Blue Jays Discussion: Would rather get punched in May than knocked out in October - ALCS bound!

[King Mapes]

Praying for a Dodgers win tonight so Game 4 of the ALCS has any chance to be at 7:00.....

You think Dodgers will get the ******** time? No chance

 

[Auston Marlander]

Jays are a lock to be at 4:00 for Games 4/5

Hell if the Dodgers win its even more of a lock since there's no way they're getting the 1 PM local slot.

Will game 3 be at 7PM?

 

[theaub]

8 PM

If Game 1 in Chicago gets rained out could maybe see all the games at 4 PM since that would push Game 2 to Monday with two days notice, but outside of a small shower Sunday seems pretty clear there.

 

[The Podium]

Yup. 4 days off you aren't going to do nothing. They are studying all 4 pitchers. I still think it's funny how batters seem to always swing late on Estrada. An 88 mph fastball and you swing late?

Estrada pretty much has 2 changeups. A fast and a slow changeup.

 

[inthe6ix]

they are swinging late because his changeup is so damn good

might as well be 100mph - 88/89 looks like that when he mixes it up with his change

 

[theaub]

Indians going Kluber/Bauer/Tomlin to start. TBD for Game 4 so they might go to Kluber if they're down 2-1.

Historically the Jays have had quite a bit of success against Kluber.

 

[Eb]

Indians going Kluber/Bauer/Tomlin to start. TBD for Game 4 so they might go to Kluber if they're down 2-1.

Historically the Jays have had quite a bit of success against Kluber.

Write up in the Star about him.

No matter how the series goes, the Jays will likely have to face Kluber, the Indians’ ace, at least twice and perhaps even three times. The 30-year-old righty, who won the 2014 AL Cy Young and is back in the running this year, struck out more than a batter an inning this season while posting the league’s lowest FIP (fielding independent pitching), which estimates a pitcher’s run prevention based solely on strikeouts, walks and home runs. Kluber, who in his career has held right-handed hitters to a .610 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS), could be especially tough on the Jays’ heavily right-handed lineup. Against Kluber’s slider this season, opposing batters have hit just .099. The good news for the Jays is that their current lineup has actually hit Kluber well, batting .283 over 119 collective plate appearances. Josh Donaldson and Melvin Upton Jr. have both homered off him, while Russell Martin has two dingers.

 

[Auston Marlander]

8 PM

If Game 1 in Chicago gets rained out could maybe see all the games at 4 PM since that would push Game 2 to Monday with two days notice, but outside of a small shower Sunday seems pretty clear there.

Sure hope not, i have tickets to game 3

 

[Kurtz]

Cleveland is annoyingly similar to KC of last year.

Great speed, good defense, a couple of huge arms in the bullpen, no huge bats but lots of solid guys who produce, and an iffy starting staff beyond their ace (though Kluber is better than Cueto) who nevertheless might surprise.

 

[Dough72]

they are swinging late because his changeup is so damn good

might as well be 100mph - 88/89 looks like that when he mixes it up with his change

it's gotta be more than that considering how many guys whiff on it, they can't all be timing it wrong for two years in a row. It's not like he even messes with his fastball speed it's always 88 like clockwork

 

[theaub]

Volquez + Ventura > Bauer + Tomlin

And Chris Young > Clevinger too if it gets there (and it should be said for that Game 4, Sanchez >> Dickey)

The Jays have a mammoth starting pitching advantage in this series.

 

[Dough72]

Volquez + Ventura > Bauer + Tomlin

And Chris Young > Clevinger too if it gets there

The Jays have a mammoth starting pitching advantage in this series.

every time you guys say the jays hitters should smash a guy they put up 2 or 3 runs

 

[theaub]

I mean, if you want me to go in there and tell them to hit mediocre pitching I can try.

But they decimated all three Rangers starters, two of which are way better than any non-Kluber guy they're throwing out.

Also Indians twitter seems to indicate they will use some combo of Clevinger/McAllister to start Game 4. Salazar will not be on the ALCS roster (some say definitely, Indians official site says 'doubtful').

 

[Kurtz]

Also Indians twitter seems to indicate they will use some combo of Clevinger/McAllister to start Game 4. Salazar will not be on the ALCS roster (some say definitely, Indians official site says 'doubtful').

Nice.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

If there is no Salazar at all that is a big break for the Jays. Even out of the pen he would have been brutal to face. Salazar-Miller-Allen basically a 5 inning game.

 

[BayStreetBully]

If there is no Salazar at all that is a big break for the Jays. Even out of the pen he would have been brutal to face. Salazar-Miller-Allen basically a 5 inning game.

The way I see it, you have to beat good teams to go all the way. If we don't face Cleveland's great bullpen, we have to face Boston's scary offense plus Kimbrel plus a Price who could become scary if he wakes up at any moment. Given the choice of Boston or Cleveland, I would argue that Cleveland is the lesser poison.

 

[Loosie]

Indians going Kluber/Bauer/Tomlin to start. TBD for Game 4 so they might go to Kluber if they're down 2-1.

Historically the Jays have had quite a bit of success against Kluber.

mlb.com article mentions Clevinger for Game 4 unless he is used out of the bullpen prior to game 4.

 

[Loosie]

The Jays are the most recent World Series Champions out of all the teams left in the playoffs.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

The Jays are the most recent World Series Champions out of all the teams left in the playoffs.

Wow. Greedy Canadians.

 

[BayStreetBully]

The Jays are the most recent World Series Champions out of all the teams left in the playoffs.

Geez Blue Jays, quit hogging and give others a chance to win.

 

[ChiTownLeafer]

I'm surprised people aren't more concerned about the Indians. They just shut down the best offense in baseball - an offense that scored the most runs. Hopefully it's just a matter of Boston being cold at the wrong time and not so much Indian's pitchers being hot at the right time.

 

[HamiltonNHL]

I'm surprised people aren't more concerned about the Indians. They just shut down the best offense in baseball - an offense that scored the most runs. Hopefully it's just a matter of Boston being cold at the wrong time and not so much Indian's pitchers being hot at the right time.

Baseball is almost as random as Hockey.

 

[BayStreetBully]

Speaking of the Indians, isn't Andrew Miller better than Cody Allen? Is there any reason why they don't use Miller as their closer, rather than Allen?

 

[theaub]

Speaking of the Indians, isn't Andrew Miller better than Cody Allen? Is there any reason why they don't use Miller as their closer, rather than Allen?

They use Miller at critical points in the game instead of just saving him for the 9th inning.

 

[TheBeastCoast]

Speaking of the Indians, isn't Andrew Miller better than Cody Allen? Is there any reason why they don't use Miller as their closer, rather than Allen?

Francona is using Miller to get through the 3rd time of the order, basically making it a 6 inning game for teams because Allen is really good himself and Miller has shown he can be stretched out a bit. It is really smart.