Phillies (Wheeler) vs Blue Jays (Cease): 6/9/26, 7:07pm

[Stangstag]

Aint no fkn way Springer should be playing over Pinango, Sanchez, Lukes, or Valenzuela. 

If this FO wants to win, Springer will remain on the bench

[gruber9292]

2 minutes ago, Stangstag said:

Aint no fkn way Springer should be playing over Pinango, Sanchez, Lukes, or Valenzuela. 

If this FO wants to win, Springer will remain on the bench

Platoon Springer with Sanchez 

[philly30]

Nice Win

[jmomcc]

This team is good. The at bats are in the main really good. The pitching is good. 

[G-Snarls]

2 hours ago, Jays24 said:

It can definitely be a shared responsibility but we clearly arent seeing the managers side of that responsibility in the public.  It can be happening behind closed doors but then youd expect some accountability when that doesnt translate onto the field...

  

1 hour ago, G-Snarls said:

Team needs a Papelbon!

Just run down near the first baseline rn and ask Bryce Harper how helpful he was 

This story is hilarious for anyone who might not know it

[jaysblue]

I think Brandon Valenzuela has quickly become one of my new favourite Jays.

He’s stepped up in a big way with Kirk out and really looks like he could be a key piece of this team long term. Falling behind 0-2 against Duran and then taking the ball the other way for a walk-off single? That’s just awesome!

He’s becoming one of the most likeable Jays right now - right up there with Ernie Clement. It’s been really fun to watch Valenzuela emerge this season, and I hope he keeps it going.

Honestly, I might need to get a Valenzuela jersey haha.

[SeranthonySantander]

The jays should make a policy that anyone with a weird hairline can't play.  Like the yankees facial hair policy they used to have.  Then nobody will have to actually tell George hes not playing, he will just figure it out on his own.

[Landry_25]

9 minutes ago, SeranthonySantander said:

The jays should make a policy that anyone with a weird hairline can't play.  Like the yankees facial hair policy they used to have.  Then nobody will have to actually tell George hes not playing, he will just figure it out on his own.

Really hate that’s it’s come to this as springer is awesome. Just happens to really suck this year lol they’re really not doing him any favors keeping him in the lead off position to “figure it out” 

[Laika]

Funny how hard / impossible scouting or prospecting is. 

Brandon Valenzuela wasn't cracking a 100 wRC+ in the upper minors from ages 23-25. You would project him for an MLB wRC+ in the 70s. 

He was universally described as a good defender but someone with a fringe hit tool. A backup C prospect. 

But when you read the Baseball America report from before 2026, you can see the nuggets of gold:

Quote

BA Grade/Risk: 30/Low

Adjusted Grade: 30

Track Record: The Padres signed Valenzuela for $100,000 from the Mexican League in July 2017. Valenzuela spent seven seasons in the Padres’ system, producing subpar results at the plate. The Padres traded him to the Blue Jays for infielder Will Wagner at the 2025 trade deadline. Valenzuela spent the final two months with Triple-A Buffalo and was added to the Blue Jays 40-man roster after the season.

Scouting Report: The switch-hitting Valenzuela is a glove-first catcher without a lot of offensive upside. Valenzuela’s righthanded swing is better than his lefthanded swing, leading to average results against lefthanded pitching. He shows below-average contact skills with an advanced approach that should lead to at least an average walk rate. There will be a fair amount of strikeouts as Valenzuela is a well below-average contact hitter against righthanded pitching. He hit 15 home runs in 2025 and shows fringe-average game power. To Valenzuela’s credit he has average exit velocity data with lofty launch angles. Behind the plate he’s a plus defender with an above-average arm that keeps runners in check.

The Future: Valenzuela has the perfect backup catcher skill set, with split-dependent success and plus defense and provides Toronto catching depth they’re sorely lacking. He could see a solid amount of MLB time in 2026 as a ready-made backup catcher and defensive fill-in.

Scouting Grades Hit: 30 | Power: 45 | Run: 30 | Field: 60 | Arm: 55

I mean... advanced approach with close to average power, average exit velos, and good launch angles? On a catcher? This is kind of exactly where hit tool scouting fails. Nobody graded his plate approach. 

They should probably have been putting a 50 on his power. His minor league MaxEVs should have supported that. I mean his MaxEV in the big leagues is like, upper third percentile

All of that being said, he