General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[Brownie19]

Reese McGuire is making his MLB debut tonight behind the plate.

 

How many catchers are we carrying??

[P2F]

How many catchers are we carrying??

 

I believe that puts us up to four.

[John_Havok]

I believe that puts us up to four.

 

And I'm fine with that. Give Martin some much deserved days off and see if McGuire is anything other than the defensive whiz that he's reputed to be. He can still catch in Buffalo next year while Martin and Jansen handle the big squad.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Hey, do you think it would be okay to create a thread for each position for 2019+ ?

 

Possible thread header, "2019 Blue Jays, CATCHER". Then we can discuss all aspects, possibilities, opinions, for that position, etc. It'd mean way more threads, but the threads would (presumably) be pretty focused.

 

On that topic, going forward, I guess Jansen is the primary catcher with Martin backing up. Maile has options, and McGuire can season a bit on the farm. But what if we ate 90% of Martin's salary to facilitate a trade? Get a low level prospect with upside maybe. Since 2019 may be a tire fire anyway, I would like Maile and Jansen as the catchers moving forward.

[KevinGregg]

Hey, do you think it would be okay to create a thread for each position for 2019+ ?

 

Possible thread header, "2019 Blue Jays, CATCHER". Then we can discuss all aspects, possibilities, opinions, for that position, etc. It'd mean way more threads, but the threads would (presumably) be pretty focused.

 

On that topic, going forward, I guess Jansen is the primary catcher with Martin backing up. Maile has options, and McGuire can season a bit on the farm. But what if we ate 90% of Martin's salary to facilitate a trade? Get a low level prospect with upside maybe. Since 2019 may be a tire fire anyway, I would like Maile and Jansen as the catchers moving forward.

 

I dunno about a whole thread for each position. I mean you pretty much summed up catcher right there. Not much else to say.

 

I figure Martin's not going anywhere at least til the deadline, and that's if he has a good year. So the only interesting question with catcher is whether or not they carry Maile. Like you said, Jansen will be the primary catcher. Martin could split time at C, but they might like the idea of having him as more of a super utility guy, based on their usage of him this year.

 

I think to start 2020 we see Jansen start and Mcguire back him up, so they will probably transition to that setup at some point next year, probably after the trade deadline.

[BTS]

I dunno about a whole thread for each position. I mean you pretty much summed up catcher right there. Not much else to say.

 

I figure Martin's not going anywhere at least til the deadline, and that's if he has a good year. So the only interesting question with catcher is whether or not they carry Maile. Like you said, Jansen will be the primary catcher. Martin could split time at C, but they might like the idea of having him as more of a super utility guy, based on their usage of him this year.

 

I think to start 2020 we see Jansen start and Mcguire back him up, so they will probably transition to that setup at some point next year, probably after the trade deadline.

 

I wonder how receptive Martin would be to a super utility role that sees him play 5-6 spots on the diamond, but rarely catching unless Jansen or Maile are hurt.

[Olerud363]

Hey, do you think it would be okay to create a thread for each position for 2019+ ?

 

Possible thread header, "2019 Blue Jays, CATCHER". Then we can discuss all aspects, possibilities, opinions, for that position, etc. It'd mean way more threads, but the threads would (presumably) be pretty focused.

 

On that topic, going forward, I guess Jansen is the primary catcher with Martin backing up. Maile has options, and McGuire can season a bit on the farm. But what if we ate 90% of Martin's salary to facilitate a trade? Get a low level prospect with upside maybe. Since 2019 may be a tire fire anyway, I would like Maile and Jansen as the catchers moving forward.

 

It's a free world. You are free to start a thread on every position if you so desire.

 

Now, that being said, the moderators, having achieved their position, and acting as representatives of the ownership of this board, have every right to close your threads, or to combine them into one.

 

And that being said, the ownership of the board has every right to discipline or fire the moderators if they don't like their actions.

