General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2022)

[Ray]

Worth noting too that Merrifield can play CF and has 85 percentile sprint speed, so we still have speed and good defense with a guy who can hit a little bit. Zimmer was made all the more expendable with the Merrifield trade.

 

JBJ over Zimmer is an upgrade, however little that upgrade might actually be. He is still decent at hitting fastballs, FWIW.

[Jimcanuck]

JBJ over Zimmer.

 

Who cares.

 

/end discussion

[BlueJaysFever]

Use him as a specialist at the Skydome against 4 seam-heavy pitchers. His home and road splits are crooked and he seems to be hitting the 4 seamer well this year

[Laika]

alright back to talking about precisely where Jordan Romano ranks in the list of active closers

and whether Kikuchi should start pitching right handed

[wilko]

I'll take JBJ over Zimmer plz.

[mellowgold]

I think it's an upgrade, even if it's a small one. You don't want either guy at the plate in the postseason but if you somehow find yourself in a situation where it has to happen, JBJ does inspire a LITTLE more confidence than Zimmer.

 

And he's probably still a little better defensively.

 

Zimmer is the faster runner but that skill isn't as important now with Merrifield here. And even if Merrifield is in the starting lineup, that means at least one, if not both of Biggio and Tapia should be available to pinch run.

[VE2OH]

Why is Espinal sitting on the bench so much and Cavin playing so much. Doesn't make sense to me.

[Maahfaace]

Maybe George needs TJS...

[jaysblue]

JBJ is a small upgrade over Zimmer at least with the bat. He has some Postseason experience as well.

 

JBJ will be the ALCS MVP. You heard it here first!

[jaysblue]

alright back to talking about precisely where Jordan Romano ranks in the list of active closers

and whether Kikuchi should start pitching right handed

 

We should make more lists. They're fun!

[jaysblue]

Why is Espinal sitting on the bench so much and Cavin playing so much. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

Epsinal hasn't been hitting that well anyways, so platooning them isn't a bad thing.

[bones10]

In before gurriel season ending injury

[glory]

Why is Espinal sitting on the bench so much and Cavin playing so much. Doesn't make sense to me.

 

Espinal has fallen off hard the last couple of months and has significant platoon splits this season. Makes sense to go with a platoon at 2B for now.

[jaysblue]

JBJ's career numbers at Rogers Centre and Yankee Stadium are very disappointing.

[Omar]

Is JBJ a good clubhouse guy?

 

This is the X factor. I assume former Bosox players are all *******s until proven otherwise. At least Zimmer seemed to keep his mouth shut.

[Terminator]

 

Lopez has been optioned. Zimmer survives! Our bench right now is:

 

2B/OF- Biggio (L)

OF- Rocket Raimel (L)

OF- Zimmer (L)

OF- JBJ (L)

 

All hail the left handed hitting outfielders!

[John_Havok]

Somewhere, Grant is having a coronary with the reality of the Jays picking up an ex member of the BoSox.

[Jonn]

Is JBJ a good clubhouse guy?

 

He will add some good size to the team showers for sure.

[bendera3]

We should make more lists. They're fun!

 

I remember a list ranking the hottest Jays was a fun thread.

[Dagagad]

Thank god Zimmer is still here. I really enjoyed having a wee fat fella like Kirk and a guy who looks like lurch from the Adam’s family on the same team.

[Brownie19]

It’s a defensive downgrade and a base running push. Zimmer did very little on the bases but does have speed. I doubt Bradley is as good in CF as Zimmer.

 

JBJ has has white hot hitting stretches though. Put one of them in the playoffs and it could be big.

 

When was the last 'hot streak' for JBJ? In 2020? Dude's posted like a 40 wRC+ over the past 2 years while getting regular at bats. He's likely to be a 12 wRC+ hitter if he gets 3 at bats a month like Zimmer did.

[Jays24]

JBJ is a small upgrade over Zimmer at least with the bat. He has some Postseason experience as well.

 

JBJ will be the ALCS MVP. You heard it here first!

 

Slow down here... the Orioles might take our playoff spot lol

[G-Snarls]

I just posted last series against Boston how happy I was we didn't sign JBJ

 

Ffs

[wilko]

He will add some good size to the team showers for sure.

 

[Grant77]

Somewhere, Grant is having a coronary with the reality of the Jays picking up an ex member of the BoSox.

 

It doesn't bother me. He's never come across as some entitled piece of s*** like Verdugo, Sale, Duran, or Vazquez.

[JaysAllMighty]

I don't understand the Zimmer love with this FO. WTF

[Brownie19]

I don't understand the Zimmer love with this FO. WTF

 

It's fully expected to be a short term thing. I wouldn't read much into it. Zimmer was actually solid last year in a Kevin Pillar kind of way. Let's see what JBJ can do getting 3 at bats per month.

[VE2OH]

Epsinal hasn't been hitting that well anyways, so platooning them isn't a bad thing.

 

He won't get his hitting back on the bench and still out fields and out batts Biggio

Check his RBI's for a bottom of the lineup hitter and second best infielder after Chapman.

Maybe sitting Bo would be a better option.

[Laika]

He won't get his hitting back on the bench and still out fields and out batts Biggio

Check his RBI's for a bottom of the lineup hitter and second best infielder after Chapman.

Maybe sitting Bo would be a better option.

 

Since May 1st

 

Biggio has been 24% better than league average, offensively.

 

Espinal has been 12% WORSE than league average, offensively.

 

Biggio has been worth 1.3 Wins in 48 games played.

 

Espinal has been worth 1.1 Wins in 81 games played.

[Brownie19]

He won't get his hitting back on the bench and still out fields and out batts Biggio

Check his RBI's for a bottom of the lineup hitter and second best infielder after Chapman.

Maybe sitting Bo would be a better option.

 

Espinal is not hitting better than Biggio this season - especially v. RHP. We don't use RBI's as a key measure of hitting ability because it's not 1993. Don't get caught up in his All-Star appearance, he's a great utility player and what appears to be a platoon bat who handled LHP really well.