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	<title>Toronto &#187; Arnold Leon</title>
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		<title>Arnold Leon Is on His Way out of the Blue Jays Organization</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/05/17/arnold-leon-is-on-his-way-out-of-the-blue-jays-organization/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/05/17/arnold-leon-is-on-his-way-out-of-the-blue-jays-organization/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 May 2016 04:29:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Gideon Turk]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arnold Leon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto Blue Jays]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=2764</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Buffalo Bisons relief pitcher Arnold Leon is on his way out of the Blue Jays organization. According to reports surfacing online Monday evening, he is said to be going to the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization. Heard This: Samsung is looking to sign pitcher Arnold Leon (currently on Buffalo&#39;s temporary inactive list) &#8212; [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Buffalo Bisons relief pitcher Arnold Leon is on his way out of the Blue Jays organization. According to reports surfacing online Monday evening, he is said to be going to the Samsung Lions of the Korean Baseball Organization.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Heard This:  Samsung is looking to sign pitcher Arnold Leon (currently on Buffalo&#39;s temporary inactive list)</p>
<p>&mdash; Dan (@MyKBO) <a href="https://twitter.com/MyKBO/status/732401767653117952">May 17, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>That was then <a href="https://twitter.com/sung_minkim/status/732419430853017600" target="_blank">confirmed by writer/photographer Sung Min Kim</a>, who added that &#8220;a likely buyout procedure is in place in order to bring [Leon] to Samsung&#8221;.</p>
<p>The 27-year-old&#8217;s tenure with Toronto has been a short one. The club purchased him from the Oakland Athletics in January of this year, and after a few things went his way in Spring Training, he managed to crack the opening day roster in the bullpen. However, Leon found his way into just two games with the Blue Jays before he was designated for assignment for not getting the job done. He allowed a run in both of his appearances with the big league club, and even managed a big blown save in that short period as well.</p>
<p>Leon had a 2.25 ERA for the Bisons, with 16 strikeouts and only two walks in 12 innings. He was flipping back and forth between the bullpen and rotation, making one long relief appearance and starting two games.</p>
<p>Leon features a low 90&#8217;s fastball with a bunch of below average secondary pitches in his arsenal with the curve, slider, and changeup.</p>
<p>The exact details of this move are not yet clear, but these things usually work by the KBO team giving some cash to the MLB team for the rights to the player. More on this as it develops.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>One At-Bat: Arnold Leon vs. Steven Souza</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/04/13/one-at-bat-arnold-leon-vs-steven-souza/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/04/13/one-at-bat-arnold-leon-vs-steven-souza/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2016 13:47:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Greg Wisniewski]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[One At-Bat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arnold Leon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Gibbons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steven Souza]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=1310</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello! Welcome to the inaugural One At-Bat of the 2016 season. I like to imagine that this is a regular feature where I religiously hunt down the best confrontation between a Blue Jay and an opponent, and present it a pitch by pitch format. Sometimes looking for those head-to-head matchups makes me giddy. Other times [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hello! Welcome to the inaugural One At-Bat of the 2016 season. I like to imagine that this is a regular feature where I religiously hunt down the best confrontation between a Blue Jay and an opponent, and present it a pitch by pitch format. Sometimes looking for those head-to-head matchups makes me giddy. Other times it just makes me sad. This week, the Blue Jays had a bit of a rough stretch of starting strong before throwing the whole game in the dumpster by the late innings. Unfortunately, I have to admit that&#8217;s all I could really think about when selecting One At-Bat for the week.</p>
<p>The plate appearance in question comes from the bottom of the eighth inning in the game on April 6th against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Blue Jays are leading 3-2, and Gavin Floyd has just been replaced by Arnold Leon. There are runners on first and third, and Steven Souza is at the plate.</p>
<h3>The Setup:</h3>
<p>Sometimes a game is about the right guy at the right time, and other times, it&#8217;s about the wrong guy at the wrong time. I don&#8217;t think this was either one of those. That&#8217;s because even though he started very hot against Toronto, I don&#8217;t think this is about Steven Souza being &#8216;the right guy.&#8217; It is a bullpen worn out from three close and late games, and still needing five outs. John Gibbons is pushing whatever buttons he still had to try and get a guy, any guy, who can get him to the end of the game. He pushed the Gavin Floyd button to start the seventh, and he has received 4 outs and two hits for his trouble. Both hits were singles, and neither of the frozen rope variety, but Gibbons is going with his gut. Perhaps feeling that the Rays have Floyd figured out, he presses the big bullpen phone key marked &#8216;Arnold Leon.&#8217;</p>
