2013 Toronto Blue Jays thread

[KelVarnsen]

Agreed with the idea of Thole to the bigs.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Probably soon if they keep looking this bad, but I have no idea what meaningful changes could actually be made. I guess you could (and I personally think they should) do some small stuff like bring Thole up and send Grandpa Thug (Blanco) packing. Speaking of Thole, how is he not on the team right now? Blanco is literally the worst, who cares if he can catch Dickey's knuckler, Thole can catch it just fine himself. Thole is also hitting 0.350+ and playing amazing behind the dish in AAA from what I've read. Frankly JP is crap right now too, I would gladly platoon Thole and JP and see what happens (and best case scenario, Thole wins the everyday job and we can trade JP for some help at 2B).

Other then that though, not much you can do lineup wise and you're not making a big trade this time of year. I guess they could fire Gibbons, it was a ######ed hire in the first place but I don't know how axing an entire staff (as you'd probably get rid of them all if you get rid of Gibbons) 40 days into their first season is going to look, or if ownership would even allow it. I'm also not sure how firing a manager is going to make useless hitters hit or overrated "aces" like Dickey actually worth what we gave up to acquire them. That said, I would still fire Gibbons though, even if everyone else stays for now, Gibbon's is useless and always has been and never deserved the job to begin with. I don't think Manny Acta got a job this spring (I could be wrong) and if not I would happily bring him in to replace Gibbon's, probably wouldn't do much but you never know, maybe he lights a fire under the slumping Dominicans arses, if nothing else.

Managing in baseball is just a title. To me, it's simply managing the bullpen effectively, and to me Gibbons has done that well. The hitters for some very odd reason, are simply not hitting and the starters are doing crap. Are the coaches to blames? I tend to not believe that and I'm not sure a shakeup would be appropriate. There hasn't been a peep that he's also not well liked, so what good would getting rid of him be? His guys simply can't get on base which is disturbing, and perplexing. I don't know what to think of how they can fix this, really.

[dustyanddaflames]

While I agree that coaches coach, and players play - but I will say that sometimes a change is needed just because... I remember last year, I think it was Lind or maybe Rasmus, that the hitting coach was wanting him to do certain things during his at bats that he wasn't used to, that he was overthinking things. I think it was Lind. Regardless, we don't know what Mattola/Gibbons are preaching at the plate, and what Walker is getting his SP to do, but it sure isn't working.

I don't know what the answer is, I don't think it's fair that the coaches bite the bullet for the sluggish start, but I still believe that the talent is there to win games. They are more talented than their record is showing, and something needs to change. I like the staff, and from all accounts Mattola was great in AAA last year - but results count, and they've had a month+ now to right the ship, and it isn't clear that the results are close to coming together.

A rather large 4 game series with the Rays - if the Jays don't take 2/4 at a minimum, I say you gotta start to clean house with the staff. They showed a stat when Jimmy Williams got fired and Cito Gaston came in - the record difference was staggering. Sometimes just a change in the coaching staff is all that is needed. I don't think now this is a playoff club, too big of hole to overcome, but their record isn't indicative of how decent this club should be.

[KelVarnsen]

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by fleury

Managing in baseball is just a title. To me, it's simply managing the bullpen effectively, and to me Gibbons has done that well. The hitters for some very odd reason, are simply not hitting and the starters are doing crap. Are the coaches to blames? I tend to not believe that and I'm not sure a shakeup would be appropriate. There hasn't been a peep that he's also not well liked, so what good would getting rid of him be? His guys simply can't get on base which is disturbing, and perplexing. I don't know what to think of how they can fix this, really.

Thought I was clear when I said, "probably won't help" and also thought I was clear that I want Gibbons gone because I don't think he should have even been hired to begin with..? The same way many posters thought Hartley was a terrible hire from jumpstreet, I (and many, many others) felt the same about Gibbons and this horrid start certainly hasn't changed my oppinion.

John Gibbon's isn't a winner, and the Jays will never be one so long as he is around.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Thought I was clear when I said, "probably won't help" and also thought I was clear that I want Gibbons gone because I don't think he should have even been hired to begin with..? The same way many posters thought Hartley was a terrible hire from jumpstreet, I (and many, many others) felt the same about Gibbons and this horrid start certainly hasn't changed my oppinion.

John Gibbon's isn't a winner, and the Jays will never be one so long as he is around.

