The Trade is Official!

Bud Selig has, after 6 days(although he only received the paperwork on Friday) has approved the mega-deal between the Jays and Marlins that sends All Stars Josh Johnson,Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle, John Buck,speedster IF/OF Emilio Bonifacio, and an undisclosed amount of cash(last we heard it was $8million) to the Jays! Going to the Marlins in the trade are Major Leaguers Yunel Escobar, Jeff Mathis, and Henderson Alvarez along with prospects Adeiny Hechavarria, Jake Marisnick, Anthony DeSclafini, and Justin Nicolino. I have nothing really to say other than "RBI's for JOSE BAUTISTA"...cause you know, with Reyes and Melky in front of him, he will lead the league in that meaningless stat, and stop Miguel Cabrera from winning the triple crown again!!!

In other news, Manny Acta is going to be working in TV next year, and they haven't even contacted him, so cross him off the list.

Who do you want to be manager? Leave your comments below.

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Interview With Blue Jays Catcher Jeff Mathis

He isn't known for his offense, but his numbers
have been above his career averages this season.

He recently became the Blue Jays starting catcher. Yesterday he signed a 2 year $3 Million ($1.5 Million club option in 2015) extension with the club. Today, I bring you the transcript of an interview I conducted with none other than Jeff Mathis. Unfortunately it was done before the extension was finished and announced so, I did not talk to him about it.

A 29 year old catcher from Marianna, Florida, Jeff was drafted in the 1st round during the 2001 MLB Rule 4 Draft. He made it to the majors in 2005 with the Angels, the team that drafted him, and except for a couple of stints in the minors in 2006 and 2007, has been up here ever since. Last December AA traded for him by sending SP Brad Mills to the Halos. His offense has always been lacking for what it takes to be a starter, but this year he performed well offensively while he was a backup. Due to injuries to the two catchers ahead of him on the depth chart, JP Arencibia and Travis d’Arnaud, Jeff was handed the starting duties a couple of weeks ago. His offense has sputtered, going back to around his career numbers, but like always, his defense has been superb. He leads the league in CS% at 39%, and the way he calls games has had a very positive effect on the Blue Jays pitching staff.

Now, for that interview I did.

Mathis' stance last season with the Angels.
You can see his feet are close together.

It is quite evident that you have made some changes to your swing when comparing video from past years to this season. What have you done to it that has allowed you to access your power? (Jeff’s SLG% is up by .102 points over his career average).

“Knowing that I was going to get more limited opportunities, I have simplified things and gotten back to doing things that have brought me success in the past.”

Mathis' swing/stance this season.
His feet are farther apart, which
 allows him to drive the ball more.

Is it difficult going from playing once or twice a week to everyday like you have done since JP Arencibia has gone down due to injury? How have you changed your daily routine?

“I will always approach things with the mindset that I can play every day in this league and I mentally and physically prepare myself to do that. I have tried to maintain my workout regiment throughout the season and I feel ready to help the team while JP is out. It is really unfortunate that we have lost him, but I want to try to do what I can to help the team while I am in there.”

You are one of the best defensive catchers in the game. What do you think you do differently than others that allows you to have such great success behind the plate?

“I have always tried to separate what I did offensively and defensively. No matter what was happening offensively, I have always taken a lot of pride in how I called a game or helped a staff from the 1st out to the last out. I have been around a lot of very good catching coaches during my career and I have just tried to be a sponge to learn as much as I can from them. I know that I can affect a game behind the plate as much as I can at the plate.”

Mathis goes to the mound
to talk to Ricky.

Ricky Romero has clearly been struggling of late, and you have had your first few chances of catching him. Are you do anything different in your game calling than what JP Arencibia does to try to snap Ricky out of his skid, and if yes, what?

“Ricky is a hell of a major league pitcher and he is working on some things that he believes will help him be more consistent. None of us doubt that he will be successful in doing that. He is too good of a pitcher for that not to happen. That being said, we as players all go through bumps in the road and it is our job as professionals to figure out how to keep in on the path to success. Ricky will undoubtedly do that.”

