GDT: Toronto Blow Jays @ Tampa Bay Unbeatables

[TorontonianJD]

Not related to this game but can we talk about Schneider’s continued use of Garcia? He sucks yet JS keeps rolling him out there even when games are close.

[Spanky99]

He was fine as a catcher as far as most reports go. But Horwitz in LF is just giving up defensively. There isn't a single report on Horwitz that has him anywhere but 1B/DH unless everyone else that can play OF is dead on your team.

 

Yeah, he wouldn't be called up for the OF, that guy Pendy posted in the MILB thread Davis Schneider seems to be an option, plays 2nd/3rd and LF.

[John_Havok]

Here's the bench's best bet at a HR.

[John_Havok]

Can't say theyre not going down without a fight.

[DCJaysF]

For a little perspective, mlb teams use an average of 10 different starters in a season. So yeah until Manoah can be reworked we might need to find a bridge until Ryu is ready post AS break, but thatÂ’s mlb for ya.

 

As someone that felt we maybe overpaid a little( not a ton but a tad) on the Varsho trade, Varsho has actually looked at little better at the plate this series. Walking a few times and getting a few hits. His upside if he even comes close to his output during the second half of last year is still very high. I miss LGJÂ’s line up lengthening bat though,

ESP now that his power is back. Moreno is starting the session solidly ( for the amount heÂ’s played in the majors) for Arizona for sure, but itÂ’s pretty early to determine his long time value . I was actually hoping we traded for Ketel Marte instead of Varsho , but I guess that wouldnÂ’t work with the budget nor would Arizona likely have let him go.

 

If we couldnÂ’t get Marte I wanted Bryan Reynolds from Pittsburgh. At the time it seemed like he wanted out of Pittsburgh and that the Pirates were gonna have to move him. Sadly neither of those deals could be had though and probably LGJ and Moreno wouldnÂ’t have even been the best offers they received anyways.

 

Given that we have trouble sometimes attracting talent for fair pay during free agency weÂ’ve had to rely on the trade deadline a lot. WeÂ’ve actually done very well during most trade deadlines but I fear we donÂ’t have the prospects to win this years trade deadline again.

 

WeÂ’ve had to use a lot of good ones recently for trades and weÂ’ve never done a complete rebuild, always favoring putting out teams that could win enough to just stay close but not go all the way through out most of the 2010Â’s. That was a Rogers business decision. Keep us watching games without spending with the big boys to go all the way.

 

Anyways, i still think we will at least make a WC spot this year so IÂ’m not giving up yet. Gonna have to stretch a few guys out some before the AS break and maybe have BP days. Big Nate might get his best chance to stretch out some and work his way back towards being a starter again lol. Funny how opportunity works

[Spanky99]

This ballpark and it's support is sad.

[Orgfiller]

Can't wait for a Bo single and Manuel Margot to rob Vlad of a homerun the next AB.

[gruber92]

Watching Manoah right now is painful. You can just see there's something wrong

 

Yeah, he's 300 lbs with zero cardio.

[Stottlemyres_Bloody_Chin]

Please stop, my eyes are bleeding.

 

Typical response from you when you have no retort

[John_Havok]

Yeah, he's 300 lbs with zero cardio.

 

Bad cardio doesnt make your slider lose.... everything. But, just as a matter of principle he should want to be in better shape.

[Stangstag]

For a little perspective, mlb teams use an average of 10 different starters in a season. So yeah until Manoah can be reworked we might need to find a bridge until Ryu is ready post AS break, but thatÂ’s mlb for ya.

 

As someone that felt we maybe overpaid a little( not a ton but a tad) on the Varsho trade, Varsho has actually looked at little better at the plate this series. Walking a few times and getting a few hits. His upside if he even comes close to his output during the second half of last year is still very high. I miss LGJÂ’s line up lengthening bat though,

ESP now that his power is back. Moreno is starting the session solidly ( for the amount heÂ’s played in the majors) for Arizona for sure, but itÂ’s pretty early to determine his long time value . I was actually hoping we traded for Ketel Marte instead of Varsho , but I guess that wouldnÂ’t work with the budget nor would Arizona likely have let him go.

 

If we couldnÂ’t get Marte I wanted Bryan Reynolds from Pittsburgh. At the time it seemed like he wanted out of Pittsburgh and that the Pirates were gonna have to move him. Sadly neither of those deals could be had though and probably LGJ and Moreno wouldnÂ’t have even been the best offers they received anyways.

 

Given that we have trouble sometimes attracting talent for fair pay during free agency weÂ’ve had to rely on the trade deadline a lot. WeÂ’ve actually done very well during most trade deadlines but I fear we donÂ’t have the prospects to win this years trade deadline again.

 

WeÂ’ve had to use a lot of good ones recently for trades and weÂ’ve never done a complete rebuild, always favoring putting out teams that could win enough to just stay close but not go all the way through out most of the 2010Â’s. That was a Rogers business decision. Keep us watching games without spending with the big boys to go all the way.

