Yes, agreed, I think they are going to give Smoak a look until Pompey is healthy and see what to do from there. I liked that Upton could steal a base, but Pompey has that ability too, so maybe that's the decision with Upton?
Blue Jays Discussion: Blue Jays baseball: now with 100% more wins!
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Yes, agreed, I think they are going to give Smoak a look until Pompey is healthy and see what to do from there. I liked that Upton could steal a base, but Pompey has that ability too, so maybe that's the decision with Upton?
ShaneFalco
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Diamond Joe Quimby
A$AP Joffrey
Your best lineup against RHP in tonight.
Travis, Donaldson, Bautista, Morales, Tulo, Martin, Pearce (LF), Smoak, Pillar
Would move Pearce up to 5th and slide the rest down, but other than that, exactly how I'd have it.
Travis, Donaldson, Bautista, Morales, Tulo, Martin, Pearce (LF), Smoak, Pillar
Would move Pearce up to 5th and slide the rest down, but other than that, exactly how I'd have it.
Diamond Joe Quimby
A$AP Joffrey
While I agree, he should be given a chance once healthy, I'll preface that by saying if it doesn't happen, it says much more about Dalton than it does the org.
ShaneFalco
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Diamond Joe Quimby
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Zeke does a lot right, and Dalton has not proven to be superior in any facet yet.
Longshot
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The impression I got from the discussion about Pompey on the Blair Show a couple of days ago (over the course of a couple of hours it involved Blair, Brunt, Barker and Davidi) is that Pompey really isn't on management's radar screen and will have to be lights out at Buffalo and force his way onto the team.
It was almost universal agreement from those guys (who had all been at spring training and around management/coaching staff at various times) that Pompey really isn't in the equation.
If it's true, it's a curious stance to take. He seems to have all the tools and has been a good player in the minors.
Yep, Pearce is a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat. That lineup looks great though.
If that's true and Smoak falters do we see the signing of Pagan and Pearce moving to first? Pagan would bring elements the everyday line up lacks being a switch hitter with the speed he brings.
While I would much rather see Pompey playing everyday in LF over Zeke, this is pretty much how I see it, too. It shouldn't be that surprising that Pompey hasn't broken in full-time yet; his AAA numbers have been mediocre and trending in the wrong direction, while the injuries have held back his development.
I want to see him get another shot soon because he has a lot more upside and versatility than most of the other options, but it's not like he's done anything to force anyone's hand.
Longshot
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I'm curious why you (and others) think Smoak was a poor fit here?
EE and Bautista were both in their walk years, along with Saunders. There was no guarantee they would get any of them back.
Smoak had been a useful player for a year and a half on a playoff caliber team. At the very least, they were signing a bench player, who is a switch hitter with power, with the ability to draw a walk and can field his position.
I don't think having Smoak signed limited their roster flexibility. They signed Morales and made offers to EE, Fowler and later signed Bautista.
Longshot
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Assuming no injuries, who gets booted off the roster to bring in Pagan?
Pagan has been out there the whole time and the Jays haven't picked him up. They could have signed him to replace Upton and tried to send Goins down/possibly lost him.
I think the lineup we see for tonight's game is the one they want for most of the games and plan to run with for awhile.
If Smoak becomes unplayable (like he did last year) I suspect we see Carrerra and Barney playing left.
Diamond Joe Quimby
A$AP Joffrey
Because, when at 100%, he is the superior hitter.
That said, in a lineup that goes R, R, R for its top three hitters, and R,R,R,R when including the #9 hitter, having the switch hitter at 4 makes sense.
Diamond Joe Quimby
A$AP Joffrey
Agreed. And if he hits like he did in 2015, then I imagine he'll be up promptly. There'd be no reason to keep him down then. Even if you don't like him as a player\person, you'd want to showcase him at this point.
Well, if the rumors are or were true there was interest in him and he would be the best LF option if Smoak falters. As for who gets cut off the roster I would guess Goins? He had a good WBC and has been a productive MLB player in his career. I agree they are going to give Smoak a chance but if he falters and I hope he doesn't, they will look to bring someone else in, IMO.
Kurtz
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I don't know if I agree with that, career stats favor Morales as a hitter, and I prefer he is a switch hitter, as you pointed out, but that's just me. I hope Pearce stays healthy because I think he could be ahuge part of a good hitting team and be moved higher up in the order for sure.
Diamond Joe Quimby
A$AP Joffrey
Peak Pearce is better than peak Morales, and peak Pearce occurred much more recently.
inthe6ix
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They will only give him a shot if he deserves one. Two years ago he was our hottest prospect and now he's got concussion history and at 24, may not warrant another shot; it's probably time to move on from him if all he can do is steal bases and languish in mediocrity with the Bisons.
Muston Atthews
Bunch of Bangerz
Not from what I remember reading on fangraphs this offseason over the last two seasons but I could be wrong.
Too cheap to add SN1 to your package? You're going to be missing a lot of Jays games over the next month or so. Get used to it.
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