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I'm making this a separate thread because it may generate more debate than we want to bury in the prospect thread. I'm all in favour. Considering that it worked with Stroman - although he may be better prepared as a college draftee to deal with it mentally - but we have some dross in the pen (Santos, Redmond) and it's questionable Happ and Morrow will be back next season. So we may move to a Buerhle, Hutchinson, Stroman, Sanchez, Norris and Dickey rotation next season. That would make the post-ASG interest to watch even if we fall out of contention.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/JimBowdenESPNxm/status/485494909663584256[/tweet]

Sounds like just random speculating, but I would be surprised if they bring Daniel Norris out of the pen when he isn't even ready for Triple-A yet. Also, with the adjustment of Sanchez's armslot wouldn't it be better if he did that in the minors?

zong wrote:Sounds like just random speculating, but I would be surprised if they bring Daniel Norris out of the pen when he isn't even ready for Triple-A yet. Also, with the adjustment of Sanchez's armslot wouldn't it be better if he did that in the minors?

Both will have a few more starts before the ASG - in fact both will be starting tonight, I believe. If arm slot is the only issue with Sanchez, why not work it out up here? Norris would be more of a gamble, but he's a left hander and he seems to have an unflappable demeanour, bit of an odd duck who channels stress into his faith, surfboard, beat-up old VW van and reading serious books.

It's surely not a done deal, but certainly if we fall out of first place contention - wildcard will be tougher to get - let's accelerate the re-tooling so the team can direct money now going to Happ/Morrow/Santos to better use, like keeping Melky and/or Colby, and getting a passable two-way second baseman. Jose doesn't seem to be declining, EE is having a nice year, the catching situation looks good and maybe Lawrie can stay healthy next season.

The only reasoning I can see is the Jays are worrying about their innings, and believe that if they're close to ready for MLB batters, they could save their arms by putting them in their bullpen.

The only issue I have with that is the real problem for the Jays remains to be the anemic offense against LHP. Acquire a right handed bat that hits above .250 would be a good start.

Sanchez still isn't throwing strikes in the minors, so it's hard to see how that would end well in his case (whether he's pitching in relief or not). Would be fine with Norris coming up, they honestly could use the relief help.

Randle McMurphy wrote:Sanchez still isn't throwing strikes in the minors, so it's hard to see how that would end well in his case (whether he's pitching in relief or not). Would be fine with Norris coming up, they honestly could use the relief help.

Allegedly, he's found a new arm slot, that has improved his control. He only had one walk in his last start, but I'm not buying it as of yet. We'll get another chance to see, tonight.

vaff87 wrote:

Randle McMurphy wrote:Sanchez still isn't throwing strikes in the minors, so it's hard to see how that would end well in his case (whether he's pitching in relief or not). Would be fine with Norris coming up, they honestly could use the relief help.

Allegedly, he's found a new arm slot, that has improved his control. He only had one walk in his last start, but I'm not buying it as of yet. We'll get another chance to see, tonight.

12 walks in 13 innings before the last one. I'll wait a little longer.

3 groundouts in first inning tonight for Sanchez.


@benwag247
Smooth start for Aaron Sanchez in a scoreless first. Consistently popping 97 on the stadium gun.

3 strikeouts in the second inning. 26 pitches, 19 strikes.

New arm slots for everyone!

Fairview4Life wrote:New arm slots for everyone!

Are we sure? That 6th inning didn't look to be too impressive.

vaff87 wrote:

Fairview4Life wrote:New arm slots for everyone!

Are we sure? That 6th inning didn't look to be too impressive.

New arm slots for the first 5 innings, old arm slot for the last 4!

I doubt either one is called up before September. Even with the big club's crappy play of late, the East is so pathetic this year that the Jays will probably be in contention late; hardly the best time to break in a 22 and 21 year-old out of the bullpen. Besides, Redmond's done a decent enough job as the swing man, and Santos probably isn't going anywhere do his salary if nothing else.

Our team is f'd but I love arm slots!

OK, disregard my earlier comment on Santos. Get him out of here!

As the team spirals into the dirt, a potential rotation of Stroman-Norris-Hutchison-Sanchez that's good and cheap and controllable for years gives us hope for the future. Not to mention all the high upside guys below A ball. If the team doesn't make it this year, I say trade our enticing assets like Bautista and Encarnacion for high upside and close to MLB-ready positional prospects, and try for a 2-3 year rebuild rather than another 5-7 year plan. With a new GM at the helm, of course.

sign me up im for this!