Blue Jays GDT: Opening Day!

[canucksfan]

Easton Lucas already starting games for the Jays in early April makes the decision to not roster Yarbrough even worse.

I think Bloss will get that spot very soon.

 

[tmlfan98]

Listen, the decision has happened and it is over.

Yarbrough isn't even the primary long-man for the Yankees (Carrasco) and they are already down multiple starters. There isn't a lot of confidence in Yarbrough being a good reliever at this point.

Nah, you can't say with a straight face that you would take a bullpen rounded out by YRod and Barnes with YRod as the bulk guy, over being rounded out by YRod and Yarbrough with Yarbrough as the bulk guy. Even before Scherzer hit the IL and before we knew the team would seriously consider YRod shortened up in higher leverage, I still would easily take Yarbrough over Barnes.

And we know now that Easton Lucas is up along with Little and Fluharty, that the handedness of the bulk guy doesn't matter, and Schneider saying he wanted 2 lefties in the pen was only referring to loogys. So rostering Yarbrough over Barnes could have realistically happened.

The only way that this can end up looking slightly better for Shatkins, is if Barnes signed a 45-day advanced consent before the Jays rostered him which went unreported (Yarbrough I think it was reported did not want to sign an advanced consent).

Because otherwise they were talking out of their asses by putting it out there through the Rogers shills at Sportsnet, that they didn't want to spend $2M on a fungible bullpen spot. If Barnes didn't sign a 45-day advanced consent, the front office needs to be asked why they were willing to spend $1.4M (Barnes' salary) on a fungible bullpen spot, but not $2M.

When again, YRod shortened up and Yarbrough as the bulk guy for $2M easily clears Barnes and YRod as the bulk guy for $1.4M.

 

[Bjindaho]

Nah, you can't say with a straight face that you would take a bullpen rounded out by YRod and Barnes with YRod as the bulk guy, over being rounded out by YRod and Yarbrough with Yarbrough as the bulk guy. Even before Scherzer hit the IL and before we knew the team would seriously consider YRod shortened up in higher leverage, I still would easily take Yarbrough over Barnes.

And we know now that Easton Lucas is up along with Little and Fluharty, that the handedness of the bulk guy doesn't matter, and Schneider saying he wanted 2 lefties in the pen was only referring to loogys. So rostering Yarbrough over Barnes could have realistically happened.

The only way that this can end up looking slightly better for Shatkins, is if Barnes signed a 45-day advanced consent before the Jays rostered him which went unreported (Yarbrough I think it was reported did not want to sign an advanced consent).

Because otherwise they were talking out of their asses by putting it out there through the Rogers shills at Sportsnet, that they didn't want to spend $2M on a fungible bullpen spot. If Barnes didn't sign a 45-day advanced consent, the front office needs to be asked why they were willing to spend $1.4M (Barnes' salary) on a fungible bullpen spot, but not $2M.

When again, YRod shortened up and Yarbrough as the bulk guy for $2M easily clears Barnes and YRod as the bulk guy for $1.4M.

What even is this?

Barnes outperfomed Yarbrough.

I would have taken Nance over Lovelady (and ignored the 2 lefty thing), but YRod was slated as the long man.

Yarbrough is only on the Yankees because they have 2 starters out and the 3rd guy may or may not be ready, meaning that they could be on their 8th best rotation guy (which would finally make Yarbrough their bulk guy). It needs to be pointed out that Yarbrough is a DFA candidate as soon as Schmidt is ready to start again.

The biggest problem I have with everything in this conversation is that Chad Green should always have been the Jays bulk guy (because he's extremely good at it). Flip Green and YRod and the bullpen is lined up well.

 

[LaP]

Good win. Francis was great minus the walks and the 2 HR.

Still don’t like the offense much but was enough today to get the W

I think the offense is fine if they can find a LF.

2nd BO
1st Vlad
DH Santander
2nd Gimenez
RF Springer
LF ?
CF Varsho
C Kirk
3rd Wagner

I don't think Clement is a good fit with this lineup. They need a LF who can hit with power and clean up the base once in a while. Clement is a good versatile player but Jays needs to add power. They should try kids (Roden, Barger) at this posiiton and if it doesn't work try to adress it at the deadline if they are in the race.

 

[Beaumaris]

What does Encarnacion do? We already have 3 hitting coaches. I don't mind his presence, but just wondering what is his role?

Good question.

 

[Eyedea]

I think the offense is fine if they can find a LF.

2nd BO
1st Vlad
DH Santander
2nd Gimenez
RF Springer
LF ?
CF Varsho
C Kirk
3rd Wagner

I don't think Clement is a good fit with this lineup. They need a LF who can hit with power and clean up the base once in a while. Clement is a good versatile player but Jays needs to add power. They should try kids (Roden, Barger) at this posiiton and if it doesn't work try to adress it at the deadline if they are in the race.

