GDT: Spring Training Games, Week of 3/9 - 3/15

[Brock Beauchamp]

[JaysAllMighty]

Blue Jays @ Rays

(8-6)

warmup •

Charlotte Sports Park

 

(6-6)

José Berríos

RHP

0-0, 1.69 ERA, 5 SO

 

Taj Bradley

RHP

0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 SO

TOR Lineup

TB Lineup

1. Will Wagner (L) 3B
2. Daulton Varsho (L) DH
3. Davis Schneider (R) 2B
4. Alan Roden (L) CF
5. Tyler Heineman (S) C
6. Addison Barger (L) RF
7. Leo Jiménez (R) SS
8. Steward Berroa (S) LF
9. Riley Tirotta (R) 1B

1. Yandy Díaz (R) DH
2. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B
3. Junior Caminero (R) 3B
4. Jonathan Aranda (L) 1B
5. Danny Jansen (R) C
6. Richie Palacios (L) RF
7. Christopher Morel (R) LF
8. José Caballero (R) SS
9. Jonny DeLuca (R) CF

[gruber9292]

Roden in CF today is interesting. Looks like their looking for different possibilities as it seems they could be already leaning towards him making the 26 man. 

[BB17]

Roden absolutely deserves a spot. You can say what you want about ST stats being meaningless etc.. but given the way he has performed in Spring he more than deserves to make the team. 

His numbers are video game type numbers and he hasn't even struck out yet.

[glory]

I don’t see how they keep Roden off at this point. They haven’t signed a vetrin to occupy DH like they did last winter so it shouldn’t be too difficult to find playing time for him.

[John_Havok]

4 hours ago, BB17 said:

Roden absolutely deserves a spot. You can say what you want about ST stats being meaningless etc.. but given the way he has performed in Spring he more than deserves to make the team. 

His numbers are video game type numbers and he hasn't even struck out yet.

it's 21 PAs boys, just relax. 

HIs AAA numbers last year are far more important than these. Even if he doesn't break camp with the team, he's going to get his chance at some point. 

Other guys are also going off in ST so far that would be in the exact same position as Roden and they can't all be the 26th man and DH. 

That said, he's raking right now and it's great to see. A consistent launch angle increase of only a few degrees and he's the type of found money that most contending teams seem to find in their contending year out of nowhere. 

[Jays24]

Don't like the idea of pressuring some of our AAA guys to be impactful big league guys so fast but that's the position we're in.  Ideally, Rodon/Martinez would get a full year at AAA to show deserve a spot. 

Still wanted one last move to get a big bat but that ship seems to have sailed.  It's hard for me to trust Springer being in the top 4.  

[John_Havok]

48 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Don't like the idea of pressuring some of our AAA guys to be impactful big league guys so fast but that's the position we're in.  Ideally, Rodon/Martinez would get a full year at AAA to show deserve a spot. 

Still wanted one last move to get a big bat but that ship seems to have sailed.  It's hard for me to trust Springer being in the top 4.  

Sure, but you also really wouldn't look at Roden as a cleanup hitter either. 

Orelvis being a killer would be ideal there though

[Spanky99]

BP that matter are getting it done, nice.

[Spanky99]

7 hours ago, John_Havok said:

it's 21 PAs boys, just relax. 

HIs AAA numbers last year are far more important than these. Even if he doesn't break camp with the team, he's going to get his chance at some point. 

That said, he's raking right now and it's great to see. A consistent launch angle increase of only a few degrees and he's the type of found money that most contending teams seem to find in their contending year out of nowhere. 

John Schneider said a lot of guys are doing what we asked, but we have a lot of spring games here left before we comment on that. IE; Roden and others on making the team.

[BB17]

7 hours ago, John_Havok said:

it's 21 PAs boys, just relax. 

HIs AAA numbers last year are far more important than these. Even if he doesn't break camp with the team, he's going to get his chance at some point. 

Other guys are also going off in ST so far that would be in the exact same position as Roden and they can't all be the 26th man and DH. 

That said, he's raking right now and it's great to see. A consistent launch angle increase of only a few degrees and he's the type of found money that most contending teams seem to find in their contending year out of nowhere. 

Oh I’m not saying he only deserves a spot cuz of the ST numbers, but when the GM praises/puts pressure singling you out in the media and then you have the type of spring he’s having it’s a bad look to not reward him especially when he’s clearly one of the best 26 players on the team. 

