Opening Day Roster Predictions

[Jays24]

Imagine spending the whole offseason bragging about getting in shape only to never pitch again after a few innings loll.

[John_Havok]

Not sure if mentioned anywhere but Francis has made the rotation per Schneider.

[Stangstag]

Not sure if mentioned anywhere but Francis has made the rotation per Schneider.

 

Well-deserved

[jaysblue]

Would have been nice to bring in an extra SP this offseason who could have battled for the No. 5 spot and for depth purposes. Manoah looks like a lost cause at this point and sucks having Gausman start the season on the IL. Gotta hope majority of the other arms like Berrios, Bassitt and Kikuchi could stay relatively healthy again and make 30+ starts.

[Spanky99]

Would have been nice to bring in an extra SP this offseason who could have battled for the No. 5 spot and for depth purposes. Manoah looks like a lost cause at this point and sucks having Gausman start the season on the IL. Gotta hope majority of the other arms like Berrios, Bassitt and Kikuchi could stay relatively healthy again and make 30+ starts.

 

Gausman isn't going on the IL?

[John_Havok]

Gausman isn't going on the IL?

 

Still a possibility. The latest info "We still have to build him up quite a bit,” manager John Schneider said of Gausman earlier this week. “[We’ll see] 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.”

 

The goal is to build up to around 75 pitches before Gausman can make his regular-season debut, so that might mean he will stay back at the PDC rather than clock in as the No. 5 starter once the Blue Jays break camp."

 

He's slated to pitch on Monday, they're not sure though if he'll face the Pirates in the last ST game, or do it on the backfields in a minor league game.

[Spanky99]

Still a possibility. The latest info "We still have to build him up quite a bit,” manager John Schneider said of Gausman earlier this week. “[We’ll see] 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.”

 

The goal is to build up to around 75 pitches before Gausman can make his regular-season debut, so that might mean he will stay back at the PDC rather than clock in as the No. 5 starter once the Blue Jays break camp."

 

He's slated to pitch on Monday, they're not sure though if he'll face the Pirates in the last ST game, or do it on the backfields in a minor league game.

 

I know, John.

[Brownie19]

I can't seem to find which thread it's in, but you often see people complaining that Atkins worries too much about retaining depth, instead of taking the "best team available" from Day 1. I just wanted to point out that other teams do this also. The Diamondbacks just sent LHP Andrew Saalfrank down to AAA because he has options and they don't want to lose pitchers who don't. Saalfrank of course was a key contributor during their playoff run last year. Interesting to see a quality GM also doing this (and I say he's a quality GM, because they won a couple of rounds last year, which I'm told is ultimately a reflection of how good you are as a GM).

 

Pavin Smith was also sent down for similar reasons - although he's f***ing terrible. It's alarming they gave him 11 PA's in the playoffs last year (after posting a .188 average, 81 wRC+ and a -0.8 WAR in the regular season). If Atkins had someone useless like him on the playoff roster, heads would roll around here.

[max silver]

Imagine spending the whole offseason bragging about getting in shape only to never pitch again after a few innings loll.

 

Heaven forbid a pitcher suffers a shoulder issue in spring training. That obviously means he did nothing in the offseason to get ready for the season.

[Sammy225]

My prediction is that the kids are away on opening day and i will be drunk by 8pm CST on scotch for a new bottle i got just for opening day. Baseball all day baby.

[Jays24]

Heaven forbid a pitcher suffers a shoulder issue in spring training. That obviously means he did nothing in the offseason to get ready for the season.

 

I think most believe he just sucked ass and they used the injury thing as an excuse to rework the basics. Now obviously I could be wrong but of course you take a joke 100% dead serious lol.

.. again.

[Brownie19]

I think most believe he just sucked ass and they used the injury thing as an excuse to rework the basics. Now obviously I could be wrong but of course you take a joke 100% dead serious lol.

.. again.

 

You're making a joke about it because he bragged about his efforts to work his ass off to get back in shape and resurrect his career? That just isn't very funny.

[Stangstag]

I can't seem to find which thread it's in, but you often see people complaining that Atkins worries too much about retaining depth, instead of taking the "best team available" from Day 1. I just wanted to point out that other teams do this also. The Diamondbacks just sent LHP Andrew Saalfrank down to AAA because he has options and they don't want to lose pitchers who don't. Saalfrank of course was a key contributor during their playoff run last year. Interesting to see a quality GM also doing this (and I say he's a quality GM, because they won a couple of rounds last year, which I'm told is ultimately a reflection of how good you are as a GM).

 

Pavin Smith was also sent down for similar reasons - although he's f***ing terrible. It's alarming they gave him 11 PA's in the playoffs last year (after posting a .188 average, 81 wRC+ and a -0.8 WAR in the regular season). If Atkins had someone useless like him on the playoff roster, heads would roll around here.

 

Jackson Holliday just now too

[John_Havok]

Mayza in for just 2 sinkers then gone. Again 3+ mph slower than his usual. Couple that with his last outing and something seems to be wrong there.

