General 2016 Blue Jays discussion thread

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

When will they announce the Sept callups? Tonight??

[RealAccountant]

Why did Grilli throw 5 straight curve balls to Schoop, good point raised by Barker.

 

After that Weiters knew the fastball was coming, first pitch and he hit out.

 

The pitch selection is mind blowing.

[G-Snarls]

Dickey on Sportsnet radio:

 

MIKE JOHNSTON AUGUST 31, 2016, 1:08 PM

 

R.A. Dickey expects Josh Thole will return to the Toronto Blue Jays, but says he’s comfortable with the team’s contingency options if his personal catcher signs elsewhere. Thole elected free agency Tuesday, one day after being designated for assignment so his immediate future with the Blue Jays is up in the air.

 

“I’m sure if Josh does not sign back, Erik Kratz is down there in triple-A and he has experience catching me and [Russell Martin] has done a phenomenal job when he’s been up catching me,” Dickey told Dean Blundell & Co. on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Wednesday. “My hope, of course, is that Josh comes back. We have a lot of history together and he’s actually starting to play really well, even offensively he’s contributed in the games I’ve been a part of. “My hope is that he’ll come back and it’s my expectation that he will but you never know. That’s why when you become a free agent. That little bit of leverage that you have is to explore opportunities for yourself but I don’t know if he’ll get a better one than what’s waiting for him right here.”

 

Thole lost his roster spot after the Blue Jays traded for Dioner Navarro, who can also catch Dickey. If Thole does re-sign with Toronto by Wednesday’s deadline, he’ll be eligible for the playoffs as long as he remains in the organization from here on. The Blue Jays are two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox atop the A.L. East standings heading into Wednesday’s action and appear in strong position to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

 

Dickey, 41, said he likes what management has done in recent months, but added he and his teammates often discuss other moves the Blue Jays could or should make. “We talk, especially some of the older guys, some of the veteran guys. You always, just to pass the time, you play GM quite a bit,” Dickey explained. “You try not to do it too much because it’s a little bit above your pay grade but at the same time you’re always looking to make the team better. What can we do? Outside of playing better ourselves, what can we add that might help us get to that next place?

 

“The great thing about our team is we’ve done all the things we’ve talked about. We added a starting pitcher (Francisco Liriano), we’ve added a couple relievers (Jason Grilli, Joaquin Benoit), we’ve added a position player (Melvin Upton Jr.) that we thought would help us, so we’re in a good position.”

 

Dickey, 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 27 starts this season, mentioned he doesn’t think the Blue Jays need to do anything dramatic with the roster down the stretch and into the post-season. “I think if I was the general manager I would just get off the tracks and let the train go,” Dickey said. “I don’t think you’ve seen the best of Brett Cecil. I think the back end of our bullpen with “Grilled Cheese” (Grilli) down there and Osuna is good. We’ve got a lineup that’s really good when we’re all playing healthy. When you’ve got a healthy Devon Travis and a healthier Jose Bautista in there, I would just step out of the way and let the guys go.”

[Brownie19]

Dickey on Sportsnet radio:

 

MIKE JOHNSTON AUGUST 31, 2016, 1:08 PM

 

R.A. Dickey expects Josh Thole will return to the Toronto Blue Jays, but says he’s comfortable with the team’s contingency options if his personal catcher signs elsewhere. Thole elected free agency Tuesday, one day after being designated for assignment so his immediate future with the Blue Jays is up in the air.

 

“I’m sure if Josh does not sign back, Erik Kratz is down there in triple-A and he has experience catching me and [Russell Martin] has done a phenomenal job when he’s been up catching me,” Dickey told Dean Blundell & Co. on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Wednesday. “My hope, of course, is that Josh comes back. We have a lot of history together and he’s actually starting to play really well, even offensively he’s contributed in the games I’ve been a part of. “My hope is that he’ll come back and it’s my expectation that he will but you never know. That’s why when you become a free agent. That little bit of leverage that you have is to explore opportunities for yourself but I don’t know if he’ll get a better one than what’s waiting for him right here.”

