Blue Jays Discussion: Blue Jays fire manager Montoyo, Schneider takes over

[The Nemesis]

Through 5 with 6 K's, 3 hits, 0 walks just the 1 unearned run. I assume that's it as he hasn't went past 5 all year. The 1 unearned run came in the 1st when the only baserunner was on an error so not even an unearned run where he put a few guys on an an error drove them in, just a single fielding erro leading to the run, no fault to Ricky whatsoever

Yep. he's done for the day.

 

[phillipmike]

Seen about 3-4 fans of the Mariners say they didn’t like giving up on Keenan. He likely turns into to absolutely nothing but it’s better than letting Borucki go for free.


Preseason write up;

I was pretty publicly against the selection of Keenan in the 2020 draft, but after having it digest a bit, he’s an interesting bat to track. Emphasis on bat… it’ll be bat-or-bust for Keenan in Seattle. There were only 5 players that hit a ball harder in college baseball than Keenan did in 2020 and two of them were first rounders Spencer Torkelson and Aaron Sabato. There was some swing-and-miss in Keenan’s game at Ole Miss, so I’ll be watching that closely. If the plate approach matures and he gets into the power in-game at the next level, there’s reasons to like the bat. There’s some Pedro Alvarez here. (JD)

 

[SDig14]

 

[Canada4Gold]

Keenan doesn't look like much but he's the same age as Austin Martin and having a better season, albeit 1 level lower. Just pretend like we traded for Austin Martin back

 

[canucksfan]

Jays are excellent at developing players so who knows.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Kumar Rocker Looks Strong In 2022 Debut

The unsigned 2021 first-rounder put together a solid four innings with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Frontier League.

www.baseballamerica.com

Troy, N.Y. — Nearly a year after the Mets selected him in the first round of the 2021 draft, Kumar Rocker returned to competitive baseball. The righthander made his first start for the Tri-City ValleyCats, an MLB Partner League team in the Frontier League.

In all, Rocker lasted four innings and allowed two runs on three hits and no walks. He struck out six and threw 60 pitches. His fastball sat at 95-97 mph and he mixed in a slider at 83-84 mph and a cutter at 86-87 mph. He also threw two 89 mph changeups, which he sold well with solid arm speed.

Rocker opened his outing by sitting 95-97 mph over the first few innings while also showing a low-80s slider and a high-80s cutter. Rocker allowed a bloop base hit in the first but struck out two batters in the inning while getting swinging strikes on his fastball and cutter.

Rocker opened the second inning by getting a grounder to second base on a 97 mph fastball. He struck out the next batter on three pitches, including a 99 mph fastball on the first pitch of the at-bat. He finished the frame by getting a pop up to the catcher. In all, Rocker needed just eight pitches in the second inning.

The third inning was more of the same. He needed just 12 pitches in that inning and continued to hold his mid-90s velocity.

The fourth inning wasn’t as kind to Rocker.

The righthander struggled with his command in the inning, hitting the first batter of the frame before allowing a two-run home run to the following batter. He labored through the inning, showing less command and needing 22 pitches to retire the side.

 

[The Nemesis]

I'm not going for Rocker. The point the Jays are at they don't need home runs in the draft. They have their young core and a good wave of prospects coming. What they need is solid successful hits with their picks, selecting players who may not top out as mega-stars, but who at least are strong bets to become something worthwhile to the MLB team even in a support role. (not necessarily "safe" low-ceiling guys, just guys with less total bust potential).

Rocker could maybe be very good. But he's also a guy with shonky medicals who hasn't played competitive baseball in almost a year who would need to come out and dominate now to get some of his shine back. 3 innings even in a return engagement isn't exactly a glorious return to the stage of prominence.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Some great stuff from Ricky here but can someone tell me what the hell that steal attempt was in the first K? Guy tried to steal didn't slide and was out? Not sure I've ever seen that before

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Tiedemann has to be one of the best pitching prospects in baseball at this point...prospect lists aren't going to immediately push him from not ranked to top 20....but like he is that kind of arm.

 

[aingefan]

Shame to see Borucki move along, loved the arm and upside.
Best of luck to him.

 

[Zanks]

I'm not going for Rocker. The point the Jays are at they don't need home runs in the draft. They have their young core and a good wave of prospects coming. What they need is solid successful hits with their picks, selecting players who may not top out as mega-stars, but who at least are strong bets to become something worthwhile to the MLB team even in a support role. (not necessarily "safe" low-ceiling guys, just guys with less total bust potential).

Rocker could maybe be very good. But he's also a guy with shonky medicals who hasn't played competitive baseball in almost a year who would need to come out and dominate now to get some of his shine back. 3 innings even in a return engagement isn't exactly a glorious return to the stage of prominence.

I don't know man. I'm thinking the opposite. If we can get a Kerry wood or mark prior season out of him, aren't we.best placed to use a volatile pitcher? We should be in the playoff picture, it's not like we burn his only heathy year while rebuilding.

 

[TGB]

Love that home run from Vladdy. That's the sort of home run that is an encouraging sign he is regaining his form, not that shot he hit off that hanging BP change up the other day any major league hitter can hit.

