Toronto Blue Jays (65 - 48) @ Colorado Rockies (30 - 81) - August 4-6, 2025

[Duffman100]

Do we?

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Yeah we're pretty damn sure. 20-25 home run guys generally don't randomly spike to 50-60.

Go check out who the Jays' career WAR leader is.

Go check out what "generally" means.

[Randle McMurphy]

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[Randle McMurphy]

Yeah we're pretty damn sure. 20-25 home run guys generally don't randomly spike to 50-60.

Go check out who the Jays' career WAR leader is.

Go check out what "generally" means.

The Popkins effect could be that strong. We don't know for sure.

[Duffman100]

Go check out who the Jays' career WAR leader is.

Go check out what "generally" means.

The Popkins effect could be that strong. We don't know for sure.

Could be. Could also just be a power hot streak in a small sample size.

What's more likely?

Varsho has suddenly become a 60 home run guy?

or

He had a power surge for a small sample size of at bats?

[Madvillainy2004]

Question for those smarter than me.

How has Bichettes defence been this year? How does he rank against other SS?

Just based off what ive seen he really lacks range over there especially since hes put on considerable weight since 2021. But going into the stats a little in DRS and OAA hes pretty comfortably a bottom 5 everyday SS defensively. Those stats kinda vary a bunch in who is in the bottom 5 but Bichette being bottom 5 in both tracks for me. And no matter which way you wanna look for defensive metrics hes pretty bad (not worst in the league horrific at least lol).

As long as his OPS is over .800 you're ok with it but I think any long term contract should have a focus on eventually moving him to 2nd Base if we do keep him.

This may be a little harsh. From what I've seen he is closer to 20th defensively this season, which ain't terrible. He is top 5 offensively. But I agree he has 2-3 years at SS max.

Actually I think we're both sorta correct among qualified SS hes 21st out of 25 in OAA and 21st out of 25 in DRS. So hes around 20th best among the qualified group but rn theres only 25 guys that are qualified on fangraphs rn. Not sure how much that changes if I expand the group tbh. Still has been pretty poor but he could very well be the 2nd best SS offensively this season hes right there with Elly/Seager/Witt. So you take it the good with the bad.

I would really love for Bo to focus on getting in better shape tho. Another thing that has been bad for him is base running. Hes one of the slowest players in the league and is at a career low in BsR value. Not sure if its his knees or a focus on him being bulkier for hitting but regardless hes 27 he should be at worst a neutral base runner and like 45-50 in sprint speed. This is making me even more uneasy about giving him a long term deal.

[LoveMyRaps]

[Randle McMurphy]

Something or somebody called Buddy Kennedy is starting over Daulton Varsho, do we know if this person actually exists

[-MetA4-]

Could be. Could also just be a power hot streak in a small sample size.

What's more likely?

Varsho has suddenly become a 60 home run guy?

or

He had a power surge for a small sample size of at bats?

No, he very likely won't continue to hit at a 60 HR pace. However, he has always had 30+ HR power (you proved this yourself - he hit 27 in only his 2nd "full" MLB season) and his underlying metrics are all up this year:

- Barrel rate is way up (to elite levels)
- Max exit velocity is up (now Top 9% in MLB)
- Average exit velocity is up (by ~3 full MPH)
- Hard-hit % is up
- Bat speed is up
- Launch angle sweet-spot % is up

In terms of plate discipline: his zone swing % is way up (by nearly ~10%), as is his meatball swing % (which is now at over 91%). So he is being more aggressive in the zone, and he is correctly identifying and swinging at meatballs at a considerably better rate (his meatball swing % was 81.7% last year, 80.7% two seasons ago, and 78.1% in 2022).

None of his power output so far is "fake". He is an extreme fly-ball hitter who pulls the ball at an elite level, and his bat speed, exit velocity, quality of contact, and swing discipline (ie: swinging at more pitches in the zone, correctly swinging at meatballs) has all improved.

He is basically the opposite of Guerrero in terms of swing decisions. Vlad is only swinging at 61% of pitches in the zone, and his meatball swing % is just 70.5% this season (down about ~8-10% from recent years, and 15-16% from his first few seasons). Vlad is actually way too passive at the plate, which is why he goes on droughts where he struggles to hit for power.

[COY0607]

Worst lineup of the season?

Need Springer back asap

And why is Kirk not playing before an off day?

Hopefully they can get the pitch count up and get the LHP out in 4-5 innings

[Duffman100]

Could be. Could also just be a power hot streak in a small sample size.

What's more likely?

Varsho has suddenly become a 60 home run guy?

or

He had a power surge for a small sample size of at bats?

