General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2025)

[Jonn]

Vlad doing the David Ortiz daaaaaa yankees lose is crazy. Next level trolling. Jared Carrabis level trolling.

I love it because he backed it up lol

[infinitebook]

4 minutes ago, max silver said:

All of them? He's an extreme fly ball pitcher who subsequently gives up too many home runs and this will continue whether he's tipping his pitches or not.

His breaking ball is getting crushed, so it could be he's tipping but he could also just be telegraphing it. Comerica and Safeco both are more pitcher friendly parks when it comes to fly balls, especially when compared to Yankee Stadium. I think the Tigers are probably the best matchup for Max, and he could definitely be effective one or two times through the order against them. 

[Jonn]

Max is on my ALCS roster 100 percent. Whether it’s to pitch in a bulk role. Or go max effort in one inning. He doesn’t shy away from the moment.

[infinitebook]

1 minute ago, Jonn said:

Max is on my ALCS roster 100 percent. Whether it’s to pitch in a bulk role. Or go max effort in one inning. He doesn’t shy away from the moment.

Yeah I remember the Rangers piggy backing another starter with him in the world series, and he went a clean 3 innings if I remember correctly. I think that could definitely work in the ALCS.

[John_Havok]

2 minutes ago, Jonn said:

Max is on my ALCS roster 100 percent. Whether it’s to pitch in a bulk role. Or go max effort in one inning. He doesn’t shy away from the moment.

It's really one of those things where you weight his veteran presence and experience vs the fact he's pitched like dog sh*t in the very recent past, aside from a few starts. 

That's a tough call to make and either decision can be legitimately defended. 

[max silver]

3 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

It's really one of those things where you weight his veteran presence and experience vs the fact he's pitched like dog sh*t in the very recent past, aside from a few starts. 

That's a tough call to make and either decision can be legitimately defended. 

I have zero issue with him being on the ALCS roster vs someone like Bruihl as the team simply shouldn't need 4 bullpen lefty's as the 4th guy will barely see any use. 

[Jonn]

11 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

It's really one of those things where you weight his veteran presence and experience vs the fact he's pitched like dog sh*t in the very recent past, aside from a few starts. 

That's a tough call to make and either decision can be legitimately defended. 

I don’t believe he is a playoff calibre starter anymore. He had a rough September. But I feel him being able to just throw just his Fastball and the breaking ball that’s working that given day he can get us 6-9 outs in the middle of a game. I think he can miss some bats in that role.

[John_Havok]

Just now, Jonn said:

I don’t believe he is a playoff calibre starter anymore. He had a rough September. But I feel him being able to just throw just his Fastball and the breaking ball that’s working that given day he can get us 6-9 outs in the middle of a game. I think he can miss some bats in that role.

Agree that is probably not a playoff calibre starter. I agree he can probably air it out for 2-3 IP at most a few times in the 7 game series, but is that as a more leverage arm in a close game? or more of a being-up-or-down-by-4+ and eat up innings type? 

[Brownie19]

IF Bo returns, I think it will be Bruihl for Bo and Nance for Bassitt.

The last 2 roster spots comes down to Scherzer, Tony and IKF (I think Straw is safe).  Do you give up a power bat or a late inning defensive replacement to carry Scherzer - who's probably the last reliver you'd use?  I guess we'll find out soon. 

I'm actually doubtful that Bo returns, so I think the decision is Max v. Nance.  I'd probably rather lose a game with Scherzer pitching than Nance, so Max is my pick.

But the Jays have really advanced systems that they will use to calculate who has the best chance to succeed v. whomever team they face.   That's going to play a big factor in this whether people like that or not.

[Stangstag]

1 hour ago, Jonn said:

Vlad doing the David Ortiz daaaaaa yankees lose is crazy. Next level trolling. Jared Carrabis level trolling.

I love it because he backed it up lol

Its so fkn good. Was cry laughing the first time i watched. This will be a core memory for me honestly 

[Nexii]

If we can quantify 'Stuff' and we can measure actual pitching outcomes, isn't that enough to identify tipping? That is, anyone with a very large gap between the two would likely be doing so?

[Spanky__99]

I don't get why people are saying punt Nance, he almost put up 1 WAR in 30 innings during the regular season being arguably one of our better relievers this season, is the recency bias taking effect here cause of 1.1 IP in the PS? 

[Anal Hershiser]

1 minute ago, Spanky__99 said:

I don't get why people are saying punt Nance, he almost put up 1 WAR in 30 innings during the regular season being arguably one of our better relievers this season, is the recency bias taking effect here cause of 1.1 IP in the PS? 

Would you drop a different reliever? Assuming Briuhl is already dropped for Bassitt

[hanton]

26 minutes ago, Nexii said:

If we can quantify 'Stuff' and we can measure actual pitching outcomes, isn't that enough to identify tipping? That is, anyone with a very large gap between the two would likely be doing so?

if by "Stuff" you're referring to stuff+?  keep in mind stuff+ doesn't take into account variables like command, deception and pitch sequencing and therefore probably not tipping; so any gaps you do find will need to be refined further

[max silver]

5 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

I don't get why people are saying punt Nance, he almost put up 1 WAR in 30 innings during the regular season being arguably one of our better relievers this season, is the recency bias taking effect here cause of 1.1 IP in the PS? 

Nance had a tough September with 4.66 ERA/5.72 xERA so the division series struggles feel like an extension of his prior underperformance. 

[Spanky__99]

6 hours ago, L54 said:

I forgot this happened. Myles Straw yelling f*** the Yankees is even better now 

When Straw caught the final out in the 8th with the bases loaded and looked back and shouted at the fans, it immediately brought me back to that incident when he was with Cleveland. He's got a legit hate on for their crowd, and they don't forget either. F*ck them, hahaha.

