Comments on: Jays Notes, 22-May-11: Scott Podsednik Signs, Minors Moves, and Brett Lawrie

By: aaforpm

aaforpm — Tue, 24 May 2011 15:31:54 +0000

This has absolutely nothing to do with team control, not unless we keep him down until May 2012. The difference between calling him up now or later in the season is saving money on arbitration by avoiding super 2 status. Since he won’t get a full year of service time this year he is under team control through at least the end of the 2017 season, keeping him down until later this year changes nothing with respect to team control unless he is kept of the roster for the beginning of next year.

By: Alexi Ogando Stays Hot | Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove | Fantasy Baseball Hot Stove

Tue, 24 May 2011 02:46:58 +0000

[...] Blue Jays are keeping Brett Lawrie in the minors to save money. Plain and simple. Tagged with: Alexi Ogando • Blue Jays • Brett Lawrie • Joe [...]

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:57:59 +0000

Exactly Keith! Completely agree on all counts!

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Mon, 23 May 2011 22:55:55 +0000

The majority of his errors (7, I believe) came within the first 2 weeks in AAA. Therefore, the learning curve is evident and he’s playing on one of the worst infields in all of MiLB. He’s most likely going to be better than Encarnacion, and could be a little better than Nix. Aside from John McDonald, he’d be the best option the Jays have at 3B. Besides, when his stick is a strong as it is and he brings the grit that the Jays need in the club house, who cares if he makes 1 error a week or every 2 weeks?

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 23 May 2011 21:01:15 +0000

I keep hearing this “pseudo argument” about keeping Lawrie down because of his defense. Find me a team who has ever not promoted a prospect due to defense. At it’s core this is a game about scoring runs. We may not give up many if we had great pitching and defense, but you still won’t win if you can’t score.

Second unless these people are watching everyday, they have no idea how many of Lawrie’s errors are truly errors. By this I mean that on throwing errors, was it a case where the 1st baseman could have made the play? The fact that he has not made many fielding errors on the Vegas concrete is a really good sign.
Lastly, If you want him to improve his defense, bring him up to work with one of MLB’s best infield coaches in Butter.
The defense argument really has not basis. This is purely about preserving another year of team control when we are contending.

By: onomeister

onomeister — Mon, 23 May 2011 19:38:08 +0000

^Agreed. He needs more experience defensively. He can work on that in AAA without affecting game outcomes at ML level. WE DON’T WANT ANOTHER ENCARNACION!!

By: Duncan

Duncan — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:41:43 +0000

I understand the frustration with keeping Lawrie in AAA, but his defense is horrible. He needs more time at 3B before he comes up.

By: Keith

Keith — Mon, 23 May 2011 13:11:55 +0000

Mat,

You are so right about Lawrie. We have the WORST production in the majors at 3B. Yet we are only 3 games out. Imagine if we had some actual production at the position. Lawrie is likely going to make a ton of errors. But so are E5 and Nix. The advantage is with Lawrie:
1 – we are getting him conditioned to the league for 2012 and 2013. Nix and E5 will hopefully not be around then.
2 – Plus Lawrie can learn from one of the best coaches in Butterfield.
3 – Lawrie’s bat is sure to cover his errors. Something that can’t be said about the rest of the motley crew at 3B.

I think AA’s fascination with draft picks may actually be hurting the club this year. In order for Rivera and E5 to be worth a draft pick, they actually have to produce. Which they are not. So carrying them is actually hurting the ball club. Deal them for a sack of balls and bring up the kid.
If they were losing with the best club they could field, I would be o.k. with it. But to lose to the Astro’s (and other bad clubs) with a club that is pieced together on a hope that someone will want our rejects is frustrating.

By: blueboo

blueboo — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:28:58 +0000

I still think you have issue in center field, one that can catch and can’t hit and the other can hit and can’t catch. I would like to see what Thames brings on the field. Third base is also problematic, and I think you will soon see Lawrie because you are not getting enough stick out of Nix, Macdonald, McCoy and EE.

By: gabriel

gabriel — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:21:15 +0000

Much as I’d love to see Brett Lawrie with the big club, I really don’t object to keeping him in AAA. He’s on a steep learning curve; he’s just been asked to change his plate approach to draw more walks, and he’s still struggling defensively. While he’s adjusted really well to the new plate approach, I think we should give him more than 50 AB to let it sink in before moving him up. The excitement and pressure of first getting to the major leagues is not the best environment for adjusting one’s game. Let Lawrie come up as a finished product.