Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Red Sox at Toronto 18-20 April

Nowhere to go but up, right?

Only one team in the majors has hit fewer homers than the 2017 Blue Jays, and those would be the same group visiting the RC tonight. While the Jays have hit just 7 long balls in 2017, it's still one more than the Red Sox have managed. But the Red Sox lead the league in BAVG and OBP and have managed to keep their run scoring a little above the league average. The Jays... not so much.

There have been roster moves. Matt Dermody was optioned to Buffalo yesterday, and Danny Barnes was summoned today to take his spot on the roster. Also today, J.A. Happ went on the 10-day DL (I haven't quite learned to wrap that phrase around my tongue) and Ty Kelly has been summoned from Buffalo in his stead. And the Red Sox have placed Eduardo Rodriguez, who was scheduled to start tonight's opener, on the paternity list. They've summoned 26 year old southpaw Brian Johnson to replace him, and there must be an appropriate joke about the difficulty of replacing Bon Scott as opposed to replacing Eduardo Rodriguez. Suggestions are welcome. This will be Johnson's second ML appearance - he took a ND in his debut last July.

Matchups!

Tue 18 Apr Johnson (---) vs Stroman (1-1, 1.76), 7:07 PM
Wed 19 Apr Porcello (1-1, 7.56) vs Liriano (0-1, 9.00) 7:07 PM
Thu 20 Apr Sale (1-1, 1.25) vs Estrada (0-1, 3.50) 12:37 PM

Like the song says... now would be a good time.

Posted by Magpie on Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 03:49 PM EDT.

Red Sox at Toronto 18-20 April | 78 comments | Create New Account

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China fan - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 04:32 PM EDT (#340842) #

I've been staring at the Jays lineup, mystified, trying to understand how they managed to pull off this miracle: a 5-man bench AND an 8-man bullpen. Finally realized the answer: a 3-man rotation.

And thanks for the excellent AC-DC humour, Magpie.

Mike Green - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 04:53 PM EDT (#340843) #

Gibbons said that Happ's MR scan "looked pretty good". Whatever.

He's giving Pillar another chance at the leadoff role, after the 3-2 take of a fastball down the middle on Sunday. What was that Don Henley song about forgiveness? The Heart of the Plate? The Heart of the Lineup? One of those.

Gerry - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 04:57 PM EDT (#340844) #

Casey Lawrence is the Bisons starter tonight so he won't be starting on Friday or Saturday for the Jays.

Cracka - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 04:58 PM EDT (#340845) #

Pillar walked in his second at bat of the season and hasn't walked again since -- he hasn't even gotten to 3 balls many times since and is currently in the bottom quartile of all hitters in pitches/AB (3.5)... so much for his much heralded newfound patience at the plate (unless you count the aforementioned 3-2 fastball down the middle as being patient!)

Magpie - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 05:11 PM EDT (#340846) #

the excellent AC-DC humour

Well, when you're on the highway to hell...

You threw that one right down the middle of the plate. Had to take a swing.

scottt - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 05:29 PM EDT (#340847) #

Well, if not Lawrence, they'll have to clear 2 spots off the 40 roster.

China fan - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 05:32 PM EDT (#340848) #

"....when you're on the highway to hell..."

If the Jays keep playing as if they've been Thunderstruck, they'll definitely be facing Hells Bells.

PeterG - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 05:33 PM EDT (#340849) #

I doubt that 2 guys are brought up and added to the 40 as 2 would need to be removed. Best guess is that Biagini gets one of the starts. The most deserving addition would be House imo. If a player is dropped from 40, Ceciliani is a strong candidate. I can also see Pompey going on 60 day DL retroactively.

PeterG - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#340850) #

It is also possible that Lawrence could have an abbreviated start tonight (say 3 innings) and still pitch on Saturday.

bpoz - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 06:34 PM EDT (#340851) #

I like your thinking PeterG. Pompey to the 60 day DL, retroactive.
A short start, pitch count for C Lawrence.
Latos may have an agreement about being called up soon.

China fan - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 06:51 PM EDT (#340852) #

PeterG, your theory seems correct. The Bisons lifted Lawrence after just two innings tonight. There's no indication of a health issue. It does strongly suggest that he could get the Jays start on Saturday.

Gerry - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 07:34 PM EDT (#340856) #

Yep, good call PeterG.

