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I promise you all - if they lose tonight, I refuse to start another series thread until they're at least four games over .500, and thus have sufficient margin to Deal With my Participation.


That was myself, back on the 18th of May, shouldering the blame for the Jays' disappointing performance. Hey, it's sports. You expect rational thought?

The lovely and talented Eephus stepped up and started series threads against Minnesota, New York, Boston, New York (again) and Boston (again.) The kid was on fire, but his Mojo finally ran out against Detroit. Not to worry -  #2JBrumfield took his turn at the wicket as the Jays faced  Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Philadelphia (again). And that also went well. Alas,  those pesky and irritating Orioles broke his streak. Still - it is entirely due to their fine work that it's finally safe for me to show my face again. I thank them. The Academy thanks them.

Snakes are in town. And speaking of wildlife - around 3:00 AM the other night, I'm standing outside having a cigarette. Like the song says, "I got nasty habits." And I'm out there, and I hear a little rustling behind me and I turn and see a small animal emerge from a crop of nearby bush. When I say nearby, I mean four or five feet away. And I thought - "How strange - squirrels don't come out at night." And then I thought "Hang on - squirrels don't have a thick white stripe running down their back."

I didn't know I could still move that fast.

Anyway. Snakes. Jays' ace Marco Estrada (5-2, 2.58) gets the call tonight against Arizona lefty Patrick Corbin (3-6, 4.76). Corbin was an All-Star back in 2013 (14-8, 3.41). He lost all of the next season to Tommy John but he seemed to pick up right where he'd left off when he returned last July. He's been scuffling lately, though - 1-3, 6.28 in his last five starts. Fastball, slider, changeup. He doesn't walk people, and normally he does a good job keeping the ball in the park. He's had a few problems with the home run this season, though, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against all the Jays' RH powers bats at the RC.

Tomorrow night it'll be J.A. Happ (8-3, 3.41) matching up with Robbie Ray (4-5, 4.44), who happens to be another LH who throws a fastball, slider and changeup. He isn't all that overpowering either, so it's as if tonight's game will be a warmup for tomorrow's. Ray actually pitched quite well for the D'Backs last season although he ended up with just a 5-12 mark for his trouble.

As always, the Arizona lineup is built around the great Paul Goldschmidt, a magnificent player wasting the best years of his career on a crappy ball club. Kind of like Jose Bautista in 2010-11. Goldschmidt was born on the same day and in the same time zone as our own Eephus. While they can both play a little ball, I gotta say it. Goldschmidt's better.

This is a young team - Goldschmidt who's still just 28 years old is one of the older guys. They do have Zack Greinke in the rotation, but Greinke and relievers Brad Ziegler and Tyler Clippard are the only significant players on the roster who are on the wrong side of 30.

Random notes: Brett Cecil and Franklin Morales begin their rehab assignments in Dunedin. Jose Bautista has been diagnosed with turf toe and will wear a walking boot for a couple of weeks. Devon Travis moves up to the #2 spot in the order tonight. Tulowitzki will hit 7th.
D'Backs at Jays, 21-22 June | 71 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
scottt - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#325126) #
In a perfect world, this series is an opportunity to catch up with Boston while Baltimore slays the Padres.

James W - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 05:50 PM EDT (#325127) #
I'm sad the Jays are not facing any "Broad Street Bullies" this week.
eudaimon - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 07:31 PM EDT (#325129) #
They are facing some of the ugliest uniforms that I've ever seen though...
Chuck - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 07:58 PM EDT (#325131) #
I was going to say, Arizona deserves to lose for those uniforms alone. Blech.
uglyone - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 08:26 PM EDT (#325132) #
the best fielder in baseball plays for the blue jays. that's pretty cool.
Eephus - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 08:37 PM EDT (#325133) #
While they can both play a little ball, I gotta say it. Goldschmidt's better.

Yeah.... I mean... yeah.
uglyone - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 09:11 PM EDT (#325134) #
for all the fans of today's more traditional lineup, here in the 7th is the first time donaldson/ee have come up with less than 2 outs......just in time for the fireballing reliever.
Magpie - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 09:22 PM EDT (#325136) #
Who is Kevin Barker, and why is he yelling at me?
scottt - Tuesday, June 21 2016 @ 10:05 PM EDT (#325137) #
Too many offensive mistakes again. Making the 3rd out stealing 3rd. Again.
Chasing an outside ball for a double play ground ball on a 1-0 count.
Nevermind the hit and run, I'm sure Carrera can steal second against a lefty who throws curves and sliders.

