Jays cool to idea of signing Molina
01/10/2006
The Blue Jays' Hot Stove may have cooled off a bit in regard to acquiring free agent catcher Bengie Molina.
When the Blue Jays traded third baseman Corey Koskie to the Brewers last week, that lowered Toronto's payroll to around $70 million. Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi has stated that the Jays' 2006 payroll has a ceiling of around $75 million. While the Koskie deal gave the team some financial breathing room, it may not be enough to sign Molina and leave cash on hand in case another move arises.
"We never really had any real dialogue with his representative," Ricciardi said of Molina. "Our money is getting a little tight right now, so it has to be a situation that works financially from our end.
"We've obviously liked [Molina] for a long time, but there comes a point where we can't do everything. This might be a case where we have to pass."
If the Blue Jays wanted to make a serious run for Molina, it seems likely that they would have to make an offer in the neighborhood of the one the Orioles gave free agent catcher Ramon Hernandez ($27.5 million over four years). Toronto might not feel comfortable handing over that much cash after dishing out two large deals to All-Star closer B.J. Ryan and starter A.J. Burnett worth a combined $102 million over the next five years.
Not to mention that the Blue Jays already have three catchers -- Gregg Zaun, Guillermo Quiroz and recently signed Jason Phillips -- in the running for the two big-league jobs.
Quiroz, 24, has struggled in winter ball in Venezuela and will probably compete with Phillips for backup catching duties. Phillips, 29, signed a Minor League deal with Toronto on Jan. 3 that included an invitation to Spring Training. The five-year veteran had 10 homers and 55 RBIs with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year.
Molina would probably be a good fit, but Zaun already has a good rapport with the Blue Jays starters and comes considerably cheaper. He is scheduled to make just $1 million in 2006. Molina hit .295 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs for the Angels last season. Zaun put up his best offensive totals in 11 seasons. The switch-hitter had a .251 average with 11 homers and 61 RBIs.
On Monday, the Toronto Sun reported that Ricciardi was still interested in signing Molina. That hasn't changed, but the likelihood of a deal happening with the catcher are slim.
"We still may be able to do something with Molina," Ricciardi told the Sun. "We'll have to see how much money we have going forward. We'll still need money next year."
Besides the deals for Ryan and Burnett, Toronto has been active with trades this offseason. The Blue Jays acquired Lyle Overbay from the Brewers in early December and Troy Glaus from Arizona on Dec. 27. The latter deal took its toll on the payroll, as Glaus is due to make $32 million over the next three seasons. Toronto is also paying more than half of the remaining $11 million left on Koskie's contract over the next two years.
Even though the payroll has nearly reached Ricciardi's limit, that doesn't mean Toronto is finished tweaking its '06 team. After all, the Jays still have a little money to play with.
"I don't know of any team that's set on Jan. 10," Ricciardi said. "But I think we're closer to being set than we are to not being set. We'll keep our eyes and ears open to see if there's something that comes around that's appealing to us.
"I think at this point, our major moves are pretty much done."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays host fans at Rogers Centre
01/11/2006
TORONTO -- Opening Day is still months away, but the Blue Jays' clubhouse has been a hive of activity the past two nights. Almost 1,000 fans lined up for an inside look at the Jays' nest and a chance to meet pitcher Josh Towers, former manager Cito Gaston, Hall of Fame legend Ferguson Jenkins and former New York Mets infielder Kevin Elster.
The two-night event, held exclusively for Blue Jays Flex Pack holders, showed just how eager everyone is to get the 2006 campaign started after a busy and productive offseason.
Towers signed a two-year, $5.2 million deal in November, just before the real spending spree began. General manager J.P. Ricciardi followed that deal by signing free agent pitchers B.J. Ryan and A.J. Burnett, then trading for first baseman Lyle Overbay and slugging third baseman Troy Glaus in a pre-Christmas bonanza.
"So far it's been my best offseason," said Towers between signing autographs. "The new teammates are pretty exciting. We've got some big boys who can really play the game. We're only getting better."
Gaston, who managed Toronto to back-to-back World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, expects big things from the 2006 squad.
"The fans are going to be really surprised," said Gaston. "I think they're going to have a great year this year. It should be a lot of fun for the fans and the players, too.
"We've always had great fans here, and I'd certainly like to see them come back and fill this place like it used to be. That would be great."
Longtime fan Patrick O'Neill already has his tickets, and expects the Blue Jays to battle Boston and New York for the American League East crown.
"They'll have a good team this year," said O'Neill. "They've got good relief pitching and starting pitching now, and they've got some bats."
A fan since the team's inception in 1977, O'Neill got Gaston to sign a picture of the 1992 World Series team and called visiting the clubhouse and meeting the players a "fantastic experience."
"They're so personable," he raved. "We had a chance to talk to them for a few minutes, and they took the time to listen to our questions."
After making the 50-mile trip south from Barrie, a beaming, 13-year old Jamie Hutchins could hardly believe his eyes as he looked around at the empty lockers.
"I'm in the locker room. It's awesome," said Hutchins. "I just got a picture under Vernon Wells' locker with my dad. It's great. I can just picture the baseball players coming in here, hanging up their stuff and saying, 'Let's get ready to play, boys. Let's get pumped!' "
Hutchins said that he's happy with the additions of Glaus and Overbay, but sad to see Canadian Corey Koskie traded to Milwaukee. Still, he was philosophical.
"Good things come for old things to go," he said.
Jenkins, who had six straight 20-win seasons with the Chicago Cubs, is the only Canadian-born player in the Hall of Fame. He also pointed to the Glaus deal as a key to Toronto's hopes in 2006.
"If he can duplicate the year he had last year and stay healthy, I think the ballclub will have a good season," said Jenkins.
Of course, as a former hurler, Jenkins knows that Burnett and Ryan will have to play their part if the Jays hope to contend.
"Pitching is the No. 1 thing that people need," he said. "This is a good organization, so with the opportunity to pitch here, in a dome, I think they'll do well."
Elster, whose brother Patrick is the Blue Jays' vice president of ticket sales, was on hand to promote an Interleague series with the Mets from June 23-25. The Jays draw as many as 20 percent of their fans from New York State, including a mix of Yankees and Mets supporters.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays sign Weber to Minor League deal
01/11/2006
Toronto added a little more depth to its bullpen by signing right-hander Ben Weber to a Minor League contract on Wednesday. Weber was also extended an invitation to attend Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla., with the big league club.
Weber, 36, has struggled with injuries over the last two seasons, but he was a integral part of the Angels team that won the World Series in 2002.
The 6-foot-4, 205-pound reliever spent last season with Cincinnati, but was on the disabled list for most of the season with a bulging disc in his neck. Weber appeared in only 10 games for the Reds and posted an 8.03 ERA. In 2004, Weber was 0-2 with an 8.06 ERA in 18 games for the Angels, who demoted him to Triple-A Salt Lake in June. He was bothered by carpal tunnel syndrome most of the year and spent much of his time on Salt Lake's disabled list with wrist problems. Weber was designated for assignment in September and then released before signing with Cincinnati that December.
Those two seasons were a stark contrast to the two previous campaigns with the Angels. Weber went a combined 12-3 with a 2.61 ERA in 125 games across 2002-03. He went 7-2 with a 2.54 ERA in '02, when the Angels defeated San Francisco in seven games for the club's first World Series title. If he makes Toronto's Major League roster, Weber will join new third baseman Troy Glaus as members of that Angels team.
Weber has spent parts of six seasons in the Majors. He was originally drafted by Toronto in the 20th round of the 1991 First-Year Player Draft, but was released in 1996. He spent a portion of the 2000 season with San Francisco before being picked up off waivers that year by the Angels. Weber has a 19-8 career record with a 3.77 ERA.
Weber's closest competition for a bullpen job is probably young right-handers Dustin McGowan, 23, and 22-year-old Brandon League. Both will be trying to earn a spot with the Jays, but either could easily start with Triple-A Syracuse before being called up later. McGowan is still viewed as a future starter and League struggled in his short stint with Toronto last season.
The Blue Jays currently have 56 players attending Spring Training, including 17 non-roster invitees: left-handed pitchers Matt Blank, Adrian Burnside, David Purcey and Ricky Romero; right-handers Lee Gronkiewicz, Casey Janssen, Ty Taubenheim and Weber; catchers Robinzon Diaz, Erik Kratz, Mike Mahoney, Jason Phillips and Curtis Thigpen; infielders Kevin Barker and Luis Figueroa; and outfielders Wayne Lydon and Chad Mottola.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Around the Horn: Bullpen
01/11/2006
Toronto's bullpen may not be the most talked about around the league, but it might be the one unit ready to contend in the American League East. And that was before the Blue Jays added All-Star closer B.J. Ryan into the mix.
Consider the progress the Blue Jays relievers made in 2005. As a group, Toronto's 'pen had a 3.81 ERA last season -- a drastic improvement over the 5.08 ERA that ranked third-worst in the AL in '04. While the 2005 group finished eighth in ERA in the AL, it was the best showing within their division. No other AL East team finished with a bullpen ERA lower than four.
The Jays relievers were tied atop the division in opponents on-base percentage (.324) and their groundball-to-flyball ratio (1.30) was second only to Minnesota in the league.
The only real area of question remained at the closer spot. Miguel Batista held that role for most of the season and finished with 31 saves. That was a small victory in itself for Toronto, which went through four different closers in 2004. Batista proved inconsistent down the stretch, though -- blowing six saves and posting a 5.35 ERA after the All-Star break -- and he fell out of favor for the job.
Enter Ryan.
Baltimore's former closer was Toronto's first offseason upgrade when he signed a five-year deal worth $47 million in late November. Ryan, 30, converted 36 of his 41 save opportunities and finished with a 2.43 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 69 games a year ago. A late-season performance similar to that of '05 by the lefty would be a valuable asset for a Toronto team that's trying to make a push in the East. In Ryan's last 26 games, he converted all 15 of his save chances and had a 1.65 ERA with 37 Ks.
Batista could have been a candidate for the setup role for the upcoming season, but Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi opted to use the right-hander in the trade that brought slugger Troy Glaus to the Blue Jays on Dec. 27.
As it stands right now, it appears that Toronto will begin the season with seven relievers. Jason Frasor, Vinnie Chulk, Justin Speier and Pete Walker are the right-handers and Ryan, Scott Schoeneweis and Scott Downs are lefties. Youngsters Brandon League and Dustin McGowan -- both right-handers -- could be on the bubble. The Jays signed right-hander Ben Weber to a Minor League deal with an invite to Spring Training, and the three could earn a spot on the Opening Day roster depending on what happens during Spring Training.
