Smoak has been hot garbage.

[jays76]

I wonder what the plan will be now at 1B if he doesn't make the cut considering Edwin's wonky back. Thoughts?

[ScientificReason]

It's March 12th..relax. He may end up being garbage but it's spring, way too early to come to a conclusion.

[BTS]

I don't really think his results so far matter, but I've been wondering if there's a chance he gets cut if it keeps up.

[jays76]

It's a hypothetical question, I wasn't looking for scientific reasoning.

[Boxcar]

I wonder what the plan will be now at 1B if he doesn't make the cut considering Edwin's wonky back. Thoughts?

 

So have Stanton and Melky. Those guys should totally get cut!

[jays76]

I don't really think his results so far matter, but I've been wondering if there's a chance he gets cut if it keeps up.

 

Yeah I mean if his current play is foreshadowing things to come you'd have to think AA has a contingency plan.

[KingKat]

I don't really think his results so far matter, but I've been wondering if there's a chance he gets cut if it keeps up.

 

I think there's a chance. He always was a bit of a redemption project. The team would like to see a reason for optimism. Maybe you can still see it in his approach but it's really hard to divorce one's evalution of the approach from the results it yields. That's only human nature. Add the fact that from what I understand Barton's the better defensive option and you can see why Smoak wouldn't be a slam dunk.

[SAAviour]

Anyone notice if the jays have changed his swing to see if adjustments can help him. Maybe he is trying something new? Or maybe he is hot garbage? Or maybe it's been like 10 spring training at bats?

[Deadpool]

Someone should really post the "small sample size" video, because y'know. Totes approps.

[jays76]

So have Stanton and Melky. Those guys should totally get cut!

 

?? Smoak is being cut in this scenario.

[G-Snarls]

I don't really think his results so far matter, but I've been wondering if there's a chance he gets cut if it keeps up.

 

I don't want a 1B who can't hit

 

Everyone knows he underperformed offensively in Seattle (that seems to be a thing there...) but was there anything encouraging in his peripherals during his years there??

[KingKat]

Someone should really post the "small sample size" video, because y'know. Totes approps.

 

Yeah that's fine but spring training itself is a small sample and teams DO make decisions based on what happens during spring training no matter how misguided that may seem.

 

Mind you, Smoak's potentially just one really good game away from making this a non issue and I think we'd all be greatful to put this to rest but it's not out of line to speculate a bit about what impact a prolonged slump might have on roster decisions.

[Governator]

So have Stanton and Melky. Those guys should totally get cut!

 

Because that's an equal comparison.

[G-Snarls]

?? Smoak is being cut in this scenario.

 

I think it was just a joke

 

Stanton is hitting .167/.231/.250 in spring training so far, but obviously nobody cares.

[KingKat]

I don't want a 1B who can't hit

 

Everyone knows he underperformed offensively in Seattle (that seems to be a thing there...) but was there anything encouraging in his peripherals during his years there??

 

IIRC, one of the main point of optimism was the the potential to convert a lot of fly balls into homeruns especially at Rogers Center.

[Steveorama]

Guy has had 17 plate appearances so far. Assuming the Jays hitting coach has changed a few things in his swing, I would think he will get 40-50 PA's to work it out.

[G-Snarls]

Because that's an equal comparison.

 

Well that's just it - Stanton has a track record that would allow him to suck for all of ST and no one will worry/care in the least. Smoak doesn't have the luxury of being able to have a horrendous batting month in ST and still be guaranteed the starting job at first base.

[G-Snarls]

IIRC, one of the main point of optimism was the the potential to convert a lot of fly balls into homeruns especially at Rogers Center.

 

No doubt. Same with Donaldson. The AL West is bad that way. Playing a BUNCH of more games at Rogers Centre and Fenway and a lot fewer at Safeco and O.co will help anyone's HR numbers as long as they hit enough fly balls and line drives.

[jays76]

I don't want a 1B who can't hit

 

Everyone knows he underperformed offensively in Seattle (that seems to be a thing there...) but was there anything encouraging in his peripherals during his years there??

