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what we need is a legit leadoff hitter

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what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#1 » by KPJR » Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:09 am

since we are getting away from the homerun phase and getting into small ball...we need a legit table setter...

fred lewis was nice..but we need a threat on the bases too..

who are some available guys we can pull out? podsednik is available...
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#2 » by CapeCrusader » Wed Nov 10, 2010 7:05 am

Podsednik would be realistic...

I've always liked Figgins to play 3rd and lead off. But I think hes making like 10 mill a year (could be wrong)...if so then I dunno. His batting avg wasn't good, but he was very active in stealing bases last season.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#3 » by evilRyu » Wed Nov 10, 2010 12:37 pm

When we played he rays, I was impressed with the havoc Jennings provided when he was on base. I'm hopping that gose will have the same effect when he gets here.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#4 » by guvernator » Wed Nov 10, 2010 2:48 pm

CapeCrusader wrote:Podsednik would be realistic...

I've always liked Figgins to play 3rd and lead off. But I think hes making like 10 mill a year (could be wrong)...if so then I dunno. His batting avg wasn't good, but he was very active in stealing bases last season.


if jays aren't gonna go after crawford, then figgins does seem like the best option. Seattle will be looking to unload him (probably at a discount). Figgins plays GG defence at 3rd and is a good OBP/SB threat - exactly what this team needs. Then Lind can move to 1st and Manny to DH. Offence would be good to go.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#5 » by DonYon » Wed Nov 10, 2010 4:31 pm

'lead off' hitting is such an overrated concept. You only lead off once in the game, and that batter gets on base only twice in a game if you're lucky. I don't think playing small ball has to do much with getting a guy that can steal bases. It's just strategy that involves moving up batters on base as much as possible, we can do that with guys we have if we really wanted to. I would love to get an on base machine to hit before guys like Bautista and Wells for sure, but most of these so called 'lead off hitters' in this game aren't even great on-base guys, and I don't want to see the jays overpay for one.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#6 » by number15 » Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:49 pm

Yunel Escobar
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#7 » by hyper316 » Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:15 pm

number15 wrote:Yunel Escobar


he can hit for average, but surprisingly does not have/show base stealing skills
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#8 » by WpgPage » Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:28 pm

hes just not that fast on the base paths if you've seen him in real life kind of close you can tell his body just isnt made to be a real runner
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#9 » by hyper316 » Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:35 pm

for a SS, you think you'd be the speediest guy on the team. i dont understand it
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#10 » by Schad » Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:49 pm

Stealing bases really isn't that important, especially when you're talking about someone like Podsednik who was caught stealing 30% of the time (at that rate, you're actually costing the team runs).

Also a little baffled about when we made this transition to small-ball, given that we're coming off a season where we nearly set the all-time record for home runs hit while stealing less bases as a team than Juan Pierre alone managed.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#11 » by CapeCrusader » Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:17 pm

I don't think its so much transitioning to small ball. But trying not rely on home runs all the time.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#12 » by YogiStewart » Wed Nov 10, 2010 10:28 pm

Travis Snider, natch
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#13 » by DonYon » Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:38 pm

YogiStewart wrote:Travis Snider, natch


why the green font? he's arguably the best lead-off hitter we had this decade :D
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#14 » by Hoopstarr » Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:09 am

Well the As just picked up David DeJesus for chump change. I've been a big fan of DeJesus for his defense and he can lead off too. Would've been a nice stopgap pickup for AA.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#15 » by baulderdash77 » Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:55 am

DonYon wrote:'lead off' hitting is such an overrated concept. You only lead off once in the game, and that batter gets on base only twice in a game if you're lucky.


You said it yourself. You want your leadoff hitter #2 man are to give the #3 and possibly the #4 man a 70-80% chance of having someone on base in front of them. Not to be condecending, but 2 or 3 solid RISP chances a game from small ball along with a good slugging game will win alot of game.s
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#16 » by LBJSeizedMyID » Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:34 pm

Have always said that Figgins would be nice despite the declining skills. I believe his contract is rather reasonable, and would be available for cheap. He fills a need at 3rd, even though its reserved for a power hitter.

If he's too pricey, I wonder if the acquisition of David DeJesus means CoCo Crisp or Rajai Davis are available.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#17 » by LBJSeizedMyID » Thu Nov 11, 2010 2:46 pm

DonYon wrote:'lead off' hitting is such an overrated concept. You only lead off once in the game, and that batter gets on base only twice in a game if you're lucky. I don't think playing small ball has to do much with getting a guy that can steal bases. It's just strategy that involves moving up batters on base as much as possible, we can do that with guys we have if we really wanted to. I would love to get an on base machine to hit before guys like Bautista and Wells for sure, but most of these so called 'lead off hitters' in this game aren't even great on-base guys, and I don't want to see the jays overpay for one.


I can't believe you guys are saying lead off hitting is such an overrated concept. Do you not remember the glory years. We had legit leadoff hitters to compliment our power hitters - Devon White, Ricky Henderson. I'm not talking acquiring the Scott Podsednik's of the world. We need a legit threat to steal bases. Someone that will get into a pitcher's head when he gets on base. Leave Yunel as a #2 hitter, he's better suited at that spot.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#18 » by Schad » Thu Nov 11, 2010 5:49 pm

LBJSeizedMyID wrote:I can't believe you guys are saying lead off hitting is such an overrated concept. Do you not remember the glory years. We had legit leadoff hitters to compliment our power hitters - Devon White, Ricky Henderson. I'm not talking acquiring the Scott Podsednik's of the world. We need a legit threat to steal bases. Someone that will get into a pitcher's head when he gets on base. Leave Yunel as a #2 hitter, he's better suited at that spot.


Devo might have been my favourite Jay of all-time, but a great leadoff hitter he wasn't; in '92 he got on base at an awful .303 clip, .319 career.

As for Rickey, well...he was the quintessential leadoff guy throughout his career (more because he got on base at such a remarkable clip than because he stole bases), but he was rather bad during his short time with the Jays. He hit for a .215/.356/.319 line during the regular season, and was even worse in the playoffs. He had a couple fairly big moments, but his presence was rather more coincidental than causal that year.
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#19 » by U_Mad » Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:22 am

DonYon wrote:
YogiStewart wrote:Travis Snider, natch


why the green font? he's arguably the best lead-off hitter we had this decade :D


naw that's be Shannon Stewart :D
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Re: what we need is a legit leadoff hitter 

Post#20 » by Blade_Runner » Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:22 pm

baulderdash77 wrote:
DonYon wrote:'lead off' hitting is such an overrated concept. You only lead off once in the game, and that batter gets on base only twice in a game if you're lucky.


You said it yourself. You want your leadoff hitter #2 man are to give the #3 and possibly the #4 man a 70-80% chance of having someone on base in front of them. Not to be condecending, but 2 or 3 solid RISP chances a game from small ball along with a good slugging game will win alot of game.s


You look at a stat rich sport like baseball and clearly the Jays need to get more speed on the basepaths - leadoff or otherwise. Not only would this make them more dangerous and produce more multiple runs, it would make the team more exciting to watch.
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