China fan - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 07:55 PM EDT (#340857) #

Kevin Pillar is trying to silence all the doubters tonight. Two doubles already. But he's not exactly facing the best pitcher in the league.

Petey Baseball - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 08:05 PM EDT (#340858) #

Batted ball lack just awful for the Jays right now.

Magpie - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 08:22 PM EDT (#340859) #

Based on that last inning, I've figured out how to read Martin's signs when there's a runner on second. (When he puts down three fingers, it means the next sign is the real one.) I wonder if they do something different the next time. I mean, if I could figure it out...

They didn't discuss that on the broadcast, did they? I'm streaming the baseball on my computer with the sound off, while the Raptors play on the big screen....

dan gordon - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 08:59 PM EDT (#340861) #

I noticed something interesting about the Sox starter, Johnson. Every time a Jay would swing at a pitch he would cringe and put his glove up in front of his face. I've never seen a pitcher do that. Then, last inning, Buck mentioned that a few years ago he was hit by a line drive in the face and suffered several fractures. Then, 2 starts ago, he was hit in the back of the head by a line drive, so there's the explanation. By the bottom of the 4th, he wasn't doing it nearly as noticeably, so maybe somebody mentioned it to him.

BlueJayWay - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 11:05 PM EDT (#340862) #

Yep. That happened.

SK in NJ - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 11:15 PM EDT (#340863) #

The Jays are 2-11 and the highest OPS's on the team aside from Donaldson belong to Justin Smoak, Darwin Barney, Kevin Pillar, and Ezequiel Carrera in that order.

I'm pretty sure this is what the baseball version of hell looks like.

BlueJayWay - Tuesday, April 18 2017 @ 11:32 PM EDT (#340864) #

Jays have already lost 5 games this year when giving up 3 runs or fewer. Also, the two games they've scored the most runs (8 and 7) they managed to lose as well.

ISLAND BOY - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 06:15 AM EDT (#340865) #

It could be a loooong summer.

85bluejay - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 07:29 AM EDT (#340866) #

It already is a LOOOONG summer. Hope they play a lot of Justin Smoak and if he produces, somebody take that contract for next year - The FO need to starting refining their rebuild plan. following the farm will be my salvation & hopefully the Leafs & Raptors make long runs.

SK in NJ - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 08:22 AM EDT (#340867) #

Between the performance and the injuries, this seems like one of those years where the bottom will fall out, if it hasn't already. If they won't be making the playoffs, then I hope they are bad enough to force ownership/management to take a step back to build towards future seasons. The trade deadline might be our only source of entertainment this summer from the baseball season.

Mike Green - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 09:18 AM EDT (#340868) #

Fangraphs has the Blue Jays' chance of making the playoffs at between 15% (projection mode) and 17% (season-to-date stats mode).

I'd be happy to see Carrera instead of Pearce in left-field. In Pearce's career, he's hit quite a bit better as a first baseman than as an outfielder, and now that he is 33, it's more likely that it will be a problem.

China fan - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 09:27 AM EDT (#340869) #

"....the highest OPS's on the team aside from Donaldson belong to Justin Smoak, Darwin Barney, Kevin Pillar, and Ezequiel Carrera in that order...."

And the lowest (among regulars) belong to Travis, Pearce and Bautista. Exactly as we predicted! Nothing like baseball to make nonsense of our assumptions.

China fan - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 09:33 AM EDT (#340870) #

"....Hope they play a lot of Justin Smoak and if he produces, somebody take that contract for next year..."

If he continues producing at anything like his current rate, he's easily worth the $4-million for next season. Even if he's just a platoon player to share time with Tellez.

And let's look at the hypothetical scenario that his current .857 OPS is not just a small-sample mirage but is actually an indicator of what he can do in 2017 and 2018. In that case, the Jays have a team option for $6-million for 2019 which would actually be good value, even if he's platooning.

Imagine that: Smoak's contract may have been a good bargain after all. Baseball again could be making nonsense of our assumptions.

scottt - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 09:44 AM EDT (#340872) #

Every year I repeat the same thing. That the only stats that matters in April are the wins and the losses.
Many players go through those long slow starts and many other seemingly play beyond their ability for weeks on ends. And every year the Jays find ways to lose more than their share of games.

The experiment of slowly easing the aging players into spring training might not be a model for future years.
Meanwhile Smith had another homerun and the Bisons are 8-3.
Tellez, however, has dropped to .184.

