Blue Jays Discussion: Off-Season VI: It's no longer the off-season, but the thread isn't done yet

[phillipmike]

The Ringer’s 2022 MLB Preseason Predictions

Our picks for MVP, Cy Young, the World Series, and even which teams could disappoint in the new season

www.theringer.com

4 out of 4 Writers picked the Jays going to the WS. 3 out of 4 predicted them winning it all.

AL MVP​

Kram: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays. I don’t trust that Trout will stay healthy or that Ohtani will replicate the most magical individual season of my lifetime. I do, however, trust that Guerrero will mash once again, and that the Blue Jays’ team performance will give him a narrative boost.

Breakout Player​

Baumann: Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays. The Blue Jays backstop has become a bit of a fan-favorite figure because at 5-foot-8 and 265 pounds, he’s shaped like a friend. But before this becomes a repeat of the semi-patronizing latter-day Bartolo Colon discourse, let’s throw a couple other facts out there. In 189 plate appearances in 2021, Kirk had a higher walk rate than Paul Goldschmidt, a lower strikeout rate than Jose Altuve, and a better ISO than Bo Bichette. Kirk isn’t some novelty act: He’s going to grow up to be a Yuli Gurriel, or maybe a Dmitri Young.

 

[phillipmike]

 

[kb]

Why Matt Chapman Can Win the MVP - Pitcher List

 

[Canada4Gold]

Looks like we've got the rosters for all the minor league teams now. Listing the mlb.com's top 30 prospects at each as well as some others I'm intrigued by

Buffalo: Francis(15), Taylor(16), Eisert, Kay, Spraker, Palacios, Warmoth, Young
New Hampshire: O.Martinez(2), Danner(17), Hernandez(18), Murray(24), Espino(25), Juenger(26), T.Morris(29), Horwitz(30), Castillo, Luciano, Clarke, Cook, Robertson
Vancouver: Jimenez(5), Robberse(7), Kloffenstein(11), Hiraldo(12), Dallas(22), Palmer(23), Gregory, Barger, Tirotta, Britton,
Dunedin: Tiedemann(6), Machado(13), De Castro(14), Brown(27), Santos(28), Cooke, Dominguez, Rojas, Mesia, Palmegiani, G.Martinez

Other:

Moreno(1): Extended Spring, listed on Buffalo's reserve list and will go there whenever they think he's ready
Groshans(3): Injured
Lopez(4): Buffalo's 7 Day IL
Van Eyk(8): Tommy John
Beltre(9): Presumably still in extended spring to play FCL
Carter(10): Presumably still in extended spring to play FCL
Zulueta(19): Unknown, I know he got hurt last year, thought he might be ready by now
Meza(20): either FCL or DSL likely
Aponte(21): Presumably still in extended spring to play FCL
Hatch: Buffalo's reserve list
Pinto: Presumably still in extended spring to play FCL

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[canucksfan]

Was going to do it this morning but ran out of time

Record: 96-66, which means they will be first in the AL East. If they had an easier division they could get to 100 wins. Yanks will be second in the division.
TEAM MVP: Vladdy
TEAM TOP DEFENDER: Chapman easily

MOST IMPROVED: Going to say Chapman as well.

BREAKOUT: Jansen. I have been saying this for a couple of years but Jansen finally breaks out offensively.

OVERPERFORMS: Manaoh. Think he's going to have a big year.
UNDERPERFORMS: Gausman struggles and Ryu continues his decline. I had Teoscar in this category last year!

One guarantee, we all will complain about Montoyo's weird decisions. I am hoping I see no bunt attempts while there are two strikes.

 

[Blitzkrug]

Record: 95-68 - Tampa wins the division because of the voodoo graveyard underneath the Trop and after winning a massive 4 game series against the Jays at the end of September. Blue Jays come in as the best of the rest as the top wild card. (Bonus points: they finish with a better record than both the AL Central and West champions)

Most improved: Chapman. - Somewhat regains the form he had before the hip injury and is an absolute delight to watch at the hot corner all season long. All-Star nod.

Overperforms: Gausman - Pete Walker works his voodoo bullshit and has Gausman to the point where he legitimately challenges for the Cy Young based on an entire season's body of work rather than the first half like he did in San Fran

Underperforms: Ryu - I always felt like a low velocity, pitch to contact guy was just trying to stave up the inevitable. Ryu gets hit hard enough where he's on bullpen duty come playoff time.

Breakout/surprise: Espinal - Plays well enough to force the Jays to ditch someone else to give him a spot in the starting lineup (probably Biggio)

Guarantee: Dolis still sucks and gets trotted out in situations where he's the last guy you want out there.

