General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2022)

[Terminator]

Early in the season of course, but comparing Espinal's numbers and Semien's numbers kinda made me chuckle.

 

Semien has been so terrible it's crazy

[Terminator]

Hopefully Buntoyo is studying up for tomorrow's series against the 1st place Yanks instead of out partying and playing the bongos! We've got some big games this week!

[Krylian]

Jays are 15-8, with a run differential of 0.

[Carlos Danger]

Jays are 15-8, with a run differential of 0.

 

Run prevention baby!!

[JuniorFelix54]

Semien has been so terrible it's crazy

 

Good move letting him walk, never sign anyone to a long term deal based off of one good season. The year before in the 60 game season he hit like .215 with 5 HRs, a big letdown this year was predictable although he's been far worse than I thought he'd be

[John_Havok]

Gausman is now the only other pitcher other than Cy Young to start the season with 5 starts allowing 0 walks and 0 HR.

[Signal]

Jays are 15-8, with a run differential of 0.

 

I think they are at +1 but yes, it is really fortunate to see that their record appears to be better than their performance. Last year, their incredible run differential was not mirrored in their record and it cost them a playoff spot.

 

Defense/pitching has been the difference this year.

[Terminator]

If Stripling is still pitching well I wonder what the Jays will do when Ryu returns. I wonder if they'd consider a 6-man rotation.

[The Iceman]

Might be an option to send Kikuchi to the pen to get him right.

[Jimcanuck]

Might be an option to send Kikuchi to the pen to get him right.

 

Always an option, but he will get several starts yet. He's currently walking batters at double his historical rate. That problem is better worked on as a starter. Just make sure there is a long man available behind him.

[Spanky99]

If Stripling is still pitching well I wonder what the Jays will do when Ryu returns. I wonder if they'd consider a 6-man rotation.

 

Chuckles said they won't prior to yesterdays game, according to BNS and Zwelling.

[Spanky99]

Jays are 15-8, with a run differential of 0.

 

I think they are at +1 but yes, it is really fortunate to see that their record appears to be better than their performance. Last year, their incredible run differential was not mirrored in their record and it cost them a playoff spot.

 

Defense/pitching has been the difference this year.

 

It's almost as if the Jays have played in 11 1 run games... thanks tips.

[Signal]

Might be an option to send Kikuchi to the pen to get him right.

 

I don't understand this whole thing about simply throwing his fast ball more. That is not going to fix him. What needs fixing is that his breaking ball does not break and it is an easy pitch to hit. Fix that. His fastball is a pretty good pitch but he does not have the stuff to keep throwing it pitch after pitch without teams sitting on it and hitting it all over the place. Fix his damn breaking ball so it does not look like a batting practice pitch.

[Signal]

Might be an option to send Kikuchi to the pen to get him right.

 

I hope not. That would only water down the rotation. Right now, 60% of the starts will be Gausman, Manoah or Berrios....a small majority of the time...but still a majority. If you go to a 6 man rotation...it means that the big three only represent 50% of the starters other teams will face. I say go with the odds and stay with a five man rotation as much as you can.

 

IF the Jays decide to go with a 6 man rotation, I think it would be a HUGE mistake.

[max silver]

I don't understand this whole thing about simply throwing his fast ball more. That is not going to fix him. What needs fixing is that his breaking ball does not break and it is an easy pitch to hit. Fix that. His fastball is a pretty good pitch but he does not have the stuff to keep throwing it pitch after pitch without teams sitting on it and hitting it all over the place. Fix his damn breaking ball so it does not look like a batting practice pitch.

 

Kikuchi's best pitch is his splitter and it will play up much more effectively if he can first establish his fastball. I'm sure you've heard this a million times already on the Jays broadcasts but Kikuchi has a very good fastball in terms of velocity and spin, if he can harness his command and start placing his fastball more effectively he has potential to be a very good starter. Right now teams can basically sit on his slider and cutter (which is absolutely garbage and should be fully shelved) because Kikuchi has so much trouble actually placing his fastball where he needs to. He's shown the ability to hit 96-97 MPH with his heater so if he can start effectively locating it he will be much more effective.

 

Kevin Gausman has shown the template for effective fastball/splitter usage and Kikuchi arguably has the raw stuff to have a similar pitch makeup if he can iron out the command issues.

[Omar]

If Stripling is still pitching well I wonder what the Jays will do when Ryu returns. I wonder if they'd consider a 6-man rotation.

 

We need Stripling in the pen whenever Ryu starts. That way he can come into the game in the 3rd inning after Ryu gets knocked around. All part of the plan.

[Olerud363]

I think they are at +1 but yes, it is really fortunate to see that their record appears to be better than their performance. Last year, their incredible run differential was not mirrored in their record and it cost them a playoff spot.

 

Defense/pitching has been the difference this year.

 

That's not really how it works. Luck has been the difference this year. I think they'll play better going forward but despite the fact Gaussman and Manoah have been awesome, the 15-8 is mostly just luck.

 

Got lucky that they scored runs at the right time on Opening night. Got lucky That Springer and Bo hit homeruns at just the right time.

 

Unless you think Bo is good at hitting the deadball 350 feet down the right field line at just the right time, with just enough exit v and launch angle to get the dead ball just over the right field wall.

