Blue Jays: 2015 edition

[Ref]

If Gibby wanted to win the AL, he would have fielded the regulars in either of the last two games in Baltimore.

As mentioned above, no big loss save for the extra gate receipt in a full seven game AL championship series.

 

[gcostanza]

Just over 2 months ago Toronto was a game under .500 & today fans are upset the Blue Jays don't have home field for entire playoffs....

 

[saxon]

After 2/3 of inning, Buehrle ERA actually improved. Any guesses how?

Rumours are he will announce his retirement shortly and will not be on the playoff roster.

 

[DanJ]

If Gibby wanted to win the AL, he would have fielded the regulars in either of the last two games in Baltimore.

As mentioned above, no big loss save for the extra gate receipt in a full seven game AL championship series.

And that's only if KC makes it to the ALCS as well. This whole "home field advantage" thing was grossly overblown, as they will have it in the ALDS and will have it in the World Series, should they make it. Sure they lost 4 of the last 5 when the pressure was off, I still like their chances, at home and on the road.

 

[gcostanza]

The Jays are stumbling into the playoffs.

Pop quiz: How many runs did the St. Louis Cardinals (the team with the best record in baseball) score in 3 games this weekend?







Zero.

Now, that is stumbling into the playoffs.
Do you think the Cardinals are worried?
Not very.

 

[Frankunderwood]

For all of the 'experts' who are putting Gibby to task for letting B start today.... Who would you have started? Hutch? Francis? Hendricks? Our options were limited today, so Gibby likely figured he was as good as any.

 

[pokergod]

For all of the 'experts' who are putting Gibby to task for letting B start today.... Who would you have started? Hutch? Francis? Hendricks? Our options were limited today, so Gibby likely figured he was as good as any.

I woul've loved to see B come out of the pen to pitch the 2 innings giving him a bit more rest.

 

[Keebler Elf]

Pop quiz: How many runs did the St. Louis Cardinals (the team with the best record in baseball) score in 3 games this weekend?


Zero.

Now, that is stumbling into the playoffs.
Do you think the Cardinals are worried?
Not very.

Nice try.

ZERO is what the Cardinals had left to play for. Jays had home field advantage to play for and blew it.

The Jays are stumbling into the playoffs. Errors, relievers/savers not being quite so good, some of the batting cooling off (no one wants to say it but Donaldson, Colabello), Buerhle running out of gas, etc. The signs are there.

Don't get me wrong, I have confidence in the Jays and think they'll do well. But the Jays of October are in no way, shape, or form as good as the Jays in August. They've cooled off just in time for the playoffs.

 

[ultistar]

There sure are lots of worry warts here. The Jays have been the class of AL for the last 60 games, and should win the ALCS going away.

Should be a great fall. Playoffs in Toronto?

 

[mandrill]

Nice try.

ZERO is what the Cardinals had left to play for. Jays had home field advantage to play for and blew it.

The Jays are stumbling into the playoffs. Errors, relievers/savers not being quite so good, some of the batting cooling off (no one wants to say it but Donaldson, Colabello), Buerhle running out of gas, etc. The signs are there.

Don't get me wrong, I have confidence in the Jays and think they'll do well. But the Jays of October are in no way, shape, or form as good as the Jays in August. They've cooled off just in time for the playoffs.

Texas lost 2 of the last 3 to Halos, including a 5-run meltdown in the 9th yesterday. None of the frontrunners is playing hard at this point. Yanks got swept 3 straight by O's this weekend and lost 3 of 4 to Bosox before clinching the WC in the 4th game of that series. Astros lost to Arizona today and they were fighting for a potential playoff spot. KC has been half-assed over the last 2 weeks.

This is right off the standings chart. Last 10 games:

Toronto 6-4
Yankees 3-7
KC 6-4
Texas 5-5
Stros 6-4.

The "home field advantage" occurs only in Game 7 of the ALCS and only in the event that Toronto plays KC. Now that scenario is probably not going to happen, is it? Either Toronto or KC will not make the ALCS or the series will go less than 7.

Check the Jays' record since the Tulo deal. 2-1 against Texas on the road. 3-0 against LAA on the road. 6-1 vs Yankees on the road. 3-3 against Yankees at Rogers.

