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Jays look forward to year of learning

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LittleOzzy
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Jays look forward to year of learning 

Post#1 » by LittleOzzy » Mon Apr 6, 2009 1:04 am

The Blue Jays are viewing the upcoming season as a step forward, a campaign aimed at building toward the future. It will be a season that will test some of Toronto's young players who represent pieces of a long-term puzzle.

The organization had a quiet winter and decided that the best route to take in 2009 was to hand a wave of youngsters some experience on the big league stage. The Jays are fielding a young and inexperienced rotation in a division that includes three postseason contenders in the Yankees, Red Sox and Rays.


Toronto is also hoping for improved showings at the plate from veteran third baseman Scott Rolen and first baseman Lyle Overbay, who both battled health issues and inconsistency last season. More production from that pair -- along with a strong return for second baseman Aaron Hill, who suffered a season-ending concussion last May -- would undoubtedly help the Jays' lineup show that its forgettable showing in '08 was merely an anomaly.


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evilRyu
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Re: Jays look forward to year of learning 

Post#2 » by evilRyu » Mon Apr 6, 2009 1:08 am

the future would be bright if we had some young hot prospects to look forward to, but the farm system is not great at all... it's going to be a long few years...
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Re: Jays look forward to year of learning 

Post#3 » by Modern_epic » Mon Apr 6, 2009 4:10 am

evilRyu wrote:the future would be bright if we had some young hot prospects to look forward to, but the farm system is not great at all... it's going to be a long few years...


Is this sarcasm? Otherwise, 3 years ago wants their opinion back.

Baseball America rates our farm system below average, only a little. Baseball Prospectus is more bullish on our prospects, though, having us as the 10th ranked system.

Some time this year you should see Brad Mills (#3 starter potential) and Brett Cecil (#1/2 starter potential, a BA top 100 prospect). You will certainly see J.P. Arencibia (BA's 4th ranked catching prospect and a top 50 prospect overall) and David Cooper (who projects to be an above average first baseman, or better if he develops some real power, and, if I recall correctly, an honourable mention for BA's top 100), at least in September. Scott Campbell will be seen in September too, and looks like he could be a serviceable major league talent at 2nd, or perhaps 3rd.

For the '11 or '12 seasons remember some of these names: Eric Eiland, Brad Emaus, Justin Jackson, John Tolisano, Kevin Ahrens, Marc Rzepczynski and Trystan Magnuson. You probably won't see all of them, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Ahrens, Jackson, Emaus and Cooper are the Jays everyday infield by '13.

Oh yeah, and there is this Travis Snider guy I've heard a little bit about. He seems to be starting the year with the big league club?

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