2015 Blue Jays Regular Season Thread

[browna]

Fantastic. Given the ridiculousness of the franchise sitting on their hands last year at the deadline, and promising (to the roster no less) to be getting pitching help, and nothing...then doing nothing in that regard this offseason (regardless of the Stroman injury), they were due.

Rental, sure...who cares. AA saving his job? Sure, who cares. Big payment? Sure, had to outbid a bunch of teams? Only worth it if they make the playoffs? Sure. Going all out, on a no doubt #1 guy (as opposed to trying to sell a decent pitcher as a this year and future year guy) at very least, raises the profile of the team, which will help at the gate through the next month or two no matter what.

This team needed the lifeline of a no doubt #1 (and I think they still need another arm in the bullpen) for morale at very least, that the team is committed to going for it, and management believes that the offense can carry the team, just needs a proper pitching staff, and that they don't have to get 8 runs every game and hope the bullpen keeps it under 7. Makes Buhrele better, Dickey better, everyone better.

All aboard the bandwagon...13 games against the Yanks will go a long way to figure out where they end up, but they've given the best possible chance.

Even better is what seems to be Price being pretty pumped about everything, as opposed to the lukewarm (different situation I know) reactions and words we've seen from Tulo so far.

[DropIt]

Hope Travis isnt out too long. Watching Goins at the plate is painful

[Caged Great]

Another day, another win.

A rotation of

Price
Buehrle
Estrada
Dickey
Hutchison

Is okay, but another #3 wouldn't hurt.

[KelVarnsen]

Good win tonight.

[Skaloper]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Another day, another win.

A rotation of

Price
Buehrle
Estrada
Dickey
Hutchison

Is okay, but another #3 wouldn't hurt.

Stroman in September!

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by DropIt

Hope Travis isnt out too long. Watching Goins at the plate is painful

He is so good at defence, it is a treat to watch.

[Hockey Fan #751]

Originally Posted by OzSome

hahaha!! Martin Jones and David Jones says hi and says they are white.

I'm quite sure she was talking about his first name.

[Jason14h]

AA was talking before the game about rentals and how last year they would have had to give up Pillar and some of the guys used to get Donaldson.

Playoffs or not, how the team can even consider firing him is beyond me. Sure the moves don't all work out, but can anyone doubt his intentions about making this team better.

His one flaw is his love for Gibbons

[KelVarnsen]

https://medium.com/sportspickle/dodg...e-85a8fe9015ee

[GirlySports]

Gibbons is the faithful girlfriend. AA's been spurned once.

[REDVAN]

Originally Posted by Skaloper

Stroman in September!

With Stroman and Saunders in left all year, the Jays wouldn't have made these moves because they'd already be in first place.

If Stroman can actually pitch in September and they Jays are in a playoff spot, this team is set.

If the Jays can overcome the Royals this weekend series, then I think they're looking good.

[KelVarnsen]

I'd love to see Stroman come up for the weekend to just be in the dugout.

I'd love it even more if Stroman was pitching in September.

[bluejays]

I'm happy with the deal for Price. Certainly it was a high price to pay for a rental, but with so many contracts coming off the books, they can make a run at the guy. I think with this deal most fans can put AA's smarts up there. How you make two major deals like this in two days is pretty neat. No way he's making a move like this to save his job - ownership has a huge say in bringing in a guy like that. My guess is that Rogers will open the vault for him.

With the prospect pool being shallow now, it's almost a certainty that JB and/or EE will be dealt in the off-season. I'd say is a certainty. My only "complaint" about this deal is it may have come a little late. Now, time to get that #2 pitcher and it's a whole other ballgame.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by fleury

I'm happy with the deal for Price. Certainly it was a high price to pay for a rental, but with so many contracts coming off the books, they can make a run at the guy. I think with this deal most fans can put AA's smarts up there. How you make two major deals like this in two days is pretty neat. No way he's making a move like this to save his job - ownership has a huge say in bringing in a guy like that. My guess is that Rogers will open the vault for him.

With the prospect pool being shallow now, it's almost a certainty that JB and/or EE will be dealt in the off-season. I'd say is a certainty. My only "complaint" about this deal is it may have come a little late. Now, time to get that #2 pitcher and it's a whole other ballgame.

The Jays do draft really well, similar to the Flames of late, so they can draft a bunch of new guys to re-stock the farm. I too wouldn't be shocked if JB or EE was dealt for prospects in the offseason, especially if they can replace them with solid players internally like Pompey/Alford/Smoak etc.

[savemedrzaius]

Anyone know of a good website I can watch games online? Last year I paid for mlb.tv over here in China and it didn't work for some reason/ NHL Gamecentre works but MLB.tv doesn't. Any other sites you guys know of?

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

The Jays do draft really well, similar to the Flames of late, so they can draft a bunch of new guys to re-stock the farm. I too wouldn't be shocked if JB or EE was dealt for prospects in the offseason, especially if they can replace them with solid players internally like Pompey/Alford/Smoak etc.

Pompey and Alford are very promising and loaded with potential.

Smoak, I can't call a solid player. Yes he's very good defensively, but his hitting average is too weak to consider him solid overall. He blows through a few hot streaks but even more and longer cold streaks at the plate.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Karl

Pompey and Alford are very promising and loaded with potential.

Smoak, I can't call a solid player. Yes he's very good defensively, but his hitting average is too weak to consider him solid overall. He blows through a few hot streaks but even more and longer cold streaks at the plate.

He'd be an okay option as the 1B if they do deal EE if they can't find another guy through trade/free agency.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

I'd love to see Stroman come up for the weekend to just be in the dugout.

I'd love it even more if Stroman was pitching in September.

He'll be up soon. Has 1 more week of school at Duke. Then he's rejoining the Jays.

[savemedrzaius]

From Price's tweets I'm liking his attitude. Sounds like he is an easy-going guy and that's good for the clubhouse.

[Enoch Root]

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 a valid question to ask, but there are 4 points to consider IMO:

1) they are only 2 games back in the WC, so yes, improving by 4 games probably makes enough of a difference

2) he replaces the 5th starter. They have been a .500 ball club to date, so it's safe to assume that the 5th spot has been less than .500. So he probably replaces something more like 4-8 or 3-9.

3) his impact is greater than just his 12 starts. He regularly pitches into the 7th and beyond, taking a lot of stress off of the bullpen (and again, we're comparing to the #5 spot). Rest for the bullpen could easily mean 2 or 3 more wins on the days that he isn't pitching.

4) his presence generates confidence and excitement throughout the rest of the lineup.

I think it can be argued that his acquisition is worth more like 7-8 wins.

60 games left when they acquired him. At their prior pace, they were looking at 30-30. If they go 36-24 or 37-23, I think they are in for sure.

With Tulo, Price and Hawkins, and Sanchez coming back, they have improved their rotation, their bullpen, and their defence. And the offence is at least as good, if not better as well.

I honestly would not be surprised if they finish the season somewhere in the 38-22 to 40-20 range.