General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2022)

[Daniel Labude]

Just need to get Vlad on board with this. The at bats I watched last night were terrible.

 

Runners 2nd and 3rd 1 out - he took two balls then swung awkwardly at ball 3 inside. Then fouled a border line fastball back and made home plate lady not flinch. Struck out on a border line low change up. No pitch to really hit, probably a walk if he doesn't swing, or at worst a 3-2 count.

 

Runners 2nd and 3rd 1 out - I believe he took a ball, then swung at a another border line pitch, 72 mph ground out.

 

8th bases empty - swung at a pitch outside, then weak ground out.

 

I wonder if his wrist is bothering him? If so he needs a few days off. Otherwise needs the sports psychologist to sit down with him every day. Or just needs to have a new game plan. Swing hard but less.

 

I'm not trying to be coach here, more like Captain Obvious, but the 4 years of Vlad have been just as much disappointment as greatness. In fact the so-called 80 hit tool has only been there for 2 and a half months. April to mid June 2021. Even though the last 90 games of 2021 were good, they weren't 80 hit tool good.

 

80 hit tool you expect him to take all these close pitches and barrel much more. It's actually Kirk who has the best 'hit-tool' on the team, Vlad still better because of the better power tool.

 

I'll be captain obvious...you should look at pitch locations before posting this ********

[connorp]

Olerud feeling out the threshold for a Vlad troll thread 2.0

 

I can only say my two Vlad offers in board fantasy leagues were swiftly shot down.

[Olerud363]

I'll be captain obvious...you should look at pitch locations before posting this ********

 

Are you an idiot? I'm only talking about the last 3 at bats. How is this ********? Do you even watch the games?

 

Maybe you are thinking of the first two at bats, where he popped up good pitches. In the last 3 at bats he swung at lots of bad pitches.

 

At bat in the fifth - He got four straight balls. First two he took, then he fouled off one way inside, then he fouled one off border line but inside and high, then struck out on a border line pitch low, which probably was a strike.

 

I am positive I got all the locations right here, just from watching but went back and checked, and yes 4 balls.

 

7th inning - took a ball way outside, then swung at a border line inside pitch (was a strike).

 

8th inning - swung at a pitch 6 inches outside strike, swung at border line pitch inside to ground out weakly.

[Olerud363]

Olerud feeling out the threshold for a Vlad troll thread 2.0

 

I can only say my two Vlad offers in board fantasy leagues were swiftly shot down.

 

Not really. I watched the last 3 at bats, and was just commenting on them. I just checked the pitch locations on stat cast and I think I had them all exactly right just from memory.

 

Not trying to troll anyone. He swung at bad pitches the last 3 at bats. This is a baseball chat board. We aren't allowed to comment on the at bats we watch?

 

The 'Vlad to Indy ball' thread deserves to be bumped at this point. 2019, 2020 and 2022 are all basically the same season, with 2021 the outlier.

 

It's starting to be obvious he doesn't have an 80 hit tool. He may have a 70 power tool and a 60 hit tool which combined will still make him a very good player, but a disappointment compared to the minor league stats.

[connorp]

Not really. I watched the last 3 at bats, and was just commenting on them. I just checked the pitch locations on stat cast and I think I had them all exactly right just from memory.

 

Not trying to troll anyone. He swung at bad pitches the last 3 at bats. This is a baseball chat board. We aren't allowed to comment on the at bats we watch?

 

The 'Vlad to Indy ball' thread deserves to be bumped at this point. 2019, 2020 and 2022 are all basically the same season, with 2021 the outlier.

 

It's starting to be obvious he doesn't have an 80 hit tool. He may have a 70 power tool and a 60 hit tool which combined will still make him a very good player, but a disappointment compared to the minor league stats.

 

You started with “not really” and after a few paragraphs drifted the other way

[Olerud363]

You started with “not really” and after a few paragraphs drifted the other way

 

How is saying he doesn't have an 80 hit tool drifting the other way? Do you still think he has an 80 hit tool?

