Weekly Round Up: Aug. 2 - Aug. 8

Consider this your required reading for the week.

Consider this your required viewing for the week.

Courtesy of John Lott @ National Post

TOP OF HIS GAME

J.P. Arencibia is in the top 20 most offensive categories in the Pacific Coast League this season:
Hits 115 12th
Runs 71 8th
Doubles 32 3rd
Home runs 31 1st
RBIs 79 3rd
Avg. .303 20th
OPS .998 4th

Not much left for him to prove in AAA with the stick.  

Courtesy of Joseph Ballaro @ Las Vegas Baseball Examiner:

First of all, I have to admit, that I have seen Arencibia play a few times (mostly in 2009), and I really didn't understand what the hype was all about. I'd seen him close to the top of all sorts of lists ranking the best prospects in the Blue Jays system and I wasn't all that impressed with what I saw. However, he's made all the naysayers look very bad this year. He's posted a very nice triple-slash of .304/.360/.640 with a PCL-leading 31 homeruns, as well as 79 RBIs, and 71 runs scored. The Pacific Coast League is known as being a hitter-friendly environment, but even with adjusted numbers, Arencibia is having a very solid season. Minor League Splits calculates a park-adjusted line of .291/.348/.601 with 28 homeruns. In addition, his propensity to hit the ball in the air (50.5% fly ball rate this season) bodes well for a player with his type of power. Finally, while hitters are generally near .300, his batting average on balls in play (BABIP) sits at .310, meaning he has not necessarily benefitted from a lot of luck as far as balls falling in for hits. In other words, his breakout appears more legitimate, rather than a fluke.

His unreal MLB debut aside, J.P. should be on the Opening Day roster next season.  His bat is ready.  In the next few weeks I hope teams try to run on him a little bit so we can gauge his arm.  

Courtesy of Mike Rutsey @ Toronto Sun:

“Are you going to pitch like a man?”

It’s a simple question with an obvious answer but it has become a rallying cry for the Blue Jays starters this season.
“That’s been kind of our secret motto of the starters, “Pitch Like A Man,” Brett Cecil, who makes the start Friday to kick off a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays, said the other day In New York. “Every time I come in after warming up before I start a game, Shaun (Marcum) comes over and says: ‘Are you going to pitch like a man today?’
“Every time the answer is: ’Yes.’ And we do the same thing to him. He’s the oldest guy on the staff and we can say stuff like that to him.”
The starting rotation has been one of the unexpected strengths of the team since opening day.
In the past 19 games, the Blue Jays starters have forged an 11-4 record and posted a collective 3.26 ERA. Over their past 12 games, the starters have allowed two runs or less nine times.
That, folks, is pitching.
“Every start, somebody says something about it,” Marcum said of the unofficial motto. “I think it loosens us up a little bit and everybody goes out there and tries to pitch like a man, go deep in the game and give the team a chance to win.”

Whatever it is that you boys are doing or need to do.....keep it up!  Our starting rotation has been superb all season and I look forward to seeing them continue to grow together, as a group, in the years ahead.    

Courtesy of April Whitzman @ The Epoch Times:

Evidently, one is led to question where all his power comes from and why Bautista, who only batted .235 with 13 HR and 40 RBI in 113 games last year, has been able to have the season that he is having.
The obvious answer is that he has been given a chance to play every day. With Scott Rolen and Alex Rios leaving the team late last season, Bautista has seen a lot more action, and has moved up in the batting order.
In fact, dating back to Sept. 1, 2009, Bautista leads the majors with 44 home runs, 10 more than the next closest player, Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers.

April AKA Alleycat17 AKA JaysProspects ventures off into the dying world of print media.  Solid job.  

Courtesy of John Lott @ National Post:

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Jesse Litsch will undergo season-ending surgery next week to repair a torn labrum in his right hip. Brad Mills has been recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas and will start in Litsch’s spot against Tampa Bay on Saturday.
Litsch told reporters before Friday’s game that he has had hip pain since 2006 but it never bothered him while pitching, only during workouts between starts.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos said Litsch complained about two weeks ago that he was having trouble sleeping and was experiencing groin pain. An MRI was taken Friday, July 30.
Litsch pitched Sunday. The MRI results came back Monday, and were sent on to a hip specialist, Anthopoulos said. The specialist’s report revealing the tear came back Friday and the surgery decision was made immediately.
The expected recovery time is for Litsch’s surgery is four to six months.

I was wondering how long the brain trust was going to keep running him out there every five days to get his head beat in.  I figured Boy Wonder did not want to burn an option year since we have less than two months to go.  This seems like a very convenient way of getting him off the roster.....and I hope he uses the rehab time to get back in shape for spring training. 