Manager John Gibbons has a couple of options to fill the setup man job. There's Frasor, who led the team with 17 saves in 2004. The 28-year-old had a 3.25 ERA in '05 -- 2.89 at home -- and struck out 62 in 74 2/3 innings.
Then there is Speier, 32, who could be the favorite for the job. He notched seven saves in '04 and had a 2.57 ERA out of the bullpen in '05. Speier was especially tough on left-handed batters -- posting a 1.65 ERA against them. He showed good command of the strike zone by fanning 56 batters, walking just 15 in 66 2/3 innings and holding batters to a .254 average.
The pitchers most likely to serve as long relievers are Walker and Downs. Both helped fill the often-depleted starting rotation a year ago and both found some success out of the 'pen. Walker had a 2.98 ERA as a reliever, but he'll be turning 37 in April. Downs, 29, had a 2.76 ERA against lefties, but was inconsistent throughout 2005. Having them on board helps provide some insurance if a starter gets injured and they both seem likely to break camp as members of the bullpen.
McGowan lurks as an interesting possibility, though.
McGowan, who turns 24 in March, was shaky as a starter. When he moved to the 'pen late in the season, though, he was nearly lights out. He had a 0.85 ERA as a reliever and his confidence seemed to rise -- along with the velocity on his pitches. Toronto still views him as a future starter, but inching him along as a long reliever isn't out of the question. In all reality, he'll probably begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse, but that's not to say he can't win a job in Toronto's 'pen during Spring Training.
That leaves Schoeneweis and Chulk to help fill the gaps.
Schoeneweis pitched 80 games, which was a team-high and ranked second in the American League. He got progressively better as the season wore on -- posting a 1.98 ERA after May. Schoeneweis, 32, will be used as a situational pitcher again due to his ability to force groundouts. His 2.53 groundball-to-flyball ratio equaled that of ace Roy Halladay.
Similarly, Chulk, 27, will probably be used primarily against right-handers. He held righties to a .286 average in 2005. In his second full season with Toronto, Chulk finished with a 3.88 ERA -- 2.74 at home -- and logged appearances in 62 games.
The only other question mark is League. The 22-year-old right-hander struggled in his stint as a reliever in '05 and will probably begin 2006 with Triple-A Syracuse. He walked more batters than he struck out and finished with a 6.56 ERA for the Jays. League is still young, though, so Toronto hasn't lost faith that he can be successful. But he probably won't fit into the plans for Opening Day.
Not a lot is different from the 2005 squad -- a unit that ranked first in more than one area in the AL East. Add in an All-Star closer with the hopes of finding consistency in the ninth inning and the Blue Jays bullpen could be one the best in the league.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Rios looking to improve his power
01/13/2006
Toronto wants to win now. That's the obvious explanation for the wave of deals that have involved the Blue Jays this offseason.
So how long is Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi willing to wait for a young player like Alex Rios to finally come along? A little longer.
Rios struggled at the plate this winter playing for the Caguas Criollos in Puerto Rico. He limped through the regular-season schedule and barely got a chance to help this week in the Puerto Rican League playoffs. Despite his woes this winter, though, Toronto is ready to send Rios back to right field as the starter come Opening Day.
"This is an important year for him in a lot of ways. More importantly, we need him," Ricciardi said earlier this week. "We need him to step up and have a good year and fulfill some of the potential he has. He has to play."
The 6-foot-5 outfielder has been tagged as a future home run threat. Through 257 big-league games, though, Rios has only cleared the fence 11 times -- 10 of those came last season. Ricciardi is quick to note that progress.
"I think the positive side is he went from one home run to 10 home runs," Ricciardi said. "I think some of that potential came out last year and he made some strides with [hitting coach] Mickey Brantley. It's a lot of work and a lot of effort, and the big leagues aren't easy. But he's been willing to work and he's a guy that we have a lot of faith in."
When Rios was at his best in 2005, he was working with Brantley on getting his front foot down faster when striding toward the pitch. That enabled Rios to see pitches out in front of the plate easier and allowed the 25-year-old to jump on the ball with more power.
He did show some signs of carrying that technique over to Puerto Rico by launching four homers and 11 RBIs in 19 games. But Rios posted a .229 batting average and .291 on-base percentage.
"He won the MVP in that league a couple years ago, so it's hard to say what the validity [was] on that," Ricciardi said.
In a five-game semifinals loss to Carolina this week, Rios appeared in only one game. He went 1-for-4 with one run scored.
Toronto farmhand Migel Negron received a little more playing time with Caguas than Rios. Negron appeared in four of the semifinal games, but the 23-year-old outfielder hit just .125 (1-for-8) with one run scored. He finished the regular season in Puerto Rico hitting .240 with two homers and 10 RBIs in 32 games.
In the Mexican Pacific League, pitcher Spike Lundberg has been carrying Guasave through the playoffs. Lundberg, 29, signed a Minor League contract with Toronto in November 2004 that included an invitation to attend '05 Spring Training with the big-league club. He made only two appearances that spring before being reassigned to Triple-A Syracuse, where he worked primarily out of the bullpen. It was his ninth season in the Minors.
Lundberg has shined as a starter this winter, though. During the playoffs with Guasave, the right-hander has gone 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA in four appearances through Jan. 11. He won two games in the first round and picked up the series-clinching save in Game 6 against Mochis. Lundberg kept his hot hand going in the semifinals with a complete-game shutout win in the first game against Hermosilla.
In the regular season, Lundberg went 9-3 with a 2.23 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 13 starts. Lundberg also had three complete games and pitched 92 2/3 innings. He ranked first in the league in wins and ERA, finished second in strikeouts and complete games, and he ranked third in innings.
Lundberg was 8-6 with a 3.95 ERA in 50 games for Syracuse in '05. Only three of those appearances came as a starter.
Infielder Kevin Barker, who is one of two Minor League infielders to have already received an invitation to attend Spring Training with Toronto, has been helping Guasave this winter, too.
Barker, 30, is hitting .313 (10-for-32) with a homer and six RBIs in the playoffs. In the regular season, he had a .271 average with 12 home runs and 36 RBIs in 63 games for Guasave.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Team Canada confirms first 23 members
01/14/2006
TORONTO -- The architects of Canada's entry at the World Baseball Classic know they can't compete with the star power of teams from the United States, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.
Instead, Canada will borrow from the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates, whose "We Are Family" attitude brought the team together and carried it to a World Series title.
"There's a lot of heart on this team," said first baseman Justin Morneau as Team Canada officials confirmed the first 23 members of its 30-man squad at an event in Toronto on Saturday.
"It's fun when you're around guys like that who love the game. It makes you better, it makes you want it that much more. You don't want to let the guy down next to you."
Morneau, outfielders Jason Bay and Matt Stairs and infielder Corey Koskie will be the heart of the lineup for the Canadian squad.
On the mound, manager Ernie Whitt will be counting on lefties Jeff Francis, Adam Loewen and Erik Bedard as Canada tries to advance out of Pool B, where it is matched up with the United States, Mexico and South Africa.
General manager Greg Hamilton, who worked with Whitt to assemble the Canadian squad, echoed the importance of the team concept.
"Most of these guys come in with a pretty tight-knit, family-type atmosphere, and I think we'll have that in our locker room," he said.
"We have a group of guys that are very well-versed in what it means to play international baseball and the sense of urgency that goes with 'win or go home.' That's probably the greatest thing you need coming into a tournament like this."
In addition to Morneau, Canadian players like Francis, catcher Pierre-Luc LaForest and infielder Pete Orr were on hand for Saturday's announcement.
Also in attendance were former Jays GM Pat Gillick, longtime Expos great Jim Fanning, former Texas reliever Jeff Zimmerman and new Blue Jays scout Rob Ducey, a one-time Toronto outfielder.
One player who won't be suiting up for Canada is Larry Walker. The five-time All-Star and 1997 National League MVP is still bothered by a herniated disc in his neck that pained him all last season, and he says his playing days are over. Instead, Walker will serve as a coach.
"I'm looking forward to putting on the Canadian uniform," Walker said. "I'm not overly excited about not playing, but I know that I can't.
"It's going to be tough to just sit there and not participate. It's still in my blood."
Canada is still pursuing pitchers Ryan Dempster of the Chicago Cubs, Oakland righty Rich Harden and Dodgers closer Eric Gagne.
Dempster signed a three-year, $15.5 million extension with the Cubs after converting 33 of 35 save chances last season. But he underwent ligament-replacement surgery on his elbow nearly three years ago, and is reluctant to put extra strain on his arm by pitching for Canada.
Gagne is coming off Tommy John surgery last June and is progressing well, but the Dodgers are concerned about letting the 2003 NL Cy Young Award winner air it out too soon.
As for Harden, Whitt says he's "cautiously optimistic" that the A's will release him for international duty, even though the Victoria, B.C., native suffered from muscle problems in his right shoulder last year, then had offseason surgery on his left shoulder.
"I spoke to him last summer and he was optimistic," said Whitt. "Since that time, there's been things that have been written and the organization has said they don't want him to play."
Once the situations with Dempster, Harden and Gagne are resolved, Hamilton says Team Canada will round out the remaining seven spots on its roster. Canada has named nine pitchers already but would like to carry 14 or 15, including six starters.
With tender-armed hurlers on early-season pitch counts, the plan is to piggyback two starters in each game, then turn things over to the bullpen.
Francis, Canada's likely ace, missed a chance to play for his country at the 2004 Olympics after he was called up to the Colorado Rockies.
"It's been a long time coming," Francis said of his international callup. "I'm definitely really excited about it."
Walker said Francis reminds him of Mets southpaw and longtime Braves great Tom Glavine.
"He's a control pitcher that doesn't overpower you, but he knows where he's throwing it, which is as important as anything else," Walker said.
Canada will prepare for the Classic at the spring home of the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla. The team will also warm up with a split-squad game against the Jays on March 3, followed by an exhibition against the Korean team the following day. Then it's west to Arizona, where they open up against South Africa on Tuesday, March 7.
"Our main goal is to get an understanding of our bunt defenses, our cutoffs and relays," Whitt said of the training camp.
"We've got a lot to do in a short period of time, as far as getting ready for our first game."
As for Canada's chances, Walker said there are no guarantees for any team, no matter how star-studded their lineup.
