General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[glory]

Neither Pompey or Alford getting a September call suggests they aren't in the immediate plans for the 25 man to open next year. Pompey probably gets DFA and only stays if he clears waivers. Alford stays at AAA to rebound from this year, and potentially gets a call up mid season.

 

I think we'll probably acquire a veteran on a short term contract. Smith Jr could also be a candidate for additional outfield depth if Pillar is traded / Hernandez becomes a part time DH.

 

The problem with trading Pillar is that aside from Alford (who had a bad year), no one can play CF. Well, Grichuk can, but he doesn't rate very well over there. He's more likely to be a 2-3 WAR player in RF. An OF with Grichuk at CF and Teoscar anywhere else is likely to be awful. Although if they can trade Pillar and move Morales, then putting Teoscar at DH, Grichuk at CF, and finding an above average defensive veteran to fill one of the corners (with McKinney on the other) might be doable. Lose some defensive value with Grichuk, but it's only temporary until Alford is (hopefully) ready mid season.

 

The Jays will have a lot of OF's on the 40 man roster next year (Pillar, Grichuk, Teoscar, McKinney, Alford, Davis, Pompey, Smith Jr). They also may want to add Ramirez. Looks like Pompey is gone one way or another (wonder how long it takes Alex to bring him in?). There is going to have to be some movement there. THe Jays might be at the point where they have to make some Yankees types of trades (to clear 40 man clutter).

[L54]

Yes you can. The ability to hit a ball hard is not a God given talent, it can definitely be taught.

 

Absolutely it can be. Just like fastball velocity.

[Boxcar]

Man, no idea why people are slotting in Alford. Grichuk in CF is fine. McKinney in left maybe and sign someone to play right. I'd like to at least pretend we're trying to compete next year.

 

Alford will probably end up being a bench player and probably not even a good one at that.

[glory]

I wonder how much (and how many years) Cutch will command in free agency. Some will argue the Jays don't need to spend money on the OF, but with as many OF's as they have on the 40 man, there isn't a lot of starting caliber guys, at least not yet.

 

I still like Alford, much to Todd's disappointment. Give him half of 2019 and i think he'll bounce back.

[tpurewal97]

What are your guys thoughts on Thomas Pannone, he's looked pretty good in his time so far. Starter? Reliever? Where will he start next year?

[Bobthe4th]

The problem with trading Pillar is that aside from Alford (who had a bad year), no one can play CF. Well, Grichuk can, but he doesn't rate very well over there. He's more likely to be a 2-3 WAR player in RF. An OF with Grichuk at CF and Teoscar anywhere else is likely to be awful. Although if they can trade Pillar and move Morales, then putting Teoscar at DH, Grichuk at CF, and finding an above average defensive veteran to fill one of the corners (with McKinney on the other) might be doable. Lose some defensive value with Grichuk, but it's only temporary until Alford is (hopefully) ready mid season.

 

The Jays will have a lot of OF's on the 40 man roster next year (Pillar, Grichuk, Teoscar, McKinney, Alford, Davis, Pompey, Smith Jr). They also may want to add Ramirez. Looks like Pompey is gone one way or another (wonder how long it takes Alex to bring him in?). There is going to have to be some movement there. THe Jays might be at the point where they have to make some Yankees types of trades (to clear 40 man clutter).

 

Yeah, although I think they’ll try to trade Pillar and acquire a veteran replacement (on a short term deal who could then be traded when Alford is ready), I’d prefer to simply keep Pillar.

 

Pillar doesn’t have much trade value anyway so it doesn’t really matter if we keep him until he’s done.

 

One thing about all the young players is that they will all still have options (except Pompey) so no urgency to move them, or put them all on the 25 man.

[Bobthe4th]

[Laika]

Anthony Alford is going to be a SHOWTIME player.

 

He might struggle for a year in the MLB but the tools will shine through eventually. 2019 is the perfect year to let him learn and put up a below average season.

 

I expect a similar trajectory for Lewis Brinson. Look for him to have at least 8 fWAR (total) beside his name by the time he hits free agency.

[Deadpool]

Personally, I'm in favour of moving Pillar while he still has value. I think next year is a good time to just put Alford out there and let him sink or swim, he's probably not a Pillar-in-his-prime calibre CF, but Pillar isn't either anymore, and I mean it's not like Pillar doesn't objectively suck at the plate already.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Personally, I'm in favour of moving Pillar while he still has value. I think next year is a good time to just put Alford out there and let him sink or swim, he's probably not a Pillar-in-his-prime calibre CF, but Pillar isn't either anymore, and I mean it's not like Pillar doesn't objectively suck at the plate already.

