Spring/Summer Training, 2020

[Barkerfan23]

Notes from the game in Bradenton today as I was in attendance:

 

Pearson is unreal and as weird as it sounds, it looks like he could still add muscle to his frame. He also won me a few drinks because no fans there knew he could throw 100.

 

Zeuch was laughably bad. His walk of shame down the baseline alone after being torched was like sadness personified.

 

Alejandro Kirk is even rounder in person than he looks on TV.

 

O’Neil Cruz Is somehow a legit SS at 6 foot 7. Incredible upside potential even if he moves off short, the dude has scary power and looks like he could use Joey Cora as a bat. He murdered the baseball off Zeuch.

 

I think Vlads homer hit the netting in left field before the sound of the bat crack could be heard. Only a slight exaggeration.

 

Thanks for the insight

[Laika]

... looks like he could use Joey Cora as a bat.

 

lol

[Brownie19]

Notes from the game in Bradenton today as I was in attendance:

 

Pearson is unreal and as weird as it sounds, it looks like he could still add muscle to his frame. He also won me a few drinks because no fans there knew he could throw 100.

 

Zeuch was laughably bad. His walk of shame down the baseline alone after being torched was like sadness personified.

 

Alejandro Kirk is even rounder in person than he looks on TV.

 

O’Neil Cruz Is somehow a legit SS at 6 foot 7. Incredible upside potential even if he moves off short, the dude has scary power and looks like he could use Joey Cora as a bat. He murdered the baseball off Zeuch.

 

I think Vlads homer hit the netting in left field before the sound of the bat crack could be heard. Only a slight exaggeration.

 

Nice little ball park they have in Bradenton eh? Love the updates. Thanks John.

[The Iceman]

Who was the pitcher the Jays signed this off season after watching his video he sent to them?

[P2F]

Who was the pitcher the Jays signed this off season after watching his video he sent to them?

 

James Dykstra or Connor Overton, probably.

[The Iceman]

James Dykstra or Connor Overton, probably.

 

https://bluejaysnation.com/2019/12/10/blue-jays-signing-of-james-dykstra-and-the-evolution-of-talent-discovery/

 

YUP...thank you

[Ray]

Jansen 2 run homer. He's been on fire this spring with the bat.

 

He spent most of last offseason working on his defense and was a Gold Glove finalist. I'm incredibly excited to see his offense this season after spending an offseason working on it.

[Ex Player]

You can watch streams here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MLBStreams/

 

But I cant seem to find a reliable stream of todays game though

[LGBJ29]

 

This is awesome for Shoe. If he can at all resemble his start to last season he'll extremely valuable for this team.

[max silver]

 

This is awesome for Shoe. If he can at all resemble his start to last season he'll extremely valuable for this team.

 

Results look very nice. Any word on what his stuff looked like?

[King]

You can watch streams here: https://www.reddit.com/r/MLBStreams/

 

But I cant seem to find a reliable stream of todays game though

http://bilasport.net/mlb.html

 

all games are on Bilasport in HD

 

the reason you can't find a stream of todays game is because it's not being broadcasted on TV

[BlueRocky]

Shoe could be very decent if he stays healthy this year

[LGBJ29]

Results look very nice. Any word on what his stuff looked like?

 

I haven't seen anything on velo or visual reports just the results. But they're awesome

[John_Havok]

Results look very nice. Any word on what his stuff looked like?

 

His stuff looked great honestly. Nothing spectacular on the gun, he hit 91 once, sat 89-90 consistently with that but his splitter was really working. Pretty dull game overall but Jansens homer was legit. Was pretty windy today and wasn’t consistent so one inning it was blowing in the next it was out...the next it was left... weird day.

[wilko]

His stuff looked great honestly. Nothing spectacular on the gun, he hit 91 once, sat 89-90 consistently with that but his splitter was really working. Pretty dull game overall but Jansens homer was legit. Was pretty windy today and wasn’t consistent so one inning it was blowing in the next it was out...the next it was left... weird day.

 

5 K's today for Shoe! Thornton's been killing it so far as well.

[Deadpool]

I think with some solid health luck, Shoemaker could be a really solid and valuable piece for us. Was a real shame when he went down w/ that fluke last year.

[JaysAllMighty]

On Sportsnet TV.

 

[Ray]

I think with some solid health luck, Shoemaker could be a really solid and valuable piece for us. Was a real shame when he went down w/ that fluke last year.

 

By May, we could be looking at a 1-2 of Pearson-Ryu, and having Matt Shoemaker as a #3 provided he stays healthy is not the worst spot to be in. And then Anderson and Roark would fit in nicely in the backend.

 

Obviously a lot of things would have to go right, but I think with the way the offense was playing in the 2nd half along with hopefully a major leave average caliber rotation, 79-80 wins seems like a floor imo. And if that’s the case, if a couple other guys do breakout offensively (i.e Fisher, Tellez, Jansen) , we likely could be playing meaningful games into September.

[Jimcanuck]

Seems like a good time for a wins prediction thread.

[max silver]

By May, we could be looking at a 1-2 of Pearson-Ryu, and having Matt Shoemaker as a #3 provided he stays healthy is not the worst spot to be in. And then Anderson and Roark would fit in nicely in the backend.

 

Obviously a lot of things would have to go right, but I think with the way the offense was playing in the 2nd half along with hopefully a major leave average caliber rotation, 79-80 wins seems like a floor imo. And if that’s the case, if a couple other guys do breakout offensively (i.e Fisher, Tellez, Jansen) , we likely could be playing meaningful games into September.

