2021 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Roof-Daddy]

Was just perusing some stats, Gurriel line since May 14th (12 games):

.417 / .429 / .646 / 1.074

So that's a good sign. Riding an very high BABIP and still not walking much, but hitting the ball hard and often finally.


I sure wish the Jays would have signed Semien to a multi year deal and I hope they are looking into extending him as we speak.

He was 3rd in MVP voting during his last full season, and after a slow start has a line of .343 / .405 / .634 / 1.040 in his last 33 games. 2.5 WAR already. Not to mention he's a legit SS that is willing to play 2B. That is a major positive any way you look at it.

Not sure what it would take? Maybe 4 or 5 years $100 million total would get it done?


Also, man is our bench ever abysmal. Yikes. I feel like I say this weekly, but I cannot wait until Springer and Kirk are back, because right now we have crappy bench players playing every day (although they just had a pretty good game against CLE)

[transplant99]

Really?

I think the club is just fine as far as position players go. Particularly once Springer returns, though to me it still looks like C is a weakness even with Kirk. I think you want your bench guys to be sound defensively as much as their ability to PH. Davis and especially Espinal provide that and Panik is your utility guy. Biggio is a bit of a puzzle right now but could just be a slump....been to good before to think this is who he is. Tellez might be one guy they can upgrade on but that LH bat with power is something they need.

This club, as it normally is, only needs help in the rotation. But that is also the hardest and usually the most expensive area to shore up. I think the club is 2 legitimate starters away from contender status. Way to early to know if Manoah is one of them and Pearson seems to be going backwards.

The offense though is among the best in baseball as it is now with the young guys learning how to hit instead of just swinging for the fences. Once Springer is back and if he does what he has forever...this is a murderers row for any pitcher. If Biggio regains his form that just makes it even deeper and probably the best hitting line up in the AL.

[Wastedyouth]

The team needs SP's immediately or they wont compete with Boston and Tampa. They have the bats, but they do not have the arms.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Really?

I think the club is just fine as far as position players go. Particularly once Springer returns, though to me it still looks like C is a weakness even with Kirk. I think you want your bench guys to be sound defensively as much as their ability to PH. Davis and especially Espinal provide that and Panik is your utility guy. Biggio is a bit of a puzzle right now but could just be a slump....been to good before to think this is who he is. Tellez might be one guy they can upgrade on but that LH bat with power is something they need.

This club, as it normally is, only needs help in the rotation. But that is also the hardest and usually the most expensive area to shore up. I think the club is 2 legitimate starters away from contender status. Way to early to know if Manoah is one of them and Pearson seems to be going backwards.

The offense though is among the best in baseball as it is now with the young guys learning how to hit instead of just swinging for the fences. Once Springer is back and if he does what he has forever...this is a murderers row for any pitcher. If Biggio regains his form that just makes it even deeper and probably the best hitting line up in the AL.

It sounds like we pretty much agree on everything, so not sure what the "really?" was all about. Must have been my comment on the bench? Because yeah, offensively the bench is really very bad. Not guys you want taking at bats every day, which is why I said that I can't wait for Springer and Kirk to be back, and like you said if Biggio comes back and gets back to form an already elite offense becomes a complete juggernaut.

Totally agree on the rotation, however I'm content to watch Ryu-Ray-Matz-Manoah cycle thru a few times if they can all stay healthy. That has the makings of a pretty solid top 4 IMO. The 5th spot is pretty sad though. Stripling is wildly inconsistent. Pearson doesn't look ready and I'm hoping Hatch will be back soon but he's only pitched one rehab appearance in AAA and that was over a week ago, so not sure what is up with that.

If nobody can fill that spot adequately, or any of the top 4 falter or get injured I would absolutely love to see the Jays make a trade for a high end starter. I'm kind of hoping for Scherzer if the Nats fall out of the race. As a pending free agent who is 36 years old, he might not actually cost that much in prospect capital, and then the Jays might have a leg up on a 1 or 2 year extension as well. Of course with him though, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox will likely also be front and center vying for his services and he does have the power to pick his destination if he's moved.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

It sounds like we pretty much agree on everything, so not sure what the "really?" was all about. Must have been my comment on the bench? Because yeah, offensively the bench is really very bad. Not guys you want taking at bats every day, which is why I said that I can't wait for Springer and Kirk to be back, and like you said if Biggio comes back and gets back to form an already elite offense becomes a complete juggernaut.

Totally agree on the rotation, however I'm content to watch Ryu-Ray-Matz-Manoah cycle thru a few times if they can all stay healthy. That has the makings of a pretty solid top 4 IMO. The 5th spot is pretty sad though. Stripling is wildly inconsistent. Pearson doesn't look ready and I'm hoping Hatch will be back soon but he's only pitched one rehab appearance in AAA and that was over a week ago, so not sure what is up with that.

