General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2023)

[Laika]

I've read a few things on Jung Hoo Lee, sorry can't dig up the links. In summary, I think the general consensus is that he may not be good enough in the field to stick in CF and doesn't have enough pop to be a prototypical corner outfielder.

 

Seems to be a elite contact, slap hitter type who is still young. Based on what I've read, it sounds to me that his upside is as a Frank Catalanotto type hitter. I'm probably not telling you anything you don't already know. I'm not sure what to think about a gamble on a successful MLB transition - I think I'd lean towards a soon to be 32 yo Jorge Soler at 45/3. Soler offers more pop and IMO higher predictability of outcome despite his up and down career. Wishful thinking, but you could also add both and have Jorge in a primary DH spot unless Jung Hoo Lee shits the bed.

 

Lee has a pretty swing. The homers look nice on the youtubes.

 

I wonder if the lack of power, high contact is somewhat intentional based on approach and if he could hit more dingers if he wanted to.

[Terminator]

Lee has a pretty swing. The homers look nice on the youtubes.

 

I wonder if the lack of power, high contact is somewhat intentional based on approach and if he could hit more dingers if he wanted to.

 

He's a slap hitter

[Laika]

His Fangraphs scouting grades are choice. 60 speed, 60 defense, 60 hit, 50 raw power.

 

junghoolee51.com is funny. it immediately references Bo Bichette and Vlad ?

 

https://junghoolee51.com/Scoutingreport

 

Five KBO gold gloves in CF...

 

hmmmm.....

 

I am super interested

 

Okay, Ha Seong Kim is the obvious comp.

 

KBO: .294/.373/.493, ages 18 to 24, K and BB rates were about 11.5% with a ~.200 ISO in his last two years

MLB: .245/.325/.383

 

Lee

 

KBO: .340/.407/.491, ages 18 to 24, 11% BB rate with 6% K rate last two years and .226 and .136 ISOs

 

 

Looks like he is Kim with better contact/avg and less pop. .275/.350 with 10-12 homers? He didn't have the KBO SB that Kim did. He's probably somewhere in between Kim and Steven Kwan as a hitter. It definitely plays if the defense and BsR are rock solid.

 

Imagine Kwan with 45 power instead of 30 power.

 

Or to put it another way, imagine Masataka Yoshida if he was a good athlete instead of a butcher DH.

[Stangstag]

 

Kinda odd... maybe they see a Varsho/Taylor platoon in CF? Would be disappointing though if the front office has already soured on Varsho after 1 year considering what we gave up.

[L54]

Kinda odd... maybe they see a Varsho/Taylor platoon in CF? Would be disappointing though if the front office has already soured on Varsho after 1 year considering what we gave up.

 

Gonna need a back up CF

[Brownie19]

Gonna need a back up CF

 

This is true. We don't really have solid 4th OFers in house unless you want that to be Biggio. Taylor would be a solid 4th OFer who can start v. LHP, play all the OF positions, steal a base off the bench, etc.

[Terminator]

Gonna need a back up CF

 

Yeah he'd be a good 4th OF. But I think he can probably get a starting CF job somewhere.

[Terminator]

Springer is probably good enough still to be a backup CFer for 15 games still. But if Varsho got hurt you wouldn't want him there for 60 games.

[Terminator]

 

1 = Ohtani

4 = platoons all over

[Ehjays]

[Ehjays]

[Ehjays]

[Terminator]

 

Doubling down on a 78 year old Donnie Baseball fixing this offense

[glory]

Gonna need a back up CF

 

Yeah, last season the Jays had Varsho and KK in the OF, so they essentially had their backup CF starting in LF. Without KK, and presumably with a better offensive player coming in to play LF full time in 2024, they will need a backup CF. Taylor as a 4th OF and platoon partner with Varsho would be a solid fit.

 

With that said, it's Morosi, so be prepared for "Blue Jays showing interest in..." tweets all winter.

[Stangstag]

This is true. We don't really have solid 4th OFers in house unless you want that to be Biggio. Taylor would be a solid 4th OFer who can start v. LHP, play all the OF positions, steal a base off the bench, etc.

 

He’s not gonna get 4th OF money though…

 

Lukes and Springer could probably fill in at CF here and there if needed

[Jonn]

Apparently Red Sox fans absolutely hated him as a Third Base Coach so awesome!

[Ehjays]

[TheHurl]

I am not sure if the Pirates cleared up their roster crunch (they outrighted 3 players and had 5 more claimed, and last I looked still had 40 on the 40) but they have a legit looking 3B playing 1B right now. Would be talking to them about Jared Triolo.

[jaysblue]

 

He could be. As a last bench piece, would welcome him in open arms. Think he would be a great clubhouse presence as well, as much as I hate using that term.