"There's all kinds of talent, and you never know what can happen in these things," he said "It's early in the season where a lot of guys haven't been playing. The so-called powerhouse teams that have all these big players that haven't been doing anything all winter, they might just be mediocre now. That might enable Canada to show something."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays sign deals with Overbay, Downs
01/16/2006
Toronto's major offseason moves have passed. Only a few minor details remain for the Blue Jays before the 2006 roster is complete.
The Jays chipped away at some leftover contract issues on Monday by agreeing to one-year deals with first baseman Lyle Overbay and left-handed pitcher Scott Downs. That leaves infielder Shea Hillenbrand and pitchers Pete Walker and Ted Lilly as the only Toronto players who are still eligible for salary arbitration.
Tuesday is the deadline for players to exchange figures with the team for the arbitration hearings, which will be held from Feb. 1-21 for cases not yet resolved.
Overbay, 28, was acquired in an early December trade with Milwaukee for right-hander David Bush, outfielder Gabe Gross and Minor League left-hander Zach Jackson. This was the first time that Overbay was eligible for arbitration. Toronto will pay him $2.525 million this season after he made just $446,000 with the Brewers a year ago.
The Blue Jays feel that Overbay's ability to hit into the gaps will be key to the offense this year, especially with the quick FieldTurf at the Rogers Centre. He is slated to be the everyday first baseman and is projected to bat behind newly-acquired slugger Troy Glaus in the No. 5 hole.
Last year, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed hitter batted .276 with 19 home runs, 34 doubles and 72 RBIs. Overbay has a career .285 average and has spent parts of five seasons with Arizona (2001-03) and Milwaukee (2004-05). In 2004, he led the Majors with 53 doubles. Only 27 Major Leaguers in history have managed at least 53 in a single season.
Downs, 29, split his time between the starting rotation and the bullpen last season after Toronto purchased his contract from Triple-A Syracuse on May 12. The 6-foot-2 lefty was 0-0 with a 4.32 ERA in 13 games out of the 'pen and went 4-3 with a 4.30 ERA in 13 starts. Downs was tough on left-handed batters, posting a 2.76 ERA against them. He struck out 75 batters and walked 34 in 94 innings.
Toronto will pay Downs $705,000 in 2006. Downs has played parts of four seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2000), Montreal Expos (2000, 2003-04) and Toronto. He has a career ERA of 5.01.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Mailbag: How deep is the rotation?
01/16/2006
With the injury to Roy Halladay last year and A.J. Burnett undergoing Tommy John surgery a few years ago, what will the Jays do if something happens to one, or both, of these guys?-- Matt B., Toronto
Well, Matt, part of the answer rests with the first part of your question.
Think back to the events following Halladay's injury. When he had his left tibia broken by a line drive off the bat of Texas' Kevin Mench, Toronto had a few options already within the big-league club. Pitchers Pete Walker, Scott Downs, Dustin McGowan and Dave Bush all were counted on throughout the year to help fill the void left by Halladay and left-hander Ted Lilly, who was sidelined for a month with biceps tendinitis.
It's been two seasons since Burnett's elbow ligament replacement surgery, and he appeared in a career-high 32 games last season. All indications are that Halladay, Lilly and Burnett will be healthy for the 2006 season. But you're right, nothing is ever 100 percent certain and no one knows what could happen in Spring Training or during the season.
If any of the Jays' starters go down with an injury, Walker, Downs and McGowan will be in the fold to help out. That trio had 24 starts among them in '05 and will probably battle for rights to a bullpen job for Opening Day this year. Walker and McGowan were both better out of the bullpen, and Downs was inconsistent in both roles. McGowan is still viewed as a starter for the future. His 0.85 ERA out of the 'pen last season could convince Toronto to inch him along as a long reliever before he makes the transition to the rotation, though.
Bush is no longer an option, as he was dealt to Milwaukee in the trade that brought first baseman Lyle Overbay to the Blue Jays.
The bright side to this season is that signing Burnett acts as insurance against this type of scenario. Last year, Toronto had Halladay, Lilly, Josh Towers and Gustavo Chacin as the top four starters, with Bush, Downs, Walker and McGowan filling in as needed. Adding Burnett gives the Blue Jays a solid five-man group and takes some pressure off the other pitchers who might have to plug a hole in the rotation now and then.
Starting pitching is the most important aspect of every baseball team, and the Jays' rotation seems to be shaping up nicely. Are you convinced that the Towers that we saw in the second half of last season is the real deal?-- David S., Sarnia, Ontario
If Towers showed Toronto one thing last season, it was that he could step up when the team needed him. When Halladay and Lilly were hurt, Towers and young left-hander Chacin kept the Blue Jays from collapsing.
Towers notched career bests in wins (13), ERA (3.71), starts (33), complete games (two), strikeouts (112) and innings (208 2/3). He ranked 12th in the American League in ERA and tied with Chacin for the team lead in wins. In one stretch from late July to early September, Towers had 12 consecutive quality starts (at least six innings pitched and three or fewer earned runs allowed). In that period, he went 6-3 with a 2.44 ERA.
All that success can be attributed to Towers' improved location. His walk totals -- he allowed just 10 free passes in 105 innings after the All-Star break -- were well below his numbers in 2004. He had nearly four strikeouts for every walk issued, and he did this with more of a finesse approach. Towers did allow more hits than all but one AL pitcher, but that indicates that he wasn't trying to pitch around hitters. Besides, Towers has learned to trust the defense behind him, as he has been able to force more groundouts than he did early in his career.
Towers' success in 2006 will be dependent upon similar mechanics. If he can continue to pound the strike zone with the same consistency, he'll get the outs and log the innings. Barring injury, I think Towers can meet his performance from a year ago. If he can finish the year anywhere close to how he pitched in '05, that will undoubtedly help Toronto's push for playoff contention.
I know you are aware of the performances of Alex Rios and Guillermo Quiroz in Winter League play, but how about Spike Lundberg? In the first round of the playoffs, he won two starts and saved the last game as a reliever, driving the Guasave Cotton Growers to the semifinals. Is he worth a non-roster invitation?-- Fernando E., Culiacan, Mexico
Thanks for the message, Fernando. It's good to see that the Toronto fan base stretches beyond two borders. You're absolutely right about Lundberg in the Mexcian Pacific League. He has been lights-out all winter and has carried it over into the playoffs.
The right-hander went 9-3 with a 2.23 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 13 starts in the regular season for Guasave. Lundberg also had three complete games and pitched 92 2/3 innings. He ranked first in the league in wins and ERA, finished second in strikeouts and complete games, and he ranked third in innings.
During the playoffs, Lundberg has gone 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA in four appearances through Jan. 11. He won two games in the first round and picked up the series-clinching save in Game 6 against Mochis. Lundberg kept his hot hand going in the semifinals with a complete-game shutout win in the first game against Hermosilla.
That's a lot of success so far this winter for Lundberg, a 29-year-old who has toiled away in the Minors for nine years. He signed a Minor League contract with Toronto in November 2004 with an invitation to attend Spring Training. He made only two appearances that spring before being reassigned to Triple-A Syracuse. With the SkyChiefs, Lundberg was 8-6 with a 3.95 ERA in 50 games -- only three as a starter.
If Lundberg has any shot of making Toronto's Major League roster this season, it'll probably be as a reliever. He has not yet been extended a non-roster invitation to attend Spring Training with Toronto for a second straight year, though. That doesn't mean he won't be given that opportunity. Last year, the Jays handed out invites as late as Feb. 21.
Toronto currently has 56 players attending Spring Training, including 17 non-roster invitees: left-handed pitchers Matt Blank, Adrian Burnside, David Purcey and Ricky Romero; right-handers Lee Gronkiewicz, Casey Janssen, Ty Taubenheim and Weber; catchers Robinzon Diaz, Erik Kratz, Mike Mahoney, Jason Phillips and Curtis Thigpen; infielders Kevin Barker and Luis Figuero; and outfielders Wayne Lydon and Chad Mottola.
I have read that the Jays' payroll is around $70 million. How can this be when players such as Shea Hillenbrand, Ted Lilly and others are eligible for arbritration? How much money is guaranted in 2007 and to which players?-- Doug F., St. Catharines, Ontario
The Blue Jays have roughly $60 million tied up in guaranteed contracts for the 2006 season. Hillenbrand, Lilly, Overbay, Downs and Walker are all eligible for salary arbitration, and their contracts are estimated to put the payroll up around $70 million. Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi has said that last total is where the payroll currently stands -- taking the guaranteed contracts and the possible arbitration results into account.
The guaranteed salaries for '06 are as follows: Halladay, $12.7 million; third baseman Troy Glaus, $9 million; Burnett, $7 million; left-hander B.J. Ryan, $8 million; infielder Eric Hinske, $4.325 million; center fielder Vernon Wells, $4.3 million; Towers, $2.3 million; left-hander Scott Schoeneweiss, $2.75 million; outfielder Frank Catalanotto, $2.7 million; right-hander Justin Speier, $2.25 million; outfielder Reed Johnson, $1.425 million; catcher Gregg Zaun, $1 million; and shortstop John McDonald, $500,000.
Toronto is also responsible for around half of the $5.25 million salary of third baseman Corey Koskie, who was traded to Milwaukee.
With Ricciardi already announcing that the Jays' payroll ceiling for this season will be around $75 million, will the payroll be similar next season, or will it increase to allow the Jays to go after another big free agent next year?-- Mike M., Halifax, Nova Scotia
As of now, the Blue Jays have slightly more than $60 million tied up in guaranteed contracts for the 2007 season. And that is not counting Schoeneweis, Catalanotto, Speier, Johnson, Zaun or McDonald, who are all signed through '06.
When Toronto owner Ted Rogers gave Ricciardi $210 million of extra payroll last February, that was for the 2005-07 seasons. Around $50 million of that was tied to last year's squad and an estimated $75 million will be allotted for this season's group. That leaves an approximate payroll of $85 million for 2007. If the payroll does reach that, it will be the largest sum in team history.
What were Toronto's attendance numbers like last year? What should be expected in 2006? What do you believe is a good average in Toronto?-- Jean-Marc G., Cornwall, Ontario
Last season, the Blue Jays had 2,014,995 fans go through the turnstiles at the Rogers Centre. That was an average of 24,876 per game. Both totals were small achievements for Toronto. The Jays hadn't topped 2 million or had an average attendance that high since 1999.