Hes also 25 and was born the same year as Vladdy which is kind of hilarious. Not like there is really anything else to prove in AAA. 

[max silver]

8 hours ago, BB17 said:

Oh I’m not saying he only deserves a spot cuz of the ST numbers, but when the GM praises/puts pressure singling you out in the media and then you have the type of spring he’s having it’s a bad look to not reward him especially when he’s clearly one of the best 26 players on the team. 

Hes also 25 and was born the same year as Vladdy which is kind of hilarious. Not like there is really anything else to prove in AAA. 

I think it's a tad early to hand Roden a spot coming out of Spring Training. I'd prefer that the team makes him prove that he can keep producing top notch offensive contributions right until the end of the spring. I've been impressed with the total package he presents at the defense and baserunning have both been very solid as well.

[JaysAllMighty]

Astros @ Blue Jays

(8-7)

1:07 PM

TD Ballpark

 

(9-6)

Colton Gordon

LHP

0-1, 5.40 ERA, 4 SO

 

Kevin Gausman

RHP

0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SO

HOU Lineup

TOR Lineup

1. Cooper Hummel (S) LF
2. Cam Smith (R) 3B
3. Victor Caratini (S) DH
4. Jon Singleton (L) 1B
5. Brice Matthews (R) 2B
6. Jacob Melton (L) RF
7. Shay Whitcomb (R) SS
8. Jake Meyers (R) CF
9. César Salazar (L) C

1. Bo Bichette (R) SS
2. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
3. Anthony Santander (S) RF
4. George Springer (R) LF
5. Andrés Giménez (L) 2B
6. Alejandro Kirk (R) C
7. Will Wagner (L) DH
8. Ernie Clement (R) 3B
9. Joey Loperfido (L) CF

[Terminator]

Opening day lineup if Varsho isn't ready?

[Gen.Disarray]

26 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Opening day lineup if Varsho isn't ready?

Yes probably. But seeing as Varsho should be back soon, I'd like to see Springer in center and Roden in left. 

[BB17]

2 hours ago, max silver said:

I think it's a tad early to hand Roden a spot coming out of Spring Training. I'd prefer that the team makes him prove that he can keep producing top notch offensive contributions right until the end of the spring. I've been impressed with the total package he presents at the defense and baserunning have both been very solid as well.

For sure there is still a lot of Spring left but I'd say Roden is a much better option than Loperfido who still looks hopeless at the plate. 

[Terminator]

Wagner has been playing a lot of 3B. How has he looked?

[Spanky99]

Gasman looking good.

[Spanky99]

13 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Wagner has been playing a lot of 3B. How has he looked?

Serviceable. 

[Spanky99]

27 minutes ago, Gen.Disarray said:

Yes probably. But seeing as Varsho should be back soon, I'd like to see Springer in center and Roden in left. 

I could live with that for a month.

[max silver]

16 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Wagner has been playing a lot of 3B. How has he looked?

I thought the reaction time looked good so far. The arm strength is obviously lacking but he's been pretty on target with his throws so far.

[glory]

Man, Springer batting 4th and Gimenez batting 5th is kinda disgusting. I know the options are limited, but really illustrates the amount of luck/bounce backs/player development the Jays are going to need to contend. 

[Jays24]

6 minutes ago, glory said:

Man, Springer batting 4th and Gimenez batting 5th is kinda disgusting. I know the options are limited, but really illustrates the amount of luck/bounce backs/player development the Jays are going to need to contend. 

Ya I made the exact same comment.  It's why the Jays needed to make 1 more big move to add a bat but I would even take if we took a flier on J.D. at this stage. 

The lineup just isn't serious enough to be an actual contender.  We're going to waste half a year and then make a move at the deadline to add a bat.  Rinse and repeat lol.  

[Terminator]

22 minutes ago, glory said:

Man, Springer batting 4th and Gimenez batting 5th is kinda disgusting. I know the options are limited, but really illustrates the amount of luck/bounce backs/player development the Jays are going to need to contend. 

Yeah 1-3 are good and so is 7-9 (grading on a curve) but the middle of the lineup is pretty weak on paper.

But we do have a pretty deep lineup that should hold up okay even with some injuries to anyone other than Vlad. 7-9 is solid (especially when Varsho is back over Loperfido), the bench has some guys that can hit, and so does AAA.

So while the heart of the order could use another bat, the depth helps mitigate that, and there’s a chance the team already has the answer if one or two of the 14 options for spots 4-9 hit their 75th percentile projections.

