Red Sox (Crochet) vs Blue Jays (Scherzer): 9/24/25, 7:07pm

[Jays24]

14 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

To be fair - Barger hasn't been producing much over the past couple of months.

Oh I agree but if the alternative is IKF, I'll roll the dice on the MUCH better player to figure it out. 

[Jays24]

10 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

IKF career against LHP: 77 wRC+, 14% K rate

Barger: 55 wRC+, 34% K rate

Both are trash but IKF will at least make contact more often and hope to get a few bloop hits while providing better defense, and leaves Barger to be used as a pinch hitter late in the game. It's a marginal upgrade but the numbers say it's what you should be going for.

Pretty sure Barger struggles against velocity as well, and that's gonna be magnified by velocity coming from a lefty. IKF over Barger is the right call for this one, like it or not.

Why are you using IKF's career numbers?  Should we use Scherzer's career numbers when assessing his ability going forward?  Human's aren't robots who are the same from year to year, month to month, etc.  

Barger hasn't played well recently but give me his upside over IKF's upside in a must win game.  I'd prefer to reward the player who was a big reason why we're currently where we are over a dude who got DFA'd by MLB's trash franchise. 

[Orgfiller]

3 minutes ago, Jays24 said:

Why are you using IKF's career numbers?  Should we use Scherzer's career numbers when assessing his ability going forward?  Human's aren't robots who are the same from year to year, month to month, etc.  

Barger hasn't played well recently but give me his upside over IKF's upside in a must win game.  I'd prefer to reward the player who was a big reason why we're currently where we are over a dude who got DFA'd by MLB's trash franchise. 

Because IKF is 30 years old, not 45 with one foot into retirement. Him having all of 121 PAs against lefties this year is not enough to discount his entire career's worth, that's not how platoon regressions work.

Barger this season has still been completely inept against LHP, and his carrying tool which is his power hasn't even been on display against them when he's not whiffing a third of the time. He has 1 homerun in 85 PAs and a .125 ISO. Both are awful and at worst project similarly against an arm like Crochet, but at least IKF will provide slightly better defense and baserunning, while allowing us to put Barger into a big PH opportunity later in the game.

[Brownie19]

Can we just agree they both f*cking suck and whomever you put in is likely to be an auto-out?  There are several auto-outs in the lineup right now.

[Jays24]

8 minutes ago, Orgfiller said:

Because IKF is 30 years old, not 45 with one foot into retirement. Him having all of 121 PAs against lefties this year is not enough to discount his entire career's worth, that's not how platoon regressions work.

Barger this season has still been completely inept against LHP, and his carrying tool which is his power hasn't even been on display against them when he's not whiffing a third of the time. He has 1 homerun in 85 PAs and a .125 ISO. Both are awful and at worst project similarly against an arm like Crochet, but at least IKF will provide slightly better defense and baserunning, while allowing us to put Barger into a big PH opportunity later in the game.

That was so well said and I still disagree haha.  To me, both are bad options tonight but tie goes to the better overall player who has shown greater upside all year.  

[HomeRunHomer]

 

[glory]

I don't know what to make of this. Now you're hoping a washed Scherzer who is tipping every pitch he throws + Berrios whose Stuff+ is declining every year can beat a Red Sox team that is primed for the post season, while the Yankees are throwing their two best SPs against one of the worst teams in baseball. The weekend games won't matter much if you lose these next 2. Bieber tomorrow would have been the better option, but maybe it's health related or something. 

[G-Snarls]

There are things the team will never tell the press 

Would be curious to know all that's going on but we won't

[Brownie19]

Great - the division is on the line and we have Jose Berrios pitching.  Beauty.  

[Governator]

Could be only use him if we have to scenario?  If we happen to clinch by Friday, they won't even start him and since it'd be his last start, it's easier to line him up against TB?  It doesn't really make a difference if he goes tomorrow or Friday just the better match up?

[neverbeenhere]

9 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Great - the division is on the line and we have Jose Berrios pitching.  Beauty.  

