GDT: 1/4 Toronto Blue Jays @ Boston Red Sux (7:10pm et)

[Stangstag]

Its more so the ways the Jays are losing that’s annoying me. It’s already been a handful times this season where better decision making would have altered the outcome. John Scheneider doesn’t appear to be cut out for this job.

 

Pretty sure this happens every year with every team. You think Rays fans weren’t complaining about Cash last year??

[Olerud363]

Terrible takes guys. We are on pace for 100 wins and while it can be fun to look at the standings on a nightly basis itÂ’s probably a good idea not to get your tittles so twisted over it on May 2.

 

Sure... However if you look at fans as like a wasp hive mind they are pretty smart even if one by one they seem irrational.

 

Like if Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Boston developed line-ups of half decent left handed hitters that could destroy Manoah, Bassitt, and Berrios, and if the 4-6 guys in the bullpen weren't good enough, and if the Jays weapon against tough righties in was to pinch hit for their lefties with a 5'2" 270 pound right handed hitter... the hive mind might start to pick up on the problems early, even if the team is 18-11.

[max silver]

Its more so the ways the Jays are losing that’s annoying me. It’s already been a handful times this season where better decision making would have altered the outcome. John Scheneider doesn’t appear to be cut out for this job.

 

The team has played at a 100 win pace since Schneider took over. If that is indicative to you of a manager that is hurting his team I would suggest you don't have very realistic expectations.

[Jonn]

Pretty sure this happens every year with every team. You think Rays fans weren’t complaining about Cash last year??

 

Rays have fans? And I’m not saying it doesn’t happen to other teams. Seems to be a nightly occurrence here. Just the little things he doesn’t think about. And that’s literally his job.

[max silver]

Again, there is precedent.

 

Last year, on May 2nd - we were 15 - 9 (.625), this year 18 - 11 (.620).

Yankees were 17 - 6 (.739) while Rays are, well 23 - 6 (.793)

 

We need to win these games, can't be throwing away games against basement teams. When Braves roll around, we need to be able to have enough breadth that if we were to get out of that series with only 1 win (or no win), we can still be within striking distance.

Can't be treating this as 'just another game', when one team is on a historic streak and the other team is winning with a fraction of our payroll and has a farm system that can get a trade done for some major pieces at deadline, and hell, we had more agency against AL East last year than we have this year.

 

As for SoS, Os have the hardest sure and Rays are 3rd (for the rest of the season) but the Jays are like 5th or 6th. We don't have it that much easier considering we faced KC/Tigers/Chi Sox already.

 

I don't want another Wildcard banner hanging next year. Take the f***ing AL East.

 

The Red Sox and Mariners aren't necessarily basement teams though. The Mariners were a playoff team last season, and aside from against the Jays the Red Sox were better than a .500 team last season. The Rays and Orioles have had very easy schedules compared to the Jays up to this point as well, once they start playing tougher competition on a regular basis we will get a better idea where each team stands.

[Brownie19]

Rays have fans? And I’m not saying it doesn’t happen to other teams. Seems to be a nightly occurrence here. Just the little things he doesn’t think about. And that’s literally his job.

 

Is it? Don't you think bullpen deployment strategy is something that the FO and the advances analytics teams have a strong say in?

[Jonn]

The team has played at a 100 win pace since Schneider took over. If that is indicative to you of a manager that is hurting his team I would suggest you don't have very realistic expectations.

 

My expectations were to challenge for the division. That needs to be the goal. Jays don’t want to play in another Wild Card series. So start making Division winning decisions in April and May instead of just August and September because they all could the same. If this team falls short of the division by a couple of games. We should definitely remember the games punted at this time of year.

 

There’s nothing wrong with having aspirations for more.

[Jonn]

Is it? Don't you think bullpen deployment strategy is something that the FO and the advances analytics teams have a strong say in?

 

Its part of the formula but its not an exact Science. Its why an in game manager exists to make decisions on the fly when things don’t go perfectly to plan. Like I said its the little things. Removing Merrifield in the 5th slot when you could have simply removed Espinal in the 9th slot. Leading or not that back fired and was easily avoidable.

 

Letting Berriors face 5 straight Left-handed hitters despite his terrible numbers 3rd time through and the fact that he had not been particularly good in the game. He ended up recording zero outs and ended up using Mayza anyway. So why not just use Mayza before that scenario unfolds.

