GDT 1/3 | Blue Jays (38-28) @ White Sox (31-33) | June 20 - 8:10 PM ET

[Spanky99]

Faaaaack... gotta start winning series from here on out Birds!

[Deadpool]

Even a halfway decent start and that's a pretty easy win tonight. Hopefully this is a blip, and the last 3 games are more what we'll get from Berrios going forward.

[Daniel Labude]

Is Bo going to set the record for most outs to end a game hitting, crazy how often it has happened

[EdwinsParrot]

can we get a decent outing from a starter jesus man

[JFD]

Those were some crap at bats by Springer and Bo there

 

Same way they started the game

[havok24]

The pitching has conceded 43 runs in the last 5 games. That's about as bad as it can get.

[Omar]

Such a winnable game....alas, not meant to be. Let's get after them tomorrow.

[Stangstag]

The pitching has conceded 43 runs in the last 5 games. That's about as bad as it can get.

 

On the bright side, it can’t get any worse??

[Carlos Danger]

Even a halfway decent start and that's a pretty easy win tonight. Hopefully this is a blip, and the last 3 games are more what we'll get from Berrios going forward.

 

If we had middle/long relief that could come in and give the offense a chance.. The two runs given up by Phelps was the difference in the loss.

[Spanky99]

Biggio homers on a high, fast fastball.

 

That would be amazing if he could start to hit that pitch.

 

His double down the line earlier was on a high fastball as well, encouraging s*** man.

[Dagagad]

His double down the line earlier was on a high fastball as well, encouraging s*** man.

 

That looked like a slider that didn’t dip enough but still lowish.

[Olerud363]

Is Bo going to set the record for most outs to end a game hitting, crazy how often it has happened

 

Vlad seems to have some issue with hitting 2nd... really need to get passed that. Really should be Vlad 2, Kirk 3 most games.

 

Or maybe move Kirk to 2. Clog the bases up lol. That's OK. Let Vlad/Teo/Bo unclog them.

[Dagagad]

If we had middle/long relief that could come in and give the offense and chance.. The two runs given up by Phelps was the difference in the loss.

 

Phelps was honestly kind of unlucky but that can happen when you can’t strike guys out.

[Spanky99]

good game, almost.....

 

Berrios has to work on that slider for consistency or he gets hit hard, it was a good game. s*** pitching, that needs to change.

[Stangstag]

That looked like a slider that didn’t dip enough but still lowish.

 

Yeah 1st one was a hanging slider, 2nd was a fastball middle and slightly up.

 

Still gotta see how he deals with high heat, but then again a lot of batters are weak to high heat.

[Spanky99]

That looked like a slider that didn’t dip enough but still lowish.

 

So Tabler fooled me, I wasn't paying attention, and heard him say he hit a high fastball good to see yada yada... he's hitting.

[JFD]

Lets keep benching our leading wRC+ guy

[Daniel Labude]

Vlad seems to have some issue with hitting 2nd... really need to get passed that. Really should be Vlad 2, Kirk 3 most games.

 

Or maybe move Kirk to 2. Clog the bases up lol. That's OK. Let Vlad/Teo/Bo unclog them.

 

Bo gets much better pitches in front of Vlad though

[Olerud363]

Bo gets much better pitches in front of Vlad though

 

No he doesn't. He gets pitched the way the data says gets him out the most.

 

If the idea is to keep him off base, because Vlad is up next, why would they pitch him in a way that raises his on base percentage by giving him better pitches to hit?

 

Data from last year doesn't even agree with that narrative. Through 200 plate appearances hitting 4th, without Vlad behind him, he hit slightly better then other spots.

 

So actually last year you could argue that they pitched him tougher with Vlad behind him, to keep him off base via hit which is the main way he gets on base.

[Daniel Labude]

No he doesn't. He gets pitched the way the data says gets him out the most.

 

If the idea is to keep him off base, because Vlad is up next, why would they pitch him in a way that raises his on base percentage by giving him better pitches to hit?

 

Data from last year doesn't even agree with that narrative. Through 200 plate appearances hitting 4th, without Vlad behind him, he hit slightly better then other spots.

