February 24, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Gose (8) during spring training against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays had no new injuries and Gose doesn’t have an open position on the team so it seemed like a strange move.

According to Gibby the Jays called Gose up for a couple reasons.

To be a late inning defensive replacement in left field to give Melky and his sore hamstrings some time off his feet and to be a pinch runner.

With Rajai Davis still on the DL the Jays needed someone to do those things. Gose’s call up might be a sign the Jays expect Rajai to take longer to get back then they thought. Gose will probably go back to the minors when Rajai gets back.

Usually you wouldn’t want one of your top prospects coming to the big leagues if they’re not going to get every day at bats. But with the Blue Jays already on the outside of the playoff race looking in desperate times call for desperate measures.

It could also mean the Jays may not think so highly of Gose anymore so they don’t mind messing with his development.

The funny thing is before the season if you knew Gose was going to be in the big leagues in May the obvious solution would have been put him in right field and let Bautista and Edwin split time at 1st base and DH. But Adam freaking Lind is actually hitting to well to take him out of the lineup.

Gose is also a left handed hitter that struggles against lefties even more than Rasmus so his presence isn’t going to change the Jays bizarre combination against lefties of Rasmus in center, Bonifacio in left field and Melky at DH.

If Rasmus absolutely needs to be pinch hit for with a right handed hitter because a tough left handed reliever comes into the game Gose can take over for Rasmus at center field. And he’ll be an upgrade to!

You’d also have to imagine Gose will get the odd start in center field every now and then.

You’d probably be lying if you said you didn’t think Gose might be here because the leach for Rasmus is getting shorter. But it’s hard to imagine him doing enough to impress in the limited at bats he’ll get to steal the center field job.

Or maybe the Jays are thinking Gose could have enough success while he is in the big leagues to increase his trade value. Obviously he wouldn’t be able to increase his trade value by much in limited big league at bats but he could increase it enough to be an added piece to a trade.

However long Gose is in the big leagues his defense, base running and hopefully hitting should be fun to watch.

February 24, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Gose (8) at bat against the New York Yankees during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In a corresponding move, the team has optioned right-hander Mickey Storey back to Buffalo.

The 22-year-old Gose will be getting his second taste of Major League action, after appearing in 56 games with the Blue Jays in 2012. During that cup of coffee, the speedy outfielder hit .223 with a .622 OPS and 15 stolen bases in 189 plate appearances.

Gose created quite a stir in Spring Training, where he hit .267 and had an .804 OPS. However, he has thus far struggled a bit at Triple-A Buffalo, where he was hitting a measily .227 with 41 strike-outs in 183 plate appearances at the top of the Bisons’ order.

At the present time, the recall of Gose looks like it is more of a result of needing a bigger bench, especially with Melky Cabrera still nursing sore hamstrings. However, one would have to assume that the Blue Jays don’t want Gose to stay up for long if he is not going to get consistent at bats either.

Still, it is finally good to say that we are no longer rocking the 8-man bullpen and have some badly needed bench depth. Additionally, Gose’s presence will help interject some excitement into a fan base that badly needs something new to cling to.

Apr 11, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus (28) celebrates their win with Adam Lind (26) against the Boston Red Sox at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

CF Colby Rasmus 

• Batting Avg .225
• Striking Outs 36(45% OF THE TIME)
• Home Runs 4
• Stolen Bases 0

DH Adam Lind

• Batting Average .250
• RBI 3
• Stolen bases 1 
• Home Runs 0

One important fact about this team is that with Jose Reyes(who only played 10 Games) on the disabled list, we are the only team in the American League East that does not have a batter with a .300 average or better. It will be tough to score and win when we can’t find ways to get guys on the base pad.  

Now looking at the above two players, let me explain the under-performance. Colby Rasmus is a great defensive center fielder but the Blue Jays need more from this player. One reason he is so good defensively is his speed, yet he has yet to have a stolen base this season? He looks to be trying to sustain more power at the plate and a lot of power hitters sacrifice batting average for home runs and that lack of average usually shows up in a high strike out total. The problem here is that Colby only has 4 HRs and is striking out 45% of the time. We need Colby to focus more on getting on base and using the speed he has, rather than continue to end innings on strike three.

