General 2019 Blue Jays Discussion Thread

[BTS]

Tellez killed it in the second half in the minors and the majors as well last year. He has rough year and a half, which coincided with his mother battling and dying of cancer. What's the statistical adjustment you make to a guys stats who has to deal with a dying mother? Tellez is 24 now not 21 or 22.

 

Morales' WAR will be somewhere between -.5 to maybe .7 WAR. His upside is most likely less than 1 win. That type of ceiling shouldn't prevent any young player from making the club. His biggest value to the team is probably his relationship with Vlad.

 

We go through this every year with players with MLB time under their belt. I'll never understand why people want anyone with MLB time to be given a 25-man spot out of the gate. Tellez is a 24-year old DH who has a 115 wRC+ in his AAA career. Asking him to hit his way on to the roster in April isn't unreasonable. He probably sucks, but if he doesn't he'll find his way onto the roster.

[Bobthe4th]

We go through this every year with players with MLB time under their belt. I'll never understand why people want anyone with MLB time to be given a 25-man spot out of the gate. Tellez is a 24-year old DH who has a 115 wRC+ in his AAA career. Asking him to hit his way on to the roster in April isn't unreasonable. He probably sucks, but if he doesn't he'll find his way onto the roster.

 

It’s not hard to understand though is it. People are impatient.

 

In this particular circumstance we know Morales isn’t very good and will never get better. Tellez might, but if he doesn’t then the sooner we find out the sooner we move onto the next option.

[Jimcanuck]

It’s not hard to understand though is it. People are impatient.

 

In this particular circumstance we know Morales isn’t very good and will never get better. Tellez might, but if he doesn’t then the sooner we find out the sooner we move onto the next option.

 

How much time will you give Tellez? Prospects typically struggle the first year or more. Would rather see Tellez beast on AAA pitching for a while, until then use the DH spot to get Teoscar and a few others maximum PA

[BTS]

It’s not hard to understand though is it. People are impatient.

 

In this particular circumstance we know Morales isn’t very good and will never get better. Tellez might, but if he doesn’t then the sooner we find out the sooner we move onto the next option.

 

Tellez will most likely fail in the majors this year, and it's not like they're going to close the book on him if he struggles - he'd be sent to AAA. Sending him there off the bat still provides the team with data: if he crushes AAA they'll bring him up and see if it transfers. If he's only a bit above average again he'll be gone in two years when his options run out.

 

I don't really think Shatkins actually sees him as an important piece though. You can buy a Justin Bour for like 1/2.5 on the FA market, and Rowdy Tellez will probably not be better than Justin Bour. Not many teams are interested in rostering players with his skill set.

[Spanky99]

Bingo, well said.

[Bobthe4th]

How much time will you give Tellez? Prospects typically struggle the first year or more. Would rather see Tellez beast on AAA pitching for a while, until then use the DH spot to get Teoscar and a few others maximum PA

 

Personally I’m in no rush to promote Tellez (though I wouldn’t mind Morales being released to free up the roster spot). I just think it’s disingenuous to pretend that playing prospects in a non competitive year shouldn’t be a priority.

 

And if you think Tellez will struggle initially then that’d be another reason to give him an everyday job now when team results aren’t very important this year.

[Jimcanuck]

Personally I’m in no rush to promote Tellez (though I wouldn’t mind Morales being released to free up the roster spot). I just think it’s disingenuous to pretend that playing prospects in a non competitive year shouldn’t be a priority.

 

And if you think Tellez will struggle initially then that’d be another reason to give him an everyday job now when team results aren’t very important this year.

 

Agree that guys like Morales and Pillar need to be jettisoned if they can't be moved for something of value. Jays farm is top heavy, time to give the kids a chance. As far as Tellez is concerned, I see him as a bit lower on the order of players that would benefit from MLB experience. Specifically at DH I'd rather see guys like Hernandez, Drury, Gurriel get those reps when not on the field.

[BTS]

Personally I’m in no rush to promote Tellez (though I wouldn’t mind Morales being released to free up the roster spot). I just think it’s disingenuous to pretend that playing prospects in a non competitive year shouldn’t be a priority.

And if you think Tellez will struggle initially then that’d be another reason to give him an everyday job now when team results aren’t very important this year.

 

Is anyone doing this? Are any players who have thrived at AAA being left off the roster outside of Vlad for service time reasons?

