Lawrie eyes a fast track

[LittleOzzy]

From the moment he found out he’d been traded to the Blue Jays, Brett Lawrie left no doubt where he intends to play this season.

“I’m ready (for the major leagues), there’s no doubt in my mind that I’m ready,” the Burnaby, B.C., native said last December, a day after he’d been dealt to the Jays for pitcher Shaun Marcum.

“I have a lot of trust in myself, a lot of trust in my ability. I’m going to go into big-league spring training, do my thing. I’m as ready as I’ve ever been.”

Apparently, this was no idle threat. From the day he arrived here, he’s been all business, clearly bent on making it tough on the Blue Jays braintrust to send him out.

“He’s been doing everything we hoped for and possibly more,” said manager John Farrell on Thursday.

Asked if he thought Lawrie could go north with the Jays, Farrell paused.

“I’ve got my thoughts,” he said, a broad smile across his face. If he had been playing poker, Farrell might have been betraying a royal flush.

The manager isn’t the only person of power who might be thinking “now” rather than “soon” but there are a lot of considerations to be weighed, not the least of which is Lawrie’s age (21) and his inexperience, after just two seasons of professional ball. He’s learning a new position, third base, but has looked comfortable there already, making some tough plays flawlessly.

And there is also the issue of starting his arbitration clock at such an early age.

At the plate, he has only a couple of hits in 11 at-bats, but has impressed with his plate awareness and his short powerful stroke.

“He’s an exciting young player,” said Farrell. “I don’t know where things end up at the end of camp. He’s not on the roster, and in this case, that’s a good thing because we can see him right to the end, giving him regular at-bats.

“We can see him in the last 10 days to two weeks where things really kick in for pitchers and they have their better stuff and better command of their secondary pitches. You get a little more accurate read on a hitter then than right now.

“But everything has been very positive. We gave up a very good pitcher to get him, but we got a very good player in return.”

http://www.torontosun.com/sports/baseba ... 86831.html

[Wo1verine]

Personally I'd like to see Lawrie make the big club.. it would allow Bautista to move back to RF. and we wouldn't have to see Rivera as much.

BTW Ozzy, Keep up the good work on the Jays forum!

[Kaizen]

I personally hope he starts in the Minors. His head will get even bigger then it already is if he starts with the Jays.

[satyr9]

He's not breaking camp with the big club. Even if he plays out of his mind he'll start in LV. The earliest he'll be with Toronto, not counting possible injury stuff, is late June early July. And he should play some time at 3B every day in the minors no matter what anyway.

[torontoaces04]

IMO, he should be sent down to Las Vegas and be the starting 3rd baseman. This will allow him to go throw the growing pains, both offensively and defensively, out of the spotlight. If he makes the big club, he is obviously going to garner a lot of attention, not only because he is our top offensive prospect, but because he's Canadian.

This kid oozes confidence, let it keep that going, and build upon it, with a solid season of performing under his belt in LV.

[WpgPage]

I would actually like to see his start a month in AA to get used to 3B in regular season games. LV is probably the worst possible place to learn a new position with how bad the field is. A month in NH then the rest of the season in LV, maybe a late season call up if he plays well.

[baulderdash77]

I want to see him go down to AAA and refine his game and then come up in June to move Bautista to RF.

[J-Roc]

I hope some of this talk from him is just..talk...and that he won't lose confidence when he's sent to the minors.

[WpgPage]

Bringing him up does this year does nothing more than make him more expensive when we are closer to competing unless he seriously puts on a show at AAA there is absolutely no reason to put Lawrie on this team.

[baulderdash77]

Bringing him up does this year does nothing more than make him more expensive when we are closer to competing unless he seriously puts on a show at AAA there is absolutely no reason to put Lawrie on this team.

If we bring him up in June or July (can't remember the date) the clock to free agency gets pushed out 1 year.

[WpgPage]

I know but he could still qualify for super 2 status in that case I believe (correct me if im wrong on that one) besides as I said unless he tears the cover off the ball and looks like a ace at 3B there is no reason to get him up here yet. Hes only 21 and realistically speaking hes going to need a decent amount of time to get his defense at 3b mlb ready. Also I'm hoping we finish in the bottom 15 so we can sign ranked FA with less penalty so I'd rather have less quality players on the team.

[baulderdash77]

Games like today make you think about Lawrie though. 2-2 with a double, homer & 3 RBI's plus stellar defense.

[Wo1verine]

There's no doubt he's ready.. If they send if him down, it's clearly because they don't want to start his arbitration clock so soon.

BTW, I hope Lawrie is in the line up tomorrow VS PIT, It'd be awesome to watch is fantastic D at 3B on TV.

[hyper316]

dotel has been terrible. do not like this guy. but we have yet to see rauch or francisco

[Chevy Chase]

A three run dinger today. Good way to prove you belong. A nice inning pitched by Drabek too.

[WpgPage]

no question his bat is nearly major league ready just not sure about the defense at 3B yet. Will have to ask Wilner about it tonight on twitter he has been watching most of the games.

[righteous015]

Have not seen much of his game. How good was he? I've heard really good things.

[ItsDanger]

He's a natural athlete so adjustment will be easier for him. However, he is learning a new position, 3B. He should play at least a full season there in the minors to adapt properly. Judging from the game today, he needs it.