jaysblue

I just said at the end of my post, he's probably comfortable just staying in Houston. More advantages as well staying in Texas. Only way you would get Verlander is paying him way more than the Astros.

LMAO!!!! Leafs fans are hilarious!

He's spent most of his career in Detroit and has always pitched well at the Dome including the 2 no-hitter's in Toronto. I'm all for giving him a blank cheque. $30M + for one season, whatever it takes. If he's looking to pitch on a contender, Toronto would be perfect. Though who knows given his age, maybe he's comfortable just staying in Texas.

You can always sign guys from free agency who either are looking to rebound such as coming off an injured season or down year. Most likely they would be happy getting 300-400ABS or more if they hit they're way into the lineup more. As well, Tapia yes did post a 0.8 and 0.7 WAR the previous two seasons, though the difference between lets say the Blue Jays and other teams like the Dodgers is that the Tapia experiment wouldn't go for over 300 ABs like it has with the Blue Jays. A team with World Series aspirations shouldn't be giving a player that much playing time and for an extended period as well, especially if that player wasn't producing. Big difference. This team doesn't know how to keep players on short leashes.

I hope Pearson can become a lights out reliever in the pen. Jays should focus on him pitching out of the pen in 2023 instead of gambling on him being an effective front of the rotation starter given their position right now. If the Blue Jays lacked starting pitching and still retooling, then sure I would still work Pearson as a starter and hope he turns into something. Pearson helps the Blue Jays more out of the bullpen than banking on him as a starter.

For the rotation, the big key will be Berrios. Though given the Blue Jays World Series aspirations why not go after a solid No. 2 or 3 starter this offseason and drop Berrios down to No. 4? If Berrios then rediscovers his old form, the rotation is set #1-4 and you have guys like White, Kikuchi, Zulu, Tiedemann and maybe some other FA signings for that No. 5 spot and pitching depth. The bench/lineup depth is definitely stronger now with Merrifield and Bradley Jr. Espinal and Biggio can platoon again at 2B, with Biggio getting some starts at 1B and in LF occasionally. Though for reassurance, I would try to go after an outfielder who can play all 3 positions and who wouldn't hurt you if he got 300-400ABs. You can't rely on Springer for 150+ games per season. As for catchers, you can't beat Kirk and Jansen along with Moreno. Though realistically it's probably best to trade one of Jansen or Moreno for a piece that could help you in another area if a trade is out there for the right arm or player. As for the bullpen, relievers are extremely volatile. Wouldn't surprise me if there is some turnover in the bullpen. You can't go into next season expecting guys will repeat their performances from this season. Injuries happen as well. Always good to build up bullpen depth in the offseason since it's easier and less expensive than at the trade deadline. As well, if a bullpen upgrade is available for a top closer or setup man, do it. This team has a good enough core where missing the Postseason should be viewed as unacceptable. If the Jays miss the Postseason again this season, then again have to ask why? Yes some of their star players have underachieved, though I wouldn't mainly point that as the reason. Guys like Vladdy, Kirk, Teo, Lourdes, Chapman, Springer (when healthy) and even Bo have been productive and valuable pieces. Gausman is having his best season and Manoah is having a breakout. If they miss out by one or two games, it's because of rostering below average players/arms at the end of the roster and giving them extended playing time when guys have been injured.

Jay, the Leafs haven't made it past the first round since when exactly? 2003? Right now, any hockey team that makes the playoffs have a better chance at going further than the Leafs.

What I meant by fielding the best team is making sure the roster come Opening Day 2023 doesn't having any glaring weaknesses or holes. Address those needs in the offseason. Make sure there is adequate roster depth so if injuries happen (e.g. Springer), you're not wasting ABs on players who hurt your team more than help. Make sure you have some arms who could start and provide you innings at the MLB level so your not scrambling to find some scrap heap in the minors. Make sure the bullpen is deep with a plethora of arms as well. We saw what happened earlier on this season and hope we're not seeing players like Tapia getting more than 300 ABs in 2023. As well, this rotation currently is on thin ice. If one of Gasuman or Manoah miss 3 or 4 turns in the rotation due to injuries, kiss the Postseason goodbye.

He is a game changer for sure. That's why lets hope the Blue Jays don't let this season and next season go to waste as I've been saying for the last couple of weeks. You want to win when you have guys like Chapman or Teo under control before they become FAs. The focus should be fielding the best team possible in 2023.

The Happening was an awful movie, yet it was so bad that it was good.

As Arash Madani would report: "something special is happening."

2.86 xFIP and a 13.19 K/9 in the second half despite his rough stretch. He'll right the ship in no time.

Yeah Blue Jays need to take advantage against teams like the Angels, Cubs, Pirates. At least win 2 of 3 in each series. Sometimes the easiest schedules can be the toughest. Teams like the Cubs have actually played well recently, so they are no walkover. Angels are 1-9 over their last 10 so the Jays better take advantage.

Lets see how the bullpen continues this month and into September and how they do closing out a one-run game from the 6th inning on in the Postseason. They've played a Yankees team stuck in a rut and a Red Sox team that is going nowhere the past week. They have a pretty easy schedule coming up in terms of opponents, so if the starters continue to pitch deep into games, bullpen should be very well rested to end this month. I'm glad to see the results, though I'm not jumping and celebrating thinking this bullpen is all of a sudden unstoppable. I like the moves Atkins made at the trade deadline with Bass and Pop - I've said that many times.

Arash Madani pumping the rhetoric! Love how Sportsnet now will romanticize this team and how something special could be happening lol.

Maybe he just didn't want to play in Toronto. Would you rather spend your winters in Vegas or Toronto? As well, he knows how harsh the Toronto media and fans can be, so why put up with that ******** at his age. Vegas has a great chance at going deep into the Playoffs, better than the Leafs as well.

Lmao you're such a huge homer!

Mitch White was a solid pickup. Hopefully he starts pitching deeper into games, though he gives the Jays a very solid back-end of the rotation starter with some upside.

Never count out the Rays. Wouldn't want to face them in the Wildcard series, especially at the Trop.

I have nothing against the Berrios trade and extension. This season I give him a mulligan. If he performs this way again next season and in 2024, then I would be worried. Otherwise, when the Jays acquired him, he was a very solid #1A or #2 starter and under 30 with the potential for more growth. There was a lot to like.

How about Jose Bautista?

I'm still in.

Yeah for the first half of the last decade, he was a dominant workhorse. One of the best Postseason performers in recent memory. Sad how he has fallen off so much especially at a young age. It's not like he's 38 or 39. Most Giants pitchers like Lincecum, Cain and now Bumgarner all had short careers in terms of dominance.

At some point you'll end the streak.

Yup exactly. Angels are still an MLB team. You gotta play good baseball to still beat them. They won't be an easy walkover.