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

[weems]

Thought it was Chapman, not Teo that was in thr Top 15?

Edit - Perhaps both were, but I was sure Chappy was there.

Amongst qualified hitters

1. Daulton Varsho 54.5
2. Jose Altuve 51.9
3. Patrick Wisdom 51.2
4. Max Muncy 49.2
5. Luke Voit 48.9
6. Wilmer Flores 48.6
7. Carlos Santana 48.4
8. George Springer 48.3
9. Alex Bregman 48.2
10. Anthony Rizzo 48.1
11. Nolan Arenado 47.9
12. Matt Chapman 47.7
13. Aaron Judge 47.5
14. Brandon Drury 47.2
15. Cody Bellinger 47.2

Jansen I guess didnt qualify but his is 52.3

 

[DonnyNucker]

Springer, Varsho and teo are all actually top 15 in pull rate.

Varsho tops the list

That’s cool but I don’t watch baseball. Is there still room in the hive?

 

[Woodman19]

That’s cool but I don’t watch baseball. Is there still room in the hive?

Depends, are you going to be a miserable prick who determines moves based on your feelings (not any facts) of everything we do has to be bad and anyone who disagrees with you irritates and makes you defensive?

 

[GoonieFace]

I think Springer pulls a lot of balls as well.

I wonder if that ever becomes a problem in the locker room?

 

[canucksfan]

I wonder if that ever becomes a problem in the locker room?

Extremely doubtful

 

[Lightsol]

So sensitive...

You having concerns about Pearson was fine then and now. Did you ever explain why? I used to be a pitching coach at the NCAA level...did you think it was his mechanics/delivery? imbalanced strength? weighted ball routine?

You just say things, give no supporting argument why and then get sensitive when people disagree.

It's like you come here with your opinion and then when you realize most don't share that view you get all emotional talking about "hive mind" and "gatekeeping".

Just as a quick note, here's how 99% of the interactions with the guy you're arguing with here have gone for the past two years:

MadHatTrick: Danny Jansen SUCKS! We need to get rid of him ASAP because he's always going to be below average!
Rest of forum: Uh, that's not true, and here's why: (facts)
MadHatTrick: THIS PLACE IS SUCH A HIVE MIND!

 

[DonnyNucker]

Depends, are you going to be a miserable prick who determines moves based on your feelings (not any facts) of everything we do has to be bad and anyone who disagrees with you irritates and makes you defensive?

I hate facts and I’m always defensive! Hopefully I’ve passed hive initiation

 

[Tony Romo]

I want to catch a jays game in Seattle someday. Just seems like it would be so electric. This year more so than most.

That’s crazy you want to gate keep in person? Truly dedicated to your craft. /s

For the smarter baseball fans here, what would you say is more important for a team position wise? Elite C, Elite SS or Elite CF?

 

[TheTotalPackage]

I really think they specifically traded Teo and Lourdes for a reason. While it was fun watching the clubhouse shenanigans, and those 2 usually in the middle of it, I think Brass got tired of it. To me there were times where they were having too much fun, focusing on balancing peanuts on a team mates head instead of what the pitcher is throwing next, but maybe that's me.

A few statements from Atkins seemed to confirm...
“We’re exceptionally excited about these guys we’ve acquired this year, (Erik) Swanson, (Kevin) Kiermaier, (Chris) Bassitt and now Varsho,” Atkins said on a Christmas Eve Zoom call. “How they go about their business, their competitiveness, their focus on process and focus on being good teammates."
“We feel very good about the personality of our clubhouse, feel very good about the professionalism, but always looking to improve and make progress.”

I think he threw in "professionalism" on purpose.

I didn't mind the lightheartedness in the dugout and the fun they had (to an extent). As much as you want them to be all business, I think that can get too rigid, and it's good to keep it loose. After all, you want to be having fun when playing the game (which particularly coincides moreso when the team is winning).

It's the half-assing it on the field at times which was really frustrating. Two very talented players who would dog it every so often. There's one thing to have fun...it's another to make a mockery of being a professional league player. Not to say that was their intention per se, but there are few things worse than seeing a highly talented player playing below his capabilities.

 

[dredeye]

Thought it was Chapman, not Teo that was in thr Top 15?

Edit - Perhaps both were, but I was sure Chappy was there.

