2011 Jays Spring Training Discussion Thread

[SharoneWright]

What 23 year old injures himself playing golf? Weird.

[LittleOzzy]

Jays' Lawrie learning ropes in first spring camp

Brett Lawrie's tenure with the Blue Jays is barely two months old, but already the top infield prospect feels more welcome in Toronto than he has in his professional career.

Lawrie, who was acquired from the Brewers during the offseason, is attending his first Major League Spring Training. Despite being selected in the first round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, it's an opportunity he never received in Milwaukee.

"It's a plus for me to be around these guys," Lawrie said while looking around at the Blue Jays' clubhouse. "It's a young club, and for me, I didn't get the opportunity in Milwaukee and I didn't know when it was going to happen over there.

"I was never told and that was one of the things I didn't really enjoy -- it was poor communication on their part towards me. I wish them luck in the future, but I'm in a new organization now, and I feel pretty comfortable."

It didn't take long for Lawrie to draw attention to himself following December's trade with the Brewers for No. 1 starter Shaun Marcum. Shortly after being acquired, Lawrie said he was through with Minor League Baseball and declared himself ready to take the next step.

That stance has noticeably changed since arriving at the Blue Jays' Minor League complex in Dunedin, Fla. Lawrie is done making predictions of when he will make his debut and instead says his focus is going to stay on the field.

"I think the less I worry about that, the quicker it's going to happen," Lawrie said of his future in the Major Leagues. "I don't have a set timeline in my head. I'd obviously rather have it happen sooner than later -- as would everybody in this business -- but I think if I go about my game and I mature as a player and a person, I think I'm going to get an opportunity before too long."

Lawrie's attitude during the offseason caught the attention of media, but whenever Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was asked about it, he said that's the type of mentality he wants to see in a ballplayer.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... e&c_id=tor

[torontoaces04]

Jays' Lawrie learning ropes in first spring camp

Brett Lawrie's tenure with the Blue Jays is barely two months old, but already the top infield prospect feels more welcome in Toronto than he has in his professional career.

Lawrie, who was acquired from the Brewers during the offseason, is attending his first Major League Spring Training. Despite being selected in the first round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, it's an opportunity he never received in Milwaukee.

"It's a plus for me to be around these guys," Lawrie said while looking around at the Blue Jays' clubhouse. "It's a young club, and for me, I didn't get the opportunity in Milwaukee and I didn't know when it was going to happen over there.

"I was never told and that was one of the things I didn't really enjoy -- it was poor communication on their part towards me. I wish them luck in the future, but I'm in a new organization now, and I feel pretty comfortable."

It didn't take long for Lawrie to draw attention to himself following December's trade with the Brewers for No. 1 starter Shaun Marcum. Shortly after being acquired, Lawrie said he was through with Minor League Baseball and declared himself ready to take the next step.

That stance has noticeably changed since arriving at the Blue Jays' Minor League complex in Dunedin, Fla. Lawrie is done making predictions of when he will make his debut and instead says his focus is going to stay on the field.

"I think the less I worry about that, the quicker it's going to happen," Lawrie said of his future in the Major Leagues. "I don't have a set timeline in my head. I'd obviously rather have it happen sooner than later -- as would everybody in this business -- but I think if I go about my game and I mature as a player and a person, I think I'm going to get an opportunity before too long."

Lawrie's attitude during the offseason caught the attention of media, but whenever Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos was asked about it, he said that's the type of mentality he wants to see in a ballplayer.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... e&c_id=tor

I really don't know how to feel about Lawrie. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, because he is such a young player, but some of the stuff he says raises major red flags. He seems like a player who is going to be very unpredictable in the future.

[mikero]

Wilner's blog has some interesting information:

It’s only been 11 innings, but I have really enjoyed watching Lawrie play third and have been very impressed by Gose’s range in centre and his throwing arm. Hechevarria is a very, very slick fielder, but I think he’s trying a bit too hard.

Farrell talked about his line-up as well, and says he hasn’t decided how to stack Lind and Bautista. It seems they’ll hit third and fourth, we just don’t know in what order. Lind no longer has a problem with batting in the clean-up spot - Farrell says it’s a sign of his maturation as a player and a hitter that he isn’t “playing into those intangibles or making too much of it.” He’ll likely flip-flop Lind and Bautista between third and fourth most of the spring until he figures out which combination he prefers.

