Spring Training OpenerM JFL GDT: Jays vs Tigers. 1.07pm. Sportsnet

[jays4life19]

I was hoping to save my services for the regular season opener but someone needs to do this.

 

JAYS Lineup:

2B Devon Travis R

3B B. Drury R

LF T. Hernandez R

1B Justin Smoak B

CF Kevin Pillar R

C Danny Jansen R

SS F. Galvis B

DH Bo Bichette R

RF D. Pompey B

 

TIGERS Lineup:

RF R. Mitchell L

LF C. Stewart L

3B J. Candelario B

1B John Hicks R

2B Niko Goodrum B

DH D. Peterson R

CF JaCoby Jones R

SS Jordy Mercer R

C G. Greiner R

 

Pitching match ups

 

Ryan Borucki (L) vs Matt Moore (L)

 

Temperature: warm

 

Betting odds: Jays win 100%

 

Other Game Notes

- Boston suxxxxxxxx

[Spanky99]

Stream... http://www.worldcupfootball.me/mlb/566849/h

 

TV... Sportsnet

[DickeyJohnsonWang]

Stream... http://www.worldcupfootball.me/mlb/566849/h

 

TV... Sportsnet

 

Don't see it on the sportsnet broadcast schedule

https://www.sportsnet.ca/schedule/

 

mlb.com doesn't show a TV feed either

https://www.mlb.com/scores/2019-02-23

[Carlos Danger]

Really excited that ST games start today. I have a spring in my step. Will have the game on the patio speakers as I do some work around the pool and back yard today. Makes it so much easier to do house work when you have a Jay’s game on.

 

Not interested in Travis, Morales, Biagini, Axford and to an extent Stroman and Pillar being in the mix, but really looking forward seeing all the other players during ST and regular season.

 

Love watching Borucki our ACE pitch

[BTS]

Really excited that ST games start today. I have a spring in my step. Will have the game on the patio speakers as I do some work around the pool and back yard today. Makes it so much easier to do house work when you have a Jay’s game on.

 

Not interested in Travis, Morales, Biagini, Axford and to an extent Stroman and Pillar being in the mix, but really looking forward seeing all the other players during ST and regular season.

 

Love watching Borucki our ACE pitch��

 

I feel like you’re going to be very disappointed when Borucki ends up as nothing more than a useful 5th starter.

[Carlos Danger]

I feel like you’re going to be very disappointed when Borucki ends up as nothing more than a useful 5th starter.

 

You would have never drafted Tom Brady, John Smoltz or Mark Buehrle either -

[BTS]

You would have never drafted Tom Brady, John Smoltz or Mark Buehrle either -

 

When Buehrle was 24 he was throwing his 3rd straight above average season. When Borucki was was 24 he was a fringy 5th starter. I’m not even sure what skills you’re seeing when you watch him that make you think he’s good.

[King]

Bichette has been seriously overshadowed by Vlad. He could easily show up to camp MLB ready

[Pendleton]

Bichette has been seriously overshadowed by Vlad. He could easily show up to camp MLB ready

 

One of the better hitting prospects we've had.

[Carlos Danger]

One of the better hitting prospects we've had.

 

I think Biggio is going to emerge and be like a Dustin Pedroia type..

[Laika]

I think Biggio is going to emerge and be like a Dustin Pedroia type..

 

It's hard to even think of a worse comp for Biggio

[metafour]

When Borucki was was 24 he was a fringy 5th starter.

 

He posted 1.7 WAR in 97.2 innings. Does that mean that he's a 4 WAR pitcher over 200+ innings? No, but I'm not sure what your argument is because I'd love to see what your definition of a "fringy" 5th starter is. Borucki's 3.80 FIP last year is better than Buehrle's career FIP.

[BTS]

He posted 1.7 WAR in 97.2 innings. Does that mean that he's a 4 WAR pitcher over 200+ innings? No, but I'm not sure what your argument is because I'd love to see what your definition of a "fringy" 5th starter is. Borucki's 3.80 FIP last year is better than Buehrle's career FIP.

 

Obviously I don’t think Borucki’s HR/FB rate last year was sustainable. His IFFB% was actually below average. I buy him as the 4.5 to 5 ERA guy his 2018 xFIP and 2019 projections peg him as. No issue with him as a 5th starter, but this is not a good pitcher barring a significant improvement in skills.

[Carlos Danger]

It's hard to even think of a worse comp for Biggio

 

Good offensive player, solid D, great leadership and a gamer.. Why not..?

[King]

He posted 1.7 WAR in 97.2 innings. Does that mean that he's a 4 WAR pitcher over 200+ innings? No, but I'm not sure what your argument is because I'd love to see what your definition of a "fringy" 5th starter is. Borucki's 3.80 FIP last year is better than Buehrle's career FIP.

His xFIP was 4.62 (109 xFIP-), SIERA was 4.80, SwStr 7.8%, 16.1 K%. All unarguably, below average.

[43211234]

WTF it doesn't seem to be on any of the Sportsnet channels

[Carlos Danger]

Obviously I don’t think Borucki’s HR/FB rate last year was sustainable. I buy him as the 4.5 to 5 ERA guy his 2018 xFIP and 2019 projections peg him as. No issue with him as a 5th starter, but this is not a good pitcher barring a significant improvement in skills.

