Official Spring Training 2021 GDT/discussion thread

[Deadpool]

Does anyone believe this? I think most people just want Kirk to have frequent ABs which he might not get if he's the backup to Danny Jansen who we shouldn't be completely writing off just yet.

 

Yep, it won't be because of anything he's done...

[Spanky99]

Game's on SN tomorrow.

[Ex Player]

Boxscore

 

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/tigers-vs-blue-jays/2021/03/11/641938#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=641938

[Olerud363]

Does anyone believe this? I think most people just want Kirk to have frequent ABs which he might not get if he's the backup to Danny Jansen who we shouldn't be completely writing off just yet.

 

Well, he's not going to up to be Jansen's backup. If he's up it will be to split catching duties and DH against lefties I'd think.

 

I think if Kirk is up they'll just start by splitting catching 50/50 and then plug Kirk in at DH occasionally so he's on track for 110 games. Which would be the most he's ever played anyway.

[BigCecil]

I honestly cannot wait for this f***ing season to start, to watch some ball!!!

 

Thats it. Thats the post.

[AdamGreenwood]

I honestly cannot wait for this f***ing season to start, to watch some ball!!!

 

Thats it. Thats the post.

 

It's a good think you told us that's the post. Otherwise I would have been scrolling up and down, and zooming in and out, and refreshing, expecting to see something else. Would have wasted hours, probably.

[Jays24]

Well, he's not going to up to be Jansen's backup. If he's up it will be to split catching duties and DH against lefties I'd think.

 

I think if Kirk is up they'll just start by splitting catching 50/50 and then plug Kirk in at DH occasionally so he's on track for 110 games. Which would be the most he's ever played anyway.

 

Unless there's an injury, there's very little playing time at DH for Kirk. We already have Tellez and Grichik platooning through there.

 

Kirk should be starting it seems but they won't cut bait with Jansen just yet imo. No one wants to see Kirk split duties at 1 position, especially when you factor in that McGuire has no options left. Jansen should feel the pressure to perform and probably won't get more than a month or two before the Kirk calls getting loud.

[Brownie19]

Unless there's an injury, there's very little playing time at DH for Kirk. We already have Tellez and Grichik platooning through there.

 

Kirk should be starting it seems but they won't cut bait with Jansen just yet imo. No one wants to see Kirk split duties at 1 position, especially when you factor in that McGuire has no options left. Jansen should feel the pressure to perform and probably won't get more than a month or two before the Kirk calls getting loud.

 

There's a likelihood that Kirk is a much better hitter than Grichuk.

[saskjayfan]

Unless there's an injury, there's very little playing time at DH for Kirk. We already have Tellez and Grichik platooning through there.

 

Kirk should be starting it seems but they won't cut bait with Jansen just yet imo. No one wants to see Kirk split duties at 1 position, especially when you factor in that McGuire has no options left. Jansen should feel the pressure to perform and probably won't get more than a month or two before the Kirk calls getting loud.

 

They let Kirk catch Ryu in the sim game. Catching Ryu is like solving a sphynx riddle. All signs point to Kirk starting with the Jays IMO and McGuire being cut loose. He will split catching duties with Jansen 50/50. If Jansen can't keep up Kirk will take the full time job and catch 70% of the games the second half.

[Jays24]

There's a likelihood that Kirk is a much better hitter than Grichuk.

 

Sadly sometimes that doesn't matter because Grichuk is earning 10 mill a year while Kirk has options. It's a s***** aspect of baseball that I hope changes in the next labour negotiations.

[Brownie19]

Sadly sometimes that doesn't matter because Grichuk is earning 10 mill a year while Kirk has options. It's a s***** aspect of baseball that I hope changes in the next labour negotiations.

 

you may find a change in approach now that we're a legit contender.

[Krylian]

Anyone else check the Boxscores after each game and hope that generic stiffs (like Tice) are getting the ones getting shelled, and not our regulars.

[Jimcanuck]

Kirk in AAA til June gains an extra year of control. The way he is performing that looks unlikely to happen but still a few weeks remaining in ST.

[BigCecil]

It's a good think you told us that's the post. Otherwise I would have been scrolling up and down, and zooming in and out, and refreshing, expecting to see something else. Would have wasted hours, probably.

 

Ya, phew. good thing. i will try and keep you informed so you dont waste hours working the screen on the edge of your seat.

[saskjayfan]

Kirk in AAA til June gains an extra year of control. The way he is performing that looks unlikely to happen but still a few weeks remaining in ST.

 

Only you could cheer for a guy to fail so we can get an extra year of control in 2027.

[Jimcanuck]

Only you could cheer for a guy to fail so we can get an extra year of control in 2027.

 

No just pointing out the obvious. Shatkins preference may very well be an extra year control instead of 2 months with the Jays playing ~50% of the time.

