Doug Plourd
(8 comments, 15 posts)
Posts by Doug Plourd
Five Bold Predictions and my AL East preview
11 month ago
by Doug Plourd
in News and Notes
Thursday is Milb and MLB Opening Day
It is in the air…can you see it? The sun shining brightly helps create shadows in the infield, as nine men play on a diamond. Can you smell it? Freshly cut grass mixes with the aroma of roasted peanuts and hot dogs. Can you hear it? The loud roar of the crowd after the distinctive crack of the bat. It is in the air…optimism, confidence, hope. It’s that time of year again, where everyone starts with the identical record, all with the one goal, of raising a trophy in late October !(ok, the Orioles theoretically are already 15 games out of first place).
So, not only does the season begin for the players, it’s also the start of six months of ups and downs for us, the fans. Opening day (or in the case of 2012, opening day part TROIS) should be a holiday. (as should the Monday after the SuperBowl…and March 18th…and May 6th…but I digress). The days leading up to our favorite team taking the field for the first real games of the year, are as long as the week leading up to Christmas when you are 8 years old. But alas, the clock finally turns, the ump yells play ball, and the first pitch is thrown.
The week leading up to the first pitch, is also a time for predictions. Everyone does them, and we all are just guessing, but in the end, it is fun and if you hit on just ONE against-the-grain pick, you hold it over your friends forever. So below are five predictions for the upcoming season regarding current and past JaysProspects. I didn’t want to go TOO overly aggressive (Kevin Comer pitches game 1 of the World Series in Toronto) but didn’t want to lay in the conservative camp either. (Brett Lawrie will hit at LEAST .175 this year) (more…)
The Inbox – January 12th
54 months ago
by Doug Plourd
in News and Notes
After posting the first edition of the Inbox, a slew of fantastic questions came flying in, thus a quick turnaround on volume 2. A couple of notes before we get started:
1) I am not close enough to the “pulse of the front office” to give valid opinions or speculation on rehabbing players. I can only write about what I hear, and chances are, if I have heard it, you have too.
2) Keep the questions coming! I have a few I held back for forthcoming columns, but the more I get, the more topics we can cover in short form.
3) Thank you, one and all, for the incredible page view numbers on the Callis 140. I was astounded to hear how many hits the site had in the hours after the interview went up, and I have to thank each and every one of you for making that happen.
Ok, onto some questions.
Many wonder where Kyle Drabek fits in the rotation in 2012
From Keith via the Comments Section:
Would love to get your perspective on Drabek. I know 2011 was a disaster for Drabek, but it seems like people have just written him off completely. But he was our top prospect last year and has some of the best pure stuff on the team. I have not hearda peep about how his offseason training has gone or what the team is looking for from him in 2012. It seems he has dropped in the depth chart and likely will not make the team. He is even being talked about in trades. The way I see it is no team gets by with 5 starters any more. You need 7+ guys in any season. With Alvarez and McGowan on innings limits, we will need a Drabek to compete. What have you heard about Drabek and what do realistically see as happening with him in 2012. (more…)
140 characters with…. Baseball America’s Jim Callis
54 months ago
by Doug Plourd
in Interviews
For a baseball prospect junkie like me, there is no better time than January, as the excitement for the Baseball America Prospect Handbook builds as the days click off the calendar. When I see the ball drop at midnight, and after I exchange, “Happy New Years” with the family, the next thought is “less than four weeks til I get to devour 900 scouting reports.” Jim Callis is the Executive Editor of Baseball America, and is nationally known as one of the “go to guys” in the world of baseball prospects. With the draft and playoffs behind him and the Prospect Handbook off to the printers, Jim graciously found the time to induct himself into the “140″ club.
140 characters, for the new readers, is an interview that has no rules, except that questions and answers must be confined to Twitter direct messages, thus 140 characters. With that said…
@dougplourd:
Jim, thanks for taking the time to do the “140,” as you know we at @JaysProspects are big fans of BA. Ready?