 

I'm hopeful for a good season as well. Our depth starting options this season (Yamaguchi/Kay/Borucki/Murphy/Hatch)are better than most of the actual starting options last year for most of the season. Add in further growth from the young hitters, and a potentially better than expected bullpen, and this team has a good chance to be far better than predicted by the projection systems.

[Laika]

By May, we could be looking at a 1-2 of Pearson-Ryu, and having Matt Shoemaker as a #3 provided he stays healthy is not the worst spot to be in. And then Anderson and Roark would fit in nicely in the backend.

 

Obviously a lot of things would have to go right, but I think with the way the offense was playing in the 2nd half along with hopefully a major leave average caliber rotation, 79-80 wins seems like a floor imo. And if that’s the case, if a couple other guys do breakout offensively (i.e Fisher, Tellez, Jansen) , we likely could be playing meaningful games into September.

 

More likely:

 

- One of Bichette or Vlad is not very productive

- The OF is a mess for most of the year. Grichuk has a .290 OBP. CF is a black hole.

- Tellez gets like 500 PA as 1B/DH and sucks.

- Shaw does not bounce back enough to have value.

- Someone good has a major injury.

- Two of Anderson, Shoemaker, and Roark limp to 1 WAR seasons with bloated ERAs.

- Nate Pearson comes up but is not an instant Ace.

- None of the value BP signings (Dolis, Bass, Shun) pay big profits.

[Bobthe4th]

I'm hopeful for a good season as well. Our depth starting options this season (Yamaguchi/Kay/Borucki/Murphy/Hatch)are better than most of the actual starting options last year for most of the season. Add in further growth from the young hitters, and a potentially better than expected bullpen, and this team has a good chance to be far better than predicted by the projection systems.

 

On the other hand, Ryu and Shoemaker both getting injured early, Pearson's innings limit preventing his promotion, Vlad's weight, our awful outfield, and Giles being traded could equal a sub .500 season. That's why they play the games, and this season should at least be more interesting than 2019!

[max silver]

On the other hand, Ryu and Shoemaker both getting injured early, Pearson's innings limit preventing his promotion, Vlad's weight, our awful outfield, and Giles being traded could equal a sub .500 season. That's why they play the games, and this season should at least be more interesting than 2019!

 

When it comes to the Blue Jays the old adage of hoping for the best but expecting the worst in my view is the best way of looking at things. That leads to the possibility of being pleasantly surprised when things go well but not crushed when they inevitably turn to s*** like most years.

[BlueRocky]

By May, we could be looking at a 1-2 of Pearson-Ryu, and having Matt Shoemaker as a #3 provided he stays healthy is not the worst spot to be in. And then Anderson and Roark would fit in nicely in the backend.

 

Obviously a lot of things would have to go right, but I think with the way the offense was playing in the 2nd half along with hopefully a major leave average caliber rotation, 79-80 wins seems like a floor imo. And if that’s the case, if a couple other guys do breakout offensively (i.e Fisher, Tellez, Jansen) , we likely could be playing meaningful games into September.

 

One thing the Jays have going for them is pitching prospects arriving through the system (Pearson, Kay, Murphy, Merryweather, Zeuch), but in turn there’s no impact bat to speak of like Vlad, Bichette, and Biggio arriving like last year.

 

If the core guys get IL’d for whatever reason, we’ll be seeing a ton of Shaw, Panik, Drury, Hernandez, Alford, Santiago Espinal, & Forrest Wall types. The position depth is a bit thin on impact talent.

 

The closest thing to an impact bat remotely ready would be Alejandro Kirk, which will start at double-A.

 

There’s still a chance at 80+ wins but a lot of things would have to go right. Even with all the injuries via Red Sox & Yankees. Like Vlad, Bo, Biggio have breakout seasons, Ryu stays healthy, Pearson dominates, Giles stays good, etc

 

I’d take the over on the 75 wins projection via sports bets and other projections. But still not sure we’ll be in the wild card hunt in August.

 

By the time we see guys like Groshans, Manoah, and SWR arriving in 2021-2022, and let’s say front office continues to add via trade and free agency, they’ll be in a good position to compete for postseason spots.

Edited March 4, 2020 by BlueRocky

[Deadpool]

Bichette w/ a bases clearing, stand up triple. Noice.

[LGBJ29]

Bichette w/ a bases clearing, stand up triple. Noice.

 

Followed by a Gurriel double. He's hit the ball hard today

[Deadpool]

Alford has been having better ABs the past couple of games. Driven the ball hard the other way twice, and a solid single yesterday. He's really going to have to tighten up the RIDICULOUSLY sloppy D to get that 26th man spot, though.

[THANOS]

Alford has been having better ABs the past couple of games. Driven the ball hard the other way twice, and a solid single yesterday. He's really going to have to tighten up the RIDICULOUSLY sloppy D to get that 26th man spot, though.

 

His biggest issue is between the ears. I feel he would benefit the most from the sports psychology team we have.

[P2F]

His biggest issue is between the ears. I feel he would benefit the most from the sports psychology team we have.

 

I'd argue that his biggest issue is a complete inability to make contact with the ball.

[THANOS]

I'd argue that his biggest issue is a complete inability to make contact with the ball.

 

Agreed, but he did do this quite well a few years ago in AA, then came up to the majors for a cup of coffee and has struggled ever since. The fact that he has done it before makes me believe he could again, but has zero confidence. Also, altering his swing to match Donaldson has seemed to really mess up his timing and plate coverage.