ST: Jays @ Rays | June 22-24 | Sportsnet

[s e n s i]

Missed the game, but reading some of the overreactions in the thread is hilarious

Yeah, I usually watch or listen to the game, then read the GT sometime later and it's always hilarious. Our SP takes a perfect game into the 8th inning, the rest of the bullpen golds them to zero runs, and all you hear about is how and why we will lose and/or deserve to lose. Oh and JD, you are crazy! So impressed with that man. This is not the try to catch the ball league!

You're looking at things in hindsight. With one of the worst bullpens in baseball, it's understandable that people were expecting a loss in a close game (most of our losses this season have been close games where the bullpen blew it).

except it's not one of the worst bullpens in baseball, despite the constant paranoia and cynicism. it's about as average (if not slightly better than average) a bullpen as there is out there; 15th in fWAR, 7th in xFIP, 16th in ERA, 4th in K/9, 8th in BB/9. the bullpen's sucktitude has been exaggerated for the most part and it's really one legit lights-out righty away from being really good, assuming cecil gets back to around his track record. they've only lost something like 4 games all season when carrying a lead into the 7th inning. most were because we've blown teams out early but also because the bullpen hasn't been as bad as cynical game thread comments would make you believe.

the starting pitching on the other hand, is one of the worst in baseball. upgrade it and the bullpen gets bolstered too as a result. the truck load of excruciating losses over the years ("that's such a classic blue jays/raptors/leafs way to lose!" -- as if it's only exclusive to toronto teams) has been ingrained deep in the minds of this fanbase that they expect the worst to happen so if it does, then it's simply easier to stomach, even though the stats out there would suggest something else.

[Michael Bradley]

I'm excited about Boyd, i think he'll do well and i know they're saying it'll just be a spot start but there's a decent chance he'll stick around.

With how last trade deadline went, it wouldn't surprise me if Boyd and Norris are the only pitching help the Jays get this summer. At least I'm prepared for that reality if it were to happen. One of those two spot starting for Sanchez and sticking would be a huge boost. I'm not sure Sanchez is close to returning, given the nature of his injury and the Jays history of handling these things, but that's just a hunch on my part.

[kayliecee]

Yeah, I usually watch or listen to the game, then read the GT sometime later and it's always hilarious. Our SP takes a perfect game into the 8th inning, the rest of the bullpen golds them to zero runs, and all you hear about is how and why we will lose and/or deserve to lose. Oh and JD, you are crazy! So impressed with that man. This is not the try to catch the ball league!

You're looking at things in hindsight. With one of the worst bullpens in baseball, it's understandable that people were expecting a loss in a close game (most of our losses this season have been close games where the bullpen blew it).

except it's not one of the worst bullpens in baseball, despite the constant paranoia and cynicism. it's about as average (if not slightly better than average) a bullpen as there is out there; 15th in fWAR, 7th in xFIP, 16th in ERA, 4th in K/9, 8th in BB/9. the bullpen's sucktitude has been exaggerated for the most part and it's really one legit lights-out righty away from being really good, assuming cecil gets back to around his track record. they've only lost something like 4 games all season when carrying a lead into the 7th inning. most were because we've blown teams out early but also because the bullpen hasn't been as bad as cynical game thread comments would make you believe.

the starting pitching on the other hand, is one of the worst in baseball. upgrade it and the bullpen gets bolstered too as a result. the truck load of excruciating losses over the years ("that's such a classic blue jays/raptors/leafs way to lose!" -- as if it's only exclusive to toronto teams) has been ingrained deep in the minds of this fanbase that they expect the worst to happen so if it does, then it's simply easier to stomach, even though the stats out there would suggest something else.

Bravo! I couldn't have said it better.

I don't know what Rogers is thinking. They have a historically good offense. Even one top end starter could make this easily a playoff team (as it bolsters the rotation and the bullpen) and gets them playoff money. Just pull the trigger.

[Santoki]

They just bought Mobilicity for $465 million. There goes any hope of reinforcements. That's like 2.5 Cuetos.