Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
How are we to express our gratitude? We owe so much.


May you find these cigars pleasing...


May this rum warm your spirit...


All praise to Jobu, from whom all our blessings flow.


It is Jobu who makes the curveball hang.

It is Jobu who makes the changeup miss.

It is Jobu who confounds our enemies.

But Jobu, we beseech you. Not all our enemies are the ones arrayed against us on the field this weekend. Alas, no. We have more treacherous enemies still, agents of evil, bent on thwarting our deepest dreams and desires.

Your curse upon them, mighty Jobu!


Hear this our prayer, and let our cry come unto thee!

So... the Minnesota Twins.

The Jays and Twins have not met in 2021; they'll play each other 7 times in these last two weeks. We have to go all the way back to May 2019 to find their last meeting. On that occasion the Twins came into the Dome and swept three from the rather hapless Jays, outscoring them 20-1 in the process. Martin Perez and Jose Berrios each pitched seven shutout innings to take care of the first two games; in the finale, Kyle Gibson already had a 7-0 lead before the Jays finally scored a run, on a homer by Billy McKinney.

Things have changed since those evil days. The Twins came into 2021 with high hopes, but things went sideways on them in a hurry. The Twins thought they had pieced together a reasonable bullpen, and then Alex Colome went 1-3, 8.31 with three Blown Saves in April. Kenta Maeda couldn't match his outstanding 2021 performance, and then underwent Tommy John surgery. Young catcher Ryan Jeffers, so impressive in his 2021 trial, is engaged in a fight to clear the Mendoza Line. The Mendoza Line is winning, for now. Andrelton Simmons is still a quality defender, but he no longer plays at the level of the Greatest Shortstop of All Time, and that's the only thing that could possibly make up for as pitiful offensive production as any regular player in the majors has provided this year. And the Twins' best player, Byron Buxton, has missed 101 games. Buxton still has the second most WAR on the team, which kind of says it all. And at some point one has to wonder - Buxton came up in 2015, and has played more than 92 games exactly once.

Things went so far sideways that the organization decided to punt on 2022 as well, trading their best pitcher and their best hitter to the AL East for prospects. One of the prospects obtained in the Nelson Cruz trade, pitcher Joe Ryan, is now in the majors and has acquited himself very well indeed in his first three major league starts. Some more promising young talent is getting a chance to emerge, and starter Bailey Ober, whom the Jays will see Saturday, might be one of them. Sunday would normally be John Gant's turn in the Minnesota rotation but he's just gone on the IL. Andrew Albers is one possibility in his stead.

Matchups!

Fri 17 September 7:00 PM - Ryu (13-8, 4.11) vs Pineda (6-8, 3.87)
Sat 18 September 3:00 PM - Matz (12-7, 3.87) vs Ober (2-2, 4.12)
Sun 19 September 1:00 PM - Berrios (11-8, 3.43) vs Some Guy (?-?, ?.??)
Minnesota at Toronto, September 17-19 | 71 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
92-93 - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 02:11 PM EDT (#407140) #
The Jays only used 5 relievers in the TB series for one inning each, so with the off day yesterday the bullpen is super fresh for this series. Stripling, Pearson, and Merryweather have all had 4-5 days off and will need to get work this weekend to stay sharp. If there's any plan to start Stripling in the next series against MIN and give Ryu an extra days rest again it would help to stretch him out tonight. He threw 44 pitches last Saturday.
92-93 - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 02:37 PM EDT (#407142) #
MLB doesn't list Manoah as the Sunday starter. Perhaps they are thinking of starting Stripling there instead as Jonny German suggested in the other thread, depending on how things shake out the next couple of games. It would set up Manoah, Berrios, and Ray for the next TB series and give Ryu an extra days rest.
Magpie - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 02:47 PM EDT (#407143) #
I think there's no way Ray gets bumped back to the Wednesday game - he very much prefers to pitch every fifth day. He's more likely to be moved up to Monday to keep him on his regular turn. I also had the impression that they were thinking of moving Berrios up to Sunday.
92-93 - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 04:43 PM EDT (#407145) #
Yep, Berrios is going Sunday and then it's Ray-Manoah to open the TB series.
scottt - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 05:03 PM EDT (#407146) #

Andrelton Simmons was put on the restricted list due to visa issues. 

