General 2019 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[Bobthe4th]

It's going to be a long year......

 

[Krylian]

It's going to be a long year......

 

 

Not according to everyone.

[Maine Jays]

It might be a long year, but it will be a long year with numerous Vlad highlights to give us a preview of what's to come.

[Jimcanuck]

It might be a long year, but it will be a long year with numerous Vlad highlights to give us a preview of what's to come.

 

Not just Vlad. Looks like Jays are going to give a lot of prospects a chance. If that's the case, there will be a few pleasant surprises where prospects exceed their projections.

 

Also, if its true Shatkins can have the same payroll as last year, expect a Liriano type deal, or two. Stroman to the Reds, with Kemp and Trammell coming back, please God?

[Maahfaace]

Not just Vlad. Looks like Jays are going to give a lot of prospects a chance. If that's the case, there will be a few pleasant surprises where prospects exceed their projections.

 

Also, if its true Shatkins can have the same payroll as last year, expect a Liriano type deal, or two. Stroman to the Reds, with Kemp and Trammell coming back, please God?

 

Aside from Vlad making his surefire debut mid april, who else do you expect to debut this year?

 

Maybe Bichette if he absolutely tears it up, but more likely is held down until April 2020.

Biggio might be a mid season call up.

Some BP arms and SP filler? Merryweather/Thornton maybe Zuech?

[Jimcanuck]

Aside from Vlad making his surefire debut mid april, who else do you expect to debut this year?

 

Maybe Bichette if he absolutely tears it up, but more likely is held down until April 2020.

Biggio might be a mid season call up.

Some BP arms and SP filler? Merryweather/Thornton maybe Zuech?

 

Lots of possibilities. I can see Harris, Pompey, Alford, even Murphy getting opportunities. DSJ might get an extended time in TO and show at least 4th OF competence.

 

One of the things to watch is how they try and build up the bullpen. I can see guys like Harris and Pannone becoming solid BP options.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

I'd much rather watch a young, exciting team play around .500 than and old, slow team. I look forward to see what these prospects can offer, in conjunction with the new coaching staff. I am hopeful.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Aside from Vlad making his surefire debut mid april, who else do you expect to debut this year?

 

Maybe Bichette if he absolutely tears it up, but more likely is held down until April 2020.

Biggio might be a mid season call up.

Some BP arms and SP filler? Merryweather/Thornton maybe Zuech?

 

I can see Bichette being held down until 2021 honestly.

 

I hope Alford rips it up in ST, and forces his way onto the team.

 

I hope Merryweather becomes a solid arm.

[SaskJaysFan_2]

Lots of possibilities. I can see Harris, Pompey, Alford, even Murphy getting opportunities. DSJ might get an extended time in TO and show at least 4th OF competence.

 

One of the things to watch is how they try and build up the bullpen. I can see guys like Harris and Pannone becoming solid BP options.

 

I think Pannone has a shot to be a solid starter. Low velo, sure. But I like everything else he brings to the table (the exception being PED use).

[bones10]

Happy new year fellow board members!

 

This season will be a gongshow, but f***, its baseball.

[Dick_Pole]

I'll go on record to say I think this team gets to 81 or more wins. This team is not very good as of January 1, but there are plenty of other teams worse off than it and it has a ton of depth with nearly MLB ready prospects. If the Jays were in the AL Central with the privilege of facing the Royals, White Sox, Twins and Tigers for half of their schedule, it'd be a playoff team.

[TheHurl]

Bob looking like the early favourite for Top International poster. Of course if the Jays have a bad season now...it's 100% on him.

[Spanky__99]

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-still-seeking-pitching-defence-off-season-unfolds/

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

December 31, 2018, 5:07 PM

 

Matt Shoemaker and Clayton Richard are the most significant additions yet for a Toronto pitching staff that badly needed off-season reinforcements, but neither veteran starter can be considered a certain bet for 150 innings, so the Blue Jays will continue to prioritize arms as the calendar turns to 2019.

 

“It could be in the form of starting, could be in the form of relief,” GM Ross Atkins said on a conference call with Toronto-based writers Monday. “We’ll continue to look to do that.”

 

Richard had a 5.33 ERA in 2018, and has typically been a mid or back-of-the-rotation starter, as evidenced by his lifetime 4.46 ERA. That said, his 60.3 per cent ground ball rate leads the National League since 2015, and his ability to keep the ball down appealed to the Blue Jays.

 

“He has a track record of hauling innings and also a clear — very clear — track record of keeping the ball on the ground and in the ballpark,” Atkins said.

