2020 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Kasi]

I mean the Rays will be annoying because they’re the Rays but other than Lowe no bat on that team scares me. They are also full of a bunch of good pitchers but Snell is not as good as he used to be. Certainly no rotation like Cleveland or an ace like Cole. So I don’t see the Rays overpowering the Jays which hopefully gives a chance for Toronto to hang in there.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

I believe they can do some damage. And I really like their chances against the Rays.

What do you see those chances as? 50:50? 60:40 Rays? I know they played them tough, more than most teams, I'm just curious what the relative chances are. Rays are a pretty strong team with few holes.

[Enoch Root]

Well the Rays are the favourites, and have deeper pitching,.

But if I were handicapping the series, I wouldn't put it at much more than 50/50. The Jays certainly have the starting pitching for a 3 game set. And their bullpen is as good as Tampa's. They are young and inexperienced, but now that they are mostly healthy again, their lineup is decently deep.

As I posted before, they were 3-4 in the 7 games in Tampa, outscored by a single run. And 2 of the 4 losses were in extra innings. And the Jays are a better team now than they were then.

I will be putting money down on the Jays to take the series.

[Jiggy_12]

I think the 3 game format definitely helps the Jays more than it helps the Rays. We can better hide our lack of pitching depth.

Plus all the pressure on the higher seed to not slip and have the season end in a snap.

But, it’s in Tampa, and the Jays have been considerably better in Buffalo this year than theyve shown on the road.

I’m 50/50. Which I’ll definitely take

[Enoch Root]

Amazingly, the Jays are #2 in the AL in runs scored. After that slow start they had, that's pretty amazing.

They are 10th in ERA, but I think that's largely because of one series against the Yankees. And the playoff pitching staff doesn't have the weak links that the regular season group had to deal with.

[Roof-Daddy]

Marlins beat the yanks in extras tonight. Still hope to pass them

[Enoch Root]

In their first 13 games, the Jays scored 29 runs (2.23 runs per game)

Since then, they have been the top run-producing team in the AL, scoring 263 runs in 45 games (5.84 runs per game)

[Jiggy_12]

So now that the chance of finishing ahead of the Yankees has been increased (25% chance now by my math, need 3/4 total outcomes), I’m honestly not sure I rather face the 4 seed.

4 seed will either be Twins, White Sox, or Cleveland.

Tampa almost seems like the Devil we know versus the one we dont

[Roof-Daddy]

Yeah, I dont want any part of Clevelands 3 starters. Bieber, Plesac and Carrasco is gnarly.

[Jiggy_12]

Oh, and this is interesting.

White Sox are 13-0 this year against LH starters. Which somewhat neutralizes our Ryu advantage.

Tampa is just 9-8 against lefties

[ForeverFlameFan]

Add me in the "I don't mind playing the Rays"

They have a bit of lefties, and the Blue Jays have liked being the underdog this year.

[Crown Royal]

I think we have the ability to beat anyone on any given night. Through our first two series against Tampa we were still finding ways to lose series. We were 7-11 on the year and had gone 0-4-2 in our 6 series (I am counting the 4 games against Washington as all 1 series as they were consecutive days and all played in Washington despite 2 being "home" games).

Since we got our first series win in Baltimore? 24-16 and have gone 7-2-3 in our 12 series played. The only two losses being that epically terrible stretch against the Yanks and Phils. Tampa in that time, has gone 23-11 and while they two have had injury troubles, they have had their regular off days to keep their bullpen rested.

Tampa also has yet to see Walker and Ray as members of the good guys.

[Jiggy_12]

Interesting that Ryu was a little sore after yesterday, and Walker’s abbreviated start tonight opens up the option of starting with Walker in game 1, and Ryu in game 2.

In a 3 game series, games 1 and 2 carry the same weight and you don’t need to worry about using that starter again until the next round. So, it’s sensible.

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article...nded-pitching/

[flamingred89]

Yanks down 3-0 early against the Marlins. If they lose and the Jays win tonight they will be tied but the Jays will hold the tie breaker. The Jays passing them is a very real possibility.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Oh, and this is interesting.

White Sox are 13-0 this year against LH starters. Which somewhat neutralizes our Ryu advantage.

Tampa is just 9-8 against lefties

Yes, but along with Ryu, we will be starting 2 righties. And we only have 3 lefties on the entire staff.

Assume Ryu pitches 6 innings, Ray pitches 4 innings, and Borucki pitches 2 innings, that means there will be 15+ innings pitched by righties.

And Ryu is good against everyone, which means the Jays are way better against a team that has more right-handed bats.

In other words, you can make a case either way. But in a 3 game series, there is no time for stats anyway, it all comes down to execution.

[Enoch Root]

The other issue is the fact that the Jays offense struggles the most against fastballs over 95 mph.

Who is loaded with fireballers? Tampa. Also, the Yankees' bullpen.

If we finish 5, the Yanks and rays play each other, and we don't see either until the ALCS.

[Enoch Root]

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter at all - every team is good and you have to beat their best pitchers.

I really feel like the Jays are going to make some noise.

[Kasi]

If our streaky hitters all go on at the same time our lineup is super scary. But that’s very dependent on Grichuk, Vlad and Gurriel mashing. Bo and Teoscar to a lesser extent as they usually manage to do something even if cold.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by flamingred89

Yanks down 3-0 early against the Marlins. If they lose and the Jays win tonight they will be tied but the Jays will hold the tie breaker. The Jays passing them is a very real possibility.

So much for that. Yankees exploded.

[Roof-Daddy]

Starting Zeuch instead of Shoe today.

Montoyo says all is well, nobody is injured and they are just keeping their options open for the playoffs.

Ryu, Walker and Shoemaker all will be available to start game 1 if they choose.