General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2021)

[Krylian]

My Dad got it last week and died three days later. My Mom currently has it and is symptom free as the Vaccine she got appears to be helping her. One hour ago we got the call that my Dad's cousin passed away due to it as well. It has hit my family hard to say the least.

 

So sorry to hear, man. That's terrible.

 

Condolences to you and your family.

[Brownie19]

Oh my f***, I'm so sorry dude. That's awful.

 

Everyone: They just lowered the vaccine age to 40, so if you qualify, register ASAP. I just registered at the Shopper's near my house, and I hope to get an appointment soon.

 

I can look this up myself, but if you turn 40 this year (like say September), do you qualify?

[Deadpool]

I can look this up myself, but if you turn 40 this year (like say September), do you qualify?

 

https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations <-- suggests that yes, if you turn 40 in 2021 you qualify.

[Stangstag]

I can look this up myself, but if you turn 40 this year (like say September), do you qualify?

 

I think it just depends who you talk to when booking. I’ve heard of many inconsistencies. Worth trying though

[BlueRocky]

They initially went with age at time of booking, it got changed to year of birth

[Jimcanuck]

My Dad got it last week and died three days later. My Mom currently has it and is symptom free as the Vaccine she got appears to be helping her. One hour ago we got the call that my Dad's cousin passed away due to it as well. It has hit my family hard to say the least.

 

So sorry Hurl, condolences to you and the family.

[LGBJ29]

I had it pre-pandemic as well. Before any "known" cases in Canada. We went out to Whistler for a bachelor party in January of 2020. I came back and had all the symptoms. It kicked my ass. I was 27 then, and was home from work for a week. My biggest fear is my parents getting it as their existing conditions would put them is serious condition. My condolences to Hurl and to anyone else who has lost a family member or struggling with the virus.

 

Anyone calling it the flu and downplaying the seriousness at this point is a complete moron. I thought the sportsnet comment section about the Jays was brutal, turns out it gets so much worse when you see what social media has to say about their conspiracies' about the virus. f***ing pathetic part of society

[wilko]

My Dad got it last week and died three days later. My Mom currently has it and is symptom free as the Vaccine she got appears to be helping her. One hour ago we got the call that my Dad's cousin passed away due to it as well. It has hit my family hard to say the least.

 

Sorry to hear about your dad.

[Krylian]

I had it pre-pandemic as well. Before any "known" cases in Canada. We went out to Whistler for a bachelor party in January of 2020. I came back and had all the symptoms. It kicked my ass. I was 27 then, and was home from work for a week. My biggest fear is my parents getting it as their existing conditions would put them is serious condition. My condolences to Hurl and to anyone else who has lost a family member or struggling with the virus.

 

Anyone calling it the flu and downplaying the seriousness at this point is a complete moron. I thought the sportsnet comment section about the Jays was brutal, turns out it gets so much worse when you see what social media has to say about their conspiracies' about the virus. f***ing pathetic part of society

 

Social media is the reason this pandemic has gotten as bad as it has.

 

Giving people a platform to be heard is a bad idea. There are way too many impressionable and stupid people out there. The amount of misinformation that's being assumed and shared as fact is staggering. I think without Twitter, a much larger portion of the the population would just do what they're told and not try to spin it into some sort of soapbox. I know this isn't the right thread for all this, but we're already deep in this Covid rabbit hole here.

[BigCecil]

So very sorry Hurl. Deepest condolences.

 

I would hope our Board is free from debates and misinformation of any type about COVID. The Board should be an escape from the topic unless its about reporting on players playing or not playing as a result of exposure.

 

Many people have had real impacts from this. All of us touched one way or another, some in more serious ways. Some I just read from Thanos and Hurl & others, which gives me pause on some of my current views on the topic.

[Slade]

My Dad got it last week and died three days later. My Mom currently has it and is symptom free as the Vaccine she got appears to be helping her. One hour ago we got the call that my Dad's cousin passed away due to it as well. It has hit my family hard to say the least.

 

So sorry to hear Hurl, condolences to you and your family.

[Jimcanuck]

It's the anti-science freedumb brigade making control of the pandemic so difficult.

[L54]

It's the anti-science freedumb brigade making control of the pandemic so difficult.

 

It has nothing to do with the federal government exposing their complete incompetency by failing to secure vaccines during a global pandemic does it Jim?

