Toronto Blue Jays Report Card: Adam Lind

With the 2014 Toronto Blue Jays season officially in the books, it comes time to reflect on the individual performances turned in by the players on the Jays’ roster.

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Over the coming days, each player on the team, aside from September call-ups, will have their season recapped and graded. Their contract status will also be examined.

Adam Lind, everyone’s favourite bearded fellow, is the subject of today’s report card.

Jun 4, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Adam Lind (26) at bat in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Grade: B

For the season, Lind appeared in 96 games for the Blue Jays. He missed a good chunk of the year dealing with a fractured foot. From a batting average and on-base percentage standpoint, he posted career-highs of .321 and .381 respectively.

His power numbers were down from a season ago, as he only managed to hit six home runs to go along with 40 RBIs. Those numbers actually represent career-lows.

The 31-year-old does more or less all of his damage against right-handed pitchers, batting .354 against them. In fact, for players with more than 200 at-bats, Lind has the highest batting average in the MLB against right-handers.

Lind’s stats in the clutch are a little bit contradictory. With runners in scoring position, he bats .343 with 33 RBIs. When a game is late and close (the seventh inning or later with your team down by two runs or less, winning by one, or tied), the Indiana native posts a mere .242 average.

Sep 16, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Adam Lind (26) catches a bunt pop-up by Baltimore Orioles left fielder Alejandro De Aza (not shown) in the first inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

In the field, Lind plays first base, but he spends the majority of his time as the team’s designated hitter. Defensively, he posted a DRS (defensive runs saved) of -3. Obviously you would like a positive value in this category. This number is more or less in-line with his career statistics in this department. He is a below-average defender, but that is masked by having him play mostly DH.

Overall, Lind is a very solid major-league player. The reason he can’t be scored higher than a B is because he cannot be relied upon to deliver against lefties. That will hold his value back significantly. In 33 at-bats, Lind recorded two hits. He doesn’t get many opportunities against southpaws, but when he does, he fails to convert.

Next Year’s Contract Status: Team Option for $7.5 Million

Jun 12, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Adam Lind (26) stands on the field prior to the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Baltimore Orioles defeated Toronto Blue Jays 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Lind finds himself in a bit of a predicament. As the season drew to a close, the laid-back first baseman criticized management for the way the rotation was handled to start the season. Lind would have liked to see Marcus Stroman start the year with the big club instead of having Dustin McGowan fill the fifth starter’s spot.

Nonetheless, I fully expect his option to be picked up. It is team-friendly money for a player who clobbers right-handed pitching. He will need a platoon partner, likely Danny Valencia, but Lind will be penciled into the middle of the lineup more often than not in 2015. I guess the question is whether or not that beautiful beard will be back for another season.

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