The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

I agree with almost everything Zaun has said so far this season. Can tell he's not a fan of some of Gibbon's decisions, and was right about Stroman......the kid is super competitive and it was understandable that he was angry, but you can't have a tantrum in the dugout while staring down the other end of the dugout.

Someone has to say something. The bullpen isn't doing their job. This is the second year in a row that Cecil wasn't prepared to start the season.

Donaldson called them out last year with his this isn't the try hard league comment.

[flames_fan_down_under]

I am OK with the emotion from Stroman, he wants to win, and to be honest I don't think Stroman knows how to be emotional and not show it.

I think Gibbons left Venditte in too long, he didn't need to come out in the 9th

[TheAlpineOracle]

There's no way Gibbons can continue as manager for much longer if they keep playing like this. He's making suspect decisions each and every game, and someone is going to have to take te bullet. He's the cheapest option for a change.

[mrkajz44]

I just don't understand the bullpen. Their ERA is pretty much major league average at 3.60, good for 16th in the majors. Yet, they are 0-7, meaning they've handed away 7 games so far that we were either tied or had the lead prior to the bullpen coming in to pitch. So over the long haul they are not terrible in terms of avoiding runs, but it seems like they have a knack for handing over leads. I just don't get it.

[corporatejay]

Brett Cecil has 4 losses. I know wins and losses aren't everything in baseball but if you are 0-4 as a middle reliever in APRIL, you are hot garbage.

[DiracSpike]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I just don't understand the bullpen. Their ERA is pretty much major league average at 3.60, good for 16th in the majors. Yet, they are 0-7, meaning they've handed away 7 games so far that we were either tied or had the lead prior to the bullpen coming in to pitch. So over the long haul they are not terrible in terms of avoiding runs, but it seems like they have a knack for handing over leads. I just don't get it.

I think I saw a stat saying that they were leading the league in allowing inherited baserunners to score. I think Zaun was saying it. So those runs wouldn't count towards ERA because they're the starters base runners but still. Zaun was also saying that if you come in as reliever your job is to blow the ball past people and get them out no matter what situation, something the Jays just haven't been doing.

Cecil STINKS he came in with two outs and didn't get a single guy...he could have allowed multiple hits and still gotten the Jays out with the lead.

[zukes]

Team ERA is 3.70 or good for 11th in the MLB. If you told me this team would be getting the 11th best ERA in the majors before the season I would have had their record at 15-6 or 16-5, not 10-11. (Their batting average against is 12th, OPS against is 10th, WHIP is 12th, K/BB is 12th)

The pitching looks bad because their sv% is 58.33%, but the reason is the supposed all-world offense is pedestrian. Avg 15th, OBP 8th, SLG 12th, OPS 12th, HR 13th!!, SO 29th.

Their numbers say they are what they are...in fact their numbers should have them slightly above .500. Like I say above, if the offense is what they are expected to be, they are running away with things right now. A slightly above average pitching staff on the whole is better than I expected, but a slightly above average offense is a major disappointment.

Of course, it's early and the offense should turn around. The weather will warm up and the bats will follow.

[InBurkeWeTrust]

screw you Cecil.. I can't wait for Loup to be back...WAIT, WHAT?!

[Pagal4321]

I have absolutely no issue with our starter showing some emotion when another win slips away. At least it shows he gives a damn about the outcome of the game.

[mrkajz44]

Yeah, it must be the inherited runners thing that keeps the bullpen ERA at a decent number, even though they've handed away 7 leads/ties to this point.

What worries me most is everyone says the offense is going to show up and then we'll be fine. Yes, our offense should be better than it is right now, but I'm doubtful this team will be stacking runs up like they did last year. Last year they scored 127 more runs than anyone else in the league - that's just not going to repeat this year. We are 2nd in the AL in runs right now, so how much more offense can we expect?

Just need to get better at holding the lead. Longer leash for the starters? Changing some roles in the bullpen? Not sure what needs to happen, but I'm starting to think "more HRs!" might not be the simple answer.

[bomber317]

looking up the stats, some of the offensive numbers are interesting

- 8th in the league in OBP at .328
- 2nd worse in the league in strikeouts with 195 strikeouts in 21 games (Angels lead the league with 104 strikeouts)
- 4th worse in the league for grounding out into double plays with 19 (Mets lead the league with only 7 GIDPs)

So they are striking out a lot, but yet still getting on base. They are also grounding into double plays a lot. Yet, our offense is still average with those stats.

If they can move their strikeouts and GIDPs to the average in the league, their run production should spike up. It will be interesting to see their numbers against non-AL East teams.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

I just don't understand the bullpen. Their ERA is pretty much major league average at 3.60, good for 16th in the majors. Yet, they are 0-7, meaning they've handed away 7 games so far that we were either tied or had the lead prior to the bullpen coming in to pitch. So over the long haul they are not terrible in terms of avoiding runs, but it seems like they have a knack for handing over leads. I just don't get it.

The bullpen was like this at the start of last year too. League average or better numbers, but anytime they allowed a run it seemed to be at the worst possible time. That's just the randomness of baseball. It'll all even out. It's only April. If the bullpen ERA was near the bottom of the league it'd be a bigger concern. But they have shown the ability to get guys out. You don't do that and only give up runs in tight ball games for an entire season.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by Pagal4321

I have absolutely no issue with our starter showing some emotion when another win slips away. At least it shows he gives a damn about the outcome of the game.

It's a long season. Another 140 games with the same guys in the group. All just as upset by a blown lead. It happens. Don't act like a baby in the dugout in front of everyone.

If the team needs a talking to, you leave that to a guy like JD, or Jose. Hell even Dickey or Happ.

Clubhouse culture is so important in the MLB. Look at the Nats last yr.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Stealing wasn't the right choice in that situation.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Dickey is dealing so far today!

[Hockey]

What's with Bret Lawries new look?

[jayswin]

Dickey looking excellent so far!

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Hockey

What's with Bret Lawries new look?

I don't understand his mouth guard, what is that.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by jayswin

Dickey looking excellent so far!

Hahaha, well looks like April Dickey is back!

[flames_fan_down_under]

Need a strikeout here.

Or a double to the gap.....