Spring Training

[fireballW]

Perfect Gibby logic. We want a guy with a 93 wRC+ and the worst pitch selection in our line up starting off the order.

 

It will take the pressure off the big 4 bats who follow him not to have to drive him in.

 

And of course if he does get on, as a semi fast runner it doesn't make sense to run in front of the 4 elite bats that follow him, so we don't have to worry about him getting thrown out.

 

 

Why even bother to say it was ever up in the air? I feel like they are just giving it to Pillar because he is a cocky whiner who will pout if it isnt him. Saunders will almost surely get on base more.

[BTS]

Why even bother to say it was ever up in the air? I feel like they are just giving it to Pillar because he is a cocky whiner who will pout if it isnt him. Saunders will almost surely get on base more.

 

Saunders is without any question whatsoever the better choice. Oh well, these things don't really matter except to serve as a reminder that field managers don't think very well.

[fireballW]

Saunders is without any question whatsoever the better choice. Oh well, these things don't really matter except to serve as a reminder that field managers don't think very well.

 

They do matter though because I traded for Saunders in fantasy.

 

But really, just annoying that people are forgetting the potential Saunders has in this lineup and ballpark. He was becoming a really nice hitter and i think 20 HR and a .340 ish obp is not unrealistic. Pillar will need to hit in the .300s to have any hope of providing a reasonable obp.

[THANOS]

Nice Stro article.

 

https://www.numberfire.com/mlb/news/8046/is-marcus-stroman-baseball-s-next-big-thing

[burlingtonbandit]

Pillar is such a bad fit to hit leadoff. His best skills are putting balls in play and speed which would be much better at the bottom of the order where he will hit with more guys on base and can take advantage of his baserunning.

[intentional wok]

Is he particularly good at putting the ball in play? I see a lot of reaching when he hits.

 

Saunders is without any question whatsoever the better choice. Oh well, these things don't really matter except to serve as a reminder that field managers don't think very well.

 

I'd even settle for a lineup platoon. Saunders leading off vs. RHP and Pillar 8th or something. If Pillar must lead off at all, give him only the lefties to do it.

[fireballW]

Is he particularly good at putting the ball in play? I see a lot of reaching when he hits.

 

 

 

I'd even settle for a lineup platoon. Saunders leading off vs. RHP and Pillar 8th or something. If Pillar must lead off at all, give him only the lefties to do it.

 

Gibby is not a closed-minded manager, we've seen many examples of this. As much as I hated his guts for how he used Price in the playoffs, overall I think he has done pretty good. I'd be surprised if the higher ups haven't spoken to him about lineup construction. I really think people here might be underestimating how much of an arrogant, cocky diluted Pillar might be.

 

Part of me really thinks that Gibby might know that lineup construction has a very minimal impact, and believes overall the team would benefit from not having to be around a whiny, sulking Pillar who would probably think he deserves to lead off".

 

Yes I agree it is stupid to let this happen just because a player might be a jackass, but I wouldn't be shocked if Gibby realizes Saunders is probably a better hitter and is going with this anyway.

[Cyborg]

Is he particularly good at putting the ball in play? I see a lot of reaching when he hits.

 

 

 

I'd even settle for a lineup platoon. Saunders leading off vs. RHP and Pillar 8th or something. If Pillar must lead off at all, give him only the lefties to do it.

 

Ya low K and low BB means very high ball in play rate. He is subject to BABIP gods more than anyone else on team.

[RealAccountant]

Osuna doesn't want to start this season and doesn't have enough innings to do it anyway. My guess is when Storen and Cecil leave next season that Osuna will just be kept as closer.

 

After this season Jays won't Need a legit closer for quite some time.

[fireballW]

Being able to put the ball in play (Pillar) might be useful after all our big sluggers/great obp guys get on base. Getting on base (potentially Saunders) before all our big sluggers hit could also be useful. But whatever.

[Jimcanuck]

Pillar is a very good baserunner.... 1st to home is quite possible with any ball down the line/into the gaps. I'd rather Saunders or Tulo, if Pillar OBP sucks he won't be leadoff for long.

 

Also, Shatkins probably shaking their heads over this. Gibby on short leash?

[flafson]

If Pillar is such a bad option, who would you go with? I honestly don't see much better options.

[KingKat]

If Pillar is such a bad option, who would you go with? I honestly don't see much better options.

