2013 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[GhostofPotvin29]

He simply does not provide good enough defense to overlook his problems at the plate.  They can't keep running him out there for so many at-bats, it's just not working.  Jays are going to have to find someone - even if they are solely a defensive catcher.

 

[Kin]

I mean, to look at it another way, right now his career high SLG% would rank him 7th of the 12 catchers in the major leagues who currently would qualify for the batting title. So if the guy's not good defensively and gets on base at embarrassingly low levels his saving grace is supposed to be that at his absolute best he'll rank in the middle of the pack power-wise?

 

[bustaheims]

He simply does not provide good enough defense to overlook his problems at the plate.  They can't keep running him out there for so many at-bats, it's just not working.  Jays are going to have to find someone - even if they are solely a defensive catcher.

That I can agree with. His defence is pretty average, at best. He definitely needs to improve his approach at the plate if he wants a longer MLB career. If he can cut down on the Ks that have been a problem for him for his entire career (so, granted, that's unlikely) and improve his pitch selection (which I'll also grant is unlikely, though, it really can't get much worse), I think he can provide enough offence to overlook the fact that he's ordinary defensively.

 

[Corn Flake]

Potential Free agent catchers this off season:

Catchers
Rod Barajas
Henry Blanco
John Buck
Jesus Flores
Ramon Hernandez
Gerald Laird
Brian McCann
Jose Molina
Dioner Navarro
Wil Nieves
Miguel Olivo
Ronny Paulino
Brayan Pena
A.J. Pierzynski
Humberto Quintero
Carlos Ruiz
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Kelly Shoppach
Chris Snyder
Geovany Soto
Kurt Suzuki *
Yorvit Torrealba

Any names in there who would be a significant upgrade on JPA?

 

[Kin]

Any names in there who would be a significant upgrade on JPA?

McCann is the big one but he'll get paid.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Potential Free agent catchers this off season:

Catchers
Rod Barajas
Henry Blanco
John Buck
Jesus Flores
Ramon Hernandez
Gerald Laird
Brian McCann
Jose Molina
Dioner Navarro
Wil Nieves
Miguel Olivo
Ronny Paulino
Brayan Pena
A.J. Pierzynski
Humberto Quintero
Carlos Ruiz
Jarrod Saltalamacchia
Kelly Shoppach
Chris Snyder
Geovany Soto
Kurt Suzuki *
Yorvit Torrealba

Any names in there who would be a significant upgrade on JPA?

Ehhh

Link

 

[KoHo]

Dirk Hayhurst's work has been noticed south of the border. He'll join Keith Olbermann, Tom Verducci, and Pedro Martinez on TBS' playoff baseball studio panel.

 

[Champ Kind]

Any names in there who would be a significant upgrade on JPA?

Umm...all of them?

EDIT: Potvin beat me to it (I think)

Saltalamachia would be my pick of the bunch.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Can't really say they would all be an upgrade as most of them haven't been starters this season so who knows what their numbers would be if they were in there most games.

 

[bustaheims]

Can't really say they would all be an upgrade as most of them haven't been starters this season so who knows what their numbers would be if they were in there most games.

I'd say only McCann, Saltalamacchia and maybe Ruiz, if he can bounce back, represent clear upgrades on what Arencibia is capable of providing, even if he didn't actually provide that this season.

Soto could be an interesting reclamation project type, if the Jays wanted to go that way. He had a few really good years with the Cubs and he'll only be 31 next season.

 

[Champ Kind]

Can't really say they would all be an upgrade as most of them haven't been starters this season so who knows what their numbers would be if they were in there most games.

Yeah, the others don't have the ABs and game time to make an accurate comparison.  But right now, you'd have to even say that John Buck would be an upgrade, no?

EDIT: Busta, you wouldn't say that Pierzynski is an upgrade?  He comes across as a less-than-sympathetic figure but, heck, you can't say it would be much worse than JP.

 

[Corn Flake]

Dirk Hayhurst's work has been noticed south of the border. He'll join Keith Olbermann, Tom Verducci, and Pedro Martinez on TBS' playoff baseball studio panel.

Good for him.  Might only last one stint as he will talk down to all of them and piss them off. 

 

[Corn Flake]

Can't really say they would all be an upgrade as most of them haven't been starters this season so who knows what their numbers would be if they were in there most games.

I'd say only McCann, Saltalamacchia and maybe Ruiz, if he can bounce back, represent clear upgrades on what Arencibia is capable of providing, even if he didn't actually provide that this season.

Soto could be an interesting reclamation project type, if the Jays wanted to go that way. He had a few really good years with the Cubs and he'll only be 31 next season.

I'd throw Buck in the mix. Older, maybe wiser but pretty good all round player, no? Had his career year here may want to return.  Funny enough that he was actually here already before the flip to Long Island.

 

[bustaheims]

EDIT: Busta, you wouldn't say that Pierzynski is an upgrade?  He comes across as a less-than-sympathetic figure but, heck, you can't say it would be much worse than JP.

Considering his age, no, I wouldn't say he's a clear upgrade. He'll be 37 to start the 2014 season. And, while what he provided this year was better than what JPA provided, what he's done for the last few seasons isn't really a significant upgrade on JPA is capable of providing (or, at least, what he provided last season). AJ has generally been about a 1.0-1.2 WAR guy for a while now. JPA gave the team that last season and could do the same next season.

 

[Kin]

Good for him.  Might only last one stint as he will talk down to all of them and piss them off.

Yeah, I'm guessing that anyone watching a panel with Keith Olbermann on it isn't going to come away thinking Hayhurst is the abrasive and condescending one.

 

[Corn Flake]

Good for him.  Might only last one stint as he will talk down to all of them and piss them off.

Yeah, I'm guessing that anyone watching a panel with Keith Olbermann on it isn't going to come away thinking Hayhurst is the abrasive and condescending one.

Haven't seen/heard him much at all.  He's actually worse than Dirk?

 

[Kin]

But right now, you'd have to even say that John Buck would be an upgrade, no?

Buck's career high bWAR is 1.9. Arencibia was at 1.6 last year. Right now they're at identical 0.1 for the current season so unless you think Buck is a sure thing to rebound and Arencibia's on an unstoppable slide he's either A) not an upgrade or B) not enough of one to make acquiring him worth...just about anything.

 

[Kin]

Haven't seen/heard him much at all.  He's actually worse than Dirk?

I like Hayhurst, I think he's a refreshing change from the typical meat head, so I can't speak to that but that's what Olbermann is famous for.

 

[Andy007]

Dirk Hayhurst's work has been noticed south of the border. He'll join Keith Olbermann, Tom Verducci, and Pedro Martinez on TBS' playoff baseball studio panel.

Good for him.  Might only last one stint as he will talk down to all of them and piss them off.

Maybe you can criticize Zaun for this but Hayhurst? He is pretty honest and self-depricating. I actually like Hayhurst alot; good to see him get this gig.

 

[Corn Flake]

Dirk Hayhurst's work has been noticed south of the border. He'll join Keith Olbermann, Tom Verducci, and Pedro Martinez on TBS' playoff baseball studio panel.

Good for him.  Might only last one stint as he will talk down to all of them and piss them off.

Maybe you can criticize Zaun for this but Hayhurst? He is pretty honest and self-depricating. I actually like Hayhurst alot; good to see him get this gig.

I find Hayhurst to be pretty condescending, having listened to the Baseball Central show for a bit this summer.  His co-host was tearing his hair out in frustration trying to have discussions with the guy.  When he's being self deprecating I think he's pretty insincere about it.