Masterbather

Swanson is a different pitcher, they might have a different approach, and he threw better pitches early. Could be tipping, but I'm still not convinced.

That's because they are idiots

They are offering at them. He just didn't do enough early in the game to entice them to.

A couple of fastballs at the bottom of the zone and a couple of competitive splitters and he's starting to get some swings

Lol

Duck snort

Lewis 3 Jays 0

In the first inning his splitter was mostly not competitive, but in this inning he threw a few that were and they weren't swinging. Maybe they have something, or they're just not swinging at anything that starts at the knees and hoping that will be the trick.

This inning he is throwing some good ones though, they're still not swinging. The ones that start in the strike zone and finish just below the knees, you need them to swing at those our it's going to be a big problem

TV dive

He has to establish the low fastball and he's got to throw a few early strike to ball splitters to establish it. If they're headed for the dirt right out of his hand they're not going to swing.

Did I say the game was over jackass? No I said Gausman looks bad, are you suggesting he hasn't? His splitters were in the dirt not even close to the plate and his fastball command has been off

Most of splitters have been uncompetitive, and his fastball command has been spotty. What's been good about him so far?

Gausman looks pretty terrible so far

Depends how hot he gets.

What? I even said Go Jays!

Well, it's not the caliber of team that I was hoping to go into the postseason with after last season ended, but it's what we have so let's hope lady luck is with us for about a month and some dominoes fall our way. Pitching will have to be at their very best and we need one or two hitters in this lineup to get hot. It won't be Vlad, maybe Bo. Go Jays!

Why bother announcing this now? Honestly if our season is on the line, I would hate to think it could end without Bassitt. He looks better than anyone right now. Obviously it would still mean Berrios would pitch with our season on the line if Bassitt saves the season in game 2, but he would get a more favourable matchup.

To your first point, I don't think it removes several months I think that's an exaggeration, especially the 2025 part. He's pitching limited innings per start anyway. It might have cost him seven or eight additional innings. They would only keep him here if he was legit, and if he's legit and you're trying to win a world series, end of story. He stays and helps you try to win. That takes precedence. You can continue to work his arm up in the off-season and carry forward with whatever plan you want. It wouldn't have been detrimental. The experience is also more valuable than facing minor leagues schmoes in minor league parks. To your second point, I don't care about sending down some schmuck for a stud. Also don't care about paying him sooner if he helps you win. Championships are the point. It's the only thing that matters. A chance to add a stud pitcher to your team needs to be done if it's available.

It's not exactly how I look at it. I look at it as where we are versus where we should be. When we made the playoffs in the COVID year, I didn't expect much, any positive results would have been a huge win. This team was supposed to be a championship contender, I can't look at them as an 89 win team looking to overachieve because it was supposedly built to win a championship this year and so anything but a real competitive run at the title is a disappointment for this team given where it's supposed to be. Granted, I don't think it's a championship caliber team so in my mind that's already a failure, but we'll see.

To the first point, I understand the developmental argument, the point is it's secondary if he could help us win a championship now, any development can be put on hold if it helps you win a championship. Slightly delaying his development as a starter is not the end of the world. There's also the experience argument that you already made, to pitch in the postseason against the best teams and hitters in the world is incredible. Also it allows our major league coaches to see him first hand. To the bullpen depth argument, you already made this one as well, there is no such thing, and there never will be such a thing, as too much great pitching. Especially with the way bullpens get used in the postseason. You run through five or six guys a game. You need as much elite talent as you can get and unless you have a bullpen full of closers there's always room for improvement. Every little bit counts. Especially for a team that is going to rely heavily on pitching. You're right that he may not be ready, command wise, but you've got to take a look at an arm like that at this level. Just try it. Maybe Pete Walker spots something in his delivery and helps him. You never know unless you try. Either it works and we have a stud in our bullpen or it doesn't and you carry out the plan you had. Outside of Kikuchi if he's in the pen, we really don't have a power strikeout guy in our bullpen from the left side. Would definitely come in handy. Anyhow, it doesn't matter now, it is what it is I just wish the front office was a little more aggressive, especially for a team that's trying to win.

You didn't make a single meaningful point. He has a fresh arm because he didn't pitch much, that's a bonus. Who cares if he's 20 years old? He wouldn't be the first. No one's stopping him from being a future starter. It should have been on the table. No reason not to take a look at him. None.

Are you sure? I would assume they just end up with 161 games played a piece.

Good form. A man is nothing without his word.

Hope you get your money, that really wouldn't be cool. Especially over a matter of $20.