[Thaddeus Malice]

It has nothing to do with the federal government exposing their complete incompetency by failing to secure vaccines during a global pandemic does it Jim?

 

I'm sure this discussion is rightfully going to get culled, but that's not really accurate at this point. Relative to the world Canada has done fine vaccine wise. Their recent numbers have outperformed most of the world besides the US.

 

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

 

They've outperformed basically the entire EU, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Greece. They've outperformed, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Relative to the comparables Canada has done just fine, especially with our Pfizer supply. Other countries were too reliant on a single kind of vaccine, and disruptions or issues with blood clots have slowed them down, but Canada hasn't had that issue as much with the relatively wide range of vaccine acquisitions.

 

As well some of those countries listed ahead are using Sinovac which is significantly less effective than the rest. Maybe in January, there was disappointment with Canada's vaccine outlook, but that's in the past now. Canada's well ahead of most of the world including our comparable European countries in terms of getting the vaccines out and into peoples arms.

 

We've also used a different method obviously in maximizing single doses for people, and I believe that the ongoing data has indicated a single dose of those vaccines is pretty effective.

[mellowgold]

My deepest sympathies and condolences to everyone who's been affected by this virus.

 

Out of curiousity, where do those who have been affected live?

 

I'm about an hour east of the city and its definitely around here but I personally don't know anyone who's had it.

[Deadpool]

My deepest sympathies and condolences to everyone who's been affected by this virus.

 

Out of curiousity, where do those who have been affected live?

 

I'm about an hour east of the city and its definitely around here but I personally don't know anyone who's had it.

 

I'm in Oshawa. I'm also one of the ones who got it early before it was really a known issue...

[L54]

I'm sure this discussion is rightfully going to get culled, but that's not really accurate at this point. Relative to the world Canada has done fine vaccine wise. Their recent numbers have outperformed most of the world besides the US.

 

https://ourworldindata.org/covid-vaccinations

 

They've outperformed basically the entire EU, including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Sweden, Greece. They've outperformed, Australia, Japan and South Korea. Relative to the comparables Canada has done just fine, especially with our Pfizer supply. Other countries were too reliant on a single kind of vaccine, and disruptions or issues with blood clots have slowed them down, but Canada hasn't had that issue as much with the relatively wide range of vaccine acquisitions.

 

As well some of those countries listed ahead are using Sinovac which is significantly less effective than the rest. Maybe in January, there was disappointment with Canada's vaccine outlook, but that's in the past now. Canada's well ahead of most of the world including our comparable European countries in terms of getting the vaccines out and into peoples arms.

 

We've also used a different method obviously in maximizing single doses for people, and I believe that the ongoing data has indicated a single dose of those vaccines is pretty effective.

 

[L54]

Fully vaccinated Americans - 25%

 

Fully vaccinated Canadians - 2%

[BTS]

OK guys, let's move on now. Everyone has said their piece. If you have a burning desire to debate covid, there are places better suited than a baseball forum to do it.

 

I'm leaving everything above this for now, but anything after it will be removed.

[Grant77]

I was composing this message while BTS posted. I won't say any more.

 

I don't even have a friend of a friend who has had the virus, let alone die from it. Watching Covid infect and kill people from afar has been surreal. I'm very fortunate to live in a place where people care about their neighbours and have heeded the public health advice as a result.

 

My heart goes out to people in areas with selfish people that don't care how many people die as long as they have their freedom. I can't imagine how scary and difficult that must be, but it becomes more real every day. Most seniors haven't even received their first shot as the Premier steals our vaccines to give to teenagers in other regions. I hope it won't end up costing lives. Condolences to everyone who has been affected.

[The Cats Ass]

OK guys, let's move on now. Everyone has said their piece. If you have a burning desire to debate covid, there are places better suited than a baseball forum to do it.

 

I'm leaving everything above this for now, but anything after it will be removed.

 

Bring out the ban hammer. Show no mercy!

[G-Snarls]

Love that we have Ryu going in our first game against Boston

[Olerud363]

Love that we have Ryu going in our first game against Boston

 

I'm trying to remember why everyone counted Boston out?? This reminds me of 2013, where the Jays were suppose to dominate but it was Boston's year, led by a great patient offense.

 

Lesson of 2013 is that the Jays had to iterate on the talent level a couple of times before getting enough of a talent base to beat the inevitable injuries and bad luck. Boston had a strong talent base coming off a down year, but no reason to count them out. Same this year.

