General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[Spanky99]

If you pull up video of Alford in 2018 vs 2017, his initial swing moves are all a lot more exaggerated this year. Herky-jerky leg kick and arm movements. Kind of looks like the s***** Brett Lawrie swing. I just think it's a timing/balance thing that he never figured out this season.

 

Speaking of Brett, I wonder if we will ever get that satisfying explanation of why he decided to quit baseball at 27 years old.

 

The Ghost Injury, I hope he gets back at it.

[Bobthe4th]

The Ghost Injury, I hope he gets back at it.

 

Listening to this interview it sounds like it’s a mental thing rather than a debilitating physical injury. I guess it could be some sort of rare undiagnosed thing though.

 

Brett Lawrie Interview

[Spanky99]

Listening to this interview it sounds like it’s a mental thing rather than a debilitating physical injury. I guess it could be some sort of rare undiagnosed thing though.

 

Brett Lawrie Interview

 

Yeah, I've heard this... hence the "Ghost Injury"

[BigCecil]

What a fun ending last night. Been a tough year and not many of those for us.

 

I was remembering last night how much fun we all had in 16 just roasting Orioles fans and "Real Life Celebrity Roy whatshisname".

 

Wildcard: Edwin rips and Weiters looks immediately right and walks back to dugout, while Britton sits in the pen. Boxy had a thread up in seconds after that. Only 2 years ago.

[justafan]

I think you'd be hard pressed to find someone on this board who really wants to keep Pillar. He is so redundant and it is clear he is declining (29 and decline).

 

Alford, Pompey, Grichuk, etc., make him very redundant and expendable.

 

I would love to get a decent prospect for him personally.

 

I happen to like Pillar. He is fun to watch, good player, good salary, no translator needed and he plays hard all the time. IMHO, the Jays are now getting faster, ship off Stro to NYM or where ever and fill the pipeline.

[KevinGregg]

I happen to like Pillar. He is fun to watch, good player, good salary, no translator needed and he plays hard all the time. IMHO, the Jays are now getting faster, ship off Stro to NYM or where ever and fill the pipeline.

 

what the f*** kind of reason is this to like a player lol

[justafan]

why not?

[Spanky99]

why not?

 

[justafan]

what the f*** kind of reason is this to like a player lol

 

Oh I see. You are offended that I said no translator needed. I happen to be an employer. I would never hire an employee that could not speak to my clients. This idea of having players that can't speak English is very stupid from a marketing point of view. In an entertainment industry, it is all about marketing.

[justafan]

 

Spanky, Don't know what yur are saying?

[Abomination]

Oh I see. You are offended that I said no translator needed. I happen to be an employer. I would never hire an employee that could not speak to my clients. This idea of having players that can't speak English is very stupid from a marketing point of view. In an entertainment industry, it is all about marketing.

 

I'm pretty sure most of them speak at least functional English, they just don't want to do a lot of interviews so use it as an excuse. While I wouldn't dislike a player for it, I definitely appreciate one that makes the attempt.

 

I remember when Pavel Bure first came to the Canucks. He spoke almost no English, but still attempted to do an interview. It was a little funny (and awkward), but I had a ton of respect for him making the effort to try. It didn't take him long to learn. Kawasaki's interviews were awesome too! Just make the attempt for crying out loud.

[justafan]

100 % agree. Thank you.

[5minutesforframing]

If you pull up video of Alford in 2018 vs 2017, his initial swing moves are all a lot more exaggerated this year. Herky-jerky leg kick and arm movements. Kind of looks like the s***** Brett Lawrie swing. I just think it's a timing/balance thing that he never figured out this season.

 

Speaking of Brett, I wonder if we will ever get that satisfying explanation of why he decided to quit baseball at 27 years old.

 

Likely because he wasn't very good at it and he's a head case. Toxic combo.

[TheHurl]

The Ghost Injury, I hope he gets back at it.

 

Ghost injury??? Is that what we are calling an out of hand coke habit these days?

[BTS]

Oh I see. You are offended that I said no translator needed. I happen to be an employer. I would never hire an employee that could not speak to my clients. This idea of having players that can't speak English is very stupid from a marketing point of view. In an entertainment industry, it is all about marketing.

 

I’m not offended by this, I just think it’s stupid.

[Thaddeus Malice]

Oh I see. You are offended that I said no translator needed. I happen to be an employer. I would never hire an employee that could not speak to my clients. This idea of having players that can't speak English is very stupid from a marketing point of view. In an entertainment industry, it is all about marketing.

 

That's why Ichiro was entirely unmarketable. And Yao Ming. No one knew who those guys were at all.

[Spanky99]

Ghost injury??? Is that what we are calling an out of hand coke habit these days?

