[情報] 鳥巢裡的小藍鳥...TOP 10 by BA
he Blue Jays have come a long way from their last-place 2004 season,
and they managed to finish higher than third place for the first time
since they won back-to-back World Series in 1993. To take the next
step--making the playoffs--Toronto once again will have to rely on an
increased payroll rather than major contributions from its farm system.
Toronto had baseball's sixth-lowest payroll at $46 million in 2005, but
jumped to 16th overall at $72 million by Opening Day 2006. With little
impact talent in their farm system, the Blue Jays signed free agents
A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan and traded for Troy Glaus and Lyle Overbay.
General manager J.P. Ricciardi isn't shy about pointing out the payroll
discrepencies that exist between his club and the big-spending Yankees
and Red Sox in the American League East.
Ownership has signed off on another payroll increase, and Ricciardi
likely will have as much as $95 million at his disposal for 2007.
Finding a shortstop is Toronto's top priority, and the club's hole at
that position is all the more glaring considering the Blue Jays used
first-round picks on college shortstops Russ Adams and Aaron Hill in
Ricciardi's first two drafts. Neither was considered a lock to stay at
the position, and Adams regressed on both offense and defense in 2006.
In their five drafts under Ricciardi, the Blue Jays have focused almost
solely on college players, with more of an emphasis on a track record of
statistical success than on potential high ceilings. Adam Lind, who hit
.367 in his September debut, may be the first impact bat drafted since
Ricciardi's arrival, but there are few behind him in the system with the
exception of 2006 first-round pick Travis Snider. The system is stocked
primarily with control pitchers, with most of the electric arms (led by
2006 rookie righthanders Brandon League, Dustin McGowan and Francisco
Rosario) signed on former GM Gord Ash's watch.
Snider, a high school outfielder, snapped Toronto's five-year streak of
taking a college player with their top pick. He won MVP honors in the
Rookie-level Appalachian League, as did Lind in the Double-A Eastern
League. Because the Blue Jays gave up their second- and third-round picks
in the 2006 draft to sign Burnett and Ryan, they invested $725,000 in
16-year-old Venezuelan third baseman Balbino Fuenmayor after he had an
impressive workout at Rogers Centre. They also gave six-figure bonuses
to four late-round choices: righthanders Chase Lirette (16th), Kyle Ginley
(17th) and Graham Godfrey (34th), plus second baseman Jonathan del Campo
(20th).
On the field, the Blue Jays' aggregate minor league winning percentage
slipped under .500 for the first time since 2002. Three teams advanced
to the playoffs, with Dunedin advancing the furthest, losing in the high
Class A Florida State League finals. Toronto announced at season's end that
it won't operate an Appy League team in 2007, ending a four-year stint at
Pulaski. If the Jays don't add an affiliate in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast
League, they'd be the only organization with just five North American
affiliates.
1. Adam Lind, of Born: July 17, 1983 ‧ B-T: L-L ‧ Ht: 6-2 ‧ Wt: 195
Drafted: South Alabama, 2004 (3rd round) ‧ Signed by: Joel Grampietro
Background: Lind was an eighth-round pick by the Twins out of an Indiana
high school in 2002 but opted to attend South Alabama. He showed a fluid
stroke and promising raw power in college, but only hinted at the hitter
he would become. He hit a more-than-respectable .269 with wood bats in
the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2003, then won the Sun Belt Conference
batting title with a .392 average as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2004.
After the Blue Jays took him in the third round, he signed for $445,000.
He had no problem adapting to pro ball, leading the short-season New York-
Penn League in doubles (23) and ranking second in extra-base hits (30) and
RBIs (50). In his first full season, Lind jumped to high Class A and topped
the Florida State League in doubles (42) and extra-base hits (58). He began
to develop more over-the-fence power in 2006, when he won the Double-A
Eastern League MVP award despite being promoted in late July. The Jays have
named him his team's MVP in each of his three pro seasons, and only Carlos
Delgado and Luis Lopez have won the award three times as well. Lind had one
of the best seasons in the minors—batting a cumulative .330/.394/.556—and
was just as dangerous during his September callup. In the final game of the
season, he pushed Toronto into sole possession of second place in the
American League East with a ninth-inning, two-run shot to dead-center off
a 98 mph fastball from Kyle Farnsworth at Yankee Stadium
Strengths: Lind’s classic lefthanded swing projects more power because his
bat stays in the zone longer than that of most hitters. His hands are quiet
and he’s adept at staying inside the ball. Lind has exceptional balance at
the plate and hits for power from line to line. His spread and slight crouch
help him stay back on breaking balls. Every time he has moved up to a new
level in pro ball, he initially has tried to go up the middle and to the
opposite field. His first major league home run went to left-center. Once
comfortable, though, he began to pull the ball with more authority. Lind
doesn’t seem to let anything bother him and is comfortable hitting behind
in the count.