 

[Discoverer]

Record: 95-68 - Tampa wins the division because of the voodoo graveyard underneath the Trop and after winning a massive 4 game series against the Jays at the end of September. Blue Jays come in as the best of the rest as the top wild card. (Bonus points: they finish with a better record than both the AL Central and West champions)

Most improved: Chapman. - Somewhat regains the form he had before the hip injury and is an absolute delight to watch at the hot corner all season long. All-Star nod.

Overperforms: Gausman - Pete Walker works his voodoo bullshit and has Gausman to the point where he legitimately challenges for the Cy Young based on an entire season's body of work rather than the first half like he did in San Fran

Underperforms: Ryu - I always felt like a low velocity, pitch to contact guy was just trying to stave up the inevitable. Ryu gets hit hard enough where he's on bullpen duty come playoff time.

Breakout/surprise: Espinal - Plays well enough to force the Jays to ditch someone else to give him a spot in the starting lineup (probably Biggio)

Guarantee: Dolis still sucks and gets trotted out in situations where he's the last guy you want out there.

He's gone, Blitz. He can't hurt you anymore.

 

[ER89]

Do we like our bullpen?

 

[The Nemesis]

Man, the first week or so of Sportsnet's new heavy hyping of its integration of sports betting material has been insufferable. I hope it doesn't encroach too much onto the Jays broadcasts.

and I don't say that because of any moral objection to betting. If people wanna bet on stuff, cool. I just don't need everything to feature a cut-in from Cabbie and some randos giving us Vegas betting lines on how many pitches Biggio's going to see in his next PA or what flavor of sunflower seeds Teoscar is going to dump on the next HR hitter or how the Jays' WS odds change pitch-to-pitch.

 

[The Nemesis]

Do we like our bullpen?

It's probably about as good as a bullpen that's not full of hyped name-brand pen arms can be. Romano is very very good as long as he stays healthy. Cimber, Richards, Garcia, and Mayza are excellent arms for those high leverage and specialty innings. Phelps and Borucki have risk and question marks, but can be solid. That's 7 arms and the bulk of your pen innings. Then there's the potential to integrate guys like Stripling, Hatch, Pearson, Kay, Merryweather and others if they seize spots or settle into the pen (if some of them don't get hooked into starting roles in Buffalo or as injury call ups. Which would be preferable in a few cases).

If things go well in enough places this should be a very very good pen because of its depth. But there's enough potential swing in enough of them that a few down seasons might cause issues.

Because, of course, no matter who's in your pen it's a universal truth that bullpens are chaotic voodoo where anything can and will happen.

 

[dredeye]

Man, the first week or so of Sportsnet's new heavy hyping of its integration of sports betting material has been insufferable. I hope it doesn't encroach too much onto the Jays broadcasts.

and I don't say that because of any moral objection to betting. If people wanna bet on stuff, cool. I just don't need everything to feature a cut-in from Cabbie and some randos giving us Vegas betting lines on how many pitches Biggio's going to see in his next PA or what flavor of sunflower seeds Teoscar is going to dump on the next HR hitter or how the Jays' WS odds change pitch-to-pitch.

Watching companies push their new toys these days can really be insufferable.

 

[phillipmike]

Get a hold of this.

Kirk ranks 30th among all players in wRC+ Steamer projections

Steamers has Kirk ranked ahead of Rendon, Altuve, Springer, Reynolds, Bichette, Julio and Yelich

Kirk DHing and catching with his breakout bat will make Cleveland regret not making the trade. Also think Gurriel settles in too

 

[Dr.Funk]

 

[SoupNazi]

Given that Ramirez left $75 million or so on the table, that tweet doesn't necessarily mean much. I'd be curious to find out what they offered him if it leaks.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Lackluster AAA game today. Kay got roughed up early. Of Note Brandon Eisert had 5 K's in 2 innings despite giving up a HR and walking 1. Interesting pen option down the road perhaps

 

[phillipmike]

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[canucksfan]

 

[Dr.Funk]

Spicy

 

[LeafsOHLRangers98]

but our home field advantage... what ever will we do now?

 

[red devil]

Spicy

Acuna Jr is denying it.

 

[theaub]

'“(Toronto) has got a ton of buzz around it, as do we. They’ve made a lot of really positive changes,” Woodward said. “They lost their best player last year, in my opinion, but we were able to get that one in Marcus.”'

/Giant thinking emoji

 

[TheBeastCoast]

'“(Toronto) has got a ton of buzz around it, as do we. They’ve made a lot of really positive changes,” Woodward said. “They lost their best player last year, in my opinion, but we were able to get that one in Marcus.”'

/Giant thinking emoji

Imagine his surprise when his pitcher has to face Vladdy tomorrow.

 

[weems]

It's too bad the people who actually vote on MVP dont agree with that.