G-Snarls

I almost started a "Vladimir Guerrero Jr All-star game votes/Triple crown/MVP watch" thread but decided it might be a jinx so I didn't

Blue Jays Notes: Jansen, Springer, Biggio, Hatch, BoruckiJune 7th, 2021 at 2:15pm CST • By Mark Polishuk Catcher Danny Jansen suffered a right hamstring strain that forced him out of Sunday’s 6-3 Blue Jays loss to the Astros. Jansen was hurt running the bases trying to beat out a fielder’s choice in the third inning, and Reese McGuire took over at catcher for the top of the fourth. Jays manager Charlie Montoyo told MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson and other reporters that Jansen would receive tests both yesterday and today to determine the extent of the strain. With Alejandro Kirk already on the 60-day injured list, losing Jansen to the IL would leave Toronto with a catching depth chart of McGuire and (in all likelihood) Riley Adams, who is hitting .250/.410/.600 over 78 plate appearances at Triple-A this season. Adams had never played at the Triple-A level prior to this season, and he doesn’t officially have any big league experience — the Blue Jays called Adams up for a three-day cup of coffee on the active roster in early May, though Adams didn’t appear in any games. While McGuire is the more experienced option, his struggles at the plate over the last two seasons would perhaps mean that McGuire and Adams would be deployed in a platoon, as the youngster’s Triple-A production certainly seems to warrant a look against Major League pitching. More from the Jays… George Springer is making “extremely encouraging” progress in his recovery from a quad strain, GM Ross Atkins told reporters (including Matheson, TSN’s Scott Mitchell and Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling) as part of a series of updates on injured Blue Jays players. Springer has been performing running drills over the last two days, and Atkins implied that the outfielder is “very close” to heading out on a minor league rehab assignment. This is Springer’s second quad injury of the season, and combined with those injuries and an oblique issue, the prized free agent signing has appeared in only four games in 2021.Speaking of rehab assignments, Cavan Biggio began his assignment at Triple-A yesterday. A cervical spine ligament sprain sent Biggio to the 10-day IL on May 22, but it looks like he’ll be able to rejoin the Jays sometime this week. The injury absence has underlined an overall tough season for Biggio, who has a -0.3 fWAR through 39 games and 151 PA due to a lack of hitting (.205/.315/.315) and some defensive struggles as Toronto’s regular third baseman. Thomas Hatch threw two scoreless innings for Triple-A Buffalo yesterday, as the right-hander resumed a rehab assignment after missing two weeks with what Atkins described as “mild tightness in his side.” Hatch is working his way back from an elbow impingement suffered during Spring Training that has kept the righty out of any Major League action this season. Hatch worked 16 of 17 games as a reliever in his 2020 rookie season, but Atkins said the team is still planning to build Hatch up as a starter. Ryan Borucki is on the verge of beginning a throwing program, and is no longer feeling any pain in his forearm. A left flexor strain went Borucki to the injured list in mid-May, representing yet another injury setback for a southpaw who missed most of the 2019 due to elbow issues.

Yeah I was like WTF

Or maybe they should have acquired a decent left handed bat...

1. Interesting observation 2. They tried to sign Michael Brantley as a left hitting OF/DH, so IYAM the team probably feels the same way? Or did they overestimate Tellez and underestimate Grichuk?? 3. What song did he use?

Wife and I are going to the first game back at the Rogers Centre no matter when it is Can't f'n wait even though I'm moving 4500 km across the country this summer I'll get there no matter when it is... This year or next

BlueJays.com e-mail: - The Toronto Blue Jays today announce that Sahlen Field capacity will increase to 80% for games beginning June 24 through July 21. Additional fully vaccinated seating sections will be opened in the 100L bowl for these games, while the 200L will remain as physically distanced seating pods. We want to thank our fans for everything they have done to combat COVID-19 in our communities. Blue Jays fans should continue to follow the latest local public health guidelines, including non-essential travel outside of Canada; through these efforts, we can hope for the day we reunite at Rogers Centre.   

Tom Verducci CNNSI, cut from an article he wrote yesterday about the Yankees offense https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/06/07/red-sox-yankees-the-opener - This is not a good year to rely on home runs. Don’t be mistaken: Home runs are great. They change games in an instant. Nothing promotes victory more than out-homering the opponent. But because MLB introduced a less lively baseball, you better diversify. The ball seems to be behaving exactly as MLB intended: it comes off the bat just as hard, but it doesn’t fly as far. Opposite-field homers are down 26% from two years ago. Opposite-Field Home Runs Per Game Year HR Per Game 2019 - 0.45 2020 - 0.38 2021 - 0.33 Bottom-of-the-order hitters are not hitting cheap home runs—or much of anything: Batting-Order Hitters 7–9, Nonpitchers AB per HR 2019 - 29.4 2021 - 36.6 *Worst ever The average exit velocity of a home run last year and in 2019 was 103.6. This year it is 104.8. It takes a little more to hit it out. Take a fly ball hit between 103 and 104 mph—the average home run velocity in 2019. Struck the same way, the same fly ball is far less likely to be a homer this year than it was in '19: Fly Balls Hit 103–104 mph Year MLB HR Rate 2019 - 67.1% 2021 - 55.3%

They really seem to be outperforming any maintainable level of performance They've also played the Orioles 11 times and the Rays 3 times

Hmmmm, I haven't wacthed enough to realize that yes he's been better:

I was hoping for Tellez to figure it out at the major league level but alas... 207/.270/.328 OPS 597 so far this year When Springer is back it probably makes more sense to just DH your 4th OF (or Kirk when back and not catching) and give Rowdy some AAA time to try and figure it out

Yankees 4th lowest in runs scored per game in all of baseball

Nice. I would like to think so but... The only thing is this is only for one or two playoff rounds and teams can isolate and test Jays have to play over 100 more games and would have to go back and forth between the US and Canada repeatedly

Wow we might play 7 games against Baltimore in 10 days and not face Means once if his IL stint is any longer

Means to the 10 day IL

John Means 4-1 ERA 2.05 (much better than his FIP...) - 2nd in AL 71 IP 1.6 fWAR - 1st in AL 68K - not in the top 10 13 BB - 5th best in AL for BB/Ip

Yeah A no hitter and he's putting up Cy Young caliber numbers

I say Springer leadoff for sure I like the thought of keeping Vlad 3rd though to make sure he gets a PA in the first inning every game

Big big win

How many smooth saved would Kirby Yates have had by now if healthy?

He's high stress to watch

Vlad yes Vlad

Panik delivers Oooooo yeah

Phew That was concerning