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Game Threads Red Sox @ Blue Jays - May 20-23
The Red Sox are in town for four. #LetsGoBlueJays.

Series Schedule / Probable Starters

Monday at 1:07 pm pm ET - David Price vs. Edwin Jackson
Tuesday at 7:07 pm ET - Eduardo Rodriguez vs. Marcus Stroman
Wednesday at 7:07 pm ET - TBA vs. TBA
Thursday at 12:37 pm ET - Rick Porcello vs. TBA

Eric Sogard was in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener but is out with a sore thumb. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not playing either as he gets a scheduled day off so that's a great reason to stay at home and not have to battle the holiday traffic and obnoxious Red Sox fans.

Boston is 24-22, 4-1/2 games back in the AL East. Toronto is 19-27 after splitting a four-game set against the Chicago White Sox to cap a 3-3 road trip.

The Jays signed lefty reliever Buddy Boshers to a minor league deal.
Posted by #2JBrumfield on Monday, May 20 2019 @ 11:42 AM EDT.
Red Sox @ Blue Jays - May 20-23 | 126 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
uglyone - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 11:54 AM EDT (#374287) #
One thing the 20yr old needs is definitely more rest and less physical activity.

Holiday crowd should enjoy seeing him sit in the dugout.
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BlueJayWay - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 12:44 PM EDT (#374288) #
Giving Vlad a scheduled day off today, of all days, is just dumb. Just hoping Canada Day isn't another one.
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Nigel - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 01:20 PM EDT (#374289) #
Would you really want Vlad on the field with this defensive mess?
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ayjackson - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#374290) #
"The truth is that when (if?) #Bluejays start winning, this place will be packed and no one will remember that Vlad, Jr. didn't play on Victoria Day, 2019.

But the truth also is sitting him today is a pretty big slap in the face to the few who are showing up this year. #ToneDeaf"

Above is a Wilner tweet. Never seen him call iut mgt like this before.
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Shoeless Joe - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#374291) #
The Cubs are apparently interested in Ken Giles, their farm system is generally weak outside of Nico Hoerner.
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#2JBrumfield - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 01:47 PM EDT (#374292) #
Shulman says the roof won’t be opened during the homestead because it’s not ready yet. With the warmer temps this week, that’s really going to suck.
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Cracka - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 03:05 PM EDT (#374294) #
Javy Guerra claimed by Washington. Too bad, he was a useful "41st man" that was willing to be added and dropped from the 40-man roster as opportunities presented. But no big deal in the grand scheme of things... and an opportunity for someone else (Jimmy Cordero?).
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christaylor - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 03:46 PM EDT (#374295) #
Hand wringing over a day off? Yikes how many times do you folks suspect he'll ever pay 162 in a season? Who knows what little aches he is dealing with? Who cares if it is Victoria Day or Canada Day? It is this kind of thinking that gives Canadian baseball fans a bit of a bad reputation. That and "back catcher".
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grjas - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#374296) #
It is this kind of thinking that gives Canadian baseball fans a bit of a bad reputation.

What on earth are you talking about? You think if he played for a Us team and they sat him on Memorial Day that some fans wouldn’t be annoyed. Come on.
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uglyone - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#374297) #
"Hand wringing over a day off?"

well they had one less viewer today, at least.
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hypobole - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 04:13 PM EDT (#374298) #
You didn't miss much. The way the team played, Vlad could have homered every time up and the Jays still wouldn't have been close to winning.
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greenfrog - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 04:32 PM EDT (#374299) #
I see Grichuk was 0/4 with three strikeouts today. Now hitting .237/.297/.418 (91 wrc+) with around 0.2 or 0.3 WAR in late May.

I’m still scratching my head over why the Jays awarded him that five-year extension, but maybe I just don’t properly understand advanced analytics.
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John Northey - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 04:53 PM EDT (#374300) #
Grichuk should be OK - last year he started far slower and got much better. He should be a solid 2 WAR player over a season with a shot at 4-5 in a good season.
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PeterG - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#374301) #
According to Baseball Reference, Grichuk has 0.7 WAR.
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Shoeless Joe - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 05:47 PM EDT (#374302) #
Baseball reference uses DRS and Fangraphs uses UZR for its WAR calculations. However with Grichuk he will be there by the end of the season, he is pretty consistent year in and year out.
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Magpie - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 06:29 PM EDT (#374303) #
Hand wringing over a day off?

It's not Montoyo gave Guerrero a day off that irritates me. It's that it was today, against the tough LH pitcher, rather than yesterday. Today was a good time to give McKinney a day off.
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scottt - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 08:19 PM EDT (#374304) #
Just read that Cespedes suffered multiple ankle fractures while at home recovering from double heel surgeries. LOL.

I  believe there are some players good GMs stay as far away from as they can.
That include PED users, wife beaters and guys who are lacking in common sense.