 

[Masterbather]

I personally do not agree with dropping Nance for Scherzer. Nance has been great all year, and gave up a grand total of 0 home runs. That's a particularly important statistic.

I wouldn't necessarily use Nance against an elite right-handed hitter but against your run-of-the-mill righties, he's solid. 

With the off days you shouldn't need too much length but if you do need length Lauer can probably give you three innings.

[Spanky__99]

6 hours ago, Terminator said:

Bo is barely jogging right now so it seems like if he makes the team he won't be 100%. I don't know if they are going to DH him or what but in any case they may want to keep IKF on the roster.

They could dump Bruihl and Nance and add Bassitt and Bo and just leave Scherzer off. That would be a 5 man bench and 8 man bullpen (which could work with the off days).

I don't believe you can do this sir, since they went to a 26 man roster the rule is 13 Position players and 13 Pitchers, IIRC. 

[mellowgold2]

Obviously a healthy-ish Bo makes the roster. And I think you add one of Bassitt or Scherzer, but probably not both. I don't think there's room for five starters. So probably Bo and Bassitt in.

 

I would love to drop IKF but I don't think you can if Bo isn't ready to play in the field. Heinemann obviously has to stay, Straw has proven himself to be too valuable as a defensive replacement and a fantastic baserunner, and Schneider has been great, too.

 

Bruihl is the obvious first cut, and then it likely comes down to Santander vs. Nance.

 

[Jays24]

2 hours ago, Jonn said:

Max is on my ALCS roster 100 percent. Whether it’s to pitch in a bulk role. Or go max effort in one inning. He doesn’t shy away from the moment.

Worst case, you have him in the Nance role where you use him in emergency situations.  Having Bassitt/Scherzer is a lot more beneficial than Nance/Bruhil and its not even a question. 

Let's say there's a massive blow out either way, just use Scherzer to mop up to save all your high leverage arms.  Just too many positives to not have him on the roster even in the worst case.  

[Masterbather]

9 minutes ago, mellowgold2 said:

Obviously a healthy-ish Bo makes the roster. And I think you add one of Bassitt or Scherzer, but probably not both. I don't think there's room for five starters. So probably Bo and Bassitt in.

 

I would love to drop IKF but I don't think you can if Bo isn't ready to play in the field. Heinemann obviously has to stay, Straw has proven himself to be too valuable as a defensive replacement and a fantastic baserunner, and Schneider has been great, too.

 

Bruihl is the obvious first cut, and then it likely comes down to Santander vs. Nance.

 

Santander has to play, he's got one of our more dangerous power bats and I like the way his at bats have been looking. The problem of course is that you have 3 DH players for one slot. This is why I'm not convinced that Bo will make it. 

[Jays24]

36 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

I don't get why people are saying punt Nance, he almost put up 1 WAR in 30 innings during the regular season being arguably one of our better relievers this season, is the recency bias taking effect here cause of 1.1 IP in the PS? 

Literally everything is recency bias.  Scherzer went from a potential Game 1 starter in August to not even being on the roster.  Let's face it, one guy has a track record while the other does not.  

[max silver]

32 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Literally everything is recency bias.  Scherzer went from a potential Game 1 starter in August to not even being on the roster.  Let's face it, one guy has a track record while the other does not.  

Max Scherzer was never going to start game 1 of a playoff series for the Blue Jays. His previous track record doesn't matter very much compared to what he realistically has to offer at this point of his career.

[SeranthonySantander]

Per some Reddit thread I just saw, Jamie Campbell said Bo hinted that he may be ready for Sunday 

[Jonn]

3 hours ago, John_Havok said:

Agree that is probably not a playoff calibre starter. I agree he can probably air it out for 2-3 IP at most a few times in the 7 game series, but is that as a more leverage arm in a close game? or more of a being-up-or-down-by-4+ and eat up innings type? 

I think depending on the game situation he could fill both. I think he might also pitch himself into a more leverage role depending how the first outing goes. He did throw a 5 inning simulated game on Tuesday. So they are keeping him streched out. But he will be deployable in all situations.

[Jays24]

23 minutes ago, max silver said:

Max Scherzer's was never going to start game 1 of a playoff series for the Blue Jays. His previous track record doesn't matter very much compared to what he realistically has to offer at this point of his career.

He was very much in the running and even if you want to say he wasn't, he was definitely being thought of as a Game 2 starter.  You kinda missed the point of the overall comment lol.  

[Spanky__99]

30 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Worst case, you have him in the Nance role where you use him in emergency situations.  Having Bassitt/Scherzer is a lot more beneficial than Nance/Bruhil and its not even a question. 

Let's say there's a massive blow out either way, just use Scherzer to mop up to save all your high leverage arms.  Just too many positives to not have him on the roster even in the worst case.  

Isn't that Lauer's job?

 

[Spanky__99]

32 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Literally everything is recency bias.  Scherzer went from a potential Game 1 starter in August to not even being on the roster.  Let's face it, one guy has a track record while the other does not.  

[Jays24]

1 minute ago, Spanky__99 said:

Isn't that Lauer's job?

 

I know youre smart enough to know Lauer's role has been shrunk down to a short outings now.  He isnt stretched out anymore and has proven he can be used in high leverage situations.  Let Scherzer take the mop up role since Nance is last on the depth charts with Bruhil anyways. 

[Jonn]

17 minutes ago, Spanky__99 said:

Isn't that Lauer's job?

 

Depending matchups having all of them would be nice. You take out Bruihl, Nance, and IKF. Insert Bo, Bassit, and Scherzer and you got length. The option to use one as a 4th starter. Or leverage roles depending on what you need. 

Do we want Nance on the mound in any situation we wouldn't rather see Max or Bassit?