RealGM

"It's reassuring, but at the same time there's a lot of work ahead," Lawrie said on Day 1 of the Blue Jays' Winter Tour, which kicked off Saturday afternoon in Toronto. "I always feel like I have a chip on my shoulder and I always feel like there's something to prove.

"I'm excited to get to Spring Training -- wish it started tomorrow. I'm just excited to go out with these guys, compete, and win."

http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... re_season/

Chip on his shoulder? Cuz he had to wait until 21 to make it to the bigs? Cuz no-one ever believed in him?

Anyway, that's the winner attitude - the Kobe attitude - especially the MJ attitude. (Is it the DeMar attitude? I know, who cares, it's the Jays board).

Darvish and Fielder aside, it's hard not to be excited at least a little bit. This is what developing young talent is supposed to look like, and sound like.

Lawrie is great he will be real exciting to see develop this upcoming season. Sky's the limit for him. His defense improved a lot as the season progressed. I'm sure he will continue to put the work in needed to get better in just about every area. Just wish we would have surrounded him, Bautista and Romero with a few key acquisitions but who am I kidding its Rogers were talking about.

I like to see such a young player so eager to get out there and do his best and want to see himself improve as much as he wants to win. This is nice I really hope we can pan out and make it a fun season to watch we are def closer then the Raptors are at this point and maybe right up there with the Leafs but they probably have a better playoff shot then us right now.

I think Lawrie will be key to our success this year being he can improve I see him as a 35hr 85rbi guy with stolen bases and solid defense! Our King Lawrie in the making

To be honest, I think he's not gonna do as good as everyone think he's gonna do.

BobbyBoy wrote:To be honest, I think he's not gonna do as good as everyone think he's gonna do.

Yea after his initial honeymoon period when he got called up he wasn't that great near the end of the season once pitchers started adjusting to him.

That being said I still expect a solid year, just not as great as what some people are hoping for.

BobbyBoy wrote:To be honest, I think he's not gonna do as good as everyone think he's gonna do.

you mean he's not going to produce at mvp level in his first full season? sure I'll agree with that. But would anyone really be surprised if hes the best 3B next year considering how weak the position is?

73 HR, .328 BA, 1.379 OPS, at least.

I'll be completely sold when he shows he can go through a difficult time without imploding. That's a significant risk to his personality. But yeah, I'm optimistic he'll be a beast.

guvernator wrote:

BobbyBoy wrote:To be honest, I think he's not gonna do as good as everyone think he's gonna do.

you mean he's not going to produce at mvp level in his first full season? sure I'll agree with that. But would anyone really be surprised if hes the best 3B next year considering how weak the position is?

Yes. Anybody expecting him to beat out Beltre or Michael Young (8th in MVP voting) or even Evan Longoria is crazy. Hes 22, I'd easily take a .250ish BA.

flatjacket1 wrote:

guvernator wrote:

BobbyBoy wrote:To be honest, I think he's not gonna do as good as everyone think he's gonna do.

you mean he's not going to produce at mvp level in his first full season? sure I'll agree with that. But would anyone really be surprised if hes the best 3B next year considering how weak the position is?

Yes. Anybody expecting him to beat out Beltre or Michael Young (8th in MVP voting) or even Evan Longoria is crazy. Hes 22, I'd easily take a .250ish BA.

Michael Young doesn't play 3rd anymore and is extremely overrated offensively. Beltre, outside of a couple of tremendous seasons is a mediocre offensive but exceptional defensive player. If Lawrie is worse that these 2 chumps, I would be disappointed. Longoria and Youkilis (depending on his health) are the only 3Bs in AL I would take over Lawrie for next season.

guvernator wrote:Michael Young doesn't play 3rd anymore and is extremely overrated offensively. Beltre, outside of a couple of tremendous seasons is a mediocre offensive but exceptional defensive player. If Lawrie is worse that these 2 chumps, I would be disappointed. Longoria and Youkilis (depending on his health) are the only 3Bs in AL I would take over Lawrie for next season.

You are grossly overrating Lawrie. You will be disappointed. Michael Young played 3 less games than Lawrie did at 3B.

Out of all the 3B this past season, even with a quarter the PA he still only ranked 7th in BA, 6th in OBP and 1st in OPS. Pablo Sandoval had an impressive line at .315/.357/.552, over a much larger sample size.

Not only do you think Lawrie can sustain and repeat last season but you except him to do better.

homer or not, Beltre and Longoria are the only 3rd basemen I take over Lawrie

Al_Oliver wrote:homer or not, Beltre and Longoria are the only 3rd basemen I take over Lawrie

Sandoval?

flatjacket1 wrote:

Al_Oliver wrote:homer or not, Beltre and Longoria are the only 3rd basemen I take over Lawrie

Sandoval?

nope, not a fan

Al_Oliver wrote:

flatjacket1 wrote:

Al_Oliver wrote:homer or not, Beltre and Longoria are the only 3rd basemen I take over Lawrie

Sandoval?

nope, not a fan

We should trade for Sandoval, and make him our 1B.