As Steve Z. alerted us in the Saturday Roundup thread, the National Post ran one of John Lott's typically fine articles, entitled Doc's Breakfast Club. For reasons best known to the Post, only the first paragraph is available on their Web site, unless you register with them. However, after an e-mail exchange with Mr. Z., Mr. Lott has given us permission to reprint it here. Thanks very much, gentlemen.
By John Lott
DUNEDIN, Fla. - They had come to learn from the master, but the master was just as interested in learning about them.
Roy Halladay had heard the stories about the Blue Jays' remarkable crop of pitching prospects, and he wanted to see for himself. He also wanted to help them avoid some of the pitfalls he'd encountered on his arduous road to the Cy Young Award.
So a few weeks before spring training started, Doc Halladay's Breakfast Club convened at the Jays' training complex. It was an unusual scene - the club's best pitcher, a conditioning fanatic, sharing trade secrets with a group of mesmerized apprentices, some with less than two pro seasons under their belts.
"I was really interested in who these guys were, what their personalities were like, sharing my work ethic with them, finding out what I could do to help get them on board," Halladay said yesterday.
It was Halladay's extraordinary way of welcoming his future brothers in arms and acknowledging that they, as much as he, hold the key to the Jays' success over the next few years.
"I learned the hard way," he said of his rapid rise through the minors, inexplicable fall from the top and remarkable resurrection after a mechanical and mental makeover. "It's almost liberating once you start learning things that can actually help. It's exciting to find something that works. I just want to help other guys find it too."
Dick Scott, Toronto's director of player development, invited the cream of the prospect crop to the Breakfast Club. Halladay's work as mentor represented the essence of team commitment, he said.
"Doc took all those young guys under his wing and showed them his workout," Scott recalled. "It was so important for these young pitchers to see how a Cy Young Award-winner works and what it takes to be a major-leaguer."
Many youngsters will try to prove they have what it takes over the next few springs as a new wave prospects comes changing into Dunedin with their eyes on big-league jobs. It's a big wave, too, laden with remarkable talent.
No one can ever be sure how a Triple-A terror will perform in The Show. Early in their careers, such luminaries as Halladay, Carlos Delgado and Vernon Wells briefly reached the top, only to stumble back to the minors for more seasoning.
"I don't know how these guys are going to react when they get up there," Scott says. "But I sure do like them as prospects."
As a group, they are significant in another way: Many of them are J.P. Ricciardi's draft picks. The core players on the current big-league club -- Delgado, Halladay, Wells, Josh Phelps, Orlando Hudson, Kevin Cash, Chris Woodward, Reed Johnson -- came up under the Pat Gillick-Gord Ash regimes. In those days, the Jays were known for drafting the young and the raw and letting them take five or six years to develop.
The Ricciardi mantra calls for picking more mature, experienced college players who will rise quickly and return an early payoff. He has also loaded up on pitching, looking to start a parade of homegrown arms that will keep the big-league club stocked with young, cheap talent.
"When I got here, there were some good players in place," Ricciardi says. "What we've tried to do is just keep adding to that, whether through trades, or Rule Fives or free agents, and now we're using all our resources to try to get better.
"It's fun to look out there and see Hudson, Phelps, [Eric] Hinske, Wells and Halladay as the first wave, and now you have another wave coming, and that first group will be veteran players by the time the next group comes along. It's going to be a nice atmosphere to be involved in."
With evaluative input from Ricciardi, Scott and manager Carlos Tosca, here is a look at 12 of the top prospects in the next wave.
POSITION PLAYERS
ALEXIS RIOS, 23, of: Generally regarded as the Jays' No. 1 prospect, Rios tore up the Double-A Eastern League last year, winning the MVP award by posting .352-11-82 offensive numbers with an on-base percentage of .402. "He has all the tools -- he hits for power, hits for power to the opposite field, plays centre field and right field, and puts the barrel on the ball as well as anybody," Scott says. "He's 6-foot-5 [and 200 pounds] and he hasn't even started growing into his body yet." Needs better plate discipline and defensive awareness. Will start the year in Triple-A, but could reach Toronto before season ends.
