General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[Jays24]

https://theathletic.com/5258158/2024/02/09/mlb-farm-system-rankings-2024/

 

Keith Law's farm system rankings. Orioles are 1 and the Jays are 20.

[saskjayfan]

Nothing intrigus me more right now than the reports of how Alejandro Kirk looks coming into camp. Will it be looks like he lost 10lbs, 20 to 30lbs, 30-40 lbs, or more than 40lbs, almost unrecognizable and a massive transformation. Someone should post a poll for predictions. I'm not good at that s***.

 

Just saw a cllip of Kirk hitting on Twitter. Looks more like 10 to 20lbs. I was hoping for better. I wish he would just get in shape. His talent is ridiculous.

[Spanky99]

Just saw a cllip of Kirk hitting on Twitter. Looks more like 10 to 20lbs. I was hoping for better. I wish he would just get in shape. His talent is ridiculous.

 

Who was the tweet from?

[John_Havok]

Manoah is going to get rocked in spring training.

 

Who cares. I care if he gets rocked after March 28th.

[Abomination]

I'm hoping Manoah and White don't make the regular season roster.

 

Personally I'm hoping Manoah bounces back to 2021 and 2022 form, but whatever floats your boat.

[max silver]

Just saw a cllip of Kirk hitting on Twitter. Looks more like 10 to 20lbs. I was hoping for better. I wish he would just get in shape. His talent is ridiculous.

 

I'd be thrilled about 20 pounds of weight loss in a single off season personally, the key would be keeping the excess weight off and improving further in subsequent offseasons. The last thing I want to see a major league player is crash dieting and losing a bunch of lean muscle tissue and strength as a result. A loss of around a pound per week is sustainable and would allow Kirk to continue to get stronger in his lifts.

[max silver]

I'm hoping Manoah and White don't make the regular season roster.

 

So you want to see the likes of Francis or Parsons getting starts to begin the season? That sounds awesome.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I'm not a fan, he's a mouth piece like Donaldson and Stroman.

 

What about White? Is he a mouth piece too?

 

Either way, it's a stupid f***ing thing to hope for these players to fail if you're a Jays fan.

 

Personally I hope Manoah, White, Tiedemann, Rodriguez and every other jays pitcher are f***ing lights out this season.

[polar bear]

I'm hoping Manoah and White don't make the regular season roster.

 

If they prove good enough,then they are more than welcome.

[Jays24]

Why not just post the list here instead of a link to pay for a subscription. Soy boy liberal Keith law doesn’t deserve any money.

 

You think I pay for s*** either? Just sharing the rankings that I saw lol

[John_Havok]

Why not just post the list here instead of a link to pay for a subscription. Soy boy liberal Keith law doesn’t deserve any money.

 

1. Orioles

2. Brewers

3. Dodgers

4. Diamondbacks

5. Cubs

6. Tigers

7. Yankees

8. Red Sox

9. Pirates

10. White Sox

11. Nationals

12. Rays

13. Cardinals

14. Reds

15. Mets

16. Mariners

17. Twins

18. Padres

19. Phillies

20. Jays

21. Rangers

22. Guardians

23. Giants

24. Rockies

25. Royals

26. Braves

27. Astros

28. Marlins

29. Angels

30. Athletics

 

Would have posted the explanation blurbs but in typical Law fashion, they really don't make much sense.

[Laika]

The blurbs are very short. The Jays one basically says

 

- some really exciting guys in the low minors

- many returning prospects stalled or even took steps backward last year

- Orelvis' big year helped

- Nimmala was a steal in the draft

 

 

This is not stated by KL but reading between the lines, he has Toronto in some big tier of teams that might range all the way from the Mets (15) or Mariners (16) to the Royals (25) and it is hard to discern between those teams

[John_Havok]

That's the thing. They don't prove they're good enough and they still play. I think Atkins has a hard on for White myself.

 

the 12 innings he pitched last season before being DFA really supports your declaration well.

[burlingtonbandit]

Interesting: in the comments Law said Jays have been pretty good at finding talent in Latin America, but player development has been bad.

 

Barriera write up is pretty gross. Said he gained 50 pounds. Wonder if the jays just completely whiffed on the makeup or what but how the hell do you even gain that much weight lol.

[Laika]

Notes from KL prospect writeups:

 

Leo Jimenez... boosted his peak exit velocity for the third straight year, reaching 110 mph in Triple A. He’s got a simple right-handed swing that emphasizes contact, with some tendency to pull the ball, and now he’s grown into the strength to hit like that and have some more success.

 

Addison Barger... hurt his throwing elbow early last year

 

Kendry Rojas... has a loose, athletic body and looks like he could easily show up with 2 more mph at any time, at which point the outlook would change. Right now it’s fourth or fifth starter with that pitch mix, as long as he builds up to that workload.

