2024 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

This team is dead last in reliever WAR in the MLB.

And it's not even close. I saw -3 WAR and the 2nd last team is right around even WAR.

Pretty much the same bullpen last year had 4.3 WAR.

That's a -7 WAR swing from basically the same bullpen (at the start of the season).

7 WAR puts the Jays right in the thick of the WC race.

They also got NOTHING from Bo Bichette this year.

I don't think anyone would have predicted those two things happening before the season started.

The bullpen being worth -3 WAR is staggeringly bad. Certainly will have to be a focus for next year, however the variability with bullpens, as you alluded to, there is always a lot of risk there. It mostly speaks to the lack of decent pitching development in the system. They have unearthed some value in Genesis Cabrera and Chad Green, but of course Swanson and Mayza being completely ineffective and losing Romano for the season were major reasons. Though I think the clock was ticking on Romano with his velo dipping.

[GirlySports]

crazy how long a baseball season is, wasn't the bullpen supposed to be the best going into the season?

Richards, Mayza, Garcia, Swanson and Romano.
Pearson somewhere in there too.

[SuperMatt18]

Baseball bullpens are like goalies in hockey...but even worse.

Crazy year to year variability and you never really know what you're going to get.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Wins don't really matter right now, Bowden Francis looking like the real deal is huge positive though.

Having him fight through his stuff not being great and still giving a quality start tells me that he might not just be a back end starter…he could be a mid rotation starter. Bassitt is looking like a 4th starter at this point and it would be great to have a younger guy push his way up in the rotation to take pressure off of the Gausman and Bassitt who have looked pretty creaky for decent portions of the season.

I don’t think the team has a true Ace who will compete for a Cy Young but they’ve got a good enough rotation that, with some added bat who will bring run support, can compete for a playoff spot next year. The rotation has been forced to carry the team and pitch so many high stress innings because, without the bats, they know that a single run that they give up could lose them the game. It’s mentally and physically draining for them over multiple seasons.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

This team is dead last in reliever WAR in the MLB.

And it's not even close. I saw -3 WAR and the 2nd last team is right around even WAR.

Pretty much the same bullpen last year had 4.3 WAR.

That's a -7 WAR swing from basically the same bullpen (at the start of the season).

7 WAR puts the Jays right in the thick of the WC race.

They also got NOTHING from Bo Bichette this year.

I don't think anyone would have predicted those two things happening before the season started.

At this point they could just about try Barger on the mound. That ball he threw from 3rd had to be close to 100 mph.

[flamingred89]

Umm. Unless there is an injury there is no way that Gausman should be pulled after 5 no hit innings.

[Karl]

#loadmanagement

[Karl]

3-0!

[Karl]

Awwwh Genesis spolied the no-no.

[Karl]

Blue Jays & Hazel Mae are saying lower back tightness for Gausman.

I'm still saying load management.

[flamingred89]

#30 for Vlad!

And that was an absolute bomb.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

2 homers today now for Vladdy.

He's been unreal, feels like a wasted season, but glad to see him become an elite player after a so-so start.

[Karl]

I think Semien's safe.

[Skaloper]

Originally Posted by Karl

I think Semien's safe.

Shhh it's plays like this that lead to the Jays losing in epic fashion

Edit: Dang he was safe and the game continues...

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Game over.

2 hits allowed. Well done.

[Karl]

Phew no double play turned didn't matter.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

Shhh it's plays like this that lead to the Jays losing in epic fashion

Edit: Dang he was safe and the game continues...

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Umm. Unless there is an injury there is no way that Gausman should be pulled after 5 no hit innings.

Especially given how few pitches he had thrown. 5 no hit inning and 90 pitches OK, you aren't getting to 9 without blowing out your arm. At 5 innings and 58 pitches you could conceivably thow a no-hitter and still have a reasonable pitch count. I doubt they pulled him after 5 for load management - they can always give him extra rest between starts given the situation they're in.

Edited to add: although he got the win, which according to Buck on today's broadcast is the most important pitching stat...

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

This team is dead last in reliever WAR in the MLB.

And it's not even close. I saw -3 WAR and the 2nd last team is right around even WAR.

Pretty much the same bullpen last year had 4.3 WAR.

That's a -7 WAR swing from basically the same bullpen (at the start of the season).

7 WAR puts the Jays right in the thick of the WC race.

They also got NOTHING from Bo Bichette this year.

I don't think anyone would have predicted those two things happening before the season started.

Last season they probably overachieved, this season underachieved. normal is probably right in the middle with 0 to 1 WAR bullpen. that and Romano's season being a write-off.