The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

He gave up 4 hits over 6 innings against a flaming hot Orioles offense. His problem lately has been his walks, which is atypical for him as he has pinpoint control.

Underwhelming fastball or not, Estrada is this team's ace. And the way he's pitching, would be a lot of team's ace; he's been that good.

His major drawback is that if a team is patient enough he has an 88 mph that can be cranked. Most teams aren't patient enough though and it generally isn't a problem. Things change in the postseason though and teams do become more patient (and obviously better quality hitters).

Estrada is a great pitcher, but i'f i'm having a 1 game playoff against a team like the Mariners/Red Sox/Rangers, I want someone like Sanchez starting that game as is stands now. He's the type of pitcher that sometimes even when you are patient, his stuff just can't be hit. You can't say that about Estrada.

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

His major drawback is that if a team is patient enough he has an 88 mph that can be cranked. Most teams aren't patient enough though and it generally isn't a problem. Things change in the postseason though and teams do become more patient (and obviously better quality hitters).

Estrada is a great pitcher, but i'f i'm having a 1 game playoff against a team like the Mariners/Red Sox/Rangers, I want someone like Sanchez starting that game as is stands now. He's the type of pitcher that sometimes even when you are patient, his stuff just can't be hit. You can't say that about Estrada.

What about in last year's playoffs? When the pressure cooker came, Estrada was far and away the team's best starter in the playoffs. Game 3 in Texas, game 5 against KC, both elite offenses.

I think it's time to start believing that what Estrada has done is the real deal, and his changeup is THAT good. He can get by throwing an 88 mph fastball and 86 mph cutter, with a pretty good curveball, when his changeup is as devastating as it is. Jamie Moyer and Mark Buerhle got by on pinpoint control and offspeed deception for years; it looks like Estrada is taking a page out of their books.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by howard_the_duck

What about in last year's playoffs? When the pressure cooker came, Estrada was far and away the team's best starter in the playoffs. Game 3 in Texas, game 5 against KC, both elite offenses.

I think it's time to start believing that what Estrada has done is the real deal, and his changeup is THAT good. He can get by throwing an 88 mph fastball and 86 mph cutter, with a pretty good curveball, when his changeup is as devastating as it is. Jamie Moyer and Mark Buerhle got by on pinpoint control and offspeed deception for years; it looks like Estrada is taking a page out of their books.

He wasn't very good in game 1 of the ACLS.

That said, I do think Estrada is the real deal and his changeup is good enough to compensate for low velocity. I think he is a good pitcher, I just don't think he's an ace.

In a one game winner takes all scenario, I want the guy who can just blow a guy away when he needs that one strike, not a guy that has to rely on pinpoint control and discretion of an umpire's strikezone to get that out.

[Roof-Daddy]

SO what's everyone's take on Stroman lately?

Just a blip/learning curve with his struggles? He's not going to go all "Ricky Romero" on us is he?

[Fire of the Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

SO what's everyone's take on Stroman lately?

Just a blip/learning curve with his struggles? He's not going to go all "Ricky Romero" on us is he?

There's a reason there aren't a lot of starting pitchers that are 5'8"

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I think that ship has sailed. Was the original plan, but Osuna himself has said he'd prefer to be an every day closer. He's only 21 though so there's still time.

I must have missed him saying that. Interesting opinion, if so!

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by calculoso

I must have missed him saying that. Interesting opinion, if so!

it was in the offseason when people were asking questions about that scenario to him. Said he'd do whatever the Jays wanted, but liked pitching every night with the game on the line and was comfortable staying there.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

SO what's everyone's take on Stroman lately?

Just a blip/learning curve with his struggles? He's not going to go all "Ricky Romero" on us is he?

I said it a couple of pages back but I think it is just a matter of him not having good command of his pitches and lacking the movement that he previously had. Every pitch was moving and hard to make solid contact with and it seemed that over the last few games his pitches were more flat.

[Hot_Flatus]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

His major drawback is that if a team is patient enough he has an 88 mph that can be cranked. Most teams aren't patient enough though and it generally isn't a problem. Things change in the postseason though and teams do become more patient (and obviously better quality hitters).

Estrada is a great pitcher, but i'f i'm having a 1 game playoff against a team like the Mariners/Red Sox/Rangers, I want someone like Sanchez starting that game as is stands now. He's the type of pitcher that sometimes even when you are patient, his stuff just can't be hit. You can't say that about Estrada.

Estrada was pretty solid in the playoffs last year if I remember correctly.

[puffnstuff]

Ee!

[Dan02]

Funny listening to the Jays broadcast, don't pitch him inside, don't pitch him inside. Then they pitch him inside. Jacked.

[Hockey-and_stuff]

Carrera with some awful baserunning.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Ya you could say Edwin Encarnacion is on fire.

Tabler was thinking exactly what I was thinking.

EE is .197 with RISP and is top 3 in all of baseball with RBI.

[Dan02]

surely you must be lying because that seems impossible.

[corporatejay]

Sanchez to the pen is when not if. That's good for our pen and the long term outlook of the franchise.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Oh my god Donaldson is so good.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Sanchez to the pen is when not if. That's good for our pen and the long term outlook of the franchise.

I think innings limits are stupid and I think the Jays are making a mistake pulling Sanchez from the rotation.

[Dan02]

The science has spoken though, anything more then a 20% boost in the number of innings over the previous year increases your chance of injury significantly.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Dan02

The science has spoken though, anything more then a 20% boost in the number of innings over the previous year increases your chance of injury significantly.

Annnnnnddd I did not know that. Thank you!

How about Josh Donaldson?!

[savemedrzaius]

Storen looks a little like Phil Kessel.