Mike Green - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 09:36 AM EDT (#325138) #
Tony Blengino makes a pretty persuasive argument that Troy Tulowitzki has been unlucky in 2016.  Few are anticipating a return to his glory years in Colorado, but an above-average hitter playing a decent defensive shortstop is a valuable piece. 
James W - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 09:44 AM EDT (#325139) #
Who is Kevin Barker, and why is he yelling at me?

He's Hazel Mae's husband. Besides that, I don't know what qualifications allowed him on my television.
Bid - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 10:00 AM EDT (#325140) #
Yeah, well...my creeping nightmare is Barker hooking up with Siddall.
Mike Green - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 10:31 AM EDT (#325141) #
In the "I missed it" department, Ian Kinsler is on a Hall of Merit path.  He probably won't chosen by the BBWAA- he's a second baseman of the same general type as Bobby Grich and Lou Whitaker and a slightly lesser player than either.  Maybe he picks it up a bit for the rest of 2016 and wins an MVP award- he could easily hit 35 homers and hit .300 with a 110+ runs scored and RBI.  If that happened, maybe people would see him as being as good as Ryne Sandberg. 
PeterG - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 10:56 AM EDT (#325142) #
Wade Leblanc traded to Mariners for PTBNL and cash.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 10:58 AM EDT (#325143) #
Mike - Blengino's good argument there is buttressed by the fact that many of the changes he anticipates (ld% & babip regression) have arguably already taken place in a big way:

First 132pa: 7.6ld%, .189babip, 52wrc+
Last 70pa: 17.6ld%, .319babip, 150wrc+

PeterG - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 11:00 AM EDT (#325144) #
or cash not and
Bid - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#325146) #
With respect to Mike G's assessment of Kinsler: Three springs ago in the stands at Dunedin a Tigers fan lamented the swap of Fielder to Texas. We told him he would soon be thrilled. And now the Rangers may well finish on top of the AL. Without Prince.
Chuck - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 01:21 PM EDT (#325151) #
The Kinsler/Fielder trade was perfect in illustrating numerous typical fan biases:
  • underappreciation of defensive skills at a key position
  • underappreciation of the cost of poor defensive skills, even at 1B
  • underappreciation of the vastly different replacement levels for 1B and 2B
  • underappreciation of baserunning skills
  • underappreciation of the aging patterns of fat guys
  • overappreciation of strong offensive numbers where all other skills are negatives
uglyone - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 01:41 PM EDT (#325154) #
ceciliani called up. in the lineup for carrera (inj?). travis at leadoff. donaldson and ee bumped back up a spot.


donaldson ee moved back up. nice.

gibbons must have been pissed at himself during the game for pushing them down....because of a carrera hot streak of all things.

nice to see Ceciliani get a chance but damn that woulda been Pompey if he wasn't concussed. and with bautista out a while pompey might have got a good run out there...enough to maybe move bautista to 1B/DH when he returned. damn damn damn.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 01:47 PM EDT (#325155) #
minor achilles injury for zeke
jerjapan - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#325157) #
Wade Leblanc traded to Mariners for PTBNL and cash.

Curious.  Is that a pure reward for Leblanc?  He gets a start in Safeco Friday, if he's going to establish himself anywhere, Seattle seems like a good fit for him.

Don't think anyone is looking great in the AA rotation ... Gabz to AAA I guess?  Are they just hoping to create space for promotions - we've seen a few moves like this recently - Pat McCoy to the Rockies was the last one.
Mike Green - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 02:18 PM EDT (#325158) #
I wouldn't have made the Leblanc move.  I think that he can be serviceable at the major league level.  He would not be my first choice for a call-up, but if Chavez and Hutchison were both in the rotation in a month from now, I could easily see him in a long role in the bullpen. 
greenfrog - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#325161) #
Trading Leblanc (admittedly a very minor asset) to one of the teams they're competing with for a WC spot suggests that the Jays are really counting pennies this year.
Chuck - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 03:34 PM EDT (#325164) #
... or poisoning an MLB opponent with a AAA talent.
Four Seamer - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#325165) #
Either that or they are doing him a solid by moving him to a team that has room for him on the major league roster.  It wouldn't surprise me if that formed part of the basis on which he signed with Toronto in the first place.
PeterG - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#325166) #
Agree. There may well have been a verbal agreement to move him by end of June if not called up to Jays.
Dave Till - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 04:11 PM EDT (#325167) #
I was at Tuesday's game. I have to agree with the consensus: boy, are those Arizona uniforms ugly. Though two or three players and/or coaches wore bright turquoise shoes to go with them, which made them look even stranger. So there's that.

