Blue Jays to blame for Travis Snider’s struggles?
I came into 2011 (and still hold out hope) thinking that Travis Snider was ready to break out and approach a 30-homer campaign. After all, he left the yard 14 times in just 82 games a year ago.
Despite a tough wrist injury last year, he was able to bounce back and displayed his power in the second half. There is no doubt that his bat provides plenty of pop, but he just hasn't been able to put it all together at the major league level yet.
His strikeouts may be his Achilles' heel at the moment, but improvements in plate discipline can be expected; he's only 23 years old. He can hit southpaws well, too. The Canadian lefty was the Toronto Blue Jays' most promising prospect moving up through the minors.
This is where the development of Snider in the Jays' organization has become a bit frustrating. He has been sent down to Triple-A Las Vegas three times in four seasons with Toronto in order to "get him on track." Las Vegas and the Pacific Coast League is a hitter's haven in the minors, so sending him down to beat up on Class AAA pitching isn't helping him learn how to hit in The Show.
He was hitting just .184 with one homer and 23 punchouts in just 87 at-bats before being sent down April 28. Yes, he was struggling, but GM Alex Anthopoulos needs to take the kid gloves off.
Plenty of potential in Snider's stick
"He's certainly talented enough, and with his makeup and work ethic, he can play through anything," Anthopoulos said. "But I think ultimately, we don't see Travis Snider as a 7-, 8-, 9-hole bat. We think he has a chance to be a middle-of-the-order bat. But we need to get him right."
If he can play through anything, why can't he play through a little early-season slump. Even some of the best sluggers in the game (Albert Pujols, Adam Dunn, Carlos Gonzalez) struggled mightily this April. What's even more perturbing: The team sent him down after he had a hit in five straight contests.
Anthopoulos said Snider had been pulling off too many pitches and was too far out in front at the plate. Here's my question: If you already know what he's doing wrong at the big league level, why not enlighten him of these mechanical tweaks and see if he can't make an adjustment against pro pitching first?
The Blue Jays may have been a bit rushed to make a decision on Snider, with the club needing to open a roster spot for Rajai Davis, who was activated from the disabled list. Instead, they chose to keep Corey Patterson over Snider.
Toronto is not setting a timetable to bring Snider back across the border. It could be sooner rather than later, though; he went 4-for-4 with a double and walk in his first game with Las Vegas and is hitting .538 (7-for-13) in four games on the farm. He has two strikeouts and six walks.
The real test will come when the club feels he is ready to contribute at the major league level again. If he starts off slow once again, Toronto has no choice but to let him take it on the chin and work himself out of it.
Bits and Pieces
- The trade market for Francisco Liriano will surely heat up after his no-no against the currently punchless Chicago White Sox Tuesday. He walked six and struck out just two, which were the fewest K's in a no-hitter since 1980. Those that were looking to buy low on the Twins' lefty, good luck now. Those looking to sell high now, good luck also. There won't be many more solid outings in his future unless he can find his control.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall
- Ian Stewart is finally back with the Rockies after hitting .074 in 27 at-bats to begin the year. He couldn't find his timing to start the season after dealing with injuries and an illness throughout most of spring training and into the start of the regular season. With Ty Wigginton on the DL and Jose Lopez struggling at the plate, Stewart should see steady playing time. His 15-20 homer potential is tastier than the other CI options on the wire.
- After the confusion as to whether Jonathan Broxton was still the team's closer last week, things have gone from bad to worse. J-Brox was unable to escape the ninth in one-third of an inning against the Cubbies Tuesday; he allowed two earned runs and two walks.
Elbow pain has shut the 300-pound closer down for the time being, and an MRI exam will bring a clearer picture of how long he will be out. It's beginning to look more and more like something is seriously wrong with him physically. The velocity continues to plummet and his command is nowhere to be found.
We told you to pick up Vicente Padilla last week in the wake of Broxton's ineffectiveness. I hope you did, or took a chance on Hong-Chih Kuo as an alternative. Don Mattingly is leaning toward a closer-by-committee that could include Padilla, Kuo, Blake Hawksworth, Matt Guerrier, and eventually Kenley Jansen. Although Padilla and Kuo aren't likely to be used on back-to-back days initially, they should still be your first targets.