 

And those are just examples in the last 2 games. I could go on and on about his inability to execute simple helpful decisions. He doesn’t even come out to argue Whit not walking the other day. Nobody knew a balk was called. You’re not even going to ask questions? I think I would rather just have a computer manage the team at this point if he’s going to be that lazy. It’s either that or he wasn’t paying attention.

[John_Havok]

As expected, garbage time from the ump

 

[Terminator]

Its more so the ways the Jays are losing that’s annoying me. It’s already been a handful times this season where better decision making would have altered the outcome. John Scheneider doesn’t appear to be cut out for this job.

 

John Schneider sucks ass and I've wanted him fired for ruining my life in Game 2 last year.

 

But when you have a good team and you lose it's generally going to be a close loss. Losing by 3 or 4 runs or more just doesn't happen as often.

[wilko]

John Schneider sucks ass and I've wanted him fired for ruining my life in Game 2 last year.

 

But when you have a good team and you lose it's generally going to be a close loss. Losing by 3 or 4 runs or more just doesn't happen as often.

 

Do you still want him fired? Who replaces him? Donny boy?

[Solaxys]

The Red Sox and Mariners aren't necessarily basement teams though. The Mariners were a playoff team last season, and aside from against the Jays the Red Sox were better than a .500 team last season.

 

Mariners are not a basement team on paper but they have been pretty bad this season and then injury ridden offense during the game.

I am not concerned of that loss, Raleigh just has our number, and our B-team bullpen just didn't have it. And after the streak we put up, it is what it is.

 

The games that are aggravating losses, this season for me, were the Yankees game, one of the Astros game and last night's game - where we had all the pieces going, but we gave it away. Also, the ump last night didn't help.

 

As for Sox being better than they are, Rays swept them in a 4-game series, Orioles took 2 of 3.

 

We can compare teams instead of overall standings to gauge our record. Let's hope we take 3 out of 4, cause 2-2 would put us behind Rays and Os in terms of win% against Sox.

[Terminator]

Again, there is precedent.

 

Last year, on May 2nd - we were 15 - 9 (.625), this year 18 - 11 (.620).

Yankees were 17 - 6 (.739) while Rays are, well 23 - 6 (.793)

 

We need to win these games, can't be throwing away games against basement teams. When Braves roll around, we need to be able to have enough breadth that if we were to get out of that series with only 1 win (or no win), we can still be within striking distance.

Can't be treating this as 'just another game', when one team is on a historic streak and the other team is winning with a fraction of our payroll and has a farm system that can get a trade done for some major pieces at deadline, and hell, we had more agency against AL East last year than we have this year.

 

As for SoS, Os have the hardest sure and Rays are 3rd (for the rest of the season) but the Jays are like 5th or 6th. We don't have it that much easier considering we faced KC/Tigers/Chi Sox already.

 

I don't want another Wildcard banner hanging next year. Take the f***ing AL East.

 

There is nothing we can do about the Rays being 23-6 lol. You tip your cap to them and hope they start losing when the schedule gets tougher. Against teams with winning records I don't think they are anything special so I think they'll come back down to earth but they'll be in it to the end no doubt.

 

The good news is that the Yankees (expected to be our main competition) look like dog s*** right now.

 

I wouldn't worry about the Orioles just yet. That rotation is a disaster and will bite them in the ass eventually.

 

EDIT: On top of it we BEAT the Rays in a series this year. We are are responsible for 2 of their 6 losses! What more do you guys want? Lol

Edited May 2, 2023 by Terminator

[Terminator]

Do you still want him fired? Who replaces him? Donny boy?

 

Yes I want him fired. I also think he should do a lengthy prison sentence before he gets deported back to the US. I can't stand him and I don't care who replaces him.

[Brownie19]

Its part of the formula but its not an exact Science. Its why an in game manager exists to make decisions on the fly when things don’t go perfectly to plan. Like I said its the little things. Removing Merrifield in the 5th slot when you could have simply removed Espinal in the 9th slot. Leading or not that back fired and was easily avoidable.

 

Letting Berriors face 5 straight Left-handed hitters despite his terrible numbers 3rd time through and the fact that he had not been particularly good in the game. He ended up recording zero outs and ended up using Mayza anyway. So why not just use Mayza before that scenario unfolds.