[Olerud363]

Also what are the chances Kansas City and Boston are stealing signs?

 

Perez, who people tell me is a pile of crap, creams 2 pitches, VGJ style, at the exact key moment... like he knew what was coming. OK. Depleted bullpen, Zeuch... but on the other side it was Salvadore Perez, who they tell me is garbage too...

 

Boston - they tell me Boston is bad. Cora comes back. Boston is a hitting like it's 1999 or 2005 or 2018.

 

I'm thinking of the steroid era... the first few guys get caught... it has to be over right? Of course A-Rod/Melky and some others get caught a few years later.

 

Why would this sign stealing thing be different?

[G-Snarls]

I'm trying to remember why everyone counted Boston out??

 

Because of what projected to be an atrocious starting rotation

[saskjayfan]

Because of what projected to be an atrocious starting rotation

 

Eovaldi, Rodriguez, Richards. Decent arms, but a lot of injury risk. Pivetta, Perez, Houck at the back end don't inspire much, but is this the year Pivetta takes a leap forward?

 

It's easy to understand why people would discount Boston going into the season. The top of the lineup can hit. JD isn't going to slug .800 this year the rest of the way though. If things break right and you get a healthy Eovaldi and Rodriguez and somehow get a solid back end starter out of Pivetta the Sox definitely give me angst with Sale coming back. The whole point was for the sox was to dig a big enough hole that once Sale came back they couldn't climb out. Now that they're off to a hot start the shot of confidence a Sale could bring them when he returns makes them a scary team for sure.

 

I still don't think the Sox win the division, but any team not named the orioles could win. It's a shame they didn't expand playoffs. No dominant teams in the AL. That 6th or even 7th place team might not be that far back from the 2nd or 3rd place teams in the AL. The competitiveness will make for a fun year, but some team is going to feel slighted missing out by a game. Hope it isn't the Jays!

[Brownie19]

I don't think anyone should be surprised that the Red Sox can mash the ball (unless you though 2019 was a mirage from Devers and that JD was finished).

 

Verdugo, JD, Devers and Bogaerts line up well v. the top 4 on any team in baseball. Vasquez has developed into a very solid catcher too. If they get anything out of Kiki, Frenchy, Renfroe and Marwin - they'll be a dangerous team all year.

 

It's the pitching that should breakdown - although Eovaldi has a new pitch and has looked great so far. If him and Rodriguez will need to stay healthy for them to hang near the top of the division.

[Ryu In My House]

I know it is a small sample size, but Steven Matz has looked really, really good. Better than his decent years in 2018-2019. It sounds like the Jays pitching staff knew they could fix him a little when the brought him over, so maybe it would not be too huge a surprise if he continued to succeed. He can't continue the amazing success of the early 2021 campaign, but if his regressions means a solid #3 or #4 starter going forward do you think an extension may be a great idea? Or, if he continues to be stellar, he may earn a QO. But at 29-years old and with his talent, I would not be hesitant to offer him something now.

[BTS]

I know it is a small sample size, but Steven Matz has looked really, really good. Better than his decent years in 2018-2019. It sounds like the Jays pitching staff knew they could fix him a little when the brought him over, so maybe it would not be too huge a surprise if he continued to succeed. He can't continue the amazing success of the early 2021 campaign, but if his regressions means a solid #3 or #4 starter going forward do you think an extension may be a great idea? Or, if he continues to be stellar, he may earn a QO. But at 29-years old and with his talent, I would not be hesitant to offer him something now.

 

Everything about Matz has looked legit so far: results have been good, no red flags under the hood, and he's just looked good. If the team is talking extension with one of him or Ray, I take Matz every time.

[The Cats Ass]

I don't think anyone should be surprised that the Red Sox can mash the ball (unless you though 2019 was a mirage from Devers and that JD was finished).

 

Verdugo, JD, Devers and Bogaerts line up well v. the top 4 on any team in baseball. Vasquez has developed into a very solid catcher too. If they get anything out of Kiki, Frenchy, Renfroe and Marwin - they'll be a dangerous team all year.

 

It's the pitching that should breakdown - although Eovaldi has a new pitch and has looked great so far. If him and Rodriguez will need to stay healthy for them to hang near the top of the division.

 

Their top 4 hitters line up probably slightly below ours, and I'd say we have the deeper lineup in general. Both rotations have huge question marks, and could swing the advantage to either team.