Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2026)

[Terminator]

And yes all it takes is two games against the lowly Giants for me to get back on the wagon

THE PLAYOFFS WILL BE EASY TO MAKE

[glory]

4 hours ago, Terminator said:

Definitely up in the air right now but I think we will probably be buyers because the AL is so horrendous.

We are just 2.5 games out of WC3 and 3 games out of WC2.

I feel like it would take a lot for them to not be buyers. Coming off 2025 they will want to keep that momentum going and sneak into a playoff spot. Also, we have 10 years of data on what Ross Atkins does in trade deadlines when selling. He's not selling a single player that isn't an impending FA. The only time he does that is when he has a gun to his head (Osuna, to some degree Stroman due to his attitude), or another team wants to do us a favor (the Pirates with IKF). Otherwise i can't think of a trade Atkins has made where he traded a controllable piece at the deadline as a seller. So either trade the impending FAs for the next batch of Loperfido's, Pinango's, and McAdoo's, or try to sneak into a WC spot in an American League that is prime Jennifer Lopez levels of ass. The latter probably has more upside for the franchise. Maybe they get something decent for Gausman, but no one is trading top 50-100 prospects for mid-30 rentals. 

[max silver]

7 minutes ago, glory said:

I feel like it would take a lot for them to not be buyers. Coming off 2025 they will want to keep that momentum going and sneak into a playoff spot. Also, we have 10 years of data on what Ross Atkins does in trade deadlines when selling. He's not selling a single player that isn't an impending FA. The only time he does that is when he has a gun to his head (Osuna, to some degree Stroman due to his attitude), or another team wants to do us a favor (the Pirates with IKF). Otherwise i can't think of a trade Atkins has made where he traded a controllable piece at the deadline as a seller. So either trade the impending FAs for the next batch of Loperfido's, Pinango's, and McAdoo's, or try to sneak into a WC spot in an American League that is prime Jennifer Lopez levels of ass. The latter probably has more upside for the franchise. Maybe they get something decent for Gausman, but no one is trading top 50-100 prospects for mid-30 rentals. 

To be fair Atkins has only sold at the deadline once in the last 6 seasons so we don't have much in the way of recent history to go off of.

[Eat My Shatkins]

I'm hoping Atkins pulls something out of the blue like trading for Buxton or something, although that seems unlikely as the Twins are somehow closer to a WC spot than we are, with a much better run diff too.

Adding a bat like that to the middle of the line up could ignite the whole team IMO, plus he's insurance for CF moving forward with Varsho a pending free agent.

[SeranthonySantander]

We likely sweep the padres and will be back in a wild card spot next week.  I expect us to keep a stranglehold on that playoff spot, basically 0.0001% chance we will lose it once we get it.

Vlad has shown he is back.  The rest of the team is back in peak form.  
 

I don’t think I could be feeling any better about our chances.  

[jaysblue]

Ross Atkins at the trade deadline:

[Masterbather]

3 hours ago, SeranthonySantander said:

We likely sweep the padres and will be back in a wild card spot next week.  I expect us to keep a stranglehold on that playoff spot, basically 0.0001% chance we will lose it once we get it.

Vlad has shown he is back.  The rest of the team is back in peak form.  
 

I don’t think I could be feeling any better about our chances.  

Your trolling is top notch, I commend you.

[Masterbather]

I think it's too early to know what we're going to do at the deadline.

But any chance we have this year depends a lot more on the guys that are already here than anybody we pick up.

[G-Snarls]

2 hours ago, Masterbather said:

I think it's too early to know what we're going to do at the deadline.

But any chance we have this year depends a lot more on the guys that are already here than anybody we pick up.

Yeah

Big second halves from Vladdy and Kirk would be as valuable as any trade they could make

[Stangstag]

6 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

I'm hoping Atkins pulls something out of the blue like trading for Buxton or something, although that seems unlikely as the Twins are somehow closer to a WC spot than we are, with a much better run diff too.

Adding a bat like that to the middle of the line up could ignite the whole team IMO, plus he's insurance for CF moving forward with Varsho a pending free agent.

