General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2022)

[Jays333]

Let's be real and say it how it really is. The farm and depth of this team currently is poor. Easily in the bottom half. The offense is overrated and frequently crumbles under the pressure of being crowned elite before the season started. Pitching is middle of the road with only 2 reliable starters and a top 5 closer. At best this is a slightly above average team who might squeak into the playoffs in an expanded format, or might just miss. That is all.

[Terminator]

I feel like that’s too radical that nobody would try it. Decent idea but I can’t see it happening

 

Idk why they wouldn't do some variation of that. There's too many spare parts down on the bench to start and play a guy like JBJ or Tapia the whole game.

 

Take Zimmer, for example. He's completely expendable with JBJ around, as we saw with his recent DFA. I think starting him in CF and then pulling him his first AB would be an obvious move.

[keggy]

JBJ

Zimmer

Tapia

Merrifield

Biggio

 

Between these 5 you could probably squeeze out an above average major league CFer over the course of the game. Imagine a player with the CF defense of JBJ/Zimmer, and the strong side splits of Biggio/Tapia/Whit at the plate. It's 2 elite defensive CFers and 3 pinch hit options, one righty and two lefties.

 

Start JBJ and then pinch hit for him as early as his 1st AB of the game if the situation calls for it. Then just keep subbing based on the situation until the game ends. If you played it right you could get 3 to 5 innings of JBJ and Zimmer CF defense without either recording an AB. lol

 

Tony LaRussa used to do stuff like this in the 90s. When Mark McGwire was injured, he would start him at 2B on the road to get him a guaranteed AB and then replace him with Placido Polanco in the bottom of the inning.

 

This could actually work. For home games I would start Zimmer in CF and bat him 9th so he's guaranteed to play in the field. Leave him in until his first AB. Don't let him hit even once. The downside is that you lose your fastest baserunner and best outfielder for the late innings, but you still have tons of speed on the bench with Biggio, Merrifield, and Tapia.

 

We don't really have the personnel to do this though. Tapia, Merrifield, and Bradley are bad hitters even with the platoon advantage. The only one who can actually hit is Biggio, so the exercise just becomes "get Biggio as many ABs as possible without hurting the defence too much".

[Stangstag]

Tony LaRussa used to do stuff like this in the 90s. When Mark McGwire was injured, he would start him at 2B on the road to get him a guaranteed AB and then replace him with Placido Polanco in the bottom of the inning.

 

This could actually work. For home games I would start Zimmer in CF and bat him 9th so he's guaranteed to play in the field. Leave him in until his first AB. Don't let him hit even once. The downside is that you lose your fastest baserunner and best outfielder for the late innings, but you still have tons of speed on the bench with Biggio, Merrifield, and Tapia.

 

We don't really have the personnel to do this though. Tapia, Merrifield, and Bradley are bad hitters even with the platoon advantage. The only one who can actually hit is Biggio, so the exercise just becomes "get Biggio as many ABs as possible without hurting the defence too much".

 

Solution: Biggio to CF

[Laika]

Tony LaRussa used to do stuff like this in the 90s. When Mark McGwire was injured, he would start him at 2B on the road to get him a guaranteed AB and then replace him with Placido Polanco in the bottom of the inning.

 

This could actually work. For home games I would start Zimmer in CF and bat him 9th so he's guaranteed to play in the field. Leave him in until his first AB. Don't let him hit even once. The downside is that you lose your fastest baserunner and best outfielder for the late innings, but you still have tons of speed on the bench with Biggio, Merrifield, and Tapia.

 

We don't really have the personnel to do this though. Tapia, Merrifield, and Bradley are bad hitters even with the platoon advantage. The only one who can actually hit is Biggio, so the exercise just becomes "get Biggio as many ABs as possible without hurting the defence too much".

 

I think they can and should do this.

 

Merrifield is a WEIRD hitter having a bad year but I don't think he's useless at the dish like JBJ and Zimmer. I think you still use him with confidence against lefties especially with all the other options being who they are.

 

So you, Zimmer starts the game and plays a couple defensive innings then gets pinch hit for my the "starter" with the platoon advantage who probably gets 3 PA. Then that guy is either pinch hit for later when platoon advantage switches, and/or replaced defensively by JBJ.

[Terminator]

I think they can and should do this.

 

Merrifield is a WEIRD hitter having a bad year but I don't think he's useless at the dish like JBJ and Zimmer. I think you still use him with confidence against lefties especially with all the other options being who they are.

 

So you, Zimmer starts the game and plays a couple defensive innings then gets pinch hit for my the "starter" with the platoon advantage who probably gets 3 PA. Then that guy is either pinch hit for later when platoon advantage switches, and/or replaced defensively by JBJ.

 

I'm taking credit for this idea. I don't care if Tony LaRussa used to do it. It's MY idea and I want to see those "Thanks" pile up on my original post, not on you or keggy's followup posts.

[Terminator]

But yeah, Merrifield, Biggio and Tapia all project to hit close to league average and it's 2 lefties and a righty so you can play the matchups some to squeeze even more value out of the bats. I think Tapia and particularly Biggio are suspect in CF but Merrifield is good enough. Combine that with the defense of JBJ and Zimmer and you've got above average production in CF.