The projections for the 2006 season are even better. The busy offseason has stirred interest, and ticket sales are improving at an increasing rate. When Toronto finalized the trade for slugger Troy Glaus on Dec. 27, ticket sales were 25 percent higher than at the same point the previous year. Rob Godfrey, the Jays' senior vice president, told the Toronto Sun last week that sales had jumped by 46 percent over last year's totals at that time.
Having another 2 million people come to Toronto's games this upcoming season would be another small victory. The Blue Jays haven't had consecutive seasons with that many fans in attendance since 1998-99. That was at the end of a string of 15 straight seasons with at least 2 million in the seats.
From 1985-98, Toronto drew an average of at least 30,000 per game. Included in that streak was an average of at least 50,000 from 1993-94. The Blue Jays topped 4 million fans per year from 1991-93, when Toronto was a top-tier team and took home two World Series titles. Those kinds of numbers sound impossible now and may never happen again. For now, the Jays would be thrilled to draw 30,000 per contest -- almost 2.5 million total.
Attendance for Toronto, which is much more of a hockey town than a baseball town, is best compared to teams like Minnesota, Detroit or Colorado. The Twins drew 2 million last year for the first time since '93, the Tigers have drawn 2 million only twice in 17 seasons, and the Rockies have had steadily decreasing numbers that finally dipped below 2 million last year. Toronto has also experienced much more success than a team like Florida, which drew just over 1 million fans in 2003 -- the year the Marlins beat the Yankees in the World Series.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays sign Lilly to one-year contract
01/17/2006
Three down, two to go.
Toronto agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with pitcher Ted Lilly, avoiding salary arbitration with the 30-year-old left-hander. The club also exchanged salary figures before Tuesday's deadline with infielder Shea Hillenbrand and pitcher Pete Walker, the only remaining arbitration-eligible Blue Jays.
The Lilly deal and the contract negotiations came a day after the Blue Jays signed first baseman Lyle Overbay and pitcher Scott Downs to one-year deals worth $2.525 million and $705,000, respectively.
The arbitration hearings are held from Feb. 1-21, but the club can settle on the contracts any time before then. J.P. Ricciardi hasn't had to go to arbitration with a player since taking over as Toronto's general manager in 2001.
Hillenbrand, who split time between first and third base last season, his first with Toronto, is seeking $6.7 million for 2006. The Jays have offered $5 million -- a $1.105 million raise from his '05 salary.
Toronto will probably use Hillenbrand mostly as a designated hitter in 2006 due to the acquisitions of Overbay and third baseman Troy Glaus. Hillenbrand, 30, ranked second on the Jays last season in home runs (18), RBIs (82) and batting average (.291), and was the team's lone representative at the All-Star Game.
Walker, 36, is asking for $850,000 for this year, but Toronto has offered him $575,000. The right-hander made $400,000 last season -- his third with the Blue Jays -- and is expected to serve as a long reliever for 2006. He spent time in the 'pen and as a starter in 2005. He went 5-4 with a 2.98 ERA as a reliever and 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA as a starter.
Hillenbrand and Lilly are both in their final year of arbitration and will become free agents after the 2006 season.
Lilly made $3.1 million in an injury-plagued '05 campaign with the Jays. The southpaw missed all of Spring Training with shoulder issues, then missed a month with tendinitis in his left biceps. The latter contributed to some trends that Toronto hopes he can reverse this season.
A year after posting a second straight 12-win season and making the American League All-Star team in 2004, Lilly went 10-11 with a 5.56 ERA. His 25 starts were the fewest he's made in the last three years. He struggled with control and walked 4.13 batters per nine innings, the highest average he's had since 2000. He also fanned hitters at a clip of 6.84 per nine innings, the lowest mark of his career.
The Blue Jays are hoping that Lilly can stay healthy and return to the form he displayed when he joined the team prior to the 2004 season. If he does, he and Gustavo Chacin would provide a good mix of left-handers in a starting rotation that also includes righties Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett and Josh Towers.
Lilly has played in parts of seven Major League seasons with the Montreal Expos (1999), New York Yankees (2000-02), Oakland Athletics (2002-03) and Blue Jays (2004-05). He has a 44-45 career record with a 4.67 ERA in 153 games, including 128 starts.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Blue Jays sign Lilly to a one-year contract
01/17/2006
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed LHP Ted Lilly to a one-year, $4 million contract for the 2006 season, thus avoiding salary arbitration.
Lilly, 30, pitched to a 10-11 record with a 5.56 ERA in 25 starts last season. In 126.1 innings pitched, he struck out 96 batters while walking 58. The 6-1, 190-pound lefthander represented the Blue Jays in the 2004 All-Star Game.
In parts of seven Major League seasons, with the Montreal Expos (1999), New York Yankees (2000-2002), Oakland Athletics (2002-2003) and Blue Jays (2004-2005), he has a 44-45 career record with a 4.67 ERA in 153 games, including 128 starts. The Torrance, California native was the Los Angeles Dodgers' 23rd round selection in the 1996 First Year Player Draft.
The Blue Jays now have two players remaining who are eligible for salary arbitration, RHP Pete Walker and IF Shea Hillenbrand.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Hill ready to build on rookie year
01/20/2006
It's going to be a tough act to follow.
Toronto fans may have a hard time shaking images of Orlando Hudson diving after would-be singles up the middle, making throws from his knees or tracking down fly balls no outfielder could reach. But the Blue Jays traded the Gold Glove second baseman and his highlight reel to Arizona and have entrusted Aaron Hill with Hudson's old job.
Hill experienced the pressure of filling in for an injured regular as a rookie last year, and he split his time between three positions. This season, he'll have critics scrutinizing his every move while he tries to prove his first-year success wasn't a fluke.
It's a tough situation, but Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi believes Hill has the confidence and the ability to prove he's worthy of the new full-time position.
"He's the new guy on the block, and people are going to watching him a little bit closer." Ricciardi said. "But I don't think he'll have any problems going over [to second base]. I think people forget that Orlando Hudson wasn't very polished his first year, year and a half.
"Aaron is further ahead of where Orlando was at the same stage of their careers at that position."
Granted, Hill spent only 22 games at second base last year -- mainly filling in when Hudson suffered a hamstring injury late in the season. Hill's fielding numbers are comparable to Hudson's first year in the same spot, though.
Hill, who turns 24 in March, had a .991 fielding percentage and a 5.57 range factor last season. In Hudson's first stint at second in 2002, he had a .986 fielding percentage with a range factor of 5.47 across 52 games.
Hudson's progress is hard to ignore, though. He led all American League second basemen in fielding percentage (.991) and range factor (5.84) last season en route to his first Gold Glove. Ricciardi credits that success to Hudson's work ethic and the tutelage of infield coach Brian Butterfield.
Hill, who was drafted as a shortstop, displayed similar dedication to his work last year and spent many extra hours working with Butterfield on his glovework. He spent most of his time at third base after Corey Koskie landed on the disabled list in May with a broken thumb. When Koskie returned, Hill was forced into a utility role and spent time at short and second and served occasionally as the designated hitter.
"It's a totally different story over there at second, but it was the same thing over at third -- get your work in, you're going to be fine," Hill said in early August, when he began practicing regularly at second base with Butterfield. "I think if you're used to playing short, you can get the other positions down pretty easily."
Toronto selected Hill out of LSU in the first round of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft. Ricciardi agreed that Hill's experience on the other side of the infield will make the transition to second a lot easier.
"I think Orlando has more range than Aaron, but there are a lot of things that Aaron does well, too," Ricciardi said. "He throws well, he's got a strong arm, quick hands, and his feet work well. There will be learning as he goes, but this isn't like taking a catcher and putting him at second base.
"He's got a lot of advantages going for him. Some of the things he'll lack in knowledge he will make up for with his arm strength."
Not to mention Hill's potential at the plate.
Hill got off to an unusually fast start for a rookie when the Jays called him up in May. The right-hander hit .359 through his first 37 games and had a .306 average during the 55 games during Koskie's absence.
"Any time you call young kids up, you're just hoping they can keep their head above water the first few months so that they're not overwhelmed either way with success or failure," Ricciardi said. "He got off to such a torrid start that I think his confidence just built from there and it was a lot easier for him to make the transition than a guy who comes up and is really scuffling."
Hill finished the year hitting .274 with three home runs and 40 RBIs in 105 games. He had 25 doubles and drew 34 walks compared to 41 strikeouts. Among Toronto's players with at least 350 at-bats and 100 games played, Hill ranked fourth with a .342 on-base percentage.
"I think he's going to be a very good offensive player," said Ricciardi. "I think he's probably going to come on the more he plays. I think he's going to be a gap hitter -- a good contact guy."
No matter what the distant future has in store for Hill, Toronto knows he's going to be an integral part of the team's success in 2006. And the Blue Jays believe that he and second-year shortstop Russ Adams could be a talented double-play combination for years to come.
"Both [Hill] and Adams handled themselves really well when they came up," Ricciardi said. "They really meshed well, and you would've thought these guys had been in the big leagues their whole lives."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Around the Horn: Catcher
01/18/2006
TORONTO -- At first glance, the catching situation seems to be all set for the Blue Jays. Take a closer look, though, and the position appears to have more questions than solid answers.
Gregg Zaun is the starter behind the plate -- that much is certain at this point. Whether the 34-year-old can duplicate his career year of 2005 has yet to be determined. If he does, Toronto should be in good shape.
The backup job seemed primed for Guillermo Quiroz. Then Toronto signed Jason Phillips to a Minor League deal on Jan. 3 that included an invitation to Spring Training with the big-league club. That could mean competition for Quiroz, who has overcome multiple injuries the last two seasons and has been in the organization since he was 17 years old.
These question marks have also affected the free agent rumor mill, which has claimed Toronto was in the running for Bengie Molina's services. Earlier this month, Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi didn't deny those rumblings, but he said that signing Molina seemed unrealistic financially.
"We've obviously liked [Molina] for a long time, but there comes a point where we can't do everything," Ricciardi said. "This might be a case where we have to pass."
That leaves the switch-hitting Zaun as Toronto's No. 1 catcher, which could work out fine if he comes close to last season's totals. Zaun hit .251 with career highs in home runs (11), RBIs (61), runs (61) and walks (73). He led the Jays in walks and was second on the team with a .355 on-base percentage.
Zaun also helped keep Toronto's pitching staff intact when starters Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly landed on the disabled list. With Zaun's help, the pitchers posted a 4.06 team ERA -- the lowest among the American League East teams.