I want no part of Byron Buxton. Great player but extremely unreliable and its only gonna get worse 

[jaysblue]

8 hours ago, Stangstag said:

I want no part of Byron Buxton. Great player but extremely unreliable and its only gonna get worse 

He’d be a very frustrating player to watch because he’s constantly in and out of the lineup for a few days at a time, either because he’s banged up or dealing with some minor injury. There always seems to be a short IL stint or two every season as well.

To be fair, that’s actually an improvement for him compared to pre-2025, when any injury seemed to knock him out for significant chunks of time.

As a short-term rental, I think he’d be fine. You’d probably have to keep him at DH most of the time to maximize his durability and keep his bat in the lineup. But as a long-term solution in CF after Varsho leaves as a free agent? I don’t think that’s ideal.

[jaysblue]

9 hours ago, G-Snarls said:

Yeah

Big second halves from Vladdy and Kirk would be as valuable as any trade they could make

Yeah, those guys need to pick up the slack. If they added another impact bat, you’d hope it could help lengthen the lineup and maybe spark Vladdy and Kirk in the second half.

[Orgfiller]

16 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

I'm hoping Atkins pulls something out of the blue like trading for Buxton or something, although that seems unlikely as the Twins are somehow closer to a WC spot than we are, with a much better run diff too.

Adding a bat like that to the middle of the line up could ignite the whole team IMO, plus he's insurance for CF moving forward with Varsho a pending free agent.

Buxton has a full no-trade clause and even when the Twins did a firesale last trade deadline he basically doubled down on wanting to remain a Twin. I don't think he's a realistic trade target.

[jaysblue]

7 hours ago, Orgfiller said:

Buxton has a full no-trade clause and even when the Twins did a firesale last trade deadline he basically doubled down on wanting to remain a Twin. I don't think he's a realistic trade target.

He's in love with the Mall of America. 

[jaysblue]

Welcome Ryan Sprock! 

[ComeTogether]

 

 

[Brownie19]

I must say Ive enjoyed Ben Shulman and Maddison Shipman broadcasting these games in SD.

I had to look it up, but Maddison is one of the few women to provide colour commentary during an MLB game (there have been some in the NBA)

I know Sunday Night Baseball used Jessica Mendoza, but I think she's the 3rd person in the booth?

I was just reading a bunch of derogatory comments about the pride parade in Collingwood this weekend.  So much hate. I suspect the same crowd hates that Shipman is calling games.

[G-Snarls]

What a s***** first half

An offense that should have been at least average underperformed way too often 

The starting pitching which we started out the season with almost too much of has gone to absolute s*** other than Cease 

The defense isn't as tight as last year 

Just not good enough even in this weaker than usual AL

[Terminator]

5 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

I must say Ive enjoyed Ben Shulman and Maddison Shipman broadcasting these games in SD.

I had to look it up, but Maddison is one of the few women to provide colour commentary during an MLB game (there have been some in the NBA)

I know Sunday Night Baseball used Jessica Mendoza, but I think she's the 3rd person in the booth?

I was just reading a bunch of derogatory comments about the pride parade in Collingwood this weekend.  So much hate. I suspect the same crowd hates that Shipman is calling games.

Shipman isn't bad in the booth. But while we are on the topic of women in baseball, Jen Pawol might be the worst MLB umpire I've ever seen.

As for your favorite Pride Parades being subjected to derogatory comments, I have no idea what that has to do with anything Jays or baseball related so I've unfortunately had to report you for politics.

[hanton]

I see no balk, I think she was just confused - maybe never seen a pitcher from the wind up

[bronson44]

She is bad but still better than Angel Hernandez.

My biggest problem is that when managers have an issue they can't really get in her face. In that inning both managers came out to talk/argue and the male umps jumped in and handled it for her while she just retreats to behind the plate and waits. I get why. It would look really bad for a man to be chewing her out but she should be able to take the heat for her calls like all umps. It's part of the job.

Not a huge deal but if the goal is equality it doesn't seem like it to me.

[Brownie19]

5 hours ago, hanton said:

I see no balk, I think she was just confused - maybe never seen a pitcher from the wind up

They explained it on the broadcast.  He declared he was going from the wind-up for the previous batter, but didn't for Merrill. Apparently you have to declare each batter?  I don't think she was wrong.

Gausman used the wind-up for this game for the first times in years, so he's not used to having to do it...