 

So I say start the threads and see what happens. In the end it could well be that the mods and owners won't even care either way about your threads, but the common people, the bottom feeders will decide if the threads are worthy (they will post on them creating more interest and more will post) or not worthy (no one will post on the thread and will fade to obscurity).

[burlingtonbandit]

I wonder how receptive Martin would be to a super utility role that sees him play 5-6 spots on the diamond, but rarely catching unless Jansen or Maile are hurt.

 

Martin is still a good Catcher though so he loses all his value playing 3rd base. May as well trade him.

[KevinGregg]

I wonder how receptive Martin would be to a super utility role that sees him play 5-6 spots on the diamond, but rarely catching unless Jansen or Maile are hurt.

 

I think he would love that idea to be honest. Look at these quotes:

 

https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/blue-jays-russell-martin-hopes-to-be-a-man-of-all-positions

Martin’s manager and teammates talk about how great an athlete he is. The 13-year big leaguer wants to take that a step further. He wants to play everywhere.

 

“Even (pitch),” said the Jays catcher prior to Thursday’s game against the Mariners at the Rogers Centre. “That would be so cool. I’d love it. But we’ll see.”

 

“I grew up wanting to play everywhere. I played outfield. I played infield, I caught, I pitched,” said the Montreal-raised Martin. “I was like a true fan of the game, I tried to observe and pick up as much as I possibly could, the little details of every position. My dad spent I don’t know how many hours on the ball field with me and I just practiced. Practiced at every single position. All those positions still feel natural to me to this day. So I would never feel out of a position.”

 

“(Shortstop) was my favorite position growing up and I think it’s my favorite position to this day,” said Martin. “I was really good back then, although I don’t know how it will translate now. I just know I could play that position really well, so it would be nice to get the opportunity to go out there and showcase what I can do.”

 

Martin has never been one of those position players the manager brings it to throw an inning when the club is being blown out of the water. As the starting catcher, he’s too valuable. But he’s hoping if the right scenario comes up, he’ll get the chance to pitch.

 

“All the time,” said Martin with a laugh, when asked if he has told his manager that he’d be open to pitching in a pinch. “All the time I want to go out there and throw, I want to see how hard I can throw.

 

“But that’s exactly why they don’t want me to throw,” he added, laughing.

 

https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/martin-has-the-short-stuff-but-jays-fall-in-philly

“As a kid growing up, my dream was always to play shortstop at the major-league level,” said Martin, who hadn’t started a game at short since he was with the Canadian junior team as an 18-year-old. “I got away from it when I got converted to being a catcher after my first season in pro ball, but I’ve always felt like I have the ability to play there, so just getting the opportunity was awesome.”

 

Martin said he’d gladly take any future assignments there, though he knows putting on the catcher’s gear will be his regular gig.

“I’ve played a lot of third base and a little bit of second base since then, but being at short brought back a lot of good memories.,” he said.

[Bobthe4th]

Martin is still a good Catcher though so he loses all his value playing 3rd base. May as well trade him.

 

Easier said than done!

[Krylian]

Easier said than done!

 

It is easy if you eat lots of salary.

[BTS]

It is easy if you eat lots of salary.

 

Why eat like $17m instead of just keeping him with the org for $20m? He can pass knowledge on to Jansen next year, catch the odd game, and then transition to another role with the org after the season.

[Grant77]

If we want to move some salary then Morales is the obvious candidate. Eat some salary and plug in Teoscar at DH.

[John_Havok]

If we want to move some salary then Morales is the obvious candidate. Eat some salary and plug in Teoscar at DH.

 

Or Tellez

[glory]

If we want to move some salary then Morales is the obvious candidate. Eat some salary and plug in Teoscar at DH.

 

Yeah I think this needs to happen. Morales climbing back to a near 120 wRC+ makes him easier to move (still have to eat up salary) and Hernandez at DH gives McKinney an outfield spot. Have the AAA OF be Alford, Ramirez, and Smith/Davis. That’s pretty decent depth.

[L54]

It is easy if you eat lots of salary.

