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Features Orioles at Blue Jays - July 20 - 22
The rested Orioles arrive into town to visit the rested Blue Jays. The Jays ended the first half* with too many relievers and too few position players. This happened because Kevin Pillar and Lourdes Gurriel went on the DL just before the break. Ryan Tepera came back from the DL and today Richard Urena has been recalled to fill Gurriel's spot. The Jays will likely see several other moves over the next seven days. Marco Estrada and Ryan Borucki will be back. Danny Barnes and Aaron Sanchez might be not too much behind them. And hopefully Gurriel will be back soon.

Baltimore are also making news by designating Chris Tillman for assignment. The Orioles want him to go to the minors but he is waiting to assess his options. This weekend is the first of the post-Manny Machado era. Now that the big dog is gone, how will the team react?

The schedule is:

Friday, 7 pm - Dylan Bundy vs. Sam Gaviglio

Saturday, 1 pm - TBD vs. Marcus Stroman

Sunday 1 pm - TBD vs. JA Happ

On Saturday expect more of the "what does Stroman think today?" brouhaha. Sunday is Happy day with just over a week to the deadline. Will he make that start, will it be his last start, will he pitch well? I hope Dwight Smith gets plenty of playing time with Pillar out. He is one of the players that we need to know what to expect from him in 2019, is he part of the future or a spare part?

Even with the addition of Urena, the Jays are carrying ten relief pitchers. In part this is because they have just three starters on the roster, all of whom start this weekend. Borucki will be back next week but the Jays still need a fifth starter. It could be Estrada or someone from the minor leagues. The Orioles are carrying nine relievers, there are 19 relievers available for tonight's game.

Posted by Gerry on Friday, July 20 2018 @ 03:36 PM EDT.
Orioles at Blue Jays - July 20 - 22 | 76 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Mike Green - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 05:00 PM EDT (#362016) #
The Blue Jays continue to go with a 10 man pen and a 3 man bench against the Machadoless Orioles. There are enough arms for some tandem starts, but somehow I don't think that's coming. 
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Chuck - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 06:46 PM EDT (#362021) #
These final 10 weeks could be pretty brutal, and that's even before some useful parts are shipped off.

Over/under on Dondaldson's AB for the rest of 2018?

Over/under on Tulowitzki's AB for the rest of 2018?

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Cracka - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 06:56 PM EDT (#362023) #
The Orioles have four lefties in their bullpen and we've got Granderson & Dwight Smith as a backup. Hard to understand why Pompey or Alford wasn't added for the series.

Anyway, I think Donaldson comes back in mid-August and will be traded somewhere before Aug. 31st (he'll almost certainly clear waivers on August 1st if he hasn't started playing again). 40 games, 125 ABs (not incl BBs).

Tulo = 0. He won't return this year and will focus on 2019.
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scottt - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 07:51 PM EDT (#362024) #
Well, they shouldn't really try too hard to win. Right now they need to keep showcasing the guys who can be traded.
Try to put a good defense behind Happ.

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Gerry - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 08:16 PM EDT (#362025) #
Russ Martin home run, that's a rarity.
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Gerry - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 09:39 PM EDT (#362027) #
The collapse started when Gibby sent Gaviglio back out for the eighth even though he had pitched seven good innings and he had ten rested relievers. It's second guessing but I thought Gaviglio would be done when he finished the seventh.
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lexomatic - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 09:40 PM EDT (#362028) #
Clippard just had a bruuuuuuuuutal appearance. Normally one game shouldn't affect trade value, but a ton of hard hits, 3 runs off 2hr will remind GMs of his (bad) potential. Just heard it was his second bad game in a row.
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hypobole - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 09:44 PM EDT (#362029) #
So Clippard's home run issues resurface. If there were anyone interested, doubt there is now.

Should have traded him in the offseason.
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hypobole - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#362030) #
it was a joke.
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hypobole - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 09:51 PM EDT (#362031) #
Gerry is absolutely right about Gibby.
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SK in NJ - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 09:54 PM EDT (#362032) #
I can't imagine any contending team was planning on using Clippard as a late inning reliever prior to tonight's game anyway, much less trading anything of value for him, so I don't think we should worry about his trade value. It was negligible to begin with.

