2018 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Russell! Tie game!

Took the lead!

[BOSSY]

The man bun!

[ClubFlames]

Solarte is such a positive/happy guy lol

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Nice battle by Tepera there.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Diaz!?

4-2 Jays.

[Roof-Daddy]

Diaz! Insurance run.

[Roof-Daddy]

Osuna matata!

8 pitches, 8 strikes, 3 outs, 1 save!

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Osuna closes it out with ease.

After the first two ugly games 3-2 record is looking pretty nice. I'm liking the look of the left side of the field with Solarte and Diaz. If/when JD gets traded I'll be pretty comfortable with that side defensively.

[Cortez]

Very casual fan here- I catch games as often as I can but don’t follow the off season at all. 2 questions

Were did Solarte come from and what happened to Biagini?

[Hockey]

Originally Posted by Cortez

Very casual fan here- I catch games as often as I can but don’t follow the off season at all. 2 questions

Were did Solarte come from and what happened to Biagini?

Solarte was acquired in a trade from the Padres and Biagini is in AAA right now

[Jiggy_12]

Both Solarte and Diaz came via off-season trades. Jays needed a couple multi-position guys that could fill the gaps when Travis/Tulo/Donaldson needed rest or got hurt. Two definite upgrades over Barney and Goins. Solarte from the Padres and Diaz from the Cardinals.

Biagini is in AAA and is starting. He would likely be the first guy recalled if we need a starter.

[nixon45]

Really loving the energy that Solarte brings so far.

Pretty cool to see such a positive guy given what he went through last year losing his wife and mother of his 3 kids.

[Cortez]

Was Biagini a contract thing or does he deserve to be in AAA?

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Cortez

Was Biagini a contract thing or does he deserve to be in AAA?

Trying to keep him as a starter, so he is basically #6 on the depth chart.

They feel he is better off starting in AAA than being used out of the bullpen, at least for now.

[Jiggy_12]

They want to get him some experience as a starter. Last year wasn't so great for him in that role. Their top 5 are clearly a tier above.

Could have left him in the pen but felt strong enough there to keep him as starting insurance instead. Have to keep him stretched out in the minors if they think they may need him in that role later in the season.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I really like how Garcia looked tonight. Just have to cross our fingers that the rotation stays relatively healthy, pretty solid rotation. It's probably a lot to ask, but I'll hope for the best.

[Roof-Daddy]

Fangraphs projected 84 wins this year for the Jays, here is an article that goes into depth as to how they came up with that number.

Let’s Talk About the Jays’ Promising Projection

They project them to gain wins in almost every area due to solid depth signings and a presumed return to somewhat healthy seasons from Sanchez and Travis.

The only drop off is a slight one from Smoak, and also the bullpen due to the loss of Smith and Leone who were 2nd and 3rd among Jays relievers last year in WAR.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Fangraphs projected 84 wins this year for the Jays, here is an article that goes into depth as to how they came up with that number.

Let’s Talk About the Jays’ Promising Projection

They project them to gain wins in almost every area due to solid depth signings and a presumed return to somewhat healthy seasons from Sanchez and Travis.

The only drop off is a slight one from Smoak, and also the bullpen due to the loss of Smith and Leone who were 2nd and 3rd among Jays relievers last year in WAR.

That's fine and even reasonable.

Here is where it falls apart though...assuming everyone else stays healthy, in particular the starters.

It would be great if they do obviously, it just doesn't seem like a reasonable assumption though.

Have to say that the way to early returns are better than expected however, especially at the plate. If they can stay in the middle of the pack in hitting, then they may have shot at a wild card.

Really impressed with the pitching thus far even though they have to scale back on the BB's. Playing the Yanks will do that to you I guess. Bullpen looks solid, though Oh for some reason leaves me holding my breath every time he throws.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by transplant99

That's fine and even reasonable.

Here is where it falls apart though...assuming everyone else stays healthy, in particular the starters.

It would be great if they do obviously, it just doesn't seem like a reasonable assumption though.

Actually, they aren't assuming the rest of the rotation stays healthy. All they are assuming is that the collective group of Stroman, Happ and Estrada pitch roughly the same amount of innings, and put up roughly the same amount or WAR as they did last season. That's an average of 177 innings and 2.7 WAR per pitcher. They are also only projecting 137 innings (2.1 WAR) from Sanchez, and 127 innings (1.4 WAR) from Garcia.

None of that is really out of line IMO. In fact, a healthy Sanchez will likely blow those projections out of the water.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

JD back at 3rd tonight. Hope he’s 100% because Solarte looked just fine there. Guess we’ll see.