Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
A walk-off win, a walk-off loss and a slugfest resulted in the #BlueJays affiliates winning two out of three Monday. Dunedin's game in Tampa was rained out. They will look to play two today.


Pawtucket 6 Buffalo 5 (10 Innings)

Despite the best efforts of Dalton Pompey, the Bisons pissed this one away in Pawtucket. The Mississauga native homered twice—from both sides of the plate— and also laid down a sacrifice bunt. Danny Jansen had three hits, including two doubles, drew a walk and stole a base. Jason Leblebijian was 1-for-4 with a walk. Devon Travis was 1-for-5 with a stolen base.

Josh DeGraaf was dinged for three runs in 3-2/3 innings in his Triple-A debut. Luis Santos delivered 3-1/3 shutout innings of two-hit ball with two strikeouts while stranding two runners. Murphy Smith was charged with a blown save and Sam Moll took the loss.


New Hampshire 10 Hartford 5

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. homered and Juan Kelly hit a grand slam to upend the Rockies affiliate. Guerrero, Bichette and Connor Panas all had three hits and Andrew Guillotte added two more. Cavan Biggio reached base four times with a single and three walks.

Jon Harris got the win despite giving up five runs (four earned) over 5-2/3 innings. He was roughed up for 11 hits and a walk while striking out four. Andrew Case stranded a runner while pitching a 1-1/3 innings of one-hit ball. Zach Jackson struck out two over two perfect frames.


Lansing 4 Dayton 3

The Kevins were at it again as Smith and Vicuna enjoyed three-hit nights. Smith hit a game-tying homer in the eighth and delivered the walk-off single in the ninth to score Chavez Young who singled and stole second. Smith also drew a walk to get on base four times. Young had two stolen bases.

Donnie Sellers plunked a couple of men but allowed just three hits and a walk over five shutout innings. He struck out four and got five groundball outs. Maverik Buffo blew the save and gave up three runs over four frames but he wound up with the victory.


*** 3 Stars!!! ***

3. Kevin Smith, Lansing

2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., New Hampshire

1. Dalton Pompey, Buffalo



Extra Innings...
  • The Morning Call from Allentown, PA has a story on Tim Mayza.
  • Artvoice gives the Bisons-Blue Jays partnership a thumbs up.
  • The Buffalo News takes a closer look at Dalton Pompey and catches up with director of player development Gil Kim.
  • Sportsnet has a story on Roger and Kacy Clemens reuniting in Dunedin.
  • The Lansing Lugnuts are mentioned twice on MiLB's Promo Preview.
  • MiLB Pipeline has a feature on Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
Can't Spell Smith without H-I-T-S | 30 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
scottt - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 06:25 AM EDT (#357950) #
Go Pompey. Make them bring you back up.
mathesond - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 07:28 AM EDT (#357952) #
I think you might have the score of the Buffalo game wrong, as it shows a Bisons victory.
hypobole - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 09:02 AM EDT (#357953) #
Some fun stuff from Schoenfield at ESPN on K'ing without walking, headlined by former Jays prospect Jake Marisnick and his amazing 41 to 1 ratio.

Also a bit on Vlad jr. Instagram pranking and oppo-field homering.

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/23507032/real-not-strikeouts-piling-stubborn-hitters

PeterG - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 09:03 AM EDT (#357954) #
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/2018-mlb-mock-draft-v-2-0/

Every recent mock so far has the Jays taking a different player. Jays have been predicted to take Rolison, Naylor,
MCLanahan and now Liberatore. Connor Scott has alo beem mentioned as a possible more than once.
Gerry - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 09:53 AM EDT (#357956) #
Biggio left yesterdays game after a steal attempt. There is a GIF of the play in this article by Arden Zwelling. In the article he takes a look at Vlad and Bo's night.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 10:36 AM EDT (#357957) #
those defensive gifs of vladdy are not good. and with his body type it's only going to get harder for him at the hot corner. Imo this 3B experiment is mostly just wishful thinking.
PeterG - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 11:20 AM EDT (#357959) #
https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/blue-jays-prospect-kevin-smith-on-casting-aside-his-red-flag/
hypobole - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#357960) #
Like Smith's chances for future success a lot more after reading the FG interview. Smart kid.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 12:26 PM EDT (#357961) #
and to go along with that article, he has in fact cut his swinging strike rate down almost in half.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 12:55 PM EDT (#357962) #
Top-5 Most Impressive Prospect Performances so far, IMO:

