Toronto Blue Jays 2017 regular season thread

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Montero must have a dWAR of like -6. Worst catcher I've ever seen at this level defensively

He plays like he's ten years older than he is, so slow to react to everything

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

He plays like he's ten years older than he is, so slow to react to everything

And with an arm that's 30 years older than he is.

[mrkajz44]

Yikes - that was an ugly one last night.

Can anyone explain why Gibbons didn't challenge the stolen base by Davis? I thought it was pretty clear Davis altered his running path in a (successful) attempt to get in the way of the throw from first. Is this not interference?

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Yikes - that was an ugly one last night.

Can anyone explain why Gibbons didn't challenge the stolen base by Davis? I thought it was pretty clear Davis altered his running path in a (successful) attempt to get in the way of the throw from first. Is this not interference?

Given it him him in the back, it's hard to argue that Davis knew where the ball was coming from and deliberately interfered. That would never get overturned.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

He's 4th on the team in WAR. While his hitting is below average/average his D is next level

He's gets to balls most couldn't even imagine.

Pillar has been a top 10 dWAR player in MLB (all positions) in 2015, 2016 and 2017 and the 2nd best defensive CF all 3 of those years. This year, Buxton is the only one ahead of him, and Kiermaier for the previous 2.

Pillar just isn't a pure athlete like Kiermaier is, so he has to give 100% on the play and take risks diving for those balls. I don't think it is really all for show, because they are pretty risky and dangerous plays.

When everything is taken into account, he is probably an average CF. Elite defense, bad offense. Not a 4th OF.

[bluejays]

Agreed completely. Pillar goes all out from the start and doesn't hold up just to time it right to make the play look great. He really is the real deal defensively. If you want a player who wasn't athletic who held up to make the catch look better than it was, look at Jim Edmonds. He was ridiculously cheesy. Pillar's the real deal defensively. Too bad his offence dries up in the playoffs.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Given it hit him in the back, it's hard to argue that Davis knew where the ball was coming from and deliberately interfered. That would never get overturned.

I suppose that makes sense. Just seemed pretty obvious from the replay that his last step purposefully pushed his body into the line of the throw (and away from second base). I guess its hard to prove his intent on that.

[brocoli]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I suppose that makes sense. Just seemed pretty obvious from the replay that his last step purposefully pushed his body into the line of the throw (and away from second base). I guess its hard to prove his intent on that.

Even if he did push his body in the way of the line of the throw, he never deviated from the base path. That's the rule right there. He did not use his hands in the air to block the ball either. He ran in his allowable lane and it's up to Smoak to get the ball there. It's a difficult throw any time and what makes it even harder is the location of the ump. So Smoak only had that small window to the inside to hit Goins' glove and he missed it.

[Bobblehead]

Clutch base hits with RISP and 2 out?

Who is this team and what did they do with the real Blue Jays?

I'll take what I can get.

[Hockey]

Morales 4 for 5 3 homeruns and 7 rbi's

Sitting on my bench in my fantasy league too

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Morales 4 for 5 3 homeruns and 7 rbi's

Sitting on my bench in my fantasy league too

He was probably on everybodys bench

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by fleury

Agreed completely. Pillar goes all out from the start and doesn't hold up just to time it right to make the play look great. He really is the real deal defensively. If you want a player who wasn't athletic who held up to make the catch look better than it was, look at Jim Edmonds. He was ridiculously cheesy. Pillar's the real deal defensively. Too bad his offence dries up in the playoffs.

Pillar has to make circus catches more often than most because he can't read the ball off the bat worth crap and his routes to the ball suffer greatly because of it. Not saying he isn't a decent player, but Pillar really seems to suffer from a lack of baseball intelligence out there. You see it in the field, and it really rears it's ugly head with him on the base path.

The guy gets an A for effort, but he needs to be making those efforts and putting his body on the line because he's really not that great of a player and still doesn't seem to have the mental side of the game down. He's that 4th line grinder everyone loves on their hockey team. Not very talented, but will run through a wall to keep his roster spot.

You can still win with a guy like Pillar in your outfield for sure, but when he's your best option in the outfield, you are in big trouble just like the Jays are now.

[troutman]

Outfielders ranked by Catch Probability:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/221576...e-outfielders/

Center field
+20 Hamilton, Reds
+18 Ender Inciarte, Braves
+11 Kiermaier, Rays
+10 Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays
+9 Jake Marisnick, Astros

[Parallex]

Teoscar has really good bat speed... he probably needs to quiet down his setup some.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by troutman

Outfielders ranked by Catch Probability:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/221576...e-outfielders/

Center field
+20 Hamilton, Reds
+18 Ender Inciarte, Braves
+11 Kiermaier, Rays
+10 Kevin Pillar, Blue Jays
+9 Jake Marisnick, Astros

Those are 2016 stats, and while a good stat, it doesn't factor if the player had to make an extra ordinary play or not to make the out, just whether they get the out versus probability. The thing with Pillar is a lot of is outstanding plays are completely unnecessary if he just read the ball better off the bat. He gets the out and that's what matters, but When he slows down a gear or gets hurt having to make these circus catches, his career is going to go downhill fast.

Pillar is definitely a good player, but his circus catches really mask some large holes in his game. Not a player I'd want the Jays to commit to
Long term for large money.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Biagini is just filthy tonight. Ball moving like crazy.

[Karl]

Biagini and Gausman matching each other for filthiness tonight.

[Karl]

Gausman now out. Hopefully that's a good thing for the Jays.

[Karl]

Nice bunt Barney.

[Karl]

Smoakey coming in to pinch hit.