Blue Jays low RISP OPS is killing this team's playoff chances (28th in the League). They would be elite with better situational hitting. Is this simply luck, how the Jays approach RISP situations, or how other teams manage them in RISP situations?
Blue Jays MLB Ranking - RISP OPS
2023: 28th
2022: 8th
2021: 3rd
2020: 10th
2019: 28th
2018: 15th
2017: 27th
2016: 9th
2015: 1st
2014: 15th
2013: 7th
2012: 13th
2011: 18th
2010: 7th
My take on this - It's August now so the RISP issue is now statistically significant. One place that doesn't show up in individual OPS or OPS+ stats is GIDP. The Jays have 3 of the top 10 in MLB in (GIDP) which is a run production killer: George Springer 4th (17), Alejandro Kirk 6th (16), Vladimir Guerrero 10th (15).
They have addressed Springer by replacing him at leadoff with Merrifield, but something needs to be done with Kirk and Vladdy. Kirk to me is so frustrating that I would almost DFA him at this point. It's not just the GIDP, it's whenever he's on base in any capacity he messes up the rest of the team. Espinal getting caught against Boston on the weekend, him having to be the ghost runner in the 10th because Jansen is DH and they would lose the DH if they pinch ran him, etc. In my mind his WAR is negated by what the rest of the team has to put up with having him clog up the basepaths and being an automatic DP with any ground balls with a runner at first when he's at the plate.
Vladdy's the other elephant in the room. It's between the ears with him and I don't imagine Schneider has the organizational capital to properly address Vladdy's performance through either coming down on his approach at the plate or moving him down in the order to send a message. He's talented enough to be a MVP if he bears down, but I get the impression that the coaches and managers can't really manage him because ultimately Atkins is going to try to sign him long term and won't bat an eye firing Schneider if they miss the playoffs this year.
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