<p>Leon has but 26.2 innings under his belt in the major leagues. He is still rookie eligible, and the innings he logged with Oakland were somewhat below league average. The Blue Jays saw something they liked (and Bo Schultz and his cannon arm are injured), so he&#8217;s in the game with the go ahead run at the plate. Stephen Souza, on the other hand, is only 460-ish plate appearances into his big league career at this point, playing in his sophomore season for the Rays. His time in the minors was characterized by a good batting eye and extra-base power. Then in his first year in the majors Souza showed that he could still take a walk &#8211; his 10.8 percent is above league average &#8211; but his strikeout tendencies jumped off the chart; 33.8 percent of his PAs ended in a K. We can attempt to discern what John Gibbons had in mind by removing the veteran Floyd for the rookie Leon, but we&#8217;ll never really know. A strikeout or double play grounded probably crossed his mind.</p>
<h3>The Sequence:</h3>
<p>So, the most important pitch in baseball, we are often told by our local announcing crew in Toronto, is strike one. Russell Martin sets a target low and away, trusting that Leon can hit the corner, or induce a swing and miss with the first pitch. Souza might be a little amped up. He delivers a 91mph fastball.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"> <a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza1.gif"><img class=" size-full wp-image-1381 aligncenter" src="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza1.gif" alt="LeonSouza1" width="475" height="263" /></a></p>
<p>And misses by two feet horizontally and maybe another foot vertically, making Souza jump back from the pitch. Ball one.</p>
<p>Pitch two, with the target set in the same area, is a cutter. The pitch is delivered, this time, at 86mph, but starts low and away and continues to cut its way out of the zone.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"> <a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza2.gif"><img class=" size-full wp-image-1382 aligncenter" src="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza2.gif" alt="LeonSouza2" width="475" height="257" /></a></p>
<p>Ball two.</p>
<p>The third pitch is another cutter, and is even slower as Leon tries to find his delivery. At 84.5 mph, it doesn&#8217;t have much happening at all. It misses low, and now the count is 3-0.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza3.gif"><img class=" size-full wp-image-1383 aligncenter" src="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza3.gif" alt="LeonSouza3" width="475" height="259" /></a></p>
<p>From the 0-0 point in an average at bat, we know Steven Souza has a career 33.5 percent strikeout rate. With each ball delivered, Leon puts himself into a position less likely to achieve a strikeout. First 28.7 percent, then 22.2 then 21 percent. Souza&#8217;s OBP when a plate appearance passes through 3-0 is .722. Leon is in a deep hole, but there isn&#8217;t anywhere to hide.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><a href="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza4.gif"><img class=" size-full wp-image-1384 aligncenter" src="http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2016/04/LeonSouza4.gif" alt="LeonSouza4" width="475" height="262" /></a></p>
<p>Pitch four is another cutter. Looking at his <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.cgi?id=souzast01&amp;year=Career&amp;t=b" target="_blank">Baseball Reference Splits </a>Souza has faced a 3-0 count 16  times in his MLB career. Of those 16, he has ended six of those plate appearances on the next pitch. Six were walks, and one was an out. Pretty much any pitch here is a safe bet. Leon nuscles up and throws an 87 mph cutter and finally gets one in the zone. Strike one! Look at that, he did eventually throw the most important pitch in baseball. All those other pitches he threw first didn&#8217;t really make it that effective, sadly. The ball is centre cut and just above the belt, but as we&#8217;ve already established, Souza would rather look for the walk than swing 3-0.</p>
<h3>The Payoff:</h3>
<p>The final pitch of the plate appearance. According to Brooks Baseball, Arnold Leon, in his limited time in the Major Leagues, has thrown Four Seam Fastballs, Sinkers, Sliders, Curveballs, Changeups, and Cutters. Given all of those options, and having thrown three cutters in a row, none of them with any particular success, he throws&#8230;another cutter. At a mind numbing 84mph. Having had his choice of several different cutters, at varying speeds and locations, Souza has managed to find one that meets all of his criteria. His first swing of the at-bat is a huge one, with arms confidently and fully extended.</p>
<p style="text-align: center"> <a href="http://www.bluejaysplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/LeonSouza5.gif"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.bluejaysplus.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/LeonSouza5.gif" alt="" width="475" height="264" /></a></p>
<p>Boom. Bottom third, middle third, and the Rays outfielder has his fourth hit of the day, and absolute bomb that puts the Rays out front permanently.</p>
