General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2025)

[Spanky__99]

4 hours ago, Jays24 said:

Do the Jays move Barger to the OF to accommodate both Clement and Gimenez in the lineup?  Would suck to mess with Barger since he is looking VERY comfortable at 3B and with the bat.  

On occasion I believe so, but he'll be planted there at the hot corner against RHP. Plenty of AB's to go around. 

[Eat My Shatkins]

Barger breaking out gives hope that the Jays farm isn't as barren as many would like to believe.

Hopefully guys like Roden or Robertson can find their way as well. Then you have Schreck and Pinango lighting up AA. Lots of potential for power bats on the way. Nimmala the best of the bunch.

[hanton]

5 hours ago, Jays24 said:

Do the Jays move Barger to the OF to accommodate both Clement and Gimenez in the lineup?  Would suck to mess with Barger since he is looking VERY comfortable at 3B and with the bat.  

"Would suck to mess with Barger"

100% this.  

[glory]

4 minutes ago, hanton said:

"Would suck to mess with Barger"

100% this.  

Yeah I'd keep Barger at 3B for as much as possible. The occasional start in RF is fine depending on the matchup, but otherwise him turning into a capable 3B is a massive development for the Jays. Don't tinker with that just to get Ernie into the lineup. 

[Spanky__99]

1 hour ago, Spanky__99 said:

On occasion I believe so, but he'll be planted there at the hot corner against RHP. Plenty of AB's to go around. 

 

1 hour ago, hanton said:

"Would suck to mess with Barger"

100% this.  

 

56 minutes ago, glory said:

Yeah I'd keep Barger at 3B for as much as possible. The occasional start in RF is fine depending on the matchup, but otherwise him turning into a capable 3B is a massive development for the Jays. Don't tinker with that just to get Ernie into the lineup. 

Agreed, I think they'll keep him at the hot corner, for the odd days when they want Clement in against a LHP... Addison can play the OF. 

[hanton]

DH Clement, plus he seems unphased by playing different positions.  I bet he can play the OF

[Spanky__99]

12 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

 

 

Agreed, I think they'll keep him at the hot corner, for the odd days when they want, Clement in against a LHP or out in the field is fine.

He's played a grand total of 85 innings in his pro career in the outfield, he'd need reps and likely a ST to get acclimated to that kind of change, in a pinch sure, but I doubt we ever see Ernie in the OF, all his value's in his infield defense anyhow, it'd be counterproductive. Same goes for DH, the player he's replacing in the infield can DH.

 

[Masterbather]

Beat up on some bad pitching. As we should.

Phillies up next, Bryce due back, they lost all their games without him but he's back just in time for us of course. 

Much different pitching than what we were afforded against the Athletics.

Let's see how much of this recent offensive explosion is real.

[Terminator]

The only problem with playing Barger at 3B is that you are more than likely benching Ernie (the team leader in WAR) for an outfield platoon consisting of guys like Roden, Clase and Schneider.

I suppose they can rotate Barger through the DH spot sometimes. And in the end, it all probably shakes out fine. They'll figure it out.

 

[Spanky__99]

1 minute ago, Terminator said:

The only problem with playing Barger at 3B is that you are more than likely benching Ernie (the team leader in WAR) for an outfield platoon consisting of guys like Roden, Clase and Schneider.

 

They should just do a rover with DH days, along with full days off from time to time. 

[AMS528]

14 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

They should just do a rover with DH days, along with full days off from time to time. 

I think they'll wind up doing a mix of Barger in the OF with occassional 3B starts, and I think it's what may make the most sense to get everyone into the lineup consistently. 

Ernie can get 3B starts and Gimenez doesn't need to play every single day so he can do some 2B as well (maybe Gimenez can do SS on a Bichette off day?). Springer needs to DH pretty regularly since his defense is horrific but he's been our best bat (and his underlying numbers show he's genuinely bounced back). 

Probably just need to be flexible regularly to get  the best lineup out there. Depends on how Gimenez looks with the bat as well, he's better than he was in the ABs he had, but also the Barger/Clement duo has been so good that you need to let them play even if you're paying Gimenez 20 million a year.  

[Omar]

Assuming they will strictly dh Springer until Santander' comes back.  With the Varsho injury, and Straw/Lukes patrolling CF. You got to keep the Clement and Barger in the lineup with how they are swinging the lumber. RClase could be a hidden gem so you have to give him some reps.  Roden may have to be the odd man out. 