1.3B V.Guerrero (19, AA): 147pa, 8.8b%/8.8k%, .402bip/.405avg, .262iso, 209wrc+
2.C C.Jansen (23, AAA): 107pa, 10.3b%/13.1k%, .347bip/.311avg, .167iso, 153wrc+
3.2B C.Biggio (23, AA): 130pa, 16.2b%/24.6k%, .323bip/.298avg, .394iso, 199wrc+
4.SS K.Smith (21, A): 151pa, 7.9b%/13.2k%, .421bip/.387avg, .277iso, 197wrc+
5.RH S.Reid-Foley (22, AA): 38.1ip, 29.7k%/11.0b%, .239bip, 1.88era, 2.90fip, 2.99xfip


1.Vladdy is just ridiculous. One of the best prospects ever. Just a perfect line right across, with no weak spots.

2.Jansen is just as good in AAA this year as he was in his end of season stint last year - and that's dominant. And not just for a catcher - even a 1B prospect would be proud of this hitting line, both topline numbers and underlying numbers. He's looking like an elite prospect.

3.Biggio is not just having a breakout, but an explosion. The thing about his insane line is that it surprisingly has so few worry spots. The only thing to keep an eye on there is his high K-rate....which is a legit worry, but with that kind of power is more than acceptable. And then you thrown in the patience, and the contact numbers that don't rely on babip....and man, this guy is quickly turning from non-prospect into a really, really good one. He is arguably a tick old for the level, but even adjusting for age this is a tremendous performance.

4.As amazing as Biggio has been, I almost put Smith above him, because he's a shortstop. In the end though I rank his year so far a tick below because a) his line is a wee bit babippy and b) he's 2 levels lower, which is pretty huge. Otherwise, though, this is the 4th superlative performance in the system this year.

The top-4 performances here are pretty nuts. I doubt any other system in baseball has 4 guys doing anything close to this, given age and level.

5.In a more normal year, SRF would be a real standout too. As it is, his line so far is merely very good, not insanely excellent like the other 4. Unlike some prospects he looks like he's fully bounced back from last year's disaster year, and his numbers make him look like a legit top-end SP prospect again.
bpoz - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 01:02 PM EDT (#357964) #
K Smith and Vicuna should be promoted soon. I hope. There should be enough ABs for everyone. SS, 2B and 3B.

Biggio has played 1B and 2B.

I think that the ML team can use a position player at DH. Rotate, so that everyone gets a day off. Of course some may complain. But our 4th OF should not.
jerjapan - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 01:48 PM EDT (#357965) #
Agreed with your list Ugly.  And what a good sign of the depth of the system that Bichette isn't even top 5 at the moment, and guys like Chavez Young, Yennsy Diaz, Jordan Romano, Tim Lopes, Kevin Vicuna and Travis Bergen don't merit a top five spot. 
uglyone - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 01:53 PM EDT (#357967) #
you know, now that you mention it, I might have to say Bo's 118wrc+ as a 20yr old SS in AA is more impressive than SRF's performance.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 02:10 PM EDT (#357968) #
yeah, I screwed up.

Bo's performance is definitely more impressive than SRF's.
rafael - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 03:11 PM EDT (#357971) #
It weird seeing jays prospects being so position player loaded.
after years of pitching prospects to burn - which they mostly were.
Is our pitching cupboard worryingly bare or is it just being overshadowed by fantastic offensive performances ?
jerjapan - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 03:22 PM EDT (#357972) #
It doesn't help on the pitching side that Maese and Pearson are on the shelf and Pannone got nabbed for a drug violation.  But with SRF, Zeuch, Diaz, Borucki, Romano and Castillo, along with the aforementioned, we are okay in terms of pitching.  But clearly, the offensive side of things is stacked. 
bpoz - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#357975) #
J Dillon, J DeGraaf, T Zeuch and N Pearson are gone from Dunedin's rotation. Still there P Murphy, A Perdomo and T Saucedo. Would a pitcher or 2 be called up from Extended?