GUILLERMO QUIROZ, 22, c: A smart, energetic catcher who handles pitchers well, Quiroz has evolved from a low-average pull-hitter into a line-drive gap hitter with excellent power potential. Last year in Double-A he hit .282-20-79, by far his most productive year. Nailed 44 per cent of would-be base stealers last season. A good bet to reach Toronto a year from now.
GABE GROSS, 24, of: Gord Ash's last No. 1 pick, Gross made it to Triple-A in his third season. Former Auburn quarterback slumped in his second year but rebounded with a solid 2003 (.280-12-74). Gap hitter with good power potential. Scott: "Gabe is a very disciplined hitter. His swing looks a lot freer this year." Will start season at Triple-A, but Ricciardi pegs Gross, along with Rios, as the position players closest to major-league readiness.
RUSS ADAMS, 23, ss: Top draft pick in 2002 will start in Triple-A after only 1 1/2 pro seasons (.280 batting average, .372 on-base percentage). "He's one of those proverbial baseball players who has a great feel for the game," Scott says. Talk of him moving to second base will have to wait." You try to keep these guys playing shortstop as long as they can because it enhances their ability to play other positions," Scott explains.
AARON HILL, 22, ss: Like Adams before him, Hill was drafted No. 1 last year, started play in June with a short-season club and finished at High-A Dunedin, logging a .324 average and .397 on-base percentage. A better hitter than Adams, he needs to improve on defence. Scott: "He has a great attitude and aptitude and a chance to be a very good hitter at the big-league level." Will likely start at Double-A. Hill and Adams' development will put pressure on incumbent middle infielders Chris Woodward and Orlando Hudson.
PITCHERS
DUSTIN McGOWAN, 22, rhp: Baseball America magazine says he could arrive in Toronto this season and "has better stuff than Roy Halladay." But he's no Doc yet, as he proved in a spring game this week when he tried to escape trouble by using nothing but fastballs and took a pounding. "He's got dominant stuff, but he needs more innings and needs to learn to throw his breaking ball and changeup when he's behind in the count," Scott says.
DAVID BUSH, 24, rhp: A second-rounder in 2002, Bush is 15-8, 2.74 in 1 1/2 seasons. Has excellent control of three pitches. "He can see what the hitter is trying to do and attacks that," says Tosca, who has been impressed with Bush's maturity and effectiveness in spring games. Will start this year in Triple-A.
BRANDON LEAGUE, 21, rhp: Another youngster who has made the most of his spring opportunities in big-league exhibition games. Scott: "Anytime you see somebody throwing a slider 94-95 miles an our, it gets your attention." Needs to work on "concentration, day in and day out," Scott adds. Ticketed for Double-A.
FRANCISCO ROSARIO, 23, rhp: After a sensational 2002, Dominican power pitcher missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery. Then in fall camp, he stepped on a mound for the first time in more than a year and topped out at 96 mph. His rehab regimen added significant upper body strength, Scott says. Ricciardi says Rosario has closer potential. Will start the season in High-A Dunedin then move north to Double-A New Hampshire when the weather warms up.
VINCE PERKINS, 22, rhp: Victoria, B.C. native logged a 2.24 ERA and struck out 129 in 129 innings while splitting last season between low-A Charleston and high-A Dunedin. Opponents batted .179 against him. At 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, has ideal pitcher's build. Scott says he needs to "clean up" his mechanics and avoid trying to throw too hard when he gets in trouble. May return to Dunedin or move up to Double-A.
ADAM PETERSON, 24, rhp: Closer material. In 1 1/2 seasons, Peterson is 7-6, 2.72 out of the bullpen. Pitched at three levels last year, finishing at Double-A. Scott says he's sometimes too excitable on the mound and tries to make too many "perfect" pitches. But the Jays like him enough to promote him to Triple-A. "If he gets on a roll, he could be in the big leagues soon," Scott says.
JASON ARNOLD, 24, rhp: Former Yankee second-rounder saw his stock fall after a 4-8, 4.33 stint at Syracuse last year. Turns out he had lost his release point, causing reduced velocity. "His arm slot was too high. Now he's back at a three-quarters slot. I look for him to bounce back at Triple-A this year," Scott says.
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