 

 

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone on this board who really wants to keep Pillar. He is so redundant and it is clear he is declining (29 and decline).

 

Alford, Pompey, Grichuk, etc., make him very redundant and expendable.

 

I would love to get a decent prospect for him personally.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

What are your guys thoughts on Thomas Pannone, he's looked pretty good in his time so far. Starter? Reliever? Where will he start next year?

 

Lefties without pure stuff can do better than righties, typically. If he has control, and 3-4 pitches, I don't see why he couldn't be a decent back end SP. It seems to me he has the right mentality to succeed at the MLB.

 

I would start him over Estrada at this point.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Man, no idea why people are slotting in Alford. Grichuk in CF is fine. McKinney in left maybe and sign someone to play right. I'd like to at least pretend we're trying to compete next year.

 

Alford will probably end up being a bench player and probably not even a good one at that.

 

Alford has all the tools to be an above average OF. I think he will explode next year and prove you wrong.

[Grant77]

What are your guys thoughts on Thomas Pannone, he's looked pretty good in his time so far. Starter? Reliever? Where will he start next year?

 

Obviously he should get the chance to compete for a rotation spot in ST, but he would ideally start the year in AAA as depth.

[Spanky99]

What are your guys thoughts on Thomas Pannone, he's looked pretty good in his time so far. Starter? Reliever? Where will he start next year?

 

SP Depth in Buffalo, he'll likely compete for a backend spot in ST, but I see the Jays signing some decent vet starters. He's very close to an MLB job. Same could be said for one of SRF and Borucki, depends on the off-season really.

[Boxcar]

Alford has all the tools to be an above average OF. I think he will explode next year and prove you wrong.

 

What tools are those? Speed? That's one tool.

[KevinGregg]

What tools are those? Speed? That's one tool.

 

Hes "athletic"

[DigitalRock]

Alford has all the tools to be an above average OF. I think he will explode next year and prove you wrong.

 

What are you basing this on? He has not shown anything other then speed.

[Spanky99]

55 FV Prospects

 

3. Anthony Alford, CF Video

 

Drafted: 3rd Round, 2012 from Petal HS (MS)

Age 22 Height 6’1 Weight 215 Bat/Throw R/R

 

Tool Grades (Present/Future)

 

Hit Raw Power Game Power Run Fielding Throw

35/45 60/60 40/50 70/70 50/60 40/40

 

Alford was a buzzy prospect in high school, coveted for his rare power/speed combo and overall athleticism. He became more intriguing due to his interest in a college football career — one which he ultimately pursued at Ole Miss and Southern Miss. The Blue Jays signed him out of high school to own his rights if football didn’t work out and were happy when he hit the ground running in 2015 as a full-time baseball player at age 20. He arrived at full-season ball with a surprising amount of polish — especially in terms of pitch selection — for a kid who had never fully committed himself to baseball before.

 

The tools are still flashy, and he profiles as a well-rounded everyday center fielder who likely gets an extended big league look at some point in 2018. The contact will probably be a bit below average at the big-league level, but the pitch selection should allow him to get to most of his power, and the speed will help on defense and the basepaths. He broke his hamate bone in 2017 and should be getting fully past that in 2018, with power the last element to come back. He visited the disabled list again recently with a hamstring strain but played his first game with Buffalo at the end of last week.

 

Tools... what tools? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Brownie19]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-managers-perspective-john-gibbons-on-his-long-crazy-career/

 

Interesting read. This is my favourite quote:

 

“There are players who come along that you know could manage someday. Mark DeRosa could manage in the big leagues. J.P. Arencibia. Scotty Rolen. That wasn’t his desire, but I always thought he could do it. David Eckstein. There are a few guys. Here in this room… Russell Martin. If Russell ever had that desire, he’d be a helluva big-league manager."

 

[Grant77]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-managers-perspective-john-gibbons-on-his-long-crazy-career/

 

Interesting read. This is my favourite quote:

 

“There are players who come along that you know could manage someday. Mark DeRosa could manage in the big leagues. J.P. Arencibia. Scotty Rolen. That wasn’t his desire, but I always thought he could do it. David Eckstein. There are a few guys. Here in this room… Russell Martin. If Russell ever had that desire, he’d be a helluva big-league manager."

