General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[connorp]

If Vlad had half of Harper’s T levels, he’d probably be a perennial AS now

[Brownie19]

Springer, Vlad, and Chapman wouldn't listen to any coaches. They are their own coach, for better or worse.

 

curious what you're basing this on...

[Jimcanuck]

curious what you're basing this on...

 

Lot of reports that Vlad is uncoachable. Springer and Chapman are veterans, I just don't seem them paying much attention to a coach.

[Brownie19]

Lot of reports that Vlad is uncoachable. Springer and Chapman are veterans, I just don't seem them paying much attention to a coach.

 

#1 - I'm pretty sure I drove the narrative that Vlad doesn't listen. All good there - I believe it's true.

 

#2 - I could buy that, but then again, that would mean they wouldn't necessarily be buying into this narrative that the Jays implemented a new hitting philosophy for all players.

[hanton]

Lot of reports that Vlad is uncoachable. Springer and Chapman are veterans, I just don't seem them paying much attention to a coach.

 

I thought the coaches suck

[L54]

Baseball is weird in that it’s such an individualized sport. So if you have a “guy” you trust or have built loyalty with in the offseason or a preferred philosophy you are probably going to lean on them vs your coach.

 

Same with pitching. That’s what drove Bauer out of AZ and I’m sure there are other examples I’m not aware of.

 

Not saying every player does it but I’m sure vets are much more inclined to leniency. For better or for worse

[Spanky99]

Wow, good job Spanky!

 

Want a milkbone?

 

Oh, you're a good boy, aren't you? Yes you are.

 

Stay in your lane, the adults are talking.

 

Okay man, have at it...

[mphenhef]

If Vlad had half of Harper’s T levels, he’d probably be a perennial AS now

 

ummm, Vlad is a perennial All star (one can argue whether or not it is deserved)

[Krylian]

ummm, Vlad is a perennial All star (one can argue whether or not it is deserved)

 

He's deserved it once.

[Eat My Shatkins]

The pessimist in me says that only two scenarios will play out with Vlad:

 

#1 - He remains a Jay and continues his replacement level play becoming quite the disappointment

#2 - He is traded at some point and it jolts him to make some changes and he turns back into a 5+ fWAR star

[connorp]

ummm, Vlad is a perennial All star (one can argue whether or not it is deserved)

 

This is fair lol. I should’ve phrased differently

[hanton]

Baseball is weird in that it’s such an individualized sport. So if you have a “guy” you trust or have built loyalty with in the offseason or a preferred philosophy you are probably going to lean on them vs your coach.

 

Same with pitching. That’s what drove Bauer out of AZ and I’m sure there are other examples I’m not aware of.

 

Not saying every player does it but I’m sure vets are much more inclined to leniency. For better or for worse

 

Yes. JD Martinez is one example

[L54]

Yes. JD Martinez is one example

 

Didn’t know that

[connorp]

Vlad probably has a guy in the Dominican he’ll make some changes with. Doesn’t seem it’ll be a Jay thing

[connorp]

The pessimist in me says that only two scenarios will play out with Vlad:

 

#1 - He remains a Jay and continues his replacement level play becoming quite the disappointment

#2 - He is traded at some point and it jolts him to make some changes and he turns back into a 5+ fWAR star

 

Vlad doesn’t seem to have that chip on the shoulder about being the best, like some of other stars. I think that’s fair to say from a distance at least.

 

The next thing to consider is how much the mega contract will push him. I couldn’t speculate on his approach with that. Hopefully that pushes him into gear.

 

I’ve always been a Vlad supporter and I’ll still never bet the Under with him, but I don’t think I sign him to an extension that’s not super team friendly, like 10/200 or something crazy like that

[hanton]

Didn’t know that

 

it's been a "problem" in baseball, teams tend not to look at getting outside help for hitting and pitching and instead rely on internal resources - and so they should but at some point if something isn't working - like what Akins admitted in his recent press onference to find a "solution" . It will be interesting to see what that is.

 

The Jays did hire a pitiching resource, David Howell from driveline in 2020 and promoted him to work under Pete Walker - that's promissing

 

I mean look at this - imagine what they can do for Manoah

[Marew]

I don’t think Manoah is going to be ok with pitching shirtless around a bunch of much sexier guys

[Stangstag]

I don’t think Manoah is going to be ok with pitching shirtless around a bunch of much sexier guys

 

Exactly what I was thinking hahaha. The sensors will be bouncing around all over the place

[The Cats Ass]

it's been a "problem" in baseball, teams tend not to look at getting outside help for hitting and pitching and instead rely on internal resources - and so they should but at some point if something isn't working - like what Akins admitted in his recent press onference to find a "solution" . It will be interesting to see what that is.

 

The Jays did hire a pitiching resource, David Howell from driveline in 2020 and promoted him to work under Pete Walker - that's promissing

 

I mean look at this - imagine what they can do for Manoah

 

Manoah has to want to do it though; the team can't force him to. Most signs point to him feeling like he doesn't have to change anything and he's perfect the way he is. It sounds like he's trying to play the injury card, he went off on his own and got some injections into his arm.

 

"It was his decision and we supported him," Atkins said. "Our medical staff wasn't suggesting that. He made the decision on his own to move in that direction. He thought it would be helpful. There was one doctor there in particular who thought it potentially could be helpful for him on symptoms he was feeling that were not structural."

[L54]

I would plant Manoah’s fat ass in the AAA pen as mop up duty if he reports to camp looking like Peter Griffin again

[L54]

Pretty sure hanton is saying imagine what it could do for him, not send him to driveline

[hanton]

Manoah has to want to do it though; the team can't force him to. Most signs point to him feeling like he doesn't have to change anything and he's perfect the way he is. It sounds like he's trying to play the injury card, he went off on his own and got some injections into his arm.

 

for sure, then screw him. A professional that doesn't take his job seriously - in any profession - who would want any part of him. The early success - as I've stated many times - got to his head.

[Marew]

Pretty sure hanton is saying imagine what it could do for him, not send him to driveline

 

I think the players that go there, as well as being in shape, have to be open to criticism as well. So that’s 2 reasons he can’t and wouldn’t go to something like this. But yea he probably had free access to as much training as he wants with millions on the line and will probably come to camp within 5 lbs as last year.

[Laika]

GG finalists:

 

Berrios P

Kirk C

Chapman 3B

Varsho LF

Kiermaier CF

[Terminator]

I would plant Manoah’s fat ass in the AAA pen as mop up duty if he reports to camp looking like Peter Griffin again

 

lol @ Peter Griffin

[Ehjays]

Im like 99% sure he’s going to take the Redsox job and they’ll win a WS with him before we do.

 

[L54]

lol @ Peter Griffin

 

😂😂😂

[mellowgold]

GG finalists:

 

Berrios P

Kirk C

Chapman 3B

Varsho LF

Kiermaier CF

 

Without diving into the numbers, I would think that Varsho and Chapman are the likeliest candidates. Maybe Berrios.

[Laika]

Without diving into the numbers, I would think that Varsho and Chapman are the likeliest candidates. Maybe Berrios.

 

Varsho is a weird one. Some of his LF stats are not that great. Austin Hays is a huge "TV dive" defender.

 

KK is up against Luis Robert and Julio Rodriguez and they all have basically the same OAA.

 

It's kind of weird. I feel like literally any of these Blue Jays finalists could win.

[BTS]

Arenado’s gold glove streak is over