 

I literally said maybe he has a 70 power tool and a 60 hit tool... which would still make him good.

 

I said he is having the same season as 2019 and 2020 which is literally true.

[Daniel Labude]

Are you an idiot? I'm only talking about the last 3 at bats. How is this ********? Do you even watch the games?

 

Maybe you are thinking of the first two at bats, where he popped up good pitches. In the last 3 at bats he swung at lots of bad pitches.

 

At bat in the fifth - He got four straight balls. First two he took, then he fouled off one way inside, then he fouled one off border line but inside and high, then struck out on a border line pitch low, which probably was a strike.

 

I am positive I got all the locations right here, just from watching but went back and checked, and yes 4 balls.

 

7th inning - took a ball way outside, then swung at a border line inside pitch (was a strike).

 

8th inning - swung at a pitch 6 inches outside strike, swung at border line pitch inside to ground out weakly.

 

 

 

[connorp]

How is saying he doesn't have an 80 hit tool drifting the other way? Do you still think he has an 80 hit tool?

 

I literally said maybe he has a 70 power tool and a 60 hit tool... which would still make him good.

 

I said he is having the same season as 2019 and 2020 which is literally true.

 

You literally said “it’s time to bump the Vlad to Indy ball thread”. That was what you said “not really” to at the start lol

[Daniel Labude]

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Middle in, is now a border line strike that is probably a ball and MLB hitters have to take lmao

 

Its called timing and it's off. Its how Teo went from hitting .056 to having a good couple of games. Vlad has to find it and he will be great. He is still equivalent to Soto. All is good and he leads the team in HRs and walks. Everyone needs to quit being a little whiney bitch ever AB. You all sound like f***ing idiots

[Olerud363]

Middle in, is now a border line strike that is probably a ball and MLB hitters have to take lmao

 

Its called timing and it's off. Its how Teo went from hitting .056 to having a good couple of games. Vlad has to find it and he will be great. He is still equivalent to Soto. All is good and he leads the team in HRs and walks. Everyone needs to quit being a little whiney bitch ever AB. You all sound like f***ing idiots

 

Literally one pitch was middle in in those last three at bats. Everything else was either a ball or borderline.

 

Soto and Vlad are the same age. Soto has 19.9 career WAR, Vlad 6.8. Literally Soto has three times as much career WAR they aren't equivalent.

 

Just because Vlad had almost the same WAR in 2021 (Soto still had more fWAR) doesn't make them the same.

 

Soto is better because

 

a) he doesn't swing at the balls and borderline pitches that Vlad does

he's good every year, not just 1 year.

[Dagagad]

There's only 38 people currently on the 40 man, so other than "out of options" like Borucki, there's no pressing need to remove anyone.

 

I meant more that they could have added a different reliever instead of Thornton and still have had a spot open and guys they could cut.

 

Maybe they just think that Thornton is genuinely the best reliever they have to call up though.

[Dagagad]

I think on vlad, I feel like it’s a combo of things, luck, timing, maybe an injury. I’m definitely not doom and gloom on it.

 

However, I noticed that 2-0 pitch where he couldn’t take the ball off the plate as well, mostly because trout took almost an identical ball in a game a few days ago and I bored my wife by telling her that that’s why he’s so good. ‘Alot of guys swing at that because it looks hittable’.

 

Vlad has a great eye. He needs to be way more selective.

[Olerud363]

I am aware that Soto is struggling this year too...

 

but let's say hypothetically Vlad and Soto continue at their current paces. Does that make them equivalent?

 

No. Soto's mediocre year will feature 120 walks and a .380 on base so he'll be a couple WAR ahead of Vlad at their current paces. That's why Soto is better.

[Dagagad]

Of course Soto is better. How is this an argument? Soto is the best hitter in baseball.

[Laika]

Of course Soto is better. How is this an argument? Soto is the best hitter in baseball.

 

Mike Trout still is

[connorp]

I am aware that Soto is struggling this year too...

