2017 Blue Jays Spring Training thread

[HERPDERP]

Lourdes with the 3-run dong.

 

https://streamable.com/uavjq

[KingKat]

https://streamable.com/uavjq

 

Risky click of the day...

[HERPDERP]

Risky click of the day...

 

I have never posted something risky.

 

Ang on the other hand...

[Jonn]

https://streamable.com/uavjq

 

Damn that ball was destroyed.

[KingKat]

I have never posted something risky.

 

Ang on the other hand...

 

O.K. Sorry about that. I didn't recognize that site and I thought you might be doing a play on the word "dong".

[Laika]

Wow, Lourdes seems extremely tall. Wasn't expecting him to look that... tall. Supposedly he is 6'2" but in that video he looks bigger than that.

 

Height listings for MLB have to completely bogus. There's a lot of talk about how rare Tulowitzki is to be playing SS at this size for this long, but look at these listings (Fangraphs):

 

Seager 6'4"

Correa 6'4"

Bogaerts 6'3"

Tulo 6'3"

Didi 6'3"

Alexei 6'3"

Machado 6'2"

Crawford 6'2"

 

Is it possible that Tulo kind of kick-started a "Taller Shortstop" trend?

 

Anyway, it's possible that Lourdes might have some personal structural limitations in manning shortstop long-term.

[KingKat]

Wow, Lourdes seems extremely tall. Wasn't expecting him to look that... tall. Supposedly he is 6'2" but in that video he looks bigger than that.

 

Height listings for MLB have to completely bogus. There's a lot of talk about how rare Tulowitzki is to be playing SS at this size for this long, but look at these listings (Fangraphs):

 

Seager 6'4"

Correa 6'4"

Bogaerts 6'3"

Tulo 6'3"

Didi 6'3"

Alexei 6'3"

Machado 6'2"

Crawford 6'2"

 

Is it possible that Tulo kind of kick-started a "Taller Shortstop" trend?

 

Anyway, it's possible that Lourdes might have some personal structural limitations in manning shortstop long-term.

 

Cal Ripken is generally credited as the one who broke the shortstop mold. He's listed as 6,4. If it wasn't for Cal, ARod probably would have been a 3B his whole career. Now big shorstops are becoming the norm. Teams have learned that you can develop a bigger shortstop with power. It doesn't have to be some fast, scrawny guy.

[TholesWeirdEye]

https://streamable.com/uavjq

 

That was a bomb!

[Boxcar]

Wow, Lourdes seems extremely tall. Wasn't expecting him to look that... tall. Supposedly he is 6'2" but in that video he looks bigger than that.

 

Height listings for MLB have to completely bogus. There's a lot of talk about how rare Tulowitzki is to be playing SS at this size for this long, but look at these listings (Fangraphs):

 

Seager 6'4"

Correa 6'4"

Bogaerts 6'3"

Tulo 6'3"

Didi 6'3"

Alexei 6'3"

Machado 6'2"

Crawford 6'2"

 

Is it possible that Tulo kind of kick-started a "Taller Shortstop" trend?

 

Anyway, it's possible that Lourdes might have some personal structural limitations in manning shortstop long-term.

 

I personally hate it when scouty types say stuff like "as he fills out, he'll probably have to move off SS."

 

Can anyone think of a single blue chip SS prospect who had to move off SS due to his size? I can't. Seems like it never happens, so I have no idea why these morons keep saying it. Andrelton Simmons had a few of the best defensive seasons ever @ SS and he's 6'2". Brandon Crawford, arguably the best defensive SS in the NL, is also 6'2". Machado, who would likely compete for a GG @ SS, is 6'2".

 

So stupid. I hate scouts.

[Boxcar]

Cal Ripken is generally credited as the one who broke the shortstop mold. He's listed as 6,4. If it wasn't for Cal, ARod probably would have been a 3B his whole career. Now big shorstops are becoming the norm. Teams have learned that you can develop a bigger shortstop with power. It doesn't have to be some fast, scrawny guy.

 

But it's a total myth that bigger guys can't be good defensive shortstops.

[Laika]

stuff

 

I think you are absolutely correct. Scouts absolutely LOVE to talk about guys "filling out" and moving down the defense spectrum. Whether that be 3B --> 1B, SS --> 3B, CF --> LF... it seems like every prospect who is is 6'2", 6'3" or greater gets some caveat about it.

 

There are probably historical examples of this happening, but "filling out" is almost never the primary cause. Players age, lose range, wear down, are no longer competent at positions... even the one example that comes immediately to mind, Miguel Cabrera, wasn't a case of him all of a sudden being too big to play third base.

 

I think the myth of "filling out" and losing defensive skill or utility is just a weird way for scouts to express that they don't think the player is good enough at a position to play there long term. Like, if you have a fringe capable shortstop, of course if he gains 20 pounds and loses a bit of range, you'll move him off the position.

[Jimcanuck]

Cal Ripken is generally credited as the one who broke the shortstop mold. He's listed as 6,4. If it wasn't for Cal, ARod probably would have been a 3B his whole career. Now big shorstops are becoming the norm. Teams have learned that you can develop a bigger shortstop with power. It doesn't have to be some fast, scrawny guy.

