Just when you thought Morin could not become any more of the workhorse for this team, he now comes into the 2017 season as the only catcher on the roster. In years past, this might not be a problem with the team playing strictly single games a few times a week. Now that the Jays have entered the Boys of Summer League, that type of schedule is no longer the case.
Morin finished last season with a .256 batting average and .333 on base percentage. His five doubles were tied for the team lead with Fauvell. His name was always smacked right in the middle of the lineup every single night, whether it was in the four, five, or six spot.
His role in 2017 will obviously be to be behind the plate as often as possible, but catching a doubleheader in the summer heat is not an ideal situation for anyone. With the help of Morin, the Jays can develop a second reliable catcher on the roster, whether it is Fauvell or Wanderlingh or a third party that has not surfaced just yet.
The preferred scenario for Morin is to have his bat in the lineup each and every game. The scenario is to have him behind the plate for as many innings possible. Finally, that scenario will give him a breather to DH or EH for game two or whenever realistic. The problem with a breather is that Morin is also the second string first baseman behind Prinzivalli as of today, making it very unclear at the moment where rest is going to be realistic for the third year Blue Jay.
The positive in all of this is Morin's work ethic and passion to play every day. He does not want to ever be taken out of the lineup for rest. Even though his body might tell him otherwise, he wants to help this ball club win games every night. He wants to be out there every inning of every game.
The Blue Jays have to deal with this situation right away as they begin their season with a Memorial Day tournament, consisting of playing four games in two days. Head Coach, Joe Wanderlingh, will be looking to give his catcher some kind of schedule to get accustomed to, and communication will be the key to success out of this situation.
Morin is needed for this team to operate, making him the most valuable player heading into the 2017 season.
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
#23 Jason Moser
After a bit of a slow start to the 2016 campaign, Jason Moser found his rhythm and never looked back. His efficiency and ball control allows him to go deep into games, as he very rarely needs to be removed from the game due to a high pitch count.
He finished the season 3-3 with a 1.92 ERA, striking out thirty-five in 47.1 innings pitched. His thirty-five strikeouts were tied for second most on the team, and his 47.1 innings pitched were third highest on the Jays.
Moser became a part of a three-headed monster of a starting rotation with teammates, Fauvell and McArdle, as he delivered time and time again for his club when they needed him most.
In nine starts and ten appearances on the mound, Moser never hit a single batter, and only allowed thirteen earned runs. Moser did not get the greatest help behind him when he pitched, as his seven unearned runs charged to him were tied with Dobkowski for most on the team.
When asked to hit, Jason took his hacks as he managed to drive in a couple of runs in fifteen plate appearances, and managed to get on base a couple of times as well.
Similar to hitting, Moser held his own when asked to play right field, as he did not record a single error in his eighteen total chances between the mound and the outfield.
One of nine players returning from a year ago, and one of eight players here since the beginning, Moser will play a big role in 2017, as he is a great contributor to this dominant Jays pitching staff. Whether in a starting role or a bullpen role, Jason will be given plenty of opportunity to leave his mark on the upcoming season.
He finished the season 3-3 with a 1.92 ERA, striking out thirty-five in 47.1 innings pitched. His thirty-five strikeouts were tied for second most on the team, and his 47.1 innings pitched were third highest on the Jays.
Moser became a part of a three-headed monster of a starting rotation with teammates, Fauvell and McArdle, as he delivered time and time again for his club when they needed him most.
In nine starts and ten appearances on the mound, Moser never hit a single batter, and only allowed thirteen earned runs. Moser did not get the greatest help behind him when he pitched, as his seven unearned runs charged to him were tied with Dobkowski for most on the team.
When asked to hit, Jason took his hacks as he managed to drive in a couple of runs in fifteen plate appearances, and managed to get on base a couple of times as well.
Similar to hitting, Moser held his own when asked to play right field, as he did not record a single error in his eighteen total chances between the mound and the outfield.
One of nine players returning from a year ago, and one of eight players here since the beginning, Moser will play a big role in 2017, as he is a great contributor to this dominant Jays pitching staff. Whether in a starting role or a bullpen role, Jason will be given plenty of opportunity to leave his mark on the upcoming season.
#21 John Schmidt
John Schmidt had another stellar defensive season, as he has become the clear cut leader of the outfield. Schmidt had just ONE error in fifty-three total chances. Now what you might not know is the impact John Schmidt made in the infield once Wanderlingh went down with injury.