 

Thole lost his roster spot after the Blue Jays traded for Dioner Navarro, who can also catch Dickey. If Thole does re-sign with Toronto by Wednesday’s deadline, he’ll be eligible for the playoffs as long as he remains in the organization from here on. The Blue Jays are two games ahead of the Boston Red Sox atop the A.L. East standings heading into Wednesday’s action and appear in strong position to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

 

Dickey, 41, said he likes what management has done in recent months, but added he and his teammates often discuss other moves the Blue Jays could or should make. “We talk, especially some of the older guys, some of the veteran guys. You always, just to pass the time, you play GM quite a bit,” Dickey explained. “You try not to do it too much because it’s a little bit above your pay grade but at the same time you’re always looking to make the team better. What can we do? Outside of playing better ourselves, what can we add that might help us get to that next place?

 

“The great thing about our team is we’ve done all the things we’ve talked about. We added a starting pitcher (Francisco Liriano), we’ve added a couple relievers (Jason Grilli, Joaquin Benoit), we’ve added a position player (Melvin Upton Jr.) that we thought would help us, so we’re in a good position.”

 

Dickey, 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 27 starts this season, mentioned he doesn’t think the Blue Jays need to do anything dramatic with the roster down the stretch and into the post-season. “I think if I was the general manager I would just get off the tracks and let the train go,” Dickey said. “I don’t think you’ve seen the best of Brett Cecil. I think the back end of our bullpen with “Grilled Cheese” (Grilli) down there and Osuna is good. We’ve got a lineup that’s really good when we’re all playing healthy. When you’ve got a healthy Devon Travis and a healthier Jose Bautista in there, I would just step out of the way and let the guys go.”

 

Actually - it's way below your pay grade...

[jays4life19]

RotoWire News: Navarro will be the primary catcher on days Marco Estrada starts on the hill, MLB.com reports. (8/30/2016)

 

Um. If Thole is back catching Dickey on a regular basis.....then wtf is this?

[Jonn]

RotoWire News: Navarro will be the primary catcher on days Marco Estrada starts on the hill, MLB.com reports. (8/30/2016)

 

Um. If Thole is back catching Dickey on a regular basis.....then wtf is this?

 

This better not f***ing happen.

[GD]

RotoWire News: Navarro will be the primary catcher on days Marco Estrada starts on the hill, MLB.com reports. (8/30/2016)

 

Um. If Thole is back catching Dickey on a regular basis.....then wtf is this?

 

Well Martin is still catching 4 pitchers, lol.

[jays4life19]

Well Martin is still catching 4 pitchers, lol.

 

But you just know Gibby will sprinkle Navarro in at DH here and there. Navarro is so s*** behind the plate. I was looking at some of his FRAA_ADJ numbers and just puke. Like fine, as a backup catcher here and there i'm cool with him catching the occasional game to keep Martin fresh. A healthy dose of Thole and Navarro in the lineup down the stretch run is really gross.

 

Getting Navarro for basically free i was fine with it. If Martin get's injured you need a backup plan better than Thole but he should just be insurance and playing as little as possible while Martin is healthy.

[Stangstag]

Yeah maybe the Navarro acquisition was a bad idea... Gibby is a moron

[fatcowxlive]

RotoWire News: Navarro will be the primary catcher on days Marco Estrada starts on the hill, MLB.com reports. (8/30/2016)

 

Um. If Thole is back catching Dickey on a regular basis.....then wtf is this?

 

6 man rotation so this means Martin still only catches 4 days in a rotation. we still see him 5-6 days in the lineup though as a DH the days he doesn't play catcher

[jays4life19]

6 man rotation so this means Martin still only catches 4 days in a rotation. we still see him 5-6 days in the lineup though as a DH the days he doesn't play catcher

 

So he doesn't catch 1/3 days for Thole/Navarro. Ok.

[G-Snarls]

Huge series win

 

2 up on BOS

 

4 up on BAL

 

Hellz yeah!!!

[fatcowxlive]

So he doesn't catch 1/3 days for Thole/Navarro. Ok.

 

Well you gotta preserve him down the stretch, because come postseason he's gonna catch every game and we won't see Thole. Might as well save him 1/3 of the time than use him now all the time and save him a 1/4 of the time in the post season. Navarro isn't that bad behind the plate either, Thole is a steaming pile of s*** tho

[fatcowxlive]

Huge series win

 

2 up on BOS

 

4 up on BAL

 

Hellz yeah!!!

