General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[Virgil_Hiltz]

The Jays must be a pretty good team if there really isnt true shortcomings and we're discussing the merits of the 26th man.

Personally speaking I wish the rules would allow the 26th man to be a pitcher and not a cheerleader on the bench.

[Grant77]

Could have gone either way, I would have taken Lopez just for maximum defensive flexibility, but as the 26th man, Lukes will be fine as a pinch runner and lefty with some pop off the bench.

 

Realistically, the Jays don't really need their 26th man to be specifically an IF or OF... the roster they have already have 5 OF (the 3 CFs along with Merrifield and Biggio) and enough IF (Merrifield, Espinal, Bo, Chappy, Biggio, Vlad, Belt). All they need their 26th man to be is a guy who can pinch run late in games for Kirk, Jansen, Belt and/or Vlad and pinch hit for the lighter hitting RHH like Espinal, Merrifield, maybe Jansen if they get matched with a tough righty. They've got enough RHB on the bench as is, so Lopez, while he certainly has more defensive utility, would really be wasted in that role. I get the move even though Lopez is probably a better overall player.

 

Some pop? He has just 34 home runs in over 600 minor league games. Best case scenario with Lukes is he has some BABIP luck and hits an empty .350 with whatever at-bats he gets. That no slight against him, but he doesn't offer much of anything with the stick.

[Jonn]

A lot of Otto Lopez fans around here. My question is if you really think so much of him why do you want him on the bench getting 4 AB’s a week and not everyday reps at AAA?

 

The 26th roster spot is inconsequential. Luke’s gives a natural 4th OF who sitting on the bench majority of week doesn’t negatively effect anything.

[Laika]

A lot of Otto Lopez fans around here. My question is if you really think so much of him why do you want him on the bench getting 4 AB’s a week and not everyday reps at AAA?

 

The 26th roster spot is inconsequential. Luke’s gives a natural 4th OF who sitting on the bench majority of week doesn’t negatively effect anything.

 

He's a 24.5 year old finished product with 1856 minor league plate appearances. This isn't some guy who is going to develop much more (or at all) in the minors.

 

Simply put, the Blue Jays are probably a better 26 man roster if Lopez is on there over Lukes.

 

The assumption that the 26th man will never really play only holds true if the 26th man sucks. If you have a good 26th man, he can swim move his way into decent playing time as the season rolls along.

[John_Havok]

Some pop? He has just 34 home runs in over 600 minor league games. Best case scenario with Lukes is he has some BABIP luck and hits an empty .350 with whatever at-bats he gets. That no slight against him, but he doesn't offer much of anything with the stick.

 

He was working on the power last year according to some report i was looking at, 11 HRs in under 500 PAs...

 

Yeah I know, he's not a REAL power threat, but he's about the best one they have that's left handed and ready to play a bench role.

[John_Havok]

Simply put, the Blue Jays are probably a better 26 man roster if Lopez is on there over Lukes.

 

The assumption that the 26th man will never really play only holds true if the 26th man sucks.

 

Like we saw last season with Zimmer. God that was hard to watch

[gruber92]

Could have gone either way, I would have taken Lopez just for maximum defensive flexibility, but as the 26th man, Lukes will be fine as a pinch runner and lefty with some pop off the bench.

 

Realistically, the Jays don't really need their 26th man to be specifically an IF or OF... the roster they have already have 5 OF (the 3 CFs along with Merrifield and Biggio) and enough IF (Merrifield, Espinal, Bo, Chappy, Biggio, Vlad, Belt). All they need their 26th man to be is a guy who can pinch run late in games for Kirk, Jansen, Belt and/or Vlad and pinch hit for the lighter hitting RHH like Espinal, Merrifield, maybe Jansen if they get matched with a tough righty. They've got enough RHB on the bench as is, so Lopez, while he certainly has more defensive utility, would really be wasted in that role. I get the move even though Lopez is probably a better overall player.

 

Lukes will never pinch hit for Merryfield no matter who's pitching, lol.

