Spring training thread

[GD]

I'm mad that I'm almost getting excited for this season.

 

Approaching it with the same emotional numbness and generally vague emptiness I have pretty much every year since ever.

[John_Havok]

Approaching it with the same emotional numbness and generally vague emptiness I have pretty much every year since ever.

 

Well aren't you the life of the bar mitzvah.

[Nabru]

Well aren't you the life of the bar mitzvah.

 

Can't blame him.

 

Shaping up to be a solid 81-81 season if things break Toronto's way.

[Horses Fart]

I'm mad that I'm almost getting excited for this season.

 

U wont be saying that after the first 13 games and we're 4-9................

[Boxcar]

http://www.forums.mlb.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=ml-bluejays&tid=93277

 

Just went back to the old forum and found this thread about the rotation. What bunch of f***ing idiots.

 

Who is _Heisenberg_? That guy cracks me up. I think it's juiced venting out his rage since he feels the need to act like a little pussy here.

[Frenchsoup]

Can't blame him.

 

Shaping up to be a solid 81-81 season if things break Toronto's way.

 

I think AA can get that up to 82-80 with a solid Sanchez trade at the deadline.

[G-Snarls]

Who is _Heisenberg_? That guy cracks me up.

 

Good work whoever it is

 

[G-Snarls]

As down as I am on the team, I'll admit to being a bit optimistic about Melky. Dude can straight hit and he was killing it last spring before he started physically deteriorating.

[G-Snarls]

Seitzer on Melky:

 

Among Thursday’s arrivals was Melky Cabrera, who toned up over the winter after having surgery to remove a tumour from his spine. Cabrera and Seitzer forged a strong bond during their season together in Kansas City, and picked up right where things left off.

 

“I saw a couple of little things that we’ll address quickly,” said Seitzer. “His approach was a little off today, first day on the field taking live swings. Melky and I have a tremendous relationship so it’s something that I can go right after it and he’ll be receptive to it. He trusts me a lot, and that’s the first thing you have to do, build that relationship and establish some trust.”

[KingKat]

Seitzer on Melky:

 

Among Thursday’s arrivals was Melky Cabrera, who toned up over the winter after having surgery to remove a tumour from his spine. Cabrera and Seitzer forged a strong bond during their season together in Kansas City, and picked up right where things left off.

 

“I saw a couple of little things that we’ll address quickly,” said Seitzer. “His approach was a little off today, first day on the field taking live swings. Melky and I have a tremendous relationship so it’s something that I can go right after it and he’ll be receptive to it. He trusts me a lot, and that’s the first thing you have to do, build that relationship and establish some trust.”

 

Most important story of the spring without a doubt. A healthy Melky could be worth 4 extra wins.

[G-Snarls]

Most important story of the spring without a doubt. A healthy Melky could be worth 4 extra wins.

 

Yep, and he's *capable* of hitting for that much. And just need him to provide even just acceptable defense

[G-Snarls]

Also one of the reasons I want to watch ST games - to see how he's moving and swinging

 

I remember last ST he was killing the ball all the time, hope that's back

[KingKat]

Also one of the reasons I want to watch ST games - to see how he's moving and swinging

 

I remember last ST he was killing the ball all the time, hope that's back

 

Is it crazy to think he might play himself into QO territory?

[G-Snarls]

Is it crazy to think he might play himself into QO territory?

 

A little

 

But not impossible

[G-Snarls]

Is it crazy to think he might play himself into QO territory?

 

AA could use the possibility of a qualifying offer as a threat, in order to despair Melky and Colby's agents, presuring them in to signing team friendly extensions mid season!

 

#LikeADoucheBoss!

[KingKat]

AA could use the possibility of a qualifying offer as a threat, in order to despair Melky and Colby's agents, presuring them in to signing team friendly extensions mid season!

 

#LikeADoucheBoss!

 

If Colby doesn't at least get a QO, I will rage.

[G-Snarls]

If Colby doesn't at least get a QO, I will rage.

 

Oh he will, they have to. Can't let him walk for nothing.

