2015 Blue Jays Regular Season Thread

[Derek Sutton]

I never though that AA would get anyone to take Reyes' contract, due 22 million the next two years, mind you Tulo is 20 million for four more... hopefully he can stay relatively healthy Does Travis move into the lead off spot? having a .300 hitter in the nine hole never made any sense to me. Reyes was the only true lead off guy they had in years, but he's pretty much done IMO.

If moving/ packaging EE means some significant pitching help, I'd be for that. I hope AA is not done yet.

[Tyler]

Yeah I think it makes the most sense to have Travis lead off now

[Jiggy_12]

It's a good trade as far as making the current team better, it definitely does that.

The downside is the weakening of the prospect cupboard which may impact the chances of us being able to now trade for a top tier SP.

Overall I'm very happy with it. Donaldson - Tulo is a very impressive left side of the diamond.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Tyler

Yeah I think it makes the most sense to have Travis lead off now

*Checks the numbers*

Yup. Travis is the guy you want. Best OBP outside of the sluggers, Martin would be acceptable as well.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

The downside is the weakening of the prospect cupboard which may impact the chances of us being able to now trade for a top tier SP.

Meh, all the top tier SP on the trade market are upcoming free agents. Considering that the Jays are a .500 team (but oddly still close to the WC spot) I don't want them burning top prospects on rentals.

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by Parallex

Sigh... a run is a run is a run. Whether it's a run saved on pitching/defense or a run made on offense they're both the same. It doesn't matter if you give up 10 runs a game so long as you're scoring 11. Yes getting a really good pitcher would be nice... but you know what else is nice? Troy Tulowitzki.

The Jays aren't in a position right now where they can gamble on rentals and if the price on non-rental pitching is to high then you upgrade elsewhere... which the Jays did.

Geez man... this would be like having the Flames trade for Malkin and then complaining that we were already deep at Center and needed a RW.

I think the Jays have to gamble on a rental on a great pitching arm such as a Price etc. They are built to win now hence, trading great prospects for ready palyers. EE and Bautista are not in their prime, they have to win now and making a gamble on mid to high pitching in the rotation has to be the move if they want to go far. Great pitching 99% beats out great hitting esp in playoffs. We could have the most potent offence but can be shut down by great pitching. I am perplexed that we traded two great prospects of Hoffman and Castro who has been clocked over 100 mph. Syndergaard and Travis D'Arnaud for an older pitcher who has been mediocre. I really hope AA has something coming up in terms of a big trade for a top arm. If this is all AA is going to do for pitching, then this trade for Tulo is a disappointment losing Castro and Hoffman for a offensive number 1 from a arguably number 5 shortstop when we already have a top offensive team in the American L.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Smoak - .235 AVG - 9 HR - 28 RBI - .786 OPS
EE - .234 AVG - 19 HR - 56 RBI - .784 OPS

Smoak has less than half the AB's as EE and if they were the same Smoak would also have 19 HR and more than 56 RBI.

So it is possible to deal EE without losing much of anything from the roster because Smoak is doing a similar job.

Smoak is only batting against RHP, he has 14 ABs vs LHP this year, because he has a career .661 OPS vs LHP

so just giving him EE's at bats will not produce the same value, the team would take a huge hit vs LHP

[Derek Sutton]

Any starter is going to get about 12 starts for the remainder of the season. If Price can go 10-2 over anyone else going 6-6 in those 12 starts, are those 4 more wins going to push them into the play offs?

[Parallex]

I should also mention that Latroy Hawkins is a good pickup. Easily better then Bo Schulz as far as a RHP out of the pen. He may be as old as dirt but he's still good.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

It's like everyone else says: Tulo is a nice upgrade on Reyes, but he doesn't actually address a need. I'm sure we could have landed Hawkins without Tulo for a much lower cost.

Unless AA believes a culture shift is needed and moving Reyes is apart of that while upgrading the position.

[d_phaneuf]

Getting better is always a need

whether or not it's a culture shift, the Blue Jays are a much better team today than yesterday

As has been pointed out above just because your offense is good and pitching isn't, doesn't mean you can only improve through pitching

improvement is improvement

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Unless AA believes a culture shift is needed and moving Reyes is apart of that while upgrading the position.

Don't be silly no one has ever said a bad thing about Jose Reyes anywhere he's played. This is all about getting a better player under contract for longer. Reyes just had move because of $$.

[d_phaneuf]

From ESPN

Tulowitzki is two years younger and a better defender at short right now, with the potential to slide to third base in another year or two if his own range should wane. Reyes' bat wouldn't play at third and is approaching the point where it wouldn't even play at second. The upgrade for the Jays is probably a full win or more for the remainder of the regular season, and sets them up well for 2016 and to partially weather the impending loss of Jose Bautista after that season. The Jays' doing this by adding more salary commitment rather than sending more/better prospects to Colorado is surprising, but making a move like this without surrendering Daniel Norris or Aaron Sanchez is a significant win for the team, as they could use either of those arms to acquire another starter. Improving the defense is one way to improve the pitching staff, in a manner of speaking, but I still think they need to improve their rotation to be a playoff team.

[Machiavelli]

"Culture"

One of the most overused words in sports fandom.

[username]

Originally Posted by Derek Sutton

Any starter is going to get about 12 starts for the remainder of the season. If Price can go 10-2 over anyone else going 6-6 in those 12 starts, are those 4 more wins going to push them into the play offs?

It's more than that b/c you're bumping #5 in the rotation out for a number 1. It's more like going 10-2 instead of 2-10.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

"Culture"

One of the most overused words in sports fandom.

Okay, changing the personnel from a collection of flashy, whiny, entitled, and/or hot tempered guys with awesome handshake routines to a collection of grinders, gamers and superior leaders who are missed by their former clubs and, specifically to Donaldson and Martin are extremely good in the clubhouse.

Whatever you call it, Lawrie, Bautista, EE and Reyes had a way of doing things on and off the field. Donaldson, Martin, Tulo do it differently. 2 down, 2 to go.

[Harry Lime]

Hoffman and Castro gone. If I were to make a prediction, I would think that since St. Louis picked up Cishek into an already strong bullpen, and needs a 1B, they make a good trade partner. Could EE be sent there for a bullpen arm, Alex Reyes and maybe take a shot at adding Piscotty?

Edit : I don't think that AA sells the farm again this time around. Hopefully he learned his lesson. Selling some farm pieces while adding others is the way to go.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

Whatever you call it, Lawrie, Bautista, EE and Reyes had a way of doing things on and off the field. Donaldson, Martin, Tulo do it differently. 2 down, 2 to go.

That's mighty white of you.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by Parallex

That's mighty white of you.

Lawrie is still white, even though all of his tats might might you think otherwise...

[calculoso]

http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Baseball/.../22529946.html

"The Jays did offer lefty Daniel Norris, No. 1 pick Jeff Hoffman and outfielder Dalton Pompey in talks with the Cleveland Indians for right-hander Carlos Carrasco."

That seems like a HUGE price.