Why Orlando Cabrera is a Terrible Idea.

Posted by Nick on 2:55 PM comments (5)




In Jeff Blair's most recent blog post, he mentions that the Jay's are trying to showcase Rolen and Overbay, to try and dump some salary. This is all fine and dandy. Although Rolen is earning his salary for the most part, the injuries really hurt his reliability on the field. And despite Overbay's solid defence I still have doubts about him bouncing back from the wrist injury he suffered a few years ago, and I don't know how well he'll be able to perform this year.

Blair also says that the Jays are trying to clear salary to sign Orlando Cabrera. Wait wait wait, Orlando Cabrera the guy who hasn't posted an OPS higher than .750 since 2003? Yeah that guy. Is it really worth going after him when you have Scutaro, who is a solid player, albeit not as good as Cabrera, but still almost as good (Scutaro was worth 2.8 wins last year, compared to Cabrera's 3.7).

On one note, Cabrera would come on the cheap, you know with this end of the world economy and what not. But he would almost certainly require a 1 year deal, with hopes of getting a better contract next season, but he would also mean giving up our 1st round pick. The Jays in no way shape or form, should give up their 1st rounder, in order to sign a 1 year rental player, who isn't all that good. It's just foolishness.

If the Jays are able to move Overbay or Rolen's contract, I'm not really sure who they would sign. Cabrera is useless, Ramirez would be awesome but he'd still take $25m+/year, and everyone else is a replacement level bench player. The only thing I can think of is saving some money to add a guy during the season through a trade when teams are being hurt even more by the economy, but that would mean surviving with the corners being manned by Bautista and Millar (PLAYOFFS!).

A Few Links...

A Few Spring Training Thoughts

Posted by Nick on 4:37 PM comments (0)




Two games into spring training I have a few thoughts...

1. Travis Snider is raking it.

2. Scott Richmond and Cecil are both looking good. I'm not too sure anymore who I want to make the team, or who should make the team for that matter...

3. Scott Campbell, the loveable Kiwi, is playing 3B. If Jose Bautista gets let (HOPEFULLY), and Rolen's shoulder breaks down once more (PLEASE NO!), then Campbell might be able to fill in. I'm not sure if his offence will be able to fit in longterm, but I'd much rather have a young guy filling in who has the potential to be a great player down the road.

V-Dub out, Bautista in

Posted by Nick on 5:40 PM comments (0)





Wells has started upon a mission to injure himself in every conceivable manner. Way to Injure Yourself #356: Light Movement of the Legs - Check.

With Wells sidelined for atleast a month, it would seem like the obvious solution to slide over Rios into CF, and allow Snider to play his natural position in RF. The Blue Jays management has decided to approach this difficult conundrum(word of the day!) in a slightly less conceivable way. Jose Bautista, the man who is -40.3 runs below average in CF in his career, will slide to his left about 45 feet and back about 150 feet, and take up the CF position. Lets think this over for a minute...

...


...

It's stupid.


I understand completely that Cito is trying to get everyone AB's, but playing a guy in a position he should never in over 9000 years be touching with a 100 foot pole is nearing insanity in my books. Why not let Inglett play some CF? I know its a small sample size, but at he's shown average/above average defence in the OF, maybe that can translate into some success for him this spring. And with Wells keeping himself injured so nicely, Im sure there will be at least a few opportunities for him to demonstrate his prowess out in one of the three OF spots.

To add more onto Bautista playing CF, why not give him some time at 1B? Overbay is out with his trio of hernias, and with any luck Cito will figure out a Bautibay platoon at 1B could create a half decent player this year.

Honestly, I'm all for getting guys AB's this spring, thats what it's for. Preparation. But the team needs to prepare both offensively and defensively, and that isn't going to happen buy having guys play a position they won't ever, ever play in a real game.

I'm all for optimism about this season and hoping the young guys perform, but at the same time the team needs to be smart in how they play the game of baseball