And then there is Adam Lind; One of the reasons so many fans love the American League is the ability to use the designated hitter over their pitcher on offense. Sorry Adam but these numbers do not seem to be any better than what a National League pitcher could do at the plate. Most players are easy to pinpoint as whether a speed hitter who finds ways to get on base or a power hitter who puts up big numbers while sacrifices things like steals. With these early numbers from Adam, the only way someone should be able to describe him is as a Minor League player.

Two viable options are playing in Buffalo and both played with the Blue Jays last year. The time is now for both Anthony Gose and Moises Sierra.

September 29, 2012; Toronto, ON, CANADA; Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Anthony Gose (43) and shortstop Yunel Escobar (5) and right fielder Moses Sierra (14) celebrate a win over the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre. Toronto defeated New York 3-2. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Anthony Gose (2012 Toronto Blue Jays)

• Batting Avg .223
• Striking Outs 59(35.5% OF THE TIME)
• Home Runs 1
• Stolen Bases 15

Moises Sierra (2013 Buffalo Bisons)

• Batting Average .397
• RBI 11
• Stolen bases 2
• Home Runs 1

Last year Anthony Gose came up to the big leagues and showed promise. He has been continuing to develop the bat but with these numbers from last year it is clear that having him come up and play CF for us would help us on the base path and put pressure on the opposing pitcher. His improvement in strike out percentage over Colby Rasmus will also be beneficial when we need to move a runner up a base or score a sacrifice fly. 

Moises Sierra is another obvious choice to help in the teams run production. If he were to come up as the team’s DH to replace Adam Lind, the team would have a more reliable bat in the lineup who also shows a bit more giddy up on the base pad. 

Both of these players seem to be in the Blue Jays plan for the future, now front office needs to be aggressive in bringing this talent back to Toronto.

Sep 22, 2012; Flushing, NY,USA; New York Mets starting pitcher R.A. Dickey (43) reacts in the dugout during the eighth inning against the Miami Marlins at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-US PREWIRE

Throughout the last week or so I have been posting some games from yesteryear that make me all gooey and warm inside. No-hitters, Pennant Clinchers…days of rampant optimism. I felt that surge coming back but Alex Anthopoulos has me insides feeling like a fresh baked cake still warm wit da fudge all seething out…but I digress…

This off-season now shows to be a cunning 3 part trilogy of pure skill. He really is a ninja in a nice suit with a flare for the dramatic. This trilogy was a mere month and a half long starting with the swift yet deft signing of Maicer Izturis to eradicate the mess left by Kelly Johnson. That was like the sweet and subtle opener where a little surprise hooks you into watching how the first act will unfold.

The second act is usually larger. More complex. It shows you the bare core of intentions and either corrals your faith or destroys it. With the acquisitions from Florida we imported character and talent in exchange for the unknown. We chose the road less traveled (Yes I meant to infer that). We needed a change. AA flowers us with Melky Cabrera. We crave more action so the second act ends with the epic battle for R.A. Dickey.

AA has set up a rather enticing climax leading into the third act. Bringing all of the aspects into a grand finale you could hope for. But if past experiences and talent level is any indication, the final act shall be almost worth waiting 20 years for. If you were excited by the end of the second act, the third will be an astounding amalgamation of the first two acts.

With the relative inaction of the AL East teams in terms of high profile moves and a desperately-seeking-winner fan base in Toronto, AA has risen to the top of the sporting world mountain in Toronto. He saw an opening and as he has always maintained he had the resources to go for it when the time was right. That time is now.

Underneath the astounding change of our beloved Blue Jays is still a firm foundation of prospects with legitimate chances to become major league ready. A completely different story is being harnessed from kids like D.J. Davis, Aaron Sanchez, A.J. Jimenez and Anthony Gose. They are drafting the next trilogy as AA keeps acquiring assets to build a long term contender. If we lose Josh Johnson after the year I would hope one of Drew Hutchison, Kyle Drabek or even Dustin McGowan may be ready to step in…we have more possibilities because this team is built to contend for the next three years. Prime years for most of the guys.

So when the third act begins and your heart is palpitating from all the excitement remember to stand up and cheer this year. Let’s remind the team what it is like to play in a city brimming with optimism and hope. It feels like our year…doesn’t it?