<p>What&#8217;s the lesson here? Well, there are a few things to think about. One is that falling behind in the count is a bad idea, and this at-bat could be in a textbook about why that&#8217;s the case. Another is that you can change a free swinging hacker into a patient and effective offensive weapon if you execute poorly enough. Something else to consider is that tripling up on a pitch like Brett Cecil&#8217;s power curve can be devastating to a hitter, but the Leon cutter is not that kind of dynamite offering, so you should really avoid it. The last thing isn&#8217;t about pitches at all. Its about pitchers, and that pushing bullpen buttons for the sake of doing &#8216;something&#8217; is generally a bad idea. Managers rarely win games, but they do lose a few, and John Gibbons lost this one, in just one at-bat.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>This Week in Blue Jays: A Tumultuous First Week for Toronto</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/04/10/twibj-tumultuous-week-toronto-blue-jays/</link>
		<comments>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/04/10/twibj-tumultuous-week-toronto-blue-jays/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Apr 2016 14:57:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jenn Smith]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[This Week in Blue Jays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arnold Leon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Ortiz edwin encarnacion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Price blue jays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gibby]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Gibbons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jose Bautista]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Josh Donaldson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[passed ball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[r.a. dickey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Russell Martin]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=1272</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The beginning of a new baseball season always brings with it a sense of renewed hope &#8211; the feeling that anything and everything is possible. When the Toronto Blue Jays took the field on Opening Day last Sunday, many fans felt more than just hope – they welcomed the 2016 season with the belief that [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The beginning of a new baseball season always brings with it a sense of renewed hope &#8211; the feeling that anything and everything is possible. When the Toronto Blue Jays took the field on Opening Day last Sunday, many fans felt more than just hope – they welcomed the 2016 season with the <em>belief</em> that it would finally be Toronto’s year. Two wins to start the season against division rivals in a stadium that has played like the Jays’ own personal house of horrors, and it seemed as though ghosts of the past had finally been laid to rest. The good time rolled to a sudden stop on Tuesday, however, when the Jays lost the first of four straight in the most dreadful manner – a blown lead by the bullpen followed by the first test of a new slide rule that cost the Jays the tying run in the ninth inning.</p>
<p>What has followed since has been greatly disappointing, with a need to remind oneself that these six games mean little in the context of 162. As Jose Bautista <a href="http://m.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article/171365266/jose-bautista-not-worried-hits-home-runs%20" target="_blank">stated</a>: “It’s a long season. We’re in the first week. These guys are extremely capable of doing their job.” While it would be absurd to hit the panic button after just six games, it is clear that this is not the way the Jays would have liked to start this season. The four straight losses certainly have taken some of the shine off, but we all saw last year how quickly this team can turn it around. To do so, they’re going to have to make some adjustments. Here are my takeaways from the first week of the Jays’ 2016 season.</p>
<h3><strong>The Good</strong></h3>
<p>By far the most positive aspect of the first six games was the performance of Aaron Sanchez on Tuesday against the Rays. Despite little doubt that he had earned a spot in the starting rotation out of spring training, there was still trepidation on the part of some fans as to whether or not Sanchez possessed enough of an arsenal to be relied upon as a starter. Those lingering questions were answered when Sanchez dominated the Tampa Bay Rays, demonstrating command of his fastball while baffling batters with his curve and changeup. And although one game is the smallest possible sample size for a starting pitcher, <a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-aaron-sanchez-leaving-no-doubt-belongs/" target="_blank">Shi Davidi writes</a> that there is no doubt as to where Sanchez belongs because “he’s so much different than that guy [who started games last season], physically, mentally, and moving further and further away from his bubble-wrap buildup in the minor-leagues by the day.”</p>
<p>Much can be attributed to Sanchez’s determination to make the rotation this year, working hard during the offseason to build muscle to help with his control. But, as <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2016/04/06/jays-pitcher-aaron-sanchez-uses-full-arsenal-in-first-start" target="_blank">Ken Fidlin points out</a>, one cannot overlook the fact that “when you put all that talent in the hands of a master craftsman like Martin behind the plate, the choreography can be important as the talent on the hill itself.” Martin ensured that Sanchez used all his pitches, which is key to both developing those offerings and establishing confidence. And, though Sanchez will likely be moved to the bullpen at some point in order to manage his innings, any gains he makes as a starter will pay dividends for both him and the Jays in the years to come.</p>
