General 2017 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[Laika]

I wonder if this some of link between the improvements Pillar has made and the links Smoak has made. It would be fun to think so. Pillar talked about his Fangraphs page. It is as simple as someone sat down with these guys and went through their batted ball statistics and pointed out room for improvements? Would that it were so simple.

 

It's approach with both of them, not really batted ball focus. But yeah.

[KingKat]

It's approach with both of them, not really batted ball focus. But yeah.

 

Yeah I kind of fumbled around with the right terminology there. I wondered if I should go with the more vague "peripherals" but that didn't quite feel right either.

[metafour]

I think that Smoak probably already knew that striking out ~60% of the time when getting to two strikes wasn't an optimal "approach".

[Candy Maldonado]

They bonded in the offseason.

 

[TholesWeirdEye]

Smoak's such a hick.

[Jimcanuck]

Pillar OBP April .339, May .328, June .290

 

Predicting a sub .300 OBP for Pillar at end of season

[Traded_prospect]

Anyone hear anything on Dalton Pompey? He had a few MiLB starts including one last Sunday in Buffalo (pulled in the 4th inning). His 60 day DL has finished so he is eligible to be reinstated. Hopefully he can fully recover from all his injuries and replace Chris Coghlan who is a butcher in the field (sorry Chris).

[Spanky99]

Anyone hear anything on Dalton Pompey? He had a few MiLB starts including one last Sunday in Buffalo (pulled in the 4th inning). His 60 day DL has finished so he is eligible to be reinstated. Hopefully he can fully recover from all his injuries and replace Chris Coghlan who is a butcher in the field (sorry Chris).

 

Nothing since he was pulled (with a leg injury) that game.

 

[Spanky99]

Fun read from Jonah Keri on Smoak and the Birds!

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/jonah-keri-smoak-proving-blue-jays-will-live-off-long-ball/

 

Some good news in Sanchize!

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/aaron-sanchez-feeling-tremendous-difference-finger/

Edited June 9, 2017 by Spanky99

[Traded_prospect]

Nothing since he was pulled (with a leg injury) that game.

 

 

I hadn't heard he had injured the leg (again). Thanks.

[Spanky99]

I hadn't heard he had injured the leg (again). Thanks.

 

Yeah, on a very nice shoe-string catch, he had a basehit right after, and was pulled when they noticed him favouring his knee in the OF. They said it was precaution, but we're moving onto day 5 without a word, he's injured, no doubt.

 

Edit: This was the play...

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=1463495483&sid=milb

 

Manager Meachem on the injury...

 

http://www.milb.com/multimedia/vpp.jsp?content_id=1465020483&sid=milb

Edited June 9, 2017 by Spanky99

[puphood]

Smoaks to rapid a improvement at the plate is bizarre in such a short time period and is almost unexplainable but by....?

[HERPDERP]

wut

[wamco]

Ped

[Krylian]

Smoaks to rapid a improvement at the plate is bizarre in such a short time period and is almost unexplainable but by....?

 

Engrish much?

[Spanky99]

Brunt, is a Champ... Blair/Cox and McCown are a joke.

[Bobthe4th]

 

Pretty surprised Bolsinger got through waivers a second time, but it's always good to have depth at AAA.

[Bobthe4th]

Meanwhile Pearce is 0 for 6 in his 2 rehab starts for New Hampshire, but at least he played LF in the second one.

[G-Snarls]

Jays 1.5 games out of a wild card spot

 

And one of the teams just ahead of us is Tampa

[Bobthe4th]

Jays 1.5 games out of a wild card spot

 

And one of the teams just ahead of us is Tampa

 

The mini series with the Rays will be interesting. Not only a chance to catch them, but a chance to reach .500 and move off the bottom of the AL East - both for the first time this season.

[dineke]

Jays 1.5 games out of a wild card spot

 

And one of the teams just ahead of us is Tampa

 

Play 162 games and .500 teams have a chance to go to the playoffs and win a WS. lol mlb is broken.

[LGBJ29]

Play 162 games and .500 teams have a chance to go to the playoffs and win a WS. lol mlb is broken.

 

While I agree the playoff system isn't ideal, no .500 team has ever made the playoffs. 82-80 was the worst playoff record and that was the Padres in 2005 winning their s***** division. Since the double wild card era the worst record has been 86-76.

[G-Snarls]

Better than the NFL where a division winner can have a losing record and make the playoffs or the NHL where tons of mediocre teams sneak in.

 

The NBA is self policing. s***** teams get in but the superpowers quickly take care of buainess. The number 7 and 8 seeds in each division stand no chance and get squashed immediately.

[burlingtonbandit]

Every league has its own flaws. The nature of the sport creates different challenges to try to provide the most entertainment and ensure the best team wins.

 

I hate when I hear "NBA sucks because the best team always wins" or "MLB is a joke because all you have to do is get in to the playoffs to win a championship". Just embrace what that sport/league offers. No system is ever going to be perfect.

[Caper]

 

I hate when I hear "NBA sucks because the best team always wins" or "MLB is a joke because all you have to do is get in to the playoffs to win a championship". Just embrace what that sport/league offers. No system is ever going to be perfect.

 

I hate the NBA, because you can have a good team like the Raptors and literally have zero path to a championship that doesn't involve some small miracle. They could finish top 6 in the league next year and they are still better off tearing it all down.

[G-Snarls]

I hate the NBA, because you can have a good team like the Raptors and literally have zero path to a championship that doesn't involve some small miracle. They could finish top 6 in the league next year and they are still better off tearing it all down.

 

That's not the fault of the playoffs structure. Just a testament on how certain teams can become unstoppable superpowers with 1-2 huge signings or draft picks. And that the players themselves have way more control over where they play than n any other league.

Edited June 12, 2017 by G-Snarls

[G-Snarls]

Miracle would have to involve LeBron James and Steph Curry breaking their legs waterskiing or base jumping together or something.

[TwistedLogic]

Miracle would have to involve LeBron James and Steph Curry breaking their legs waterskiing or base jumping together or something.

 

Raptors don't even scrape the Warriors even without Curry. Probably still get swept. They're a f***ing juggernaut.

[glory]

I'd be shocked if the Raptors beat the Cavs without LeBron. Straight up, their offence is horrible. DeMar ISO's all day, no ball movement, no 3 point shooting, no inside game.

 

The NBA is a player driven league. Before it was GM's who made the super teams, now it is the players. Can't be fixed just like that.

[burlingtonbandit]

I hate the NBA, because you can have a good team like the Raptors and literally have zero path to a championship that doesn't involve some small miracle. They could finish top 6 in the league next year and they are still better off tearing it all down.

 

Reality in basketball is one player has such a large impact on the game. Having the GOAT in the same conference for the last 10 years makes it tough. I still love the NBA, watching the Cavs-Warriors is so entertaining.

 

Like I said every sport has its challenges. The Dodgers have been one of the very best teams in MLB the last 3-4 years and haven't made the World Series, does that mean MLB is broken? No just the structure of the league is different so the best team usually doesn't win the championship.