Yet Another Blockbuster!

The Trade:

Your Toronto Blue Jays received 2B Brett Lawrie from the Brew Crew for RHP Shaun Marcum. A straight one for one swap.

Analysis:

One of the things about waiting until a deal has been formally announced before commenting on it, is you actually get to see the reaction of the fans, media and parties involved.

In this case, it was mixed. 

Let me start off by saying this loud and clear, I completely understand the feelings of apprehension in letting Shaun Marcum go. I can honestly say he has one of the best change ups I have ever seen. Period.

Off the field, he was the guy that everyone looked up to on the pitching staff and he was one of the leaders in the clubhouse. He certainly knew how to keep it loose. Who will ever forget this Tom Foolery? Or the not so secret motto: Are YOU going to pitch like a man today?

On the field, he was our losing streak stopper this season. A season in which he set career highs in starts (31), innings pitched (195 1/3) and strikeouts (165). Shaun is a fantastic fielder of his position and Buck Martinez always found a reason to remind us, every game it seemed like, that he was a shortstop in high school.

All these things are true and need to be validated.

And I will not take any shots at him now that he is gone.

However:

In order to get talent, you must give up talent. This deal was no different.

I think we need to get the fact that Brett Lawrie is Canadian out of the way right now.

I put in a request for some info from my guy at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and he came back with this:

He played in World JR's, Olympics and World Baseball Classic all before his 1st pro game! He was also the highest drafted Canadian position player ever 1^st round, 16^th overall in 2008. He got a signing bonus of $1,700,000. 

Bad trade for 2011, should be good for 2013-????? I love Marcum. Trading a proven quality starter for a cocky 21 year old in Double A is risky business.

Nick Weglarz, Agent Dan, Brett Lawrie, Phillippe Aumont

Our boy Jesse didn`t even bother to wait for the invitation, got proactive and this e-mail was in my inbox when I got up this morning:

The word on Brett Lawrie, if the Jays do get him for Marcum, is all good.  Canadian, right?  Great power, intense kid.  I like it.

Quotes:

“I’m not going to throw 95 mph and blow hitters away,” said Marcum. “But I’m going to compete and give 110% every time I take the mound. I’m going to throw strikes, change speeds and work in and out, up and down. I’m not afraid to knock people down.”

"He was excited," Anthopoulos said of Lawrie's reaction. "Very driven, focused, motivated, confident young man, and when you combine it with his ability, that's what makes him a great player and gives him the upside and ceiling to be an all-star calibre player, at least from the way our scouts talk about him."

"He has that confidence and that swagger, and that's what the great ones have," Anthopoulos said of Lawrie

 

Concerns:

I`m not going to sit here and pretend like I know what this means, so I`ll send it over to Jonathan Mayo for his take:

There has been some buzz about Lawrie's attitude, and not in a positive way. The Brewers reportedly wanted Lawrie to play in the Arizona Fall League this year, but the prospect begged off. Still, some of it might be in the eye of the beholder. What one person may see as bad makeup another might see as the kind of confidence a team would want from its players. If one observer was turned off by Lawrie's apparent bad attitude, another called him a true gamer with leadership ability.

And this is also worth mentioning, courtesy of Bobby Elliott:

Lawrie is a pugnacious player, who plays like a hockey puck. For example, last season he and Chris Dennis of Amherstburg got into a pre-game scrap around the batting cage at class-A Wisconsin.
They were wearing the same uniform ... as teammates. 

Scouting Reports:

Baseball America

Baseball Intellect

Scouting Book

Bullpen Banter

Video:

Boy Wonder

BP

Pulling it down the line

Going oppo

multiple at bats

multiple at bats

multiple at bats

Ken Rosenthal and Ginger

MLB.com

Pure jokes

Conclusion:

This was a classic Boy Wonder move is so many ways:

• Right out of nowhere
• Acquired young, controllable, high upside talent
• Sold high on his player
• Traded for a guy with some question marks

As my buddy said, we do lose this trade right now. No doubt about it. Try to keep in mind the player we gave up will be a free agent in two years and is coming off a very good, if not his best, season in the big leagues. By the time we are in a position to win a lot of games, Shaun Marcum will be past his prime. And I`m willing to bet he will be getting paid 8 or 9 million dollars to it. 

On the other hand Brett Lawrie has a chance to be an impact player for us, perhaps at a premium position. Another one of those core type guys. Currently, he is one of the top 50 prospects in the entire game. It`s very rare, if not downright impossible, to get your hands on them via trade.

Brandon Morrow Pitched Like A Man

I decided a while back that I would not post anything fantasy baseball related due to the fact that I'm pretty sure you don't give a shit.  Occasionally when something happens to one of my teams that is Blue Jay related, I mention it.

For The Record: 

I am in 4 pools.

• A CBS AL only big money league, which is my primary focus due to the $ involved
• a ESPN mixed league battle of the blogs
• the Canadian baseball Hall of Fame yearly classic
• a Yahoo mixed league head to head Blue Jays fan challenge

I enjoy fantasy baseball for various reasons.  Above all, it provides me with up to date info on what is going on around the Majors.  I have been playing for a few years now and always in the roto 5X5 format.  This year I decided to try head to head.

The Battle:

Last week it was me, Team Balco vs. The Blue Jay Hunter, who happens to be the league commish.  We are both very much in contention for a playoff berth.  Based on the fact that I drafted last in the 20 team league and my 2 top picks were Ian Kinsler and Jacoby Ellsbury, both of who have spent a lot of time on the DL, I am happy with my position in the standings.

We both came into week 18 with similar records, albeit in different divisions.

Team Balco: 99 - 88 - 17 representing the Best of the West
The Blue Jay Hunter: 99 - 96 - 9 representing the Beasts of the East

To get the match started off right, I sent him this message:

August 2, 6:22 am

I am going to eat your heart

He didn't reply, probably because he knew deep down that I was right.  That or he didn't see it.....

Early on in the week, I jumped out to a huge lead and had visions of a 12 - 0 skunk.  By mid week, his pitching staff had closed the gap.  Heading into Sunday, I needed a big day from both Jonathan Sanchez and waiver wire pick up Brandon Morrow.  I took a chance on him, way back on June 5th when he was 4 - 4 with an ERA of 6.00

Well Sanchez stunk it up but Morrow came through for me BIG TIME.

9 IP 0 ER 1 HIT 2BB 17 K 1QS

He took a no hitter into the 9th inning, losing it only to a opposite field seeing eye single which Aaron Hill was able to get a glove on.  Say what you will about the official scoring on that particular play but I thought our boys played like an All Star team defensively yesterday.  That catch Vernon made in center, considering the circumstances, was top notch.  He sacrificed his body for his pitcher and that kinda stuff goes a long way in solidifying his place as leader of this young team.

After it was all said and done, I was victorious to the tune of an 8 - 3 - 1 score.  Morrow's performance gave me a half point in the wins category and a full point in ERA, WHIP and strike outs.  The K's category was a nail biter, with me pulling it out by a narrow 2 strike out margin.

Currently I am in 7th place, a half game back of the boys @ Mop-Up Duty.  Top 8 make it to the playoffs.  If I do end up getting to the promise land than I think it's fair to say that Brandon Morrow's gem will be the TSN turning point in my fantasy baseball season.

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.