Is Vlad Jr the best prospect ever?

[Spanky99]

It would definitely save face for the franchise, but there’s nothing to be gained long term. He will be up April 2__ even if he’s hitting two fifty in AAA. They’d be crazy not to call him up as soon as the threshold has passed.

 

April 12th, I think they call him up on the road though, likely the 15th in Minnesota.

[Krylian]

I know you're joking but wouldn't a bad spring for Vlad actually allow Atkins to save face a bit, and in the long run could be beneficial for the Jays?

 

It could. But part of me doesn't want to let Aktins off the hook for being stupid.

 

Meh. At the end of the day this is going to get grieved. They won't win, but there's enough attention being placed on these services time manipulation cases that they're going to change this in the next CBA.

[Bobthe4th]

It could. But part of me doesn't want to let Aktins off the hook for being stupid.

 

Meh. At the end of the day this is going to get grieved. They won't win, but there's enough attention being placed on these services time manipulation cases that they're going to change this in the next CBA.

 

Ironically making holding him down now pointless.

[Spanky99]

Ironically making holding him down now pointless.

 

[Boxcar]

 

If they alter stuff to do with service time, Vlad will still be under team control when the newest CBA goes live.

 

Only problem is that it isn't a sure thing. It's possible they could come to a stalemate and simply negotiate a short term continuation of the current CBA just to keep players on the field.

[rookiefuzz]

Why? He's gonna miss 2 weeks then be called up. Unless he gets hurt he'll have a good shot at 25.

 

I know, I thought that Acuna had more than 26 so Vlad would be a lock for 30. But, alas, Acuna “only” had....26.

 

We’ll see!

[Laika]

Vlad Jr.'s new official weight is 250 lbs

 

lol

[Spanky99]

If they alter stuff to do with service time, Vlad will still be under team control when the newest CBA goes live.

 

Only problem is that it isn't a sure thing. It's possible they could come to a stalemate and simply negotiate a short term continuation of the current CBA just to keep players on the field.

 

Regardless, it doesn't make this decision to hold him down till the 12th pointless. I'm aware of what could happen, time will tell.

[Spanky99]

Vlad Jr.'s new official weight is 250 lbs

 

lol

 

Maury Povich - "And the lie detector determined that was a lie"

[bones10]

Vlad Jr.'s new official weight is 250 lbs

 

lol

 

Jesus is this real? at what, 6'2?

 

I thought I was tubby

[Krylian]

Jesus is this real? at what, 6'2?

 

I thought I was tubby

 

6'1" max.

[Spanky99]

6'1" max.

 

He is just that.

[Spanky99]

Vlad Jr.'s new official weight is 250 lbs

 

lol

 

So he gained 50 lbs in a year? f***... Jays have to put a stop to this, lol.

[Boxcar]

Does this mean Alejandro Kirk jumps into the top 15?

[BTS]

6’1 250 (so probably like 260+) at 19. Get this lardass a 1B glove plz.

[John_Havok]

6’1 250 (so probably like 260+) at 19. Get this lardass a 1B glove plz.

 

Better yet, a stairmaster, keto nutritional plan, and chain up the ice cream machine

[Olerud363]

Better yet, a stairmaster, keto nutritional plan, and chain up the ice cream machine

 

https://www.mlb.com/cut4/vladimir-guerrero-jr-hits-double-with-one-handed-swing

 

He does a look fatter and softer this year to me...

 

[Krylian]

Better yet, a stairmaster, keto nutritional plan, and chain up the ice cream machine

 

He is what he is at this point. There's probably less than a 5% chance that he transforms himself at this point. Likely zero given that his dad was a HOF player, Jr. grew up seeing this world and what it takes, and yet he still decides to let himself go. Take the 6-7 years of great offense, hope he stays healthy, and let him go.

[Jimcanuck]

Take the 6-7 years of great offense, hope he stays healthy, and let him go.

 

He had knee problems last year and added bulk. Vladito staying healthy for the next 6 years is dicey.

[Bobthe4th]

He is what he is at this point. There's probably less than a 5% chance that he transforms himself at this point. Likely zero given that his dad was a HOF player, Jr. grew up seeing this world and what it takes, and yet he still decides to let himself go. Take the 6-7 years of great offense, hope he stays healthy, and let him go.

 

f***ing hell mate, I know you’re one of the more negative posters here, but writing off Vlad’s second half of his career already is pessimistic even for you haha.

 

Yes he’ll likely be DH only in his late 20’s, and it’s frustrating that he doesn’t take care of himself more. But if his bat is anywhere near where we think it might be, he can still be a top ten player at that point.

[Olerud363]

f***ing hell mate, I know you’re one of the more negative posters here, but writing off Vlad’s second half of his career already is pessimistic even for you haha.

