GDT: 4/4 Blue Jays @ Guardians (1:10pm et)

[Spanky99]

The problem is their “top” players are incredibly unlikable. The vets who I enjoy watching are gone after this season

 

Who, I get the frustration with Vlad, or do you mean more to the preseason projections?

[CdnSteeler]

s***** split... Oof.

 

That's what the Guardians are saying too.

[Spanky99]

That's what the Guardians are saying too.

 

[Terminator]

I really feel like if Vlad was just a good player still (not even a great player) the team would be so much more watchable and enjoyable.

 

He's incredibly frustrating to watch.

 

And this probably isn't fair but the light hearted antics while he's struggling to be above replacement level make him tough to like.

[bluejaysinternNo5]

At this point you just have to accept that Vlad is just a personality for the casual fans - they absolutely adore him.

[CdnSteeler]

Manoah should not be starting any more games. We should go back to a five man rotation of Gausman-Berrios-Bassitt-Kikuchi-Ryu.

 

Send Manoah so deep in the minors that he can't find his way back.

[Jonn]

I just don’t understand how this team can’t even score off of this broken down version of Noah Syndergaard.

[Spanky99]

I just don’t understand how this team can’t even score off of this broken down version of Noah Syndergaard.

 

They hit him hard, just not in sequence.

[Stangstag]

All the talent in the world handed to him. Talent got him to the bigs but the absolute lack of motivation and discipline has rendered him average

 

 

It's a lesson

 

Maybe he’s just to stupid to win the mind games at the major league level?

 

Vlad’s mentality is basically “swing as hard as I can at any pitch in the strike zone”. I don’t think he ever goes up to the plate with a plan.

[DigitalRock]

This has to be one of the infuriating jays teams ever

[JFD]

At this point you just have to accept that Vlad is just a personality for the casual fans - they absolutely adore him.

 

His value is that of a team mascot

[BlueBaller]

Most disappointing player in history of sports for me

[Terminator]

He was a generational 70 FV talent that is playing like a 40 FV. Yikes

[G-Snarls]

He was a generational 70 FV talent that is playing like a 40 FV. Yikes

 

I think it's all still in there personally

 

Not giving up hope

[G-Snarls]

Rays losing at least

[Daniel Labude]

What happened to Schneider...getting blown up by Thor's high school pitches is ugggggggggly. Might be time for retirement after that showing

[Daniel Labude]

I hope the Mariners catch up with the Jays. That's the only way this team fires the hitting coach.

 

Missing the playoffs might get him an extension though given this FO lol

[jaysblue]

I think it's all still in there personally

 

Not giving up hope

 

Jays are stuck in limbo with Vladdy.

 

Can't really trade him since his value is at its lowest and can't sign him to an extension since he's been awful this season and meh in 2022.

 

Pretty much have to go year-to-year with him in 2024 and 2025 in hopes he can have at least another monster season before he becomes a FA. Will suck because if he has a monster season in 2024 or 2025, he's gone as a FA signing a monster deal.

[jaysblue]

He was a generational 70 FV talent that is playing like a 40 FV. Yikes

 

He's looking more like Eric Hinske out there now with the bat.

[Brownie19]

He's looking more like Eric Hinske out there now with the bat.

 

stop with this terrible comparison please.

[JFD]

Apparently that Springer K was actually legit and robo umps would have rung him up as well.

 

Edited August 11, 2023 by JFD

[jaysblue]

stop with this terrible comparison please.

 

Lmao you're so easy to trigger haha

[Brownie19]

Lmao you're so easy to trigger haha

 

Dude - it's just a poor comparison. One comp I've often thought about is Bryce Harper (with that bat). Bryce put up some VERY solid seasons at age 19 and 20, then fell off a bit in his age 21 season (115 wRC+, while missing time) before exploding in his age 22 season (197 wRC+). The following year, he fell back to a 111 wRC+ season. Since then, he's settled in more as a 140 wRC+ hitter, but did have a huge 2021 (170 wRC+).

 

Vlad's wRC+ numbers have always been behind Harpers, but it seemed like a similar pattern. 2 solid, yet unspectacular seasons as a 20 and 21 year old, followed by an MVP type season at age 22 and then a drop off the following season. Unfortunately Vlad hasn't really made the adjustments this year to right the ship.