 

but let's say hypothetically Vlad and Soto continue at their current paces. Does that make them equivalent?

 

No. Soto's mediocre year will feature 120 walks and a .380 on base so he'll be a couple WAR ahead of Vlad at their current paces. That's why Soto is better.

 

Having Soto be a better hitter than you isn’t anything to be ashamed about, even for Vlad if that’s the case.

[Dagagad]

Mike Trout still is

 

Fair enough. Soto is right up there though. Trout is more valuable defensively as well obviously.

[Olerud363]

Of course Soto is better. How is this an argument? Soto is the best hitter in baseball.

 

I was replying to LetTheBallFly who said they were equivalent.

 

One thing about Vlad is that he was the only guy ever to get an 80 hit tool from Baseball America... however there is no way he has an 80 hit tool... or if he does he needs some serious mental adjustments to get back to that level.

 

Looking at his stats cast page he is like 99th percentile in all the raw power things like max exit velocity, but like 70th in 'hit tool' things (like barrel rate, expected batting average).

[Olerud363]

Having Soto be a better hitter than you isn’t anything to be ashamed about, even for Vlad if that’s the case.

 

Not saying it is, just replying to the guy who says they are equivalent.

[Dagagad]

An 80 grade hit tool is a .320 average. I think he could hit that 4/5 seasons.

[connorp]

An 80 grade hit tool is a .320 average. I think he could hit that 4/5 seasons.

 

No shame is .300/400+ 40 bombs. I wouldn’t be upset he’s not an 80 hit tool

[Daniel Labude]

Who am I

 

.232 AVG (0.017 lower than Vlad)

51% GB rate (.03 higher than Vlad)

89.4 EV (3.9 MPH lower than Vlad)

9 HR (Same as Vlad)

45.6% Hard hit % (8% lower than Vlad)

.281 xBA (0.011 less than Vlad)

32 Ks (1 less than Vlad)

42 walks (20 more than Vlad)

Hit 2 HRs in April and 2 HRs in May last season for 4 total going into June

Worse defender than Vlad by the numbers (OF though)

32nd percentile sprint speed

 

This guy sounds like a superstar

 

Now 1 hitter has faced the #1 SOS in baseball and the other the #14

 

Its a long season with variations and differences

 

Vlad needs to get his timing on point and get back to how he hit last season. Lots of things go into that and its not going to be a HR every AB. He will get back to it.

 

Complaining every AB just makes you look stupid and annoying

[Olerud363]

Who am I

 

.232 AVG (0.017 lower than Vlad)

51% GB rate (.03 higher than Vlad)

89.4 EV (3.9 MPH lower than Vlad)

9 HR (Same as Vlad)

45.6% Hard hit % (8% lower than Vlad)

.281 xBA (0.011 less than Vlad)

32 Ks (1 less than Vlad)

42 walks (20 more than Vlad)

Hit 2 HRs in April and 2 HRs in May last season for 4 total going into June

Worse defender than Vlad by the numbers (OF though)

32nd percentile sprint speed

 

This guy sounds like a superstar

 

Now 1 hitter has faced the #1 SOS in baseball and the other the #14

 

Its a long season with variations and differences

 

Vlad needs to get his timing on point and get back to how he hit last season. Lots of things go into that and its not going to be a HR every AB. He will get back to it.

 

Complaining every AB just makes you look stupid and annoying

 

I already mentioned that a few posts ago. Yes I know that Soto is hitting .230. Soto is also on Track for 4 WAR hitting .230 while Vlad only 2 WAR.

 

If both hit .240ish, Soto will have twice as much WAR because of his elite patience. If like last year, Vlad hits 20 more homers, Soto will still be about as good because of his elite patience.

 

Vlad is not equivalent to Soto.

[Brownie19]

LTBF - Olerud isn't wrong and there's nothing wrong with providing some recent at bats as examples to try and illustrate the areas he needs to improve on.

[wilko]

Perfect example of Merryweather's issues tonight.

