Another Blue Jays Franchise Returns! Blue Jays 2013...Part Deux

[Willard76]

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Another Blue Jays Franchise Returns! BLUE JAYS 2013......Part Deux

Roster Base - OSFM HYBRID V 1.4

Sliders - Custom, starting with Veteran Hitting and Pitching

Gameplay - 162 Games, simulate as I feel

Please let me establish some back story and such before posting.

[renatus]

what are your custom sliders?thanks

[Willard76]

Quote: Originally Posted by renatus

what are your custom sliders?thanks

They are all over the place, made to suit my game style

[Willard76]

2012 Season and Offseason in Review

For those not in Toronto, or had their head under a rock last year here is a summary of what happened to the Blue Jays over the past 365 days.

2012

The 2012 season started with a lot of high hopes after an amazing Spring Training and good start to the season, sitting near the top of the AL East, despite losing closer Sergio Santos, having starting 1B Adam Lind endup in the minors and eventually Ace Ricky Romero losing his ability to throw the ball across the plate.

Then the first week of June happened. In the span of that one week, Brandon Morrow who was looking like a possible CY Young candidate strained an oblique muscle after 3 pitches against the Washington Nationals. Within 5 days, starters Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchison were lost to Tommy John Surgery, Jose Bautista after an impressive display in the HR Derby would strain his left wrist 2 days after the break and be lost for the rest of the year, promising 3B Brett Lawrie playing with reckless abandon would go tumbling into a camera bay in Yankee Stadium, being lost a week or so later for August and most of September, catcher JP Arencibia would break his throwing hand and miss August. Then when things seemed they couldn't get worse in Toronto, SS Yunel Escobar would piss off most of an already tired fan base by writing a homophobic slur on his eye black in a game against the Boston Red Sox in early September.

But there were some positives - prospects Moises Sierra, Adeiny Hechevarria, Anthony Gose and Drew Hutchison before his injury would all show some incredible promise of big things to come and non-prospect lefty Aaron Loup would become a solid staple in the pen after a July call up.

The offseason would come with rumours that Manager John Farrell was the favorite to replace Bobby Valentine in the rival Red Sox dugout, Farrell denying that all the way. By mid-October Farrell would go to Boston in a trade for infielder Mike Aviles, saying in his press conference that he now had "his dream job" - basically slapping Blue Jays in the face.

Wonderkid GM Alex Anthopoulos' honeymoon seemed to be over with Toronto fans, many feeling that Toronto was now a breeding ground for other major league teams, a lot of anger spilling out in the radio waves in Toronto. Anthopoulos would flip Aviles to Cleveland for bullpen arm Esmil Rogers, fans were still not impressed.

The Winter Meetings were held in Nashville in early November and Anthopoulos would make the first Free Agent signing by inking infielder Maicier Izturis to a 3 year deal. Not much would happen that week or the next, Blue Jays fans began to prepare for another year of waiting for a highly touted, well stocked farm system to start to produce players to the majors, the big 3 prospects, Justin Nicolino, Noah Syndergaard and best of the 3 Aaron Sanchez having pitched incredible years in Low A Lansing.

2 weeks later the Blue Jays were the talk of baseball, having swung a 12 player deal with the salary dumping Miami Marlins. The Jays landed starters Josh Johnson, Mark Buehrle, SS Jose Reyes, C John Buck and utility player Emilio Bonifacio while only giving ups 3 of the highly touted prospects. By the first week of January Anthopoulos had decided he wasn't happy with his work yet and dealt 2 more prospects and Buck to the Mets picking up CY Young knuckleballer RA Dickey and 2 of his catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas. Vegas and many experts have the Blue Jays picked to be a serious favorite for the World Series this year.

Anthopoulos would also quietly through the winter add non-roster invitees Henry Blanco, Andy Laroche, Ryan Langerhans and a bevy of experienced pitchers to the stable for depth at new AAA affiliate Buffalo, just in case injuries happen like in 2012.

Now starts Spring Training 2013, let the excitement begin and let's see what plays out!

[Willard76]

2013 SPRING TRAINING

This year it wasn't about wins and losses in the Spring, it was what will the new guys bring to the table. Here is a rundown of what happened in the Spring.