Schmidt was thrown into the fire for the playoff push and the postseason, responsible for playing a bulk of the final innings for the Jays in 2016 at shortstop and third base. Being an everyday center fielder for his club, Schmidt saw time every now and then at second base. However, he never saw the other side of the infield. His contribution to this team defensively plays a huge role in the two championships that have been won.
#21 proved he could do it all as he even managed to pick up a win on the mound, throwing two scoreless innings in his first start in a Blue Jays uniform.
Offensively, 2015 was an MVP type season for Schmidt. In 2016, he worked his way in and out of slumps, finishing the season with an even .200 batting average and .301 on base percentage. His ability to get on base with his speed still earned him second place on the team in runs scored with twenty-two.
Schmidt swiped eight bases in 2016, as his speed and his ability to put the ball in play consistently (only ten strikeouts in one-hundred and seven plate appearances) kept his name in the lineup each and every night.
Expect another solid year in 2017, both defensively and getting on base offensively, as the most interesting thing to watch early on in the summer with Schmidt is where his name will be in the lineup.
Schmidt was thrown into the fire for the playoff push and the postseason, responsible for playing a bulk of the final innings for the Jays in 2016 at shortstop and third base. Being an everyday center fielder for his club, Schmidt saw time every now and then at second base. However, he never saw the other side of the infield. His contribution to this team defensively plays a huge role in the two championships that have been won.
#21 proved he could do it all as he even managed to pick up a win on the mound, throwing two scoreless innings in his first start in a Blue Jays uniform.
Offensively, 2015 was an MVP type season for Schmidt. In 2016, he worked his way in and out of slumps, finishing the season with an even .200 batting average and .301 on base percentage. His ability to get on base with his speed still earned him second place on the team in runs scored with twenty-two.
Schmidt swiped eight bases in 2016, as his speed and his ability to put the ball in play consistently (only ten strikeouts in one-hundred and seven plate appearances) kept his name in the lineup each and every night.
Expect another solid year in 2017, both defensively and getting on base offensively, as the most interesting thing to watch early on in the summer with Schmidt is where his name will be in the lineup.
Thursday, April 27, 2017
#5 Sam Dobkowski
Two postseason wins on the mound in three games says it all for Sam Dobkowski. He proved himself time and time again over the course of the regular season that he deserved to have the ball in his hands when it mattered most. Sure enough, he did.
The ten inning semi-final marathon ended shortly after Dobbs put up a big zero in the top half of the inning. The championship game was suspended due to rain in the fourth inning with the Jays down 2-1. The postponed game gave Dobbs his opportunity to make a difference. He took that opportunity and never looked back. Four scoreless innings later, and the Jays were able to mount a comeback and win the game for Dobkowski. The two postseason wins were more than enough to give Dobbs the Playoff MVP for the Jays.
Offensively, Dobkowski saw his name everywhere in the lineup from the two hole to the seven hole. He batted .202 for the year with a .290 on base percentage. He drove in twelve runs, while scoring thirteen, and stole three bases in the process. Dobbs made all of his hits count, as he hit .324 with runners in scoring position.
Defensively, Dobbs is a part of the stellar infield that carries the defense and backs up the outstanding pitching staff. Sam only had six errors in sixty-two attempts, good for a .946 fielding percentage.
Dobkowski pitched 34 innings in 2016, going 5-2 with a 3.09 ERA and twenty-seven strikeouts. Dobbs only walked nine batters all season, but managed to hit eight as well. Not sure which stat is more impressive there.
Expect #5 to be in his natural position at second base to start the season, and earning his fair share of innings on the mound. As far as the lineup is concerned, his name will be there, but spring training will determine where.
The ten inning semi-final marathon ended shortly after Dobbs put up a big zero in the top half of the inning. The championship game was suspended due to rain in the fourth inning with the Jays down 2-1. The postponed game gave Dobbs his opportunity to make a difference. He took that opportunity and never looked back. Four scoreless innings later, and the Jays were able to mount a comeback and win the game for Dobkowski. The two postseason wins were more than enough to give Dobbs the Playoff MVP for the Jays.
