Game 162 - Rays @ Jays, 3:07PM, Page 43

[Fairview4Life]

Wow, those multiple losses to Baltimore, whitesox,athletic's, k.c and rays..should I mention the angels..if we had just squeezed 1 win from so many compounded losses to these teams...pirates and nationals recently too..we were all excited going into these series..oh, just remembered the twins after their selloff

It’s why the team seemingly intentionally punting some games with their decisions on who to sit and when and not pinch hitting some guys and on and on over the course of the year gets so frustrating. Every game actually matters!

[Michael Bradley]

Using Hoffman as the closer regardless of performance is definitely a front office call. Maybe they promised this to him to get him to sign, I don’t know, but this is beyond a manager showing blind faith. Hoffman does have the best track record of anyone in the pen based on his 2023-24 when he was great, but 2025 has been far from it. Jordan Romano was Mariano Rivera compared to Hoffman this season.

Relief pitcher performance varies so much from season to season that his career track record of two good seasons is completely meaningless.

I don't know if it's meaningless, but you're right about relief pitcher volatility, so once Hoffman showed that he was clearly not the 2023-24 guy anymore (he showed it months ago), then the Jays should have pivoted to someone else. In the winter the Yankees acquired Devin Williams, who had a much better/longer track record than Hoffman, and yet the Yankees pulled him from the closer role as soon as he blew a few games. The Jays for whatever reason do not want to do that. Given that Schneider is just a bag boy for the front office, it has to be the front office wanting to keep Hoffman in that role.

[JN]

Using Hoffman as the closer regardless of performance is definitely a front office call. Maybe they promised this to him to get him to sign, I don’t know, but this is beyond a manager showing blind faith. Hoffman does have the best track record of anyone in the pen based on his 2023-24 when he was great, but 2025 has been far from it. Jordan Romano was Mariano Rivera compared to Hoffman this season.

Relief pitcher performance varies so much from season to season that his career track record of two good seasons is completely meaningless.

I don't know if it's meaningless, but you're right about relief pitcher volatility, so once Hoffman showed that he was clearly not the 2023-24 guy anymore (he showed it months ago), then the Jays should have pivoted to someone else. In the winter the Yankees acquired Devin Williams, who had a much better/longer track record than Hoffman, and yet the Yankees pulled him from the closer role as soon as he blew a few games. The Jays for whatever reason do not want to do that. Given that Schneider is just a bag boy for the front office, it has to be the front office wanting to keep Hoffman in that role.

I think part of the problem is that 3-4 weeks ago, our entire bullpen was a collective mess. I think it's possible if somebody else who they viewed as leverage at the time had been rolling, they would have made the change (or maybe they wouldn't but I think it was a good possibility). Personally at the time I said make the change and see if it works.

Now it seems they are using the "reasoning / excuse" is its too late to make a change.

[JaysRule15]

I honestly can't see the Yankees losing either game against the O's. Feels like everything is going their way right now. We need to win both games.

[Raps in 4]

Relief pitcher performance varies so much from season to season that his career track record of two good seasons is completely meaningless.

I don't know if it's meaningless, but you're right about relief pitcher volatility, so once Hoffman showed that he was clearly not the 2023-24 guy anymore (he showed it months ago), then the Jays should have pivoted to someone else. In the winter the Yankees acquired Devin Williams, who had a much better/longer track record than Hoffman, and yet the Yankees pulled him from the closer role as soon as he blew a few games. The Jays for whatever reason do not want to do that. Given that Schneider is just a bag boy for the front office, it has to be the front office wanting to keep Hoffman in that role.

I think part of the problem is that 3-4 weeks ago, our entire bullpen was a collective mess. I think it's possible if somebody else who they viewed as leverage at the time had been rolling, they would have made the change (or maybe they wouldn't but I think it was a good possibility). Personally at the time I said make the change and see if it works.

Now it seems they are using the "reasoning / excuse" is its too late to make a change.

And yet they just made a change to the starting pitching by demoting Berrios. This FO is so dumb.

[LLJ]

I honestly can't see the Yankees losing either game against the O's. Feels like everything is going their way right now. We need to win both games.

Ideally the Jays win today and the Yanks lose and the pressure is off tomorrow.

Although this is Toronto sports. Watch both of them win today and then only the Jays lose tomorrow just for it to hurt more for Toronto sports fans.

[Randle McMurphy]

Read on Twitter

The 500m choker

[Randle McMurphy]

I honestly can't see the Yankees losing either game against the O's. Feels like everything is going their way right now. We need to win both games.

Sugano absolutely sucks, they won’t be losing that game.

