Perez gives up a homer to KATOH. Pentacost with a 3 run shot in the bottom of the 1st 3-1 good guys.

Perez loads the bases with 2 out, but strikes out Katoh on a 3-2 slider.

Harold Ramirez hits his 1st triple of the year. Wall and Bo score. 5-1

Bo's 3-3 so far...off to a nice start in these playoffs...

NH up 7-3 after seven. Hector Perez was wild, Taylor Saucedo provided great relief, 3.2 innings, one hit.

As mentioned Bo is 3-3 and was hit by a pitch. Harold Ramirez is 3-4. Pentecost has a three run home run.

Lansing game just started, the Lugnuts have a 1-0 lead in the second. Ryan Noda singled and scored later when Vinny Capra also singled.

Now Bo and Harold each walk, Bo steals second too.

Bases loaded double for Palacios and this one's on ice.

That would be a triple for Palacios. All 10 runs scored with 2 out.

10-4 win for NH. Its a 2-0 series lead in a best of five.

Spraker gives up a two run home run, Lansing down 2-1 after four.

Middle seven, Lansing down 3-1.

very nice to see Palacios hitting since his promotion. this is a more meaningful level for his age.

Middle of the eighth, three more outs for Lansing to save their season.

Lansing down 4-1 headed to the ninth.

Bowling Green is the third largest city in Kentucky behind Louisville and Lexington.It is the source of all Chevrolet Corvettes built since 1981. ( Yeah, not that interesting. I don't now why I bothered looking it up.)

Most recently Bowling Green became famous because of Kellyanne Conway and the "Bowling Green Massacre" reference, which actually did not happen.

Bichette will likely remain down because he hasn't been to AAA, is OPSing under .800 (just) and could stand to improve his fielding/baserunning.

I'm pretty much the biggest believer in Bo's future, but if he isn't in the bigs in April it won't be due to control tactics. You save that manipulation for the Vladdy's and Kris Bryant's of the world.

Over his last 200 PA (since the ML All Star break), Bichette's line is:

.320/.377/.503 for an .880 OPS.

Hopefully that is an indication of him having figured out AA.

ay I didn't mean to put down Bo in any way. I'm well aware of his trajectory and can't wait to see him at AAA next year.

I just think that he is following a logical development path (in contrast to Vlad who should have been up in July and in AAA about a month into the season). I'm also not anticipating service time manipulation with him.

Bo Bichette had his usual "THUNDER and LIGHTNING" hitting behind him from April 5th until June 6th and again from July 19th until July 27th (VGJ to AAA).

Aril 5th - June 6th: 54 Games, .272 .345 .418, with.
June 7th - July 13th: 30 Games, .262 .291 .444, without.
July 18th - July 27th: 9 Games, .278 .333 .556, with.
July 28th - Sept 3rd: 35 Games, .331 .388 .490, without.


This season was more about Bo Bichette hitting AA Pitching, than it was about missing Vladimir Guerrero Jr. I think he figured out AA Pitching, but I don't know what the Jays want?

I suspect with Bo the Jays are in a deep debate about where to play him.  Odds are he won't stick at SS and with Tulo and Diaz there there is no need for it.  2B is weak with Travis but do you put Bo there or do you put Bo at 3B and move Vlad to 1B or LF?  Lots to debate.  I suspect the Jays defense will be very poor going forward but with an offense that will be fun to watch, so lots of 10-6 games and the like.

"Odds are he won't stick at SS"

Just read this a couple days ago:

The 20-year-old shortstop checked in at #21 overall on our Midseason Top 125 Prospect List. He has made dramatic improvements at shortstop since turning pro and it looks more likely he remains an up-the-middle defender early in his big league career. The offensive upside at a premium position makes Bichette one of baseball’s top prospects.

Thanks hypobole I was going based on what I've read in the past which wasn't so hopeful.  I'd LOVE it if he could stay at short, Vlad at third, etc. without the infield becoming a comedy of errors.

Just need to replace Travis at 2nd. The sooner the better. Next year is time to give Biggio a shot maybe or let Diaz have the spot at least some of the time.

the best chance for plus defense will likely be Bo at 2b and vlad 1b.

unfortunately I think we will try instead to maximize asset value and play them at the more premium positions instead.

