jaysblue

Where did I say that exactly?

Can't you read? You’re still arguing against a point I didn’t make. Nobody said 2026 Bo has been better than Okamoto this season. Okamoto has clearly been a quality bat and a good addition. The point is that “they replaced one with the other” is an overly simplistic way to look at how a lineup actually functions. One of the main strengths of last year’s lineup: high contact, low swing-and-miss, and a lot of balls in play. You can dismiss that if you want, but lineup construction isn’t just plugging WAR or wRC+ into a spreadsheet and pretending every offensive profile is interchangeable. The offense has collapsed mostly because Vlad, Kirk, and Springer have fallen off a cliff. I already said that. Geez man.

I don't disagree. I’m not trying to frame it like the Jays replaced Bo with nothing. My point is that replacing Bo’s overall offensive profile with Okamoto’s power-first profile doesn’t mean the lineup functions the same way. Peak Bo gives you a different type of pressure on pitchers: contact, line drives, extra-base hits, fewer empty at-bats, and the ability to keep innings moving. Okamoto brings power, but also more swing-and-miss and less consistency getting on base. One of the main strengths of last year’s lineup was that they made a ton of contact and didn’t swing and miss much. The bigger issue is the combination of Vlad being awful, Kirk regressing, Springer falling off, Varsho’s power disappearing, Barger being out, and the lineup having too many low-impact bats.

Okamoto is a very different hitter than peak Bo. I don’t think we can just treat it like they swap out for each other and everything balances out. When Bo is healthy and at his best, he’s one of the better pure hitters in baseball. He makes a ton of contact, puts the ball in play, sprays line drives, racks up extra-base hits, and can still run into some home runs. The Jays are missing that type of bat this season, and it shows. And who knows, maybe not having another legitimate bat like that in the lineup is impacting Vlad a bit too, even if the whole protection argument can be overstated. Okamoto is more of a power-first bat. The power is real, and he’s definitely been a nice addition, but it comes with more swing-and-miss and a less well-rounded offensive profile. He feels a lot more like Matt Chapman offensively. He should still finish somewhere in that 3–4 WAR range, which is a good player. But offensively, I don’t think you can say he simply replaces Bo and the lineup is fine. They’re completely different types of hitters, and this team clearly misses what a healthy, top-form Bo brings.

Yeah my mistake. Dickey didn't even make an appearance in the 2016 Postseason. He had a good outing during the ALDS, but then yeah got bombarded during his one start in the ALCS. When I was looking at career Postseason numbers, thought that second start on the game log said from 2016.

That Dickey implosion was in 2016 right against Cleveland? Yeah missing Cecil was huge I remember that Postseason after Game 2 of the ALDS.

Price unfortunately wasn’t reliable in the postseason. He had moments, but he never really gave the Jays that true ace-level October performance they were hoping for when they acquired him. Estrada and Stroman were both rock solid, though, and the bullpen was very strong. R.A. Dickey wasn’t really relied on much that postseason, but even in the outing he did pitch, he was fine. The ALCS also had a lot of bad luck attached to it. That series could have swung differently with a couple of breaks, but Price not being the guy they needed in October definitely hurt.

Defensively, this team hasn't been as sharp like they were last season. I pointed that out back in May/June, but was tarred and feathered by some for it.

Of course. The Blue Jays still have tickets, jerseys, concessions, and TV ratings to sell for the rest of the season. They’re not going to openly wave the white flag unless they absolutely have to. And the Sportsnet media machine plays right along with it. There’s always going to be a push to keep fans invested, keep the “we’re still in it” narrative alive, and make it seem like a run is just around the corner. I get it from a business standpoint, but as fans, we can see what’s happening. At some point, the optimism starts to feel more like marketing than reality. It's all entertainment. You guys need to start realizing that with sports.

I think after this week. If they lose each series against Tampa and Boston, it's likely over. Term even acknowledged the season is on the line.

The human element of the game that computers can't project.

Those were the glory days.

Watch, the moment the Jays sell and wave the white flag on the season, Vladdy will suddenly go on an absolute tear in August and September. It would be the most Jays thing ever - struggle when the games actually matter, then turn into prime Miguel Cabrera once the season is basically cooked.