Kevin Pillar had himself a full day yesterday. Making another Superman catch on a ball way over his head - yay! Driving in two runs - yay! Getting thrown out at third base with two out - not so yay.

The Diamondbacks seem to do far less shifting than any other team I have seen. This seems to fit in with their general philosophy of being old-school and stuff. They only shifted for EE, as far as I could tell.
pubster - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 04:31 PM EDT (#325168) #
Greenfrog, I interpret the move to mean that the Jays didn't really want to use Leblanc at the Major League level and that they recognize he's earned a shot.

so instead of letting him stay in AAA all year (which probably isn't what he wants) they moved him to a team where he has a better chance at being a MLB pitcher.

China fan - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 05:23 PM EDT (#325170) #
On the basis of today's game, I'm puzzled by the Jays decision to give up on Michael Bourn this year.  As an outfielder, he seems a heck of a lot more useful than Darrell Ceciliani. 
China fan - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 05:30 PM EDT (#325171) #
"....that woulda been Pompey if he wasn't concussed....."

Not true.  Ceciliani was called up BEFORE the latest injury to Pompey. 

It's very clear that the Jays won't call up Pompey to sit on the Toronto bench.  (Except for a playoff-type situation like last year, when the minor-league season was already over.)  He needs to play full-time.  And he needs to work on his focus issues (the "erratic focus" problem that John Lott documented with quotes from Allenson and Pompey in his recent article).  Until he's resolved that issue, he won't be promoted, regardless of his hitting streaks in Buffalo.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#325173) #
I'll give Happ credit - even though i don't think he's improved substantially, that houdini there is something he never could have done before.
China fan - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#325174) #
To be more specific:  Ceciliani was called up on June 17, and Pompey was injured on June 18.

And I don't really think this is a big chance for Ceciliani.  He'll be back to the bench as soon as Carrera is ready, which will probably be the next game (Friday).   I don't actually see much of a role for Ceciliani on this team, since Goins can back up the outfield. Aside from today's game with his horrendous defensive error, Ceciliani has only played a single inning since his promotion on June 17.  Ceciliani doesn't really have the defensive skills to make him valuable to the Jays in the late innings.  A better move would be to demote Ceciliani and add a second LHP to the bullpen (Cecil or Morales, whoever is ready first).  I'd rather have two LHPs in the bullpen instead of a poor-defense outfielder.  And I'm judging Ceciliani not just on today but on earlier reports from this year.
uglyone - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 05:45 PM EDT (#325175) #
"Not true. Ceciliani was called up BEFORE the latest injury to Pompey.

It's very clear that the Jays won't call up Pompey to sit on the Toronto bench. (Except for a playoff-type situation like last year, when the minor-league season was already over.) He needs to play full-time. And he needs to work on his focus issues (the "erratic focus" problem that John Lott documented with quotes from Allenson and Pompey in his recent article). Until he's resolved that issue, he won't be promoted, regardless of his hitting streaks in Buffalo."


Ceciliani is not on the bench. and neither would pompey be.
China fan - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 05:52 PM EDT (#325176) #
"...Ceciliani is not on the bench. and neither would pompey be...."

Since his promotion on June 17, Ceciliani has been on the bench for every inning, except for today (due to Carrera's injury) and except for one stray inning at the absolute end of a blow-out game against Baltimore.  If Pompey had been promoted instead of Ceciliani, he would certainly have been sitting on the bench too.   It's clear that Gibbons likes Carrera better than Pompey at this stage of their careers. 
uglyone - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 06:35 PM EDT (#325177) #
and now carrera is injured.
Magpie - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 06:48 PM EDT (#325178) #
This Storen-Grilli-Osuna trifecta just might work, no?

