Blue Jays Discussion: No longer the off-season. It's time for real baseball

[phillipmike]

 

[Discoverer]

I'm pretty disappointed there's no game for us to not watch this afternoon.

 

[theaub]

Completely disagree. I would shift 20 years ago to the pull side beside it was much more likely to be hit there. The point of sports is to do everything you can to win. Winning is the only thing that matters and I am sick and tired of entertainment playing any role. I could not care less how much money teams and players make so if the product results in less people liking it then I do not care. I just want my favourite team to win.

Is this how people view sports? Yikes.

Quality post to username ratio though.

 

[Discoverer]

Is this how people view sports? Yikes.

Quality post to username ratio though.

Yeah, it's a little odd. I spend hundreds and hundreds of hours watching sports every year. I was 8-9 years old when the Jays won, and, like most people, I've never seen the Leafs win. Obviously that's the goal, but if I was in it purely to watch my team win and not to be entertained, I would have given up a long, long time ago, and I definitely wouldn't have continued to watch so much during the garbage years each of those teams has had.

 

[NeverGoingToWin]

Mets' Carrasco injured, likely to miss opener

 

[phillipmike]

Sarris: 6 spring training stats (and players) that might actually matter this season

Here are some highlights from the section about Robbie Ray:

• Came to ST with an additional 15lbs of muscle.
• Has been throwing 96-97 this ST, compared to average 93.9 in 2020. There is an argument that a lot of pitchers throw smoke in ST before dialing back a little in the regular season but we've seen Ray throwing consistently at 96 over 4 innings, so there's a good chance this velo increase is here to stay.
• He's been a top 30 pitcher (Ks minus BBs) since 2017 - even if the extra velo doesn't help his command it will still help.

• Matt Shoemaker with the Twins is among the leaders of pitchers who are racking up the most ST innings this year so far. The Twins are taking a long look at him, and I hope it works out for him.

 

[phillipmike]

Mets' Carrasco injured, likely to miss opener

That Walker signing that i criticized became that much more important for the Mets.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

I'm pretty disappointed there's no game for us to not watch this afternoon.

LOL nicely put

 

[Kurtz]

Those numbers seem terrible considering his health concerns

He's looked great in spring training - hitting bombs and throwing over 100 mph. All he has to do is stay healthy and he's in the conversation; although easier said than done. Still, I think it's great value at 33x.

 

[Lightsol]

I never thought this would happen but ryno I agree with you. I think they simply stop the infield shift and the game will instantly improve. 3b at 2b and the 2b playing rover in the field makes baseball pretty trashy to watch.

Every time I talk baseball with my father I get a rant about how the infield shift has ruined the game...

 

[phillipmike]

Every time I talk baseball with my father I get a rant about how the infield shift has ruined the game...

Not that I’m against the shift but if the league wanted to get rid of the shift, just have a position rule like the NFL.

Simply say you must have 2 infielders on each side of 2nd base before the pitch is thrown. Umpires can easily enforce it and if teams pushes the envelope, it’s only their pitcher who suffers.

Or if you don’t follow the rule then you get an “illegal formation” violation like in the NFL and the penalty could be a walk or a balk where the runners advance.

 

[Discoverer]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the shift... I think what people don't like is that hitters, for the most part, are unwilling to adjust to it. And, since no one can force hitters to go the other way or bunt against the shift, the proposed solution is to get rid of the shift altogether and allow hitters to avoid evolving.

 

[theaub]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the shift... I think what people don't like is that hitters, for the most part, are unwilling to adjust to it. And, since no one can force hitters to go the other way or bunt against the shift, the proposed solution is to get rid of the shift altogether and allow hitters to avoid evolving.

I disagree with this. Hitters have "adjusted" to the shift by becoming 3TO hitters, because that is a more efficient way of adjusting than trying to slap the ball the other way.

 

[theaub]

Anyways our favourite trade guy Jim Bowden back with another great Jays trade
Proposed trade No. 2: Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds

Blue Jays acquire: RHP Luis Castillo, RHP Jared Solomon
Reds acquire: SS Jordan Groshans, RHP Alek Manoah

Thanks Jim!

 

[Bjindaho]

I disagree with this. Hitters have "adjusted" to the shift by becoming 3TO hitters, because that is a more efficient way of adjusting than trying to slap the ball the other way.

Which is strange because the numbers don't support the approach, do they?

Basically, the modern approach has made hitters significantly better in any non 2 strike count but significantly worse with 2 strikes because while hitters still make slight changes to improve contact, they still employ a hit it hard approach.

 

[Discoverer]

I disagree with this. Hitters have "adjusted" to the shift by becoming 3TO hitters, because that is a more efficient way of adjusting than trying to slap the ball the other way.

I would say the shift is a response to the 3TO approach as opposed to the other way around.

 

[Deebo]

I disagree with this. Hitters have "adjusted" to the shift by becoming 3TO hitters, because that is a more efficient way of adjusting than trying to slap the ball the other way.

What does 3TO mean?

 

[phillipmike]

What does 3TO mean?

3 True Outcomes; (Strikeout, Walk and HR)

The "three true outcomes" in baseball are said to be a home run, a walk or a strikeout due to the fact that none of the three, with the rare exception of an inside-the-park home run or a strikeout with a dropped third strike, involve the defense beyond the pitcher or the catcher.

 

[Deebo]

3 True Outcomes; (Strikeout, Walk and HR)

Thanks, I thought it had something to do with that but couldn't figure out what the initials were.

 

[BlueForever75]

Anyways our favourite trade guy Jim Bowden back with another great Jays trade
Proposed trade No. 2: Toronto Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds

Blue Jays acquire: RHP Luis Castillo, RHP Jared Solomon
Reds acquire: SS Jordan Groshans, RHP Alek Manoah

Thanks Jim!

Never going to happen. Trade with Cincy went away the minute the Jays realized that Biggio can handle the 3B duties as hes shown this spring.

The deal that made sense back before spring training was:

Blue Jays acquire: RHP Sony Gray, 3B Moustakis
Reds acquire: SS Groshans, RHP Roark, B prospect

That deal is no longer going to happen with the signing of Semien, the development of Biggio at 3B, and Groshans looking like the real deal.

Top it off with how our starters Matz, Ray, Roark and Stripling have looked this spring thus far. There is no reason to jump on any deal right now.

Take the wait and see approach until trade deadline.

Manoah looks like the real deal. He may be in your rotation some time later this year or by next season. No need to trade him at all.

 

[weems]

Kirk with another HR

Vlad 2 for 2

 

[canucksfan]

If you half Vlad's OPS in Spring Training it's still a very good OPS.

 

[weems]

 

[canucksfan]

Ray has done extremely well all spring.

 

[Discoverer]

Ray has done extremely well all spring.

Just finished off an 8-pitch 5th inning (all strikes) with a pair of Ks.

Now 1 BB and 7 Ks today... 48 strikes and just 17 balls, all while touching 98 and sitting 95-97.

That seems like a much, much different Robbie Ray than normal.