Mike Green - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 09:55 AM EDT (#340873) #

Pretty soon, Dwight Smith Jr. is going to get a look. He's 24, left-handed, runs reasonably well, has some pop and some control of the strike zone. If he can hit .265/.330/.400 in a platoon role, he has significant value to the club.

China fan - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 10:33 AM EDT (#340874) #

"....The experiment of slowly easing the aging players into spring training might not be a model for future years...."

Except that some of the aging players are doing very well in April. Others are not. And some of the young players are doing very poorly in April. Moreover, this spring was a very protracted 6 weeks, because of the WBC, so it made perfect sense that the regular players should be "eased in" rather than given a heavy workload for the entire spring. On the other hand, players like Bautista and Stroman had a much heavier workload -- at a high competitive level -- because of the WBC, and they certainly weren't "eased into" the regular season, yet that workload hasn't helped them at all.

You're right to be skeptical of generalizations about players from small samples. But I think the "April" and "spring training" generalizations are also in the category of small samples.

Mike Green - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 10:53 AM EDT (#340875) #

Stroman has pitched well overall. He's one of the few bright spots.

Mike Green - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 11:17 AM EDT (#340876) #

Eric Thames now has a pretty good career major league line, without any accounting for any improvement in Korea and in the first few weeks of the year. I had forgotten about the power he displayed in Toronto in 2011. ZIPS has him at .259/.332/.529 for the rest of the year, and Steamer's figures are ..276/.352/.522. His projection as a hitter is basically comparable in value to Jose Bautista, with less OBP and more slugging.

AWeb - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 11:52 AM EDT (#340880) #

If this season were a video game campaign, you'd hit the restart button and try again. I thought I was being maybe pessimistic pre-season with a 79 win prediction...but this lineup has been laughably bad so far. 79 wins would actually be a decent comeback at this point.

fangraphs has a great split tool that lets you look up weekly/monthly splits for entire careers. Filtering on weeks with at least 20 PA, Bautista just posted weeks with WRC+ at 42 and 23, which while not unheard of for him a few times a year, are his worst consecutive weeks since June 2010, and before that when he played in Pittsburgh in 2008. June 2010 was also the last time he went two weeks (as defined by this splits tool) without a HR.

On the "positive if you want to squint really hard at it and take a large drink" side, Bautista hasn't had a month below 73 WRC+ since August 2009, which was of course the month before his breakout. So maybe he'll snap out of it and become a premier hitter for 7 more years, just like last time!

Bautista isn't the only lineup problem of course, and even if he's "done" he'll be better than this. Any time now....yessir, any day....

Nigel - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 12:41 PM EDT (#340883) #

Watching the game last night, Zaun was discussing the two out hit to Moreland between innings. His complaint was that with two strikes they should have taken the shift off. Normally I don't listen to much Zaun has to say. However, I had some sympathy with his point as the whole AB mystified me from the shift perspective. Other than one pitch which was low and sort of middle-in, the rest of the pitches were low and away (very away in most cases). They seemed to be begging him to go the other way and against their shift and he complied. Maybe there is something I don't understand with Moreland in particular, but in my view that pitch sequence got what it deserved. What I am not sure of is whether the catcher, pitcher or dugout (shift decision) should get the blame for that.

Richard S.S. - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 01:23 PM EDT (#340885) #

It's alway been very simple, pitch so the batter should hit into the shift or don't shift. Did someone forget that? What's happening with Marcus Stroman, he's better than this? Or is he overthinking his pitches? He's a number 1 or a number 2 Starter on most Teams. He just doesn't always pitch like he is.

Mike Green - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 03:47 PM EDT (#340886) #

Carrera gets the start in left-field. Pearce sits.

mathesond - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 04:32 PM EDT (#340888) #

On the bright side, I am going to the game tonight, and also tomorrow's (although that will be with the office)

jerjapan - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 07:22 PM EDT (#340890) #

Nice night to go mathesond!

Joel Sherman is reporting that it's Casey Lawrence and Matt Latos this weekend - which makes perfect sense from an asset-management perspective - we only need one spot on the 40 man (Cecilliani? Dermody?) - and we get to see if Latos has anything left in the tank before he opts out. The Angels have a righty-heavy lineup, so this seems like a good pair of baseball moves as well.

