Can Alford stick?

[Ray]

Interesting that Atkins referred to Alford as an "organizational player" today on the radio.

[Barkerfan23]

"Alford is probably not a big leaguer"

 

Kevin Barker

Baseball Central

April 3 2019

[Jimcanuck]

Light a fire under him

[Krylian]

"Alford is probably not a big leaguer"

 

Kevin Barker

Baseball Central

April 3 2019

 

Not enough RBIs

[BlueRocky]

Interesting that Atkins referred to Alford as an "organizational player" today on the radio.

 

Ouch?

[Jonn]

I would really hope they don't send Alford back down that quick. The juggling act already has been stupid. Having him Toronto Opening Day thinking he made the team only to send him back down before calling him up and possibly sending him back down again. This dude needs stability not this yo-yo s*** lol.

 

He needs to be playing everyday CF somewhere. Whether its in Buffalo or Toronto it just needs to happen.

[Brownie19]

I would really hope they don't send Alford back down that quick. The juggling act already has been stupid. Having him Toronto Opening Day thinking he made the team only to send him back down before calling him up and possibly sending him back down again. This dude needs stability not this yo-yo s*** lol.

 

He needs to be playing everyday CF somewhere. Whether its in Buffalo or Toronto it just needs to happen.

 

The minor league guys are still in spring training...so it's not like he's missing out

[Krylian]

I would really hope they don't send Alford back down that quick. The juggling act already has been stupid. Having him Toronto Opening Day thinking he made the team only to send him back down before calling him up and possibly sending him back down again. This dude needs stability not this yo-yo s*** lol.

 

He needs to be playing everyday CF somewhere. Whether its in Buffalo or Toronto it just needs to happen.

 

He's gonna be Pompey v2.0 at this rate.

[Slade]

I would really hope they don't send Alford back down that quick. The juggling act already has been stupid. Having him Toronto Opening Day thinking he made the team only to send him back down before calling him up and possibly sending him back down again. This dude needs stability not this yo-yo s*** lol.

 

He needs to be playing everyday CF somewhere. Whether its in Buffalo or Toronto it just needs to happen.

 

Who cares, the minor league season hasn't even started yet.

[Laika]

... it's not like he's missing out

 

Thank you for this reasonable post.

 

Buffalo's seasons starts tomorrow. A brief cameo in Toronto is better for Alford than sitting in Buffalo for ~2 days waiting for the AAA season to start.

[saskjayfan]

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.

 

who knows what Alford went through last year. He could have been dealing with some nagging injuries for all we know. Brito is a high strike out guy that never walks with some over inflated PCL numbers. He has plenty of AAA at bats because he could never make it in the majors. He has a .229 OBP in 168 mlb at bats. I don't get the dumpster diving. Usually when someone gives you something for free it's crap.

 

Alford is the best defensive outfielder the Jays have. His base running is also at tops for the outfielders. His minor league walk rate is north of 11% despite the off year last year. Power is often the last thing to develop. That's why his spring was so eyebrow raising. 4 hrs in 33 abs. It could mean nothing, but it gets you thinking. Power never develops if you don't have the bat speed, but Alford has plenty of Thunder. I don't need to see 500 ABs at AAA. If Alford is killing it and showing the power after 100 to 150 ABs I want him up. There are plenty ABs for Alford in the majors. Mckinney isn't a proven every day player. Teoscar, Smoak, Tellez will need days off.

[tercet]

How will Alford ever recover from the Buffalo to Toronto plane ride?

 

A+++ Troll

But on a serious note would anyone actually fly from Buffalo to Toronto? I've done the drive maybe 10~ times in the last 5 years, and it is 90minute-120 hour trip each way depending on the line at the border. No way a flight is faster..

[Angrioter]

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

 

OK. Now put Jose Ramirez, José Bautista, and Robbie Cano stats in the minor league

[TheHurl]

OK. Now put Jose Ramirez, José Bautista, and Robbie Cano stats in the minor league

 

Ramirez .304//.355/411

Bautista .284/.374/.466

Cano .279/.332/.432

[Krylian]

Nope. He can't stick.

[EastCoaster]

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

 

Tellez is one dimensional tool player a DH at best fielding isn't his forte as we all witness yesterday on chopped ball in the infield in the 8th inning I've seen better hands and range on some little league ballplayers. That was a butchery of hand bobbles with the eventually the ball dropping out of the glove on what was actually a doable out at first with the pitcher covering.

[wilko]

I guess hanging out in Toronto for a week didn't make him stick.

[EastCoaster]

Scorates Brito was out of options so when they traded for him they knew he had to be added to the active roster.

[Krylian]

Scorates Brito was out of options so when they traded for him they knew he had to be added to the active roster.

 

Options are just a state of mind. Socrates knows this.

[Barkerfan23]

Alford swing looked painful.

[Boxcar]

A+++ Troll

But on a serious note would anyone actually fly from Buffalo to Toronto? I've done the drive maybe 10~ times in the last 5 years, and it is 90minute-120 hour trip each way depending on the line at the border. No way a flight is faster..

 

Somehow skimmed over the 120