Gibbons: "Pompey would be Blue Jays CF if season started today"

[Angrioter]

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons made an appearance in Prime Time Sports on Monday November 3rd to discuss a few Blue Jays related topics, including the trades, option pick-ups, and the status of the team’s hitting coach search. Gibbons was pretty frank about those topics with host Bob McCown, but it was one quote that really set fans hearts aflutter on Monday morning.

 

“If it was to start tomorrow with what we have today, from what I saw last year, I would love to see Pompey out there. It was a short audition, he played very good, and we feel he’s got the chance to be a hell of a player.” – John Gibbons

 

Woo-Hoo!

 

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that Dalton Pompey is the future in center field for the Toronto Blue Jays. The only real question is whether that future starts with the onset of the 2015 season or whether the team opts to start him at Triple-A. The 21-year-old Pompey has only seen 183 plate appearances in the minor leagues at Double-A or higher, so Toronto may want to see a bit more seasoning.

 

That said, Pompey made the most of his 2014 season, vaulting to the top of the Blue Jays positional prospect list with a .317/.392/.469 batting line with 9 home runs, 51 RBI, and 43 stolen bases in the minors. That earned Pompey an early call-up to the Majors in September and he showed some solid chops. While the .231 batting average is a bit misleading in the context that it came in just 43 plate appearances for the Blue Jays, Pompey was much better over his 10 games, when Toronto finally gave him some starts, slashing .250/.325/.472 with a home run, a double, and a pair of triples.

 

The Blue Jays obviously liked what they saw, and opted to send Dalton Pompey back to the Arizona Fall League in October so they could get just a little more perception into what kind of player he’d be. He hasn’t disappointed in the desert either, hitting .291/.371/.436 with 4 doubled, 2 triples, and 8 stolen bases in 55 at-bats for the Mesa Solar Sox.

 

With free agency ahead for the Blue Jays, Toronto could still opt to fill the hole in center with a free agent, however there is a serious lack of viable candidates out there. The Blue Jays also have internal options in the platoon of Anthony Gose and Kevin Pillar, but they would merely be placeholders for Pompey long-term. Additionally, one or both of them may be counted on to fill the gap in left field should Melky Cabrera depart via free agency.

 

That all said, Pompey likely still needs to earn the spot in Spring Training. However, if Toronto is already beginning to assess him in the big picture, the likelihood of Pompey’s full-time arrival in the big leagues isn’t far off and may impact their offseason plans for the position. With more pressing needs in the bullpen and the infield, having a plan with Pompey in the immediate future strikes one item off the winter checklist.

 

http://jaysjournal.com/2014/11/04/john-gibbons-dalton-pompey-blue-jays-cf-season-started-today/

[KingKat]

This is as much a testament to what a tool Gose is as to how great Pompey is.

[shortstop]

an outfield of Bautista, Pompey, and interchanging Gose/Pillar is imo borderline nuts for a full season. You'd get great defence but would be swearing at the TV more often than not when 2 out of that 4 came up to bat, maybe even 3 of 4.

 

Bautista, Pompey and legit OF and using either Gose/Pillar as the 4th OF is the way to go - with Gose/Pillar ready to step in in case Pompey goes sideways.

[Chappy]

Personally I think starting Pompey in AAA is the way to go. We will need him later in the season for depth once injuries hit. Just run a decent platoon in LF or CF and find a stop gap starter for the other OF position.

[nmrch]

I just hope Pompey is ready for this fickle fanbase who'll rip on him everytime he goes through a 2-25 stretch and god forbid makes a mistake in the outfield. I think there's a really good chance that he'll be solid major leaguer at some point but the rookie season will be tough and filled with growing pains, especially with the bat given how few reps he has had above high A ball. If he puts ups a 240/300/350 line that should be considered a success and something to be build upon but a lot of Jays fans would consider that a failure

[Sammy225]

There is also this thing called "Super 2" so i can see them putting him in the minors for a month...... However maybe they don't care about that.