Offensively, Dobkowski saw his name everywhere in the lineup from the two hole to the seven hole. He batted .202 for the year with a .290 on base percentage. He drove in twelve runs, while scoring thirteen, and stole three bases in the process. Dobbs made all of his hits count, as he hit .324 with runners in scoring position.
Defensively, Dobbs is a part of the stellar infield that carries the defense and backs up the outstanding pitching staff. Sam only had six errors in sixty-two attempts, good for a .946 fielding percentage.
Dobkowski pitched 34 innings in 2016, going 5-2 with a 3.09 ERA and twenty-seven strikeouts. Dobbs only walked nine batters all season, but managed to hit eight as well. Not sure which stat is more impressive there.
Expect #5 to be in his natural position at second base to start the season, and earning his fair share of innings on the mound. As far as the lineup is concerned, his name will be there, but spring training will determine where.
#12 Steven Krauth
What a name Krauth made for himself with his new club in 2016. In his first year with the Blue Jays, Steven led the team in batting average (.371), RBIs (23), and hit the first Blue Jays home run in the first round of the playoffs, a bomb to left that has not landed yet.
He finished second in stolen bases (10), and second in on base percentage (.455). The stat that jumps off the score sheet the most is his ridiculous .405 batting average with runners in scoring position. The numbers can go on all day, but to keep it brief, it was a season to remember for #12.
In the postseason, his .417 batting average was good for second best on the team, and he drove in five of the team's fifteen playoff runs.
Defensively, Krauth saw the majority of his time in right field, once in awhile moving over to center field. His two errors were among the fewest on the team, and he added an outfield assist to his resume over the course of his thirty-one games played.
Going into year two, Steven will certainly be an everyday starter, most likely in right field, and you can bet his name will be slotted in the three or four spot next month for the Memorial Day tournament.
Steven really set the bar high for himself in year one, and the lineup will now be built around his name in the middle of the lineup to drive in the table setters at the top of the lineup. The pure strength of Krauth is on another level, and his bat will be a huge part of the team's success in 2017.
#31 Alec Fauvell
It was quite the breakout season for Fauvell in 2016 as he finished second on the team with a .330 batting average, after struggling in 2015 with a .183 average. He finished second on the team in RBIs with 19, tied for first on the team in doubles with five, and led the team in plate appearances with 113.
Alec saw his name in the lead-off spot for awhile, and in the cleanup spot for awhile, displaying his ability to get on base, and drive in runs. His .442 on base percentage was good for third best on the ball club, and his .385 slugging percentage was second best on the team.
The pitching side of Alec's game was even more impressive, as he became the workhorse for the Jays as he led the team in innings pitched with 51. His record was 4-3 with a 1.37 ERA and a team high sixty-six strikeouts. To put that in perspective, McArdle and Moser combined for seventy strikeouts in 2016.
The greatest quality of Fauvell is his versatility. He has played every position for the Blue Jays over the course of his two year career, and will certainly be moved around a lot again in 2017. Alec is expected to get some work in during practice time, along with Wanderlingh, at the catcher position to see who will be the backup for Morin come opening day.
Fauvell is one of the leaders of this team, and has the passion and skill set to help lead this team to their third straight championship trophy. After an incredible bounce back year in 2016, expectations are incredibly high for Fauvell to repeat his success once the 2017 season rolls around.
Alec saw his name in the lead-off spot for awhile, and in the cleanup spot for awhile, displaying his ability to get on base, and drive in runs. His .442 on base percentage was good for third best on the ball club, and his .385 slugging percentage was second best on the team.
The pitching side of Alec's game was even more impressive, as he became the workhorse for the Jays as he led the team in innings pitched with 51. His record was 4-3 with a 1.37 ERA and a team high sixty-six strikeouts. To put that in perspective, McArdle and Moser combined for seventy strikeouts in 2016.
The greatest quality of Fauvell is his versatility. He has played every position for the Blue Jays over the course of his two year career, and will certainly be moved around a lot again in 2017. Alec is expected to get some work in during practice time, along with Wanderlingh, at the catcher position to see who will be the backup for Morin come opening day.
Fauvell is one of the leaders of this team, and has the passion and skill set to help lead this team to their third straight championship trophy. After an incredible bounce back year in 2016, expectations are incredibly high for Fauvell to repeat his success once the 2017 season rolls around.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
#77 Nick Wanderlingh
There have been some allegations made about Wanderlingh receiving the MVP award in 2016 being a sign of favoritism and possibly even collusion due to the head coach being his big brother. Even though Wanderlingh missed the postseason due to a hip injury, his regular season stats explain why he was easily the team's most valuable player.
