2015 ALCS Toronto Blue Jays VS Kansas City Royals

[bluejays]

I'm really late to the show here as I've been away, but after watching yesterday's game, I really can't blame Gibbons at all. Is talking to him really going to change much? The guy's a veteran at this stage of his career. Sometimes we believe in some cooky stuff. Pep talks are probably one of them.

Anyway, Price was dealing well until he hit that wall. If I'm Gibbons, I don't see that one coming at all. If I'm in Gibbons place I don't go to the bullpen either. He did so well to that point that you have to give him the benefit of doubt that he'll pull it together. He didn't and that sucks, but really KC was hitting to every gap possible. Sometimes that just happens. Goins should've caught that ball or not called it - costly mistake, but #### happens.

I personally don't see them coming back as KC has been a bad matchup for them, but I still hope they do. As for the off-season, I hope AA does a few things, having been exposed this playoffs in a few ways.

1) Resign Price if it's around $22M/year under 5 years
2) Shore up that bullpen (especially LHP)
3) Deal the unproductive free swingers for guys who will get on base. By unproductive, I'm not talking about just HR's, I'm talking about finding ways to get on base. Specifically, I'm looking at dealing Martin. I don't know who could be his replacement, but I'd love to get that A1 catcher.
4) Deal one of the big bats for another Ace. I'm not sure if Bautista's HR bought him some time, but I'm pretty sure him or EE will be one of the pieces AA can dangle. It'd be sad to see them go, but they're at their peak now.

[JiriHrdina]

Martin IS an A1 catcher.

[corporatejay]

You will never get price for that much money. He'll get 30-35.

[HelloHockeyFans]

Series goes 2-3-2 right?

[jayswin]

Yep

[Mathgod]

Jays pretty much have to win their 3 home games. It's pretty much a repeat of the predicament they were in last series (albeit up against a tougher opponent this time).

[Dion]

We need more hits from our best batters and not just home runs.

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by Dion

We need more hits from our best batters and not just home runs.

But....

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

Martin IS an A1 catcher.

Definitely arguable. When looks by at the stats in fairness, there is probably one or maybe two elite catchers. There is a drop off from Posey.

More than anything, Martin's average and strikeouts bother me.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by fleury

Definitely arguable. When looks by at the stats in fairness, there is probably one or maybe two elite catchers. There is a drop off from Posey.

More than anything, Martin's average and strikeouts bother me.

There are only a couple guys that are even okay in the league. Seems to be a drought in quality catchers in this specific era.

The player I would like the Jays to acquire most is Chris Davis. Might as well murder every pitch and have 4 guys that can hit 40. Hoping that Stroman can have a similar performance as he did in both starts today and get the win.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

There are only a couple guys that are even okay in the league. Seems to be a drought in quality catchers in this specific era.

The player I would like the Jays to acquire most is Chris Davis. Might as well murder every pitch and have 4 guys that can hit 40. Hoping that Stroman can have a similar performance as he did in both starts today and get the win.

1. LF - Revere
2. 3B - Donaldson
3. RF - Bautista
4. 1B - Davis
5. DH - Encarnacion
6. SS - Tulowitzki (Hopefully the usual Tulo)
7. 2B - Travis (Goins back up, bats 9th)
8. BC - Martin
9. CF - Pillar


*Drool*

Would need to sign some starting pitching though, because:

Stroman
Dickey
Hutchison
Sanchez
?????

....isn't going to cut it.

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

1. LF - Revere
2. 3B - Donaldson
3. RF - Bautista
4. 1B - Davis
5. DH - Encarnacion
6. SS - Tulowitzki (Hopefully the usual Tulo)
7. 2B - Travis (Goins back up, bats 9th)
8. BC - Martin
9. CF - Pillar


*Drool*

Would need to sign some starting pitching though, because:

Stroman
Dickey
Hutchison
Sanchez
?????

....isn't going to cut it.

Sign a couple middle tier starters like Zimmerman and you're good to go. A rotation of

Stroman
New Guy #1
New Guy #2
Dickey
Hutchison

Should be fine. Plus the Jays may begin to stretch out Osuna and Sanchez, leaving Cecil to close and maintaining Lowe as the 8th inning guy and figure out the rest.

[Weitz]

Well something good will come of tonight.

A) Jays win and are back in the series

B) Jays lose and I don't have to worry about watching a 1:00 game tomorrow or wednesday.

[TheAlpineOracle]

I remember the day Stroman went down in spring training. I was absolutely crushed. Was worried about pitching to start with, and his injury, in my mind, would end the season before it started.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Well something good will come of tonight.

A) Jays win and are back in the series

B) Jays lose and I don't have to worry about watching a 1:00 game tomorrow or wednesday.

The 2-3-2 setup is a different sort of beast though. It is conceivable that they go down 3-0 but end up down 3-2 going back to KC. Is that really any different than going down 2-1 but ending up down 3-2 going back to KC?

Whatever happens, going down 3-2 is probably the most we can hope for at this point, doesn't really matter how they do it. They're going to have to win in KC regardless of any scenario in order to pull this off.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

1. LF - Revere
2. 3B - Donaldson
3. RF - Bautista
4. 1B - Davis
5. DH - Encarnacion
6. SS - Tulowitzki (Hopefully the usual Tulo)
7. 2B - Travis (Goins back up, bats 9th)
8. BC - Martin
9. CF - Pillar


*Drool*

Would need to sign some starting pitching though, because:

Stroman
Dickey
Hutchison
Sanchez
?????

....isn't going to cut it.

You forgot Estrada. I doubt Dickey is back either. He has an option and I can't see the Jays using it. My guess is Only Stroman and Estrada return to the starting 5 next year with 3 new guys coming in.

[Roof-Daddy]

Estrada is a free agent.

Also, I'm not sure why the Jays wouldn't take the option on Dickey. He was lights out in the second half, and they are short on starting pitching as of right now.

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Estrada is a free agent.

Also, I'm not sure why the Jays wouldn't take the option on Dickey. He was lights out in the second half, and they are short on starting pitching as of right now.

Dickey is way too inconsistent to be counted on IMO. Didn't know Estrada was a FA, that would be a big blow to lose him.

[bluejays]

Kinda agree. At $12M, for your number 4 I would pick up that option. Estrada will probably get the same amount which I would pay at 3 years given his age. The trick will be the 2-3 slots and resigning our existing guys. AA's probably not going to have the payroll for all this so he'll have to get creative via trades I'd think.

[Jiggy_12]

Nervous for this game. The Royals still need to win 2 games, but realistically we can not expect to come back if we go down 3-0.

Down just 2-0 at the moment and would be foolish to count them out, we win tonight and we've got a great chance. 1 at a time.