Agreed Gerry. The pen use tonight was abysmal. First sending Gaviglio back out in the 8th, then using Oh for one batter/six pitches when he's been the team's best reliever, and finally bringing in Clippard simply because it was a save situation.

Whatever, it's the Orioles and the season is over anyway, so it is what it is.
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BlueJayWay - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 10:13 PM EDT (#362033) #
That was some scintillating baseball.
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Mike Green - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 10:16 PM EDT (#362034) #
What Gerry said. I cursed Gibbons when he sent Gaviglio out for the eighth. And then retreated to silence when I realized it doesn't matter.
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Chuck - Friday, July 20 2018 @ 10:19 PM EDT (#362035) #
Day 1 for Beckham with his SS job back. Hell of an impression.
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John Northey - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 12:03 AM EDT (#362036) #
I like the idea of pushing Gaviglio.  You gotta try to see what these kids can do and given the O's are out of it like the Jays are, what better time to push him a bit.  Now, a quicker hook should've been applied and I'd have had someone ready before he threw a pitch and yanked him once a guy reached based - tell him ahead of time that this is just to give him a shot at pitching this late, not expecting much but hey kid, here you go.  You do it, you do it.  You hit any bumps and the pen comes in.
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Richard S.S. - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 12:22 AM EDT (#362037) #
The idea is to push Gaviglio to that extra hitter or hitters or an extra inning and see what he can do, how effective can he be. The idea is to see if he can learn from each outing and not only for next time out, but for in the same inning. Sam Gaviglio will be in the Rotation next year, if not traded, probably as 4/5 Starter. The Jays would like to know if he can be more.
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hypobole - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 01:16 AM EDT (#362038) #
What's the point of 10 relievers then?
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Spifficus - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 01:28 AM EDT (#362039) #
Because they just had 1.2, 3.2, 3, 3.1 and 5 innings out of their starters over the previous 5 games? After that, I'd try to get 15 relievers if I could.
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scottt - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 06:39 AM EDT (#362040) #
Yankees drop another game. I'm with Pat on this, they need at least 2 starters.

It's hard to be worse than Baltimore right now. They trade a couple of relievers and they're well on their way to the first pick overall. I expect the Blue Jays to rise back to .500.  I don't think Garcia will start another game.

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Mike Green - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 12:00 PM EDT (#362041) #
Kiley McDaniel in Fangraphs has Ramirez and Lindor as the two most valuable properties in baseball. I don't. Once you make strength of schedule adjustments to their WAR figures, they aren't in the top 2 and maybe not in the top 4. Subjectively, I would rather have Bregman than Ramirez.
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scottt - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 04:26 PM EDT (#362043) #
As bad as things are, it would have been a lot worse if the front office had made moves like signing Cobb.
At least with the Os, he'll have many years to turn it around and maybe get traded for a prospect or two.

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bpoz - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 05:38 PM EDT (#362044) #
The last 2 games our starters have been going deep.
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ISLAND BOY - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 09:27 PM EDT (#362049) #
I don't know that pitcher the Mets traded but his name sounds familia.
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cybercavalier - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 10:57 PM EDT (#362050) #
The bottom of the lineup from Morales to Travis contribute to the victory in RBIs, walks and hits but both Granderson and Hernandez have two strikeouts. Shall Morales hit cleanup again in place of Solarte who then hit 6th?
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greenfrog - Saturday, July 21 2018 @ 11:03 PM EDT (#362051) #
It’s something of a can’t-win situation for Happ and the Jays tomorrow. If he pitches reasonably well, observers will say it was because he was facing a weak (and now Machado-less) team. If he pitches poorly, then his trade value will decline because people will note that he’s had several bad starts in a row and that evidently he can’t handle a weak AL team.

It would help if he had better defense behind him. Some of the plays not made in his recent starts have led to big innings against him.

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SK in NJ - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 12:02 AM EDT (#362052) #
It would be the perfect time for Donaldson to get back with Solarte suddenly turning into a below replacement level player. Not sure what has happened to him lately. His defense has always been bad but if he’s not an above average hitter then it’s going to be an issue.