Weaknesses: A first baseman in college, Lind isn't a great athlete and never
has been much of a defender. He has come a long way with the glove in left
field, working in batting practice by taking live rounds off the bat to
improve from well below average to adequate. His arm is also below average
but playable. Some scouts believe he'll eventually wind up at first base or
DH. Lind is slow coming out of the batter's box, though he has average speed
once he gets underway. His strike-zone judgment is certainly acceptable, but
he could stand to draw a few more walks.
The Future: If Frank Catalanotto departs as a free agent, Lind and Reed
Johnson would be the frontrunners for Toronto's left-field job. Lind is also
a candidate for the DH role, which he filled most of his time in September.
Either way, he should be one of the AL's top-hitting rookies. He figures to
be batting in the middle of the Jays lineup by no later than 2008.
2006 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
New Hampshire (AA) .310 .357 .543 348 43 108 24 0 19 71 25 87 2
Syracuse (AAA) .394 .496 .596 109 20 43 7 0 5 18 23 18 1
Toronto .367 .415 .600 60 8 22 8 0 2 8 5 12 0
2. Travis Snider, of Born: Feb. 2, 1988 ‧ B-T: L-L ‧ Ht: 6-0 ‧ Wt: 220
Drafted: HS--Everett, Wash., 2006 (1st round) ‧ Signed by: Brandon Mozley
Background: One of the top high school bats available in the 2006 draft,
Snider led Jackson High (Mill Creek, Wash.) to a No. 2 national ranking.
After signing for $1.7 million as the 14th overall pick, he won MVP honors
and rated as the No. 1 prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. He
was leading the league in home runs when wrist tendinitis shelved him for
the final week of the season.
Strengths: Snider is physically mature with a muscular frame that served
him well as a high school running back until he broke his leg as a junior.
Hitting and hitting for power are Snider’s best tools, as his powerful
swing generates above-average bat speed and tremendous raw power. He
displays advanced hitting instincts, stays back on breaking balls and hangs
in against lefties. His mental and competitive makeup is off the charts.
Weaknesses: The only knock on Snider leading up to the draft was his thick
frame, especially his heavy lower half, and concerns about how it would
project down the line. He worked hard on his conditioning and is more
athletic than he appears. With work, he can be an average right fielder
with a solid-average arm. He’s a below-average runner but hustles.
The Future: Snider will head to low Class A Lansing to begin 2007. He has
the tools and desire to become an impact corner outfielder in the majors,
and his bat should allow him to move more quickly than most high schoolers.
2006 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Pulaski (R) .325 .412 .567 194 36 63 12 1 11 41 30 47 6
3. Ricky Romero, lhp Born: Nov. 6, 1984 ‧ B-T: R-L ‧ Ht: 6-1 ‧ Wt: 200
Drafted: Cal State Fullerton, 2005 (1st round) ‧ Signed by: Demerius Pittman
Background: The first pitcher selected in the 2005 draft, Romero went sixth
overall and signed for a club-record $2.4 million. He teamed with Jason
Windsor (now with the Athletics) to lead Cal State Fullerton to the 2004
national title as a sophomore, and was a second-team All-American as a
junior. Romero missed the first month of the 2006 season with mild elbow
stiffness, though it's not a concern.
Strengths: Romero's best pitch is a plus changeup, which bottoms out and
is highly effective against righthanders. He pitches at 91 mph with his
fastball and can go get 93 when he needs it. He features above-average
life on his fastball, including good arm-side movement with his two-seamer.