 

For sure but I mean can you really compare those two to Smoak. I know it's a sss and spring training, etc. but I'm honestly wondering what the contingency plan is. I was hoping to muse that over and also I'm bored as hell right now, I'm not gonna lie

[KingKat]

No doubt. Same with Donaldson. The AL West is bad that way. Playing a BUNCH of more games at Rogers Centre and Fenway and a lot fewer at Safeco and O.co will help anyone's HR numbers as long as they hit enough fly balls and line drives.

 

He's a 42% FB hitter for his career. For comparison, Bautista and Encarnacion are both at 45%. Smoak is the right KIND of player for the Jays to target but of course fitting the profile doesn't guarantee anything.

[NorthOf49]

I wasn't expecting much from him. He was a minor league signing for a reason.

He got a $1MM Major League deal.

[Governator]

Well that's just it - Stanton has a track record that would allow him to suck for all of ST and no one will worry/care in the least. Smoak doesn't have the luxury of being able to have a horrendous batting month in ST and still be guaranteed the starting job at first base.

 

Yep.. Blue Jays are holding try outs for several jobs and managers aren't watching the Bautistas, Reyes, Donaldsons, Martins, they are looking to fill their holes with the best talent they have available, period. They have to make an educated guess on who is going to give them a better chance of winning ball games beginning on game #1. If Smoak doesn't turn things around, they aren't going to count on him to make a sudden change against MLB level pitchers day in and out. They were ok putting Romero in the minors and paying him $7MM, they can afford to replace Smoak.

[jays76]

Yep.. Blue Jays are holding try outs for several jobs and managers aren't watching the Bautistas, Reyes, Donaldsons, Martins, they are looking to fill their holes with the best talent they have available, period. They have to make an educated guess on who is going to give them a better chance of winning ball games beginning on game #1. If Smoak doesn't turn things around, they aren't going to count on him to make a sudden change against MLB level pitchers day in and out.

 

That's it and if he keeps dragging for the first month and beyond (because he's got the 1M MLB contract for an extended view) how much leeway do you give him before it's a huge detriment? It's a legitimate question, if he can't get his s*** together and EE's back isn't up for fielding on the regular what is the foreseeable plan after that?

[glory]

Even the Jays are not stupid enough to tempt fate with Edwin's back by having him play 1B regularly. I think Smoak or Barton will have to make the team, especially with Navarro begging to get traded.

[Governator]

That's it and if he keeps dragging for the first month and beyond (because he's got the 1M MLB contract for an extended view) how much leeway do you give him before it's a huge detriment? It's a legitimate question, if he can't get his s*** together and EE's back isn't up for fielding on the regular what is the foreseeable plan after that?

 

Barton could become a legitimate option if he simply outperforms Smoak IMO. He has hot seasons and cold but he puts up pretty good WAR in limited games and a few years ago had a 4.8 war season. He's a defensive upgrade and while he doesn't have the pop a least he comes with a career .350 OBP. He's a much better depth option than Dan Johnson.

[KingKat]

Barton could become a legitimate option if he simply outperforms Smoak IMO. He has hot seasons and cold but he puts up pretty good WAR in limited games and a few years ago had a 4.8 war season. He's a defensive upgrade and while he doesn't have the pop a least he comes with a career .350 OBP. He's a much better depth option than Dan Johnson.

 

Yeah Barton beating out Smoak is hardly crazy. Certainly better than going with a pure project like Viciedo who could be a black hole on both sides of the ball. Barton at least has a floor, arguably the best of the three.

[jays76]

Yeah guys Barton could definitely be interesting, he takes a lot of walks to get on base apparently. He's a lefty too so he could platoon well with Valencia but I'm not sure how well DV's fielding is at 1B.

[Governator]

Yeah guys Barton could definitely be interesting, he takes a lot of walks to get on base apparently. He's a lefty too so he could platoon well with Valencia but I'm not sure how well DV's fielding is at 1B.

 

Valencia's value at smashing lefties is good enough to warrant a 1B platoon imo, if not at least regular play time in the line up somehow.

[G-Snarls]

They were ok putting Romero in the minors and paying him $7MM, they can afford to replace Smoak.

 

They really had no other option with Ricky

[Governator]

They really had no other option with Ricky

 

and they may end up with no other option on Smoak.