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Nigel - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 08:39 PM EDT (#374305) #
Mapie’s point is the one that makes me shake my head too. I call decisions like that a “Gibbons Special”. He was forever resting players a day too early or too late. It’s like someone in the FO draws up a schedule a month or two in advance and then no one can change it even though as much as a week in advance you can tell from the opposition starters rotation that a slight tweak to the schedule is a competitive improvement. I really thought with Montoyo on board we were done with that. Apparently not.
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Nigel - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 08:45 PM EDT (#374306) #
*Magpie - Sorry
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Magpie - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 08:50 PM EDT (#374307) #
No worries, Niel.
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Nigel - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 09:05 PM EDT (#374308) #
I get called worse. On pretty much a daily basis:)
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Magpie - Monday, May 20 2019 @ 10:08 PM EDT (#374309) #
Today was a good time to give McKinney a day off.

It turns out giving McKinney the day off was in Montoyo's original plan. Sogard was a late scratch, so Urena - initially scheduled to make his very first professional appearance in the outfield, okay, whatever - moved to second and McKinney played.
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greenfrog - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 07:43 AM EDT (#374310) #
Grichuk BRef 0.6 WAR Fangraphs 0.2 WAR — after yesterday’s performance.
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cascando - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 08:53 AM EDT (#374311) #
Grichuk definitely goes through stretches where he does not look like an MLB batter.

The contract was a head scratcher to me, just because I don’t see a lot of potential upside. I would have rather they gave him more time to see if he could improve his plate discipline before rewarding him with a multi-year deal. Of course then he would cost more, but it would also more likely be worth it.

On that note, Grichuk has a career-high 7.3% BB rate at the moment. Likely a sample size issue, but it sure would be nice if he could temper these cold streaks a little with some on base skills.

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uglyone - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 09:42 AM EDT (#374312) #
To guard against small sample bias I like to use fangraphs handy "past calendar year" split to give us the most current "full season sample" worth of stats.

Grichuk: 577pa, 120wrc+, 2.8war, 3.2war650
Galvis: 645pa, 92wrc+, 1.8war, 1.8war650
Smoak: 590pa, 116wrc+, 1.4war, 1.5war650
Teoscar: 523pa, 86wrc+, -0.3war, -0.4war650

Still small sample even using full calendar year:

Sogard: 150pa, 115wrc+, 1.0war, 4.3war650
Jansen: 214pa, 78wrc+, 1.0war, 3.0war650
Maile: 208pa, 54wrc+, 0.9war, 2.8war650
Urena: 133pa, 83wrc+, 0.3war, 1.5war650
Gurriel: 237pa, 110wrc+, 0.5war, 1.4war650
Tellez: 217pa, 112wrc+, 0.4war, 1.2war650
Vladdy: 77pa, 106wrc+, 0.1war, 0.8war650
Travis: 312pa, 88wrc+, 0.0war, 0.0war650
McKinney: 270pa, 96wrc+, -0.1war, -0.3war650
Hanson: 306pa, 61wrc+, -0.6war, -1.3war650
Drury: 212pa, 45wrc+, -0.7war, -2.2war650
Davis: 49pa, -6wrc+, -0.5war, -6.6war650
Brito: 87pa, 3wrc+, -1.0war, -7.5war650
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Mike Green - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#374313) #
This is a nice piece of writing from Dan Szymborski.  I particularly liked the phrase the "Grim Orthopedist". 
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Nigel - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 12:19 PM EDT (#374314) #
Lott's article today in the Athletic on the Vladdy decision from yesterday isn't a good look for Montoyo, Atkins or the high performance department. The one thing this FO is exceptional at is spin - I'm really not sure how they got themselves in this mess. Lott's speculation that Montoyo really didn't understand that Victoria Day would be an important holiday is, ummm, interesting.
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Chuck - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 01:25 PM EDT (#374316) #
isn't a good look for Montoyo, Atkins or the high performance department.

This organization needs a calendar department with a unit focused specifically on statutory holidays, home crowds, young phenoms and Venn diagrams.

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mathesond - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 01:31 PM EDT (#374317) #
They should probably also give the marketing more say when it comes to lineup & roster construction.
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hypobole - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 01:48 PM EDT (#374318) #
Not the high performance dep't job to worry about these things. Very much Atkin's job.
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uglyone - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 01:52 PM EDT (#374319) #
I'd give the sanitation dept. more responsibility I think.
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mathesond - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 02:08 PM EDT (#374320) #
I believe that comes under stadium operations.
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Mike Green - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 02:28 PM EDT (#374324) #
The club does have their regular Canada Day game with the Royals this year.  I'll bet that Vladdy is in the lineup.  Rookie mistake by Montoyo. 
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dalimon5 - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 02:44 PM EDT (#374326) #
The article goes in depth to show that Montoyo sent the line up out to the entire staff the night before and nobody did anything about it. Atkins was quoted as saying "it's on me."

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Chuck - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 02:52 PM EDT (#374328) #
If this is a competitive team, then appeasing the fans should not be a priority (since winning should be appeasement enough). If this is a lost season, where fans are staying away in droves, maybe you bend a little and throw a bone to the poor bastards who bother showing up. Maybe you give Vlad his days off while on the road.
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bpoz - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#374332) #
Agreed Chuck. At least Atkins and the Jays are owning up to this being a mistake. It is a good idea to give Vlad all his off days on the road.

