The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by JayP

I completely agree with that. The problem is that Gibbons seemed to be saving Osuna for a save situation (which is the worst thing he can do) and then was forced to use him against the bottom of the order when he'd been loose for too long and had to enter the game.

The bigger question in all of this is why did Gibbons go to Feldman instead of Grilli? Given the fact that before the game the reporters were saying Feldman was unavailable I'm guessing that Grilli probably was too. It makes no sense to jump him ahead of Grilli in that situation. Unless Gibbons was saving him for a save which would be ridiculous.

probably saving Grilli for a save or just saving him in general. It's a 4 game series, don't want to kill everyone on the first night. Also I don't believe the Jays have another day off until the 11th.

[Cappy]

The Liriano deal is a weird one but totally sits in line with Shapiro/Atkins ideology of talent acquisition and development.

They noted that the cupboards were bare at the beginning of the season and that didnt sit well with them. Their track record in CLE was based entirely on this strategy (which is paying dividends for CLE right now).

Liriano certainly isnt the prize catch any team looking to make the WS wants at the trade deadline. He has been bad. His ERA and FIP are bad, he strikes out a ton, but has 70 walks on the year already... he will frustrate the hell out of us all.

But, it also appears that the prospect TOR got back isnt too shabby. Listed as #79 in MLB according to BP. So we get better long term by accepting money and risk now. Does Liriano help us this season and playoffs? we shall see....

[Cuz]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

Apparently Sanchez has some issues with his delivery (namely the inverted W, bad lower body mechanics, and an overly upright torso at delivery) that can put additional strain on his arm.

I understand the desire to protect his arm for sure but if I was a Blue Jay, I would be a bit pissed off if they took him out of the rotation in the middle of a playoff race.

What's your source on his poor mechanics? When I see Sanchez pitch, all I see is effortless power.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Cuz

What's your source on his poor mechanics? When I see Sanchez pitch, all I see is effortless power.

Here is an article about it: http://bluejayhunter.com/2015/07/is-...n-sanchez.html

And another one: http://www.bluejaysplus.com/under-th...ide-keith-law/

I heard Gregg Zaun talk about the inverse W a month or two ago.

[Jason14h]

I know he USE to have a bad delivery.

I think he has cleaned it up in the off-season

Both articles are from over a year ago.

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by Cuz

What's your source on his poor mechanics? When I see Sanchez pitch, all I see is effortless power.

Velocity doesn't translate to a proper pitching FORM.

As a Jays fan, I support this decision. Yeah they are really protecting Sanchez' arm which might cost a ring, but he's, IMHO, the BEST homegrown arm that we've had since Doc. Plus it will bolster the biggest weakness that we have...our subpar bullpen.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by Jason14h

I know he USE to have a bad delivery.

I think he has cleaned it up in the off-season

Both articles are from over a year ago.

Yes, they are old.

I don't believe that he has fixed his "inverted W" issue - Zaun brought it up a month or two ago.

Sanchez definitely became stronger over the summer but he definitely hasn't rebuilt his entire delivery.

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by whosurnabby

Velocity doesn't translate to a proper pitching FORM.

As a Jays fan, I support this decision. Yeah they are really protecting Sanchez' arm which might cost a ring, but he's, IMHO, the BEST homegrown arm that we've had since Doc. Plus it will bolster the biggest weakness that we have...our subpar bullpen.

Velocity doesn't mean Sanchez is pitching with a proper FORM. He's, IMHO, the best pitching prospect that we've had/saw since Doc. He is a LEGIT ACE in the making and I approve what the Jays management are doing. Liriano isn't a bad #4/#5 SP. And it also bolsters our below average bullpen.

The Liriano deal is a weird one but totally sits in line with Shapiro/Atkins ideology of talent acquisition and development.

They noted that the cupboards were bare at the beginning of the season and that didnt sit well with them. Their track record in CLE was based entirely on this strategy (which is paying dividends for CLE right now).

I'm a big AA fan, but I'm starting to really like this new regime. They know what they're doing. They have done an above average job of replenishing the farm so far and their pickups (heck even the Biagini one) have been credible.

[Roof-Daddy]

Despite the loss it was nice to see Stroman have a dominant outing.

