Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Busy Weekend for AA and the Blue Jays


Last winter when the best pitcher in baseball, Roy Halladay was traded to the Phillies Vernon Wells was given the role of clubhouse leader,Now that role is going to be handed down to Jose Bautista, the 2010 Home Run Champion, because Vernon was traded on Friday afternoon. The Angels acquired the two time gold glove Center field, but had to swallow his $86 million dollar contract over the next 4 years.The Jays got C Mike Napoli, and LF Juan Rivera, in exchange for Wells.Wells was in second place in virtually every offensive category for the Blue Jays in his career, right behind 1B slugger Carlos Delgado,who left the team after the 2004 season.

Today Mike Napoli learned a lesson,don't think once you get traded once in 3 days, doesn't mean your not going to get traded again. The Blue Jays have received reliever Frank Fransisco, in exchange for new Blue Jay Mike Napoli from the Rangers. Napoli was part of the Vernon Wells trade, just 3 days ago.Fransisco was 6-4 last season with a 3.76 ERA, when he lost the closer's job to AL Rookie of the Year Neftali Feliz. The Blue Jays now have 4 former closers in the running for the closers job; the job will be given out during Spring Training.

This is my second prediction for how the Blue Jays roster will look next season.

C J.P Arencibia
1B Adam Lind
2B Aaron Hill
3B Jose Bautista
SS Yunel Escobar
LF Juan Rivera
CF Rajai Davis
RF Travis Snider
DH Edwin Encarnacion

1SP Ricky Romero
2SP Brandon Morrow
3SP Brett Cecil
4SP Kyle Drabek
5SP Zach Stewart

MRP Casey Janssen
MRP Jo-JO Reyes
LRP Shawn Camp
LRP Jason Frasor
SU Jon Rauch
SU Octavio Dotel
CL Frank Fransisco

Bench
John McDonald
Jose Molina
Corey Patterson
Mike McCoy

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Alomar Elected to Hall in Second Year,Bautista Moving Back to the Outfield?


A year ago Roberto Aomar was just 8 votes shy of being elected into the Hall of Fame,this year he won 90% of the vote, and was elected. Alomar won two world series championships with the Jays in 1992 and 1993, and won 10 gold gloves during the course of his stellar career.He also won 4 silver slugger awards at second base, and drove in over 100 runs twice.He will be inducted with former Blue Jays GM Pat Gillick on July 24th 2011.

Since AA would hate to put Jose Bautista at third base he is trying to get another option to play the hot corner. The Blue Jays have already had 6 time gold glove winner Eric Chavez try out for the position,and would love an upgrade at the position.