The fault is with Montoyo and his staff and the marketing dept. If Atkins and Shapiro are checking the lineup and telling Montoyo who to play and when, then Montoyo is a puppet of sorts. I think that is bad.
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Gerry - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 03:42 PM EDT (#374333) #
Apparently Jimmy Cordero is in Toronto.
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Mike Green - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#374334) #
Gregor Chisholm is starting a new job as a baseball columnist for the Toronto Star.  I wish him the best. 
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Mike Green - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 03:58 PM EDT (#374336) #
Shi Davidi tweets that Ryan Tepera has elbow issues, and hence Cordero's presence. 
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hypobole - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 04:00 PM EDT (#374337) #
Chuck, you hit the nail on the head.

Also, reading a number of comments this year from fans and "fans" (at The Athletic and elsewhere), more than a few aren't even bothering to watch games if Vlad isn't playing. Found it a bit interesting in light of the SFG article Mike posted earlier.

Time and again teams refuse to rebuild until it's seemingly too late in the eyes of most outside observers. But there seems to be a sizable portion of probably every MLB fanbase that believes their team should never strip down no matter how bleak the future may be. So teams try. Then they don't not try i.e. only make half-measure moves that almost invariably don't move the needle but seem to appease those fans that won't accept their team throwing in the towel.
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bpoz - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#374341) #
I figured that Tepera had an injury. Too bad we lost J Guerra.

I was fretting that we would lose 90 games but that is only 1 more loss than last year. So the old saying that knowledge is power is correct. Math!!!

Cheers!!!
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Gerry - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 05:15 PM EDT (#374343) #
Tepera has obviously had problems, his ERA is 6.55 and he is giving up more than three home runs per nine innings. He was likely trying to play through an injury and not helping the team.
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hypobole - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 05:32 PM EDT (#374344) #
FG has 410 pitchers with 10+ IP. Tepera's 26.7% HR/FB rate is the 27th highest.

Interestingly, the contending Brewers have 4 pitchers in that group with rates worse than Tepera's plus Josh Hader's 26.3% ranks 28th.

They seem to be takething away even more than Yelich is givething. (Dewey alert!)
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Magpie - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#374345) #
I particularly liked the phrase the "Grim Orthopedist".

For sure. Not to mention...

the Miami Marlins, looted and pillaged more often than fifth-century Rome,

I mean, if you can't have fun with this stuff, you need to get out of show business.
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Magpie - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 06:00 PM EDT (#374346) #
Rookie mistake by Montoyo.

Yeah, that's what I think as well. Atkins saying "it's on me" strikes me as out of the Kyle Dubas School of Management and Media Relations, where you conspicuously take responsibility for everything whether it's genuinely your fault or obviously not. Atkins isn't supposed to be talking to Montoyo about the next day's particular lineup, and everybody knows it. That's the manager's job. Once anyone suspects someone else is doing it, rightly or wrongly, you don't have a manager anymore.
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krose - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 07:58 PM EDT (#374351) #
Marcus Stroman looks very good. He can be successful against really good hitting teams like the Red Sox. So, why not extend him?
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Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 09:26 PM EDT (#374357) #
I think last year coming off a difficult and injury riddled season it was very difficult to come up with a valuation for Marcus Stroman, but given how he performed this year it should be much easier to come to terms to an extension. I waver between extend and trade with Stroman mostly because I generally like prospects, but really he should be extended.
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Gerry - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 09:39 PM EDT (#374358) #
If Mayza could throw more strikes he could be very useful. As of now he is walking 5 per 9 innings.
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Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 09:40 PM EDT (#374359) #
I love the two homer game by Rowdy Tellez, I always liked the raw power and plate discipline in the minors. Hopefully he can get his K rate under control and we see more games like this, as he has best contact quality on the team outside of Vlady and Smoak.
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AWeb - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 09:58 PM EDT (#374360) #
Tellez has shown that he can not only hit lefties, but can punish the lefty junk, at least sometimes.  That's huge for him, since it makes him playable full time and means you can leave him in the game against the lefty specialist types and save pinch hitters (which the roster barely has anyway).

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Nigel - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 11:02 PM EDT (#374362) #
I think Stroman is pitching his way out of the Jays budget, I think he would command something in the range $20m per year (for his free agency years) on the open market. If he got say $12/13 m for his last arbitration eligible deal, the you might be looking at a 5/95 extension.. The Jays have never signed a pitcher to that kind of deal.
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Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 11:13 PM EDT (#374363) #
I would think with the time value of money considered the AJ Burnett contract of 2005 would be considered comparable to what a Stroman extension would look like.
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Nigel - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 11:17 PM EDT (#374364) #
Shoeless Joe, you’re right - the AAV of the FA Years might be close. This past offseason was the time to try and get something done more cheaply, but it was a riskier proposition then.
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Shoeless Joe - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 11:37 PM EDT (#374365) #
I think this past offseason it was hard to agree to terms with Stroman. He is a confident player and likely would have viewed himself as a player who is better than coming off a season with an era over 5. However after thinking about the fact I had to use an example from 14 years ago as an example of the Jays paying a pitcher, I think hoping for an extension is probably optimistic.
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Spifficus - Tuesday, May 21 2019 @ 11:38 PM EDT (#374366) #
Kyle Hendrix and his 4/55 + option (on top of his 2019 ~7M salary) might be a good comparison. They were each scheduled to be free agents after 2020, had about the same salary, are about a year apart, and the deal is fresh from late March. I'd say that should be a general stratosphere, anyway.
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StephenT - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 12:05 AM EDT (#374367) #
Years ago when the Twins played in the Metrodome I remember hearing that the Twins manager said he couldn't give Kirby Puckett a day off at home because it would be too disappointing to the home fans.
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Michael - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 03:15 AM EDT (#374368) #
Hendricks has significant better numbers than Stroman for the career through being consistently excellent. Stroman has had a higher ceiling, but not been consistent. Hendricks is one year older.

