Toronto Blue Jays vs. Cleveland Indians - ALCS

[JayP]

Originally Posted by cross16

But thats the thing, you can only PH Saunders for him. What if you need a big hit woudln't you prefer using Navarro?

Upton as a DH allows you to PH anyone for him and not burn 2 players off the bench.

I don't think the liability from Bautista to Upton is as big as you do, Upton has struggled with defence since becoming a Jay. If i'm correct in what Gibby is thinking, I would prefer the matchup flexabilty i've got and take Bautista in the field because the difference in defensive calibre has not been all that different in the last month or so.

You would only pinch hit for Upton if they brought in a right hander and in that scenario Saunders is clearly the better option than Navarro. Navarro is a poor hitter and both those guys are better options.

And Bautista is most definitely a liability in the outfield. MLB's Statcast posted on Twitter that the ball he dropped in the first inning of game 3 was caught 98% of the time this season (based on the distance he had to run and ball air time). That's horrendous in such a critical game and might have been the difference in the game.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by JayP

You would only pinch hit for Upton if they brought in a right hander and in that scenario Saunders is clearly the better option than Navarro. Navarro is a poor hitter and both those guys are better options.

And Bautista is most definitely a liability in the outfield. MLB's Statcast posted on Twitter that the ball he dropped in the first inning of game 3 was caught 98% of the time this season (based on the distance he had to run and ball air time). That's horrendous in such a critical game and might have been the difference in the game.

Kind of like how Upton dropped the ball on the throw to home against the Red sox? Or fell in the outfield and allowed the winning run to score on an inside the park HR again Cleveland? I'm not saying Bautista is great, but Upton has really struggled as a Jay in the outfield.

so what do you do if the LH starter goes 1 or 2 innings then they go RH and then Miller comes in? are you fine with having Saunder in the rest of the game to face Miller and play the outfield?

Maybe none of this happens but Gibby is planning ahead. I get people won't like it and that's fine but its hardly a bad decision. There is alot of logic behind what Gibby is doing that is all i'm saying.

[nixon45]

That didn't take long

[Senator Clay Davis]

Zeke....

[zyzz]

Estrada throwing muffins. Way to give the rookie on the lead

[cross16]

Not promising to see Estrada hit that hard in the first inning....

hopefully we can settle in.

[cross16]

Duplicate.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by cross16

Not promising to see Estrada hit that hard in the first inning....

hopefully we can settle in.

He made one mistake and got punished for it. Lindor's was a little end of the bat bloop.

The Jays better make this bum pay for his mistakes too because I'm sure there will be plenty.

[Roof-Daddy]

Wonderful start.

Give up a run in the top of the 1st

Let's hope the bats are still alive and well

[nixon45]

Now the commentators have a free pass to drone on about how incredible Lindor is for the rest of the afternoon.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by JayP

He made one mistake and got punished for it. Lindor's was a little end of the bat bloop.

The Jays better make this bum pay for his mistakes too because I'm sure there will be plenty.

Kipnis took him too the wall too though. Get it was caught, but he hit it hard.

[nixon45]

Bautista really backing up his pregame comment

[zyzz]

Kid looks calm.

[cross16]

If he keeps locating that fastball on the outside this is going to be tough for he jays. This season when you pitched them away and varied your speeds they struggled.

[Roof-Daddy]

If those are strikes off the plate all day the Jays hitters are doomed.

Both inside and outside off the plate it looked like to me on that EE at bat.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by nixon45

Now the commentators have a free pass to drone on about how incredible Lindor is for the rest of the afternoon.

Well it's not like they can talk about any Jays that are playing really well

[Senator Clay Davis]

Guess he's not all that scared. They only need 5 good innings out of him. Cannot let the Indians get to the bullpen with the lead.

[JayP]

Why do I even get my hopes up?

Non-prospect minor leaguer against the top of the order and of course they go down 1,2,3 with two weak grounders and a strikeout. What a joke.

[Inferno]

Not a good first inning.

[zyzz]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Guess he's not all that scared. They only need 5 good innings out of him. Cannot let the Indians get to the bullpen with the lead.

4 innings will do it for him. If they get up 2-3 it's not going going to end well