Offseason roster thread 2014

[Frenchsoup]

2 things,

 

1. I don't want Drabek or Delabar coming anywhere near this team.

 

2. Hopefully they can sign a Liriano or Mccarthy for that 5th starter spot.

[baubau]

2 things,

 

1. I don't want Drabek or Delabar coming anywhere near this team.

 

2. Hopefully they can sign a Liriano or Mccarthy for that 5th starter spot.

 

If Delabar comes back like its 2013 he can gets as close as he wants to this team. I do hope they can find a way to move Mark B this year, ideally while its still the offseason. Nothing against him but its his final year and I don't see him coming back next year. You know, the whole pit bulls aren't allowed in Toronto thing. Might as well ship him for what you can get and sign McCarthy.

[TwistedLogic]

Ya Pompey hitting 2nd is pretty dumb. Putting your presumably 8th best hitter in a spot where one of your top 3 should go isn't very smart. Pompey's no Zack Cozart though at least.

 

I can see where you're coming from in moving Pompey 8th and sliding everyone else up a spot, but why are we presuming that Pompey will be the 8th best hitter on the team though? He's destroyed every level he's played at, if he translates well to the majors, he'd fit perfectly in that spot on the lineup. If he doesn't, the lineup can always be reshuffled.

 

He doesn't even have to be nearly as good as he was in the minors to be a better or more reliable bat than Saunders, Smoak and Martin.

 

If Delabar comes back like its 2013 he can gets as close as he wants to this team. I do hope they can find a way to move Mark B this year, ideally while its still the offseason. Nothing against him but its his final year and I don't see him coming back next year. You know, the whole pit bulls aren't allowed in Toronto thing. Might as well ship him for what you can get and sign McCarthy.

 

It doesn't matter if you don't get anything back for him if he can give you 200 decent innings in a contending year.

[TwistedLogic]

Edwin as Designated Gangster is a good choice though.

 

Hah, nice catch.

[burlingtonbandit]

I can see where you're coming from in moving Pompey 8th and sliding everyone else up a spot, but why are we presuming that Pompey will be the 8th best hitter on the team though? He's destroyed every level he's played at, if he translates well to the majors, he'd fit perfectly in that spot on the lineup. If he doesn't, the lineup can always be reshuffled.

 

He doesn't even have to be nearly as good as he was in the minors to be a better or more reliable bat than Saunders, Smoak and Martin.

 

 

 

It doesn't matter if you don't get anything back for him if he can give you 200 decent innings in a contending year.

 

He hasn't destroyed every level he has played at. First off he strikes out a lot so I'm not sure you want that in a #2 hitter and why put extra pressure on the kid? Pompey is a guy who seems pretty fragile mentally so the last thing you want to do is try to make him feel like he has to be better than he is.

[Angrioter]

Bad times

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v22209829/wshtor-morrow-exits-in-first-with-apparent-injury/?query=morrow+injury

http://m.mlb.com/video/v22249727/wshtor-drabek-tweaks-elbow-exits-game-in-fifth/?query=drabek%2Binjury

http://m.mlb.com/video/v22304321/phitor-hutchison-exits-the-game-after-nine-pitches/?query=hutchison+injury

[KingKat]

Bad times

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v22209829/wshtor-morrow-exits-in-first-with-apparent-injury/?query=morrow+injury

http://m.mlb.com/video/v22249727/wshtor-drabek-tweaks-elbow-exits-game-in-fifth/?query=drabek%2Binjury

http://m.mlb.com/video/v22304321/phitor-hutchison-exits-the-game-after-nine-pitches/?query=hutchison+injury

 

Clearly, Alan Ashby on T.V. was a curse on the Blue Jays.

[glory]

My lineup (based on current players) would be:

 

SS Reyes

RF Bautista

DH Encarnacion

3B Donaldson

CA Martin

LF Saunders

1B Smoak

2B Travis

CF Pompey

 

Put the four best hitters at the top. If you want Martin hitting 2nd, then put him #2 with Bautista, Edwin, and Donaldson following. Everything else stays the same.

[TwistedLogic]

He hasn't destroyed every level he has played at. First off he strikes out a lot so I'm not sure you want that in a #2 hitter and why put extra pressure on the kid? Pompey is a guy who seems pretty fragile mentally so the last thing you want to do is try to make him feel like he has to be better than he is.

 

A guy who went from Rookie ball to the Majors in one year seems mentally fragile? LOL

 

And yes. Yes he has destroyed every level:

 

http://i.gyazo.com/1d25210bbd335b6c58126d46abf618b1.png

 

124 wRC+ at 18 years old in Rookie ball.

159 wRC+ at 19 years old in Low-A.

115 wRC+ at 20 years old in Class-A.

