ALCS Game 2 - Seattle Mariners @ Toronto Blue Jays, Monday October 13, 2025, 5:03 PM

[Mehar]

I expect Varland is starting the spring as a SP next year, I think that’s why they wanted him

Probably but it would be a mistake.

Probably but I won’t blame em for trying

The guy throws 98 and throws like 3-4 other pitches for strikes. In theory it could work

Look at Varland's Stats last year as a Starter. He was 0-6 with an era of 7.61 over 16. He was so trash as a Starter that the Minnesota front office moved him to the bullpen this year. Varland also sucked in 2023 as a Starter. He can remain in the bullpen as a low leverage guy for 2026.

[Madvillainy2004]

Man our hitting was so bad again today

[Randle McMurphy]

Probably but it would be a mistake.

Probably but I won’t blame em for trying

The guy throws 98 and throws like 3-4 other pitches for strikes. In theory it could work

Look at Varland's Stats last year as a Starter. He was 0-6 with an era of 7.61 over 16. He was so trash as a Starter that the Minnesota front office moved him to the bullpen this year. Varland also sucked in 2023 as a Starter. He can remain in the bullpen as a low leverage guy for 2026.

I’m well aware of his stats

I’m also well aware it is still worth trying in ST next year

[rarefind]

I expect Varland is starting the spring as a SP next year, I think that’s why they wanted him

Probably but it would be a mistake.

Probably but I won’t blame em for trying

The guy throws 98 and throws like 3-4 other pitches for strikes. In theory it could work

Minny would disagree but I have no problem ever risking the value of a reliever in exploring upside as a starter

[Stromile12]

Barger worst clean up hitter known to mankind

[linery88]

Why are we trying to simulate conditions in Seattle..close the **** roof.

Seattle closes their roof too

Maybe them closing the roof will help our offense,and we can clinch here with a closed roof.

[LoveMyRaps]

Barger worst clean up hitter known to mankind

Had one hot month and then went back to being a triple A calibre player.

[linery88]

Barger worst clean up hitter known to mankind

He was better lower in the order.Feelin da pressure,and pressing.Springer Lukes grouderro Kirk or a really good contact hitter to follow Vlad.

[Stromile12]

Why the **** is Santander putting a helmet on, I thought he had a tummy ache

[Michael Bradley]

The Varland trade only makes sense if they envision him in the rotation. Years of control on a reliever are pointless given how volatile the position is. You only make that trade if you think he's a starter long term. I hope they at least explore that in the spring. He's not a high leverage reliever.

[linery88]

Why the **** is Santander putting a helmet on, I thought he had a tummy ache

Bad back.

[Public_Enemy101]

I knew just watching that slugfest win against Detroit that the Mariners were going to be a handful for the Jays. Granted, I didn't think the Jays would fold this bad but the Mariners are just a more hungry and better constructed team. Credit to their FO for acquiring some power hitting at the trade deadline too.

I think the Jays peaked too early this season so it gave a lot of false hope. Plus, it gave other teams plenty of time to make adjustments and improve their scouting reports. The Jays FO didn't do much and were betting they could just sneak into the wild card and create a bit of excitement. I don't think they even expected to get this far with this roster tbh.

[brwnman]

Another run that would have been stopped by Straws arm which Varsho couldn’t get to home from shallow CF.

Raul Mondesi himself isn’t making that play.

If you think Mondesi couldn’t throw a laser from shallow CF, you don’t know Mondesi.

[linery88]

Look at Lauer,smoking them with low 90,s

[Michael Bradley]

Need to get at least two or even three new high leverage relievers in this bullpen for 2026 (along with a returning Garcia), that you do not have to worry about not throwing Strikes and who are wild as hell on the mound. I would say goodbye to guys like Little, Dominguez, Nance, Sandlin, Bruihl, and invest a lot more resources in the bullpen for 2026.

This bullpen is simply not championship material. Need at least two more Starters also, by letting Scherzer, Bassitt and Bieber walk. Ross Atkins and Shapiro could learn a thing or two on how to build a team like Seattle, spending about 90 million less than the Jays.

I have always hated how high our payroll has become.

The payroll being this high is the main reason for the team's success from 2021-25. I'd rather lose in the ALCS with a top 5 payroll than not make the playoffs and have to pass a hat around in spring training in order find enough money to improve. If Shatkins is sticking around, and that seems like a safe bet at this point, then the payroll has to remain this high. It won't be the most efficient run team, but that's really the only way they can possibly build something resembling a sustainable contender.

