General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[Captain_Obvious]

 

No. A right-handed OF is not needed.

[G-Snarls]

[G-Snarls]

If they somehow all live up to that (or if some overperformers balance out some underperformers) they will score a LOT of runs

 

Jeez

[G-Snarls]

Gage DFA

 

Possible trade interest in him??

[Terminator]

Gage DFA

 

Possible trade interest in him??

 

He's got options and projects well so you'd think someone would give up a ham sandwich for him at least.

[G-Snarls]

He's got options and projects well so you'd think someone would give up a ham sandwich for him at least.

 

Prefer turkey

 

Or a lower levels OF prospect....

[John_Havok]

This leaves us exactly 1 left handed reliever on the 40 man roster. Feels like that’s not ideal?

[Krylian]

This leaves us exactly 1 left handed reliever on the 40 man roster. Feels like that’s not ideal?

 

It's not. Poor performance and/or an injury and they're pooched.

 

Nick Allgeyer or Brandon Eisert would be waiting in the wings as it stands now.

[John_Havok]

This leaves us exactly 1 left handed reliever on the 40 man roster. Feels like that’s not ideal?

[Krylian]

This leaves us exactly 1 left handed reliever on the 40 man roster. Feels like that’s not ideal?

 

You can say that again...

[Terminator]

 

The number that stands out here is Varsho. It's simply jaw dropping because he put up 4.6 WAR with a wRC+ of 106 last year.

 

If he has a 132 wRC+ bat and his defense holds, we are talking about a ~7 WAR season where he's potentially the MVP.

[John_Havok]

You can say that again...

 

f***ing ipad double post ********.

 

Anywho, here's the 3 in house non-roster LHP ST invitees:

 

Brandon Eisert: https://www.fangraphs.com/players/brandon-eisert/sa3014798/stats?position=P

Jimmy Robbins: https://www.fangraphs.com/players/james-robbins/sa3011145/stats?position=P

Jimmy Burnette: https://www.fangraphs.com/players/james-burnette/sa3017367/stats?position=P

 

All look like they can miss bats, but Burnette looks like he also misses a ton of plates.

Not sure what to make of Robbins as his K/9 took a big step back in 2022, but his walk rate also improved dramatically.

Eisert probably the best bet out of the three, though slightly homer prone.

 

Chafin signing incoming? I can't seriously think that the FO wants to go into 2023 with 1 proven lefty and 3 non-roster invitees as their only options.

[Grant77]

 

That's projecting improvement from every single player except Jansen and Kirk (who is about the same). Belt and Varsho's projections are particularly unrealistic, but one can hope.

[Captain_Obvious]

The number that stands out here is Varsho. It's simply jaw dropping because he put up 4.6 WAR with a wRC+ of 106 last year.

 

If he has a 132 wRC+ bat and his defense holds, we are talking about a ~7 WAR season where he's potentially the MVP.

 

I would be extremely happy, but I do not understand how he can jump this much offensively. Maybe Jansen gives him a copy of his J.A.R.V.I.S glasses?

 

EDIT: Ok they are also projecting Varsho as NEGATIVE runs defensively. This projection system is broken.

[max silver]

That's projecting improvement from every single player except Jansen and Kirk (who is about the same). Belt and Varsho's projections are particularly unrealistic, but one can hope.

 

I think Belt has a good shot to be even better than that. In his last two healthy seasons of 2020 and 2021 he posted WRC+ values of 196 and 164 against RHP. He is going to face minimal if any left handed pitching as a Blue Jay. I don't see how a projection system could be this enthusiastic about Varsho however given his batted ball profile even when factoring in the upcoming shift restrictions.

[Carlos Danger]

This leaves us exactly 1 left handed reliever on the 40 man roster. Feels like that’s not ideal?

 

Funny thing is, before the big trade, I was saying a return of Varsho and Mantiply. Apparently he is a potential trade chip for the DBacks being that he is Arb eligible next year and they don’t need him if not in the hunt. I would maybe circle back if I were Atkins. I am sure he still has a feel who and what the DBacks like want.

[Grant77]

I think Belt has a good shot to be even better than that. In his last two healthy seasons of 2020 and 2021 he posted WRC+ values of 196 and 164 against RHP. He is going to face minimal if any left handed pitching as a Blue Jay. I don't see how a projection system could be this enthusiastic about Varsho however given his batted ball profile even when factoring in the upcoming shift restrictions.

 

35 years old, career high K's, power fell off a cliff, 96 wRC+, serious injuries. It's red flags everywhere you look. We can hope for a dead cat bounce, but expecting it is a little foolish.

 

We should be ecstatic and count our blessings if he stays healthy and puts up a 120 wRC+ in my opinion.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I read somewhere that despite the Jays lacking left hand relievers, they have some right handers with strong numbers against left handed batters.

