JA Happ’s rotation spot not secure

[Angrioter]

http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/j-happs-rotation-spot-secure/

[Sparky12]

Good

[Abomination]

Pretty misleading, but the two biggest things I take from that is that Happ may not be 100% (let's face it, a DL stint for him might be the best possible thing for us right now), and that Dustin is feeling fantastic even though he's had trouble finding the strike zone so far (love the upper 90's stuff).

[Sammy225]

Hutch hutch hutch hutch hutch!!!!!

[Convo]

http://www.canadianbaseballnetwork.com/articles/j-happs-rotation-spot-secure/

 

Where is the quote that specifically says Happ is not secure?

[NorthOf49]

Where is the quote that specifically says Happ is not secure?

There is no quote. It's just something Bob Elliot decided was probably true and would make a good title. But it's only in the title, the article isn't actually about whether or not Happ's job is safe.

 

Bad thread.

[wilko]

OP reported.

[Boxcar]

We should alert the authorities at once.

[43211234]

Elliot probably didn't write the title of the article.

[Convo]

....

 

That atrocious

[eastcoastjaysfan]

What's the depth chart look like?

 

Dickey

Buehrle

Morrow

Happ

Redmond

 

Rogers

McGowan

Hutch

Nolin

Stroman

 

Store Rogers and McGowan in the pen to start the year and give them a look if Happ/Redmond gascan.

 

Hutch is obviously the first callup if Rogers and McGowan s*** the bed.

 

We'd be much better served in seeing what we've got with Nolin before giving Stroman a look IMO. Nolin has progressed very well through the system. Let Stroman dominate in Buffalo and reward him with a callup in June-July. A lot of people seem to forget about Nolin. Might not be a 1 or 2 but could definitely develop into a solid back-end guy. Time to see what we've got with him.

[Abomination]

We'd be much better served in seeing what we've got with Nolin before giving Stroman a look IMO. Nolin has progressed very well through the system. Let Stroman dominate in Buffalo and reward him with a callup in June-July. A lot of people seem to forget about Nolin. Might not be a 1 or 2 but could definitely develop into a solid back-end guy. Time to see what we've got with him.

 

Stroman also isn't on the 40 man is he? Some value to not further adding to it until needed.

[DuckDuckGose]

Dickey

Buehrle

Morrow

Happ/Hutch - Hutch can win a rotation spot. AA has a chub for his flow and deception. His Despairado. (Both of these guys would have to fail for Stroman?McGowan to get a shot IMO)

Redmond

 

McGowan - If DM is hitting the strike zone and healthy he is certainly the 6th SP. The Blue Jays FO must be aware of the imminent arm implosion. Milk that arm.

Stroman - Only if he pitches well

Rogers - Will be the long man and spot starter

Romero

Nolin

Drabek

McGuire

[reedjohnsonfan]

What's the depth chart look like?

 

Dickey

Buehrle

Morrow

Happ

Redmond

 

Rogers

McGowan

Hutch

Nolin

Stroman

 

Store Rogers and McGowan in the pen to start the year and give them a look if Happ/Redmond gascan.

 

Hutch is obviously the first callup if Rogers and McGowan s*** the bed.

 

We'd be much better served in seeing what we've got with Nolin before giving Stroman a look IMO. Nolin has progressed very well through the system. Let Stroman dominate in Buffalo and reward him with a callup in June-July. A lot of people seem to forget about Nolin. Might not be a 1 or 2 but could definitely develop into a solid back-end guy. Time to see what we've got with him.

 

Nolin looked awful last year. I actually like Rogers more than any of the other "vet" guys, but that's not saying much. Hopefully Hutchison steps up this season, but it's hard to know at this point.

[Boxcar]

Lmfao, yeah he looked TERRIBLE in just over an inning of work. Minors forever plz.

[Convo]

Nolin looked awful last year. I actually like Rogers more than any of the other "vet" guys, but that's not saying much. Hopefully Hutchison steps up this season, but it's hard to know at this point.

 

I actually thought his command looked good in his 1.1 IP... obviously the results were bad.

[Sparky12]

Are you referencing Nolin's 1.1 IP? My god. You can't be saying he was awful in the minors as it's simply false.

 

Oh you didn't know your fate was determined on your first inning in the bigs?

[CHRIS]

1.1 innings is loads of time to judge a guy, especially for an organization that only needs a bullpen session to determine that they don't want that Chapman guy.

[Angrioter]

While the Toronto Blue Jays originally said the only position up for grabs in the team’s 2014 rotation was the fifth and final spot, that situation appears to be changing.

 

Blue Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos confirmed Wednesday afternoon that J.A. Happ’s back injury and performance have been concerning enough to cause the club to consider other options for the fourth spot in the rotation.

“There could be two [rotation spots available,]” Anthopoulos said. “We’re going to take the best team north. Especially right now with J.A. and his back and his performance—we have to get him on track and get him healthy.”

 

This is a notable change in tone from earlier in camp when the Blue Jays designated Happ as the team’s fourth starter, guaranteeing his spot in the rotation. Of course, that was before Happ took the mound this spring. In his two appearances thus far the 31-year-old has been completely ineffective, allowing six runs while recording just four outs. Happ has given up six hits and walked five as he has struggled to command his pitches and find the strike zone.

