General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[Spanky99]

Time for staff to give Beavis a new vocab list.

 

D.I.A.F!!! cf

[Carlos Danger]

lineup is far from bad just not as as good as the dodgers, astros, rangers, phillies, orioles

 

Who is our aircraft carrier?

[Spanky99]

Who is our aircraft carrier?

 

Vlad and Bo?

[max silver]

Varsho is going to be good this year. Seems like he is going to run more and be more of a put it in play guy, at least in certain counts or matchups.

 

.260/.330/.450

 

20/30

 

4.5 WAR

 

My only real concern with Varsho is that the new swing path seems to be a little too ground ball oriented up to this point. Hopefully over time the swing still generates the type of power output he previously provided.

[G-Snarls]

I really hope he can become a menace on the bases. I think he has it in him.

 

I'd love to see him force the team to consider hitting him leadoff

 

But for this year Springer is looking hot again

[saskjayfan]

Varsho is going to be good this year. Seems like he is going to run more and be more of a put it in play guy, at least in certain counts or matchups.

 

.260/.330/.450

 

20/30

 

4.5 WAR

 

Don't let spring training stats fool you. I hope you're right, but you're probably not.

[Spanky99]

Don't let spring training stats fool you. I hope you're right, but you're probably not.

 

He's done it before, also you've been talking up guys from their ST stats, lol. Everyone does it to some extent on good results.

[max silver]

Don't let spring training stats fool you. I hope you're right, but you're probably not.

 

The 7.1% strikeout rate, 19% walk rate and 2.67 BB/k ratios are all but impossible to ignore.

[max silver]

He's done it before, also you've been talking up guys from their ST stats, lol. Everyone does it to some extent on good results.

 

I'd certainly prefer to see the hitters having great springs compared to the opposite. Basically all of the lineup regulars who underperformed last season are having great springs so hopefully some of this success carries over to the regular season.

[hanton]

Who is our aircraft carrier?

 

with old school Mattingly, who knows; we do lead the spring in hr apparently so there's that

[saskjayfan]

He's done it before, also you've been talking up guys from their ST stats, lol. Everyone does it to some extent on good results.

 

His best full season he put up a .745 OPS. An .780 OPS is within the realm of possibility. I just wouldn't peg him for that kind of season. I said, I hope I'm wrong..lol.

[Jays24]

I really hope he can become a menace on the bases. I think he has it in him.

 

Ya it's always been weird why a guy with his speed and instincts can't steal more bases. He truly needs to work on being able to slide head first in situations where it's needed. Also getting on base is an important factor too lol.

 

However, with the larger bases and pitch clock, no reason why he can't swipe 30 bases at least. He's gonna need find ways to provide more offensive value to the team.

[hanton]

Ya it's always been weird why a guy with his speed and instincts can't steal more bases. He truly needs to work on being able to slide head first in situations where it's needed. Also getting on base is an important factor too lol.

 

However, with the larger bases and pitch clock, no reason why he can't swipe 30 bases at least. He's gonna need find ways to provide more offensive value to the team.

 

instincts is the key, many players have speed but can't run the bases - eg. Grichuk, Pillar. Not sure Varsho has those instincts - need to see more

[wamco]

72 pct career sb rate with last year being lowest of his career. Career best is 16sb. Let’s shoot for 25/20 hr/sb with a 340

Obp as a good season

[Jays24]

instincts is the key, many players have speed but can't run the bases - eg. Grichuk, Pillar. Not sure Varsho has those instincts - need to see more

 

Pillar and Grichuk never had the pure combination of speed and agility that Varsho has. Varsho seems like he has great baserunning instincts but him not being able to slide head first makes him hesitant in trying to steal bases. With the larger bases and ability to leverage the pitch clock, he could probably steal most bases with his pop up slide.

[Spanky99]

This is a decent article with good quotes from Votto...

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/article/inside-wild-day-for-joey-votto-at-blue-jays-spring-training/?fbclid=IwAR2Yh5Fvd3duVWEgvRVJaEt5EttifMSq4ieV8U2jErozgH54I3HYcwYgrgk

[hanton]

This is a decent article with good quotes from Votto...

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/article/inside-wild-day-for-joey-votto-at-blue-jays-spring-training/?fbclid=IwAR2Yh5Fvd3duVWEgvRVJaEt5EttifMSq4ieV8U2jErozgH54I3HYcwYgrgk

 

in the interview he mentions the word "championship"

 

That's all I need to hear

[Brownie19]

Ya it's always been weird why a guy with his speed and instincts can't steal more bases. He truly needs to work on being able to slide head first in situations where it's needed. Also getting on base is an important factor too lol.

 

However, with the larger bases and pitch clock, no reason why he can't swipe 30 bases at least. He's gonna need find ways to provide more offensive value to the team.

 

His speed is only 70th percentile. If Varsho should steal 30, then based on your logic, KK should be stealing 50. Unfortunately, that's not how it works.

[Spanky99]

His speed is only 70th percentile. If Varsho should steal 30, then based on your logic, KK should be stealing 50. Unfortunately, that's not how it works.

