Brett Lawrie Discussion Thread

[RIPEXPOS]

He's starting to heat up and flashing the power again that he showed when he first roared onto the scene in 2011.

 

He's also playing one heck of a second base. For a while I was in the camp that it was crazy to move him off of third, but now? I think you gotta try and keep him at 2nd. His bat is more of an asset there and his range gets put to better use, and it is the more premium defensive position due to the amount of action 2nd baseman see. Just seems to be the more natural fit from a skills perspective, and he's getting more and more comfortable, that play today in particular was extraordinary.

[Deadpool]

With the current make up of this roster, Lawrie at second against righties is a no brainer.

[S33n]

With the current make up of this roster, Lawrie at second against righties is a no brainer.

 

It's funny because most were completely against this.

[RIPEXPOS]

I think it's almost getting to the point where he should be considered the everyday second base going forward...

[Deadpool]

It's funny because most were completely against this.

 

I don't really recall it that way, I think people were skeptical but not totally against it (I know that was my take on the situation)... Though, I think most were pretty sure Francisco would be much more of a butcher at third than he has been.

[HERPDERP]

And you would think the Jays would sacrifice offense at 2B for defense with this line-up.

 

But Francisco has been passable so far, so it's not an issue.

 

I wonder if AA would consider trading Lind, and whether he would have any value. I don't know if I would welcome a Lind trade, but I guess that would depend on the moving pieces in return. We would need a 2B as well.

[Spoonovic]

I just find it weird that his stolen base numbers are low and have been for his whole major league career. He was a guy many people thought would be penciled in for 20 steals a year. He has the speed, is he just bad at getting good leads and having decent instincts?

[Jayday]

His bat is more of an asset when he plays at second? Really,he is a better hitter at second than when he is at third?Or you are saying by him playing second,it leaves third for Fransisco which give the team more offense? Explain please.

[Spoonovic]

His bat is more of an asset at second base ?? I don't understand this statement.

giveDo you mean by him playing at second, the jays play Francisco at third whichs

the team more offense? If so that is a strange way to put it. Or do you think he hits

better when he plays second? Just wondering,I am trying to learn the finer points

that makes a team improve.

 

 

It is harder to find a good hitting 2nd baseman than it is to find a good hitting 3rd baseman.

 

Therefore if you have a guy with a good bat and he could play both 2nd and 3rd, it is much more advantageous to have him play 2nd full time as a good hitting 3rd baseman is a lot easier to find.

 

Just think about how many good hitting 3rd baseman there are in baseball and compare it to the good hitting 2nd baseman (Cano, Utley, Pedroia and Kipnis).

[Solaxys]

It is harder to find a good hitting 2nd baseman than it is to find a good hitting 3rd baseman.

 

Therefore if you have a guy with a good bat and he could play both 2nd and 3rd, it is much more advantageous to have him play 2nd full time as a good hitting 3rd baseman is a lot easier to find.

 

Just think about how many good hitting 3rd baseman there are in baseball and compare it to the good hitting 2nd baseman (Cano, Utley, Pedroia and Kipnis).

 

Carpenter. Love him so much; amazing approach when batting.

If he isn't so loaded in his contract, AA should definitely tried to get him.

[Deadpool]

I just find it weird that his stolen base numbers are low and have been for his whole major league career. He was a guy many people thought would be penciled in for 20 steals a year. He has the speed, is he just bad at getting good leads and having decent instincts?

 

It's one of the weird things about Lawrie, he doesn't even try to steal, and he's a speedy motherf***er, so I really don't get it at all.

[Bunchedundies]

It's funny because most were completely against this.

 

Francisco is a s*** hitter though, power or not, and we do lose some D, 2 hits last night lawrie gets to. But for juan's power for now it's worth it.

[CHRIS]

Francisco is a s*** hitter though, power or not, and we do lose some D, 2 hits last night lawrie gets to. But for juan's power for now it's worth it.

 

Lawrie also makes a play at 2B in the first inning that probably only he makes.

[Bunchedundies]

Lawrie also makes a play at 2B in the first inning that probably only he makes.

