2015 Blue Jays Regular Season Thread

[browna]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

JD going against some hometown umping. Frazier is getting pitches before the ball lands.

Yup..happened in the semi finals and finals too...until the ump did something about it and the HR's then went down.

And, who?

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by browna

Yup..happened in the semi finals and finals too...until the ump did something about it and the HR's then went down.

And, who?

Are you asking who i meant by JD? Josh Donaldson.

[browna]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Are you asking who i meant by JD? Josh Donaldson.

No, I mean the no-namer from Cincy.

[Flickered Flame]

As a non-Jays fan, I am curious to see what the next little bit leading up to and through the trade deadline looks for the Jays. AA is really in a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario.

Not sure how many heard it this morning on the fan and I don't know how well connected Brunt is to the Jays, but Brunt did say that he's heard the Jays are looking for 2 starters and a reliever. However, right now, prices are super high. And he doesn't think the Jays will make the big splash but likely a smaller trade or 2.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Not sure how many heard it this morning on the fan and I don't know how well connected Brunt is to the Jays, but Brunt did say that he's heard the Jays are looking for 2 starters and a reliever. However, right now, prices are super high. And he doesn't think the Jays will make the big splash but likely a smaller trade or 2.

Have to figure if the Jays, fall right out of it.... With the current Starting pitching I see the Jays really start to pile on the loses..

AA and the Coach will be let go after the season is done.

Jays starting pitching is horrible, but a rental is not the way to go imo.

[InBurkeWeTrust]

Talking about Cueto.. that would take A LOT

[bluejays]

Yeah, Cueto in a tight race would cost a lot. Nice to have, but the Jays are lacking depth now with high end prospects. Not sure if I'd blame AA for closing the door on a deal involving a couple of those.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

As a non-Jays fan, I am curious to see what the next little bit leading up to and through the trade deadline looks for the Jays. AA is really in a damned if you do, damned if you don't scenario.

Not sure how many heard it this morning on the fan and I don't know how well connected Brunt is to the Jays, but Brunt did say that he's heard the Jays are looking for 2 starters and a reliever. However, right now, prices are super high. And he doesn't think the Jays will make the big splash but likely a smaller trade or 2.

The price?

Marcus Stroman.

(According to MLB Trade Rumours, that is what the Jays are being asked for in pretty much every trade for a starter).

[bluejays]

I'd keep Stroman. He's on the cusp of being a special player (I think). He's not just a guy who put on minor league numbers - he's also shown he can be a very good MLB pitcher. If Stroman keeps progressing, in a couple years we'd very likely look back at the deal and say it was ridiculous. Other guys, maybe, but Stroman would be as close to untouchable as any IMO.

[Caged Great]

I'd rather sell off pieces and suck than lose any of the good prospects they have in the faintest of hope that they'd play 3 or 4 extra games.

They are a game below .500 with 91 games played.

in order to be 90-72, which is the likely minimum, they have to go 45-26 in the 2nd half. Is this team able to do that? I doubt it unless they go on a 10-12 game winning streak right off the bat.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by fleury

I'd keep Stroman. He's on the cusp of being a special player (I think). He's not just a guy who put on minor league numbers - he's also shown he can be a very good MLB pitcher. If Stroman keeps progressing, in a couple years we'd very likely look back at the deal and say it was ridiculous. Other guys, maybe, but Stroman would be as close to untouchable as any IMO.

For sure, Jays don't have a #1 or #2 pitcher currently on their active roster.

Stroman has that type of ability.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I'd rather sell off pieces and suck than lose any of the good prospects they have in the faintest of hope that they'd play 3 or 4 extra games.

They are a game below .500 with 91 games played.

in order to be 90-72, which is the likely minimum, they have to go 45-26 in the 2nd half. Is this team able to do that? I doubt it unless they go on a 10-12 game winning streak right off the bat.

Problem is in the AL East they won't need that type of record.... Jays are 4 games behind currently. Which is amazing consider they are under .500.

Jays would be better off if one the teams in the East started to win....

Would force the management to make a decision.... (i.e. sell or buy)

[Sylvanfan]

Young players are still risky though. What could the Jays have got for Ricky Romero 4 years ago? MLB pitchers are such a tough commodity to predict.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Young players are still risky though. What could the Jays have got for Ricky Romero 4 years ago? MLB pitchers are such a tough commodity to predict.

