Travis Snider...Travis, Travis, Travis, Travis, TRAVIS!!! Oh how you toy with my heart each and every year. Since his initial stint in the big leagues in 2008, I (along with many other Jays fans) have been waiting for him to explode and become one of the better LF's in the league (both offensively and defensively), but each season we're left shaking our heads,baffled at how he is unable to remain up with the big club. I have to admit that I really thought that last year was going to be his year, I was sure of it...maybe it was the 'comin' home' promo ads of him walking in slo-mo..or maybe it was because it was his 4th year with the club and after going up and down from the minors to the show, it was finally his time to shine. However, he and his awful mustache were unable to make it happen. Here's a break down of Baby Face's career thus far:
2008
Snider was first called up to the Jays
on August 29, 2008. He stayed with the club for the remainder of that season and finished with the following stats.
| G | AB | H | SO | AVG | ||
| 2008 | Jays | 18 | 64 | 22 | 23 | 0.301 |
Fans were left with giddyness at what this kid had the potential to be....
2009
After a great September the prior season, Snider started the 2009 season with the Jays. He got off to a decent start but quickly stalled and was sent back to Triple A in May.
| G | AB | H | SO | AVG | ||
| 2009 | Minors | 48 | 175 | 59 | 47 | 0.337 |
| Jays | 77 | 241 | 58 | 78 | 0.241 |
He absolutely lit it up in the minors for three months and was recalled by the Jays again in August where his numbers sucked...but "Hey," we thought, "this happens to most young players."
2010
The 2010 season, Snider was all over the place (3 different leagues in the minors) and the big club. Here's the comparison...
| G | AB | H | SO | AVG | ||
| 2010 | Minors | 25 | 104 | 28 | 24 | 0.291 |
| Jays | 82 | 298 | 76 | 79 | 0.255 |
Well, he spent more time with the big club than he had to date, so maybe he'd turn the corner soon. "Next year will definitely be his 'Ah-ha!' year."
2011
After opening the 2011 season with the Jays he had a .184 batting average with 1 home
run and 12 RBI through 25 games, Snider was optioned to AAA on April 28.
| G | AB | H | SO | AVG | ||
| 2011 | Minors | 61 | 248 | 81 | 44 | 0.327 |
| Jays | 49 | 187 | 42 | 56 | 0.225 |
On July 3, Baby Face was recalled by the Blue Jays. However, on August 4 Snider was optioned back to Triple-A to make room for some guy named Brett Lawrie. His frustrating season came to an end when he was diagnosed with tendinitis in his right wrist on August 25 and didn't play another game.
One can look at these stats and clearly see that Snider struggles at the Major League level...he then gets sent down to the minors and tears the cover off of the ball. So the team thinks 'Hey, kid is back on track' and they call him up again only to see him decline. What is it about this player that he can't produce with any consistency in the Majors. I've heard some say that with his history of wrist injuries, he has trouble turning on fastballs at the major league level. Many believe that he has a tough time laying off pitches (see SO #'s) and therefore doesn't take enough walks.
So, as we approach the 2012 season, one can't help but think that this has to be Snider's last chance with the club. The job in LF is Snider's to lose, and if Eric Thames' workout regiment this off season is a sign of what he could do with the bat this year, Snider could be in trouble. Snider is clearly the better defender, but if he can't get his stuff together that position is Thames'.
I just can't write him off yet...its hard to write off a player that has yet to play a full season in the majors. He has to have the shortest leash on the team this year for sure. To be honest, I was
surprised that he wasn't dealt in the off-season. Perhaps nobody wanted
him...if he fails to stay up this year, his trade value will be next to
nil. Snider has long been one of my favourite Jays, but its hard to still believe that he can pull it off in the bigs. Don't get me wrong, I WANT him to succeed...BADLY, but with each demotion-promotion-demotion cycle, I lose hope..I think that we all do.
Even though he's spent parts of 4 seasons in the Majors, I keep forgetting that Travis Snider is just 24 years old - one year younger than Eric Thames, actually.
ReplyDeleteI think that's partially why expectations have been built up so high for Snider, because this has been 4 years in the making. I just hope he can finally string together a full season without injuries or swing re-tooling.
It would be a shame to send that beautiful 'stache back down to Vegas for another season. The ladies of Toronto need to see that thing full time.
I agree with most of what you wrote except where you say tha Snider has the edge going in to Spring Training. AA clearly stated not too long ago that Thames had a leg up going in to ST because he had the job last summer. That said, if Snider hits the ball hard and shows a good approach during his at bats, he should get another opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI've gotta agree with Janssen here. I think LF is actually Thames' to lose. No question Snider's got the bigger upside (or so the scouts tell us, though we're still waiting), but he's been so up and down that Snider needs to show some consistency to earn the spot. I think his ST needs to be out of this world to snag the spot, unless Thames bombs.
ReplyDeletegc27...You make it seem that he needs to blow Thames out of the water...I really don't think that's the case. I think he needs to simply be as good as Thames. Snider's D is much stronger and judging by the pics I've seen of Thames from the Winter Tour, he's gained some lbs...he looks uber-strong. That could slow him down out there in LF. Still...his cuts at the plate are gonna be EPIC!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree that Snider has been befuddling. His potential coming into the bigs was huge. But I wonder if that was just the "hype" and what we're seeing isn't so much his failure, but his inability to match the hype. Toronto sports fans do have a tendency to do those kinds of things ... you know draft a guy and then claim he can clap his hands and part the sea.
ReplyDeleteI really like Snider. I don't think he's been fairly treated by the Jays. We all love Cito Gaston, but we're also aware of his biases towards veteran players. So a large part of his being sent to the minors may be attributable to that. As well, the Jays seem to have a quick trigger with him. Not playing well = send him down ... when I think it may have been more constructive to have him work with Dwayne Murphy closely. True, injuries have played a major role in stalling his development. But so have extraneous factors. He also never had an opportunity to develop in the minors. He was drafted out of high school and got the call. I've heard many times that players require a minimum of 600-700 ABs in A-ball before moving up. Snider never had that chance. So maybe his continuous demotion to Vegas is making up for that.
I watched a special on Jays connected last year that showed how hard he was working in Vegas to get back on track and I believe he has been working very hard. He is by far the best LF option we have if he can string together some consistency. I think its unrealistic to forecast him as a .280 30-100-30 kind of guy. But I would be more than happy with .270-20-80-20. This is where I think Snider could be. His outfield abilities are far superior to Thames, even if he doesn't have black panthers for biceps.
Personally, I'm over Snider. True he's young and has had a career plagued by injuries, but that can be said for any thousands of players in The Bigs. How many times can we keep turning to him in hopes that he'll pan out? If you're not performing at the level that is expected of you time and time again, you're going to lose your job, and Snider has.
ReplyDeleteI remember hearing Buck talking about Snider's natural power last year in Spring Training, and how during batting practice he was hitting moon shots consistently out of the park in Dunedin. Show me that in a game! Actually show me something other than 3 strikeouts per game. If Snider can out it together in Spring, give him a shot. If he's usual craptastic self, then let's see those panthers of Thames roar!
As for defense, yes Snider is better; but in all honesty I'll trade fielding for a better bat any day of the week.