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Your tentative ideal Opening Day lineup against RH pitchers currently includes:

Travis Snider 138 (45.70%)
Eric Thames 52 (17.22%)
Both 104 (34.44%)
Neither 8 (2.65%)
Your tentative ideal Opening Day lineup against RH pitchers currently includes: | 12 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
greenfrog - Wednesday, March 07 2012 @ 12:44 PM EST (#252529) #
I would prefer Snider if his mechanics and mental approach are sound and he's healthy. Otherwise I want Thames (whose floor might be higher). I don't think the Jays should go with Snider if the reality is going to be another year of carnage.
Richard S.S. - Thursday, March 08 2012 @ 04:06 PM EST (#252554) #
If Snider learned what he was sent to AAA to learn, and he can apply it up here, then he'll be full-time LF. (Adam Lind - full-time 1B; Edwin Encarnacion - full-time DH., before someone talks about platooning them at 1B - WRONG).   Eric Thames will play full-time LF wherever Travis Snider doesn't end up playing full-time LF.   I'd like Snider to take the LF job and run with it.    It's still early in Spring Training for a decision to be made yet.   Let's just enjoy the game.
Alex Obal - Thursday, March 08 2012 @ 04:24 PM EST (#252555) #
I didn't give an 'other' option, but that would actually be my first choice. Have Lind, EE, Thames and Snider take turns sitting vs RHP.
TamRa - Saturday, March 10 2012 @ 01:03 AM EST (#252592) #
I think the public professions that snider has to take the job are just message manipulation. they WANT Snider in the job, for his defense, but they are tipping their hat to Thames' 2011 accomplishments and providing strong incentive for Snider

snider will get the job and should, IMO, barring unforeseen circumstances.
greenfrog - Saturday, March 10 2012 @ 02:40 PM EST (#252596) #
I agree with that assessment (especially after Travis's third HR of the spring today - a positive sign, even if we've seen this script before with Gabe Gross).
Richard S.S. - Sunday, March 11 2012 @ 05:32 PM EDT (#252615) #

Cheap Shot greenfrog.

For all his problems, Travis Snider is a better player than Gabe Gross could be.  I listened to the Games on my iPhone, MLB App, and Snider hitting approach has changed - it's what he was sent there to learn.   Go here: http://blog.rogersbroadcasting.com/mikewilner/ and you can find Snider interview(s).   Gabe Gross was intimidated by his first trip to the Majors, that was not one of Snider's problems.   Snider's problems were: consistency and staying healthy.

greenfrog - Sunday, March 11 2012 @ 07:08 PM EDT (#252616) #
How is my comment a cheap shot? I'm just pointing out that ST stats are largely meaningless (using Gabe Gross' power surge in ST several years back as an example); I'm not saying that Snider isn't going to have a good year, or that he isn't a better prospect than Gross was.
Original Ryan - Sunday, March 11 2012 @ 08:33 PM EDT (#252618) #
I'm just pointing out that ST stats are largely meaningless (using Gabe Gross' power surge in ST several years back as an example)

We saw it last year, too. Rajai Davis hit four home runs in spring training, and then hit only one in the regular season. There was a lot of talk last spring about how Davis' approach had changed, and it turned out to be merely that -- talk.

Snider's spring is encouraging, but the numbers are meaningless at this point.

bpoz - Monday, March 12 2012 @ 09:53 AM EDT (#252622) #
I too am convinced that ST does not indicate how a players season will go.
However I don't know how hitters prepare.

Pitchers however work on various things & in stages. I was very impressed by Jack Morris's method of ST preparation. If he thought it would rain in the afternoon he would trade his start for an AM minor league game start. Also he would just throw a specific pitch to perfect it, so everyone know what was coming. He got hammered a lot. M McDade had a V good ML ST in 2009, of course he hit against fringe pitchers late in the game.
I almost think that every spot on the 25 man roster was basically decided before ST and something spectacular + or- has to happen to change this. But I am not sure.
ComebyDeanChance - Tuesday, March 13 2012 @ 06:44 PM EDT (#252671) #
In terms of who is most likely to open the season on the 25 man? To me it has to be Snider because this is his last option year. He has to open the season on the 25 man next spring or pass through waivers to be sent down, and I especially given the uselessness of Las Vegas as an assessment venue I expect that the org will want to assess him as much as possible at the major league level.

As far as the value of spring training stats, I've seen all the home st games and one road one. There's lots of reasons that March and September numbers are considered of less importance, and once you see players teeing off against some of the pitchers on st teams you know why. Even regular pitchers are tailoring their repertoire to prepare rather than perform. I can't imagine that the number of home runs Eric or Travis hit against spring training pitching will be considered heavily, if at all, in determining who opens the season in Toronto.
Richard S.S. - Tuesday, March 13 2012 @ 10:21 PM EDT (#252673) #

The choice between Snider and Thames is much closer than you think, and will come down to:

did you learn what we asked you to learn?   Snider was to develop a new hitting regimen (in the minors, plus consistency), while Thames was to learn better defense.

How well each player does will determine the final decision.

Mike Green - Wednesday, March 14 2012 @ 11:52 AM EDT (#252682) #
Ideal opening day lineup against a RHP: Bautista at first base, Lind DHing, Thames in left, Snider in right.  Chance of it happening: zero.  There is the possibility that the club will run out Encarnacion at first base, Thames DHing, Snider in left and Lind on the DL at the start of the season, if Lind's back is barking. 
Your tentative ideal Opening Day lineup against RH pitchers currently includes: | 12 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.