General Blue Jays Thread

polo007 · Post #961 » by **polo007** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 7:42 pm

I_Like_Dirt · Post #962 » by **I_Like_Dirt** » Thu Feb 18, 2021 11:38 pm

Lateral Quicks wrote:
I_Like_Dirt wrote:
Lateral Quicks wrote:I think it was a mistake to not bring back Shoemaker for $2M. Yes he's been averaging just ~30 innings a year recently, but normalize that salary to 180 IP - a full season - and it's only $10M. For a guy as good as Shoemaker is when healthy, that's nothing. And if he somehow remains healthy for most/all of the season, he would likely generate a ton of surplus value. A healthy Shoemaker would currently slot in #2 right behind Ryu.

I've been pretty happy with the off-season so far, but this is disappointing - a real missed opportunity.
He wouldn't slot in at #2 because he never plays.

After a point it's not just the money but also the roster spot and the resources spent to replace him and jerking the guys behind him around.

The Jays clearly went with limiting downside rather than magical upside on their minor additions. They're betting on upside from their younger players. Betting on guys who are all but guaranteed to barely play is effectively betting against your young guys because if they do break out you've got injured guys pretending to help them. And yes, injuries will happen regardless. All the more reason to avoid pitchers in their mid-30s who are always hurt.

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The lineup can score 10 runs a game to get us into the playoffs, but once there you need good pitching to advance. Beyond Ryu our rotation is one huge question mark - and I even have my doubts about Ryu's probable playoff performance given his historical stamina issues. What is the harm in adding another question mark to the pile, especially if it only costs you $2M? It's an excellent risk-reward move.

The rotation is absolutely a huge question mark. And adding Paxton or Shoemaker to the group wouldn't actually make it any less of a question mark. If anything, it makes it more of a question mark.

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polo007 · Post #963 » by **polo007** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 1:17 am

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polo007 · Post #966 » by **polo007** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 7:11 pm

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polo007 · Post #967 » by **polo007** » Fri Feb 19, 2021 7:12 pm

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Supermann98 · Post #968 » by **Supermann98** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 1:34 am

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I'm praying this is just a smokescreen to drive down the price on Odorizzi because that rotation is all a hope and a prayer

Dr Science · Post #969 » by **Dr Science** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 6:37 am

Didn’t know we had a jays board too! I feel like we need one more arm! Just one! I guess we can trade for one. Signing will be hard though

polo007 · Post #970 » by **polo007** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 10:40 am

Blue Jays set for a busy spring training in seclusion | Toronto Sun

Amid the pandemic and operating under a stifling set of protocols issued by the league, the Jays are scheduled to play 28 games in a modified Grapefruit League schedule.

And yes, the games will come with some twists not seen in more normal times.

For starters, the schedule will be restricted to opponents with the closest proximity to the Jays Dunedin home, a wise attempt by MLB to limit travel through the Sunshine State. That means a heavier-than-normal dose of the Phillies, Yankees, Pirates, Orioles and Tigers.

The exhibition opener is slated for Feb. 28 at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field against the Yankees, with the finale set for March 29 in Clearwater against the Phillies.

In the mix there will be some modifications, including seven-inning games and a limited number of batters per inning, at the whim of the managers, making some days feel like intrasquad games.

And Florida being Florida, the Jays, like most teams, will have limited fans at TD Ballpark which will have 15% capacity beginning with the March 1 opener against the Pirates.

The Jays are one of a handful of teams that are banning fans and media from all activity at the club’s training complex 6 km across town from TD Ballpark. While the restrictions are allowed under MLB spring training regulations, it will certainly leave a void in the usual flow of information and allow the Jays to control exactly what details become available to their loyal fan base.

Once games begin, the exposure will increase with limited numbers of fans and media allowed in the stadiums, but even then fans will be left largely in the dark. Broadcast rights holder and fellow Rogers family member Sportsnet has no plans to produce any games while its radio network will carry a handful of contests at best.

