Spring/Summer Training, 2020

[Laika]

Where does that rank in the Jays Parents hall of fame. Ahead of Lind's Mom's medical assessments, but behind Rick Litsch PM'ing Jays fans who didn't like his son.

 

It's just behind Tony Rasmus being his son's personal hitting coach and behind John McDonald's dad doing his angels in the outfield thing

[Terminator]

What's up with Scooter? Coming off 2 huge seasons. Tears his groin and was awful last year Now is unsigned? 1 year removed from 4.5 WAR....is he holding out for a starting gig? Why isn't he signed?

 

Not really sure. He must be hurt still?

[Spanky__99]

Not really sure. He must be hurt still?

 

Latest thing I could find on him...

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/i-feel-terrible-for-scooter-gennett/

[Laika]

Not really sure. He must be hurt still?

 

I think he's just falling into that gigantic bucket of veteran free agents who project for 0 to around 1.5 WAR. Teams continue to show that they do not value these guys - they might give them a few million bucks, or a bit more if they have a glaring need and love the player, but for the most part teams are happier to give the playing time to cost-controlled players. Part of this is that teams in general are better at developing and extracting value from young talent out of their own system these days.

 

For players like Kevin Pillar who never expected to get a big contract, they just end up settling for a bit less and they sign.

 

For players like Puig and Gennett who at one point in the not-too-distant past were eyeing a big free agent contract it's a tough pill to swallow. That's why Puig rejected 1/$10M earlier this offseason (he probably wants that decision back) and I would just guess that something similar has happened with Scooter. I bet he's turned down some guaranteed money this offseason, maybe because it was only a few million or maybe because it wasn't a guaranteed starting job.

[Laika]

Split Squad day. Pearson is, I think, scheduled to throw against the Pirates and that one is on TV.

 

Game 2 is against the Canadian Junior National team. Dasan Brown should be playing against his former National team. Should be surreal for him - last year I think he homered against the Jays while wearing red. I think a good amount of Jays prospects get looks in this game. Unfortunately it's not on TV?

[Spanky__99]

Todays line up... Thornton starting...

 

1. Bo Bichette ® SS

2. Cavan Biggio (L) CF <------- Cool.

3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ® DH

4. Gabriel Guerrero ® 3B

5. Travis Shaw (L) 1B

6. Reese McGuire (L) C

7. Joe Panik (L) 2B

8. Forrest Wall (L) LF

9. Josh Palacios (L) RF

 

 

[Spanky__99]

[The Cats Ass]

I guess it's worth trying Biggio out in CF. Would solve a problem for the team if he could handle it. Has the speed to play there. Never played there since being drafted though; maybe in college or high school?

[BlueRocky]

Biggio actually is graded way above average in base sprint speed and OAA at 2B. He’s graded around average in RF and below average in LF (small samples) based on statcast and savant. His arm is actually a bit underrated too, as he can make a decent throw from RF to 3B. But he’s just going to be a serviceable outfielder at best, I’d rather keep him at second.

 

It’s never a bad thing Biggio can play all OF and INF positions, but I just don’t see why you’d move a second baseman, off second base, when he’s graded as a plus asset there. He barely tapped into his power last season, I could see him getting 25-30 HR with a .350 OBP and 3-4 WAR in a full season.

 

Moving Biggio around the field just to get other people ABs (Shaw? Panik? Drury?), when those other options are probably not worth it, just doesn’t make much sense to me. I see some potential in Shaw though.

 

Now down the line, if they’re preparing Biggio to move off second to make room for Groshans, Orelvis, Hiraldo, or Nick Gonzales that’s a different story.

[Laika]

At this point I believe that Cavan Biggio can do anything. The organization is stupidly thin in the OF. If someone like Kevin Smith or Santiago Espinal ends up being a surprisingly good middle infielder, it would be nice if Biggio could slide into the OF to accommodate them. Or even further out, in a couple of years Orelvis or Hiraldo could be knocking on the door as good looking middle infielders. There's also a non-zero chance that Groshans ends up in the middle infield.

 

In the immediate it looks like it would just accommodate Panik or Drury if they decide to not suck. Not very exciting but who the f*** knows what is going to happen with the fringe talent around this roster. The team could be in a situation this year where Alford is gone, Fisher is horrendous, Teoscar is replacement level, Grichuk can't get on base, and Gurriel can't OBP .300, etc. and maybe Joe Panik is doing an Eric Sogard thing.

[Abomination]

At this point I believe that Cavan Biggio can do anything. The organization is stupidly thin in the OF. If someone like Kevin Smith or Santiago Espinal ends up being a surprisingly good middle infielder, it would be nice if Biggio could slide into the OF to accommodate them. Or even further out, in a couple of years Orelvis or Hiraldo could be knocking on the door as good looking middle infielders. There's also a non-zero chance that Groshans ends up in the middle infield.

 

In the immediate it looks like it would just accommodate Panik or Drury if they decide to not suck. Not very exciting but who the f*** knows what is going to happen with the fringe talent around this roster. The team could be in a situation this year where Alford is gone, Fisher is horrendous, Teoscar is replacement level, Grichuk can't get on base, and Gurriel can't OBP .300, etc. and maybe Joe Panik is doing an Eric Sogard thing.

 

I think the bigger benefit is more flexibility in dealing with injuries and late-game substitutions. He can play the majority of the games at 2B, but it would sure be nice to be able to slide someone competent into a few other positions on an emergency basis.

[BlueRocky]

I think the bigger benefit is more flexibility in dealing with injuries and late-game substitutions. He can play the majority of the games at 2B, but it would sure be nice to be able to slide someone competent into a few other positions on an emergency basis.

 

Fair enough. And I don’t mind Biggio getting OF reps in spring training. Just don’t want to see it turn into a circus act during the season.