 

Assuming you have to go with a somewhat conventional lineup and that none of the core hitters want to do it, Saunders is still a better choice than Pillar.

[intentional wok]

Gibby is not a closed-minded manager, we've seen many examples of this. As much as I hated his guts for how he used Price in the playoffs, overall I think he has done pretty good. I'd be surprised if the higher ups haven't spoken to him about lineup construction. I really think people here might be underestimating how much of an arrogant, cocky diluted Pillar might be.

 

Part of me really thinks that Gibby might know that lineup construction has a very minimal impact, and believes overall the team would benefit from not having to be around a whiny, sulking Pillar who would probably think he deserves to lead off".

 

Yes I agree it is stupid to let this happen just because a player might be a jackass, but I wouldn't be shocked if Gibby realizes Saunders is probably a better hitter and is going with this anyway.

 

Where did this narrative of whiny Pillar come from? I think demoting him from 1- to 8-hitter is a morale hit at this point, but surely he wasn't offered the gig for simply whining?

 

If Pillar is such a bad option, who would you go with? I honestly don't see much better options.

 

Saunders, Martin, anyone else if the big four absolutely can't/refuse.

 

But if Pillar is really a severe BABIP victim then I guess that cheers me up a bit. I still don't see why he's more deserving over other guys though.

[burlingtonbandit]

If Pillar is such a bad option, who would you go with? I honestly don't see much better options.

 

Tulo, Saunders, Martin. I'd rather Bautista even tbh.

[crazy47larry]

Weird situation. Gibby's probably reacting using the reverse logic from hitting Tulo leadoff.

 

Tulo didn't like hitting leadoff and didn't hit well.

Pillar likes to hit leadoff and did hit well.

 

I feel like that is about as deep of analysis as you get from big league managers lol.

[bronson44]

https://streamboat.tv/@THEJAYS

stream for today's game

[HERPDERP]

Estrada throws fastball that Cutch crushes foul in LF. Follows with another fastball that he crushes oppo

[HERPDERP]

Estrada throwing s***

[gruber92]

Pirates bats aggressive today.

 

Estrada squeezed twice.

Tulo with the great D.

[Dylan]

nice effort by jose that inning

[HERPDERP]

Buck - "These guys LOVE to play baseball"

[HERPDERP]

tulo murders a baseball

[Dylan]

beauty hit by tulo

[TBJ12]

tulo murders a baseball

 

beauty hit by tulo

 

http://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/6090-GDT-Pirates-Jays

[Jimcanuck]

Estrada throws fastball that Cutch crushes foul in LF. Follows with another fastball that he crushes oppo

 

Don't think they care about results. Just get the work in and hope no arm issues or whatever it was that was ailing Estrada.

[fireballW]

Tulo has put up a 900+ OPS 5 times in his career. Can you imagine if everyone else hits similar to 2015 and then Tulo hits like Tulo? Would be just ridiculous.

[graficos]

Good job

[burlingtonbandit]

Tulo was on a 4 win pace with us with a .697 OPS. He's going to be around .800 this year in all likelihood with plus defence and 5-6 WAR. That trade is gonna look like a huge rape.

 

I'm as big a Tulo fan as anyone but lets not go overboard lol. He's never even had a 6 Win season in his career.

[Boxcar]

Gibby is not a closed-minded manager, we've seen many examples of this. As much as I hated his guts for how he used Price in the playoffs, overall I think he has done pretty good. I'd be surprised if the higher ups haven't spoken to him about lineup construction. I really think people here might be underestimating how much of an arrogant, cocky diluted Pillar might be.

 

Part of me really thinks that Gibby might know that lineup construction has a very minimal impact, and believes overall the team would benefit from not having to be around a whiny, sulking Pillar who would probably think he deserves to lead off".

 

Yes I agree it is stupid to let this happen just because a player might be a jackass, but I wouldn't be shocked if Gibby realizes Saunders is probably a better hitter and is going with this anyway.

 

Well, I recall him getting pissed off on Twitter because someone implied that he's one of the worst hitters on the team, because he is. He arrogantly dismissed it as if it wasn't even a possibility, I guess because of batting average?

 

He started this off season with the goal in mind to play the crowd in an attempt to secure the leadoff spot. I'm less upset that Gibby named him the leadoff hitter and more upset that his little plan actually worked. He hasn't even done anything this spring to convince people who buy into SSS.