Epic Jays run still possible?

North_of_Border · Post #1 » by **North_of_Border** » Tue May 16, 2017 4:43 am

Jays started awful. People were talking of a fire sale. I agreed. It looked hopeless.

However, I just noticed that they are only 7 games out of first place. Considering how early it is, I think that's promising. Even if that it not plausible, the wild card is definitely reachable.

Even though the Jays sucked this whole time. Tampa is only up 1 game. Boston up 3 and Baltimore 3.5.... that is not devistating. Considering there is no run away Best team in the division. Everyone is about the same level. Some have just been lucky. Others unlucky. That's it.

I think the Jays have the talent to make a run and maybe even get away from the pack.

It would be a historic run if they did do it though. Everything is against them.

duppyy · Post #2 » by **duppyy** » Tue May 16, 2017 1:15 pm

Jinx thread

The_Hater · Post #3 » by **The_Hater** » Tue May 16, 2017 8:54 pm

They need to get healthy first. The roster they're throwing out there daily right now is a 65-70 win group.

Al_Oliver · Post #4 » by **Al_Oliver** » Wed May 17, 2017 12:17 pm

The assets to make a big move like in summer 2015 aren't there... I don't see it with this roster

fouronesix22 · Post #5 » by **fouronesix22** » Mon May 29, 2017 11:53 pm

I hope so. Is there anybody we can acquire this year ? maybe add some pieces to our bullpen

BigLeagueChew · Post #6 » by **BigLeagueChew** » Tue May 30, 2017 1:50 am

fouronesix22 wrote:I hope so. Is there anybody we can acquire this year ? maybe add some pieces to our bullpen

Someone like Madson looks really good right now. Free agent after this year could be similar to Benoit last season or they go after someone like Ziegler, who isn't pithing well right now but neither were Benoit or Grilli when we traded for them last season.

wamco · Post #7 » by **wamco** » Tue May 30, 2017 12:18 pm

Remember we hear that they save off-season money for the deadline. Let's see it.

LBJKB24MJ23 · Post #8 » by **LBJKB24MJ23** » Wed May 31, 2017 11:45 am

You don't need an epic run. Jays are only 6.5 games back of division leader lol.

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tecumseh18 · Post #9 » by **tecumseh18** » Wed May 31, 2017 1:57 pm

Pitching depth is the issue now. With the starting pitching we had last season and to begin this season, a team can always go on a 10-game win streak assuming timely hitting. Hitting (finally, albeit against weak competition) brought the Jays almost back to .500, but hey, this is a tough division. We need Happ, Sanchez and Liriano back.

Skin Blues · Post #10 » by **Skin Blues** » Wed May 31, 2017 2:32 pm

tecumseh18 wrote:Pitching depth is the issue now. With the starting pitching we had last season and to begin this season, a team can always go on a 10-game win streak assuming timely hitting. Hitting (finally, albeit against weak competition) brought the Jays almost back to .500, but hey, this is a tough division. We need Happ, Sanchez and Liriano back.

Pitching is not our issue. We're 5th in the league in pitcher WAR despite 5 separate DL trips for the rotation, and 13th in the league in hitter WAR. Happ is already back, and Liriano is starting Friday's game. Our hitter depth is pretty brutal, more than people realize I think. We have two guys, Ryan Goins and Luke Maile, who are not even worthy of being backups, that spent weeks in the starting lineup. Barney isn't much better, although is at least a legitimate MLB quality utility infielder.

Oh and we're currently projected to finish 5th in the AL. With mostly everybody healthy it's time to build a buffer for when the injuries happen again!

tecumseh18 · Post #11 » by **tecumseh18** » Wed May 31, 2017 3:17 pm

Skin Blues wrote: We're 5th in the league in pitcher WAR despite 5 separate DL trips for the rotation ....