The most impressive mark for Zaun, who has caught for seven teams in 11 seasons, might have been the numbers of games he played. He appeared in a career-best 133 games in 2005. It took Zaun four seasons prior to joining Toronto to match the 240 games he's played in the last two years for the Jays. He might have appeared in more games had he not landed on the disabled list in May after suffering a concussion.
With the current uncertainty in the depth chart behind Zaun, Toronto will hope its catcher can display similar durability.
Quiroz, 24, had very little time to prove himself worthy of a big-league job last year. The young Venezuelan missed time with various injuries in 2005, and he played in just 40 Minor League games before getting called up in late August. With Toronto, Quiroz hit just .194 in 12 games. He's posted a .205 average in the 29 games he's played between 2004-05.
"Look at the last two years. He had that collapsed lung twice, and then he broke his hand at the beginning of last year," Toronto manager John Gibbons said last August. "He was getting to the point where he was on the verge of making it. And that's a pivotal part in his career -- making the jump to the big leagues -- and he lost almost two full years.
"That's hurt him. There's no question about it."
The Jays were hoping Quiroz could improve at the plate this offseason during winter ball, but he hit .191 with one homer and four RBIs in 21 games for the Zulia Aguilas in the Venezuelan League.
Phillips, 29, will probably provide the closest competition for Quiroz at Spring Training in Dunedin, Fla. If Phillips earns the backup catching duties with the Major League club, Quiroz will likely start the season with Triple-A Syracuse.
Phillips hit .238 with 10 home runs and 55 RBIs in 121 games with the Dodgers last year. He spent his first four seasons with the New York Mets before being dealt to L.A. for pitcher Kaz Ishii last May. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound right-hander split time as a first baseman and catcher with the Mets, but he would spend his time behind the plate for Toronto, considering the logjam at the corner infield positions.
Beyond Zaun, Quiroz and Phillips, not many plausible options remain.
So far, catchers Robinzon Diaz, Erik Kratz, Mike Mahoney and Curtis Thigpen all have been extended invitations to Spring Training. Mahoney, who signed a Minor League contract with Toronto on Jan. 11, is the only player of those four with any Major League experience. None of the others advanced above Double-A in 2005. Mahoney has a career .180 average over three seasons. The 33-year-old played 26 games for St. Louis last season and had brief stints with the Chicago Cubs in 2000 and 2002.
A durable Zaun and a healthy Quiroz could provide all the answers Toronto needs behind the plate. If either falter, though, the depth at the catching spot could quickly become a weak link in the Blue Jays' quest for playoff contention.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Mailbag: Jays a serious contender?
01/23/2006
I live in the U.K., but love Canada and I'm into baseball and follow the Blue Jays. I have promised my wife we'd come over to Canada again to see the Jays when they are in playoffs. Should I be saving up for this October?-- Kevin S., Lincoln, United Kingdom
I wouldn't plan on booking that long flight with your wife to Toronto just yet. The Blue Jays have plenty of hurdles to overcome before the playoffs. It's not out of the realm of possibilities, though.
Toronto's major areas needing improvement have been addressed this offseason. General manager J.P. Ricciardi strengthened the rotation and bullpen with starter A.J. Burnett and closer B.J. Ryan. He also went out and acquired first baseman Lyle Overbay and slugging third baseman Troy Glaus to help add the missing pop to the order. If all four players can avoid the injury bug and perform to their abilities, the Jays will have a solid team that's capable of contending.
The Yankees and Red Sox are still going to be there, though. They have been for the last decade, and that's not going to change in 2006. I believe that New York is still the favorite in the East, but Toronto may have weakened the Yanks' grip on the division. If the Blue Jays can make a serious run for second place, the Wild Card could be a realistic goal. Toronto will probably also have teams outside the division, such as the Indians, White Sox, A's or Angels, to contend with for the Wild Card -- depending on how the division races pan out.
Center field is strong with Vernon Wells, but Alex Rios' power is questionable and his hitting is inconsistent. Almost the same thing can be said of both Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson. Are there any immediate plans in adding to the outfield? If not, do you think those three will be able to contribute on a regular basis?-- Jeff W., Hamilton, Ontario
Toronto appears to be content with its outfielders right now. That's not saying the Jays wouldn't consider adding a left or right fielder before the trade deadline in July. But it looks like the Opening Day roster is set in that area.
Wells remains as an offensive weapon and has proven himself in center field by capturing consecutive Gold Glove Awards. Who will be standing in the spots on either side of him will probably vary.
Due to the crowd of infielders, Toronto is considering trying left-handed hitter Eric Hinske in left field. The Jays like what he did against right-handed pitchers (.283 average, 11 homers) last year and want him to get at-bats in the lineup -- it just won't be as a first baseman, third baseman or designated hitter all that often.
Catalanotto, who bats from the left side, will probably move over to right when Hinske is in left field. That leaves Johnson and Rios as the right-handed options against left-handed pitchers.
If any of those players is struggling, the depth allows manager John Gibbons to play the hot hands. None of the four is a stride above the others. Catalanotto led the team in average, and Toronto still feels Rios has potential to improve on his home run totals -- he jumped from one homer in 2004 to 10 in '05. But that doesn't mean the team will stick with just those two guys on a daily basis. It'll depend on which pitcher is on the mound for the other team.
What do you think the batting order will be?-- Eric B., Aurora, Ontario
The only part of the batting order that I can see being the same consistently is the No. 3-6 spots. Those holes will probably be filled by Wells, Glaus, Overbay and Shea Hillenbrand.
Gibbons will probably test a variety of combinations against different types of opposing pitchers.
Considering the outfield situation I explained above, here is what I would predict as two options: Johnson, Aaron Hill, Wells, Glaus, Overbay, Hillenbrand, Rios, switch-hitting Gregg Zaun and Russ Adams in that order against left-handers; and Adams, Catalanotto, Wells, Glaus, Overbay, Hillenbrand, Hinske, Zaun and Hill versus right-handers.
I like Johnson leading off rather than Adams against lefties because he had a higher average (.279) and on-base percentage (.335) against such starters. Adams hit .195 with a .307 on-base percentage versus left-handers. Besides, Johnson spent some of his time as a leadoff hitter a year ago.
Nothing here is for certain, either. This is just what I would predict at this point. A lot could change during Spring Training, and you never know who could go down with an injury. I think the only thing that's certain is that the Jays will try a few lineups until they find what fits best.
With the rotation pretty much carved in stone, where does that leave Scott Downs? I thought he did a good job as a starter. Is he better suited to be a long reliever?-- Matt A., Barrie, Ontario
Nothing is carved into stone in January. Downs could always squeeze into the starting rotation if something happens to another starter. That's one of the upsides to having Downs on the roster. Yes, he is slated to be a long reliever, but he also gives the club a nice option if it ever needed him to help the rotation.
Josh Towers and Gustavo Chacin were workhorses last year and put up very impressive numbers when Roy Halladay and Ted Lilly hit the disabled list. Whether Towers can match his career year or Chacin can build on his solid rookie performance are two issues facing the rotation. If both of them turn in strong campaigns, count on Downs working predominantly out of the bullpen. If someone is struggling in the rotation, I don't think that using Downs is out of the question.
As far as Downs being better as a starter or reliever, he put up nearly identical numbers between the roles last season. He pitched 13 games out of the bullpen and 13 as a starter. Downs had a 4.30 ERA as a member of the rotation and a 4.32 ERA as a reliever. The only statistic really different is strikeouts per nine innings. As a starter, he fanned 7.83 per nine innings, but he struck out 5.40 on average out of the 'pen. Overall, though, Downs was consistent in his results in both capacities.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Around the Horn: Corner infielders
01/25/2006
TORONTO -- The easy part was having Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay try on their new white home jerseys and black Blue Jays hats while the cameras flashed at a press conference in late December. The more challenging task for Toronto was finding a way to acquire the two newest members of the lineup.
It took three trades that moved 11 players to allow Glaus to become the Blue Jays' third baseman and Overbay their first baseman. The moves also displaced a pair of Jays from their corner infield jobs and forced the team to find them different roles for the upcoming season.
Glaus and Overbay should help add a little pop to a Toronto lineup that had just one player hit more than 20 home runs and no players break the century mark in RBIs. Glaus, a former World Series MVP with the ability to hit 30 or 40 home runs, can bat cleanup, helping to give Vernon Wells more pitches to hit. Overbay should thrive on the FieldTurf in the Rogers Centre with his tendency to hit doubles to the gaps.
Getting these two players into Toronto uniforms wasn't a simple chore for Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi by any means.
In order to pry Glaus away from the Diamondbacks, the Blue Jays had to part ways with Orlando Hudson, who won the American League Gold Glove award at second base last year, and pitcher Miguel Batista, who saved 31 games in 2005. Toronto also had to hope that Glaus would waive his no-trade clause to accept the deal.
Glaus spared any suspense and gave a quick response to the trade proposal.
"After a couple of days of thinking about it, it became clear this was an opportunity I didn't want to pass up," Glaus said, sitting alongside Overbay at the Dec. 27 press conference at the Rogers Centre. "I'm excited to be here. I'm very excited about this team. I think it's moving in the right direction."
Glaus has topped 30 homers fours times and 40 long balls twice in eight seasons. The third baseman was the AL home-run champ with 47 in 2000 and was an integral part of the 2002 Angels team that defeated the Giants in seven games to win the club's first World Series.
Since then, Glaus has battled various injuries. He managed to have a productive season last year despite playing with a strained tendon behind his left knee. Glaus took cortisone shots to help with the pain, and he played in 149 games and had 37 home runs and 97 RBIs. There hasn't been any indication that any of his past injuries should linger into the 2006 season.
Acquiring Glaus forced Toronto to reevaluate where third baseman Corey Koskie fit into the equation. Koskie didn't live up to expectations after signing a lucrative contract with the Jays prior to last season. Koskie appeared in just 97 games due to a broken thumb he suffered in May, and he never got into a groove at the plate. In the end, Ricciardi dealt Koskie to the Brewers in exchange for Minor League reliever Brian Wolfe -- a move that was more for salary reasons than anything else.
It was an earlier trade with Milwaukee that helped strengthen Toronto's situation at first base.
The Blue Jays received Overbay and Minor League pitcher Ty Taubenheim from the Brewers in exchange for pitchers Zach Jackson and Dave Bush and outfielder Gabe Gross.
Overbay is projected to bat in the No. 5 hole. He hit .276 with 19 home runs, 72 RBIs and 34 doubles in 158 games last year. In 2004, he led the Majors with 53 doubles. Only 27 Major Leaguers in history have managed at least 53 in a season.