 

I have considered your arguments and I am awarding the decision to Metafour!

 

BorACEi!

[King]

Looks like this game is not on Sportsnet.

[43211234]

I was sure I saw that this would be broadcast on tv on Sportsnet. Maybe they cancelled it when they knew Vlad wasn't in the lineup?

[bones10]

I found an audio stream: http://bilasport.net/game/toronto-blue-jays-vs-detroit-tigers-12913.html

[King]

The good news is there is a bunch of other games to watch.

 

Sandy Alcantara is looking filthy in the Marlins/Cardinals game.

[Orgfiller]

It's only available on audio streams.

[metafour]

Obviously I don’t think Borucki’s HR/FB rate last year was sustainable. I buy him as the 4.5 to 5 ERA guy his 2018 xFIP and 2019 projections peg him as. No issue with him as a 5th starter, but this is not a good pitcher barring a significant improvement in skills.

 

Okay, you also seem to be extremely low on projecting a 4.5 to 5 ERA on a LHP with obviously above average stuff who also throws strikes. He was just at 92 mph average FB velocity last year and his changeup is a plus pitch. His HR/FB rate might not be sustainable, but why would you be so sure that his 6.17 K/9 and 3.04 BB/9 are true indicators of talent either? That walk rate is kinda high for a kid who threw strikes all throughout the minors, and his raw stuff is MUCH better than a ~6 K/9 would indicate.

[Abomination]

Looks like this game is not on Sportsnet.

 

Monday's game is the first one on Sportsnet.

[King]

This will be the spring of Greg Bird, mark my words.

 

BUY BUY BUY! in all formats

[Captain Adama]

Okay, you also seem to be extremely low on projecting a 4.5 to 5 ERA on a LHP with obviously above average stuff who also throws strikes. He was just at 92 mph average FB velocity last year and his changeup is a plus pitch. His HR/FB rate might not be sustainable, but why would you be so sure that his 6.17 K/9 and 3.04 BB/9 are true indicators of talent either? That walk rate is kinda high for a kid who threw strikes all throughout the minors, and his raw stuff is MUCH better than a ~6 K/9 would indicate.

 

Because K and BB rates tend to normalize over a much smaller sample than HR/FB does. Also, walk rates tend to go up when pitchers face big league talent for obvious reasons.

[Orgfiller]

Okay, you also seem to be extremely low on projecting a 4.5 to 5 ERA on a LHP with obviously above average stuff who also throws strikes. He was just at 92 mph average FB velocity last year and his changeup is a plus pitch. His HR/FB rate might not be sustainable, but why would you be so sure that his 6.17 K/9 and 3.04 BB/9 are true indicators of talent either? That walk rate is kinda high for a kid who threw strikes all throughout the minors, and his raw stuff is MUCH better than a ~6 K/9 would indicate.

 

He literally projects as a 4.5-5.0 ERA this season. I'm not sure if he has "obviously above average stuff", his swinging strike rate was a below average 7.8% with a groundball rate that was above average but not elite. His K and BB rates literally matched what he had done the rest of the year at AAA, the MLB is a different animal so expecting him to maintain his MiLB rates from the lower minors when he wasn't always young for the level is shortsighted. I like Borucki, I think he can and will be a serviceable #4/5 starter for us, but you might experience disappointment if you expect him to be consistently a sub 4 FIP pitcher.

[bones10]

Teo hype again?

[BTS]

Okay, you also seem to be extremely low on projecting a 4.5 to 5 ERA on a LHP with obviously above average stuff who also throws strikes. He was just at 92 mph average FB velocity last year and his changeup is a plus pitch. His HR/FB rate might not be sustainable, but why would you be so sure that his 6.17 K/9 and 3.04 BB/9 are true indicators of talent either? That walk rate is kinda high for a kid who threw strikes all throughout the minors, and his raw stuff is MUCH better than a ~6 K/9 would indicate.

 

I don’t see the same stuff you do. Mediocre fastball, plus changeup average breaking ball, but hitters in AAA or the majors had no issues making contact on him.

 

I actually like Borucki as a someone who spends a few years contributing as a 5th starter or someone who comes in to throw 4-5 innings after an opener, but I have a very hard time seeing more than that. Who knows though.

[metafour]

His xFIP was 4.62 (109 xFIP-), SIERA was 4.80, SwStr 7.8%, 16.1 K%. All unarguably, below average.

 

So...just like Buehrle throughout his entire career LOL?

 

I'm just finding this whole argument silly. He did what Buehrle did for virtually his entire career last year, but, "he cant be Buehrle"? His 97 IP sample is pointless to conclude anything on either way; but lets not kid ourselves here: the main difference between the two is that Borucki throws 5+ MPH harder and therefore should have much more leeway to get away with sub-optimal rates than Buehrle had, so its obviously entirely attainable. I'm just looking at this from a pure face-value approach: a LHP with above average velocity, an above average to plus secondary pitch, and good pitchability OBVIOUSLY has a much higher ceiling than "fringy 5th starter". Like, not even close.