GDT (3/3) | Blue Jays (44-42) @ Rays (53-36) | July 11 — 1:10 PM

[G-Snarls]

Nice

 

We wom a close game in Tampa where the bullpen had to come up big

[Effit]

Take your broom and shove it.

 

Great pitching, nice to get a W heading into the break.

Edited July 11, 2021 by Effit

[Krylian]

Needed this win, re-sign Robbie Ray.

 

He's gonna get paid.

[Bluebombers]

Our stopper,,,,,,,ROBBIE tight pants Ray,,,,,,,,,,,,gonna get a Rayse. And worth every dollar

[G-Snarls]

He's gonna get paid.

 

We have some advantages

 

1. He seems to like working with Pete Walker

 

2. We will give him a qualifying offer, hindering his signability elsewhere

 

3. Payroll flexibility

[JFD]

So, is there a chance that Espinal is good, and not just "really nice bench piece" good?

 

Unlikely. MLB pitchers would eventually render him useless at the plate as a starter imo

[DaKiNdLa]

He's gonna get paid.

 

I would be ecstatic with something like a 3/54 deal...preferably with a team option and buyout. He's been solid all year and seems unaffected by stickygate.

[G-Snarls]

Win the last game before the break against Tampa while the Yankees and Red Sox lose too

 

Great day

[Bluebombers]

Absolutely, brought a smile to my face seeing the red Sox And Yankees lost.

 

Feel good win, hopefully many more to come post all star break

 

Ps. shutting out the rays in the trop would have been soul- cleansing

[BuffaloWings]

Our stopper,,,,,,,ROBBIE tight pants Ray,,,,,,,,,,,,gonna get a Rayse. And worth every dollar

 

My 10 year old asked me why the pitcher was wearing tights and not baseball pants.

[Krylian]

So, is there a chance that Espinal is good, and not just "really nice bench piece" good?

 

He's this generation's John MacDonald, Ryan Goins, Munenori Kawasaki... Casuals will love him irrationally cause every so often he'll have a moment.

[Orgfiller]

So, is there a chance that Espinal is good, and not just "really nice bench piece" good?

 

Honestly? No. He has a sub .100 ISO and a .380 BABIP on some of the worst exit velos in the game. Even David Fletcher who is the model version of elite defensive versatility with bloop singles for days has him beat in max exit velo by quite a bit. He's outperforming his xwOBA by a mile and I don't think he has the bat control that Fletcher has to make me believe this can continue. I think he might be able to settle in the ~85-90 wRC+ range with pretty good defense all over the diamond and enough speed to make him a viable pinch runner for the catcher or something late in the game. His ceiling pretty much is a really nice bench piece.

[Deadpool]

He's this generation's John MacDonald, Ryan Goins, Munenori Kawasaki... Casuals will love him irrationally cause every so often he'll have a moment.

 

Except Espinal has as much WAR this year as Johnny Mac had his entire career (holy balls I don't think I've ever looked at his numbers before, they're putird...), and his wRC+ is 117 after 120 PAs. I mean, I don't think he's going to dethrone Vladdy or anything, but he's on a very nice run this year at least. He also put up relatively solid numbers at every level in the minors. I agree, he'll likely regress from here (just doesn't have nearly enough pop to survive in today's game) but I think we might have someone who is great with the glove and won't actively hurt you with the bat, so that's nice.

[Stangstag]

Except Espinal has as much WAR this year as Johnny Mac had his entire career (holy balls I don't think I've ever looked at his numbers before, they're putird...), and his wRC+ is 117 after 120 PAs. I mean, I don't think he's going to dethrone Vladdy or anything, but he's on a very nice run this year at least. He also put up relatively solid numbers at every level in the minors. I agree, he'll likely regress from here (just doesn't have nearly enough pop to survive in today's game) but I think we might have someone who is great with the glove and won't actively hurt you with the bat, so that's nice.

 

Well at least you're sensible