John_Havok

Sunday Notes from Fangraphs: Danny Jansen is quietly having one of the best seasons of any player in minor league baseball. In 97 games split between three levels, the 22-year-old Toronto Blue Jays catching prospect is slashing .339/.414/.510 — and he’s not slowing down. In 52 plate appearances since being promoted to Triple-A Buffalo, he’s hit a Ruthian .455/.538/.795. When Jansen appeared in my July 1 Notes column, Blue Jays farm director Gil Kim was quoted as saying the youngster is “really opening up some eyes,” and that he is “one of the most-improved players in the system.” Jansen’s eyes are a big reason for that improvement. Four years after being drafted out of an Appleton, Wisconsin high school, in the 16th round, he’s receiving optometrical assistance. “Last year, I realized that things weren’t as clear anymore, so after the season I went to the eye doctor,” explained Jansen. “He told me I had astigmatism, so I got a prescription and started wearing glasses last fall. I’m seeing everything so clear now, like a normal person with good eyes would.” The former Appleton West Terror doesn’t wear contacts, which makes him the rare backstop who dons glasses behind his mask. He sees at least one advantage to that. “Dirt doesn’t get in my eyes,” Jansen explained with a knowing nod. Vision hasn’t been his only above-the-neck improvement. “My mindset is different,” Jansen told me. “I’ve stopped thinking about my mechanics. That’s a huge thing right there. I’d gotten in a trap the last few years where I tried to be somebody I wasn’t. This year I decided I was just going to be me, see the ball, and compete.” It has been said that a baseball looks like a beachball to a hitter who is hot, and while Jansen didn’t make any such observation, the 15 for 28 streak he was on when we spoke on Wednesday suggests that it probably does. As for the numbers themselves, does he ever blink his eyes to make sure he’s not dreaming? “Yeah, it’s definitely different,” admitted Jansen. “I’ve never really had this kind of success before. I’m confident right now, but really, I’m just trying to be level-headed, and trying to get better.”

Holy s***, a vanland sighting?!

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Where they start him will depend on what they have him working on and how long it takes to do it. Chances are his fastball/curve combo could already play in bullpen on the majors but he needs to refine a 3rd pitch (likely his changeup) to at least an average level to be a starter. Not sure if he's still throwing a slider or not, you don't see very many pitchers these days throwing both a curve and slider, usually they shelf one or the other

And that guy with 117 wRC+ was....? Mike Trout

Homered again tonight

Kiermeier roids? Discuss

I know I'm amazing but I don't need it be on there twice. Please remove the lower me.

Maybe, but.. the top 2 in the east are still the same..... the top 3 in the west are still the same.... even with movement of some pretty big names.... the top still looks pretty much the same

You're bad at math..... Or you updated the wrong standings:) I think you added the points to last Tuesdays standings, not the ones from during the board blackout

What does he do now in Japan? Does he get a few days rest and then play the field for 3 days until his next start or us he out in the field the next day after pitching?

2nd night in a row where a Bison needed a double in the 9th inning for the cycle, and hit a HR instead. Jansen did that same thing yesterday

Teoscar with 2 HR tonight.

Probably September 1. Really no reason he shouldn't be up the second rosters expand

Arenado gets off his ass!

Slider hangy, Donaldson bangy the f*** out of that s***.

I've totally missed evry inning he's pitched. What's his stuff? Fastball/Slider?

Maybe.... Shark and Nolasco are my pitchers and I'll need probably 40 more points to stay in even 3rd place given everyone else's players remaining

You're the only one in misery. Here's an idea. Whatever meds you are on (or need to be on), next time take waaaaaaay too much, mix it with half a 40 of vodka.... drinky drinky, make like a tree and f*** off.

Tanaka gonna get you 40 points before the end of the night. Detroit can't hit s*** right now

And of course, Buck's solution to ump/player arguments is to remove technology from the players view so they don't know if the ump is wrong or not. Can someone please put this dinosaur out of our misery?

Jays had 3 minor league offensive players of the week last week. C Reese McGuire, Eastern League - .533/.588/1.200, 4 G, 8-for-15, 1 2B, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, 3 K 3B Vlad Jr, Florida State League - .462/.516/.923, 7 G, 12/26, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 R, 4 BB, 1 IBB, 3 K SS Kevin Smith, Appalachian League - .444/.464/.926, 6 G, 12/27, 7 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 SB

f***ing Kiermeier. ..

Not good enough

Rowley vs Archer Lackey vs Bailey