 

And those are just examples in the last 2 games. I could go on and on about his inability to execute simple helpful decisions. He doesn’t even come out to argue Whit not walking the other day. Nobody knew a balk was called. You’re not even going to ask questions? I think I would rather just have a computer manage the team at this point if he’s going to be that lazy. It’s either that or he wasn’t paying attention.

 

Who's the best manager in baseball? Do you not think that if you followed his games day in and day out you'd point out several moves you don't agree with?

[RobinThicc]

Belt was pretty much lighting 9 million on fire

[jaysblue]

Who's the best manager in baseball? Do you not think that if you followed his games day in and day out you'd point out several moves you don't agree with?

 

George Knox and Joseph Gordan Levitt.

[glory]

John Schneider sucks ass and I've wanted him fired for ruining my life in Game 2 last year.

 

But when you have a good team and you lose it's generally going to be a close loss. Losing by 3 or 4 runs or more just doesn't happen as often.

 

Yeah I think it's fair to say the Jays will be at a disadvantage come playoff time with Schneider managing, but they are still a really good team, so even with Schneider costing the team games here and there with bad bullpen management or whatever, they should still be 90+ wins by the end of the season. If the Rays end up being 100+ wins, then there's not much you can do about that.

 

The 2021 Jays missed the playoffs by 1 game, and Montoyo literally punted a game on purpose just to teach Tyler f'n Chatwood a lesson. I don't think the Jays have to worry about that with Schneider, at least I hope not, but regardless, the Jays seem to have a type with managers so it's not like they'd replace Schneider with a vetrin. It will be another yes man who will do what the org wants, and most orgs do that now. Even Boone is a puppet for the Yankees front office. Cash is as well, except the Rays as a whole are very smart, so it doesn't come off that way.

[max silver]

My expectations were to challenge for the division. That needs to be the goal. Jays don’t want to play in another Wild Card series. So start making Division winning decisions in April and May instead of just August and September because they all could the same. If this team falls short of the division by a couple of games. We should definitely remember the games punted at this time of year.

 

There’s nothing wrong with having aspirations for more.

 

It seems to me that Schneider outlines exactly what his thought process was after every game when moves don't work out. I don't always fully agree with his reasoning but there is always a certain amount of logic behind them. It's early in the season, and the team is still trying to establish a pecking order for the bullpen, and determine which players are going to be contributors and which ultimately aren't going to get the job done. It seems that a lot of the moves are taking the long view on a six month season instead of applying the type of pressure that would apply to a post season game. I can get behind trying to save certain relievers for different parts of the lineup, not using relievers when they are in the yellow zone/use only in case of emergency instead of green zone and fully available, and placing a certain amount of trust in players until they show they aren't to be trusted. A manager that manages every single game like it's game 7 of the world series is going to leave a good chunk of his players mostly rotting on the bench and burn out his most trusted relievers by the end of May. Ultimately a team that is on a 100 win pace despite a tough early schedule and not having yet clicked on all cylinders is in a really good place.

[Jonn]

Who's the best manager in baseball? Do you not think that if you followed his games day in and day out you'd point out several moves you don't agree with?

 

I probably could but I’m not worried about other teams. I watch a fair share of Baseball I have rarely ever watched this much fall through the cracks. I genuinely believe the vast majority of managers would have came out and argued that missed walk.

 

I remember yelling at my TV last year when he put Ramiel Tapia in LF for Defense when he had Jackie Bradley Jr on the bench.

 

Its a bunch of small mistakes that add up into big consequences. And a lot of us were confused the moment it was made. This isn’t just hindsight.

 

Managers job is to play out a variety of scenarios and prepare for all of them. If he’s incapable of thinking about these things on his feet this isn’t the job for him.

[John_Havok]

I probably could but I’m not worried about other teams. I watch a fair share of Baseball I have rarely ever watched this much fall through the cracks. I genuinely believe the vast majority of managers would have came out and argued that missed walk.

 

I remember yelling at my TV last year when he put Ramiel Tapia in LF for Defense when he had Jackie Bradley Jr on the bench.

 

Its a bunch of small mistakes that add up into big consequences. And a lot of us were confused the moment it was made. This isn’t just hindsight.

 

Managers job is to play out a variety of scenarios and prepare for all of them. If he’s incapable of thinking about these things on his feet this isn’t the job for him.

