It’s a good thing there were llamas on the loose and ambiguously hued dresses to distract Toronto Blue Jays fans from the lousy news about Michael Saunders Thursday.
Here are a few other early observations made far from the madding crowds in Dunedin.
Donaldson as the Anti-Lawrie
It’s a quirk of how we observe and measure trades that we make lasting connections between the players involved in deals. So we’re unlikely in the coming months and years to consider Josh Donaldson’s performance without casting a glance towards how Brett Lawrie is doing. And vice versa.
Donaldson did little to dissuade such connections this past week when he spoke to the assembled media, emphasizing how an unhurried and relaxed approach has been a key to his success. He also made mention of health being a “sixth tool,” which stands in stark contrast to the defiantly reckless approach of his predecessor.
Donaldson is probably not consciously driving this narrative, and I’d even suggest that those who are filing the stories on him aren’t overtly nudging him towards these comparisons. I wouldn’t even say that these unfavourable comparisons should necessarily be taken as criticism of Lawrie’s tenure or approach. But the contrast of the two styles and approaches is stark enough that it will be hard to avoid making the comparisons and attributing success or failure to the distinctions between the two.
Based on this week, you could maybe throw in a “seventh tool” into Donaldson’s makeup, which is his media presence. Where Lawrie would occasionally show an obtuse defiance in response to reporters’ questions, Donaldson’s responses strike a balance between hitting the right notes and seeming genuine. While those winning ways around notebooks and microphones won’t win ballgames, a fan can hope that they reflect the on-field strengths of the player.
The Other Guys
Pitchers Sean Nolin and Kendall Graveman were secondary pieces in the Donaldson trade, in part because there was some notion that the Jays would be able to fill in the spots they vacated through free agent signings or other players moving up to take their places.
But as the off-season has played out, the loss of those two arms looms a bit larger. With no significant bullpen acquisitions and their most notable minor league pitchers still a year or more away, the Jays could certainly have used both as either depth starters or in relief in 2015.
Obviously, one does not acquire an MVP candidate without emptying some value out of the system. Moreover, neither pitcher has much of a major league track record, and Nolin is currently recovering from a sports hernia surgery. But there might be slightly less angst amongst fans if there were two extra emerging arms in Jays camp that looked ready to pitch in Toronto this year.
Outfield Depth
When looking around for alternatives to the injured Michael Saunders in the first half of 2015, Caleb Gindl’s a name worth remembering.
The stocky 5’9” 26 year-old has 178 MLB plate appearances, and has posted decent walk and on-base rates through his short stints with the Milwaukee Brewers and his minor league career. Gindl played 212 of his 948 minor league games in centre field, but given his frame and gait, he may be better suited to a corner.
He’s not much of a power threat (.450 slugging and 101 homers through eight minor league seasons) nor is he a speedster (13 steals in his four triple-A seasons). But Gindl has a nice left-handed swing and a decent approach at the plate, and might be a reasonable option if Chris Dickerson struggles or Andy Dirks’ back isn’t ready to start the season.
Another option might have been to extend the Tigers’ experiment of having Devon Travis play the outfield. Strangely, the outfield might have become a more pressing need than second base. But given the short-term need and Alex Anthopoulos’ strong personal assurance that Travis could throw out his outfielder’s glove, it seems as though that’s beyond a long shot.
Johan Trivia
Catching some of the Johan Santana video that rolled in since the Blue Jays signed him to a speculative minor-league deal, I noticed a familiar figure embracing the lefty in celebration of his June 2012 no-hitter: current Jays catcher Josh Thole.
Santana threw 15 starts with Thole as his regular battery mate in Flushing that season, posting a 4.20 ERA over a total of 83.1 innings. Thole wasn’t Santana’s partner for his last MLB start (to date, fingers crossed), as Kelly Shoppach caught his final five innings of work before injuries sidelined him for two-plus seasons.