 

 

Top 10 manager!

[bendera3]

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-managers-perspective-john-gibbons-on-his-long-crazy-career/

 

Interesting read. This is my favourite quote:

 

“There are players who come along that you know could manage someday. Mark DeRosa could manage in the big leagues. J.P. Arencibia. Scotty Rolen. That wasn’t his desire, but I always thought he could do it. David Eckstein. There are a few guys. Here in this room… Russell Martin. If Russell ever had that desire, he’d be a helluva big-league manager."

 

 

#toptenmanager

[SaskJaysFan_2]

What tools are those? Speed? That's one tool.

 

How do you define tools? Then I can explain to you with sock puppets.

[KevinGregg]

Tool Grades (Present/Future)

 

Hit Raw Power Game Power Run Fielding Throw

35/45 60/60 40/50 70/70 50/60 40/40

 

 

Seems like he's really got 2 above average tools - raw power and speed. The defense is above average now because of the speed but if that declines by his early 30s all he has left is the power. The power plays down dramatically because he has no real hit tool. I'm not a huge fan of that profile. It's not like it can't work and I certainly wouldn't give up on him, but relatively speaking he's definitely not one of the prospects I am excited for. I feel like our outfield in general could use some more intriguing prospects. Someone with an 80 grade arm and a bat that can stick in RF, that would be killer

[Spanky99]

Seems like he's really got 2 above average tools - raw power and speed. The defense is above average now because of the speed but if that declines by his early 30s all he has left is the power. The power plays down dramatically because he has no real hit tool. I'm not a huge fan of that profile. It's not like it can't work and I certainly wouldn't give up on him, but relatively speaking he's definitely not one of the prospects I am excited for. I feel like our outfield in general could use some more intriguing prospects. Someone with an 80 grade arm and a bat that can stick in RF, that would be killer

 

He needs more grooming, the only tool that's underwhelming is his arm, he has time.

[metafour]

Tools... what tools? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

The most recent claim is that his bat speed has disappeared. Is this related to his hamate injury? You better hope so, because if he's showing average or worse bat speed then he's pretty much done being a "top prospect". The plummet in rankings reflects that; no-one really cares that his numbers weren't good.

[Spanky99]

The most recent claim is that his bat speed has disappeared. Is this related to his hamate injury? You better hope so, because if he's showing average or worse bat speed then he's pretty much done being a "top prospect". The plummet in rankings reflects that; no-one really cares that his numbers weren't good.

 

I'd assume it was the hamate bone, or he f***s off into obscurity, time will tell. Who knows?

[Laika]

If you pull up video of Alford in 2018 vs 2017, his initial swing moves are all a lot more exaggerated this year. Herky-jerky leg kick and arm movements. Kind of looks like the s***** Brett Lawrie swing. I just think it's a timing/balance thing that he never figured out this season.

 

Speaking of Brett, I wonder if we will ever get that satisfying explanation of why he decided to quit baseball at 27 years old.

[Dr. Dinger]

Speaking of Brett, I wonder if we will ever get that satisfying explanation of why he decided to quit baseball at 27 years old.

 

Brett is bi-polar with ADHD and probably self-medicates with cocaine. That's my medical opinion as a baseball doctor. I bet a lot of teams just want nothing to do with him and he's not good enough to be worth the headache or a guaranteed MLB roster spot.

[Brownie19]

If you pull up video of Alford in 2018 vs 2017, his initial swing moves are all a lot more exaggerated this year. Herky-jerky leg kick and arm movements. Kind of looks like the s***** Brett Lawrie swing. I just think it's a timing/balance thing that he never figured out this season.

 

Speaking of Brett, I wonder if we will ever get that satisfying explanation of why he decided to quit baseball at 27 years old.

 

I always thought Alford's swing had a lot of similarities to JD's.

[Laika]

Brett is bi-polar with ADHD and probably self-medicates with cocaine. That's my medical opinion as a baseball doctor. I bet a lot of teams just want nothing to do with him and he's not good enough to be worth the headache or a guaranteed MLB roster spot.

 

~10 fWAR and ~15 bWAR in what was basically only 4 full seasons.

 

Dude was GOOD at the sport even when he wasn't good anymore.