 

They obviously get it done in different ways (Harper walks and K's more), but the results seemed similar for 2 very young phenoms.

[Laika]

Dude - it's just a poor comparison. One comp I've often thought about is Bryce Harper (with that bat). Bryce put up some VERY solid seasons at age 19 and 20, then fell off a bit in his age 21 season (115 wRC+, while missing time) before exploding in his age 22 season (197 wRC+). The following year, he fell back to a 111 wRC+ season. Since then, he's settled in more as a 140 wRC+ hitter, but did have a huge 2021 (170 wRC+).

 

Vlad's wRC+ numbers have always been behind Harpers, but it seemed like a similar pattern. 2 solid, yet unspectacular seasons as a 20 and 21 year old, followed by an MVP type season at age 22 and then a drop off the following season. Unfortunately Vlad hasn't really made the adjustments this year to right the ship.

 

They obviously get it done in different ways (Harper walks and K's more), but the results seemed similar for 2 very young phenoms.

 

interesting comparison

 

Harper's struggles with the stick were of course softened by the fact that he was a decent baserunner and okay RF but offensively I see it

 

Harper's 115 and 111 wRC+ years were pretty disappointing relative to his hype

[Stangstag]

 

Complete game no hitter incoming.

 

Loll these guys have the audacity to give out betting advice… if you’ve been watching the Jays at all recently you could have predicted the actual outcome

[jaysblue]

Dude - it's just a poor comparison. One comp I've often thought about is Bryce Harper (with that bat). Bryce put up some VERY solid seasons at age 19 and 20, then fell off a bit in his age 21 season (115 wRC+, while missing time) before exploding in his age 22 season (197 wRC+). The following year, he fell back to a 111 wRC+ season. Since then, he's settled in more as a 140 wRC+ hitter, but did have a huge 2021 (170 wRC+).

 

Vlad's wRC+ numbers have always been behind Harpers, but it seemed like a similar pattern. 2 solid, yet unspectacular seasons as a 20 and 21 year old, followed by an MVP type season at age 22 and then a drop off the following season. Unfortunately Vlad hasn't really made the adjustments this year to right the ship.

 

They obviously get it done in different ways (Harper walks and K's more), but the results seemed similar for 2 very young phenoms.

 

You can't take a joke geez FFS.

 

Yeah Harper is a good comparison in terms of the years he struggled. There were seasons Harper never lived up to the hype. I still think Vlad could have another MVP type season in him. Likely will come in his walk year.

[jaysblue]

Loll these guys have the audacity to give out betting advice… if you’ve been watching the Jays at all recently you could have predicted the actual outcome

 

A lot of these gambling guys don't follow baseball as closely as die hard fans do of a certain team. I never take the advice of these guys who provide betting advice.

[Stangstag]

A lot of these gambling guys don't follow baseball as closely as die hard fans do of a certain team. I never take the advice of these guys who provide betting advice.

 

I had a work friend that used to ask me for betting advice… on spring training baseball.

 

I was like dude, my advice is don’t even try that lol

[june.june]

So class of an act for both the Jays organization and Jose Bautista to agree on a 1 day contract so Joey Bats can retire as a Jay. Amazing player on and off the court.

 

All time WAR leader.

 

He could teach some of these current Jays a thing or two about performing when it matters most and under the brightest of lights. Outseat those two coaches Martinez and Hudgens

 

Or more so…

 

He can still swing the bat at this age and drive runs with RISP, way better than the bottom of the order of the current line up.

[RustyTrombone]

So class of an act for both the Jays organization and Jose Bautista to agree on a 1 day contract so Joey Bats can retire as a Jay. Amazing player on and off the court.

 

All time WAR leader.

 

He could teach some of these current Jays a thing or two about performing when it matters most and under the brightest of lights. Outseat those two coaches Martinez and Hudgens

 

Or more so…

 

He can still swing the bat at this age and drive runs with RISP, way better than the bottom of the order of the current line up.

 

He could teach them a thing or two about hunting fastballs and pulling them for damage and laying off the slop pitches.....