Blue Jays GDT: 2024 v4 |Mon, Jun 17 | vs BOS | 7pm ET/4pm PT | Pivetta vs Kikuchi

[PanniniClaus]

Atrocious umpiring..Quinn Walcott.

As some of the worst ones step aside, this will be a guy people hate to see behind the plate.

 

[MS]

This ump is Angel Hernandez level bad.

Made one hilarious strike call in Kikuchi’s favour early and then about 5 blown calls against him since including two ball 4s that were clearly strikes.

 

[MK78]

Yeah he's brutal.

 

[MS]

This is horrific.

Kikuchi has battled but this ump has cost him 10-15 extra pitches.

 

[red devil]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800693789197324392

 

[PanniniClaus]

He's bad high, low, inside and outside. Defies belief

 

[Suntouchable13]

I didn't realize MLB allows legally blind people become umps. Hmmm....

 

[MK78]

I didn't realize MLB allows legally blind people become umps. Hmmm....

It truly is astonishing that there are ZERO consequences for umps.

 

[Vector]

Remember how this would have completely unraveled Kikuchi 2 seasons ago? Dude’s made some amazing progress.

 

[canucksfan]

Calling balls and strikes isn’t easy with the movement and velocity. However, MLB doesn’t implement anything to improve the situation.

 

[The Nemesis]

Ow. Kiermeier fouled that right off his knee. No bounce.

 

[red devil]

Horwitz with an rbi single having a decent night at the lead off spot

 

[MS]

Horwitz looks like a 10-year vet at the plate.

 

[MK78]

Remember how this would have completely unraveled Kikuchi 2 seasons ago? Dude’s made some amazing progress.

Yeah, it's been an amazing transformation. even when he's struggling and being squeezed by the ump, he doesnt panic.

 

[The Nemesis]

I imagine he's going to get a stupid-money offer from some panicky, needy team in the off-season but it'd be nice if the Jays can re-sign him at a reasonable price.

 

[dredeye]

What does Don Mattingly even do? I am disappointed, isn't he supposed to coordinate the offence?

I did hear earlier in the season that he worked with Varsho through the off season.

 

[MK78]

Its amazing Kikuchi got thru 5 innings without a run. Great effort!

 

[dredeye]

I imagine he's going to get a stupid-money offer from some panicky, needy team in the off-season but it'd be nice if the Jays can re-sign him at a reasonable price.

I think he'll be a 20+per pitcher but for how many seasons would you lock him up?

 

[MK78]

Jays better think of scoring some more runs, they are playing with fire.

 

[The Nemesis]

I think he'll be a 20+per pitcher but for how many seasons would you lock him up?

I'd probably be comfortable with 4 years on the expectation that you might end up eating a bad year at the end of the deal. He's 32 right now and while he only has about 700 IP in his MLB career, he also has close to 1200 IP from his time in NPB (though he wasn't like some crazy Daisuke Matsuzaka overwork candidate, having an average of like 25 starts and 160-170 innings per NPB season. His 2023 with the Jays was the second highest inning total in a season after only his last year with Seibu before joining the Mariners.) so I'm not sure I'd want to commit like 5-7 years on him since he is a velo guy and not a crafty, Maddux-esque control pitcher who stands a better chance of aging well.

That probably wouldn't be enough though. Some team is going to figure he'll pitch fine until he's 37-38 and give him 6 years.

 

[Discoverer]

I'd probably be comfortable with 4 years on the expectation that you might end up eating a bad year at the end of the deal. He's 32 right now and while he only has about 700 IP in his MLB career, he also has close to 1200 IP from his time in NPB (though he wasn't like some crazy Daisuke Matsuzaka overwork candidate, having an average of like 25 starts and 160-170 innings per NPB season. His 2023 with the Jays was the second highest inning total in a season after only his last year with Seibu before joining the Mariners.) so I'm not sure I'd want to commit like 5-7 years on him since he is a velo guy and not a crafty, Maddux-esque control pitcher who stands a better chance of aging well.

That probably wouldn't be enough though. Some team is going to figure he'll pitch fine until he's 37-38 and give him 6 years.

Gausman (31) and Ray (30) got 5 years each with much better track records.

Kikuchi at 33/34 isn't getting close to 6 years. I'd be surprised if he gets 4.

Sonny Gray is probably a good recent comp - he has a much better and longer track record, too, and he signed for 3/75. I think something in the 3/60 range is likely for Kikuchi if he keeps it up the rest of the season.

 

[Discoverer]

I like Richards, but I really don't like going to him there. One thing Schneider does well is using relievers based on leverage rather than the inning... except the closer. The closer always pitches the 9th. That's how it was with Romano, and now it's the same with Garcia.

With 2-3-4 coming up in the 8th, that should be Garcia. Then you can go to Richards to face the weaker part of the lineup.

 

[red devil]

Jansen with an insurance run on a 2 out rbi double

 

[MK78]

Jano with a huge extra run in the 9th!

 

[Squiffy]

And Vlady with the men on 2/3 2 out k. Jesus at least put it in play.