 

Blows the first two hitters away.

 

Gets ahead of the next two s***** hitters and then inexplicably grooves fastballs, centre of the zone.

 

It's like when he misses he does so in the middle of the zone.lol

 

I was cringing watching those fastballs down the middle. I remember his fastball having more movement a few years ago?

He's at 13.2 IP. That's more than 2021 and 2020!

[Daniel Labude]

LTBF - Olerud isn't wrong and there's nothing wrong with providing some recent at bats as examples to try and illustrate the areas he needs to improve on.

 

Saying a perfect pitch to hit is a borderline strike and shouldn't be swung at is just trash and lazy. Nothing was wrong with his ABs yesterday besides the timing. He swung at 1 bad pitch outside and 1 backup slider inside that he probably hits if his timing is good. He has done a good job of getting more pitches over the plate and taking balls when they arent pitching to him. Its a terrible take and just a stupid troll

[Daniel Labude]

I already mentioned that a few posts ago. Yes I know that Soto is hitting .230. Soto is also on Track for 4 WAR hitting .230 while Vlad only 2 WAR.

 

If both hit .240ish, Soto will have twice as much WAR because of his elite patience. If like last year, Vlad hits 20 more homers, Soto will still be about as good because of his elite patience.

 

Vlad is not equivalent to Soto.

 

Definitely ignore all equivalent or worse numbers. Only WAR matters lmao

[connorp]

Saying a perfect pitch to hit is a borderline strike and shouldn't be swung at is just trash and lazy. Nothing was wrong with his ABs yesterday besides the timing. He swung at 1 bad pitch outside and 1 backup slider inside that he probably hits if his timing is good. He has done a good job of getting more pitches over the plate and taking balls when they arent pitching to him. Its a terrible take and just a stupid troll

 

^^^ Definitely not the kind of guy that’s going to give any discount on Vlad in fantasy

[Olerud363]

Saying a perfect pitch to hit is a borderline strike and shouldn't be swung at is just trash and lazy. Nothing was wrong with his ABs yesterday besides the timing. He swung at 1 bad pitch outside and 1 backup slider inside that he probably hits if his timing is good. He has done a good job of getting more pitches over the plate and taking balls when they arent pitching to him. Its a terrible take and just a stupid troll

 

Cherry picking one inside pitch, that was OK to swing at, out of several bad swing decisions is what is lazy. You my friend are the troll.

 

In those 3 at bats.

 

Swing 1 2-0 count - Pitch was a few inches inside

Swing 2 2-1 count - Pitch was right on the upper inside corner, probably a ball

Swing 3 2-2 count - Pitch was a strike but low, had to swing but could of taken it if he hadn't swung at the first 2

 

Swing 4 1-0 count - This was the one 'good' pitch, inner part of the plate

 

Swing 5 0-0 count - 4 inches outside

Swing 6 0-1 count - borderline inside edge

 

So of the six swing decisions, maybe 1 was good, 2 were terrible, and 3 were borderline.

 

No one is going to make perfect swing decisions, but Vlad's could have been a lot better in those 3 at bats.

[Daniel Labude]

Cherry picking one inside pitch, that was OK to swing at, out of several bad swing decisions is what is lazy. You my friend are the troll.

 

In those 3 at bats.

 

Swing 1 2-0 count - Pitch was a few inches inside

Swing 2 2-1 count - Pitch was right on the upper inside corner, probably a ball

Swing 3 2-2 count - Pitch was a strike but low, had to swing but could of taken it if he hadn't swung at the first 2

 

Swing 4 1-0 count - This was the one 'good' pitch, inner part of the plate

 

Swing 5 0-0 count - 4 inches outside

Swing 6 0-1 count - borderline inside edge

 

So of the six swing decisions, maybe 1 was good, 2 were terrible, and 3 were borderline.

 

No one is going to make perfect swing decisions, but Vlad's could have been a lot better in those 3 at bats.

 

Keep trolling. Calling a strike a ball again lmao