General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2021)

[Ray]

5.5 games back with 3 teams to pass and 33 games to go is a huge long shot. The one positive is that over 50% of their remaining games are against Baltimore and Minnesota, but this team just laid an egg and went 5-9 in a stretch against LAA, Seattle, Washington, and Detroit this past month. Can't assume anything. They'd have go something like 14-3 against BAL/MIN the rest of the way and then 8-8 against everyone else. That would get them to 90 wins, and even then, there's no guarantee that the other teams (Boston/Oakland specifically) won't surpass that total anyway.

 

As conflicted as I am with this team right now (wanting them to win but also not against a collapse so Buntoyo is gone), would be nice to at least have meaningful games in late September.

 

I agree it's been a disappointing because we've let so many winnable games slip by, but at the beginning of the season, had you mentioned that we would win 88-90 games, that certainly was the high end of most peoples predictions and a pretty large step in the right direction for a team that lost nearly 100 games just 2 seasons ago.

 

Kind of reminds me of the 2018 Rays. They ended up winning 90 games and just couldn't crack the postseason because the AL was stupidly good.

[keggy]

Woohoo... play Kirk behind the dish Chuckles!

 

Montoyo is the type of strategist to start one or both of McGuire and Dyson against a lefthander. Hopefully Dyson was released to complete the roster move.

[Spanky99]

He is starting Dyson tonight. Why is Gurriel on the bench? He's been one of the better hitters as of late.

 

Because Springer's DHing, it causes a clog at DH versatility.

[John_Havok]

He is starting Dyson tonight. Why is Gurriel on the bench? He's been one of the better hitters as of late.

 

With Dickerson and Dyson starting (both lefties against the RH starter) there's no room for Gurriel in the OF with Springer DHing.

 

Looks like Chuck is putting Dickerson and Gurriel into a LF platoon situation.

[JaysAllMighty]

Time for Dyson to shine

[Stangstag]

Why aren’t Merryweather and Pearson up in Toronto yet? If they’re healthy and pitching consistent innings in AAA they should be here. Enough with Trent Thornton

[bones10]

How so? Theyre 1 game better than the jays and have virtually the same scenario, just with 1 less team to catch.

 

yes, I would agree the Mariner's making it is more likely than the Jays making it simply because they're already ahead, but either team making it is unlikely.

 

No, the Mariners will almost certainly fall off. They suck.

[Spanky99]

I feel like everyone has been saying that for 2 months now.

 

I feel you and a few others have been saying that for 2 months now about The Jays.

[bones10]

I feel like everyone has been saying that for 2 months now.

 

That doesn't really matter, just matters where they end up. It wont be ahead of the Jays

[Spanky99]

Why aren’t Merryweather and Pearson up in Toronto yet? If they’re healthy and pitching consistent innings in AAA they should be here. Enough with Trent Thornton

 

Hazel Mae before the game, hinted they'll be up this week, per Chuckles. That'd be god sent, man.

[BigCecil]

Randal rockin' a 90 wRC+ and a 0.6 WAR season after 500 PAs.

 

Handy 4th OF to have around but after hot couple months, a complete tank.

[THANOS]

Randal rockin' a 90 wRC+ and a 0.6 WAR season after 500 PAs.

 

Handy 4th OF to have around but after hot couple months, a complete tank.

 

Yeah, the sample size is large now. I wish we never extended him. That's money that could have went farther somewhere else.

 

As you said though, he's the 4th OF and his playing time better reflect that once Springer is back in the OF. DH should go to a mix of Kirk, Smith & rotation of the rest.

[spats]

Hazel Mae before the game, hinted they'll be up this week, per Chuckles. That'd be god sent, man.

 

After being exposed to Arash interviews, I've come to realize how good Hazel is at her job.

[connorp]

After being exposed to Arash interviews, I've come to realize how good Hazel is at her job.

 

She’s the first to report signings. Truth be damned but gotta love the confidence

[saskjayfan]

Randal rockin' a 90 wRC+ and a 0.6 WAR season after 500 PAs.

 

Handy 4th OF to have around but after hot couple months, a complete tank.

 

I did my best to convince myself he was a changed man. His plate discipline showing some improvement and gradually the o-swing percentage kept getting worse. He just can't lay off garbage. He Kevin Pillared me.....damn you Randal!

[Stangstag]

She’s the first to report signings. Truth be damned but gotta love the confidence

 

Michael Brantley to the Jays

[Laika]

Why aren’t Merryweather and Pearson up in Toronto yet? If they’re healthy and pitching consistent innings in AAA they should be here. Enough with Trent Thornton

 

Need to handle these dudes like fine china. If you rush Julian Pearson by even one day their arm might fall off.

[Pinkfloid]

Michael Brantley to the Jays

 

Was just going to mention this. Too lazy to look it up but did he have a good year?

