Laika
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Everything posted by Laika
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You can't define a tool by an output. Old scouts might talk about contact and batting average, but in reality the tool (if it even exists) should be something like this: 50 = MLB average ability to make contact 60 = decidedly above MLB average ability to make contact 70 = elite ability to make contact (top 2% to 3%) 80 = elite ability to make contact AND preternatural ability to actually control that contact (find the sweet spot, barrel it, go with the pitch, etc.) Vlad is just a 70 for me because he has struggled with barrel control and batted ball profiles too often And you can't just look at contact rate because the player's approach plays into this. Swinging and missing isn't always bad. You can't just slap 70 and 80s on the highest contact % guys because lots of them are just letting the ball travel and throwing their bat at it. An 80 for me is elite contact + another elite element demonstrating special control of the barrel. Not even sure Luis Arraez qualifies because I don't watch him enough.
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General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2025)
Laika replied to Ryu In My House's topic in Toronto Blue Jays Talk
Detroit for me but it's closer than people think. Seattle has a better rotation, particularly if Woo can pitch. That being said, Detroit has the best single SP and Seattle's starting pitching is overrated because of their park. The fact that Skubal would be the Game 3 starter and you could potentially close out a series having only faced him once is pretty big here. Seattle has a better bullpen, or at least some better late inning options. Detroit's is pretty boring. Seattle has a better offense. Top 5 in wRC+ since June 1st. Seattle has a bad defense. Detroit's is not good but it is more average. It's the offense alone that I would want to avoid. The top 6 in Seattle's lineup is just very good, and they could hit anybody, and they have a couple of true stars who could get hot and dominate all series. Detroit does not have that star on offense. You can pitch to Torkelson, Greene, and Kerry Carpenter. Detroit does have more bench utility so they will pinch hit and change their lineup more. -
General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2025)
Laika replied to Ryu In My House's topic in Toronto Blue Jays Talk
I'd feel fine with Scherzer, Bassitt, and Lauer being asked to throw a few innings against Detroit or Seattle. At home or even on the road in those big ballparks. Game 1 Gausman (extra rest) Game 2 Yesavage (extra rest) Game 3 Bieber (with Lauer in reserve if he sucks) Game 4 Bassitt with Scherzer in reserve Game 5 Gausman (regular rest) Game 6 Yesavage (extra rest) Game 7 Bieber (regular rest) -
General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2025)
Laika replied to Ryu In My House's topic in Toronto Blue Jays Talk
Yeah I agree with this -
A lot being said about the Jays having some overall philosophy of making contact I just see it as "coaching to the player" and not trying to have an overall philosophy They certainly don't tell Springer, Varsho, Santander, or Barger to just put the ball in play Just a diverse lineup with good player-targeted and specific coaching going on The Yankees, on the other hand, are much more of a one-dimensional team. They have so many Three True Outcome players. Some coaching and some team assembly there. #1 in HR and #1 in BB and #6 in K rate (as in, highest). That's the Yankees. That's how you build an elite offence over 162 games that is just not guaranteed to show up in any one playoff series. There is something to be said about having lineup diversity. Toronto can beat you in a lot of different ways. They can get to a lot of different pitchers in a lot of different ways. The Yankees had too many players that couldn't do X and Y. Couldn't hit a changeup. Couldn't hit a lefty. etc.
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Brock picked a good year to buy the message board lolllll
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Experience of a lifetime I hope you were cheering hard and pissing people off
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The amount of huge FRONT OFFICE WINS on this roster prove that Atkins and Shapiro need to be extended for a decade
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Hazel Mae war reporter Doing a great job
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2015 and 2016 were good years but those teams had some douchebags and they had some bad players like Goins This is easily the greatest Jays team for modern fans How can you not cheer for guys like Lukes, Straw, Schneider, Barger, Lauer, Fisher, Little, Kirk, ERNIE CLEMENT!!! All these guys who were DFAd or demoted or spent years in the minors or traded away or signed for $20,000
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That cements this team as my favourite Blue Jays team ever. Just so many good players and incredibly likable players.
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Got an opener instead he was pretty useful tonight actually
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THROW STRIKES NO WALKS THROW STRIKES NO WALKS THROW FASTBALLS
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Man I wish Lukes was 26. Would be such a nice five year piece.
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I guess at this point they are just down there as a bluff... Or for extra innings
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Thank you Austin Wells
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Jeff
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Omg this is nuts
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I would almost let him face Judge if he's throwing well. Just so Judge gets a completely different look. Nibble and walk him if you need to
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Good luck then bad luck
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Sounds like Yesavage might actually be the secret weapon tonight. And why they pulled him at 70+ pitches. I would guess they only burn him today if the circumstances dictate. Something like, late lead and for whatever reason all the trustworthy relievers are spent.
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Everybody thinks the Yankees have a huge pitching advantage tonight. I am sorry but did you ever take statistics? These two are about as even as it gets. This is straight from MLB official website.
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Barger 4th is interesting. He doesn't really deserve it. HOWEVER they might have a matchup idea. Maybe they like his chances of jumping a Schlittler fastball more than those of Varsho and Santander (who I could see just getting destroyed by high velo up)
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Varland 1.1 IP Lauer 2.2 IP all we need
