The 2016 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[corporatejay]

Hah

[TheAlpineOracle]

Guess not! My fantasy pool thanks him greatly for that bomb.

[KelVarnsen]

Tullllooooo!

[TheAlpineOracle]

Anyone else think it's time to start giving Barney some of Goins starts? Very little
Downgrade defensively and is better at the plate. As I said in the offseason, I think he's a real asset. He started that whole rally.

[Skaloper]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

Anyone else think it's time to start giving Barney some of Goins starts? Very little
Downgrade defensively and is better at the plate. As I said in the offseason, I think he's a real asset. He started that whole rally.

Devon Travis

Pillar should be safe he had no where to run.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Ridiculous call on Pilar as that was clear interference, but he has to be one of the worst base runners in the bigs. Always making questionable decisions out there.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Osuna in a non-save situation. You might as well put this one in the win column. No Cecil or Storen tonight.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Looks like I missed a decent game. Just looking at the boxscore it looks like Stroman was dealing. He is the real deal.

Tulo hitting home runs is also pretty sweet!

And...a series win!

[mrkajz44]

The Blue Jays of 2016 are such a bag of mixed emotions. Winning 2 of 3 in the Trop is a success for sure, so you have to be happy with that. However, the longer the bats stay silent, the more concerning it is, and realistically the Jays could've taken all 3 games there over the weekend. So I guess I'm happy, but still somehow feel disappointed?

Cross your fingers that Dickey can keep Texas to 2 or 3 runs over 6 or so and hopefully we'll be in the game near the end.

[Dan02]

I completely agree this whole year has me so confused.

Stroman 3.77 ERA
Estreada 2.92 ERA
Happ 2.76 ERA
Sanchez 2.59 ERA

If after the playoff run last year you told me these guys would be pitching this well I'd be like wholly #### they're gonna be 20-6 at this point.

But then half their offense forgot how to swing the bat during the off season. Their runs per game is down 1.5 runs per game over 2015. They do a good job of working over the starters pitch counts but can't put anyone away this year when they get up.

Their relievers are 0-8, clearly an outlier but they're under pressure every game.

So as bad as it seems, their offense is underperforming by 40% compared to last year and their bullpen has been atrocious, and given that they're still only 12-14. If you were to say that about any other team, it wouldn't be that pretty.

If the starters can maintain this kind of performance there's no doubt in my mind that eventually they're gonna go on a run and win games in bunches.

[troutman]

Rangers gonna bean Jose?

http://www.tsn.ca/bautista-s-getting...s-how-1.481695

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by troutman

Rangers gonna bean Jose?

http://www.tsn.ca/bautista-s-getting...s-how-1.481695

I hope so from a pure entertainment perspective! Will lead to an interesting few weeks! They play the Rangers back in Texas in a couple weeks. Nothing gets Jose fired up like someone throwing at him. That series against Baltimore last year was unreal.

[mrkajz44]

Not sure how to embed twitter, but thought this was worthy of a share.

‏@matttomic
TEXAS PITCHER: *plunks Bautista in ribs*

DICKEY: Two can play at THAT game! *aims pitch at Beltre; ball lands as strike on outside corner*

[Sylvanfan]

The Jays have had a pretty tough schedule to open the season. They've been entirely in the AL East save a series with the White Sox who at the time were the top team in the AL and the A's, who always have decent pitching.

The offence is certainly stuck in neutral with Goins and the Catcher position given the team absolutely nothing. Than you have very poor production from the first base position to add into that, below average from CF....it's a lineup full of holes right now. I hope a guy like Travis can get healthy at some point and still be able to hit because maybe he solves the first base black hole, although do you want to move a guy like him to that position?

For all the `awesome' prospects Ricciardi was drafiing and signing...this team has developed Sweet fata all for hitters in the last decade. Anyone who can hit like Bautista, Donaldson, or Encarnacion all came thru trade. Even the hitters they've traded off haven't exactly become much. I understand the need to focus on pitching, but at some point in time you need to develop one player who hits.

[TheAlpineOracle]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

The Jays have had a pretty tough schedule to open the season. They've been entirely in the AL East save a series with the White Sox who at the time were the top team in the AL and the A's, who always have decent pitching.

The offence is certainly stuck in neutral with Goins and the Catcher position given the team absolutely nothing. Than you have very poor production from the first base position to add into that, below average from CF....it's a lineup full of holes right now. I hope a guy like Travis can get healthy at some point and still be able to hit because maybe he solves the first base black hole, although do you want to move a guy like him to that position?

For all the `awesome' prospects Ricciardi was drafiing and signing...this team has developed Sweet fata all for hitters in the last decade. Anyone who can hit like Bautista, Donaldson, or Encarnacion all came thru trade. Even the hitters they've traded off haven't exactly become much. I understand the need to focus on pitching, but at some point in time you need to develop one player who hits.

Their schedule to start May is even worse. Rangers (X2), Dodgers, and Giants.

[flames_fan_down_under]

I just can't see the bullpen being much worse than it was in April.

I would like to see a lot less of Drew Storen and more of Jesse Chavez.

However, Gibbons seems pretty intent on Storen - Cecil - Osuna as the Jays 7-8-9 pitchers.

I have faith that Russell Martin will turn it around. He is so far below his career averages.

Goins on the other hand has proven that he cannot hit at a major league level. We all know he is a good defender but there has to be a balance.

[Cappy]

Originally Posted by mrkajz44

Not sure how to embed twitter, but thought this was worthy of a share.

‏@matttomic
TEXAS PITCHER: *plunks Bautista in ribs*

DICKEY: Two can play at THAT game! *aims pitch at Beltre; ball lands as strike on outside corner*

Similar to a game a few years ago where the Jays plunked A-Rod (i believe for the "mine!" incident.

The pitcher on the mound was Josh Towers and his sub 80's heat!

[Roof-Daddy]

When is Travis supposed to be back?

Not much of a major league track record, but if he picks up where he left off it might give the line up a jolt that it needs offensively.

[flames_fan_down_under]

I don't think there is a clear timeline for Travis. I think he is still about 6-8 weeks away, but thats just me speculating.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Shulman today nice!