 Courtesy of Toronto Life:

The List: 10 things Alex Anthopoulos, the boy wonder Blue Jays GM, can't live without

1. Live music
There is nothing like seeing a great band live. My first concert was Poison, when I was in Grade 6. My all-time favourite is Springsteen: I saw him twice at the ACC. If you haven’t been to a Springsteen concert, you haven’t lived.
2. My native cuisine
Obviously, I love Greek food, especially feta and olives. One of my favourite memories is my dad roasting lamb on a spit every Easter. In Toronto, I go to Kalyvia on the Danforth (420 Danforth Ave., 416-463-3333).  
3. Raptors games
I love going to basketball games because I get to be a fan and relax, drink a beer, yell. When I’m watching baseball, I’m analyzing and thinking about how this applies to my job.

4. Hair gel
I’m not a big product guy, but I’ve been using KMS California HairPlay for a while—it gives me the kind of spiked look that I like. 

5. My workplace memento
The Expos are my home team, and my first baseball job was with them—I started as an intern. When I left in 2003, everyone signed this ball for me.

Those bastards stole our nickname!  Get to know our GM and what makes him tick off the field.

Courtesy of Mike Rutsey @ Toronto Sun:

In facing the Yankees on Wednesday afternoon, manager Cito Gaston put out one of his more creative lineups. He had slugging left fielder Travis Snider leading off.
“It’s the first time I’ve batted leadoff since I was 11 playing for the all-stars in Little League,” Snider said before the game. “It came as a little bit of a surprise.
“But any way I can get in there, I’m happy to help.”

Snider batting lead off for the first time since Little League?  I can't wait till we replace our manager with.....

Courtesy of Bob Elliott @ Toronto Sun:

“Cito told me he put my name in to manage, the last time the Jays were in Baltimore,” Samuel said Friday night from Estero, Fla. “Getting someone to back you like Cito means a lot.”
When Buck Showalter first took over as the Orioles manager, Samuel was offered the third-base coaching position he held under former manager Dave Tremblay. Now, he has been named assistant to O’s president Andy MacPhail. Samuel says he has been told MacPhail won’t stand in his way if another job offer arises.
After Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Gaston has 52 games remaining in his managerial career.
“I think I could bring a lot to the table,” said Samuel, 49. “I’m young enough to relate to younger players, but I’m enough of an old-school guy to know a team needs to be fundamentally sound to win close games.”

Samuel, whose O’s were 9-6 in one-run games, played the final three seasons of his 16-year career with the Jays, playing for Gaston in 1996 and ’97 and Tim Johnson in ’98.

The story goes on the mention the name Rob Thomson as a potential candidate as well.  Funny, we came up with that idea way back in March.  Check it.

Courtesy of Kevin Gray @ Union Leader:

Shawn Hill, 29, has shown a live arm since signing a minor-league deal with Toronto. He made three starts for the Padres last season before undergoing a second Tommy John elbow surgery.
The Ontario native allowed only three singles against the Flying Squirrels, striking out four and walking two. Hill's fastball ranged from 87-91-mph, and he mixed in an 85-mph slider and effective changeup. Hardly average stuff.
Based on his results, Hill may appear ready for the majors, but that's not the case. He's made on six starts this season, working his way up the ladder from the Gulf Coast League. He'll make his next start at Richmond next week.

This guy could be the equivalent of found money in September.  I think he gets a shot at Major League hitters again very soon, especially if we stay in this thing. 

Courtesy of Jim Callis @ Baseball America:

The Blue Jays have signed second-round pick Justin Nicolino for $615,000. His bonus surpasses MLB's guideline for the No. 80 choice ($450,000), making him the fourth Toronto draftee to have finalized an above-slot deal.
Nicolino follows second-rounder Kellen Sweeney ($600,000), sixth-rounder Sean Nolin ($175,000) and seventh-rounder Mitchell Taylor ($367,500). The Jays also are believed to have above-slot deals in the works with fifth-rounder Dickie Joe Thon (reportedly more than seven figures) and ninth-rounder Brandon Mims (for third-round money). Toronto has yet to sign first-rounder Deck McGuire, second-rounder Griffin Murphy and fourth-rounder Sam Dyson.

The deadline to sign our picks from this years Amateur draft is August 16th.  Bookmark this link and check it daily for updates.

Jake Marisnick Promoted To The Lansing Lugnuts

LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing Lugnuts, in conjunction with the Toronto Blue Jays, announced Sunday that outfielder Jake Marisnick has been received from the GCL Blue Jays (Rookie – Gulf Coast League) while infielder Randy Schwartz has been placed on the 7-day Disabled List retroactive to July 30th.

Marisnick, 19, was the Blue Jays’ 3^rd round selection in the 2009 Draft.  In 35 games in the GCL, he batted .287 with three home runs, 14 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, and an OPS of .832.

