Moderator: JaysRule15
@gregorMLB
Bautista gets the start in RF vs Orioles. That's the position he will play for the 2011 season and beyond
@gregorMLB
Encarnacion is now the club's starting 3B to start the year. Rivera to DH
@LottOnBaseball
Decision based on EE losing 14 pounds, being more agile, elevating his defence in camp.
tecumseh18 wrote:Wow, didn't see that coming so quickly. I guess they're happy with Lind at first. So who's the DH until Lawrie comes up?
MGD24 wrote:tecumseh18 wrote:Wow, didn't see that coming so quickly. I guess they're happy with Lind at first. So who's the DH until Lawrie comes up?
I would think Rivera?
http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2011/03/29/bautista-in-right-encarnacion-at-third/
YogiStewart wrote:Also wondered if there's a Rivera trade in the works.
LBJSeizedMyID wrote:Was Lawrie officially re-assigned to the minor leagues though? Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't think that was official yet.
pierro wrote:they must have found a trade partner for Rivera. Why bother sending Lawrie down if the club had 0 intentions at the beginning of camp to put EE in 3rd anyway?
Twins make Slowey available, but where will he go?
March 25
Foxsports.com
"The Minnesota Twins have chosen Scott Baker over Kevin Slowey as their No. 5 starter, and sources say they are willing to trade Slowey for a late-inning reliever. But even with Slowey's success last season — 13-6 with a 4.45 ERA — the Twins don't appear to have an abundance of trade options. The ideal trade partner would (a) need a right-handed starter and (b) be able to deal from a surplus of major league-caliber relievers. Right now, few (if any) teams match that description. Two clubs that are looking for a starting pitcher — the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners — are also short on relievers. Teams that could or will be without starters on Opening Day — the Cardinals (Adam"
Seventy-two hours before they start their season, the Blue Jays made a major switch to their defence that gives fans some clue where they will be heading later this year.
On Tuesday morning, home run king Jose Bautista was told by manager John Farrell that he will no longer be playing third base.
Instead, he will move to right field. Edwin Encarnacion, previously slotted in as a backup infielder and designated hitter, will now assume starting duties at third.
Bautista insisted that he had not pushed for the change — “It’s as much as a surprise to you as it is to me” — but acknowledged that he felt more comfortable in the outfield.
Let’s be precise, because Bautista was: “I never said ‘I prefer (right field)’, I always said I think I’m more valuable to our team defence as we are set up in right field.”
Bautista did not want to seem celebratory, especially with the real loser in the switch, Juan Rivera, sitting beside him in the clubhouse as he spoke to the media. Bautista has never genuinely seemed bothered about where he plays. His only complaint, he said, was switching back and forth between the infield and the outfield. The wildly different throwing expectations have caused his shoulder to tighten up in the past.
Or, as clubhouse cut-up Aaron Hill put it: “For his contract, I’d pitch.”
This is one of those give and take situations. Bautista is a far better right-fielder than the current option, Juan Rivera. However, Encarnacion has been an X-factor at third in the past, and not in a good way.
Randle McMurphy wrote:
One thing, though. Can somebody please tell me why this team didn’t sign Manny Ramirez (or one of the many other quality DH’s available)?
Randle McMurphy wrote:Good move, this is what I was calling for when they originally signed E5. There was no reason to move him off third after the improvements he made last year.
One thing, though. Can somebody please tell me why this team didn’t sign Manny Ramirez (or one of the many other quality DH’s available)?