General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2021)

[Spanky99]

Yeah but why? Why is he a cat? Where does it come from?

 

Feline diet?

[dineke]

His launch angle is still pretty low but all his flyballs are going for hrs. I wonder if he can maintain this hr pace, he's not hitting any cheapies.

[43211234]

Reminder that Teoscar hasn't even hit arbitration yet.

 

I blame the confusing "Arb Eligible" thing on his Fangraphs page.

[Spanky99]

His launch angle is still pretty low but all his flyballs are going for hrs. I wonder if he can maintain this hr pace, he's not hitting any cheapies.

 

Bat speed and EV is impeccable, he's even admitted he's not a jack homer, hit it hard and let the results fall as they may. *Plakata* This kid is a monster!

[Ray]

I'm all in on the Teoscar Hernandez breakout. I think this is just what he is now. He's made such tremendous strides since he first came up. It's kind of incredible to see. I remember the days where this board would be all over not just him, but this front office for trading for him. Since the second half of 2019:

 

.284/.348/.569, 142 wRC+

 

He has a 14.7 K% since he came back from the COVID-IL. Which is crazy for a power hitter like him.

 

Only 2 more seasons of control left with him after this season. What would an extension with him look like? I'd have to imagine it's more than Grichuks.

[Spanky99]

I'm all in on the Teoscar Hernandez breakout. I think this is just what he is now. He's made such tremendous strides since he first came up. It's kind of incredible to see. I remember the days where this board would be all over not just him, but this front office for trading for him. Since the second half of 2019:

 

.284/.348/.569, 142 wRC+

 

He has a 14.7 K% since he came back from the COVID-IL. Which is crazy for a power hitter like him.

 

Only 2 more seasons of control left with him after this season. What would an extension with him look like? I'd have to imagine it's more than Grichuks.

 

Likely similar though, I'd do it. He's improved dramatically by the eye test on D, haven't checked his D.

[Ray]

Likely similar though, I'd do it. He's improved dramatically by the eye test, haven't checked his D.

 

Defense still isn't great, but he's playable in the OF now. He's not the tirefire that he once was. Haven't checked out the advanced stats though. Of course, the bat being elite makes his defense easier to swallow.

 

It'll be an interesting offseason. There's extension cases for Robbie Ray, Matz (if he keeps pitching well), Semien, Teoscar, and Bichette/Guerrero of course.

[Olerud363]

Yeah but why? Why is he a cat? Where does it come from?

 

It might of came from the Montreal series in 2018. Inspired by memories of Andres Galaraga "the big cat". Just a big guy who also had a super quick bat and reflexes.

 

I think it came up again comparing video from the Montreal 2018 series, with early 2020. Lightning cat in 2018, obese cat in 2020, lighting cat again in 2021.

[EastCoaster]

Guerrero really took the time and effort to transformed himself into the athlete they saw in the minors. His weigh loss and his transition to 1st base is really paying off for the Blue Jays. Thw only drawback is if he keep racking like he is right now it will probably take mega dollars to keep him here. The Blue Jays might be wise to try and lock him up early like the Angels did with Trout.

[Laika]

Haven't watched any games. Good to hear this.

[gruber92]

Haven't watched any games. Good to hear this.

 

Lol

[Jimcanuck]

The Rays formula would be to trade Teo for a haul after this season. Not advocating this, just pointing out an alternative winning formula, as opposed to extending everyone at market rate.

[Laika]

The Rays formula would be to trade Teo for a haul after this season. Not advocating this, just pointing out an alternative winning formula, as opposed to extending everyone at market rate.

 

Toronto is in a great spot for payroll. 2024 is the year that Vlad, Biggio, Borucki, and Gurriel all hit Arb3. Romano and Bo Arb2 that year.

 

Teoscar's Arb3 is 2023.

 

Grichuk and Ryu come off the books after 2023. That helps with the other guys hitting Arb3 that year.

