Offseason Roster Thread 2016-17

[intentional wok]

I like a regular lineup with Pearce leading off and getting regular ABs at either 1B or LF:

 

Pearce

Donaldson

Bautista

Morales

Tulo

Travis

Smoak/Upton

Martin

Pillar

 

I don't think Travis should be gifted the leadoff spot. He's absolutely not proven enough to receive the most PAs over the year, and Pearce gets on base more (and hits for more power). If Travis is "good enough" to hit 1st, then he's good enough to hit 6th or 7th with all those baserunners.

[Sammy225]

 

Like seriously gibby.....

[LGBJ29]

 

Like seriously gibby.....

 

youre not supposed to give your worst hitter the most at bats?

[Terminator]

I like a regular lineup with Pearce leading off and getting regular ABs at either 1B or LF:

 

Pearce

Donaldson

Bautista

Morales

Tulo

Travis

Smoak/Upton

Martin

Pillar

 

I don't think Travis should be gifted the leadoff spot. He's absolutely not proven enough to receive the most PAs over the year, and Pearce gets on base more (and hits for more power). If Travis is "good enough" to hit 1st, then he's good enough to hit 6th or 7th with all those baserunners.

 

That's not a bad idea. I'd probably tweak your lineup by switching Bautista and Morales and then switching Martin and Upton.

[intentional wok]

 

Like seriously gibby.....

 

It's clickbait based on Pillar talking about working really hard. It worked because I clicked it when I wouldn't have if it just read "Jays Still Face Questions About Lead Off Hitter".

 

The Blue Jays have an opening atop their batting order, and Kevin Pillar believes he could fill it.

 

“I still think I’d like to be a guy who could lead off and do a good job,” Pillar said. “The work I’m putting in this spring training will hopefully give me an opportunity to do that whether it’s opening day or some point during the season or filling in.”

 

Pillar started 20 games atop the Blue Jays' batting order early on last year, but he hit just .198 with a .231 on-base percentage from the top spot and was bumped down in the order in mid-April. Pillar's performance picked up after the slow start, and he ended up batting .266 with a .303 on-base percentage and 14 stolen bases.

 

The Blue Jays ultimately used a rotating cast of players in the leadoff role, with Devon Travis, Jose Bautista, Ezequiel Carrera and Michael Saunders getting at least 18 games apiece. One year later, they still don’t have a traditional leadoff hitter.

 

“Someone’s got to do it, and I feel like my ability to run the bases can ultimately help this team whether it’s the top of the order or the bottom of the order,” Pillar said. “I’m not worried about it. I wasn’t worried about it last year, it’s just unfortunate that I didn’t get off to the start that I wanted to.”

 

Gibbons didn’t seem particularly close to reaching a decision on who will bat leadoff when the topic came up Monday, simply saying “we don’t know what we’re going to do.” Health permitting, Travis figures to be among the players getting serious consideration.

 

Pillar has been hitting leadoff this spring as a way to ensure he gets as many reps as possible before exiting for a defensive replacement. Asked about the upcoming season he spoke at length about team wins over individual accomplishments. In his view, though, he could help the Blue Jays win from atop the order.

[Boxcar]

He didn't get off to the START he wanted to? He was terrible all year long.

 

This guy is f***ing delusional.

I mean, seriously, it's about time someone on the team sat him down and said "look, Kevin, we value your impact as a player overall but hitting is not your strong suit. You need to realize that you're never going to be leadoff material."

 

I'm tired of hearing this f***ing idiot talk himself up as a leadoff hitter every spring. He doesn't make an exceptional amount of contact, doesn't have much power, walks at an Arencibian rate and isn't really a prolific base stealer anyway. Not sure what he's looking at that screams "I should hit leadoff". Just shut the f*** up and accept that you're just not a very good hitter.

[BTS]

Didn't the Pillar leading off boat sail last year when he was predictably terrible and got moved down in the order where he belongs? Why is he still talking about this?

[intentional wok]

That's not a bad idea. I'd probably tweak your lineup by switching Bautista and Morales and then switching Martin and Upton.

 

I still like Bautista over Morales but Martin over Smoakton is fine. I'd compromise on both as long as the guy who put up a .370+ OBP in two of his last three years gets to hit in front of the big bashers.

 

"But those were only half-seasons from Pearce!" someone pleads. "He didn't get more than 400 PAs in either of those years!"

 

Well do yourself a favour and take a look at the total number of games played by Travis since 2015.

[Boxcar]

Didn't the Pillar leading off boat sail last year when he was predictably terrible and got moved down in the order where he belongs? Why is he still talking about this?

 

I wouldn't care if we had a manager that wasn't a complete dipshit when it comes to lineup construction, but there's a real chance that Gibby will listen to Pillar.

[intentional wok]

I don't think Pillar has a chance. Nicholson-Smith got a soundbite from Pillar, a fan favourite, and used it. I bet everyone on Twitter and all the lurking guests here have already clicked it. Mission accomplished.

[glory]

Gibbons had to have learned his lesson from last year.

[Boxcar]

I don't think Pillar has a chance. Nicholson-Smith got a soundbite from Pillar, a fan favourite, and used it. I bet everyone on Twitter and all the lurking guests here have already clicked it. Mission accomplished.

 

Again, I like Gibby outside of in game management but I just don't trust him to not do incredibly stupid things that go against all logic. If we had a Francona or Roberts or someone like that, I'd be more at ease. I don't want to hate Kevin Pillar, I enjoy watching him play, but the guy needs to get a f***ing clue.

[intentional wok]

I had no idea Roberts was that well regarded. I thought he was just a warm body manager.

