2023 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

They should have pushed all of their chips in after getting Hicks. In for a penny, in for a pound. Instead, management half assed the deadline.

This team’s window is closing really quickly. We are going to lose a huge chunk of the team this off season and don’t have any stud prospects coming up to take their spots. We didn’t get guys who could address the issues that we have now or controllable assets to help replace those we are losing after this season. We only have a few years left with Bichette and a possibly declining Vladdy so we can’t afford to let these years slip by.

It’s a lot easier to get prospects than championships. If we were to make the World Series or even win it, would we regret losing Tiedemann who has been injured much of the season? This team has a VERY clear hole which is a good right handed/switch hitter. They have a solid rotation and a very good bullpen. A really good bat to put in the cleanup role and having DeJong to upgrade on Espinal’s spot could have put them over the top.

When we moved Martin and Woods-Richardson for Berrios, I was not a fan at the time. It felt like we were short cutting our rebuild for a guy who only had a year left on the contract. It felt like a move we should have been making last year or this year.

Management moved assets when we weren’t quite ready to move assets and as a result, we were left a bit too bare to move assets when we needed to move them and left us overvaluing the assets that we had left.

I agree with most of this but still don't agree that we should've gone all in at the deadline. This version of the team hasn't shown up offensively. Surely if they dangled the top prospects they'd have nailed someone but how is he going to straighten out the woes of almost every other player? I think it would've been such a small chance of success that you have to build toward a perennial contender like TB has done. I do was very upset about the Berrios deal as it did what you said as well as overpaid for a very good but not great Barrios. Even the Varsho deal was the same thing. I can't say it's a theme but the Jays should've had a couple prospects still in the system for trading had they not given up so much in those respective deals.

[ben voyonsdonc]

The big question is: if not now, when? Mediocrity is death in sports and they are deeply mediocre right now and next year isn’t going to be better. They’ll still be competitive with their pitching but they are only going to be worse at the plate. They’ll win games but they aren’t trending upwards by any means.

I think adding a solid bat who can play OF would have done four important things:
1. Let guys slot into more natural positions in the lineup. We clearly do not have a cleanup hitter and I think guys will produce better when they are in the right positions in the lineup. Chapman could be really solid as 6th or 7th hitter. Springer might fit well either 5th or 2nd (without Bichette).

2. Breaks the team morale death spiral. The players regularly look like they are defeated when they are playing. They could really use a shot in the arm.

3. Lets them pick and choose when they want to use Varsho. At this point, they need to find him spots where he has a chance to be successful. He’s not productive at the plate. He is a great defender but at some point, he is such a liability at the plate that the runs that he is saving in the OF are getting eaten away by the runs he is not producing at the plate.

4. Potentially most importantly, it eliminates any excuses that the team has. They can’t blame anyone but themselves if they can’t get things going when management has given them everything they could to make them successful. If this doesn’t work, then next year they can start the tear down process knowing that they did everything they could to make this thing work.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by bluejays

I actually think he had a good deadline. With the assets he gave up I don’t think he could bring in a legit bat. Dealing their better prospects would’ve been a disaster as they’d be left with nothing prospect wise. So I think the hope from jays management is strengthen the pitching and cross your fingers that hitting figures it out in the next month and a half.

You’d have to think that the core is adjusted this off-season if the season continues as is. There is no plate discipline. Raw hacks at everything.

I don't get the trades at all, they are just good enough to make a wild card.

However not a contender, why waste the assets

Especially with a year that has Yankees and Red Sox having an off year.

[Jason14h]

Who did people want us to get who got traded to another team ?

Both sides have to want to make a trade . Not many /any big bats got traded

And Vs all but 2 teams the Jays are the 2nd best team in MLB by win percentage (sure the two teams are good teams so the Jays probably wouldn’t play at the same win % as Vs everyone else - but they aren’t average when playing other teams )

It just feels like they are horrible cause they are soooo frustrating to watch and can’t get hot

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

Who did people want us to get who got traded to another team ?

