Can Alford stick?

[Deadpool]

Well, he's kinda getting forced to stick now, should we predict how this all goes over for him ?

 

I say he puts up within .5 WAR of Pillar this year (yes, I realize that's a wide range when you're talking ~2 WAR.)

[Spanky99]

I say he puts up within .5 WAR of Pillar this year (yes, I realize that's a wide range when you're talking ~2 WAR.)

 

As a rookie, I'll take that all day.

[Deadpool]

As a rookie, I'll take that all day.

 

As would I. I'm high on Alford, and I think he's going to do really well.

[Senior]

Can someone explain to me why the Jays are so high on Alford? His numbers in the minors are not good at all. Your CF should be one of your best players offensively. Alford hit .240, with 5 hr's last year in AAA. There has to be some upside to him. Thanks.

[LGBJ29]

Can someone explain to me why the Jays are so high on Alford? His numbers in the minors are not good at all. Your CF should be one of your best players offensively. Alford hit .240, with 5 hr's last year in AAA. There has to be some upside to him. Thanks.

 

Well this just isn't true

[Jimcanuck]

Can someone explain to me why the Jays are so high on Alford? His numbers in the minors are not good at all. Your CF should be one of your best players offensively. Alford hit .240, with 5 hr's last year in AAA. There has to be some upside to him. Thanks.

 

Injury issues. Look at 2017 numbers in AA - fantastic. Those are injury free numbers more reflective of his talent / skill.

[Senior]

Well this just isn't true

 

I'll have to disagree with you as well. Look around the league. A .240 hitter with 5 homeruns in AAA does not cut it. Your centre fielder should be a stud.

[Daniel Labude]

Can someone explain to me why the Jays are so high on Alford? His numbers in the minors are not good at all. Your CF should be one of your best players offensively. Alford hit .240, with 5 hr's last year in AAA. There has to be some upside to him. Thanks.

 

Alford is the #5 prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline, but has struggled recently. Alford hit .240 with 5 HR, 17 SB, 7.2 BB% and 26.9 K% in 105 games this past season at AAA. He has the tools to make any fan drool, but he just hasn't put it together above AA. Playing football and suffering through a rash of injuries have put Alford behind the mark in the last couple of years, but he is afforded another chance at a breakout season.

 

2018 was the first season Alford eclipsed the 110-game plateau and wasn't completely held back by injuries. What the stats show is someone who needs to get back to making better contact and taking walks. In 2017 while at AA, which was his best minor league season to date, Alford hit .310 in 68 games. Most telling from that year was his BB% of 12.1 and K% of 15.6. After this point, he was shuffled between the majors and AAA in between injuries, which has subsequently slowed Alford's progress.

 

After a full season at AAA in 2018, expect Alford to come out in 2019 ready for a breakout season. He needs to maintain a BB% and K% closer to what he put up back in AA. That will be the key to Alford turning things around and coming back into the conversation as an everyday MLB player. There’s still hope, although he’s running out of time and opportunity.

[Senior]

Injury issues. Look at 2017 numbers in AA - fantastic. Those are injury free numbers more reflective of his talent / skill.

 

5 hr, 24 RBI. Over 68 games. I don't know. I'm hoping you are right, but I'm not overly excited.

[Spanky99]

As would I. I'm high on Alford, and I think he's going to do really well.

 

Ditto.

[Jimcanuck]

5 hr, 24 RBI. Over 68 games. I don't know. I'm hoping you are right, but I'm not overly excited.

 

135 wrc+ with excellent BB and K rates

[Spanky99]

5 hr, 24 RBI. Over 68 games. I don't know. I'm hoping you are right, but I'm not overly excited.

 

Learn to wRC+, mate. He had a promising 2nd half, AFL and ST, they have to see what they have. Sink or Swim time.

[Deadpool]

5 hr, 24 RBI. Over 68 games. I don't know. I'm hoping you are right, but I'm not overly excited.

 

If you are looking at HRs and RsBI, you are looking at exactly the wrong numbers to find his value.

[LGBJ29]

I'll have to disagree with you as well. Look around the league. A .240 hitter with 5 homeruns in AAA does not cut it. Your centre fielder should be a stud.

 

yeah, defensively. Kevin Pillar is a perfect example, he was able to put up a 3.7 fWAR with a sub 100 wRC+ in 2015

 

In layman's terms you can be a very valuable asset as a CF with a league average bat. Corner OF is where you better be able to hit

[P2F]

Can someone explain to me why the Jays are so high on Alford? His numbers in the minors are not good at all. Your CF should be one of your best players offensively. Alford hit .240, with 5 hr's last year in AAA. There has to be some upside to him. Thanks.

 

For the record, the mean offensive output for a CF in 2018 was:

 

515 PA

14 HR

66 R

50 RBI

13 SB

.253 AVG

.327 OBP

.411 SLG

.319 wOBA

100 wRC+

[Krylian]

Yes. Yes he can.