@jimcallisBA:
Sure, fire away. (more…)
The Inbox – January 8th
94 months ago
by Doug Plourd
in News and Notes
Welcome to the first edition of “The Inbox,” in what may look like an exercise in vanity (Ask ME! I am an EXPERT!) is actually just a way to make writing a column a little easier. I have noticed in my months writing for JaysProspects that the Toronto Blue Jays fan base is not only rabid and eager for the team’s success, but is also very knowledgeable as well. So, by you asking smart questions, I get to write about topics in smaller doses. (And without having to, you know, come up with the ideas!) So with that, let’s get to some questions:
From Ryan Mueller (via the comments section)
I have read rumors of Pineda being shopped. He was not linked to TO but I would think that he would be someone AA would look at. Young, controllable, and a high ceiling. This is a guy who could turn into a another Felix or just as easily another Morrow (at least what he is today). He is younger and better than both Latos and Gio but I would think he could be had for similar packages. Both Latos and Gio where traded for the other teams 3, 4, and 9 or 10th ranked prospects. If the Jays made a similar trade what do you think it would look like? (more…)
Happy New Year – Random Thoughts
134 months ago
by Doug Plourd
in News and Notes
Some random thoughts and musings as we roll into the first week of 2012:
Whether or not you liked the rumor, it is highly unlikely that Felix Hernandez will be sporting a Blue Jays uniform this season
The Felix Hernandez rumors. I need to start here, as this is where the new age of Twitter and social media makes anyone “an insider” and it drives me a little batty. ANYONE, and when I say anyone I mean the 17-year-old senior in high school, driving a 2001 Sentra and living with his folks, can start a rumor and cite “sources.” So, when this happens, I almost have to turn away. We saw a Twitter big shot claiming he had sources that the Jays won the Darvish bid three days before it was announced. (Oh by the way, NO ONE knew at that point except MLB’s commissioner’s office). We have seen numerous “deals” that the Blue Jays are working on, citing “unnamed sources.” (Of course, when AA’s deals HAVE come down, no one saw anything remotely close to them). So, today, this rumor came out that the Mariners and Blue Jays (*wink according to NUMOUROUS sources *wink) were about to have a secret meeting to finalize a deal that would send King Felix and John Jaso to the Jays for five players, including Travis Snider, Kyle Drabek, and JP Arencibia, a couple red flags to those of us with a ¼ of a brain came up:
The Mariners have said they are not trading Felix…..but even if you think that is a smokescreen….
The Jays would acquire the top young pitcher in the game WITHOUT giving up any of its top prospects? “Travis? Anthony? Noah?, hey it’s Alex, NO NEED to pack your thermals and book travel to the Northwest, you are staying here.”
Look, it’s January, it’s ok to dare to dream (and I will outline a few possible moves below) but there is a difference between a dream and a PIPE dream. The chances that rumor are even remotely true are slim and none… and slim just leapt to its demise off of the CN Tower. (more…)
Winter Meetings Thoughts
65 months ago
by Doug Plourd
in News and Notes
Former top JaysProspect, Nestor Molina was recently traded to the White Sox for Sergio Santos
The Blue Jays have acquired Sergio Santos for Nestor Molina: If you read John Sickles’ ranking of the Top 25 Blue Jays prospects, you may be looking at this trade with an incredulous look on your face, as John had Molina rated #2 behind Travis d’Arnaud in the organization. The 22-year-old Molina put up stats in High A/AA this past year that you normally see in MLB The Show when you are playing the computer on the easy setting.
I am not a scout, nor do I purport to be, but from all that I have spoken to or read, these numbers are a bit misleading. The general consensus is that Molina has good, not great stuff, and general command of four pitches. As a Mets follower, that sounds an AWFUL lot like Dillon Gee. The return value is FAR greater than what AA gave up, as in the 28-year-old Santos, you receive a proven commodity for the 9th inning, with a VERY friendly contract over the next three-to-six years. This may not be a “signing Fielder” or “trading for Matt Kemp” type of salvo, but this move is a huge piece in getting the Jays in to the playoff mix in 2012.
What’s next? There have been rumblings that the Jays have made inquiries to the Mets about the availability of Daniel Murphy. Murphy is a second baseman that makes most ground balls not hit directly at him, an adventure. (more…)
140 Characters with…… Justin Nicolino
06 months ago
Justin Nicolino went 5-1 with a 1.03 ERA with the Vancouver Canadians this season
With baseball officially in the off-season, thoughts now turn towards the prospects, and specifically, where they will rank on their teams “Top 30″ list.
Justin Nicolino made a strong case in 2011 to be at the top of the deep starting pitching heap for the Jays. The Orlando native was gracious (and brave) enough to participate in this edition of “140 characters with…..”.
For the first time reader, the “140″ is an interview that has no rules except that question and answers need to be contained to Twitter Direct Messages, so thus, to 140 characters or less.
It was a joy to exchange messages with Nicolino, and we here at @JaysProspects can’t thank him enough for his time.
@DougPlourd: Justin, thanks for taking the time to do a “140 characters” with me. We here at @JaysProspects are big fans. You ready to do this?
@J_Nicolino22: Always! (more…)