ALCS Game #6 - Blue Jays vs. Mariners (Sunday, Oct 19, 8:00PM ET)

[Randle McMurphy]

Varsho took an absolutely massive walk two games ago against a guy who destroys LHBs in a huge spot with the bases loaded, but what has he done for us lately? He needs to learn to direct his 103 MPH batted balls that go 400 feet a little more to the right, let's hope he figures that out tonight.

[Randle McMurphy]

Does Seattle win game 5 if they suddenly moved down (or even worse, benched) Suarez because he struck out a lot in the first four games?

Questions to ponder over the next hour.

[pingpongrac]

Due for a big hit? Was his hit and run scored last night in an elimination game not big enough for you?

Criticize him all you want for playing a bad half week of games but drawing any sort of real conclusions based on that (or even worse, making lineup decisions based on that) would be idiocy far worse than even this FO is capable of.

No, one lead-off single to the outfield in the last 3 games is not enough from our supposed top 3 hitter when we are without Bo. If we wanted more singles, we could just put Clement there (see what I did there?) and he would deliver far more frequently. Not to mention he wouldn’t be striking out in nearly every crucial AB.

When the high point of Varsho’s ABs lately is swinging at balls in the dirt two feet in front of the plate that we’ve managed to score on because of just how terrible the pitch was that Raleigh couldn’t even block it, that’s a problem. He has been terrible for the majority of this series and he needs to produce. Sooner or later guys like Arozarena and Rodriguez are going to wake up from their slumps and we need the guys behind Vladdy to be a threat or we’re basically relying on Clement, IKF and Gimenez to do all of the work on the offensive end.

You do realize that Varsho remains one of the best power threats on the team regardless of whether he struck out a few times this week, right?

If he pulled the ball he hit 400 feet last night even slightly, I suppose he'd still be a good hitter. But because he didn't, I suppose all is lost.

If, if, if…that’s all we can go off of for Varsho over the past 10 days. All of his struggles will be forgotten if he delivers a big hit or two (just like in G3), but the reality is he hasn’t produced near as much as one would hope for considering where he’s batting in the order as well as all of the opportunities he has had with men on base.

[Randle McMurphy]

No, one lead-off single to the outfield in the last 3 games is not enough from our supposed top 3 hitter when we are without Bo. If we wanted more singles, we could just put Clement there (see what I did there?) and he would deliver far more frequently. Not to mention he wouldn’t be striking out in nearly every crucial AB.

When the high point of Varsho’s ABs lately is swinging at balls in the dirt two feet in front of the plate that we’ve managed to score on because of just how terrible the pitch was that Raleigh couldn’t even block it, that’s a problem. He has been terrible for the majority of this series and he needs to produce. Sooner or later guys like Arozarena and Rodriguez are going to wake up from their slumps and we need the guys behind Vladdy to be a threat or we’re basically relying on Clement, IKF and Gimenez to do all of the work on the offensive end.

You do realize that Varsho remains one of the best power threats on the team regardless of whether he struck out a few times this week, right?

If he pulled the ball he hit 400 feet last night even slightly, I suppose he'd still be a good hitter. But because he didn't, I suppose all is lost.

If, if, if…that’s all we can go off of for Varsho over the past 10 days. All of his struggles will be forgotten if he delivers a big hit or two (just like in G3), but the reality is he hasn’t produced near as much as one would hope for considering where he’s batting in the order as well as all of the opportunities he has had with men on base.

Sometimes process matters over results

Jumping to conclusions based on half week samples might be one of those times I fear

[pingpongrac]

You do realize that Varsho remains one of the best power threats on the team regardless of whether he struck out a few times this week, right?

If he pulled the ball he hit 400 feet last night even slightly, I suppose he'd still be a good hitter. But because he didn't, I suppose all is lost.

If, if, if…that’s all we can go off of for Varsho over the past 10 days. All of his struggles will be forgotten if he delivers a big hit or two (just like in G3), but the reality is he hasn’t produced near as much as one would hope for considering where he’s batting in the order as well as all of the opportunities he has had with men on base.

Sometimes process matters over results

Jumping to conclusions based on half week samples might be one of those times I fear

Process matters over results over the course of the 162-game season; however, results matter more than the process in the postseason when every AB is important. You can only wait for a big hit for so long and eventually you need production from a guy like Varsho in the middle of the order or your season might come to an end.