After the game, John Farrell gave updates on Aaron Hill (won’t play tomorrow, though he’s taking part in all drills, want him to be 100% symptom-free with the sore quad), Travis Snider (35 swings in the cage, felt good, still no running or throwing yet) and Frank Francisco (long-toss today after bullpen session yesterday, will throw a bullpen every third day instead of every second and be ready to get into a game during the second week of games). Also, Jon Rauch threw another bullpen today and felt good, and Scott Podsednik took some cuts in the cage, though he’s still walking gingerly and isn’t yet able to run. He didn’t think he’d be in jeopardy of not being able to start the season, though.

http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/2011/02/25/jays-finish-intrasquad-season-2-2/

[LittleOzzy]

Game 1 today against Detroit at 1:00PM

[mini]

Game 1 today against Detroit at 1:00PM

Is there T.V. for today's game?

[mikero]

Game 1 today against Detroit at 1:00PM

Is there T.V. for today's game?

It's on the fan590 but I'm pretty sure there is no TV for this one.

I remember seeing a spring schedule somewhere with TV/radio listings.... if anyone knows where it is maybe they could post it in this thread somewhere.

[baulderdash77]

The mlb.com gamecast is here. Along with the Fan 590 broadcast that's the best you'll get.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_02_26_detmlb_tormlb_1&mode=gameday

[evilRyu]

Game 1 today against Detroit at 1:00PM

Is there T.V. for today's game?

It's on the fan590 but I'm pretty sure there is no TV for this one.

I remember seeing a spring schedule somewhere with TV/radio listings.... if anyone knows where it is maybe they could post it in this thread somewhere.

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/schedul ... p?c_id=tor

According to that link, the first tv appearance is on Mar 6?

[SharoneWright]

seems Farrell is thinking ----

Davis
Escobar
Lind
Bautista
Snider
Hill
Rivera
-
-

[torontoaces04]

JPA with a WALK!!!!! He's 0-1 with a SO to go along with his BB, but the fact the he drew a walk in his first game! It must be spring training!

[hyper316]

seems Farrell is thinking ----

Davis
Escobar
Lind
Bautista
Snider
Hill
Rivera
-
-

if snider could pull it together and have a good start in the season, i would like snider to switch batting order with lind. snider has a bit more speed, but a lot more pressure to handle batting 3rd

[WpgPage]

way to early to have Snider batting 3rd i would slot him 6th and have Hill move to 5th

[torontoaces04]

way to early to have Snider batting 3rd i would slot him 6th and have Hill move to 5th

Agreed. The 3 hole is where you put your best overall hitter.

[flatjacket1]

Anybody else a fan of making Davis a 6-7-8 guy rather than leadoff? Pencil in Escobar instead? Just because on base percentage... And I would rather not steal bases with the top of the lineup. Makes no sense to try to move into scoring position with Bautista in the circle. (Stealing bases is pretty controversial to whether it helps or hurts wins)

[Modern_epic]

way to early to have Snider batting 3rd i would slot him 6th and have Hill move to 5th

Agreed. The 3 hole is where you put your best overall hitter.

It is where teams seem to put them... and it probably costs them .2 wins a year. Batting third is far too often like batting second, but with one more out. Plus you get to the plate 20 times less a year.

The most thorough statistical study of the issue say you shouldn't really care between 1 and 4 for your best hitter, you third best hitter hits second, then 3rd or 5th are the same again. (I think it descends after that, but in the NL there may be a case for the pitcher 8th?)

Which is why in no world should we allow Davis to lead off... but it seems a forgone conclusion.

[Avenger]

what's the deal with Jenkins, Like we don't have enough fat, disgusting and no talent players in the organization.

[hyper316]

anyone know the batting lineup today? i'm listening to the game on rogerstv radio on channel 904

edit: nm i'm seeing it on mlb.com

patterson CF
mccoy 2B
lind DH
encarnacion 1B
lawrie 3B
thames LF
Molina C
Sierra RF
Hecavarria SS

[WpgPage]

<span>[img]<a%20class="smarterwiki-linkify"%20href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/248636002.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1298830089&Signature=cWpucPgn3Ve0TP4%2BjXR2J0ZlVlY%3D[/img]">http://s3.amazonaws.com/twitpic/photos/large/248636002.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=0ZRYP5X5F6FSMBCCSE82&Expires=1298830089&Signature=cWpucPgn3Ve0TP4%2BjXR2J0ZlVlY%3D[/img]</a></span>

what's the deal with Jenkins, Like we don't have enough fat, disgusting and no talent players in the organization.

Jeez that a little harsh he has some potential pitched decently well in front of bad defense at Lansing, will have a chance to do very well in Dunedin this year.

[hyper316]

gose batted in the 9th and drew a walk plus stealing 2nd and 3rd. things are looking up. hoping gose will eat my words for trading away wallace