I think the teams trying to trade for Happ know who he is at this point. A great start tomorrow can’t hurt but teams likely have an idea of what they want and don’t want to give up for him. Just a matter of the FO finding the best deal. I hope he’s traded soon, if only to avoid him getting hurt between now and the deadline. The value lost on Donaldson has scarred me.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 07:42 AM EDT (#362054) #
SK in NJ, this July 20 ESPN post by Buster Olney suggests that Happ's perceived value has indeed declined (this view is consistent with what I've been suggesting for a few weeks now):

Small sample size carries weight in July in a way it does not the rest of the baseball season, as teams get inspired -- or spooked -- by a couple of really good or really bad games leading up to the trade deadline.

An evaluator told a story recently about how one of his players in the midst of a good season struggled one day, and the phone calls from other teams with expressions of trade interest stopped. As if someone had turned off a light switch.

Everybody is looking to land the right player at the exact right time, and there could be no better example of this than in the market for starting pitching, which is generally regarded by executives as thin, lacking in high-end options.

Six weeks ago, Toronto’s J.A. Happ might have been the ranked near the top of this crop, but he has a 9.75 ERA in his past three starts, allowing 19 hits, eight walks and four homers in 12 innings, and scouts’ enthusiasm for him has waned -- particularly as they try to project how he might do against playoff teams down the stretch or in October.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 07:50 AM EDT (#362055) #
My own view is that this trade deadline is going to be something of a bust for the Jays. It should have been a strong one for the team, with players like Happ and Donaldson and Tepera traded for a good return, but I just don't see that happening this year. Probably the Jays will net a few modest prospects for Happ and Oh. Maybe one top-100 prospect for Happ.
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Mike Green - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 08:33 AM EDT (#362056) #
A win for interleague play.  Yesterday's attendance in Oakland for their game with San Francisco- 56,310.  It's a stadium record, and follows Friday's 45,606.  The A's drew 17,000 3 weeks ago for a Saturday afternoon game against Cleveland, so most of the fans are probably Giants' fans making the trip across the Bay.  The A's do have an exciting club, so maybe attendance will generally tick upwards this summer. 
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85bluejay - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 09:28 AM EDT (#362059) #
The Yankees apparently offered Brandon Drury as part of package for Machado - If Donaldson comes back and performs - I won't mind acquiring Drury - young,cheap,years of control - good buy low candidate.
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Glevin - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 09:34 AM EDT (#362060) #
"The Yankees apparently offered Brandon Drury as part of package for Machado - If Donaldson comes back and performs - I won't mind acquiring Drury - young,cheap,years of control - good buy low candidate."

No interest in Drury. I'd rather the compensation pick. He's a useful player on a contending team but he's a 26 YO utility guy who will be arbitration eligible next year. The Jays need to get to be getting prospects or players with longer team control.
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bpoz - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 09:49 AM EDT (#362061) #
Agreed Glevin. Comp pick for Happ and Donaldson.
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scottt - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 09:53 AM EDT (#362062) #
Lots of teams  are trying to make the playoffs, not just improving their October rotation.
So a Happ that can shut down a bad team still has value.

The Mets got very little for Familia. It seems mostly because the A's took  his remaining salary.

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bpoz - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 09:57 AM EDT (#362063) #
How should we value the $1 mil Int'l bonus money?
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scottt - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 10:07 AM EDT (#362065) #
If you're Baltimore, it's worth a bag of balls.

I think teams have a list of free agents they like and the extra money is valuable if their list exceed their capability to pay. It's probably mostly true for teams who  have lost cap because of free agent signings.

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bpoz - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 11:29 AM EDT (#362069) #
How about planning ahead for Int'l bonus money. The bonus money we got from LAD, Vlad 2015, reduced our future penalty. In 2017 $1.5 mil Pardhino, $800K each for about 2 others. We traded C DeJong for bonus money, so no penalty. 2018 $3.5 mil O Martinez. Do we need cap $.
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dalimon5 - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#362071) #
FO is finally in a position to be graded for their moves this coming Trade Deadline/off season.