 

Enmanuel Bonilla... "is one of the best athletes in the system and extremely strong already, a plus runner who can stick in center and who has plus raw power right now... For pure upside, he might lead the whole system"

 

Brandon Barriera... lost a lot of weight this offseason and seems to be regaining some of the arm strength

 

Fernando Perez is... a ways off but projects as a league-average starter.

 

Chad Dallas has.... back-end upside for sure, just some risk that major-league hitters will lay off the slider below the zone and force him to throw strikes with the fastball.

 

Nolan Perry has.... a solid-average curveball that projects to plus and an average fastball at 90-94 mph... he has the frame to become a mid-rotation starter in time if he develops a real weapon for lefties.

 

Alan Roden... fringy power... does not swing and miss, and that will probably carry him to a big-league bench spot

 

David Guzman... a fun-sized corner outfielder (listed at 5-7, 160) who makes a ton of contact already... with a chance for average power at his peak... a 55 runner who should end up in right field, with an accurate arm and great instincts in the field and on the bases.

 

Yosver Zulueta... cannot throw strikes

 

Jace Bohrofen... a steal in last year’s sixth round, a hard-hitting center fielder with 20-homer upside

 

Manuel Beltre... has gained quite a bit of muscle, but he’s still not impacting the ball anywhere near enough to be more than an up-and-down guy

[Brownie19]

DFA'd yet here he is on the 40 man roster again. 2021 he had an ERA in the 3s, 2022 in the 5s and 2023 in the 7s; maybe this year he will post an ERA in the 9s!

 

Take the L man.

[Olerud363]

Notes from KL prospect writeups:

 

Leo Jimenez... boosted his peak exit velocity for the third straight year, reaching 110 mph in Triple A. HeÂ’s got a simple right-handed swing that emphasizes contact, with some tendency to pull the ball, and now heÂ’s grown into the strength to hit like that and have some more success.

 

Addison Barger... hurt his throwing elbow early last year

 

Kendry Rojas... has a loose, athletic body and looks like he could easily show up with 2 more mph at any time, at which point the outlook would change. Right now itÂ’s fourth or fifth starter with that pitch mix, as long as he builds up to that workload.

 

Enmanuel Bonilla... "is one of the best athletes in the system and extremely strong already, a plus runner who can stick in center and who has plus raw power right now... For pure upside, he might lead the whole system"

 

Brandon Barriera... lost a lot of weight this offseason and seems to be regaining some of the arm strength

 

Fernando Perez is... a ways off but projects as a league-average starter.

 

Chad Dallas has.... back-end upside for sure, just some risk that major-league hitters will lay off the slider below the zone and force him to throw strikes with the fastball.

 

Nolan Perry has.... a solid-average curveball that projects to plus and an average fastball at 90-94 mph... he has the frame to become a mid-rotation starter in time if he develops a real weapon for lefties.

 

Alan Roden... fringy power... does not swing and miss, and that will probably carry him to a big-league bench spot

 

David Guzman... a fun-sized corner outfielder (listed at 5-7, 160) who makes a ton of contact already... with a chance for average power at his peak... a 55 runner who should end up in right field, with an accurate arm and great instincts in the field and on the bases.

 

Yosver Zulueta... cannot throw strikes

 

Jace Bohrofen... a steal in last yearÂ’s sixth round, a hard-hitting center fielder with 20-homer upside

 

Manuel Beltre... has gained quite a bit of muscle, but heÂ’s still not impacting the ball anywhere near enough to be more than an up-and-down guy

 

Will be interesting to see where Bonilla, Guzman, and Nimmala end up this year. Will they be pushed aggressively to full season low A? If so could have have 3 18 year olds with big upside there. Memories of the 2017 low A class

[TheHurl]

I take it as a positive that conditioning is being prioritized this season. My biggest knock on the front office was there appeared to be nothing done between the disconnect with players and coaching last year. The assumption was that more of the coaches would be removed. So now if physical and mental conditioning are being prioritized, if success isn't there the F.O. and coaching staff have failed and have to go

[BatFlip]

Not my fault Atkins loves his younger asian males.

 

Is your contribution to this forum going to consist of cynical/emotional/childish takes on everything? Do you have enough money to spend on therapy, because I suggest it.

[Terminator]

Notes from KL prospect writeups:

 

Leo Jimenez... boosted his peak exit velocity for the third straight year, reaching 110 mph in Triple A. He’s got a simple right-handed swing that emphasizes contact, with some tendency to pull the ball, and now he’s grown into the strength to hit like that and have some more success.

 

Kendry Rojas... has a loose, athletic body and looks like he could easily show up with 2 more mph at any time, at which point the outlook would change. Right now it’s fourth or fifth starter with that pitch mix, as long as he builds up to that workload.