And MLB trade rumours is reporting that Angel Pagan is sitting the year out ... so no hope coming on that front.

John Northey - Wednesday, April 19 2017 @ 11:53 PM EDT (#340892) #

A miracle has occurred. The Jays won! The other team had a few errors leading to the 3 runs (0 earned) while the Jays lone error didn't lead to the pitcher falling apart. Liriano looked like the guy who got that big deal a few years ago again. Liriano pulled quickly though after just 5 1/3 shutout innings but with Biagini, Grilli, and Osuna that is all that was needed. Pillar really settling into that leadoff hole with a 3 for 4 day.

scottt - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 05:55 AM EDT (#340893) #

There's a few things with the shift. If you pitch outside, you're helping the hitter beat the shift if he wants to. Guys like Bautista will still try to pull outside pitches. Most guys will be happy to get a hit. With 2 strikes, many hitters will choke on the bat and just try to make contact, that's why you see teams like Baltimore taking the shift off after 2 strikes. Stroman by far lives in the bottom of the zone, so if he throws everything outside that's just one quadrant, so it's relatively easy to put the ball in play. We've seen this many times last year, especially in the first half, hitters going the other way against an outside pitch with Stroman on the mound and the infield shifted. Would be nice to have someone ask Martin directly why they are doing this.

Good game last night. The slumping guys are still slumping though.

bpoz - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 09:15 AM EDT (#340894) #

Correct scottt. The luck was on our side. The offense was 1 guy, Pillar. The pitching was very good as usual.

rpriske - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 10:07 AM EDT (#340898) #

They didn't play well, but they played better than the Sox did.

That counts.

uglyone - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 10:43 AM EDT (#340899) #

in the end this might be a good thing, as long as they get healthy the rest of the way.

huge hole to dig out of and they might be sunk but if they get out of it, in the end it's better this kind of slump happens in April than in September like it did last year.

but it'll take a lot of mental fortitude to grind all the way back.

eudaimon - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 11:52 AM EDT (#340900) #

Winning is nice.

Good game pitching last night. Outside of that first game Liriano looks like a pretty good #5 starter. Our rotation should be good, as long as Happ and Sanchez are okay of course.

Our offense still sucks though it's not as pathetic as it looked not long ago. The main issue is that there are three huge black holes in our lineup - Bautista, Martin, Travis. When I see these guys come to bat I expect them to look totally lost and probably strike out. They're all batting .100 for the year, and as long as they're slumping like this it will be hard to score runs.

It's not like the other guys are hot either. Morales has gotten a pass lately because he's been less bad than some of the others, but a sub .700 OPS from a 1B/DH isn't very impressive. Same with Tulo, though subjectively I feel like he's seeing the ball okay.

Pillar is suddenly super hot which is good. Barney is also contributing, perhaps showing that after years of offensive incompetency he is ready to hit at around an average level. He seems to hit to the right spots, which is maybe luck but quite possibly a skill as well. Smoak has been good, and has looked better than expected.

Anyways... it's actually been sort of fun to watch the team these last few games. Hopefully it holds up.

Mike Green - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 12:05 PM EDT (#340901) #

Martin is in a different boat than Bautista . He's been hitting the ball quite hard actually, striking out a little more than usual, but has been saddled with a horrific line thanks to a .136 BABIP and a very low HR/FB rate. He's just missed a homer a couple of times at least.

Jose Bautista has hit very few balls hard. Most of the time when a pitcher misses his spot down the middle, Jose is either swinging and missing or (more often) fouling it straight back. He's also making a lot less contact on pitches in the zone than typical. That isn't luck, but simply a slump.

Travis is in the middle. He has hit some balls hard but not quite as often as the last two years, and has a pretty good line-drive percentage, but has a horrific .118 BABIP. (without having popped up once). The best thing Gibbons can do with him is just let him play.

Nigel - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 01:17 PM EDT (#340903) #

Today is a day when the team should have Upton (or an equivalent) in the line up. Estrada, a fly ball pitcher, and Sale pitching. They end up with a poorer team offensively and defensively with Pearce in LF and Smoak at 1B (having to bat RH).

