Jays sign Maicer Izturis

[Schad]

It takes a hell of a lot of luck when you're only a true talent .500 team.

Baltimore is true talent like .480 so...

They won 93 games with a run differential of +7, in large part because their five most-used relievers combined for an ERA+ in the 170s with over 330 IP of work. For those looking for a comparison, there's only one pitcher in history to exceed that over a career...Mo Rivera. It's a better ERA+ (and more innings, for that matter) than Roy Halladay's Cy Young-winning season in '11. That's once-in-a-generation luck.

[Randle McMurphy]

It takes a hell of a lot of luck when you're only a true talent .500 team.

Baltimore is true talent like .480 so...

They won 93 games with a run differential of +7, in large part because their five most-used relievers combined for an ERA+ in the 170s with over 330 IP of work. For those looking for a comparison, there's only one pitcher in history to exceed that over a career...Mo Rivera. It's a better ERA+ (and more innings, for that matter) than Roy Halladay's Cy Young-winning season in '11. That's once-in-a-generation luck.

Bingo. Baltimore had one of the luckiest seasons in MLB history. Somehow, I don't think they should be our model for creating a contender here.

[flatjacket1]

Bingo. Baltimore had one of the luckiest seasons in MLB history. Somehow, I don't think they should be our model for creating a contender here.

I agree. But while we are on route to a contender, why not make the housekeeping moves that could help make it our lucky day. Realistically if we have decent years from everybody on our roster, I don't see why we can't make playoffs with a tad bit of luck. We don't need career years like Baltimore. We need players to perform up to expectations.

Let's say Romero makes the All-Star team again, Yunel goes back to being a 4 fWAR SS, Colby keeps the power and gets on base, Morrow keeps being Morrow, Henderson goes back to 2011 form, Bautista stays Bautista, Edwin stays 2012 Edwin, Lind doesn't get injured, etc. We don't even need everybody on the team to do what they are expected to. On paper we have a dirty team if people can do what they've done before. Everybody is at an age where they shouldn't have regressed physically. They all have it in them.

[Randle McMurphy]

The point of significantly improving the team in the offseason is creating a situation where the incredible unlikelihood of all of those players having a good/bounceback season doesn't have to happen to have a sniff at the playoffs. To allow for anywhere near a realistic chance, the Jays have a ton of work to do.

Although, I'm not sure how Lind staying healthy is supposed to help the team. It seems to me they get on better when he's not actually getting regular PAs.

[flatjacket1]

Although, I'm not sure how Lind staying healthy is supposed to help the team. It seems to me they get on better when he's not actually getting regular PAs.

I'm of the belief that he'd be a tad bit better without his back injuries. Not much, but maybe another .050 points of SLG and like .010 of average?

[Mad-Eye Moody]

A slightly better Lind is still a god awful first basemen. With Izturis in the picture and likely getting the majority of time at 2B, AA better be looking to drastically improve LF and DH. If we see Gose and Lind start at those positions next season, we can assume it's another year with no playoff intentions.

[Michael Bradley]

The Jays are stuck with Lind for one more season. I doubt they are going to eat up $7M (by releasing him) and then pay for another DH/1B. So the only hope is for the new manager to have enough common sense to platoon Lind and bat him lower in the lineup. Lind isn't much of a platoon option either since his numbers against RHP are incredibly unspectacular (OPS's of .829, .771, and .795 the last three seasons against RHP), but it doesn't appear they have much choice. After sinking Teahen's salary last season, I doubt they do it for Lind as well. Maybe a new hitting coach (if that actually happens) can help him, but at this point, I'm not convinced he is a MLB hitter until he proves it. It will be 2013 next year, 2009 was a long time ago.

That's why fixing LF should be a top priority. I realize AA wants to fix the rotation, and that's good, but they desperately need a very good bat in LF.

[Lateral Quicks]

I think Izturis will end up starting at 2B in 2013 (for how long is another story), but it is by no means set in stone. If the Jays can trade for a young 2B and push Izturis to a utility role, I'm sure they won't hesitate to do that.

I really don't see an issue with an Escobar/Izturis middle infield. The Jays could do a whole lot worse than that. The key is to get a very good LF. Teams can win with Izturis types at 2B. They generally don't win with Rajai Davis types in LF. That's where AA really has to hit a home run, in addition to the rotation.

Re: Rajai Davis, I couldn't agree more. If Rajai is anything more than the 4th outfielder - where he represents excellent value - next year, I'll be very disappointed.

[kavan]

Looking fwd to the double play team of Reyes and Macier this will be the first time in a few years we have changed the double play combo completely.