AA: Jays need to upgrade at the 5th starter and 2B spot

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

You know what else would be good? A non-terrible bench!

 

To go with non-terrible Starters who can go at least 6 innings !

 

To go with a non-terrible pen who could walk batters less !

[The_DH]

I had to check the date on the original post date. This has only been stated a million times. By us constantly and by AA before he got shut down.

[G-Snarls]

Who's zuan talking about?

 

Oops sorry

 

He was referring to Happ

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

Oops sorry

 

He was referring to Happ

 

Oh s***, I Agee with zuan!( fade to black) Lol

[ElNik2013]

AA said this same thing after the 2013 season and repeated it a couple of times during the off season. He reportedly almost signed Santana, reportedly almost got Kinsler and reportedly almost got Anderson.

 

Bottom line: AA didn't get it done in the off season.

[John_Havok]

now he's bashing the Jays hitting approach.

 

Admittedly I didn't hear what Zaun has to say, but there is lots left to be desired by the Jays offense. They are not a consistent threat at the plate inning after inning. More than half the lineup is practically useless on any given day. They score in bunches, but once they've scored big in one inning, they go silent for the rest of the game. Sustained pressure on the opposing pitcher is virtually non existent.

[G-Snarls]

AA said this same thing after the 2013 season and repeated it a couple of times during the off season. He reportedly almost signed Santana, reportedly almost got Kinsler and reportedly almost got Anderson.

 

Bottom line: AA didn't get it done in the off season.

 

Right

 

The good news? He knew (and still knows) that we need a better 2B and another starter

 

The bad news? He failed to do so out of some combination of:

 

- bad luck (Kinsler trade)

- too much despairing (Santana)

- unwillingness to give up too high of a price in trade (Price, Shark)

- Rogers sudden cheapness

- Beeston's personal squabbles (Drew)

 

#1 is bad luck, number 2 a bit dumb, a bit unlucky, #3 probably smart, #4 is worrisome, #5 is full derp

Edited April 25, 2014 by G-Snarls

[John_Havok]

http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/04/25/toronto-blue-jays-gm-alex-anthopoulos-says-fifth-starter-second-base-spots-occupied-by-dustin-mcgowan-ryan-goins-are-teams-biggest-concerns

 

No s*** sherlock. This couldve been written in November 2013.

 

It was written in November. And then December, January, February, March and now April. AA had 5 months to upgrade at these positions and sat around waiting for prices to drop on free agents, it never happened and now he's up s*** Greek without a paddle.

[Deadpool]

To go with non-terrible Starters who can go at least 6 innings !

 

To go with a non-terrible pen who could walk batters less !

 

Our pen really isn't that bad (or, historically, hasn't been). The past 2 games plus that one 8 walk crazytimeday thing shouldn't be the norm from them...

[ElNik2013]

Admittedly I didn't hear what Zaun has to say, but there is lots left to be desired by the Jays offense. They are not a consistent threat at the plate inning after inning. More than half the lineup is practically useless on any given day. They score in bunches, but once they've scored big in one inning, they go silent for the rest of the game. Sustained pressure on the opposing pitcher is virtually non existent.

 

 

I agree. I will say though that that useless half the lineup includes Lawrie, Rasmus and to a lesser extent EE and Reyes at the moment which should improve (fingers crossed) although you never know.

 

 

Another issue is the homerun dependence, it seems like they score so many of their runs off the HR although I don't have the stats to back it up.

[BlueJayWay]

I agree. I will say though that that useless half the lineup includes Lawrie, Rasmus and to a lesser extent EE and Reyes at the moment which should improve (fingers crossed) although you never know.

 

 

Another issue is the homerun dependence, it seems like they score so many of their runs off the HR although I don't have the stats to back it up.

Just doing a quick calculation with the splits data, it looks like 47 of the Jays 99 runs (47.5%) have been scored off the homerun...I think the MLB average is not much below that, maybe low 40s.

[ElNik2013]

Just doing a quick calculation with the splits data, it looks like 47 of the Jays 99 runs (47.5%) have been scored off the homerun...I think the MLB average is not much below that, maybe low 40s.

 

 

Thanks for that. I guess it's just recent memory kicking in. I don't think they hit a HR in Cleveland and don't think they hit more than 2 in Minnesota.

[eastcoastjaysfan]

Haven't updated since Tues, but xWAR from xxFIP has them 2nd in the league after Braves. Will update soon.

 

The Jays bullpen is 2nd in baseball behind the Braves? Did I read that correctly?

[G-Snarls]

They were really good for the first 15 games and terrible since. I can still see them being among the better pens.

[G-Snarls]

Yep, Santos, Cecil, Loup were main contributors all below 3.00. That was 2 days ago though.

 

Yeah the last 5 games or so have been brutal

 

Before that the pen looked good

[G-Snarls]

What's TBF?

 

(Must be something simple...)

[G-Snarls]

And yeah high K and BB rates which is a bit odd.

 

Loup and Santos have had lots of both. Hopefully won't continue. (Well the walks anyway)

[G-Snarls]

From the "just sayin'" department

 

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/5971076369_5bba5c96a6.jpg

 

3G

21 IP

1.95 FIP

0.86 ERA

1 HR

24 K

4 BB

[G-Snarls]

To be fair, that was 2 games vs the Mets and 1 vs the Phillies. But still...

[JFD]

Admittedly I didn't hear what Zaun has to say, but there is lots left to be desired by the Jays offense. They are not a consistent threat at the plate inning after inning. More than half the lineup is practically useless on any given day. They score in bunches, but once they've scored big in one inning, they go silent for the rest of the game. Sustained pressure on the opposing pitcher is virtually non existent.

