AA's arms race: why did I waste 45 mins on this goddamnit

[Schad]

Given the sheer number of pitchers that the team has brought in to the organization (we currently have 26 pitchers on our 40-man roster, which is absurd), I thought it'd be worth doing a quick roundup of the holdovers and new additions at the MLB/AAA levels. Also, I'm bored.

So here's all of the pitchers on our 40-man roster, plus non-roster ST invitees, plus a list of hobos that AA might invite along to fill out any gaps. Additions after this was originally written will be in blue, anyone dumped will be removed. I'm assuming a 12-man staff, though we might go with a 13-man for no logical reason save for the entertainment derived by using Brian Tallet as our backup catcher:

Pitchers you'd think would make the team out of ST:

Jeremy Accardo
Shawn Camp
Jesse Carlson
Brett Cecil
Scott Downs
Jason Frasor
Kevin Gregg
Casey Janssen
Brandon Morrow
Scott Richmond
Josh Roenicke
Ricky Romero
Marc Rzepczynski
Brian Tallet
Zechry Zinicola (by virtue of the fact that as a rule-5 guy, he has to remain on the roster or get shipped back to the Nats).

Could start the year on the DL:

Jesse Litsch
Dustin McGowan
Shaun Marcum
Dirk Hayhurst

Unlikely, but possible 25-man options on the 40-man:

Reidier Gonzalez
Sean Henn
Luis Perez
David Purcey
Bobby Ray
Merkin Valdez


Non-roster FA invitees:

Lance "Fists of Iron" Broadway
Willie Collazo
Shawn Hill
Steven Register
Zach Jackson

Internal non-roster invitees who have virtually no chance of making it because if they did we wouldn't have 750 pitchers invited to camp:

Kyle Drabek
Danny Farquhar
Zack Stewart
Chad Jenkins
Rommie Lewis

Those of you that can count (congrats, by the way!) will notice that there are 14 pitchers in the first grouping, and that's while assuming that any players who have any familiarity with a scalpel, even if it's just from watching an episode of House, will begin the year on the DL. Which means that either a) AA's lying through his teeth, and a trade is a-comin', b) Roenicke and/or Janssen and/or Accardo are going to begin the year in AAA, c) ZZ Top(s out at 95) is going back to Washington, and one of the above three men will be getting some sun in Las Vegas.

If that's true, it leaves us with 12 guys who'll be at Spring Training but have little shot of making the team, one pitcher with a hilarious name that's likely to be released and thus isn't included in this exercise beyond the above list, plus a further metric arseload of guys with minor league contracts. Forget the big club...who the hell gets to win a spot in Las Vegas!?

Guys under some sort of contract that might end up in Las Vegas but really who the **** knows at this point:

Sean Henn
Brad Mills
Luis Perez
David Purcey
Bobby Ray
Pubic Cover Valdez
Willie Collazo
Shawn Hill
Steven Register
Zach Jackson
Rommie Lewis
Randy Boone
Wade Townsend
Bill Murphy
Sean Stidfole
Marty McLeary
Bubbie Buzachero
Zack Stewart
Kyle Drabek
Danny Farquhar
Riedier Gonzalez
Casey Fien
Rommie Lewis
One or two of Accardo/Janssen/Roenicke
Dana Eveland

Free agent that was in the system last year and might return because I can find no evidence that he has signed elsewhere but god I can't take it anymore the darkness it's moving in:

Davis Romero

So...we have far more competitors than roster spots there, with the outside chance that one of our AA guys earn a promotion. Who's probably going to make it as far as Las Vegas? I'm giving them 14-15 roster spots to stave off insanity, and under the assumption that there'll be an injury or two requiring DLization:

Zack Stewart
Brad Mills
David Purcey
Bobby Ray
Randy Boone's Farm System Word Play Extravaganza
Rommie Lewis
Groin Guard Valdez
Shawn Hill
Bill Murphy
One/two of Accardo/Janssen/Roenicke
Dana Eveland


Guys likely to stay in the organization at lower levels, with some chance of starting in AAA which would **** up this entire exercise in futility:

Kyle Drabek
Danny Farquhar
Riedier Gonzalez
Luis Perez

All of which leaves probably two or three minor league roster spots available for these players, assuming the bulk are still alive and still considered part of the Jays farm system:

Sean Henn
Willie Collazo
Steven Register
Zach Jackson
Wade Townsend
Sean Stidfole
Marty McLeary
Bubbie Buzachero

And this is assuming that none of Litsch, McGowan Hayhurst and Marcum are ready for the season. If any of them are, it sets off a catastrof*ck of cascading players, ruining careers along the way.

