Jays 2023

[funstick]

The more I think about it, the more the Gurriel trade makes sense. In addition to the pros already mentioned (more roster flexibility, improved defense, long term contract implications) Varsho is also much faster than Gurriel. IMO speed will be more of a factor in MLB with the new rules and larger bases.

As far as position players are concerned, the biggest decision remaining for the Jays is SS. Bichette has to improve or get moved to 2nd. He looks like he has all the tools to be good defensively but he struggles to throw the ball on the run. Espinal seemed more confortable doing this the few times I have seen him play short. Maybe that is the solution.

A premium hard thrower for the bullpen is the most important missing piece remaining IMO.

 

[Ref]

The more I think about it, the more the Gurriel trade makes sense. In addition to the pros already mentioned (more roster flexibility, improved defense, long term contract implications) Varsho is also much faster than Gurriel. IMO speed will be more of a factor in MLB with the new rules and larger bases.

As far as position players are concerned, the biggest decision remaining for the Jays is SS. Bichette has to improve or get moved to 2nd. He looks like he has all the tools to be good defensively but he struggles to throw the ball on the run. Espinal seemed more confortable doing this the few times I have seen him play short. Maybe that is the solution.

A premium hard thrower for the bullpen is the most important missing piece remaining IMO.

It will be interesting to see what type of effect these new changes will have on clubhouse culture.

 

[Dartman]

The problem with Bichette is his throw not his defense. In the off season he was working out with Tulo that was wrong because he tried to throw like Tulo .If he throws it overhand he gets it there no problem. He cant throw like Tulo thats what screws him up

 

[Toronto Passions]

I just saw a tweet on TV from Gary Sheffield Jr. that "whoever signed off on this for Arizona should go to jail". LOL

Is Gary Sheffield still switching from all the steroids he injected? Lmao

Philip

 

[Toronto Passions]

I don’t feel good about the Teoscar Hernandez trade. I just feel like they lost so much more. I remember games where he would just pick them up and be so clutch. I have a feeling they’re going to miss him in the clubhouse. Guys like this don’t grow on trees. I wish they showed a little more patience with Nate Pearson coming up again for that needed bullpen strength. I’m okay with everything else they did, I just don’t like the Teoscar trade.

Philip

 

[Insidious Von]

I totally agree that Bo and Seb should switch positions, Seb would not have collided with George Springer. That is the play that convinced me that Bo needs to move.

I don't know anything about this guy except that he's five years younger than Teoscar. Playing in Phoenix he's going to have some culture shock, hopefully he'll be over it by the George Costanza Long weekend (formerly Victoria Day).

 

[Toronto Passions]

I don't know anything about this guy except that he's five years younger than Teoscar.

I can appreciate that. I just don’t like what they got for Teoscar. The only thing that makes sense to me, is if Hernandez is set on testing free agency after next season. I still don’t feel like we’ve seen his absolute best season possible yet. I am assuming the Jays made every effort to extend him. I feel like they gave away a Bluejay style Dominican team captain type, a scary threat in the lineup, and with Nate Pearson reemerging in the pipeline they would’ve been fine in their bullpen. Make a couple of tweak moves and they’re good.

I would rather have Hernandez back instead of Kevin Kiermaier, that relief pitcher, and that pitching prospect. Just seems like pointless manoeuvring, unless they have really tried to extend him. I’m OK with everything else they did, just not the Hernandez trade unless they had no chance to extend.

Philip

 

[Insidious Von]

I would rather have Hernandez back instead of Kevin Kiermaier, that relief pitcher, and that pitching prospect. Just seems like pointless manoeuvring, unless they have really tried to extend him. I’m OK with everything else they did, just not the Hernandez trade unless they had no chance to extend.

Kevin Kiermaier's batting average is the weight of a five year old. We lost to the Mariners in last year's playoffs, we shouldn't be making them better...as I've said before, I'm never going to get a crack at the Church sisters cracks anyway.

 

[Toronto Passions]

I’d be very interested to know what efforts were made to extend Hernandez. He falls into that late bloomer Jose Bautista/Donaldson category in my mind. Didn’t really find his stride until the late 20s. Smaller frame, great shape, strong guy. Quick bat speed. Probably still has six years of danger left in him. And looks like the type that might make himself available for some form of a hometown discount.

Philip

 

[Samranchoi]

The Jays didn’t win with the group of guys who finished the 2022 season. Time will tell if all of the changes will work out in 2023 but frankly I am more confident with the current roster than I am with the one that got SWEPT by the Mariners. Changes were NEEDED and just maybe the team dynamic had to change. For the best? We will see at the end of 2023

 

[unassuming]

I totally agree that Bo and Seb should switch positions, Seb would not have collided with George Springer. That is the play that convinced me that Bo needs to move.

Who is Seb?

 

[Insidious Von]

Who is Seb?

I'm old Sebastian Giovinco became a Canadian citizen, he and Espinal do not share a first name: Santiago.

 

[shack]

I’d be very interested to know what efforts were made to extend Hernandez. He falls into that late bloomer Jose Bautista/Donaldson category in my mind. Didn’t really find his stride until the late 20s. Smaller frame, great shape, strong guy. Quick bat speed. Probably still has six years of danger left in him. And looks like the type that might make himself available for some form of a hometown discount.