 

How many players has this org ever left in AAA for too long when they were clearly ready? Because everyone complains about it every April, but it doesn't really ever happen. Tellez is not going to be left to murder AAA all season. If he hits, he'll be given an MLB shot, and if he doesn't, he might still be given an MLB shot. Nobody is being blocked. Nobody is wasting away on the farm.

[Bobthe4th]

Is anyone doing this? Are any players who have thrived at AAA being left off the roster outside of Vlad for service time reasons?

 

How many players has this org ever left in AAA for too long when they were clearly ready? Because everyone complains about it every April, but it doesn't really ever happen. Tellez is not going to be left to murder AAA all season. If he hits, he'll be given an MLB shot, and if he doesn't, he might still be given an MLB shot. Nobody is being blocked. Nobody is wasting away on the farm.

 

Yes you’re doing it. As Jim says, there’s not much point having veterans on the roster when there’s non elite prospects who could be playing. Again using Tellez as an example, he’s being blocked by Smoak and Morales I don’t see how you can argue against that. Whether he’s good enough to hold down a spot when one or both are moved/injured we don’t know yet. But if either were moved now he’d be on the 25 man. Alford is in a similar situation with no room to be rostered. For both it’s debatable whether they’d learn more right now by staying in AAA, but it’s dumb to suggest there’s no room for debate at all.

[Jimcanuck]

Might be time to update the Jays projected roster.

[BTS]

Yes you’re doing it. As Jim says, there’s not much point having veterans on the roster when there’s non elite prospects who could be playing. Again using Tellez as an example, he’s being blocked by Smoak and Morales I don’t see how you can argue against that. Whether he’s good enough to hold down a spot when one or both are moved/injured we don’t know yet. But if either were moved now he’d be on the 25 man. Alford is in a similar situation with no room to be rostered. For both it’s debatable whether they’d learn more right now by staying in AAA, but it’s dumb to suggest there’s no room for debate at all.

 

Tellez is a pure DH who had a 115 wRC+ in AAA last year.

Alford had a wRC+ of 87 in AAA this year.

 

Respectable organizations don't clear out 25-man spots on opening day for players who have not succeeded at AAA. These players are not 'blocked'. They are prospects entering their age-24 seasons who still have to prove that they deserve an extended major league look. They both had an opportunity to do that last year and AAA, and both of them failed.

[Jimcanuck]

C - Jansen, Maile, McGuire (McGuire Buffalo for playing time and depth)

 

1B - Smoak, Morales, Drury, Tellez (I'd extend Smoak until 2022 - bridge to Vlad at 1B. If Tellez rakes in AAA, dump Morales somehow, Tellez is otherwise depth)

 

2B - Travis, Gurriel, Drury, Biggio

 

SS - Glavis, Gurriel, Urena, Bichette

 

3B - Vlad, Drury, Urena

 

CF - Pillar, Grichuk, Alford, Pompey (Pillar can GTFO)

 

RF - Grichuk, Alford, Pompey

 

LF - McKinney, Hernandez, Biggio

[BTS]

C - Jansen, Maile, McGuire (McGuire Buffalo for playing time and depth)

 

1B - Smoak, Morales, Drury, Tellez (I'd extend Smoak until 2022 - bridge to Vlad at 1B. If Tellez rakes in AAA, dump Morales somehow, Tellez is otherwise depth)

 

2B - Travis, Gurriel, Drury, Biggio

 

SS - Glavis, Gurriel, Urena, Bichette

 

3B - Vlad, Drury, Urena

 

CF - Pillar, Grichuk, Alford, Pompey (Pillar can GTFO)

 

RF - Grichuk, Alford, Pompey

 

LF - McKinney, Hernandez, Biggio

 

Why not just keep Pillar until he can't defend CF anymore? Guys like him have no trade value, and he's a perfect 4th OF if a couple of McKinney/Hernandez/Biggio/Pompey/Alford pass him. It's pretty conceivable that the 2021 version of the team is competitive and with Pillar acting as 4th OF for reasonably cheap.

[Jimcanuck]

Why not just keep Pillar until he can't defend CF anymore? Guys like him have no trade value, and he's a perfect 4th OF if a couple of McKinney/Hernandez/Biggio/Pompey/Alford pass him. It's pretty conceivable that the 2021 version of the team is competitive and with Pillar acting as 4th OF for reasonably cheap.