Which pitcher on the Blue Jays do you have the best connection with when it comes to knowing how to call their game to perfection?

“I try to work with each individual pitcher differently so as to do things that he is comfortable with. It is my job to help each of our guys be successful and to allow them to get into a rhythm on the mound that benefits them. This is not about me. This is about them not worrying about me or how I am doing things behind the plate so they can concentrate on being successful and executing pitches, sequences and a game plan. If I am doing that, I am doing my job.”

Hope you guys enjoyed it. I want to thank Jeff for taking time out of his busy schedule to do this with me, and hope he continues to have success with the Jays.

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Jays Extend Their Starting Catcher

Mathis catching in Tropicana Field
 last week vs. the Rays.

That headline got you excited, didn't it? Too bad the Jays starting catcher right now is Jeff Mathis. The Blue Jays announced earlier this evening that they had signed Mathis to a 2-year $3 million contract with an Anthoption(Club Option) in 2015 for $1.5 million. This is still a pretty big move because it gives us a whole lot of possible options to think about for the catching jobs in 2013. Since Mathis' job is now set in stone, we can assume one of JP Arencibia or Travis d'Arnaud will be moved this off-season. Here are a few possible situations next year when it comes to the backstops.
1. JPA Traded, d'Arnaud Starting, Mathis Backup
This seems like the most likely case as it improves the team all around and if JPA is packaged with one of the Lansing 3 and some fillers, he could bring back a pretty good pitcher. AA has said outright that he is going to acquire a pitcher or two this off-season, so that statement gives this possibility more steam than the others. The big question is whether or not the Blue Jays #1 prospect will be ready for 2013 because he tore his PCL this season, and has been shut down. But the latest we have heard about d'Arnaud is that he will make up for lost time playing in the Arizona Fall League later this year, and should be ready for April 2013.

2. JPA Starting Catcher, d'Arnaud Starting DH, Mathis Backup C
You don't like this. I don't like this. Rogers loves this! AA has been brainwashed to love it. Instead of spending money on David Ortiz or another DH, Rogers could conveniently pay those 4 players less than $3 million for 2013, and still think they get good production. AA said during tonight's game that this case has potential for next season, but I don't see it. My first problem with it is that JPA brings back a pitcher if traded, and Ortiz would love to play in Toronto with his best friend Jose Bautista, and another close friend, Edwin Encarnacion. My second problem is that if you do have these 3 catchers, why not have d'Arnaud,the better defender, play catcher, and JPA DH. You are getting the same offense, but improving the defense. Just makes more sense in my mind. What do you guys think?

3. JPA Starting, Mathis Backup, Travis d'Arnaud starting in AAA
Please no.

4.d'Arnaud Traded, JPA Starting, Mathis Backup
If it brings back Stephen Strasburg,Clayton Kershaw, or Felix Hernandez(Or other players of that caliber), then I'm fine with it. Otherwise, NO!(Mike Trout as well)

Well that basically sums them all up. If I missed any, I'm distracted by watching the Jays game right now, so it isn't my fault.

Which situation do you prefer? Leave a comment in the section below and we could discuss, I really want to know what others think about this.

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Source: Blue Jays to Sign Yorvit Torrealba

Torrealba,right, was suspended 66 games in the
 Venezuelan League last year after hitting the umpire,left.

A report by Drew Davidson, a writer for Fort Worth Star-Telegram, says backup catcher Yorvit Torrealba is close to joining the Toronto Blue Jays. If this is indeed true, which it likely is, Torrealba will assume the backup catcher duties, with Yan Gomes becoming the back up 3rd baseman, taking over for Omar Vizquel. Vizquel,45, has had to go out of his role as Assistant Bench Coach since Brett Lawrie got injured to play a game every 4th day or so.The 34 year old we will call Yorvit has an OBP of .302, and is pretty bad defensively.

So if your counting players on the disabled list, the Blue Jays now have 4 back up catchers. JP Arencibia,Jeff Mathis, Yorvit Torrealba, and Yan Gomes. Travis d'Arnaud couldn't come soon enough...Right?

