General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2021)

[BigCecil]

Means nothing is Springer not part of the deal...

 

Longest case of "fatigue" I've ever seen. Can't wait to see him back.

[Deadpool]

We not getting a GDT today? Damn.

[gruber92]

Is Panik really batting sixth, ahead of Gurriel and Tellez?

[Stangstag]

Is Panik really batting sixth, ahead of Gurriel and Tellez?

 

Are we really surprised at this point?

[BCZ]

I know this is blasphemous but is there any team that will be hurt more losing one player for an extended period than the Jays losing Guerrero? Nevermind... just remembered Trout is on the DL...

[connorp]

Is Panik really batting sixth, ahead of Gurriel and Tellez?

 

I don’t mind it. Break up the 7-8-9 black hole thing. There’s pros and cons of course

[Laika]

Is Panik really batting sixth, ahead of Gurriel and Tellez?

 

Well Tellez sucks.

[Krylian]

Well Tellez sucks.

 

His OPS was .807 in May

[Stangstag]

I know this is blasphemous but is there any team that will be hurt more losing one player for an extended period than the Jays losing Guerrero? Nevermind... just remembered Trout is on the DL...

 

Yankees would die if Cole got injured. Losing Judge would also really hurt them.

 

Braves/Acuna

Twins/Buxton

Giants/Gausman

[Ryu In My House]

Does anyone ever remember players hitting as hotly as Vladdy right now? JB had some great streaks, I remember one month when Rasmus went off. Nothing else comes to mind.

[Scion]

Does anyone ever remember players hitting as hotly as Vladdy right now? JB had some great streaks, I remember one month when Rasmus went off. Nothing else comes to mind.

 

Jose Bautista the year he finished second in MVP voting was unconscious the first half of the season IIRC.

[AMS528]

Pretty obvious I suppose, but this is absolutely a season where the team needs to spend some prospect capital to shore up the pitching.

 

There are just not that many times where you can be fairly confident that your team probably has 5 of the top 50 position players in the game (Vlad, Semien, Bichette, Teo, healthy Springer).

 

Maybe Semien isn't back next year, maybe Teo doesn't hit like this forever etc. Don't need to wipe out the prospers or anything either, a couple of reliable relievers and a starter to never have to consider Zeuch pitching again.

[glory]

Jose Bautista the year he finished second in MVP voting was unconscious the first half of the season IIRC.

 

On 6/2/11, Bautista was hitting .360/.502/.773 in 221 PA. Although that wasn't with a Manfred baseball, so hard to compare.

[Brownie19]

His OPS was .807 in May

 

114 wRC+

9.6 BB%

15.4 K%

 

average/max exit velocity still in the 92nd percentile, barrel % and hard hit % in the mid to high 80's. Everything is trending in the right direction for Rowdy.

[Laika]

His OPS was .807 in May

 

That's regression to mediocrity, not a breakout.

 

He has mediocre projections and I don't think people should really care where he hits in the order right now. 9th would be fine with me if that helps him get his f***ing watermelon head out of his giant ass.

Edited June 2, 2021 by Laika

[Olerud363]

Does anyone ever remember players hitting as hotly as Vladdy right now? JB had some great streaks, I remember one month when Rasmus went off. Nothing else comes to mind.

 

Donaldson June and July of 2016, Olerud first half of 1993, was .411 .500 .700 in mid June.

 

Delgado, Bautista, EE all had 2 month stretches as good. EE was Barry Bonds on horse steroids insane August 2015, and very good September 15, so those two months together are about as good as anyone else's two months.

 

However as mentioned Vlad is doing this in a year where offense is way down... He's quietly now leading the batting race by 20 points somehow. He's kind of hovered in the .330s while everyone else has dropped.

 

The guy LaRussa yelled at for swinging 3-0 went from .380 to .310 in like 10 days after LaRussa yelled at him... lol

[Brownie19]

That's regression to mediocrity, not a breakout.

 

He has mediocre projections and I don't think people should really care where he hits in the order right now. 9th would be fine with me if that helps him get his f***ing watermelon head out of his giant ass.