If they don't do better than last year (Hernandez, Pannone) then they should be given a hard time. Even with injuries, you have much more talent to work with this year.
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dalimon5 - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 12:12 PM EDT (#362073) #
I fully expect something to be done by management this year as the Yankees did 2 summers ago. Trade Miller/Chapman for good returns.

JD, Happ et all are not getting you the same returns since they are not elite right now and short term contracts. But management has Osuna to move in the summer...he should net you something like Miller did for NYY.

As for Chapman, you should be able to package JD with a Tepera or someone to get a better return including a top 100 prospect.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 12:22 PM EDT (#362074) #
The market will bear what it will bear. The team’s prime assets have been devalued, whether due to major injuries (Happ, Estrada, Tepera, Stroman, Tulo), underperformance (Happ, Estrada, Martin), or criminal charges (Osuna). Plus, there appear to be a surplus of sellers and a dearth of buyers. It would be naive not to take into account these considerations.

The front office has done a good job of adding talent in trades - such as Teoscar, Diaz, Grichuk, Solarte, Taylor, McGuire, Ramirez - without relinquishing much at all in return. Apart from a couple of relatively insignificant trades like Hendriks-Chavez, there really is no reason to complain about the FO’s track record in making trades.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 12:24 PM EDT (#362075) #
Sorry, that first reference to Happ should read Donaldson.
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dalimon5 - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 12:26 PM EDT (#362076) #
Not suggesting we complain about their track record - I'm suggesting that they are further removed from Day 1 where they have had restrictions of what they could trade out considering they needed to stay competitive. Those restrictions are gone and should more than compensate for devaluation of best trade assets they possess.

Now they are far enough removed that their track record should be scrutinized going forward as it's written. If they don't do as good a job as TB, NYY or BOS management in acquiring talent then they should be scutinized.
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dalimon5 - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 12:39 PM EDT (#362077) #
In reference to those AL East teams having acquired talents I'm looking at trades such as:

NYY trade out Chapman, Miller, Prospects to bring in Torres, Frazier, Gray

TB ships out Price and Souza for Smyly, Adames, Anthony Banda, Nick Solak.

BOS ships out Moncada, Kopeck and Espinoza, Asuaje, Guerra, Margot and Logan Allen for Chris Sale, Pomeranz and Kimbrel.
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hypobole - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 12:52 PM EDT (#362078) #
I'm in greenfrog's camp on this one. A

And I have an idea what the Price and Sale trades have to do with us, but I totally disagree.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 01:09 PM EDT (#362079) #
I think Solarte has been overexposed this year. He already has about 80% of the PA he had all of last year, and about the same number of PA he had in 2016 (his 2.6 WAR season). His best role seems to be that of utility player (primarily 3B, with limited action at SS, 2B, 1B, DH.
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SK in NJ - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 01:10 PM EDT (#362080) #
I don't see teams trading Gleyber types for rentals anymore. Unfortunately the Yankees got the benefit of that market, but things have changed dramatically over the past two years as far as how teams view prospects, age, years of control, etc.

Chances are the returns on Happ and the others will likely end up being very underwhelming, but I think that speaks more to the market than anything else. Top prospects are not being moved unless it's for good controllable players, and the Jays either don't have them or aren't in a position to move them (Stroman, Osuna, Sanchez). Solarte is playing very poorly, Pillar is hurt, Smoak is a 1B in a market that hates 1B, etc. The team's best hope might be trading Tepera.
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hypobole - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 01:16 PM EDT (#362081) #
As for the Sonny Gray trade, it's a bit early to tell how the Oakland end will turn out, but the Yankee end seems to be a flop. There is talk of the Yankees thinking about getting rid of a much devalued Gray.

And the first Souza trade seems to have been a misstep by the Rays. They would have been better off just holding on to Trea Turner in the Wil Myers deal instead of getting the Nats involved to obtain Souza.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 01:19 PM EDT (#362082) #
Happ probably would have commanded a good prospect package if he had stayed on the trajectory he was on through June 25 (a quality start against Houston, on the heels of an excellent start against Atlanta where Gibbons likely pushed Happ too far (season-high 8.1 innings and 113 pitches) in a perhaps misguided attempt to secure a complete game from him).

