Jays sign Scott Podsednik

dagger · Post #1 » by **dagger** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:03 pm

As per Morosi tweet

minor league deal

Post #2 » by **Schad** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:24 pm

Hard to get upset about a minor-league deal, but I still don't really get signing a 35 year old whose primary skill is being able to steal bases at a run-neutral rate.

Randle McMurphy · Post #3 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:31 pm

Schadenfreude wrote:Hard to get upset about a minor-league deal, but I still don't really get signing a 35 year old whose primary skill is being able to steal bases at a run-neutral rate.

Paves the way for a Juan Rivera trade.

The Jays are going cheap this year, real cheap. Pods will be a mediocre stopgap, not unlike Fred Lewis, it seems.

kelso · Post #4 » by **kelso** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:49 pm

Yuck. Never really liked this guy when he was better- like him less now with diminished skills.

CapeCrusader · Post #5 » by **CapeCrusader** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:36 pm

Meh, minor league deal...can't hate on that.

baulderdash77 · Post #6 » by **baulderdash77** » Wed Feb 16, 2011 11:41 pm

He does get on base at a 340-350 clip as well. If he's your 9th hitter you're in pretty good shape.

It's a good deal and it allows us to move Riviera without worrying about it.

satyr9 · Post #7 » by **satyr9** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:20 am

I will say I think it's pretty clear Farrell has let AA know he wants to be more aggressive on the basepaths, which I welcome.

A lot of what they've done feels like sharp fantasy play, looking for cheap saves and cheap steals, which I find pretty funny.

I don't much like Podsednik at this point, but I'll take him as a 4th over Rivera, especially if this comes with some extra pinch running and aggressive managing with the extra opportunities you get when you have a speed guy on your bench.

Avenger · Post #8 » by **Avenger** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 12:44 am

Schadenfreude wrote:Hard to get upset about a minor-league deal, but I still don't really get signing a 35 year old whose primary skill is being able to steal bases at a run-neutral rate.

He's a half decent hitter against right handed pitching, he'd make an ok platoon partner for Rajai Davis or even Juan Rivera for that matter.

Wo1verine · Post #9 » by **Wo1verine** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 1:12 am

A Davis and Podsednik platoon is awful absolutely no power.
tho we now have 3 speedy OF's them two and Patterson, who'll likely make the team opening day.

Post #10 » by **Schad** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:10 am

Avenger wrote:He's a half decent hitter against right handed pitching, he'd make an ok platoon partner for Rajai Davis or even Juan Rivera for that matter.

Yeah, but we also have a corner outfielder in the minors who most scouts seem to think will be pretty capable against righties in the bigs. I'd rather give him a look than a 35 year old retread.

Randle McMurphy · Post #11 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:47 am

Schadenfreude wrote:
Avenger wrote:He's a half decent hitter against right handed pitching, he'd make an ok platoon partner for Rajai Davis or even Juan Rivera for that matter.

Yeah, but we also have a corner outfielder in the minors who most scouts seem to think will be pretty capable against righties in the bigs. I'd rather give him a look than a 35 year old retread.

They might later in the season. Cito Gaston is no longer here, remember, so they won't feel compelled to keep starting mediocre veterans forever (I hope).

DonYon · Post #12 » by **DonYon** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:55 am

wow, didn't think Posednik was gonna have to sign a minor-league deal

Post #13 » by **Nolan** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 4:40 am

Well it is only a minor league deal so I do like the signing. He can steal bases, get on base and he's a pretty decent hitter as well.

Fenris-77 · Post #14 » by **Fenris-77** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 7:04 am

What's not to like? Pods is Davis meltdown insurance, Rivera trade insurance, and it costs the club essentially nothing. The team has lots of power bats anyway, so the fact thast Pods is a limp noodle there shouldn't really bother anyone.

Lateral Quicks · Post #15 » by **Lateral Quicks** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:18 pm

Gah... this organization seems to have it in for Mastroianni. The man had a .390 OBP and mega steals last year. Doesn't he deserve a shot in spring training to snag the 4th outfielder duties?

satyr9 · Post #16 » by **satyr9** » Thu Feb 17, 2011 6:20 pm

Lateral Quicks wrote:Gah... this organization seems to have it in for Mastroianni. The man had a .390 OBP and mega steals last year. Doesn't he deserve a shot in spring training to snag the 4th outfielder duties?

Well it's a minor league deal, so nothing prevents Mastroianni from taking the spot. Frankly, if he can't outplay Pods then he shouldn't be up.

Anatomize · Post #17 » by **Anatomize** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:21 pm

Speed has been our achilles heel for years.. when we struggle to manufacture runs, base stealers make a huge difference.. all the top teams have legitimate base stealers..there will be games where power doesn't make the difference especially in bigger ball parks (ala KC)

Sure Rajai Davis and Podsednik aren't Jed Lowrie, Brett Gardner, or Figgins in his Anaheim days but they are more than serviceable and both capable of 30-60 sbs.. I'll gladly take this deal and I think with the type of hitters we have these guys are perfect fits.

satyr9 · Post #18 » by **satyr9** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:26 pm

Anatomize wrote:Speed has been our achilles heel for years.. when we struggle to manufacture runs, base stealers make a huge difference.. all the top teams have legitimate base stealers..there will be games where power doesn't make the difference especially in bigger ball parks (ala KC)

Sure Rajai Davis and Podsednik aren't Jed Lowrie, Brett Gardner, or Figgins in his Anaheim days but they are more than serviceable and both capable of 30-60 sbs.. I'll gladly take this deal and I think with the type of hitters we have these guys are perfect fits.

Jed Lowrie? Did you mean Ellsbury?

Anatomize · Post #19 » by **Anatomize** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:34 pm

LOL yeah.. ellsbury.. I was looking at jed lowrie just now on fantasy

Evermore · Post #20 » by **Evermore** » Fri Feb 18, 2011 5:54 pm

Davis, Patterson and now Podsednik...

Seems excessive