Official Spring Training 2021 GDT/discussion thread

[jerb]

[G-Snarls]

I wish I was in Florida right now

 

I wish I was in Florida right now

 

I wish I was in Florida right now

 

I wish I was in Florida right now

 

I wish I was in Florida right now

 

...

[jerb]

 

Ben Wagner

@benwag247

 

Biggio with a high, deep drive off the top of the wall in right - so close to going out. Biggio triples, 2-0 #BlueJays

 

Ben Wagner

@benwag247

 

Biggio doing it all over. Handles the ricochet off Zeuch, with a barehanded stab on the grass, off balance and fantastic throw to first. Really nice play.

 

Ben Wagner

@benwag247

 

Hot corner: Biggio handles all three outs in the inning. The great stab, snagged a liner and the one-hopper while letting it rip to first. #bluejays

[jerb]

[Jimcanuck]

Well, looks like Biggio is answering the 3B question

 

If he can handle it well, Jays have a pretty damn good defensive infield

[G-Snarls]

I still think Vlad Jr is going to be a full-on beast

[BlueRocky]

Well, looks like Biggio is answering the 3B question

 

If he can handle it well, Jays have a pretty damn good defensive infield

 

Infield defense was a real question mark last season, kinda hoped adding Semien + moving Biggio would work out and so far looks promising. Now if only skinny Vlad can catch popups we can start planning the Dunedin parade route

Edited March 4, 2021 by BlueRocky

[BigCecil]

 

Kirk drives the ball all over (says that without ever looking at spray chart lol). Seems like anyway in the miniscule sample size I've seen. Hard to defend in todays shift game.

[Jimcanuck]

Kirk drives the ball all over (says that without ever looking at spray chart lol). Seems like anyway in the miniscule sample size I've seen. Hard to defend in todays shift game.

 

And they are quite often, line drives. Some guys were born to hit a ball with a bat.

[Ex Player]

Wouldnt it be crazy if the Jays won the world series this year but the team wasnt allowed into Canada for the parade

 

[saskjayfan]

Kirk drives the ball all over (says that without ever looking at spray chart lol). Seems like anyway in the miniscule sample size I've seen. Hard to defend in todays shift game.

 

I just don't see any scenario in which Kirk doesn't start April 1 with the Jays.

[Jays24]

I just don't see any scenario in which Kirk doesn't start April 1 with the Jays.

 

Is there any date where we can manipulate Kirk's service time?

 

I can see that happening to give Jansen one last real chance at the starting gig while giving McGuire a real shot as the backup since he's out of options. That is unless both s*** the bed during spring training that gives no choice to the Jays.

[Spanky__99]

Is there any date where we can manipulate Kirk's service time?

 

I can see that happening to give Jansen one last real chance at the starting gig while giving McGuire a real shot as the backup since he's out of options. That is unless both s*** the bed during spring training that gives no choice to the Jays.

 

You basically answered your own question.

[Carlos Danger]

And they are quite often, line drives. Some guys were born to hit a ball with a bat.

 

It’s not that he was born that way. He just went to a lot of piñata parties as a kid and developed some good contact skills throughout the years with his ever burning desire for candy.

[saskjayfan]

Is there any date where we can manipulate Kirk's service time?

 

I can see that happening to give Jansen one last real chance at the starting gig while giving McGuire a real shot as the backup since he's out of options. That is unless both s*** the bed during spring training that gives no choice to the Jays.

 

Yes, they could hold him out. If he didn't have any service time you're looking at a few weeks, which would be no big deal. However, because he played last year you're looking at mid June to the end of June before you gain another year. In a year without expanded playoffs having Kirk kill it in AAA for almost 3 months while McGuire languishes with the big club isn't ideal. It isn't fair to the rest of the team, the fans or the player who you're manipulating service time on.

[Deadpool]

Is there any date where we can manipulate Kirk's service time?

 

I can see that happening to give Jansen one last real chance at the starting gig while giving McGuire a real shot as the backup since he's out of options. That is unless both s*** the bed during spring training that gives no choice to the Jays.

 

Honestly, there's a chance he doesn't make the club that has nothing to do with manipulating service time. If the team believes that McGuire is worth a roster spot, then Kirk is (by virtue of his options) the odd man out, and will start the season in the minors due to completely legitimate reasons, since there's no way they're carrying 3 catchers.

 

He's definitely a guy who deserves to be in the majors, but that's not the only consideration. And if he's not in the majors, it's not necessarily because of "manipulating service time", which y'know, isn't something to do with every young player, just the ones you feel are going to be serious difference makers for your team years down the road.

