General 2018 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[GodDonaldson]

Do you think Gibby trust Axford more than Oh? Axford shouldn’t have pitched in the 8th today...

[Spanky__99]

I agree. But people on this board don't want to hear or believe that so you should probably stop trying to convince them. Maybe they'll come around eventually.

 

lame... see!

[Krylian]

lame... see!

 

Truth

[Brownie19]

It should have been apparent this team with too many old players and too many holes was not going to contend with the Yanks, BoSox, 'Stros of the world

 

Jim - this team was constructed to compete with the Angels, Twins, Mariners and A's of the world - for the 2nd wild card spot. We've talked about this on numerous occasions. They took a low risk shot at the playoffs - which we all knew was only possible of things break right.

 

You have no idea what they could have got for JD this offseason. You have no idea what he'll sign for or with who. Just sit back and watch and stop pretending your idea is the right one.

[Jimcanuck]

Jim - this team was constructed to compete with the Angels, Twins, Mariners and A's of the world - for the 2nd wild card spot. We've talked about this on numerous occasions. They took a low risk shot at the playoffs - which we all knew was only possible of things break right.

 

You have no idea what they could have got for JD this offseason. You have no idea what he'll sign for or with who. Just sit back and watch and stop pretending your idea is the right one.

 

It is the right one, you can disagree if you want. Don't tell me what to do. I don't take kindly to condescension.

[Spanky__99]

It is the right one, you can disagree if you want. Don't tell me what to do. I don't take kindly to condescension.

 

Shaddup... you f***ing idiot!!!

[Jimcanuck]

Shaddup... you f***ing idiot!!!

 

lol.... calm down Spanky

[Spanky__99]

lol.... calm down Spanky

 

I'm calm... doesn't make any difference.

[Krylian]

So much anger. It's hilarious

[glory]

I thought Shapiro actually rebuilt and went for the 2nd wild card at the same time. The off season was a blueprint for what rebuilding teams usually do (short term vets to fill spots and trades for inexpensive players with years of control left). They didn’t trade any top prospects either.

 

They aimed for the 2nd wild card without sacrificing their farm system. It was legit the best of both strategies. If they win the 2nd wild card then it worked. If they don’t, then sell and move on. There’s really no downside except for maybe holding on to everyone and then missing the playoffs but long ways to go before we know what direction they go in.

[GodDonaldson]

Let’s just fire either Gibby or Walker/Jacoby.. They are the one who’s making this team absolutely pathetic.

[Stoneyen]

You gotta think the combination of getting swept at home vs Oakland, a 19 year old Soto getting called up to the Nats, and a huge day in AA for Vladdy will result in a lots of calls for him to be called up.

[jaysguy44]

Let’s just fire either Gibby or Walker/Jacoby.. They are the one who’s making this team absolutely pathetic.

Shad up

[leaffie]

The problem is, the poor play of the team could result in Gibby getting fired. This team is playing like the teams of Ricciardi. They always started out with a hope to make the playoffs IF everything went right. Well nothing is going right, and it has exposed how untalented this team really is. Most of them are trying too hard, resulting in mistakes. Some like Morales, are giving no effort and should be gone. Some of them are making the same errors over and over again. Are they uncoachable or is no one correcting them.

 

Perhaps Shapiro was forced into this by Rogers, lets hope so. If not, this team is in big trouble for a lot of years. And Guerrero is not going to fix it. Where is the pitching? Other than a couple of names in the minors that already are being suggested as bullpen, who is going to pitch for this team? That game today was disgusting and obviously the fans at the game thought so too. And as a long time jays fan, it absolutely pains me to say this.

[Jonn]

Gibbons isn't getting fired lol. This team can't hit at all. They have hit some homeruns but they don't hit or get on base. And the starting staff is awful. Outside of Happ... tons of walks and they don't miss bats. Not a recipe for success. You can't rely on just a bullpen to keep you and games some late inning magic every night.

[GodDonaldson]

The problem is, the poor play of the team could result in Gibby getting fired. This team is playing like the teams of Ricciardi. They always started out with a hope to make the playoffs IF everything went right. Well nothing is going right, and it has exposed how untalented this team really is. Most of them are trying too hard, resulting in mistakes. Some like Morales, are giving no effort and should be gone. Some of them are making the same errors over and over again. Are they uncoachable or is no one correcting them.

 

Perhaps Shapiro was forced into this by Rogers, lets hope so. If not, this team is in big trouble for a lot of years. And Guerrero is not going to fix it. Where is the pitching? Other than a couple of names in the minors that already are being suggested as bullpen, who is going to pitch for this team? That game today was disgusting and obviously the fans at the game thought so too. And as a long time jays fan, it absolutely pains me to say this.

 

Well, I do think Gibby and his coaching staff has to take all the blames right now. Gibby should have been gone after the last season.. or even after 2016. He is making very poor decisions in pitching changes and batting line-up. I remember in 2016 ALCS which Gibby kept Martin in the 5th spot in the batting order even when he was slumping throughout the playoffs..

