General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[BigCecil]

it is unfortunate but this happens from time to time with pitchers

they just decline in their 20s and they are done

sometimes they get hurt, sometimes the league figures them out, sometimes they do a bunch of blow and crash a speed boat into a bridge GTA style

Toronto should expect nothing from him

he never had good stuff, really. it was mid/back rotation stuff at best.

 

All very true, but lets not forget he is a "big strong man" with an "edge" so he has that goin' for him.

[Laika]

You're putting a lot of faith in the numbers and 87 innings and ignoring 300+ innings. He came into camp out of shape and had a arm issue and had to adjust to the pitch clock. If you've done it before, you can do it again. I fully expect Manoah to be better this year. He's a competitive dude and his slider will be better this year.

 

Did you watch him pitch?

 

It was perhaps the worst demonstration of major league starting pitching I have ever seen.

 

The only comparable season that I have personally watched that may have been as thoroughly awful would be.... Gustavo Chacin after he got figured out.

 

A lot of the other modern SP disasters in Toronto, the players did something a bit better. Kikuchi 2022 was a nightmare but he still missed bats so you could see how he could improve. Ricky Romero sucked at the end but he ate innings in 2012 even when he could barely walk. Aaron Sanchez was goddawful for a bit but his stuff was still good and he remained "hard to hit" sort of.

 

I think people are kidding themselves if they think he deserves another chance, or it was just some injury he can get over, or the sample size matters at all.

 

If he was in Atlanta AA already would have traded him for a AAA reliever

[Jimcanuck]

Not expecting anything but garbage innings from Manoah in 2024

[Brownie19]

Did you watch him pitch?

 

It was perhaps the worst demonstration of major league starting pitching I have ever seen.

 

The only comparable season that I have personally watched that may have been as thoroughly awful would be.... Gustavo Chacin after he got figured out.

 

A lot of the other modern SP disasters in Toronto, the players did something a bit better. Kikuchi 2022 was a nightmare but he still missed bats so you could see how he could improve. Ricky Romero sucked at the end but he ate innings in 2012 even when he could barely walk. Aaron Sanchez was goddawful for a bit but his stuff was still good and he remained "hard to hit" sort of.

 

I think people are kidding themselves if they think he deserves another chance, or it was just some injury he can get over, or the sample size matters at all.

 

If he was in Atlanta AA already would have traded him for a AAA reliever

 

or signed him to an extension...

[BigCecil]

Manoah also needs to regain some of the lost pep on his fastball as he's basically turned into a soft tosser that relied on command for the handful of good starts he provided.

His command, V and what stuff he had all suffered major decline in 2023. Hard to expect much in 2024 from him. If he can find some more V, locate better and regain the movement on his slider well…sure. But you can say those sorts of things about lots of mediocre arms. Big ifs.

[Spanky99]

His command, V and what stuff he had all suffered major decline in 2023. Hard to expect much in 2024 from him. If he can find some more V, locate better and regain the movement on his slider well…sure. But you can say those sorts of things about lots of mediocre arms. Big ifs.

 

I'm just hoping for back end rotation inning eater with some respectable numbers at this point, here's to *Hope*.

[Spanky99]

I post his BA report earlier this offseason...

 

Yariel Rodriguez, RHP

Born: March 10, 1997. B-T: R-R. HT: 6-1. WT: 214.

 

Track Record: Rodriguez was a soft-tossing starter with an 87-90 mph fastball in Cuba’s Serie Nacional before blossoming with a move to Japan. His stuff increased markedly over three seasons with Chunichi and he emerged as one of NPB’s top setup men with a 1.15 ERA in 56 appearances in 2022. He returned to starting for Cuba in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and delivered a pair of solid outings to raise his profile as a starter. He did not return to Chunichi for the regular season and spent the year training in preparation for a move to MLB.