What if he pitches great tomorrow, will you replace Scherzer with him in the post season?

[glory]

18 minutes ago, Governator said:

Could be only use him if we have to scenario?  If we happen to clinch by Friday, they won't even start him.

In order to clinch by Friday the Jays would have to win both games the next 2 days (despite being underdogs in the pitching matchups) and the Yankees would have to lose both (despite being massive favorites against one of the worst teams in the league). As amazing as that would be, I don't think there's a chance in hell of that happening. If anything, this probably increases the chances of the Jays losing both games. I don't get it. If Bieber and Yesavage both need an extra day of rest, then what happens next week if the Jays are playing in the WC round?

[Stangstag]

50 minutes ago, Brownie19 said:

Can we just agree they both f*cking suck and whomever you put in is likely to be an auto-out?  There are several auto-outs in the lineup right now.

what happened to you man

[Stangstag]

35 minutes ago, HomeRunHomer said:

 

uhhhhhhhhhhh what?

[Governator]

Just now, Stangstag said:

what happened to you man

I mean, he spent good money and drove a couple hours with his son to be disappointed. Sucks the energy out of you.  Also, he's not really wrong.

[Stangstag]

22 minutes ago, Governator said:

Could be only use him if we have to scenario?  If we happen to clinch by Friday, they won't even start him and since it'd be his last start, it's easier to line him up against TB?  It doesn't really make a difference if he goes tomorrow or Friday just the better match up?

Pretty much 0 shot we clinch by Friday. I'd be shocked if we clinched before Sunday tbh

[Stangstag]

Just now, Governator said:

I mean, he spent good money and drove a couple hours with his son to be disappointed. Sucks the energy out of you.  Also, he's not really wrong.

I've been doing that several times each summer for the past 10 years.

Yes i live in the GTA but its still a 2+ hour roundtrip lol

[Stangstag]

15 minutes ago, glory said:

In order to clinch by Friday the Jays would have to win both games the next 2 days (despite being underdogs in the pitching matchups) and the Yankees would have to lose both (despite being massive favorites against one of the worst teams in the league). As amazing as that would be, I don't think there's a chance in hell of that happening. If anything, this probably increases the chances of the Jays losing both games. I don't get it. If Bieber and Yesavage both need an extra day of rest, then what happens next week if the Jays are playing in the WC round?

It would be so on-brand for this team to use all bullets in the Rays series, choke the division, then get swept in the wildcard.

[glory]

1 minute ago, Stangstag said:

It would be so on-brand for this team to use all bullets in the Rays series, choke the division, then get swept in the wildcard.

Bieber-Yesavage-Gausman in the Rays series, followed by having to play in the WC round where Gausman can't go at all and Max Scherzer is starting Game 1. 

[bones]

Well Max, if you have anything left in the tank going to need it tonight 

[Jesusindashed]

Well their fate is still in their hands. If they do blow this this core will have the choker label. Zero playoff wins and blowing an 8 to 1 lead in a playoff game. Then  the division lead so late. Going to be tense 

[ComeTogether]

[Doubleplay21]

Atkins having his chair as GM getting slippery.

[Omar]

[saskjayfan]

Max is shoving tonight.  All you nervous nellies make me laugh!

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, neverbeenhere said:

What if he pitches great tomorrow, will you replace Scherzer with him in the post season?

If Berrios to Scherzer pitch in the playoffs, we're f*cked.  I'd send them both home once the regular season is over.

[Brownie19]

1 hour ago, Stangstag said:

what happened to you man

I'm not in a good space right now brother.  

[Horses Fart]

Let’s go Jays. Crochet is a beast tho. But hopefully we get good Mad Max tonight. 

[Stangstag]

Just now, Brownie19 said:

I'm not in a good space right now brother.  

Its just baseball my dude. Although I’d assume you’re speaking about personal life problems… hope everything is alright man!

[Brownie19]

1 minute ago, Stangstag said:

Its just baseball my dude. Although I’d assume you’re speaking about personal life problems… hope everything is alright man!

Thanks man.  Appreciated.