Blue Jays Discussion: 2024-25 Off-season: The free agent watch begins (and sometimes old baseball radio broadcasts)

[Discoverer]

Yeah if they start the season with Santander not at cleanup, that's just utter stupidity.

That's a very old-school way of looking at it. Given the players on the roster, Santander makes sense in either the 3 or 4 spot.

 

[tmlfan98]

Yeah if they start the season with Santander not at cleanup, that's just utter stupidity.

Between the options Schneider said, Bo at cleanup makes more sense than Bo at leadoff if they are insistent on Vlad and Santander at 2-3 for whatever reason. I agree Santander should be cleanup, and I also think leadoff should be a platoon with Will Wagner as the strong side bat.

But for some reason, Bo at leadoff has been getting way more test reps in spring. I think either Varsho or Springer will bat cleanup if Bo is leadoff (puke). Varsho has only batted 2nd in his spring games so far, but we now know they are starting the season with Vlad and Santander at 2-3, so Varsho is going to hit somewhere else.

 

[tmlfan98]

That's a very old-school way of looking at it. Given the players on the roster, Santander makes sense in either the 3 or 4 spot.

I think I agree with MK here (and so does The Book).

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/17/795946/optimizing-your-lineup-by

https://www.theinternethittingcoach.com/batting-order.html#:~:text=What%20you%20may%20want%20to,the%20statisticians%20say%20actually%20works.&text=%22Your%20three%20best%20hitters%20should,%234%20and%20%235%20slots.

What you may want to do is follow what the statisticians say actually works. "Your three best hitters should bat somewhere in the #1, #2 and #4 slots. Your fourth- and fifth-best hitters should occupy the #3 and #5 slots. The #1 and #2 slots will have players with more walks than those in the #4 and #5 slots.

 

[Discoverer]

I think I agree with MK here (and so does The Book).

https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2009/3/17/795946/optimizing-your-lineup-by

https://www.theinternethittingcoach.com/batting-order.html#:~:text=What%20you%20may%20want%20to,the%20statisticians%20say%20actually%20works.&text=%22Your%20three%20best%20hitters%20should,%234%20and%20%235%20slots.

Yeah, the reason I say he fits at 3 or 4 is because it depends what they do at the leadoff spot. If they want to follow the book, it should likely be Bo, Vlad, someone, Santander. But if they want Wagner or Roden at leadoff (which I think would be reasonable), you have Vlad at 2 and then Santander and Bo are close enough that they can plug in at 3/4 almost interchangeably. There are enough factors that I don't think it's as simple as "Schneider's an idiot if Santander isn't at cleanup".

 

[aingefan]

Barger keeps taking, Jake Bloss with a tidy 3 spot with 5k’s.
Also, kinda fun how many games the late inning guys have rakediuuu
Radio broadcast yesterday reported that his fastball has upticked almost 2mph from last year.

 

[Cloned]

Jays haven’t had a spring training like this in a while where a lot of guys are actually hitting well.

Optimist says maybe the hitting coach change will really help this year.

 

[tmlfan98]

Yeah, the reason I say he fits at 3 or 4 is because it depends what they do at the leadoff spot. If they want to follow the book, it should likely be Bo, Vlad, someone, Santander. But if they want Wagner or Roden at leadoff (which I think would be reasonable), you have Vlad at 2 and then Santander and Bo are close enough that they can plug in at 3/4 almost interchangeably. There are enough factors that I don't think it's as simple as "Schneider's an idiot if Santander isn't at cleanup".

This is what I got for my preferred batting order at the moment (assuming Varsho is ready for CF by opening day, and also factoring that Vlad/Santander at 2/3 is already locked in per Schneider):

DH Wagner platoon
1B Vlad
RF Santander
SS Bo
CF Varsho
LF Springer
2B Gimenez
C Kirk
3B Barger platoon

Clement and Davis Schneider will be the 2 weak side platoon bats, and the other 2 bench pieces will be the backup C, and the 26th man who is always barely used by the team (like Steward Berroa or Nathan Lukes who can both also be the backup CF).

I know it looks bad that I don't have Roden on there, but I just think him not being on the 40-man is going to work against him and make him a 1st call up type (assuming he stays hot in Buffalo to start his season).

 

[cyris]

Garrett Cole needs TJ. That’s a huge loss for the Stankees

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[MS]

Also forgot to note in my Yankee post;

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/yankees-giancarlo-stanton-says-elbow-injuries-are-severe-raises-possibility-of-season-ending-surgery/

How do you have severe elbow injuries in both elbows as a hitter. Season hasnt started yet and they may have lost their 3rd best hitter from last year in Stanton. And dont have their 3 best starters Cortes (traded), Cole (likely out for the season) and Gil (out for the first half of the season). Not mention their closer Clay Holmes signed with the Mets, Kahnle went to Detroit and Weaver who was their best guy has one spring appearance with a 27 ERA. i wonder if he is hurt too. All missing Soto leaving.

I'm so confused as to why people think the Yankees will be good this year.

No Soto, no Gleyber Torres, Stanton looks like his career might be over after his surprising resurgence last year. Judge is 33 and due to start declining. Bellinger is OK but Goldschmidt is absolutely washed.

Now Cole is gone and their rotation is paper-thin. This looks like a team that will struggle to get over .500.

 

[tmlms13]

Gerry Cole TJS, GG 2025 for him

 

[arthurcason]

Wow..Barger absolutely crushed that baseball when he hit a home run today.

I hope he makes the team. We need some more power in that lineup.

 

[canucksfan]

Jays haven’t had a spring training like this in a while where a lot of guys are actually hitting well.

Optimist says maybe the hitting coach change will really help this year.

If the Jays get internal improvement due to a change in hitting coaches that will be huge. On paper, the team can impress. The rotation looks solid and the bats are doing very well in the spring. If the bats continue to do well in the regular season they will make the playoffs. The bullpen can't be worse compared to last year as well.

Yankees look to be in trouble. The pitching looks thin and the if Stanton is done then their lineup after Judge sucks. Baltimore didn't improve much and lost Burnes and Santander. Rays don't look as good. Red Sox might be a team to surprise though.