[Olerud363]

Going forward what will not be repeatable

 

1. Bo hitting deadballs 344 feet down the right field line at the key moment.

 

Going forward what will improve

 

1. Bo hitting balls 400 feet with good exit-v more regularly and having better overall numbers.

[John_Havok]

Kikuchi's best pitch is his splitter and it will play up much more effectively if he can first establish his fastball. I'm sure you've heard this a million times already on the Jays broadcasts but Kikuchi has a very good fastball in terms of velocity and spin, if he can harness his command and start placing his fastball more effectively he has potential to be a very good starter. Right now teams can basically sit on his slider and cutter (which is absolutely garbage and should be fully shelved) because Kikuchi has so much trouble actually placing his fastball where he needs to. He's shown the ability to hit 96-97 MPH with his heater so if he can start effectively locating it he will be much more effective.

 

Kevin Gausman has shown the template for effective fastball/splitter usage and Kikuchi arguably has the raw stuff to have a similar pitch makeup if he can iron out the command issues.

 

Precisely this. Has nothing to do with throwing it more, just has to make it a strike threat. Right now he's nowhere near the zone with it the majority of the time and the hitters are just dismissing it from consideration and smashing the hell out of his cutters.

[Spanky99]

We need Stripling in the pen whenever Ryu starts. That way he can come into the game in the 3rd inning after Ryu gets knocked around. All part of the plan.

 

Chicken Strip will certainly be used in a fireman role if a starter doesn't have it.

[Signal]

That's not really how it works. Luck has been the difference this year. I think they'll play better going forward but despite the fact Gaussman and Manoah have been awesome, the 15-8 is mostly just luck.

 

Got lucky that they scored runs at the right time on Opening night. Got lucky That Springer and Bo hit homeruns at just the right time.

 

Unless you think Bo is good at hitting the deadball 350 feet down the right field line at just the right time, with just enough exit v and launch angle to get the dead ball just over the right field wall.

 

Yes, sure luck has some to do with it. But I do think that defensive plays and Romano and the rest of the bullpen has something to do with it also. A lot of good defensive plays also factored into the wins. But I guess if Springer does not make that catch yesterday in the 9th ....they still win? The team overall is playing much better D this year....and guess what it does matter. It DOES impact the other teams ability to score and when in close games...it can be the difference.

[Jays24]

I really hope Teo can make his return today. We will need his offense to battle against the red hot Yankees.

[max silver]

I really hope Teo can make his return today. We will need his offense to battle against the red hot Yankees.

 

Seems unlikely as it's been reported the team wants to send him out on a rehab assignment first. I think they were going to send him to Buffalo but the weather forecast was iffy so they sent him down to Florida instead.

[John_Havok]

Yes, sure luck has some to do with it. But I do think that defensive plays and Romano and the rest of the bullpen has something to do with it also. A lot of good defensive plays also factored into the wins. But I guess if Springer does not make that catch yesterday in the 9th ....they still win? The team overall is playing much better D this year....and guess what it does matter. It DOES impact the other teams ability to score and when in close games...it can be the difference.

 

I think his main point is, regardless of the uniform they wear, a team with a neutral run differential is decidedly gettting pretty good fortune when they have the recorcd the Jays do. Even saying good luck or good furtune isn't perfectly accurate as you cannot say that Springer making that catch was "lucky" in and of itself, but you could easily argue it was good fortune that it happened in the 9th inning in a 1 run game with a runner on second.

[Spanky99]

Seems unlikely as it's been reported the team wants to send him out on a rehab assignment first. I think they were going to send him to Buffalo but the weather forecast was iffy so they sent him down to Florida instead.

 

Yeah, they're hoping for Cleveland, Thursday.

[RobinThicc]

I really hope Teo can make his return today. We will need his offense to battle against the red hot Yankees.

He's not. Pretty sure he's on a rehab stint for the next couple days.

[JaysAllMighty]

 

[Olerud363]

Yes, sure luck has some to do with it. But I do think that defensive plays and Romano and the rest of the bullpen has something to do with it also. A lot of good defensive plays also factored into the wins. But I guess if Springer does not make that catch yesterday in the 9th ....they still win? The team overall is playing much better D this year....and guess what it does matter. It DOES impact the other teams ability to score and when in close games...it can be the difference.

 

The defensive plays and Romano and the great pitching all factor in, however over 162 games all that would just keep the Jays at .500 with normal luck.

 

Yesterday... Springers catch was big. However 3 runs on 3 hits, 2 of them on a 345 foot homerun was luck.

 

Jays aren't going to win 100 with an even run differential even if the great plays continue. However the hitting will probably improve and they will continue to have a great record (because run differential will improve).

[Stangstag]

 

They really don’t like Collins catching eh

 

Good lineup though

[Dick_Pole]

Gausman is now the only other pitcher other than Cy Young to start the season with 5 starts allowing 0 walks and 0 HR.

 

He's really making my call that Manoah would be this team's best pitcher look bad

 

Also lol at Gausman versus Manoah's ERA versus FIP. All four numbers are good and low just that Manoah is way overperforming his FIP and Gausman is underperforming his.

 

0 BB 41 K not even Arencibia could put up a ratio like that.