150 wRC+ at 21 years old in High-A.

138 wRC+ at 21 years old in Double-A.

137 wRC+ at 21 years old in Triple-A.

 

Even though it's a small sample at almost every level, he has dominated in those small samples. There isn't a league he's played in so far where he was even average offensively.

 

He's also got far better plate discipline than you give him credit for. Just because he struck out a lot in a 40 PA sample at the majors doesn't negate the fact that throughout 1400+ PA's in the minors, he's got a BB rate of 11.7% for a K rate of 19%; that's better than Josh Donaldson's career K/BB rates.

 

Anyways, the point I was trying to make is that there is absolutely no harm in giving him a shot at the 2-hole if he performs well at the majors. He profiles very well in that spot, and if he does well enough, I would have no problem with him pushing Reyes out of the leadoff spot either. I don't get why he's randomly being projected to be the 2nd worst hitter on a team that features Smoak, Martin and Saunders, all guys that have yet to show that they can be consistent offensive threats.

[GD]

Anyways, the point I was trying to make is that there is absolutely no harm in giving him a shot at the 2-hole if he performs well at the majors.

 

Unless you believe he's a better hitter than Josh Donaldson, yes, there is.

[Candy Maldonado]

[Orgfiller]

Is that Norris? Man his beard grows fast.

[burlingtonbandit]

A guy who went from Rookie ball to the Majors in one year seems mentally fragile? LOL

 

And yes. Yes he has destroyed every level:

 

http://i.gyazo.com/1d25210bbd335b6c58126d46abf618b1.png

 

124 wRC+ at 18 years old in Rookie ball.

159 wRC+ at 19 years old in Low-A.

115 wRC+ at 20 years old in Class-A.

150 wRC+ at 21 years old in High-A.

138 wRC+ at 21 years old in Double-A.

137 wRC+ at 21 years old in Triple-A.

 

Even though it's a small sample at almost every level, he has dominated in those small samples. There isn't a league he's played in so far where he was even average offensively.

 

He's also got far better plate discipline than you give him credit for. Just because he struck out a lot in a 40 PA sample at the majors doesn't negate the fact that throughout 1400+ PA's in the minors, he's got a BB rate of 11.7% for a K rate of 19%; that's better than Josh Donaldson's career K/BB rates.

 

Anyways, the point I was trying to make is that there is absolutely no harm in giving him a shot at the 2-hole if he performs well at the majors. He profiles very well in that spot, and if he does well enough, I would have no problem with him pushing Reyes out of the leadoff spot either. I don't get why he's randomly being projected to be the 2nd worst hitter on a team that features Smoak, Martin and Saunders, all guys that have yet to show that they can be consistent offensive threats.

 

Well he has said in interviews that he often gets frustrated when he doesn't get a hit every AB and that even though he was playing well last year he wasn't having fun playing baseball. Also on Twitter he often tweets like a 14 year old girl who just broke up with their boyfriend. That sounds to me like he isn't the most stable mentally and that if he doesn't play well for a stretch of time could lose focus.

 

There is a ton of harm putting him in the 2-hole. First of all, there are 5 players better than him who would be better choices. Second of all, if he feels too much pressure hitting at the top of the lineup he could press and try to do too much which gets him out of rhythm and bad habits are created.

[dineke]

Lol I don't think he should be number 2 either, but the theory that he would feel too much pressure in that spot instead of say, the 8-hole is as much armchair psychology there is.

[GD]

Well he has said in interviews that he often gets frustrated when he doesn't get a hit every AB and that even though he was playing well last year he wasn't having fun playing baseball. Also on Twitter he often tweets like a 14 year old girl who just broke up with their boyfriend. That sounds to me like he isn't the most stable mentally and that if he doesn't play well for a stretch of time could lose focus.

 

There is a ton of harm putting him in the 2-hole. First of all, there are 5 players better than him who would be better choices. Second of all, if he feels too much pressure hitting at the top of the lineup he could press and try to do too much which gets him out of rhythm and bad habits are created.

 

interview + twitter = mentally unstable? And you called out ECJF for knee jerk reactions? lol

 

Also, there isn't a ton of harm in putting him in the 2 hole. Probably a couple runs, but lineup construction itself is worth about a win over a full season. While that's important, a ton is misleading.

[King]

Lol the interview was saying in 2014 he was a lot mentally stronger and having more fun than 2013.. where in 2013, he got down on himself every at bat.

 

And the twitter comment, *facepalm*, lol burlington

[GD]

Lol the interview was saying in 2014 he was a lot mentally stronger and having more fun than 2013.. where in 2013, he got down on himself every at bat.