No, he very likely won't continue to hit at a 60 HR pace. However, he has always had 30+ HR power (you proved this yourself - he hit 27 in only his 2nd "full" MLB season) and his underlying metrics are all up this year:

- Barrel rate is way up (to elite levels)
- Max exit velocity is up (now Top 9% in MLB)
- Average exit velocity is up (by ~3 full MPH)
- Hard-hit % is up
- Bat speed is up
- Launch angle sweet-spot % is up

In terms of plate discipline: his zone swing % is way up (by nearly ~10%), as is his meatball swing % (which is now at over 91%). So he is being more aggressive in the zone, and he is correctly identifying and swinging at meatballs at a considerably better rate (his meatball swing % was 81.7% last year, 80.7% two seasons ago, and 78.1% in 2022).

None of his power output so far is "fake". He is an extreme fly-ball hitter who pulls the ball at an elite level, and his bat speed, exit velocity, quality of contact, and swing discipline (ie: swinging at more pitches in the zone, correctly swinging at meatballs) has all improved.

He is basically the opposite of Guerrero in terms of swing decisions. Vlad is only swinging at 61% of pitches in the zone, and his meatball swing % is just 70.5% this season (down about ~8-10% from recent years, and 15-16% from his first few seasons). Vlad is actually way too passive at the plate, which is why he goes on droughts where he struggles to hit for power.

I'm definitely not saying it's fake. And I'm not a Varsho hater by any means, he's great.

Just the original post was putting an unrealistic expectation on a smaller sample size that almost certianly wouldn't have persisted through an entire 500 + at bat season.

That being said, Varsho at like 35 homers (more realistic) would be a great season.

[Mehar]

Worst lineup of the season?

Need Springer back asap

And why is Kirk not playing before an off day?

Hopefully they can get the pitch count up and get the LHP out in 4-5 innings

Kirk should be playing with the day off tomorrow. Maybe it is my ignorance also- but I am not familiar with this Buddy Kennedy guy? All I know was that he was released by the Phillies early in the year, and was hitting .207 in Buffalo. Why is he even up here if he was barely hitting over the Mendoza line in Buffalo?

I think there would be other worthy candidates than him to be called up. He will probably be sent down again when Springer is back in a couple of days. France and Kennedy hitting 5 and 6 in the lineup is something that you never want to see in August.

[bluerap23]

Worst lineup of the season?

Need Springer back asap

And why is Kirk not playing before an off day?

Hopefully they can get the pitch count up and get the LHP out in 4-5 innings

Kirk should be playing with the day off tomorrow. Maybe it is my ignorance also- but I am not familiar with this Buddy Kennedy guy? All I know was that he was released by the Phillies early in the year, and was hitting .207 in Buffalo. Why is he even up here if he was barely hitting over the Mendoza line in Buffalo?

I think there would be other worthy candidates than him to be called up. He will probably be sent down again when Springer is back in a couple of days. France and Kennedy hitting 5 and 6 in the lineup is something that you never want to see in August.

I'm ok with Kirk getting some rest (Tyler has been good) but that lineup is BRUTAL! Platoons make sense when the righties are better against lefties than the lefties. It never makes sense to start Kennedy

[Madvillainy2004]

Benching Kirk is fine but Ty France and Kennedy hitting is hilarious also why is Heineman not hitting further up the order?

[Mehar]

Worst lineup of the season?

Need Springer back asap

And why is Kirk not playing before an off day?

Hopefully they can get the pitch count up and get the LHP out in 4-5 innings

Kirk should be playing with the day off tomorrow. Maybe it is my ignorance also- but I am not familiar with this Buddy Kennedy guy? All I know was that he was released by the Phillies early in the year, and was hitting .207 in Buffalo. Why is he even up here if he was barely hitting over the Mendoza line in Buffalo?

I think there would be other worthy candidates than him to be called up. He will probably be sent down again when Springer is back in a couple of days. France and Kennedy hitting 5 and 6 in the lineup is something that you never want to see in August.

I'm ok with Kirk getting some rest (Tyler has been good) but that lineup is BRUTAL! Platoons make sense when the righties are better against lefties than the lefties. It never makes sense to start Kennedy

Brutal lineup. Schneider should be at Second Base. Varsho in CF, and Straw in LF at the minimum. With the day off tomorrow, I would also be having Kirk as DH instead, and Vlad at 1st. Both France and Kennedy should have been on the bench.

[WuTang_OG]

Gotta take over this game early

[Potential]

What is this lineup and who the hell is buddy Kennedy?

[Randle McMurphy]

So Gausman sucks in the thin air and the day game woes continue.

[Boogie!]

Kevin ass man

[Madvillainy2004]

Max, Lauer, Bieber is my playoff rotation lmao legit dont think I can trust any of our regulars (Berrios/Bassitt/Gausman).

[Randle McMurphy]

Ty France's one skill is getting hit by pitches btw

He never moves