 

Just before Cal, there was Dave Concepcion 6'2" and excellent defensively over his career.

[Boxcar]

I think you are absolutely correct. Scouts absolutely LOVE to talk about guys "filling out" and moving down the defense spectrum. Whether that be 3B --> 1B, SS --> 3B, CF --> LF... it seems like every prospect who is is 6'2", 6'3" or greater gets some caveat about it.

 

There are probably historical examples of this happening, but "filling out" is almost never the primary cause. Players age, lose range, wear down, are no longer competent at positions... even the one example that comes immediately to mind, Miguel Cabrera, wasn't a case of him all of a sudden being too big to play third base.

 

I think the myth of "filling out" and losing defensive skill or utility is just a weird way for scouts to express that they don't think the player is good enough at a position to play there long term. Like, if you have a fringe capable shortstop, of course if he gains 20 pounds and loses a bit of range, you'll move him off the position.

 

Another thing that bothers me is that scouts seem absolutely incapable of providing a balanced perspective. They will love a SS who is likely going to contribute with a well below average bat and well above average defense, but seem unable to comprehend the fact that a guy like Aledmys Diaz last year, who was below average on defense and well above average at the dish can be more valuable at the SS position.

 

Basically, it feels like even if the guy might be an average SS it isn't good enough for those old farts, even if the guy can hit.

[Pendleton]

That's a sweet looking swing by Lourdes.

[Brownie19]

https://streamable.com/uavjq

 

That's jizz tissue material right there!

[Jonn]

Josh Donaldson is going through an early midlife crisis. First frosted tips... now an earring. What's next?

[Boxcar]

I wonder how viable it would be to stick Pearce primarily in LF and trade for AJ Reed. The Astros appear to have no confidence in him because he's the first prospect to ever struggle in his MLB debut and with Gurriel at first and Beltran at DH, doesn't seem like there's any room for him.

 

I hate the Astros. They are so dumb.

[Tha dogg]

Ecjf loves da cock

[THANOS]

I wonder how viable it would be to stick Pearce primarily in LF and trade for AJ Reed. The Astros appear to have no confidence in him because he's the first prospect to ever struggle in his MLB debut and with Gurriel at first and Beltran at DH, doesn't seem like there's any room for him.

 

I hate the Astros. They are so dumb.

 

We could trade for AJ Reed, or just trust in Tellez?

[Boxcar]

We could trade for AJ Reed, or just trust in Tellez?

 

Reed is likely a lot better than Tellez. He's also ready now.

[THANOS]

Reed is likely a lot better than Tellez. He's also ready now.

 

That's possible. Tellez is younger though, and could be up in 2-3 months if he smashes AAA, and Smoak bombs (this is likely). That said, if the Astros are dumb enough to buy into the small sample size and sell Reed for cheap, then sure, I'll gladly take him.

[Jonn]

Reed is likely a lot better than Tellez. He's also ready now.

 

Ready to play for the Houston Texans O-Line?

[Ray]

Wow, I didn't realize AJ Reed won the Dick Howser trophy and the Golden Spikes Award.

[george09]

[Jonn]

Probably shouldn't have gave J.P. Howell 3M if we were going to trot out Zeke vs RHP everyday and funds are that tight. Pagan should have been on this team 3 months ago. I don't even like him but he's vastly better than Latin Muni.

 

It all goest back to Smoak and that random stupid contract extension.

[KingKat]

Probably shouldn't have gave J.P. Howell 3M if we were going to trot out Zeke vs RHP everyday and funds are that tight. Pagan should have been on this team 3 months ago. I don't even like him but he's vastly better than Latin Muni.

 

It all goest back to Smoak and that random stupid contract extension.

 

The team must not be very comfortable with the idea of Pagan or Upton sliding to CF to cover for Pillar. I think that might be the reason they're so committed to ole 'Zeke. It's true that if they weren't rostering Smoak, they could roster 5 OFs but then they would commit to Pearse full time at 1B and I'm not sure they want do that either because they probably want the later sliding to 2B semi regularly to cover for Travis/Barney.

[Sammy225]

So if Pompey keeps on this path he started early this season they are still going to go with a quarter season wonder in Zeke then giving him a shot..... Seems right up Gibbons ally

[KingKat]

So if Pompey keeps on this path he started early this season they are still going to go with a quarter season wonder in Zeke then giving him a shot..... Seems right up Gibbons ally

 

It's not really a Gibbons thing. Zeke has no options. The best way to assure CF depth is to keep him on the 25.

[Jonn]

The team must not be very comfortable with the idea of Pagan or Upton sliding to CF to cover for Pillar. I think that might be the reason they're so committed to ole 'Zeke. It's true that if they weren't rostering Smoak, they could roster 5 OFs but then they would commit to Pearse full time at 1B and I'm not sure they want do that either because they probably want the later sliding to 2B semi regularly to cover for Travis/Barney.

 

Can Upton not play CF anymore? I find it hard to believe Zeke is a better defender.

[RealAccountant]

God Damn Liriano looks great