2011 Blue Jays/MLB Thread

[bustaheims]

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=381952

I have my reservations on the accuracy as I don't want to get too excited, but this would be a great first step into showing that ownership is willing to spend money to contend.  I'd love to see Fielder's bat in our lineup.

I'd prefer to see him as DH if he does sign with the Jays, as his defence isn't great, but his bat would certainly be a nice upgrade on Lind, and more than makes up for whatever would be lost in the field.

 

[maplesyrup]

We've discussed this before but Fielder is 27. Cecil's numbers began to drop after '96 when he was 32 so I think it's relatively safe to say we can expect 5 excellent years from Prince. If he'll agree to a 7 year deal, I'm in favour (assuming year 6 is "meh" and year 7 is pretty much a waste.)  Someone might even be able to sell me on an additional year... I drool over how awesome Bautista would be with this kind of protection.

 

[Kin]

We've discussed this before but Fielder is 27. Cecil's numbers began to drop after '96 when he was 32 so I think it's relatively safe to say we can expect 5 excellent years from Prince.

1. Cecil Fielder's numbers began to drop when he was 28.
2. It's not safe to assume that Prince Fielder's career path will exactly mirror his father's either way.

 

[Peter D.]

I just decided to check out Fielder's Wiki page and at the bottom it says that as of today, he signed a 6-year, $154M deal with the Jays. 

Probably someone having some fun, but again,  .

 

[Peter D.]

A minute later it was removed. LOL

 

[maplesyrup]

Cecil Fielder's '94, '95, and 96 seasons were very, very good... Especially his '96 when he was 32.

 

[Kin]

1. Cecil Fielder's numbers began to drop when he was 28.

In case anyone is interested here are Cecil Fielder's WAR's by age:

26: 6.4
27: 3.4
28: 2.7
29: 0.4
30: 1.7
31: 0.0
32: 0.5
33: 0.7
34: -1.0

So he was more or less finished as a player at 28.

Anyways, Prince is a better player than his father but guys with his body type don't age well. It'd have to be a very short term deal, I think, for the Jays to get decent value.

 

[Kin]

Cecil Fielder's '94, '95, and 96 seasons were very, very good... Especially his '96 when he was 32.

WAR's of 1.7, 0.0 and 0.5. Those aren't good by any standards.

 

[maplesyrup]

Cecil Fielder's OPS didn't fall off a cliff until '97. While far from perfect, I think Daddy should be considered a semi-decent way to project son. Prinne might turn out to be better.

 

[bustaheims]

Cecil Fielder's '94, '95, and 96 seasons were very, very good... Especially his '96 when he was 32.

WAR's of 1.7, 0.0 and 0.5. Those aren't good by any standards.

While that's true, his OPS+ in those seasons were 113, 111 and 108 - so, he was still a slightly above average bat through those years, he just really should not have been in the field at all.

 

[maplesyrup]

All that being said, I've set my "big bat" hopes on Josh Willingham. A guy like that might make a bunch more sense for the Jays... Unless of course the brass feel Fielder will draw enough fans.

 

[bustaheims]

All that being said, I've set my "big bat" hopes on Josh Willingham. A guy like that might make a bunch more sense for the Jays... Unless of course the brass feel Fielder will draw enough fans.

That's setting your sites a little low, all things considered. Yes, adding a bat in LF makes sense for the Jays, but, Willingham is this winter's Jayson Werth - a guy that's going to get paid too much for too long for what he actually provides.

 

[maplesyrup]

All that being said, I've set my "big bat" hopes on Josh Willingham. A guy like that might make a bunch more sense for the Jays... Unless of course the brass feel Fielder will draw enough fans.

That's setting your sites a little low, all things considered. Yes, adding a bat in LF makes sense for the Jays, but, Willingham is this winter's Jayson Werth - a guy that's going to get paid too much for too long for what he actually provides.

I sort of had Willingham as a guy who might be a little under the radar... You think he'll get paid huge, eh?

 

[bustaheims]

I sort of had Willingham as a guy who might be a little under the radar... You think he'll get paid huge, eh?

There aren't a lot of good OF bats on the market this winter, and he might be the best of them - or, at least, the most appealing.

 

[maplesyrup]

I sort of had Willingham as a guy who might be a little under the radar... You think he'll get paid huge, eh?

There aren't a lot of good OF bats on the market this winter, and he might be the best of them.

So are you of the go big or go home view when looking for another bat this off-season? Or, is it just that you feel we should be looking for a trade?

 

[maplesyrup]

I'm sure they are just friends but this is interesting...

RickyRo24 Ricky Romero
Leaving Dominican early in the morning with my lil cousin Adrian.. Have to give a big thanks to @davidortiz for an amazing weekend.
10 hours ago

Now he's a guy I'd love on a shorter term deal. He absolutely slaughters the Roger's center.

 

[Andy007]

I'm sure they are just friends but this is interesting...

RickyRo24 Ricky Romero
Leaving Dominican early in the morning with my lil cousin Adrian.. Have to give a big thanks to @davidortiz for an amazing weekend.
10 hours ago

Now he's a guy I'd love on a shorter term deal. He absolutely slaughters the Roger's center.

I think taking into account his age, the shape he's in and that there is now going to be a test for HGH, he might be a risky sign.

God I hope Lind remembers how to hit.

 

[bustaheims]

So are you of the go big or go home view when looking for another bat this off-season? Or, is it just that you feel we should be looking for a trade?

I'm more of a fan of the Jays being smart with their money, and I don't think there will be a good opportunity for the with Willingham - nor do I think LF is a pressing need, with Snider and Thames. I see some wisdom in signing Fielder - he represents a significant need (upgrade at 1B/DH), he's younger (27 compared to 32 for Willingham) and he's also a bigger draw/more marketable. That being said, yeah, if I had a choice, I'd rather go for a trade and try really hard to pry Votto away from the Reds. At the end of the day, though, what the Jays need to do is focus their efforts.dollars on their real needs, and, right now, that means improving the bullpen, the middle/backend of the rotation and finding a 2B. Everything else, right now, is a luxury, really.

 

[Kin]

While that's true, his OPS+ in those seasons were 113, 111 and 108 - so, he was still a slightly above average bat through those years, he just really should not have been in the field at all.

But it's not like being a DH would have helped his oWAR and his oWAR in those three years were 1.3(he grades out as an ok fielder that year), 0.7 and 0.6. The guy wasn't hitting well enough to be taking up at-bats regardless of position.

 

[maplesyrup]

So are you of the go big or go home view when looking for another bat this off-season? Or, is it just that you feel we should be looking for a trade?

I'm more of a fan of the Jays being smart with their money, and I don't think there will be a good opportunity for the with Willingham - nor do I think LF is a pressing need, with Snider and Thames. I see some wisdom in signing Fielder - he represents a significant need (upgrade at 1B/DH), he's younger (27 compared to 32 for Willingham) and he's also a bigger draw/more marketable. That being said, yeah, if I had a choice, I'd rather go for a trade and try really hard to pry Votto away from the Reds. At the end of the day, though, what the Jays need to do is focus their efforts.dollars on their real needs, and, right now, that means improving the bullpen, the middle/backend of the rotation and finding a 2B. Everything else, right now, is a luxury, really.

Can't say I disagree with anything there really.