General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[Spanky99]

Not sure about you guys out east, but here on the west coast it really feels like baseball season, weather wise anyways!

 

Before you get too jealous just remember we will be back to pissing rain anytime now, just thought i'd share.

 

It's hard to feel down when the weather is so great and baseball is almost back.

 

Weird...

[bones10]

Weird...

 

Read about stoicism spanky, you wont be so troubled.

[Spanky99]

Read about stoicism spanky, you wont be so troubled.

 

There's no need, ST ball has been here fore awhile, kid. Far from troubled on baseball around the corner, like less than 2 weeks, lol.

[Bobthe4th]

 

Replaces Pannone on the 40 man. He’ll be DFA when one of the veteran relievers is added, but they must be hoping no one else claims him then.

[Ray]

[Pendleton]

 

Insert o-face gif

[G-Snarls]

Insert o-face gif

 

I want video

[Pendleton]

I want video

 

Of my O face?

[jerb]

I want video

 

[John_Havok]

 

My dick moved....

[jerb]

Here's a different angle:

 

[Bobthe4th]

[Bobthe4th]

[Spanky99]

 

I've went through a bunch of these... Hah! Also, that's a good piece by BNS, enjoyed it.

[Krylian]

 

"Doesn't necessarily run"? Lol

[glory]

 

Well, the first step to change is acknowledging the problem, right? I'm not expecting him to launch balls in the air at a higher rate than normal, but at least he and the team both seem aware of the issue. A vetrin like him could easily be stubborn. Since his exit velocity is still very high, maybe some kind of mechanical correction can help him out. Couldn't hurt at this point, not like he's going anywhere.

[John_Havok]

"Doesn't necessarily run"? Lol

 

The polite way of saying he propels himself at the pace of a glacier

[jerb]

 

Scott Mitchell‏

Verified account

@ScottyMitchTSN

 

Yankees vs. #BlueJays rotations

March 29: Luis Severino vs. J.A. Happ

March 30: Masahiro Tanaka vs. Aaron Sanchez

March 31: CC Sabathia vs. Marco Estrada

April 1: Sonny Gray vs. Marcus Stroman

Jaime Garcia starts first game against Chicago White Sox April 2.

[Muck Bartinez]

Fangraphs Playoff Odds released today, which takes strength of schedule into account. Jays project at 85.2 wins and a 41.6% of making the playoffs. Best non BOS/NYY/CLE/HOU odds at making the 2nd wild card, coming in around 10-15% better than the Twins and Angels.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds

[John_Havok]

Fangraphs Playoff Odds released today, which takes strength of schedule into account. Jays project at 85.2 wins and a 41.6% of making the playoffs. Best non BOS/NYY/CLE/HOU odds at making the 2nd wild card, coming in around 10-15% better than the Twins and Angels.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds

 

I would agree with this assessment, I just feel the health bug is going to kill that dream and knock them back towards 80 wins

[glory]

Fangraphs Playoff Odds released today, which takes strength of schedule into account. Jays project at 85.2 wins and a 41.6% of making the playoffs. Best non BOS/NYY/CLE/HOU odds at making the 2nd wild card, coming in around 10-15% better than the Twins and Angels.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds

 

It would be so great if the Jays could make the playoffs, even if it's a one game WC, while they are transitioning into their next core group. I want that old Cards magic where they can lose stars and not miss a beat. Get a few WC appearances, keep that revenue up, and then be ready for when Vlad and Bo explode on the league.

[Brownie19]

"He's a power guy that doesn't necessarily run".

 

What a load of s*** that is. I can't stand that part of baseball. It's amazing how physical fitness is just not a priority for some baseball players. Morales has to change everything about his game because he can't physically run. The guy is 34 years old. Cristiano Ronaldo is 33 years old. Lebron James is 33 years old. Yes, they are extreme examples but they're not a different species.

 

Think of all the value baseball teams are leaving on the table because they don't give a f*** about physical fitness. Morales could probably hit .300 and play RF if he kept his body in shape starting 10 years ago.

 

Vlad Jr. is going down the same path and it's a joke.

 

I generally agree with this premise. OT - but does the NBA even test for PED? I think Lebron started taking HGH in his kool-aid at age 8.

[Terminator]

They do test. But you don't need PEDs to run.

 

I just don't get the culture around the sport. Teams go out of their way to specifically target speed and defence, when in reality, every player on the team has the potential to improve their very own speed and defence.