Since May 11, Storen has made 15 appearances. All but two of them were scoreless, and on the two occasions he did allow the opposition to score the Jays were already trailing by 8 runs (May 17 against Tampa) and 9 runs (June 8 against Detroit.)
uglyone - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 06:53 PM EDT (#325179) #
storen's passing the eye test too. both the slider and the change look like nasty strikeout pitches.
BlueJayWay - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 07:09 PM EDT (#325180) #
Bullpen is looking better. Cecil should be back soon as well.
Chuck - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 07:13 PM EDT (#325182) #
Speaking of bullpens, no-run DMC worked their magic today: 3 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, 6 strikeouts.
Magpie - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 07:15 PM EDT (#325183) #
Let me see if I have this right. If the season ended today, Toronto would play Boston in the Wild Card game. If successful, they would then play... Texas?

That could be lively.
scottt - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 07:29 PM EDT (#325184) #
When they play 17 days straight, they will need the 4th outfielder for more than late defensive work.
There's no point in putting Goins in the outfield. He's at -0.5 fWar and -0.2 bWAR playing a strong defense at shortstop. With Tulo, Davis and Barney, it's Goins that should down to AAA for extra pitching.

jerjapan - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 07:44 PM EDT (#325185) #
we've actually got one bullpen arm to many when Cecil and Morales both come back.

Osuna, Grilli, Storen, Cecil, Chavez, Morales, Floyd, Biagini.

Biagini is the guy who makes me most nervous - he's been terrible for the whole of June. 

scottt - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 09:00 PM EDT (#325186) #
Biagini is supposed to be there just to eat some innings. He's still doing a good job, but there's no reason to have him out there in high leverage situations anymore. He's still more valuable than Goins.

I'm not sure Morales goes up before Bautista. He's had no spring training.

John Northey - Wednesday, June 22 2016 @ 11:20 PM EDT (#325188) #
Jays are just 2 1/2 behind Baltimore, 1/2 a game behind Boston right now. Texas has the best record in the AL right now, then Baltimore & Cleveland. KC is just 1/2 a game behind the Jays.

On the other end you have Minny, Cincinnati, and Atlanta all 10+ out of the playoffs thus are all in the 'no hope' category and prime trade targets.
cybercavalier - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 01:15 AM EDT (#325189) #
About Wade LeBlanc, I am typing a summary out of posts. Many other LeBlanc's case happen in seasons, so interpretation on his scenario shall shed lights on future player transactions. The question is why LeBlanc was traded to Mariners for PTBNL and cash?

1) Jays didn't really want to use Leblanc at the Major League level and that they recognize he's earned a shot so instead of letting him stay in AAA all year (which probably isn't what he wants) they moved him to a team where he has a better chance at being a MLB pitcher.
2) Is that a pure reward for Leblanc?  He gets a start in Safeco Friday, if he's going to establish himself anywhere, Seattle seems like a good fit for him. Are they just hoping to create space for promotions - we've seen a few moves like this recently - Pat McCoy to the Rockies was the last one.
3a) Trading Leblanc (admittedly a very minor asset) to one of the teams they're competing with for a WC spot suggests that the Jays are really counting pennies this year.
3b) or poisoning an MLB opponent with a AAA talent.
5) Either that or they are doing him a solid by moving him to a team that has room for him on the major league roster. 
6) It wouldn't surprise me if that formed part of the basis on which he signed with Toronto in the first place. There may well have been a verbal agreement to move him by end of June if not called up to Jays.
----
Matt Hague of last season would have got a similar treatment if he had been traded to the Brewers as Lind went.

So LeBlanc gone, Barnes is promoted as a result ? Then Pedromo promoted to cover the space created ?
cybercavalier - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 01:33 AM EDT (#325190) #
If Goins go to AAA so Jio Mier go to AA, who to replace Goins' roster space ?

they will need the 4th outfielder for more than late defensive work.