Only because the bullpen has pitched more innings than anyone else in the AL (189.1, compared to Boston and NYY in the 150s), and last night Happ only going 4 innings didn't help. That's obviously not sustainable. Jays need their starters back.

Skin Blues · Post #12 » by **Skin Blues** » Wed May 31, 2017 3:23 pm

tecumseh18 wrote:
Skin Blues wrote: We're 5th in the league in pitcher WAR despite 5 separate DL trips for the rotation ....

Only because the bullpen has pitched more innings than anyone else in the AL (189.1, compared to Boston and NYY in the 150s), and last night Happ only going 4 innings didn't help. That's obviously not sustainable. Jays need their starters back.

Skin Blues wrote:Happ is already back, and Liriano is starting Friday's game.

tecumseh18 · Post #13 » by **tecumseh18** » Wed May 31, 2017 3:25 pm

Skin Blues wrote:
tecumseh18 wrote:
Skin Blues wrote: We're 5th in the league in pitcher WAR despite 5 separate DL trips for the rotation ....

Only because the bullpen has pitched more innings than anyone else in the AL (189.1, compared to Boston and NYY in the 150s), and last night Happ only going 4 innings didn't help. That's obviously not sustainable. Jays need their starters back.

Skin Blues wrote:Happ is already back, and Liriano is starting Friday's game.

Happ only going 4 innings

Liriano

Skin Blues · Post #14 » by **Skin Blues** » Wed May 31, 2017 3:38 pm

Happ is back. You can stop hoping for him to return. Liriano has completed his rehab assignment and is already slotted into the rotation; you can stop hoping for him to return, too. We needed our starters back, yeah. We don't need them back anymore because they're already here. Not to mention Biagini is stretched out as a starter now too and has maintained his skills, so we have 5 healthy MLB-quality starters currently in the rotation.

The_Hater · Post #15 » by **The_Hater** » Wed May 31, 2017 6:26 pm

May OPS numbers

Bautista 1.077
Travis 1.004
Smoak .984
Morales .966
Martin .850

My apologies to all 5, who I criticized back in April

Skin Blues · Post #16 » by **Skin Blues** » Wed May 31, 2017 6:38 pm

Skin Blues wrote:... We have two guys, Ryan Goins and Luke Maile, who are not even worthy of being backups, that spent weeks in the starting lineup ...

The bash brothers took exception to this comment, I see. Nice to see them celebrate a HR together at home plate.

dagger · Post #17 » by **dagger** » Wed May 31, 2017 7:46 pm

We're going to find out the next four games what this team is capable of.

Post #18 » by **Geddy** » Wed May 31, 2017 7:48 pm

If they can get into contention by the All Star break then this season could possibly be more wild than 2015.

Post #19 » by **Schad** » Wed May 31, 2017 8:00 pm

dagger wrote:We're going to find out the next four games what this team is capable of.

And unless we do work against the Yankees and Sox, we're still looking at what is a pretty undesirable situation: a quixotic chase for a Wild Card spot leading into an offseason where a bunch of our assets will walk, and we won't have the money to replace them. Epic is one word for it, I guess.

bluerap23 · Post #20 » by **bluerap23** » Wed May 31, 2017 10:54 pm

Schad wrote:
dagger wrote:We're going to find out the next four games what this team is capable of.

And unless we do work against the Yankees and Sox, we're still looking at what is a pretty undesirable situation: a quixotic chase for a Wild Card spot leading into an offseason where a bunch of our assets will walk, and we won't have the money to replace them. Epic is one word for it, I guess.

Actually - I don't think the salary outlook is much different for next year. We only have 3 significant FA's (Estrada, Liriano and Bautista).
I expect they will try to resign Estrada at 15x2-3. There is a chance Bautista comes back on his option at $17 (or, if not, they will have a significant budget for a replacement). Liriano is probably gone (Biagini has looked pretty good and some of the young bullpen arms have been pretty good as well making his transition to starting role bearable). That will actually bring our current salary commitment down next year.