 

One more series against the O's and 2 crucial ones against the sox. We gotta win 9/12 of those games

[Jonn]

Huge series win

 

2 up on BOS

 

4 up on BAL

 

Hellz yeah!!!

 

This series didn't exactly go as planned but you gotta take 2/3 anytime you can. You expected a slug fest and Orioles throw up 3 quality starts.

[Belliss101]

One more series against the O's and 2 crucial ones against the sox. We gotta win 9/12 of those games

 

7-5 would be just fine lol

[jays4life19]

Well you gotta preserve him down the stretch, because come postseason he's gonna catch every game and we won't see Thole. Might as well save him 1/3 of the time than use him now all the time and save him a 1/4 of the time in the post season. Navarro isn't that bad behind the plate either, Thole is a steaming pile of s*** tho

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1918718

 

K..

 

(scroll to the bottom of the list)

[GD]

Yah I dont mind resting Martin more down the stretch. Just wish that was designed, not Gibby being dumn

[fatcowxlive]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1918718

 

K..

 

(scroll to the bottom of the list)

 

Woops talking out of my ass there. Oh wel I'm still ok with him playing only 4/6 games behind the plate if he DHs the other 1-2 games

[jays4life19]

Woops talking out of my ass there. Oh wel I'm still ok with him playing only 4/6 games behind the plate if he DHs the other 1-2 games

 

Like, Navarro is not good at anything you can quantify in baseball. Trading for him was fine since we basically got him for free and it's insurance in case of a Martin injury, and with expanded rosters and Dickey not pitching in the playoffs. Yeah, make that trade. But sit his ass on the bench until Martin goes down. Martin resting 1/5 days for Dickey starts) is more then enough in a playoff race down the stretch (esp. adding in off days).

 

Marco doesn't need a personal catcher. GTFO. Marco needs an elite framer not a shitbag behind the plate.

[puphood]

Marco doesn't need a personal catcher. GTFO. Marco needs an elite framer not a shitbag behind the plate.

 

Your a Moron.....

[jays4life19]

Marco doesn't need a personal catcher. GTFO. Marco needs an elite framer not a shitbag behind the plate.

 

Your a Moron.....

 

lol

[AttaBoy]

Like, Navarro is not good at anything you can quantify in baseball. Trading for him was fine since we basically got him for free and it's insurance in case of a Martin injury, and with expanded rosters and Dickey not pitching in the playoffs. Yeah, make that trade. But sit his ass on the bench until Martin goes down. Martin resting 1/5 days for Dickey starts) is more then enough in a playoff race down the stretch (esp. adding in off days).

 

Marco doesn't need a personal catcher. GTFO. Marco needs an elite framer not a shitbag behind the plate.

 

The Navarro-Marco narrative is pretty stupid, pretty sure Martin-Marco were even better through most of this season (up until a couple of the last few starts).

[Captain Adama]

Marco doesn't need a personal catcher. GTFO. Marco needs an elite framer not a shitbag behind the plate.

 

Your a Moron.....

 

*You're

[glory]

I wish Atkins found a back up catcher that Gibbons did not have a hard on for. Fatty is going to hurt the team down the stretch if he plays too much.

[L54]

I wish Atkins found a back up catcher that Gibbons did not have a hard on for. Fatty is going to hurt the team down the stretch if he plays too much.

 

Well I think the main (only?) reason Navarro is back is because of his familiarity with the staff. He's decent insurance but as others have expressed he needs to be used properly. Otherwise Gibby is going to wear out his welcome.

[STLJaysFan]

Speaking of Gibbons and his "favourites", I read that he actually contacted Buehrle to see if he was interested in joining the team in September and Buehrle said he wasn't. He probably hasn't even thrown a baseball competitively in almost a calendar year. Not sure how serious Gibbons was about inquiring about his services for the September run or where Buehrle would even be used if he WAS even able to pitch anymore.

[glory]

Papa Buehrle is one guy from last year's team that I'd love to have back in some capacity. Miss that guy.

[Stangstag]

Papa Buehrle is one guy from last year's team that I'd love to have back in some capacity. Miss that guy.

 

As a mop-up man in the bullpen?