 

Over the next two years Toronto will probably have payroll room each offseason to add solid veteran free agents. The Semien signing looks amazing right now.

 

I don't see a pressing need to trade Hernandez in particular but I think you are generally right. They aren't going to extend ALL of the good young players. The Rays would trade most of these guys at ideal times. Toronto should be trying to keep most of them but they would be wise to look for an ideal time to trade specific players. Something like - if Biggio has a monster 2022 season you unload him for some elite prospects. If Jansen has a good second half and has some trade value, deal him in the offseason the control through 2024 is helping his value. If Gurriel has a huge season in 2022 he's a big trade chip too. I expect we will see one or more of these guys get dealt. The Rays would do it for prospects and total value but Toronto might focus more in getting a return that fills an MLB hole. We'll see.

[BlueRocky]

[BlueRocky]

What happened to the Vladdy weight watch club? It’s been really quiet.

[Olerud363]

Guerrero really took the time and effort to transformed himself into the athlete they saw in the minors. His weigh loss and his transition to 1st base is really paying off for the Blue Jays. Thw only drawback is if he keep racking like he is right now it will probably take mega dollars to keep him here. The Blue Jays might be wise to try and lock him up early like the Angels did with Trout.

 

Well, now we can stop panic posting about his failure and obesity, and start panic posting about his pending trade to the Red Sox

 

I guess it's time. He'll probably get 40 million a year in later Arb, and it will take 10/500 long term. Who are the Red Sox top prospects? Might as well pull the trigger soon, given what near free agents are getting back in trades these days.

[saskjayfan]

Toronto is in a great spot for payroll. 2024 is the year that Vlad, Biggio, Borucki, and Gurriel all hit Arb3. Romano and Bo Arb2 that year.

 

Teoscar's Arb3 is 2023.

 

Grichuk and Ryu come off the books after 2023. That helps with the other guys hitting Arb3 that year.

 

Over the next two years Toronto will probably have payroll room each offseason to add solid veteran free agents. The Semien signing looks amazing right now.

 

I don't see a pressing need to trade Hernandez in particular but I think you are generally right. They aren't going to extend ALL of the good young players. The Rays would trade most of these guys at ideal times. Toronto should be trying to keep most of them but they would be wise to look for an ideal time to trade specific players. Something like - if Biggio has a monster 2022 season you unload him for some elite prospects. If Jansen has a good second half and has some trade value, deal him in the offseason the control through 2024 is helping his value. If Gurriel has a huge season in 2022 he's a big trade chip too. I expect we will see one or more of these guys get dealt. The Rays would do it for prospects and total value but Toronto might focus more in getting a return that fills an MLB hole. We'll see.

 

Biggio and Bo are arb 2 in 2024. Vlad is arb 3 because he was super 2. In 2025 Biggio and bo are arb 3 and Vlad is arb 4. We control them until 2025.

[Stangstag]

The Rays formula would be to trade Teo for a haul after this season. Not advocating this, just pointing out an alternative winning formula, as opposed to extending everyone at market rate.

 

I’d like to keep Teo around if he continues this production with the bat through the end of the year. Love his general attitude. Probably sign him for something similar to the Castellanos contract? Ozuna? Idk what it takes.

 

My gut says to let Semien walk, as good as he’s been. He’s on the wrong side of 30 and we have several infielders coming up through the system. Also Biggio fits better at 2B.

 

And I wouldn’t sign Vladdy to an extension just yet IMO.

[G-Snarls]

Yes. The Rays like to trade guys going into their arb-2 years and it makes sense for them.

 

1. Some of them are going to make big $$ and the Rays don't want to pay one player that much

 

2. With 2 years of control left you can still get a good haul from a team who doesn't mind also adding the payroll.

 

Pretty much the only player they made an exception for was Longoria and even then they figured out exactly when to trade him and his 6 year contract...

 

I don't see the Jays trading from the MLB roster in the next year. More likely they trade prospects (and perhaps a surplus catcher) for starting pitching.

