General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2022)

[Stangstag]

If Hernandez is going to miss an extended period of time I think it might be a good idea to change the top of the lineup.

 

1. Espinal

2. Bo

3. Vlad

4. Springer

 

This way you have Springer behind Vlad to help protect him. Plus Springer has been hitting and he may increase his RBI total if in the fourth spot. Espinal hit for average last year and did a pretty good job getting on base....think moving him up might actually be good for him. What better way to show a player you value the work they have put in over the offseason to improve...than moving him up to the lead off. Who knows, it may unlock something in Espy. Plus Espy and Bo have speed and speed is always good to have at the top of the lineup and well, on the bases for when the big boys come up.

 

I don’t think they move Springer, but I can honestly see Espinal batting 2nd and moving Bo down to 4th like they did last year.

 

Alternatively they just bump everyone else up (Espinal hits 6th) and have Biggio hitting 9th.

 

Catcher/OF combo hits 7/8

[Signal]

1. Springer

2. Vladdy

3. Bo

 

Problem solved?

 

Really? Who is batting cleanup?

[Stangstag]

 

Lol I was worried he already had a 3rd kid in the offseason. Good tweet

[Deadpool]

If Hernandez is going to miss an extended period of time I think it might be a good idea to change the top of the lineup.

 

1. Espinal

2. Bo

3. Vlad

4. Springer

 

This way you have Springer behind Vlad to help protect him. Plus Springer has been hitting and he may increase his RBI total if in the fourth spot. Espinal hit for average last year and did a pretty good job getting on base....think moving him up might actually be good for him. What better way to show a player you value the work they have put in over the offseason to improve...than moving him up to the lead off. Who knows, it may unlock something in Espy. Plus Espy and Bo have speed and speed is always good to have at the top of the lineup and well, on the bases for when the big boys come up.

 

Despite Espinal coming up big in some key places this season, he's not actually doing all that well from a strictly numbers standpoint. Obviously SSS applies (but it also applies to those people who want to make him into some kind of baseball god...)

 

wRC+ 99

OBP .316

OPS .705

 

His xwOBA is good at .428, but that's about the only number that looks good.

 

Also, 0 walks in 19 PAs is not great, Bob.

 

Also, damn has Kirk been having a shitsack of a year so far. (SSS again, obviously).

[InsideThePark]

Really? Who is batting cleanup?

 

Either Gurriel, Chapman or Kirk. Those are your next 3 best hitters, they hit 4 through 6 in whatever order you see fit, that's how you construct a lineup. Your issue was who's "protecting" Vladdy. Moving Vladdy up which gets him more at bats also solves that issue if it even exists, and it was something they were already looking at doing during spring training anyway. Giving a worst hitter more at bats(Espinal) and a better hitter less(Springer) does more damage than it solves especially considering there are other ways to solve the minor issue you're trying to solve.

[Signal]

Despite Espinal coming up big in some key places this season, he's not actually doing all that well from a strictly numbers standpoint. Obviously SSS applies (but it also applies to those people who want to make him into some kind of baseball god...)

 

wRC+ 99

OBP .316

OPS .705

 

His xwOBA is good at .428, but that's about the only number that looks good.

 

Also, 0 walks in 19 PAs is not great, Bob.

 

Also, damn has Kirk been having a shitsack of a year so far. (SSS again, obviously).

 

Kirk, Gurriel and Chapman have not looked good and frankly do not see any of them filling in that #4 spot and doing damage. Thus, I thought maybe instead of trying to fill that spot with someone who has not hit....move someone who has....Springer. And you go about try and find someone who could get on base to leadoff. Espinal seemed to be the only close to fitting the bill. I may be in a minority but I do think that you need a real threat behind Vladdy in the lineup.

[Signal]

Either Gurriel, Chapman or Kirk. Those are your next 3 best hitters, they hit 4 through 6 in whatever order you see fit, that's how you construct a lineup. Your issue was who's "protecting" Vladdy. Moving Vladdy up which gets him more at bats also solves that issue if it even exists, and it was something they were already looking at doing during spring training anyway. Giving a worst hitter more at bats(Espinal) and a better hitter less(Springer) does more damage than it solves especially considering there are other ways to solve the minor issue you're trying to solve.

 

Sorry just trying to think outside of the box to deal with Hernandez's absence.

 

While I do think Gurriel, Chapman and Kirk will contribute offensively, they all appear to be cold as ice right now. I believe all are hitting below .200. Just saying...

[InsideThePark]

Kirk, Gurriel and Chapman have not looked good and frankly do not see any of them filling in that #4 spot and doing damage. Thus, I thought maybe instead of trying to fill that spot with someone who has not hit....move someone who has....Springer. And you go about try and find someone who could get on base to leadoff. Espinal seemed to be the only close to fitting the bill. I may be in a minority but I do think that you need a real threat behind Vladdy in the lineup.