 

QO or a semi-reasonable contract extension

 

You won't get s*** for him in trade mid season. A compensation draft pick is probably more valuable than what you'd get in trade for the guy with 2.5 months before free agency.

[G-Snarls]

Name this player

 

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

So if he's sitting at another sub-.300 OBP and sub-.700 OPS clip, for the 3rd time in 4 years, it should be slam dunk that they offer him $15M+?

 

Obviously not. I should have maybe qualified that by "if he contiunues to play well".

[o2cui2i]

As down as I am on the team, I'll admit to being a bit optimistic about Melky. Dude can straight hit and he was killing it last spring before he started physically deteriorating.

 

I'm most interested in his time home to second... he turned doubles and triples in singles last year. he'll hit, the question will be if he has any legs for both offense and his D. if he can run, this team is a hell of a lot better off than last year keeping in mind, of course, that they sucked moose balls last year and an improvement wouldn't take much.

[ElNik2013]

I'm most interested in his time home to second... he turned doubles and triples in singles last year. he'll hit, the question will be if he has any legs for both offense and his D. if he can run, this team is a hell of a lot better off than last year keeping in mind, of course, that they sucked moose balls last year and an improvement wouldn't take much.

 

 

Barry Davis posted a picture of Cabrera's scar (hope link works):

 

 

https://twitter.com/SNBarryDavis/status/437221954312208384/photo/1

[Boxcar]

Barry Davis posted a picture of Cabrera's scar (hope link works):

 

 

https://twitter.com/SNBarryDavis/status/437221954312208384/photo/1

 

Ugh at that flippydog guy. Calls Melky fat, then laments that he's blocking MOISES SIERRA because apparently Cabrera is "done" but I don't have as many twitter followers as him so I'm wrong.

[GD]

Ugh at that flippydog guy. Calls Melky fat, then laments that he's blocking MOISES SIERRA because apparently Cabrera is "done" but I don't have as many twitter followers as him so I'm wrong.

 

The level of idiocy in those tweets hurts.

[Angrioter]

 

Edwin

"Close to me ... I want balls inside."

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

[fatcowxlive]

Sierra working at first to increase versatility

By Gregor Chisholm / MLB.com | 2/23/2014 5:55 P.M. ET

 

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Moises Sierra began taking ground balls at first base on Sunday afternoon in preparation for a potential bench role with the Blue Jays.

 

Sierra began working out at the position during the winter as he attempts to crack the club's 25-man roster at the end of camp. He is out of options on his contract and cannot be sent to the Minor Leagues without passing through waivers.

 

The 25-year-old is an outfielder by trade but may have to prove he is capable of playing at least one other position in an emergency situation to hold down a spot on the roster.

 

"We wanted to look at it a little bit," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "If we got in a pinch, could he do it? How much he'll play? I wouldn't anticipate seeing a whole lot of it, but we're looking at it.

 

"He doesn't look too bad out there, but that's practice. Normally, everyone looks good in practice. When the game speeds up, it's a different story. But we'll see; he doesn't look too bad."

 

Gibbons seemed skeptical about Sierra's abilities at first but is at least keeping an open mind. The Blue Jays already have Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind available at the position, but whoever doesn't start there will usually get the nod at designated hitter.

 

That's why the Blue Jays would like to increase Sierra's versatility. If either Encarnacion or Lind had to come out of the game the club could turn to Sierra instead of losing the DH. It's not an ideal situation but is something the club hopefully won't have to do very often.

 

Sierra is an early favourite to earn a job in part because of his contractual status. The club still sees some upside in his bat, and he has been mentioned as a potential platoon partner with Lind at DH when there is a left-handed pitcher on the mound.

 

The Dominican native is a career .252 hitter with a .725 OPS in 84 games at the big league level. He regained a favourable status in the organization after he was called up as an injury replacement late in the 2013 season and proceeded to record 15 extra-base hits in just 107 at-bats.

 

Sauce

[G-Snarls]

Guy is all arm and has terrible baseball IQ so... Put him at 1B where he touches the ball all the time but almost never throws it?

 

SMH

[G-Snarls]

Look, if we knew he has going to hit like Goldschmidt or something you do stuff like this to make room for him. But is the bat even going to play??