General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[Laika]

The armchair psychologist in me sees a guy who is not handling pressure well (likely gets himself too amped up, IMO). Choked in the playoffs, choked on opening day, and now pushing way too hard trying to recover something.

 

Of course, I accept the possibility that I'm completely off base here.

 

I agree. He looks shell-shocked.

[THANOS]

Berrios & Manoah are very similar, in many ways, though the latter is so huge that his low-mid 90s FB can stimmy hitters while Berrios' gets mashed.

[Krylian]

Also, I think the pitch clock is affecting him more than most.

[wilko]

Also, I think the pitch clock is affecting him more than most.

 

Because he's overweight?

[Olerud363]

The armchair psychologist in me sees a guy who is not handling pressure well (likely gets himself too amped up, IMO). Choked in the playoffs, choked on opening day, and now pushing way too hard trying to recover something.

 

Of course, I accept the possibility that I'm completely off base here.

 

Starting late August to the end of last year he pitched amazing in what had to be the most pressure packed games the Jays played in since 2016.

 

People forget but last year was nerve wracking. Baltimore got to within a 1/2 game of the Jays and it looked like they might not even make the Playoffs, but then Manoah had an amazing stretch, winning against the Yankees, Rays (twice), Baltimore, should have won against Baltimore again but Romano blew it, and his 1 loss was when he left trailing 1-0 against Ohtani.

 

He did have a bad game in the playoffs. Something is off this year but I don't think it is pressure. Just something is off.

[Olerud363]

Starting late August to the end of last year he pitched amazing in what had to be the most pressure packed games the Jays played in since 2016.

 

People forget but last year was nerve wracking. Baltimore got to within a 1/2 game of the Jays and it looked like they might not even make the Playoffs, but then Manoah had an amazing stretch, winning against the Yankees, Rays (twice), Baltimore, should have won against Baltimore again but Romano blew it, and his 1 loss was when he left trailing 1-0 against Ohtani.

 

He did have a bad game in the playoffs. Something is off this year but I don't think it is pressure. Just something is off.

 

 

I checked 2021, and Manoah did something similar. Winning big games against TBR twice and keeping the Jays in the playoff hunt. He had 1 bad game against Oakland (which Jays came back to win) and everything other start was great after mid-August, in what were pressure packed games.

[Stangstag]

Because he's overweight?

 

Nah because he has bad cardio. He could learn a thing or two from Bassit about clock manipulation

[z3r0s]

Man it was sweet watching Bassit at his best yesterday. Hope we get more of that going forward.

[Stangstag]

Is Lukes getting a start tonight?? Gross…

[Stangstag]

Should be Biggio getting the start over Lukes IMO.

[Spanky99]

 

lol... I missed this, funny.

[Laika]

Early bullpen opinions:

 

Romano - Elite

Mayza - looks sharp to me

Garcia - looks great to me. unlucky with a HR or two.

Swanson - wait and see. he looks effective but command is not there.

Pop - wait and see. some signs of improvement but I'm not on board yet.

Richards - seems the same. inconsistent repertoire, cannot really trust him.

Bass - looks like s***. FA velocity is noticeably down... uh oh.

Cimber - looks like s***. suddenly can't throw strikes. he can probably sort it out though.

[Stangstag]

Early bullpen opinions:

 

Romano - Elite

Mayza - looks sharp to me

Garcia - looks great to me. unlucky with a HR or two.

Swanson - wait and see. he looks effective but command is not there.

Pop - wait and see. some signs of improvement but I'm not on board yet.

Richards - seems the same. inconsistent repertoire, cannot really trust him.

Bass - looks like s***. FA velocity is noticeably down... uh oh.

Cimber - looks like s***. suddenly can't throw strikes. he can probably sort it out though.

 

Are you watching the games or looking at fangraphs

[Laika]

Are you watching the games or looking at fangraphs

 

Watched every game. He looks fantastic. Command on point, pitches crisp.

 

Don't really give a s*** about some random clutch singles given up. He missed his spot by like, two inches on some of those singles.

[Laika]

Early bullpen opinions:

 

Romano - Elite

Mayza - looks sharp to me

Garcia - looks great to me. unlucky with a HR or two.

Swanson - wait and see. he looks effective but command is not there.

Pop - wait and see. some signs of improvement but I'm not on board yet.