<h3><strong>The Bad </strong></h3>
<p>There was a lot of positivity heading into the season with regards to what was considered the Jays’ most significant weakness last year: the bullpen. The trade for Drew Storen complimented Roberto Osuna and Brett Cecil, and made this seem like one of the better back ends. Simultaneously, the acquisitions of Gavin Floyd and Jesse Chavez meant that the Jays would finally have middle-relief depth. Yet, it was the bullpen that squandered three of the four games lost by the Jays.</p>
<p>First, in <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/blue-jays-brett-cecil-misses-breaking-all-time-record/" target="_blank">his bid to set a new record</a> for the most consecutive appearances by a relief pitcher without giving up an earned run, Brett Cecil surrendered a decisive two-run home run to Logan Forsythe in a 3-2 loss on Tuesday night, ending a streak of not allowing an earned run at 38 appearances (a tie for the major-league record). The next night, it was Arnold “Not a High-Leverage Guy” Leon’s turn to <a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-hit-bumps-finale-opening-series/" target="_blank">cough up the advantage</a> when Steven Souza homered in the bottom of the eighth to give the Rays a 5-2 win. Though I would have considered an escape from the Trop with a split of a four-game series a minor victory in the past, the manner in which the four games were squandered left behind a bitter taste.</p>
<p>With the off-day Thursday and the much-anticipated home opener Friday night, the Jays were hoping to get things back on track. As <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2016/04/08/blue-jays-bullpen-blows-home-opener-to-bosox.html%20" target="_blank">Brendan Kennedy points out</a>, “The first game in front of your home fans is not worth any more than any other, but it can be a mood-setter for the season.” The mood at the Dome was indeed that of a party to which the entire city was invited. A sold-out crowd exuberantly chanting “MVP! MVP! MVP!” when Josh Donaldson launched a grand slam to give the Jays a five run lead, but it would be short-lived. Marcus Stroman, who was not at his best, loaded the bases in the sixth inning, giving way to Jesse Chavez who promptly served up a grand slam to Brock Holt, opening the door for the bullpen to be charged with its third straight loss. The Jays found a new way to lose on Saturday, when Dickey’s dancing knuckleball proved to be too hot to handle for Josh Thole, and the offense – save for two majestic home runs by Jose Bautista – just couldn’t match that of the Red Sox. The offense, though it did rack up 46 strike outs in the first four games, really isn’t a cause for concern. They are, after all, the best offense in baseball. The bullpen, on the other hand? As Brendan Kennedy wrote: “only time will tell whether the increasingly urgent concern for the Jays’ revamped bullpen is worth all the early-season hand-wringing.”</p>
<h3>The Ugly</h3>
<p>There were two truly ugly moments this week, both occurring on Tuesday and both relating to one another. The first was Jose Bautista’s controversial slide in the ninth inning which, instead of tying the game, led to both he and Edwin Encarnacion being called out due to the new so-called “Chase Utley Rule”. It was a confusing play, in part because it was the first time the new rule had been implemented during a regular-season game. <a href="http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/jose-bautista-and-the-new-slide-rule/%20" target="_blank">Craig Edwards of Fangraphs</a> breaks down the new rule to explain why, to the letter of the law, it was the right call. However, as <a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2016/04/06/jose-bautistas-slide-in-blue-jays-loss-a-learning-moment-for-all-mlb-players-griffin.html%20" target="_blank">Richard Griffin points out</a>, “there’s the letter of the law and the spirit of it, and this decision violated the spirit.” There was no attempt to injure the fielder, but because an “intent to injure” requires rendering a judgement call as to the runner’s mindset, this new rule is meant to protect fielders while removing any ambiguity. Clearly, the MLB will have to review their new rule and make adjustments so that the intended spirit is upheld while still allowing hustle plays that ultimately mean the game is decided by the players on the field, and not those reviewing video replay.</p>
<p>However, it was the controversial comments of manager John Gibbons who understandably was angry after the game, that were the one true ugly moment this week. In response to the new slide rule, <a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/john-gibbons-faces-twitter-backlash-dresses-remark/%20" target="_blank">Gibbons said </a>“maybe we’ll come out wearing dresses tomorrow. Maybe that’s what everybody’s looking for.” I think it’s quite clear what he meant – that the new rule undermines the manliness of the game, that the MLB is treating the players like wusses and that wearing dresses would epitomize perceived weakness (Some have argued with me that Gibbons meant that wearing dresses would simply look silly and that the new rule is silly, ergo Gibbons meant nothing derogatory towards women. Given the context and tone of his comments, and the fact that he did not clarify his meaning when given the opportunity, I do not believe this was his meaning).</p>
