How Do You Feel About The Jays' Postseason Chances Going into Game 5?

[Treeplant]

Pros

 

Like where the team is at mentally now versus where they were after giving up on a couple of games and losing the AL crown. The adversity of going down 0-2 was a needed wake up call IMO.

 

Big three living up to their rep.

 

Pillar looking awesome.

 

Estrada and Stroman proving they can do it in the postseason.

 

Dickey looking solid, if not spectacular.

 

Cons

 

I really am concerned that Price is not the same pitcher in the postseason as he is in the regular season. Can't find updated stats with this game included, but I believe he now has an ERA that's 5+ in a significant postseason sample size (50 innings). The pressure gets to him it looks like.

 

Goins has not looked good at the plate. Hopefully it won't matter.

 

Tulo isn't a full con, but I think he's missed two ground ball plays he'd normally make this series and while the home run was awesome, the rest of his hitting hasn't looked good. Hopefully getting that monkey off his bat will translate to at least a .200 average for the rest of the playoffs.

 

Pitching drama/confidence issues. Hopefully it doesn't matter.

 

Overall

 

Overall I like where we're at more than we were when we entered the postseason. I was concerned about the way we trailed off/gave up at the end of the regular season and I never like having a bunch of major media outlets predict the Jays as WS champions. Going down 0-2 is the best thing that could have happened to this team I think, hopefully they can pull it out Wednesday and hopefully they can figure out Price one way or another (either get him back on track or limit his usage so he doesn't lose us two games in a series).

 

What do you guys think were the biggest pros/cons of the series thus far?

[EMK19]

I think you missed one pro and con each:

 

Pro: Both Sanchez and Osuna have looked great thus far. Considering that these were the two guys we were worried about the most coming in, a very pleasant surprise.

 

Con: Cecil gone for rest of the season. Now in a situation where we are forced to trust upon Loup with no real second lefty in the pen.

[candymartinez]

Pro: they are the best team

Con: variance

[pickoff22]

Pro: they are the best team

Con: variance

 

can't argue with that.

[Treeplant]

I think you missed one pro and con each:

 

Pro: Both Sanchez and Osuna have looked great thus far. Considering that these were the two guys we were worried about the most coming in, a very pleasant surprise.

 

Con: Cecil gone for rest of the season. Now in a situation where we are forced to trust upon Loup with no real second lefty in the pen.

 

For sure, I was really worried about Osuna, had no idea what he'd do, looks really good.

 

I'm not a big personal believer that matching lefties versus lefties matters all that much, especially in one off situations, but I realize I go against the grain on that. Either way though, losing Cecil hurts bad.

[GD]

The adversity of going down 0-2 was a needed wake up call IMO.

 

what

[nextyear]

Game 5 is still a toss-up since the Blue Jays didn't play well in the first two games at home.

 

Before the series began I felt that the Blue Jays might win 3 - 0 or at worse 3 - 1. I didn't expect it to go to the 5th game.

 

Even though the Blue Jays appear to have the momentum, this is baseball and an error here and an error there plus a couple bloop hits could give Texas the win.

 

I won't be confident of a Blue Jays' ALDS victory until game 5 ends in a victory (hopefully).

[RealAccountant]

^ if its a toss up whybare Jays 2 to 1 favorites

[Laika]

It's Cole Hamels. He could throw a CGSO against anyone.

 

Pretty much a coin flip game. Maybe edge Toronto because Hamels is a lefty. If you're wondering about Stroman's splits vs. all of the Texas LHB, he doesn't really have a platoon split in his career. I don't know how much we'd have to regress that though.

[Masterbather]

With the kinds of thin margins you operate on in the post season, losing Cecil, especially considering the alternatives in the pen, is the kind of injury that can cost us a chance to win the WS.

 

I feel a little worse about our starters than I did coming in only because I don't know what to make of David Price, and we got no chance if Price isn't Price; I was always comfortable that we would get what we got out of Stro, Estrada and even Dickey.

 

The offense is the offense, no issues there, I feel the same about them.

 

So overall, I feel worse because of Price and Cecil.

 

Although, I should mention that I'm very pleased with what I've seen out of Sanchez and Osuna, and I was (and still am) concerned about them.

[Jayzfan79]

the pressure of that first homestand and how amped up the players would have been....i can understand the losses. having the games go back to Arlington where the pressure would be less (as ironic as that sounds) was needed. coming back home for the last game will surely host a better Jays team.

 

Edit: after 22 years of no playoff baseball for the Jays and Canada

[pickoff22]

I think everyone should just take a step back and enjoy the fact that we're talking about a game friggin 5 in Toronto. So exciting. Let's hope the more talented team wins and we can continue this ride.

[reedjohnsonfan]

The percentages are worse if you believe the Jays are the better team. It's one of one vs. three of five. Less variance in the latter.

 

Well of course. But Stroman continued to look dominant in game 2, so we should be fairly confident. I think we'll see a close game that comes down to who gets the timely hits, which makes for of course great baseball. Still you have to like the Jays' chances!

[reedjohnsonfan]

The question was whether the Jays postseason chances are better now than they were entering playoffs. Of course I feel pretty good about Stroman and the Jays offense.

 

Entering the series, you would have assumed that Price starts games one and five. Your expected performance of Price in a game five can't really exceed what you expect now of Stroman in that game.

 

Agree, so it was a pretty bad question because of what you said lol.

 

Entering the series, you would have assumed that Price starts games one and five. Your expected performance of Stroman in this game can't really exceed what you expected of Price initially in a game five.

