2018 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Roof-Daddy]

Jordan Groshans 2 for 5 with a 3 run homer and 4 RBI's in his GCL debut today.

...and so it begins.

Also of note, IFA catcher Gabriel Moreno went 4 for 5 with two dingers, 4 RBI and 4 runs scored.

They won 12-4

[Karl]

Wednesday's Jays game is apparently on freaking FB-watch again at around 12:30 PM EST.

[puffnstuff]

Originally Posted by Karl

Wednesday's Jays game is apparently on freaking FB-watch again at around 12:30 PM EST.

****

[Resolute 14]

Again?

That's the third time, no? I thought Jays fans were only supposed to get screwed twice this season.

[nixon45]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Again?

That's the third time, no? I thought Jays fans were only supposed to get screwed twice this season.

That's what I thought too.

Why couldn't it be tonight's game, where they are getting killed.

[Roof-Daddy]

TJ Zeuch with 7.0 IP for New Hampshire today. 2 hits, 0 earned runs, 7 strike outs and 0 walks.

In his last 4 starts he's pitched 29 innings total, 16 hits, 7 walks, 2 earned runs and 17 strike outs.

Nice to see Zeuch, SRF and Borucki pitching well lately. Would be nice t get Pearson back from injury and Pannone back from suspension.

[Roof-Daddy]

All the top 10 draft picks now signed, actually the top 15 all signed, and 27 altogether.

Jim Callis
✔
@jimcallisMLB
2nd-rder Griffin Conine signs w/@BlueJays for $1.35 million (full pick 52 value). Duke OF, bat speed + loft = big power potential, recovered from slow start this spring, solid arm for RF. Son of two-time All-Star Jeff. @MLBDraft

9:47 AM - Jun 20, 2018
40
26 people are talking about this

[flames_fan_down_under]

Hopefully they send Conine to the Vancouver Canadians. It was fun watching Cavan Biggio and Kasey Clemens play last year.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Hopefully they send Conine to the Vancouver Canadians. It was fun watching Cavan Biggio and Kasey Clemens play last year.

According to this Article he will start in the GCL.

The 20-year-old hit .281 with 18 home runs and 52 RBIs in 224 at-bats for Duke in his junior season. Contact remains a concern after striking out 74 times, compared to 45 the previous year, but when he connects, the ball often travels a long way. Conine also possesses an above-average arm in right field. He will begin his Blue Jays tenure in the Gulf Coast League.

Also according to that article:

Toronto also officially agreed to terms with 18th-rounder Fitz Stadler (right-hander, Arizona State) and 33rd-rounder Matt Harris (right-hander Florida Atlantic) on Wednesday morning. The Blue Jays have now signed 29 of the 40 players they selected in the MLB Draft, including their top 15 picks.

[Roof-Daddy]

For anyone wondering, the Jays big international signing from last year was a 16 year old Brazilian pitcher named Eric Pardinho.

Jays assigned him to Bluefield (rookie ball) this year and he pitched today.

4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 SO

Not a bad start.

Big 6'9 230lb Fitz Stadler also pitched an inning for Bluefield today with no hits, 1 walk and 2 strike outs.

Speaking of international signings, the Jays other big one from last year was Miguel Hiraldo, scouted as a great hitting SS he is living up to his billing so far in the DSL. He's played 15 games now and his slash line -> .390 / .456 / .644 / 1.100. He's got 10 extra base hits in 59 AB's.

[IGGYFORMVP]

Another very solid outing for Happ today. His strong play over the last while ( 5 - 0 ) should be really uping his trade value. What could the Jays be looking at for a return for him leading up to the TDL??

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by IGGYFORMVP

Another very solid outing for Happ today. His strong play over the last while ( 5 - 0 ) should be really uping his trade value. What could the Jays be looking at for a return for him leading up to the TDL??

I'm hoping they can get Clint Frazier from the Yankees. He's technically blocked in the Yankee corner outfield spots by Judge and Stanton for the foreseeable future (as well as Hicks). He was also drafted by Shapiro in Cleveland so I could see them asking for him if the Yanks come calling, and they will. Their rotation is their weak spot right now.

Here is an article about trading Happ (NSFW warning the writer likes to swear haha):

Link

The Yankees acquired left pitcher Justus Sheiffield and outfielder Clint Frazier from Cleveland in exchange for Andrew Miller back in 2016. Both Sheffield and Frazier were first-round picks of the Clevelanders back during the Mark Shapiro days. I imagine if the Yankees are calling about acquiring Toronto’s ace, one of those two is who Shapiro and Ross Atkins will be asking for. That’s a steep ask, of course, but Happ is the best rental pitcher on the market right now.

[Roof-Daddy]

GCL today:

Griffin Conine -> 3 for 5 with a double and 3 RBI's
Jordan Groshans -> 2 for 4 with a walk a 1 RBI
Cal Stevenson -> 2 for 4 with a walk and 3 runs scored

DSL today:

Miguel Hiraldo -> 4 for 4 with a walk and 2 RBI's (His BA up to .429 in 17 games)

[Roof-Daddy]

Apparently they're thinking about moving Garcia to the bullpen.

Please do. If I have to sit through anymore of that guys starts while they send Gaviglio back to AAA or keep Borucki/SRF/Zeuch down on the farm I might throw up all over my couch haha.

[Roof-Daddy]

Blue Jays draft pick Conine intends to reach majors ‘as quick as I can’

“My goal now is to get to the big leagues as quick as I can,” said Conine, who made his professional debut for the Gulf Coast League Blue Jays Wednesday after officially agreeing to terms. “Now that’s all signed and done my next goal is to advance through the system as quick as I can.”

Conine points to Andrew Benintendi and Michael Conforto, two other left-handed hitters who excelled in college, became high draft picks and debuted in the big-leagues just one year after being selected.

“We’re moving to where guys can fly through the system when they show good numbers and advance,” he told reporters on a conference call Thursday.

Benintendi debuted at age 22 in 2016 and has since become a mainstay in the Red Sox outfield. Conforto debuted at age 22 in 2015 and made his first all-star team with the Mets last year.

Conine, who turns 21 next month, threw out a runner at the plate in his pro debut Wednesday. That throwing arm is another reason that some observers compare him to Conforto.

“I like that comparison, both based on it’s a left-handed bat, he’s got power to all fields and a strong arm,” he said. “I think those are my two biggest tools.”

Along with Conforto, Conine has been compared to Jay Bruce, also a left-handed hitter. “I like those two a lot,” he said. “Those are unbelievable players.”

[Inferno]

Ugh, Sanchez only pitches an inning and now Biagini is coming in. This could get really ugly.

[puffnstuff]

Sanchez is done after 1 inning, 20 pitches.
Blister, maybe?

[Roof-Daddy]

Must be a blister. Flipping ridiculous.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

I don't know what's gotten into Grichuk this month but I like it.

Another home run, this time opposite field, Jays lead 3-2.

[Karl]

What a terribad at bat by Smoakie.