Wins Above Average: Jays 2nd overall, weakness at bullpen, C, and CF?

[jaysfan2014]

Found this on Baseball-Reference looking at season stats.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/2014.shtml

 

Under Wins Above Average, Jays are 2nd at 5.8 Wins Above Average, being #1 at 1B and RF, and having strong numbers at 3B, LF, and the DH group of Lind/Encarnacion/Navarro/Pillar/Kratz/Francisco.

 

It did say we were weak in the bullpen (-1.6, 14th in the AL), but this was before McGowan was moved to the bullpen and Janssen returned, and will improve. Jays SP is 3rd only to Detroit's elite starters and Houston (credit Dallas Keuchel for that).

 

Only 5 teams are above average this season so far, in Oakland, Toronto, LA Angels, Detroit and the Yankees. All the rest of the league is below average, as pretty much already known.

[Brenner]

Interesting. Surprised that we are at or above average at 2b, that bad at Catcher (i thought the trio has been pretty good). No surprises that we rock at RF (Joey Bats), 1b (Edwin), and DH (Lind/Fransisco). At the beginning of the year most everyone would have predicted the numbers for our starters and relievers to be flipped.

[jaysfan2014]

Extrapolating the charts, I noticed Tampa Bay is in REALLY bad shape. Only Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist, along with the SP (mostly Price, Cobb and Archer) are above average. Longoria is below average due to his regression defensively, and Wil Myers isn't hitting at a decent clip, and is playing shoddy defense in RF, leading to such negative WAA in RF and 3B.

 

And boy, do the Rays need a backup catcher other than Molina. His terrible numbers offset all the positivity Hanigan has brought at the C spot, and now Hanigan is on the DL. Is it a wonder the Rays are struggling?

[baseballsss]

Extrapolating the charts, I noticed Tampa Bay is in REALLY bad shape. Only Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist, along with the SP (mostly Price, Cobb and Archer) are above average. Longoria is below average due to his regression defensively, and Wil Myers isn't hitting at a decent clip, and is playing shoddy defense in RF, leading to such negative WAA in RF and 3B.

 

And boy, do the Rays need a backup catcher other than Molina. His terrible numbers offset all the positivity Hanigan has brought at the C spot, and now Hanigan is on the DL. Is it a wonder the Rays are struggling?

 

And here comes the fan boyss to tell you how great they are and they will do just fine

[jaysfan2014]

And here comes the fan boyss to tell you how great they are and they will do just fine

 

How are they going to say anything good when they're 10.5 games back of the Jays? Besides, the team is a huge mess. Escobar is bad (no wonder Toronto and Miami wanted him out), their bullpen isn't good, Hanigan is on the DL, Myers is having a sophomore slump, and their best players are Jennings, Zobrist, and the SP.

[Convo]

Extrapolating the charts, I noticed Tampa Bay is in REALLY bad shape. Only Desmond Jennings and Ben Zobrist, along with the SP (mostly Price, Cobb and Archer) are above average. Longoria is below average due to his regression defensively, and Wil Myers isn't hitting at a decent clip, and is playing shoddy defense in RF, leading to such negative WAA in RF and 3B.

 

And boy, do the Rays need a backup catcher other than Molina. His terrible numbers offset all the positivity Hanigan has brought at the C spot, and now Hanigan is on the DL. Is it a wonder the Rays are struggling?

 

FYI: Longoria has regressed offensively too.

[RIPEXPOS]

With Francisco hitting and not killing us defensively. The platoon of shifting Lawrie around and Francisco-Tolleson has been extremely successful.

 

I agree, it also helps that Tolleson hits lefties pretty good. It's like a perfect 3 man platoon over 2 positions...

[Convo]

With Francisco hitting and not killing us defensively. The platoon of shifting Lawrie around and Francisco-Tolleson has been extremely successful.

 

It's kind of amazing we stilll haven't seen any real regression from Franny

[TwistedLogic]

I agree, it also helps that Tolleson hits lefties pretty good. It's like a perfect 3 man platoon over 2 positions...

