Blue Jays Discussion: Off-season Edition II - Winter Meeting Madness

[Hoverhand]

Ah man, I really wanted Duvall. This is exactly what Pollock signed for as well, which is interesting. I can't say I have a good finger on the Jays pulse here. Are they all in on getting Grossman? Trade coming? Did Pollock and Duvall just not want to come here? McCutchen signed and Garlick cleared waivers, they're running out of depth options pretty quickly.

It's a great signing for the Red Sox as he's going to hammer a million doubles into the Green Monster. Duvall is also going to get a better shot at everyday time in Boston so I get it.

 

[canucksfan]

 

[Hoverhand]

I get fans that see Martinez' high K% and low batting average and dismiss him over it but is the mainstream getting this pessimistic on him?

It seems like he's going to be a long term 3B and that's heavily influencing these decisions but he still played a majority of his innings at SS in AA at age 20.

Are the Ks a big enough problem to ignore the insane power display and terrible babip luck? I'd have to look at the list but I have a hard time believing that he doesn't deserve a spot in the 90s.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

I get fans that see Martinez' high K% and low batting average and dismiss him over it but is the mainstream getting this pessimistic on him?

It seems like he's going to be a long term 3B and that's heavily influencing these decisions but he still played a majority of his innings at SS in AA at age 20.

Are the Ks a big enough problem to ignore the insane power display and terrible babip luck? I'd have to look at the list but I have a hard time believing that he doesn't deserve a spot in the 90s.

I have been saying for a while now that is seems like the industry as a whole cooled off on him way faster then I think his actual performance and some of the context behind his numbers should actually indicate. He shouldn't be lacking fuel to prove all these people wrong going into this season. It is absolutely a crucial one for him.

 

[Bjindaho]

I get fans that see Martinez' high K% and low batting average and dismiss him over it but is the mainstream getting this pessimistic on him?

It seems like he's going to be a long term 3B and that's heavily influencing these decisions but he still played a majority of his innings at SS in AA at age 20.

Are the Ks a big enough problem to ignore the insane power display and terrible babip luck? I'd have to look at the list but I have a hard time believing that he doesn't deserve a spot in the 90s.

A 28% K rate on a prospect who had Ks as a noted flaw is problematic

 

[kb]

Daulton Varsho’s Secret Superpower

Varsho looks like he's going to be all sorts of a handful for other teams. He's 15 for his last 16 in bunting for a hit.

 

[canucksfan]

Ah man, I really wanted Duvall. This is exactly what Pollock signed for as well, which is interesting. I can't say I have a good finger on the Jays pulse here. Are they all in on getting Grossman? Trade coming? Did Pollock and Duvall just not want to come here? McCutchen signed and Garlick cleared waivers, they're running out of depth options pretty quickly.

It's a great signing for the Red Sox as he's going to hammer a million doubles into the Green Monster. Duvall is also going to get a better shot at everyday time in Boston so I get it.

Players are a little hesitant because they are worried they wouldn't get much playing time. That's what I read anyways.

 

[weems]

With Martinez it also could be that the team just miscalculated what level he was ready for.

After his strong performance in spring training it was easy to attempt a aggressive push to double A but in hindsight it looks like just starting him out in Vancouver (A+) would have been the smarter play.

He actually struggled at high A to end the 2021 season, so having him go back to that level and dominate for half a season wouldn't have been seen as some sort of negative.

 

[Ale Brew]

Daulton Varsho’s Secret Superpower

Varsho looks like he's going to be all sorts of a handful for other teams. He's 15 for his last 16 in bunting for a hit.

I wonder if we don’t see that this year with the shift going away. Still likely benefits his BA regardless.

 

[kb]

I wonder if we don’t see that this year with the shift going away. Still likely benefits his BA regardless.

I see it actually happening more.

A majority of his bunts for hits come from bunting to the right side past the pitcher. With the banning of the shift, this becomes even more of a weapon. Your options are 2B playing deep to get to more balls, or playing in tighter to limit the bunt, but also making it much easier for Varsho to pull a ball past the 2B due to his pull happy profile and the lack of reaction time available.

Going to be interesting. I could see KK also going this way with his sprint speed.

 

[Discoverer]

I see it actually happening more.

A majority of his bunts for hits come from bunting to the right side past the pitcher. With the banning of the shift, this becomes even more of a weapon. Your options are 2B playing deep to get to more balls, or playing in tighter to limit the bunt, but also making it much easier for Varsho to pull a ball past the 2B due to his pull happy profile and the lack of reaction time available.

Going to be interesting. I could see KK also going this way with his sprint speed.

Bunts for hits are awesome, so it should be fun to watch. Considering he's one of the most extreme pull hitters in the game, it leaves the 1B/2B in a really tough spot. Meanwhile, Varsho can just keep an eye on what they're doing and decide from there.

