The big news in Toronto continues to be the incredible Jose Bautista, who launched his 51st and 52nd homers of the season tonight against Baltimore. J-Bau aside, here are some other items from MLB's Canadian representative…
- Bob Melvin and Eric Wedge both interviewed for the manager's position this past week, reports Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. Jays bench coach Nick Leyva is also scheduled for an upcoming interview. Don Baylor and Juan Samuel have both expressed interest in the Toronto job after being asked by outgoing manager Cito Gaston.
- Fred Lewis tells MLB.com's Jordan Bastian that he considers himself "an everyday position player" and doesn't know if he'll be back in Toronto in 2011. Given the Jays' tentative 2011 starting outfield of Bautista, Vernon Wells and Travis Snider, it's hard to see Lewis taking one of those players' spots, but he could still return in a bench role.
- Shi Davidi of the Canadian Press reports that the Blue Jays are putting a renewed emphasis on Latin American scouting and development.
“J-Bau”? ….Really?
Better than Joey Bats LOL.
No. That is an absolute lie. Joey Bats is the greatest nickname of all-time. It cannot be conquered.
I dunno, i’ve always liked E5
I was about to say the exact same thing.
Im glad it’s gaining steam
Technically, the Jays could use Bautista at 3rd next year (assuming Encarnacion gets DFA’d) and then they could send out a Lewis/Wells/Snider outfield, but that isn’t likely. I think Lewis makes a very good fourth outfielder, but given his defensive limitations that pretty much keep him as a left fielder, his bat just isn’t strong enough to justify a starting role on a team that has any desire of competing. Now, that’s not to say the Jays will position themselves to compete in 2011, but they’ll likely continue looking for the pieces that take them to contention, and Lewis likely isn’t one of them.
I’m sure the Jays will re-sign him for next year and I imagine that they’ll plan to use him as a fourth outfielder, but he’s a guy who definitely could be used in an off-season trade also.
I hate Lewis attitude and the way he butchers the field. Pretty sure Lewis-Wells-Snider outfield would be the worst defensive outfield in the league.
I would just let Lewis go and re-sign Wise. He’s been fairly good off the bench, plays all outfield and provides good defense and speed.
I really think Jays should try to target a legit leadoff type outfielder. Someone that can play CF and maybe we can then move Wells to right which I think would help his defense.
They should just bite the bullet and sign Crawford. They’re going to spend that kind of money sooner or later. Better to spend it on a guy who’s worth it, instead of a lesser guy whose boat was lifted by the rising tide.
Crawford doesn’t work for one reason..he doesn’t like to lead off. So With an outfield of Crawford, Wells, Snider.. infield 1b, hill, esco, jbau…. so no lead off batter on the field.
I think they should target brian roberts
Yunel Escobar would be a better lead-off hitter than Crawford anyways, he generally gets on base far better, so to me that it isn’t a concern.
Escobar is the perfect #2 batter.
Nick Leyva? Has he managed any team at the big-league level since getting fired from the Phillies years ago?
Nick Leyva would be an absolutely horrible choice. He’ll be golfing with Cito next year, as far away from the team as possible.
He hasn’t as far as I’m aware. I say he gets the interview strictly because he’s already in house. No way is he the man they pick imho.
“the Blue Jays are putting a renewed emphasis on Latin American scouting and development.”
o boy…cant wait for the backlash to start on this one…
What? I don’t understand?
i have to listen to fellow met fans gripe about how the mets have too many latinos…
Ah. Well personally I don’t care if they are latinos or whatever. If they can help the team win, by all means get them and back in the glory days, there did used to be some pretty good latinos which may be why they want more latinos and it helps you already got a few like Bautista, Molina, Escobar and E5.
wish my met fans were more like u…
at the of 2005 – met fans complained about the team becoming more latin…
early 2006 – met fans complained about the team becoming more latin…
mid 2006 – met fans loved them and they could’ve been convicted rapists from Mars
end of 2006 – the honeymoon was over
from 2007-present – met fans complain about anything latin at the stadium…this includes the walk-up music…los mets jerseys..hispanic heritage night….
delgado has the best power/rbi numbers of any met EVER…
beltran has the best power/rbi numbers of any met CF EVER…
reyes has the best power/rbi/steals/runs of any met SS EVER….
and yet strangely, all 3 are roasted by the press in the media ….
(we can thank adam rubin/matt cerrone for that)
We loved Delgado when he was with the Blue Jays. Heck, we even loved George Bell before his attitude became unbearable. I don’t get this Mets attitude. Is it the fans or the media trying to sell papers?
It’ a SMALL group of very frustrated Mets fans who have access to Blogs such as this and talk radio, who complain about too many latinos. I go to the games and see white Mets fans, young and old wearing Reyes,Pagan Santana, even K-Rod ( until recently) jerseys. And as Just_MLB so correctly stated, the complaints started when the Mets feel on hard times. If they start winning again, those very same fans won’t care about the ethnic make-up of the team.
tony fernandez, alfredo griffin, manny lee, delgado, bell and what was that guy’s name, the one that played some pretty decent second-base for the blue jays? oh, yeah – roberto alomar.
Jose Bautista = Brady Anderson
Crawford is leaving Tampa for one reason and one reason only: Because he’ll get more money elsewhere. The turf has nothing to do with it.
You can’t just say to the press “I’m signing with whatever team offers me the most guaranteed money”, Mike Hampton signed with Colorado for the school system. I’m sure the turf is part of Crawford’s decision, but he’d play on concrete for enough money, as would anyone else.