Tonight should be a beautiful night for the game. Weather in Toronto is perfect today!

Pretty much the season is on the line this week with these important matchups against the Rays and Red Sox. Have to go at least 5-2 during this stretch to hold onto any hope this team has at making the Postseason.

Twins face the Guardians for an important 4-game series this week, which could determine whether the Twins will be buyers or sellers. Reds have announced they're willing to trade any expiring contract. MLB Rumors has said the A’s are receiving trade interest in some of their outfielders. Butler and Soderstrom just signed extensions recently. Butler has been a disappointment so far, but could be a long term option/project in CF with years of control. Soderstrom would be an awesome bat, but definitely would cost a lot.

Did the 2025 team overachieve a bit? Of course they did. They got surprise contributions from guys like Lukes, Clement, Straw, and Heineman during the regular season. Defensively, they were rock solid and arguably the best defensive team in baseball. That simply hasn’t carried over this season. Kirk was also at his offensive best over 162 games, which helped a ton. Springer had a monster bounce-back season, Vladdy wasn’t awful, and they still had Bo producing at a solid level. Pitching-wise, the rotation stayed healthy and did its job. A lot went right. The 2026 team, on the other hand, has obviously been a disappointment. The early injuries didn’t help, but the bigger issue is that too many key players have taken a step back. Vladdy has been awful. Kirk has looked more like the 2023/2024 version offensively. Springer has been a disaster. Straw and Heineman (when here) haven’t been as impactful. Clement has held his own with the bat, but defensively he hasn’t been as sharp. Lukes had a slow start but has at least turned things around, which is encouraging. Missing Barger and his 25–30 HR power has hurt. Varsho’s power disappearing has also been a problem. This lineup just doesn’t have enough thump when the core bats aren’t producing. On the pitching side, the starters haven’t gone deep enough into games. Gausman, Bieber, and Yesavage have all been disappointing relative to expectations, and that has put too much pressure on the bullpen again. Is this all Atkins’ fault? No, not entirely. A lot of this is on the players, especially Vladdy. I actually thought Atkins had a strong offseason. He signed the best starter on the market, who might end up being the AL Cy Young winner, added Okamoto, and strengthened the bullpen with Rogers. At some point, the players have to perform. The front office can be criticized for certain things, but this season’s disappointment is largely because the core players who were supposed to carry this team simply haven’t done enough.

Not part of the MLB script.

They will the make the Playoffs this upcoming season. Don't think they'll be able to go far - likely a 1st or 2nd round exit. Will be fun to watch McKenna and see what type of player he can become.

Grant is probably having a nervous breakdown right now.

Can't believe the season Sean Burke is having.

Valenzuela on the bench today after hitting a HR last night. Ridiculous. Need to keep his bat in the lineup as much as possible.

The absence of Vlad’s bat for the entire season, Springer regressing heavily, and Kirk looking more like the 2023/2024 version offensively has really hurt this lineup. Add in the power outage from Varsho, along with missing Barger for pretty much the entire season, and it’s easy to see why the offense has felt so limited. There just hasn’t been enough consistent thump, especially from the guys this team needed to carry the lineup. On the pitching side, Gausman, Bieber, and Yesavage not performing like front-of-the-rotation arms has been a major issue. That’s forced the bullpen to carry too much of the load again, and it feels like they’ve been overworked going all the way back to April. Defensively, this team also hasn’t been nearly as sharp as it was in 2025. Anyone who’s watched the Jays consistently this season can see that. The miscues, lack of crispness, and overall sloppiness have stood out. Put it all together - underwhelming offense, starters not going deep enough, an overworked bullpen, and a step back defensively - and it’s pretty clear why this season has felt like a disappointment and huge let down in comparison to 2025.

Other clubs like Milwaukee didn't start Miso right after the break. But yeah I get it but also at the same time I understand wanting to save Cease for the Rays and Red Sox next week.

Most of the casual Blue Jays fans down at the dome are already on their 4th $20 beer and socializing at the Corona Rooftop Patio. They don't care about the score.