[Terminator]

17 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Ya I made the exact same comment.  It's why the Jays needed to make 1 more big move to add a bat but I would even take if we took a flier on J.D. at this stage. 

The lineup just isn't serious enough to be an actual contender.  We're going to waste half a year and then make a move at the deadline to add a bat.  Rinse and repeat lol.  

JD Martinez would be a decent fit for some teams but probably not ours. Wagner and Roden look like better options.

[glory]

19 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Yeah 1-3 are good and so is 7-9 (grading on a curve) but the middle of the lineup is pretty weak on paper.

But we do have a pretty deep lineup that should hold up okay even with some injuries to anyone other than Vlad. 7-9 is solid (especially when Varsho is back over Loperfido), the bench has some guys that can hit, and so does AAA.

So while the heart of the order could use another bat, the depth helps mitigate that, and there’s a chance the team already has the answer if one or two of the 14 options for spots 4-9 hit their 75th percentile projections.

That's why I'm baffled that the likely scenario is starting Roden in AAA. Maybe he's being overhyped right now, but really, look at the names ahead of him on the depth chart. Springer is 35 and has a 100 wRC+ over the last two seasons. Wagner while he had intriguing Statcast data in limited 2024 action, is still a player with no position and limited power. Kirk and Gimenez over the last two seasons are ~90-95 wRC+ bats. Clement had a 2% walk rate last season and Statcast page as blue as the ocean in many important offensive categories. If there's any time to take a gamble on Roden, Martinez, whoever, it's now. Even if it fails. 

[Brownie19]

11 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Yeah 1-3 are good and so is 7-9 (grading on a curve) but the middle of the lineup is pretty weak on paper.

But we do have a pretty deep lineup that should hold up okay even with some injuries to anyone other than Vlad. 7-9 is solid (especially when Varsho is back over Loperfido), the bench has some guys that can hit, and so does AAA.

So while the heart of the order could use another bat, the depth helps mitigate that, and there’s a chance the team already has the answer if one or two of the 14 options for spots 4-9 hit their 75th percentile projections.

That's exactly how I feel about it.  

We do have to remember that offense is down around baseball.  Lineups aren't stacked like they used to be.  Our lineup lacks star power, outside of the big 3, but otherwise, we have a ton of guys all projected to be above average from a wRC+ perspective.  

The 2025 Jays remind me a bit of the 2024 Mets.  Lindor, Vientos and Alonso were the Top 3 (137, 133, 122) and then they had a bunch of average, to just above average hitters (Nimmo - 109, JDM - 108, Marte - 104, Alvarez - 102, Taylor - 98, McNeil - 97, Bader - 85).  Of course they also had Iglesias magically give them 133, but < 300 PA's.

Mets finished 7th in runs scored and wRC+ last year.  

The 2025 Jays are projected (Steamers) for:

Vlad 156

Taters 123

Kirk 120 (seems optimistic)

Bo 118

Wagner 118 (seems optimistic)

Springer 110

Gimenez 104

Clement 103

Varsho 101

and a bunch of bench guys all projected around 100 wRC+ (Barger, Lukes, Schneider, Jimenez, Orelvis)

Roden is projected at 110 - he's the sleeper of the bunch.

 

I see a lot of similarities.

[Terminator]

3 minutes ago, glory said:

That's why I'm baffled that the likely scenario is starting Roden in AAA. Maybe he's being overhyped right now, but really, look at the names ahead of him on the depth chart. Springer is 35 and has a 100 wRC+ over the last two seasons. Wagner while he had intriguing Statcast data in limited 2024 action, is still a player with no position and limited power. Kirk and Gimenez over the last two seasons are ~90-95 wRC+ bats. Clement had a 2% walk rate last season and Statcast page as blue as the ocean in many important offensive categories. If there's any time to take a gamble on Roden, Martinez, whoever, it's now. Even if it fails. 

He'll be in the lineup pretty early on I bet. If it's not Opening Day then by late April. If he's as good as we think then we might as well take the extra year of control. 

Wagner is good too though and he can hold down the DH spot until then. When Roden comes up it will pinch Wagner's playing time a bit but they can figure it out. Hopefully he can play a little 3B to get his bat in there more often.

[Orgfiller]

Sandlin looks like such an uncomfortable AB, if he can get the walks under control he could be a real weapon out of the bullpen. You can put him in after just about anybody and it's a completely different look.

[Spanky99]

Kirky continues to rake.