Overbay also has a solid glove at first base. Last season, he had a .992 fielding percentage, and he has a career fielding percentage of .993 across three seasons.
Glaus and Overbay will be welcome additions to the infield, but they also caused Shea Hillenbrand and Eric Hinske to be pushed into new roles.
"Hinske is going to get his at-bats playing left field, and Hillenbrand is going to DH and get some at-bats playing third and first," Ricciardi said recently.
Hillenbrand split time between first and third base last year. As Ricciardi noted, though, Hillenbrand will find most of his work as the designated hitter this season. He could still help out as needed at the corners, too. One thing is for sure, he'll be in the lineup consistently. Hillenbrand hit .291 with 18 homers and 82 RBIs and was Toronto's lone representative at the All-Star Game last year.
Hinske, who played 100 games at first base a year ago, may fill in at the corners if there is an emergency. He seems destined to test his outfielding skills in left, though. Ricciardi wants the big left-handed hitter in the lineup against right-handed pitchers, and that leaves the outfield as the only way to get Hinske more at-bats.
The adjustments for Hillenbrand and Hinske are a small price to pay for adding two key players to the corners. Toronto is pinning a lot of its success this year on Glaus and Overbay, who help create a powerful trio with Wells at the heart of the lineup.
A lot of players were moved to bring these two new faces to Toronto, and the coming months will reveal how well the trades paid off.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Despite changes, infield defense solid
01/27/2006
TORONTO -- As the offseason is nearing its end and players around the league are gearing up for Spring Training, it's hard not to evaluate the changes to every roster.
Toronto was by far one of the busier teams this winter -- signing two prized free agent pitchers and dealing for a pair of potent bats. Blue Jays fans have been given a team to get excited about and talk of a possible run at the playoffs in is in the air.
It's a bit early to tell how all of Toronto's moves will work out, but it's never too early to try to identify a potential chink in the team's armor. The changes around the Jays' infield have many critics questioning how well the defense will hold up this season.
"I dont think our defense has taken a hit in any way," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said last week, quick to shake off those concerns.
It's hard to deny the legitimacy of the criticism, though.
Acquiring third baseman Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay caused a ripple effect around the infield. Adding Glaus cost the Jays' a Gold Glove-winning second baseman in Orlando Hudson and essentially forced them to trade third baseman Corey Koskie. With Overbay starting at first, that left Eric Hinske and Shea Hillenbrand without regular work in the infield. Hinske will be attempting a move to the outfield this year and Hillenbrand has been relegated to full-time designated hitter duties.
That's a lot of changes to a team that was tied for second in the American League with a .985 fielding percentage last year behind a pitching staff that was tied for first in the AL in forcing groundouts.
Taking into account the fielding statistics from 2005 of the 25 players projected to make the Opening Day roster for the upcoming season, the Blue Jays' fielding percentage dips to .981. Only two teams in the AL had lower percentages. Toronto was playing with several rookies and Hinske had no outfield experience, but that stat still shows that the defense may have taken a hit.
Not as far as Ricciardi is concerned.
"Overbay is a big upgrade from what we've had over [at first base]," he said. "I thought Shea did a great job for us, but Overbay is a [heck] of a fielder."
Overbay does have better career numbers than Hillenbrand at first base, but his totals are comparable to that of Hinske, who played 100 games at the position last year. Both Overbay and Hinske have a .993 career fielding percentage at first base. The difference is that Hinske's experience at first rests in just those 100 games, while Overbay has 387 games under his belt at that spot. That gives Overbay the nod.
Glaus is another player that Ricciardi has great faith in defensively.
"Glaus is a very good fielder, too. I don't know where this so-called reputation of him not being a good fielder is coming from," Ricciardi said.
That reputation might come from his fielding percentage as a third baseman. Glaus has a career .945 percentage at the position, which is considerably lower than Koskie's .966 career average. It's in the range category that Glaus gets the edge.
Glaus played some shortstop earlier in his career and that is reflected in his range as a third baseman. Last year for Arizona, Glaus had a range factor of 3.01, which tied his career-high set in 2000 with the Angels. He put up that number despite playing with a strained tendon behind his left knee.
Koskie's hustle will be missed, but he never surpassed 2.84 statistically in range. And that was three seasons ago.
The corner spots aside, losing Hudson caused the middle of the infield to get younger. Shortstop Russ Adams, 25, will team with second baseman Aaron Hill, 23, as the new double-play combination.
Hill spent limited time at second last year and Adams is still developing his glovework. Adams had 26 errors at short last year in his first full season at the position. Even Toronto's four-time Gold Glove winner Tony Fernandez topped 30 errors in his first full season at short in 1985.
"I think Russ is going to be fine," Ricciardi said. "Most of his errors were throwing the ball and a lot of it was just being young and playing at the pace of the big league game."
Hill, who was drafted as a shortstop, split time between third, short and second base last season as a rookie and was more than adequate at all three spots. In his 22 games filling in for an injured Hudson at second, Hill posted a .991 fielding percentage. Toronto believes that was a sign of good things to come.
"We're not looking at [second base] as a position where we have a huge deficiency," Ricciardi said. "I think [Hill] is going to do really well there. He's got a good mindset and a good work ethic."
Toronto's improvements to the rotation, bullpen and lineup could outweigh any minor setbacks to the team's defense. Ricciardi believes that the defense was addressed in the same way as those other three areas, though.
"We think we upgraded all the way around," he said.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Fan Guide: Toronto Blue Jays
01/30/2006
The Blue Jays return to Dunedin, Fla., for the 30th time this spring, as they prepare to kick off a 2006 campaign that has Toronto buzzing with excitement.
The Jays were a major player this offseason. They strengthened the starting rotation by signing A.J. Burnett, bolstered the bullpen with All-Star closer B.J. Ryan and added some pop by trading for slugger Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay. Those new additions, along with '03 American League Cy Young winner Roy Halladay, two-time AL Gold Glove winner Vernon Wells, and a cast of young up-and-comers, such as Russ Adams, Aaron Hill and Gustavo Chacin, will try to help push Toronto toward its first playoff berth since it won the World Series in 1993.
Blue Jays manager John Gibbons returns for his second full season at the helm. In 2005, he led Toronto to an 80-82 finish and kept an injury-riddled roster hovering in the Wild Card race until mid-August. That was a 13-win improvement over 2004, and Toronto is hoping for a similar jump in wins in '06.
The questions facing Toronto's upcoming season will be answered as the season progresses. Some of the questions Jays fans might have about Spring Training will be tackled right here:
When do the Blue Jays arrive at camp? Toronto's pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Spring Training on Feb. 17, with position players following on Feb. 22. The first full-squad workout will be on Feb. 23.
When do games start? The Blue Jays' spring schedule begins with four games at Knology Park, their home stadium. Toronto hosts Tampa Bay in the Grapefruit League opener on March 2. On March 3, the Jays will have a split-squad game against Team Canada, which will be competing in the inaugural World Baseball Classic. Toronto's first full-squad road game will be at Legends Field in Tampa against the New York Yankees. The Blue Jays will play exhibition games against Syracuse, their Triple-A affiliate, on March 31 and April 1 before heading back to Toronto.
Knology Park, located in a residential area, holds 6,106 fans. A center concourse separates the lower and upper seating and a small roof provides some shade for the higher rows. There are air-conditioned skyboxes and three picnic areas. When Spring Training is over, the stadium becomes the home of the Class A Dunedin Blue Jays of the Florida State League.
Ticket prices and other information can be found at the Blue Jays' Spring Training Tickets page.
Where is Dunedin, and how do I get there? Dunedin is located roughly 25 miles west of Tampa and 20 miles northwest of St. Petersburg on the Gulf coast of Florida. Tampa International and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International airports are your options as flying destination points.
If driving to the stadium from Tampa, take State Road 60 across Tampa Bay and turn right on McMullen Booth Road. Go to Sunset Point Road and turn left. You'll cross US 19 before arriving at Douglas Avenue, where you'll turn right. Parking is at the second stoplight. If coming from St. Petersburg, take SR 686 to US 19, where you'll turn right. From there, you'll take a left on Sunset Point Road and a right on Douglas Avenue.
How can I watch the team workout? All Spring Training workouts are held at the Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex and are free to the public.
The Bobby Mattick Training Center at Englebert Complex is located a little more than three miles from Knology Park. Take Douglas Avenue to Main Street and turn right. Then take a right on FL-580 and drive for about a mile before turning left on Keene Road. Less than a mile from there, turn right on Solon Avenue and you'll see the complex. Parking is on nearby Garrison Road. There are bleachers located in between the fields, and workouts will have started by 9 a.m.
Where can I get autographs? Players move freely from one diamond to another during workouts and will occasionally stop to sign autographs if time allows. You might also be able to catch them heading back to the clubhouse once workouts are done for the day. Once Grapefruit League and exhibition games begin, the players move to Knology Park, where there is a short fence near the clubhouse by the right-field foul pole and players will sometimes stop there to sign.
What else is there to do in Dunedin? Dunedin has numerous beaches, including Dunedin Causeway, Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island State Park. There is also the Pinellas Trail, a 39-mile bicycle and pedestrian trail that runs throughout Pinellas County and intersects in Dunedin. You could venture into the many shops in town or enjoy the various crafts and foods available from vendors at the Dunedin Green Market, which is open every Friday during Spring Training from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and is located near the ballpark in Pioneer Park at Douglas Avenue and Main Street.
Tampa and St. Petersburg are two also nearby, and Disney World is less than a two-hour drive from Dunedin. Visit the City of Dunedin Web site for more information.
When do the Blue Jays open the regular season? After a two-day break following the conclusion of Spring Training, Toronto hosts the Minnesota Twins at 7:15 p.m. on April 4 at the Rogers Centre.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Mailbag: Hillenbrand on the move?
01/30/2006
If Shea Hillenbrand and the Blue Jays can't reach an agreement on his contract, is it possible for him to be traded?-- Vivek P., Toronto
Trading Hillenbrand seems an unlikely solution to his contract situation. What is more likely to happen is for Toronto and Hillenbrand to go through an arbitration hearing, where an arbitration panel will choose either the $5 million the Jays offered or the $6.7 million Hillenbrand is asking for. He made $3.87 million last season.
The same goes for pitcher Pete Walker, who made $400,000 in 2005 and is asking for $875,000, compared to the $575,000 offered by Toronto. Hearings for both players are scheduled for Feb. 15.