John Gibbons being/not being a winner has no bearing on where the Jays are right now. His managerial decisions have not caused them to go 11-21. Save for Reyes, all of AA's acquisitions have fell flat on their face. I don't see how you could put that on the manager.

As Dusty said, the only reason you'd fire him or any of the coaching staff is to create a big shakeup in the clubhouse. You won't find a dance partner to make a trade right now, so the only other option is to look at the coaching staff.

I think this Rays series will be a huge determinant of whether or not AA will go down that route

[octothorp]

Blue Jays select RHP Phillip Bickfold with the 10th overall pick. 17-year-old high-schooler with mid-90s fastball.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by octothorp

Blue Jays select RHP Phillip Bickfold with the 10th overall pick. 17-year-old high-schooler with mid-90s fastball.

Link

The Blue Jays love upside, and that is exactly what they are getting with Phil Bickford. He is all high-risk/high-reward right now with a fastball that touches 97 mph and incredible arm strength and speed that could make him a monster down the line.

However, Bickford doesn't currently have any kind of breaking ball in his arsenal. His curveball is marginal at best, and the changeup is not quite there yet. He could develop them and become a No. 2 starter, but there is a ton of risk involved with a pitcher who has little feel for an off-speed pitch.

Pro Comparison: Jeff Samardzija

[Caged Great]

It's one of those picks that if it hits you have a star on your hands. If not you have Brad Lincoln.

[Parallex]

Color me unimpressed with day 1 of the mlb draft. The Jays reach for a Prep pitcher with a high bonus demand and no breaking ball, and another Prep pitcher that profiles as a reliever.

Part of me hopes that they're punting these picks to 2014.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Color me unimpressed with day 1 of the mlb draft. The Jays reach for a Prep pitcher with a high bonus demand and no breaking ball, and another Prep pitcher that profiles as a reliever.

Part of me hopes that they're punting these picks to 2014.

Jays took another High School Pitcher (good thing in my books), which has the potential to be really good.

All draft picks are a risk...

I would rather see the Jays take "Risky" picks with high up side... then a "safe" pick

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Color me unimpressed with day 1 of the mlb draft. The Jays reach for a Prep pitcher with a high bonus demand and no breaking ball, and another Prep pitcher that profiles as a reliever.

Part of me hopes that they're punting these picks to 2014.

I'm not a baseball expert but I would of thought knowing how to throw a breaking ball or any pitch can be taught somewhat easily? It's not like a skill you are born with.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Fire

I'm not a baseball expert but I would of thought knowing how to throw a breaking ball or any pitch can be taught somewhat easily? It's not like a skill you are born with.

Of course you can teach it... throwing a baseball pitch is afterall just a function of arm action and grip. It's not a question of being able to throw it it's a question of being able to throw it at a superior level. I'd rather the Jays had drafted someone who has shown the ability to throw the pitch well rather then cross their fingers and hope (anymore then you have to do that anyways).

Although I should note that when I say he has no breaking ball I don't mean that he doesn't know how to throw it... he does, but scouting reports are that his breaking pitch is well below-average. Additionally he throws from a relatively low arm-slot... that being the case he'll need to also develop a ML quality change-up to be highly effective against opposite arm hitters.

[Cheese]

Jays take another right hander with 3rd round pick. Missed all of last year with Tommy John surgery.
6-4 205

Patrick Murphy

[Drake]

Source: Chien-Ming Wang to sign with #BlueJays. Expected to start Tuesday. Opted out of deal with #Yankees today.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/st...60959952265216

[KelVarnsen]

That makes 12 starters for the Jays.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by Drake

Source: Chien-Ming Wang to sign with #BlueJays. Expected to start Tuesday. Opted out of deal with #Yankees today.

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/st...60959952265216

Maybe we can have some reverse Yankee magic here. Half of New York's team seems to be ex-Jays players - and performing much better in NY for some reason.

[Cheese]

Jays take a Leftie in the 4th round. All pitchers so far.
6-5 190

Evan Smith

The Blue Jays selected 6'5" 190 pound left handed pitcher Evan Smith out of Mary G Montgomery HS in Semmes, Alabama with their fourth round pick, #115 overall. This is the fourth high school pitcher selected by the Blue Jays in this year's draft.

[KelVarnsen]

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=424939

Designate Blanco, recall Thole and LaRoche.

[Cheese]

Jays going Pitching heavy this draft. 4 Righties, 3 Lefties so far
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/...ft=team&fv=tor