 

Yes but it's called the hot corner for a reason, requires more quick reactions at third then second more often then not, but I am OK with the move to second, but I expect francisco to struggle sooner or later, he is not a smart hitter.

[BlueJaysGirl]

I don't really recall it that way, I think people were skeptical but not totally against it (I know that was my take on the situation)... Though, I think most were pretty sure Francisco would be much more of a butcher at third than he has been.

 

I agree. On paper it always looked like a good idea to put him at 2B. At least to me. The guy's defense is amazing. At 2B, he'd have twice the playing field to flash the leather, but it never worked out for various reasons. Plus, 2B has been a black hole for the Jays, so whatever offense you could squeeze out of Brett would be a vast improvement. But if Francisco didn't fall in out laps we're not having this talk at all. He's a 3B.

[BlueJaysGirl]

Yes but it's called the hot corner for a reason, requires more quick reactions at third then second more often then not, but I am OK with the move to second, but I expect francisco to struggle sooner or later, he is not a smart hitter.

 

If he's not a smart hitter, purely one-dimensional, other teams would have figured him out long before now.

[Key22]

If he's not a smart hitter, purely one-dimensional, other teams would have figured him out long before now.

 

Apparently AA has been trying to land Francisco for 2 years. They see something. So far I kind of understand why they've been after him. Francisco will probably wind up as the DH next season and can spell guys at 1B and 3B and maybe OF. You play the guys where they do the most good. Lawrie seems like he could play any position. Great jumping throw from second saved 2 runs possibly changed the game. If he doesn't like to play second I can't imagine why not? He seems quite good there.

[Bunchedundies]

If he's not a smart hitter, purely one-dimensional, other teams would have figured him out long before now.

 

Sample size....his strike ratio is way too high, he is not a smart hitter. He might become one but is not yet. Chases way too many bad pitches, strikes out a tonne.

[BigCecil]

It's one of the weird things about Lawrie, he doesn't even try to steal, and he's a speedy motherf***er, so I really don't get it at all.

 

I have no clear evidence, but anecdotally it looks to me like Lawrie has + speed but not fast acceleration which may be why he doesn't try to steal so much. He is faster going 1st to 3rd than a straight steal attempt.

 

As for the platoon idea I was not a fan of it. I didn't want to mess with the great D Brett was providing at 3rd.

 

But I think he handled it well and Juan has maintained enough OPS so far (and serviceable D) to make it worthwhile for now. Well played by Gibby.

[BigCecil]

I started a thread talking about what we can expect for Lawrie on an avg offensive season a few weeks ago.

 

A lot of different opinions from "Wright Light" to Rasmus-like.

 

I still think his peak was that incredible 150 ABs in 2011 but I think this kid will be + D (@ 2 positions) and an OPS of .800 "ish" every year if he stays healthy.

 

He has come up big for us quite a bit this year and 11 HRs is a solid pace. OPS hanging around .730.

 

Hugely valuable asset with upside that's still cheap.

[S33n]

Apparently AA has been trying to land Francisco for 2 years. They see something. So far I kind of understand why they've been after him. Francisco will probably wind up as the DH next season and can spell guys at 1B and 3B and maybe OF. You play the guys where they do the most good. Lawrie seems like he could play any position. Great jumping throw from second saved 2 runs possibly changed the game. If he doesn't like to play second I can't imagine why not? He seems quite good there.

 

I think it was just the idea of how much work he had put in to being an elite defensive 3B over the last 3 years. Then the thought of being moved back to where he originally started. Kinda like "make up your mind guys". I'm guessing he wants to be the best possible player he can, and to achieve that it takes many,many hours of practice on the finer things at each position.

[BarkatToronto]

Sample size....his strike ratio is way too high, he is not a smart hitter. He might become one but is not yet. Chases way too many bad pitches, strikes out a tonne.

 

I think its imprudent to assume that the guy will struggle surely on him striking out a lot. In any case he won the game for us the other day against the tigers with that 2 run shot.

[Travis_Snider]

on pace for 31 HR and 101 RBI