If nobody can fill that spot adequately, or any of the top 4 falter or get injured I would absolutely love to see the Jays make a trade for a high end starter. I'm kind of hoping for Scherzer if the Nats fall out of the race. As a pending free agent who is 36 years old, he might not actually cost that much in prospect capital, and then the Jays might have a leg up on a 1 or 2 year extension as well. Of course with him though, teams like the Yankees and Red Sox will likely also be front and center vying for his services and he does have the power to pick his destination if he's moved.

Yeah sorry that's what i was on about.

Im just saying once (if) they get back to any semblance of health I think the bench if fine. I still think there may be a bit more there with Davis offensively but his defense if stellar which i think is important (as an example).

But yeah, as it always is and will be, its all about pitching and the jays just aren't there yet IMO. Relying on Manoah is a scary proposition although he looked like a Cy Younger in his debut. Once the league gets video on him, there will be adjustments and he will need to adjust back. Yet to be seen what happens there.

I like the idea of Scherzer as well. Taijuan Walker was a guy I think should have been brought back too, though maybe he didnt want to? But at 8M a year....hell of a value deal.

[flamingred89]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I sure wish the Jays would have signed Semien to a multi year deal and I hope they are looking into extending him as we speak.

He was 3rd in MVP voting during his last full season, and after a slow start has a line of .343 / .405 / .634 / 1.040 in his last 33 games. 2.5 WAR already. Not to mention he's a legit SS that is willing to play 2B. That is a major positive any way you look at it.

Not sure what it would take? Maybe 4 or 5 years $100 million total would get it done?
)

I've been hoping for that as well. But I have no idea where the price point would be. I mean, his career WAR is virtually identical to Springers and he plays a premier defensive position too. Not to mention playing in Oakland for 8 seasons. But I cant see him going for 30 per. Mainly because that Springer contract is kind of ridiculous. Semien will also be on on the wrong side of 30. So probably something similar to the Donaldson contract. So I think you're right in the ballpark with the 5 years 100 million.

But then you start to wonder what payroll will look like with the kids going to arbitration soon. And I hope the Jays give Vladdy Tatis money so we don't have to worry about him bolting in 2026. So that'll hopefully be another massive contract on the books. And the there's Bo-bo. So all of a sudden how do you pay for starting pitching.

Ultimately these are good problems to have but I really hope Rogers keeps their word about spending. And also I'm a little bearish on the Springer contract right now as he's trending to maybe play half the season in one of the years that we hope he bangs because the back end of that deal will be a woof.

[Roof-Daddy]

Game suspended today. Double header tomorrow. 2 more 7 inning games. I kind of like them haha. Especially with the bullpen crumbling lately.

1st game at 11 mountain time.

[transplant99]

I like the double headers especially with the earlier start times.

[flamingred89]

Aw damn. Was looking forward to an afternoon ball game today. Oh well.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I sure wish the Jays would have signed Semien to a multi year deal and I hope they are looking into extending him as we speak.

Jays had initially wanted a 4 year deal. Semien is the one holding that bus up.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Blaster86

Jays had initially wanted a 4 year deal. Semien is the one holding that bus up.

So far looking like a genius for betting on himself then. His price keeps going up and up and up...

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Also, Pearson pitched 3 innings in AAA today.

He recorded 9 outs and 7 of them were Ks.

Unfortunately he also gave up 2 walks, 4 hits and 4 earned runs.

Nuke Laloosh

[BoLevi]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

I've been hoping for that as well. But I have no idea where the price point would be. I mean, his career WAR is virtually identical to Springers and he plays a premier defensive position too. Not to mention playing in Oakland for 8 seasons. But I cant see him going for 30 per. Mainly because that Springer contract is kind of ridiculous. Semien will also be on on the wrong side of 30. So probably something similar to the Donaldson contract. So I think you're right in the ballpark with the 5 years 100 million.

But then you start to wonder what payroll will look like with the kids going to arbitration soon. And I hope the Jays give Vladdy Tatis money so we don't have to worry about him bolting in 2026. So that'll hopefully be another massive contract on the books. And the there's Bo-bo. So all of a sudden how do you pay for starting pitching.

Ultimately these are good problems to have but I really hope Rogers keeps their word about spending. And also I'm a little bearish on the Springer contract right now as he's trending to maybe play half the season in one of the years that we hope he bangs because the back end of that deal will be a woof.

Great analysis

[Roof-Daddy]

For those that follow prospects, Kloffenstein got lit up bad in high A again today. Hopefully just a blip as he was off to a solid start to the season before these last two appearances.

SWR hasn't pitched since the 22nd, so I'm not sure what's up with that. Hopefully just some extra rest.

[Kasi]

He’s playing for the US national team. He won’t be back at NH for a while now.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Montoyo really likes to bunt.

[flamingred89]

Ha. Indians are playing little league defense today.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Home runs!

[transplant99]

Semian just keeps hitting....man what an addition he has been.

[Roof-Daddy]

I read an article about how Stripling made a small adjustment after Boston lit him up a couple weeks ago and then he had a strong outing against Tampa and looks better today too. Hopefully he's unlocked something because he has the stuff to be a decent bottom of the rotation starter.