 

lol

[Spanky99]

Spanky, Don't know what yur are saying?

 

It's a joke. I've had this conversation with you before about a translator, it's truly an odd thing to be stuck on.

[Pendleton]

Ghost injury??? Is that what we are calling an out of hand coke habit these days?

 

At least he can still make a diving catch

 

[Jimcanuck]

It's a joke. I've had this conversation with you before about a translator, it's truly an odd thing to be stuck on.

 

God forbid we ever have a French Canadian on the Jays.

[tercet]

Sanchez going to another specialist for his finger issues.

 

If you guys had to guess what % do you think the finger stuff has to do with him being terrible the last two years?

 

I mean their is a chance, but a good chance as well he just sucks and 2016 was a fluke.

[Boxcar]

Sanchez going to another specialist for his finger issues.

 

If you guys had to guess what % do you think the finger stuff has to do with him being terrible the last two years?

 

I mean their is a chance, but a good chance as well he just sucks and 2016 was a fluke.

 

I think it has been 100% of the convenient excuse

[Abomination]

Sanchez going to another specialist for his finger issues.

 

If you guys had to guess what % do you think the finger stuff has to do with him being terrible the last two years?

 

I mean their is a chance, but a good chance as well he just sucks and 2016 was a fluke.

 

I think it's largely the finger, but the effect highlights the underlying issues he has where other pitchers may be able to get away with it easier.

 

There's so many pitchers in the game having blister issues right now. The league either needs to fix the ball, which seems to be the cause, or they need to approve something the pitchers can wear on their fingers if they have problems (that won't give them an advantage).

[Grant77]

Sanchez going to another specialist for his finger issues.

 

If you guys had to guess what % do you think the finger stuff has to do with him being terrible the last two years?

 

I mean their is a chance, but a good chance as well he just sucks and 2016 was a fluke.

 

Considering that his velocity hasn't changed, the logical answer is that a great deal of his struggles can be attributed to the finger issues. Hopefully the doctors can get that sorted out.

[Orgfiller]

Considering that his velocity hasn't changed, the logical answer is that a great deal of his struggles can be attributed to the finger issues. Hopefully the doctors can get that sorted out.

 

His velocity has changed though. Both his fastball and his sinker are around 1-2 mph slower than previous seasons, including last year when he first started dealing with the blister issues. However I do believe it's possible/likely that this is a conscious effort on his part to potentially reduce the risk of blister issues further arising or simply lessening the pressure or effort that he puts on those pitches.

[Boxcar]

His velocity has changed though. Both his fastball and his sinker are around 1-2 mph slower than previous seasons, including last year when he first started dealing with the blister issues. However I do believe it's possible/likely that this is a conscious effort on his part to potentially reduce the risk of blister issues further arising or simply lessening the pressure or effort that he puts on those pitches.

 

What are you doing

[Grant77]

His velocity has changed though. Both his fastball and his sinker are around 1-2 mph slower than previous seasons, including last year when he first started dealing with the blister issues. However I do believe it's possible/likely that this is a conscious effort on his part to potentially reduce the risk of blister issues further arising or simply lessening the pressure or effort that he puts on those pitches.

 

I don't think a minimal change in velocity is really a significant reason for his struggles, but he has said as much before, that the finger issues have affected the way that he throws.

[Olerud363]

What are you doing

 

This reminds me of the sea-lion thing. Google sea-lion troll if you don't know what I am talking about.

 

"The myth that Sanchez' velocity is down is a complete fabrication, fan-graphs has his fastball at 93 this year, which is pretty much where it's always been. He's always thrown mid 90s and he still does. You're probably getting fooled because some years fangraphs had his fastball at 95. A couple of mph on his fangraphs page just isn't reliable or meaningful. Especially in small sample sizes. It's safe to say his velocity is where it's always been. It's unfortunate the blister has effected him two years in a row, but that will resolve itself. Remember Al Lieter?? More than likely Sanchez will be back to 2016 form next year, and probably even better."

[Brownie19]

Considering that his velocity hasn't changed, the logical answer is that a great deal of his struggles can be attributed to the finger issues. Hopefully the doctors can get that sorted out.

 

Wouldn't his ability to maintain the same velocity suggest the finger isn't a big issue? (whereas a drop in velocity would suggest it's causing problems). I'm excited to see Grant explain to explain why I'm clearly wrong and how logic is in fact illogical.

[Brownie19]

I think it's largely the finger, but the effect highlights the underlying issues he has where other pitchers may be able to get away with it easier.

 

There's so many pitchers in the game having blister issues right now. The league either needs to fix the ball, which seems to be the cause, or they need to approve something the pitchers can wear on their fingers if they have problems (that won't give them an advantage).