glory

When DS starts, they are 5-0 with a +16 run differential. I mean, it's a ridiculous sample size and means nothing, but regardless, it doesn't take a brain surgeon to know that DS should be starting everyday. Unfortunately, the Jays are paying $10.5m to KK, $15m over two years for IKF, and traded Moreno for Varsho, so DS is going to have to ride the pine until the team gets desperate (or injuries happen).

Bottom 5 of Biggio, Kirk, Varsho, IKF, and KK again. Ugh.

Atkins from 2020-23 was a better GM than 2010-15 AA, but current AA is better than Atkins. If AA stayed in Toronto and didn't have that time in LA, then it's hard to say what type of GM he would have been from 2016 onwards as the Jays transitioned out of the small window that he created and into the next one. Atkins from 2017-19 was kinda ass as a GM if you look at the totality of his moves during that span, but something clicked in 2020 and he became a lot better. It's an interesting "what if" though. As far as what the Jays do over the next few years, it really depends on what type of internal development they get over the next two seasons (2024-25). Davis Schneider practically fell into their laps and they aren't playing him as much as they should so not sure what to think about how (or if) they'll be open to giving prominent roles to young players during a competitive window. If Barger is suddenly the 3B/RF, Orelvis at 2B, DS in LF/2B, Roden in LF/RF, and so on, then you could picture a scenario where the team can still be competitive if they use the saved money on expensive FAs again. That's what made them successful during the 2021-23 window. They'll have to recreate that but maybe with quantity over quality (meaning a bunch of 2-3 WAR young players rather than hoping for 5+ WAR performance out of Bo/Vlad and never getting it, at least from Vlad).

The good news is the team is still playing him at 3B in the minors, so if they haven't given up on him in that spot, then he could be a viable 3B option sometime during the season if the team finally realizes that giving 600 PA to IKF probably isn't the best idea. A LHB with pop at 3B would be nice. Just have to hope the defense there is at least average, though he can play 3B occasionally, some OF, etc.

Yeah, dump White and put Francis in the long relief role. He’s actually good enough to where if you need an arm in a leverage spot due to lack of other options (ex. 10th inning against the Mariners on Wednesday), then he might actually be a useable option there. Otherwise he can soak up 2-3 innings out of the pen when necessary. Mayza to the IL is going to be done at some point, his velo is down and he’s looked like s*** since ST. Better to do it now than wait for him to blow another game.

I doubt it. Boras just had a very flawed group of FAs at the same time that the regional sports network issues changed the financial landscape for many of the teams. That will change this coming winter with Soto, Bregman, Alonso, etc.

Looking at the minor league numbers so far, I think Barger is the most interesting name to me so far. Apparently has big exit velocity numbers and in 2023 made some sort of adjustment to reduce the strike outs and increase the contact. If he can combine the latter with some of the power he displayed in 2022, then he becomes an interesting guy, especially if he can cover 3B. Jays need a 3B and a LF so seems like it fits his profile as well, even though he seems to be playing more RF.

Agreed. I’m still holding out faint hope that they work out an extension but Jansen will always come with the caveat that he will miss a chunk of games every year. I think Kirk at this point is a backup at best so if not Jansen then they’ll need another catcher to emerge soon. Or improve the offense significantly elsewhere so that having a fat ground ball singles hitter playing 5 days a week isn’t hurting the team as much.

Ah, that’s what I get for reading/replying too fast.

If Horowitz could play a passable LF and they still decided to sign Kiermaier, then that makes that decision even more egregious. More likely Horowitz is a 1B/DH only which makes his path on this team a lot more difficult unless they trade Vlad between now and the start of 2025. I don’t think Horowitz is going to last as a 1B/DH with limited power. Maybe his other strengths are so good that it can compensate but that seems like a long shot. Wouldn’t mind him getting a shot though. Would have been fine if he could cover the OF. Maybe they should do it anyway and just deal with the bad defense. Varsho has been like a sub 80 wRC+ player since the trade and KK is closing in on his mid 30s so a decline there wouldn’t be shocking. They don’t even play Schneider everyday but Horowitz has the offensive skill set they seem to like so they’d probably be more patient with him.

Jansen starting instead of Kirk is going to be incredible (for however long it lasts).

Yeah with Green and Richards unavailable it was not looking good once Garcia was done. Mayza, Cabrera, White, Espino (I think). Jays were probably losing this game regardless once that Clement ball didn't drop.

Yeah this game is over.

Relievers are volatile year to year. I think Mayza is a casualty of that. He looked like s*** in ST and it's carrying over. I probably would have had more faith in Mitch White starting the inning.

Of course Polanco picks today to actually play defense.

Crazy that they had DS running instead of IKF.

Wow, Jimi looks amazing so far.

Gilbert does better against LHB than RHB so not sure why KK/Varsho are batting this inning.

Any chance Danny Jansen can just rehab in the Majors? I don't think I can watch much more of Kirk playing 95% of the time at catcher.

Nice to see Vlad hitting a monster HR.

Agreed. If he wasn't the return for Moreno, then I might expect them to act rationally with him, but chances are they'll just stick him out there and hope something clicks even when he's been like a sub 80 wRC+ player since the trade.

A bottom 5 of Biggio, Kirk, KK, Clement, and Varsho have negative pop. You can't even hope for a HR with this group if the first 4 hitters don't do anything.

This seems like a really good deal for the Jays, Parsons is 31 and stinks, and more international money is always a good thing. With that said, it's the Guardians, so Parsons probably going to dominate now.

I know they have no intention of using him in this role, but Varsho should have been the backup catcher until Jansen gets back. They already have a great defensive CF, and Varsho is miscast as a LF offensively anyway so the club is better off with Schneider in LF. Seems more logical than an already overweight dude having to catch everyday because the current backup wouldn’t start on an independent league team.

115 pitches on the 3rd start of the season does seem a little excessive. The Jays have been pretty good at limiting pitch counts for starters so this was very uncharacteristic. Would be interested to hear the reason, unless the pen has a bunch of guys that aren't available or something.