 

You're assuming he has complete autonomy in these decisions. It's a great assumption, but I think in today's game there's a lot more that goes into these things. I'm not saying Atkins is sitting up there calling down moves to the bench or anything, but there's going to be certain directives that Schneider is going to be somewhat bound by at any given time.

 

Last year there was obviously a directive that Tapia was going to be given every opportunity to show whatever he had. Right or wrong (wrong... obviously) if Schneider is told to make sure Tapia goes in first for defense in scenario X, Y or Z, he does it. There's probably a whole list of matchups given to him by the analytics dept for every series that matches up our hitters and their pitchers, our pitchers and their hitters, ideal situation to make changes (or not make changes) and he's probablly under direction to make moves according to that info. Will he be given some leeway? probably to a point yeah, but who really knows how far that goes?

[Brownie19]

You're missing the point Jonn. No sense continuing this. It seems like some fans just constantly rip managers - they're never happy and nobody does a good job at it.

 

I've always struggled to know how you develop those opinions without considering that manager v. his peers and without considering all the correct calls they make. It's a pretty complex position and I don't even pretend to know what decisions the manager has full control over v. the ones he doesn't and thus I never feel I have remotely close to enough information to make an informed opinion - so I just don't.

 

IMO, managers and umpires are similar. Even if they are well above average - people still complain and suggest they are s*** at their jobs (often while in the absence of facts). When the fans favourite team wins, you hear nothing about either of them, but when they lose, the bitching starts.

[Laika]

Every other manager in baseball would bug a FAN with a SERIOUS INTEREST in the results as much or more than John Schneider

[JaysAllMighty]

Someone needs to start the GDT today.

[G-Snarls]

Someone needs to start the GDT today.

 

I got it

[BigCecil]

We are on pace for over 100 wins…

Not after tonight. Lose the next 2 and it’s a 91 win pace. It’s all relative…I’m greedy and I’d kind of like to go all 2015 and win the Division again this year if possible. Let’s hope they end this short skid tomorrow.

[Stangstag]

Not after tonight. Lose the next 2 and it’s a 91 win pace. It’s all relative…I’m greedy and I’d kind of like to go all 2015 and win the Division again this year if possible. Let’s hope they end this short skid tomorrow.

 

Don’t forget that team was like .500 until the trade deadline.

 

Its only May 2nd

[BigCecil]

Don’t forget that team was like .500 until the trade deadline.

 

Its only May 2nd

 

That 2015 team went on a pretty historic roll post deadline - i don't want to have to bet on that happening again.

 

Its May 3rd at 18-12 thats a 97 W pace. Hard to complain. I'd like to keep winning more than our fair share of winnable games, and hopefully keep pace with Division lead. They won't be an .800 team all season. Also I f***ing hate losing to the Red Sox lol.

[Brownie19]

That 2015 team went on a pretty historic roll post deadline - i don't want to have to bet on that happening again.

 

Its May 3rd at 18-12 thats a 97 W pace. Hard to complain. I'd like to keep winning more than our fair share of winnable games, and hopefully keep pace with Division lead. They won't be an .800 team all season. Also I f***ing hate losing to the Red Sox lol.

 

Not sure that's true. We lose a couple of games and TONS of people are complaining. In fact, I believe it's very easy to complain.

[Carlos Danger]

Enjoy man! I loved my trip to Boston/Fenway. Make sure you do the stadium tour (I was able to just walk up and book a tour within like 15-30 minutes about 14 years ago (yikes!) and it was fantastic. Also, I'd recommend getting "hop on/hop off" bus tickets. We used that as our taxi as it took like 45 minutes to do a round trip. We stayed at the Buckminster Hotel, where they say the 1919 Black Sox deal was struck. It was so cool as it's where the players used to stay, so your hotel room actually comes with 2 separate rooms and a shared bathroom (like the players would have used). Check it out if you have time - it's just steps from Fenway.

 

So, I had been to Fenway before but I had never known about, nor noted the Buckminster. After your post, I kept my eye out. I walked right by it last night. However, it took me a bit to confirm it was actually the Buckminster. It appears they have let the hotel, at least the signage, fall into disrepair. There were many letters missing from the marquee and it was like I was solving a Wheel of Fortune question.

 

The sign currently looks something like this- U K INSTER.

 

Definitely is a great atmosphere and history around and inside Fenway. Even though we lost, I had a great time last night.

 

I think I will go to Thursday nights game also.