<p>To be clear, I do not find these comments derogatory or inflammatory simply because I am a woman; the issue is that such comments are at the heart of a pervasive issue in sports culture (as well as mainstream culture) that “real men” have to behave a certain way, and anything less than that is, well, “less than.” I believe a parallel can be drawn between this comment and the controversy over the<a href="http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/2012/09/18/blue_jays_yunel_escobar_played_game_with_homophobic_slur_written_across_eye_black.html" target="_blank"> homophobic slur </a>written in Yunel Escobar’s eye black four years ago – that anything other than the heterosexual hyper-male identity is somehow something to be ridiculed. Conformity to such a mindset is not something that should be cultivated; though I do understand that Gibbons and many others rose through the baseball ranks at a time when such thinking wasn’t even given a second thought, and I do not believe his dress comment is indicative of anything other than the old-school notions that have been so ingrained in him.</p>
<p>But words have meaning. Gibbons struck a chord with many because he had so many other words to choose from to make his point, one that would not have used women as “a quick and easy metaphor for baseball weakness,” as <a href="https://twitter.com/MissStaceyMay/status/717551061305692162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%20" target="_blank">stated by Stacey May Fowles</a>. As one of my male students (who plays baseball) suggested, Gibbons could have said “Maybe we’ll come out wearing bubble-wrap tomorrow.” Had he done so, he not only would have made his point, but he would have done so with a humour that does not perpetuate gender identity stereotypes. Nearly half of all baseball fans identify as female and, as <a href="http://mlb.nbcsports.com/2016/04/06/john-gibbons-on-reactions-to-sexist-comment-the-world-needs-to-lighten-up-a-little-bit-hes-wrong/" target="_blank">Bill Baer writes</a>, “imagine having a hobby that you really like a lot but the people with whom you share that hobby make casual comments that make you feel unwelcome or devalued.”</p>
<p>While I and other female fans have endured thinly veiled (and outright) sexist comments with regards to our baseball fandom by some of the more Neanderthal-esque males, there is a greater issue here. We need to create a sports (and, ultimately, societal) climate in which being seen as &#8220;feminine&#8221; is not synonymous with &#8220;weak&#8221; or &#8220;less than&#8221; &#8211; that males who don&#8217;t fulfill stereotypical ideas of masculinity aren&#8217;t labelled as &#8220;wusses&#8221; or &#8220;pu&#8211;ies&#8221;. The MLB had made an attempt to address the most heinous act of aggressive masculinity through its domestic violence policy, which is a very welcome and progressive change. But, it&#8217;s the little things that will make baseball culture more inclusive and less stereotypical. It&#8217;s time baseball watched its language.</p>
<h3>Quick Hits</h3>
<ul>
<li>While some fans continue to lament the loss of David Price, particularly the fact that he went to a division rival, David Ortiz has suggested that Edwin Encarnacion would be the <a href="http://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/996125?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">“perfect replacement”</a> once he retires at the end of this season. It would seem as though the stars are aligned for Edwin to go to Boston – they are really the only team that has both a need for a power-hitting DH and the means to offer the lucrative contract he’s looking for. Quite frankly, I would be surprised if Encarnacion doesn’t end up in Beantown. As it was with Price, it’s just business.</li>
<li>Speaking of Price, <a href="http://www.torontosun.com/2016/04/09/simmons-says-blue-jays-had-plan-to-keep-price%20" target="_blank">Steve Simmons tells us </a>that there was a plan in place to sign David Price, but Alex Anthopoulos resigned before executing it. The idea, according to Simmons, involved letting Marco Estrada go to free agency and trading R.A. Dickey to clear enough payroll space for Price. I have absolutely no insight on this, but this feels like quite the troll job from Mr. Simmons. That’s not to say it isn’t true, I frankly have no idea, but I see absolutely no point in reviving a dead issue, particularly in the wake of several disappointing pitching performances. Price is gone. So it Anthopoulos. It’s past time to move on.</li>
<li>“Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is barely 17, and he has not yet played his first professional game. However, on the practice fields of the Blue Jays’ minor-league complex in Dunedin, Florida, his legend is growing.” <a href="https://sports.vice.com/ca/article/the-legend-of-vladimir-guerrero-jr-keeps-growing" target="_blank">John Lott has an excellent article </a>on the Jays’ young phenom and the more I read about him, the more excited I am to watch this kid play ball.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/meet-newest-jays-relievercomedian-joe-biagini/" target="_blank">Barry Davis introduces us </a>to the Jays’ newest reliever/comedian Joe Biagini, the Rule V pick-up with a sarcastic sense of humour.</li>
<li>The Jays’ playoff appearance last season not only reinvigorated its fan base, but it <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/youth-baseball-registration-canada-1.3525080%20" target="_blank">sparked interest in young children </a>eager to play the game. Youth baseball organizers have said that registration is up by as much as 30 percent over last year – an increase not experienced since the Jays’ championship wins in the early 1990s.</li>
<li>And, finally. Marcus Stroman <a href="http://www.theplayerstribune.com/marcus-stroman-blue-jays-toronto-acl-comeback/%20" target="_blank">penned a love letter to Toronto</a> in his piece for The Players’ Tribune. He’s here to tell the world that Toronto is a baseball city, and so much more. The fans feel ya, Marcus. We ain’t got nothin’ but love for you, too.</li>