But Hendricks and Stroman both made the majors in 2014 (Stroman slightly earlier).

Hendricks has 845 IP in 141 GS (142 G) with a 3.08 ERA (133 ERA+, 3.50 FIP, 1.115 WHIP).

Stroman has 723 IP in 118 GS (124 G) with a 3.83 ERA (110 ERA+, 3.57 FIP, 1.288 WHIP).

They are both making $7.4M this year.

So I think looking at the resumes Hendricks should command more than Stroman, but I guess if you squint right it could come out the same for Stroman (and FWIW both have pitched well so far this year, which is included in the numbers above, but Stroman has been slightly better).

That said, I think signing Stroman to Hendrick's numbers would make a ton of sense. 4 more years at $54 total with a $16 million 5th year if he finishes top 3 in CYA in 2020 seems like a very reasonable amount. Around $14 m is about what Stroman has been worth in his less good/less healthy seasons, so having that be the rate would seem quite good.
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scottt - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 06:02 AM EDT (#374369) #
I don't think it's a question of cost. The Jays have lots of payroll room. It will come down to what other teams are offering. If nobody offers what they want for Stroman they'll have to admit nobody values him as much as they do and they'll try to extend. However, Sanchez not performing and having more blister issues work against Stroman because they want to trade one of the 2.

At any rate, win 1 for Stro.

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scottt - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 07:28 AM EDT (#374370) #
Rookie mistake by Montoyo.

Well, he came from Tampa where pleasing the dozens of fans in the stands is never a concern.
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scottt - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 07:51 AM EDT (#374371) #
I had not looked at the standings for a while. Yankees somehow have jumped 2 games ahead of Tampa. Jays still haven't played them. They look very beatable.

Twins are now 6.5 games ahead of the Indians who are just ahead of Boston for the second wild card.

The last time I looked, the Mariners were at the top in the west, now they are dead last.
Houston is a full 8.5 games ahead of the second place.... Rangers?

Nobody else in the AL is better than .500.  So we may have 9 AL teams selling at the deadline--I think the A's will jump over Texas. Mostly to NL teams I guess. Returns on trades will probably underwhelm this year again.



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grjas - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 07:56 AM EDT (#374372) #
Well, he came from Tampa where pleasing the dozens of fans in the stands is never a concern.

Good one.
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bpoz - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 08:33 AM EDT (#374373) #
Atkins probably looks to trade Smoak this year to make room for younger players to get ABs. Galvis is doing well and may or may not get traded. Maile is an excellent backup so he may go. I don't know what other position players may get moved.

That leaves mainly young players to get their 500 ABs in the Majors. Also a few young veterans, Drury and Grichuk is all I can think about.

2 young players are T Hernandez and Gurriel that have been demoted, but probably have more value to the Jays because they had success last year which the Jays got to evaluate closely.

The pitching has been v good for some and quite bad for others. I don't really know the trading decision. Time will reveal the answer.
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Shoeless Joe - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#374377) #
Danny Janssen K% is creeping down and his rolling 50 PA average has now fallen from a peak of 38% to a season low 22%, which is below the league average. Janssen does not have a lot of power, so controlling the strike zone is key for him to be effective.

To this point in the season the difference between his wOBA and xwOBA is 0.62 which makes him the 8th most unlucky hitter with at least 100 PA. I think he is well on his way to breaking out.
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dalimon5 - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 11:26 AM EDT (#374379) #
"Hendricks has significant better numbers than Stroman for the career through being consistently excellent. Stroman has had a higher ceiling, but not been consistent. Hendricks is one year older.

So I think looking at the resumes Hendricks should command more than Stroman, but I guess if you squint right it could come out the same for Stroman (and FWIW both have pitched well so far this year, which is included in the numbers above, but Stroman has been slightly better)."

Do you not factor in that Stroman pitches in the AL East and its hitter's parks vs Hendricks in the Central? I would imagine most managers will take that and Stroman's clutch WBC performance as well as his playoff performances to value him higher.
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grjas - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 12:16 PM EDT (#374380) #
I don’t have a problem shopping Stroman if they can somehow get a young, strong close to the majors arm...though I think that’s doubtful.