Toronto can still attempt to find a middle ground on both contracts before the scheduled hearings, but it appears that the conflicting sides are headed toward arbitration. Toronto hasn't gone to arbitration with a player since 1997, when the team's offer was selected for reliever Bill Risley.
Will Hillenbrand see any action at third base, considering he is a better fielder than Troy Glaus?-- Eric B., Manchester, Conn.
Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi has expressed plenty of confidence in Glaus as a fielder. Glaus, who spent time at shortstop earlier in his career, has shown better range in his career at third than Hillenbrand or the departed Corey Koskie. Glaus also has a slightly higher fielding percentage (.945) than Hillenbrand (.942) in his career at the hot corner.
Some would argue that Glaus might have some problems playing on the artificial FieldTurf surface at the Rogers Centre, especially after struggling with a knee ailment through most of 2005. However, Glaus agreed to come to the Blue Jays partly because the turf that makes up Toronto's field now isn't as hard on players' legs as the previous surface the Jays played on.
If Glaus should have problems with his left knee again, or simply needs a day off, you can bet that Toronto will look to Hillenbrand or Eric Hinske to fill in at the corner. Second baseman Aaron Hill has experience at third, too. For now, though, Glaus will be the everyday third baseman and Hillenbrand will serve as the designated hitter.
I'm a big Jays fan who gets frustrated when commentators and analysts dismiss early season losses with the "it's a long season" comment. In the American League East, every game is big. In the opening month, the Jays play the Red Sox six times, the Yankees five times, and the World Series champion White Sox three times. I don't want to say a bad April nixes the rest of the year, but how important is it to the Jays (and their confidence) to get off to a great start?-- Everett T., Toronto
You're exactly right, Everett. The season is 162 games, but getting off to a bad start can cripple a team's chances of success later in the year. Last season, Oakland started the year 15-32, but had an amazing turnaround and finished 88-74 -- missing out on a playoff berth by seven games. Imagine where the A's might have ended up they didn't struggle so much in the first month and a half.
Early success can also be a good indicator for how a team will finish when the first month is laden with games within a team's division. You pointed out the series against the Yankees and Red Sox, but the Jays also have three games each against the Orioles and Devil Rays -- two teams Toronto should beat.
Since 2001, the Blue Jays' record within the division has ranked third behind Boston and New York every season, except for 2004. It's not a coincidence that Toronto finished in third place in all of those years except '04, when they placed fifth. In fact, over the last five seasons, the team with the best record within the division won the AL East crown four times.
So, yes, getting off to a good start against the Yankees and Red Sox is important for the Jays quest for the playoffs.
Although he has gotten better, Russ Adams has proven that he does have problems with his accuracy throwing to first. Do you think that Aaron Hill could take over as the shortstop position with Adams moving to second?-- Andrew M., Winterbourne, Ontario
The only way Hill will be moving back to shortstop at this point is if Adams suffers an injury. Adams did have 26 errors at short during his rookie year last season, but he's young and still developing. Keep in mind that even Toronto's beloved Tony Fernandez eclipsed 30 errors in his first full season at short in 1985. The Jays have plenty of faith in Adams.
As far as other options in the infield, John McDonald is the backup at shortstop. If Adams did get hurt and Hill had to move to short, Ricciardi said that Minor Leaguer Ryan Roberts is an in-house option to play second base. Roberts had a good year with Double-A New Hampshire last season. Minor League shortstop Sergio Santos, who was acquired in the Glaus deal, is another possible callup if it came down to it.
I understand Orlando Hudson had a range factor of 5.84 last season to lead the Majors. Can you tell me how exactly do you calculate range factor?-- Nigel B., Toronto
My apologies, Nigel. I've cited range factor numerous times and never explained how it's calculated. You add the number of putouts and assists a player has, multiply that total by nine, and then divide that result by the number of innings he played.
For Hudson, his putouts (302) and assists (391) multiplied by nine equals 6,237. Divide that by his innings (1,067 2/3) and the end result is 5.84 -- the best range factor among second basemen in 2005.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Outfield getting crowded in Toronto
02/01/2006
Flexibility breeds uncertainty. At least that's the case in the outfield right now for Toronto.
The Blue Jays' flurry of moves involving corner infielders this offseason have actually caused a developing issue at the corner outfield spots that will be examined during Spring Training. Toronto already had Reed Johnson, Frank Catalanotto and Alex Rios to man left and right field, but now infielder Eric Hinske is going to be thrown into the mix.
"We really look at [Hinske] as a guy that hits right-handers very well," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said recently. "What's the best way that we can make our offense as potent as possible? We think having him hitting against right-handers, for the most part, along with Catalanotto. That gives us a pretty formidable lineup."
Ricciardi has devised a plan where all four players would get at-bats. Hinske and Catalanotto -- both left-handed hitters -- would play left field and right field, respectively, against right-handed pitchers. Against lefties, Toronto would have Johnson in left and Rios in right.
This proposed scenario would give Blue Jays manager John Gibbons a lot of flexibility with his lineup. Frequently flipping the starters, however, could hinder the development of Rios into an everyday player. And if Rios does prove worthy of an everyday job, that would create quite a crowd in left field.
"He has to play," Ricciardi said of Rios. "I think some of that potential came out last year, and he made some strides with [hitting coach] Mickey Brantley. It's a lot of work and a lot of effort, and the big leagues aren't easy. But he's been willing to work and he's a guy that we have a lot of faith in."
Last season, Rios hit 10 home runs, which was an improvement on the lone blast he had in 2004. His batting average and on-base percentage dropped last year, but Toronto is hoping he can put it all together and have a breakout year in 2006.
"He's got so much untapped potential. He's a good player already right now and there's so much more inside of him," Hinske said. "That'll be tough for Rios to break out if he's not getting a lot of at-bats, though."
So what happens if Rios gets consistent at-bats and emerges as an everyday starter?
"That's a tough question to answer," Hinske said after a brief pause.
Rios won't get a lot of at-bats if the team sticks to the varied lineups approach. Adding third baseman Troy Glaus and first baseman Lyle Overbay, and having Shea Hillenbrand to serve as the designated hitter, leaves Hinske without regular work in the infield. That's why Ricciardi is considering moving Hinske to left field -- pushing Catalanotto to right.
Hinske played third base in his first three seasons with the Blue Jays and then was asked to move to first base when Toronto acquired Corey Koskie prior to last season. Hinske obliged and played 100 games there -- splitting time with Hillenbrand.
"For us to get Eric in the lineup, the best way to do it is to get him in the outfield, and he's willing to do it," Ricciardi said. "We asked him to play third and he was fine. We asked him to play first and he was fine. He's a team guy and I think he's going to have a good year."
Moving to the outfield is a first at the Major League level for Hinske, who had to think back to his days in the Chicago Cubs' farm system to remember the last time he played there.
"I haven't played the outfield since Double-A, but I did play quite a few games there in the Minor Leagues," Hinske said. "I'm going to talk to Catalanotto and Vernon [Wells]. I'm just going to go in there with an open mind and listen to what everyone is telling me. I'm confident that I can do it and I'm excited."
Catalanotto and Wells should be great resources for Hinske.
Catalanotto is no stranger to switching positions. During his first four seasons, he jumped between playing first, second and third. Catalanotto didn't play full-time in the outfield until 2001 with Texas. Even then, he still spent some time as a second baseman. With Toronto, Catalanotto had been used primarily as the left fielder, but he also has some experience in right.
Wells picked up his second consecutive American League Gold Glove Award last year. Any growing pains that Hinske might suffer in left field might be eased by Wells' presence in center.
For now, it's unclear who will be in left and right for Opening Day. That being said, it's also hard to predict what the lineup will look like for any given game. During Spring Training, Toronto will need to look at its group of corner outfielders and determine if having them all play platoon roles is the best option. It brings flexibility, but it also could slow progress.
Considering the forward strides that Toronto took this offseason, though, it seems that the players involved just want to help the team try to reach the playoffs for the first time since 1993.
"I'll play the platoon role if I have to, but I'm going to go out and play as hard as I can to try and win that job for sure," Hinske said. "I think everyone will say that, too. If it's for the good of the team, I'm willing to do it. I want to win, and that's the bottom line."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Adams eager to help Jays win
02/03/2006
There will be a lot of new guys on Toronto's roster this season, but Russ Adams isn't one of them. He had that distinction last year during his first full campaign as the Blue Jays shortstop.
Adams has the luxury of showing up to Spring Training as one of the few Toronto players whose position was not tampered with during the offseason. He'll have a new face to his right at third base, a new double-play partner to his left at second and a team that is new to preseason playoff discussion.
All those changes have created a buzz not only around Toronto, but also down at its Spring Training complex in Dunedin, Fla., where Adams and a few other Blue Jays have already arrived.
"Everybody seems to be really pumped up and really excited," Adams said on Wednesday. "We got the guys that we were going after, and it was a lot of fun to watch and keep up with this offseason. Everybody is looking forward to getting the season started."
Adams showed up in Dunedin about two weeks ago. He said pitchers Roy Halladay, Dustin McGowan and a lot of Minor Leaguers had also reported early to begin preparing for the upcoming season.
"I usually come a good month early, just to make sure I'm in good weather," Adams said. "We have [a] good run of the whole complex. Our strength trainer, Donovan Santas, and a few of the Minor League instructors and trainers are here. It's a little more organized than you could do on your own."
One player Adams is looking forward to seeing is Aaron Hill, Toronto's new second baseman after Orlando Hudson was traded to Arizona. Adams said Hill is planning to head to Dunedin early to begin workouts, too.
Adams and Hill, 23, had limited time as Toronto's double-play tandem last season. Hill played only 22 games at second base late in the year, when he was filling in for the injured Hudson. Both Adams and Hill were rookies last season, and they'll need all the extra work they can get to become the type of duo the Blue Jays believe they can be.
"It'll take a little bit of getting used to one another, but it all comes in time and comes with work," Adams said. "We'll get plenty of that. Once he gets here, we'll start going at it, and the more you play alongside someone, the more comfortable you get. It's just going to take time."
Adams understands that the learning process isn't merely going to involve getting used to his new partner up the middle. The 25-year-old struggled with throwing accuracy at times last season and committed 26 errors.
Adams is well aware of that statistic and expects to show progress defensively this year.
"It's a position that you have to be mentally strong to play, and you're only going to get more confident the longer you stay there," he said. "Getting more comfortable with the position and playing it at that level is a big key. The more I work and the more games I play, the better it'll get. So I'm looking forward to getting things cranked back up."
