The Battle for Left Field: Thames vs. Snider

[Relentless88]

I talked to Ozzy and he agreed that it would be a good idea to have a separate thread/discussion about the left field job, since that’ll be one of the biggest things Blue Jays fans will follow this spring training. I’ll update this thread with their stats (any suggestions on where to get spring training stats from?). Feel free to post any related articles in this thread. I’d like both of them to play well but since there’s only one job, let the best man win!

[hyper316]

i'm so torn. thames showed good signs last year, but snider has a higher ceiling.

i really dont know which horse to pick in this race. ^let the best man win

a side question, which player has more trade value?

[flatjacket1]

I really don't care who wins the job, I know one of them will play better than the other and get the job so to me its a non-topic. I think cheering for either Thames or Snider isn't the right way to do it if you are a Jays fan.

[Al_Oliver]

I really don't care who wins the job, I know one of them will play better than the other and get the job so to me its a non-topic. I think cheering for either Thames or Snider isn't the right way to do it if you are a jay fan.

you're absolutely right, but I still have a favourite anyways

[tecumseh18]

I like Thames as a person better, but Snider can actually field. The best case scenario for the Jays has to be Snider finally putting it together, at least to the point where he can get his reps in at the MLB level throughout the course of the season.

But if not, Thames is certainly not a booby prize.

[Michael Bradley]

Snider has higher upside (assuming he can catch up to Major League fastballs again....unlike last year), but I think the club has already decided on who they want to start. Thames would have to fall flat on his face for Snider to win the LF spot, IMO.

Having Snider in AAA preserves his value (which is not very high right now) and then the Jays can either trade him next off-season or give him at everyday spot, as DH options up next year with EE becoming a free agent (i.e. Snider to LF, Thames to DH, and Lind at 1B).

My money is on Snider not being on the Jays by Opening Day 2013, but AA is the asset man, so if Snider doesn't yield high value then we all know that AA doesn't get rid of anyone that easily.

[FreeAgent]

Should have a poll for this to see what the board thinks.

I'll go with Snider, I still believe in his ability and potential. His defense is also better than Thames.

[Relentless88]

Should have a poll for this to see what the board thinks.

I'll go with Snider, I still believe in his ability and potential. His defense is also better than Thames.

Good idea, added.

[baulderdash77]

I think it's Thames. He hasn't been scared by the up and down antics that Snider has and he's been been more durable. I don't see him falling apart in camp to the extent that would be necessary for Snider to take the job from him.

[flatjacket1]

Having Snider in AAA preserves his value (which is not very high right now) and then the Jays can either trade him next off-season or give him at everyday spot, as DH options up next year with EE becoming a free agent (i.e. Snider to LF, Thames to DH, and Lind at 1B).

Boy do I agree with this. People act like here and now we have to trade one. Either or can be sent to the minors and then they just continue to improve/dominate another year before coming back up.

Also, has anybody considered the unthinkable? Trading the winner of the contest (obviously due to trade value) in a package to acquire a stud? I feel that both are competent enough to be starting corner OF in the league so why not trade the better of the two rather than the worse?

Not necessarily something I think about a lot or firmly believe in but it's what may be best for the club going forward no?

[clutchmoney]

I've always liked Snider, he's got that raw potential, when he's shown glimpses of being good it's been really good. But that can also be said about the moments where he's looked bad (lost). If he ever does figure it out and I think he might this comparison would be silly because Thames would be blown out of the water. IMO, what you saw from Thames last year is essentially what he will always be, I don't see him being a long term solution.

If I was the GM/coach I would give Snider another long look, if he can't figure it out after that then its time to move on. He might eventually figure it out, but I don't think this team can afford to wait on guys that are so inconsistent. My prediction is that he will break out this year, probably not into an allstar, but good enough to secure a starting job.

[kavan]

I really like having 2 guys that can play, never know what injuries can be a factor, Snider has proven to be able to run around in CF. It is Sniders Bat that is needs the work. I also think EE and whom ever can come off the bench to DH and rotate a few positions. I think either or can be the DH until our C prospect TD is able to move up and then maybe JP moves into DH and by then we have our answer with Snider and Thames.

[Mattd97]

who wouldve thought when we drafted him that his bat would be his issue

[RapsFanInVA]

I want Jose Bautista in Left. And Right. And 3rd base. How many Jose Bautista's do we have?

[LBJSeizedMyID]

The Jays have never handled Travis Snider properly. Blame it partly on his pedigree of being a first round draft pick, or blame it on him being rushed to the majors or blame it on past injury issues. But if they want Snider to succeed, they'd treat him the way the Jays did with Eric Thames. Put him in the #2 slot in front of Bautista.

There's no question who's the better player, both offensively and defensively.

[Lateral Quicks]

I'd say Snider has the higher upside, and that's coming from a big supporter of Thames. I really feel like Thames is severely underrated around here. He's excelled at every level (granted at higher ages due to injuries), and figures to be a doubles machine going forward. That said, I see him as a 20HR .800 OPS type, and while that's decent as a regular, you ideally want more from a corner outfield spot. I feel like Snider has .900+ OPS potential with better overall defence. From an organisation standpoint, it would be better if Snider won the competetion, but I wish them both well.

[Deron05]

Snider all the way. If snider makes it, he makes this team better over all. If Thames makes it, he makes us better power wise.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

3 strikeouts for Snider today...

[Avenger]

I'd say Snider has the higher upside, and that's coming from a big supporter of Thames. I really feel like Thames is severely underrated around here. He's excelled at every level (granted at higher ages due to injuries), and figures to be a doubles machine going forward. That said, I see him as a 20HR .800 OPS type, and while that's decent as a regular, you ideally want more from a corner outfield spot. I feel like Snider has .900+ OPS potential with better overall defence. From an organisation standpoint, it would be better if Snider won the competetion, but I wish them both well.

you realize that only 7 LF'ers had a 800+ OPS in the Majors last year? and only 10 LF'ers had a 713+ OPS? that position isn't filled with nearly as many offensive juggernauts as people assume. Offence around baseball has tanked so badly that Thames' offensive floor(somewhere near what he did last year) will be good enough to hold down a regular LF job.

Yeah his defence sucks but he's a good base runner and combine everything you probably have a LF'er who would rank anywhere between 13-20th at his position. There's a lot of value in having an average position player or even a "mediocre" one, especially one that is making peanuts in salary.

[flatjacket1]

I'd say Snider has the higher upside, and that's coming from a big supporter of Thames. I really feel like Thames is severely underrated around here. He's excelled at every level (granted at higher ages due to injuries), and figures to be a doubles machine going forward. That said, I see him as a 20HR .800 OPS type, and while that's decent as a regular, you ideally want more from a corner outfield spot. I feel like Snider has .900+ OPS potential with better overall defence. From an organisation standpoint, it would be better if Snider won the competetion, but I wish them both well.

Snider OPS'ed above .800 once in the MLB and in a very small sample size. He couldn't even OPS .900 in Vegas last season. To say hes a ceiling .900 OPS in the MLB is quite the stretch, as he is near the end of his development. He is also exiting his defensive prime.

Thames OPS absolutely pummeled Sniders OPS last season in AAA and in the MLB. Both players have the potential to be career corner OF'ers.