Failing that i think it would be crazy not to extend him, unless demands are way out of line. They have so much payroll space over the next 5 years, even if he tanks they can swallow his salary.

This potential lineup for next year might at least get the Jays into the 80+ win category and geared up to contend in 2021 or 2022.

SP- Stroman, Shoemaker, Borucki, Thorton, (SRF, Pannone, or someone who steps up, Pearson may be later in the year or newbie)

IF- Vlad, Bichette, Biggio, Tellez

OF- Grichuk, Gurriel, Someone who actually steps up, or a newbie)

Bench- Hernandez, Drury, Urena, TBD

DH- rotate or Hernandez if he remembers how to hit

BP- take your pick

Not a bad team, other than the OF
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Mike Green - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 03:45 PM EDT (#374383) #
With Sogard back and leading off, Charlie Montoyo has Drury in left-field against Porcello rather than McKinney.  Today would have been a better one to give Vladdy Jr. the day off...Drury at third and McKinney in left.    Oh well, it's not a big item.
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Nigel - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 04:09 PM EDT (#374384) #
No - the bigger issue is the heavy dose of Drury in the OF.
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John Northey - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 04:15 PM EDT (#374385) #
Not just the players but also the manager is a rookie this year. So growing pains for all. Hopefully Montoyo learns a lot this year and for the next few will be aces. He seems to know how to work with the players. We will see if he can push them to be better by September.
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Mike Green - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 04:34 PM EDT (#374387) #
I'm not that fussed about Drury playing in the outfield occasionally (although it looks like foreign territory to him).  They want him to get enough PAs, and there really isn't a great way to do it with Guerrero Jr. at third base most of the time. 

Your question for today: how bad has the club's baserunning been this year?  Routine Unpleasantness, Significant Suckage or Epic Horror.
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hypobole - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 05:14 PM EDT (#374389) #
Your question for today: how bad has the club's baserunning been this year? Routine Unpleasantness, Significant Suckage or Epic Horror.

I'll take "b". We're 29th per FG this year at -4.9 runs. However that's about a 30% improvement over last year when we finished dead last with a -27.1 mark with no other team anywhere close. That was Epic Horror.

My favourite is the strike out-throw out on H & R's to "stay out of the double play".
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hypobole - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 05:17 PM EDT (#374390) #
Anyone else get the feeling Montoyo is kind of a Hartsfield/Mattick developmental type who'll get replaced when the team is truly ready to contend?
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PeterG - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 06:13 PM EDT (#374392) #
Baserunning not good but not as bad as last season.
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Nigel - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 07:17 PM EDT (#374393) #
If Drury playing in the OF were a one off I would have zero issue with it. However, since Brito was replaced by Urena, it has become much more of a thing. I don't really see the point. I'll admit that I'm biased though. I'm not sure I see the point of Drury period, but I can much more easily see the point of playing him in the INF as he looks to be a legitimately good defender at both 3B and 2B.

I am definitely going to give Montoyo the benefit of the doubt for some time, but I have yet to see the appeal. Having said that, bad teams make their managers look bad - all of them.
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Magpie - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 08:36 PM EDT (#374394) #
Last year in the minors, Davis drew a walk every 12 plate appearances; this year at Buffalo, he walked almost once every 5 plate appearances.

But in the majors. he's drawn exactly one walk in more than 50 plate appearances. It's not him, not really. But major league pitchers simply don't believe the guy can hurt them. So there's no messing around. Here it is, hit it if you can.

I seem to remember the same thing happening to Ryan Goins...
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Magpie - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 08:57 PM EDT (#374395) #
The extra time Guerrero spent in the minors working on his defence... was worth it!
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Gerry - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 10:39 PM EDT (#374399) #
Freddy Galvis just had two poor at-bats. Marcus Walden kept throwing a slider down and in and Freddy kept swinging. No sign of any learning.
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lexomatic - Wednesday, May 22 2019 @ 10:47 PM EDT (#374400) #
"The extra time Guerrero spent in the minors working on his defence... was worth it!""Freddy Galvis just had two poor at-bats. Marcus Walden kept throwing a slider down and in and Freddy kept swinging. No sign of any learning"
I was coming here to post the same.
Guerrero may not be able to stay at 3b for long, but he looks like he can legit play.
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scottt - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 06:55 AM EDT (#374402) #
McKinney didn't start because he has a mild groin issue.
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scottt - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 07:10 AM EDT (#374403) #
 I don't know that learning is the right word. Freddy is a vet. He's a guy who hustles. He's a solid defender, but he's not known for his bat. He's from Venezuela and speaks decent English. The Phillies had him up at 22. He's now 29. His OPS+ is at 95. He could finish the year under 80. I guess it depends on how many home runs he can can hit in the AL East parks.
The Jays have him for next year at 5.5M. They probably trade him over the winter to open a spot for Bichette. Sooner, if someone offers anything of value.

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scottt - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 07:20 AM EDT (#374404) #
Well, they scored a pile against the Red Sox pen a late night before a bullpen day.
It could be interesting if Richard can hold his own.
Probably a huge order. Red Sox were bad against lefties last year, but they have some good hitters.