 

I remember this now. looooool burlington

[RIPEXPOS]

The point is there is no harm in bringing him along slowly, let him force your hand. Especially with Saunders in the fold, do we really expect he will out hit Saunders as a rookie?

[King]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/pompey-having-more-fun-as-opportunity-emerges/

 

I remember this now. looooool burlington

 

MESA, Ariz. – One thing that’s become increasingly clear this week is just how much confidence the Toronto Blue Jays have in Dalton Pompey’s ability to contribute in centre field next year.

 

They wouldn’t have been able to trade Anthony Gose to the Detroit Tigers for second base prospect Devon Travis otherwise, leaving them to bank only on Kevin Pillar. Multiple viable options were needed.

 

So what started out as a three-horse race to take over from the departed Colby Rasmus in centre field last September is now down to Pompey and Pillar, barring a trade, with a competition between the two set for spring training.

 

In talking about the soon-to-be 22-year-old from Mississauga, Ont., before the trade, Alex Anthopoulos said Pompey has “tremendous upside.”

 

“The ingredients are there, he can be a complete player, he can be an above-average defender in centre, but I still think he needs to tighten up some things, and he’s been doing that in the Fall League,” the GM added. “Continue to get better with his routes, continue to get better with his throwing mechanics and not getting on the side of the ball, getting on top of the ball, because he’s got the arm-strength, and continue to have quality at-bats. That’s what we like about his offensive game, he grinds out at-bats, he’ll work a walk, it’s a quality at-bat each time.”

 

Told of the Anthopoulos’s comments Wednesday at Cubs Park before taking the field for Mesa’s AFL game against Peoria (he singled in the first, got stuck in the mud on a wet slide into second, slammed his head into the ground and came out for precautionary reasons), Pompey was grateful.

 

“It’s all positive,” he said. “Anything I can take from what Alex says or what John Gibbons says I’m going to listen and I’m going to apply it,” said Pompey. “For them to come out and say good things about me is only going to help going into next year. They believe in me, and if they believe in me I can believe in myself. I definitely have that confidence going into spring training that if I play well, there’s a good chance I can be where I want to be, and that’s the opening day centre-fielder.”

 

Here’s the rest of our conversation:

 

Sportsnet: The Blue Jays feel your plate discipline is one of the things that should allow you to transition successfully to the big-leagues. How would you describe your progress in that regard this season?

 

Pompey: “I think it’s gotten a lot better, I still think it can get better. I feel like it’s one of those things we don’t work on enough, recognizing pitches, knowing what pitches you can handle. I’ve really taken pride in doing that because once I got to the big-leagues I noticed that you’ve got to be more on top of your approach and you plan at the plate or else you’ll struggle. Going into the off-season, that’s basically what I’m going to work on the most, pitch-tracking and recognizing what’s a strike and what’s not. Once you get up there, you’ve got to know what you want to hit and what you hit well, or else the pitchers will get you out on a more consistent basis. For me it’s all about getting on base and if I get on I can score runs, steal bases, help the team win.”

 

Sportsnet: The sample-size was small, but did you notice changes in the way big-league pitchers attacked you from when you first got up to the end of the month?

 

Pompey: “Honestly, I think right off the start they were mixing their pitches. The first pitch I saw in the big-leagues wasn’t even a fastball, it was a curveball. I was facing guys like Kuroda, Tanaka, they weren’t just throwing me all fastballs, they were throwing me splitters, curveballs, changeups, so I don’t think they were pitching me a certain way. I did get 40 at-bats but by the end of it I had more of an understanding of what they were trying to do to me as the game progressed. I feel I got better at the end than I was at the beginning.”

 

Sportsnet: It was a trial by fire in some ways given the quality of starters you faced. What type of benefit does that type of crash course give you?

 

Pompey: “That’s what I was saying, too, when I got up there I was facing really good pitching, the Mariners, the Orioles, their bullpen was really good, the Yankees, the starters I faced like Tanaka and Kuroda, those guys are pretty good. Going into it facing those guys, I felt like it could only get better for me because not everybody is a Tanaka or a Felix Hernandez. It was good to face those guys right out of the chute.”

 

Sportsnet: From last year to now, what’s the biggest difference in Dalton Pompey, the baseball player?

 

Pompey: “I’d say the mental side, handling the ups and downs on an everyday basis. Last year I’d really get down on myself a lot if I didn’t have a good game and I put too much pressure on myself. This year, I still expect a lot of myself and demand a lot of myself because that’s the person I’ve been, but I think taking positives from each game and going into the next day with a positive mindset has really helped me progress. It’s really shown on the field this year.

 

Sportsnet: And from last year to now, what’s the biggest difference in Dalton Pompey, the person?

