Wild Card Game: Baltimore (Tillman) @ Toronto (Stroman) | Tuesday, October 4 | 8PM EST

zilby · Post #161 » by **zilby** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 12:47 pm

Game day is upon us

tecumseh18 · Post #162 » by **tecumseh18** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 1:03 pm

polo007 wrote:Toronto Blue Jays President Mark Shapiro joins Tim and Sid to discuss Aaron Sanchez’s incredible start vs the Red Sox, why the team chose Marcus Stroman to pitch the wild-card & his opinions on the 1-game wild card format.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/shows/tim-and-sid-show/awe-watching-sanchez-mark-shapiro-ts/

Thanks, polo.

So Shapiro acknowledges that Lariano has the better numbers, but they collectively thought that the best chance to win was to start Stro and bring in Lariano later. OK, that should handle 9 innings. Sure hope we don't have to bring out Osuna.

This Rangers series HAS TO happen. MLB wants it, it's a marketable narrative. Baltimore - meh. So the umps should be on board tonight.

Raps in 4 · Post #163 » by **Raps in 4** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 1:18 pm

TR50 wrote:I know he big debate right now is the pitching...but I think what we need even more is the bats to be breathing. They don't need to be the offense from last year, but if we want to go anywhere, let alone past the wild card, we need the bats to be working.

So as much as we could make the case for Liriano (he'll probably pitch at some point tomorrow anyways, and I have a feeling Stroman will be just fine and give us a chance to win), we need a showing from the bats (especially Donaldson, Bautista, Eddie...the big boys).

I think they can do it.

We had the worst offence in the majors in September (in terms of runs per game). Now would be a good time to return to normal.

beachbean · Post #164 » by **beachbean** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 1:20 pm

Game day!!!

Read on Twitter

duppyy · Post #165 » by **duppyy** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 1:24 pm

Gonna be a slow day at work.

Throwback24 · Post #166 » by **Throwback24** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 2:11 pm

duppyy wrote:Gonna be a slow day at work.

Why not immerse yourself in work so by the time you look up it's time to go home and can get amped to see Stroman throwing violent fists and legs in the air?

Santoki · Post #167 » by **Santoki** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 2:15 pm

Throwback24 wrote:
duppyy wrote:Gonna be a slow day at work.

Why not immerse yourself in work so by the time you look up it's time to go home and get amped for Stroman throwing violent fists and legs in the air?

HAHAHAHA good luck with that!

IMAN5 · Post #168 » by **IMAN5** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 2:23 pm

Question. For the wildcard game do teams have their full expanded roster or it's reduced to the playoff roster? If it's reduced, is there a list of who made the playoff team?

zilby · Post #169 » by **zilby** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 2:40 pm

IMAN5 wrote:Question. For the wildcard game do teams have their full expanded roster or it's reduced to the playoff roster? If it's reduced, is there a list of who made the playoff team?

25-man roster. Like all other playoff rounds, you get to reset your roster after the round finishes.

Read on Twitter

phillipmike · Post #170 » by **phillipmike** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 2:41 pm

IMAN5 wrote:Question. For the wildcard game do teams have their full expanded roster or it's reduced to the playoff roster? If it's reduced, is there a list of who made the playoff team?

Pitchers (10): Marcus Stroman, Francisco Liriano, Marco Estrada, Roberto Osuna, Jason Grilli, Brett Cecil, Joe Biagini, Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, Scott Feldman
Catchers (2): Russell Martin, Dioner Navarro
Infielders (7): Edwin Encarnacion, Justin Smoak, Devon Travis, Ryan Goins, Darwin Barney, Troy Tulowitzki, Josh Donaldson
Outfielders (6): Jose Bautista, Kevin Pillar, Michael Saunders, Melvin Upton Jr., Ezequiel Carrera, Dalton Pompey

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-go-pitching-heavy-wild-card-game-roster/

Potential · Post #171 » by **Potential** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 2:53 pm

Don't be nervous

Wo1verine · Post #172 » by **Wo1verine** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 3:08 pm

RINSE wrote:
Wo1verine wrote:Apparently loyalty played a role in Stroman starting - I Personally think you have to go with the best guy and if that's Liriano (like many say) **** feelings, just win.