There is no appreciable difference in home/road record since the Tulo deal.

Advantages to playing Texas over playing New York: 1. Texas is a lot warmer in October and that will help our pitching staff. 2. Texas does not know our team as well as New York does. 3. Do you REALLY want to see another Toronto-Yankees series??!!

Advantages to playing Texas over Houston: Keuchel, Kazmir, McCullers, Fiers. If those guys play up to scratch, it will neutralize our offence. Cole Hamels is Texas #1 starter. He's not Keuchel. In a Texas-Jays series, we match up starters better right through the rotation. In a Houston series, it's the opposite.

 

[AK-47]

KC won their last 5 games to clinch best AL overall record. Something tells me they did think it was important to finish first

 

[Kilgore Trout]

If Toronto plays KC in the ALCS, I think it's better for Toronto to have the middle 3 games at home.
Dickey has an era of 4.83 era on the road this year and a 3.11 era at home; so he's basically half a pitcher. But this can work very well to your advantage in a 7 game series with the middle 3 at home.

If say, Toronto beats Texas in 5 games they can go Stroman Eastrada, Price, Dickey as the rotation and you can lock Dickey into 1 home game start for the 7 game series. That way you've got 7 good starters for 7 games and if it goes seven games Price is there for game 7.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/4695/ra-dickey

 

[SkyRider]

Here's the thing. Winning MLB games is not the same as turning on and off a tap. Let's hope the Jays can turn on the tap during the playoffs.

Why did Gibbons yanked EE and deprive him of another at bat to hit his 40th HR? The TV guys said no AL team ever had 3 40 HR guys (and still don't). Done 3 time in the NL but Colorado should have an asterisk because they are so high above sea level that gravity is much lighter (sort of like weightlessness in space).

 

[Kilgore Trout]

For Yankees Astros wild card game Dallas Keuchel has some home away splits that favor the Yankees.
Home he's 15 - 0 with 1.46 era away he's 5 - 8 with 3.77 era.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/31815/dallas-keuchel

 

[tribunus]

Texas will be a tough foe. They can slug almost as good as us, and their record since the trade deadline is not too shabby either at 40-22 versus the Jays 43-18.

But I think we'll beat Hamel & Lewis/Holland around. Gallardo will give us fits. We also didn't face Josh Hamilton the last time we played them, and Choo was struggling.

 

[Frankunderwood]

In post-game presser, Buerhle confirms that he won't be on the ALDS roster. Admits that other 4 are 'pitching better than me right now'. The guy is all class.

 

[mandrill]

Official that Buehrle will not be on ALDS roster. I was wrong.

 

[mandrill]

For Yankees Astros wild card game Dallas Keuchel has some home away splits that favor the Yankees.
Home he's 15 - 0 with 1.46 era away he's 5 - 8 with 3.77 era.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/player/splits/_/id/31815/dallas-keuchel

Read down the row. He's 2-0 vs Yankees with an ERA of 0.00 and 1 complete game. 21 K's, 1 BB. AVE = .161.

 

[mandrill]

Texas will be a tough foe. They can slug almost as good as us, and their record since the trade deadline is not too shabby either at 40-22 versus the Jays 43-18.

But I think we'll beat Hamel & Lewis/Holland around. Gallardo will give us fits. We also didn't face Josh Hamilton the last time we played them, and Choo was struggling.

Hamilton's only hitting about .250.

On paper, they're not as good as us. Less power. Higher ERA's.

 

[DanJ]

Here's the thing. Winning MLB games is not the same as turning on and off a tap. Let's hope the Jays can turn on the tap during the playoffs.

Why did Gibbons yanked EE and deprive him of another at bat to hit his 40th HR? The TV guys said no AL team ever had 3 40 HR guys (and still don't). Done 3 time in the NL but Colorado should have an asterisk because they are so high above sea level that gravity is much lighter (sort of like weightlessness in space).

Oh that explains why the people walk with an extra pop in their step in Denver, they are just floating along without all that gravity holding them down. Peyton should be able to throw into the end zone from his own 20 there lol. It's actually the lower air density at higher altitudes, not lack of gravity.