Jays 13 – Twins 3: Opening Night 2011
What a way to start the 2011 season. Not having caught as much of the ST games as I would have liked, the Jays showed in the 1st inning some of the mentality that is being espoused by Farrell, and heres hoping it continues throughout the year, not just the high of opening night. The Jays have been historically excellent in the first game, so it bears some watching to see whether the energy and baseball smarts displayed today play up in the dog days of summer.
Right off the bat, the Jays executed a solid double steal. Even better, on a sac fly by Hill with the bases loaded, the Jays managed to move all their runners up – most spectacularly Lind (a red light runner – I call him the Albatross because of how he “flaps his wings’ – his elbows – when he runs hard) moving up from 1st to 2nd. It set the tone for the night as the Jays continued to play smart baseball at the dish, on the mound, running the basepaths, and in the field.
Some initial thoughts on the first day:
- Arencibia looked a tad agressive with the bat, swinging at some pitches that looked out of the zone, but man was he dialed in with the 2 very solid HRs, espeically the first to straightaway centre. He was extremely hot his first ML game last year before going ice cold down the stretch, so heres hoping he makes the adjustment and continues to hit, as pitchers will begin to notice his aggressive tendencies. Defensively he was solid, and I loved his non-traditional positioning to catch Romero, a la Carlos Ruiz and his body of work with the Phils. I think defensively he will be fine, and as long as he keeps patient at the plate and works on that, he will be very good offensively as well, especially for a catcher. I think by years end he will more or less equal John Buck with us last year, and down the road will be an improvement.
- Bautista picked up where he left off last year with a pulled blast to left, and a very patient approach at the plate. He wont replicate last years numbers, as he himself has admitted, but I think he will play his worth from the contract this year, 35+ HR easy, maybe even 40. It was clear when they announced the lineups that Bautista has taken on the leadership role in the clubhouse, and hes a more serious, and yet more fun, energizing, and outspoken leader than Wells, or Delgado before him, ever were. His contract will look great this year – will it look the same way at the tail-end in 2015?
- Rajai Davis has serious wheels, and the new approach at the plate I think is legit. That being said, he is still too aggressive, especially for a leadoff hitter, though he has the insane bat speed and hand-eye co-ord to make up for it a bit by making a lot of contact. Hes not a long-run leadoff man in my book, and his arm looked weaker than I would have liked for CF, but he can hold down the fort, has value, and maybe is a trade chip of Gose can move quickly (who will cover the inadequacies of Davis in the patience and arm department).
- Lind looked much better with the bat. I dont think he will come all the way back to 2009, but he will be much closer to that form than last year’s.
- Hill’s line drive double was a sigh of relief for me. After he got under the sac fly in the first, I was wondering how long Id have to wait to see him not get under a ball. Luckily it didnt take long, and his legs seemed to show no ill-effects of the quad injury. Rebounds in 2011.
- EE – looked better with the glove at 3b, as per reports out of ST, and I think hes taken longer but adjusted to the AL with his bat. I think he breaks out this year.
- Snider showed some legit speed on the basepaths, and his approach and swing looked improved from last year. Its not as good as he looked in the early goings in 2009, but he will be better than 2010. Not digging the mullet or stache though.
- Rivera is arguably the only position player I want off this team. The sooner he gets going so we can trade him, the better. He doesnt fit with the system we have going in TO. Lawrie or Thames cant come fast enough.
Regarding the Twins, Pavano was rattled and acted like his Yankee days. Not a fan of him, his periperhals werent as supportive of his 17Wins last year. Was not crazy about Nishioka either. As for the Jays pitching, Villanneuva looked great ending the game, and hoping hes a solid pickup for this team long run.