For sure, but I don't think he was seen as a possible ace IIRC. Stroman may be that. I completely agree that prospects are a dime a dozen in MLB, but when a player like Stroman comes around and shows more than just the occasional flash of brilliance, you have to think that he's just young and he's got room to develop. Far too many times in MLB the player will be wildly inconsistent, and the occasional time will show that brilliance, and fans say, "this guy is going to be really good". With those guys, which are a dime a dozen, most will never pan out, while the occasional one will become consistent. Look at Gose, Lawrie, Rasmus for instance. Fans overvalue those guys because they show those flashes, but most of the time they simply aren't good enough. When a guy like Stroman comes out and is consistent, that says a lot to me. It's not a matter of him figuring things out - he has that already. It's about him maybe developing that extra pitch which will take him over to an Ace. Assuming he doesn't tear something, his downside is a 2nd starter.

Norris, from what I've seen, still a work in progress - wouldn't cry if he's dealt (as good as his story is). Osuna, flashes, but again, inconsistent. Who knows with these guys?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Romero was definitely seen as a potential ace after the 2011 season, hence the enormous contract. He put up a 2.92 ERA and had 6.3 WAR while pitching 225 innings. He was also over 2:1 on SO/BB, which was amazing considering what was to come in the following years. The sky was literally the limit.

Then I'm assuming aliens came and stole all his talent like in the movie Space Jam.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by Fire of the Phoenix

Then I'm assuming aliens came and stole all his talent like in the movie Space Jam.

An alien known as Miss USA

[ben voyonsdonc]

The Jays are in a really tough spot. I believe that they should be in tear down mode right now and start accumulating prospects but their division dictates that they shouldn't - how often has the AL East been so mediocre? But...if they empty the farm and still don't make the playoffs, they are going to be in big trouble for a very long time.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

The Jays are in a really tough spot. I believe that they should be in tear down mode right now and start accumulating prospects but their division dictates that they shouldn't - how often has the AL East been so mediocre?

But...if they empty the farm and still don't make the playoffs, they are going to be in big trouble for a very long time.

Jays are in a really tough spot they have great offense. Challenge is their starting pitching has major issues.

I doubt AA will be able to acquire anything of value to address the problem.

I would think, their only option is to write off this season. Look to add pitching in the off season. Wait for Stroman to recover.

At the trade deadline they should try to move RA Dickey and Mark Buehrle

(i.e. Buehrle is going to retire)

I agree.... Jays should not trade assets for a rental, to acquire a #1 starter would take major assets.

They for sure should not do a rebuild.....

[Fire of the Phoenix]

The jays being out of the playoffs for 20 years is really muddying the waters as far as the direction management feels they should take IMO, it's become a giant gorilla on their backs. Take away the streak and I think the pressure would lessen we might see some actual planning for the future in light of having no hope today. It's unbelievable to me, with where the team is at, that they would even consider trading futures for veterans. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

AA is probably getting fired if they miss again, so I'd be wary of any trades he's going to make to 'fix' this. I don't care if the division is mediocre and they might squeak in, the right move is to re-build. This team would get smoked in the playoffs anyway unless AA trades the farm for pitching which I really think would be a bad move. It would be akin to rolling an 8 sided dice and hoping it lands on one number but by doing that you destroy the team's future. Fire AA. Fire Gibbons. Start over. I don't care if the streak goes another 5 years if it means the team is better for it in the long run.

[Tyler]

I disagree. This team should trade every single prospect they have in order to make the playoffs this year.

Who cares if they lose the first series? They HAVEN'T MADE THE PLAYOFFS IN 20 YEARS!

Does anything else matter to this organization? I don't think so. The fact that you would rather extend our playoff-less streak another 5 years for the OFF CHANCE we MAY be better in the long run is disoncerting. Do you expect the Yankees or the Red Sox to be this 'average' for another 5 years? Doubtful.

As a team/city that can't attract prized free agents very often, if we have a chance, AA should blow his wad on doing every last thing possible to make it.

Look at the Royals last year and tell me that making the playoffs after decades doesn't do wonders for a franchise