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Mike Green - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 09:11 AM EDT (#374407) #
I think that Magpie might have been joking about Guerrero's time in the minors spent working on his defence.  For what it's worth, it looks to me like third base is still enemy territory to him- with mines planted everywhere.  Pablo Sandoval was a decent third baseman for quite a few years, so I guess VGJ can do it too.

Jonathan Davis' issues with the bat look to me to be more solvable than Brito's or Hansen's.  I don't agree with Magpie that pitchers have been coming right after him.  I've see a lot of nibbling, and a lot of close calls going against him- like with VGJ at the outset.  He has hit some mistake pitches hard, and been unlucky.  He needs for one or two to leave the yard, and then I think he will be all right.  I don't think that he's going to be Mike Cameron or anything- maybe he can hit .225/.300/.380 with good defence in centerfield.  For fun, I ran a Play Index to find centerfielders who in their rookie year at age 27 had an OPS+ greater than 90.  There were three- Johnny Frederick, Hersh Martin and Earl Averill, all of whom had significant major league careers.  When I expanded it to centerfielders who in their first or second year had an OPS+ greater than 80 at age 27, I got only 10 names- the above three plus Ron LeFlore, Fred Schulte, Vic Davalillo, Earl McNeely, Ollie Pickering, Bill O'Hara and Dummy Hoy.  All of them but McNeely and O'Hara had significant major league careers.  If you can play centerfield well (and Davis clearly can), the offensive bar is pretty low. 

Despite the loss, last night's game had a bunch of positives.  Sanchez was very good, if scarily wild with his fastball (one off Chavis' helmet and another close to Betts' head).  I would venture a guess that he's not gripping the ball quite as tightly to prevent recurrence of the blisters.  The continued revival of Jansen's bat is very good news, as were the homers from VGJ and Tellez (and Tellez' line drive single off the centerfield wall). 


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Magpie - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 10:00 AM EDT (#374411) #
Marcus Walden kept throwing a slider down and in and Freddy kept swinging.

I think the lesson here is no matter how often Galvis sees that slider from Walden, no matter how sure Galvis is that he's going to get the slider from Walden (and he had to be expecting it) ... it still looks like a fastball. To Galvis. Not from Walden to other hitters. Not from other pitchers to Galvis. That particular pitch, from that particular pitcher to that particular hitter. It looks like a fastball to Galvis, and his mind and body respond accordingly. Every batter-pitcher matchup is unique, even if we never get enough data to draw reliable conclusions about them.
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hypobole - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 10:05 AM EDT (#374412) #
VGJ is only about a half year older than Jordan Groshans. Even though his bat is major league calibre, his defence is far from a finished product, and unlike most kids his age, he's not going to have the opportunity to work on it in the anonymity of the low minors.

Will he be able and have the will to improve his conditioning and keep his weight in check? Will he improve his footwork? If yes, he could/should be able to stay at third much longer than sceptics believe. The first is totally on him, even if the best nutritionists and trainers are at his disposal. As for the footwork, one would hope that major league coaching is at least as good as (and most likely better than) minor league coaching.
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Mike Green - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 10:15 AM EDT (#374415) #
Even though his bat is major league calibre

Living up to your screen name, hypobole. 
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uglyone - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 10:30 AM EDT (#374416) #
still think its a waste of time for vladdy to stay at third, when the best we can hope for is a few non-awful years defensively there.

with his athleticism, he could make a very good defensive 1B. I'd rather be using guys at positions where they have a legit chance to be plus defenders longterm.
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Gerry - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 10:37 AM EDT (#374418) #
Clayton Richard will start today, Jimmy Cordero has been optioned. Ryan Feierabend could pitch after Richard in a piggyback role.
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Gerry - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#374423) #
The Jays have claimed reliever Zac Rosscup on waivers and decided he is a better bet than Jimmy Cordero who has been designated for assignment.
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Gerry - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 02:06 PM EDT (#374424) #
From MLBTR:

Rosscup, 30, had an outwardly appealing 3.21 ERA but had allowed 14 walks to go with twenty strikeouts in 14 innings. He was posting yawning platoon splits, dominating those left-handed hitters he didn’t walk (.087/.323/.087) while being tuned up by righties (.344/.447/.500).
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hypobole - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 02:57 PM EDT (#374426) #
Bad teams love cycling through waived RP's.

FWIW, all the projection systems like the probably sooner than later to be DFA'd Rosscup over Cordero.
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Shoeless Joe - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 03:11 PM EDT (#374429) #
Drury starting the season with massive contact issues, but now he is hardly striking out.
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budgell - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#374430) #
With all due respect Nigel, I'm a little more optimistic re Drury.
To my eye his earlier season approach was a "let the ball travel and let it rip" type of hitter as evidenced by his opo homeruns. But now (as also mentioned on the broadcast) he's starting a little earlier and not swinging as hard. I may be squinting here but, given his versatility and his (admittedly sss) recent results, I'm predicting he's contributing up to and including the team's contention window.
#cuttlefish