According to who?

TSN's Scott MacArthur said so on sports centre.

Probably would be able to get the video on tsn.ca.

Potential · Post #173 » by **Potential** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 3:28 pm

MLB commissioner to @SNJeffBlair: barring sudden changes it 'looks like' the Rogers Centre roof will be open tonight https://t.co/gvdKKm5y0J

Potential · Post #174 » by **Potential** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 3:29 pm

Ernie Johnson calling the game

Post #175 » by **Schad** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 3:33 pm

The_Hater wrote:Obviously all these things were weighed into the decision, do you think they picked the best option?

To me, Baltimore's huge gap between RHP and LHP should trump the rest of the argument which is like you said, otherwise relatively close.

Honestly don't know. My first reaction when people were mooting Liriano was trepidation...good though he's been in his past few starts, he's having a much worse season overall and is prone to meltdowns.

Eno Sarris on Fangraphs is also pretty dubious that the Orioles splits are that meaningful, in part because (as mentioned previous) they aren't actually lefty-heavy...a large part of it is that their right-handed hitters, like Trumbo, have featured atypical results against LHP this season compared to their career norms.

pilkoids · Post #176 » by **pilkoids** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 3:43 pm

Any word on the dome being open/closed? Supposed to be a nice evening...

edit: NM, just read the post from earlier.

tecumseh18 · Post #177 » by **tecumseh18** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 3:55 pm

Stoeten today makes the point that Stro's problems this season start AFTER two times through the order. Before that, his ERA is ~3.00.

Kosi on battersbox.ca and someone else on Stoeten's board make the point that with the Jays best relievers being RH, it's better against the Orioles to start RH (Stro), switch to LH (Lariano) after 5 or so innings, and then close them down with the righties Biagini and Osuna (if necessary).

I'm no longer going to fret about this. Let's have fun out there tonight.

The_Hater · Post #178 » by **The_Hater** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 4:14 pm

tecumseh18 wrote:Stoeten today makes the point that Stro's problems this season start AFTER two times through the order. Before that, his ERA is ~3.00.

Kosi on battersbox.ca and someone else on Stoeten's board make the point that with the Jays best relievers being RH, it's better against the Orioles to start RH (Stro), switch to LH (Lariano) after 5 or so innings, and then close them down with the righties Biagini and Osuna (if necessary).

I'm no longer going to fret about this. Let's have fun out there tonight.

I think you just sold me. Or at least made me feel better.

At least until 10 pm tonight when Stroman is facing Machado for the 3rd time with 2 on and none out and the camera is showing Gibby calmly chewing tobacco on the corner step of the dugout.

Raps in 4 · Post #179 » by **Raps in 4** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 4:17 pm

My prediction for tonight:

Bautista hits game winning grand slam off of O'Day and flips bat into second deck causing benches clearing brawl. Showalter gets knocked out.

TR50 · Post #180 » by **TR50** » Tue Oct 4, 2016 4:21 pm

The_Hater wrote:
tecumseh18 wrote:Stoeten today makes the point that Stro's problems this season start AFTER two times through the order. Before that, his ERA is ~3.00.

Kosi on battersbox.ca and someone else on Stoeten's board make the point that with the Jays best relievers being RH, it's better against the Orioles to start RH (Stro), switch to LH (Lariano) after 5 or so innings, and then close them down with the righties Biagini and Osuna (if necessary).

I'm no longer going to fret about this. Let's have fun out there tonight.

I think you just sold me. Or at least made me feel better.

At least until 10 pm tonight when Stroman is facing Machado for the 3rd time with 2 on and none out and the camera is showing Gibby calmly chewing tobacco on the corner step of the dugout.

Hopefully Liriano just comes in for the 6th inning in a 5-0 Blue Jays lead and continues to hold the fort as the O's go through their order for a 3rd and (kind of) final time