kgm1

Appy League 7 of the top 20 in this league were from Bluefield ( Blue Jays ) 2. D.J. Davis, of, Bluefield (Blue Jays) Age: 19. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 180. Drafted: HS—Wiggins, Miss., 2012 (1). The first of five 2012 first or supplemental-round picks by the Blue Jays, Davis received $1.75 million and spent all of this season at Bluefield after playing at three short-season stops last summer. He was one of the league’s most exciting players, offering quick-twitch athleticism, a center-field profile and game-changing speed—though he’s learning how to take full advantage of it. Davis has quick hands, above-average bat speed and surprised many with his power, as 41 percent of his hits went for extra bases. Although peak power of 10-15 home runs is most likely, the most optimistic evaluators believed Davis has the power to hit 20. “He has the ability to be a true offensive threat and has Carl Crawford upside,” a manager said. “He can really run, can range into both gaps and has natural pop to his bat.” As with many Mississippi prep products, Davis remains raw. He has yet to find his swing path or make adjustments to his aggressive, pull-oriented approach. He often expanded the zone, striking out in 30 percent of his plate appearances. He also has a below-average arm and needs to improve his outfield reads. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG 225 35 54 8 7 6 25 26 76 13 8 .240 .323 .418 4. Mitch Nay, 3b, Bluefield (Blue Jays) Age: 20. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 195. Drafted: HS—Chandler, Ariz., 2012 (1s). Shortly after signing last summer, Nay broke his foot, delaying his debut. Once he got on the field, he showed the potential to be a profile third baseman and led the Appy League in RBIs. He drew praise for his work ethic. Nay has quick hands and plus bat speed, and he makes consistent hard contact to all fields. With a large, strong frame he has 70 raw power on the 20-80 scouting scale. Evaluators lauded his up-the-middle approach and ability to drive the ball to the right-center field gap this summer, traits he picked up after shortening his stride and swing path significantly in extended spring training. He showed a sound approach, striking out just 13.6 percent of the time, and he could be a middle-of-the-order hitter with plus power and on-base skills. A below-average runner, Nay has adequate range and a strong, accurate arm that should allow him to remain at third. He is working on his lateral quickness. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG 230 41 69 11 0 6 42 25 35 0 1 .300 .364 .426 5. Dawel Lugo, ss, Bluefield (Blue Jays) Age: 18. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 188. Signed: Dominican Republic, 2011. After mediocre results in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League last summer—he hit .224/.275/.329—Lugo was one of the Appy League’s top offensive performers this year. He’s a natural, pure hitter with supreme hand-eye coordination and the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Lugo offers surprising pop for his size and could grow into 20-home run power at his peak. He has an aggressive approach and makes lots of contact—with a strikeout rate of 13.9 percent and walk rate of 2.5 percent—but can struggle with balls on the outer half of the plate. “His hitting style, obviously on a smaller scale, is like a young Vlad Guerrero, kind of swinging at everything and barreling a lot,” a league hitting coach said. “He can look silly on some pitches, but you throw the same pitch again and he will crush it into the gap.” Lugo has dependable hands, smooth actions and an above-average arm at shortstop. He’s a fringy runner who could move to third because he lacks lateral quickness and range, though he is working to improve that. AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS AVG OBP SLG 192 28 57 11 2 6 36 5 28 1 0 .297 .317 .469 6. Chase DeJong, rhp, Bluefield (Blue Jays) Age: 19. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 185. Drafted: HS—Long Beach, 2012 (2). In extended spring training, the Blue Jays worked on making DeJong’s lower half more athletic, lengthening his stride and keeping him on line to the plate. He put those lessons to use and dominated in the Appy League, finishing second in K-BB ratio (6.6) and fifth in strikeout rate (28 percent of batters). DeJong pitched with average fastball velocity and touched 94 mph with downhill plane, and he could sit 90-94 once he maxes out his lean, angular build. He has an out-pitch in his plus 74-78 mph curveball, and his changeup, which flashes plus, improved as well. DeJong has a starter’s delivery that he repeats well, and he should eventually have above-average command. He throws from a high three-quarters slot and at times worked up in the zone. He will work on quieting his delivery to eliminate a head snap. W L ERA G GS SV IP H R ER HR BB SO AVG 2 3 3.05 13 10 0 56 58 21 19 2 10 66 .261

