Monday, March 26, 2012

Spring Training Notes

As we wind down in the last 9 or so games, we can start to see teams stretch out their pitchers, and literally stretch for everything.

Pitchers are trying top push that 85 pitch barrier, and players are getting 3 at bats, hoping for as many swings as possible, as they are trying to nail down their timing. For some, they are done, and wish to avoid useless at bats for fear of injury, or losing focus so close to the start.



Teams are almost down to below 30 in camp, some have a few more, some keep their "cut" players in camp, and still play them in games, so they can spot the regulars.

Travis Snider of the Jays got the word he is headed to Las Vegas, Eric Thames can get some sleepo now. Snider had a good camp, beside being struck on a few off speed pitches, he has faired well.
But it was Thames job to lose, and he did not surrender it.

The Jays have 2 other battles, McCoy or Vizquel, and Villaneuva or Luis Perez, but Dustin McGowan may have allowed Kyle Drabek a shot at the 5th spot, so perhaps there's a chance of a 3rd battle. It now depends on McGowan's health, and we were hoping not be reporting a McGowan setback. Hold your breaths, it is the first negative news from a spring that has Jays fans drooling for Opening Day.

Chase Utley won't start the year die to injury, and Miggy Cabrera might be fitted foir a mask, and most camps are essentially down to fine tuning their rotation for next Thursday starts.

The parks are getting ready, the bunting, the banners, the concessions and the beer vendors are gearing up. Not long now, but a few more games, and we raise the roof.
In Japan, the Mariners and Ichiro will face the Athletics and their squad as they kick off in the Far East, with exhibition games and a few tilts against each other.

The counter shows 11 days, 4 hours and descending minutes.


The whole office is jumping, it's a crescendo of emotion. But we just have to relax a bit, and let them play these last few games, and sort out their last cuts, we'll be playing before you know it.
Enjoy the calm before ther storm.

Not these 2 guys of course, they are ready to raise the roof.......

Friday, March 23, 2012

A Wrigley Moment

Lost in the webbing's of my glove I thought that the ball had become. Not possible, but lost in the twines and nettles of the wall was infinitely possible.

When I looked for the ball, it was not in my glove, I searched at my feet, to find only my red laces mocking me, it's not between my feet, nor in my glove, where has it gone. Panic settles in and the noise from the crowd is urging me to produce the ball magically from some secret source.

Then as I am leaning against the vines, and the brush, it slips onto my arm, like an egg from a nest , asking me to care for it. Like a mother to a child, I cradle the ball gently, my eyes, still not believing my fortune.  I grasp the orb, which has magical powers, and throw it straight to the shortstop , who has been pleading with his eyes to receive the ball in time to double up a returning runner.

Where did it come from, the ball. from the sky ?, from my equipment, or from the vines, from the vegetation that lines the wall ? It must be from the wall, or at least I have convinced myself that makes the most sense.

The shortstop gets the ball too late to re tag the runner, and angrily looks out toward centre field, as it to say, if you'd thrown it sooner, maybe we had 2 outs.  He does not know, nor has he comprehended yet, the ball was lost to me, and in the moments that passed, I had thought it carried the fence, the green expanse, and then by the miracle re appeared on my arm, trickling through vine and hedge, as it playing some hide and seek game.

The next hitter pops up to short, and we all start running in to the dug out, the shortstop is slowly waiting for me to reach him. I will have a story to tell him. I did not have any idea where the ball came from. He will laugh and we'll recount the whole thing, re enacting our roles over dinner later, or on the plane.

Such is a Wrigley moment, in one of the most unique baseball meccas that exists.

Old ballparks such as the Chicago institution, or Fenway, hold onto mystery for ball fans, while the newer parks rely on exploding messages, jumbo trons, trim lines, perfect geometric angles that present fielders with mathematical decisions, the correct line to the ball.  Easy choices, no indecision, true bounces, and clean lines.

No obstructions, no left turns in the wall, no hills to climb, and certainly no plant life for the ball to find refuge in.  Fenway and Wrigley continue to engage me more as a fan, for their possibilities are endless, and I have touched the sky.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Old is New

 Old is new again, and I am glad for that.

So when I first went to the mistake by the lake, I am sure that outside the stadium hard by the last hot dog stand, this logo greeted me in 1977, or it looked remarkably like this one.

I think the addition of the Maple Leaf in logo adds flavour, and with this being the only Canadian franchise, we can claim to the home flag emblem.


This at least cause me to by a new cap, a coffee mug, and embrace the old "blue" Jay symbol. I never like the black, the cocky, the angry Blue Jay,
I remember travelling in the United States with the old logo, people identified it immediately,  and it gave me recognition. Toronto's team, it has a brand, and brand is good.  Not sure why the Raptors were so short sighted. Purple and based on a trio of movies.  Guess they did not see that train leaving the station.

A Blue Jay


Anyone notice the high degree of blue in Blue Jay, I guess the new marketing agenda have those colours in their pencil case.










On a personal note, what else is there with blogs, but a couple of observations on this year's team.