[BB17]

I would probably just DH Bo twice a week and put Ernie in at SS. That’s just as good a defensive upgrade as having Springer DH. You don’t want to mess with Barger by yo-yoing him around the field especially with how much better he’s been at 3rd this year. Especially since they need a 3B long term.

While Ernie deserves to play against LHP I’d say this is more of a hot streak than anything and I’m fine with riding it for now but he’s a platoon guy and his numbers vs RHP are still pretty bad this season.

[John_Havok]

Just now, BB17 said:

I would probably just DH Bo twice a week and put Ernie in at SS. That’s just as good a defensive upgrade as having Springer DH. You don’t want to mess with Barger by yo-yoing him around the field especially with how much better he’s been at 3rd this year. Especially since they need a 3B long term.

While Ernie deserves to play against LHP I’d say this is more of a hot streak than anything and I’m fine with riding it for now but he’s a platoon guy and his numbers vs RHP are still pretty bad this season.

I lean this way also. He's hot right now, and his glove is top shelf so ride him while he's hot to a point, but with both Barger and Gimenez being LH, Clement will get his fair share of opportunities relieving 1 of them in games against LHP (id lean towards sitting Gimenez), or filling in for roving DH games but, yeah I'm not of the belief he HAS to play everyday against RHP. 

[Brownie19]

Jays offense is now 7th in MLB in wRC+, but only 16th in runs scored.  Such a common outcome these past 3 years.  Our shoddy baserunning seems to hold us back (as does the lack of power).

 

 

[BB17]

5 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

I lean this way also. He's hot right now, and his glove is top shelf so ride him while he's hot to a point, but with both Barger and Gimenez being LH, Clement will get his fair share of opportunities relieving 1 of them in games against LHP (id lean towards sitting Gimenez), or filling in for roving DH games but, yeah I'm not of the belief he HAS to play everyday against RHP. 

Agreed. I think I’d play Barger every day at 3rd even against LHP though. Maybe the occasional day off against a tough Left hander but you want to see how he fares against them to see if he is a true every day guy. So I wouldn’t PH late for him in the game either even if you give up a slight advantage. Also I wouldn’t take him out for Defence late in the game, let him get as much experience as possible.

Having Barger become an every day 3B is one of the most important things that can come of this season.

[Terminator]

 

[Omar]

21 minutes ago, Terminator said:

 

Lukes sure has earned the playing time he has been getting. One of the better stories for this team thus far this season. Trying to squeeze in Luke's, Clement, and Barger due to their performance was not on my list of issues this season. Great problem to have. Let's see how long it lasts. 

[max silver]

3 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

Jays offense is now 7th in MLB in wRC+, but only 16th in runs scored.  Such a common outcome these past 3 years.  Our shoddy baserunning seems to hold us back (as does the lack of power).

 

 

Since Varsho returned to the lineup the Jays are 6th in runs and 4th in home runs. I don't think lack of power is really much of an issue recently, hopefully this continues to be the case with Varsho on the injured list. 

[Orgfiller]

2 minutes ago, max silver said:

Since Varsho returned to the lineup the Jays are 6th in runs and 4th in home runs. I don't think lack of power is really much of an issue recently, hopefully this continues to be the case with Varsho on the injured list. 

Varsho, while not the sole contributor, was also very much a catalyst in the power department it should be noted. A .337 ISO since being activated was an oasis in the middle of a power desert. Our shared team leader in homeruns in 40% of the games of the other two co-leaders.

Not a small power dropoff from himself to a Lukes/Straw platoon, but hopefully Barger and his emergence continues picking up the slack in this department. The team as a whole crushed the ball this last series.

[Stangstag]

3 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

Jays offense is now 7th in MLB in wRC+, but only 16th in runs scored.  Such a common outcome these past 3 years.  Our shoddy baserunning seems to hold us back (as does the lack of power).

 

 

Right. Can’t use the “bad luck” excuse several years in a row now. It’s become a trend that we consistently underperform the xStats

[Brownie19]

20 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Right. Can’t use the “bad luck” excuse several years in a row now. It’s become a trend that we consistently underperform the xStats

Maybe - I don't know how conclusive it is.  I do think our crappy baserunning hurts us, which isn't a "bad luck" excuse or any indication we are underperforming the xStats (not that I looked into all the xStats) - it's simply an element of our offense that we aren't very good at.