I was thinking Chapman but couldn’t remember if it was him or not

 

[dredeye]

That’s crazy you want to gate keep in person? Truly dedicated to your craft. /s

For the smarter baseball fans here, what would you say is more important for a team position wise? Elite C, Elite SS or Elite CF?

Elite SS imo which is why I want Bo moved to 2b

 

[conFABulator]

I think the Jays have had a very strong off-season.

They have improved the pitching with Bassitt being an upgrade over Stripling and Swanson being a strong add to the pen. We haven't added a fifth starter yet and I am not convinced we will with White, Kikuchi, Pop and maybe Tiedemann or Pearson competing for that spot of sharing a bullpen day.

They have obviously improved OF defense and that was a real weak spot last year. The IF still features two GG nominees and solid 2B options.

Our catchers are ranked as the strongest MLB tandem. We won't miss Moreno...yet.

It also seems obvious to me that changing/improving (fixing) the culture and attitude was a priority. It started with Schneider in for Montoyo and then Mattingly added to the staff. The laughing, playful clique at the end of the dugout also seems to be (intentionally) a thing of the past with Hernandez, Guriel, Tapia (and even Moreno) all moved out. Varsho should be a big add in that regard also.

As for remaining moves. I would say we are close to done. I would say we consider a 14 pitcher/12 player roster configuration. I would add one more utility/OF player...Profar? And call it a day.

C - Jansen, Kirk, Varsho
1B - Guerrero, Profar, Biggio
2B - Merrifield, Espinal, Biggio, Profar
3B - Chapman, Espinal, Biggio
CF - Kiermayer, Varsho, Springer
RF - Springer, Varsho, Profar, Merrifield, Biggio
LF - Varsho, Profar, Merrifield, Biggio

This allows us to move Kirk and others through the DH spot and we can rest guys and also make sure out guys get enough AB and playing time.

Pitching would be.

Gausman
Manoah
Bassitt
Berrios
White/Kikuchi/Pop (maybe Pearon or Tiedemann)

And the BP is solid...

White/Kikuchi/Pop
White/Kikuchi/Pop
Richards
Cimber
Bass
Garcia
Swanson
Mayza
Romano

That is a very solid team. Great off-season.

 

[Woodman19]

I think the Jays have had a very strong off-season.

They have improved the pitching with Bassitt being an upgrade over Stripling and Swanson being a strong add to the pen. We haven't added a fifth starter yet and I am not convinced we will with White, Kikuchi, Pop and maybe Tiedemann or Pearson competing for that spot of sharing a bullpen day.

They have obviously improved OF defense and that was a real weak spot last year. The IF still features two GG nominees and solid 2B options.

Our catchers are ranked as the strongest MLB tandem. We won't miss Moreno...yet.

It also seems obvious to me that changing/improving (fixing) the culture and attitude was a priority. It started with Schneider in for Montoyo and then Mattingly added to the staff. The laughing, playful clique at the end of the dugout also seems to be (intentionally) a thing of the past with Hernandez, Guriel, Tapia (and even Moreno) all moved out. Varsho should be a big add in that regard also.

As for remaining moves. I would say we are close to done. I would say we consider a 14 pitcher/12 player roster configuration. I would add one more utility/OF player...Profar? And call it a day.

C - Jansen, Kirk, Varsho
1B - Guerrero, Profar, Biggio
2B - Merrifield, Espinal, Biggio, Profar
3B - Chapman, Espinal, Biggio
CF - Kiermayer, Varsho, Springer
RF - Springer, Varsho, Profar, Merrifield, Biggio
LF - Varsho, Profar, Merrifield, Biggio

This allows us to move Kirk and others through the DH spot and we can rest guys and also make sure out guys get enough AB and playing time.

Pitching would be.

Gausman
Manoah
Bassitt
Berrios
White/Kikuchi/Pop (maybe Pearon or Tiedemann)

And the BP is solid...

White/Kikuchi/Pop
White/Kikuchi/Pop
Richards
Cimber
Bass
Garcia
Swanson
Mayza
Romano

That is a very solid team. Great off-season.

Only allowed 13 active pitchers on the 26 man roster.

 

[conFABulator]

Only allowed 13 active pitchers on the 26 man roster.