 

Pompey: “I’m having more fun. Last year I was miserable a lot, now I come out here and have fun with the guys, joke around, take ground balls in the infield sometimes just to joke around, and like being here. I felt last year I didn’t really like being here because I was struggling, I’d have a good game and I’d still be down. Now I just try to have as much fun as I can because I don’t know how long I’m going to be playing this game. I just have to enjoy it while I still can.”

 

Sportsnet: Who helped you on both those fronts?

 

Pompey: “My parents, they were there for me. Even talking to other guys, sometimes they’d come up to me and be like, ‘Hey man, just smile more. I wish I had more fun, sometimes we take this too seriously.’ Just hearing that from multiple people really makes you change your mindset. When you hear one thing from somebody you don’t change, but if you hear from multiple people, you realize that it’s real. My parents, listening to me rant and stuff like that, they’ve always been there for me, supporting me. Both those things really helped and will help me going forward.”

 

Sportsnet: When did that process start for you?

 

Pompey: “Probably in the off-season, looking back at what I could change. In spring training I tried to apply it and I felt a lot better about myself as a player and a person, so I just continued to do that and it helped me.”

 

Sportsnet: Are you big on post-mortems after each year, dissecting how things went down?

 

Pompey: “In general, I won’t go back to specific days or something like that. I’ll look back at what made me successful when I was in Dunedin, New Hampshire, Buffalo and even in the big-leagues so I can hopefully make myself better for next year.”

 

Sportsnet: Anthopoulos talked about the improvements you’ve made defensively but that he still thought there was some work on your routes to the ball and in your throwing. Where do you feel you’re at defensively?

 

Pompey: “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better. They’ve told me certain things like working on my routes and my throws and I started working on stuff like that with (Blue Jays first base coach) Tim Leiper when I was in the big-leagues, and even when he came here, too. I think I can get better, too. I feel my reactions aren’t as quick as they could be.”

 

Sportsnet: What do you mean by that?

 

Pompey: “Getting myself into a better stance to make a move. (Blue Jays senior adviser) Mel Didier was here and he told me that I can get in a better position to get ready for the ball to be hit. When I started I would have my hands on my knees and he told me to have my hands higher on my thighs so there’s less pressure leaning over and less time to move. That’s the difference between the half-step on those balls just out of your reach that you end up catching. I’m applying that in BP because that’s the only time I can work on it other than when I’m in the game. But it has gotten better. I think I’m a pretty good outfielder but it can only get better from here.”

 

"mentally unstable"

[GD]

rip

[RealAccountant]

The kind of lineup we have now can easily carry a Ryan goins assuming he brings his great D

[GD]

The kind of lineup we have now can easily carry a Ryan goins assuming he brings his great D

 

A win is a win is a win and Goins' awful bat outweighs his D

[GD]

You actually want a better bat there. Offense is exponential.

http://www.hardballtimes.com/the-exponential-nature-of-offense/

 

Summary: Better hitters produce more PA for other hitters.

 

Hah, smart.

[burlingtonbandit]

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/pompey-having-more-fun-as-opportunity-emerges/

 

 

 

 

 

"mentally unstable"

 

Obviously mentally unstable were probably the wrong words to use. Its not like I didn't want him batting second because I thought he would crumble because of pressure. He isn't the best hitter for that high up in the lineup which is what I said and I added that his mental side of the game is not the best.

 

Its probably bias from me going on Twitter only to see him tweet something soft. Tweets like this would make you think he is a 14 year old girl not a baseball player.

 

[Stangstag]

Pompey should not be batting any higher than 7th in 2015. Maybe he can be moved up to 1st/2nd in 2016, but I would keep him in the lower portion of the lineup for his first full season.

[Jimcanuck]

Pompey 9th is a no-brainer. 2nd leadoff man.

[G-Snarls]

Pompey 9th is a no-brainer. 2nd leadoff man.

 

Agreed

 

Your worst no speed weak bat goes 8th

 

Pompey seems like a fast AND smart baserunner

[jays4life19]

I'm totally comfortable with Travis as our opening day 2nd basemen but we really need to protect ourselves from a Jose Reyes injury which is why i would like to see Drew signed to a 1 year contract. Drew starts the year at 2nd and thus when Reyes tears his labia he can slide over to SS and Travis can be brought up to play 2nd.

 

It just makes too much sense.

[gbill2004]

I'm totally comfortable with Travis as our opening day 2nd basemen but we really need to protect ourselves from a Jose Reyes injury which is why i would like to see Drew signed to a 1 year contract. Drew starts the year at 2nd and thus when Reyes tears his labia he can slide over to SS and Travis can be brought up to play 2nd.

 

It just makes too much sense.

 

Jose Reyes has a labia??😳

[Deadpool]

Jose Reyes has a labia??

 

http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/483/894/463.jpg