[glory]

Was just going to mention this. Too lazy to look it up but did he have a good year?

 

Yes. Will finish with about a ~3 WAR, currently has a 130 wRC+, and has a great skillset for today's game (doesn't K, high BA/OBP, hits the ball hard at an above average level). As long as he wasn't going to prevent the Jays from signing Semien, he would have been an amazing add. Too bad it didn't happen. Could have opened up a trade for Gurriel as well (who likely had more value coming off 2019-20 than he does now). Oh well.

[max silver]

Yes. Will finish with about a ~3 WAR, currently has a 130 wRC+, and has a great skillset for today's game (doesn't K, high BA/OBP, hits the ball hard at an above average level). As long as he wasn't going to prevent the Jays from signing Semien, he would have been an amazing add. Too bad it didn't happen. Could have opened up a trade for Gurriel as well (who likely had more value coming off 2019-20 than he does now). Oh well.

 

At the time I didn't really love the potential signing as I thought Gurriel was likely to be just as good but much cheaper as well. That certainly didn't end up being the case when the dust settled as Gurriel has ultimately had a very disappointing season all things considered with the defensive regression and early sustained struggles at the plate.

[BigCecil]

At the time I didn't really love the potential signing as I thought Gurriel was likely to be just as good but much cheaper as well. That certainly didn't end up being the case when the dust settled as Gurriel has ultimately had a very disappointing season all things considered with the defensive regression and early sustained struggles at the plate.

 

Its that sub 5% BB rate that kills him. Just doesn't have good pitch selection so they throw him s*** until he stops swinging at s***. He may never. He has been better last few months to be sure.

[BigCecil]

After being exposed to Arash interviews, I've come to realize how good Hazel is at her job.

 

A rash is someone I just can't listen to. He asks questions so slowly he has this "aren't I precious and so smart" way about it. As if he is always trying to make it about him. And the questions are using nebulous and off point. Thats just my 2 cents. He makes me scramble for the mute button.

[max silver]

Its that sub 5% BB rate that kills him. Just doesn't have good pitch selection so they throw him s*** until he stops swinging at s***. He may never. He has been better last few months to be sure.

 

Gurriel and Bo are remarkably similar in that reaching both of their offensive ceilings will be predicated on a tangible improvement in their respective plate discipline. Bo offers a lot more in the field and on the bases so obviously he will come out ahead in any overall comparison.

[Laika]

Just wild that the organization finally got rid of the impossible-to-enjoy-at-the-plate Kevin Pillar, only to replace him with a shittier and more expensive version.

[Stangstag]

Just wild that the organization finally got rid of the impossible-to-enjoy-at-the-plate Kevin Pillar, only to replace him with a shittier and more expensive version.

 

Mets cleanup hitter Kevin Pillar

[John_Havok]

Just a note on Robbie Ray - Ray set a new MLB record for the most strikeouts through the first 1,000 innings of a pitcher's career (1,241), overtaking the previous high of 1,222 that belonged to Yu Darvish.

 

This guy is getting more expensive to re-sign by the day.

[AMS528]

Steven Matz's overall numbers have been pretty good. 3.8 FIP, 2 WAR in 118 innings. He's very very borderline, but any chance the Jays extend him the qualifying offer?

 

I suppose it's pretty pricey if he takes it, but it's pretty important to have that pitching depth as well.

[connorp]

Just wild that the organization finally got rid of the impossible-to-enjoy-at-the-plate Kevin Pillar, only to replace him with a shittier and more expensive version.

 

I’m trying to find reactions to his extensions. First thread I checked was “Off-season roster thread 2019” but it ends short. This was an awesome take though. Any guess whose it was?:

 

“People don't give Danny Jansen enough respect.

 

Timeline talk always centres around "Vlad & Bo" but Jansen is a better prospect/asset than Bo. It's Vlad & Danny & Bo.

 

& Lourdes, of course”

[Sammy225]

Steven Matz's overall numbers have been pretty good. 3.8 FIP, 2 WAR in 118 innings. He's very very borderline, but any chance the Jays extend him the qualifying offer?

 

I suppose it's pretty pricey if he takes it, but it's pretty important to have that pitching depth as well.

 

They would not. He is likely going to get in the neighborhood of 12 per year and at that price i could see the jays trying to get him on a 2 year deal or something similar.

[Laika]

I’m trying to find reactions to his extensions. First thread I checked was “Off-season roster thread 2019” but it ends short. This was an awesome take though. Any guess whose it was?:

 

“People don't give Danny Jansen enough respect.

 

Timeline talk always centres around "Vlad & Bo" but Jansen is a better prospect/asset than Bo. It's Vlad & Danny & Bo.

 

& Lourdes, of course”

 

But was it all tongue in cheek? We will never know