The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[lazypucker]

I do not trust Estrada/Strowman/Dickey/Liriano or the anybody in the bullpen for that matter in a one-game playoff. Sanchez (or ideally Happ) must start the wild card game. Who pitches between now and then it doesn't really matter.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I do not trust Estrada/Strowman/Dickey/Liriano or the anybody in the bullpen for that matter in a one-game playoff. Sanchez (or ideally Happ) must start the wild card game. Who pitches between now and then it doesn't really matter.

It matters a lot, you need to take a look at he standings. The Jays don't even have a wildcard spot locked down yet, let alone home advantage. A 1.5 game lead separates the Jays from not being in the Wildcard game.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

It matters a lot, you need to take a look at he standings. The Jays don't even have a wildcard spot locked down yet, let alone home advantage. A 1.5 game lead separates the Jays from not being in the Wildcard game.

The Jays are 3 games up on Detroit for the last wild card spot.

They are 1.5 games up on Baltimore for home field in the wild card game.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

The Jays are 3 games up on Detroit for the last wild card spot.

They are 1.5 games up on Baltimore for home field in the wild card game.

Far too close to be changing the rotation to worry about the wildcard game. If they lose tonight they are 1 game up on Baltimore and 2.5 up on Detroit with the remaining 7 games being against two of the best teams in baseball. This is far from over.


.... Ah I see where I said 1.5, you're right it's 3 on Detroit. Point still remains though, there's no room to mess withe rotation yet to align postseason matchups.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Far too close to be changing the rotation to worry about the wildcard game. If they lose tonight they are 1 game up on Baltimore and 2.5 up on Detroit with the remaining 7 games being against two of the best teams in baseball. This is far from over.


.... Ah I see where I said 1.5, you're right it's 3 on Detroit. Point still remains though, there's no room to mess withe rotation yet to align postseason matchups.

Yeap, no room to mess with the rotation I agree. Just pointing out the mistake on how many games into a play off spot the Jays are.

If the Jays can take care of business over the next 4 days, then they can be in a position to do whatever they want in the Boston series.

[Sylvanfan]

I think if they win 3 of their next 4 games, that will get them in a position to look at setting up the rotation how they want. If they don't then you do need to keep going day by day.

[GirlySports]

hmmmm skipping a Sanchez start.. do we want him pitching the wildcard game on what? 10 days rest?

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

hmmmm skipping a Sanchez start.. do we want him pitching the wildcard game on what? 10 days rest?

He's schedule to go tomorrow.

So if they skip his last start, he would be going on 6 full days of rest. As opposed to the regular 4 days.

[Jiggy_12]

Gibbons said today Sanchez would slot in to the WC game if the last game of the season is meaningless.

So there we go. It's likely Sanchez.

If they have to play it out to the very end, I think Estrada would be the choice based on regular rest.

Edit: Looks like it would be Stroman for regular rest. Estrada for 1 day short rest. Could also go Liriano.

[GirlySports]

what's meaningless? clinch a wildcard berth or clinch home field? If the Jays are already in Tuesday's game, would they pitch Sanchez just to get home field?

[Jiggy_12]

Yes, I believe their definition of meaningless would be an already clinched wildcard berth WITH homefield advantage. Or clinched wildcard berth, where they are the road team but can't move up.

Basically, a game that effects nothing.

[Jiggy_12]

The other caveat to all this, is how they fare in those games against Boston could effect Boston's chances of being the 1st seed. The 1st seed plays the wildcard winner, which could end up being Toronto. I doubt they would ever put the cart ahead of the horse, but beating the Red Sox in those games would mean less of a chance of having to face them in the ALDS (not that they necessarily have a preference. But from a fan preference, I think everyone is hoping for a Jays-Rangers rematch.)

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Yes, I believe their definition of meaningless would be an already clinched wildcard berth WITH homefield advantage. Or clinched wildcard berth, where they are the road team but can't move up.

Basically, a game that effects nothing.

hmmm

would you burn Sanchez on Sunday just to get homefield?

[Jiggy_12]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

hmmm

would you burn Sanchez on Sunday just to get homefield?

Definitely. Both the Orioles and Tigers have been very mediocre this season on the road, and the Jays have been a good home team. Just mathematically it feels like you have the edge. Anything can and will happen in a 1 game playoff, but if it's there for the taking I think you have to go for every edge you can get.

[Jiggy_12]

Baltimore:
Home: 50-31
Road: 35-40

Detroit:
Home: 43-34
Road: 40-38

Toronto:
Home: 45-32
Road: 41-37

Baltimore's splits are the most pronounced. I definitely want that home edge if we can get it. Plus, burning Sanchez isn't a huge deal anyways. He can still pitch game 3 of the series, and the rest of our rotation is so strong (and in a 5 game series, even if it goes the distance, only your guy that pitches game 1 has a chance of making two starts)

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

The other caveat to all this, is how they fare in those games against Boston could effect Boston's chances of being the 1st seed. The 1st seed plays the wildcard winner, which could end up being Toronto. I doubt they would ever put the cart ahead of the horse, but beating the Red Sox in those games would mean less of a chance of having to face them in the ALDS (not that they necessarily have a preference. But from a fan preference, I think everyone is hoping for a Jays-Rangers rematch.)

From a baseball perspective I think I like the Jays chances against Boston more than I like them against Texas (assuming the bats stay warm).

From a fan perspective though, I'd live to see the Jays play Texas.

[alan21]

If some how we do end up playing Texas.

I would love to see how the Jays as a team respond and not Just Bautista with the whole incident earlier this year.

Win or lose we as fans would be plenty entertained.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by alan21

If some how we do end up playing Texas.

I would love to see how the Jays as a team respond and not Just Bautista with the whole incident earlier this year.

Win or lose we as fans would be plenty entertained.

I would normally go to Arlington to watch a game wearing my Jays jersey, but I don't know if I would in this series. There's some serious bad blood between these teams and their fans and are all worked up. I don't think Jays fans will be getting a friendly reception if they show up in Texas for the series. Would be a whole USA vs. Canada dick measuring contest. Great Potential for issues in the stands.

[alan21]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I would normally go to Arlington to watch a game wearing my Jays jersey, but I don't know if I would in this series. There's some serious bad blood between these teams and their fans and are all worked up. I don't think Jays fans will be getting a friendly reception if they show up in Texas for the series. Would be a whole USA vs. Canada dick measuring contest. Great Potential for issues in the stands.

Going to get a couple of these there,

"You're in Texas now boooooy, you're a long way from Canadia... GET HIM!!!"

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by alan21

Going to get a couple of these there,

"You're in Texas now boooooy, you're a long way from Canadia... GET HIM!!!"

I'm pretty sure it would turn pretty nasty on both sides. I've been going to at least 1 Jays road series a year for about 10 years, and Jays fans are getting pretty nasty too. Basically just get rip roaring drunk and take over a few blocks around the stadium for a 3 day party. It really escalated this year with the success of last year but it's been building for a few years.

Not saying I'm not one of the Jays fans tying on one (cause I am), but I can see it's getting a little out of control. Think Rider fans in Calgary, and we all know how we feel about that.

Potential for drunken stupidity at the series would be at an all time high.