2020 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Enoch Root]

I want to bat!

[flamingred89]

What a funny series with the teams trading blowouts. With Ryu on the mound tomorrow the Jays have a chance of splitting the season series with the Yanks.

[Roof-Daddy]

Detroit lost but the Angels and Mariners both won, so if the Jays win this the magic number will be 1 on both Anaheim and Seattle, Detroit will be unable to catch us.

[Roof-Daddy]

lol Jansen takes the back up catcher yard. 14-1

[savemedrzaius]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I like Jansen, he seems like an awesome dude. It's nice to see him step up offensively.

I really like him too. He seems like a good guy. I have no idea why but I just get that feeling.

[Roof-Daddy]

Nice win!

Magic number is 1

[Jiggy_12]

It doesn’t feel like it, but a win tomorrow and we split the season series with the Yankees

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by savemedrzaius

I really like him too. He seems like a good guy. I have no idea why but I just get that feeling.

When Jansen hit his grand slam in that 10 run inning against the Yanks a couple series ago, Dan and Buck made it pretty clear that Jansen is extremely beloved in that clubhouse.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

I wonder how much Kirk's performance at the plate pushed Jansen a little harder to perform offensively. It's not like McGuire ever gave Jansen a scare that he might take over his job this year.

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I wonder how much Kirk's performance at the plate pushed Jansen a little harder to perform offensively. It's not like McGuire ever gave Jansen a scare that he might take over his job this year.

I don't think Jansen's job was ever in danger though, even with Kirk hitting well. They like to split time for their catchers 2:1 now it seems, and then any talk of Kirk playing extra was always as DH.

[Roof-Daddy]

Jansen's WRC+ up to 98 now and that's with a BABIP of .195. By all accounts he's been more unlucky at the plate than anything else, plus he still provides defensive value.

Kirk/Jansen has potential to be one hell of a catching tandem.

If the FO can "find" some starting pitching this team should be pushing for 90 wins next season IMO.

Potentially a line up made up entirely of league average to well above league average hitters.

1. Teo - 156 wRC+
2. Tellez - 136 wRC+
3. Bichette - 132 wRC+
4. Gurriel - 130 wRC+
5. Biggio - 124 wRC+
6. Vlad - 108 wRC+
7. Grichuk - 104 wRC+
8. Jansen - 98 wRC+

Kirk with a small sample size has a 200 wRC+

Imagine if they go big game hunting and land a guy like George Springer in free agency.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

I don't think Jansen's job was ever in danger though, even with Kirk hitting well. They like to split time for their catchers 2:1 now it seems, and then any talk of Kirk playing extra was always as DH.

No, but if Kirk continued to mash it and Jansen continued to sputter at the plate, I wonder if they switch the playing time ratio between the two.

Either way, I'm glad to see Jansen do something at the plate again. He's probably the long term starter, but he has to start showing something to indicate he can handle that role. Over his last 7 games Jansen has an OPS% of 1.172. I don't expect him to stay there, but that's a big difference compared to what he's been doing most of the year.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Imagine if they go big game hunting and land a guy like George Springer in free agency.

I'd rather they push hard to extend Walker. Pretty slim pickings for pitching in 2021 and they really need some reliable starters that can eat some innings (can't use the pitching staff like this again). I think the Bats are already really good (and have Martin on the way already) but lordy do the Jays need run prevention.

[Enoch Root]

What is the tiebreaker between the Jays and the filthy Astro-cheaters?

Jays are currently 1 game up on them but they have 4 games remaining against Texas.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Parallex

I'd rather they push hard to extend Walker. Pretty slim pickings for pitching in 2021 and they really need some reliable starters that can eat some innings (can't use the pitching staff like this again). I think the Bats are already really good (and have Martin on the way already) but lordy do the Jays need run prevention.

why not both?

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Jansen's WRC+ up to 98 now and that's with a BABIP of .195. By all accounts he's been more unlucky at the plate than anything else, plus he still provides defensive value.

