Russ Adams in line for promotion?

jalenrose#5 · Post #1 » by **jalenrose#5** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 5:31 am

Just wondering what your thoughts are on Russ Adams getting the call up to the big club. I think it's worth a shot.....but he should really be playing at short in AAA....but he's not for some reason (too work on footwork, arm etc).

He's currently batting around .260 having hit 8 HR's and 35 RBI's.....very similar numbers to Hill. He would be a much needed shot in the arm to our SS/2B position, and might open up a trade scenario

like....

Ohka/Clayton for some cash relief.

I know I'll get flamed for this idea, but he's been by far Syracuse's best hitter (apart from Lind and Thigpen) and I think he deserves a promotion.

Post #2 » by **OldNo7** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:24 pm

Hill is hitting better in MLB than Adams is in AAA.

Besides, Adams is so horrible on defence, he is a liability everytime he is in the lineup - there is no way they are getting rid of Clayton to bring him up. The fact is, signing Clayton was a direct result of how management felt about Adams being an everyday player here.

heemer · Post #3 » by **heemer** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 4:48 pm

I wouldnt think it would be a bad idea to have adams at least hang around on the bench. sure hes poor defensively, but our offense has been brutal and maybe a couple extra at bats from Adams, who is a pretty good hitter, might help get the team moving along

jalenrose#5 · Post #4 » by **jalenrose#5** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:06 pm

whosthebosh? wrote:Hill is hitting better in MLB than Adams is in AAA.

Besides, Adams is so horrible on defence, he is a liability everytime he is in the lineup - there is no way they are getting rid of Clayton to bring him up. The fact is, signing Clayton was a direct result of how management felt about Adams being an everyday player here.

Hill is....I know that....but remember, he started out hot.....Adams started ouyt VERY cold. Now Hill has slowed down a touch and Adams has been hitting a cool .280 after hitting .225 in April.

Johnny Mac is a great utility guy off the bench...but he is not a starter. Royce Clayton, although I like the guy, his best years are behind him. And really, having Adams at short might be a risk, but if people show some confidence in him, he might improve. Or we could move Hill to short and play Adams at 2B.

Adams was a first round pick, so the brass in the Jays organization had to have seen something in him to pick him.

Hill hit .313 in April and has since batted only .248 in May and June.

Hill has a .275 average 8 HR's 39 RBI

Adams a .258 average 8 HR's 34 RBI's

**I really don't see that big of a gap really....only defensively.

Modern_epic · Post #5 » by **Modern_epic** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:23 pm

jalenrose#5 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Hill is....I know that....but remember, he started out hot.....Adams started ouyt VERY cold. Now Hill has slowed down a touch and Adams has been hitting a cool .280 after hitting .225 in April.

Johnny Mac is a great utility guy off the bench...but he is not a starter. Royce Clayton, although I like the guy, his best years are behind him. And really, having Adams at short might be a risk, but if people show some confidence in him, he might improve. Or we could move Hill to short and play Adams at 2B.

Adams was a first round pick, so the brass in the Jays organization had to have seen something in him to pick him.

Hill hit .313 in April and has since batted only .248 in May and June.

Hill has a .275 average 8 HR's 39 RBI

Adams a .258 average 8 HR's 34 RBI's

**I really don't see that big of a gap really....only defensively.

Aside from the 50 point statistical gap in OPS, the main gap is one in your logic: one of these guys is putting up those numbers at AAA, and the other in the majors.

jalenrose#5 · Post #6 » by **jalenrose#5** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:25 am

Modern_epic wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

Aside from the 50 point statistical gap in OPS, the main gap is one in your logic: one of these guys is putting up those numbers at AAA, and the other in the majors.

His OPS in April was .651.....afterwards he's around .845 since then. Adams that is.

Aaron Hill in April was .918....but since, he's been .730.

I understand the AAA thing, but my logic here is why is Howie Clark up here when we already have 2 super utility players on the roster already in Stairs and McDonald. I'd rather have Russ up here.....but I guess that's just me.

Why is there such a taboo around Russ Adams with Blue Jay fans....I really don't get it. If he could fix up his defence, this kid is a major league player.

Post #7 » by **OldNo7** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:22 am

A large reason could be the whole "options" mess that Riccardi constantly gets himself into a mess with.

