Comments on: Comprehensively Breaking Down Jose Bautista’s 5-Year/$64 million Contract

By: Yanks/Jays series preview « Yanks Go Yard | A New York Yankees Blog

Yanks/Jays series preview « Yanks Go Yard | A New York Yankees Blog — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 18:13:22 +0000

[...] I have since warmed up to it and wrote about many reasons why the contract makes sense in a longer article back in February. The amount of money in the contract is irrelevant to me really, I’m just moreso concerned with [...]

By: Jays Journal Series Preview: April 19-20 vs. New York Yankees « Jays Journal | A Toronto Blue Jays Blog

Tue, 19 Apr 2011 17:10:20 +0000

By: George

George — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:48:57 +0000

Johnny Mac had a pretty good year last hear, and he was heard to remark that had he had that kind of coaching when he was younger, he would have started a lot more games. John Buck had a career year. EE hit 21 in 96 games which translates to 35+ over 162 games. Don’t forget Alex Gonzales. Travis Snider is ready (he had 402 at bats last year, not bad for someone who spent time on the DL, so it’s not all Cito’s fault). Dwayne Murphy for Mayor!

By: George

George — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:38:45 +0000

I just wanted to point out that the contracts that Ramirez, Hamilton and Morneau signed bought out 2 or more of their arbitration years, which sell cheaper than free agent years. The Jays paid 8 million for JB’s only remaining arbitration year, and $14 million for 4, and possibly 5 free agent years.

By: George

George — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 19:31:07 +0000

Rivera isn’t all that bad if he can come close to his 2009 numbers, and John
Farrell has some nice problems on his hands when it comes to his pitching crew. It may just come down to who has options left, just like last year. Wouldn’t the Yankees just love to get their hand on a couple of the guys we have to send down!

By: earlweaverfan

earlweaverfan — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:17:53 +0000

So, Mylegacy, what fascinates me about this sort of insight is how transferable it is to other players. Who else in the Jays’ lineup would benefit the most from this kind of coaching? What intrigues me the most is whether, due to the inability to hit ‘stuff down low off the plate’, some of the Jays’ hitters could actually materially increase their OBP. And if that happened, would they be more likely to get better pitches to hit?

Related to that, is there something highly distinctive about Bautista, in his coachability? Or could Snider, Encarnacion, and even Escobar, who all have the ability to mash, all be upgraded as hitters, by learning what he learned?

By: Jared Macdonald

Jared Macdonald — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 08:17:23 +0000

Mylegacy, great comment as always, and many thanks for the kind words. I think it’s pretty funny that you tried out the swing with your own bat, because I did the exact same thing myself! Not only does the changed swing help with timing pitches, but, exactly like you said, it virtually prevents him from being able to flail helplessly at something low or out of the zone a la Vernon Wells.

I’m actually starting to worry people about how excited I am for this season, and baseball in general. Is it April 1st yet???

By: Jared Macdonald

Jared Macdonald — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 08:11:24 +0000

@Keith and Stump:
I think a deal involving a starter (Scrabble/Litsch) and a reliever (Frasor/Dotel) is definitely not out of the question, and the Jays would likely have to pay the majority of Rivera’s salary if he was included too, not that there’s anything wrong with that.

I’ve pretty much accepted seeing Rivera in a Jays uniform for all of 2011 (sigh), with any other scenario being gravy.

On the topic of trades for other pieces, the ideal scenario for that train of thought would be to have Scrabble and Litsch crack the Opening Day rotation and have Drabek/Stewart start in the minors. I just might already be posting an article on that in the coming days actually…

By: Jared Macdonald

Jared Macdonald — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 08:02:31 +0000

You’re bang on by saying that 2011 will be a breakout year for Joonel, Snider, and EE.

Having guys at the top of the order like Davis and possibly Podsednik should help set the table for Bautista to do his thing. Bautista did have some protection from Wells last year though, so Lind will have to make sure he’s a threat at the plate again to cut down on Bautista’s intentional walks.

That being said though, I like where your head is at in terms of considering Snider as a possible cleanup hitter. I think Snider getting a full season of Cito-less at-bats, combined with Lind’s displeasure of hitting #4, and the idea isn’t crazy at all.

By: Mylegacy

Mylegacy — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:35:47 +0000

First things first – Jared, you and Mat continue to turn out some of the best – if not the best – Blue Jays REPORTING and COMMENT I’ve seen – another BRAVO!

Now – that MLB-Video about Jose’s swing is absolutely, exactly, right on. After I watched it I got my bat out – dusted off the cobwebs and – viola – they are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT – Jose has not tinkered with his swing – he has gone from being a very strong guy with a contact swing to being a very strong guy with a power swing. ALSO – the new swing almost precludes him from being able to swing at stuff down low off of the plate. Whereas Wells was forever bending over and flailing at stuff down and away – Jose just gets close enough to the plate to be able to cover the outslide corner – then KNOWING if the ball is too far for him to reach from his stance then the pitch is a ball – he just KILLS everything he can reach.

Jared, Mat and fellow readers….watch that video get a bat and try it for yourselves. Even my 65 year old, slightly plastered self when I’d finished Jose NEW swing looked surprisingly Jose Like. Now if only my beard could grow a foot a week like his can!