 

Scouting Report: Rodriguez is an aggressive power pitcher whose stuff and performance keep improving. His four-seam fastball is now a plus pitch that sits 94-96 mph and touches 100 with natural cut. He also has a 93-96 mph two-seamer with hard armside run. Rodriguez’s main secondary pitch is an above-average, 83-86 mph slider with vertical bite and solid depth. He primarily throws his fastballs and slider and is able to dominate with them. Rodriguez lacks touch on his softer offerings. He has inconsistent feel for his fringy splitter and below-average curveball and rarely throws them. Rodriguez is a volatile, highly emotional pitcher prone to overthrowing and struggles to throttle down. He has an effortful delivery and arm action and fringy control overall.

 

The Future: Rodriguez will get a chance to start, but his arsenal and demeanor fit best in relief. He projects to be a hard-throwing but inconsistent No. 5 starter or seventh-inning setup man.

 

BA Grade: 45/Medium

 

Scouting Grades

 

Fastball: 60. Curveball: 40. Slider: 55. Splitter: 45. Control: 45

[Jays24]

Damn, a lot of dudes down on Manoah. I expect him to bounce back just like Berrios did. He just needs to keep his fat ass in the gym so he can handle the pitch clock without it messing him up.

[L54]

Why not? He's had like 90 good innings in the MLB at 29. The leash should be short.

 

Sorry I had after two starts typed out, got side tracked by multiple kids without school today and pressed reply

[Spanky99]

Sorry I had after two starts typed out, got side tracked by multiple kids without school today and pressed reply

 

Hey congrats by the way big D, she's a doll.

[Jimcanuck]

Damn, a lot of dudes down on Manoah. I expect him to bounce back just like Berrios did. He just needs to keep his fat ass in the gym so he can handle the pitch clock without it messing him up.

 

He could bounce back but it's not a realistic expectation. He was that bad.

[Spanky99]

Damn, a lot of dudes down on Manoah. I expect him to bounce back just like Berrios did. He just needs to keep his fat ass in the gym so he can handle the pitch clock without it messing him up.

 

Berrios bounced back because he's very good, I hope Alek comes back in a role we can live with, anything better would be gravy.

 

It's strange you get down on guys like Biggio/Bichette and Varsho, but have faith in what was a trainwreck season by Manoah.

[L54]

Hey congrats by the way big D, she's a doll.

 

Thanks Spanks. Our house is now split down the middle three and three

[Spanky99]

Thanks Spanks. Our house is now split down the middle three and three

 

Hahaha...

[L54]

Hahaha...

 

But with the younger two I’m going to let the kindergarten teacher choose their gender lol

 

JUST JOKES

[Eat My Shatkins]

Probably should have made a new thread for a move this big, but decided not to.

 

This should calm the whiners down for a bit lol

 

 

The Toronto Blue Jays made a move on Tuesday, claiming catcher Brian Serven from the Chicago Cubs off waivers.

 

 

The 28-year-old Serven played just 11 games with the Rockies last season before being claimed by the Cubs earlier this month. Now, the native of Palm Desert, Calif., is headed to Toronto.

 

Serven, who hits right, has appeared in 73 career big-league games and 377 minor-league contests. He has a big-league career slash line of .195/.248/.314.

 

He made his major league debut with the Rockies in 2022.

 

[Jays24]

Berrios bounced back because he's very good, I hope Alek comes back in a role we can live with, anything better would be gravy.

 

It's strange you get down on guys like Biggio/Bichette and Varsho, but have faith in what was a trainwreck season by Manoah.

 

I love Biggio as the 10th guy and think Bo was our best player by far last year. I hated Biggio when he was our fulltime 3B and Bo's defense at SS but am still very positive on them currently.

 

Now Varsho on the other hand, ya he needs to win me over with a better season at the plate considering what we gave up for him lol.

[max silver]

I love Biggio as the 10th guy and think Bo was our best player by far last year. I hated Biggio when he was our fulltime 3B and Bo's defense at SS but am still very positive on them currently.

 

Now Varsho on the other hand, ya he needs to win me over with a better season at the plate considering what we gave up for him lol.