[saskjayfan]

No just pointing out the obvious. Shatkins preference may very well be an extra year control instead of 2 months with the Jays playing ~50% of the time.

 

It's almost 3 months he has to sit out. You put the best team forward to win in a year in which you expect to win. It's beyond unfair to Kirk and the rest of the players on this team.

[Stangstag]

There's a likelihood that Kirk is a much better hitter than Grichuk.

 

Grichuk in RF and Teo at DH

Vs

Teo in RF and Kirk at DH

 

I’d probably go with the first combo tbh. Assuming their bats are about equal, i’ll take Grich in RF over Teo any day.

[Jimcanuck]

It's almost 3 months he has to sit out. You put the best team forward to win in a year in which you expect to win. It's beyond unfair to Kirk and the rest of the players on this team.

 

It's a business. Teams hold back players to gain an extra year all the time. May or may not happen with Kirk, we will see.

[saskjayfan]

It's a business. Teams hold back players to gain an extra year all the time. May or may not happen with Kirk, we will see.

 

3 weeks is different than 3 months. You had Kirk help you get there last year and he was on the playoff roster. Getting 8 playoff runs out of a player is asking a bit much. If we miss the playoffs by 1 or 2 games players and fans would be pissed by holding Kirk out half a season. It isn't even good for his development....there's no AAA in April.

[Deadpool]

Kirk really isn't the kind of player you play service time games with, that being said, the team may simply decide that it's not prudent to lose McGuire, and keep Kirk in AAA. They may also legitimately believe that he would benefit from everyday playing time that they don't want to give him at the MLB level yet.

[saskjayfan]

Kirk really isn't the kind of player you play service time games with, that being said, the team may simply decide that it's not prudent to lose McGuire, and keep Kirk in AAA. They may also legitimately believe that he would benefit from everyday playing time that they don't want to give him at the MLB level yet.

 

Fun Alejandro Kirk facts. In the minors he struck out 60 times in 616 PA 9.7% of the time. He walked 89 times or 14.4% of the time. At the MLB level last year he had 28 PA. He struck out 4 times. Granted he only walked once. In 20 spring training PA last year and this year combined, Kirk has 5 walks 7 hits and 0 strike outs!

[Laika]

If all three are healthy at the end of spring I think they should trade McGuire (probably for a PTBNL) and just sign some old guy to a minor league deal. Kirk is just way too special and interesting to not roster.

[The Cats Ass]

I like baseball because any body type can succeed. Like, what other sport would Kirk be able to excel at?

[Stangstag]

I like baseball because any body type can succeed. Like, what other sport would Kirk be able to excel at?

 

Basketball

[glory]

The Jays want to contend this season, and as of now only 5 teams in each league are making the playoffs. I don't want the Jays to manipulate service time anymore regardless, but it's one thing to do it when you're tanking (Vlad 2019) and another to do it when incremental wins added can be the difference between a playoff spot or missing it entirely. If Kirk is legit, and he looks that way with the bat, then he should be on the team. Split time with him and Jansen, DH him on certain days, etc.

[Brownie19]

The Jays want to contend this season, and as of now only 5 teams in each league are making the playoffs. I don't want the Jays to manipulate service time anymore regardless, but it's one thing to do it when you're tanking (Vlad 2019) and another to do it when incremental wins added can be the difference between a playoff spot or missing it entirely. If Kirk is legit, and he looks that way with the bat, then he should be on the team. Split time with him and Jansen, DH him on certain days, etc.

 

I agree and think this is what will happen. Jansen isn't good enough to garner 75% of the starts now that we have another legit option.

[Laika]

The Jays want to contend this season, and as of now only 5 teams in each league are making the playoffs. I don't want the Jays to manipulate service time anymore regardless, but it's one thing to do it when you're tanking (Vlad 2019) and another to do it when incremental wins added can be the difference between a playoff spot or missing it entirely. If Kirk is legit, and he looks that way with the bat, then he should be on the team. Split time with him and Jansen, DH him on certain days, etc.

 

If they send Kirk down I doubt it would have much to do with service time; it would probably have everything to do with not wanting to lose Reese McGuire right now.

 

Kirk already has 47 days of service time from 2020 so they'd have to keep him down for a long time to get an "extra year" of control. I can't see this regime making their MLB team worse for two whole months in a compete year in order to milk an extra four months or so of control out of a 5'8", 260 pound catcher.

 

Alejandro Kirk's athletic peak was probably when he was 14 years old anyway...

 

If they do send him down and keep him down it is probably because a) they don't want to lose McGuire right away and everyone stays healthy and performs for the first couple of months so Kirk is just not needed

[connorp]

Basketball

 

YMCA basketball. Shirts and skins. Definitely

[Laika]

I like baseball because any body type can succeed. Like, what other sport would Kirk be able to excel at?

 

darts?