Another thing is the main thing Russ needs to work on is defence, and he has a better opportunity doing that by playing everyday in AAA than sitting on the bench up in the bigs.

jalenrose#5 · Post #8 » by **jalenrose#5** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 2:45 pm

whosthebosh? wrote:A large reason could be the whole "options" mess that Riccardi constantly gets himself into a mess with.

Another thing is the main thing Russ needs to work on is defence, and he has a better opportunity doing that by playing everyday in AAA than sitting on the bench up in the bigs.

That would be the main reason too. But my question is why are they trying to groom this kid into a 2B when this team already has an allstar (very young) playing for them at 2B. I don't see Hill moving.

I guess Adams has become trade bait now. It just makes me wonder why the Jays don't have him at short in AAA. It's not like that team is going anywhere.

Modern_epic · Post #9 » by **Modern_epic** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 3:02 pm

Because they know as much as you play him there, his defense will always be bad; he lacks the arm for it.

kelso · Post #10 » by **kelso** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:13 pm

If you watched Adams play SS over the last number of years you wouldn't be asking that question. As well, comparing Adams to Hill , especially when you're trying to do so using AAA numbers vs. big league numbers, is folly. Hill is a ball player, pure and simple. he is more confident, he has the respect of his team mates, he is clutch and he has earned his stripes on the big club. Adams just plain hasn't done that, and with a number of tries to do so as well.

Michael Bradley · Post #11 » by **Michael Bradley** » Sat Jun 16, 2007 8:52 pm

Adams is a bust, but I think he can be a solid MLB second baseman along the lines of an Adam Kennedy type. The problem obviously is that the Jays already have a 2B in Hill. If they didn't pull the trigger on moving Hill to short at the beginning of the year (instead opting to go with Clayton and McDonald), then I don't think Adams has a future in Toronto. My guess is if Oakland needs a 2B in the off-season, they'll get Adams.

As for why Howie Clark was brought up, simply because he can be a super utility player. Clark can spell Glaus at 3B and play some OF/1B. He's a much better fit as a bench player than Adams would be, as Adams's arm limits him to 2B only.

jalenrose#5 · Post #12 » by **jalenrose#5** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:43 am

I'm thinking of a deal with the White Sox actually....it works out to be....

TO TOR: Mark Buerhle

TO CWS: Gus Chacin, Brian Tallet, Russ Adams and Tomo Ohka.

CWS wanted young prospects in return for Mark Buerhle. They get replacement LHP, A LHP in the bullpen, a 2B for when Iguchi leaves and another SP.

Works out to be a pretty fair deal IMO.

Halladay
Burnett
Buerhle
McGowan
Marcum

YIKES!

Post #13 » by **OldNo7** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:44 am

That is an absolutely horrible deal for the White Sox. You are vastly overrating both Adams and Chacin.

jalenrose#5 · Post #14 » by **jalenrose#5** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 4:35 am

whosthebosh? wrote:That is an absolutely horrible deal for the White Sox. You are vastly overrating both Adams and Chacin.

David Wells (All Star Starting Pitcher) ..... traded by the Jays because they didn't think they could sign him.

They dealt him to the White Sox for Mike Sirotka....and that was it.

I call for Payback.....that was the main point of the deal

davkad · Post #15 » by **davkad** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 6:38 am

ya i hate the white sox too, i made a thread about them being the scummiest franchise ever (think the world series scandal, players taking dives and getting in bed with the mob... and hte mike sirotka trade does it for me!) but there's no way in hell they'd trade us for that package - what prospect are we even giving up? Adams or Chacin? both aren't prospects anymore - both have played full seasons in the MLB and u more or less know what you're getting with both - in Adams a fringe starting candidate for a middle infield position with a decent bat but horrendous defence, and with Chacin a mid-end of the rotation starter with a middle of the pack ERA. And on the other hand you expect them to send over a real ballplayer?

jalenrose#5 · Post #16 » by **jalenrose#5** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 2:45 pm

I just got the vibe from the White Sox that they don't have a very good chance at resigning him and would much rather get some cheap talent.....in other words, young talent. It's better losing him and getting something in return, rather than losing him for nothing.....see Carlos Delgado, Donyell Marshall and Alex Mogilny.....all Toronto franchises players that should've been dealt....but were allowed to leave via FA. They didn't get anything in return.

I know it's not a very plausible deal.....so instead of Chacin......how about Marcum?

Post #17 » by **OldNo7** » Sun Jun 17, 2007 5:08 pm

I would rather let a guy go than take back something of no value.