Music: {allcanada} Snider's problems 'mechanical'

Friday, April 29, 2011

{allcanada} Snider's problems 'mechanical'

Travis Snider needs to work on shortening his swing and Alex Anthopoulos believes the best place for him to do it is the minors.

That was the reasoning presented Friday by the Toronto Blue Jays general manager for the surprising decision Thursday to demote the struggling 23-year-old Snider to their triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas.

"He's been pulling off the ball a lot…needs to shorten up a bit," Anthopoulos explained, adding the club has been contemplating the move for "a little while now."

In 25 games this season, Snider is batting .184 with a homer and 12 RBIs.

And while the Jays gave no timeline for their 2006 first-round draft pick's return to the majors, Anthopoulos went out his way to express his confidence in Snider's future.

"I'm extremely fond of him…the whole organization is," he said. "There's no doubt in my mind Travis is going to be a great player."

Meanwhile, Anthopoulos confirmed that 24-year-old David Cooper—who was called up Thursday from Vegas—will serve as the team's designated hitter with Juan Rivera moving to left field in place of Snider.

Watch the Jays vs. Yankees live tonight on Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific tonight at 7 p.m. ET.

The Stockton, Calif. native was the 17th pick in the 2008 draft – one spot after the Brewers selected Blue Jays third base prospect Brett Lawrie – but nearly fell off the radar after a couple of unimpressive seasons in the minors.

Anthopoulos said Cooper has shown a good eye in Vegas, pointing to the fact he has more walks than strikeouts, and has hit well against fellow left-handers.

In the second half of last season with double-A New Hampshire, Cooper began turning around his game and hasn't stopped hitting since.

He finished the 2010 campaign with .257 batting average, on OBP of .327, 20 homers, 30 doubles and 78 RBIs.

All 20 of his homers came from May onwards.

Cooper proceeded to impress this spring, and has been on a torrid pace at Las Vegas, batting .395 with 12 doubles, two homers and 19 RBIs in 20 games. The left-handed hitter also walked seven times with just six strikeouts and can handle lefties (7-for-15 with a homer and six RBIs this season).

On Friday it's believed Rajai Davis will be activated from the 15-day disabled list, in time to join the club for the start of a three-game series in New York against the Yankees.

Infielder Chris Woodward was also sent down to triple-A Las Vegas after Thursday.