 

[BB17]

20 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Right. Can’t use the “bad luck” excuse several years in a row now. It’s become a trend that we consistently underperform the xStats

Part of it is some guys being slow. Kirk is always going to underperform because of the lack of speed plus he hits the ball so hard that with the RC dimensions a lot of those liners off the wall turn doubles into singles. (He also got robbed a lot this last series including a HR, so there is some luck involved).

It does feel like the ball doesn’t carry well to CF for whatever reason at RC. There’s been a number of hits that based on the EV/LA you would think leave the yard that have been fly outs. But it feels fly balls are carrying way more down the line. Ernie and Varsho have had a few homers that looked like fly balls that carried into the bullpen. 
 

Could be nothing but guys like Springer, Vladdy and Kirk have some of the biggest under performance of batted ball metrics and all are guys who hit a lot of balls to CF.

[max silver]

2 hours ago, Orgfiller said:

Varsho, while not the sole contributor, was also very much a catalyst in the power department it should be noted. A .337 ISO since being activated was an oasis in the middle of a power desert. Our shared team leader in homeruns in 40% of the games of the other two co-leaders.

Not a small power dropoff from himself to a Lukes/Straw platoon, but hopefully Barger and his emergence continues picking up the slack in this department. The team as a whole crushed the ball this last series.

Yeah Varsho obviously isn't the only guy hitting for power, but the team's power fortunes largely turned around the time he returned. Since Varsho's return the team's power has been a really strong asset:

Varsho 8 HR

Bo 7 HR

Vlad 6 HR

Barger 5 HR

Santander 3 HR

Lukes 3 HR

Clement 3 HR

Kirk 2 HR

 

 

[Spanky__99]

The Wheeler's are welcoming a new baby to the family and will not pitch against us in the upcoming series, we thank you Mrs. Wheeler and congratulations.

 

[jaysblue]

42 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

The Wheeler's are welcoming a new baby to the family and will not pitch against us in the upcoming series, we thank you Mrs. Wheeler and congratulations.

 

Perfect timing!

Send a bouquet of flowers with a card from the BJMB! 

[Stangstag]

1 hour ago, max silver said:

Yeah Varsho obviously isn't the only guy hitting for power, but the team's power fortunes largely turned around the time he returned. Since Varsho's return the team's power has been a really strong asset:

Varsho 8 HR

Bo 7 HR

Vlad 6 HR

Barger 5 HR

Santander 3 HR

Lukes 3 HR

Clement 3 HR

Kirk 2 HR

 

 

Vlad with 6 HR for the amount he’s being paid is unacceptable IMO

Santander too but he’s being paid fairly.

Dudes need to hit the weights, time to get s*** done

[max silver]

11 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Vlad with 6 HR for the amount he’s being paid is unacceptable IMO

Santander too but he’s being paid fairly.

Dudes need to hit the weights, time to get s*** done

I can only guess you are joking, as the 6 home runs is in about a single month's worth of playing time.

[Spanky__99]

2 minutes ago, max silver said:

I can only guess you are joking, as the 6 home runs is in about a single month's worth of playing time.

This narrative is already getting tired on here, like deal with it, Rogers stepped in and paid well over the FO evaluations, Shapiro even said they went over their evaluations 3 times to land him and he still refused the number. Enter Rogers and *voila* it is what it is, he'll always be overpaid, the number they gave him was ludicrous, same goes with Soto and their owner.

[John_Havok]

8 hours ago, BB17 said:

Agreed. I think I’d play Barger every day at 3rd even against LHP though. Maybe the occasional day off against a tough Left hander but you want to see how he fares against them to see if he is a true every day guy. So I wouldn’t PH late for him in the game either even if you give up a slight advantage. Also I wouldn’t take him out for Defence late in the game, let him get as much experience as possible.

Having Barger become an every day 3B is one of the most important things that can come of this season.

There's not even a need to take him out for defense, he's grading out very very well there right now. 

You could move him from 3rd to the OF late in a game if ya wanted to and put Clement there instead, but a straight sub out for Clement wouldn't really be needed in a close game imo.