|
Post by mikecubs on Sept 29, 2020 5:22:16 GMT -6
The Toronto Blue Jays have made the playoffs as the 8th and final seed in the AL and start with the Tampa Bay Rays today with a 3 game series in Tampa. Game 1 is 4pm central today. The Jays finished at 32-28. The Blue Jays rebuild is beginning to bear fruit. They have 4 sons of former MLB players in their lineup. Vlad Gurrerro Jr. is only 21, Bo Bichette is only 22, Caivan Biggio is only 25, Lordes Gurriel is 27. The Jays patched together their pitching staff with trades and didn't even get much out of Nate Pierson who is their top pitching prospect because of injuries.
Looking at how the Jays from the back to back playoff teams of 2015 and 16 are doing.
Jose Bautista is out of the league for the 2nd straight year. "Fans" wanted to give him a lifetime contract.
Edwin Encarnacion had a couple decent(ish) years with Cleveland but was no where as good as he was with the Jays and hit .160 something with the White Sox this year.
Josh Donaldson did have a bounce back year with Atlanta last year but was hurt and mostly sucked this year. Minnesota unwisely gave him a 4 year deal.
Marcus Stroman missed the whole year with a leg injury then opted out due to covid concerns. He's now a free agent and almost 30
Roberto Osuna who the Jays got rid of for being a woman beater missed most of this year with an elbow injury and is likely to need Tommy John and miss next year too.
Justin Smoak sucked with the Brewers and got released. The Giants picked him up and released him.
David Price became an albotross for Boston and when they had to trade Mookie Betts they included Price which decreased the amount of prospects they got back. He also opted out of the season.
Kevin Pillar has bounced around the league.
Mark Shipiro and Ross Atkins were almost 100% right on how they have gone about things yet other than Bettman they are still the most hated sports men in Canada other than Bettman. LOL
|
|
|
Post by wolfmannick on Sept 29, 2020 11:08:21 GMT -6
The team is still a few years off from really contending but man does this group look promising. Strengthening the bull pen and rotation over the next couple of seasons should really make this team exciting to watch. I've never understood the hate for these two though and there is a lot of it out here. They made cleveland into an annual playoff contender and they are clearly making the blue Jay's into one
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Sept 29, 2020 16:53:00 GMT -6
The team is still a few years off from really contending but man does this group look promising. Strengthening the bull pen and rotation over the next couple of seasons should really make this team exciting to watch. I've never understood the hate for these two though and there is a lot of it out here. They made cleveland into an annual playoff contender and they are clearly making the blue Jay's into one Yep, Cleveland has always developed players very well and were able to lock them up to extensions. But to some that is a crime. Much better to have kept Josh Donaldson who was left off the Twins playoff roster with more calf injury. The Jays offense could be getting a lot better still. There is a lot of growth yet to Vlad Guerrero Jr. Wait until he learns to hit more fly balls!!! With the 5th pick this year in the draft the Jays got infielder/outfielder Austin Martin who was the best player in the draft. Others passed on him due to signing concerns. He or Jordan Grohans another 1st round pick could take over at 3rd in a few years which is the Jays biggest weakness(Travis Shaw). Martin can also play center field. In the rotation you got Nate Pierson starting next year which will be a huge help. Former 1st round pick Alek Manoah is on the way to help the rotation along with Simeon Woods Richardson who was the gem of the Marcus Stroman trade. Robbie Ray has good stuff and could be worth resigning if he will take the right deal. Worst thing with the Jays is despite having the best record in the AL Tampa has the leagues best farm system now with San Diego's graduations. They have the top prospect Wander Franco along with may others on the way.
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Jan 14, 2021 14:41:34 GMT -6
Blue Jays CEO Shapiro gets 5-year extensionBlue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro has signed a five-year contract extension, Rogers ownership announced Wednesday. Shapiro joined the Blue Jays on Oct. 31, 2015, after 24 seasons with Cleveland, and will be entering his 30th season in baseball in ‘21. After taking over the club following a postseason appearance in '15 and returning to the playoffs in his first year in charge, Shapiro, along with general manager Ross Atkins and the front office, went through a multiyear rebuilding process that culminated with a return to the postseason in ‘20. “From a personal and professional standpoint, I am thrilled to continue being a Toronto Blue Jay,” Shapiro said in a statement. “I am fortunate to work with exceptional people and am proud of the progress we have made together, to build a culture, community, and clubhouse that our incredible fans can cheer on. Living in Toronto and Canada has been life changing for me and my family and I am excited to experience the feeling of winning a championship with this city and country. I would like to thank Edward Rogers, the Rogers family, and the Rogers executive leadership team for their support and commitment over the past five years and in the years to come.” Edward Rogers, chairman of Rogers Communications and the Toronto Blue Jays, also issued a statement of support. “Mark’s leadership and commitment to excellence have been critical to the team’s growth and development,” Rogers said. “We are extremely pleased that Mark will continue to lead the Toronto Blue Jays and build on the team’s progress as we work towards our goal of bringing a World Series championship back to Canada.” Shapiro’s extension comes at a time when one major Blue Jays project is finishing while another is on the horizon. The extensive renovations and additions to the club’s Spring Training complex and TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Fla., are finally complete, which was a significant undertaking that Shapiro believes gives the club the best facilities in Major League Baseball. This will benefit not only the Major League club through the spring, summer and offseason, but also its prospect pool, many of whom will now be based out of the complex early in their careers under the new Minor League structure. The next potential major project will be a new stadium in Toronto to replace Rogers Centre, which opened as SkyDome in 1989. The COVID-19 pandemic put any development on hold for the time being, and while no details have been released, it is expected to be a large project when Rogers ownership decides to move forward. Speaking in December, Shapiro noted that the “scope and magnitude” of the project goes beyond what the Blue Jays could put together alone, but Shapiro will be heavily involved when that time comes.Shapiro served in a number of roles over his 24 seasons with Cleveland, rising to become the club’s president from 2011-15 before his move to Toronto. Prior to that, Shapiro was Cleveland’s executive vice president and general manager (‘02-10), vice president of baseball operations and assistant general manager (1999-01) and the club’s director of Minor League operations (‘94-98). Following the 2005 and ‘07 seasons, Shapiro was named the Sporting News Executive of the year and Baseball America Executive of the Year. Shapiro has also served on the league’s MLB Ticketing Committee, Special Committee for On-Field Matters (‘10-14) and currently is part of the Competition Committee. www.mlb.com/news/mark-shapiro-receives-five-year-extension
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Jan 20, 2021 0:02:25 GMT -6
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed outfielder George Springer formerly of the Houston Astros to a 6 year $150M deal the largest deal in franchise history. He'll be over 31 and a half years old opening day but he does have a profile that will age well.