And why Grandy is on the bench against the lefty while Dwight Smith Jr. is not?? Smith Jr. has really no production compared to Grandy

 

I also blame Gibby and Pete Walker yesterday's blowout by the bullpen.. If the team didn't use Tepera in the 9th on Friday (when they were losing 3-1) and used other guy instead (Like Petricka, McGuire, etc), he should have been available to pitch in the 8th inning on Saturday. Instead, he wasn't available since he pitched back-to-back, and Axford blew apart again.... If I were a manager, I wouldn't use any 7th inning guy, set-up man, and closer for two days in a row in the losing game..

I suggest they don't use Axford again as a 7th inning guy or set-up.. I know he has overpowering fastball, but that is meaningless if he cannot throw that for strike..

 

Brook Jacoby?? He is the worst among the three I mentioned.. He has to ask his batters to just make a good contact... It seems like everyone is just trying to go yard instead of hitting base hits. That's why we can't even score a run even if there are two runners on the base with no outs.

 

If we finish disappointing this season and they don't fire any of Gibby or the coaches, I could see this team being broken-up...

[gruber92]

Urena optioned to Buffalo. Surprise, surprise..

[leaffie]

This is not Gibby's fault. He can only use what he was given.

[GodDonaldson]

This is not Gibby's fault. He can only use what he was given.

 

Gibby and his coaching staffs should be able to make any adjustments if they don't think things are going well.. As of now, I don't see any..

[5ToolPhenom]

There's more to being a manager than roster management. An important role is how one manages the clubhouse and how he keeps team morale up. I don't think that's ever been Gibbys strong suite... Of course winning solves everything though.

 

I think once the team undergoes a more extreme rebuild that Shapiro and Atkins are going to want their own guy at the helm. I'd be surprised if Gibby was the manager 2 years down the road or even next season for that matter.

[Jimcanuck]

Agreed. It was a decent gamble. The tough decisions start now though.

 

I don't think it was a decent gamble. It was just kool aid to sell tickets / maintain viewership. Shatkins said he would have blown this team up if not for fickle fans.

[leaffie]

Gibby since he came back has always been praised for his clubhouse management. Shapiro resigned Gibby when if he really wanted someone could have easily got rid of him. Shapiro is a big Gibby supporter.

 

If players can't hit, or pitch, or come out of the bullpen and manage to get the ball over the plate, that is not his fault. It is not his fault if mlb players get to the majors and still can't hit the cutoff man or know which base to throw the ball to. I have seen more dumb plays this year than I can remember for a long time. That is not Gibby's fault. Sometimes the players on the field have to take responsibility for their poor play.

 

Morales should never have been signed and was the one big mistake that I think Shapiro has made. But you know what, the guy could make an effort and run down to first as hard as he could. He could make an effort and lose a few pounds. Does he spend any time in the batting cage?

 

The pitchers in the bullpen had the best record in mlb for awhile. Now they are so overworked, because our starters either can't go more than five or are injured. Again, not Gibby's fault.

 

It is always too easy to scapegoat. This is not a good team, and that is the truth. I understand why it isn't, but I am not blaming the coaches or management. Blame the caliber of players that are on the team. Most posters think they should have just bit the bullet and started the rebuild, but it didn't happen and now this is the team we have.

[Boxcar]

There's more to being a manager than roster management. An important role is how one manages the clubhouse and how he keeps team morale up. I don't think that's ever been Gibbys strong suite... Of course winning solves everything though.

 

I think once the team undergoes a more extreme rebuild that Shapiro and Atkins are going to want their own guy at the helm. I'd be surprised if Gibby was the manager 2 years down the road or even next season for that matter.

 

What? Gibby is one of the best when it comes to managing the clubhouse.

[Brownie19]

Page 138 of this thread is f***ing cancer.

[43211234]

Page 138 of this thread is f***ing cancer.

 

You gotta up that posts per page number, my friend. Anything other than 40 suxxxx. Go to Settings>General Settings

[Bobthe4th]

[Bobthe4th]

[Terminator]

Would be nice to get Grichuk back tbh. Move Teoscar to LF, Grandy to DH and Grichuk in RF. Would improve the defense and get Morales out of the lineup.

 

Perhaps Travis could actually start hitting and he could DH some too.

 

I wonder if this means that Diaz will be back soon. Urshela is the only SS on the roster now.

[Bobthe4th]

Would be nice to get Grichuk back tbh. Move Teoscar to LF, Grandy to DH and Grichuk in RF. Would improve the defense and get Morales out of the lineup.

 

Perhaps Travis could actually start hitting and he could DH some too.

 

I wonder if this means that Diaz will be back soon. Urshela is the only SS on the roster now.

 

Gurriel is eligible to return tomorrow, so he might be called up again if Diaz isn't ready.

[Terminator]

Gurriel is eligible to return tomorrow, so he might be called up again if Diaz isn't ready.

 

I see. Why did they send him down in the first place? He had a .347 xwOBA which isn't bad at all. He's also one of the unluckiest hitters in MLB this year with a -.115 difference between is xwOBA and actual wOBA.

 

EDIT: Gurriel is 6th unluckiest. Pearce and Grichuk are 3rd and 4th unluckiest.