But with Berrios, Santander, and Gimenez, we are starting to see "unmovable contracts" adding up. None of those 3 are tradeable assets, and they make siginficant money. They need to spend it better moving forward.

[LLJ]

Seattle is just a bad matchup. Also they’re developing a reputation as the Jays kryptonite in the playoffs these past few years. We may well get swept.

[Randle McMurphy]

I knew just watching that slugfest win against Detroit that the Mariners were going to be a handful for the Jays. Granted, I didn't think the Jays would fold this bad but the Mariners are just a more hungry and better constructed team. Credit to their FO for acquiring some power hitting at the trade deadline too.

I think the Jays peaked too early this season so it gave a lot of false hope. Plus, it gave other teams plenty of time to make adjustments and improve their scouting reports. The Jays FO didn't do much and were betting they could just sneak into the wild card and create a bit of excitement. I don't think they even expected to get this far with this roster tbh.

Jays overachieved massively this year given their talent level

Their best hitter was a 35 year old guy coming off two terrible seasons they would have probably released if he had a bad first half

[Mehar]

Need to get at least two or even three new high leverage relievers in this bullpen for 2026 (along with a returning Garcia), that you do not have to worry about not throwing Strikes and who are wild as hell on the mound. I would say goodbye to guys like Little, Dominguez, Nance, Sandlin, Bruihl, and invest a lot more resources in the bullpen for 2026.

This bullpen is simply not championship material. Need at least two more Starters also, by letting Scherzer, Bassitt and Bieber walk. Ross Atkins and Shapiro could learn a thing or two on how to build a team like Seattle, spending about 90 million less than the Jays.

I have always hated how high our payroll has become.

The payroll being this high is the main reason for the team's success from 2021-25. I'd rather lose in the ALCS with a top 5 payroll than not make the playoffs and have to pass a hat around in spring training in order find enough money to improve. If Shatkins is sticking around, and that seems like a safe bet at this point, then the payroll has to remain this high. It won't be the most efficient run team, but that's really the only way they can possibly build something resembling a sustainable contender.

But with Berrios, Santander, and Gimenez, we are starting to see "unmovable contracts" adding up. None of those 3 are tradeable assets, and they make siginficant money. They need to spend it better moving forward.

It is crazy to think in the years ahead, Cal Raleigh will be making less money than Berrios, Santander, and Gimenez. Raleigh signed a 6 year, 105 million extension this Spring (17.5 million average); which is also half of what Vlad is making. Like I said, Atkins can take notes from the Seattle front office on how to spend your resources more efficiently.

[Randle McMurphy]

I have always hated how high our payroll has become.

The payroll being this high is the main reason for the team's success from 2021-25. I'd rather lose in the ALCS with a top 5 payroll than not make the playoffs and have to pass a hat around in spring training in order find enough money to improve. If Shatkins is sticking around, and that seems like a safe bet at this point, then the payroll has to remain this high. It won't be the most efficient run team, but that's really the only way they can possibly build something resembling a sustainable contender.

But with Berrios, Santander, and Gimenez, we are starting to see "unmovable contracts" adding up. None of those 3 are tradeable assets, and they make siginficant money. They need to spend it better moving forward.

It is crazy to think in the years ahead, Cal Raleigh will be making less money than Berrios, Santander and Gimenez. Raleigh signed a 6 year, 105 million extension this Spring (17.5 million average); which is also half of what Vlad is making. Like I said, Atkins can take notes from the Seattle front office on how to spend your resources more efficiently.

Like giving Kirk one of the best and most team friendly contract extensions in baseball

[Mehar]

The payroll being this high is the main reason for the team's success from 2021-25. I'd rather lose in the ALCS with a top 5 payroll than not make the playoffs and have to pass a hat around in spring training in order find enough money to improve. If Shatkins is sticking around, and that seems like a safe bet at this point, then the payroll has to remain this high. It won't be the most efficient run team, but that's really the only way they can possibly build something resembling a sustainable contender.

But with Berrios, Santander, and Gimenez, we are starting to see "unmovable contracts" adding up. None of those 3 are tradeable assets, and they make siginficant money. They need to spend it better moving forward.

It is crazy to think in the years ahead, Cal Raleigh will be making less money than Berrios, Santander and Gimenez. Raleigh signed a 6 year, 105 million extension this Spring (17.5 million average); which is also half of what Vlad is making. Like I said, Atkins can take notes from the Seattle front office on how to spend your resources more efficiently.

Like giving Kirk one of the best and most team friendly contract extensions in baseball

Your hero Kirk is good, but Raleigh is great. That is the difference.