Checking in on some old Blue Jays friends

Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

Brett Lawrie came to the Toronto Blue Jays from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade that saw SP Shaun Marcum leave town. Brett had Jays fans excited about the prospects of having a Canadian born superstar on their team, one that would be part of the team for many years to come.

The fans excitement quickly faded to frustration, as Lawrie struggled to stay healthy which resulted in stunted development at the plate. He was included in the trade that allowed the Blue Jays to acquire 3B Josh Donaldson.

Brett came under some early criticism for strikeout four times on 12 pitches. Jays fans shouldn’t throw stones. Jose Bautista struck out 8 times in his first 12 at-bats.

In 5 games, Lawrie is hitting .250 with one walk and 7 strike outs. Brett is batting in the bottom third of the lineup and has only collected on extra base hit…..but he’s healthy.

Pecota Projections projects that Brett Lawrie will play 142 games with 15 home runs and 65 RBI, while striking out 95 times and walking 37. The strike outs seem a little low and the 142 GP might be a stretch, but the rest of the numbers I can get behind.

Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

If all pitchers could be right-handed pitchers, than Adam Lind would be a superstar; unfortunately, that isn’t the case.

Adam Lind had been an integral piece of Toronto’s offence since finally cracking the lineup in 2009. Before 2009, Lind struggled to stick in 2007 and 2008. In 9 years with the Jays Lind would hit 146 long balls, driving in 519 RBI.

The decision to trade Adam Lind to the Brewers for RP Marco Estrada was an easy one. Lind became a one-dimensional player with the Jays. He couldn’t hit LHP, he couldn’t play the field because of bad back, and he was snail on the base paths.

In 4 games with the Brewers, Lind has one home run with 4 RBI, 4 BB, a strike out and a .615 batting average. Insert disclaimer here…..it is a very small sample size. Pecota Projections project Lind to hit .261 with 15 home runs and 54 RBI in 118 games. If the Brewers learn from Lind’s past they will limit his AB’s versus LHP which will raise his BA.

Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The emergence of Mississauga native Dalton Pompey as a legitimate centre field option sign Colby Rasmus‘ dismissal papers.

Rasmus has all the talent in the world. He has the power to be a perennial 30 home run hitter, the fielding ability to be a perennial gold glove winner, and when he is right he can even hit for average. Unfortunately, Colby Rasmus tends to not ‘be right’ more often than he is ‘right’, which makes him very frustrating to watch.

With Dalton Pompey, the Blue Jays would have a guy that would have more productive AB’s. The Blue Jays decision to move away from players that consistently had unproductive AB’s meant that Colby Rasmus didn’t fit with the 2015 Blue Jays.

In 4 GP with the Houston Astros, Rasmus has 4 strike outs, a walk, a home run, 2 RBI, and a .250BA. Pecota Projections projects our favourite Georgia native hitting .235 with 20 home runs, 72 RBI, and 24 doubles in 143 GP. Rasmus will fit right in with the Astros. They are a team that could set the single season record for most strike outs by a team.