Former Jays Eric Thames is hitting the ball really well this season in South Korea. .374/.488/.791 K/BB=42/41 in 258 PA
He sustains over 1.100 OPS since 2014 included. He got over 100 walks in about 600 PA last season so he was the MVP for the South Korean KBO league. If KBO is on par to Triple-A or just above, given the fact that Matt Hague was the IL MVP last season and signed for $300,000, would Thames signed for a 2M if he comes back to T.O. in 2016 ?
Joey Bats may be gone. If Saunders stays, is a Thames-Saunders corner OF good for 2016 given that  player salaries is shooting up ?
cybercavalier - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 01:43 AM EDT (#325191) #
Ryan Schimpf  has been promoted after a 1.160 OPS in the PCL, which suggests over .900 OPS in IL. Maybe he would have replaced Goins in Toronto if Schimpf was still a Jays. Then Barney is switched to SS but Schimpf is still not a true OFer.

For over 1.000 OPS leaders, one may need to look at independent league players but promotion comes conventionally (?)  from Triple-A. not by signing someone outside of MLB, during the season.
SK in NJ - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 07:43 AM EDT (#325194) #
Goins should not be on the roster when Tulo, Travis, and Barney are all healthy. He can't hit and is relegated mostly to 2B/SS, which Barney already covers. Ideally, the Jays can acquire someone inexpensive like Ryan Raburn or Sean Rodriguez who could come off the bench and play multiple positions. Right now, Goins is a waste of a bench spot since his role is already accounted for by a better player.

I'm not a fan of 8-man pens, but an 8th reliever would have more value than Goins off the bench at this moment, IMO. Just send him down and call him back up if/when a need arises.
China fan - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 08:41 AM EDT (#325195) #
".....and now carrera is injured....."

With mild Achilles soreness, and he's likely to be back in the lineup tomorrow.  Unless Carrera has some unexpected setback, the 4th outfielder (Ceciliani) will have been required for exactly one game (yesterday).  Is a single game against Arizona really the window of opportunity that you envisioned for Pompey to seize a starting outfield job and relegate Bautista to a DH role, even if Pompey wasn't concussed?

You seem to be judging Pompey entirely on his minor-league numbers, ignoring the well-documented issues that aren't picked up in statistics.  But even if we purely focus on numbers, Pompey is hitting significantly worse in Buffalo this year than Carrera's numbers at the major-league level.   Pompey's BABIP in Buffalo is only 20 points below Carrera's BABIP at the major-league level, so it's not explained by "luck" either.

I recall how many people complained that the Jays had "ruined" Travis Snider by "jerking him around" and failing to leave him in one place long enough.  So, if there's any benefit to stability, let's leave Pompey at one level until he dominates that level and forces his way into the conversation.   And not with the arbitrary end-points of a selected smaller sample of AAA games, either.
Gerry - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 09:08 AM EDT (#325196) #
In regard to LeBlanc......every minor leaguer wants to make it to the major leagues and in particular the older minor leaguers really want to make it as they don't have much time left to make a few dollars for their post baseball lives. Another factor is that the Jays need to sign around 10-15 minor league free agents every season to stock their AAA team.

It is considered normal to let a player go if he is getting promoted to the major leagues and if you are unlikely to need him in the major leagues for your team.

If the Jays told LeBlanc he had to stay, and if they didn't promote him, it would hinder their ability to attract minor leaguers next off-season.
Mike Green - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 09:11 AM EDT (#325197) #
Storen has been used well by Gibbons this month.  He's faced only 7 LHBs (they're 3-6 with a walk), and he's been tough on RHB (opposing managers haven't used pinch-hitters to take advantage).   For the season, LHBs are hitting .390/.490/.756 against Storen.  He's lost a couple of mph on the fastball and it has made it tough for him to get lefties out for the last year.
uglyone - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 09:31 AM EDT (#325199) #
china man you write epic essays about the most minor things. bautista is out for a while. carrera is not a longterm solution and is banged up himself. smoak is sinking fast along with his babip, and even when he comes back it might be best to keep jose away from the outfield. and with tulo back the current longterm bench includes 2 glove infielders and no real bat, which was smoak's spot last year.

pompey was playing well, and this would have been a real chance for both pompey to make a claim on a starting spot and for the team to consider a permanent roster shakeup with big implications both this year and heading into the offseason.

except he's concussed. that sucks.
uglyone - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 09:57 AM EDT (#325200) #
Turns out Leblanc had an opt out that expired on june 15, but when the mariners came calling needing to fill in for taijuan walker they weren't dicks about it.
jerjapan - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 09:59 AM EDT (#325201) #
I've always worried that someone would misspell China's name that particular way ...

