Toronto Blue Jays 2017 regular season thread

[Jason14h]

No reason to not win the Atlanta series too

[Caged Great]

The Jays have 15 games remaining in the month. If they can finish the month with an 8-7 stretch, that would be perfectly acceptable. Being only 3 games under .500 would be great to finish the month off.

Ideally though, 9-6 or 10-5 would go a lot further to erase the horrid start. Taking 3/4 from Atlanta is a must. Most of June is comprised of slightly easier opponents (A's, Mariners, Rays, White Sox, Royals, Rangers)

[HappyGilmore]

Pretty much on par with their last two seasons in terms of their record at this point. Good to see. Hopefully JD and Tulo don't rush back.

[cross16]

I've been extremely impressed with Pillar this year. I'm not sure i'm ready to say that he's figured out hitting but he is looking much better that the plate. I know he's gone through hot streaks in the past but I think this year is different. He isn't getting caught chasing those late breakers out of the zone like he was before, he is using the middle of the field and opposite field a bit more, and he seems to be willing to take more pitches than before and get himself into better counts. It's early but I'm starting to get really encouraged he may have found something and that's huge for the Jays if he has. Pillar with a bat is a perennial All-Star IMO.

[mrkajz44]

Originally Posted by TheAlpineOracle

I was listening on the radio and they were saying if the Jays split their series with Atlanta they'll be 19-23 which is exactly where they were at last year. Given a 2-11 start I never would have expected that.

Yup - the Jays record now (17-21) is identical to their record last year at the same time. Heck, the 2015 Jays, who won the AL East that year, were 23-29 at the end of May. If they win the series in Atlanta (3 of out 4) they are having their best start to the season in three years!

[calculoso]

https://www.thescore.com/mlb/news/1301575

Pearce now on DL

"While the MRI results on his calf haven't been released yet, they apparently revealed something serious enough to warrant a trip to the disabled list. Pitcher Leonel Campos was recalled from Triple-A to take his roster spot, though Ezequiel Carrera will likely serve as the Blue Jays' primary left fielder while Pearce is sidelined."

[REDVAN]

Damn, with all the injuries I have to ask myself- why not Bautista too?

[calculoso]

He was injured all of last year

[KelVarnsen]

What is the Jays obsession with a 8 plus man bullpen? They have a 2 man bench currently. That doesn't seem smart.

[calculoso]

The Jays' biggest problem has been their bullpen, so having multiple people there and a short hook does make sense. In addition, since their starters have been having injury problems and not able to work long into the game means means a greater load for the bullpen. Both of these combined justifies the large bullpen to me.

[alan21]

There's been rumblings of expanding the 25 man roster to 28 or 30.

That would greatly improve the quality of the game as you can carry specialists on the bench and in the bullpen without having the restrictions of sacrificing utility guys.

Most guys don't come close to playing all 162 games these days and I think they really should expand the rosters.

[Jason14h]

Originally Posted by alan21

There's been rumblings of expanding the 25 man roster to 28 or 30.

That would greatly improve the quality of the game as you can carry specialists on the bench and in the bullpen without having the restrictions of sacrificing utility guys.

Most guys don't come close to playing all 162 games these days and I think they really should expand the rosters.

Do we really want/need all these specialists though? It would be like hockey having PK specialists, PP specialists, faceoff specialists, who all do nothing else.

[Roof-Daddy]

Wanted to see how the Jays big Cuban acquisition Lourdes Gurriel was doing down in the minors and found out that he pulled a hammy in his 1st minor league game 3 weeks ago.

LOL

Injury bug everywhere in the org. I'm scared to look for updates on any of the other big name prospects now.

[cross16]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

What is the Jays obsession with a 8 plus man bullpen? They have a 2 man bench currently. That doesn't seem smart.

Product of having a really banged up rotation and leading the league, or close to it I believe, in innings pitched by starting pitcher so far this year.

Can't imagine it will continue for much longer for for now I think it makes since given the state or the rotation and so many guys on pitch counts.

[Inferno]

About time Gibbons woke up and made a pitching change.

[Dan02]

Most interesting part of this game is that the beat the streak leader who is only 6 hits away from 5.6 million picked 2 blue jays tonight. Pillar has his hit already. Carrera is 0 for 2 with a walk.

Will the blue jays manage to let down even non blue jays fans too?

[Dan02]

Carrera lines out, might get one more crack at it this game.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Just got in, glad I missed this one. Put it behind them and start a new streak tomorrow.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Just got in, glad I missed this one. Put it behind them and start a new streak tomorrow.

Bol set the tone with terrible pitching

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Just please tell me nobody else got hurt today.