GDT(3/3): Atlanta Braves @ Your Toronto Blue Jays - Miller vs. Norris - 1:07 PM ET

[RealAccountant]

So I heard The Toronto Bluejays now officially have the record for the longest playoff starved franchise in all of pro sports this includes NHL NFL NBA CFL and other pro sports

[RealAccountant]

Even more shocking, the only other close playoff drought is that of the Buffalo Bills

 

http://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/3-longest-playoff-droughts-in-each-major-american-sport.html/?a=viewall

 

The closest NFL team to Toronto. The Bills drought is still 6 years less than Toronto.

[Stangstag]

Probably, but Bautista hotdogged it against Johnson Saturday and Miller's a true Card, don't forget that!

 

Then he could have just hit Bautista. This was in the 1st inning. The lineup was Travis-Donaldson-Bautista. He could have waited 2 more batters to hit Jose.

[ElNik2013]

Then he could have just hit Bautista. This was in the 1st inning. The lineup was Travis-Donaldson-Bautista. He could have waited 2 more batters to hit Jose.

 

 

 

The pitch seemed suspiciously right into Travis's body, but you're probably right. Miller did throw high and inside to Bautista later on in the game, which is when I got home.

 

 

Anyway, all good.

[MagicMike]

Do we have any chance to compete? Seems no.

[BigCecil]

So I heard The Toronto Bluejays now officially have the record for the longest playoff starved franchise in all of pro sports this includes NHL NFL NBA CFL and other pro sports

 

All true...and it sucks. But at least we have 2 rings. The Mariners came in at the same time as us and have SFA really to show for it.

 

Trying to look at the bright side here.

 

I like our team this year over 162 but concern lack of depth/quality pitching will derail it. Same concern I had going in even before losing Stro.

[ScientificReason]

All true...and it sucks. But at least we have 2 rings. The Mariners came in at the same time as us and have SFA really to show for it.

 

Trying to look at the bright side here.

 

I like our team this year over 162 but concern lack of depth/quality pitching will derail it. Same concern I had going in even before losing Stro.

 

The pitching has been poor and I cannot see it getting much better. AA should have seen this coming. The young guys like travis are fun to watch though.

[TwistedLogic]

The playoffs will be easy to make.

[Laika]

The lefty who got the Hold against Toronto yesterday just got suspended for PEDs

[o2cui2i]

The lefty who got the Hold against Toronto yesterday just got suspended for PEDs

 

http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/atlanta-braves-reliever-andrew-mckirahan-suspended-violating-ped-policy-042015

 

 

why couldn't that have happened Saturday? not that it would have helped. lol

[MagicMike]

All true...and it sucks. But at least we have 2 rings. The Mariners came in at the same time as us and have SFA really to show for it.

 

Trying to look at the bright side here.

 

I like our team this year over 162 but concern lack of depth/quality pitching will derail it. Same concern I had going in even before losing Stro.

 

That could change for the Mariners this year.

[glory]

You don't think if he could, he would have signed Shields + a BP arm? The only thing preventing him from doing that is the guy upstairs who set the budget. Granted other teams with smaller budgets look to have better all around teams, but that's what will happen when you don't trade off your stars to rebuild. So in that respect, we do need a GM who can manage quick rebuilds and trade older stars for high end prospects but I also blame Rogers for not putting in the extra $ this team needed to compete.

 

It's not even that. He didn't have the foresight to think about service time with his rookies. He didn't have the common sense to role with guys like Hendriks, Delabar, etc, in the bullpen to begin the season so he didn't have to rush Castro and Osuna. He didn't have the unbiased vision to see that Estrada was a better MLB starter than Sanchez when everyone on this forum knew it. He didn't have the common sense to trade Navarro so that Elmer Fudd didn't have the option of playing him at DH.

 

More money from Rogers would have been great. However, Alex proved in the month of March that he is not a MLB GM. His moves that were completely driven by short term desperation not only hurt the team short term rather than help but also hurt them long term.

 

He does not deserve another chance. After he fails this year, move on. I kinda wish Duquette was brought in when it was rumored. He wouldn't have done the stupidity that AA did.