Jays have Brandon Drury 3B/LF/2B/RF, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. SS/2B, Troy Tulowitzki SS, Devon Travis 2B, Aledmys Diaz SS/3B and a decision to make on Yangervis Solarte 3B/2B and Richard Urena SS/2B. That's seven Players for just five openings. Adding Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette to the mix now makes it nine Players for the same five openings.

Solarte really isn't a viable defensive option (other than on an emergency basis) at any position other than 3B (and even that is being charitable) and he really shouldn't have his option picked up. I've been a fan of Urena but he hasn't demonstrated an ability to hit (or defend) at a level yet to warrant MLB time yet. I think its actually five players for five positions right now.

I dunno about Drury. I like Diaz. Neither of these guys will play in the outfield. Neither will Gurriel.
I don't expect to see Bichette until September, if at that.
I guess McGuire will start at AAA and will play with Bichette, Biggio, Tellez, Alford, Davis, Urena and the upcoming pitchers.
If they don't trade Maile, Martin will be an infield utility player.
It's crowded everywhere and they might need a large bullpen and a big Buffalo shuttle.

If the Jays aren't contending next year, it's quite possible Bichette gets the same treatment as Guerrero, and is held in the minors until mid-April of 2020.

As of now the position players line up like this for next May for me:

LF: McKinney
CF: Pillar
RF: Girchuk
3B: Vlad
SS: Tulo
2B: Gurriel
1B: Smoak
DH: Morales
C: Jansen

LF/DH: Hernandez
3B/2B: Drury
SS/2B: Diaz
C/3B: Martin

I think the only way Travis makes the team is if Tulo doesn't suit up for the Jays.

Shields's, that is a perfect 2019 line up. Caveats/predictions:

- Morales won't be on the team and that opens a spot for rotating Tulo/Hernandez/Smoak etc

- at least 3 of Hernandez, Biggio, Bichete, Gurriel, Giles, Drury, Travis, Diaz and Smoak will be traded for pitching...Giles, Gurriel, Smoak and Diaz most likely...think a Shawn Newcomb type prospect traded for Andrelton Simmons

- Tellez and Bichete will do better with another year in AAA...only up if we're competing or in Rowdy's case if Smoak is traded

- pitching will come together quickly for a solid base in Reid Foley, Borucki, Paulino, Giles, Sanchez and Stroman...management will build on this with some more short term signings and hopefully a big trade acquisition for MLB controllable pitching to lead the team or one or more AA/AAA calibre pitching prospects...thats why Bichete and Gurriel are included in the list with Bichete going out only for the best SP prospect which is a fat pipe dream

- Tulo will be the most valuable position player on the team or at very least the second, management will do everything in its power to trade him once healthy even though he ends up being a perfect fit

- Jay's continue to draft position players in the 2019 draft

- John McDonald or Mark Derosa is hired as new manager paid at cheapest manager salary in the game

Jays really whiffed at the 2014 draft under AA...they did well with Hoffman who helped get them Tulo but failed with Max Pentacost...choosing time before a plethora of pitchers and even position players like Matt Chapman

*Shoeless

I'd guess that Travis will be better next year than gurriel or drury.

Hard to believe any of those 3 will be *good* next year though.

Here's a question. Let's say Travis was on another team and the Jays were trading a prospect for him. What would be a reasonable deal?

We're probably going to cut Solarte and he's similar to Travis in some ways just more expensive. At a certain point Travis and his controllable contract aren't as appealing as cheaper, younger and possibly better prospects available. I can't see Travis fetching much unless he is packaged with the other names I mentioned. Example: Giles and Travis to a contending team for SP prospect with the acquiring team using Travis as insurance/back up.

I wouldn't trade Max Pentacost or Reese McGuire for Travis if I had a need and he was on another team. I would offer something like a JB Woodman type prospect for him.

If Travis isn't a good defensive 2B anymore, then he's not a big leaguer at this point. He can only play 2B, so he lacks versatility to keep on the roster as a utility player, and his bat has gotten worse every year. He has a 85 wRC+ since the start of 2017 (549 PA). Since the Jays are rebuilding/retooling, they could afford to carry him and see what he has, but once Guerrero comes up, the Jays will likely having better options for 2B (Drury, Gurriel).

max pentacost?

This is the first year Devon has been a negative defensive player by either metric.

It's probably a blip.

Gurriel has measured in as a negative defensive player by both metrics, at both positions, so far.