[Olerud363.354]

9 hours ago, Terminator said:

Shipman isn't bad in the booth. But while we are on the topic of women in baseball, Jen Pawol might be the worst MLB umpire I've ever seen.

As for your favorite Pride Parades being subjected to derogatory comments, I have no idea what that has to do with anything Jays or baseball related so I've unfortunately had to report you for politics.

The rule should be simple.  

1.  No one is allowed to start a right wing political discussion, and comments about the latest latest alt-right philosophies are not allowed.  In general we do not want politics on this fine message board.

2. The only exception is If a long time board member starts a left-wing political discussion with off-hand comments about parades or boosters then politics has been opened, in that case politics will be considered fair-game and the alt-right posters are free to respond as much as they want. 

That would stop it, as the last thing the left leaning people want is a discussion to be started. 

 

[Terminator]

12 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

The rule should be simple.  

1.  No one is allowed to start a right wing political discussion, and comments about the latest latest alt-right philosophies are not allowed.  In general we do not want politics on this fine message board.

2. The only exception is If a long time board member starts a left-wing political discussion with off-hand comments about parades or boosters then politics has been opened, and the alt-right posters are free to respond as much as they want. 

That would stop it, as the last thing the left leaning people want is a discussion to be started. 

 

Reported for politics

[Terminator]

Jonatan Clase has a .250 xwOBA lol

[Olerud363.354]

Just now, Terminator said:

Reported for politics

Discussing the rules about politics is not politics.  I think we should use the all star break to have a 4 day discussion about how to police the board for politics with examples of what is appropriate and not. 

[jaysblue]

15 hours ago, Brownie19 said:

I must say Ive enjoyed Ben Shulman and Maddison Shipman broadcasting these games in SD.

I had to look it up, but Maddison is one of the few women to provide colour commentary during an MLB game (there have been some in the NBA)

I know Sunday Night Baseball used Jessica Mendoza, but I think she's the 3rd person in the booth?

I really like Madison Shipman, and I think she’s done a great job. I’m not just saying that for the sake of it either. She genuinely offers valuable insight, whether she’s in the booth calling the game or on the pre- and post-game panel.

I like Ben Shulman as well. He’s grown into the role nicely and brings a solid presence to the broadcast.

Overall, Sportsnet has a really strong team covering the Jays. Between the play-by-play, analysis, and studio crew, we’re pretty lucky as fans.

[Olerud363.354]

2 minutes ago, Terminator said:

Jonatan Clase has a .250 xwOBA lol

I guess the formula assumes direction is random.  350 foot 95 mile per hour pulled fly balls, while valuable in real life, are not valuable in the formula because it is assumed it is not repeatable. 

Vlad's 106 mph 390 foot fly balls to center with bad spin, while worthless in real life are worth quite a bit, again because the formula assumes direction is random. 

For the most part the formula is right and it evens out, but I think there are real cases of directionally challenged or directionally talented individuals.  It's not a huge effect but there are cases where guys out-perform or under-perform because of direction. 

[jaysblue]

10 hours ago, Terminator said:

Shipman isn't bad in the booth. But while we are on the topic of women in baseball, Jen Pawol might be the worst MLB umpire I've ever seen.

As for your favorite Pride Parades being subjected to derogatory comments, I have no idea what that has to do with anything Jays or baseball related so I've unfortunately had to report you for politics.

She was awful yesterday. As well, with the bad calls when the managers came out to express their case, you can tell both Stammen and Schneider felt awkward when they were arguing with her and they both kept it toned down for optics. Just my two cents. 

Agreed. I responded to his first part of the post which was baseball related. I don't understand how his last statement had anything to do with baseball or Maddison Shipman broadcasting her first games. 

[Terminator]

1 hour ago, jaysblue said:

I really like Madison Shipman, and I think she’s done a great job. I’m not just saying that for the sake of it either. She genuinely offers valuable insight, whether she’s in the booth calling the game or on the pre- and post-game panel.

I like Ben Shulman as well. He’s grown into the role nicely and brings a solid presence to the broadcast.

Overall, Sportsnet has a really strong team covering the Jays. Between the play-by-play, analysis, and studio crew, we’re pretty lucky as fans.

Ben Shulman has grown on me. I listen to a lot of the radio broadcasts, and whoever fills in for him made me realize Ben is a lot better than I originally gave him credit for. That other guy is not great.