It’s already pretty clear that they’re running Wagner out there as the strong side platoon with Clement. Clement’s a great bench option and spot starter to have on the team.

Give Roden a long enough leash and he’ll run away with the LF position.

 

[LaP]

It’s already pretty clear that they’re running Wagner out there as the strong side platoon with Clement. Clement’s a great bench option and spot starter to have on the team.

Give Roden a long enough leash and he’ll run away with the LF position.

Obviously Clement is a good versatile bench player to have around. I just don't like the narrative that Roden will go back to AAA once Varsho is back. I hate it in fact. They keep saying that every game during the broadcast.

 

[Bjindaho]

Obviously Clement is a good versatile bench player to have around. I just don't like the narrative that Roden will go back to AAA once Varsho is back. I hate it in fact. They keep saying that every game during the broadcast.

That's very good for them, BUT...

When Varsho comes back, one of the CF guys has to go down. Whether Roden stays or goes is dependent on Roden.

If Roden can cut it, he's a very good option for LF. Personally, I would send Lukes down without question (because Straw bring better defense and a faster baserunner) and if they send Roden down, I would be bringing Barger or Loperfido up.

 

[The Iceman]

Trade with the Capitals but at least they got a 1st in return!

you might be on to something.
The 1st in return turned into Easton

And the Jays are looking to start Easton...

 

[Discoverer]

I think the Jays made a mistake in not having better starting depth, but I don't think Yarbrough was going to play much of a role in fixing that. Outside of his stint with the Jays last year, it's been 5 years since he was last any good. I would have picked him over Lovelady, but he's not really any better than guys like Lucas, Walker, Fluharty, or Barnes.

 

[The Iceman]

Obviously Clement is a good versatile bench player to have around. I just don't like the narrative that Roden will go back to AAA once Varsho is back. I hate it in fact. They keep saying that every game during the broadcast.

Straw should draw the .....short straw when Varsho returns.
Lukes has a good enough glove in CF and did show excellent in almost 100 ABs last season.

 

[Bjindaho]

Theoretically, if the Jays plan is to let Santander play the field 2 of 5 games, then 3/5 needs someone to play the OF. If they started rotating Springer through DH (say once every 5), then you need 4/5 of an outfielder.

Schneider can play the outfield maybe 2 out of 5, but I don't want to see either Lukes or Straw out there twice every 5. That's why one of Roden or one of the AAA guys should be playing outfield.

 

[Bjindaho]

Straw should draw the .....short straw when Varsho returns.
Lukes has a good enough glove in CF and did show excellent in almost 100 ABs last season.

No, he doesn't. Springer is a better defensive CF than Lukes but we don't want him playing there to preserve his body. Lukes is a below average defensive CF who can hit. That is not the profile of a 4th OF.

 

[Bjindaho]

No, he doesn't. Springer is a better defensive CF than Lukes but we don't want him playing there to preserve his body. Lukes is a below average defensive CF who can hit. That is not the profile of a 4th OF.

Turning this slightly.

When Varsho returns, he plays CF nearly every day. Springer/Santander should play RF nearly every day (and cover LF once a week).

One of Roden/Loperfido/Barger should be getting OF reps in the bigs (all have more hitting potential than Lukes and Roden/Loperfido are better defensive outfielders at this point too). With Schneider also playing LF, that leaves a niche for the other guy. You either send both guys down and call up an infielder (like Barger) or you use the remaining guy for that void.

Being a righty, Straw could start against lefties you don't want Varsho to start against, while being pinch runner/defensive replacement. Lukes has no situations where he's better than the other bench pieces other than an extra average bat on the bench.

 

[Seath The Scaleless]

 

[MS]

No, he doesn't. Springer is a better defensive CF than Lukes but we don't want him playing there to preserve his body. Lukes is a below average defensive CF who can hit. That is not the profile of a 4th OF.

5 games into the season Lukes has played 22 innings in CF and Straw has played 10. Lukes seems to be ahead in the pecking order and he's good enough in CF to cover for the huge difference in hitting ability.

 

[Bjindaho]

5 games into the season Lukes has played 22 innings in CF and Straw has played 10. Lukes seems to be ahead in the pecking order and he's good enough in CF to cover for the huge difference in hitting ability.

Right now, the hitting difference matters because we are talking about a regular role. When the playing time we have is once a week or less, that's when I want Straw (or Loperfido, because I think he's better than both).

One thing to keep in mind is that 5 games into the year, Springer and Santander have only both played the outfield together once and it was with Springer in CF.

Let me rephrase my point...

