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Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:04 am
by LittleOzzy
The Blue Jays can expect a wiser and more prepared J.P. Arencibia when Spring Training opens later this month in Dunedin, Fla.
Arencibia set the franchise record for home runs by a catcher last season, but it was his work behind the plate that he likes to talk about the most.
The 26-year-old knows what to expect not only from himself, but from his teammates and opposing hitters around the league. Familiarity has set in and the overall comfort level has risen.
"Another year of experience gives you the comfort of, 'This is my staff, these are the guys I'm going to work with, this is my job,'" Arencibia said recently. "It's been the year I've been most motivated ever to just get better in the offseason, training as hard as I've ever trained, to just get ready for the whole season."
Arencibia had arguably the toughest transition possible for any rookie looking to establish himself in the American League. As the No. 1 catcher, he was tasked with not only improving his own abilities behind the plate, but also learning an entire pitching staff.
That overall workload was compounded by also needing to spend time on the offensive side of his game. It can be a daunting task, but Arencibia was aided by the fact that he rose through the Minor League ranks along with some of the pitchers on Toronto's staff.
That eased Arencibia's learning curve, and while another year together will undoubtedly help matters even more, he thinks there's one thing in particular that should help his pitch selection behind the plate.
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/ar ... r&c_id=tor
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:08 am
by hyper316
he better step up his all-around game (esp OBP), or d'arnaud will swoop in and take his job
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 2:26 am
by flatjacket1
I highly doubt he can improve as much as he needs to (mainly defensively) to be able to hold that position especially with D'Arnaud.
I think he will make a great catcher for a team that needs a young controllable catcher that won't lose you games.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:43 pm
by BobbyBoy
SIGH.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:53 am
by J-Roc
I'd love a situation where we have two stars at the same position, and AA has to make a real decision.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:34 am
by WpgPage
Shouldn't be an issue until at least the end of 2013 but defiantly a nice problem to have.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:54 am
by DonYon
If he helps us get to the playoffs before D'Arnaud is ready to be a major league catcher than there's no way we should be trading him.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:52 am
by dennistokyo
I see him as the DH of the future.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:26 pm
by Skin Blues
DonYon wrote:If he helps us get to the playoffs before D'Arnaud is ready to be a major league catcher than there's no way we should be trading him.
The idea is that the guy we trade him for helps even more. d'Arnaud is already as good a hitter if you put any stock into ZiPS and he probably wouldn't take too long to become more effective behind the plate, too, if not immediately.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:33 pm
by tiger7
I really like how he calls games but he still throws like a little girl...
I'd love to see D'arnaud get a shot but he too has to get used to the pitching staff but I'm sure he will be the more complete player.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 3:27 pm
by Jatt
J-Roc wrote:I'd love a situation where we have two stars at the same position, and AA has to make a real decision.
If both blossom, I hold onto them, have one DH, and it gives you the luxury of resting both of them enough to extend their careers without their knees getting shot early which can happen to over worked catchers, especially if Rogers puts in natural grass, it could Whitt/Borders 2.0, even better.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:49 pm
by BobbyBoy
IMO, arencibia won't even be able to get something that great. If he is dealt, he's gonna be part of a package deal. Only thing that sucks about the situation is how close he to Lawrie,Romero and some of the maple leafs.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:06 pm
by flatjacket1
dennistokyo wrote:I see him as the DH of the future.
If he was a DH last season his WAR would drop just from positional adjustments. He has nowhere near the bat required to be a DH or a 1B and there are still questions about whether he can stay behind the plate (If he doesn't improve defensively he can't catch every day) so hes more likely out a career if he moves than improving enough to be a replacement level DH.
Re: Arencibia raises bar for sophomore campaign
Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 12:37 am
by Al_Oliver
dennistokyo wrote:I see him as the DH of the future.
I'd like him to keep playing here, but once D'Arnaud is ready, he's gotta go