The move represents the extra right-handed reliever that Anthopoulos was looking to add before the start of the season, but it also likely signals the end of the Jays’ off-season bullpen overhaul.

“[Anthopoulos] basically said with Santos, Oliver, Casey and me, that he’s comfortable with the back end and so am I. I like that foursome,” Frasor said in a conference call to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi and the rest of the media. “I think there are four guys right there you can rely on.”

(more…)

Promoted (more…)

#45: Daniel Webb

image courtesy of nwfraiders.org

21 years old / 6’3″ 210 lbs

Born: May 18th 1989 in Paducah, Kentucky

Bats Right    Throws Right

High School Team: Heath HS Kentucky

College: Northwest Florida State

Drafted: by the Jays in the 18th rd, 555th overall, of the ’09 First-Year Player Draft, one rd before Ryan Tepera. Signed by Joel Grampietro for 6-years and $450,000, 3 times above the MLB recommended slot amount and the second highest amount paid by any MLB club in the 2009 draft to that point.

Wears: #14 for the Lansing Lugnuts

(more…)

Just imagine what that rotation would have looked like if Roy Halladay had stuck around…….ugh. Can you say first place?

The following are my “Top 20 Jays Minors Starting Pitchers” that are stepping up the ladder and are providing wave after wave of pitching for the Jays. I have discounted Rzepczinsky and Mills as we know what they have to offer. As we all know, you can never have too much pitching, and health issues can quickly unravel even the best season.

1 – Kyle Drabek, 23 years old (this month), AA New Hampshire, 6’1″ 190 lbs, RHP (#1-3, 2011)

• 12-9/ 2.92 ERA/ 142 IP/ 110 hits allowed/ 54 walks/ 110 Ks/ .213 average against
• There is no doubt that Kyle may very well be one of the most highly touted Jays SP prospects to bless our system in quite a long time. Others who came up the ranks, such as Roy Halladay and Chris Carpenter, had a rougher time getting established. Kyle has the potential to be a true #2 pitcher, with the chance of being a #1. He has swing and miss stuff that drops off and tails away from hitters. RHB are hitting .198 against him, showing just how dominant he is against them, while lefties are only hitting a lowly .228 – not too shabby. There’s a reason Drabek was untouchable for a long time in the Doc Halladay deal, he’s a top fo the rotation starter that will be ready to take that role on full time -and for a full season innings wise – in 2011.

2 – Zach Stewart, 23 years old, AA New Hampshire, 6’2″ 205 lbs, RHP (#2-#4, 2011)

• 8-2/ 3.67 ERA/ 115.1 IP/ 108 hits allowed/ 48 walks/ 92 Ks/ .251 average against
• Sure, the Jays gave up Scott Rolen in acquiring Stewart, a player that could have helped bring the Jays to the playoffs this season, but the Jays will get many years of performance from Zach. He’s getting better as he gains confidence after being swithed from a RP to a SP, and now has a 2.54 ERA over his last 10 games with a lower .237 average against. He may need a little more seasoning than Kyle does in order to be successful in The Show, but he should be a more than adequate #3-4 once all is said and done.

3 – Asher Wojciechowski, 21 years old, SS Auburn DoubleDays, 6’4″ 235 lbs RHP (#2-3, 2012)

• 0-0/ 0.75 ERA/ 12 IP/ 6 hits allowed/ 4 walks/ 11 Ks/ .146 average against
• I’d love to slide Noah Syndergaard in here, but simply due to playing at a higher level and being more seasoned and closer to the majors, I went with Asher. He’s a big guy, strong, a workhorse that pounds the bottom of the zone on a great downward plane. He’s currently on the DL and will hopefully return before the season ends, but everything he showed after signing points to the fact that he could begin the 2011 season as high as HiA Dunedin, possibly AA New Hampshire. He’s more seasoned than the other 2 sandwich picks, and if Deck McGuire doesn’t sign, he will be the first 2010 drafted SP to make an impact with the Jays.

4 – Noah Syndergaard, 17 years old, GCL Blue Jays, 6’5″ 200 lbs, RHP (#2-3, 2013)

• 0-1/ 0.82 ERA/ 11 IP/ 7 hits allowed/ 4 walks/ 5 Ks/ .194 average against
• Noah is already big and strong and will only turn 18 at the end of August, leaving him plenty of time to add an inch or two and lots of strength. Of all of the pitchers taken in the 2010 draft, Noah and Aaron Sachez come with the highest ceilings and greatest tools. His fastball is dominant, a true power pitcher, and his curve ball and change ups are already showing above average potential. Although it may take him a little longer to get up the ladder, Noah should be ready for LoA Lansing at the very young age of 18 in 2011, making him a very impressive SP in the Jays system. (more…)

After signing with the Jays, Drew was quoted as saying “It’s one of those things you dream about,” and added “I was lucky enough to get the opportunity and to have everything work out. I’m very thankful and really excited.” Drew had actually Drew had a record of 6-2, 60.2 IP, 106 Ks, 18 BB, 23 HA, 2 saves, and a 1.73 ERA. He spent some time in the instructional league and should begin 2010 in Auburn or the GCL.

BA actually ranked Drew 31st, as part of their bonus ranking,  in their 2010 Prospect Handbook edition. They point to the fact that he had a commitment to play at Stetson as a major reason some teams stayed away from him, and also noted the Jays had him ranked at a top 5 round player. Why it took until the 15th round to take him if they truly believe that is beyond me, but it does speak to how highly they think of Drew.

BA compares him to Shaun Marcum due to his ability to play in the infield and pitch, and note that his fastball touches 92 MPH, but operated at 88 to 90 MPH in high school. It’s definitely expected that he could add to this some as he bulks up and adds strength, so expectations of working between 90-92 MPH and touching 94 MPH is not out of the question in Drew’s case. BA also like his poise and mention a very strong change up, one of the key pitches required to be effective at the big league level. The lowest rated pitch (when we read into their analysis of them) seems to be a slider that needs a lot of work.

Let’s say for argument’s sake that Drew does develop a half decent slider or curve and “pounds the strike zone” as expected with his change up and fast ball, chances are he’ll be one of the more effective draft picks the Jays took in 2009. The key will be whether he develops that third pitch and whether he continues to pound the zone or becomes intimidated by pro hitters. The fact that he walked so few hitters in high school is promising and his change up must have really played havoc on those hitters. Drew can expect hitters to get better at hitting his change up as he approaches AA and higher levels.

I decided to take a look at posts of Drew’s performances and his profile as a prospect because he is one of the better SP profiles the Jays have aside from Henderson Alvarez in the lower minors. Daniel Webb is another one who I will feature in my next prospect profile post, but I thought it was important to let Jays fans know that Drew is out there and to take notice of his performance in 2010.