Brownie19

Wouldn't you at least see if that approach was successful before implementing change?

Serious? We're judging based on ERA and the eye test? Did I fall into my hot tub time machine again? All I'm saying is there are a lot of indicators that suggest his success will not be sustainable over the course of a full season unless some significant adjustments are made. There's also stats to suggest we aren't even giving him an opportunity to replicate how dominant he was last year in Pittsburgh...which is flat out stupid.

I was just rebuting Cyborg's suggestion that Happ may be getting unlucky with the K's this year because his SwStr% was actually "up"......and he may be, but it's not as high as it was in Pittsburgh. And I think it goes without saying that it's a little skewed to suggest instead of a pitcher - you're facing David Ortiz one every 9 times through the order. Your point is there, but let's compare the average DH with the average pitcher because I could probably argue MadBum hits better than some DH's do....or I could note the likes of Prince Fielder, Morales and Corey Dickerson have all be hot garbage this year.

Chill? It's a serious question. The guy has gone from 9.81 K/9, 1.85 BB/9, 2.19 FIP, 2.90 xFIP pitcher in Pittsburgh to a 5.85 K/9, 2.78 BB/9, 4.28 FIP, 4.48 xFIP pitcher in Toronto. The biggest change appears to be a 15% jump in his use of the F'ing 2-seamer....the same pitch that's killed Stroman's effectiveness. I guess Happ is averaging 0.7 more innings per start this year - but is that worth the massive drop in effectiveness? I don't think so. This organizational approach is pure BS.

SwStr% with Pittsburgh last year was 9.9....it's only 8.8 with the Jays. His fastball was significantly more valuable with Pittsburgh than it is so far this year (or with the M's last year)...and of course he's gone from throwing 5% 2-seamers with Pittsburgh last year to throwing 2-seamers 20% of the time with the Jays because da-gotter-pidch-tw-contact ******** (*assumption). Seriously....guy pitches UNREAL in Pittsburgh last year. Based on that success, wouldn't you do everything you could to replicate the pitch choice & sequencing? I mean maybe it doesn't translate or work...but I'd start there first. Where is the common sense? Happ's been fine, but it's evident he's nowhere nearly as effective as he was in Pittsburgh last year. I sure hope to god that isn't because the Jays tried to change his approach.

There's more than a few indicators suggesting Happ's been lucky so far and will not be as effective as he's been so far moving forward (high LOB%, low BABIP). His K/9 has taken a MASSIVE dip from what it was in his 18 great starts in Pittsburgh last year (where it was over 9). By all indications, he's nowhere near the pitcher we were "hoping" to get following the mechanical/approach changes that were apparently made in Pittsburgh last year. Side note - by searching "happ" on fangraphs, I just realised Billy Chappelle (For Love of the Game) was an actual pitcher. Threw for the Doves and the Tip-Tops (whoever the F they are) back at the turn of the century.

Any thoughts on why Estrada's BB/9 has gone up so much this season? SSS - or is he nibbling more?

I believe I remember reading that AA and his staff were researching Happ last August/September....targeting him for the offseason.

Her first mistake is listen to Blair. Her second mistake is believing anything Blair says. I'm alarmed nobody on this board pointed out this obvious flaw already. For shame.

+1. Today was my sons first Blue Jays game. Unbelievable game. One I'll never forget.

Oh we're definitely going to watch the end of the game. Sounds like by that time, we should expect to stand in line for about an hour to get onto the field. We're a good 2 hours from home and it will be a long day for us, so it sounds like this isn't going to happen.

I assume the kids have to run on their own? My son's 5 and can run the bases on his own, but might be a tad shy about being alone in a massive lineup and such.

Has anyone taken their kids down to run the field on Jr. Jays Saturday? I assume it's a F'ing gongshow ridiculous lineups and ultimately is a waste of time...but I thought I'd ask. I'm taking my son to his first ever game tomorrow (thanks burlingtonbandit) and I'm wondering if it's worth the effort....and if it is, does anyone have any tips to maintain your sanity (besides copious amounts of alcohol). Thanks guys.....I think this is going to be one of those parenting moments you never forget.

I think the idea is to cut back a bit on all the extra work. You're not telling him not to work hard - just to be smart about it. It's like how Jose and older players get few AB's in spring training and such. Long season, old - need to be smart. Don't overdue it.

I think the overall shittiness of the team is forcing their hand. Jesus I hope he's ready and this isn't another example of poor judgement.

This sums it up for me too.

He should have said "PS, stop being so obsessed with Vikings too!"

Damn the flawed recap by BigCecil!!!

a legit pro? That's awesome.

I said the catcher deserves a lot of the blame...not all of it...I guess I just don't like the catcher being let off the hook with no blame as Hengten suggested. I play senior ball in the NDBL.

As someone who still pitches - I know I can shake the catcher off (although all catchers hate this), but to be honest, I rarely do. Personally, I want to "think" less when I pitch. What I find happens a lot is I think Pitch A -"slider low and away" and the catcher calls Pitch B - "inside fastball". Is an inside fastball a terrible call? Probably not (if I execute)....is the slider away a "better" pitch for this situation? Maybe - but by how much? I mean f***'d if I have time to analyse this while standing on the mound....so I don't shake the catcher off unless: a. I truly don't feel comfortable throwing that pitch in that location (maybe don't have a good feel for the changeup that day, or I'm tiring and leaving the slider up too much to throw it in this situation); or b. I think Pitch A is tangibly better to throw in this situation than Pitch B - and that has to come almost instantly to me, without any thought at all. Point being - even though the pitcher has the ability and "right" to shake a catcher.....The catcher should take a lot of the blame when the wrong pitch is throw (if executed properly). Pat's just trying not to throw Martin under the bus b/c of the PC police and MLB Bruh buttlove.

That would be an epic follow up story... (hipsters - notice the correct use of the word epic)

Did someone post the pic of the 10 year old doing a huge bat flip, then dancing down the first base line after hitting a HR in little league? Maybe I saw that elsewhere (who can keep track)....anyway....I loved Jose's bat flip and in general, at the MLB level have no problem with them.....but I definitely don't think we want 10 year olds rocking massive bat flips in little league. Is that hypocritical? or am I right?

I think you're grossly underestimating the type of people Stangstag and others are referring to... "change the topic to something baseball-related that someone of their knowledge level will agree with" huh? Are we supposed to talk about how after you get to first you run to second or something? I mean I guess even the dumbest of baseball fans know Pillar is great defensively and we can talk about that...but that inevitably changes to a discussion on how awesome Ben Revere was and how they Jays should have re-signed him and never traded David Price to the Red Sox......and then I want to stab myself in the face with a fork...

I like how they also ripped Goose Gossage for being a moron and blatantly ignoring the bat flips his old teammate Reggie Jackson used to be known for. Kudos.