Bonifacio is an intriguing idea.  My only question with him is whether his 2011 season was a fluke.  In 2011 he batted just under .300, his OPS was a little over .750, and he stole 40 bases.  You betcher bippy I'd take that from my starting shortstop.  Anything close to those figures and we're in business.  Unfortunately Bonifacio has really never come close to his 2011 season in any other year, and he's only had one other full season to date.  


That said, he is 27, and he surely won't cost much coming off a 2012 season in which he got about 200 at bats and didn't do much with them.  In addition, with Izturis signed, it may be another signal that the Jays view Bonifacio as a utilityman---in which case, again, he can't possibly cost much to acquire.  At minimum, he'd be great insurance for both Barmes and Walker for 2013, and if he shows anything at all, he's your starting shortstop for at least the next couple of seasons, ie, until Hanson arrives from the minors, assuming Hanson himself doesn't switch positions (which I think is very likely, actually).

 

I like it.  I would definitely bring him here.  

BAMSTEELERFAN wrote: He hasn't played there much. 60 or so games in 2011 and none last season. He looks a bit too thick to move well. Over his career he's played more games in the OF.

www.baseball-reference.com/pla...bonifem01.shtml

katoy2j wrote: If a player is batting 8th in your lineup then chances are he will be below average for his position on offense. If that player is good on defense in a defense first position then you happily take that. It's the main reason why most 8th hitters in the NL and 9th hitters in the AL are catchers or shortstops.

BAMSTEELERFAN wrote: I don't know what happened to Ramirez. Big body, playing too demanding of a defensive position for too long? Probably what's happening to Tulo? Hanley wasn't always a poor defender. He was average in his younger days. Cal Ripken Jr. was a bigger guy too. Amazing that he played the same position, was great offensively and defensively for the better part of 20 years, and is the "Iron Man" of baseball. Rare talent.

BAMSTEELERFAN wrote: I don't know what happened to Ramirez. Big body, playing too demanding of a defensive position for too long? Probably what's happening to Tulo? Hanley wasn't always a poor defender. He was average in his younger days. Cal Ripken Jr. was a bigger guy too. Amazing that he played the same position, was great offensively and defensively for the better part of 20 years, and is the "Iron Man" of baseball. Rare talent.

williamjpellas wrote:

BAMSTEELERFAN wrote: I don't know what happened to Ramirez. Big body, playing too demanding of a defensive position for too long? Probably what's happening to Tulo? Hanley wasn't always a poor defender. He was average in his younger days. Cal Ripken Jr. was a bigger guy too. Amazing that he played the same position, was great offensively and defensively for the better part of 20 years, and is the "Iron Man" of baseball. Rare talent.

Ripken adhered to a very rigorous, carefully crafted fitness routine that was optimized for baseball.  He didn't do a great deal in terms of body building types of exercises.  Rather, most of what he did was geared toward flexibility and stamina.  If I remember correctly, he didn't do much that would be considered cutting edge or outside the box; his exercises included a lot of stretching and cardio and he played a lot of basketball in the offseason, and other than that, he did a lot of baseball movement-specific drills.  I would be curious to know if there are any major leaguers around today who adhere to most or all of his training program.  My guess would be no, since it probably wasn't anything "sexy".  Even so, sometimes the old ways are best, if they are done correctly.