Buffalo Boy's Blog
Giving You More Than Just My Two Cents
Jays Miss Hill
Aaron Hill is missed in the Jays lineup. Watching several games over the last week or so, they are lacking that true number two hitter, a guy who hits for average who has some power and can run a little to put in that two hole.
They also miss his defense. Unfortunately, out with a concussion, Hill isn't due back any time soon. Is it just me or has their been a big jump in concussions around the league this year? This is supposed to be a non-contact sport so why are guys getting hit in the head?
If you trace these offensive woes back, they really picked up steam right when Hill went down. Hill wasn't off to a great start, but he was better than Scutaro and the current combination they have in there now. He was more of a threat to opposing pitchers than Scutaro is and made pitchers pitch to him.
Im not saying that Scutaro isn't a good player but hes good for coming off the bench, not your full time second baseman. It will be interesting to see if Gaston and his staff can get this lineup going without Aaron. Right now they have Lyle Overbay hitting second. I don't know what to think of Lyle, after his first year here, there was so much promise.
I wouldn't mind exploring a trade of Overbay with a prospect pitcher or AJ Burnett to bring in a big time 1st baseman and or shortstop. You look back at the World Series teams and they had two things. They were had a strong hitter at 1st (John Olerud) and they were rock solid up the middle Borders/Myers at catcher, Alomar at 2nd, Lee/Fernandez at SS and Devon White in Centerfield.
It will be nice if Gaston as any input to this formula. He also managed a team that though they hit the homerun, was extremely good, if not the best at manufacturing runs. It wasn't always about the long ball with those teams, it was about getting the ball to the gap and hitting for average.
Its not going to happen overnight, Gibbons and Company have had time to instill a certain system in these guys. Im giving Gaston and Co. till July to get the ship righted, then to rachet it up a notch or two once July hits and make up some ground.
Aaron Hill has to be part of that eventually.
Dude these guys are just plain bad. They can't even stay in a game with the pirates!!!! Sell the team!!! Sell them to Buffalo.
Walter, mark my words, this team will not finish this bad under Cito. They may not make the playoffs, but I think they are going to develop a lot faster under Cito and the veteran management and coaches that have come back.
Like I said, give it till July, You can't judge this team based on two games on the road, Cito and co. need some time to undo Gibbon's work. I don't think Gibbons was a great hitting guy. I Think Mickey Brantley the hitting coach from last year who was fired and replaced by Gary Denbo deserves a lot more credit for the hitting this team did. It wasn't his fault that the Jays lineup was tore up last year. He did a great job with this lineup previous to last year. And if you remember, John Mcdonald hit fairly well last year as a full time shortstop and this team came on strong in the second half despite injuries to Vernon Wells and Overbay.
Develope?? These are professionals for christ sake!!! They should not need to develope!!! I'll give them this season but will only watch out of the corner of my eye.