 

agree completely. also, when they fall behind in a game everyone starts swinging for the fences instead of trying to get on base.

[TheHurl]

Perhaps he was simply stating the obvious. But when Alex Anthopoulos identified the two major concerns his team faces, he might also have been serving notice on Dustin McGowan and Ryan Goins.

 

The Toronto Blue Jays general manager appeared Friday on an ESPN podcast with baseball writer Buster Olney, who asked about the main challenges facing the team.

 

“We like our [first] four spots in the rotation,” Anthopoulos replied. “Our fifth spot, we have McGowan in there right now. J.A. Happ’s obviously a guy that can step in and be a starter for us as well.

 

“Second base, it’s outstanding defensively with Ryan Goins, but from an offensive standpoint we can certainly upgrade there. Apart from that, we feel like we’re a pretty good club.”

 

McGowan has struggled since the Jays rushed the converted reliever into the rotation at the start of the season. In four starts, he owns a 6.88 ERA and a 1.824 WHIP, which means he typically allows almost two baserunners per inning. When batters put the ball in play against him, they’re hitting .368.

 

McGowan is a averaging 4.25 innings per start and admitted Wednesday that fatigue typically sets in when he reaches the 60-65 pitch range.

 

While Happ waits in the bullpen, the Jays also have another option at Triple-A. They believe Marcus Stroman is ready – “he’s a fully formed pitcher,” as one source put it – and if McGowan continues to tread water, they would not hesitate to promote him.

 

In four starts at Buffalo, Stroman has a 2.18 ERA with 26 strikeouts, six walks and 22 hits in 20 2/3 innings.

 

The options for second base are less obvious. Team defence has been a strength for Toronto, in contrast to 2013, and Goins has been a big part of that improvement.

 

The Jays enter a weekend series against Boston with a record of 11-11. They could sit well above .500 but for the surprising collapse of the bullpen over the past week. In the past seven games, Jays’ relievers have allowed 22 earned runs and 24 walks in 23 2/3 innings.

 

 

Anthopoulos seemed confident the past week was an aberration and that the return of closer Casey Janssen from the disabled list would help to steer the relief corps back to productivity.

“The bullpen has been a strength,” he told Olney. “We’ve had really a rough week here in the ‘pen but overall it’s been a strength for us, and getting Janssen back probably in about a week will certainly help.”

 

But the GM certainly did not jump at the chance to give McGowan and Goins a hearty vote of confidence.

 

“One more starter, and a second baseman that would maybe add a little more offence, are probably the two things that would really jump out,” he said as he zeroed in on the club’s key flaws.

 

The more I see quotes from AA, the more I think how he reminds me of bad message board posters.

[8D]

it's so early I'm not worried about the pen.

rough little patch right now, and surely that is giong to skew some stats with such limited playing time, but this BP should be at least top 10 at the end of the season.

[G-Snarls]

MAYBE YOU SHOULD HAVE UPGRADED THE ROTATION AND 2B IN THE OFF SEASON WHEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EASY, INSTEAD OF IN MAY WHEN IT WILL BE REALLY HARD

 

Mad filler

[jays4life19]

I wonder how much it would take to pray away both Shark and Starlin Castro away from the Cubs. Front line starter and Castro would be a huge upgrade at second and could play SS if/when Reyes gets hurt.

 

Would probably take a ridiculous package of prospects. But with Shark saying he wants a huge contract because it would be unfair to future players if he doesn't max out. ( i always find it funny when players say this, they just want to get paid) and Baez getting close...i wonder if we could get something done.

 

We've looked extremely average this year, as expected....but those 2 guys would be huge upgrades.

 

Obviously this is assuming the division is in reach in june/july. I don't see anyone running away with it though.

[GD]

I wonder how much it would take to pray away both Shark and Starlin Castro away from the Cubs. Front line starter and Castro would be a huge upgrade at second and could play SS if/when Reyes gets hurt.

 

Would probably take a ridiculous package of prospects. But with Shark saying he wants a huge contract because it would be unfair to future players if he doesn't max out. ( i always find it funny when players say this, they just want to get paid) and Baez getting close...i wonder if we could get something done.

 

We've looked extremely average this year, as expected....but those 2 guys would be huge upgrades.

 

Obviously this is assuming the division is in reach in june/july. I don't see anyone running away with it though.

 

Probably our top 6/7 prospects or something with Lawrie/Hutch in it. I've had the same idea too, lol.

[DuckDuckGose]

Stroman and Sanchez are going to be traded for Utley and Kendrick. This is inevitable.

 

You shut your filthy lying mouth! As I cover my ears and sing loudly

[DuckDuckGose]

It was written in November. And then December, January, February, March and now April. AA had 5 months to upgrade at these positions and sat around waiting for prices to drop on free agents, it never happened and now he's up s*** Greek without a paddle.

 

You mean he's waste deep in tzatziki without a kebab.

[ElNik2013]

I suspect AA realizes he got screwed badly over the last 18 months and is gun-shy. Problem is, the team is stuck in the middle.

 

 

I will say this, I hope he walks the plank and doesn't mortgage any more of the farm to save his behind.

[Angrioter]

Stroman, Gose, Nay and Tirado for Shark and Barney coming soon.

[skinny123]

AA thinks the jays have 4 good starters? They've been selling the morrow dream now for 3 years, how long will they keep bs'ing the fans to avoid the real problem, they don't want to go out and spend to bring in another couple of arms and finish what they started.