With Sanchez going to the pen, the Jays really need him to step up.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Cappy

Liriano certainly isnt the prize catch any team looking to make the WS wants at the trade deadline. He has been bad. His ERA and FIP are bad, he strikes out a ton, but has 70 walks on the year already... he will frustrate the hell out of us all.

I think the hope is that having him work with Martin again will bring him back. I don't entirely share that optimism. Martin makes pitchers look really good (great framing skills) that might help him cut down a few walks but his Slider isn't... well... sliding as often as it used to and hanging a breaking ball is a good way to get smashed. Martin is a great catcher but he can't make a breaking ball break. Maybe that's enough thou. Liriano with a better walk rate can probably give you what Dickey gives you (albeit he won't eat innings like Dickey does) and if he can get his slider functioning to the level it was at before this season then he's an upgrade. That's how I'm viewing him... he's a replacement for Dickey next year.

I like the prospects we're getting. McGuire is highly regarded defensively if the Jays can works on getting a bit more out of the bat then we really have something (if they can't then at least he can be the traditional glove first back-up). I don't know a lot about Ramirez looks like he can at least hit for average and run fast (although he seems to stink at stealing bases).

[cross16]

I really like the approach of not only adding to the current team but keeping an eye on the future. While I do understand the "this is their best chance" argument I don't totally agree with it. Jays are going to be good for several years IMO even when/if they lose a fair chunk of talent this offseason. I think having prospect depth is always important and i'd much rather see the Jays stay a competitive team year in year out then blow everything for 2 years of playoffs and then a bunch of crappy years. Keep yourself in contention every year and having an above average prosepct pool allows that.

Not to mention, where there really a deal out there for a difference maker who actually would have change the Jays fortune? It wasn't a great trade market for what the Jays need IMO. A lot of overpaying for guys that likely woudn't even be top 3 starters here.

Not to mention the Jays could wind up with some additional first rounders this year too depending on how renegotiations go. Good chance the Jays can stay a very competitive and very good ball club while still keeping an eye on their future.

[868904]

Originally Posted by cross16

I really like the approach of not only adding to the current team but keeping an eye on the future. While I do understand the "this is their best chance" argument I don't totally agree with it. Jays are going to be good for several years IMO even when/if they lose a fair chunk of talent this offseason. I think having prospect depth is always important and i'd much rather see the Jays stay a competitive team year in year out then blow everything for 2 years of playoffs and then a bunch of crappy years. Keep yourself in contention every year and having an above average prosepct pool allows that.

Not to mention, where there really a deal out there for a difference maker who actually would have change the Jays fortune? It wasn't a great trade market for what the Jays need IMO. A lot of overpaying for guys that likely woudn't even be top 3 starters here.

Not to mention the Jays could wind up with some additional first rounders this year too depending on how renegotiations go. Good chance the Jays can stay a very competitive and very good ball club while still keeping an eye on their future.

I think it is interesting that the Jays took on so much salary. I'm not saying Rogers isn't cheap, because they are, but they took on a lot of money with some of these deals.

You can't really blame the Front Office for not trading prospects for the big names, because, well, AA traded them all away last year. The Jays really didn't have the chips to play with.

Instead they had to get real creative and take on some risky assets and Rogers actually opened up the purse strings. Whether it works out or not, you have to give the Shapiro and Atkins at least credit for at least trying. They could have just sat there and did nothing and blamed it on AA for gutting the farm and on Rogers for being cheap.

[KelVarnsen]

Dickey pitching tonight means I'm scared to watch.

[formulate]

Bautista with number 300!

[flames_fan_down_under]

Wow EE destroyed that ball!!

[flames_fan_down_under]

Oh gosh, elbow injuries are always concerning, hope McCullers is OK.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Well advantage Jays at this point in the game. Astro's bullpen was depleted yesterday and their starter is already out of the game. Just need Dickey to keep it up for a couple more innings.

[Strange Brew]

McCullers is a real stud. Hope it's nothing serious. Going to be hard for the Astros to come back with only Springer, Altuve and Correa as any offensive threats.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Upton is pretty bad. When he strikes out swinging (which happens pretty regularly), he misses the pitch by a mile.

[Sakic19]

Some real ugly strikeouts for both teams tonight