1. Where the hell did this kid Yan Gomes from, kid can rake, watch for him.
2. Dusty's comeback in good shape, so far, crossed fingers.
3. Colby, don't make us regret trading half the bloody bullpen to get you
4. Farrell seems a lot more relaxed, perhaps not going to second guess himself.

We are at the half way point, or near abouts in camp, and battle lines are drawn between Snider, Thames, Davis and Francisco. 4 players for 2 jobs.  I have to think Raj Davis is safe, he has hit well, provides speed off the bench and backs up Rasmus.  No prediction on the last outfield spot, not yet anyway.

Rotation is set so long as McGowan and Alvarez continue to shine. Ricky Ro, Morrow and Cecil look good for 1-3 , so Drabek and Laffey go to Vegas. Villaneuva heads to his long role, and the pen is set with Janssesn, Frasor, Coco Cordero, Oliver and Santos. That is 11, and unless they decide to keep Luis Perez, and drop Vizquel, that is the staff.

I don't think that will happen, and I think Omar will stick.  If the rotation pitches well through April into May, and the bullpen does their job, this team will survive the first crunch and be above .500 through the quarter pole, and Omar's experience will steady the kids.

3 keys this year.

Rotation
Lawrie
JP Arencibia

If they get improvements to all 3, we can begin to think Wild Card.

Oh, it's spring, and I can afford to be optimistic.

Class in session

March 20, 2012

Just a few weeks left in camps, April approaches silently.  Most camps have their phenoms still participating in games, the top prospects continue to get long looks.  It is no different in Dunedin, where Jays brain trust followed Henderson Alvarez face a group of fuzzy faced Yankee farm kids.

It was a scheduled day off for the club, but a handful of scrubs performed, while John Farrell , Bruce Walton, and others watched a 21 yr old Venezuelan work on sliders, and off speed pitches.

The idea is Alvarez needs to develop control of his slider in different zones, and this was a good opportunity to experiment.  We got caught up in the games so much, we forget it is a time of learning for young players. Pitchers need a chance to fail, and see what works, and what their next side session will be focused on.

Roving pitching instructor Pat Hentgen spoke to that last weekend, "side sessions, practice sessions", and "how you prepare" are key components for how pitchers learn, and get better. Poor practise habits usually doom a pitcher to mediocrity, or demotion. 

Hentgen raved about all the wealth of talent in the system, but as a proud part of the organisation, I would be surprised if he wasn't.

Low A, High A and Double AA are well stocked...Hutchinson, McGuire, Jenkins, Syndagaard, Sanchez...the list grows yearly. It pushes forward and upward, and less talented arms will fall to the side. Always to challenge for a job. The teaching aspect is what Hentgen will focus on, the practise sessions, the prep.  Making sure they all get it.  Young players usually are a sponge for knowledge, but some believe their fastball is their ticket to the Show.  It helps, but it won't keep them there.

Pat has street cred, a Cy Young, World Series rings, so the kids will listen. It's a good roll for Hentgen, and allows more knowledge to be passed on, while Walton focuses on the 10 -11 heading north. Alavarez snaps off another hard slider, and Walton makes more notes.  Kid can use this in a game, against righties.

The next side session will be spent honing that new found slider, pounding it down in the zone. That is what Walton preaches, " down in the zone"...that is his mantra. If you watched Brett Cecil face the Phils you saw the results of Pappy's preaching first hand.  Cecil was effective when his ball moved in the zone, and cutters and off speed were kept down.  Shane Victorino hit an off speed pitch for a triple, and the pitch was up, so lessons learned.

More lessons planned today against Boston, but before school starts for real, more must be taught, and practised.  It is approaching the "dog days" of camp, soon arms will go dead, only to recover stronger.
But the teaching thing, that goes on and on.



Strasbourg broken down in frames, why, so he can learn release points, this learnin' thing is forever thing.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Spring Time

As I walk the dog each morning, on the back paths of Meadowvale, I hear cardinals chirping to each other.

I think they are probably seeking mates, food, attention, but to me, they signal spring arriving.

Of course today it is snowing, but after a 17 degree Wednesday, one can hardly mind the inconvenience of the white stuff.

Certainly it matters not to the birds, they know what the calendar says, and they know the changing of the seasons better that human folk.

It is also when with Mitch, in tow, that I plan my baseball strategies, of whom should I draft, what options are there.  I whistle and the cardinals reply, the dog thinks I am nuts, but it is my ritual, and I adhere to it.

I also bought a news Jays cap, and so the stars are aligned towards Opening Day with friends to watch the home team play the Indians.  My 5 baseball fantasy teams get slowly assembled, and I follow all the stories, the injuries, the projections to give me the best chance.

I confer with outposts in Sudbury ( Kev ) and Thunder Bay ( Glen ), to London ( Brad ) and the nations capital ( Rick ). Even the left coast ( Brad L ) and we talk and kibbitz about spring training, and what has everyone seen and heard. 

Spring is here, let's start talking baseball.