Non Roster Invitee: Joey Gathright – Blue Jays

The next stop on the non roster invitee trail iMLB: Royals v Rangers September 5, 2007s to a place north of the border. Ah, Toronto. A team that has been an after thought in the AL East for years and who will uncertainty be again this year.

I don’t know how Toronto will even find a way to be on national tv at all this season as they traded Roy Halladay and with the exception of Aaron Hill they feature a roster of 30-plus guys being paid too much and some unproven talent.

I’ve found myself being much more cynical in the non roster invitee reports this year. Of course in fairness with Toronto I’m basically writing about Joey Gathright. Kind of hard to talk positive with that type of energy in the room.

Had I had a more exciting player or one I actually didn’t dislike a lot I probably would have talked about how the fourth and fifth outfielder, as well as back up catcher and even a rotation spot or a few bull pen spots are for anyones taking. Oh but this is Joey Gathright.

Gathright has a great chance of making the team because well… there are currently only five players to span across three outfield and a DH spot leaving roughly two openings on the team by my count. What’s worse is that Gathright may be one of the better options with the unimpressive Jose Bautista and youngster Travis Snider at the corners there’s a great chance Gathright (perhaps based on the luck of not being the worst of the three at some point) may work himself into the role of a platoon or even a starting gig for some part of the year.

Gathright also gives the Blue Jays their best option in center field to replace Vernon Wells from time to time. I’d bash Wells but really everyone and their mom thought the guy was great when he was given that contract so you can’t completely blame the Blue Jays now departed front office.

Gathright didn’t play much last season between Chicago and Boston because really he’s just not that good and the guys ahead of him were at least expected to outproduce him. He still offers great speed on the base-paths, is a decent defensive option at all three outfield options and since he was signed on a minor league deal he’s may actually be the best outfielder on the Blue Jays dollar for dollar.

Ouch!

I don’t see Gathright getting 300 at-bats so you won’t need to gouge your eyes out with a fork but 200 is another story should Snider and Bautista continue to be awful.

So there you have it. Joey Gathright. I tried not to say too many mean things but seriously what else is there to say?

Non-Roster Invitees
Pitchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
36 Lance Broadway R/R 6-3 195 08/20/83
67 Willie Collazo L/L 5-8 180 11/07/79
4 Kyle Drabek R/R 6-0 185 12/08/87
72 Daniel Farquhar R/R 5-10 170 02/17/87
71 Shawn Hill R/R 6-2 225 04/28/81
33 Zach Jackson L/L 6-5 220 05/13/83
64 Chad Jenkins R/R 6-4 225 12/22/87
66 Rommie Lewis L/L 6-5 230 09/02/82
69 Steven Register R/R 6-1 180 05/16/83
73 Zachary Stewart R/R 6-2 205 09/28/86
Catchers B/T Ht Wt DOB
9 J.P. Arencibia R/R 6-0 215 01/05/86
62 Travis d’Arnaud R/R 6-2 195 02/10/89
12 Brian Jeroloman L/R 5-11 200 05/10/85
75 Matt Liuzza R/R 5-11 225 02/03/84
Infielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
76 David Cooper L/L 6-0 200 02/12/87
77 Brad Emaus R/R 5-11 210 03/28/86
68 Jesus Merchan R/R 6-0 185 03/26/81
46 Brett Wallace L/R 6-2 205 08/26/86
Outfielders B/T Ht Wt DOB
1 Joey Gathright L/R 5-10 185 04/27/81
20 Adam Loewen L/L 6-6 235 04/09/84
70 Chris Lubanski L/L 6-3 210 03/24/85
74 Jorge Padilla R/R 6-1 215 08/11/79
7 Jeremy Reed L/L 6-0 210 06/15/81
John Boarman
John Boarmanhttp://www.tireball.com
Founder and Owner of Tireball Sports.

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