 

His ROS projections are all between 111 - 118 wRC+. Obviously we'd rather see it approaching 130, but that's still a quality regular bat. Essentially the same projections as Grichuk has ROS (Grichuk's wRC+ for May was 113, with his BB% plummeting to <2%).

 

Steamers actually projects Tellez to be a better hitter than Teo, Grichuk and Gurriel for ROS...

 

Charlie is obviously batting Panik 6th because he was 6 for his last 7. I don't really have an issue with that in a vacuum, but obviously over the long run, it's really dumb to have Panik hit ahead of Gurriel and Tellez.

[Jays24]

His ROS projections are all between 111 - 118 wRC+. Obviously we'd rather see it approaching 130, but that's still a quality regular bat. Essentially the same projections as Grichuk has ROS (Grichuk's wRC+ for May was 113, with his BB% plummeting to <2%).

 

Steamers actually projects Tellez to be a better hitter than Teo, Grichuk and Gurriel for ROS...

 

Charlie is obviously batting Panik 6th because he was 6 for his last 7. I don't really have an issue with that in a vacuum, but obviously over the long run, it's really dumb to have Panik hit ahead of Gurriel and Tellez.

 

Not to mention the whole splitting up lefties thing isn't as impactful unless you have them further apart in the lineup with the 3 batter minimum rule for pitchers.

 

Just put the better players where they belong and if all things are equal then use the lefty/righty thing as a deciding factor. Same should apply for when Charlie brings in a crappier pitcher from the bullpen just because of a lefty/lefty or righty/righty matchup. The calibre of player should be the biggest priority.

[G-Snarls]

Hey everybody

 

It's a Manoah day!!!!!!!!

[max silver]

His ROS projections are all between 111 - 118 wRC+. Obviously we'd rather see it approaching 130, but that's still a quality regular bat. Essentially the same projections as Grichuk has ROS (Grichuk's wRC+ for May was 113, with his BB% plummeting to <2%).

 

Steamers actually projects Tellez to be a better hitter than Teo, Grichuk and Gurriel for ROS...

 

Charlie is obviously batting Panik 6th because he was 6 for his last 7. I don't really have an issue with that in a vacuum, but obviously over the long run, it's really dumb to have Panik hit ahead of Gurriel and Tellez.

 

Vladdy's defensive turnaround has me pondering whether he could actually play a decent quality third base at this point of his career. He looks very athletic at first base, the hands have looked good, movement is fluid and the arm is obviously plus, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that having him man third and letting Rowdy play first would be a rather sizeable upgrade for the club. Rowdy is a capable first baseman and his bat is really showing signs of turning around from the early season struggles, he's produced a 180 WRC+ in his last 11 games so it would be nice to see his bat in the lineup more often. It has to be a big improvement over playing the likes of Panik and Espinal at third base every day. At this point the club isn't going to upset the apple cart and move Vladdy from a position that he's excelling at after the initial defensive struggles, but it's certainly food for thought.

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Vladdy's defensive turnaround has me pondering whether he could actually play a decent quality third base at this point of his career. He looks very athletic at first base, the hands have looked good, movement is fluid and the arm is obviously plus, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that having him man third and letting Rowdy play first would be a rather sizeable upgrade for the club. Rowdy is a capable first baseman and his bat is really showing signs of turning around from the early season struggles, he's produced a 180 WRC+ in his last 11 games so it would be nice to see his bat in the lineup more often. It has to be a big improvement over playing the likes of Panik and Espinal at third base every day. At this point the club isn't going to upset the apple cart and move Vladdy from a position that he's excelling at after the initial defensive struggles, but it's certainly food for thought.

I don't disagree on try Vladdy at 3rd but he seems to be really enjoying 1st base plus he's a plus defender there. Having said that, having versatility is newer a bad idea and in the back of my mind I wouldn't mind seeing him try the outfield if he keeps up his physical maintenance program.

[Ehjays]

[max silver]

I don't disagree on try Vladdy at 3rd but he seems to be really enjoying 1st base plus he's a plus defender there. Having said that, having versatility is newer a bad idea and in the back of my mind I wouldn't mind seeing him try the outfield if he keeps up his physical maintenance program.