 

Anthopoulos believes the struggles could be injury-related. Happ has been suffering from inflammation in his back that began bothering him after his first start of the spring and flared up again after his second start in Fort Myers this past Monday. Team doctors have been unable to find anything structurally wrong with the left-hander’s back and don’t believe he needs to be shut down. Regardless, Anthopoulos said the team is considering pushing Happ’s next start back by two or three days to give him more time for treatment and rest.

 

“I don’t want to make excuses for him, but I wouldn’t say he’s been 100 percent,” Anthopoulos said. “If his back wasn’t bothering him the way it is, I think the command would be a lot better. But that’s my opinion.”

 

Happ feels he can pitch through the pain and is eager to take the mound for his next outing, especially after recording just one out in his last appearance. But if his back pain and performance both continue moving in the wrong direction, it appears his spot in the rotation on opening day could be in jeopardy.

 

“We expect J.A. to be in the rotation. But at the same time, right now his back has flared up on him twice. So, I just don’t know,” Anthopoulos said. “And look, if other guys perform well and they force our hand—we’ll take the best team.”

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/happs-back-injury-opens-up-rotation-spots/

[KingKat]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/happs-back-injury-opens-up-rotation-spots/

 

Sounds like Anthopoulos is using the back injury as a way of saving face rather than admitting that making Happ a lock for the 4th spot was dumb in the first place. and I say that as someone who doesn't hate Happ but he was hardly head and shoulders over the other candidates. Redmond and Hutch for the last two spots sounds good to me. Happ possibly starts the season on the DL and maybe re-enters the rotation down the road depending on how Redmond looks. Either one should be fine in a swing man role. Stroman is, figuratively, the ace in the hole.

[Angrioter]

Sounds like Anthopoulos is using the back injury as a way of saving face rather than admitting that making Happ a lock for the 4th spot was dumb in the first place. and I say that as someone who doesn't hate Happ but he was hardly head and shoulders over the other candidates. Redmond and Hutch for the last two spots sounds good to me. Happ possibly starts the season on the DL and maybe re-enters the rotation down the road depending on how Redmond looks. Either one should be fine in a swing man role. Stroman is, figuratively, the ace in the hole.

 

 

You haven't invented the condoms. This idea ( Happ injury) is known by all of us.

 

Bump "Fire AA trade"

[flafson]

Put him on the DL and get Santana.

[Brenner]

Seems AA bought a lemon with Happ.

[NorthOf49]

Seems AA bought a lemon with Happ.

Should've thrown a bit more quality Houston's way to get Bud Norris instead.

[KingKat]

Should've thrown a bit more quality Houston's way to get Bud Norris instead.

 

Pointless trade was pointless.

[Sammy225]

Can I buy my Hutch jersey yet because I am guaranteeing he will be the 2nd best pitcher on our staff this season.

[KingKat]

Can I buy my Hutch jersey yet because I am guaranteeing he will be the 2nd best pitcher on our staff this season.

 

Why not the best? If we're going to start a bandwagon might as well go all out.

[Sammy225]

Because I am being a Homer and Morrow still holds number 1 in my heart lol.

[TwistedLogic]

Is he drunk?

 

Besides the misleading title, there's this:

 

"Yep. There’s a chance.

 

There’s a chance of rain and a chance Jays fans will stop fretting about their team’s rotation … not so fast."

 

The guy can't structure a sentence, or a thought. There was a similar issue with his article mentioned in the thread about the Jays' catching situation.

 

There's this commentary, which occurs while discussing what happened in a recent spring training game:

 

"A liner by Tampa Bay Rays Desmond Jennings struck Happ in the face, and the lefty injured his knee as well last May which cost him three months after he won the fifth starter’s job from Ricky Romero in the spring. There were recent whispers in Dunedin recently that Happ had been bothered by a bad back."

 

Just completely randomly placed and not flowing to or from anything.

 

And this:

 

This not a step forward for Happ.

 

I know sports "journalists" are not smart folks, generally, but this is the type of writing I'd expect from someone in middle school. A mediocre someone, at that.

Maybe people haven't noticed this, but every single Elliott article has been exactly like this for a few years now, at least since I got back into following baseball. His writing has been atrocious for quite some time, I guess nobody wants to break the news to him that he's way past the point of when he should have retired, and I guess it's taboo to edit the writing of a "hall of famer" so he seemingly publishes the first draft of just about everything without a second look.

[KingKat]

Because I am being a Homer and Morrow still holds number 1 in my heart lol.

 

Since there's no ace, it's really a crap shoot between who will be the best pitcher between Morrow, Dickey, Hutch and Buehrle. There's no ace, it's just a question of who pitches the most like a solid #2. Hopefully it's not Buehrle again because that will mean everyone else crapped the bed. It would be excellent news if it's Morrow but I don't think he still has it in him (I wish I did). Hutch was pretty damn awesome in the minors. If he's all the way back (he clearly wasn't last year), he'll give Dickey a run for his money.