ESPN Power Rankings - Update Weekly - 23/06/2014 - Stay at 4

[Parataxis]

One of the interesting questions raised in the comments section was whether a sub-90 guy like Buehrle would even be drafted or developed in today's MLB.

Keep in mind, Buehrle was drafted in the 38th round when he was chosen - it's not like back then scouts were all over him.

But every team needs workhorses.

[SharoneWright]

One of the interesting questions raised in the comments section was whether a sub-90 guy like Buehrle would even be drafted or developed in today's MLB.

Keep in mind, Buehrle was drafted in the 38th round when he was chosen - it's not like back then scouts were all over him.

But every team needs workhorses.

Do teams develop 'workhorses' today?

Probably. But mostly by accident.... Maybe that what happened with MB as well.

[chargerxthirty]

Well... we've swept Oakland & Detroit... if we have a strong showing in this STL series we should have a chance @ the #1 ranking this week!

[s e n s i]

tim brown of yahoo jumped us up from #13 last week (wtf) to #3 this week, only behind the giants and a's

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/mlb-power- ... 00871.html

[tecumseh18]

ESPN article - a by-the-numbers piece that critiques our pitching staff without actually watching it much.

[Stroman's development] matters for the first-place Jays because they have, for a team with such a great record, a surprisingly mediocre run-prevention unit. While they're busy destroying the ball on offense (their .453 slugging percentage leads the American League by 34 points), the pitching and defense is literally middle-of-the-pack: They rank eighth in the American League in runs allowed. The bullpen is uninspiring [?] and the defense features the memorable sight of Juan Francisco playing third base every day [No - only against RHP]. Those issues can be papered over with a good starting staff, however. The problem is that the Jays don't have one of those either:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/ ... us-stroman

Apart from the marketing/target demographic issues, I can well understand why ESPN is slow to cotton on the Jays. From the outside, it doesn't look sustainable, and we fans have to be careful not to dwell inside the bubble too much. But this offence is relentless. It's like nothing any of us have seen before up close. Lynn made the point in the PG yesterday that Jays hitters don't swing at pitches out of the strike zone. We're doing to MLB pitching what the Rays to Romero - destroying it. Or at least getting the opposing SP's out of the game by the 6th inning or so.

[chargerxthirty]

The weird thing to me about the Juan Francisco thing... is anything that I read in the American Media will say... "Juan Fancisco is making a difference at the plate, but he's still been awful at 3rd base"

To be quite honest, he's by no means a stalwart out there are 3rd but he's been more than serviceable and has even made some great plays. It's starting to actually bother me that people keep writing that he's been a butcher over there when he hasn't... doesn't make sense.

[Santoki]

The weird thing to me about the Juan Francisco thing... is anything that I read in the American Media will say... "Juan Fancisco is making a difference at the plate, but he's still been awful at 3rd base"

To be quite honest, he's by no means a stalwart out there are 3rd but he's been more than serviceable and has even made some great plays. It's starting to actually bother me that people keep writing that he's been a butcher over there when he hasn't... doesn't make sense.

His range along with Reyes makes any grounder to the left side an adventure. His bat needs to stay pretty damn hot to keep trotting him out there when you have Lawrie giving you almost gold glove level defense at the position.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

The weird thing to me about the Juan Francisco thing... is anything that I read in the American Media will say... "Juan Fancisco is making a difference at the plate, but he's still been awful at 3rd base"

To be quite honest, he's by no means a stalwart out there are 3rd but he's been more than serviceable and has even made some great plays. It's starting to actually bother me that people keep writing that he's been a butcher over there when he hasn't... doesn't make sense.

He's been pretty atrocious. He has a strong arm but there have been a number of ground ball base hits to the left side that should have been fielded. If we had a top-notch shortstop it wouldn't make as much of a difference, but as Santoki said the combination of him and Reyes on the left side is terrible. Worst in baseball terrible.

[chargerxthirty]

Well I watch all of the games and I'm not trying to say he has great range or anything like that, I'm not even trying to say he's good. He hasn't hurt us when starting at 3rd base though and having his bat in the lineup regularly helped us throughout a 20 - 5 stretch. I didn't really see him making a mess out there. I realize it's not viable long term, but it gets pretty annoying when everyone tries to concentrate on the negatives. He's been a plus, come on!

[chargerxthirty]

Jays move into 3rd in the ESPN rankings. I do laugh in a way though. No mention of the fact that we swept the Tigers and the comment entirely focuses on the fact that we lost the STL series... yet when we finished sweeping Oakland on a Sunday, it made no mention of that either. Smh ESPN

[chargerxthirty]

Jays get bumped down to 4th after a pretty bad week.

[Rbk_3]

God knows why, but we're still in 4th this week lol

[chargerxthirty]

God knows why, but we're still in 4th this week lol

God knows why is right, figure'd we be out of the top 5 for sure.