[BigCecil]

I think everyone should just take a step back and enjoy the fact that we're talking about a game friggin 5 in Toronto. So exciting. Let's hope the more talented team wins and we can continue this ride.

 

^. This! I'm sick of this debate. I have been too worked about these decisions.

 

Bottom line we have come back from a bleak abyss and are going to game 5 with a legit shot to pull off a huge comeback. Awesome stuff.

[pickoff22]

^. This! I'm sick of this debate. I have been too worked about these decisions.

 

Bottom line we have come back from a bleak abyss and are going to game 5 with a legit shot to pull off a huge comeback. Awesome stuff.

 

I feel almost sad saying it, but I feel like the stress of the playoffs has taken away from the enjoyment for me. Thinking and worrying about the Jays dominates my days!

[reedjohnsonfan]

Not sure why my post got edited but ok!

[reedjohnsonfan]

I feel almost sad saying it, but I feel like the stress of the playoffs has taken away from the enjoyment for me. Thinking and worrying about the Jays dominates my days!

 

Why? Just enjoy the moment. Life goes on if they lose... baseball is more unpredictable than any other sport. This isn't Leafs-Bruins 2013.

[BigCecil]

I feel almost sad saying it, but I feel like the stress of the playoffs has taken away from the enjoyment for me. Thinking and worrying about the Jays dominates my days!

 

Tell me about it. lol! I'm obsessed. I didn't like the call to start RA at all. In the end it worked out for Game 4 and we are going to Game 5. I'm going to work with that!

[Krylian]

^. This! I'm sick of this debate. I have been too worked about these decisions.

 

Bottom line we have come back from a bleak abyss and are going to game 5 with a legit shot to pull off a huge comeback. Awesome stuff.

 

Agreed.

 

If at the beginning of this series they would have said that the Jays would have Price, Stroman, Estrada in Game 1-2-3, and then Price and Stroman for Game 4-5 it would be Fap Nation around here. And with the exception of Price coming in for the 5th inning instead of starting the game in Game 4, that's exactly how it will play out.

 

Not only that, but because Price threw only 50 pitches today, he should be good to be lined up for Game 1, should we get past Texas on Wednesday.

[Grant77]

I feel worse about the chances, as we completely outclass the Rangers in every aspect of the game on paper. However, I'm still very confident now that the hitters have their groove back, especially Encarnacion.

[candymartinez]

Agreed.

 

If at the beginning of this series they would have said that the Jays would have Price, Stroman, Estrada in Game 1-2-3, and then Price and Stroman for Game 4-5 it would be Fap Nation around here. And with the exception of Price coming in for the 5th inning instead of starting the game in Game 4, that's exactly how it will play out.

 

Not only that, but because Price threw only 50 pitches today, he should be good to be lined up for Game 1, should we get past Texas on Wednesday.

 

Sure the Jays are in a good position to advance in the playoffs but we want to win the WS and this TERRIBLE decision making from the manager is concerning for future games.

[fatcowxlive]

I think the record for home teams in game 5 of the ALDS is 9-16

 

I think we'll make it 10-16

 

With that being said I think I feel the same about the Jays right now. I always thought, going into game 3, that the first 2 games were essentially lost because of nerves and the Jays trying to hard and not being comfortable. Now that everything wore off, they handled Texas well away, and i think they can get a victory Wednesday and continue momentum into the ALCS

[5minutesforframing]

Sure the Jays are in a good position to advance in the playoffs but we want to win the WS and this TERRIBLE decision making from the manager is concerning for future games.

 

What is so concerning to you? Price can definitely go game 2, possibly even 1. If not then It's Estrada, Price, then back to Stro for game 3, what's the issue?

[o2cui2i]

I think the record for home teams in game 5 of the ALDS is 9-16

 

I think we'll make it 10-16

 

With that being said I think I feel the same about the Jays right now. I always thought, going into game 3, that the first 2 games were essentially lost because of nerves and the Jays trying to hard and not being comfortable. Now that everything wore off, they handled Texas well away, and i think they can get a victory Wednesday and continue momentum into the ALCS

 

yeap, two decades of expectations are hard to carry. Now they have the monkey off their backs and should be able to play a little more relaxed

[candymartinez]

What is so concerning to you? Price can definitely go game 2, possibly even 1. If not then It's Estrada, Price, then back to Stro for game 3, what's the issue?

 

Gibbons using his best pitcher for mop up duty. You ever seen that before?

When the manager does something that dumb it raises huge red flags.

[o2cui2i]

Gibbons using his best pitcher for mop up duty. You ever seen that before?

When the manager does something that dumb it raises huge red flags.

 

I saw the whole game and Storman didn't pitch?

[nonamejays]

Gibbons using his best pitcher for mop up duty. You ever seen that before?

When the manager does something that dumb it raises huge red flags.

 

Got the win and the pen will be well rested so Hendricks, Lowe, Sanchez and Osuna will all be fresh for game 5. Can't really complain too much about that. So what if Price isn't available. He'll be ready for game 2 to start on normal rest if they advance.

[Harvey_Specter]

is loud home crowd giving jays too much pressure?

Maybe we shouldn't be cheering too loudly at the rogers centre

they looked much comfortable playing in texas

 

Now it all makes sense why they punted the last week of the season. They wanted the division, but not HFA. Let's all hope KC wins.

[Harvey_Specter]

I Voted Feel Worse. This series would have ideally not gone to 5, even if they do end up winning. I was hoping Texas would only get 1. Also, agree losing Cecil is a huge setback and Price hasn't been Price. On the less heavily weighed bright side, the momentum is now in our favor and JD's bat has awoke.