[KingKat]

I just hope Pompey is ready for this fickle fanbase who'll rip on him everytime he goes through a 2-25 stretch and god forbid makes a mistake in the outfield. I think there's a really good chance that he'll be solid major leaguer at some point but the rookie season will be tough and filled with growing pains, especially with the bat given how few reps he has had above high A ball. If he puts ups a 240/300/350 line that should be considered a success and something to be build upon but a lot of Jays fans would consider that a failure

 

Pompey may very well never hit for average but the fan base should still be pretty easy to win over if he has a few highlight reel defensive plays. Chris Young's name has been tossed around as insurance for Pompey and that makes a lot of sense.

[Sammy225]

Pompey may very well never hit for average but the fan base should still be pretty easy to win over if he has a few highlight reel defensive plays. Chris Young's name has been tossed around as insurance for Pompey and that makes a lot of sense.

 

I don't think he is going to be a flashy hitter but one thing that is very impressive is the OBP.

[jays_fever]

Personally I think starting Pompey in AAA is the way to go. We will need him later in the season for depth once injuries hit. Just run a decent platoon in LF or CF and find a stop gap starter for the other OF position.

 

I agree, Im a big believer in always having 1 or two good prospects in the minors to fill in once injuries hit and just take over if they do well vs relying on some AAAA player to save the day should they fail

[glory]

If Gose is out of options, then play him at CF and have Pompey in the minors. I think Gose has the potential to be a useful player due to his defense and base running. Platoon him with Pillar at CF until a need arises. That's when you bring Pompey up.

[KingKat]

If Gose is out of options, then play him at CF and have Pompey in the minors. I think Gose has the potential to be a useful player due to his defense and base running. Platoon him with Pillar at CF until a need arises. That's when you bring Pompey up.

 

He's out of options. There's something to be said for going "sink or swim" with him but he hasn't done much to win people over. At the very least, I figure the Jays will keep Pompey in camp as long as possible. They wouldn't want to give the appearance of handing an everyday job to Gose.

[Brenner]

If Pompey plays his way onto the team in spring training then why not. He destroyed all levels of minors last year, so I don't see why we should send him back out of fear of not rushing him. This team can't afford to give any games away by going with a subpar CF.

[RealAccountant]

If Pompey plays his way onto the team in spring training then why not. He destroyed all levels of minors last year, so I don't see why we should send him back out of fear of not rushing him. This team can't afford to give any games away by going with a subpar CF.

 

Definitely.

 

Also Pompey looked more comfortable in his 11 games than Gose did all year. I truly think this is note worthy. There is no reason to hold him back if he is in fact ready for the show

[G-Snarls]

Definitely.

 

Also Pompey looked more comfortable in his 11 games than Gose did all year. I truly think this is note worthy. There is no reason to hold him back if he is in fact ready for the show

 

There's something to that. Stroman and Pompey just looked ready. Not out of place or over their head despite their young ages.

[KingKat]

There's something to that. Stroman and Pompey just looked ready. Not out of place or over their head despite their young ages.

 

Pompey struggled initially after the jump to AA but he maintained a solid approach, saw pitches, drew walks and the hitting eventually came around. Double A isn't exactly a pressure cooker but it's a significant jump (certainly the most significant that he was expected to make). He showed that he had good makeup and a good approach. That should serve him well in the Majors though it hardly guarantees anything.

[baseballsss]

I think the biggest mistake they can make is exposing Pompey to soon and him struggling to begin the season. You have to have a veteran option to start the year.

 

What difference will it make if he starts the year struggling and comes up in the middle of the year and struggles? Does a vetran starting the year give some sort of boost for Pompey or something?

[Frenchsoup]

What difference will it make if he starts the year struggling and comes up in the middle of the year and struggles? Does a vetran starting the year give some sort of boost for Pompey or something?

 

Super 2, more depth

[Dick_Pole]

Relax guys we have all Spring Training to figure this out. By then we will have way more clarity if he's ready to start in April or June or 2016. Gibbons and his big mouth trying to create buzz. Who knows, AA probably slipped him a couple of extra bills to say s*** like this so the fan base can get excited over Pompey and forget all about losing Melky and not filling other holes. Maybe next thing Gibbons will say is Barreto is ready to take over 2B next year...