</ul>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>How a Poor First Series Bullpen Trend Could Hurt the Jays</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/04/08/how-a-poor-first-series-bullpen-trend-could-hurt-the-jays/</link>
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		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Apr 2016 12:16:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Joshua Howsam]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arnold Leon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bullpen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gavin Floyd]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Gibbons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Roberto Osuna]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=1218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the Blue Jays prepare to take on the Boston Red Sox for their home opener, in front of a raucous crowd of 48,000 people, we can assume that they will have already forgotten about the four-game series in Tampa Bay. The blown leads, Josh Donaldson’s injury scare (he is expected to suit up tonight), [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As the Blue Jays prepare to take on the Boston Red Sox for their home opener, in front of a raucous crowd of 48,000 people, we can assume that they will have already forgotten about the four-game series in Tampa Bay. The blown leads, Josh Donaldson’s injury scare (he is expected to suit up tonight), and all the strikeouts are in the rearview mirror. It would probably be best to join the players in moving on, but we would be remiss if we didn’t mention one of the red flags from the series that could carry over into &#8216;Home Opening Weekend&#8217; and beyond.</p>
<p>If you were paying even a little bit of attention to Wednesday’s getaway day, you’re well aware that Arnold Leon came into the game with runners on the corners, one out and a one run lead, and then proceeded to immediately surrender a three-run, game-winning home run. Bringing in Leon in that spot was a questionable decision at best, and a downright awful one at worst. He is a mediocre relief pitcher who couldn’t even catch on in Oakland’s empty bullpen&#8230;so why was be pitching with the game on the line in the 8th inning?</p>
<p>Part of that had to do with the unavailability of a large number of Blue Jays relievers. Jesse Chavez, Brett Cecil, and Drew Storen were all deemed unavailable due to previous workloads. The reason for Storen’s inability to pitch has been hotly contested on the airwaves, but if he wasn’t going to pitch, I’m not sure it really matters.</p>
<p>However, the real issue arises when you realize that, even with that group of players out of action, there’s no reason Leon should have seen the mound. Gavin Floyd had pitched 1.1 innings to that point and had registered three strikeouts, with the only two baserunners having reached on soft hits off the end of the bat. He has been stretched out in spring and could easily have kept going. However, even if John Gibbons was 100% sure Floyd needed to come out, there’s no reason not to summon Roberto Osuna to put out the fire.</p>
<p>Of course, you’ve probably read a dozen pieces about this move (or non-move) by now. I only bring it up as a symptom of the greater overall problem: the strict adherence to roles and a fundamental ignorance of leverage.</p>
<p>Baseball&#8217;s biggest leverage trap almost almost reared its ugly head during that same Wednesday game, but no one seems to want to talk about it. In the bottom of the fourth, with the Blue Jays leading 3-0, J.A. Happ gave up four singles (and had one strikeout) to reduce the Toronto lead to 3-1 with the bases loaded and one out. As expected in this situation, a reliever began to get loose in the bullpen. When the camera panned down to give us a look, the man standing there was&#8230;Joe Biagini.</p>
<p>For those of you unaware, Joe Biagini was a Rule V pick from the Giants. I actually like what the Jays might have in the tall righty; he has a hard fastball and a reasonably sharp curveball. That being said, if the Jays wouldn’t have been forced to send him back to San Francisco, there is a 100 percent chance he would’ve been sent to the minors. He has never pitched in the major leagues; in fact, he has never even pitched above AA. Yet there he was, getting ready to come into Wednesday’s game.</p>
<p>Many of you could be reading this and asking “who cares? It’s the fourth inning?” To which I would respond, “why does that matter?” It was a situation where the game could have easily gotten away from the Blue Jays. That didn’t happen, as Happ bore down and got out of the inning without further damage. Though, as he has done time and time again, when Gibbons went to his bullpen early in the game with runners on base, he reached for his long reliever. How many times have we seen the likes of Todd Redmond, Scott Copeland, or Ramon Ortiz enter a close game early with runners on base? Many. The question is&#8230;why?</p>
<p>How did this become the practice? With all the advancements in bullpen usage over the years, how is it written that a long reliever has to be the first man out of the pen in a short outing by the starter? Shouldn’t the first job be to get out of the inning, and keep the game close? You can worry about the rest of the game after that.</p>
<p>Before I continue, I should be clear that this isn’t an issue that is unique to John Gibbons, or that I feel he is unfit as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. I don’t think either of those things are true. In fact, I’d argue that he’s better than many at using his elite relievers in non-traditional ways. This is something that basically all managers do.</p>
