Jays targetting Jeff Samardzija and/or Ryan Hanigan

[Angrioter]

That is a fine rotation. Likely Stroman isn't part of that rotation to start the season, but once injuries hit he will be up.

 

Yeah.

 

5-Happ

6-Rogers

7-Hutchison

8-Stroman

[G-Snarls]

Yeah.

 

5-Happ

6-Rogers

7-Hutchison

8-Stroman

 

That depth is EXCELLENT

 

We need to add one top of the rotation caliber guy

[Abomination]

That depth is EXCELLENT

 

We need to add one top of the rotation caliber guy

 

Don't forget Drabek either! I'm actually really excited to see if he can continue his approach from last year. If so, I might put him as the first callup.

[G-Snarls]

Don't forget Drabek either! I'm actually really excited to see if he can continue his approach from last year. If so, I might put him as the first callup.

 

Me too

 

I honestly think by June we'll have too many starters and have to trade one (fingers crossed, knocking on wood, and turning in a prayer circle as I say that)

[Dr. Dinger]

Bold prediction: Hutchison comes back to give us 100 innings of sub-4 ERA and 3 K/BB.

[JugglingPitches]

I'm not sold on Drabek yet...he was way too emotional. He can get that in check I'm sure but he was getting knocked around pretty good before he got hurt. He had one good month.

 

I still say a full season in AAA would do him good. Bring him up in September and let him earn a spot in Spring Training 2015.

 

Hutchison on the other hand...I'm dying to see him back.

[Chappy]

Bold prediction: Hutchison comes back to give us 100 innings of sub-4 ERA and 3 K/BB.

 

I'm on board with this. I am really excited to see him pitch this year. Honestly, the depth is f***ing awesome, we just need to strengthen then top 5 and surely AA will get us at least 1 upgrade without touching Stroman or Hutch.

[Chappy]

Yeah.

 

5-Happ

6-Rogers

7-Hutchison

8-Stroman

 

Don't forget Nolin and Drabek.

[Angrioter]

Bold prediction: Hutchison comes back to give us 100 innings of sub-4 ERA and 3 K/BB.

 

Easy to predict. It's like predicting that JPA will hit less than .210 with Texas.

[Angrioter]

Don't forget Nolin and Drabek.

 

Nolin yes, Drabek ummmmmmmmm No (TJS x 2)

[Sammy225]

Easy to predict. It's like predicting that JPA will hit less than .210 with Texas.

 

I like going with predicting he will have a sub .270 OBP. as well

[G-Snarls]

I like going with predicting he will have a sub .270 OBP. as well

 

That's what you call a DOUBLE DOWN!

 

-

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Li0Ssy1CODY/TOAZJXTk2mI/AAAAAAAAD6s/4rta6-sAk-g/s1600/KFC+Double+Down+Poster.jpg

[Chappy]

That's what you call a DOUBLE DOWN!

 

-

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Li0Ssy1CODY/TOAZJXTk2mI/AAAAAAAAD6s/4rta6-sAk-g/s1600/KFC+Double+Down+Poster.jpg

 

That looks disgusting.

[Sammy225]

That's what you call a DOUBLE DOWN!

 

-

 

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Li0Ssy1CODY/TOAZJXTk2mI/AAAAAAAAD6s/4rta6-sAk-g/s1600/KFC+Double+Down+Poster.jpg

 

Oh god. Don't get absolutely s*** face and decide to try one. That is a s***** entire next day...... literally

[G-Snarls]

I had to try one once. Just once. It was every bit as disgusting as it looks.

 

Blech

[Chappy]

I had to try one once. Just once. It was every bit as disgusting as it looks.

 

Blech

 

I bet. Now that I'm over 30, I can't imagine eating that without regretting it during and immediately after and the following day, lol.

[xposbrad]

That is a fine rotation. Likely Stroman isn't part of that rotation to start the season, but once injuries hit he will be up.

 

I wouldn't really call it a fine rotation, very average. Stroman is unknown, Morrow is inconsistent, Buerhle is stable but still he's a #3-#4. Dickey is a wildcard but more of a #2 guy now, the AL can hit him, and who knows how Samardijza will pitch in the AL. Still one of the weaker pitching rotations in the AL east.

[Chappy]

I wouldn't really call it a fine rotation, very average. Stroman is unknown, Morrow is inconsistent, Buerhle is stable but still he's a #3-#4. Dickey is a wildcard but more of a #2 guy now, the AL can hit him, and who knows how Samardijza will pitch in the AL. Still one of the weaker pitching rotations in the AL east.

 

We also have very good depth behind that rotation and a lockdown pen. I'm expecting big things if we can land Shark or an equivalent talent.

[xposbrad]

We also have very good depth behind that rotation and a lockdown pen. I'm expecting big things if we can land Shark or an equivalent talent.

 

I don't know if you're serious or not when you say big things. This club is a last place club in the AL east right now, that rotation might make it a second to last club at the BEST, but that's only if the Rays trade Price for prospects. The depth with Happ/Drabek, those guys are #5s, a lot of ballclubs have a lot of depth in the minors for call ups to be a #5. The Jays are not special in that case. A #2b starter like Samardijza will help, but we still need to replace Morrow. Now, if this team ALSO added Garza, traded Morrow, and signed a decent bat, then maybe we'd have some sort of chance, but I don't see that happening.