 

If Pompey does take CF then having Gose in LF makes no sense to me. Gose's bat only plays well in CF and he's been pussy-farting with his career long enough. The team would be better off signing a cheap all-bat no-glove solution for LF if Pompey takes center than having Gose playing every day making the team's offense resemble a 1980's NL lineup. We should be going into the spring with the attitude that CF is Gose's to lose and if he somehow loses it then his days are numbered here.

[Atothe]

Relax guys we have all Spring Training to figure this out. By then we will have way more clarity if he's ready to start in April or June or 2016. Gibbons and his big mouth trying to create buzz. Who knows, AA probably slipped him a couple of extra bills to say s*** like this so the fan base can get excited over Pompey and forget all about losing Melky and not filling other holes. Maybe next thing Gibbons will say is Barreto is ready to take over 2B next year...

 

If Pompey does take CF then having Gose in LF makes no sense to me. Gose's bat only plays well in CF and he's been pussy-farting with his career long enough. The team would be better off signing a cheap all-bat no-glove solution for LF if Pompey takes center than having Gose playing every day making the team's offense resemble a 1980's NL lineup. We should be going into the spring with the attitude that CF is Gose's to lose and if he somehow loses it then his days are numbered here.

 

He's only 24 and has had only a full season worth of at bats, Pussy-farting. Stop exaggerating

[Dick_Pole]

Well he is entering the age where it's time for him to put up or shut up. He's not going to get much better than whatever he does in 2015. Don't let my terminology fool you, I want the man to succeed next year.

[KingKat]

I don't really see what Dick_Pole is saying that's so exaggerated. Gose's development isn't where it should be. He should be an elite base runner but he's not even a good base runner. His contact skills are a disappointment as well. The guy looks like he's coasting on raw talent. His saving graces are elite defense and (relative) youth but Pompey has all the potential in the world to leap frog him. Ideally Gose performs well and runs away with CF but the not terribly unlikely alternative is that his lot is cast as a reserve player.

[Atothe]

I don't really see what Dick_Pole is saying that's so exaggerated. Gose's development isn't where it should be. He should be an elite base runner but he's not even a good base runner. His contact skills are a disappointment as well. The guy looks like he's coasting on raw talent. His saving graces are elite defense and (relative) youth but Pompey has all the potential in the world to leap frog him. Ideally Gose performs well and runs away with CF but the not terribly unlikely alternative is that his lot is cast as a reserve player.

 

2.3 Bsr per Fangraphs

[BTS]

They never learn. Every time a player can feasibly be defended as a major league player, he makes the team instead of being held in AAA as quality depth.

[Chappy]

They never learn. Every time a player can feasibly be defended as a major league player, he makes the team instead of being held in AAA as quality depth.

 

Easy way for them to save payroll.

[Atothe]

Easy way for them to save payroll.

 

Didn't you suggest platoons at 2 of the 3 outfield spots? If you did, shame on you

[Chappy]

Didn't you suggest platoons at 2 of the 3 outfield spots? If you did, shame on you

 

I said to run a platoon in LF or CF. Not both.

[43211234]

A factor that can't be forgotten in the Gose v. Pompey debate is that Pompey is a 70 on the Handsome scale, while Gose is a 35.

[BTS]

So if Pompey is the starting CF, we have:

 

RF - Bautista

CF - Pompey

LF - Dirks

 

BN - Gose

BN - Mayberry

 

AAA - Pillar

 

I dunno, that's pretty uninspiring to me. Pompey has huge risk, Dirks' back is f***ed up, and Mayberry sucks. I think they really need to bring in one more player with bankable production.

[Atothe]

I said to run a platoon in LF or CF. Not both.

 

Question is now, If you run a platoon for one of those outfield spots who is gonna the full time player in one of the other spots? What free agent or trade would satisfy both fans and AA needs? Pompey is happening I think you guys need to come to grips with it

[Atothe]

So if Pompey is the starting CF, we have:

 

RF - Bautista

CF - Pompey

LF - Dirks

 

BN - Gose

BN - Mayberry

 

AAA - Pillar

 

I dunno, that's pretty uninspiring to me. Pompey has huge risk, Dirks' back is f***ed up, and Mayberry sucks. I think they really need to bring in one more player with bankable production.

 

dirks a full time player hahahahahaha