Apr 28, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Fans of the Toronto Blue Jays display a Canadian flag with a Blue Jays logo during their game against the Seattle Mariners at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Mariners 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-US PRESSWIRE

So we have the starters we wanted needed. We have a significant upgrade in speed and skill and intangibles at short. THE ultimate utility man with speed to burn. Sure it hurts to lose Hech and Nicolino and Marisnick. We had a vested interest in them. They were part of the family and those kids helped our organization become relevant again. They have done more for this franchise than they realize. On their backs we climbed the rankings and were lauded in many circles. For that, I thank them all for their dedication and hard work.

Well we are not fixed yet. There are some true question marks but we have enough ammo in our arsenal to trade some good major league talent (Adam Lind, J.P. Arencibia, Maicer Izturis, Lincoln to name a few) to fill our most glaring needs at second and left field. I don’t mind an Anthony Gose/Rajai Davis platoon situation or Izturis as the starter at second. What it does gives us are options. Say the White Sox are willing to part with Gordon Beckham? A good catcher to replace A.J. Pierzynski and a decent utility infielder (Izturis). Pick a team needing a catcher and/or a 1B DH type and you have a suitor.

For the other question about our new manager one with Spanish language skills would be a great fit, along with a good personal respective rapport with the team (Dave Martinez, Sandy Alomar Jr.). I would keep Luis Rivera up there and still consider Sal Fasano and Manny Acta. Out of that list I am sure the right man is ready. I just want them to use the talent as it is presented to them and not try to make the team fit to them. Maximum utilization of the talent is what makes a good manager into a great one (like Jim Leyland and Joe Maddon).

I am stoked about the rest of off-season. Heck, even all the hardware hasn’t been awarded yet and it’s a 5 Team Race for next year. If this doesn’t excite you then please…go follow the Leafs and let us revel in baseball glory for a while…oh right the Leafs are….ummm…nevermind…

Jul 25, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays left fielder

If Alex Anthopoulos was trying to get the attention of Toronto’s fan base, he definitely succeeded yesterday when he dealt fan favourite Travis Snider to Pittsburgh in return for RHP Brad Lincoln, and then followed that up by dealing Eric Thames to Seattle in return for RHP Steve Delabar. To say that both deals took fans by surprise is a major understatement, and the majority really do seem angry about the returns, so far.

I can remember the fans, myself included, pondering which of Snider or Thames would grab hold of the LF job in Toronto. There was speculation on either side of the fence, and in reality, Snider did everything he had to do to get the win. Thames has struggled a little more to get going this year after he won the first shot at the job this season. I’d like to caution all Jays fans of the following: did you ever really think either player would block Jake Marisnick from getting a shot in Toronto? I don’t think so, because unlike Thames and Snider, Marisnick has 5 tools and a higher ceiling as a result. Therefore, it only made sense for the Jays to go out there and try to get what they felt was fair value for each left-fielder.

Before I go on, I’d like to caution everyone that there’s still a possibility of the Jays using their new acquisitions to get another trade done. For example, the Jays could use both newly acquired pitchers to get a trade for Justin Upton done. After all, the Diamondbacks have said that they want pieces that can help them win this year and what could be better than improving their pitching? The Jays can now afford to deal impending free agents like Brandon Lyon and Jason Frasor, as well as Darren Oliver, three veterans who could help a competing club make a run. It’s just one example that I could come up with, but for the purposes of this article, we’ll assume that this is it and will assess it as is in 2 different articles. First up….

Travis Snider vs. Brad Lincoln (more…)

March 2, 2012; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays shortstop

All Jays fans would love to dream, as Jose Bautista has, of the Jays contending for a playoff spot in 2012. It’s definitely still viable, as no single team has pulled away from the pack enough to make it unlikely for any other team to catch that last playoff position in the American League. The Jays currently sit 3 GB of the last Wild Card spot. However, every team has to be honest with itself and wonder, out loud, if we are going to chase a playoff spot this season, what’s the best way to go about it?

For the Toronto Blue Jays of 2012, the answer is not definite, but is now leaning towards the “Go Young” way. The injuries the team has faced of late, along with the fact that it is faced with so many holes to fill in its lineup, really leaves little other choice.

