General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[Jimcanuck]

and is 5 years older and massacred by injuries in 2023. How is that in any way some kind of a defense of Bellinger?

 

Altuve has always had relatively low EV and Hard Hit. His EV and Hard Hit in 2022 (164 wRC+) were even lower than 2023.

 

Bellinger in 2023 adopted the Altuve plate approach. Stat scouting doesn't tell the whole story.

 

An approach of "don't strike out, put the ball in play, punish mistakes" will generate low EV and Hard Hit.

[Laika]

These guys like Bregman and Altuve are more about barrel control and having the ability to pull fly balls at will

 

Bellinger might have become such a player but his career long strikeout issues make one skeptical of him having that level of hit tool / barrel control

[max silver]

These guys like Bregman and Altuve are more about barrel control and having the ability to pull fly balls at will

 

Bellinger might have become such a player but his career long strikeout issues make one skeptical of him having that level of hit tool / barrel control

 

That's why it's likely best for Bellinger to take a short term deal to prove that he's developed into one of these Statcast beaters and not the beneficiary of a single fluke season.

[Jimcanuck]

These guys like Bregman and Altuve are more about barrel control and having the ability to pull fly balls at will

 

Bellinger might have become such a player but his career long strikeout issues make one skeptical of him having that level of hit tool / barrel control

 

Yeah I am not saying he is at the same level. Altuve is in a class of his own. I can see Bellinger having close to Bregman bat control and putting up similar numbers with more SB and more defensive value.

 

Altuve's 2022 is crazy. 6 percentile EV, 5 percentile HardHit, 164 wRC+

[Jimcanuck]

That's why it's likely best for Bellinger to take a short term deal to prove that he's developed into one of these Statcast beaters and not the beneficiary of a single fluke season.

 

Can't say it was a fluke, dropping the K rate from 27.3% to 15.6% has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with a change in approach. The question is not one of luck, but whether he can sustain the results as pitchers change strategy etc.

[BTS]

Can't say it was a fluke, dropping the K rate from 27.3% to 15.6% has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with a change in approach. The question is not one of luck, but whether he can sustain the results as pitchers change strategy etc.

 

The argument isn't that the contact was luck, it's that outperforming statcast was luck.

[max silver]

Can't say it was a fluke, dropping the K rate from 27.3% to 15.6% has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with a change in approach. The question is not one of luck, but whether he can sustain the results as pitchers change strategy etc.

 

The extent of the improvements to the results very well may be an unrepeatable fluke. His underlying numbers more support something in the 110-115 wRC+ range so he needs to prove he can repeat the 2023 numbers.

[Jimcanuck]

The extent of the improvements to the results very well may be an unrepeatable fluke. His underlying numbers more support something in the 110-115 wRC+ range so he needs to prove he can repeat the 2023 numbers.

 

Yeah I can buy that Bellinger benefited from some luck in 2023 and that the sustainable outcome is a bit less. Or it could go the other way and he increases his EV such that he exceeds the 2023 result. We know he has the talent.

[Rimar]

That's why it's likely best for Bellinger to take a short term deal to prove that he's developed into one of these Statcast beaters and not the beneficiary of a single fluke season.

 

A contract similar to what Springer get. Something like150 millions for 6 years

[Brownie19]

Yeah I can buy that Bellinger benefited from some luck in 2023 and that the sustainable outcome is a bit less. Or it could go the other way and he increases his EV such that he exceeds the 2023 result. We know he has the talent.

 

Interesting debate guys - enjoyed reading it.

[Rimar]

Well they've both already proven they are asking for more than the Blue Jays are willing to give them without being forced into it through arbitration so I think you're right.

In fact we will know in the first half of season. If jays have good start, and long term contracts offers made to Bichette and Vlad, if they refuse discuss it, will be clear they want to test free agency.

[Brownie19]

Blue Jays LHP prospect Ricky Tiedemann is not facing an extended absence after undergoing an MRI that revealed minor inflammation between his left hamstring and calf muscles.

 

Blue Jays manager John Schneider added that Tiedemann isn’t expected to miss too much time and is likely to resume throwing in a few days. It’s an extremely encouraging update as it likely rules out the possibility that the 21-year-old top pitching prospect will require a lengthy absence. His recovery and workload will be closely monitored over the rest of spring training, but it’s arguably a best-case scenario outcome for Toronto.

[deanmike]

Barger/Orelvis/Palmegiani 3B truthers are not gonna like that all 3 of them are playing today, yet Escobar is at 3B loool

[Laika]

Hilarious lineup

[Sorrow]

Out of curiosity has anyone seen any Sportsnet now promo codes?

[Spanky99]

Hilarious lineup

 

The ST road team lineup, no vets taking the bus today, lol.

[Stangstag]

Barger/Orelvis/Palmegiani 3B truthers are not gonna like that all 3 of them are playing today, yet Escobar is at 3B loool

 

Yeah none of those guys will play 3B for the MLB team.

[saskjayfan]

The ST road team lineup, no vets taking the bus today, lol.

 

Making a comment about a player after 2 games of spring training is ridiculous. I'm bored so I'm going to do it anyways..lol. My way too early hot take award goes to Orelvis Martinez. 6 PA and 3 walks. Very encouraging to see considering young players usually come in swinging trying to make an impression.

[The_DH]

Do you think Orelvis could be a 3b candidate this year?

[Laika]

Do you think Orelvis could be a 3b candidate this year?

 

He's not really playing 3B anymore so it doesn't seem likely

[wilko]

He's not really playing 3B anymore so it doesn't seem likely

 

It seems like they have nobody to go over there.

[The_DH]

Too many 2b candidates and not enough 3b.

[John_Havok]

Too many 2b candidates and not enough 3b.

 

to be fair, there aren't many 3b prospects in any org that project to be an adequate replacement for Chapman.

[The_DH]

I just thought he'd be worth a shot. Any team with IKF as the starter at 3b can't be that good.

[John_Havok]

I just thought he'd be worth a shot. Any team with IKF as the starter at 3b can't be that good.

 

Defensively he'll be fine. the only ? is how well his bat will play.

[The_DH]

Defensively he'll be fine. the only ? is how well his bat will play.

 

Completely agree. The only problem is that we have a lot of key positions with underperforming bats from prior year. If the RF, LF, DH and 1B could hit as well as they should then we could survive with a meh bat at 3b. But too many meh bats.

[Stangstag]

Completely agree. The only problem is that we have a lot of key positions with underperforming bats from prior year. If the RF, LF, DH and 1B could hit as well as they should then we could survive with a meh bat at 3b. But too many meh bats.

 

Sure but would you want a meh bat + meh defender? Seems the org has soured on Barger/Schneider/Orelvis at 3B. By all accounts, it seems like none of them are adequate defenders there. Seems maybe they learned a lot from the Vlad and Biggio mistakes, don't try to force the issue.

 

I think maybe that's why they decided on IKF. At least he's an elite player at 3B in one aspect.

[Jimcanuck]

Where is the idea that Barger can't do 3b coming from

[The_DH]

Probably just comes from the fact that he's playing more rf.

[The Cats Ass]

Probably just comes from the fact that he's playing more rf.

 

I think it was just to get him more reps in a different location last year. If you lump 3B and SS together in one category, he's played more left infield than RF.