Official Spring Training 2021 GDT/discussion thread

[Jimcanuck]

After this, Groshans will go down to A+ (most likely) and work his ass off. Adversity is sometimes a good thing.

[wilko]

6 games, 8 AB's 1 hit 1 K... he seemed to have a pretty good approach from what little I saw.

 

Groshans looked lost, he needs way more work.

 

It's ST man, calm down!

[5minutesforframing]

After this, Groshans will go down to A+ (most likely) and work his ass off. Adversity is sometimes a good thing.

 

He better, if he wants a chance.

[Spanky__99]

It's ST man, calm down!

 

lol... I love you man!

[Spanky__99]

Godammit... I thought the Jays were playing today, it's a day off.

 

2 Days to an actual full Jays lineup on the tube and 2 Weeks to Opening Day!

 

Can't wait!!!

[Olerud363]

Some of them do suck or will suck, but two weeks of Spring Training data isn't going to be what determines that.

 

Groshans only had 1 month above rookie ball. He might suck and we just don't know it yet, maybe the 23 games at Lansing were just a hot streak. It's going to be incredibly hard to evaluate these guys for a few months.

[wilko]

lol... I love you man!

 

[Jays24]

 

So Kirk didn't make this list ehhhh. McGuire might actually get cut and Jansen/Kirk might be splitting duties to begin the season it seems, which is a nice way of saying Jansen is the backup lol.

[wilko]

So Kirk didn't make this list ehhhh. McGuire might actually get cut and Jansen/Kirk might be splitting duties to begin the season it seems, which is a nice way of saying Jansen is the backup lol.

 

It's not like McGuire is making a case for himself so far.

[Spanky__99]

So Kirk didn't make this list ehhhh. McGuire might actually get cut and Jansen/Kirk might be splitting duties to begin the season it seems, which is a nice way of saying Jansen is the backup lol.

 

Dude, chillax... they still need catchers at camp, does Riley Adams make the club? lol... Geez!

[Spanky__99]

It's not like McGuire is making a case for himself so far.

 

I feel he gets moved for Cash Considerations... lol. Seriously, though.

[BlueRocky]

Looks like Hatchy just blew his elbow out

 

RIP Hatch Buckets

[BlueRocky]

Can you tell if the new ball is significantly different? It is supposed to be a bit less lively. Is playing that way? Balls you think should be homers are not?

 

Or are they even using the new ball yet? I thought I might of heard they use up left overs from last year first.

 

I heard they’re using a new ball and it’s less “lively” compared to the dinger fest we saw the past two seasons.

[Spanky__99]

I heard they’re using a new ball and it’s less “lively” compared to the dinger fest we saw the past two seasons.

 

I didn't answer that question because it's impossible to tell by the eye test, guys are still hitting balls over 110 MPH. MLB just have to follow and gather data at this point.

[jerb]

 

Arden Zwelling

@ArdenZwelling

 

Blue Jays pitching coach Pete Walker says club will be “a little bit more cautious” with Nate Pearson’s right groin strain after this week’s setback during a bullpen.

 

Club’s still evaluating Pearson and gathering information before determining when he might start throwing again.

 

 

Arden Zwelling

@ArdenZwelling

 

Expecting a more detailed update on Thomas Hatch from Blue Jays later today — but for now Walker says he was “encouraged seeing him and the way he was moving his arm” after Hatch came out of Wednesday’s start.

 

“We’re hopeful it’s nothing more than a minor setback,” Walker said.

 

 

Scott Mitchell

@ScottyMitchTSN

 

Pete Walker says Alek Manoah is a bit more advanced than he thought coming into spring:

 

“Pleasantly surprised with where he’s at in his development already.”

 

“A timeframe, I wouldn't want to put anything on it right now, but he certainly looks like he can help.”

#BlueJays

 

 

Scott Mitchell

@ScottyMitchTSN

 

Per #BlueJays pitching coach Pete Walker, Julian Merryweather has thrown a couple of sides and looked “awesome” coming off back tightness.

 

He’s scheduled to throw 2 innings in a sim game on Sunday.

Considering he’s 1-2 inning stints only now, still could be ready for OD roster.

 

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

 

Kirby Yates is on schedule to begin the season healthy as #BlueJays' closer per pitching coach Pete Walker. Yates slated to pitch tomorrow, again early next week.

 

"I would say it's his job to lose ... he's one of the best relievers in baseball."