Weight training has consumed the majority of Adams' offseason workout routine, but he picked up the bat and started throwing again in December.
Adams hit .256 with eight home runs and 63 RBIs in 139 games for the Blue Jays last year. He spent a lot of his time as the leadoff hitter, and that could be the case again this season. Adams said he hasn't discussed where he'll fit in the lineup with any of the coaches yet, but he's willing to work wherever they want him to.
Toronto upgraded this offseason with the acquisitions of Troy Glaus, Lyle Overbay, A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan, but the team's young cast already in place will play an important role. Adams and Hill join left-hander Gustavo Chacin as Toronto's second-year players. Outfielder Alex Rios and pitchers Jason Frasor and Vinnie Chulk are each entering their third full season in the Majors.
It's fair to say that Toronto's level of success this year will be dependant as much on its young players as on the new additions.
"I think [the younger players are] very important. We've got a lot of new faces, but over the course of 162 games, it's a total team effort," Adams said. "I think we put ourselves in a position to [succeed], but now it's time to go to work and figure out how to work together and achieve that."
For Adams and a handful of other Toronto players, that process has already begun in Florida.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Around the horn: Middle infielders
02/01/2006
TORONTO -- Don't tell the Blue Jays about sophomore slumps. Toronto will have two second-year players front and center this season.
Shortstop Russ Adams and second baseman Aaron Hill are two of the youngest players on the big-league roster and they're going to be heavily relied on this season as the Jays' new double-play combination.
"Both [Hill] and Adams handled themselves really well when they came up," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. "They really meshed well and you would've thought these guys had been in the big leagues their whole lives."
They haven't, though. Both infielders were rookies last season and had to adjust quickly to the Major League level. Adams became the everday shortstop and Hill was called upon to play third base when Corey Koskie broke his thumb in May.
Adams had his share of struggles in his first full season at short. The 25-year-old made 26 errors in 132 games and finished with a .952 fielding percentage.
Ricciardi feels that the types of mistakes that Adams had a tendency to make will be corrected with more experience.
"I think Russ is going to be fine. Most of his errors were throwing the ball and a lot of it was just being young and playing at the pace of the big league game," he said. "He's going to get better as he plays and last year was a good year for him to get his feet wet."
Offensively, Adams has room for improvement, too.
He hit .256 with eight home runs and 63 RBIs. Toronto used him a lot as a leadoff hitter and that will probably remain the case this year. If so, Adams will probably be looking to raise the .325 on-base percentage that he posted last season. Adams did show promise at the plate, though. He had nearly as many walks (50) as strikeouts (57).
Hill, 23, will be taking over second base for American League Gold Glove winner Orlando Hudson, who was traded to Arizona in the deal that brought Troy Glaus to Toronto.
Hill got off to a torrid start at the plate when he was called up in May. He hit .359 in his first 37 games and earned his spot on the roster when Koskie returned from the disabled list. He finished with a .274 average, three homers and 40 RBIs in 105 games. Hill posted a .342 on-base percentage and walked 34 times compared to 41 strikeouts.
Hill, who was drafted as a shortstop, was pushed into a utility role when Koskie came back. He split his time playing third base, shortstop and designated hitter. When Hudson suffered a hamstring injury late in the season, the Jays turned to Hill to learn another position and he adapted well to second base. Hill finished with a .991 fielding percentage in his 22 games at the position.
"I think Orlando has more range than Aaron, but there are a lot of things that Aaron does well, too," Ricciardi said. "He throws well, he's got a strong arm, quick hands, and his feet work well. There will be learning as he goes, but this isn't like taking a catcher and putting him at second base.
"He's got a lot of advantages going for him. Some of the things he'll lack in knowledge he will make up for with his arm strength."
Behind Adams and Hill on the depth chart is John McDonald. McDonald played 37 games with Toronto before being dealt to Detroit for cash considerations in July, but the Jays reacquired the infielder from the Tigers in November.
McDonald is good defensively and has experience playing second base, shortstop and third base. The 31-year-old will serve as the backup for both Adams and Hill.
Besides McDonald, Ricciardi said Toronto has a few in-house options if something were to happen to one of the regulars. Shortstop Sergio Santos, whom the Blue Jays received with Glaus in a trade with Arizona in December, could be called up if needed. Another possibility is second baseman Ryan Roberts, who had a good season with Double-A New Hampshire.
If Adams suffered an injury, Hill would probably move back to short and then McDonald and Roberts would be possible solutions to play second base. It's a group of mainly young and inexperienced players, but the Blue Jays do have a lot of flexibility up the middle.
There may be some growing pains for Toronto's new double-play duo, but Adams and Hill will try to improve on their successful 2005 campaigns. The Blue Jays are counting on that. Sophomore slumps won't be an option.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Burnett can't wait to contribute
02/06/2006
TORONTO -- A.J. Burnett made it clear that he wants to contribute to the Blue Jays even before he gets to wear their uniform. In his first public appearance in Toronto, at an event for the Jays Care Foundation to which he donated $250,000, the right-hander laid out his views on his new team and his future.
"I'm more excited than I have been since I was a kid," said Burnett. "No one has anything bad to say about the organization, from ownership down to the batboys. I can't wait. I'm looking forward to it."
One of the factors motivating Burnett is the chance to again work with pitching coach Brad Arnsberg, who served in the same role for the Florida Marlins in 2002, arguably Burnett's best season. That year he went 12-9 with seven compete games and five shutouts. He struck out 203 and posted his best ERA of his Major League career, 3.30.
"We talk about every other day probably -- he calls all the time," said Burnett. "I believe he had a big part in my development.
"After six or seven years, how much of a pitching coach do you really need?" he said. "But you do need that one person that can reach you."
In addition to Arnsberg, Burnett is looking forward to working with veteran ace Roy Halladay.
"I'm going to learn a lot from Doc," said Burnett. "Roy is so passionate about the game and so focused on the day he goes to work, I feel like I used to be that way, and maybe I got away from that, and being around him again is going to bring that out."
After making his debut with the Marlins in 1999, Burnett has had a career sprinkled with injuries. He spent time on the disabled list in every season since 2000, with the exception of last year, in which he went 12-12 for Florida in 32 starts.
"I'm being paid for what I can do here, [not for what I've done in the past]," said Burnett, who seems excited to prove himself in his new home.
"Every time I come here, I love it even more, " he said. "The main thing I gather from coming here is that ... people are more nice, more polite."
He certainly likes the generous nature of the Jays front office, which announced on Monday night that they had signed catcher Bengie Molina to team with Gregg Zaun behind the plate.
"The first time I talked to [Jays general manager] J.P. Ricciardi, he had all these ideas, and you read that that came true and that came true," said Burnett. "He's building something in the right direction. ... J.P. Ricciardi is doing what he believes in."
The theme of the evening was supporting the Jays Care Foundation, which was conducting a reverse draw to benefit its programs, including Rookie League, which is designed to help local youth in Toronto Community Housing.
Now a Rookie League coach, Sebastiao Dinguana-Sivuilu started in the program 10 years ago, as a player.
"Learning baseball was a whole different sport for us. Meeting Vernon Wells and Joe Carter when I was a kid was a great experience," said Dinguana-Sivuilu. "It was a lot of fun to meet children from different communities."
Dinguana-Siuilu learned about more than just baseball through Rookie League.
"It's benefited me in a lot of ways -- commitment, dedication to what you love to do, and how everything pays off in the end," he said.
On Monday evening, Paul Godfrey, Jays president and CEO, announced a Jays Care Foundation scholarship fund to complement the Rookie League and assist young residents of Toronto Community Housing in pursuing post-secondary education.
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays ink Molina to one-year deal
02/06/2006
The Blue Jays capped an eventful offseason by signing Bengie Molina on Monday, inking the catcher to a one-year deal with a mutual option for 2007. The 31-year-old will earn $4.5 million in 2006, and the option year is worth $7.5 million.
Molina, who will supplant Gregg Zaun, is coming off the most productive offensive season of his career. The two-time Gold Glover posted personal bests in home runs (15), batting average (.295), on-base percentage (.336) and slugging percentage (.446) in 2005. Molina has spent his entire career with the Angels, and this move allows him to stay in the American League.
"I think we're better up the middle -- and that's with Molina and Zaun," said J.P. Ricciardi, Toronto's general manager. "Anytime you add a Gold Glove catcher, it's a plus, especially one coming off a career year offensively. I can't say there's a downside to adding Bengie Molina."
The backstop was one of the last quality free agents available, a fact that piqued Toronto's interest beyond where it may have been otherwise. Molina had previously hoped to land with Baltimore or New York, but the Orioles signed Ramon Hernandez and the Mets traded for Paul Lo Duca. Reports indicate that the Dodgers were the other finalist for his services.
"It wasn't something that was in the works for a long time. We talked around a month ago," said Ricciardi. "They asked if we were interested and we said we didn't have much money left, but we can be as creative as we can be."
Molina has played particularly well against left-handed pitchers over the last three seasons, notching a .316 batting average with a .352 on-base percentage and a .537 slugging mark. All of those statistics are significantly better than his numbers against right-handed pitchers (.272, .303 and .389, respectively).
The move is the latest in Toronto's offseason remodeling, a winter that saw the Blue Jays add two heavy bats (Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay) and two live arms (A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan). The Jays haven't been to the playoffs since last winning the World Series in 1993, and they've only had one winning record in the last five seasons.
"You go into the offseason with an idea and a plan, but I can't say I thought we'd get all these guys," said Ricciardi. "It's been a very productive offseason, but it's not really productive unless it translates to wins on the field."
Zaun shifts back into a reserve role, a job he became accustomed to over the first 11 seasons of his career. The switch-hitter revitalized his career with the Blue Jays, starting for most of the last two years. In fact, Zaun set career highs in home runs (11), hits (109), RBIs (61) and runs scored (61) in 2005.
Burnett, in Toronto for a charity function with the Jays, was enthused about his new team's catching tandem.
"He's a great catcher from what I hear," Burnett said of Molina. "With Gregg Zaun, we have two of the best catchers in the league."
Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/
Jays reportedly add backstop Molina
02/06/2006
The Blue Jays may have added the capstone to an interesting offseason on Monday, when FOXsports.com reported that Toronto and Bengie Molina were close to signing off on a one-year contract.
The deal is reportedly worth $5 million with a $7.5 million option for 2007, but club officials stressed that nothing is c