Since then he's looked vulnerable in three starts against Detroit, NYY, and Boston. Not a good recipe for increasing or maintaining trade value.

As we've seen in recent days with Machado, non-controllable players can still fetch a strong package if the player is performing well.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 01:39 PM EDT (#362084) #
Martin at the plate. Runner on first. 3-1 count.

Jays television broadcasters extol Martin's knowledge of the strike zone and his ability to put the ball in play the other way, and conclude that the Jays "aren't afraid to play hit-and-run with him."

Next pitch. Runner not running. Martin grounds into DP.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 02:18 PM EDT (#362087) #
Defense lets Happ down again.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#362088) #
I’m embarrased for Happ, who deserves better than this. He should have 5 shutout innings and about 90 pitches on the day.
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scottt - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 04:28 PM EDT (#362094) #
Yeah, they should have waited an extra day for the Gurriel defense.

Not sure who will start tomorrow, now. I'd go with Loup.

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scottt - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 04:53 PM EDT (#362096) #
The Rays will keep trading players away as they reach arbitration.
That's not something you'd want to emulate.

The Yankees followed the Marlins formula with Chapman and Miller.
The limitation there is that you need to be able to sign the players in the first place and you might not be able to trade them as planned if you're anywhere close to contention.

Boston certainly tried to field the best team they can.
The limitation there is that you need a strong core or you turn into the Tigers.
The Sox have done well this year despite some injuries. Tulo  has been more productive than Pedroia so far.

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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 05:26 PM EDT (#362097) #
Happ looked strong today. His command wavered a couple of times but overall he pitched very well. He showed good velocity too, touching 95 based on the Sportsnet broadcast. If Gurriel had turned the DP in the 5th Happ might have been able to last six (possibly shutout) innings.
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greenfrog - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 05:32 PM EDT (#362098) #
If I were the GM of a contender in need of a #2, 3 or 4 starter for the regular season and postseason I would definitely be interested in Happ. But perception is everything and it's not clear that he has done enough yet to convince teams to give up some high-quality prospect talent for him.
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Magpie - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 05:41 PM EDT (#362100) #
Brad Brach was credited with a Hold for his contribution (.2 IP, 3 ER) to the Jays' 8th inning.

If you're the 2018 Orioles, that counts as a highlight.
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Chuck - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 05:58 PM EDT (#362101) #
Fitting too that Axford got the win. A banner day for pitching statistics.
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Gerry - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 06:57 PM EDT (#362104) #
Luis Santos starts tomorrow. Jaime Garcia and Tim Mayza have not pitched much recently. Two innings for each of the three and then see what the score is.

I wonder why Borucki was sent to Buffalo. I had thought he might pitch mid week to keep him on routine but he wasn't used.
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scottt - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 07:34 PM EDT (#362105) #
That looks a lot like a Garcia start with an opener, without calling it that.

Borucki will start on Tuesday, they just wanted more relief arms, possibly.

The Twins won the second wild card last year and were active in the winter securing those gains.
Morrison has been awful and Lance Lynn has not been good.
Miguel Sano has struggled, Polanco has been hit with an 80 game suspension and the haven't had the depth to survive even in the weakest division in baseball.

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cybercavalier - Sunday, July 22 2018 @ 11:03 PM EDT (#362108) #
Fitting too that Axford got the win.
Can his 4-1 pitching stats help his chance to be traded for asset in return? Say trade a package of veteran and lower prospect for a higher prospect from an organization that is in the postseason run.
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Mike Green - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 09:27 AM EDT (#362114) #
Jay Jaffe identifies five contenders with a need behind the plate.  The Jays do have a surplus...
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hypobole - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 11:04 AM EDT (#362118) #
Per Rosenthal Phillies Jays talking Grandy

https://twitter.com/Ken_Rosenthal/status/1021401332597575680
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Marc Hulet - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#362119) #
Polished LHP Cole Irvin (the Jays drafted him out of HS but he didn't sign) or raw Luis Garcia would be nice gets in a Grandy(plus cash) deal.
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Mike Green - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 12:16 PM EDT (#362120) #
Cole Irvin would be very good. 
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hypobole - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 12:32 PM EDT (#362122) #
The mediocrity of this team has been brought up more than once. This year's squad has a shot at having the worst worst best position player season in Jays history. Definitely of the non-asterisk variety.