Kirk/Jansen has potential to be one hell of a catching tandem.

If the FO can "find" some starting pitching this team should be pushing for 90 wins next season IMO.

Potentially a line up made up entirely of league average to well above league average hitters.

1. Teo - 156 wRC+
2. Tellez - 136 wRC+
3. Bichette - 132 wRC+
4. Gurriel - 130 wRC+
5. Biggio - 124 wRC+
6. Vlad - 108 wRC+
7. Grichuk - 104 wRC+
8. Jansen - 98 wRC+

Kirk with a small sample size has a 200 wRC+

Imagine if they go big game hunting and land a guy like George Springer in free agency.

Vladdy really needs to go back to 3rd. Tell him if he shows up to spring training 20 lbs lighter, he can have the bag back.

That would set up these 8 bats perfectly. Then add one more A-list bat.

(and a couple of starters of course)

[Crown Royal]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

No, but if Kirk continued to mash it and Jansen continued to sputter at the plate, I wonder if they switch the playing time ratio between the two.

Either way, I'm glad to see Jansen do something at the plate again. He's probably the long term starter, but he has to start showing something to indicate he can handle that role. Over his last 7 games Jansen has an OPS% of 1.172. I don't expect him to stay there, but that's a big difference compared to what he's been doing most of the year.

I'm very happy Jansen is showing some life at the plate; I want him to start improving behind the dish though, that is where he is supposed to be best but too many balls are getting by him and he's not calling games well IMO.

I would love to see Toronto bring back Russell Martin in coaching/mentor role for the catchers, in addition to having the BP Catcher in Andreopoulos. I think he would do wonders for Jansen, McGuire, Kirk and Moreno. Heck, even Ernie Whitt might be a good guy to come in and work with them.

[HitterD]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

What is the tiebreaker between the Jays and the filthy Astro-cheaters?

Jays are currently 1 game up on them but they have 4 games remaining against Texas.

Right now there isn’t one. The astros are actually slated to be the 6 seed by virtue of being 2nd place in their division (top seeds in division get 1,2,3, second seeds in division get 4,5,6). The jays are pretty firmly locked into 8th unless they catch either Cleveland (3rd in their division but 3 games up on the jays) or Yankees (3 games up on the Jays)

Odds are pretty high that the Jays will finish 8th, to play the Rays while the Astros will finish 6th with a worse record

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Crown Royal

I'm very happy Jansen is showing some life at the plate; I want him to start improving behind the dish though, that is where he is supposed to be best but too many balls are getting by him and he's not calling games well IMO.

I would love to see Toronto bring back Russell Martin in coaching/mentor role for the catchers, in addition to having the BP Catcher in Andreopoulos. I think he would do wonders for Jansen, McGuire, Kirk and Moreno. Heck, even Ernie Whitt might be a good guy to come in and work with them.

I read somewhere that Russell Martin wasn't much of a mentor when Jansen came up. Luke Maile was supposedly much better in that regard. Maybe it would be different though if he was brought in specifically for that purpose and not worried about losing playing time to a kid a team that is about to start rebuilding.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

Vladdy really needs to go back to 3rd. Tell him if he shows up to spring training 20 lbs lighter, he can have the bag back.

That would set up these 8 bats perfectly. Then add one more A-list bat.

(and a couple of starters of course)

I'm wondering about the time line on Austin Martin and Jordan Groshans now.

These are very good prospects, like Bo Bichette level of good, and last I read they were both performing very well at the Jays alternate training site. If that's the case I wouldn't be surprised to see either of their arrival dates pushed up to the middle of next season if they start in AA or AAA and show well.

I mean, if these two are showing well against what is basically AAAA pitching, there will be no sense going backwards and slowing their arrival to the MLB. And now that the Jays have fast tracked Kirk to the bigs after showing well against those same pitchers, you know Jays management isn't going to hesitate either if they look like they're ready.

Anyways, if they think that's possible then I don't see Vladdy moving back across the diamond.