2024 Toronto Blue Jays Season Thread

[browna]

My guess instead of injuries to 2nd baseman for getting hit when blocking a bag from an incoming runner, they'll now twist ankles and backs trying to contort their bodies and legs to avoid having half of their foot partially block the bag.

[You Need a Thneed]

So, If you are caught in a rundown, just slide, and you will automatically be safe, according to how that was called.

[Wastedyouth]

Is Varsho going to be really ####ing good this year or is this just one of those Spring Training runs guys go on?

Thoughts?

[looooob]

Mitch White with a good start 2 hits and one run through 5 2/3

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Is Varsho going to be really ####ing good this year or is this just one of those Spring Training runs guys go on?

Thoughts?

He wasn't good in ST last year then wasn't good in the season. So maybe a good ST leads to a good season?

But plenty of players have had good ST and bad seasons so who knows.

[calculoso]

INF Eduardo Escobar released

https://twitter.com/user/status/1771263566579995078

https://twitter.com/user/status/1771264318593516009

[KelVarnsen]

meh

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by Wastedyouth

Is Varsho going to be really ####ing good this year or is this just one of those Spring Training runs guys go on?

Thoughts?

Spring stats generally mean very little as it's really hard to separate the signal from the noise. Guys are "working" on things and the sample is too small to read too much into it.

That being said, I've heard that big changes in K% and BB% can be a crude way of evaluating if a strong spring is for real. Varsho has basically doubled his BB rate and halved his K rate this spring. For that reason, there is a decent chance this isn't just a hot streak and he's in for a much better season.

[Roof-Daddy]

We'll see how things look once the season gets going but it sure looks like the Jays have a crap ton of quality pitching depth both for the rotation and the bullpen. Even with Manoah still hurt/useless.

[flames_fan_down_under]

IF, and that's a big if, Varsho can transform himself into even a serviceable hitter, like around a 100 OPS+, that would be a tremendous improvement for the line up. I am somewhat skeptical though, despite his OPS+ going from 108 to 85 from 2022 to 2023, his numbers were strikingly similar:

2022:
AB:531 Runs:79 Hits:125 Doubles:23 Triples:3 HR:27 RBI:74 SB:16 CS:6 BB:46 SO:145

2023:
AB:527 Runs:65 Hits:116 Doubles:23 Triples:3 HR:20 RBI:61 SB:16 CS:7 BB:45 SO:135

I feel like Varsho just is who he is.

[bizaro86]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

IF, and that's a big if, Varsho can transform himself into even a serviceable hitter, like around a 100 OPS+, that would be a tremendous improvement for the line up. I am somewhat skeptical though, despite his OPS+ going from 108 to 85 from 2022 to 2023, his numbers were strikingly similar:

2022:
AB:531 Runs:79 Hits:125 Doubles:23 Triples:3 HR:27 RBI:74 SB:16 CS:6 BB:46 SO:145

2023:
AB:527 Runs:65 Hits:116 Doubles:23 Triples:3 HR:20 RBI:61 SB:16 CS:7 BB:45 SO:135

I feel like Varsho just is who he is.

If he gets 9 extra hits of which 7 are HR the jays probably win a few extra games.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Even if Varsho is who he is, I still like him overall. Still brings plenty of value to any team.

[KelVarnsen]

If Vladdy, Kirk and Turner hit then Varsho and his bat are less important

[flambers]

Varsho in my view, was no where near the hitter that the Jays expected.

He will need to have a big offensive season, if the Jays have any hope to stay competitive in the AL East.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by flambers

Varsho in my view, was no where near the hitter that the Jays expected.

He will need to have a big offensive season, if the Jays have any hope to stay competitive in the AL East.

I agree completely. There are a ton of guys who need to have a substantially better season at the plate. The effect of removing the shift and the theory that LH batters would get this huge uplift was misguided in hindsight on managements part (and presumably analytics who fed that info). I’m of the belief that you have to have a solid lineup 1 through 9. If there’s even one black hole to exploit it kills momentum. Last year a lot of the lineup was below their potential. Varsho the chief in that regard. His average has to be in the .240s to be an everyday player. Defence he’s great but you just can’t be in the lineup in the low .200s.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

If Vladdy, Kirk and Turner hit then Varsho and his bat are less important

It’s nice to have everyone contributing though when those 3 will all have bad games. Always nice to have your 7/8/9 batters pick up the slack.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Even if Varsho is who he is, I still like him overall. Still brings plenty of value to any team.

0.8 WAR with almost 600 ABs last year is not great value at all though. We have a defense first glove at CF, the Jays desperately need runs, Varsho absolutely has to turn into something for this team to have a chance at succeeding.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Getting a 120-130 WRC+ from Springer would be massive for the Jays. He likely won’t be returning to his 140-150 range in the past but he needs to be a lot better than the hitter that he was last year.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

0.8 WAR with almost 600 ABs last year is not great value at all though. We have a defense first glove at CF, the Jays desperately need runs, Varsho absolutely has to turn into something for this team to have a chance at succeeding.

Totally. Outfield is the one position that must produce runs and power. Two guys in the OF that are questionable is a pretty large gamble. This season I’m just glad Atkins didn’t sign any long term mistakes but I still want to see more from all three of our outfielders.

[looooob]

Top of the lineup especially hitting well today but kikuchi is getting rocked -
Springer vladdy Bo 8 for 8