 

So actually last year you could argue that they pitched him tougher with Vlad behind him, to keep him off base via hit which is the main way he gets on base.

 

How he hits isn't what im talking bout. He gets thrown down the middle so much in front of Vlad. When he hit 4th he was getting thrown off the plate much more

[Spanky99]

PROTechShun!!!

[WryNGinger]

How the f*** is this team top 3 in the American league in win %? It seems like every game one of offense/sp/rp is insanely bad. Never just an off game...straight to abandon ship and nuke the f***er down to the waterline level of abandon ship...my God...

[Olerud363]

How he hits isn't what im talking bout. He gets thrown down the middle so much in front of Vlad. When he hit 4th he was getting thrown off the plate much more

 

It doesn't work like that especially in this day and age. The pitching sequences and strategies are chosen to minimize a guys production. They will always use the pitching pattern that works the best, no matter where the guy is hitting.

 

How he hits is important. They crunch all the data as to how he hits on every type of pitch and location and then choose the pitching sequence. Those little cards they have aren't just random.

 

And even if it was true why give Bo, a mediocre hitter this year, the 'protection'. Why not protect Springer or Kirk with Vlad and see what they can do with 'Protection'.

[Olerud363]

How the f*** is this team top 3 in the American league in win %? It seems like every game one of offense/sp/rp is insanely bad. Never just an off game...straight to abandon ship and nuke the f***er down to the waterline level of abandon ship...my God...

 

They've been a bit lucky as to run-differential. And they have not played horrible over-all.

 

Most people are a bit anxious, not because of their current record and performance, which is fine, but because the bullpen and starters seem super-shaky and they are a 1 week break down from being out of a playoff spot and a 2 week break down from being in trouble. In a couple of days Red Sox, Rays, Indians or Twins could all be ahead of the Jays.

[gruber92]

Is that a done deal?

 

Players union will vote on it this off season. I'm kind of hoping they vote in favour of robo umps.

[JFD]

Why not protect Springer or Kirk with Vlad and see what they can do with 'Protection'.

 

I'd rather "protect" Vlad with our most feared hitter... Kirk. Nobody wants to face butterbean jr with a man on base

[Spanky99]

Players union will vote on it this off season. I'm kind of hoping they vote in favour of robo umps.

 

That's not was agreed in the CBA... where'd you read that?

 

Beginning in 2023, a committee comprised of four active players, six members appointed by MLB and one umpire, will be tasked with adopting changes to playing rules such as a pitch clock, base size, defensive positioning and automatic ball/strike zone.

[connorp]

You going to answer my PM hob knocker?

[Olerud363]

I'd rather "protect" Vlad with our most feared hitter... Kirk. Nobody wants to face butterbean jr with a man on base

 

If they traded for Soto he could hit second and would be protected by Vlad. How would Soto hit with elite protection?

 

I am joking a bit, but Soto is the one unicorrn that at first glance could use some protection. Super patient hitter, on a bad team, who we assume is getting nothing to hit.

 

However on second thought he's already 'protected' by Josh Bell, who is a typical second best hitter, not like it's Tapia protecting him.

 

And again, if pitching Soto tough, a lot of stuff of the zone, nothing to hit, makes him a .220 .370 .440 hitter, way below his career norms... why would they ever change that pattern until it stops working?

[connorp]

If they traded for Soto he could hit second and would be protected by Vlad. How would Soto hit with elite protection?

 

I am joking a bit, but Soto is the one unicorrn that at first glance could use some protection. Super patient hitter, on a bad team, who we assume is getting nothing to hit.

 

However on second thought he's already 'protected' by Josh Bell, who is a typical second best hitter, not like it's Tapia protecting him.

 

And again, if pitching Soto tough, a lot of stuff of the zone, nothing to hit, makes him a .220 .370 .440 hitter, way below his career norms... why would they ever change that pattern until it stops working?

 

Back to using examples questioning why a robot would change his programming. Being in a better lineup, “protected” by better hitters, would likely mean a philosophical change in approach