[Jonn]

I was confused with Pillar leading off in all Spring games so far. I wasn't going to say anything because it's Spring and early. But I'm actually concerned they think he can hit again. We heard the same nonsense last year.

[Laika]

Leadoff talk aside, I still have a sliver of hope that Pillar can be a better hitter.

 

The bat to ball skills are pretty good, and with that contact ability and his speed he probably has the tools to BABIP .320+

 

If guys like Reed Johnson and Josh Harrison can hit .280/.320 then Pillar should be physically capable of it, and maybe a bit more. Just needs to lay off a bit of the junk!

[Sammy225]

Leadoff talk aside, I still have a sliver of hope that Pillar can be a better hitter.

 

The bat to ball skills are pretty good, and with that contact ability and his speed he probably has the tools to BABIP .320+

 

If guys like Reed Johnson and Josh Harrison can hit .280/.320 then Pillar should be physically capable of it, and maybe a bit more. Just needs to lay off a bit of the junk!

 

Oh if he had an ounce of plate discipline he would be a really good hitter...... But he has not shown any of that in 3 years.

[Laika]

Oh if he had an ounce of plate discipline he would be a really good hitter...... But he has not shown any of that in 3 years.

 

His walk rates were also pretty low in the minors. I'm assuming he's swung at everything his entire baseball career.

 

Patience as a physical tool is interesting - the sixth tool.

 

I wonder what the biggest changes in BB% over a career are. Mostly interested in improvements. I'm assuming lots of veterans show declines in BB% as they lose a bit of bat speed and can't afford to wait as long on pitches.

[Governator]

His walk rates were also pretty low in the minors. I'm assuming he's swung at everything his entire baseball career.

 

Patience as a physical tool is interesting - the sixth tool.

 

I wonder what the biggest changes in BB% over a career are. Mostly interested in improvements. I'm assuming lots of veterans show declines in BB% as they lose a bit of bat speed and can't afford to wait as long on pitches.

 

 

There's little hope.

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/pillar-home-run.png

 

 

Remember that home run? In his mind, that's right down the plate.

[puphood]

He signed injured in Dec. 2016.......

[TholesWeirdEye]

There's little hope.

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/pillar-home-run.png

 

 

Remember that home run? In his mind, that's right down the plate.

 

 

He's building a machine!

[Laika]

There's little hope.

 

http://cdn.fangraphs.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/pillar-home-run.png

 

 

Remember that home run? In his mind, that's right down the plate.

 

That's a good demonstration of how good his hit tool actually is! The majority of players can't even put that pitch in play. He's like the poor, poor, poor, poor hobo man's Vlad Sr.

[Laika]

On the subject of hackers (and I know this is now off topic for the thread), Corey Dickerson is insanely fun to watch.

 

He swings at basically everything, like Pillar, but he can also homer on basically anything.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v1199216883/tbtex-dickerson-belts-threerun-home-run-to-center/?query=corey+dickerson

[Governator]

That's a good demonstration of how good his hit tool actually is! The majority of players can't even put that pitch in play. He's like the poor, poor, poor, poor hobo man's Vlad Sr.

 

 

 

The more he can get to the pitch the less he's inclined to lay off the pitch. He hit that ball out of the park where no one else did all year. Since he's done that once, in his mind he can do that every time and that's his biggest problem. His aggressive at bats is what makes him put balls in play but after doing it that way for 6 or 7 years as a pro and probably his entire life I don't think your going to teach an old dog new tricks. He's 28 and not suddenly going to change his approach. It's like the way I play every baseball video game my whole life, every f***ing pitch I hit X because God damn it I'm going to crush the next one.

[Laika]

The more he can get to the pitch the less he's inclined to lay off the pitch. He hit that ball out of the park where no one else did all year. Since he's done that once, in his mind he can do that every time and that's his biggest problem. His aggressive at bats is what makes him put balls in play but after doing it that way for 6 or 7 years as a pro and probably his entire life I don't think your going to teach an old dog new tricks. He's 28 and not suddenly going to change his approach. It's like the way I play every baseball video game my whole life, every f***ing pitch I hit X because God damn it I'm going to crush the next one.

 

You gotta believe man

[Laika]

BP had a good article earlier in the year on just that, did you happen to catch it?

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=31186

 

Yes! That article is awesome. Trueblood has some talent, evidently.

 

I wonder what the Rays analytics team would/does even tell Dickerson. Probably nothing

[Captain Adama]

On the subject of hackers (and I know this is now off topic for the thread), Corey Dickerson is insanely fun to watch.

 

He swings at basically everything, like Pillar, but he can also homer on basically anything.

 

http://m.mlb.com/video/v1199216883/tbtex-dickerson-belts-threerun-home-run-to-center/?query=corey+dickerson

 

That was what I would call a "good" slider too. Well, good in the context that Colby Lewis suxxx.

[Spanky99]

Why aren't we in on Pagan... he's looking at MiLB deals now? I wonder if he doesn't want to come to the AL or Toronto or something, puzzling?

[KingKat]

Why aren't we in on Pagan... he's looking at MiLB deals now? I wonder if he doesn't want to come to the AL or Toronto or something, puzzling?

 

It doesn't seem like the Jays are interested in pushing any current assets like Smoak or Carrera off the roster. They seem to value those guys more than this board generally does.

[Spanky99]

It doesn't seem like the Jays are interested in pushing any current assets like Smoak or Carrera off the roster. They seem to value those guys more than this board generally does.

 

Yeah, sure seems that way, I guess.

[george09]

http://www.thescore.com/news/1246665

 

 

Do shatkins, do it please