Bradish is an opportunity tomorrow

[Mehar]

Kirk and Vlad sucking at the worst possible time does not help things with Bichette out. At least Kirk's framing stole Strikes for Jeff Coughman last night, even though he has no hits the past 8 Games.

The only thing Vlad is doing well is dumping the Gatorade after the games they have won recently. You see how a real generational talent like Judge is carrying the Yankees right now hitting home runs, and then you take a look at the 500 million Vlad these past couple of weeks and just shake your head.

[JaysRule15]

Read on Twitter

The 500m choker

Maybe that injury he came back from is still affecting him.

[JN]

Read on Twitter

The 500m choker

Maybe that injury he came back from is still affecting him.

I don't think its the injury because he had a hot streak in early September after the injury. He's running hard out there and moving well defensively as well.

If we look at the sequence of events, it just seems he is really inconsistent and his swing / approach just breaks down for a while until he figures it out again.
- He was on absolute fire from the All-Star Break up to his injury
- He was injured for about 7 games IIRC
- He really struggled for the first week coming back from the injury
- He then went on a 2 week stretch for the last few days of August and beginning of September where he was on fire once again.
- And now he went really cold again.

Its not an effort thing. He's putting in the extra time in the batting cages, he's working hard on the basepaths and D. But he just struggles with his swing approach (mental) for extended times.

[JN]

Kirk and Vlad sucking at the worst possible time does not help things with Bichette out. At least Kirk's framing stole Strikes for Jeff Coughman last night, even though he has no hits the past 8 Games.

The only thing Vlad is doing well is dumping the Gatorade after the games they have won recently. You see how a real generational talent like Judge is carrying the Yankees right now hitting home runs, and then you take a look at the 500 million Vlad these past couple of weeks and just shake your head.

If you are looking for one thing he has done well -- Vlad's D has been extremely good in September.
Of course we could get Doug Mientkiewicz if we are looking for a good defensive first baseman who can't really hit.

[JN]

Jeff Hoffman September stats

10.2 innings (11 games)
0.84 ERA
5 hits, 7 Walks, 8K's.
4/5 Saves

Doesn't feel like what I have watched (well except that K/BB ratio is telling).
This is not an endorsement of him closing for us

[Madvillainy2004]

Judge Homerun lmao well guess we cant clinch tn

Man Judge has more HRs this week than Vlad has since like July lmao

[Madvillainy2004]

Read on Twitter

The 500m choker

Maybe that injury he came back from is still affecting him.

I don't think its the injury because he had a hot streak in early September after the injury. He's running hard out there and moving well defensively as well.

If we look at the sequence of events, it just seems he is really inconsistent and his swing / approach just breaks down for a while until he figures it out again.
- He was on absolute fire from the All-Star Break up to his injury
- He was injured for about 7 games IIRC
- He really struggled for the first week coming back from the injury
- He then went on a 2 week stretch for the last few days of August and beginning of September where he was on fire once again.
- And now he went really cold again.

Its not an effort thing. He's putting in the extra time in the batting cages, he's working hard on the basepaths and D. But he just struggles with his swing approach (mental) for extended times.

Wish I still had the tweet but his average LA and attack angle has been trending down since June and has bottomed out this current stretch.

[Randle McMurphy]

Judge Homerun lmao well guess we cant clinch tn

Man Judge has more HRs this week than Vlad has since like July lmao

Judge is also one of the best players to ever play the game

Vlad is just another guy

Sugano is trash though, that won’t be the last HR he gives up today

[Randle McMurphy]

And Stanton hits another one out as I post that

Those two are so good

[Madvillainy2004]

Judge Homerun lmao well guess we cant clinch tn

Man Judge has more HRs this week than Vlad has since like July lmao

Judge is also one of the best players to ever play the game

Vlad is just another guy

Sugano is trash though, that won’t be the last HR he gives up today

Stanton has now passed Guerrero in HRs lmao god this Os team is trash how did they score a billion runs on us.

[Randle McMurphy]

Judge Homerun lmao well guess we cant clinch tn

Man Judge has more HRs this week than Vlad has since like July lmao

Judge is also one of the best players to ever play the game

Vlad is just another guy

Sugano is trash though, that won’t be the last HR he gives up today

Stanton has now passed Guerrero in HRs lmao god this Os team is trash how did they score a billion runs on us.

Had O’Hearn and Laureano back then too (and Mullins who isn’t actually good but is our nemesis), they gutted their offense after that series

[Michael Bradley]

Giancarlo Stanton is the anti Vlad. He's the most dangerous when the games matter.

The Jays either have to win the next 2 games or they are playing on Tuesday.