 

His bat is good enough you don’t want to mess around his routine for no reason.

[glory]

 

And so it begins.

[Spanky__99]

Bichette Dinger again!!! Last HR of Spring?

 

Pearson sighting!

 

Damn this kid is so f***ing good!

Edited March 12, 2020 by Spanky99

[Spanky__99]

Nate *10 STRAIGHT BALLS* Pearson!!!

[BlueRocky]

[BlueRocky]

Summer camp

 

Rowdy Tellez with two dingers in tonight

[Bturn2210]

I guess this means Austin Martin is on his way to Toronto.

[BlueRocky]

I’d put Martin in the taxi squad with Kirk so they can follow the team around.

[Brownie19]

I’d put Martin in the taxi squad with Kirk so they can follow the team around.

 

I think this really provides an incredible opportunity for our young prospects. Instead of riding s***** buses in A ball, they'll be working out and practicing with the big club all year.

 

I wonder if this allows baseball to re-think how prospects develop. Would being around the team more instead of being on minor league teams with tons of watered down talent and such actually be better?

[Bobthe4th]

I think this really provides an incredible opportunity for our young prospects. Instead of riding s***** buses in A ball, they'll be working out and practicing with the big club all year.

 

I wonder if this allows baseball to re-think how prospects develop. Would being around the team more instead of being on minor league teams with tons of watered down talent and such actually be better?

 

Interesting - IMO definitely not for pitchers, you want them working on developing their pitches in games, but for batters why not?

 

Perhaps for IFAs and 1st round picks your first year is spent with the MLB team then 2nd year you start at AA.

[TheHurl]

I think this really provides an incredible opportunity for our young prospects. Instead of riding s***** buses in A ball, they'll be working out and practicing with the big club all year.

 

I wonder if this allows baseball to re-think how prospects develop. Would being around the team more instead of being on minor league teams with tons of watered down talent and such actually be better?

 

Didn't they announce that the taxi squad would be in Buffalo

[BlueRocky]

I think 30 of the 60 guys that didn’t make the roster will wait in Buffalo.

The three man taxi squad (one mandatory catcher) will follow the team and on road trips. I guess they’re a backup to the actual bench incase covid absences.

[Bobthe4th]

I think 30 of the 60 guys that didn’t make the roster will wait in Buffalo.

The three man taxi squad (one mandatory catcher) will follow the team and on road trips. I guess they’re a backup to the actual bench incase covid absences.

 

60-man player pools

The 60-man list is a pool of players from which teams may select players to add to their 40-man rosters or their major league rosters. A player must be on the 60-man list to be added to the roster, although there is nothing really preventing a team from adding a player to the rosters as long as there is a spot available.

 

Removing a player from the 60-man list has consequences, just as it does with the 40-man roster. Once a player is removed from the 60-man list, he can not be added back to that team’s list during the season. He can be added to another team’s list.

 

Non-40-man-roster players may be removed by trade, release, placement on the COVID-19 related injured list, or placement on the suspended list (by the club), military, voluntarily retired, restricted, disqualified or ineligible lists. So, the top prospects on the 60-man lists are there for the season.

 

Players on the 60-man list will receive minor league salaries. Players in the minor leagues not on the 60-man lists will receive $400 per week through at least the end of August for most clubs.

 

Players on a 40-man roster may be designated for assignment and removed by clearing waivers.

 

Taxi Squads

Teams will be able to take three players from their 60-man lists who are not on the major league roster with them on road trips. One must be a catcher, who may serve as a bullpen catcher during major league games at home or away. These players are not eligible to play in major league games without being added to the major league roster.

 

Taxi Squad players will not be paid MLB salary or accrue service time, but they will receive the major league allowance of $108.50 per day along with their minor league salary.

 

The most likely use of the taxi squads is to bring a pitcher or a utility player who is ready to play should another player test positive for coronavirus. Traveling with the major league team avoids having to take a commercial flight to join the club.

 

Major league rosters

The MLB season will begin with 30 players on the major league roster. That will be reduced to 28 players after two weeks, and cut to 26 players after four weeks. So, instead of September call-ups, this season we will have rosters for the final month that are smaller than for the rest of the season. Teams may add a 27th player in the event of a doubleheader, but no twin bills are planned thus far.

[Bobthe4th]

I don't really understand why the taxi squad is limited to 3 players. It's not like they are missing out on minor league games, and surely if a MLB player tests positive it's likely that often it'll be more than one on the same team.

[Deadpool]

$108.50 per diem is pretty nuts. You have to be a VERY fancy eater not to have that pile up in a hurry.

[BlueRocky]

[BlueRocky]

Comment on Groshans play

[Laika]

$108.50 per diem is pretty nuts. You have to be a VERY fancy eater not to have that pile up in a hurry.

 

Seriously?

 

lol

[BlueRocky]

I don't really understand why the taxi squad is limited to 3 players. It's not like they are missing out on minor league games, and surely if a MLB player tests positive it's likely that often it'll be more than one on the same team.

 

It’s a bit confusing, but from my understanding this is how it works:

 

60-player pool: Only these guys can play for you or traded this season.

40-man roster: Can be added to main roster (like typical year)

30/28/26 man roster: Actual players in the club house

 

The 3 man taxi squad will come from the pool of 30 players that are not on the 30/28/26 man roster. Like a backup to the actual bench. But they need to be added to 40 man before you can put them in actual games, which works out when somebody on the 30-man gets put into covid list.

 

So the 30 players not in your club house is your “Buffalo Team” and the taxi squad is the three Buffalo Team members that are on standby. You can kinda treat the entire Buffalo team as your inactive Taxi Squad, as they can be swapped around with no penalty unlike the 40-man roster.