Signal

Agree. I have liked all of the trades made so far that have added arms to the bullpen. The cost has been minimal.

This team is competing for a playoff spot and they deserve that opportunity. That experience whether successful or not, will help the young players down the road. Selling at this point would be telling your players you have no faith in them.

His ERA over the last 15 games is 4.80. Not certain it is a result of the sticky stuff crack down but he has not been lights out lately.

Given the record, I don't think it is time for the Jays to sell but it is also not the time to sell off top prospects for rentals. I think the Jays should be simply looking to improve the team with players that they have control of beyond this year. You have to give this group a chance to make the playoffs and give them the opportunity to gain the experience of being in a pennant race and possibly further playoff experience. The players deserve that opportunity. BUT, at the same time, you must have a balanced approach because the greatness of this franchise is in the next couple of years. So I am hoping Atkins makes a couple of moves that shore up the pitching with the players that will contribute to the team beyond this year while not draining the talent in the minors. In my mind, Atkins has to walk a very thin line during the trade deadline. I think anyone hoping to see blockbuster deals either way...selling or buying is going to be disappointed.

Yes, I do. I think Montoya was a fine manager to have as the young players developed but he is not the right manager for a team that is ready to compete. I could be dead wrong, but I do think that Atkins believes that Montoya was the right man for the job when the team was young and developing and possibly the right guy to take the team through all of the problems the pandemic posed. But this offseason Atkins will make a change in that the team has grown up and is ready to compete and have outgrown the limitations of their manager. Montoya did his job but he is now in over his head and I do believe Atkins recognizes it and is simply waiting for the offseason to make the move. P.S. Of course he is not going to say anything publicly in regards to his plans or how he really thinks in regards to the manager. But I will be shocked if he does not make a move in the offseason to bring in a new manager who is better equipped to deal with a team ready to compete for a championship.

I also really like the moves Atkins has made thus far because he was able to add pieces that will contribute beyond this year and yes, he did not lose much in those trades. And obviously we both agree that Montoya must go. My point in the stating that the moves made already did not move the needle much is because the Jays right now have a manager who simply does not how to use the pieces he already has. But yes, think Atkins has done a good job thus far and hope he does not fall into the trap of trading for rentals and losing valuable chips that could contribute when this team has a real manager and are in position to actually compete for a championship.

Any trades made this year for rentals is a waste as long as Montoya is manager. Only trades that should be made are for players that the Jays will have control over beyond this season. In my humble opinion, trading away top pitching prospects or any top prospect would not be prudent. Jays are simply not that good this year and also think that any talent they do get will only be wasted by Montoya. Atkins needs to walk a thin line this year. He has already made a couple of moves and well, it has not moved the needle much. Think Atkins simply needs to make another move or two to demonstrate that he has belief in the players but not to the point of weakening the talent level in the minors to the point that it will come back and bite this organization in the ass in years when they have a viable manager. I simply think the problems the Jays have go beyond lack of pitching depth. Until Atkins makes a change in manger this offseason, this team is not ready to compete.

Montoya is a tool. Why not use Cimber yesterday in the tenth. Who knows they may have won that game. Instead he brings in a pitcher who has had no success at all at the MLB level. But today he will use Cimber so that he will not be available tomorrow for the game against the Rays. Good grief.

All I know - is that Hernandez is producing which is a hell of lot more than I can say for Grichuk.

Travis is at best an average defender and with a cold bat at this point - looking forward to seeing what the kid can bring.

Agree. Grichuk is terrible right now at the plate. He looks completely lost.

Right, I forgot he is star! So what he has never even approached hitting .250 with the Jays and has only regressed. I think you are right...what he has done in the past ...especially little league matters more than what he is ACTUALLY done for the Jays. Let's get some more players who have these great reputations for playing well in the past but suck right now so we can talk them up on a forum while the Jays lose. Yes, that sounds like a plan.

WTF? Tulo has done s*** since signing with the Blue Jays. He hit .239 with a measly .317 OBP last year and this year is batting .199. PERIOD. Those are the facts. I guess you can look back and add on what he did earlier in his career and look at his college numbers and what he did as a youngster...but do those numbers really impact what he is DOING NOW!?!?!?! No, they don't. And do not say that Tulo has always been .800+ OPS guy with stellar D because he has not been this while with the Jays. So be careful using the word ALWAYS. And the last time I looked he sure was piling up the errors this year....so even his defense has suffered. And this year Barney IS hitting over .300. Now he might not have the reputation of .300 hitter but who cares...he is ACTUALLY hitting .300 and that is a tad more important than your perception of Barney.

"That isn't the way I remember it. Some people on this forum thought that he should stay there. Do you have stats indicating that he did poorly in the leadoff position." "I am referring to last year when almost everyone was happy that Tulowitzki was on the team." Do not have the stats for Tulo hitting leadoff last year but do have his stats for last year. He hit .239 and had a poor OBP of .317 - neither numbers good for a leadoff hitter....well...any hitter. My memory seems to tell me that he did warm up a bit outside of the leadoff spot....so his numbers in the leadoff position were worse. The dude has simply not hit the ball well while with the Jays. I could care two f@#ks what he has done in the past....that does not help the Jays now. Not sure why everyone treats this guy like he is some sort of star....he has hit like a bum since arriving. When Barney took over from Tulo ..well, let's just say I enjoyed watching the Jays a bit more. When I watch Barney at the plate I understand what he is trying to do and like the fact that he actually produces from time to time....when I watch Tulo at the plate I see a player struggling big time...he looks lost out there.

This is sarcasm, right? Tulo was terrible in the leadoff spot....terrible. So terrible that even Gibby (the slowest human being on this side of the planet) recognized it.

If you have someone who is batting .199 do you not want to put him in the 8th or 9th spot? I guess we have to suffer through 3 or 4 weeks of incredibly bad at bats so that we can watch Tulo maybe get his stroke back. Oh what a joy!

Nice to see Barney back in the lineup.

I would MUCH rather have Barney at the plate hitting over .300 than a "reputable" Tulo hitting less than .200. Call me simple, but I would.

Dumb move nonetheless. Tulo NEEDED time down there to fine tune his technique at the plate. It seemed like a perfect opportunity where he could freely focus on himself and his technique without worrying about any other pressures. Now he has been thrown back into the fray and must do it on the fly while someone who was hitting .300 must sit. GM or Manager or whomever...someone made a real head-scratcher here.

Not really angry but more frustrated and just baffled. For years now, Gibby has shown that he has the instincts of a rock. Luckily he has a team loaded with talent...because he sure is not going to out manage anyone to manufacture a win. There are things in life that make no sense....I know this. Gibby's employment as a baseball manager just happens to be one.

Thank you!

Questionable moves.... So WTF is Gibby thinking bringing up Tulo early? The Jays have been losing and need a shake up? NO! In fact the opposite, they are on a winning streak playing their best ball right now. Tulo was extremely hot before he went down and we need to get him back in the lineup? NO, he was terrible with a batting average to match. Tulo has been knocking the cover off the ball in the minors? NO, in fact he just got back onto the field down there and never even had a chance to warm up. Barney has been garbage in the field and at the bat. NO, in fact he is one of only three players on the team that are actually batting .300. So why rush getting him to sit? This move makes absolutely no sense on so many levels. Stupid. Tulo needed to warm up at the plate and get his confidence back before bringing him up….but no Gibby has to play it like a clueless idiot. Frustrating, just frustrating