We’re told that, when possible, Sportsnet will pick up games broadcast by the Yankees and Phillies, a small consolation for Canadian fans.

polo007 · Post #971 » by **polo007** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:12 pm

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polo007 · Post #972 » by **polo007** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 11:20 pm

Blue Jays should be nipping on the heels of the Yankees this year

February 19, 2021

The Athletic's Jayson Stark opines on the increased expectations for the Blue Jays after their significant off-season additions, how Toronto stacks up against the rest of the AL East, the state of the Jays' rotation, how baseball insiders view the George Springer signing, and how much starting the season in Dunedin will be a factor.

dagger · Post #973 » by **dagger** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:33 pm

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polo007 · Post #974 » by **polo007** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 8:56 pm

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polo007 · Post #975 » by **polo007** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 9:05 pm

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polo007 · Post #976 » by **polo007** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 10:12 pm

Alejandro Kirk making opening day roster serves both him and Toronto Blue Jays best - TSN.ca

TORONTO — There are differing opinions surrounding what the Blue Jays should do with Alejandro Kirk, and none of them are really wrong.

At the age of 22 with zero experience above High-A until his major-league cameo last September, more time in the minor leagues to work on controlling a running game and to figure out the nuances of the catching position certainly makes sense on the surface.

The bat, however, despite that relative inexperience, does not need work.

That’s why Blue Jays’ brass felt comfortable making the call for Kirk last September in the first place, as their trio of catchers — Danny Jansen, Reese McGuire and Caleb Joseph — had provided just about nothing offensively up to that point.

The precocious feel for hitting, the ability to barrel the baseball up seemingly at will, there was evidence of that in the .315/.418/.500 minor-league slash line, and Kirk was continuing to hit pro pitching at the alternate site in Rochester.

The kid rakes and is an extremely tough out. There’s lots of evidence of that, even though many will scream “small sample size” because of the major-league resume. But truthfully, there’s a long track record behind the scenes of Kirk succeeding against all types of pitching.

He’s also worked on his body this winter, showing up to camp in Dunedin in — insert cliche here — the best shape of his life.

“He’s been working hard, so he’s come in in great shape,” Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said Sunday. “I just watched him throwing to the bases today and he was moving great and throwing rockets down to third base. He can hit, we know that, and defensively, he’s progressing. He’s developing. He did some nice things back there, guys got comfortable throwing to him. He’s got a very good way about him behind the plate. Like I said, he’s still learning. He’s going to get experience from spring training here, but first impression was awesome with him back there and I think the guys enjoyed throwing to him, but he looks ready to go.”

In addition to the Jays searching for more punch behind the plate in the midst of a postseason run last September, there’s another reason they were willing to summon Kirk earlier than many expected: He’s likely never going be a huge asset defensively and a longer development track may not yield huge results, especially when the bat is ready to contribute.

That’s the Kirk conundrum.

The Jays might need to let Kirk ride and find out what he can be because there’s more catching coming … if they’re not used as trade chips.

Riley Adams is a 24-year-old third round pick from 2017 whose 332 plate appearances at Double-A in 2019, combined with solid reports from the alternate site last year in Rochester, would seem to have him ready to be the primary catcher at Triple-A.

Down a level, Gabriel Moreno, 21, should star for Double-A New Hampshire and could be a top 50 prospect in baseball at this time next year.

High-A Vancouver — or wherever it is they start the season because it’s highly unlikely it’ll be in Canada — won’t be left out, either, as 2019 ninth-round pick Phil Clarke has quietly excited the club with his bat and needs to play every day.

Development can happen in the majors, too, and the big-league cup of coffee motivated Kirk in the off-season.

polo007 · Post #977 » by **polo007** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:40 am

Montoyo looking forward to this season after seeing massive team improvements - TSN.ca

Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo shares this thoughts on the recent additions to Toronto's bullpen, how much the team's athleticism has improved since last season and how he plans to rotate his players. Montoyo says that 'they're playing to win' so he'll be moving players around to keep hot players in the game while giving players who have gone cold time to reset.

polo007 · Post #978 » by **polo007** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 7:16 pm

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polo007 · Post #980 » by **polo007** » Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:39 pm

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