Obviously, the main issues that have caused the Jays to slide back in the chase for a playoff spot are the multitude of injuries the team has been forced to deal with. The latest two injuries, Jose Bautista and Brett Lawrie, really hurt the team most because they’re the first injuries to regular every day players, and they are so vital to the Jays scoring runs. (more…)

Anthony Gose is set to make his major league debut with the Blue Jays this week. (Original photo)

After a rough start to his inaugural Triple-A campaign in which he hit .216 with a .583 OPS in April, Gose has turned things around this season with the 51s. Though he has still struggled against left-handed pitching, the California native has managed to bring his average up to .292 with an OPS over .800 while adding a league-leading 29 stolen bases.

I was able to chat with Gose for a few minutes in a recent trip to Las Vegas, where the 21-year-old touched on the mechanical adjustments he’s made this season, his two-strike approach and the defensive side of his game, among other things.

Obviously you’ve been seeing the ball well lately, what’s been different now compared to the first month of the season?

“Slowing things down at the plate. Working with Chad on some mechanical flaws early in the season and trying to iron those out. I’m still working on that, and just trying to stay as consistent as possible with the mechanics and being slow and under control at the plate.”

Speaking of mechanical adjustments, you made a lot of them last year. Has it been nice to just go out there and hit this year a bit more?

“Yeah, it’s been fun. I’ve definitely seen the lowest of lows at the beginning of the season and I’m starting to play a little better so it’s definitely been fun and been a transition.”

It’s easy to see your improvements to your two-strike approach. How have you worked on that this season?

“Just really staying within the zone even with two strikes and not expanding outside the zone. Putting the ball in play more, not trying to do too much with it and just put it in play and give yourself a chance to get on base.”

How are you different as a player this year than you were with New Hampshire last year?

“I’d say I’m a little more consistent at the plate, I’ve cut down on my swing a bit, it’s not as big of a swing.”

I remember hearing that, at the major league level, your tools have the ability to change the outcome of a series. How important is your work in the outfield to you?

“I just take a lot of pride in my defense, that’s what’s really going to carry me throughout my career is running the bases and playing good defense and being able to put the bat on the ball more consistently — just trying to do what I can to help the team win. Saving runs helps the pitcher, helps the team, sometimes changes the momentum and gets us back into the dugout.”

Does periodically playing a corner outfield spot matter to you, or do you just want to be in the lineup every day regardless of position?

“You know, I’ll play anywhere they put me. They can put me in right field, I don’t know, I’ll play anywhere. I ‘ll catch for them. I just want to be on the field and play and have a good time.”

- JM

The broadcast team related the injury to an earlier scoring play, when Bautista was forced to reach for the plate and seemed to put a lot of pressure on his wrist in the process. However, there seemed to be more damage done on the follow through of his extreme torque swing, as he finished it and bent the wrist in an awkward position. His left wrist will definitely need at the very minimum a few games to heal, but it’s more likely that he’ll need to more time off than just a few games. Wrist injuries tend to be finicky, and if not addressed correctly the first time they show themselves, they can linger for a very long time.  (more…)

1. RHP Asher Wojciechowski (DUN): 1-0, 7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K

Asher Wojciechowski won his 5th straight decision on Wednesday night in Jupiter (Jim Goins, via MiLB.com)

I called out Wojcechowski on the hot sheet over a month ago, going as far as to suggest he needs to be converted to relief sooner rather than later. While I obviously had no impact, he’s coincidentally responded with the best stretch of his young career. Over his last six starts he’s allowed 1, 2, 0, 0, 2, and 0 earned runs respectively, good for a 1.23 ERA. The current period of success has been accentuated by the gem he pitched on July 11th, as 16 of his 21 outs came by way of strikeout or groundout. There’s been a lot of talk around the Blue Jays fan base that some of the Lansing pitchers, namely Aaron Sanchez and Noah Syndergaard, need to be challenged at the next level. If the team determines that to be true, Wojciechowski could be one of the guys moving up to make room in the rotation. As a 23 year old former college arm, the team needs to see what he’s capable of.

