DelAbbot wrote:raptorforlife88 wrote:bluerap23 wrote:Shatkins have finally turned a corner with the farm system (my biggest criticism). I was impressed with their deadline - particularly not pushing ALL the chips in when Shapiro is on an expiring contract. It may be too little, too late though. I suspect they will need real playoff revenue to avoid the axe. They have not done enough yet to warrant another contract. We'll see. I'm cautiously optimistic about their playoff chances but it looks like their unlikely offensive success is starting to cool off. I still believe they have a chance but there are definitely some teams that scare me in the AL.
Every team has rough patches but so far the Jays have been managing to not lose too many in a row when they're struggling.
I think when really looking at the teams record over the past five years, even given the playoff struggles its hard not to see how this isn't the best the Jays have been for a sustained period since the world series years. 91, 92, 89 and another very good shot at a 90 win season again this year, with one lousy year.
LOL you just ignored 2015-2016?
Shaptkins should be gone. The magic pixie dust since May will mean revert in the playoffs.
Yeah that was a really awesome two year run. The peak team from that year was better than the teams from the past five years, but that was single season. But it was still just the two years.
At the end of the day they've built a very deep team with their positional players. We have enough solid outfielders/infielders that there are legitimate decisions that need to be made if everyone was healthy. Our bench players like Schneider have been excellent (and have solid peripherals too). Vladdy has been great, Kirk has been great. On the positional player side they are all broadly hitting like their peripherals expect them too, if not overall slightly underperforming them. We already know they're great defensively.
The bullpen has depth, enough depth that when we had to send down someone for Bieber, we had to send down Braydon Fisher, who has a 2.70 FIP, has 50 strikeouts in 38 innings.
The rotation is the weakness right now, and Bieber is going to be the question. If he's solid, the team can do well in the playoffs.