Thanks, I wondered that as I was writing it. I couldn't remember how that played out last year and what the go forward rule was. They were allowed 14 pitchers on the roster at beginning last year.

It doesn't change much. I would rotate kids through the 13th position spot and maybe Pop is down to start.

 

[Petes]

Thanks, I wondered that as I was writing it. I couldn't remember how that played out last year and what the go forward rule was. They were allowed 14 pitchers on the roster at beginning last year.

It doesn't change much. I would rotate kids through the 13th position spot and maybe Pop is down to start.

Pop is strictly a reliever as well, just FYI. But other than that, I agree… looks good!

 

[Langdon Alger]

I really hope White is not a starter. He might be ok as a long reliever though.

 

[canucksfan]

I really hope White is not a starter. He might be ok as a long reliever though.

I think he will be the long man or starting in AAA. I think the 5th starter will be Kikuchi.

 

[Ale Brew]

I think he will be the long man or starting in AAA. I think the 5th starter will be Kikuchi.

I agree, but as the swing man it’s likely White will be starting at some point in the season.

 

[conFABulator]

Pop is strictly a reliever as well, just FYI. But other than that, I agree… looks good!

Yeah, for some reason I thought he had a bit more long man out of the pen in him. So far he has not been that in the majors. I was thinking of him in the mix on bullpen days (which I am not a big fan of) but there is nothing in his last that suggests he is much more than a one inning guy.

 

[aight]

Yeah, for some reason I thought he had a bit more long man out of the pen in him. So far he has not been that in the majors. I was thinking of him in the mix on bullpen days (which I am not a big fan of) but there is nothing in his last that suggests he is much more than a one inning guy.

If he is one of those two pitch relievers he should name them snap and crackle.

 

[saska sault]

The more I see and read on Varsho, the more excited about him.

 

[aight]

The more I see and read on Varsho, the more excited about him.

I’ve seen it reported he will primarily play in left. I’m a watch every Jays game on Sportsnet fan, I didn’t play the game beyond like grade five. Is left more challenging than right?

 

[SeaOfBlue]

I’ve seen it reported he will primarily play in left. I’m a watch every Jays game on Sportsnet fan, I didn’t play the game beyond like grade five. Is left more challenging than right?

Mostly the same except LF doesn't need to have as strong of an arm as RF... since RF may need to throw a guy out at 3B more often than a LF will throw out a guy at first base (which practically never happens).

Although if you are going up against a lineup which hits to LF a lot (either righties who pull or lefties who don't), then LF will be a lot more busy than RF. Also depends on the dimensions of the park too, as it could be that LF is more spacious than RF and therefore the guy needs to cover more ground over there.

But generally, LF's are considered worse defensively than RFer's (even though I think it mostly has to do with their arm more than their range or any other defensive skill) and I guess there are analytics supporting the fact that you can put a subpar defensive player out in LF if you want as long as the bat plays up since there are a lot of teams that do that (including the Jays until this year). Guess the Jays wanted a very defensively adept and versatile OF at all three spots.

 

[aight]

Mostly the same except LF doesn't need to have as strong of an arm as RF... since RF may need to throw a guy out at 3B more often than a LF will throw out a guy at first base (which practically never happens).

Although if you are going up against a lineup which hits to LF a lot (either righties who pull or lefties who don't), then LF will be a lot more busy than RF. Also depends on the dimensions of the park too, as it could be that LF is more spacious than RF and therefore the guy needs to cover more ground over there.

But generally, LF's are considered worse defensively than RFer's (even though I think it mostly has to do with their arm more than their range or any other defensive skill) and I guess there are analytics supporting the fact that you can put a subpar defensive player out in LF if you want as long as the bat plays up since there are a lot of teams that do that (including the Jays until this year). Guess the Jays wanted a very defensively adept and versatile OF at all three spots.

I kinda had a niggling that I had heard right was a more respected spot. So I am kinda wondering about the whole thing. I know we had Lourdes in left and his arm was definitely his calling card on D.

 

[CatchyTune]

To finish off the offseason i’d like to see 3 moves

1. A 5th starter added (Eovaldi/Cueto)

2. 4th outfielder (Profar)

3. Saw this idea in the thread but Kikuchi+ for Liam Hendricks would be insane. I’d do whatever it takes within reason to get that done. Kikuchi wont be needed if we sign a 5th starter