2. CF Anthony Gose (LAS): 14 AB, .357/.500/.714 (1.214 OPS), 0 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 0 SB, 4/4 BB/K

After wowing the world with his a jawdropping catch in the Futures Game over All-Star weekend, Gose picked up where he left off with the 51s. The break limited him to only four games, so while the 1.214 OPS is mighty impressive, the counting stats were simply too lacking to take the crown as this week’s hottest player. The home run numbers have surprisingly dropped off, but with 10 triples on the season, he’s already surpassed his 2011 total. The doubles aren’t far behind, as he’s two back of his 2011 number with nearly two months left to play. The most surprising decline in performance has been on the base paths, as after stealing 70 bases last year (reaching the 70+ plateau for the second time in three years), Gose has stolen just 29 this year, only on pace for a total in the low 40’s. Not listed above are his three caught stealing this week – again, in only four games – which makes five consecutive caught stealing since he last found success on June 25th. Opportunity hasn’t been the issue, as his on base percentage is 27 points higher than last season. Very puzzling.

3. CF Dwight Smith Jr. (BLU): 17 AB, .353/.389/.647 (1.036 OPS), 2 2B, 0 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 0 SB, 1/1 BB/K

Making his first appearance on a hot sheet this season is Dwight Smith Jr., a supplemental first round pick from the 2011 draft. He was literally my final cut when I wrote my top 30 prospects last winter, and it was really no fault of his. Smith’s professional contract wasn’t finalized until August 15th, too late for him to play in any affiliated games last season. When I’m trying to squeeze two or three players into the back end of the rankings, I tend to favor prospects with some professional experience, so in this case, Moises Sierra got the nod. Smith missed the first few games of Bluefield’s season with an injury, but has played really well since getting on the field. His hot streak goes beyond the four games within this timeframe, as over his past 10 he’s hitting .293/.383/.463, which is exceptional for short season ball.

4. RHP Jeremy Gabryszwski (BLU): 0-0, 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

The very talented Bluefield staff is working through some issues right now, as in addition to poor weather reaping havoc on their pitching schedule, they haven’t been nearly as sharp in the early going. Despite being listed as active, neither Joe Musgrove nor Tom Robson have pitched in a couple of weeks. Picking up the slack has been Gabryszwski, as he’s produced three consecutive quality outings for the team. His July 14th start was both his longest and his best, as he went five innings without allowing any runs to score. Gabryszwski is one of the less heralded arms from the bountiful 2011 draft, but has a nice fastball/slider/changeup repertoire. His biggest issues have been inconsistency with his stuff and an elbow problem, but a healthy, productive 2012 season could quell some of those concerns. With a 1.89 ERA through 19 innings, he’s off to a good start.

5. LHP Justin Nicolino (LAN): 1-0, 6 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K

It’s been a while since Nicolino made the hot sheet, as while Noah Syndergaard and Aaron Sanchez have made huge strides since being fully stretched out, he has stalled. As hitters are seeing him for a second and third time, they’re picking up on his stuff, resulting in 26 hits allowed in 20 post-All Star break innings. The stuff has still been there, with 23 strikesouts, as has his exceptional command, with only 3 walks allowed. This may be exactly what Nicolino needed to further his development, as he’s going to need to improve his physicality in order to succeed against more advanced and disciplined hitters in the upper minors. This taste of adversity should serve as a resounding message to Nicolino that he will need to hit the gym hard this offseason and add a solid 10-20 pounds of muscle to frame. There’s no doubting his changeup and the curveball is coming along nicely, but the added strength could boost his fastball up by a grade and better keep hitters honest.

6. RHP Deck McGuire (NH): 0-0, 6.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

No, you don’t need to check your vision. Deck McGuire has made a hot sheet. In actuality, McGuire hasn’t been that bad as of late, as he hasn’t allowed more than 3 earned runs in a start since June 7th. The problem is, most of those starts have been 5 or 6 innings allowing 2 or 3 earned runs, so the ERA isn’t dropped quite as quickly as I’m sure he’d like. The command has been solid and the strikeout rate has been okay, his biggest issue – like it was last year – has been the home run. With two more given up in this week’s start, he’s up to 16 in just 97.2 innings. That’s tied for the most in the Eastern League. As I mentioned, there have been some positives, as over his past two starts (dating back to last week), he has 17 strikeouts against one walk in just over 12 innings.