 

As for Shoemaker, the Blue Jays were intrigued by his upside even after a difficult 2018 season in which injuries limited him to seven starts.

 

“He has an ability to get swing and miss and one of the best splitters in the game,” Atkins said.

 

Scout Jim Skaalen recommended the two newcomers, who will most likely be stretched out as rotation options this spring. While both have relief experience, Atkins suggested the Blue Jays view them as starters first.

 

“If both guys can start (physically), I imagine they both will be,” Atkins said. “But I do think there could be a scenario where either one of them or potentially both could be used in a (different) role.”

 

Both Shoemaker (right forearm) and Richard (season-ending surgery on both knees) have battled significant injuries in recent years, but the Blue Jays were encouraged after reviewing medical histories and expect the new additions to be at full strength when spring training begins.

 

“That’s certainly something we did our work on,” Atkins said. “The risk that we take on is baked into the acquisition cost.”

 

In both cases, that cost was a modest, short-term commitment. Shoemaker signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal, while the Blue Jays sent double-A outfield prospect Connor Panas to San Diego for Richard after the Padres designated him for assignment. The Blue Jays are reportedly paying just half of Richard’s $3 million salary, so they should still have plenty of room to spend on pitching as the off-season unfolds.

 

They still need pitching, as their staff ERA of 4.85 ranked 27th among the 30 teams in 2018. The loss of Marco Estrada and Tyler Clippard to free agency means there are many innings to fill, and despite the emergence of rookies Ryan Borucki, Sean-Reid Foley and Thomas Pannone, the club prefers not to rely too heavily on pitchers who might still need minor-league development.

 

The Blue Jays can also improve their run prevention by addressing a defence that struggled at times in 2018. The release of Yangervis Solarte was one step in the direction of better fielding, and the Blue Jays are hoping that the likes of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Brandon Drury can thrive defensively under new manager Charlie Montoyo and his coaching staff.

 

“We have to get better and we have to get better with the pieces that we have,” Atkins said.

 

The addition of veteran Eric Sogard on a minor-league deal could help on that front, but the Blue Jays continue seeking middle infield options beyond Sogard, Gurriel Jr., Drury, Richard Urena and Devon Travis.

 

Meanwhile, teams continue calling the Blue Jays about their veteran players, including Russell Martin who’s “interesting to a lot of teams,” according to Atkins.

 

“We’ve had a great number of discussions about a number of our players and the ones that have less control (remaining) we’re having more talks about,” Atkins said.

[Boxcar]

Bob looking like the early favourite for Top International poster. Of course if the Jays have a bad season now...it's 100% on him.

 

He probably started these threads mostly because he was terrified that one of the many people on his ignore list would start it, let's be real.

[saskjayfan]

It's going to be a long year......

 

 

Just curious. You're living in leeds, but are you original from Canada, right? Have you been to a few leeds united games?

[Brownie19]

Just curious. You're living in leeds, but are you original from Canada, right? Have you been to a few leeds united games?

 

you should try out the DM option...

[Bobthe4th]

Just curious. You're living in leeds, but are you original from Canada, right? Have you been to a few leeds united games?

 

No I’m English but my mother has relatives who live in Hamilton after her uncle emigrated in the 50’s. Yeah I’ve been to lots of Leeds games, quite a few of my mates support them.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

so Since we are kinda in a non compete / Rebuild limbo hell anyways this year and having signed Two older somewhat fringy umm Starters already ! Why not complete it and Go Full bore in and go all Old n Fringy!

send the bullpen arms packing to the minors trade or release them, if trading letÂ’s not be greedy pay up to Half , maybe more and Take international monies back . Now what do be warned this may be Radical and out of the box thinking so forgive me but ... this message and Explaianation to follow and in its making NO RUM was Harmed or used in the making of it ! Now sidebar I did before the

Signing and Trade think something could have been achieved with or minor league pitchers as well too ! But we went down this rabbit hole instead !!! Con’t next post !

Edited January 3, 2019 by BigBounceyBlueBalls

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

ok ok Here goes ... In this plan I see only One of those Two Rule 5 pick ups sorry ! For this I will assume Elvis will not leave the building at this time ! Lol Next if we Pay what these pitchers earned last year we will add 15 million min if we assume the Top 3 require a extra 2 mill and the next 3 a extra 1.5 mill each we would add only 15-25.5 mill to payroll minus that we save eliminating our bullpen by the means I posted in the first post

Above . Rotation and Names to Follow for your Consideration . the Rotation would be a 3 Day , 4 man Stack , no bullpen require and only 12 pitchers total !