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PeterG - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#374431) #
I think Rosscups K totals, his effectiveness against lefties and his 3 years of control will buy him some time with the Jays. He may not make it longer term but I don't see him as a soon to be DFA. There are other moves that can be made to clear roster space if necessary.
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Nigel - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 04:19 PM EDT (#374433) #
My pessimism on Drury is based on the fact(s) that he's just shy of his 27th birthday, has amassed almost 1300 PAs at the major league level and has a RC+ of 88. I really hope that he's a late bloomer and can provide some value. I have no issue with continuing to give Drury regular ABs (this is the year to throw stuff at the wall). My specific concern was with the idea of making him almost a regular in the OF. Historically, he's managed to keep a positive WAR, notwithstanding his offensive challenges, by being a pretty solid defender in the INF. He doesn't look good in the OF (albeit SSS). If they want to get him ABs I would rather see them platoon him at 2B with Sogard, play him at 3B when Vladdy needs a rest and play him in the OF once every week or so. He'd probably end up with something like a 50-70% usage rate on that basis.
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Shoeless Joe - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 04:50 PM EDT (#374435) #
Ultimately I think Drury ends up as a back-up 2B/3B/1B type defensively, but really they just need to give him at bats to see where his batting line ends up.

I think despite how long he has been in the bigs, there isn't a huge sample size since he drastically revamped his swing in the 2018 off-season. Very few of his underlying numbers like k% have leveled off at all this season, and he has a higher launch angle and hard hit% that he has ever previously showed. I am generally fascinated where his bat ultimately ends up and he is bit of unique case statistically to make such dramatic changes in his late twenties.
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hypobole - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 06:26 PM EDT (#374437) #
Feierabend was the 13th different reliever we've used, with Rosscup soon to make it 14. Mariners have already used 24 different relievers. Got some catching up to do.

As for catching up, is it even possible for Washington? They thought they would be the favourite or at least co-favourites in the NL East with Philly and Atlanta when they signed Corbin. They have a worse W-L record than the Jays.
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ayjackson - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 06:36 PM EDT (#374438) #
Richard's last AAA start was 55 pitches. I would have thought they'd take him up to 65-70 today...not that it would've mattered.

Is the plan to keep trotting Gava out there until his arm falls off?
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uglyone - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 07:01 PM EDT (#374439) #
We don't like our team, Barry.
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hypobole - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 07:20 PM EDT (#374440) #
I like our team, uo. I like you too.
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PeterG - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 07:23 PM EDT (#374441) #
I also think Richard should have been ok for another 15 pitches.
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ayjackson - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 07:35 PM EDT (#374442) #
I am laughing out loud. Thanks UO.

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uglyone - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 08:01 PM EDT (#374444) #
;)
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Mike Green - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 08:08 PM EDT (#374445) #
Biggio and Gurriel Jr. up and Urena and McKinney down per Lott.
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Mike Green - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 08:12 PM EDT (#374446) #
Needless to say, I am pleased. And they haven't waited for the Super two deadline, so they get some respect for that. Hopefully that means the FO has the near luxury tax threshold payroll.
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Nigel - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 08:13 PM EDT (#374447) #
As I said a few weeks ago, I wouldn't be critical of the FO pulling the plug (at least temporarily) on Hernandez and McKinney and moving on to Plan B. So, thumbs up to this decision. It will be interesting to see where they plan on playing Gurriel. I fear that Drury will continue to be used as part of the regular OF rotation instead of Gurriel but let's see.
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Shoeless Joe - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 08:42 PM EDT (#374448) #
Biggio becomes the first prospect drafted under Shapiro and Atkins to make his major league debut.

I really hope he gets most of his reps at second to start his career.
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scottt - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 08:50 PM EDT (#374449) #
So Richard was good but Gaviglio wasn't?
It doesn't look like Feieraband will last very long.



Next are the Padres who have a winning record but have allowed 20 more runs than what they have scored.

Oh, and here comes Cavan Biggio.

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scottt - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 09:01 PM EDT (#374450) #
It won't be the on the size of Guerrero's first game, but I guess Craig Biggio will drop by, no?

Could be a fun weekend.

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mathesond - Thursday, May 23 2019 @ 10:05 PM EDT (#374452) #
My boss has season tickets, and since he can only make a few games this year he sent out a schedule of available games, and we could each pick a couple of dates. I picked Friday's game vs. tha Padres hoping to see Tatis Jr. and the other SD kids. Tatis may be on the IL, but if Biggio plays that'll make up for it.
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Jonny German - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 06:14 AM EDT (#374453) #
Surprised and happy to see Biggio called up now. It's great that they're not playing service time games, and it's a sign that they aren't assuming there's no hope for 2020 being a good season in Toronto.

On the surface it's odd to be running a roster with only 2 real outfielders (and one of those very unlikely to ever be more than a 4th outfielder), but I think it makes sense. The AAA guys that are "actual" outfielders are all struggling badly, so why not figure out if one of the many infielders may be an asset there.