In sum, we have so many pitchers that we're going to need to release a half-dozen or more by the second week of March, with further cullings if any of the kids prove useful, and so many major league-worthy pitchers that a rash of injuries would be almost a godsend at this juncture. So when AA says that there aren't any trades coming, pray that he's a deceitful bastard.


...oh, and if anyone actually read this, and know whether some of the randoms are no longer considered part of the organization, feel free to update it. I'm going to go drink now.


Edit: just realized that I left Frasor off the initial list, meaning that this is even more of a demented roster crunch than I thought. Eveland is now on the 40-man, but I can't figure out for the life of me who was dropped.

[youngLion]

It is pretty staggering, but really it won't be that hard to cut half a dozen or more guys from that list. Zincola was brutal for the Jays' old pals in Syracuse last year and may not warrant that roster spot, Townsend has been a wreck for years, Broadway is apparently a crazy ****, etc etc.

As much as Cito seems to like torturing Accardo I can't imagine that he or Roenicke will be left off the major league roster, partially just because they're both getting paid significant money. Then again I could be wrong, because well, Cito doesn't seem to like Accardo.

Also, I'm pretty sure you made up at least 2-3 of those names just to see if we're paying attention.

[zilby]

i did

[Schad]

It is pretty staggering, but really it won't be that hard to cut half a dozen or more guys from that list. Zincola was brutal for the Jays' old pals in Syracuse last year and may not warrant that roster spot, Townsend has been a wreck for years, Broadway is apparently a crazy ****, etc etc.

As much as Cito seems to like torturing Accardo I can't imagine that he or Roenicke will be left off the major league roster, partially just because they're both getting paid significant money. Then again I could be wrong, because well, Cito doesn't seem to like Accardo.

Also, I'm pretty sure you made up at least 2-3 of those names just to see if we're paying attention.

Even if we send Zinicola back and don't bring up any young-'uns or non-roster FAs, we're still at least one pitcher heavy, unless 5+ guys begin the year on the DL. That's definitely possible, but would mean setbacks for a few of our players or new injuries. Even if you cut out the non-essentials (the borderline useful AAAA guys like Henn that were acquired off the waiver wire or through FA), the Las Vegas roster is bursting at the seams, especially in the rotation.

And sadly, I didn't make up any of the names...I did add very bad nicknames for a couple, but there is indeed a "Bubbie Buzachero".

[Attonitus]

And sadly, I didn't make up any of the names...I did add very bad nicknames for a couple, but there is indeed a "Bubbie Buzachero".

So it wasn't a waste of time. Doesn't finding out there is a Bubbie Buzachero in our system validate all of your research? Look out Stubby Clapp!

[s e n s i]

And this is assuming that none of Litsch, McGowan Hayhurst and Marcum are ready for the season. If any of them are, it sets off a catastrof*ck of cascading players, ruining careers along the way.

I love how that ended. So blunt yet so true. Good work btw schad.

What are the chances of AA parlaying a handful of these arms into position players before ST? Or anytime foreseeable?

[youngLion]

And this is assuming that none of Litsch, McGowan Hayhurst and Marcum are ready for the season. If any of them are, it sets off a catastrof*ck of cascading players, ruining careers along the way.

I love how that ended. So blunt yet so true. Good work btw schad.

What are the chances of AA parlaying a handful of these arms into position players before ST? Or anytime foreseeable?

He says that finding a young shortstop is one of his top priorities, but at this point it doesn't seem like that's like to happen before the deadline.

[YogiStewart]

howsabout today's trade with the A's?

redo everything!

[Schad]

howsabout today's trade with the A's?

redo everything!

I'm going to try and update the lists with players as they're added/dropped, but screw rewriting it. As a result, none of it will make sense going forward. Huzzah!

[YogiStewart]

you can just insert a column for nobodies with ERAs higher than 7. that would make your life easier.

[Geddy]

Those of you that can count (congrats, by the way!)

I don't feel welcome in this thread anymore









but I read the whole thing and it was a good read. Still scratching my head as to what they are going to do with so many arms. Reality show maybe to see who gets the 5th spot in the rotation??

[satyr9]

I asked for someone to do something like this a while back. Thanks schad, I know I didn't want to use my own 45 minutes on it.

[kcthekid]

hey schad, do you know why we have a fetish for LHP?
like seriously, i have never seen a team carry this many

[Holmes]

I just had another hit of realization of how terrible this team is going to be this year.

[zilby]

this thread only makes me miss doc

[heemer]

It seems logical to trade Downs and/or Frasor. Especially since AA went out and signed Gregg. Tallett could probably net something and since we obviously have a surplus of both low end starters and middle relievers, he too should be dealt.

Also isnt Richmond INJ right now? That should fend off some decision making for a little while.

[kavan]

Some guys surprise in ST. You have to look for the hidden jems.