2025 World Series - Toronto Blue Jays vs Los Angeles Dodgers

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Absolutely. And not only that. They'll make it back in spades going forward. All the extra fans, merch sales, tv ratings, etc. This team is going to be printing money for the foreseeable future. And that bodes well to keeping a competitive team on the field as the ownership group has no issue with spending money. It really is a surreal time to be a Jays fan.

And with an offseason coming up where there are a plethora of starting pitching free agents and the fact that our rotation will have a few gaps - this bodes really, really well for attracting the top talent.

We have the money to spend and a winning team with a very positive environment. Really the ideal scenario

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Josh

Is it just a me thing? My favorite Blue Jay on this team is Davis Schneider? Seems like an all around good dude, also wears the same glasses I do when I play.......

There are a lot of really likeable guys. In addition to Schneider I really like Ernie, as everyone does. But also Nathan Lukes. A dude I had no use for heading into this season, but I have a lot of respect for how he's grinded his way to an MLB career. He's also incredibly calm under pressure.

And I would add Varland. I get a kick out of that guy. Seems like a real big personality.

Giminez for being a total pro.

Varsho - remember when we hated that trade?

And then of course you have Kirk. How can you not love that guy.

[Jiri Hrdina]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

And with an offseason coming up where there are a plethora of starting pitching free agents and the fact that our rotation will have a few gaps - this bodes really, really well for attracting the top talent.

We have the money to spend and a winning team with a very positive environment. Really the ideal scenario

The other thing you have to consider is what is the carry over from the playoffs in terms of what this team has learned.
Vladdy changed something in his approach between the regular season and playoffs to be a way more dangerous hitter from a power point of view. He's riding a historic heater, but I think some of this carries over, and we see more power next year from him.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Does this run hide the fact that it's still a poorly constructed team for the 5th highest payroll? Is it a 'lucky' run? Or have the scouts got it right all along?

If they win the World Series, can they just tear up Vladdy's extension

I think what's happening is a much larger phenomenon in the game of baseball than simply the Jays going on a 'lucky' run. This year's Blue Jays team represents the shift of the pendulum back towards more traditional fundamental baseball (Sound fundamental defense, situational hitting, putting the ball in play rather than binary outcome ABs like strike out or hit an XBH) that the recent rule changes like banning the shift and enlarging the bases were intending to stimulate. Rob Manfred gets a lot of flack publicly from the purists, but I believe he saved baseball by introducing the pitch clock, banning the shift, enlarging the bases, and introducing ABS system next year.

This shift in the game is new and as such I believe roster construction is going to majorly adapt in this era. Teams like the Yankees and Dodgers still have a foot in the past era where their roster approach is still trying to buy enough 'runs in the aggregate' to make the playoffs and 'on average' win the most games. That approach can help ensure you have enough wins over 162 contests to get into the playoffs but can also be exposed in 'win now' postseason games when teams like the Jays put the ball in play and force players like Jazz Chisholm to field the ball in parts of the diamond he doesn't belong but is there because his bat contributes sufficient WAR to make the runs equation go around (another example of this was Varsho's triple last night with Teoscar's misadventure in Right Field). You can also see it in Dave Roberts managing approach. It took him to Game 5 to change his lineup despite being offensively challenged in 3 of the previous 4 games. The Dodgers are mostly sitting back and waiting for the law of averages to come around for their offense consisting of 'Superior WAR players' rather than change any approach. Sure guys like Betts, Freeman, Smith, Hernandez, Muncy over long time periods are going to get their hits, but you can't turn it on like a faucet.

If the Jays can close out this Series they can do more than just add the organizations 3rd WS banner to the rafters, they can ursher in a new era of baseball.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

The other thing you have to consider is what is the carry over from the playoffs in terms of what this team has learned.
Vladdy changed something in his approach between the regular season and playoffs to be a way more dangerous hitter from a power point of view. He's riding a historic heater, but I think some of this carries over, and we see more power next year from him.

Or maybe he unlocked K. Hernandez mode, where he can hit for another 100 points of average plus extra power in the postseason somehow. Which is good as he hits 300 in the regular season with plenty of power, so if he can hit 400 in the playoffs with Judge-esque power then this team has a chance to keep going deep.

I think the biggest risk for regression next year is probably Springer. He was historically bad last year, and now this year he's going to get MVP votes. I think next year is probably somewhere between those two, but hopefully he still plays at an all-star DH type level at least. Father time is still undefeated...

[Josh]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

There are a lot of really likeable guys. In addition to Schneider I really like Ernie, as everyone does. But also Nathan Lukes. A dude I had no use for heading into this season, but I have a lot of respect for how he's grinded his way to an MLB career. He's also incredibly calm under pressure.

And I would add Varland. I get a kick out of that guy. Seems like a real big personality.

Giminez for being a total pro.

Varsho - remember when we hated that trade?

And then of course you have Kirk. How can you not love that guy.

That's just it, incredibly likable I love Kirk, he doesn't physically check any of the boxes that scouts are looking for, yet here we are!

I do struggle with Springer (Sorry, my Mariners side coming out here) I need to state that when I went to Game 5 of the ALCS I didn't boo him when he got hit in the knee and told a number of Mariner fans to STFU when it happened. Clearly they'd never played an inning of baseball and know how much it hurts to get hit, especially on a bone. Though I do appreciate that he's a big part of them being in the WS. I didn't partake in the booing when he was at the plate either....

Yeah you can say I'm a little conflicted.

I love what Yesavage did yesterday and made a point to tell my 10 year old son that plays to keep on trying. He didn't make it in a league he wanted to play in a couple of years ago. Rather than me call the Little League to demand he be moved up (which some parents did), I told him to "show them this season why they were wrong". He took my advice, was always one of the best players on the field. He now gets asked to play on tournament and all-star teams.