Gerry, I'm sure that's it about Leblanc, although it does somewhat make me question Atkins statement of a month ago that Diamond and Leblanc were pitching well enough to contribute to the big league club.  cash considerations and one blowout relief appearance don't really qualify as 'contributions' IMO. 

But regardless, I'm always happy minor league vets, esp the career AAAA guys like Schimpf and Hague who finally get a chance. 

SK in NJ - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 11:17 AM EDT (#325204) #
I figured the LeBlanc decision was based on doing him a favor rather than depleting the AAA team for cash. If the Jays did not plan on using him in the bigs and the Mariners did, then it was a goodwill move by the organization. If the part about the opt out is true, then that adds to it.
uglyone - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 11:58 AM EDT (#325206) #
well, I didn't lie about it.
SK in NJ - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 12:18 PM EDT (#325207) #
Until Ken Rosenthal reports it, I don't believe it.

Unfortunately, he probably doesn't care enough about LeBlanc to even ask any of his sources about it.
SK in NJ - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 12:23 PM EDT (#325208) #
I don't think this will happen, but Bautista at 1B and Pompey in the outfield is really the way to go in the 2nd half, especially if Smoak doesn't take advantage of these everyday AB's. I did not watch Pompey in the outfield that closely last season, nor do I know how he looks in the minors this year, but if he can play an average to above average RF/LF, then he's a massive step above Bautista, and obviously JB at 1B presents a lot of advantages (possibly less wear on his body, less defensive responsibility, etc). Whether Pompey is healthy and good to go is another story.

As smart as Bautista is about value, he has to know his defense is slipping to the point where Carrera has a higher WAR than him right now. Time to cut the cord on right field.
uglyone - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 12:24 PM EDT (#325209) #
http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/mariners-acquire-veteran-left-hander-wade-leblanc-from-the-toronto-blue-jays/

"Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto continued to make moves on Wednesday, acquiring veteran left-handed pitcher Wade LeBlanc from the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Since it’s a minor league trade, LeBlanc does not have to be added to the 40-man roster. But he soon will be. By all indications, he will start on Friday night in Seattle against the Cardinals in place of Taijuan Walker, who is battling tendinitis in his foot. LeBlanc last pitched on Sunday for Buffalo. The Mariners will have to make a roster move to add LeBlanc to the 40-man and 25-man roster.

LeBlanc had an opt-out clause in his minor league contract for June 15.

“We were over in Tampa and we knew our pitching staff was in some degree of turbulence,” Dipoto said. “That’s right about when we were battling through with Wade Miley. We felt like we wanted to go internal for that start. But when the issues sprung up with Taijuan’s foot, then we were of the mindset that we need to go outside of the organization to find a little more depth. We had just engaged with the Blue Jays and then tapped back in. The window for his exit had closed, but they were great to deal with and they accommodated our needs.”...."
cybercavalier - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#325211) #
As smart as Bautista is about value, he has to know his defense is slipping to the point where Carrera has a higher WAR than him right now. Time to cut the cord on right field.

I believe some posters including myself have put JoeyBats as LF in lineups last season and such alignment may be reality this season. How about Saunders in RF which he played at for Seattle ? Carrera would play anywhere in OF if chance arises. JoeyBats himself would be an LF/1B.

Thank Gerry and Jerjapan for input on Wade LeBlanc. The Jays needing to attract veterans to play for the BIsons is a bottom line; otherwise Matt Hague of last season, Wade LeBlanc and Ryan Schimpf of this season, Randy Ruiz seasons ago and other surprising veterans would not have performed in the first place.

About veterans, I am guessing whether David Adams in Buffalo is becoming a Frank Menechino or Marco Scutaro type of infielders
: about the same strikeout and walks, around .300 avg and just under .900 OPS in Triple -A.
If so, the Jays has acquired another piece who is becoming an mini asset -- not possible if he did not sign a minor league contract with the Jays.