 

You don't make lineup decisions on 6 game samples but since you seem to want to Bo has been worse than Chapman so do you think he should hit below Chapman?

[Spanky99]

lol

[Deadpool]

Kirk, Gurriel and Chapman have not looked good and frankly do not see any of them filling in that #4 spot and doing damage. Thus, I thought maybe instead of trying to fill that spot with someone who has not hit....move someone who has....Springer. And you go about try and find someone who could get on base to leadoff. Espinal seemed to be the only close to fitting the bill. I may be in a minority but I do think that you need a real threat behind Vladdy in the lineup.

 

The goal should be getting the most at bats to your best players, more ABs for Espinal at the expense of ABs for Springer isn't ideal. Obviously the C, 3B, and LF spots contributing almost nothing offensively and your RF going down (though, I haven't heard anything about him actually being unable to play. It looked bad, but unless I've missed it there hasn't been any reporting on prognosis) are going to complicate lineup construction.

 

If protection is your goal, swap Vladdy and Bo (that's probably the better configuration regardless...)

 

Springer

Vladdy

Bo

LGJ

Chapman

Kirk

Biggio/Espinal

Tilapia

Zimmer

 

A lot less terrifying than it looked in the off season... BUT we're still 4-2 and tied for first place in the ALE for now.

[JFD]

Need LGJ to breakout this year

[Signal]

You don't make lineup decisions on 6 game samples but since you seem to want to Bo has been worse than Chapman so do you think he should hit below Chapman?

 

No. But do think there is nothing wrong with making your starting lineup fluid. IF you have someone with a hot bat...like we have seen with Gurriel at times, I have no problem with the idea of moving him up in the order. Sorry if you find that ridiculous. I guess you could simply keep the lineup as is and simply move everyone up a spot. But the fact that no one has named that #4 hitter but have listed three guys.....tells me that there really is no clear answer. I am simply providing another scenario. I do realize it is only a 6 game sample...hence I brought up the fact that Espy hit over .300 last year...so he can get on base.

[glory]

Tonight's lineup:

 

Springer, DH

Bichette, SS

Guerrero, 1B

Gurriel, LF

Tapia, RF

Kirk, CA

Biggio, 2B

Espinal, 3B

Zimmer, CF

[LGBJ29]

Tapia 5th jesus christ Charlie

[InsideThePark]

Holy mother of god. Tapia 5th? Has Charlie lost his damn mind?

[Krylian]

Charlie being Charlie

[Laika]

He's splitting up lefties so they have to hit 5, 7, 9

 

Sad that Biggio is so out of favour though

[TwistedLogic]

[lgeuther]

Anybody but Tapia in the 5th spot. Why not Espinal?

[TwistedLogic]

Can't believe we've already seen our first Tapia, Biggio, Zimmer lineup of the season less than a week of games into it.

 

Imagine if they pinch-run Kirk in this game and Collins squeezes his way in there too.

[Laika]

Tapia + Biggio + Zimmer will go 6 for 12 tonight with two homers and a steal

[Krylian]

Can't believe we've already seen our first Tapia, Biggio, Zimmer lineup of the season less than a week of games into it.

 

Don't lie. You can absolutely believe it, and were kind of expecting it.

[Stangstag]

 

“Not as bad as I thought”

 

I call ******** but good to hear I guess

[Stangstag]

Anybody but Tapia in the 5th spot. Why not Espinal?

 

They wanted to split all the lefties up. I would’ve preferred Biggio 5th

[Angrioter]

They wanted to split all the lefties up. I would’ve preferred Biggio 5th

 

Tapia, Biggio and Zimmer aren't lefty. They are s***

[Terminator]

They wanted to split all the lefties up. I would’ve preferred Biggio 5th

 

Yeah the lineup was going to be ugly no matter what with no Hernandez and Chapman sitting out but Tilapia batting 5th makes it look even worse. At least Heinamen isn't playing.

[Signal]

Yeah the lineup was going to be ugly no matter what with no Hernandez and Chapman sitting out but Tilapia batting 5th makes it look even worse. At least Heinamen isn't playing.

 

Does anyone know why Chapman is not in the lineup tonight? Is he simply getting some rest? Is he a really bad matchup against Severino? Or a bit of both? Or simply trying to get as many left handed batters in the lineup as possible?

[JaysAllMighty]

Montoyo is an expert at handicapping the Jays.

[Brownie19]

Let's hope Hazel's report is right for once...she can't go 0-10 right?

[Terminator]

Does anyone know why Chapman is not in the lineup tonight? Is he simply getting some rest? Is he a really bad matchup against Severino? Or a bit of both? Or simply trying to get as many left handed batters in the lineup as possible?

 

Not sure. I assume just a day of rest. Jays play a ton of games with just one off day to start the season and he's had some nagging injuries over the years.