[Chappy]

I don't know if you're serious or not when you say big things. This club is a last place club in the AL east right now, that rotation might make it a second to last club at the BEST, but that's only if the Rays trade Price for prospects. The depth with Happ/Drabek, those guys are #5s, a lot of ballclubs have a lot of depth in the minors for call ups to be a #5. The Jays are not special in that case. A #2b starter like Samardijza will help, but we still need to replace Morrow. Now, if this team ALSO added Garza, traded Morrow, and signed a decent bat, then maybe we'd have some sort of chance, but I don't see that happening.

 

Depth is critical, look what happened last season when we had the likes of Bush, Jenkins, Ortiz, etc as our primary depth. We now have a younger and more talented group. Big difference.

[xposbrad]

Were the number 3 team in the East and number 6 team in the league right now per Steamer. This team is a few moves away from the playoffs.

 

We were also the favorites last year, how did that turn out? A few 'BIG' moves away, just like most teams. If Seattle trades for Price and signs Napoli or someone, they could just as easily be considered for the wild card. The Blue Jays are not the #6 team in the league currently, they weren't last year with Johnson, and they sure as hell aren't this year without him. They were a last place team in the East finishing 11th worst in the entire league I believe.

[Chappy]

Were the number 3 team in the East and number 6 team in the league right now per Steamer. This team is a few moves away from the playoffs.

 

Yup. Let's just wait and see if AA can make the necessary improvements. This team will be competitive, it's just a matter of whether it will be playoff calibre competitive or just finishing above .500 competitive. Right now I think adding a guy like Shark, flipping Happ and upgrading 2B puts us into playoff discussions.

[G-Snarls]

Depth is critical, look what happened last season when we had the likes of Bush, Jenkins, Ortiz, etc as our primary depth. We now have a younger and more talented group. Big difference.

 

(lest we forget Wang)

 

Our depth is now young with upside!

 

Rather than old with downside

 

I'll take it

[Sammy225]

Depth is critical, look what happened last season when we had the likes of Bush, Jenkins, Ortiz, etc as our primary depth. We now have a younger and more talented group. Big difference.

 

Oh for sure nobody is going to have a 100% healthy rotation. If we have a guy like Hutch and Happ and Stroman waiting in the wings. That could be huge. Sure the hell beats who we were giving innings to last season.

[Chappy]

We were also the favorites last year, how did that turn out? A few 'BIG' moves away, just like most teams. If Seattle trades for Price and signs Napoli or someone, they could just as easily be considered for the wild card. The Blue Jays are not the #6 team in the league currently, they weren't last year with Johnson, and they sure as hell aren't this year without him. They were a last place team in the East finishing 11th worst in the entire league I believe.

 

It's based on current WAR predictions as per Steamer, not personal opinions which are typically heavily flawed.

[Chappy]

(lest we forget Wang)

 

Our depth is now young with upside!

 

Rather than old with downside

 

I'll take it

 

Forgot about Wang. I have to admit, the group of guys we have as depth do excite me a bit. Not in terms of ridiculous expectations, rather that we have some cheap, controllable arms coming in which will be huge when it comes time for guys like Buehrle to walk and cash starts freeing up.

[xposbrad]

It's based on current WAR predictions as per Steamer, not personal opinions which are typically heavily flawed.

 

'predictions' , so like I said, how did that turn out last year? Were the projections and predictions off? I'd say so. I'm on some other BJs boards and it's great to see so many people optimistic about this team on this one. lol It's crazy but if you go to other boards, everyone else is a bit more realistic on the current state of the team. It's weird to see so many people happy with how this team is being run.

[Chappy]

'predictions' , so like I said, how did that turn out last year? Were the projections and predictions off? I'd say so. I'm on some other BJs boards and it's great to see so many people optimistic about this team on this one. lol It's crazy but if you go to other boards, everyone else is a bit more realistic on the current state of the team. It's weird to see so many people happy with how this team is being run.

 

*******face palm********

[KingKat]

Were the Blue Jays really projected as favourites last year? They were the Vegas favorites which really doesn't mean anything because that just means they became a popular bet. I seem to recall they were that the projections had them around 90 wins (maybe even a hair below).

[Abomination]

'predictions' , so like I said, how did that turn out last year? Were the projections and predictions off? I'd say so. I'm on some other BJs boards and it's great to see so many people optimistic about this team on this one. lol It's crazy but if you go to other boards, everyone else is a bit more realistic on the current state of the team. It's weird to see so many people happy with how this team is being run.

 

Teams run in to both good and bad luck. Last year almost anything that could go wrong for us, did. That doesn't mean the talent on the team would project to last place this year with average luck. Opposite with the O's 2 years ago. They had incredibly good luck, but they weren't a 2nd place talent. This year they finished 4th.

 

You can't just point to the standings and assume that even with no changes to a roster, they'd look anything close to the same the next year.