that has powerhouse potential even in the loaded American League East.

Lind recently was in Toronto for a baseball clinic, and he got a taste of the excitement from fans and media.

“Every question was about anticipation and expectations and how excited I am about the trades,” the former Highland High School star said. “It’s the best opportunity I’ve had in my career.”

Lind is coming off a roller coaster season in which he played just 93 games after being demoted to the minors in May and battling through injuries upon his return to the majors. He hit .255 with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs and a .314 on-base percentage.

He’s had limited contact with Gibbons and general manager Alex Anthopoulos during the offseason, with their brief conversations focusing on his health. But he expects to return to a familiar role in the lineup as a designated hitter or first baseman against right-handed pitchers.

“If I perform well enough,” Lind said, “I’ll play every day.”

http://heraldbulletin.com/sports/x96487 ... s-new-look

[Duffman100]

Lind recently was in Toronto for a baseball clinic, and he got a taste of the excitement from fans and media.

ttp://heraldbulletin.com/sports/x964871 ... s-new-look

I hope for his sake he was taking part in the clinic, not teaching it.

[raps4589]

I hope lind can return to form

[CapeCrusader]

Lind recently was in Toronto for a baseball clinic, and he got a taste of the excitement from fans and media.

ttp://heraldbulletin.com/sports/x964871 ... s-new-look

I hope for his sake he was taking part in the clinic, not teaching it.

Hahahahaha

[Raptors Realtor]

If I perform well enough, I’ll play every day.

Not to be a pessimist, but that's a big "if" Adam.

[xAIRNESSx]

Hope he plays well.

[s e n s i]

Lind recently was in Toronto for a baseball clinic, and he got a taste of the excitement from fans and media.

ttp://heraldbulletin.com/sports/x964871 ... s-new-look

I hope for his sake he was taking part in the clinic, not teaching it.

lol nice

[Pchu]

The team would look even better if he isn't a part of it.

[Garmfay]

The team would look even better if he isn't a part of it.

+1. Dude needs to GTFO.

[The_Hater]

If I perform well enough, I’ll play every day.

Not to be a pessimist, but that's a big "if" Adam.

No kidding. Even when he was winning the Silver Slugger award in 09 he was weak against LHP, since then he's been atrocious.

[guvernator]

Aaron Hill bounced back with a new hitting coach; maybe, Lind will as well. If not, AA can just not pick up the option and let him walk next year.
So glad though that DM isn't the hitting coach anymore.

[Ado05]

Aaron Hill bounced back with a new hitting coach; maybe, Lind will as well. If not, AA can just not pick up the option and let him walk next year.
So glad though that DM isn't the hitting coach anymore.

Agreed. I have some hope left!

[flatjacket1]

I hope for his sake he was taking part in the clinic, not teaching it.

Made my day.

[The_Hater]

So glad though that DM isn't the hitting coach anymore.

If we're going to criticize DM beacuse some players regressed, shouldn't Murphy also deserve some credit for guys like Bautista and Encarnacion exploding under his tutelage in the middle of their careers? He also fixed Vernon Wells just enough for AA to be able to ship him out of town.

As it is, Lind always spoke positively about Murphy as a hitting coach, I think his issues may lie somewhere else.

[flatjacket1]

So glad though that DM isn't the hitting coach anymore.

If we're going to criticize DM beacuse some players regressed, shouldn't Murphy also deserve some credit for guys like Bautista and Encarnacion exploding under his tutelage in the middle of their careers? He also fixed Vernon Wells just enough for AA to be able to ship him out of town.

As it is, Lind always spoke positively about Murphy as a hitting coach, I think his issues may lie somewhere else.

Hitting coaches are supposed to appeal to the masses, be able to change philosophies for certain players. It's very similar to managing in the sense that you need 25 different approaches for 25 different guys. DM just stuck with his approach, and it helped with certain players but with players like Hill it obviously didn't. DM seems to be more of a specialist and CM a hitting coach. I think having both certainly helps, but DM strictly as hitting coach seems like a flawed coaching staff to me.

Of course I'm not in their dugout so I really can't say anything I just said with certainty. For all we know DM is some archangel.

[torontoaces04]

The way this roster has transformed, David Cooper now makes a lot more sense. He's a good pure hitter, who will keep the ball rolling, and guys moving on the base paths.