His curveball is average if inconsistent.
Weaknesses: Romero struggled upon his promotion to Double-A New Hampshire
when he couldn’t locate his curve. He developed some bad habits at high
Class A Dunedin, where he could put hitters away using just his fastball
and changeup. Everything seemed to click, though, once he adjusted his
delivery to improve his direction to the plate. His fastball and curveball
command improved, and he threw on a better downhill plane.
The Future: Romero advanced to Double-A in his first full season and
finished strong, going 2-3, 2.75 in the final month. He'll likely return
there to begin 2007 but should reach Triple-A Syracuse at some point during
the season. He's on schedule to join the Toronto rotation no later than 2008.
2006 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Dunedin (Hi A) 2 1 2.47 10 10 1 0 58 48 5 14 61 .224
New Hampshire (AA) 2 7 5.08 12 12 0 0 67 65 7 26 41 .256
4. Ryan Patterson, of Born: R-R ‧ B-T: R-R ‧ Ht: 5-11 ‧ Wt: 210
Drafted: Louisiana State, 2005 (4th round) ‧ Signed by: Matt Briggs
Background: Patterson had a successful career at Louisiana State but wasn't
drafted as a junior in 2004, nor was he signed as a free agent after winning
the Cape Cod League batting title with a .327 mark that summer. He tore up
the New York-Penn League in his pro debut in 2005, leading the league in
extra-base hits (40), RBIs (65) and slugging percentage (.595). Proving
that was no fluke, he led the Florida State League in slugging percentage
in his first full season before a promotion to Double-A.
Strengths: Strong and compact, Patterson is a hitting machine. He ranked
second in the Jays system in homers and RBIs and finished among the minor
league leaders in extra-base hits (65) and total bases (266). Though he
doesn't employ a classic swing, he's short and direct to the ball. Because
he sinks into his load, he has a flatter swing plane than the typical power
hitter, enabling him to get backspin on the ball. He shows the instincts to
make adjustments during an at-bat. He has average speed and is a good
baserunner.
Weaknesses: Patterson likes to jump on the first pitch he can handle,
though he’s not a free swinger. The Blue Jays believe his plate discipline
will catch up with his level of competition. Patterson can play center field
in a pinch, but his range and arm fit best in left.
The Future: Toronto pushed Patterson to Double-A in his first full season,
and he responded after a rough start. He'll likely begin 2007 back with New
Hampshire, and he could see Triple-A and maybe the majors later in the year.
2006 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Dunedin (Hi A) .288 .327 .520 354 65 102 25 0 19 69 20 61 2
New Hampshire (AA) .257 .310 .439 187 19 48 14 1 6 20 13 50 2
5. Curtis Thigpen, c Born: April 19, 1983 ‧ B-T: R-R ‧ Ht: 5-10 ‧ Wt: 185
Drafted: Texas, 2004 (2nd round) ‧ Signed by: Andy Beene
Background: Thigpen was a member of three College World Series teams at
Texas from 2002-04. The Blue Jays drafted him as a catcher, even though
he got little time behind the plate as a teammate of defensive standout
Taylor Teagarden. More advanced as a catcher than Toronto thought, Thigpen
reached Double-A in his first full season and managers rated him the Eastern
League's top defensive catcher in 2006.
Strengths: Thigpen commands the strike zone and excels at making contact,
spraying the ball all over the field. His power is gap-to-gap, and he
generates good backspin carry on the ball. Behind the plate, Thigpen is
extremely mobile and athletic for a catcher. He’s a solid-average defender
with good hands and slightly above-average receiving and blocking skills.
His makeup is impeccable and he has the agility to handle the corner
infield or outfield positions.
Weaknesses: Thigpen has average arm strength and a quick release, but
his mechanics are inconsistent. He threw out just 24 percent of
basestealers in 2006, including one of 14 in Triple-A. New Hampshire
manager Doug Davis focused his attention this season on getting Thigpen’s
feet in sync with his release. An early-season staph infection cut into
Thigpen’s development time behind the plate.
The Future: Toronto views Thigpen as its catcher of the future. His bat
was probably ready for Triple-A this season, but the organization left
him at Double-A to get extra time with Davis. Ticketed for Triple-A in
2007, he could make his major league debut in the second half.