 

Yup, if anything his instincts on the base paths are good, he misses in explosiveness too, I believe, well, not where you'd think it should be anyhow.

Edited March 19, 2024 by Spanky99

[Jays24]

His speed is only 70th percentile. If Varsho should steal 30, then based on your logic, KK should be stealing 50. Unfortunately, that's not how it works.

 

Ya you're right... I thought of KK when writing my post of another guy who couldn't steal bases even with his speed.

 

Well, maybe this is the year Varsho changes that. He's looked good in Spring Training swiping bags. If Merrifields slow ass can do it, I believe in Varsho lol.

[Spanky99]

Ya you're right... I thought of KK when writing my post of another guy who couldn't steal bases even with his speed.

 

Well, maybe this is the year Varsho changes that. He's looked good in Spring Training swiping bags. If Merrifields slow ass can do it, I believe in Varsho lol.

 

Merrifield's an 85 percentile in speed, dude. Full stop. I don't even get why you're questioning Varsho's baserunning, he's one of the best in the league?

[Jays24]

Merrifield's an 85 percentile in speed, dude. Full stop. I don't even get why you're questioning Varsho's baserunning, he's one of the best in the league?

 

I'm just hoping he could find a way to translate his great baserunning into more steals now that the rules have made it much easier than past years... thats all.

[Spanky99]

Did this get missed by this forum, I can't remember talking about this news, this was the same day they announced Jano's injury, sounds like The Gasman is missing a start or 2...

 

 

Nah, maybe not, found this in my e-mail from Saturday...

 

3. RHP Kevin Gausman (right shoulder fatigue)

Let’s not even call this an “injury.” This was something minor that Gausman felt earlier in camp, but it derailed his schedule and he’s trying to catch up. Gausman threw 23 pitches in a live BP setting Friday in Dunedin and he will get into a game next, but the Blue Jays are in a race against the clock to get him ready in time.

 

“We’re waiting and seeing,” Schneider said. “We still have to build him up quite a bit, whether he lands at the end of camp at 60 pitches and then he can pitch without overworking and overtaxing our bullpen at the beginning of the year. If it’s at the end of the rotation, that’s probably the best-case scenario.”

 

If Gausman isn’t ready to make a start the first trip through the rotation, Mitch White would be next in line, even if the “start” is a bulk outing combined with Trevor Richards to cover six innings. No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedemann is the most exciting name here -- and he was mentioned by Schneider on Saturday -- but it would still be surprising to see the Blue Jays move up the timeline on their prized prospect just to cover one or two starts.

 

Another name that just keeps coming up? Wes Parsons. The 31-year-old veteran got rocked in his one appearance with the Blue Jays last season, when he was brought up to cover some innings on the final day of the year after a postseason spot had been clinched. His stuff looks livelier in camp, though, and the metrics are pointing to some significant improvements.

 

Also, Schneider said that Francis/White and Parsons is the depth for spot starts and bulk relievers in that order ATM.

Edited March 19, 2024 by Spanky99

[deanmike]

Did this get missed by this forum, I can't remember talking about this news, this was the same day they announced Jano's injury, sounds like The Gasman is missing a start or 2...

 

 

https://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/11179-General-Blue-Jays-Discussion-Thread-(2024)?p=1777522&viewfull=1#post1777522

 

I tried to talk about it on March 11, but you and others shot it down saying I was pulling a chicken little.

 

Btw if he misses 2 starts that can easily be made a 15-day IL stint (like I said was a possibility on March 11) given he's already starting slotted 5th in the rotation to give him more time.

[Spanky99]

https://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/11179-General-Blue-Jays-Discussion-Thread-(2024)?p=1777522&viewfull=1#post1777522

 

I tried to talk about it on March 11, but you and others shot it down saying I was pulling a chicken little. Btw if he misses 2 starts that can easily be made a 15-day IL stint (like I said was a possibility on March 11) given he's already starting slotted 5th in the rotation to give him more time.

 

Okay... that was click bait by Matheson, when put in context he'll be pitching Sunday in Tampa or Monday in Houston.

[Laika]

[Laika]

Gausman threw 23 pitches on Friday, apparently.

Berrios threw about 80 pitches on Sunday in his 4th ST appearance.

 

Gausman could do something like this:

 

40 P on Mar 20th

60 P on Mar 25th (last day of spring training)

 

That would set him up for 80 P on his fourth turn, which would be on Saturday or Sunday during the first series of the season in Tampa Bay. White could follow him for 40+ pitches.

And then perhaps full go for the Yankee game April 5th.

 

So he could actually not miss a start. But his first regular season start will likely be cut short. And possibly his second; they might not let him throw 100+ pitches.

 

This of course depends on him feeling 100% and his stuff being fine.

[Spanky99]

[Spanky99]

Schneider announced Berrios the OD Starter and in more news, Romano and TV Dinner go down...

 

[Laika]

Yikes.

 

Well, at least we get the "no structural damage" assurance.

 

Those both sound like IL stints though. Pearson and Pop the obvious make the team candidates.