[Spanky__99]

Honestly, there's a chance he doesn't make the club that has nothing to do with manipulating service time. If the team believes that McGuire is worth a roster spot, then Kirk is (by virtue of his options) the odd man out, and will start the season in the minors due to completely legitimate reasons, since there's no way they're carrying 3 catchers.

 

He's definitely a guy who deserves to be in the majors, but that's not the only consideration. And if he's not in the majors, it's not necessarily because of "manipulating service time", which y'know, isn't something to do with every young player, just the ones you feel are going to be serious difference makers for your team years down the road.

 

Deadpool is right! There should be a team that will take McGuire's service in trade, likely the Pirates, and they know a lot about him.

[Stangstag]

Has Grichuk played in any games yet?? Haven’t seen him in any vids outside stretching/warmups

 

Also Teoscar?

[Virgil_Hiltz]

Until this covid crap is resolved I doubt any team will want to start the service clock ticking prematurely (insert McGuire joke).

[Brownie19]

Kirk isn't at the level that would make me want to manipulate service time.

 

I suspect the challenge is - do you want him playing part time, or do you want him getting regular playing time to promote more development (offensively & defensively). There's a chance that Kirk becomes our starter the day we 'give up' on Jansen being a regular.

 

And then there's the depth thing - do we want to keep Reese in the organization for depth. Guess we'll find out.

[z3r0s]

Has Grichuk played in any games yet?? Haven’t seen him in any vids outside stretching/warmups

 

Also Teoscar?

 

Teo played for sure

[jerb]

[glory]

Well I hope the Jays are done manipulating service time as a whole, but regardless, with Kirk the question should be whether they want him getting regular AB's/reps at catcher in the minors or are willing to split time with him and Jansen in the Majors. The latter seems more like a "win now" move since Reese probably sucks, and Adams can be the AAA catcher as he's already on the 40 man.

[G-Snarls]

Well I hope the Jays are done manipulating service time as a whole, but regardless, with Kirk the question should be whether they want him getting regular AB's/reps at catcher in the minors or are willing to split time with him and Jansen in the Majors. The latter seems more like a "win now" move since Reese probably sucks, and Adams can be the AAA catcher as he's already on the 40 man.

 

If they go with 13 pitchers they should have room for both Tellez and Kirk on the MLB roster. Problem is Kirk would prob only get to catch once or twice a week plus some DH and pinch hitting. If he's going to stick at catcher and they want to develop him there that's not ideal. Dilemma

[Brownie19]

Running out a quality lineup today. When is the next televised game?

[Spanky__99]

Would it be fun to see Pearson have to take a couple weeks off in spring training because he got a dead arm from throwing 40 pitches in his first inning of the season?

 

You jinxed him...

[Spanky__99]

Running out a quality lineup today. When is the next televised game?

 

Next Friday.

 

https://about.rogers.com/news-ideas/home-away-from-home-sportsnet-announces-blue-jays-2021-spring-training-broadcast-schedule/

[The Cats Ass]

Reese was everything you could want in a backup in 2019; good defender, average bat. Depends how much stock you'd place on his 19 games in 2020. I think they should start the season with Jansen as the starter with Reese backing up, Kirk in AAA. If one of them falters, call Kirk up. If they both play good, maybe look into moving one. Their value should rebound, Jansen had an extremely low babip last year and if he can bring that up along with keeping his improved BB%.

[Olerud363]

Kirk drives the ball all over (says that without ever looking at spray chart lol). Seems like anyway in the miniscule sample size I've seen. Hard to defend in todays shift game.

 

Didn't he drive a couple down the left field line for doubles, then hit 2 opp-o shots down the right field line (one for a double off the wall, one first hr) in a 4 hit game against the Yankees?

 

Too lazy to look it up, but that's how I remember it.

 

Pretty low sample, yes... but some guys go years without hitting an opp-o shot...

[Brownie19]

Reese was everything you could want in a backup in 2019; good defender, average bat. Depends how much stock you'd place on his 19 games in 2020. I think they should start the season with Jansen as the starter with Reese backing up, Kirk in AAA. If one of them falters, call Kirk up. If they both play good, maybe look into moving one. Their value should rebound, Jansen had an extremely low babip last year and if he can bring that up along with keeping his improved BB%.

 

I think a lot of us look at his 44 MLB games in 2018 and 2019 and compare it to his minor league numbers and suggest it's a mirage. The larger sample size says his bat is well below league average.