Philip

Would you consider these good moves if the Jays score 20 fewer runs but also give up 60 fewer? I think that something like that was the game plan.

Teo went into funks where his bat was useless and he swung at pitches 6 inches out side 3 or four at bats in a game. He made bonehead moves on the basepaths to kill rallies and he'd make bad decisions in the field like throwing to the wrong base.

But he looks like a good guy. He's a guy you'd like to be fiends with but you wouldn't go into business with him.

 

[The Oracle]

I’d be very interested to know what efforts were made to extend Hernandez. He falls into that late bloomer Jose Bautista/Donaldson category in my mind. Didn’t really find his stride until the late 20s. Smaller frame, great shape, strong guy. Quick bat speed. Probably still has six years of danger left in him. And looks like the type that might make himself available for some form of a hometown discount.

Philip

Would you consider these good moves if the Jays score 20 fewer runs but also give up 60 fewer? I think that something like that was the game plan.

Teo went into funks where his bat was useless and he swung at pitches 6 inches out side 3 or four at bats in a game. He made bonehead moves on the basepaths to kill rallies and he'd make bad decisions in the field like throwing to the wrong base.

But he looks like a good guy. He's a guy you'd like to be fiends with but you wouldn't go into business with him.

The Hernandez trade perplexes me as well. This guy given 550 AB's has 30/100 written all over him. While he's not a great defender, I feel he has taking strides and improved in the field. Last he he had an oblique injury in April. When he came back I remember saying to myself he doesn't look right with his swing. Sure enough he struggled for over a month to find his power. He had the same issue in 2020 as well. In August he went down with a foot problem. Despite these issues he still hit 25 bombs. I believe the grass surface at Safeco will be gentler on his body and he will thrive there. Love this guy's smile. He's a player I always root for.

Relievers are always a crap shoot. Up one year and then mediocre the next. Jays have brought in a few that were supposed to be saviours but turned out to be busts. Bill Caudill and BJ Ryan come to mind. Although Ryan Did have that one lights out year.

 

[Toronto Passions]

Would you consider these good moves if the Jays score 20 fewer runs but also give up 60 fewer? I think that something like that was the game plan.

Teo went into funks where his bat was useless and he swung at pitches 6 inches out side 3 or four at bats in a game. He made bonehead moves on the basepaths to kill rallies and he'd make bad decisions in the field like throwing to the wrong base.

But he looks like a good guy. He's a guy you'd like to be fiends with but you wouldn't go into business with him.

I understand the logic. I just don’t feel like they got enough for his power. He has the ability to be a game changer. Those guys don’t grow on trees. Plus I’m willing to bet he would’ve given a very maintainable hometeam discount. Locking him up for another four or five years probably wouldn’t be so difficult.

The way he showed up at times at the plate when nobody else did, makes me question the deal. I would just be interested to know what efforts were actually made to extend him. I have a sick feeling he’s going to have a break out with a contender.

Philip

 

[Toronto Passions]

The Hernandez trade perplexes me as well. This guy given 550 AB's has 30/100 written all over him.

….veteran solid number 4 power. Vlady protection in the order. Instead of figuring out where to trade him, I just hope that same effort was also put into how to extend him. As an upper middle class budget team, the Blue Jays can really benefit from that familiar face fan favourite talented power energy. This important element gets forgotten with those front office number crunching stat nerds LOL.

Philip

 

[The Oracle]

….veteran solid number 4 power. Vlady protection in the order. Instead of figuring out where to trade him, I just hope that same effort was also put into how to extend him. As an upper middle class budget team, the Blue Jays can really benefit from that familiar face fan favourite talented power energy. This important element gets forgotten with those front office number crunching stat nerds LOL.

Philip

If he was a left handed hitter me thinks he would still be here.

He is a free agent after next year so maybe he could come back.

Yankees did that with Chapman. Traded him to the Cubs for Gleyber Torres and then signed him back the next year.

Worked out well till he imploded last year. Off topic but I wonder where he lands this upcoming year.

He was never the same after they outlawed the sticky stuff. Donaldson was right for a change..

 

[shack]

I understand the logic. I just don’t feel like they got enough for his power. He has the ability to be a game changer. Those guys don’t grow on trees. Plus I’m willing to bet he would’ve given a very maintainable hometeam discount. Locking him up for another four or five years probably wouldn’t be so difficult.

The way he showed up at times at the plate when nobody else did, makes me question the deal. I would just be interested to know what efforts were actually made to extend him. I have a sick feeling he’s going to have a break out with a contender.

Philip

….veteran solid number 4 power. Vlady protection in the order. Instead of figuring out where to trade him, I just hope that same effort was also put into how to extend him. As an upper middle class budget team, the Blue Jays can really benefit from that familiar face fan favourite talented power energy. This important element gets forgotten with those front office number crunching stat nerds LOL.

Philip

But did the Jays not compensate for the loss of Teo's power with Varsho's, mostly. Plus Varsho plays harder, smarter, is a better defender and base runner and is more focussed.

 

[black booty lover]

It will be interesting to see what type of effect these new changes will have on clubhouse culture.

God I hope it changes the dumb shit they have doing for the past two year. Praying the home run jacket is gone and no more stupid ice baths.

 

[black booty lover]

Watch out for Ricky Tiedemann to push for the 5th spot in the rotation, and not just take the spot, but be quite effective. This kid is good.