glory

Montoyo being the manager could have ended this thread. That reality scares me more than anything currently on the roster.

I'm fine with the ghost runner in the 10th. I'm just saying if there was enough backlash to warrant modifying it a bit, then it would be a reasonable compromise to give teams an inning before starting it. But I personally have no issues with starting it in the 10th.

I think letting them play the 10th inning under normal rules and then starting the ghost runner if it gets to the 11th is a fine compromise, but even in that scenario we'd likely see a lot of extra inning games with the ghost runner involved.

The only thing I could find in a quick Google search (from SI, April 2021): "Fans seem to like it. Ratings for extra innings on MLB.TV have doubled with the rule, and fans at the ballpark come alive when they see the home team batting with a runner in scoring position." Given the date, that's only factoring the 2020 season (which was obviously shortened to begin with), so I'm curious if they have any numbers for the 2021 season. I'd be surprised if it makes much of a difference in viewership in the long run, but people turning the TV off or stopping streaming out of anger as soon as they see the ghost runner is likely no where near reality. One thing I do know for sure is people leaving the stadiums in extra innings (during the regular season). I have never heard any NBA fan say "I wish the overtime was 12 minutes instead of 5 because any team can go on a 5 minute run, it's not fair". The NFL overtime rule is probably the least fair of all of the major sports, and it clearly has not stopped fans from watching the games. Stuff like this actually makes me sympathize with Manfred a bit because he (rightfully) knows that baseball needs massive changes on the field, but any change whether big or small is going to be met with the type of rage that really no other sport gets because "100 years ago baseball was played the right way". In 2023 when there's a pitch clock, shifts will be regulated, etc, heads are going to explode.

Yeah Conforto on a one year deal would be a huge boost to the lineup, but if he is anti vax as mentioned, then the Jays can't do anything there. I think he got some bad advice from Boras. He should have taken the QO.

Agreed. I've said before, I think baseball has taken the longest to evolve of the major sports because of its fear of change. A fanbase that leans to the older side is probably going to hate change a little bit more, but it feels like with baseball, even the tiniest thing is going to cause a rage among the core fans. The game on the field is in bad shape and needs to be massaged a bit to become a more entertaining product. Not just for young people, but everyone. As someone mentioned, no one benefits from extra innings. Not the players, not the owners, not the fans (who leave in droves during extra innings anyway), not the TV networks, etc. A "ghost runner" increases the likelihood of a game ending at a reasonably time and both teams have to play by the same rules. It's not a perfect setup, and if you want to say it's a bit gimmicky, then fine, but it's a reasonable rule in terms of trying to get the games to end sooner and avoiding marathons. If we never see an 18 inning regular season game again, is anyone going to be disappointed?

Charlie managing someone with 14 years of MLB experience would be terrifying. Stay away from Gardner.

That's less than I thought he'd get coming off what was essentially an MVP season.

Yeah this is just for cost certainty over the next two years and avoiding arbitration. Since Chapman is a Boras guy I fully expect him to bet on himself and test free agency, so hopefully he has two 2018-19 type of seasons here.

If they can get Ramirez without giving up Moreno and Martinez, then go for it.

Yeah that’s what I was factoring in. Getting into the mind of a man who was putting 2021 Joe Panik at DH, and pinch hitting Valera for Kirk late in games is going to lead to weird predictions. Although like I said if Chapman proves he’s back offensively then top of the order would be fine.

Yeah, my guess is Chapman bats 2nd this year. He's essentially replacing Semien on the team, so for lineup consistency from last season, Chuck is going to put him at 2. Of course, that wouldn't be bad at all if we get 2018-19 Chappy. If we get the 2020-21 version, then not so good.

I really hope they end up going with the 2 man catching tandem of Kirk and Jansen, and find a LHB who can DH. Atkins has to build the roster with as few scrubs as possible because Charlie won't be able to help himself, and McGuire is going to be that guy if he's still on the team.

The Yankees could have had Correa (short term), Urshela, and Sanchez, but end up with Donaldson, IKF, and that catcher they got from the Twins. I mean, Sanchez sucks as a catcher but Correa/Urshela is a much better left side of the IF. They better hope Volpe turns into Jeter offensively.

In 2022, no chance. In 3 years? Somehow they'll find a way to be really good again, while some of the pieces they got in recent trades will be big contributors.

Bird and Mallex Smith are both guys that fit the team's needs perfectly (LH power DH, LH 4th OF). Unfortunately, neither of them are probably any good. Smith had that one really good season a few years ago but nothing since. Bird just can't stay healthy.

If you can get a deal for Ramirez without giving up Moreno or Martinez, then you have to consider it, but I don't think it's necessary at the moment. This team even with Biggio at 2B projects to be a 90+ win team, and upgrades at the deadline are fairly routine. Hell, Ramirez himself will probably be available at the deadline depending on where CLE is in the standings. You can always revisit it then. The Chapman trade was so good because the players the Jays gave up, even if a couple end up being good, were expendable on this team. The type of prospects it would require to get Ramirez right now would not be the expendable kind, so they have to be more careful.

Grichuk over the last two full seasons is a sub 90 wRC+ hitter, a negative baserunner, and barely above replacement level overall. Him getting 400+ AB's would not be a good thing. If the current outfield alignment stays this way heading into the season, then they really need to find a LH 4th OF who can cover CF. Grichuk being RH makes his fit even worse. We need to find the next prime Jarrod Dyson, that's the ideal type of 4th outfielder for this team.

The one positive to moving Moreno is the Jays have Jansen for 3 more years and Kirk for 5, so they wouldn't be creating a short or long term hole by including him in the deal. But if he's as good as people think he is/will be, then it would be a tough player to trade away.

If the price is as high as some are saying, then wait until the deadline.

I don't think 4/80 for Schwarber would have made sense for the Jays. His bat would have been great in this lineup, but that's a big price for a DH. I'm curious if the Jays pivot to Conforto now or try to find a non-QO'd option.

Good deal. Hoglund stings a bit, but if he's the best player going the other way, then the Jays did well.

I haven't read Conforto's name linked to anyone. I think he was qualified so it would cost a pick, but with Schwarber apparently off the board, I think Conforto would make a lot of sense if the team was ok losing a pick for him.

The overall quality of the deal depends on who is going to Oakland in this deal, but Chapman is a big upgrade for the 2022-23 teams. The fact that he only has two years of control left isn't that big of a deal as it gives Martinez and Groshans (if he's not included in the deal) a couple of years to develop. He also probably has some bounce back potential with the bat. The ceiling is elite, the floor is a 3+ WAR. The market (free agent and trade) only had two quality 3B options for this team, one of them probably isn't available, and the other was just acquired by the Jays.

Other than Ramirez which was probably a pipe dream, this was the best 3B acquisition the Jays could have made. Lots of K’s but power and great defense. Hopefully he can bounce back to pre 2020 form. Now just have to see what’s going the other way.