<p>In fact, I have only actually seen someone make the <em>right</em> decision once. On June 21st last year, Chris Tillman got shelled by the Blue Jays, lasting just an inning and a third before being removed. However, the Jays starter, Scott Copeland, had already given up seven runs in his own inning and a third, so Baltimore still held a 7-4 lead when Tillman left the game with runners on second and third and one out.</p>
<p>In an effort to preserve the lead, Buck Showalter did not go to a long relief pitcher. Instead, he went to Tommy Hunter, one of his two primary setup men at the time, to shut things down. It didn’t work, as Hunter ended up letting both runners score, but it was a sign of a manager who was aware that he needed to kill the rally. At that instant, he knew that he needed to get to the next inning with a lead before he needed to worry about who would hold it.</p>
<p>It should be said that this probably doesn’t change a lot over the course of season. It might be the difference of one game over an entire season. However, in a division as tightly packed as the AL East, even the tiniest edge could mean the difference between a championship and mediocrity.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Denny Medley &#8211; USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>Recap: Rays 5, Blue Jays 3; Controversial Bullpen Management Aids in Jays Late Loss</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/04/06/recap-rays-5-blue-jays-3-controversial-bullpen-management-aids-in-jays-late-loss/</link>
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		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2016 20:36:22 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Eric Mercer]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Recaps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arnold Leon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[J.A. Happ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Josh Donaldson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto Blue Jays]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=1162</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a similar fashion to last night&#8217;s game, the Blue Jays lost after holding the lead into the late innings. This game was not determined by a controversial umpires decision, but rather a controversial decision by John Gibbons. Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer in the 3rd inning, which turned out to be the only offense [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a similar fashion to last night&#8217;s game, the Blue Jays lost after holding the lead into the late innings. This game was not determined by a controversial umpires decision, but rather a controversial decision by John Gibbons. Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer in the 3rd inning, which turned out to be the only offense the Jays could muster for the duration of the game. It seemed like it might be enough, until the 8th inning when Gavin Floyd allowed two of the first three batters to reach. Then, Gibbons brought in Arnold Leon to try and clean up the situation. Leon was one of the last men to make the bullpen and hardly someone most fans would expect to see in a one run game in the eighth inning with two men on. He gave up a three-run homer and the Jays went on to lose 5-3. The Rays starter Matt Moore looked good but not great during his first start of the year. He was able to induce weak contact and missed quite a few bats with his changeup, but his pitch count skyrocketed and he lasted only five innings. This concludes the opening series of the year, with the Jays and the Rays taking two apiece.</p>
<h3>Top Play of the Game by WPA</h3>
<p>As the Jays were leading 3-2 in the 8th inning, Steven Souza Jr. hit a three-run homer to give the Rays the lead. This increased the Rays&#8217; chances of winning by 46.5%, giving them a 94% chance to win the game from there on. Souza had a great game, hitting two homers and individually generating 0.713 WPA by himself.</p>
<h3>Bottom Play of the Game by WPA</h3>
<p>In the 9th inning, the Jays got the leadoff man on first base. He was quickly erased by a Russell Martin double play which essentially put the final nail in the coffin for the team. Martin&#8217;s double play decreased the Jays chance of winning by 12.8%. Hopefully Martin can turn on the offensive jets in the home opener.</p>
<h3>Gibbons&#8217; Questionable Bullpen Management</h3>
<p>Once thought to be John Gibbons&#8217; strong suit, his management of the bullpen today has left Jays fans scratching their heads. He took out J.A. Happ after he allowed the leadoff man to reach in the 7th, a logical decision in a one-run game. Then, Gibby brought in Gavin Floyd to finish off the 7th and had him go out for the 8th, which is also quite reasonable. It is here where things turned south. Apparently the setup man, Drew Storen, was unavailable as he got warmed up twice yesterday (even though there is an off day tomorrow). Floyd then got into trouble in the 8th, allowing two of the first three batters to reach on soft contact. It was at this point that Gibbons brought in the worst reliever in the bullpen, Arnold Leon, instead of Roberto Osuna or even sticking with Floyd. In absolutely predictable fashion, Steven Souza Jr. hit a three-run homer as the Rays took the lead 5-3 and never gave it back. Hopefully Gibbons has learned from this, and goes with his best guys in the highest leverage situations going forward.</p>
<h3>J.A. Happ Shines in his Second-Debut with the Jays</h3>
