Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

[60SecondAssassin]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

AF why you keep dogging Rios. I think this is a guy who will mature to be a .300/25/90 guy yet you always complain about him. It just frustrates me to see someone dogging talent that has only been in the league for less then 3 years.

Rios has the power, but his batspeed is just too slow. His swing is long which doesn't help him at all, I mean has anyone ever seen Rios pull a flyball deep to the outfield or pull a ball for a HR? Probably not because his swing is too long and slow. Most of the HRs I've seen him hit have been to dead centre.

I've still got high hopes for him as his HR production is improving, but someone needs to change that swing of his or atleast work on it in the offseason to speed it up. Asianflow, the reason why people have high power hopes for Rios is because in batting practice he routinely crushes balls all the way up into the upper decks, obviously though batting practice and real game time are totally different, but Rios has the power but just hasn't been able to utilize it due to his long, slow swing.

Either way, his speed and defence+arm make him an easy start, as a young guy he still has time to improve his batting so I personally dont believe that he's a career #4 OF at all, and its not like we have anyone that will be challanging for his job so for the near future he's our starting RF.

[gosensgo101]

Jays recall Quiroz, Designate Huckaby for Assignment

The Jays called up Guilermo Quiroz today. To make room on the roster the Jays Designated Ken Huckaby for Assignment.

Link:http://tsn.ca/mlb/teams/news_story.a...=mlb-blue_jays

I like this move since Quiroz is a huge upgrade on Huckaby. But we don't have much depth at catcher anymore since Dominique is injured and Huckaby is gone
(Unless he clears waivers which I think he will).

Who else do you guys think will be called up in September?

I think Gaudin and Miller to add a couple arms to the bullpen and of course Gross.

[SPTO]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

I'd like to see some of the young arms that's been hyped up by the Jays organization for a couple years now but it's a bit early for some of them.

I'll be interested in seeing how Quiroz does in his 2nd cup of coffee in the Bigs.

[cooldude]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

The Jays are fading fast!

[60SecondAssassin]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

Gross and Gaudin are obvious callups, I think that Ford-Griffin and Rosario could also likely get callups, especially Griffin because he' yet to have a shot at proving himself.

[SPTO]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

The Jays are fading fast!

They still have some good enough talent to upset some teams this september. I love to see the Jays playing the spoiler role....actually i'd rather they be in the hunt but you know what I mean.

I was listening to Prime Time Sports roundtable on friday and Bobcat was making the point that the nucleus is there for a very good team. The thing is, some guys haven't fully lived up to their potential. Bobcat said that everybody is playing for their jobs for next season and I agree with him.

It's going to be interesting to see what JP does with some of the "failures" like Hinske and Rios.

Overall, the future is bright for this club and they could very well contend no later then '07.

[gosensgo101]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

Maybe they'll call up a bunch of their prospects and they will get a playoff spot.

But if that happend they wouldn't be able to play in the playoffs.

Unless the rest of the team gets "injured".

[cooldude]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

It's going to be interesting to see what JP does with some of the "failures" like Hinske and Rios.

I think Hinske could be gone in the off season. He's had an awful year but I think Rios will stick around.

[Spear]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

I think Hinske could be gone in the off season. He's had an awful year but I think Rios will stick around.

The problem is where is he going to go? He isn't productive enough for what his contract is worth. He's also one of JP's "boys".

[cooldude]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

The problem is where is he going to go? He isn't productive enough for what his contract is worth. He's also one of JP's "boys".

It's going to be extrmeely difficult to dump that salary when he doesn't produce like he's worth half of what we're paying him, but we're going to need to do SOMETHING with him.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

The Jays have a lot to do in the off-season if they want to compete for a playoff spot next season.

After taking a critical look, it's going to be tough. I've heard many people say if the Jays just went out and signed a number 2 pitcher and a HR hitter than the Jays would be a wildcard team. I don't think that's really true. You can't just look at the Jays without taking into consideration the other teams.

I do believe no other team in the Majors will add as much payroll as the Jays do this off-season, but spending doesn't always equal winning. At this point the Jays need a legit front line starting pitcher and 2 middle of the order bats. This is going to be hard to accomplish.

A player not in the FA market I have my eye on is Jonny Gomes. The Rays OF is going to be really crowded next season. They have Crawford, Badelli, Gomes, Huff, and Delmon Young. Huff can be shifted to 1B although they are thinking of putting Cantu there next season. The Rays need to create room for BJ Upton and Lugo could slider over to 2B. Either way you cut it, with Young, Upton, and Badelli coming the Rays don't have enough space to fit all those players. Huff is the ideal guy to be traded but Gomes might have more value.

The Rays clearly need SP and the Jays could meet their needs. I would gladly offer up Chacin and their choice of Shawn Marcum or Josh Banks for Gomes.

[cooldude]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

Good win for the Jays last night. I was laughing at Raffy using ear plugs.

[CoRruPt-]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

Bah, we need a new closer next season. Bastista blew the 2nd game of the series against Tampa, giving up a 2-run HR by Huff.

Everytime Batista comes out to pitch, my heart skips a beat, and this just proves it. I think that making Batista a closer was a bad decision to start with by JP. Maybe Frasor or League can step into that role next season, but I believe Batista has another year left on his contract.

I think Hinske could be gone in the off season. He's had an awful year but I think Rios will stick around.

If Rios doesn't improve soon, I doubt he would be sticking around for long. JP would naturally have preference over guys he drafted like Gross, Hill, etc. Rois was drafted by Gord Ash. I think Rios is expendable on this team.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

The Jays have called up Ken Huckaby, John Ford-Griffin, and Shawn Marcum.

Marcum is added on to the 40 man roster. He will be coming out of the pen. I doubt any of these 3 players will start the season with the Jays next season. I see John-Ford Griffin as this years Eric Crozier.

Marcum dominated AA but had trouble at AAA. But his K/BB is excellent. He's a 2nd tier pitching prospect.

[VanCitySportsGuy]

Re: Official Toronto Blue Jays "Birds Nest" Thread

The season is nearing the end for the Jays so I'm already thinking about the off-season.

This is going to be huge. With the huge bump in payroll I think JP is in the spotlight. It's going to be year 5 of his plan and I don't want to here any excuses.

I'm not too optimistic FA's are going to sign here. I assume FA's want 2 things 1)A lot of money 2) A chance to win World Series

The Jays can offer up number 1 but not 2. If there was going to be a season to sneak up on the Red Sox and Yanks, it was this season. The Red Sox SP has been average at best and Schilling and Foulke have been injured. The Yanks have been hit hard with injuries and forced to trot out the likes of Wang, Chacon, Small, and Lieter.

It's painfully obvious the Jays need 2 power bats and a front line starter. And after that you could argue they need a closer and a deeper bench. I think it's time to start trading away some of the prospects, including the upper tier ones like McGowan and Purcey. I would also offer around Chacin and Rios to see what's out there.