GDT: Game 3/4 Blue Jays @ Tigers (1:10 ET)

[max silver]

Also s*** like giving Manoah way too much rope last year when he was trash, still deciding to go into 2024 with both Varsho and KK as everyday players, not addressing the offensive issues from 2023 at all, can go on and on

 

The team really had no one better than Manoah until Ryu came back from Tommy John surgery so they were unfortunately stuck with Alek at that point. The lack of pitching depth has been exposed the last few years, although I admittedly thought the depth looked decent enough both years it eventually proved to ultimately be inadequate a year ago with this year sort of remaining to be seen as Francis and Rodriguez are nearing return. I thought Alek looked far too close to the terrible version of himself yesterday as he was constantly spinning out of his delivery and the stuff was downright mediocre as well.

 

I think the club essentially views Kiermaier as a 400 PA type of player vs everyday as he needs more frequent rest days, but fully agree bringing him back for a club that desperately needed to add thump to the lineup was a total headscratcher. Given the limits of available offseason budget it's perfectly fair to question whether the available dollars were wisely allocated. Ultimately the team can only sign the guys who are actually willing to take their money but the early results for the offense have the decision making looking rather suspect.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Springer is just a mess, like he needs an IL stint and then we can get Barger up here, stick him in RF and play him every day so he can learn and grow.

 

I doubt he'd do worse than George.

[hanton]

Oh lol right the Springer trade in BORED.

 

Honestly dude, I thought he was gonna bounce back this year. If you check my past comments I was always defending him

 

To me it looks like he lost interest - big contract so he's set

[max silver]

Springer is just a mess, like he needs an IL stint and then we can get Barger up here, stick him in RF and play him every day so he can learn and grow.

 

I doubt he'd do worse than George.

 

Even without the IL stint I'd still call up Barger to primarily man right field and make Springer a part time player until he can prove he's able to contribute anything offensively. Vogelbach could be sent packing to create a spot on the roster as his presence doesn't serve any purpose other than making the team even less likely to use Jansen out of the DH spot.

[Stangstag]

To me it looks like he lost interest - big contract so he's set

 

Nah, doubt that. I think his legs are f***ed or his batspeed has just declined too much

[John_Havok]

Nah, doubt that. I think his legs are f***ed or his batspeed has just declined too much

 

His batspeed is just slightly below major league average and still 75th percentile speed.

[jaysblue]

I typically don't gripe too much about managerial decisions but the decision to start Turner over Jansen at DH despite him being 6 for his last 57 AB heading into the game and then hitting him second is beyond f***ing egregious. Over and over again Turner's spot in the lineup came up in big situations and he repeatedly failed over and over again to deliver.

 

Agree 100%!

[Omar]

Hopefully Springer "develops" an oblique strain and we bring up Lukes. Barger isn't ready for prime time.

[max silver]

His batspeed is just slightly below major league average and still 75th percentile speed.

 

I'd like to see previous years bat speed results to see how precipitously it's been declining year over year. Maybe it's a case of George simply needing to adjust to making due with a little less swing speed than previous years but the complete lack of results this season is pretty alarming.

[Stangstag]

I'd like to see previous years bat speed results to see how precipitously it's been declining year over year. Maybe it's a case of George simply needing to adjust to making due with a little less swing speed than previous years but the complete lack of results this season is pretty alarming.

 

Its very Tulo-esque. Guy with a bunch of injuries hits his early 30s, goes from being an excellent bat to having a 100ish wRC+ season before falling off a cliff the next year.

 

2.5 years left on the deal too. I could see him being released in his final year if he doesn’t pull it together.

[max silver]

Hopefully Springer "develops" an oblique strain and we bring up Lukes. Barger isn't ready for prime time.

 

I think Barger offers a lot more upside and better toolset and if he's given a bit more rope and played in positions he's comfortable with he might be able to add another solid bat to the lineup. Lukes would almost certainly offer more with the bat than Springer has until this point though.

[Masterbather]

Hopefully Springer "develops" an oblique strain and we bring up Lukes. Barger isn't ready for prime time.

 

I'd like to see Barger again. He hit some balls well, I think he was better than his numbers. Now that the first time is out of the way, he may get better results.

[june.june]

Atkins built this Jays team that will clearly never go deep in the playoffs or at this current pace may not even get one of the wild card spot.

 

A one pager totally flawed team coached by the worse hitting coaches of all time. That’s says a lot. And don’t give me this s*** excuse that Varsho is a transformed offensive player so the premise does not apply.

 

Out of 30 teams:

HR - 4th worst

RBI - 2nd worst

Hits - 5th worst

BA - 9th worst

SO -3rd worst

 

GDP - 4th

 

That says alot.

[John_Havok]

I'd like to see previous years bat speed results to see how precipitously it's been declining year over year. Maybe it's a case of George simply needing to adjust to making due with a little less swing speed than previous years but the complete lack of results this season is pretty alarming.

 

Mainly trying to say that the reason you crater snt a loss of batspeed when you're still roughly league average. I highly doubt he was anywhere near where Vlad currently is even at his best.

 

IF we assume that he's lost even 1 mph on average batspeed that would be a factor, but it wouldn't explain the crater. Like you said it's likely a change in approach needed.

 

He's late on virtually every fastball, that doesn't happen with league average bat speed, that happens when your approach/timing is bad.