About getting a 4th OFer to be helpful for the Jays and replacing Goins as a side-effect, Ceciliani is the current internal solution. Pompey shall be given the chance to improve his weakness in hitting; for power. Domonic Brown and Junior Lake are underperforming based on stats. Melky Mesa is an unknown.
SK in NJ - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#325212) #
Just to be clear, I was joking about needing Rosenthal to clarify to believe it. I wrote "if true" about the opt out because I did not read about it myself so I didn't want to write it definitively. I wasn't doubting you. Thanks for the article to clarify it though. Regardless of the opt out, I think it's a good move by the org. Shapiro's regime looks like it will value the "on the fringe" vets to take up AAA spots for the foreseeable future (hitters and pitchers), and stuff like this will help the perception.

I also think if a real emergency called for a AAA starter not named Hutchison to start for the Jays, they'd probably look towards Not-Fausto first regardless of whether LeBlanc was available. So this was throwing a bone to LeBlanc, really. Nothing more, nothing less.
SK in NJ - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#325213) #
"I believe some posters including myself have put JoeyBats as LF in lineups last season and such alignment may be reality this season. How about Saunders in RF which he played at for Seattle ? Carrera would play anywhere in OF if chance arises. JoeyBats himself would be an LF/1B."


Saunders is playing a poor LF right now, likely at least partly due to his knee/injuries, and pretty much everything about Bautista defensively has declined (arm was his calling card and even that's not the same). I don't think switching their corner spots will improve their defense. Moving one of them to 1B and improving RF/LF with someone (Pompey or otherwise) would benefit the roster, IMO. Smoak is right back to average with the bat, so he's very replaceable, and combined with Colabello to start the season, they've been a net negative at 1B all season (moreso Colabello, who was terrible, while Smoak just looks average/replacement level again). That's one spot the Jays can drastically improve internally.
rpriske - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#325216) #
So the Rockies are officially releasing Reyes. That means a team could get him for the league minimum. Think he is better than Goins?


On second thought... no. I would rather have Goins. And I REALLY don't think Goins should be on the team.

cybercavalier - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 05:43 PM EDT (#325220) #
Maybe the Royals wants him if Alcedes Escobar is the worst leadoff hitter.
jerjapan - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 05:55 PM EDT (#325221) #
I've seen Reyes mentioned in connection to the Royals - they released Omar Infante's ghost earlier in the season, Escobar is horrible as a leadoff hitter and rookie surprise Whit Merrifield is 27 and clearly playing above his head.  Plus, Reyes fits their budget - free.  They don't really seem to have a problem with bad character types - makes sense to me!


John Northey - Thursday, June 23 2016 @ 10:49 PM EDT (#325223) #
Glad to see the new front office is keeping it classy with other teams and players. By letting LeBlanc go to Seattle for next to nothing they let AAAA players know the Jays will let them have a shot if one comes and make it so the Mariners are more likely to call the Jays first in the event they want to get rid of a player or get a player.

As long as they don't go all Gord Ash and take broken stuff in trades then cry about not being smart enough to do a physical.
cybercavalier - Friday, June 24 2016 @ 12:13 PM EDT (#325229) #
I agree with Northey on creating a classy image that is positive to future Jays' transactions but does LeBlanc worh more than next to nothing ? The second paragraph covers it.
Mike Green - Friday, June 24 2016 @ 04:06 PM EDT (#325241) #
Ceciliani down, Lake up.

Lake will probably get the start tonight against the lefty with Carrera and Bautista still out. 

Mike Green - Friday, June 24 2016 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#325243) #
I was wrong.  Carrera is back in the lineup in left-field, with Saunders DHing, Lake in right and Encarnacion at first base. 

With Bautista out, the club will see 4 lefties in 5 games.  Too bad about the timing.

jerjapan - Friday, June 24 2016 @ 06:57 PM EDT (#325246) #
I'm strangely optimistic about Lake - always thought he was a legit prospect with Baltimore.  As much as I pulled for Cecilliani in spring training, i think Lake has a better chance of sticking with the team.

That said, this is a straight lefty / righty swap.

cybercavalier - Sunday, June 26 2016 @ 06:31 PM EDT (#325299) #
This is a post for completeness.

1) Former major league Jays, Lind and minor league Jays LeBlanc contributed to a Mariners' win. Hopefully this win would contribute to the Jays' image on well treatment of veterans by trading them away for opportunities of play.

2) Lake reached MLB before this season whereas Ceciliani has not but Lake underperformed in terms of stats in Buffalo...

That's all
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