------

ADD:  OF Jake Marisnick, received from GCL Blue Jays (Rookie – Gulf Coast League)

DEACTIVATE:  1B/3B Randy Schwartz, placed on the 7-day Disabled List retroactive to July 30th

Navin over at Sports And The City did a nice piece on him last year.  You should definitely check it out.

His Minor League numbers look a little something like this:

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Lev	Aff	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB
2010	19	Blue Jays	GULF	Rk	TOR	35	142	122	17	35	12	0	3	14	14	1	13	18	.287	.373	.459	.832	56	2	5	0	2	0
1 Season						35	142	122	17	35	12	0	3	14	14	1	13	18	.287	.373	.459	.832	56	2	5	0	2	0

That's it.  A month and 10 days of pro baseball and he's moving up the ladder already. 

If you've been following him on Twitter then you will already know that the brain trust held him back for a couple of months in an extended spring training.  Then they decided to turn him loose in Rookie Ball.  It's hard to judge him on such a small sample size so.....enter our boy Jesse.  He will be watching Jake rather closely from the broadcast booth and I have already requested an interview.

In his first game with Lansing playing CF and hitting 7th, Jake went 2 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI, one of which came with 2 out. 

Prediction:

You will not be able to take a look at this scouting report from last year without touching yourself. 

Weekly Round Up : July 5 - 11

Consider this your required reading for the week.  When King Jordan speaks, you listen.

Courtesy of King Jordan: 

Blue Jays' rotation out of the All-Star break: Romero, Morrow & Marcum. That's all Cito would provide. 

Case in point.

 Courtesy of One Royal Way: 

Your Toronto Blue Jays are the only team currently residing outside the United States of America. As such, we have an entire country in which we can draw fans from. Unfortunately, Canada is a hockey crazed nation and my beloved Blue Jays have now and always will take a back seat when it comes to interest. The strike of 1994 could not have come at a worse time for us, being the reigning and defending World Series Champions. The fan base was depleted and many never came back.
For those of us who stayed on board, the following years after were in a word: difficult. If you ask any Jays fan, they will tell you that playing in the mighty American League East is a joke. But it is the reality and we must not run and hide from our free spending divisional rivals any longer. There is a new GM in town. Alex Anthopoulos is young, innovative and fearless. After half a season it is has become very clear how he intends on closing the gap. We will draft high upside players, we will draft over slot and we will sign international free agents. Personally, I feel a fire sale coming on at the trade deadline in 2010. I can’t wait to see what he gets back for our free agents to be.
The buzz word for this team moving forward is: sustainability
We will be good soon, may be great someday and hopefully win it all again before I die.
In Alex we trust!

I was asked to do some crossover work for a Royals site.  This is what I felt like talking about.

Courtesy of Baseball America:

	ADONIS CARDONA, RHP	VENEZUELA
B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 180
The top pitcher in Venezuela is Cardona, a powerful righthander with a projectable body and an excellent fastball. Cardona, 16, has a quick arm that delivers fastballs at 88-91 mph, touching 93. He should have at least a plus fastball when he's done filling out and should be able to hit the mid-90s down the road. He also shows some feel for a changeup. Cardona's curveball shows good depth at times, though several scouts have expressed concerns about it and have called it a present below-average pitch. Cardona is still refining his feel for pitching, and his mechanics also give some scouts reservations. Cardona has strong ties to the Blue Jays, who are expected to sign him on Friday for around $2.8 million, which would break Padres righthander Adys Portillo's $2 million record for a Venezuelan pitcher set two years ago.

An example of signing a international free agent.

Courtesy of MLBTR:

The Blue Jays have agreed to sign fifth-round pick Dickie Thon for $1.5MM, according to ESPN.com's Keith Law. Now that the Blue Jays have pried Thon away from his commitment to Rice, they have agreed to sign six of their top ten selections, though top pick Deck McGuire remains unsigned.
The Blue Jays won’t likely announce their agreement with Thon until August 16th or so, the deadline for signing draft picks. Otherwise, other draftees would be able to use Thon’s above-slot bonus as leverage. A $1.5MM bonus is mid-first-round money; no fifth-round pick signed for more than $680K last year, according to Baseball America. 

An example of drafting a over slot type player.

Courtesy of Bob Elliott @ Toronto Sun:

Exactly three weeks remain until the July 31 trade deadline without waivers.
Not exactly are we seeing hourly updates of a year ago when Roy Halladay was headed anywhere from the Boston Red Sox to the Lanark Red Sox.
Behind the scenes there are Jays names floating through the scouting world, names of players who are available, for other teams’ scouts to watch.
And they’re watching.
Such as right fielder/third baseman Jose Bautista, 29, who leads with the American League with 23 home runs going into the weekend series. Bautista earns $2.4 million US and will be in his final year of salary arbitration in 2011.
“We looked at him and like him some, but we turned him down because we think we can get someone better,” said a veteran major-league scout.