 

Yeah a lot of people haven't really appreciated this fact, but the management of the position players and all of the fluid platoons have been pretty damn genius this year. I don't think any other team is rotating this many players over this many positions, and it will only get more interesting when Rasmus gets back (I'd assume he'll take Pillar's spot on the 25)

[Atothe]

It's kind of amazing we stilll haven't seen any real regression from Franny

 

He's adjusting, starting to look for breaking balls which is they're throwing to him

[Atothe]

Yeah a lot of people haven't really appreciated this fact, but the management of the position players and all of the fluid platoons have been pretty damn genius this year. I don't think any other team is rotating this many players over this many positions, and it will only get more interesting when Rasmus gets back (I'd assume he'll take Pillar's spot on the 25)

 

Nope gose is going down.

[Dick_Pole]

Yeah a lot of people haven't really appreciated this fact, but the management of the position players and all of the fluid platoons have been pretty damn genius this year. I don't think any other team is rotating this many players over this many positions, and it will only get more interesting when Rasmus gets back (I'd assume he'll take Pillar's spot on the 25)

 

It's almost as if Anthopolous reads this board and started to implement improved roster management. Now that Gibbons has more than just cobwebs and retirees on his bench, he's actually using it pretty well.

[Chappy]

He's adjusting, starting to look for breaking balls which is they're throwing to him

 

Seitzer seems to be really getting through to these guys. His credibility must be through the roof after Bautista and Edwin bought into his approach.

[G-Snarls]

It's kind of amazing we stilll haven't seen any real regression from Franny

 

He is striking out at EXACTLY his career norm (~34%) but the extra base power compensates. His BABip is 30 points higher than his usual.

[G-Snarls]

Seitzer seems to be really getting through to these guys. His credibility must be through the roof after Bautista and Edwin bought into his approach.

 

Kansas City meanwhile has gone through 3 other hitting coaches since they fired him. LOL

[Convo]

He is striking out at EXACTLY his career norm (~34%) but the extra base power compensates. His BABip is 30 points higher than his usual.

 

BB% up.

 

Also first pitching swinging down significantly

[BarkatToronto]

^ How is Billy Butler continuously allowed to be the Royal's DH/Clean up hitter

 

just because he is the son of a Royals great. At least move him from that spot

[Terminator]

And here comes the fan boyss to tell you how great they are and they will do just fine

 

The Rays Fanboys, outside of Hurl, haven't been posting much lately...

[NorthOf49]

^ How is Billy Butler continuously allowed to be the Royal's DH/Clean up hitter

 

just because he is the son of a Royals great. At least move him from that spot

Who else do they have? Nobody. Butler is their best option as cleanup.

 

wRC+ of Royals qualified hitters: 112, 98, 88, 86, 81, 67. It's a BAD scene. The problem isn't lineup construction, it's gross ineptitude.

[Jimcanuck]

Can expect CF and BP numbers to improve, most others to regress

[Chappy]

The Rays Fanboys, outside of Hurl, haven't been posting much lately...

 

Rays are finished this year.

[TheHurl]

Rays are finished this year.

 

Can't disagree with that. It will be a fun time for that front office.

[o2cui2i]

Can't disagree with that. It will be a fun time for that front office.

 

wont be as easy to get the haul they have the last couple years. everyone will know they are sellers and will let the Rays flinch first. will be interesting to see where Price is pitching after the deadline. most likely wont be in Tampa.

[jaysfan2014]

wont be as easy to get the haul they have the last couple years. everyone will know they are sellers and will let the Rays flinch first. will be interesting to see where Price is pitching after the deadline. most likely wont be in Tampa.

 

My bet is Dodgers, Giants, or Rangers. Unfortunately, the value of Price and several of their vets have plunged since the offseason. Failing to trade Price last offseason for young offensive talent, and Longoria's power outage could cripple the Rays for many years to come.

 

Oakland was smart to deal Cahill and Gonzalez, along with Bailey when they needed offense, since they had young pitching on the way. As a result, they're the best team in baseball, while the Rays plummet to depths that could get the team moved to Montreal when Sternberg decides to sell, when attendance plunges to Expos levels.