The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[TheAlpineOracle]

I will say this though abor Dickey, Gibbons has never done him any favours with the way he manages him. Dickey's problem usually come the third time through the lineup on the days his knuckleball isn't dancing and players start to get their timing. Gibbons has never seemed to acknowledge this until recently and just left him in there to get shelled. After 3 years though it seems the light switch may have clicked for Gibby. Lately he's had guys up in the 5th and 6th as soon as it looked like the wheels may be starting to come off just in case.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Dickey had a great start last night, but that's what's rage inducing about him. He has zero consistency and whether he performs well or not is competely out of control as he is ah the mercy of a pitch that is q crapshoot. When you add that to the fact that he requires his own personal catcher who may be the worst roster player in the Anerican League, I think it becomes pretty clear why I can't stand Dickey.

Again you are missing the point. This is a fun team to watch. Enjoy it instead of picking apart every player and the entire team

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

He's dropped .25 points since his hot start and hasn't hit a homerun in at least ten games.

So? Home runs don't come in even distribution. He's hit well all season and you were fraudulently trying to say that he hasn't.

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I'm saying he needs to have good offence to justify his terrible defence.

He does have good offense... very good offense. His D hasn't been good this year but it's been pretty decent in the past.

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

If he doesn't, Carrera is the better option as he's got more speed, could lead off, and is a decent fielder.

Career wise Carrera and Saunders grade out as basically equivalent fielders as measured by dWAR (but I'll grant that he's been a better fielder over the first half this year) and Saunders has a significantly better bat. I'll grant that Carrera is a better baserunner but that's the only thing he has over Saunders.

[GirlySports]

thread getting too serious.

Royals pitched Young Wang Pounders last night (in that order). Dickey started for Toronto.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Saunders has made me not miss Collabello's production this season I will say that.

I am really hopeful that Stroman has a good start today. He looked pretty damn good against Cleveland in his last start. A couple of back to back quality starts will help me forget about that recent spell of bad starts.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Saunders has made me not miss Collabello's production this season I will say that.

I am really hopeful that Stroman has a good start today. He looked pretty damn good against Cleveland in his last start. A couple of back to back quality starts will help me forget about that recent spell of bad starts.

Hopefully Collabello can string some decent stats together when he gets back and we can ship him out for some bullpen. That said, he's cheap and under team control next year as well I think, so maybe we keep him?

[mrkajz44]

Yeah, I'm interested in Storman's start as well. He's had some really good games, and some really bad ones. I'm hoping its more of him just figuring out the big leagues as a young pitcher, but he gives me flashes of Ricky Romero and that scares me.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Hopefully Collabello can string some decent stats together when he gets back and we can ship him out for some bullpen. That said, he's cheap and under team control next year as well I think, so maybe we keep him?

I woudl think they would want to keep him just as an option for a bat off the bench. Pretty thin bench if you need a big hit.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by cross16

I woudl think they would want to keep him just as an option for a bat off the bench. Pretty thin bench if you need a big hit.

Not much we can do with the bench until the roster expands. Having to carry Thole essentially really limits what Gibbons can do. I don't think we realized what a luxury we had in Navarro last year. The guy could catch and was a great pinch hitter.

[Jiggy_12]

Well crap. Estrada to 15 day DL and sounds like he'll miss his next two scheduled starts, as well as the All-star game.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Well crap. Estrada to 15 day DL and sounds like he'll miss his next two scheduled starts, as well as the All-star game.

Time to see what Hutchison has. His stats in AAA are pretty impressive. Low ERA and a whip 1.06

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

He's dropped .25 points since his hot start and hasn't hit a homerun in at least ten games. That's exactly what I'm saying. He's played 5 games in July. We'll see where he ends up there

I'm not saying he is a bad player either. I'm saying he needs to have good offence to justify his terrible defence. If he doesn't, Carrera is the better option as he's got more speed, could lead off, and is a decent fielder. Good Problem to have for the Blue Jays either way.

You seem to assume that Zeke maintains his current pace while Saunders falls off.

[Karl]

Too bad Estrada's heading to the 15 day DL. Was looking forward to seeing how he would fare in the all-star game. Better to be safe than sorry though and he was struggling to get his fastball above 85 mph most of his last start, as opposed to his usual 87-90 mph.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Yeah, I'm interested in Storman's start as well. He's had some really good games, and some really bad ones. I'm hoping its more of him just figuring out the big leagues as a young pitcher, but he gives me flashes of Ricky Romero and that scares me.

Romero's knees were a mess when he started his precipitous fall from the majors. Stroman is healthy and by all accounts has the ability, it's just finding the consistency which isn't a surprise because he is still a fairly young pitcher.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Cappy

You seem to assume that Zeke maintains his current pace while Saunders falls off.

If Zeke falls off, he brings other things to the table (better defence, base running, and ability to lead off) that Saunders does not. All i'm saying is if Saunders isn't carrying the hot bat. Offence falling off is less of an issue with the other intangibles.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Romero's knees were a mess when he started his precipitous fall from the majors. Stroman is healthy and by all accounts has the ability, it's just finding the consistency which isn't a surprise because he is still a fairly young pitcher.

Romero also seemed to have some mental issues (from a sports perspective) that I don't think Stroman has or will develop. Stroman is not short on confidence. Stroman's problems are mostly his stature. He's going through the bumps most younger pitchers do, but hf his pitch isn't sinking, it's basically belt high batting practice because he has no downward trajectory on the ball.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

If Zeke falls off, he brings other things to the table (better defence, base running, and ability to lead off) that Saunders does not. All i'm saying is if Saunders isn't carrying the hot bat. Offence falling off is less of an issue with the other intangibles.

They are both on the low level of defensive runs saved: Saunders at -.7 and Zeke at -.1.

Saunders can lead off.

Based on track record, i suspect Saunders to atleast be a league average hitter. I don't think Zeke's bat holds up.

Regardless, it is way too early to start ripping on Saunders over his "falling offence"

[GirlySports]

I hate that Estrada got hurt swinging a bat.

Can the NL enter the 21st century and have the DH already.

[Cuz]

Stro looking great so far, only 35 pitches through 4.

[Cuz]

Wooo! Saunders