2006 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
New Hampshire (AA) .259 .370 .421 309 49 80 25 5 5 36 52 61 5
Syracuse (AAA) .264 .304 .377 53 3 14 3 0 1 9 2 9 0
6. Francisco Rosario, rhp Born: Sept. 28, 1980 ‧ B-T: R-R ‧ Ht: 6-1‧ Wt: 215
Signed: Dominican Republic, 1999 ‧ Signed by: Tony Arias
Background: Rosario has been a member of the organization for eight seasons
and a fixture on this list since his breakout 2002 season, after which he
zoomed to No. 4. He tore a ligament in his elbow in the Arizona Fall League
that fall, requiring Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2003 and much
of 2004. He has bounced between starting and relieving the last two seasons,
and didn't pitch again after experiencing lower back pain in early August.
Strengths: Rosario employs true power stuff: a mid-90s fastball peaking at
98 mph with life, an 85-88 mph slider and a hard split-grip changeup. He
located his fastball in the second half in Triple-A, working more
aggressively on the inside part of the plate. After pitching tentatively
in 2005, he seemed to clear that hurdle both physically and mentally.
Weaknesses: Despite his experience, Rosario still isn't a finished product.
He can't reach his potential as a mid-rotation starter without learning to
command his slider. He would benefit from greater focus on the mound. While
in the majors, he sometimes overthrew and tried to muscle his way out of
jams, which resulted in more hittable pitches.
The Future: Rosario is out of options, so he'll have to be exposed to
waivers if he can't crack Toronto's roster out of spring training. Unless
he makes strides with his slider command, he'll probably have to make the
club as a middle reliever.
2006 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Syracuse (AAA) 0 3 2.79 14 8 0 1 42 29 2 13 50 .196
Toronto 1 2 6.26 17 1 0 0 23 24 4 16 21 .264
7. Brandon Magee, rhp Born: July 26, 1983 ‧ B-T: R-R ‧ Ht: 6-5 ‧ Wt: 205
Drafted: Bradley, 2006 (4th round) ‧ Signed by: Aaron Jerslid
Brandon MageeBackground: Magee began his college career as Bradley's closer but blossomed into a starter and finished with 260 strikeouts, one shy of the school record. He would have gone between the eighth and 12th round as a junior in 2005 had his signability not been cloudy. He became one of the top senior signs in 2006, turning pro for $155,000 in the fourth round.
Strengths: Added strength allowed the tall, lean Magee to increase and
hold his fastball velocity in the low 90s as a senior. He gets well
above-average sink on his two-seamer, can dial it up to 94 when needed
and delivers it on a steep downward plane from a high three-quarters
delivery. He posted a strong 2.1 groundout-flyout ratio in his debut.
Magee’s plus slider was his bread-and-butter pitch in college and is
the best in the system.
Weaknesses: Magee’s slider was so good that he used it too much in
college, and the Jays tried to get him to de-emphasize it somewhat and
mix in more changeups. He also showed a tendency to keep his back foot
locked to the rubber after delivering a pitch, and made a slight
mechanical adjustment to correct it. There's some effort in his delivery,
and some scouts believe he's better suited to be a reliever.
The Future: The Jays believe Magee's ceiling, as a No. 3 starter, rivals
that of any pitcher they've drafted in the past five years. Because he's
already 23, he likely will be challenged with an Opening Day assignment
to high Class A.
2006 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Auburn (SS) 3 1 3.10 11 11 0 0 52 51 1 19 40 .254
8. Jesse Litsch, rhp Born: March 9, 1985 ‧ B-T: R-R ‧ Ht: 6-1 ‧ Wt: 205
Drafted: South Florida CC, D/F 2004 (24th round) ‧ Signed by: Tony Arias
Background: The Rockies failed to sign Litsch as a 37th-rounder out of high
school in 2003, and the Jays had to wait an additional year to land him as
a draft-and-follow after taking him in the 24th round in 2004. He moved to
high Class A to start his first full season after spending much of his pro
debut dominating the Appy League, and he earned a promotion to Double-A by
July.