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

These a Just how I deployed them for example not carved in Stone unless you prefer someone other then I have listed below

Thanks ! This 3 day , 4 man stack allows for some Flex as other then Elvis only 3 innings and no more then 48.6 to 60 max by each of the first 3 pitchers give or take to get us though most 9 inning games !

 

Day one

Stroman Rhp

Richards Lhp

Shoemaker Rhp

Elvis Rhp

 

Day 2

 

Borucki LHP

Bartolo Colon Rhp 1.75 - 3.75

Derek Holland Lhp 1.75 - 3.75

??? but to be a LHP

 

Day 3

 

Sanchez Rhp

Francisco Liriano Lhp 4- 6

??? To be a RHP

??? to be a Rhp

 

??? Lhp pitchers Pick Two

Brett Anderson 4 - 5.5

Wade Miley 2.5 - 4

Hector Santiago 2 - 3.5

Other ? Or pannone if we only sign one

 

??? Rhp need one

Clay Bucholz 1.5 - 3

Edwin Jackson 1.5 - 3

Jeremy Hellickson 2 - 3.5

??? Other

 

Sorry for the Length required to post

Thanks , Discuss it or Thoughts

 

Think even if one Traded Stroman or Sanchez

Now or in season we have enough RHP

In the System to fill or rotate in and out and get thier feet wet and looks at this year !

[Krylian]

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

 

Lol ummmm Thanks Danny ... But one word

Answers are not Discussion or really much in the way of Thoughts !

 

Can you Expand on it a Lil !!! Lol come on shorty

Why ??? Did Stroman put you up to this, since I forgot to include him on it ! Lol

[Krylian]

[Spanky__99]

These a Just how I deployed them for example not carved in Stone unless you prefer someone other then I have listed below

Thanks ! This 3 day , 4 man stack allows for some Flex as other then Elvis only 3 innings and no more then 48.6 to 60 max by each of the first 3 pitchers give or take to get us though most 9 inning games !

 

Day one

Stroman Rhp

Richards Lhp

Shoemaker Rhp

Elvis Rhp

 

Day 2

 

Borucki LHP

Bartolo Colon Rhp 1.75 - 3.75

Derek Holland Lhp 1.75 - 3.75

??? but to be a LHP

 

Day 3

 

Sanchez Rhp

Francisco Liriano Lhp 4- 6

??? To be a RHP

??? to be a Rhp

 

??? Lhp pitchers Pick Two

Brett Anderson 4 - 5.5

Wade Miley 2.5 - 4

Hector Santiago 2 - 3.5

Other ? Or pannone if we only sign one

 

??? Rhp need one

Clay Bucholz 1.5 - 3

Edwin Jackson 1.5 - 3

Jeremy Hellickson 2 - 3.5

??? Other

 

Sorry for the Length required to post

Thanks , Discuss it or Thoughts

 

Think even if one Traded Stroman or Sanchez

Now or in season we have enough RHP

In the System to fill or rotate in and out and get thier feet wet and looks at this year !

 

Are you snowed in, bro? This will never happen, lol. The money alone is a dream.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

Are you snowed in, bro? This will never happen, lol. The money alone is a dream.

 

why is the money a Dream ???

Or is that because you Feel Shatkins or Ownership is Too Cheap ?

The numbers listed where what the got paid last and the Second was giving them a raise

And Max amounts !

It not your money you tight ass Cheap Drunk

Lol

 

Hey Spanky Happy New Year Brother

[Brownie19]

I'll take Derek Holland for $3.75M please.

[Maahfaace]

why is the money a Dream ???

Or is that because you Feel Shatkins or Ownership is Too Cheap ?

The numbers listed where what the got paid last and the Second was giving them a raise

And Max amounts !

It not your money you tight ass Cheap Drunk

Lol

 

Hey Spanky Happy New Year Brother

 

A little bit of Todd in this post.

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

A little bit of Todd in this post.

 

ummm Lil bit of nothing in this or Boxy is that you ??? Hmmmmmmm

[BigBounceyBlueBalls]

I'll take Derek Holland for $3.75M please.

 

He only Made 1.750 last year so 2 mill raise

You think may be enough or do you think

It would Take more ? How much ya think ?

[Pendleton]

He only Made 1.750 last year so 2 mill raise

You think may be enough or do you think

It would Take more ? How much ya think ?

 

MLBTR predicted a total of $15M over two years.