He'll be an interesting ball player, he got my athleticism but with a better build.

[calumniate]

https://www.cbc.ca/music/world-serie...them-9.6959775

Btw, rufus I think said 'that only we command'. It was intentional and a giant fu to trump. Legend!

I'd like to think he contributed to the first homers. Everyone was like wtf? Haha

[flamingred89]

Just catching wind of Snell's post game comments. What a butthurt turd. Basically insinuating that the Jays were "ambushing" his pitches and calling them lucky. Like they're just supposed to sit their and take a couple strikes because he's Blake Snell? Sure. Scoring 11 runs against you in 2 games is luck. What a clown.

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Just catching wind of Snell's post game comments. What a butthurt turd. Basically insinuating that the Jays were "ambushing" his pitches and calling them lucky. Like they're just supposed to sit their and take a couple strikes because he's Blake Snell? Sure. Scoring 11 runs against you in 2 games is luck. What a clown.

He also suggested that he would be available if needed in a game 7 role.

Don't threaten us with a good time Blank Shell.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Just catching wind of Snell's post game comments. What a butthurt turd. Basically insinuating that the Jays were "ambushing" his pitches and calling them lucky. Like they're just supposed to sit their and take a couple strikes because he's Blake Snell? Sure. Scoring 11 runs against you in 2 games is luck. What a clown.

He did have a touch of 'Kenny Powers' during those post-game comments. Part of the 'unlucky' part of the comments was a veiled dig at Teoscar Hernandez bugling the fielding on the Varsho triple. His comment that the exit velo of Varsho's hit isn't indicative of a XBH and also he had a Dave Stieb-like death stare at Teoscar after that play.

Also there's this weird entitlement complex some starting pitchers have with the game. I remember Walker Buehler's comments on the ABS system implying that established starting pitchers 'deserve' certain strikes that others don't get:

I think human element is a huge part of this game. I think starting pitchers that have pitched for a long time deserve certain parts of the plate that other guys don't get.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...phillies-debut

[HOOT]

[Scornfire]

Appreciate Snell being the moron to give them bulletin board material. Thanks for 2 wins and some extra motivation for no reason champ

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Cowboy89

I think what's happening is a much larger phenomenon in the game of baseball than simply the Jays going on a 'lucky' run. This year's Blue Jays team represents the shift of the pendulum back towards more traditional fundamental baseball (Sound fundamental defense, situational hitting, putting the ball in play rather than binary outcome ABs like strike out or hit an XBH) that the recent rule changes like banning the shift and enlarging the bases were intending to stimulate. Rob Manfred gets a lot of flack publicly from the purists, but I believe he saved baseball by introducing the pitch clock, banning the shift, enlarging the bases, and introducing ABS system next year.

Still there were many posts only a year ago lamenting the loss of offense and power. Read the doom and gloom of the 2024 season thread. Giving up Teoscar and Lourdis for small ball and defense. 74 wins wasn't promissing but what a turn around this year as the team simply does not strikeout.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Still there were many posts only a year ago lamenting the loss of offense and power. Read the doom and gloom of the 2024 season thread. Giving up Teoscar and Lourdis for small ball and defense. 74 wins wasn't promissing but what a turn around this year as the team simply does not strikeout.

The 'run-prevention' approach has been in play since at least 2023, however it's only this year that the 'put the ball in play' and pressure the defense approach has been employed coinciding with the change in hitting coaches. Combine the two, see some mean-reversion in some player's performances ala Bichette, Springer, et al and you get what we have this year compared to last year.

I agree with the basis of your question thinking about future years in the roster construction realm. As other teams focus on adapting it will be harder to get free runs, bases, etc. like they are feasting on this season and postseason as other team's will re-focus on the fundamentals and then it will devolve back into the conversation of how much value are they getting out of the dollars spent on players compared to other teams.

[GirlySports]

It really is amazing. Before this season, Springer was left for dead. A 150 million dollar pile of poo. Then goes out and has a career year. Bichette may have won the batting title if not for his injury.

Vladdy, would most have considered a .292, 23 HR, 84 RBI .848 OPS even a good season? We didn't even have a starter win more than 10 games.

Just mindblowing how everyone has pitched in.

Overall, i think yo're right, baseball is headed in a different direction.
Look at the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds this year were the first team in MLB history to have:

no qualifying batter hit .270
no batter hit 25 homers
no pitcher win 15 games
no pitcher notch 200 strikeouts

and make the playoffs

[Manhattanboy]

For Jays fans this reminds me of the Flames 2004 cup run. A huge Game 5 win on the road in the Finals with a chance to win it all at home in Game 6. Except the Jays have Game 7 at home as well.

Go Jays, win it all tomorrow.

[MyFlamesFirst]

It is so fun watching the highlights after the game. MLB on YouTube does it so much better than any other league. Multiple broadcasts and calls mixed in to the big moments. I recommend watching even though we all watched the game.

Sent from my SM-S921W using Tapatalk

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Does this run hide the fact that it's still a poorly constructed team for the 5th highest payroll? Is it a 'lucky' run? Or have the scouts got it right all along?

If they win the World Series, can they just tear up Vladdy's extension

Vlad is a bargain at half a billion

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

https://twitter.com/user/status/1983751940543803805

That is just flat out insane

[EldrickOnIce]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Just catching wind of Snell's post game comments. What a butthurt turd. Basically insinuating that the Jays were "ambushing" his pitches and calling them lucky. Like they're just supposed to sit their and take a couple strikes because he's Blake Snell? Sure. Scoring 11 runs against you in 2 games is luck. What a clown.

Yeah. He just looks like an #######