Wanderlingh played 26 of the team's 32 games in 2016. In those 26 games, Nick had exactly one hundred plate appearances. In those one hundred plate appearances, he reached base exactly FIFTY times. His .500 on base percentage obviously led the team, and his .315 batting average was good for third best on the team.
He led the team in runs scored (25), walks (23), fewest strikeouts among everyday starters (7), stolen bases (12), and finished third in batting average with runners in scoring position (.353).
The team's offense started with Wanderlingh at the top of the lineup, and went as far as he took them each night. When he got on base, half the time he came home to score.
With all that being said, it is worth mentioning the fact that the rest of the players were able to step up in Wanderlingh's absence in the postseason, and win three games against the top teams in the league. That says a lot about the fight and desire to win in this team.
Nick will begin 2017 as the everyday shortstop, although he might see some time behind the dish if the team is unable to figure out their catching problem. Right now, Morin is the only catcher on the roster, and with the team scheduled to play in about ten doubleheaders this season, a second reliable catcher is needed, so we will have to wait and see how much time Wanderlingh sees behind the plate.
Wanderlingh was a huge part in recruiting this offseason as well, as he brought in two of the new players for the upcoming season. On the field, expect Nick at the top of the lineup every night, doing what he does best... getting on base, being a pain for opposing pitchers, and often times his head coach as well. Expect another MVP type season for #77.
#46 Chris Prinzivalli
Chris Prinzivalli does not get the credit or recognition he deserves. He goes out there every game like it's his last. He is asked to play practically every inning of every game at first base. When he takes an inning off, usually due to an injury or ailment, he is not happy. He wants to be out there helping his team in any and every way possible.
Prinzivalli's 2016 campaign was another solid one to say the least. He finished the year with a .256 batting average and .356 on base percentage. More importantly, he was an extremely tough out in the postseason, posting a ridiculous .583 on base percentage in the three playoff games.
Prinzivalli has been constantly moved around in the lineup over the last two years, seeing his name in the three hole, all the way down to the seven, and everywhere in between. However, his game has remained impressively consistent, offensively and defensively.
The .974 fielding percentage that Prinzivalli put up was good for fourth best on the team, second best among everyday players. His fellow infielders are so comfortable with him at first base, they almost take him for granted. Those that have followed the Jays from the beginning can only look back and laugh at the fact that Prinzivalli started his career with the team in center field.
Expectations are even higher this year for Prinzivalli, as you can expect him starting at first base every game for the third straight year. He is the cornerstone to the stellar infield and there is no competition at the position. Prinzivalli is the everyday first baseman, despite his desire to be the lefty specialist out of the bullpen. Expect big things from #46 in 2017, as he tries to help lead the team to a third straight championship in the team's final year.
#30 Bryan McArdle
Bryan McArdle certainly lived up to his high expectations in 2016, finishing the year with a 5-1 record and a 1.03 ERA in 47.2 innings pitched. The 47.2 innings pitched finished second on the team, behind only Alec Fauvell.
McArdle ended his 2016 campaign with arguably his greatest performance in a Blue Jays uniform in the semi-finals against the Smithtown Bulls. He pitched nine innings, giving up two runs on 106 pitches thrown. He unfortunately would end up with the no-decision, as he left the game with the score knotted up at two apiece. However, his performance was the reason the Blue Jays were able to advance to their second straight championship game.
As far as his offense goes, McArdle made the most of his 18 plate appearances, finishing with a .235 batting average and a .278 on base percentage. He also managed to swipe a bag in the process. Defensively, McArdle committed two errors, after being one of three players to go without an error in 2015.
McArdle will be available in 2017 for the opening Memorial Day tournament, but will then be placed on the disabled list with a lower body injury. He is expected to miss all of June, and possibly part of July as well. The Blue Jays will have to look elsewhere to fill the shoes of Bryan McArdle, whether it is with Sam Dobkowski picking up his innings, or perhaps one of the new arms that have joined the team for this upcoming season like Victor Corsaro or Mike McKee.
There is no doubt that McArdle will pitch like his usual self in the opening tournament next month, as well as when he returns for the team's playoff push.
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