[L54]

He’s not gonna get 4th OF money though…

 

Lukes and Springer could probably fill in at CF here and there if needed

 

No he’s not going to cost 3M but he’s not getting a huge contract. 33 year old defensive specialist. Going into the year with Lukes as your defecto fourth OF probably not a good idea

[L54]

I’m completely neutral on Michael A. Taylor and I’ve never liked him as a player but they need another CF option

[L54]

To me Votto seems like the guy who fits in in Cincinnati because that’s his team and everybody knows him. Could bring a very odd clubhouse presence to a new org

[hanton]

this just seems like change for the sake of change ?

 

[L54]

this just seems like change for the sake of change ?

 

 

That’s fine. Do whatever you think is best. The team is talented and severely underperformed

 

Maybe the guys hate having mental

coach Jimmy in the dugout telling them to visualize success

[Brownie19]

Michael A Taylor is a 1-2 WAR player. He isn't going to get paid, nor land a starting CF gig IMO. Everyone knows he's a backup.

[MikeM3]

Mattingly is moving to an offensive coordinator role and will be more involved in daily hitting. I'm sorry but there's just no way this guy can keep up with the Donnie Eckers of the world.

[Dick_Pole]

 

I think this is just polite lip service, but if this is a real consideration, there is a lot to be worried as a Jays fan. 1. A cheap marketing ploy to mask a mediocre offseason with the casuals is already in the works. 2. The idea that going into spring training that the Jays have room for someone who has been a black hole for 2 years on the roster.

 

I said this before, but Votto is the type of guy you pick up at the deadline, presumably for a bag of balls from whatever non-contending team he's playing on, only if you think he can help at that time and there is no other cheap nor possible option. I gave the Jays signing Dave Parker late in 1991 as an example of this. I think the veteran presence thing late in the season in limited quantities as a depth piece does have merit if it fills a hole created throughout the season due to injury or underperformance. Going into Spring Training with Votto penciled in the roster...is not good.

[saskjayfan]

Mattingly is moving to an offensive coordinator role and will be more involved in daily hitting. I'm sorry but there's just no way this guy can keep up with the Donnie Eckers of the world.

 

What do you really know about Don Mattingly and his hitting philosophies in terms of coaching? The only time he's been a hitting coach was with the Yankees and Dodgers more than a decade ago. Is the default assumption that someone who's old is no good?

[saskjayfan]

I think this is just polite lip service, but if this is a real consideration, there is a lot to be worried as a Jays fan. 1. A cheap marketing ploy to mask a mediocre offseason with the casuals is already in the works. 2. The idea that going into spring training that the Jays have room for someone who has been a black hole for 2 years on the roster.

 

I said this before, but Votto is the type of guy you pick up at the deadline, presumably for a bag of balls from whatever non-contending team he's playing on, only if you think he can help at that time and there is no other cheap nor possible option. I gave the Jays signing Dave Parker late in 1991 as an example of this. I think the veteran presence thing late in the season in limited quantities as a depth piece does have merit if it fills a hole created throughout the season due to injury or underperformance. Going into Spring Training with Votto penciled in the roster...is not good.

 

I have conflicting thoughts about this, because it's tough playing through an injury and playing coming back off injury. I honestly think Votto still could put up a season 15 to 20% above league avg with the bat. Worst case he's league avg with the bat. His work throughout his career is legendary. His worked tirelessly in the cage, but he also did so with purpose. Early in his career he was self absorbed and was entirely focused on making himself better. It's been well documented that he's shifted and is much more willing to work with young players.

 

Most players just fall in line and take in whatever is being preached to them. Votto isn't at a point in his career where he's that type of player. I can see him saying well that's f***ing stupid if he doesn't agree with something, but he will challenge hitting processes from the point as one of the most cerebral hitting minds of his generation. He could impart meaningful and useful information to both players and coaches. He can collaborate with coaches to improve the process that benefits all.

 

There's lots of ways to construct the roster this offseason. Votto isn't going to get paid a lot of money. He's a left handed bat. If the Jays go with some young kids, I can see a spot for Votto on the roster for a lot of things he doesn't do on the field as long as he's willing to understand his role and be comfortable with not getting 550 ABs

[jaysblue]

I have conflicting thoughts about this, because it's tough playing through an injury and playing coming back off injury. I honestly think Votto still could put up a season 15 to 20% above league avg with the bat. Worst case he's league avg with the bat. His work throughout his career is legendary. His worked tirelessly in the cage, but he also did so with purpose. Early in his career he was self absorbed and was entirely focused on making himself better. It's been well documented that he's shifted and is much more willing to work with young players.

 

Most players just fall in line and take in whatever is being preached to them. Votto isn't at a point in his career where he's that type of player. I can see him saying well that's f***ing stupid if he doesn't agree with something, but he will challenge hitting processes from the point as one of the most cerebral hitting minds of his generation. He could impart meaningful and useful information to both players and coaches. He can collaborate with coaches to improve the process that benefits all.

 

There's lots of ways to construct the roster this offseason. Votto isn't going to get paid a lot of money. He's a left handed bat. If the Jays go with some young kids, I can see a spot for Votto on the roster for a lot of things he doesn't do on the field as long as he's willing to understand his role and be comfortable with not getting 550 ABs

 

Very well said.