 

Because I think 3 of those guys have passed him, already.

[BTS]

Because I think 3 of those guys have passed him, already.

 

This forum is awful.

[L54]

Because I think 3 of those guys have passed him, already.

 

Can you name them so that we have them on record please Jim?

[Jimcanuck]

Can you name them so that we have them on record please Jim?

 

McKinney, Hernandez and Alford. Alford better defensively and just as good or better with the bat.

[LGBJ29]

McKinney, Hernandez and Alford. Alford better defensively and just as good or better with the bat.

 

So three players that combined for a 0.2 WAR in 2018 are each individually better than a player that amassed 2.0 WAR. That is one steamy hot take my man

[Spanky99]

lulz

[Orgfiller]

McKinney, Hernandez and Alford. Alford better defensively and just as good or better with the bat.

 

You are delusional.

[Jimcanuck]

Let's see how the season plays out. Pillar on decline, these other guys going the other direction.

[Spanky99]

MLB.com's team projections...

 

BLUE JAYS

 

Lineup:

 

1) Lourdes Gurriel Jr., 2B

2) Brandon Drury, 3B

3) Justin Smoak, 1B

4) Kendrys Morales, DH

5) Randal Grichuk, RF

6) Teoscar Hernandez, LF

7) Kevin Pillar, CF

8) Danny Jansen, C

9) Freddy Galvis, SS

 

Rotation and closer:

 

1) Marcus Stroman, RHP

2) Aaron Sanchez, RHP

3) Matt Shoemaker, RHP

4) Clay Buchholz, RHP

5) Ryan Borucki, LHP

 

Closer: Ken Giles, RHP

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/projected-2019-lineups-rotations-all-30-teams-c303706990

[spats]

If people ask why baseball is boring and what needs to be done to make the game more exciting.

 

Because of contracts, service time, options etc, we are probably going to have to see a line up at the ML level of:

 

Morales, Galvis, Pillar, Maile, Travis if he didnt get hurt/or recovers.

 

f*** that! I would much rather tune in and pay my money to go to the park to watch these guys any day of the week.

 

I have felt that way since mid-point last year. I want Tellez in the damn lineup!!

 

That's why I'm looking forward to attending many games in Buffalo this year. I'll be able to see the likes of Rowdy, Bo, Biggio, Vladdy(for awhile) and possibly Pearson for the low,low price of $10 US. Plus I can have one of those delicious Sahlen hotdogs and a beer for under 10 bucks. Love the minor leagues.

[saskjayfan]

We go through this every year with players with MLB time under their belt. I'll never understand why people want anyone with MLB time to be given a 25-man spot out of the gate. Tellez is a 24-year old DH who has a 115 wRC+ in his AAA career. Asking him to hit his way on to the roster in April isn't unreasonable. He probably sucks, but if he doesn't he'll find his way onto the roster.

 

It's less about Tellez and more about Morales. I just don't want to see him at the plate for the Jays anymore. I'd be fine with carrying an extra outfielder, or infielder....just rotate the DH. No more Morales!

[BTS]

It's less about Tellez and more about Morales. I just don't want to see him at the plate for the Jays anymore. I'd be fine with carrying an extra outfielder, or infielder....just rotate the DH. No more Morales!

 

I don't think anyone would really care if Morales was DFA'd. It's surprising that it hasn't happened already.

[Spanky99]

It's less about Tellez and more about Morales. I just don't want to see him at the plate for the Jays anymore. I'd be fine with carrying an extra outfielder, or infielder....just rotate the DH. No more Morales!

 

A lot of people feel this way, I don't see it happening though.

[Angrioter]

Because I think 3 of those guys have passed him, already.

 

Teoscar suck, McKinney is nothing, and Alford isnt ready. Pillar is our best OF right now.

[LGBJ29]

Teoscar suck, McKinney is nothing, and Alford isnt ready. Pillar is our best OF right now.

 

Grichuk, Randal

[Angrioter]

Grichuk, Randal

 

Pillar is a better player; he can stay healthy. Grichuk can't stay healthy

[Brownie19]

It's less about Tellez and more about Morales. I just don't want to see him at the plate for the Jays anymore. I'd be fine with carrying an extra outfielder, or infielder....just rotate the DH. No more Morales!

 

Morales lead the team in DRC+ last year man...