And finally the firesale.  Does everyone agree we are sellers or what?

Courtesy of MLBTR:

The Blue Jays have no reason to settle for anything less than a highly-touted prospect. Not only is Downs pitching well, he now ranks as a Type A free agent in the latest Elias rankings. That means the Jays can obtain two high picks in next year's draft if Downs turns down an offer of arbitration to sign elsewhere. We can't assume that the Blue Jays are willing to offer Downs arbitration, but they have just $39MM committed to next year's payroll, so paying Downs $5MM or so in 2011 appears possible under the team's budget.
Essentially, the Blue Jays can't lose as long as Downs stays healthy and continues pitching well enough to maintain his Type A status. Either someone offers a compelling package and the Blue Jays get talent now, or they keep Downs and offer arbitration. If he accepts the offer, the Jays have a quality reliever on a one-year deal. If he declines and signs elsewhere, they have two top picks in next year's draft.

Said it a long time ago.  Hope I was right. 

Courtesy of Morgan Campbell @ The Star: 

Blue Jays right fielder Travis Snider says his wrist feels fine, and he means it.
And if you don’t believe him, believe the two hard-hit doubles he ripped against the Portland Sea Dogs on Tuesday night in the first game of his rehab assignment with Double-A New Hampshire. The first crashed into the right-field wall to drive home the first run, and the second screamed down the left-field line.
He followed that up with a sharp single in the top of the fifth, and finished 4-for-5 in New Hampshire’s 6-5 win.
“I feel good. I’m seeing the ball well and my timing is clicking,” said Snider, who was hitting .241 with six home runs when he landed on the disabled list.

Help is on the way.  Travis will play everyday, so what do we do with the RF/LF/3B/DH situation?

Courtesy of Kenneth Kidd @ The Star:

When the opposing team is held scoreless, a lot of minor-league clubs reward the pitchers by letting them take batting practice in the ensuing days, something they normally wouldn’t get to do.
As the starting pitcher a few days earlier, Kyle Drabek had done more than simply work in a scoreless game. He’d pitched a no-hitter, the first time any member of the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats had ever done that through a full nine innings.
When it was over, Drabek’s teammates had mobbed him so eagerly he ended up with a bloody nose.
But still, no batting practice.

This was a close second place on the required reading for the week competition.  Must read. 

Courtesy of Union Leader:

"You keep looking at the scoreboard and keep seeing the zeros," he said. "I was as composed in the seventh and eighth innings as I was when I first started the game, but I got a little nervous in the ninth. The crowd was great with their support, but I was freaking out there a little bit."
The interesting thing that often happens in a no-hit game didn't happen last night. There were no special defensive plays, no one play behind or in front of Drabek that had the potential of spoiling the no-hitter. Every out -- 12 grounders, 11 flies, three strikeouts -- was routine.
Drabek is the son of former National League Cy Young Award winner Doug Drabek. He threw 24 pitches after three innings, 62 after six and finished with 98, was still throwing in the range of 95-97 mph in the ninth inning.
"I didn't care what my pitch count was. I would have fought anyone in that dugout who wanted to pull me out of the game," said Drabek with a grin. "I wanted to finish this one."

Drabek's line for the no no: 9 IP 0 ER 0 Hits 2 BB 3 K 28 Batters Faced 98 Pitches

New turf at the Dome

The cheap bastards @ Rogers are going to pony up for some new turf.

Hope they save some cash to sign their fucking high round draft picks this year.  Speaking of which: Why the fuck do we feel the need to tell everyone that we intend on spending 16 million US dollars on the draft this year?

If I recall, it was the Beeston and JP that made reference to going over slot before last years draft.....and how did that work out?  A week before the deadline to sign picks, JP does this interview saying stuff like "we're just waiting for them to accept."  How do you think a guy like super agent Scott Boras reacts to reading shit like that?

Beeston ends up feeling the need to explain why he couldn't sign three of his top four picks after they asked for to much money.  In doing so, James Paxton, represented by Boras, gets worked over by the NCAA for using an agent thereby breaking their rules.  He might be ineligible to pitch his senior year of college which starts in February.  There is talk he may have to pitch for an independent professional team if he loses his amateur status.  This potentially could affect his draft status.  Beeston's comments are the reason why the investigation was launched.

In short: The 2009 Amateur Draft, was and still is, a clusterfuck.  Poor management by the brain trust.  Hope we try to draft him again this year just to see what happens.

Is it worth noting that Paxton, our second pick at number 37 overall, is now being ranked inside the top ten picks in mock 2010 drafts?  I think it is.  We could have had a premium pick a year before it was a premium pick.  We said we were going to go over slot, we did go over slot but in the end we didn't want to go that far over slot.....