GDT - Game #12 - April 08 7:07 ET - M's @ Jays (Game 2/3)

[BTS]

I know I was trolling earlier about IKF, but he's the kind of player you appreciate when you watch him everyday. There's value in a guy you can get great defense from at any infield position, and if he can keep the wRC+ in the 90 area he'll earn his keep, even if you don't ideally want him getting 500 PA. Just keep him out of the outfield.

[BaseballIsLife]

I know I was trolling earlier about IKF, but he's the kind of player you appreciate when you watch him everyday. There's value in a guy you can get great defense from at any infield position, and if he can keep the wRC+ in the 90 area he'll earn his keep, even if you don't ideally want him getting 500 PA. Just keep him out of the outfield.

 

I’m rooting for Isiah. Good defense at third base is a must in baseball, especially the AL East.

[Stangstag]

I know I was trolling earlier about IKF, but he's the kind of player you appreciate when you watch him everyday. There's value in a guy you can get great defense from at any infield position, and if he can keep the wRC+ in the 90 area he'll earn his keep, even if you don't ideally want him getting 500 PA. Just keep him out of the outfield.

 

Kevin Pillar of the infield

[Terminator]

Romano is 100% the closer when he’s back. Swanson will be the main 8th inning guy and Green/Yimi as firemen

 

World Series caliber bullpen

[G-Snarls]

World Series caliber bullpen

 

Late inning games in the post season will be easy to save

[Terminator]

I know I was trolling earlier about IKF, but he's the kind of player you appreciate when you watch him everyday. There's value in a guy you can get great defense from at any infield position, and if he can keep the wRC+ in the 90 area he'll earn his keep, even if you don't ideally want him getting 500 PA. Just keep him out of the outfield.

 

I know everyone hates him and think he and KK are redundant and unnecessary but this is the best bench we've had in a long time. This will play out well over the course of the season for us.

 

When injuries hit, other contenders are going to be using replacement level talent (the Yankees ran into this problem last year) while we can throw in a 1.5-2 WAR player without skipping a beat.

[WryNGinger]

Great interview from Bassitt post-game. He is just a straight up ball player and sees what everyone is going through. Would not surprise me in the least to see him as a manager/executive once his career is over.

[Terminator]

Great interview from Bassitt post-game. He is just a straight up ball player and sees what everyone is going through. Would not surprise me in the least to see him as a manager/executive once his career is over.

 

I love watching him pitch. Seems like with his kitchen sink arsenal he's battling the pitch com the entire game. It's like watching my dad use his computer. He can do it but he's annoyed with it the entire time.

[Slade]

Gotta say, the renovations they did look incredible. Can't wait to get to a game.

 

They nailed the renovations for sure. I saw people crying about it on reddit but it looks way better than previous years. I do agree that they need some more blue there.

[WryNGinger]

I love watching him pitch. Seems like with his kitchen sink arsenal he's battling the pitch com the entire game. It's like watching my dad use his computer. He can do it but he's annoyed with it the entire time.

 

Wouldn't surprise me if next off-season he develops a knuckle-ball and pitches until he is 50. Such a competitor. Just hates losing. I imagine his uncensored conversations with coaches and catchers would be pretty colourful.

[Laika]

I know I was trolling earlier about IKF, but he's the kind of player you appreciate when you watch him everyday. There's value in a guy you can get great defense from at any infield position, and if he can keep the wRC+ in the 90 area he'll earn his keep, even if you don't ideally want him getting 500 PA. Just keep him out of the outfield.

 

He's a much worse hitter than Chat Mappman

 

But he might be less annoying to watch hit.

[jaysblue]

Tyler Oneil today too. Dudes are goin beastmode

 

Only 6 RBI though, can't hit HR's when they matter with guys on haha.

[jaysblue]

101 on one of those. I don't remember him throwing that hard.

 

He always did even during his days with the Rays?

[Brownie19]

He did it yesterday w Schneider so Bo probably told him not to

 

ah - thanks. I missed that!

[BigCecil]

He's a much worse hitter than Chat Mappman

 

But he might be less annoying to watch hit.

 

It makes it a lot less annoying when we have won the last 2 and his current wRC+ is 50 points over his career number. He is on pace for 4-5 WAR after 12 gms lol.

[wilko]

Watched Bo’s HR about 25 times. 110 EV. Dropped the head on it and such a smooth swing. Crushed that ball but a completely effortless swing. How can a guy his size generate so much pop and make it look that smooth? Wild.

 

He's got daddy Dante's blood running in his veins.

[Laika]

It makes it a lot less annoying when we have won the last 2 and his current wRC+ is 50 points over his career number. He is on pace for 4-5 WAR after 12 gms lol.

 

Such a stud

 

everyone owes Rick Atkins a big apology

[Laika]

The 2024 Toronto Blue Jays mix-and-match hitters are starting to remind me of the old Raptors Bench Mob

 

FVV, Delon, Siakam, Powell, Poeltl

 

After Turner the Jays WAR leaderboard is IKF, Clement, Biggio, Schneider.

[BTS]

Like last year, the offense would look so much better if their 20M DH could actually hit. Imagine a 140 wRC+ Vlad anchoring the lineup.

 

Can’t wait to re-allocate that money elsewhere after his non-tender.

[Stangstag]

Like last year, the offense would look so much better if their 20M DH could actually hit. Imagine a 140 wRC+ Vlad anchoring the lineup.

 

Can’t wait to re-allocate that money elsewhere after his non-tender.

 

I don’t understand how he’s still projected to be a top 10 hitter in baseball. Its been a steady decline since 2021 and he’s absolutely blown the floor out of his projections the last 2 seasons. Dude is a massive disappointment.

[Laika]

Like last year, the offense would look so much better if their 20M DH could actually hit. Imagine a 140 wRC+ Vlad anchoring the lineup.

 

Can’t wait to re-allocate that money elsewhere after his non-tender.

 

But are you mentally prepared for him to go to Tampa Bay and have them coach him into a 7 WAR hitter

[The_DH]

I don’t understand how he’s still projected to be a top 10 hitter in baseball. Its been a steady decline since 2021 and he’s absolutely blown the floor out of his projections the last 2 seasons. Dude is a massive disappointment.

 

I think it's mental. He has the physical ability to be a top hitter. He's done it before. He's just lacking something. I think it's just that he can't be the #1 hitter. He needs someone else to lead.

[John_Havok]

I think it's mental. He has the physical ability to be a top hitter. He's done it before. He's just lacking something. I think it's just that he can't be the #1 hitter. He needs someone else to lead.

 

Well it's very clear his swing decisions are pretty much total crap. As for what's causing that issue, that's anyone's guess. It's like he wants to hit everything, or...he is getting fooled a ton because he's guessing and guessing wrong alot. He's late on fastballs all the time.

 

My untrained eye and speculation is that hes so focused on not getting beat with breaking balls low and away that he's sitting soft and getting beat by fastballs as a result. It's somewhat understandable given that pitchers feed him a steady stream of offspeed pitches more often than not, so he's trying to prove he can hit them rather than being ready for the fastball and adjusting to the offspeed.

 

Then there's the PAs where you can tell he's sitting dead-red and just waves at changeups all over the place.

 

Teams may have a pretty good tell on Vlad after analyzing video on him that shows if they throw him a certain pitch in a certain location, they have a good idea at what he's likely to do next. Like they're coaching the pitchers to exploit his mental patterns.

 

A possible example of this is...whenever the pitcher gets a strike close call on the outer edge, if they can execute a similar pitch another 3-6 inches further out, he will be swinging at it,which is exactly what they want him swinging at. That's one pattern I've noticed a ton.