 

Schwarber changed his body in one off-season and in a ST game he had 2 SBs in one inning. But you don't even have to be a SB threat. Just go 1st to 3rd. Just make a couple extra catches in LF every week. Add an extra infield hit a week. Force the infield to play one step closer, etc. All it takes is effort to be in shape!

 

Think of the marginal upgrade to speed and defence every player on the roster could experience. Some team will eventually give it a go and really institute a ground up emphasis on athleticism and the industry will be shocked. Wow, a new inefficiency!

 

To add, it would not only help speed and defense but overall hitting stats would improve a ton. If Morales was merely a poor runner and not one of the worst of all-time it would help his hitting a lot. His Infield Hit % was 1.9% last year. Steve Pearce was 8.9%. Idk exactly how many extra singles that is but that would really help Morales' slash line. Then factor in he'd have more doubles instead of having to stop at first at some balls hit to the wall and his slash line improves again.

[Bobthe4th]

Pillar with a 70 hit tool is a MVP candidate

[Mikeleelop]

Pillar with a 70 hit tool is a MVP candidate

 

um - no his defence is declining and over rated due to TV dives.......

 

below average power

[z3r0s]

I don't know about MVP, but no-doubt all-star. A 70 hit plays his power up a lot and his defense is still immaculate. Would provide value in all phases of the game with a 70 hit and be at least a 4 plus-tool player.

[Bobthe4th]

I don't know about MVP, but no-doubt all-star. A 70 hit plays his power up a lot and his defense is still immaculate. Would provide value in all phases of the game with a 70 hit and be at least a 4 plus-tool player.

 

Isn't a no doubt all star and a MVP candidate the same thing, haha?

[Olerud363]

um - no his defence is declining and over rated due to TV dives.......

 

below average power

 

Buck - It's late September, and Pillar has kept it up all year. He still has an outside shot at the batting title, he just got his 200th hit, and he's just had an unbelievable season.

 

Pat - It's really been incredible. Even the advanced stats love him now. Our statistician tells us he has almost 6 WAR. That's 5th in the league.

 

Buck - Only negative, is his defence is declining. Only 5 runs above average, and he was at 20 a few years ago. Thanks to an astute fan Mikeleelop for pointing that out.

 

Pat - It's because he dives and it's going to cost him in the MVP voting. Everyone I talked to said they probably won't even put him in their top 10. Even though he's top 5 by our old drunk x-player standards, and by fangraphs we just can't vote for him

 

Buck - Yeah. Thanks to Mikeleelop for making that point. Pillar has the surprise season of a generation, with his hit tool now at 70, is slightly above average in centerfield, but we won't vote for him in the MVP contest.

 

Pat - he just dives to much. Common sense.

Edited March 21, 2018 by Olerud363

[polar bear]

Buck - It's late September, and Pillar has kept it up all year. He still has an outside shot at the batting title, he just got his 200th hit, and he's just had an unbelievable season.

 

Pat - It's really been incredible. Even the advanced stats love him now. Our statistician tells us he has almost 6 WAR. That's 5th in the league.

 

 

Buck - Only negative, is his defence is declining. Only 5 runs above average, and he was at 20 a few years ago. Thanks to an astute fan Mikeleelop for pointing that out.

 

Pat - It's because he dives and it's going to cost him in the MVP voting. Everyone I talked to said they probably won't even put him in their top 10. Even though he's top 5 by our old drunk x-player standards, and by fangraphs we just can't vote for him

 

Buck - Yeah. Thanks to Mikeleelop for making that point. Pillar has the surprise season of a generation, with his hit tool now at 70, is slightly above average in centerfield, but we won't vote for him in the MVP contest.

 

Pat - he just dives to much. Common sense.

 

By far the best post so far in the pre season.

[John_Havok]

Interview with Shapiro....really interesting IMO

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/mark-shapiro-blue-jays-prospects-tickets-renovations/

 

 

The final quote from Shapiro:

 

"We’re going to go to as far as our starting pitching and our health takes us. If the starting pitching stays healthy and productive and we avoid longer-term, catastrophic-types of injuries, then we’ll be playing meaningful games through the end of the season and hopefully into October. We’re still at a point where it’s a little bit fragile. There’s still that underlying reality that we need to stay healthy, but I think that’s true for almost every team."