Both sides have to want to make a trade . Not many /any big bats got traded

And Vs all but 2 teams the Jays are the 2nd best team in MLB

It just feels like they are horrible

That's kinda the point, if they couldn't obtain a bat.

Don't acquire the relief pitchers,

Not sure what was the strategy, seems strange

Jays are definitely not a horrible team, they are decent, however they are not a contender.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by flambers

That's kinda the point, if they couldn't obtain a bat.

Don't acquire the relief pitchers,

Not sure what was the strategy, seems strange

Jays are definitely not a horrible team, they are decent, however they are not a contender.

They acquired an arm and a bat . Vs Lefties DeJong should be a huge update on Varsho (Merrifield in OF)

Who are the “contenders “ in the AL if not the Jays? TB has been exponentially worse the last month . So has Texas

So Baltimore and Houston - no argument there

In playoffs Baltimore lacks the top end pitching the Jays have - now they haven’t pitched like they can against Balt - but in a 7 game series I like the Jays starters a lot more then Baltimores

The offensive is Putrid - no argument . But you don’t throw in the towel when an argument can be made your the 3rd best team in the conference .You hope the offensive get contagious in a good way and builds confidence going into the playoffs .

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

They acquired an arm and a bat . Vs Lefties DeJong should be a huge update on Varsho (Merrifield in OF)

Who are the “contenders “ in the AL if not the Jays? TB has been exponentially worse the last month . So has Texas

So Baltimore and Houston - no argument there

In playoffs Baltimore lacks the top end pitching the Jays have - now they haven’t pitched like they can against Balt - but in a 7 game series I like the Jays starters a lot more then Baltimores

The offensive is Putrid - no argument . But you don’t throw in the towel when an argument can be made your the 3rd best team in the conference .You hope the offensive get contagious in a good way and builds confidence going into the playoffs .

Baltimore, Tampa Bay would be contenders

Just check the Jays record against the AL east this year

In baseball you either go for it and load up or save the assets for another year.

[bluejays]

It’s apparent from ownership they didn’t want to mail it in but would want them to try for something, as their deadline strategy. It’s hardly a strategy but it’s clear they weren’t going all in, which is debatable but I’m on their side in that they shouldn’t have added. I don’t think it’s a confidence issue but rather a discipline issue. Growing up the fingers could’ve (and were) pointed at the childish behaviour of Gurriel and Teoscar. Now they’re eliminating the excuse of relievers being an issue. It’s a point of strength most would agree. Starters debatable but it’s okay. I’m sure it’s just like a stock where they’re at hold state rather than buy or sell just hoping to see how they do in the playoffs and I understand that from a ROI. But I wish they ultimately sold until there was more promise. It’s really a prayer at this point.

But fully agree, if they don’t make the conference finals or a crazy good stretch, one or both of Atkins/Shapiro, is done. First I thought Shapiro wouldn’t be but his major business side in getting Rogers Centre is done so he could be canned.

[jayswin]

I'm excited for this game. Always love watching games at fenway on TV and I think the jays are going to sweep this one.

[jayswin]

Anyone ever been to fenway in person? That's a bucket list destination for me.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by jayswin

I'm excited for this game. Always love watching games at fenway on TV and I think the jays are going to sweep this one.

Can you share your drugs?

[jayswin]

Davis Schneider making his MLB debut tonight

[KelVarnsen]

Holy ####, Whit!

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

Can you share your drugs?

Woohooo first pitch home run!!!

[flamingred89]

Imagine how bad the offense would be without Whit?

Atta boy. Get this series started with a bang.

[flamingred89]

And now Vladdy?! What is this?!

[jayswin]

Hahaha vladdy!!!! Springer almost dingered too. What a start

[KelVarnsen]

Vlad!

[Party Elephant]

This is a start

[jayswin]

Alright Manoah let's see some good stuff.