 

Yesh I don't know how the team will carry on without a 1.7 war catcher and 2 win corner outfielder.

[Jays24]

Yesh I don't know how the team will carry on without a 1.7 war catcher and 2 win corner outfielder.

 

You can choose to be low on Moreno based on his projections (which I don't agree with) while I can choose to be low on Varsho based on his atrocious batting. Pulling for Varsho because he does seem like a great kid who is giving it his all.

[L54]

Yesh I don't know how the team will carry on without a 1.7 war catcher and 2 win corner outfielder.

 

Exactly. They basically stole a two win left fielder from Arizona

[Spanky99]

I love Biggio as the 10th guy and think Bo was our best player by far last year. I hated Biggio when he was our fulltime 3B and Bo's defense at SS but am still very positive on them currently.

 

Now Varsho on the other hand, ya he needs to win me over with a better season at the plate considering what we gave up for him lol.

 

I don't see what's funny and thanks for proving my point, you're an idiot.

[Spanky99]

Exactly. They basically stole a two win left fielder from Arizona

 

lame

[Jays24]

I don't see what's funny and thanks for proving my point, you're an idiot.

 

You're an idiot for hating Manoah who already had a Cy young type season in the majors and preferring him to a guy people didn't want to see in the batting lineup at the end of last season. If only there was such thing as a designated fielder, varsho would be great

[Spanky99]

You're an idiot for hating Manoah who already had a Cy young type season in the majors and preferring him to a guy people didn't want to see in the batting lineup at the end of last season. If only there was such thing as a designated fielder, varsho would be great

 

Check analytics for once in your life, he was the worst pitcher in baseball. There's a mountain to climb. As for the Varsho trade, that remains to be seen, meat.

 

And again, you're an idiot.

[Jays24]

Check analytics for once in your life, he was the worst pitcher in baseball. There's a mountain to climb. As for the Varsho trade, that remains to be seen, meat.

 

And again, you're an idiot.

 

Manoah was horrible last year no doubt... I just think it had to do with a fat guy who couldn't handle pitching faster with the pitch clock. Wasn't mentally and physically ready for it but I think with an offseason to work on his issues, he can regain his form. Let's see

 

Varsho's issues were strictly skill related and there's also a mountain to climb for a guy who won't be playing CF primarily again. Let's hope he was a victim just like all the other Jays hitters for a subpar year. Need him to hit .250 with HRs in the high 20s.

[WryNGinger]

You're an idiot for hating Manoah who already had a Cy young type season in the majors and preferring him to a guy people didn't want to see in the batting lineup at the end of last season. If only there was such thing as a designated fielder, varsho would be great

 

I don't have a horse in this race but what the f*** is this "Cy young 'type' season"? He got some votes, but Manoah was not and should not have ever been considered a Cy young candidate. The voters bought in on some of the hype but the analytics just don't stand up.

 

He came in last year with a lot of bluster and attitude and got his s*** pushed in by the new rules, an appalling lack of conditioning and major league batting that adjusted to his stuff.

 

You're take just seems like troll bait imo

[Spanky99]

Interesting that they seem to be targeting contact hitters over pure tools. The Cards had some pretty good success with that for years, so maybe there's something to it.

 

Are you okay dude?

[Spanky99]

Manoah was horrible last year no doubt... I just think it had to do with a fat guy who couldn't handle pitching faster with the pitch clock. Wasn't mentally and physically ready for it but I think with an offseason to work on his issues, he can regain his form. Let's see

 

Varsho's issues were strictly skill related and there's also a mountain to climb for a guy who won't be playing CF primarily again. Let's hope he was a victim just like all the other Jays hitters for a subpar year. Need him to hit .250 with HRs in the high 20s.

 

So Alek's issues weren't skill related? At least Daulton added value. Wake up, man.

[Rusty_Savage]

I don't see what's funny and thanks for proving my point, you're an idiot.

I think he's just high all the time

 

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[Spanky99]

I think he's just high all the time

 

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lol