 

Anyways, i still think we will at least make a WC spot this year so IÂ’m not giving up yet. Gonna have to stretch a few guys out some before the AS break and maybe have BP days. Big Nate might get his best chance to stretch out some and work his way back towards being a starter again lol. Funny how opportunity works

 

This is a very balanced and fair take

[gruber92]

f*** off Vladdy

[John_Havok]

The ultimate test for Vlad.... will he remain patient against a guy with not-so-great command? Or swing at the first borderline pitch and roll over/pop-up?

 

 

That didn't take long.

 

 

Swing at the first pitch (well inside) and roll over wins.

[Orgfiller]

The ultimate test for Vlad.... will he remain patient against a guy with not-so-great command? Or swing at the first borderline pitch and roll over/pop-up?

 

Yup

[TorontonianJD]

My god Vladdy.

[Laika]

First pitch breaking ball not in the zone... gotta swing!

[John_Havok]

Vlad brain is just broken when the pressure is on. He assumes the pitcher will throw him something hittable and just decides to swing first pitch every time.

[Orgfiller]

Vlad has to be the most angsty good hitter in a clutch spot. He just can't look for a good pitch, just has to make an impact on anything close to the zone and as usual makes weak contact as a result of swinging at junk.

[mphenhef]

At this point, anyone surprised by that last at bat outcome? I want so bad for the expectation there to be good things, but it really isn't.

[gruber92]

Bad cardio doesnt make your slider lose.... everything. But, just as a matter of principle he should want to be in better shape.

 

You can't feel even slightly winded when your pitching, everything will be flat and command won't be there. The pitch clock f***ed him, now he has to adjust.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Soooo, 2-13 in the last 15 divisional games.

 

That's poooopy

 

Hopefully this bunch of inconsistent buttholes can turn it around, lots of season left but it really seems like the division has left us in the dust now and going forward.

 

And this is coming from someone who is usually optimistic.

 

Hope I'm wrong.

[Stottlemyres_Bloody_Chin]

If Atkins intention was to improve the outfield defense and to get a left handed batter, giving up Gurriel but most especially a very young Moreno was not the best way to go. They could have done better than a career .220 batter in Varsho.

 

Careful! The Hive doesn't like this type of post.

[John_Havok]

You can't feel even slightly winded when your pitching, everything will be flat and command won't be there. The pitch clock f***ed him, now he has to adjust.

 

naw, that's a lazy narrative. His slider hadnt been there since the 1st game of the season. His cardio has nothing to do with that.

[DigitalRock]

Damn this team is outright depressing right now.

[gruber92]

Kirk's defence doesn't look good at all. I still can't believe management was ok with Kirk long term with his body type and giving up 6 years of Moreno and Gurriel in a contract year for 4 years of Colby Rasmus.

 

I know I've been saying this for years, but this team won't win anything with Atkins running the show.

[Blue Jays Lurker 2023]

Careful! The Hive doesn't like this type of post.

 

No problem, it’s a free forum and everyone should be entitled with their opinion, but I will stay in my lane.

 

It is a long season, 3 games back from two wild card spots is very easy to overcome when all cylinders are clicking. My initial post was to point out the current situation, although some issues with a long term impact to where the team is heading.

 

I hope this team can recover.

[Stottlemyres_Bloody_Chin]

Can we all agree that Alkins hasn't been good as his job?

 

2 years ago no one would have ever believed we'd be lucky enough to be spending up against the luxury tax, and that's without having Bo or Vlad signed long term.

 

The farm is barren, there's no one there to help us and we need it desperately.

 

Shapiro has been great with the Player development complex and the RC renos. But despite trashing AA for trading the farm and vowing to build a strong pipeline with the farm system, they have failed to develop the prospect pipeline that they said would keep them sustainable.

 

Instead they've had to spend, spend, spend to try to fill in the holes that the weak farm system couldn't fill.

 

Now we are absolutely f***ed. Highest payroll in franchise history by a country mile so we should be at the top. Our future outlook is not good right now.

 

I would have loved to see what AA could have done with 230+ million to spend.

 

I've been a die-hard fan since 1986 and this is about as frustrated as I've ever been with this team.

 

And let me cap it off with a massive f*** you to Spanx in advance of his inevitable ass response to this post.

[JaysFan99]

If Atkins intention was to improve the outfield defense and to get a left handed batter, giving up Gurriel but most especially a very young Moreno was not the best way to go. They could have done better than a career .220 batter in Varsho.

 

I did not like that trade when it happened and like it even less right now. I knew we were going to trade one of Gurriel or Teo, but I honestly thought we'd try to sign the one we didn't trade and I was a big supporter of converting Moreno to another position and keeping him if they weren't going to trade Kirk or Jansen. It seemed like that's what they were doing when they had him playing at other positions in the minors.

[Spanky99]

Typical response from you when you have no retort

 

Idiot ^^^

[Orgfiller]

Kirk's defence doesn't look good at all. I still can't believe management was ok with Kirk long term with his body type and giving up 6 years of Moreno and Gurriel in a contract year for 4 years of Colby Rasmus.

 

I know I've been saying this for years, but this team won't win anything with Atkins running the show.

 

What's been the problem with Kirk's defense? His arm has been lacklustre, but as evidenced by games like today the pitchers aren't giving him anything to work with. He's a good framer and an excellent pitch blocker, two aspects in which he's been better than Moreno at.