A couple of brief articles on the Blue Jays' most promising farm club, the AA New Haven Ravens. This profile of the multi-talented outfield of Gabe Gross, Alexis Rios and John-Ford Griffin is both enjoyable and insightful, while this item from The Sporting News touches briefly on Ravens starter Jason Arnold. The odds are good that both Gross and Arnold will be in Toronto by next summer, and Griffin and Rios may well be on a flight north within the following year. Cause for optimism.
I should add that Arnold had an OK outing last night against Portland: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 BB, 3 ER. His bullpen cratered after he left in a 13-3 loss. His season totals: 2-1, 1.53 ERA, 5 GS, 29 IP, 14 H, 11 BB, 26 K, .22 K/BF.
Also, homers from Gross and Pond, three hits for Quiroz.
Gross: .349/.449/.530 (83 AB)
Pond: .381/.509/.655 (84 AB)
Quiroz: .361/.410/.736 (72 AB)
Also, homers from Gross and Pond, three hits for Quiroz.
Gross: .349/.449/.530 (83 AB)
Pond: .381/.509/.655 (84 AB)
Quiroz: .361/.410/.736 (72 AB)
One stat addition for all that it matters:
Even though John Sickels just yesterday wrote that Arnolds control is "excellent", he throws a wildpitch per game and hits a batter every other. Thus far he' thrown 6 wild pithes and hit 3 batters in his five starts.
Even though John Sickels just yesterday wrote that Arnolds control is "excellent", he throws a wildpitch per game and hits a batter every other. Thus far he' thrown 6 wild pithes and hit 3 batters in his five starts.
Rios is off to a hot start as well at .418/.492/.618 in 55 ABs.
JF Griffin, however, is starting to look like Gross last year at .218/.310/.437 in 87 ABs.
I would guess that Gross & Arnold will both be called up to Syracuse at mid-season.
JF Griffin, however, is starting to look like Gross last year at .218/.310/.437 in 87 ABs.
I would guess that Gross & Arnold will both be called up to Syracuse at mid-season.
Quiroz has excellent offensive number's, is there any word on defensive abilities as a catcher
His bullpen cratered after he left in a 13-3 loss.
Sounds like he's ready to pitch for the Jays now!
Sounds like he's ready to pitch for the Jays now!
There's no real running threads here today, but i'll throw this out there. According to todays Baseball Prospectus 'Transaction Analysis' Jeff Tam was designated for assignment on April 30th. This is weird because I hadn't seen this anywhere else. So there you go.
...In other minor league roster happenings with the Jays org today, Double-A infielder Jim Deschaine, whom was acquired by Toronto in the Felix Heredia/Alex Gonzalez deal was released outright today.
Quiroz doesn't have the defensive reputation of Kevin Cash, but he has a cannon arm and apparently moves well behind the plate. At 6'1", 195, blocking the plate shouldn't be a huge problem, and he'll probably grow a little more into that frame: he won't be 22 till November. Game-calling is a skill that usually takes a long time to acquire, and can be handled from the bench for a while yet. Up until this April, Q's reputation has been good field, no hit; keep in mind that in the Venezuelan League this past winter, Quiroz went a perfect 0-for-22. It's been a terrific April, no question, but I'll be shocked if he's sporting an OPS anywhere near 1.136 near May 31.
Deschaine's release took place as part of a series of roster transactions at New Haven, where rosters were trimmed from 24 to 23 on May 1. The Skychiefs had demoted first baseman Shawn Fagan, who'd posted over 100 walks and a .400 OBP with Tennessee last season, but who'd struggled early on with Syracuse. Infielder Jorge Sequea made the trip to New Haven with Fagan. To make room, the Ravens sent infielder Kurt Keene and Dan Jackson to Dunedin, and cut Deschaine.
Jackson's demotion was unsurprising -- a 10.38 ERA in 9 relief appearances -- and Keene and Deschaine were only midly unexpected directives. Keene was batting .315, but it was empty calories: just 3 2B, 1 HR and 4 BB in 73 AB. Deschaine had posted strong power and on-base numbers in the Cubs organization when he was traded, but something happened after his arrival in Jayland: a disappointing .225/.313/.375 at Tennessee in 2002 (with 30 errors in 118 games and third and short), and he was at .268/.341/.388 this year, mostly at first base. He's turning 26 in September, and it was becoming clear he wasn't going to work out. With Felix Heredia already released, the $15 million in savings is now all that's left from that still-wonderful salary dump.
Deschaine's release took place as part of a series of roster transactions at New Haven, where rosters were trimmed from 24 to 23 on May 1. The Skychiefs had demoted first baseman Shawn Fagan, who'd posted over 100 walks and a .400 OBP with Tennessee last season, but who'd struggled early on with Syracuse. Infielder Jorge Sequea made the trip to New Haven with Fagan. To make room, the Ravens sent infielder Kurt Keene and Dan Jackson to Dunedin, and cut Deschaine.
Jackson's demotion was unsurprising -- a 10.38 ERA in 9 relief appearances -- and Keene and Deschaine were only midly unexpected directives. Keene was batting .315, but it was empty calories: just 3 2B, 1 HR and 4 BB in 73 AB. Deschaine had posted strong power and on-base numbers in the Cubs organization when he was traded, but something happened after his arrival in Jayland: a disappointing .225/.313/.375 at Tennessee in 2002 (with 30 errors in 118 games and third and short), and he was at .268/.341/.388 this year, mostly at first base. He's turning 26 in September, and it was becoming clear he wasn't going to work out. With Felix Heredia already released, the $15 million in savings is now all that's left from that still-wonderful salary dump.
I guess this would be a more appropriate thread for posting the Rios update:
Alexis Rios (or as they're calling him now, "Lexis") went 3-3 with a HR and a walk in the first game of today's double header! That's a homerun in three straight games (4 total) and he's now walked 10 times, compared to 8 K's (in 76 PA's).
Alexis Rios (or as they're calling him now, "Lexis") went 3-3 with a HR and a walk in the first game of today's double header! That's a homerun in three straight games (4 total) and he's now walked 10 times, compared to 8 K's (in 76 PA's).