 

I just don't see a need in the outfield, the club is well positioned out there with 4 MLB quality outfielders (well maybe only 3 defensively seeing as Gurriel plays outfield like a player who belongs at DH). Third base is such a strong area of need comparatively speaking.

[G-Snarls]

I just don't see a need in the outfield, the club is well positioned out there with 4 MLB quality outfielders (well maybe only 3 defensively seeing as Gurriel plays outfield like a player who belongs at DH). Third base is such a strong area of need comparatively speaking.

 

I don't see them moving Vlad off 1B again

 

The system has guys coming up likely to play SS/3B

 

He's finally playing a position decently (above averagely even) and doesn't have to become a DH. I'm sure the front office is absolutely thrilled.

 

And he's hitting like a beast. Some guys seem to lose focus on hitting when they move around defensively or struggle defensively. Vlad probably isn't like that but why take the risk.

 

Bottom line? I wouldn't mess with it.

[max silver]

I don't see them moving Vlad off 1B again

 

The system has guys coming up likely to play SS/3B

 

He's finally playing a position decently (above averagely even) and doesn't have to become a DH. I'm sure the front office is absolutely thrilled.

 

And he's hitting like a beast. Some guys seem to lose focus on hitting when they move around defensively or struggle defensively. Vlad probably isn't like that but why take the risk.

 

Bottom line? I wouldn't mess with it.

 

Yeah it seems really unlikely to happen except in case of emergency. Selfishly I'd like to see Vlad given a shot at third base though, that was his preference coming into the season and he really busted his ass in the offseason getting into shape. It seems that his tools should translate into an effective third base given some time to adapt, but that would be a task for spring training if it were to ever occur. I'm astounded at how quickly he's turned around his entire game, last year he was making terrible decisions on the bases and defensively in the field and he's seemingly cleaned all of that up overnight. I was finding myself questioning his relative baseball IQ with the barrage of boneheaded decisions that kept cropping up, but now he's suddenly an MVP candidate. It's crazy stuff with how he's completely transformed his overall game.

[Brownie19]

Yeah it seems really unlikely to happen except in case of emergency. Selfishly I'd like to see Vlad given a shot at third base though, that was his preference coming into the season and he really busted his ass in the offseason getting into shape. It seems that his tools should translate into an effective third base given some time to adapt, but that would be a task for spring training if it were to ever occur. I'm astounded at how quickly he's turned around his entire game, last year he was making terrible decisions on the bases and defensively in the field and he's seemingly cleaned all of that up overnight. I was finding myself questioning his relative baseball IQ with the barrage of boneheaded decisions that kept cropping up, but now he's suddenly an MVP candidate. It's crazy stuff with how he's completely transformed his overall game.

 

I have to think most of his bonehead plays were a result of his mind telling him he could do something, but the extra 40+ lbs of gut proving otherwise. He's taking a ton of extra bases this year (he's been a great baserunner so far) - so his mindset didn't change - he's simply way faster now that he lost the weight and able to execute what his instincts are telling him to do.

[jerb]

 

Toronto Blue Jays

@BlueJays

 

Making his Marc’

 

Congrats to Semien on being named @MLB’s Player of the Month!

[G-Snarls]

 

Toronto Blue Jays

@BlueJays

 

Making his Marc’

 

Congrats to Semien on being named @MLB’s Player of the Month!

 

Dammit

 

His price just went up 10%

[G-Snarls]

It's crazy stuff with how he's completely transformed his overall game.

 

It has been remarkable and wonderful to watch

 

He's just better in every possible way

[max silver]

I have to think most of his bonehead plays were a result of his mind telling him he could do something, but the extra 40+ lbs of gut proving otherwise. He's taking a ton of extra bases this year (he's been a great baserunner so far) - so his mindset didn't change - he's simply way faster now that he lost the weight and able to execute what his instincts are telling him to do.

 

His instincts were way off even without factoring in the extra weight, he was thrown out by a good 30-40 feet at times on the bases. The weightloss and fitness certainly is making a noticeable difference in all facets of his game. I recall an interview with his offseason trainer stating that they intend to really get after it again next offseason, so Vlad may have another gear that he can reach in terms of overall fitness and conditioning.