Mike Green - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 01:29 PM EDT (#340904) #

Carrera hits lefties well, and with Sandoval at third and Sale not particularly good at fielding bunts, he would be a good choice for the situation. Gibbons is choosing to go with the hot hand, Smoak, at first base, and the cool hand with the formal platoon advantage, Pearce, in left-field. I wouldn't (Carrera in left and Pearce at first would be my choice).

lexomatic - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 01:30 PM EDT (#340905) #

I don't know how accurate game day is. But Estrada us not getting any borderline calls
Sale's strike % is unheard of 90 % though 3. So many K. No wonder the jays are swinging. I wish there were more fouls though.

Nigel - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 01:42 PM EDT (#340906) #

Mike, given the assets on hand I agree completely.

Mike Green - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 02:00 PM EDT (#340907) #

Fine at-bat from Travis, although it ended in a flyout. That's the player we are used to.

Gerry - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 02:40 PM EDT (#340908) #

Biagini has been fantastic this year but I am worried about his work load.

In 2016 Biagini appeared in 60 games and pitched 67 innings.

In 2017 Biagini has appeared in 9 games and pitched 12 innings.

He is on pace for 97 appearances and 130 innings.

Gibbons, like many managers, could use Biagini so much he breaks down.

Mike Green - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 02:51 PM EDT (#340909) #

Sale has been tough, but a golden sombrero for Bautista is a clear sign to give him a day off.

lexomatic - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:11 PM EDT (#340910) #

I'm in shock from the review. Craziest play I've seen. Oh wait scoreboard temporarily erased run. Not as crazy. Morales!
Sale is the filthiest pitcher I've ever seen.

hypobole - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:24 PM EDT (#340911) #

Sorry to say this, but Bautista is looking less slumping and more washed up.

James W - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#340912) #

On the first replay shown, it was blatantly obvious that Bogaerts was out. The only possible shock was that it took so long to review it.

eudaimon - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:31 PM EDT (#340913) #

I don't think Bautista is washed up. Even if he were washed up he'd hit better than this. And he sure didn't look washed up in the preseason.

I'm not sure why, but watching Grilli reminds me of former Expos "closer" Rocky Biddle. Perhaps it's terror that arises in my heart when I watch them pitch. I do think the Grilli is better than Biddle, but you never really know what you're going to get when he takes the mound.

Four Seamer - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#340914) #

Tremendous work today from the high leverage relievers. I guess they were rusty.

eudaimon - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:34 PM EDT (#340915) #

That was very Biddleian.

Nigel - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#340916) #

Outside of Osuna, the high leverage relievers were always going to be an issue this season. Other than LF and 1B it's the weakest part of the club (on paper). The pen in general has been ok but this isn't the first time the pen has failed in high leverage situations.

lexomatic - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:42 PM EDT (#340917) #

HmmYou obviously didn't read James. Clarified scoreboard error. shock was related to possible zero runs scored. Which was changed while typing on my phone. Don't be so insulting.

#2JBrumfield - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#340918) #

Coghlan's law - bury the dead, they stink up the joint. Hot take incoming!!!

The election desk has called it - this year's over. 18 K's, one walk. Someone's going to have to wear this. I don't think Brook Jacoby is long for this club.

christaylor - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:53 PM EDT (#340919) #

Hm. Did Da Box curse this team by not adding the 2016 ALDS pennant to the banner?

James W - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#340920) #

Sorry if you thought it was insulting. I was just reacting to what you wrote, calling it the craziest play you've ever seen. I really was just taking a shot at the MLB review office, because I assumed the delay was in figuring out a way to screw over Toronto, but they just couldn't because it was too obvious.

christaylor - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 04:01 PM EDT (#340921) #

Given that this feels like the season from hell already may I suggest a return to this:

Cracka - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 04:16 PM EDT (#340922) #

Bautista saw 19 pitches today:
- 7 out of strike zone; he swung & missed at 2 of them.
- 12 in strike zone; 6 were called strikes, 4 were fouls, and swung & missed at 2 of them.

Last year he made contact on ~90% of swings in zone. This year it has dropped to ~75%. Today was 50%. His approach seems similar - he's swinging at roughly the same % of pitches (despite 6 called strikes today), but the contact is significantly less frequent. It's concerning and definitely a warning sign of getting "washed up".

Mike Green - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 04:30 PM EDT (#340923) #

Andrew Willis, a business writer at the Globe, says that Rogers should sell the Jays. It may be that they are considering it, which could explain the lack of activity re long-term free agent contracts or extensions.

