March 2, 2012; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman David Cooper (30) poses for a portrait during photo day at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Cooper, 25, will kick off his third stint with the Blue Jays after making a pair of visits to Toronto last year, when he hit .211/.284/.394. That line is somewhat deceiving, though, as Cooper’s 13-game stint at the beginning of the 2011 season brings down the .289 average and .851 OPS that he put up during his 14-game stint in September.

In addition to winning the Pacific Coast League batting title last year with a .364 average at Triple-A Las Vegas, Cooper became only the fifth player in over 50 years to hit more than 50 doubles in a season. The 2008 first round pick also drew a career-high 67 walks and led the league with a .439 on-base percentage in 120 games.

Returning to Triple-A this season with Adam Lind blocking his way, Cooper hasn’t replicated his 2011 success, but has still been effective at the plate. While his strikeout rate is slightly higher, his walk rate is nearly identical to last year, and he’s continued to drive in runs. The biggest knock on Cooper last season, though, was that he only hit nine home runs; far from acceptable for a first baseman, even with so many doubles.

Talking to Cooper in spring training, he told me that he revamped his offseason workouts to get stronger in hopes of turning a few more of his doubles into home runs. The plan seems to have paid off, as the California native has already belted six home runs in 42 games this season after hitting nine in 120 games in 2011. Cooper does, however, have one glaring split this season, which is his .177 average and .654 OPS in 16 games away from Cashman Field this season.

Even though he hasn’t racked up the ideal power numbers from a first baseman, I feel Cooper will still be a useful addition to the Jays, providing he gets an extended look this time around. His eye at the plate will instantly be one of the best on the team, and after seeing so many free-swinging players on the Jays this season, I think it will be somewhat of a refreshing change.

March 12, 2012; Bradenton, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryota Igarashi (17) throws throws in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at McKechnie Field. The Phillies defeated the Pirates 4 - 1. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-US PRESSWIRE

Igarashi, signed as a minor league free agent by the Pirates in December after spending his entire major league career with the Mets, was shipped to the Blue Jays for cash back on March 30. The 32-year-old likely drew attention from general manager Alex Anthopoulos because of the impressive numbers he put up with Triple-A Buffalo in 2011, and he’s been even better for Las Vegas this season.

In 21 innings for the 51s, Igarashi has compiled a 1.29 ERA with 28 strikeouts to three walks. His 12 strikeouts per nine innings are a career-high and his 1.3 BB/9 is his lowest mark since coming over from Japan in 2008. More impressively, Igarashi has not given up a home run and allowed just 10 hits all season in the hitter-friendly confines of Cashman Field and the Pacific Coast League, limiting opposing hitters to a mere .139 average.

After Crawford gave up six earned runs on 10 hits with four walks in just 7 1/3 big league innings, the move to send him down certainly made sense. With Igarashi in the fold, it adds a new arm with big league experience to a Blue Jays bullpen that is currently one of the worst in the majors right now, despite getting overhauled during the offseason. Igarashi will replace Crawford nicely and see more time against left-handed hitters, but his splitter can generate a ground ball from any hitter.

- JM

This year was Beck’s first big league spring training, and the 26-year-old allowed a pair of earned runs on four hits in three innings of work with two walks and three strikeouts. The Texas native made his major league debut as a September call-up in 2011 and could be one of the first options summoned from Triple-A Las Vegas in the event of an injury.

Farquhar, 25, appeared in only one game this spring, allowing one earned run on two hits in one inning of the Jays’ spring opener versus the Pirates back on March 3. Known for his funky submarine delivery and the ability to throw from different arm slots, the right-hander was reacquired by the Jays last season after being traded to Oakland in the move that brought Rajai Davis to Toronto.

Crawford, 25, had an outside chance of breaking camp with the Jays, but did impress manager John Farrell and Co. in his three scoreless outings with five strikeouts. After being a mainstay in the New Hampshire Fisher Cats’ bullpen last season and being added to Toronto’s 40-man roster, Crawford will likely open the year with Triple-A Las Vegas and be the first call-up if the Jays need a left-hander out of the ‘pen.

Jenkins, 24, opened some eyes this spring after allowing just one earned run on five hits in eight strong innings of work. He changed the grip on his changeup while tightening up the rest of his game, and the 2009 first-round pick should be a prospect to keep your eye on this season.

Carreno, 25, made his major league debut last as a September call-up last season out of the bullpen after being a key cog in Double-A New Hampshire’s starting rotation. He made three relief appearances this spring and gave up three earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts, but was sent to minor league camp when pitchers started getting stretched out because he’s going to be a starter with Triple-A Las Vegas this season and needed to pitch longer than just two innings.