 

What’s the upside? Saving 5M to line Rogers pockets? No thanks

[Krylian]

What’s the upside? Saving 5M to line Rogers pockets? No thanks

 

Opening up a roster spot. Aside from that who knows.

[KevinGregg]

What’s the upside? Saving 5M to line Rogers pockets? No thanks

 

Presumably money saved would be reallocated to the team in some way. We have used money creatively before (taking on salary in the liriano deal for example)

[Brownie19]

I dont know what Tellez will become - he'll probably never amount to anything. But - I love seeing him having some immediate success after all he's been through over the past 2 years with his mom. Good on ya kid.

[Abomination]

I dont know what Tellez will become - he'll probably never amount to anything. But - I love seeing him having some immediate success after all he's been through over the past 2 years with his mom. Good on ya kid.

 

He was always billed as a strong hitter, but probably more of a DH if I remember right. That's not someone who easily makes prospect lists, but definitely someone who can have some impact.

[John_Havok]

He was always billed as a strong hitter, but probably more of a DH if I remember right. That's not someone who easily makes prospect lists, but definitely someone who can have some impact.

 

That's pretty much bang on. He's not a great 1B defensively based on anything I've read, so a guy like that has to rake to have value.

 

See Morales of 2017 as the prime example of what you don't want and Morales of 2015 of what level your bat needs to be to overcome the defensive value nightmare that is a DH.

 

Basically, 130 wRC+ to be a 2 WAR DH.

[Krylian]

What Tellez has going for him is that he bats from the left side. We don't really have enough of those.

[tercet]

It's nice having Tellez a hitter that isn't a hacker and who can adjust his swing to away pitches into oppo hits.

[Angrioter]

It's nice having Tellez a hitter that isn't a hacker and who can adjust his swing to away pitches into oppo hits.

 

Lyle Overbay clone

[tercet]

Lyle Overbay clone

 

If tellez could put up numbers like that most of us would take it, minus the fact that Overbay had giant splits and couldn't hit lefties to save his life.

[admin]

Don't know what he'll turn into but that swing looks pretty damn good right now.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I'm planning on checking a Jays game or two in NYC this weekend. I'll be using Stub Hub. Do I need to print the tickets out, or is an e-ticket sufficient? I've never been to Yankee stadium.

[Carlos Danger]

I'm planning on checking a Jays game or two in NYC this weekend. I'll be using Stub Hub. Do I need to print the tickets out, or is an e-ticket sufficient? I've never been to Yankee stadium.

 

I used Stub Hub when I went to the Rogers Center in July. I read that I am able to use the bar codes on my cell, however I was nervous and with my family so I had the Concierge at my hotel print them out. Turned out I would have been fine with my cell. The only issue is if your cell freezes, battery dies, you drop it etc, you are screwed.. So my advice is if it is not a PITA to print them, print them. If it is, then just go with your cell, but make sure you have a full battery and don't drop it')

 

Edit to add, I know my example was Rogers center, but Yankee stadium does accept mobile bar codes from Stubhub. Other sites they might not, Stub Hub they do.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I used Stub Hub when I went to the Rogers Center in July. I read that I am able to use the bar codes on my cell, however I was nervous and with my family so I had the Concierge at my hotel print them out. Turned out I would have been fine with my cell. The only issue is if your cell freezes, battery dies, you drop it etc, you are screwed.. So my advice is if it is not a PITA to print them, print them. If it is, then just go with your cell, but make sure you have a full battery and don't drop it')

 

Edit to add, I know my example was Rogers center, but Yankee stadium does accept mobile bar codes from Stubhub. Other sites they might not, Stub Hub they do.

 

Super helpful, thanks!

 

I typically get the ticket up on my phone, take a capture (in PHOTOS) to always have a copy of the bar code.

 

For some reason I couldn't determine if Yankee Stadium took phone bar codes. You have answered this ?

[Brownie19]

Nice little write up on Tellez here.

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-swiftly-mounting-legend-of-rowdy-tellez/