They also signed former Padres closer Kirby Yates to a 1 year $5.5M deal with $4.5 M in incentives. He was horrible last year but had bone spurs in his elbow. The 2 years before he was one of the best closers in baseball. He will be 34 years old.
They also signed Tyler Chatwood formerly of the Cubs to a 1 year $3M deal. He mostly sucks and lacks control but does have electric stuff. If he could harness it wow. He's 31.
Also right after the year they resigned Robbie Ray to a 1 year $8M deal. He was awful last year with both Arizona and Toronto but had good stuff in the past and some decent years. He's 29.
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Jan 20, 2021 0:11:08 GMT -6
Blue jays depth chart www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jaysBig question is if Vlad Guerrero can play 3rd. They are going to give him another shot. The rotation is shaky especially at 4-5. Nate Pearson has a shot at being very good. Robbie Ray is hit or miss. I wouldn't be surprised if they trade Lourdes Guriel for a starter, moved Teoscar Hernandez to RF and signed Michael Brantley to DH.
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Jan 21, 2021 20:11:45 GMT -6
Michael Brantley isn't coming to Toronto. He resigned with Houston for 2 yrs $32M
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Jan 29, 2021 11:08:35 GMT -6
The Blue Jays have signed former Oakland A's shortstop Marcus Semien to a 1 year $18M deal to play second base. He's 30. He's coming off a down year due to rib injury but was 3rd in MVP voting the year before. He's a late bloom and 2019 was a career year but he is a decent player and it's a total shock and victory for the Blue jays that they could get him on a 1 year deal. Cavan Biggio goes to 3rd ending the Vlad Guerrero at 3rd full time experiment. Keep in mind the Blue Jays have both Austin Martin and Jordan Grohans at 3rd so when Semien walks after the year maybe one of them will be close to taking over.
The Blue Jays are going to score a crap ton of runs with this lineup.
They also traded for Stephen Matz from the Mets. He sucked last year and is injury prone but he still does have good stuff. They need at least 1 more mid rotation starter.
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Jan 29, 2021 11:13:03 GMT -6
Masahiro Tanaka of the Yankees went back to Japan. They are depending on Corey Kluber(34 years old) who pitched 1 inning the past 2 seasons to replace him though people say he is now healthy and they traded for Jameson Talleon of the Pirates who is coming off his second tommy john surgery. Tampa traded ace Blake Snell to the Padres and lost Charlie Morton in free agency to Atlanta. They do have the games best farm system though. The Redsox suck and the Orioles are in a major rebuild. I say the Blue Jays win a wild card, maybe the division if things go wrong for the Yankees rotation and Judge and Stanton keep getting injured. Fan graphs now has statistic projections out for every player for every team. Check out the Jays offense. WOW! www.fangraphs.com/roster-resource/depth-charts/blue-jays
|
|
|
Post by ekjet72 on Jan 29, 2021 17:20:40 GMT -6
Well something has to juice up CDN BaseBall fans and nothing like a home run fest will do it.
|
|
|
Post by wolfmannick on Jan 29, 2021 18:36:29 GMT -6
Mike's not easily impressed so his reaction says something about the jays offense
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Feb 6, 2021 13:37:31 GMT -6
Mike's not easily impressed so his reaction says something about the jays offense They need at least another 2nd tier starter. They should resign Tajuen Walker to a short term deal or Jake Ordozzi. I don't like Tanner Roark's chances of having a good year.
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Feb 6, 2021 13:38:31 GMT -6
Well something has to juice up CDN BaseBall fans and nothing like a home run fest will do it. Or winning. Rotation is a question mark but there is potential. Thing that would help juice fans up the most would be a real park eventually. The dome must go.
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Mar 31, 2021 11:06:34 GMT -6
Opening day tomorrow for the Jays. They start at the Yankees. It's Ryu vs Garrett Cole.
Kirby Yates who was supposed to be the Jays closer had tommy john surgery and is out for the season. They were hoping he'd bounce back to 2019 forum with the Padres. Big loss.
Also Nate Pearson and Robbie Ray start on the injured list. The Blue Jays pitching looks VERY shaky.
It was also announced the Blue Jays will play their 1st 3 home stands(22 games) in Florida at their spring training facility.
|
|
|
Post by mikecubs on Mar 31, 2021 15:39:44 GMT -6
$150M addition George Springer goes on the DL with an oblique strain.
|
|