Jose Reyes looked great until hurting his ankle sliding into second base near the end of the month, Reyes is expected to be out until early June.

The starting rotation looked great, led by Brandon Morrow and Josh Johnson who dominated, Ricky Romero continued to struggle and was sent to AAA Buffalo to start the season after being beat out for the 5th spot in the rotation by JA Happ.

The bullpen looked solid, led by Casey Janssen and Sergio Santos how looked very good, waiver pickup Jeremy Jeffress was sent to the Washington Nationals for former Blue Jay Jeremy Accardo, Accardo is expected to start the year in AAA as the closer. Other notables, Brett Cecil looked very comfortable in his move to the 'pen and Aaron Loup continued to show the promise he displayed late in 2012

Late in Spring Training Alex Anthopoulos pulled off a deal with the New York Mets, acquiring 2B Justin Turner for Rajai Davis and Joel Carreno.

Turner is expected to play 2B while Maicer Izturis will be the primary SS until Reyes gets back.

Many feel Anthopoulos is not done with moves, and it is expected the Blue Jays will settle for nothing less then a playoff birth this year.

[Willard76]

Minor League Watch


This year I am going to name 10 players to watch out of the Minor League System instead of a Top 10 Prospect List

1. Anthony Gose, OF - Gose returns to AAA to refine his hitting approach. While his ability to field, run and hit a Fastball are all at a Major League level now, he still chases too many offspeed pitches out of the zone. Gose is expected to be in Toronto by end of season and many feel he is a future All Star.

2. Aaron Sanchez, SP - Sanchez is the lone survivor of the Lansing 3. He is a young pitcher with a big time arm. Sanchez is expected to start the year in High A Dunedin, but could earn himself a promotion to AA New Hampshire with an outstanding first half. Should one day be a Top of the rotation talent.

3. AJ Jimenez, C - missed most of 2012 after having Tommy John Surgery, had an outstanding Spring and will start in AA. Jimenez' defense already plays at a major league level, but he needs to work on his game calling and the Jays are hoping he may develop more power.

4. Ryan Goins, SS - was a strong candidate to take over for Reyes when he got hurt, but the team wants him to spend some time in AAA after a very good year last season in AA. Is also expected to play some 2B in AAA as many in baseball feel this is where his future lies as an offensive 2B.

5. Christian Lopes, SS/2B - Lopes is a future All Star 2B if he continues to develop the way he is going. Will start the year in A ball and is expected to spend a full year at each A and AA before making the majors in 2015.

6. Sean Ochinko, C/1B/3B - Ochinko continues to add power and was an unexpected surprise this spring as a non roster minor league invitee. He can play C, 1B and 3B well and his bat could also eventually carry as a DH. He will start the year in AA but is expected in AAA at some point and could even see the majors by end of year.

7. Jim Negrych, 2B - a minor league Free Agent signee, Negrych had a very good Spring, but will start the year playing up the middle with Goins in AAA. Could be in the majors this year.

8. Moises Sierra, RF - had a brief appearance in the majors in 2012, and showed the power he has always promised. Has possibly the best throwing arm in the minors and decent speed, needs to improve his baseball skills.

9. Marcus Stroman, P - maybe the best out of this group, was suspended in August for using a banned substance and is not eligible to play until May 19. Is expected to start in AA and will probably be a bullpen member in Toronto by end of year.

10. John Stilson, P - currently a starter in AA, he is expected to eventually profile as a stud closer. Can hit high 90's when pitching out of the bullpen and could make the majors this season.

Other notable players to watch - Andy Laroche - 3b, Josh Thole - C, Neil Wagner - RP, Mickey Storey - RP, Sean Nolin - SP, Chad Jenkins - SP, Andy Burns - SS, Roberto Osuna - SP (will miss season after Tommy John Surgery)

[Bluejaysfan65]

Hoe did Daniel Norris not make the top 10 prospects list?!?!?

[Frank is the Tank]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bluejaysfan65

Hoe did Daniel Norris not make the top 10 prospects list?!?!?

Haha, he said "Hoe."