 

And I'm hoping very much for extensions to key guys like Vlad and Bo...

[Laika]

Biggio and Bo are arb 2 in 2024. Vlad is arb 3 because he was super 2. In 2025 Biggio and bo are arb 3 and Vlad is arb 4. We control them until 2025.

 

Looks like Biggio might be super 2 as well, same track as Vlad. At least per Cots right now. So you might be wrong on Biggio. Not on control but on the Arb years. He's close to the normal cutoff though and I don't remember when MLB/MLBPA releases that determination. Vlad will for sure be going to Arb1 next year, Biggio may or may stay at league min.

 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1krcN5UUeCGrMvzf3hPyrcuwWKbYoWomK5WmL7paNDaA/edit#gid=1520401900

[bones10]

Agreed... psychopath. Do you want to swim baby........baby.... *glug*

 

Little early in the day, no?

[G-Snarls]

Trumpety snickets foobazoo

[wilko]

Guerrero really took the time and effort to transformed himself into the athlete they saw in the minors. His weigh loss and his transition to 1st base is really paying off for the Blue Jays. Thw only drawback is if he keep racking like he is right now it will probably take mega dollars to keep him here. The Blue Jays might be wise to try and lock him up early like the Angels did with Trout.

 

I wouldn't sign him early, you have to keep dangling that carrot. Soon as he's locked into a huge contract that belt is coming off and momma's home cookin' will be here to stay!

[Olerud363]

I wouldn't sign him early, you have to keep dangling that carrot. Soon as he's locked into a huge contract that belt is coming off and momma's home cookin' will be here to stay!

 

lol -- Vlad Guerrero JR

 

2021 161 games .344 48 131 .456 .659 - weight = 239.7 pounds

2022 159 games .321 44 128 .471 .624 - weight = 241.2 pounds

 

winter 2022/23 signed to 10 year 425 million dollar contract

 

2023 128 games .274 19 72 60 % ground ball rate - weight = 287.5 pounds

[Deadpool]

So, merge this with the General Jays thread, or just hope it goes away?

[Ehjays]

Not sure if this has been posted but Rays are saying something was off with Glasnows start (meaning we were sign stealing....F U!!)

 

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2177846?fbclid=IwAR3UQWCCnsnbub7XlGXSXf5FsfzQE6xIUUXVKCedFOrUwgx0ww1crbZpEY0

 

Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow believes something wasn't right Friday when the Toronto Blue Jays roughed him up in his most recent start.

 

"I don't know; I definitely think about it," said Glasnow, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "I'm not quite sure. I think you'd have to ask the Blue Jays what was going on. It was definitely a weird start for me. It was definitely strange. I think I had some decent swing-and-miss stuff. I think that the takes were different."

 

Glasnow, who's been one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 2021 campaign, surrendered a season-high nine hits and five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. He collected just two strikeouts despite having a 12.6 K/9 through 10 starts this year.

 

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Glasnow wasn't tipping his pitches.

 

"We know that the Blue Jays are a talented group of hitters," said Cash. "They've had a track record of not striking out, not a ton of swing-and-miss. Generally speaking, Glasnow ... can bring the worst out in teams that he faces because his stuff is so nasty.

 

"But for whatever reason on that night, they seemed to be seeing him pretty well."

 

Glasnow has pitched well against every club except Toronto this season. The 27-year-old owns an 8.44 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP over 10 2/3 innings (two starts) against the Blue Jays, allowing them to hit .311 with a 1.021 OPS against him.

[Laika]

Not sure if this has been posted but Rays are saying something was off with Glasnows start (meaning we were sign stealing....F U!!)

 

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2177846?fbclid=IwAR3UQWCCnsnbub7XlGXSXf5FsfzQE6xIUUXVKCedFOrUwgx0ww1crbZpEY0

 

Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow believes something wasn't right Friday when the Toronto Blue Jays roughed him up in his most recent start.