[Randle McMurphy]

If, if, if…that’s all we can go off of for Varsho over the past 10 days. All of his struggles will be forgotten if he delivers a big hit or two (just like in G3), but the reality is he hasn’t produced near as much as one would hope for considering where he’s batting in the order as well as all of the opportunities he has had with men on base.

Sometimes process matters over results

Jumping to conclusions based on half week samples might be one of those times I fear

Process matters over results over the course of the 162-game season; however, results matter more than the process in the postseason when every AB is important. You can only wait for a big hit for so long and eventually you need production from a guy like Varsho in the middle of the order or your season might come to an end.

Process might matter a bit when said batter hit two balls at 103 MPH yesterday off elite pitching

It’s a tough call though, do we want more ABs for IKF or more ABs for the team’s top HR threat?

[pingpongrac]

Sometimes process matters over results

Jumping to conclusions based on half week samples might be one of those times I fear

Process matters over results over the course of the 162-game season; however, results matter more than the process in the postseason when every AB is important. You can only wait for a big hit for so long and eventually you need production from a guy like Varsho in the middle of the order or your season might come to an end.

Process might matter a bit when said batter hit two balls at 103 MPH yesterday off elite pitching

It’s a tough call though, do we want more ABs for IKF or more ABs for the team’s top HR threat?

The discussion has never been IKF > Varsho. It has been Clement (or even Barger, who is riding a 4-game hit streak and has 2 HR + a 2B over the same span) moving up in the order while Varsho slides back to 6th or 7th.

[PowerPlant1]

Varsho hasn't been great in this series but the occasional power is still welcome. Barger has actually been a better version of Varsho. Meaning Barger has had more frequent power/hits.

Nonetheless, I'd bat Varsho 6th. Clement can get on and Varsho occasionally drive him in.

I won't forget that Varsho's HR was the one that got the Jays out of that horrid slump. He's capable of turning it on any time.

Guy I'm actually worried about is Springer because of the injury. He just played yesterday and he's batting leadoff in the most important game to date of the current version of the team. I know sentimentality counts for something. He's been an integral Blue Jay and turned it around this year and no way the Jays are here without him, but this is about winning not sentimentality.

[Randle McMurphy]

Process matters over results over the course of the 162-game season; however, results matter more than the process in the postseason when every AB is important. You can only wait for a big hit for so long and eventually you need production from a guy like Varsho in the middle of the order or your season might come to an end.

Process might matter a bit when said batter hit two balls at 103 MPH yesterday off elite pitching

It’s a tough call though, do we want more ABs for IKF or more ABs for the team’s top HR threat?

The discussion has never been IKF > Varsho. It has been Clement (or even Barger, who is riding a 4-game hit streak and has 2 HR + a 2B over the same span) moving up in the order while Varsho slides back to 6th or 7th.

No, I think we should bench him

Those three bad games after a season of massive success are just unacceptable

[pingpongrac]

Process might matter a bit when said batter hit two balls at 103 MPH yesterday off elite pitching

It’s a tough call though, do we want more ABs for IKF or more ABs for the team’s top HR threat?

The discussion has never been IKF > Varsho. It has been Clement (or even Barger, who is riding a 4-game hit streak and has 2 HR + a 2B over the same span) moving up in the order while Varsho slides back to 6th or 7th.

No, I think we should bench him

Those three bad games after a season of massive success are just unacceptable

Yep. Because that’s what people are saying. Bench him entirely rather than just move him a spot or two down in the order while he’s slumping hard and we’re squandering numerous opportunities to tack on extra runs.

[Randle McMurphy]

The discussion has never been IKF > Varsho. It has been Clement (or even Barger, who is riding a 4-game hit streak and has 2 HR + a 2B over the same span) moving up in the order while Varsho slides back to 6th or 7th.

No, I think we should bench him

Those three bad games after a season of massive success are just unacceptable

Yep. Because that’s what people are saying. Bench him entirely rather than just move him a spot or two down in the order while he’s slumping hard and we’re squandering numerous opportunities to tack on extra runs.

RBI single in the first inning

Funny how baseball works isn’t it