2017 Blue Jays Spring Training thread

[BTS]

There's no way to sugarcoat this. Shapiro made a mistake in offering Smoak a two year deal and he isn't going to undermine that decision before the season starts. Smoak will get plenty of playing time in the first 4-6 weeks of the season, and if he's still the same old Smoak, he'll become a bench bat/defensive replacement. It sucks because he'll cost us a few wins during his audition which could make or break a playoff birth.

 

The obvious better scenarios would be Pearce at first base with an Upton/Carrera/Pompey left field or Pearce in left field and a combination of Morales / Tellez splitting 1B/DH duties. The latter may happen in late May if Smoak is Smoak and Tellez is tearing up AAA.

 

Smoak is not going to cost the team a few wins in 4-6 weeks.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I don't know how you describe LF and 1st base as horrible situations without acknowledging that Pearce should fill one of those spots - and he's not horrible, he's really good.

 

If you're ignoring Pearce because you're concerned he can't play a full season - then you should add 2nd base into the list of "horrible situations".

 

It's not "horrible", that's an overly dramatic term.

 

If it as horrible, the FO would offer Pagan $4-5M for LF and play Pearce at 1B. Suddenly not horrible.

 

That author is insulting the fans when he says that. I mean, c'mon, this FO is savvy enough to improve horrible. And most fans know, even fans that aren't fans of the Shartkins era, that they are pretty efficacious.

 

I'd say the current state is "meh", but I also think the roster is still being tweaked and worked on. Atkins isn't going to take a holiday any time soon.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I don't know how you describe LF and 1st base as horrible situations without acknowledging that Pearce should fill one of those spots - and he's not horrible, he's really good.

 

If you're ignoring Pearce because you're concerned he can't play a full season - then you should add 2nd base into the list of "horrible situations".

 

Yep, Travis is one more injury away from being permanently seen as a band-aid. In my mind.

[gruber92]

Smoak is not going to cost the team a few wins in 4-6 weeks.

 

Maybe that was a stretch, but he'll cost the team one win in six weeks.

 

Oh those man on third with one out situations with Smoak up are haunting.

[saskjayfan]

For sure which has already happened. Saw a career high 15.5% Curves last year. If a pitcher has a bad breaking ball he'd at least do better against it and sometimes pitchers throw what they are comfortable throwing and won't just feed him breaking ball after breaking ball.

 

yeah...that happened last year and his wrc+ last year was 90. That is coming from our 1st baseman. If we wouldn't have extended him we could have had napoli for 8.5 mil, or placed pearce at first full time and upgraded in the outfield.

[Brownie19]

yeah...that happened last year and his wrc+ last year was 90. That is coming from our 1st baseman. If we wouldn't have extended him we could have had napoli for 8.5 mil, or placed pearce at first full time and upgraded in the outfield.

 

Napoli for $8.5M? Barf.

[HERPDERP]

Isn't it past the 48 hour signing period for Pagan?

 

Guess the guy was just bluffing

[burlingtonbandit]

yeah...that happened last year and his wrc+ last year was 90. That is coming from our 1st baseman. If we wouldn't have extended him we could have had napoli for 8.5 mil, or placed pearce at first full time and upgraded in the outfield.

 

Be concerned about Smoak all you want but don't bring up Napoli... Especially not at 8.5 Million. Looking back on it I would have signed Reddick and put Pearce as fulltime 1B.