Willis says that the franchise's valuation isn't affected by the early season struggles. Maybe not, but it won't take long. The ratings will fall if this continues.

Nigel - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 04:47 PM EDT (#340924) #

That would be one tough transaction to pull off. In addition to the normal complications of a sale you would have to negotiate a TV deal that paid the buyers what the rights are actually worth (significantly in excess of what the Jays get now). Given the value of the TV rights its hard to imagine that the buyers wouldn't want to hold an auction involving third parties (TSN) for those rights. Its all doable in the abstract, but it would be incredibly hard to pull off.

PeterG - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 04:49 PM EDT (#340925) #

Maybe MLSE wants to own the Jays as well. There have been rumours that the stadium name will soon revert back to Skydome instead of rogers Center. Interesting?

Mike Green - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 05:05 PM EDT (#340926) #

Nigel, Willis points out that Cablevision divested themselves of the Rangers but I don't know whether the interplay between the cable/sports ends of Cablevision's business was similar to the interplay for Rogers.

John Northey - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#340927) #

Very interesting. If they change the stadium name that would be a big sign of Rogers getting ready to sell. Merging the Jays with the Leafs and Raptors makes a ton of sense - cross promotion and ensuring revenues year round for MLSE. Things could be a whole lot worse.

I remember the Interbrew era and the Ballard era for the Leafs (an owner who loved seeing himself on the front pages who didn't care how the team did as long as he made a big profit and got as much fame as he could out of it). Ugh...

BlueJayWay - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 05:52 PM EDT (#340929) #

Can't access that G&M video since I don't subscribe...was it just his personal opinion that Rogers should sell, or does he have sources indicates Rogers actually wants to?

BlueJayWay - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 05:54 PM EDT (#340930) #

Regarding the Skydome name change, wasn't that just Zaun making an April Fool's joke?

Mike Green - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 07:14 PM EDT (#340933) #

It was just Willis' opinion.

SK in NJ - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 10:08 PM EDT (#340934) #

At age 36, I think Bautista's decline is real. He may not be this bad all season (what an awful way to end his tenure in Toronto), but this seems like an exaggerated yet realistic decline for a player with his skills. Still draws walks, and he'll probably hit some dingers eventually, but his contact rates/BA will go down, his K's will increase, and his overall production will plummet. That seems to be what we are seeing with him, unfortunately. At least the contract is only for one year. In hindsight, that extra draft pick would have been nice, but even the projections had Bautista with a ~3 WAR, so just bad luck for the team.

greenfrog - Thursday, April 20 2017 @ 11:01 PM EDT (#340935) #

Imagine what the Jays' future would look like if they'd given Price and Bautista $217m and $75-100m contracts two off-seasons ago (a course of action that some were recommending as a means of extending the Jays' window of contention).

On the other hand, Eric Thames, wow - that looks like a great value signing by the Brewers.

electric carrot - Friday, April 21 2017 @ 12:10 PM EDT (#340949) #

Remind me to never go on 5 month camping trip with anyone on this site. If I start limping after a couple of weeks I'm going to wake up in the morning one day covered in six feet of earth.

China fan - Friday, April 21 2017 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#340962) #

"....If I start limping after a couple of weeks I'm going to wake up in the morning one day covered in six feet of earth....."

But your fellow campers are convinced that a new, superior Electric Carrot will emerge from the grave, fully rebuilt and stronger than ever, after just 3 or 4 years of patiently tending the grave with the fertilizer of draft choices and prospects!

Magpie - Friday, April 21 2017 @ 03:00 PM EDT (#340965) #

Is this a good time to mention that Terry Francona's last Boston team also got off to a rousing 2-10 start? Took them until the end of May to make it to the top of the division. (That story did not have a happy ending, but they did go into September with a comfortable lead.)

eudaimon - Friday, April 21 2017 @ 03:15 PM EDT (#340967) #

It's a good time for that. Also, I don't buy in to the "we have to have (x) winning percentage through (x) amount of time to get (x) amount of wins narrative. It's baseball, teams and players constantly have stretches where they exceed or underperform expectations, logic, odds, and so on. It's still too early to say that the team, or various players are "done," though if JD could return ASAP that would be nice.

PeterG - Friday, April 21 2017 @ 07:08 PM EDT (#340976) #

Ty Kelly DFA.

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