 

Someone here probably knows.

[L54]

I wouldn’t worry about lefty/righty balance in the pen that much with the 3 batter minimum. Sure there are situations like 2 out tough lefty at the dish where you’d like to play the match up, but I’d just try and put together the best bullpen I can regardless of handedness. If you have enough good righties some of them are going to be good against lefties too.

 

If they want a left handed reliever though I think Chafin is a good fit.

[L54]

 

A lot of those are easy unders. Belt, Chapman, Varsho, Biggio. The only overs I’d take are Vlad and Jansen.

[max silver]

35 years old, career high K's, power fell off a cliff, 96 wRC+, serious injuries. It's red flags everywhere you look. We can hope for a dead cat bounce, but expecting it is a little foolish.

 

We should be ecstatic and count our blessings if he stays healthy and puts up a 120 wRC+ in my opinion.

 

Belt's k rate was all of 0.2% higher in 2022 vs 2021 where he was still raking so I'm not overly concerned about that. If the knee is healthy and holds up I expect Belt to mash against RHP again.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Not to mention Belt will be hitting in a much friendlier hitters park

[G-Snarls]

Not to mention Belt will be hitting in a much friendlier hitters park

 

Well the wRC+ stat is adjusted for ballpark factors

[Laika]

Just realized the Blue Jays have a young nerd on the coaching staff

 

David Howell, headed into his second season on an MLB staff, is just 25 years old. A graduate of the University of Minnesota in 2018, he spent a year as a graduate assistant at LSU before joining the Blue Jays in 2020. He spent that season working with minor league pitchers at the alternate training site and the ’21 campaign at the team’s rookie complex before making the jump to the majors.

[The Cats Ass]

Just realized the Blue Jays have a young nerd on the coaching staff

 

David Howell, headed into his second season on an MLB staff, is just 25 years old. A graduate of the University of Minnesota in 2018, he spent a year as a graduate assistant at LSU before joining the Blue Jays in 2020. He spent that season working with minor league pitchers at the alternate training site and the ’21 campaign at the team’s rookie complex before making the jump to the majors.

 

He'll compliment Pete Walker well I think. He also interned at Driveline.

 

[TheHurl]

Just realized the Blue Jays have a young nerd on the coaching staff

 

David Howell, headed into his second season on an MLB staff, is just 25 years old. A graduate of the University of Minnesota in 2018, he spent a year as a graduate assistant at LSU before joining the Blue Jays in 2020. He spent that season working with minor league pitchers at the alternate training site and the ’21 campaign at the team’s rookie complex before making the jump to the majors.

 

now they just need one assigned to bench coach to explain the decision making to Mattingly.

 

"I know you have been around the game for a long time sir, but that doesn't mean you are not an idiot...respectfully".

[The_DH]

now they just need one assigned to bench coach to explain the decision making to Mattingly.

 

"I know you have been around the game for a long time sir, but that doesn't mean you are not an idiot...respectfully".

 

I thought "Major League Coach" was the third string manager (Manager/Bench Coach/Major League Coach).

[The Cats Ass]

now they just need one assigned to bench coach to explain the decision making to Mattingly.

 

"I know you have been around the game for a long time sir, but that doesn't mean you are not an idiot...respectfully".

 

I think that's Adam Yudelman's job.

 

Job description: In the role of Major League Coach, Adam Yudelman will be focused on developing consistency throughout Major League staff game day routines. Over the course of a season, he will act as the point-person for data-driven evaluation and strategic recommendations. Yudelman is starting his seventh season with the Blue Jays, having previously worked as Coordinator, Baseball Research

[Dick_Pole]

Just realized the Blue Jays have a young nerd on the coaching staff

 

David Howell, headed into his second season on an MLB staff, is just 25 years old. A graduate of the University of Minnesota in 2018, he spent a year as a graduate assistant at LSU before joining the Blue Jays in 2020. He spent that season working with minor league pitchers at the alternate training site and the ’21 campaign at the team’s rookie complex before making the jump to the majors.

 

He'll compliment Pete Walker well I think. He also interned at Driveline.

 

 

Society has challenged the real ages of athletes like Albert Pujols and Serge Ibaka because they come from "questionable locations" but we're just gonna let it slide that this dude is really 25?

[John_Havok]

He'll compliment Pete Walker well I think. He also interned at Driveline.

 

 

I think the dynamic would probably be the nerd going through all the very raw data and put together the trends for Ware and Walker to use when they talk to the pitchers. I have a hard time picturing Walker going over mounds of spin rates, pitch selections, sequencing and whatever other data they get by the ton from their various sources on every guy.