Drury hasn't been a negative defensive player at most every position, though 2B has been his best - slightly negative by uzr and slightly positive by drs.

In 2018 Travis has been -7 DRS and with a -10.8 UZR/150. I am not sure if that's a blip or a reality post knee and shoulder surgeries.

I don't really like Drury that much, but given that the team just acquired him and the fact he is younger I have to think he will get more chances than Travis. In fact the only way that I see the Travis even making the team is if Tulo can't get helathy enough and the team plays Gurriel more at SS .... I don't think he is a SS but that's what I see the team doing.

Overall I just think Gurriel is better than Travis at this point as a hitter.

Yeah, if anyone should be "working on their defence" in the minors it's Gurriel. But he has shown dramatic overall improvement overall from last year to this and probably has more chance of upside than Drury or Travis. Travis may still have some random reasonably good year in him, but that would probably be due to babip luck.

Trading for Travis now would be a Spanberger type for me.

If you could trade Gurriel + for some good return talent then fine keep Travis until Biggio or Bo come up.

At this point SS is Tulo's to run with with Bo probably going to 3B or 2B and Smith the SS coming up to replace Tulo in 2020.

Travis for sure can still be an asset, but the chances are 50/50 and I wouldn't keep him over Drury or Gurriel...id try to trade whoever the other team wants to maximize the return.

By the 1st week of Jan 2019 most ML trades will have been done. The Jays gave up very little in the past off season to gain plug in parts, depth, in the hope that someone blocked may become good.
I used "plug in parts" as a description of the players acquired last off season. Right now we have many plug in parts on the 40 man roster. I don't count our pitchers as plug in parts.

I don't think that we get anything great for our plug in position players. C Greene, H Perez would be quite decent IMO. Much better if they don't need a 40 man spot. D Leone was a potential set up relief arm. Quite valuable.


Grichuck became good. So far. He was blocked. Maybe Diaz and Solarte. We gave up E Oliveras, C Greene and D Leone that may be considered value players. My opinion.

The 3 Grichuk players involved all required 40 man space. A valuable factor.

You'd have to think that starting pitching will be targeted in trades this year. Borucki has looked good, but then you have the Blister Brothers, Sanchez and Stroman, who are uncertain, plus Reid-Foley and/or Pannone who may or may not crack the roster. Beyond that, do they resign Estrada, or try to get Happ back, or sign a less expensive innings-eater ? I'm not counting on Gaviglio at all.

I think Jay's will be looking at one of two options:

1) sign veteran SP/high end relief or bounce back candidate ala Garcia (read: unlikely to bounce back but worth the risk).

These players include Happ, Wainwright, Shields, Estrada, Britton, Sabathia, Miller, Herrera, Pomeranz, Harvey etc

2) sign or trade for valuable controllable SP/High end relief

These players are essentially Corbin, Eovaldi, Richards, Familia through free agency or trading for whoever the next Gerrit Cole/Verlander may be.

I don't think Shapiro will gamble on a player like Harvey. That's more AA's style.
Dallas Keuchel, Charlie Morton are free agents too, I think.

Michael Kopech, probably the key player in the Chris Sale trade, is down for TJ surgery, while accumulating service time. The White Sox farm system is going to keep looking great for at least another couple of years.

That's the knock about trading for a pitching prospect.

If no decent SP FAs are signed and none traded for we have a cheap rotation of Stroman, Sanchez, Borucki and SRF. Only SRF is an unknown the other 3 give hope that they are capable of being decent. Based on enough history.

There are more cheap candidates Gaviglio and Pannone. I expect some SPs to be added to the 40 man to avoid the rule 5 draft. Not Zeuch, but 3 or P Murphy, Y Diaz, H Perez, J Harris and J Romano. Cheap or non expensive could be a theme like last off season.


This year we used 7 SPs who made 13 starts or more. Garcia and Borucki made 13. So anticipating a need for 7 SPs next year that leaves opportunity for someone to grab and lock up a rotation spot.

Horrible about M Kopech. A potential #1 SP.

Nice ML start for R Tellez. Does anyone not have him in their personal top 30?

I have him in #11-20. Biggio and Tellez one after the other.

If CWS waited until next April to promote Kopech they would have saved 2 years service time. He certainly could have used more time since he didn't dial it in until late into the summer.