[o2cui2i]

any word on how Travis is?? would appreciate an update if anyone has one

[Governator]

any word on how Travis is?? would appreciate an update if anyone has one

 

I thought I heard Jeff Blair say they are expecting him back Tuesday and possibly Reyes.

[o2cui2i]

I thought I heard Jeff Blair say they are expecting him back Tuesday and possibly Reyes.

 

ok... I just haven't seen anything written about it. I hope they are both close to 100% tuesday.

[flafson]

I'm surprised he's alive, let alone be able to play this week. The guy took a 94mph heater in the ribs, talk about pain.

[HERPDERP]

I honestly think Reyes is done for awhile. There's no way he'll be playing 100% unless he gets a month rest. The guy has a microfracture and a sprained oblique. That kind of stuff can be easily aggravated by fielding/diving for the ball. Or something as small as a sneeze or a checked swing.

[Stangstag]

I honestly think Reyes is done for awhile. There's no way he'll be playing 100% unless he gets a month rest. The guy has a microfracture and a sprained oblique. That kind of stuff can be easily aggravated by fielding/diving for the ball. Or something as small as a sneeze or a checked swing.

 

He'll probably come back on Tuesday, play a game or two and then hit the DL until mid-May

[Dylan]

I thought I heard Jeff Blair say they are expecting him back Tuesday and possibly Reyes.

 

I really hope this is true.

[glory]

4 of the team's 7 losses were by 1 run, and two others were by 2 and 3 respectively. The only game they lost convincingly was to Ubaldo. On the flip side, they have on 1 run win, and in the other five wins have outscored their opponents by 23 runs.

 

Are the Jays unlucky or is that masking the bigger issues (terrible SP, mostly)?

[Atothe]

4 of the team's 7 losses were by 1 run, and two others were by 2 and 3 respectively. The only game they lost convincingly was to Ubaldo. On the flip side, they have on 1 run win, and in the other five wins have outscored their opponents by 23 runs.

 

Are the Jays unlucky or is that masking the bigger issues (terrible SP, mostly)?

 

Both but time will reveal all (in my mystical voice)

[RealAccountant]

Luck has nothing to do with it

 

The bullpen does

 

Close games are won when your bullpen closes games down and keeps you in games as well as protects small leads

 

AA didn't acquire veteran relievers this off season and chose to go with the kids as well as believing that Cecil will do it all

[Governator]

Luck has nothing to do with it

 

The bullpen does

 

 

Jays starters have been far worse. Given up the most walks and most HR in the AL and sport a collective fugly 5.14 ERA. When your starters get you to the 7th it makes the BP work much less and do much better. Too bad ours gets to the 5th, 5.23IP / starter to be exact. Our BP shouldn't have to pitch 4 innings / game.

[G-Snarls]

Yes

 

The starting rotation has been by far the biggest problem

[G-Snarls]

Say, how's Johann doing????????

[KingKat]

Say, how's Johann doing????????

 

It seems increasingly likely that he will be used even if it's only to give Norris some time.

[TRM]

It seems increasingly likely that he will be used even if it's only to give Norris some time.

 

For better or for worse, it would be a fun experiment.

[G-Snarls]

I can't see that Johann Santana has pitched any innings in the minors yet

 

Is he still just doing bullpen sessions or something?

 

How are they supposed to decide by April 28 if he's usable or not???

[Dick_Pole]

Part of the problem is they are pulling Buehrle way too early. If he's pitching well, let him go 9. There was no reason to pull him in those two blowouts. His arm is not going to fall off throwing 120 mid-80's mph pitches. Same with Dickey to a lesser extent though watching that last game was like nails on a chalkboard and last year we all got heart attacks when his pitched in the 7th. Hutchison I'm not worried about but the Jays need a rested BP for the two young guys. You have two guys who have a demonstrated ability to pitch well over 200 IP in a season. Use them.

[KingKat]

I can't see that Johann Santana has pitched any innings in the minors yet

 

Is he still just doing bullpen sessions or something?

 

How are they supposed to decide by April 28 if he's usable or not???

 

You're right that he hasn't pitched in a MiLB game. I'm sure they can work something out with him if he need more time unless the situation looks hopeless in which case sayonarra.

Edited April 21, 2015 by KingKat