 

Yes he’ll likely be DH only in his late 20’s, and it’s frustrating that he doesn’t take care of himself more. But if his bat is anywhere near where we think it might be, he can still be a top ten player at that point.

 

The issue is he seems to have gained 30 or 40 lbs and frankly in the pictures I've seen looks far tubbier than last year. He already had knee problems, and instead of getting fitter he went the other way.

 

FYI - I assume his listed weight of 200 lbs last year was more like 225 or 230 and I assume his 250 this year is more like 260, thus it seems he gained 30 or 40 lbs. It's insane that a 19 year old, with well known weight problems, just went out and gained that much weight.

 

FYI2 - This is the kind of thing that the scouting rats on the board can lend some useful insight. Is he really fatter this year or is it just the board being neurotic?? Has anyone seen him live?? How does the bat speed look?? Does he look worse or better on defense?? Insights would be appreciated.

[Olerud363]

He had knee problems last year and added bulk. Vladito staying healthy for the next 6 years is dicey.

 

The silver lining is, if he is really out of shape, they can justifiably send him down, not only for the 2 weeks, but until super-2 is over. The union has no right to complain, if Vlad showed up that out of shape.

[BTS]

The issue is he seems to have gained 30 or 40 lbs and frankly in the pictures I've seen looks far tubbier than last year. He already had knee problems, and instead of getting fitter he went the other way.

 

FYI - I assume his listed weight of 200 lbs last year was more like 225 or 230 and I assume his 250 this year is more like 260, thus it seems he gained 30 or 40 lbs. It's insane that a 19 year old, with well known weight problems, just went out and gained that much weight.

 

FYI2 - This is the kind of thing that the scouting rats on the board can lend some useful insight. Is he really fatter this year or is it just the board being neurotic?? Has anyone seen him live?? How does the bat speed look?? Does he look worse or better on defense?? Insights would be appreciated.

 

He's still going to mash and be a lot of fun to watch, but it's hard not to be frustrated by the value he's leaving on the table. He's literally obese, and he's not going to be the defender or baserunner he'd be if he were fit, and might not stay on the field as often. As great a prospect as he is, imagine a 200-lb fit Vladdy. We'd be looking at a monster with the bat with the possibility for plus defense at 3B long term and at least average baserunning. It's a shame, because he had all the resources in the world available to him from the time he was born.

[King]

I'm not sure why you guys think he gained 50lb in one offseason. Websites display his weight when he signed his contract. He was 200lb at 16.

[King]

Here's an article from last June where team officials had him at somewhere between 230 and 250 lb.

 

http://Torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/guerrero-is-a-big-kid-getting-bigger-which-is-probably-not-a-good-thing/amp

[L54]

There’s no f***ing way Vlad gained 50 pounds during the most important offseason of his life. Guy moves well and the weight doesnt seem to hinder him at the plate and by all accounts the D is decent. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again they will try to work on his weight once he’s an established big leaguer, but for right now just hit and get used to the league.

 

Also for the love of god please no keto

[P2F]

The next market inefficiency in baseball will be simply getting your players in shape. I'm not even kidding.

 

No, it's team optometrists. We discussed this on the latest podcast episode.

[L54]

The next market inefficiency in baseball will be simply getting your players in shape. I'm not even kidding.

 

I always get a kick out of the 34 year old DH who can't run out a ground ball. Like that's supposed to be ok or something. Ronaldo and Lebron are 34.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. Just as spin rates, rpm's, exit velo, launch angle, etc have taken over the league you can build athletes by having an understanding of numbers and applying them to the strength and conditioning. Bar speed velocities, %1RM's, heart rates are all objective data points that allow you to train efficiently and with intent. I would be surprised if the Jays don't already have a lot of this implementation in place, based on their commitment to areas such as mental conditioning, nutrition, money invested in Dunedin, so on and so forth.

 

It's ludicrous to think that they're turning a blind eye to the most important guy in the organization's physical preparedness. He's always going to be big, but as long as he's strong, moving well and efficiently, I don't care what he looks like. I have faith that the organization understands what is best for Vlad.

[L54]

No, it's team optometrists. We discussed this on the latest podcast episode.

 

Well, that only applies to hitting but I don't disagree. There are many avenues teams are/should be willing to exploit to get the most out of their players. Strength and conditioning can play dividends from a hitting/defense/baserunning/pitching/longevity standpoint. It's really the low hanging fruit (along with nutrition) that I would be sinking a ton of money into if I was in charge of any pro sports team.

[Spanky99]

I'm not sure why you guys think he gained 50lb in one offseason. Websites display his weight when he signed his contract. He was 200lb at 16.

 

Here's an article from last June where team officials had him at somewhere between 230 and 250 lb.

 

http://Torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/guerrero-is-a-big-kid-getting-bigger-which-is-probably-not-a-good-thing/amp

 

Cool, wasn't aware about the former, so not as worrisome now.