Toronto Blue Jays vs. Kansas City Royals, Aug 1-3

[JaysRule15]

Varsho striking out badly, Vladdy having weak at-bats in the clutch, and Kirk grounding out weakly as the tying run. Something for everyone to complain about today!

[dh_45]

The new pitchers cost us the game today.

[COY0607]

This team badly needs Springer

He’s the best offensive player, he holds this team together

[dh_45]

Could be the Jays are now reverting to the mean. No way they could keep that win pace up. The wins were looking so easy

Could be we will see a rough stretch now where they will struggle to win each series even against bad teams like Colorado. They certainly don't look like they have enough talent to runaway and hide with the division lead.

[Mehar]

Varsho striking out badly, Vladdy having weak at-bats in the clutch, and Kirk grounding out weakly as the tying run. Something for everyone to complain about today!

I am not worried about Kirk or Vladdy as much as Varsho. Guy has looked terrible at the plate in both games he played. Time after time chasing high fastballs and striking out, or not getting on base. It has been three years of this. This should not continue for much longer, if you are serious about a post-season birth.

No other team right now in the playoff hunt or leading their divisions, are automatically pencilling in a guy hitting below. 200, not getting on base and striking out regularly in their lineup. Give him a few more games to figure it out, but if his bat continues to be a Black Hole- you have no choice but to bench him. Use him as a Late Inning Defender and starting against Righties. Have him hit 9th also. That 9th Inning Strikeout on three high fastballs was classic Varsho.

[dh_45]

Varsho has never been much of a hitter. His defense is great

[dh_45]

For those that think going to Colorado will be easy. I bet they continue to struggle and will be lucky to win a game in Colorado.

[-MetA4-]

LOL I absolutely knew that Varsho would come up cold and immediately would get blamed for any offensive issues, as if the team was crushing it in prior games.

Lukes since the All-Star Break: .167/.224/.407 - 71 wRC+
Clement since the All-Star Break: .227/.235/.333 - 52 wRC+

With Springer out, Barger scuffling, and the above two putting up some really bad at-bats the lineup has become very problematic. Even Davis Schneider is hitting just .217 with no power (.261 SLG) since the All-Star break. He has been taking walks and getting on base so his overall line isn't as bad as Clement/Lukes, but with Straw and Heineman playing so much there is very little impact potential at the plate.

[Natural11]

How are you gonna let Straw bat in the bottom of the ninth with a man on and Davis on the bench? Terrible.

[dh_45]

Don't bet on springer back anytime soon after that serious concussion. It will likely be 14 days off for him

[JaysRule15]

Someone make the next GT lol my luck is done.

[Hottie McShotty]

Is our $500 million man going to get us a big hit for once??

Has he had one at all this season? I don't even remember.

[Hottie McShotty]

2025 Kansas City payroll $119.8M
2025 Blue Jays payroll $255.6M

Thanks Rogers! Thanks Shatkins!

[PushDaRock]

Vladdy's Baseball Savant page is frustrating to look at. Literally everything about him as a hitter is well above average to elite except his Launch Angle Sweet Spot % which is well below average and prevents him from hitting more HR's than he should be. He really is just one small tweak from easily being a top 5 hitter.

[steveholt]

I really dislike everything about Vlad, from his demeanor to approach. That chop swing is nauseating. Like hes swinging an axe out there. 15 more years of this garbage.

[steveholt]

Is our $500 million man going to get us a big hit for once??

Has he had one at all this season? I don't even remember.

Of course not. The most un-clutch player ever. and after he will be laughing and horsing around with teammates and opposing players. Must be nice to know your getting half a billy even tho you suck at your job and dont take it seriously.

[StopitLeo]

Varsho's reaction time looks so slow at the plate. My god.

And Vlad? So many choppers and topped balls. Can he get the ball in the air already? It's not realistic to make mechanical changes at this point in the season but hopefully they are working on mental changes. If he stops trying to hit line drives and just aims for flyballs it will probably result in a better launch angle simply because his is so low to begin with; I can live with strikeouts. The team needs to fix this in the offseason but I'm not sure Vlad accepts that he needs to fix it and is willing to do the work.

Time to move Bo into the leadoff spot. Lukes was out performing expectations the first half of the seasons and is regressing to the mean.

[Hottie McShotty]

Is our $500 million man going to get us a big hit for once??

Has he had one at all this season? I don't even remember.

Of course not. The most un-clutch player ever. and after he will be laughing and horsing around with teammates and opposing players. Must be nice to know your getting half a billy even tho you suck at your job and dont take it seriously.

Vladdy's response to this valid criticism.

[Randle McMurphy]

Vladdy's Baseball Savant page is frustrating to look at. Literally everything about him as a hitter is well above average to elite except his Launch Angle Sweet Spot % which is well below average and prevents him from hitting more HR's than he should be. He really is just one small tweak from easily being a top 5 hitter.

He’s been driving balls into the ground at high velos since he was a teenager for us, this is just who the guy is.