Shame to see Borucki move along, loved the arm and upside.
Best of luck to him.

This is why I'm not so high on Walker as everyone else is. He seems to do just fine with elite pitchers (who wouldn't?), but everyone else seems to blow a tire at some point and then they're just done.

 

[kb]

Through 5 with 6 K's, 3 hits, 0 walks just the 1 unearned run. I assume that's it as he hasn't went past 5 all year. The 1 unearned run came in the 1st when the only baserunner was on an error so not even an unearned run where he put a few guys on an an error drove them in, just a single fielding erro leading to the run, no fault to Ricky whatsoever

He's going to be in double A by July if he keeps this pace. lol His numbers in A+* are even better than A ball (* small sample size alert)

14.2 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 19 K, 0.61 ERA, 0.55 WHIP

Insane numbers. Zulueta has nearly the same numbers too.

 

[canucksfan]

Love that home run from Vladdy. That's the sort of home run that is an encouraging sign he is regaining his form, not that shot he hit off that hanging BP change up the other day any major league hitter can hit.

This is why I'm not so high on Walker as everyone else is. He seems to do just fine with elite pitchers (who wouldn't?), but everyone else seems to blow a tire at some point and then they're just done.

An MLB pitching coach's role is to polish a finished product which Walker does very well. Sure Ray has elite stuff but his best year was with Walker. Furthermore, not all pitchers will succeed at the MLB level. I can't recall a pitcher failing with Toronto and then going to another team and turning into a solid MLB pitcher.

 

[kb]

An MLB pitching coach's role is to polish a finished product which Walker does very well. Sure Ray has elite stuff but his best year was with Walker. Furthermore, not all pitchers will succeed at the MLB level. I can't recall a pitcher failing with Toronto and then going to another team and turning into a solid MLB pitcher.

The only one of note who I can think of under Walker's tenure - and it's not really a good direct example as he didn't really 'fail' - was Liam Hendriks.

 

[Eyedea]

The only one of note who I can think of under Walker's tenure - and it's not really a good direct example as he didn't really 'fail' - was Liam Hendriks.

Yeah I think that was more of a slight on upper management for trading him but at the same time they were looking for starting depth (Chavez) and ended up having one of the most healthiest seasons I can remember for their rotation.

 

[canucksfan]

Frasso with another solid outing. 3.2 innings only one hit and 6 SO.

 

[SDig14]

Was nice to see a lot of swing and miss from Berrios yesterday and minimal hard contact. Only hard contact he gave up was early in the game, all on fastballs, to LH hitters. He needs to tidy that part up a bit but his stuff was very good.

 

[kb]

Frasso with another solid outing. 3.2 innings only one hit and 6 SO.

They have some pitchers just killing it. No idea why, but I always thought Frasso was a heck of a smart get where they got him. Athleticism off the charts along with almost no mileage on his arm.

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[Discoverer]

The only one of note who I can think of under Walker's tenure - and it's not really a good direct example as he didn't really 'fail' - was Liam Hendriks.

If anything, I would point to Hendriks as a success story for Walker. When they got him, he was a terrible depth starter, and he immediately became an excellent reliever. They traded him away and he didn't replicate his Toronto success until four years later.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

The idea that because a pitching coach doesn't turn every fringish AAAA arm into an ace that he is useless is actually hilarious. You might as well just say that you think the pitching coach doesn't matter at that point. Some people just don't have what it takes regardless of coaching. That is a fact.

 

[kb]

If anything, I would point to Hendriks as a success story for Walker. When they got him, he was a terrible depth starter, and he immediately became an excellent reliever. They traded him away and he didn't replicate his Toronto success until four years later.

Honestly, I agree. But they gave him away after he turned the corner (for Chavez), and he exploded as one of the premier closers once he left the Jays.

It's why I say it's not necessarily a fail, but they could have kept an elite high leverage arm.

 

[TGB]

I can't recall a pitcher failing with Toronto and then going to another team and turning into a solid MLB pitcher.

Chris Carpenter.

An MLB pitching coach's role is to polish a finished product which Walker does very well. Sure Ray has elite stuff but his best year was with Walker. Furthermore, not all pitchers will succeed at the MLB level.

I'm sorry, I guess I'm just not the type of person who accepts the minimum level of success and calls it a day. I'm always looking to find ways to improve and that requires rocking the boat and asking tough questions.

The idea that because a pitching coach doesn't turn every fringish AAAA arm into an ace that he is useless is actually hilarious. You might as well just say that you think the pitching coach doesn't matter at that point. Some people just don't have what it takes regardless of coaching. That is a fact.

Then you have a weird sense of humour. I personally don't find it hilarious that a 100+ MPH pitcher with elite pitches across the board like Pearson crashed and burned. I do find it hilarious how people feel the need to resort to hyperbole to make a point though. No one ever said Walker is worthless.

I don't recall saying they all have to be aces, but if a guy manages to put up a decent performance at some point, then questions should be asked when that same player continues to demonstrate talent but just keeps failing. I mean, come on, it's okay to call for Keefe's and Dubas' head, but Walker pretty much only works wonders with pitchers that are already proven to be elite while everyone else is a crap shoot and he's some kind of hero?