Richards - seems the same. inconsistent repertoire, cannot really trust him.

Bass - looks like s***. FA velocity is noticeably down... uh oh.

Cimber - looks like s***. suddenly can't throw strikes. he can probably sort it out though.

 

Bass is a free agent in 2024.

Richards is controllable in 2024. Final arb.

Cimber - same as Richards.

 

If nobody gets hurt, and guys with options like Pop and Cimber pitch well... maybe Anthony Bass gets cut this season.

[Brownie19]

I don't know how quickly the number stabilize, but Richards savant page is as RED as it's ever been. I think the Jays will hold onto all of them as long as they can (keeping Pearson in AAA), but at some point, they may need to make that tough call with Bass and I wouldn't be surprised if it's Bass that goes and not Richards.

[L54]

Cimber looks like s*** too and that frisbee no longer gets ground balls and instead gets hammered into the seats

[Laika]

Manoah, Cimber, and Swanson all seem to be having basic mechanical problems IMO. "Flying open" or something like that.

[Brownie19]

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/vlad-the-omniscient/

 

Apparently Vlad is good.

[wilko]

I don't know how quickly the number stabilize, but Richards savant page is as RED as it's ever been. I think the Jays will hold onto all of them as long as they can (keeping Pearson in AAA), but at some point, they may need to make that tough call with Bass and I wouldn't be surprised if it's Bass that goes and not Richards.

 

Hopefully going to 2 pitches this year can help.

[wilko]

Bass is a free agent in 2024.

Richards is controllable in 2024. Final arb.

Cimber - same as Richards.

 

If nobody gets hurt, and guys with options like Pop and Cimber pitch well... maybe Anthony Bass gets cut this season.

 

Maybe he can work for United in their popcorn division.

[Jonn]

Getting rid of Bass makes a lot more sense than Richards. Ideally you don’t want to get rid of anyone. But if you want to bring up Pearson hes the guy to move. Unless they want to option Pop or Cimber.

[THANOS]

Getting rid of Bass makes a lot more sense than Richards. Ideally you don’t want to get rid of anyone. But if you want to bring up Pearson hes the guy to move. Unless they want to option Pop or Cimber.

 

I would get demote Cimber for now, because Pop fits the role of the weird look side-armer for gets soft contact already, only throws 10-12 mph harder, less risk with high velocity.

 

I would call up Pearson now to replace Cimber.

 

Richards and Bass, you wait on a bit longer unless someone in AAA forces the issue or Chad Green/Trade Deadline comes. Whichever happens sooner allows you to make decisions on Richards/Bass/Mayza. Whomever sucks the most once the above comes due, gets punted.

[NHLPRO]

This should be the lineup vs the Yanks on Friday.

 

Whit Merrifield

Bo Bichette

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Matt Chapman

George Springer

Daulton Varsho

Alejandro Kirk

Brandon Belt

Kevin Kiermaier

 

Or Flip Belt and Varsho to get them going.

[Pendleton]

[Grant77]

Fun trivia for the upupcoming series:

 

Who is the only player in MLB history to play exclusively for the Yankees and Blue Jays? (minimum 50 games because nobody knows who Ted Wilborn is).

 

Three pitchers have thrown at least 500 innings for each club. Who are they?

[Orgfiller]

Fun trivia for the upupcoming series:

 

Who is the only player in MLB history to play exclusively for the Yankees and Blue Jays? (minimum 50 games because nobody knows who Ted Wilborn is).

 

Three pitchers have thrown at least 500 innings for each club. Who are they?

 

Without looking it up, David Wells and Burnett are two of those pitchers?

[Brownie19]

Fun trivia for the upupcoming series:

 

Who is the only player in MLB history to play exclusively for the Yankees and Blue Jays? (minimum 50 games because nobody knows who Ted Wilborn is).

 

Three pitchers have thrown at least 500 innings for each club. Who are they?

 

The 3 pitchers are:

 

AJ Burnett

Boomer Wells

Jimmy Key

 

Clemens fell about an inning short of qualifying.

[Orgfiller]

The 3 pitchers are:

 

AJ Burnett

Boomer Wells

Jimmy Key

 

Clemens fell about an inning short of qualifying.

 

Can’t believe I forgot Clemens, sneaky with those innings qualifiers.

[Grant77]

Without looking it up, David Wells and Burnett are two of those pitchers?

 

Correct.