No, really, we don't just publish threads for wins. But ... Mitch Moreland? Derek Holland? Cody Eppley? Really?
Rangers 7, Jays 6. (Discuss.)
P.S. Trivia time ... Texas has the second-best record in the AL right now. Without looking it up -- can you guess which team has the best?
I assume it's still Cleveland with the good record? Lots of hitting so far, and isn't a Cleveland sports rule that one team at a time has to be good enough to be disappointing? Browns in the 80's, Indians in the 90's, Cavs in the 00s...
Last night was a frustrating game to tune in and out of - left the bottom of the ninth with two outs and no one on (I think), came back and Encarnacion has a long AB with two guys on. Before that, I caught the Jays had an early lead, and every time I checked in after that, they were down 1 run, by a different score. 14 hits, and I don't think I managed to see a single one despite watching 9-10 ABs. So to me, it felt like the Jays never had a chance, oddly.
Well, something had to be done about Snider -- would you rather wait another month and see if he crawls up to the Mendoza line? We spent all of 2010 waiting for Aaron Hill to return to form. It didn't happen. It doesn't just automatically happen. Maybe it's true that Snider is having trouble with curveballs, as Gregg Zaun says. If it's true, it's much better for him to work on the problem in Las Vegas, rather than the majors.
As for Cooper -- and I trust Shi Davidi's sources on this one -- this is fantastic news. He's looked very good for the past 10 months, and he didn't seem out-of-place with the Jays in the spring games. If the Jays are willing to deviate from "the plan" on Snider, they can deviate from the plan for Vegas prospects too.
Over the last two seasons Dotel's numbers against LHB are horrific, reflected in an OPS against of 1.000 and .993 in 2009 and 2010 respectively. These marks were compiled over 200 PA. His career OPS split against LHB is .759 over 1571 PA and prior to 2009 was roughly .715. Does this latest sample of performance, roughly 13% of his career total, indicate he has completely lost the ability to get LHB out? If it does, any ideas on what factors might lead to such a drastic change in fortune against hitters of one orientation without anything even remotely similar reflected in his performance against batters of the other orientation?
If it's true, it's much better for him to work on the problem in Las Vegas, rather than the majors.
Why? The Blue Jays coaches didn't agree with you, until apparently today.
During spring training and earlier this month, Jays manager John Farrell said repeatedly that the Jays were “committed” to Snider as an everyday player, intimating that they would let him work through his struggles at the plate without threat of exile to the minors. (John Lott)
It's hardly surprising (or significant) that Farrell would have said that the Jays were "committed" to Snider. They're committed to anyone on the roster, until one day they change their mind, and then suddenly they are not committed. Saying that they are "committed" to someone is pure rhetoric, and a hallowed baseball euphemism. What do you expect Farrell to say? Is he going to say "We're worried about him, but we're keeping him on the roster for the time being"?
The Jays were "committed" to Cecil in the starting rotation, until he stank up the joint and obviously needed help. Then they weren't committed any more.
I suppose the critics will say, "where's the plan?" But do you prefer a GM who sticks rigidly and inflexibly to his early assessments of each player and refuses to respond to the changing evidence on the field?
Snider is a 23-year-old who is struggling in the majors. It's not at all surprising that a struggling 23-year-old might be sent to the minors.
In fact, to be honest, Snider was struggling for a large proportion of 2010 as well -- until a hot streak in September. I saw a quote recently from Anthopolous or Farrell saying that September performances should be put in the same category as spring performances: not very significant. If we accept their advice and discard the September performance, Snider was having issues last year as well. There may be mechanical issues that he needs to work on, and Las Vegas is the place for that.
A lot of fans predicted that 2011 will be a "breakthrough" season for Snider. I suspect that prediction will cloud a lot of people's judgements of the decision to demote him.
Random thoughts:
I agree that this is strange. This does look like a learning experience for John Farrell, his opinions are getting recast on a regular basis, he should be running in Monday's election.
The last time Travis went down on one of these demotions it took him a while to get his head around it, hopefully this time will be different. It is a big boys game and these are big boy moves.
It's almost as if the Jays went into Texas and said wow, we just won 3 out of 4 against a good team, we are back in this, lets get the guys who are in form here.
Finally, having an extra lefty in Yankee Stadium is not a bad thing.
That was a nice call on the bunt by Patterson in the 9th - perfect situation for it. Good decision to leave Francisco is as well. I was hoping they would let him have a shot at finishing. He pitched really well. I think he's the closer soon if not right now.
Great to see Morrow pitching so well. I must get him off the bench on my roto team.
What's going on with Bautista's baserunning? He very nearly got picked off again today, and then there was that bizarre move in the 9th where he started to sprint towards 3rd when the base was already occupied. Zaun speculated that he thought the runner was the 3rd base coach. Anyway, he got away with it. Good to see he wasn't seriously hurt by that pitch at his head. That could have been a disaster.
I see the Snider and Cooper moves are up on Rotoworld. Surprising to see them send Snider down, but I think it might be a good idea. As soon as he starts to get it gear, I'm sure we'll see him back up. I don't think it's a big deal. The promotion of Cooper is interesting. I presume he's going to play at least semi-regularly, so that means he and Lind occupy the 1B and DH spots for the most part. That leaves EE at 3B and Rivera in LF. Sacrificing some defense to get some more offense.
Could be. In my eyes, the win-now move is calling up Thames, who's hitting well too and who enables you keep Rivera out of the field. Cooper's the 'hey, this guy's hot and might never have another chance' move.