I think I'd break the playing time down something like this per week: 
	C	1B	2B	SS	3B	LF	CF	RF	DH		
Jansen	4										4
Smoak		4							1		5
Biggio			3			1			1		5
Galvis				5							5
Vlad					5				1		6
Gurriel						4		1			5
Davis							4				4
Grichuk							2	3			5
Tellez		2							3		5
											
Maile	2										2
Sogard			2	1							3
Drury			1		1	1		2			5
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scottt - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 07:23 AM EDT (#374454) #
In the last 6 games, Sogard played 4 times and only went 2 for 20. They could probably give him a 10 day DL stint, but that's really a no issue since they already made room for Biggio on the 25.

However, Biggio is not on the 40. So, maybe Buchholz to the 60IL?

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Shoeless Joe - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 07:34 AM EDT (#374455) #
They can probably just move Julian Merryweather to to the 60 day, or cut bait with Feierabend.
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scottt - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 07:39 AM EDT (#374456) #
I notice that May 27 is a day game in Tampa following a day game in Toronto.
Yeah, I know it's Memorial Day, but it's also Tampa.
It's also National Brisket Day on the 28. That sounds like a day worth skipping work for.
I'm anxious to see what the attendance for those 2 days will be down there.

Today is National Brothers Day, National Scavenger Hunt Day and National Sunscreen Day.
Yay.


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scottt - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 07:48 AM EDT (#374457) #
Well that's true for Merryweather. As long as it's retroactive. He should be ready for rehab anything now.

Yeah, maybe Rosscup takes Feierabend's spot since Richard took Cordero's.
Cordero, incidentally is back with the Bisons.


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rpriske - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 09:12 AM EDT (#374461) #
I want the Jays to just draft second generation players from now on.
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dalimon5 - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 09:12 AM EDT (#374462) #
Free Pompey
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mathesond - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 09:44 AM EDT (#374463) #
"Free Pompey"

Really? Dang, I had to pay for mine. I guess I should've waited.
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Nigel - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 09:47 AM EDT (#374464) #
Jonny - that’s pretty close to what I would like to see too. I’d vote for slightly heavier 2B usage for Biggio, so that he’s the team’s primary 2B option, with Sogard and Drury being the primary utility players.
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Gerry - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 09:54 AM EDT (#374465) #
Sogard has been nursing an injury but he is reverting to his norms. Get Biggio and Gurriel in there a lot for the next few weeks.

Speaking of reverting, Freddy Galvis is hitting .220 or less in his has 30, 15 or 7 games. It's too bad Urena has gone back down as I would have given Urena some starts there.

Dalton Pompey still has not resumed baseball activities but I wonder if he ever can. Getting a concussion from standing up and hitting some bats suggests that he could get concussed from hitting the wall in the outfield or from a heavy face first slide when stealing. I think he needs to either retire or take the rest of the year off.

And, following up on yesterdays discussion about Drury. I like his defensively at third but I am not convinced with him at second. I don't know if he has the mobility, he might be too big for second.
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Mike Green - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 10:19 AM EDT (#374466) #
Sogard also is a new father. I remember watching Andres Galarraga in spring training in the mid to late 80s. He was struggling mightily at the plate and I couldn't figure out why. It turned out that he was a new father. He got it back. Parental leave is a practical solution...It isn't done in baseball unfortunately.
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Shoeless Joe - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 11:04 AM EDT (#374467) #
As an outside the box Freddy Galvis replacement the Jays should acquire just a little more pool money to get the 2 million required to sign Cuban SS Yolbert Sanchez, who most see as a prospect who won't need much time in the minors. The current signing period ends on June 15th so there is only two weeks left to make use of the Morales and DSJ money they've already acquired.

Additionally I really hope the Jays go all in on Yeimer Cano as the future closer once he becomes a true free agent on July 2nd. This makes a trade of Giles for some prospects much easier.


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Magpie - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 01:33 PM EDT (#374471) #
Parental leave is a practical solution...

Sure, but have you seen what Fred VanVleet has been up to this week?
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Mike Green - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 01:54 PM EDT (#374472) #
The Schilling/Baun exception for playoff injuries probably applies doubly to parental leaves...
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Cracka - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 02:20 PM EDT (#374473) #
Josh Naylor has been added to the Padres roster and will make his major league debut tonight in front of his hometown fans -- how cool is that? Classy move by the Padres, though he's certainly earned the promotion. And then Cal Quantrill tomorrow. I'm taking pleasure in these little things this season...
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AWeb - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 02:22 PM EDT (#374474) #
I agree with Gerry about Pompey. Unless there's more to the story than what has been shared, like he headbutted the bat rack in anger or something, being that susceptible to a concussion is a non-starter for a professional athlete. I'm thinking of Corey Koskie, who ended his career diving for a ball, and was forced to retire. Hope for the best, but he needs a long time to rest.
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Gerry - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 02:33 PM EDT (#374475) #
In addition to Gurriel and Biggio, Thomas Pannone and Zac Rosscup have been added to the roster. Feierabend has been DFA'd and Elvis Luciano has been placed on the bereavement list.
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85bluejay - Friday, May 24 2019 @ 02:43 PM EDT (#374476) #
Josh Naylor doesn't seem to have a spot in San Diego longterm , I wonder if the Padres are showcasing him.
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