"""The right direction is to do very little. Possibly explore a Rasmus trade, maybe an EE trade. Maybe even a Buerhle trade. Maybe trade Lind. """" I stated last year as long as we added some pitching I didn't care what he did as long as he didn't gut the farm . Well he gutted the farm and we are all in . The one thing AA can't do this year is gut what is left of the farm . Signing a top FA pitcher just isn't in the cards. They just don't want to play here and I can't blame them . getting Tanaka will be out if the posting system changes too . Again why would he want to play here . Trading b prospects for a salary dump and signing a Ruiz Type catcher seems to me the best possible senario . Let us face the facts that unless this team stays healthy we haven't got a snow balls chance in hell anyway . One of Morrow or Romero need to make 30 + starts and One of Rogers/Redmond/Happless need to be a good 5th or 6th starter . In other words go buy a f***ing lottery ticket ( Odds are better )

We aren't paying JPA Adam Dunn type money . Before we destroy the guy lets us be realistic about bad players. Dunn,s 2011 and even 12/13 years at that money far eclipses JPA at bad 2011 CWS AL MLB 122 415 36 66 115 16 0 11 42 75 0 177 0 1 .159 .292 .277 .569 0.72

Are all of you having fun??? Yes in some ways JPA deserves this and I have been very vocal that the best way to improve our starting rotation is to get a Ruiz behind the plate . But I for one want the guy to go down to AA and get his bat working to try and get some value back . Destroying the guy won't help that . Having JPA in buffalo improving would also keep that ownership and fans happier and we need that franchise . We need an upgrade behind the plate AA recognizes that . What I want him to realize is overpaying for Ruiz might just be the best thing he can do to improve our rotation .

No way we ever return to the balanced schedule but everyone that I've read in baseball agrees it could be made more balanced and that would appease some of us for a few years

Not for Home runs . Comerica plays at .963 . Nationals park plays even overall but wow .783 for Home runs http://espn.go.com/mlb/stats/parkfactor

Trading Rasmus would be a lot easier if Gose would be a little more selective and make more contact. Still If we could somehow so overpay that McCann came hear our offense could survive Gose in Center.

Yea the fact that the O's and the Yankees are out certainly lessens the hurt of a dismal season .

Would have to look at the #'s but I've always thought of it as a pitchers park . Miggy in Detroit and Trout in LAA makes it a lot tougher on them . Think what those two would do in the AL east parks ,

LOL ,I am following it a little better than that . I don't know WTF I was thinking when I typed that . probably what Sierra thinks when he runs the bases ?

Look at the divisions and parks those three play in . Davis and Jose play in the homer domes in the AL east with all those small homer friendly parks

Esmail getting his brains beat out in the third inning. I had hoped he was learning how to pitch but I was wrong .

The Buffalo fans will love him . he can work on his bat without worrying about defense . DH and play first maybe a little LF .

He would have to hit more than two to help my teams out . I have him in two leagues but no pitching and these are pitching leagues

Yep , Gibby has a couple of decent players at the top of the order then AA filler for the rest of the lineup .

If He can't do that I expect a total rebuild . No point going into next season with the defense we had last year and expecting to compete

IF you were Tanaka and you had 3 teams to chose from to start your MLB career would you pitch in Toronto (pitchers park ) in the AL East . IF the changes to the posting system go thru as proposed that will be his option . He can sign with any of the top 3 bidders . I see as much of a chance signing him as signing any top Free Agent starters . Slim to nil.

The biggest improvement we can make in our rotation is to improve the defense up the middle and in left field starting with a catcher . We have little trade bait and seem unable to attract free agent starters so getting a Ruiz (type) even if it is a huge overpay might be the best move AA can make .

Man , gibby must think he is back in AA when he writes out the lineup card

Buffalo groupies will go nuts over JPA next year .

LOL Pat , Jpa doesn't know how to cut down his swing

Lol JPA gets his shot

Frigg , Wells , I can't even watch this

Crap .

s*** man , He can't get around on the 96 mph fastball , Throw strikes