[max silver]

I think most believe he just sucked ass and they used the injury thing as an excuse to rework the basics. Now obviously I could be wrong but of course you take a joke 100% dead serious lol.

.. again.

 

He suffered an offseason shoulder injury before the 2023 season. I just don't see any reason to doubt that his shoulder was actually bothering him again instead of immediately pivoting to inane theories about whether he's not "tough" enough or faking an injury for some ridiculous reason. I think it's a good thing that he recognized a shoulder issue and slowed down his buildup to give it a chance to resolve instead of doing something remarkably stupid and ignoring the issue in hopes it would go away.

[Stangstag]

Mayza in for just 2 sinkers then gone. Again 3+ mph slower than his usual. Couple that with his last outing and something seems to be wrong there.

 

Lovely

[Stangstag]

Watch this year we’ll have an elite offense and rotation with the Bullpen having a million injuries and blowing 2-3 games per week.

[Jonn]

Watch this year we’ll have an elite offense and rotation with the Bullpen having a million injuries and blowing 2-3 games per week.

 

Hard to imagine this roster having an elite offense. But the Bullpen may quickly become a concern if they don’t get healthy.

[Abomination]

Hard to imagine this roster having an elite offense. But the Bullpen may quickly become a concern if they don’t get healthy.

 

Jesse Chavez might be a nice add given the BP injuries.

[The_DH]

With all the pitchers potentially hurt, the team will probably not want to DFA anyone who can throw so I think Vogelbach's chances are getting smaller.

[Spanky99]

With all the pitchers potentially hurt, the team will probably not want to DFA anyone who can throw so I think Vogelbach's chances are getting smaller.

 

That has no bearing on the bench, they'll be taking 13 pitchers and 13 position players regardless, I don't think Vogelbach will make the team now that we have Votto, throwing away 2M for a few weeks of him would be mind numbingly dumn.

[Carlos Danger]

That has no bearing on the bench, they'll be taking 13 pitchers and 13 position players regardless, I don't think Vogelbach will make the team now that we have Votto, throwing away 2M for a few weeks of him would be mind numbingly dumn.

 

Isn’y there a new rule for 2024, 12 pitchers max?

[Spanky99]

Isn’y there a new rule for 2024, 12 pitchers max?

 

Nope, they're discussing it for the future though. It would be a CBA change, so it'll have to come down to a vote I'd imagine?

[The_DH]

That has no bearing on the bench, they'll be taking 13 pitchers and 13 position players regardless, I don't think Vogelbach will make the team now that we have Votto, throwing away 2M for a few weeks of him would be mind numbingly dumn.

 

I know the 13/13 pitcher to hitter ratio. My point is that if Vogelbach makes the team then somebody has to come off the 40 man roster. If it's Lukes then we don't have much in the outfield if something were to happen to KK Varsho or Springer. So if VOgelbach makes the roster then we may have to remove a pitcher. With all of the injuries we are starting to run out of pitchers. We could lose a pitcher like Little (who we may need) for Vogelbach who doesn't really provide that much value.

[Spanky99]

I know the 13/13 pitcher to hitter ratio. My point is that if Vogelbach makes the team then somebody has to come off the 40 man roster. If it's Lukes then we don't have much in the outfield if something were to happen to KK Varsho or Springer. So if VOgelbach makes the roster then we may have to remove a pitcher. With all of the injuries we are starting to run out of pitchers. We could lose a pitcher like Little (who we may need) for Vogelbach who doesn't really provide that much value.

 

No-one's getting Designated and it sure isn't Lukes, lol. Vogelbach isn't making this team. They'll need to DFA a guy when Votto's ready. It could be Serven by that time when Jano gets back.

[The_DH]

I was thinking the Votto thing could be timed along with the return of Jansen so that 40 man roster spot would be used. I wonder if Barger could get some time in CF in Buffalo. There's seems to be some talk about making Vogelbach's contract not guaranteed so that if he were released they wouldn't owe him anything

[Jimcanuck]

Just for clarity, isn't it 13 pitchers max? A team could carry 14 hitters and 12 pitchers?

[John_Havok]

Just for clarity, isn't it 13 pitchers max? A team could carry 14 hitters and 12 pitchers?

 

They could, but they likely won't unless its just a game or two in a weird situation. Pen arms are too important these days in maximizing wins.

[Spanky99]

Just for clarity, isn't it 13 pitchers max? A team could carry 14 hitters and 12 pitchers?

 

Of course.

[Rimar]

1B: V Guerrero

2B: E Clemens

3B: IKF

SS: B Bichette

C: A Kirk

LF: D Varsho

CF: K Kiermaier

RF: G Springer

DH: J Turner

 

 

SP1: J Berrios

SP2: K Gausman

SP3: C Bassitt

SP4: M White

SP5: Y Rodriguez

 

CL: J Romano

SU: E Swanson

RP3: Y Garcia

RP4: T Mayza

RP5: C Green

RP6: T Richards

RP7: G Cabrera

 

Bench1: C Biggio

Bench2: N Lukes

Bench3: B Serven

Bench4: A Barger