[Orgfiller]

Lukes will never pinch hit for Merryfield no matter who's pitching, lol.

 

You say that as if Merrifield is some slugger or Kiermaier-esque defender who you can’t take out of the lineup lol. If it’s a high leverage spot late in the game and a ROOGY comes (think Adam Cimber or similar) in and Merrifield is at the plate, you definitely consider the likely marginal platoon matchup upgrade in having Lukes hit in that spot instead, especially if the former is already covering an OF position to begin with.

[Jonn]

He's a 24.5 year old finished product with 1856 minor league plate appearances. This isn't some guy who is going to develop much more (or at all) in the minors.

 

Simply put, the Blue Jays are probably a better 26 man roster if Lopez is on there over Lukes.

 

The assumption that the 26th man will never really play only holds true if the 26th man sucks. If you have a good 26th man, he can swim move his way into decent playing time as the season rolls along.

 

It’s less about development and more about regular reps. I would rather him be getting 4 AB’s a night and starting at a different position every night in AAA so when we need him his bat is hot a ready to go.

 

Lukes is going to play sparingly. And that’s why he’s here. He’s also a guy that can be shuttled back and fourth at a moment’s notice.

 

When its July you put more focus on your best possible bench. In April I would prefer everyone that matters be playing. People are blowing this out of proportion.

[John_Havok]

It’s less about development and more about regular reps. I would rather him be getting 4 AB’s a night and starting at a different position every night in AAA so when we need him his bat is hot a ready to go.

 

Lukes is going to play sparingly. And that’s why he’s here. He’s also a guy that can be shuttled back and fourth at a moment’s notice.

 

When its July you put more focus on your best possible bench. In April I would prefer everyone that matters be playing. People are blowing this out of proportion.

 

I dont think anyone is headed to the bridge and ready to jump over this. Moreso that it's the off day before the season starts and there's nothing else really to discuss. Hairs will be split.

[43211234]

Picking Lukes over Lopez was a pointed decision by Ross and Schneider that the barrio is DEAD.

 

If Otto had the last name Johnson he'd be on the team right now!

[bendera3]

I dont think anyone is headed to the bridge and ready to jump over this. Moreso that it's the off day before the season starts and there's nothing else really to discuss. Hairs will be split.

 

I'm fine with the decision. Lopez is the better option in my opinion but to start the season I'd rather he actually play instead of sitting on the bench. Unless we come out of the gate running I'd rather have him when we are playing meaningful games later in the season and Lukes can be sent to Buffalo.

[Krylian]

Picking Lukes over Lopez was a pointed decision by Ross and Schneider that the barrio is DEAD.

 

If Otto had the last name Johnson he'd be on the team right now!

 

Otto Johnson is up there with Dirk Digger.

[JFD]

I'm ready to go for tomorrow. Day off work. 4 pack of Fat tugs, 2 vape pens and a 200mg pack of weed gummies.

[Carlos Danger]

I'm ready to go for tomorrow. Day off work. 4 pack of Fat tugs, 2 vape pens and a 200mg pack of weed gummies.

 

You going to a Grateful Dead concert or to watch the Blue Jays?

[Brownie19]

It’s less about development and more about regular reps. I would rather him be getting 4 AB’s a night and starting at a different position every night in AAA so when we need him his bat is hot a ready to go.

 

Lukes is going to play sparingly. And that’s why he’s here. He’s also a guy that can be shuttled back and fourth at a moment’s notice.

 

When its July you put more focus on your best possible bench. In April I would prefer everyone that matters be playing. People are blowing this out of proportion.

 

I can buy into this. If we get a significant injury, than I think Otto would be the guy thrust into a meaningful role (4th OFer, Util IFer, etc) where he's playing somewhat regularly. If that were to happen, it would be better for Otto to have been playing regularly in AAA instead of getting 3 PA's a month in a Zimmer role.

 

At least I think there's an argument to be made for that.

[Jimcanuck]

Biggest issue at this point is who gets to start the GDT tomorrow. It's a big deal, could make or break the season.

