Comments on: Blue Jays second base job “up for grabs” between Maicer Izturis and Emilio Bonifacio

By: jaysjunkie

jaysjunkie — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:30:39 +0000

Holy sh*t! Is that a dirtyharry comment in a Blue Jays post that doesn’t completely denigrate the team, city, or country they play in? That’s a first, I believe.

By: dirtyharry1971

dirtyharry1971 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:54:05 +0000

exactly, two utility infielders, does it really matter which one wins? talk about a non story

By: cur68

cur68 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:26:55 +0000

IIRC Izturis was signed on to replace the magnificence that was Kelly Johnson. This was before the Mega-Trade with the Feesh was in the works. I think AA has said or alluded that he wouldn’t have got Izturis if he’d anticipated getting Bonifacio. That’s how this log jam came to be, if the Toronto press is to be believed.

By: mathieug79

mathieug79 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:24:26 +0000

I know I’m not the only one that thinks Bonifacio can be a leadoff guy, Bautista said the same, the guy can get the bat on the ball, get on base, get inside the head of opposite pitchers/infielders. He can steal bases, I don’t see him as a leadoff hitter with the bluejays (since we have Reyes) but I see him as a #9 hitter and very good one at that. Also would like to point out, Bonifacio has been mentioned in trade talks all summer. So for AA to keep him, I think he sees something in him. AA also stated that if he would’ve known that he landed Bonifacio, he would’ve never signed Izturis, So that shows me he’s high on Bonifacio.

By: cur68

cur68 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:23:25 +0000

Lets have this discussion again in a few months. I’m going to be paying some attention to this kid and I suspect you will be as well. It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:22:47 +0000

I doubt either guy was acquired with the intention that he be a full time starter. Neither is good enough….I always thought the deal for Izturis was long and weird.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:20:53 +0000

Yes, if Bonifacio can replicate that .372 BABIP, he’s a useful player….but he is so bad that he couldn’t even start at 2B for the Cardinals.

By: cur68

cur68 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 20:16:45 +0000

Those are absolute statements and neglect Izturis’s age. He’s likely going to get worse, not better. In the one season, 2011, where Bonifacio had >600 PAs (something Izturis has never done: injuries, if I recall) he did rather well:
BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, OPS+
.296 .360 .393 .753 107

I like his chances.

By: paperlions

paperlions — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:54:31 +0000

Bonifacio plays bad defense and can’t hit a lick. Izturis plays good defense and hits better. If the Jays are really going to let 50 or so PAs in ST determine who “wins” the job….they have problems with their process.

By: cur68

cur68 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:39:39 +0000

Just looking at the numbers. Seems Izturis has the better numbers but there might be some truth to Bonifacio being underrated. Izturis is 32 going to 33. Bonifacio is 27 going to 28. Of the two its Bonifacio who has the better chance of improving overall. It wouldn’t take much for him to get close to Izturis’ numbers, since they are no screaming heck either. Its a pretty nice problem to have: either one of these guys could have a nice season with a solid team around them. I like how they could be used to relieve the other guys. Since Brett Lawrie plays like he’s The Ultimate Baseball Warrior, he’ll need days off to recover from trying to run through steel. Spring training will be fun, eh?

By: mathieug79

mathieug79 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 19:23:18 +0000

Bonifacio is so underrated, I would consider him the dark horse in the Miami trade. I sure hopes he proves everyone wrong. He’s used to turning double play with Reyes, he can also play outfield. I think he gets the 2B job, and Izturis who can play better ‘D’ at all infield position, will serves as Reyes, Lawrie, days off. When outfielders need days off, look for Bonifacio to play there and Izturis to serve as the 2nd basemen. This way Izturis will play more than he did for the Angels, and we get a .300 hitter with plus speed as our everyday 2B. I would like to see him hit #9, in front of Reyes, or even #2 if Cabrera struggles.

By: Old Gator

Old Gator — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:14:01 +0000

I haven’t watched Izturis much but Bonifacio with the Feesh was a competent at best infielder and a much better outfielder. His real value to the Feather Lice will be as a pesky early-order hitter who can keep the infielders pinned to the edge of the infield turf and as a distraction on the basepaths. I think the Toronto crowd will wind up taking him to heart.

By: Mark

Mark — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:42:55 +0000

It’s not much of a competition when Izturis is a hell of a lot better than Bonifacio.

By: cur68

cur68 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:30:45 +0000

Saw that. Pretty funny, actually. Farrell WISHES he had these problems instead of the ones he DOES have (see Aceves, Alfredo).

Gibbons will let them play for it, of course. If I recall Gibbons’s tendencies from when he was last manager, he was a “work the walk” kind of manager. So the qualified candidate will be “he who’s OBP is the best and isn’t Derek Jeter with the range”. The qualified candidate must be able to walk about as often as he makes an out at the plate. This’ll be fun.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:24:42 +0000

The real joke is John Farrell’s present team.

By: jaybird22seven

jaybird22seven — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:18:31 +0000

Good call proudlyCanadian !!! Lol

By: mudhead123

mudhead123 — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:10:25 +0000

Blue Jays… Haha

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:03:42 +0000

Aaron wrote John Farrell in paragraph 2 and Gibbons in paragraph 3. Will the real Blue Jays manager please stand up?

By: micksmantle

micksmantle — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:00:45 +0000

Cool. Two utility infielders competing for a starting job. Beasts of the AL East alright.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 16:55:37 +0000

LOL Aaron. Spot your mistake. How soon will it be before you correct the name of the Jay’s manager?