General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[Laika]

IMO stop this merry go round at 2b. Merrifield should be our starting 2b and only sub when injured or he needs a day off. Our best team is with Merrifield and KK in the lineup.

 

Hard disagreement from me

 

Espinal sucks and the magic is gone. He's a bench player for me.

 

But Merrifield is old with eroding skills. Unless he is locked in, he should be platooning.

[Solaxys]

 

Bo is a strategist. (Red the whole thread)

[JaysAllMighty]

They will end up installing high plexyglasses soon. Too many drunks.

[Grant77]

 

Bo is a strategist. (Red the whole thread)

 

That's 269 hits over a full season, which would easily surpass Ichiro's record.

[Grant77]

Our players with the top 4 lowest defensive values, according to fangraphs. I understand that UZR/150 is a better metric, but still.

 

1. Daulton Varsho (-1.5): The league's most valuable outfielder in 2022, also according to fangraphs.

2. Matt Chapman (-1.4): Platinum Glove winner and 2022 Gold Glove award finalist.

3. Whit Merrifield (-1.4): 2022 Gold Glove award finalist.

4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr (-1.2): 2022 Gold Glove for first base.

 

These are really, really bad defensive numbers and are obviously incorrect. It's amazing how bad defensive metrics remain with all of the statistics and metrics available. The eye test still reigns supreme in some respects.

[Spanky99]

Our players with the top 4 lowest defensive values, according to fangraphs. I understand that UZR/150 is a better metric, but still.

 

1. Daulton Varsho (-1.5): The league's most valuable outfielder in 2022, also according to fangraphs.

2. Matt Chapman (-1.4): Platinum Glove winner and 2022 Gold Glove award finalist.

3. Whit Merrifield (-1.4): 2022 Gold Glove award finalist.

4. Vladimir Guerrero Jr (-1.2): 2022 Gold Glove for first base.

 

These are really, really bad defensive numbers and are obviously incorrect. It's amazing how bad defensive metrics remain with all of the statistics and metrics available. The eye test still reigns supreme in some respects.

 

Yeah, small samples are useless regardless, I still don't know what defensive metric is the most useful in statistical data as these models are all over the place, UZR/150, DRS, OAA all fluctuate dramatically from player to player... I guess statcast would be the best measurement, but I don't know. What a headache...

[Eat My Shatkins]

Didn't they show a metric on last night's broadcast that the Jays are 2nd in the league with defensive runs saved so far?

[Grant77]

Didn't they show a metric on last night's broadcast that the Jays are 2nd in the league with defensive runs saved so far?

 

2nd in the league for DRS

 

17th in the league per UZR

 

22nd in the league per fangraphs OAA

 

The metrics are somewhat useless, even in large samples.

[Laika]

Why even look at them so early though?

 

A player could have a negative defensive value very easily by pure chance alone. It could be caused by them literally not getting a chance to make any difficult plays for example

[Laika]

Actually, in Varsho's case the negative value seems to be from like one or two baserunners advancing on balls hit to him.

 

His UZR/150 is elite but he has a random negative figure hung on his arm so far

[Jonn]

 

So they will no longer go to commercial break when Romano enters a game at home. They will show his full entrance everytime.

[glory]

Closers having an entrance seems like a no brainer. Ask them what their favorite song is and create an entrance out of it.

[Solaxys]

[bones10]

 

Not sure how much it matters at those speeds but the comebacker was only 91, can you imagine taking 115 to the ribs. Franco is definitely capable of doing that too.

[Stangstag]

 

Probably needs a few days off at least, but luckily doesn’t sound like any fracture or anything

[mellowgold]

It's early but Vlad is on pace for 32 extra base hits. I guess a batting title would be nice but where is the power?

[Masterbather]

 

So they will no longer go to commercial break when Romano enters a game at home. They will show his full entrance everytime.

 

That's pretty cool and kind of weird that they would pass up the commercial opportunity. I didn't notice if his entrance was sponsored.

[Stangstag]

It's early but Vlad is on pace for 32 extra base hits. I guess a batting title would be nice but where is the power?

 

Are we really worried about Vlad’s power??

 

Come on now

[Deadpool]

Are we really worried about Vlad’s power??

 

Come on now

 

Seriously, 99th percentile for max exit velocity, 94th percentile for hard hit percentage... His statcast page is red AF.

 

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/vladimir-guerrero-jr-665489?stats=statcast-r-hitting-mlb

[Ryu In My House]

I am still in shock that the 13-0 Rays come to town to face Berrios and Kuch in games 1 and 2, and LOST! I am starting to believe in the 2023 Jays squad. I know a sweep is out of the question, but dare to dream.

#knocksonwood

 

The Jays OF defense is such a joy to watch. It has to be the best ever assembled in Blue Jays history.

[Ryu In My House]

They will end up installing high plexyglasses soon. Too many drunks.

 

Yeah, I agree. I would be surprised if this doesn't happen by the end of April.

[Ryu In My House]

 

But Merrifield is old with eroding skills. Unless he is locked in, he should be platooning.

 

He has reached base safely in each of his 11 games played, recording a hit in nine. Maybe not locked in, but he's getting there.

[Jimcanuck]

He has reached base safely in each of his 11 games played, recording a hit in nine. Maybe not locked in, but he's getting there.

 

It's April though, too early for anyone to rot on the bench. Got to give these players the reps to work through any early season issues.

[Brownie19]

 

This is embarrassing - next level douchiness. I hope they find a way to make that nonsense stop.

[Jonn]

This is embarrassing - next level douchiness. I hope they find a way to make that nonsense stop.

 

You can’t tell me they didn’t design this with this intention in mind. They wanted the fans on top of the relievers making them miserable.

[Spanky99]

You can’t tell me they didn’t design this with this intention in mind. They wanted the fans on top of the relievers making them miserable.

 

Of course they did. lol

[connorp]

You can’t tell me they didn’t design this with this intention in mind. They wanted the fans on top of the relievers making them miserable.

 

Nah. I don’t think it was nefarious. It was probably to create a more engaging fan experience with a position of ignorance is bliss in terms of likely results

[Spanky99]

Nah. I don’t think it was nefarious. It was probably to create a more engaging fan experience with a position of ignorance is bliss in terms of likely results

 

They basically promoted it through their day time radio and tv shows, lol.

[Solaxys]

 

Buck mentioned that he isn't using his feet to drive the pitch, falling off the mound a lot.

Wonder if that leads to the pitch being entirely arm making him lose control/failing to execute.

[G-Snarls]

You can’t tell me they didn’t design this with this intention in mind. They wanted the fans on top of the relievers making them miserable.

 

It's like this in Boston too. Fans very close to the relievers warming up.