 

[Eyedea]

I get fans that see Martinez' high K% and low batting average and dismiss him over it but is the mainstream getting this pessimistic on him?

It seems like he's going to be a long term 3B and that's heavily influencing these decisions but he still played a majority of his innings at SS in AA at age 20.

Are the Ks a big enough problem to ignore the insane power display and terrible babip luck? I'd have to look at the list but I have a hard time believing that he doesn't deserve a spot in the 90s.

Jordan Walker was whiffing a lot as well as a 20 y/o in AA, but he was at least able to draw a walk and have a better 2 strike approach. Orelvis is high risk because without pitch recognition, there's really no point in having godly power.

Still, 21 at AA is plenty young, but it'll be hard for him to hit that true potential. Thankfully there's quite a few bats that could potentially shoot up in the system and supplement the next wave of call ups/trade capital.

 

[Da Cool Rula]

 

[Dr.Funk]

Didn't see this coming

 

[canucksfan]

Tapia signs with the Red Sox

 

[Puckstuff]

What do you guys think about putting Springer and Gurrerro in the 3-4 spot this year to increase their RBI opportunities?

If Springer were to bat 4th instead of 1st for example he would be hitting with 25 % more runners on base.

 

[Bjindaho]

What do you guys think about putting Springer and Gurrerro in the 3-4 spot this year to increase their RBI opportunities?

If Springer were to bat 4th instead of 1st for example he would be hitting with 25 % more runners on base.

View attachment 637694

No, we shouldn't.

The optimal lineup is likely:
Springer
Vladdy
Kirk
Belt
Bo
Merrifield
Varsho
Chapman
Kiermeier

 

[Thornbury]

Tapia signs with the Red Sox

Quite the off season the Red Sox are having?!

 

[Hoverhand]

So long Raimel, you couldn't really hit, or field that well, and you weren't a threat on the basepaths but you were a Blue Jay. Salut.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

He will always have the pop up grand slam though.

 

[Discoverer]

No, we shouldn't.

The optimal lineup is likely:
Springer
Vladdy
Kirk
Belt
Bo
Merrifield
Varsho
Chapman
Kiermeier

Swap Bo and Belt.
Swap Merrifield and Chapman.

I would support that. We should see a very different lineup against lefties, too.

Springer
Vlad
Kirk
Bo
Chapman
Jansen
Espinal
Merrifield
Varsho/Kiermaier

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Swap Bo and Belt.
Swap Merrifield and Chapman.

I would support that. We should see a very different lineup against lefties, too.

Springer
Vlad
Kirk
Bo
Chapman
Jansen
Espinal
Merrifield
Varsho/Kiermaier

For all the talk about the offense getting worse with Teo being gone....that is a lethal lineup against both RHP and LHP. One that can actually play defense this year too.

 

[Discoverer]

He will always have the pop up grand slam though.

Ha, that was my first thought when I saw Boston signed him. He really lured them in with that 28-5 game.

 

[kb]

Here is my attempt at a lineup against RHP. Note that this is contingent upon Belt being healthy and productive, and with no further additions.

Springer
Guerrero jr
Belt
Bichette
Kirk
Varsho
Chapman
Biggio
Kiermaier

The thought behind this is that it makes bringing in a lefty reliever very unpalatable for the opposition with the 3 batter rule. If they do bring in a lefty, that lefty will face at most one LHB because of the way the lineup is constructed. Belt is 3, Varsho is 6, and then you PH Espinal for Biggio and Merrifield for Kiermaier (or use Jansen as the primary RH PH)......it works in the field too, as Varsho just slides over to CF and Whit takes left field.

Gotta say, this is looking like a formidable lineup if things click. As a pitcher you are probably asking yourself where the break in the lineup is...

 

[canucksfan]

Here is my attempt at a lineup against RHP. Note that this is contingent upon Belt being healthy and productive, and with no further additions.

Springer
Guerrero jr
Belt
Bichette
Kirk
Varsho
Chapman
Biggio
Kiermaier

The thought behind this is that it makes bringing in a lefty reliever very unpalatable for the opposition with the 3 batter rule. If they do bring in a lefty, that lefty will face at most one LHB because of the way the lineup is constructed. Belt is 3, Varsho is 6, and then you PH Espinal for Biggio and Merrifield for Kiermaier (or use Jansen as the primary RH PH)......it works in the field too, as Varsho just slides over to CF and Whit takes left field.

Gotta say, this is looking like a formidable lineup if things click. As a pitcher you are probably asking yourself where the break in the lineup is...

If injuries aren’t a big concern, the lineup doesn’t have any weaknesses.

I think last year the team was a bit overrated but this year they might be underrated.