Strengths: The aggressive Litsch is unafraid of contact. He has no knockout
pitch, but he commands an 88-92 mph four-seam fastball with enough natural
cutting action to put hitters away. He also throws a two-seamer, curveball,
slider and changeup. He's able to throw his curveball for strikes and get
hitters to chase it out of the zone. The Blue Jays can't say enough about
his makeup.
Weaknesses: Litsch struggled in his first exposure to Double-A because he
relied too much on his cutter, which hitters recognized. His slider was
also less effective because it was too similar to his cutter. Toronto would
like to see Litsch incorporate more curveballs and changeups into his mix.
The Future: Litsch recovered to give up just two runs in his final three
Double-A starts and is a safe bet to begin back at New Hampshire in 2007.
He profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
2006 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Dunedin (Hi A) 6 6 3.53 16 15 2 0 89 94 5 8 81 .267
New Hampshire (AA) 3 4 5.06 12 12 1 0 69 85 6 13 54 .309
9. David Purcey, lhp Born: April 22, 1982 ‧ B-T: L-L ‧ Ht: 6-5 ‧ Wt: 235
Drafted: Oklahoma, 2004 (1st round) ‧ Signed by: Ty Nichols
Background: Following a strong spring training, Purcey opened 2006 in
Triple-A. He pitched well in April, but shaky command got the best of
him in May and he was sent down to Double-A in June. He never got
untracked at New Hampshire, so it was mostly a lost season.
Strengths: Few lefthanders can match the raw stuff Purcey possesses.
His fastball and biting curveball are plus offerings when he commands
them. He likes to dial up his four-seam fastball to 93-95 mph, but
achieves more sinking and boring action when he throws his two-seamer
at 90-92 mph. He works on a good downhill plane and has made some progress
with a slider.
Weaknesses: Because of his large build and inconsistent release point,
Purcey continues to battle his mechanics and to find command elusive. He
frequently runs up high pitch counts and backs off once batters string
together a few hits. He has made just modest strides with his changeup,
which remains a below-average pitch.
The Future: Purcey's first trip to Triple-A was a false start, and the
Blue Jays acknowledge they may have pushed him too fast. Because he's
inefficient with his pitches but durable, he might be better suited to
relief. Toronto remains optimistic that he's taking a bit longer to
harness his power stuff, which they feel is good enough to dominate
with even slightly below-average command.
2006 Club (Class) W L ERA G GS CG SV IP H HR BB SO AVG
Syracuse (AAA) 2 7 5.40 12 12 1 0 52 49 7 38 45 .249
New Hampshire (AA) 4 5 5.60 16 16 0 0 88 101 9 44 81 .287
10. Balbino Fuenmayor, 3b Born: Nov. 26, 1989 ‧ B-T: R-R ‧ Ht: 6-2 ‧ Wt: 195
Signed: Venezuela, 2006 ‧ Signed by: Rafael Moncada
Background: Following an impressive workout at Rogers Centre in front of
general manager J.P. Ricciardi, Fuenmayor signed with the Blue Jays for
$750,000. Toronto last invested heavily in a Venezuelan talent when they
signed another Venezuelan, catcher Guillermo Quiroz, for $1.2 million
in 1998. Quiroz once ranked among the club's best prospects but was
derailed by injuries and was claimed off waivers by the Mariners last
April.
Strengths: Fuenmayor is athletic and has a chance to grow into power as
he fills out. He has a lot of polish for a youngster, and his hitting
ability is more advanced than his pop at this stage. He has a compact
stroke with solid bat speed and the ability to drive the ball to the
opposite field. At third base, he shows easy arm strength to go with good
hands, footwork and range.
Weaknesses: As with many teenagers, Fuenmayor isn't very refined
defensively. While his arm is strong, he'll have to improve his throwing
accuracy. Questions about his power potential will remain unanswered until
he shows what he can do in pro ball.
The Future: Because the Blue Jays won't operate an Appy League club in 2007,
it's unclear where Fuenmayor will be assigned at the conclusion of extended
spring training. He'll definitely go to Rookie ball, with the Dominican
Summer League one possibility, and the Gulf Coast League another if Toronto
adds an affiliate there.
2006 Club (Class) AVG OBP SLG AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB
Did Not Play--Signed 2007 Contract
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