The Jays have so much positional flexibility that the best use of the last fielder is situation specific advantages. With one of the kids in LF, Varsho in CF and Santander able to play RF, there is never a situation where Lukes will be a platoon edge in CF. In terms of a baserunner, he's actually slower than Vladdy (meaning that whichever of the LF isn't playing will always be a better pinch runner option). He's not a great defensive outfielder either).

In contrast, Straw could start against LHP for Varsho as an easy way to make a day off (or Springer), but he's also a good enough fielder to be a defensive sub for Schneider and Santander and his 29.2 spring speed is a significant upgrade over most of the team (meaning that he's an automatic extra inning pinch runner on top of being a huge upgrade over Kirk if need be).

 

[Cloned]

Be funny if he turned into Bautista with elite defense.

 

[hockeywiz542]

 

[trellaine201]

Finally the Leafs got something for him

 

[dredeye]

Finally the Leafs got something for him

I figured it would just be a late pick at best hahaha

 

[MS]

Right now, the hitting difference matters because we are talking about a regular role. When the playing time we have is once a week or less, that's when I want Straw (or Loperfido, because I think he's better than both).

One thing to keep in mind is that 5 games into the year, Springer and Santander have only both played the outfield together once and it was with Springer in CF.

Let me rephrase my point...

The Jays have so much positional flexibility that the best use of the last fielder is situation specific advantages. With one of the kids in LF, Varsho in CF and Santander able to play RF, there is never a situation where Lukes will be a platoon edge in CF. In terms of a baserunner, he's actually slower than Vladdy (meaning that whichever of the LF isn't playing will always be a better pinch runner option). He's not a great defensive outfielder either).

In contrast, Straw could start against LHP for Varsho as an easy way to make a day off (or Springer), but he's also a good enough fielder to be a defensive sub for Schneider and Santander and his 29.2 spring speed is a significant upgrade over most of the team (meaning that he's an automatic extra inning pinch runner on top of being a huge upgrade over Kirk if need be).

This is just back to pointlessly carrying Bradley Zimmer for an entire season, though.

I just don't see the need for an all-glove/no-bat CF when Varsho will be in CF virtually every game.

Springer/Lukes are good enough to cover CF if Varsho has a day off and Lukes is good enough defensively to be a late-game replacement for Santander. Keep the better bat on the team on a team that is already lacking at the plate.

Lukes stole 20 bases in his last full season in AAA. He's a competent enough pinch-running option.

 

[Discoverer]

This is just back to pointlessly carrying Bradley Zimmer for an entire season, though.

I just don't see the need for an all-glove/no-bat CF when Varsho will be in CF virtually every game.

Springer/Lukes are good enough to cover CF if Varsho has a day off and Lukes is good enough defensively to be a late-game replacement for Santander. Keep the better bat on the team on a team that is already lacking at the plate.

Lukes stole 20 bases in his last full season in AAA. He's a competent enough pinch-running option.

Yeah, a right-handed bat would be ideal, but not if that bat is Straw's. Plus, Varsho should be playing every day even when it's a lefty pitching, so you don't gain much there.

 

[Canada4Gold]

I don't really see any real playing time for either Straw or Lukes. Once healthy Varsho is the starting CF. The once every 2/3 weeks against a lefty that you want to sit Varsho to give him a break Springer plays center, Schneider plays a corner spot. Clement is at 3rd. Then 1 lefty or Straw has to play. Either Wagner DHs, or Roden plays a corner OF spot while Santander DHs, or 1 of Lukes/Straw gets in there. As a lefty that start doesn't even make sense for Lukes even if he's a better hitter than Straw. To me Straw is more useful as a defensive replacement, pinch runner than wanting Lukes bat for that 1 maybe start every 3 weeks that doesn't even make sense for him. His bat isn't even good. If we didn't care about playing time ideally someone else would be up for that role, but as long as everyone else is healthy that last roster spot is likely to be the bench guy who should never start. I prefer Straw for that role. Perhaps part of that is the feeling that we're paying him more so might as well see if he can provide something. That might not make sense as that money is sunk cost regardless. He also hit better in the spring so I feel like I want to give him a chance to prove that's real if that makes sense. Gimenez was bad last year and great thus far. Maybe Straw isn't as bad as his last stint in the majors with Cleveland

 

[Bjindaho]

This is just back to pointlessly carrying Bradley Zimmer for an entire season, though.

I just don't see the need for an all-glove/no-bat CF when Varsho will be in CF virtually every game.

Springer/Lukes are good enough to cover CF if Varsho has a day off and Lukes is good enough defensively to be a late-game replacement for Santander. Keep the better bat on the team on a team that is already lacking at the plate.

Lukes stole 20 bases in his last full season in AAA. He's a competent enough pinch-running option.

Like I've said, I would prefer neither since it is creating the Zimmer role. But if we are carrying someone who plays that little, at least keep the guy with a plus plus skill (or two).