[Senior]

If you are looking at HRs and RsBI, you are looking at exactly the wrong numbers to find his value.

 

Those are just 2 stats where he is lacking. I’m no Pillar fan by any stretch, but I don’t think Alford is a viable option. We shall see.

[BlueRocky]

Honestly never been a huge Alford fan either. But we are in 100% rebuild and the only way to find out if he’s any good is to let him play.

[Deadpool]

Those are just 2 stats where he is lacking. I’m no Pillar fan by any stretch, but I don’t think Alford is a viable option. We shall see.

 

Those two stats mean literally zero. RsBI mean less than zero.

[keggy]

Alford has one of those worrisome offensive profiles that relies on high BB rates without a great hit or in-game power tool to back it up.

 

If he doesn't improve in either of those categories big league pitchers are going to knock the bat out of his hands. Of course he's so insanely athletic he may be capable of improving on the fly.

[Todd]

Looks like Anthony Alford is on the team for the next couple of days. Until the new guys show up. But

let me make myself clear. He should not be with the team just for some what of a good spring training.

Totally different pitching. Of minor leagues trying to make impressions. Has to go to Buffalo get between

500 and 600 at bats. And show what he can actually do. WITHOUT GETTING INJURED. And from what I

have been reading lately people are starting to see what I have been saying all along. OVERRATED or

to much pressure.

[Deadpool]

Looks like Anthony Alford is on the team for the next couple of days. Until the new guys show up. But

let me make myself clear. He should not be with the team just for some what of a good spring training.

Totally different pitching. Of minor leagues trying to make impressions. Has to go to Buffalo get between

500 and 600 at bats. And show what he can actually do. WITHOUT GETTING INJURED. And from what I

have been reading lately people are starting to see what I have been saying all along. OVERRATED or

to much pressure.

 

Wrong.

[Jimcanuck]

Looks like Anthony Alford is on the team for the next couple of days. Until the new guys show up. But

let me make myself clear. He should not be with the team just for some what of a good spring training.

Totally different pitching. Of minor leagues trying to make impressions. Has to go to Buffalo get between

500 and 600 at bats. And show what he can actually do. WITHOUT GETTING INJURED. And from what I

have been reading lately people are starting to see what I have been saying all along. OVERRATED or

to much pressure.

 

I believe the Jays FO knows a hell of a lot more than you do.

[DigitalRock]

Looks like Anthony Alford is on the team for the next couple of days. Until the new guys show up. But

let me make myself clear. He should not be with the team just for some what of a good spring training.

Totally different pitching. Of minor leagues trying to make impressions. Has to go to Buffalo get between

500 and 600 at bats. And show what he can actually do. WITHOUT GETTING INJURED. And from what I

have been reading lately people are starting to see what I have been saying all along. OVERRATED or

to much pressure.

 

This reads like the dumb s*** people post on Facebook.

[Todd]

Digitalrock guy I don't know who the hell you are but you are some punk ass kid who knows s*** about baseball or the the blue jays.

And as for jimcanuck who i do not have a beef with but that's also what about ten scouts in baseball I have talked to about him

believe as well.

[Spanky99]

This reads like the dumb s*** people post on Facebook.

 

You?

[saskjayfan]

Alford is going down to AAA in a couple days right? I can't say I'm all that pumped to have brito on the roster.

[Daniel Labude]

Alford is going down to AAA in a couple days right? I can't say I'm all that pumped to have brito on the roster.

 

Smoak traded, Tellez to 1B, Teoscar to DH, Alford CF, Grichuk RF, McKinney LF. Could happen in a week. Also I think Alford will be up for a bit either way

[Carlos Danger]

Smoak traded, Tellez to 1B, Teoscar to DH, Alford CF, Grichuk RF, McKinney LF. Could happen in a week. Also I think Alford will be up for a bit either way

 

If you listen to Atkins comments today.. I believe Socrates will be on the 25 and Alford will be at AAA tomorrow. Socrates has had sufficient AAA ABs, Alford has not is basically what Ross said.. Doesn't want Alford to be with the Club as a 4th OF. When he is with us wants him to be regular player.

[Bobthe4th]

Smoak traded, Tellez to 1B, Teoscar to DH, Alford CF, Grichuk RF, McKinney LF. Could happen in a week. Also I think Alford will be up for a bit either way

 

Yeah, before we managed to trade Morales I didn't think there would be a market for Smoak as a 1B. But if we can get a few interesting prospects then might as well get rid. I'm not very keen on an extension for Smoak as in theory he's easily replaceable in free agency if none of our potential 1B prospects work out.

 

I wouldn't necessarily give Tellez the full time 1B job though, we'd probably see us acquire another ultra cheap veteran and then Tellez can rotate through 1B / DH.