- JM

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The Jays opted to send only relievers this year, selecting 40-man roster members Chad Beck and Evan Crawford along with Wes Etheridge and Aaron Loup, who spent most of their 2011 campaigns with Hi-A Dunedin. While you can’t put much stock into AFL stats and their sample sizes are incredibly small, here’s a look at how the Jays’ pitching selections fared in this year’s edition of the Fall League.

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The sample sizes are more substantial now since the previous update in October, with the most notable changes coming from Kevin Ahrens, Evan Crawford, and Aaron Loup.

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The sample sizes are all small, but here’s a look at how the Jays prospects have fared so far. Out of the group, it’ll be interesting to see how Chad Beck does as he could compete for a spot in the Jays’ bullpen out of spring training.

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Brett Cecil has had plenty of time to prepare and watch the Phillies hit, so hopefully he took the right notes. I really do like how Cito set up the lineup yesterday, although I’m not sure it will last. Batting Lind and Hill lower in the lineup gives them more RBI opportunities and is definitely the change of pace both needed to get back on track and motivated.It’ll be interesting to see if he uses a similar lineup today. (more…)

• 2B/3B Brad Emaus was promoted to AAA and hit a HR in his first game there;
• RP Ronald Uviedo was added to the AA New Hampshire roster;
• OF Dan Perales was promoted from HiA Dunedin to AA New Hampshire;
• RHP Randy Boone was place on the 7-day DL in AA New Hampshire;
• RP Dustin Antolin was placed on the 7-day DL in LoA Lansing;
• RP/SP Aaron Loup has been converted to a starter;
• LHP Egan Smith was added to the LoA Lansing roster from Extended Spring Training;
• LHP Evan Crawford was placed on the 7-day DL for LoA Lansing;
• OF Brad McElroy was promoted from LoA Lansing to HiA Dunedin;
• UT Kevin Nolan was activated from the 7-day DL in LoA Lansing;
• OF Adam Calderone and IF Jonathan Diaz were promoted from AA to AAA Las Vegas;
• IF Luis Sanchez was activated from the 7-day DL for AA New Hampshire; and
• LHP Boomer Potts was promoted from HiA Dunedin to AA New Hampshire.

We’re headed towards the draft and there are sure to be a ton of transaction in the works thereafter, so I wanted to get “who’s where” sorted out before the rush. See my “affiliates” page to know who’s where in updated depth charts.

Here is a review of the major events in the minors for the Jays on Saturday, 24th of April:

AAA Las Vegas – Lost 2-1 to Sacramento

• The 51s were stung by a very effective Trevor Cahill and Sacramento pen, who came in and dominated them over 5 innings (1ER) and 4 innings respectively.
• Brad Mills (2-1, 2.19) took the loss despite providing another outstanding start. He lasted 7 innings, allowed 4 hits and 2 walks while striking out 8. His season totals indicate just how dominant Brad has been this season in AAA: 2-1, 2.19, 24.2 IP (just over 6 innings per start average), 20 hits allowed, 6 ER, 1 HR, 6 BB, 32 Ks, and hitter have a .222 average against him thus far. LHBs in particular are being dominated by Brad as they hold a meager .118 average against him. It’s nice to have this kind of insurance in AAA for the Jays. I’m not hoping he’s required any time soon because the Jays starters have been great thus far, but he is great security.
• Josh Roenicke (0.00 ERA over 8.2 IP) was great once again in relief, as he did not allow a hit or walk over 2 innings of work while striking out 3.
• It’s surprising that LV only had the 1 run since they did manage 7 hits and 4 walks in the game, they just couldn’t hit with RISP as they were only 1 for 13 in RISP chances in the game.
• Jarrett Hoffpauir (.293) was the only LV hitter with 2 hits (including a double), and he also managed a walk.
• Brett Wallace (.283) and Chris Lubanski (.273) had 1 double a piece.

(more…) ]]> http://jaysjournal.com/2010/04/25/jays-minors-review-24-apr-10/feed/ 3 http://jaysjournal.com/2010/04/09/lugnuts-lose-schimpf-goes-deep/ http://jaysjournal.com/2010/04/09/lugnuts-lose-schimpf-goes-deep/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 11:36:27 +0000 Mat Germain http://jaysjournal.com/?p=903 I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again – the Jays quite possibly have yet another Aaron Hill in the making down in LoA in 2B Ryan Schimpf. The LSU product drove one deep in his first game of the season, going 2 for 5 with 4 RBI in the loss. The other Ryan, SS Ryan [...]

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