If so would he be on a low pitch count?
uglyone - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 03:46 PM EDT (#357976) #
I wouldn't call the pitching cupboard bare.

I'd say Pearson is legit front-rotation prospect, SRF a legit mid-rotation prospect, and Borucki/Zeuch legit bottom-rotation prospects. Then there's a couple younger wildcards beyond that I like such as Castillo and Pardinho.

It's not great, but not bad.
bpoz - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 03:52 PM EDT (#357977) #
Double header in Dunedin. Saucedo and Perdomo can go today. Murphy tomorrow. Then nothing until Sunday's game. They need 3 SPs.
Gerry - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 04:00 PM EDT (#357978) #
Dunedin will just call up some pitchers from extended spring training.
dan gordon - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 04:40 PM EDT (#357980) #
McCown just had an interesting interview with John Schneider, the NH manager on Prime Time. They talked specifically about Guerrero, Bichette, Biggio, Reid-Foley and Romano, with Schneider, of course, having lots of good things to say about each one. Of note, he says that absolutely, Guerrero can become a 3rd baseman in the majors, saying he has a plus arm, and they are working on improving his range.
bpoz - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 04:51 PM EDT (#357981) #
Thanks Gerry. Thanks dan Gordon.
Chuck - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 05:27 PM EDT (#357983) #
Guerrero can become a 3rd baseman in the majors, saying he has a plus arm, and they are working on improving his range.

I have never seen Guerrero play 3B, so I have nothing specific to weigh in on. However, he is a big guy, easily 200 pounds at age 19. I don't know if he's just naturally thick or if there are conditioning issues, but I wonder about someone that young, with that body type, having the dexterity to man third base. (I am aware the Red Sox don't seem happy unless their third basemen are closer to 250 pounds, though to my old eyes, that hasn't worked so well for them.)

I'd be curious to hear from eye witnesses on how he subjectively looks at the position. The "working on improving his range" comment feels like code for "I don't want to criticize the young man, but...".

Obviously the team is best served by having Guerrero and Bichette live as far to the right on the defensive spectrum as they can handle. But a great many prospect has had to take a move to the left once landing in the majors.

Parker - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 06:03 PM EDT (#357984) #
Yeah, range is more an athleticism thing rather than an experience or coaching thing - kind of like saying they're going to teach someone how to run faster.

On the other hand, if Schneider is talking about improving Guerrero's positioning and footwork, that could certainly improve his effective range.
jvictor - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 06:12 PM EDT (#357985) #
I think the most encouraging thing I have heard about VGJ is that he grew an inch between this year and last. If this continues and his weight is more proportionately spread out...?
uglyone - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#357989) #
Chuck - Gerry linked to an article upthread with a number of vladdy defensive gifs
hypobole - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 08:03 PM EDT (#357990) #
Remember when the Tigers signed Fielder and Miggy ended up having to play 3rd? I've watched parts of a few Fisher Cats games and Vlad kinda reminds me of that experiment.

On the bright side, he's gonna hit like Miggy did also.
jerjapan - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 08:29 PM EDT (#357991) #
Interesting prospect insight from Jesse Goldberg-Strassler at BlueJaysNation on the Lugnuts.   He is the broadcaster for the Lugnuts, so take his comments with a grain of salt.  He loves Smith and Young, and has positive things to say about Taylor.   About Clemens, he said "He might have been the best all-around first baseman I’ve ever seen in Lansing". 

Some of the other less-heralded guys:

What I like most about Kevin Vicuña is his athleticism and his ability to put his bat on the ball. You throw it, he hits it. He hits .300+ in his sleep.

Ryan Noda’s walk numbers don’t look real. He walked three more times on Saturday, giving him 38 for the year. You know how many people in baseball have more walks? Bryce Harper, the end.

Yennsy Diaz is 21 years old with mid-90s gas and his change-up has been excellent in working off the fastball.
hypobole - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 08:50 PM EDT (#357992) #
Biggio recovered pretty quickly from that collision at 2nd yesterday. HR #11 in his first PA.
hypobole - Tuesday, May 15 2018 @ 10:23 PM EDT (#357995) #
Bo with his 1st AA HR ties the game
Can't Spell Smith without H-I-T-S | 30 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.