 

Jace Bohrofen... a steal in last year’s sixth round, a hard-hitting center fielder with 20-homer upside

 

110 exit velo on Jimenez is very encouraging. Always thought this guy was slap hitter with a good glove but he's progressing very well as he moves through the ranks.

 

Everything I read on Kendry Rojas suggests that he's developing very well and has a chance to be a pretty good starter if it continues.

 

Jace Bohrofen could be something. He was BA's #48 high school draft prospect and chose college. He didn't really play much until his junior year when he finally started and he raked. Law suggests that he's a legit CF. I thought he was more of a corner guy but that could raise his profile as well.

[Stangstag]

That one season Manoah was good he was still a piece of s***. Mouthing off to proven athletes for no reason.

 

Trevor Bauer would be nice but probably not going to happen in a city like Toronto.

 

You don’t like Manoah because he was mouthing off, but you wanna sign Bauer.

 

Hmmmmm…..

[leaffie]

Manoah is a giant baby. Literally a big, giant, fat baby.

 

He is also a young guy who has had no father in his life, to help him when he struggled. He has had nothing but success

And was treated quite differently than most rookies. He was miked up at the all star game for the first time, he was given the starting game by the Jays, when he shouldnt have had it.

 

He was treated as “special” and like a lot of young men,he couldnt handle it.

 

If he comes back this year with no improvement, then fine he wont be the first. But all this fat slob, and nasty criticism

Shows more about the posters than it does about him.

[Brownie19]

Manoah is a giant baby. Literally a big, giant, fat baby.

 

Where is this coming from? Because he put up a stink after being sent down last year? All your other complaints (and the typical ones) are that Manoah is a hot head who likes controversy and is a big talker. You may not realize that he grew up in an abusive household with an alcoholic father who's in jail. The guy's seemingly had a chip on his shoulder his whole life. That's likely to be one of the reasons he's been successful; albeit also a reason why some don't like him. I can certainly appreciate someone like Manoah who's out there trying to break the vicious cycle.

[Jays24]

Blue Jays fan survey results: Diminished excitement, lowered confidence in 2024 team

 

https://theathletic.com/5257579/2024/02/12/blue-jays-fan-survey-results-2024/

[burlingtonbandit]

Blue Jays fan survey results: Diminished excitement, lowered confidence in 2024 team

 

https://theathletic.com/5257579/2024/02/12/blue-jays-fan-survey-results-2024/

 

Seems about right. Shapiro faring a little better than Atkins which the majority of fans are getting tired of. Lots of people think the pitching is good but the offence is weak and there isn't as much optimism heading into the season as the last couple of years.

[Krylian]

Seems about right. Shapiro faring a little better than Atkins which the majority of fans are getting tired of. Lots of people think the pitching is good but the offence is weak and there isn't as much optimism heading into the season as the last couple of years.

 

...and what are the odds the pitching remains as healthy as it was last season.

[glory]

110 exit velo on Jimenez is very encouraging. Always thought this guy was slap hitter with a good glove but he's progressing very well as he moves through the ranks.

 

Everything I read on Kendry Rojas suggests that he's developing very well and has a chance to be a pretty good starter if it continues.

 

Jace Bohrofen could be something. He was BA's #48 high school draft prospect and chose college. He didn't really play much until his junior year when he finally started and he raked. Law suggests that he's a legit CF. I thought he was more of a corner guy but that could raise his profile as well.

 

If Jimenez is a legit above average defensive SS then I think he's a real prospect. He's already got good plate discipline at a young age and if you mix that with some power potential (combined with the defense) then you might have a decent player there. Whether he can hit enough to start on a good team is the question. With Bichette two years away from free agency, and Jimenez out of options in 2025, he's likely going to factor into their plans in one way or another (either as a big league piece or a trade piece).

[Jimcanuck]

Blue Jays fan survey results: Diminished excitement, lowered confidence in 2024 team

 

https://theathletic.com/5257579/2024/02/12/blue-jays-fan-survey-results-2024/

 

Those results would do a 180 if Bellinger is signed

[Terminator]

Those results would do a 180 if Bellinger is signed

 

The casual fans would love it I'm sure.

 

And then in Year 3 of a 6 or 7 year deal when he's an albatross and his contract has stopped us from making any moves that offseason they'll have diminished excitement and lowered confidence again.

[Terminator]

If Jimenez is a legit above average defensive SS then I think he's a real prospect. He's already got good plate discipline at a young age and if you mix that with some power potential (combined with the defense) then you might have a decent player there. Whether he can hit enough to start on a good team is the question. With Bichette two years away from free agency, and Jimenez out of options in 2025, he's likely going to factor into their plans in one way or another (either as a big league piece or a trade piece).

 

I'm thinking maybe he can be JP Crawford prior to his power outbreak.