Comments on: UPDATE: Kelly Johnson accepts arbitration from Blue Jays http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/08/kelly-johnson-likely-to-accept-arbitration-from-blue-jays/ Baseball. Baseball. And then a bit more baseball. Sat, 18 May 2013 15:07:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Chris K http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/08/kelly-johnson-likely-to-accept-arbitration-from-blue-jays/comment-page-1/#comment-232257 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:27:15 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=101811#comment-232257 Shigetoshi Hasegawa pitched pretty effectively for 9 seasons….

]]> By: mydadyourmom http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/08/kelly-johnson-likely-to-accept-arbitration-from-blue-jays/comment-page-1/#comment-232249 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:13:14 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=101811#comment-232249 No way. There have been zero long term successful japanese pitchers in the bigs.

]]> By: cyanocittacristata http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/08/kelly-johnson-likely-to-accept-arbitration-from-blue-jays/comment-page-1/#comment-232220 Thu, 08 Dec 2011 04:25:48 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=101811#comment-232220 I hope the Jays are on Darvish big time if he gets posted. The cost versus risk is high, but this guy might be the pitching version of Ichiro. If ownership is willing to bear the posting fee as a sunk cost, Then the player contract will be beneficial as only that amount is applied to payroll.

Anthopolous will need budget space to lock up guys like Rasmus, Lawrie, Morrow, etc. if they live up to promise. Money for a big free agent wouldn’t hurt either.

Gio Gonz is intriguing , but his asking price is probably too high and the same for Cahill. Maybe the Silent Assassin is working on an even better unexpected target.

]]> By: cur68 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/08/kelly-johnson-likely-to-accept-arbitration-from-blue-jays/comment-page-1/#comment-232026 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:58:59 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=101811#comment-232026 Yeah Mark, there’s all that. Then there’s Bill James who rates him highly defensively. I see him as a marketable trade chip for a reliever sometime in June or July. I think D’Arnaud will be the backup by then. Other than that, the Jays are looking nearly set. AA might still reel in Fielder, and if they do then, well Party on, Mark. If they don’t, then I think they are closing in on ~10 more wins for 2012, regardless, so party still likely on.

]]> By: Mark http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/08/kelly-johnson-likely-to-accept-arbitration-from-blue-jays/comment-page-1/#comment-232016 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:50:31 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=101811#comment-232016 While I’m quite happy with Santos & Johnson, calling Jeff Mathis a backup catcher is like calling me an ace starting pitcher. Technically, when called up I can take my position, but it doesn’t mean I’ll do a good job.

Mathis is the worst catcher between 09-11 by any stat you want to look at (wOBA, OPS, WAR etc). No amount of “leadership” or defence (of which he’s no better than average) will make up for that.

]]> By: proudlycanadian http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/08/kelly-johnson-likely-to-accept-arbitration-from-blue-jays/comment-page-1/#comment-232005 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 22:40:05 +0000 http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/?p=101811#comment-232005 Blue Jay Post Season Laundry List:

Backup Catcher – Check!
Closer – Check!
Second Baseman – Check?
Another Starting Pitcher – What is Billy Beane’s phone number?

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