 

"I don't know; I definitely think about it," said Glasnow, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "I'm not quite sure. I think you'd have to ask the Blue Jays what was going on. It was definitely a weird start for me. It was definitely strange. I think I had some decent swing-and-miss stuff. I think that the takes were different."

 

Glasnow, who's been one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 2021 campaign, surrendered a season-high nine hits and five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. He collected just two strikeouts despite having a 12.6 K/9 through 10 starts this year.

 

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Glasnow wasn't tipping his pitches.

 

"We know that the Blue Jays are a talented group of hitters," said Cash. "They've had a track record of not striking out, not a ton of swing-and-miss. Generally speaking, Glasnow ... can bring the worst out in teams that he faces because his stuff is so nasty.

 

"But for whatever reason on that night, they seemed to be seeing him pretty well."

 

Glasnow has pitched well against every club except Toronto this season. The 27-year-old owns an 8.44 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP over 10 2/3 innings (two starts) against the Blue Jays, allowing them to hit .311 with a 1.021 OPS against him.

 

hahaha eat s*** Tyler

[Olerud363]

Not sure if this has been posted but Rays are saying something was off with Glasnows start (meaning we were sign stealing....F U!!)

 

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/2177846?fbclid=IwAR3UQWCCnsnbub7XlGXSXf5FsfzQE6xIUUXVKCedFOrUwgx0ww1crbZpEY0

 

Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow believes something wasn't right Friday when the Toronto Blue Jays roughed him up in his most recent start.

 

"I don't know; I definitely think about it," said Glasnow, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. "I'm not quite sure. I think you'd have to ask the Blue Jays what was going on. It was definitely a weird start for me. It was definitely strange. I think I had some decent swing-and-miss stuff. I think that the takes were different."

 

Glasnow, who's been one of the best pitchers in baseball during the 2021 campaign, surrendered a season-high nine hits and five earned runs over 4 2/3 innings. He collected just two strikeouts despite having a 12.6 K/9 through 10 starts this year.

 

Rays manager Kevin Cash said Glasnow wasn't tipping his pitches.

 

"We know that the Blue Jays are a talented group of hitters," said Cash. "They've had a track record of not striking out, not a ton of swing-and-miss. Generally speaking, Glasnow ... can bring the worst out in teams that he faces because his stuff is so nasty.

 

"But for whatever reason on that night, they seemed to be seeing him pretty well."

 

Glasnow has pitched well against every club except Toronto this season. The 27-year-old owns an 8.44 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP over 10 2/3 innings (two starts) against the Blue Jays, allowing them to hit .311 with a 1.021 OPS against him.

 

And Tampa Bay and Boston just happen to get rallies just when they need them?

 

Kind of like the Royals in the 2015 playoffs. Go 7 innings not scoring then all of a sudden get 3-5 runs just when they need them...

[Olerud363]

If the Blue Jays have a sign stealing system, no way they lose 6 games like they did. Just no way.

 

Sorry. If you are sign stealing you get rallies when you need them, because you activate the system (you don't risk always sign stealing and getting caught)

 

They Jays performance against Tampa is the opposite of sign stealing... they may have had something specific on Glassnow, but almost certainly not sign stealing because it didn't work against anyone else, and they didn't get any hits in critical situations. A good sign stealing team would of won 4/6 of the recent bad stretch.

[Olerud363]

So, merge this with the General Jays thread, or just hope it goes away?

 

There are many choices

 

Merge it with the "Send Vladdy to Indy ball thread" - we can speculate as to how 2021 Vladdy would hit in Indy ball

 

Merge it with the "Send Rowdy to Korea thread" - we can speculate as to how 2021 Vladdy would hit in Korea, and whether Vladdy could help Rowdy find his hitting

 

Merge it with the "Fire Charlie Montoyo thread" - can speculate as to whether Charlie has given Vladdy any hitting tips, weight loss tips, or general life hack tips that have helped Vladdy become the breakout player of 2021.

 

Lot's of possibilities if the powers that be judge that this thread does not stand on it's own.