 

Think about it this way, any time JBJ and Zimmer have hit for a 90 wRC+ or better (something White/Biggio/Tapia can provide) they have put up a minimum of a 2 WAR season. Sometimes much higher.

[Stangstag]

I'm taking credit for this idea. I don't care if Tony LaRussa used to do it. It's MY idea and I want to see those "Thanks" pile up on my original post, not on you or keggy's followup posts.

 

By 2030 you’ll be suggesting the idea of issuing intentional walks on an 0-2 count

[Terminator]

 

The 5-Headed Center Field Monster of Merrifield/Rocket/Zimmer/JBJ/Craig Biggio's son terrorizing AL playoff teams as we storm our way to the World Series.

[Terminator]

 

Ross Atkins the mad baseball scientist and his disgusting volunteer intern in the lab at 3 am creating a 5-Headed Centerfield Monster on the eve of expanded rosters

[G-Snarls]

 

The 5-Headed Center Field Monster of Merrifield/Rocket/Zimmer/JBJ/Craig Biggio's son terrorizing AL playoff teams as we storm our way to the World Series.

 

Very scare

[Jimcanuck]

Rosters are not locked. Moreno likely is up at some point in September when the time is right. Plus there will be some shuttling of pitchers.

 

Got to assume that one of these s*** CF will be released soon. Who? is the question.

[Laika]

But yeah, Merrifield, Biggio and Tapia all project to hit close to league average and it's 2 lefties and a righty so you can play the matchups some to squeeze even more value out of the bats. I think Tapia and particularly Biggio are suspect in CF but Merrifield is good enough. Combine that with the defense of JBJ and Zimmer and you've got above average production in CF.

 

Think about it this way, any time JBJ and Zimmer have hit for a 90 wRC+ or better (something White/Biggio/Tapia can provide) they have put up a minimum of a 2 WAR season. Sometimes much higher.

 

4 innings of a +7 run CF

combined with 5 innings of a -5 run CF

 

is

 

7*(4/9) - 5*(5/9) = 3.1111111 - 2.7777777

 

= a +0.33 run CF

 

so league average D on the whole

[G-Snarls]

Rosters are not locked. Moreno likely is up at some point in September when the time is right. Plus there will be some shuttling of pitchers.

 

Got to assume that one of these s*** CF will be released soon. Who? is the question.

 

This year doesn't matter much they're all so meh

 

Next season I think we really need a better 4th¶ guy to back up Springer

[Sorrow]

EhJays

 

Why would they call up Lawrence, during the double header, to potentially take a spot start before the double header takes place?

 

Lawrence will likely start tomorrow or Sunday and bump Berrios back a day to start one of the double header games so we don't use a AAA arm against a team we're in a playoff race with.

[Spanky99]

It's been awhile since we've played at PNC...

 

[jaysblue]

 

Ross Atkins the mad baseball scientist and his disgusting volunteer intern in the lab at 3 am creating a 5-Headed Centerfield Monster on the eve of expanded rosters

 

Be careful you might upset some of the serious baseball posters with no sense of humor on here with all these images. They have to scroll through so much of this stuff and are here only for baseball!

[jaysblue]

It's been awhile since we've played at PNC...

 

 

They were supposed to play at PNC in June 2020. Was going to drive down for the weekend. Had a hotel booked as well haha good thing I had free cancellation.

[Spanky99]

This was fun, Cimber... get the jacket, someone bring me the jacket! lol...

 

[Ehjays]

EhJays

 

Why would they call up Lawrence, during the double header, to potentially take a spot start before the double header takes place?

 

Lawrence will likely start tomorrow or Sunday and bump Berrios back a day to start one of the double header games so we don't use a AAA arm against a team we're in a playoff race with.

 

LOL, Honestly, I don't really care, It was dumb of me to say one could argue we are worse after these call ups. I dont know what I was thinkin and I apoligise, I should have known we are a far superior team by adding these players to our lineup, now I will show myself to the door. Go Jays Go!!!

[Spanky99]

And we have our answer...

 

[wilko]

 

The 5-Headed Center Field Monster of Merrifield/Rocket/Zimmer/JBJ/Craig Biggio's son terrorizing AL playoff teams as we storm our way to the World Series.

 

Put them all in The Fly machine!

 

[Spanky99]

[Spanky99]

Hahaha... Gibby!!!

 

 

 

[Omar]

The cannon.

 

[Spanky99]

The cannon.

 

 

My Man!!!

[Stangstag]

The cannon.

 

 

That’s an insane play

[BigCecil]

JBJ

Zimmer

Tapia

Merrifield

Biggio

 

Between these 5 you could probably squeeze out an above average major league CFer over the course of the game. Imagine a player with the CF defense of JBJ/Zimmer, and the strong side splits of Biggio/Tapia/Whit at the plate. It's 2 elite defensive CFers and 3 pinch hit options, one righty and two lefties.

 

Start JBJ and then pinch hit for him as early as his 1st AB of the game if the situation calls for it. Then just keep subbing based on the situation until the game ends. If you played it right you could get 3 to 5 innings of JBJ and Zimmer CF defense without either recording an AB. lol

 

You are the Dr. Frankenstein of BJMB.

[Spanky99]

Put them all in The Fly machine!

 

 

Da fuq is that?

[Stangstag]

Da fuq is that?

 

Its from The Fly with Jeff Goldblum