Update: The Blue Jays just announced that they signed Torrealba to a minor league contract, and he will report to AA New Hampshire, where he will play 4 games before coming up next week in Detroit.

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Blue Jays Mid-Season Grades:Part 3

The third part of the series for you!

Rajai Davis: B-

Rajai Davis is back! After being horrendous last season, Rajai has returned to form, since taking over the staring left field job at least. Since taking over on May 29th, not including tonight’s game, Rajai is batting .303 with a .345 OBP. He has stolen 12 bases in that span, while only being caught 4 times. His defense has been average, but much better than what Eric Thames would have provided. If he keeps this up, he probably will be traded, because his value just keeps on rising, and Travis Snider will almost certainly be called up to replace him.  If he is kept, I can’t see him keeping this up, so a C at the end of the year seems realistic.

Davis and Mathis have both been
played well for the Jays this year

Kelly Johnson: C+

Kelly Johnson started off the season so well.  But then he stopped getting on base, and instead of getting on base, he would strike out. Since May 9^th, KJ has struck out 59 in only 48 games. His OBP since then is .297, and he only has a .318 slugging percentage. His numbers are clearly taking a hit because of the K’s as shown by his BABIP since May 9^th. His BABIP is .320, a product of getting so many of his outs without putting the ball in play. His defense has not been so good, but I can live with that. I don’t see him coming back next season for a few reasons. One is Adeiny Hechavarria, and the second is Jon Berti. Hech should be ready to take over short next year with Yunel Escobar moving to second, if Adeiny figures out how to hit. Berti is tearing up the minors right now, and I can see him starting in Las Vegas next season, putting him into consideration for a mid-2013 call up.  To end, if KJ wants to stay with the team next season, and increase his grade, he needs to cut down on his strikeouts, by a lot!

Jeff Mathis:C+

Mathis has a WAR of 0.6 this season. JP Arencibia has a WAR of 0.0. Mathis has played in 26 games; Arencibia has played in 67 games. Personally, I would be starting Jeff Mathis and his .288 OBP (Arencibia’s is .260). Both catchers are very bad offensively clearly, although JPA does have that power aspect to his game. Mathis’ defense has been amazing again this season, and that is why he is the best catcher on this team. His defense is so much better than JPA’s, and he deserves to start. Mathis has been a very good backup catcher this season, but if he wants to increase his grade, I believe he needs to get on base more, like he was during his hot start to the season.

Henderson Alvarez: C

Before I go on a rant about how bad Henderson Alvarez is, I’ll say that he is 22, and he has time to improve. But right now, he is not good. This is a in part due to the fact that he was brought up to the majors without getting enough time in the minors to develop an out pitch.  It is impossible to succeed in this league if you don’t miss bats, and Henderson does not. Nobody has been successful with a K/9 of 2.8. A 4.00 ERA is what Henderson will stay around if he doesn’t add that “Out Pitch”.  It is a shame that there is no way he could get sent down because of all the injuries, but the AL East is not a place to try to learn an out pitch. He has been quite lucky that he has had a fairly good defense behind him up to this point, but he needs to start missing bats. C is probably what he will be at the end of the season unless magically he learns to strike batters out.

Brett Cecil: C

Cecil has done what has
 been expected from him so far.

Cecil is one of the replacement pitchers for the 3 injured ones, so all you can really ask for from him is to go 6 innings of less than 5 runs allowed. He has done much better than that, well except for one start. He hasn’t been giving inning, as he has pitched 22.1 of them in 4 starts, but minus that game against the Angels in which he allowed 8 runs, he has only given up 6 runs in 3 starts. He is going to need to start keeping the ball in the ballpark, which he has not done at all to this point if he wants to improve, but overall he has been average.  When Morrow and Hutch come back, he will probably be moved to the bullpen along with Carlos Villanueva, depending on how Aaron Laffey continues to pitch.

What do you think of the 3rd part? Comment with your grades below and we could discuss what we did differently! 

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