<p>I thought Happ looked quite sharp in his season debut for the Jays. He threw the ball down in the zone and mixed in his cutter quite effectively to both sides of the plate. He had the ability to jam righties with the cutter inside but also threw some on the outside part of the plate resulting in strike outs. He got into a jam in the 4th but got a massive strikeout of Kevin Kiermaier with the bases loaded and one out, and then finished the inning by inducing a popup.<em> </em>At the end of the day, Happ finished the game pitching into the 7th inning, giving up seven hits, two earned runs, striking out four and walking only one.</p>
<h3>Josh Donaldson Removed from the Game</h3>
<p>Josh Donaldson hit a three-run homer in the 3rd inning that put the Jays up 3-0, but when the cameras followed him into the dugout, things didn&#8217;t look right for the reigning AL MVP winner. Gibbons was talking with him and the Jays trainer George Poulis was hovering nearby. In subsequent at-bats Donaldson didn&#8217;t look comfortable, and finally in the 7th inning Donaldson was taken out of the game. The injury appears to be a strained calf and he is day-to-day for now.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So this isn&#39;t good: <a href="https://t.co/Wyjc3YUPW9">pic.twitter.com/Wyjc3YUPW9</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Bluebird Banter (@bluebirdbanter) <a href="https://twitter.com/bluebirdbanter/status/717798421499777025">April 6, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h3>Strike Outs, Strike Outs and More Strike Outs!</h3>
<p>Through the first 3 games of the season, the Jays struck out 36 times. Today that trend continued, as Tampa pitchers struck out another 10 bringing the total to 46 K&#8217;s in 4 games. Last season, the Blue Jays complimented their immense power with the ability to put the ball in play and not strike out. While the season is still very young, the team would like to put an end to this strike out bug before it becomes a true problem.</p>
<h3>Up Next</h3>
<p>Next up we have the highly anticipated home opener against the Red Sox on Friday at 7:07! Marcus Stroman gets the rare honour to pitch in the season opener and the home opener. His counterpart on the mound will be Rick Porcello (4.92 ERA, 1.36 WHIP in 2015). Get excited everyone, because baseball will officially be back on Canadian soil in less than two days.</p>
<p><em>Lead Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports</em></p>
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		<title>Blue Jays Sign LHP Franklin Morales to Bolster Bullpen</title>
		<link>http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/2016/04/02/blue-jays-sign-lhp-franklin-morales-to-bolster-bullpen/</link>
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		<pubDate>Sun, 03 Apr 2016 03:50:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Tammy Rainey]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arnold Leon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin Morales]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joe Biagini]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toronto Blue Jays]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://toronto.locals.baseballprospectus.com/?p=1001</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[According to Canadian Baseball Network&#8217;s Andrew Hendriks, Toronto has signed veteran Venezuelan LHP Franklin Morales. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports that the deal is for one year and $2 million, and that to make room of the roster, Ryan Tepera has been optioned to AAA Buffalo. #BlueJays sign lefty Franklin Morales to a $2m, one-year deal, [&#8230;]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>According to <a href="https://twitter.com/77hendriks/status/716314885752225792" target="_blank">Canadian Baseball Network&#8217;s </a>Andrew Hendriks, Toronto has signed veteran Venezuelan LHP <a href="http://www.baseballprospectus.com/card/card.php?id=48448" target="_blank">Franklin Morales</a>. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports that the deal is for one year and $2 million, and that to make room of the roster, Ryan Tepera has been optioned to AAA Buffalo.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash">#BlueJays</a> sign lefty Franklin Morales to a $2m, one-year deal, option Ryan Tepera to triple-Buffalo.</p>
<p>&mdash; Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShiDavidi/status/716471989431640064">April 3, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The deal is &#8220;non-guaranteed&#8221; and includes incentives as well.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Franklin Morales contract is non-guaranteed and includes incentives. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash">#BlueJays</a></p>
<p>&mdash; Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShiDavidi/status/716473554020249600">April 3, 2016</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>The 30-year-old had been signed by the Brewers in the off-season to a minor league deal that would have paid him $2.3 million if he made the team, but he was released on Monday as Milwaukee chose fellow lefty Chris Capuano to add to the roster instead.</p>
<p>Morales was a product of the Colorado Rockies organization but never had any success there. He turned into a valuable contributor after being traded to Boston in 2011. After going back to Colorado and struggling again in 2014, he had a nice rebound season for the Kansas City Royals last year, posting a 3.18 ERA in 62 1/3 innings pitched.  He has a career K% of 17.9% and a BB% of 10.4%, though last season they were a much better 15.9% and 5.4%. Perhaps more crucial to the Blue Jays&#8217; interest is his excellent production against left handed hitters for the Royals in 2015, as they slashed just .194/.250/.320 against him in 107 plate appearances.</p>
<address>Lead Photo: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports</address>
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