 

 

Arash Madani

@ArashMadani

 

Blue Jays pitching coach on Jordan Romano: "He's a closer in the making."

 

There have been rave reviews for the big Canadian reliever from all corners of the organization this spring.

 

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

 

Earlier this week, Ross Atkins had plenty of praise for T.J. Zeuch, the former #BlueJays 1st rounder whose velo was down this time last year. In a recent outing, Zeuch was up to 95.9 mph w/ "power sink"

 

Today, Pete Walker said Zeuch "certainly looks like a major-league starter"

 

 

Ben Nicholson-Smith

@bnicholsonsmith

 

#BlueJays haven't decided whether they'll open the season with 8 or 9 relievers.

 

Jays start with 1 game @ NYY then a day off. One option (as I see it): open with 8 & a bigger bench (3C? Espinal? Palacios?)

 

Then after the off day, it's 16 in a row. Add a pitcher. 9-man 'pen.

[Brownie19]

Depending on the Hatch and Pearson situation - I wonder at what point you call up Porcello...

[saskjayfan]

Kirk catching Ray again today. The Ray whisperer. More evidence that Kirk breaks camp with the big club.

[Ray]

I’m excited to see Trent Thornton today.

 

It’s impressive enough that he had a decent rookie season on a terrible Jays team in 2019, but when you consider he was doing that with bone chips in his elbow which severely limited his arms range of motion, it’s more impressive. He told the media that post surgery is the best he’s felt in a while, and he’s also simplified his arsenal to fastball-changeup-curveball-slider and put the rest of his pitches in his back pocket for now.

 

I still don’t know if he’s ever going to be a guy that should go through the third time through the order, but if you pair him up with an opener like Ryan Borucki, I bet you he can be a very effective bulk guy that can eat 4 or 5 innings. He’s one to keep an eye on for sure.

[JaysAllMighty]

Anyone got a stream for today's game?

[jerb]

 

Ben Wagner

@benwag247

 

Guerrero with a grounder deep in the hole at short, legs out an infield single. He sniffed it out and booked it up the line.

[Jimcanuck]

Vladdy going all out in ST, hope he doesnt tear a hammy.

[Krylian]

 

Ben Wagner

@benwag247

 

Guerrero with a grounder deep in the hole at short, legs out an infield single. He sniffed it out and booked it up the line.

 

That's the actions of a man that has something to prove.

[jerb]

 

Ben Wagner

@benwag247

 

After a pair of singles to open the inning, Ray gets a strikeout, a Tigers bases boo-boo and strikeout. Stops the early threat. Still, wasn’t the sharpest frame from Ray this spring.

 

Ben Wagner

@benwag247

 

Kirk with a ROCKET over the wall in right - planted deep in the patio. Big time laser the opposite way. #BlueJays 1-0

[JFD]

Kirk going oppo is a beautiful thing

[Laika]

Is Casey Mize just... kind of crummy?

[43211234]

Ray goes:

 

96.7 mph FB

97.1 mph FB

91 mph Slider

97.2 mph FB

 

to strikeout Schoop

 

I'm really looking forward to Ray this season. The velocity seems real. He's in the 4th inning right now and I doubt he's going to be asked to go more than 6 innings hardly ever.

[RustyTrombone]

Robbie Ray for CY Young

 

im kidding but lowkey if hey keeps pumping strikes at a 60% clip and keeps throwing 95-98 he legitimately could. lotta ifs..

[Ray]

Ray sitting 96 and touching 98mph with fastball, has 3 K’s and only 1 walk.

 

Not sure why anyone thought he was trash just because of what he displayed during a shortened season with minimal ramp up. In his preceding 140 starts, he posted a 3.96 ERA.

 

You could argue the same thing about guys like Stripling, Roark, and Matz. Most of them have much longer track records of being at least average pitchers than what they did last season. The rotation isn’t great, but it was never “bad”. It’s probably more closer to average than most people realize, and that’s really all you need with this bullpen and offense.

[Laika]

Not sure why anyone thought he was trash just because of what he displayed during a shortened season with minimal ramp up. In his preceding 140 starts, he posted a 3.96 ERA.

 

Because the horrible BB rate looked like the bottom of a trend that started in 2018, and not a one off.

 

Not saying people were right but there were some reasons to believe he had just been getting worse for a couple of years.

[RustyTrombone]

He didnt throw a f***ing ball that inning. I think he might be fixed....