The 1981 team had the worst best position player - John Mayberry with 1.5 fWAR led the team, but that was a strike year with only 106 games played.

Otto Velez was the 1978 team leader with 2.2 fWAR.

Right now, barring some crazy hot streak by someone, Smoak and his 1.2 fWAR seems to be the only realistic hope to better 1978 Otto Velez.

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Mike Green - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 12:48 PM EDT (#362123) #
How many players on the club are going to end up with 600 PAs?  It's possible that the number is 0.   It is usually at least 1 or 2.  In some years, it has been 4 or 5.   In 1985, they had 5 players reach 600 PAs even though they were platooning at three positions (catcher, third base and DH)

The 77 Blue Jays did not have anybody get 600 PAs. Roy Howell and Ron Fairly both managed to get 2 WAR+ in spite of that. 
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rpriske - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 03:18 PM EDT (#362128) #
Chris Rowley has been claimed off waivers by the Rangers.
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PeterG - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 03:28 PM EDT (#362130) #
The Rowley claim is not good news for Buffalo who are already short on starting pitching and have 3 doubleheaders coming up in a space of 7 days. Jays must be looking to add to 40 man to have tried to sneak hom through in the 1st place.
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Mike Green - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#362131) #
It's about time for Romano to be called up to Buffalo anyway, and Santos may be sent back after today's start and could get a longer outing in one of the doubleheaders.
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Mike Green - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 03:58 PM EDT (#362132) #
Randal Grichuk leads off for the Blue Jays, with Granderson on the bench.  His .279 OBP and .460 slugging percentage make it an unconventional choice, but there really is nobody.  Personally, I'd put Travis in the leadoff role but in theory, Smoak would probably be the #1 choice.  It's a nice test of the importance of OBP vs. speed in the leadoff role. 
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Mike Green - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 03:59 PM EDT (#362133) #
And now it seems that Estrada will make his rehab start in one of the doubleheader games. 
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PeterG - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 04:02 PM EDT (#362134) #
Estrada will start one of the doubleheaders for Bisons tomorrow instead of pitching for NH tonight. Osuna is also joining the Bisons.
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85bluejay - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 04:12 PM EDT (#362135) #
With Borucki & Pannone already in the fold, give me the raw Luis Garcia with upside and very likely to stay at SS - I don't expect the Phillies to say yes.
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PeterG - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 04:25 PM EDT (#362137) #
Brewers have lost Brent Suter and were already looking at the possibly of adding a starter. Happ would look good in the NL.
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hypobole - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 04:30 PM EDT (#362138) #
Fangraphs Developing a Pitch pt 18

Joe Biagini (Blue Jays) on His Cutter

“I had a dream about it. Something came to me. It was a big baseball-looking face, and it said, ‘If you want me to cut this way, throw me like this.’ So I did that. It might have been one of my drug trips that I was on. This was back in the 1980s. Or maybe it was a couple of years ago.

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/players-view-learning-and-developing-a-pitch-part-18/
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Mike Green - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 04:40 PM EDT (#362139) #
David Laurilia's series on developing a pitch is great- from the variety of initial approaches (engineering, intuitive, drug-induced creative dream) to the fine-tuning.  I read a piece from Neko Case on songwriting today, and I noticed a few similarities- there is an artistic side to pitching. 
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electric carrot - Monday, July 23 2018 @ 05:19 PM EDT (#362140) #
Looks like Syndergaard has a Thor throat.
https://www.boston.com/sports/mlb/2018/07/22/noah-syndergaard-to-dl-again-due-to-hand-foot-and-mouth-disease

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Orioles at Blue Jays - July 20 - 22 | 76 comments | Create New Account
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