[Dick_Pole]

The more I think about it, the more Jonn's position makes sense. If someone gets injured, you bring Lopez up and you'd prefer he has had regular game reps during that time. Lukes doesn't get any playing time of note except as garbage time, in-game injury replacement or pinch runner. Lopez is the 25th or 27th guy on the roster but not 26th.

 

Honestly, this team doesn't really need a 26th roster spot. Certainly less than the average team out there. Thanks to positional versatility and depth. And to think all those years in the mid 2010's up until the day the team traded Rowdy Tellez a 26th man would have really helped. Now that it doesn't, there it is.

[Dick_Pole]

Zimmer's time with the Jays last year was so s***** and weird it exposed a leak in BR's algorithm:

 

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zimmebr01.shtml

[Dylan]

I'm ready to go for tomorrow. Day off work. 4 pack of Fat tugs, 2 vape pens and a 200mg pack of weed gummies.

 

That offseason and ST felt long... but it always does. Finally time to play ball. Let's go! Quite the different team this year.

[Stangstag]

I'm ready to go for tomorrow. Day off work. 4 pack of Fat tugs, 2 vape pens and a 200mg pack of weed gummies.

 

Hell yeah. Also took the day off. Gonna grab some local donuts in the morning

 

Planning to watch Yanks/Giants at 1, Jays at 4, Astros/Sox at 7, and Seattle/Clev at 10. Probably flip through some of the other games too.

[L54]

Otto Lopez might actually have to fill in at some point and play meaningful innings. To let him sit on the bench and then thrust him into a semi regular role with 18 at bats all season isn’t going to do anyone any favours.

 

Lukes pinch runs and plays defense during blowouts. Jays do him a solid but giving him major league service time. A win win

[Brownie19]

There was discussion the other day as to whether Jay Jackson would take up a spot on the 40. Here's what Rotoworld says:

 

Blue Jays placed RHP Chad Green on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow injury.

 

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man for Jay Jackson, who was re-signed to a major league deal and optioned to Triple-A after being released earlier this week. Green had his Tommy John surgery last June, so he could contribute out of Jays pen come July or August.

[Spanky99]

There was discussion the other day as to whether Jay Jackson would take up a spot on the 40. Here's what Rotoworld says:

 

Blue Jays placed RHP Chad Green on the 60-day injured list with a right elbow injury.

 

The move opens up a spot on the 40-man for Jay Jackson, who was re-signed to a major league deal and optioned to Triple-A after being released earlier this week. Green had his Tommy John surgery last June, so he could contribute out of Jays pen come July or August.

 

Yeah, that was Laika and I, thanks.

[wilko]

I'm ready to go for tomorrow. Day off work. 4 pack of Fat tugs, 2 vape pens and a 200mg pack of weed gummies.

 

Jesus that's a session. Hopefully the gummies don't kick in until later or you'll be watching Jays in 30 tomorrow.

[Jonn]

Do people in Missouri not have jobs?

 

Why the f*** is Opening Night at 4pm eastern in the middle of the week. I just assumed the game started at 7 or 8 so people could actually watch it.

[Laika]

I don't know why MLB always does this to open the season

 

play a game then have a day off

 

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[Virgil_Hiltz]

I don't know why MLB always does this to open the season

 

play a game then have a day off

 

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

 

From the good old days without domed stadiums. IMHO, eliminate that day off and add it to somewhere else in the schedule when it's more needed for rest. Hell, I would add a doubleheader in the first series of the season and the first one after the allstar break since players are well rested at this time, this would allow a cpl more rest days for the players. I would also allow teams to add a cpl more pitchers for the next five games after a double header so not to burn out a staff.

[Spanky99]

I don't know why MLB always does this to open the season

 

play a game then have a day off

 

WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

 

Weather, dumbass. Well, that's the idea.

[Spanky99]

Do people in Missouri not have jobs?

 

Why the f*** is Opening Night at 4pm eastern in the middle of the week. I just assumed the game started at 7 or 8 so people could actually watch it.

 

What are you new, man?! Opening Day is National Work can GTFO Day!