Magpie - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 05:10 PM EDT (#407147) #
Simmons was pretty vocal about not getting vaccinated earlier in the year. I doubt if contracting COVID and coming back has changed his views.
Magpie - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 05:20 PM EDT (#407148) #
Well, it won't be Albers starting on Sunday as he's just been optioned to St Paul. I predict a roster move between now and then!
GabrielSyme - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 07:21 PM EDT (#407150) #
Taking a look at the state of the race, the Yankees have the hardest schedule remaining: one easy series against the Orioles, their current series against the .500-ish Indians, and then three games each against us, the Red Sox and the Rays.

The Jays have a comparatively easy schedule, with three games each against the Rays and the Yankees and ten against the Twins and Orioles.

The Red Sox, on the other hand, have a ridiculously easy schedule, with just the Yankees series against a good team.

It's an uphill slog for the Yankees, who really need to clean up against the Indians and Rangers to keep their playoff hopes strong.
uglyone - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 07:57 PM EDT (#407151) #
Ryu might be broken.
greenfrog - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 07:59 PM EDT (#407152) #
This is…concerning.
uglyone - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 08:09 PM EDT (#407153) #
SK in NJ - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 08:09 PM EDT (#407154) #
Ryu now has a 5.33 ERA since June 1st (101.1 IP, 27 BB, 75 K, 16 HR). Over the full season, he's given up way more hard contract, fewer GB's, more HR's, etc. You had to figure he was going to decline towards the end of his contract, but if it's starting already, then that's a bad sign. He's been by far the team's worst starter over a 100 IP/4 month sample.
greenfrog - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 08:17 PM EDT (#407155) #
Before the season, I suggested the team aim to get about 140 regular-season innings out of Ryu. He’s on pace for about 175-180 IP (before the postseason). The team is probably asking too much from the 34-year-old, in my view.
BlueJayWay - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 08:34 PM EDT (#407156) #
I hope Ryu is hurt (he came out of the start against NYY with an arm issue) because if this is what he is now...that's a problem.
Nigel - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 08:44 PM EDT (#407157) #
Tough call going forward. Ryu is your $20m bell cow but you’d have to be thinking about skipping Ryu in the next couple of weeks.
uglyone - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 09:26 PM EDT (#407158) #
Nate looking good....and buck doing a legit great job talking us through it.
Thomas - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 10:19 PM EDT (#407159) #
I know he's not stretched out fully, but I'd almost rather start Stripling than Ryu the next two weeks.
John Northey - Friday, September 17 2021 @ 11:26 PM EDT (#407160) #
Through 20 starts (end of July) Ryu was at 116 IP 10-5 record 3.26 ERA. Since - 9 starts, 3-4 record, 43 2/3 IP, 7.21 ERA. Ugh. His wins came in the 3 games he allowed under 3 runs.

I'm wondering if next year they need to find a way to really give him breaks. Maybe an IL visit mid-season regardless of his health. Or maybe making him an old school Sunday starter (starts on every Sunday only). Really sucks with a guy who has ace ability, but no choice now, the Jays need to find a way to get him to last.

7 games allowing 0 runs - 2 with 4 days rest, 3 with 5 days, 1 with 6, 1 with 10 (post AS break). Team won all 7. 3 more 1 run allowed - all wins, 2 5 days rest, 1 with 4 days. 6 games with 5+ R allowed - 4 with 4 days rest, 1 with 6, and today (5 days). No obvious solution. He shutout the Yankees over 6, but was pounded by the Twins and Baltimore. I don't envy the job Walker has ahead of him to try to figure out how to get Ryu going again. At this point I'd have him planned for 2-3 innings to start and have Stripling ready. If Ryu is on go for 5 innings but only if on. Any signs of trouble in comes Stripling. One more bad start and Ryu might be moved to the pen instead (IE: forgotten except in blowouts).
Leaside Cowboy - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 10:11 AM EDT (#407161) #
W-L (%) in day games:

SF 38-17 (0.691)
TB 38-17 (0.691)
PHI 33-16 (0.673)
TOR 35-17 (0.673)
NYM 28-19 (0.596)
LAD 22-17 (0.564)

ISLAND BOY - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 12:15 PM EDT (#407163) #
Lost in Ryu's poor start was the fact that the Jays did little offensively either. Aside from Vlad's blast, they would have had nothing if the Twins hadn't booted it around in the first inning. I expect them to come back stronger today. Sometimes a day off does more harm than good.
85bluejay - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 12:24 PM EDT (#407165) #
Anecdotally, the Jays seem to lose often after a day off - I expected that result on Friday especially with a struggling starter on the mound.
The_Game - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 12:43 PM EDT (#407167) #
Benching Kirk for McGuire for the 2nd time this week is definitely what you want to see at this point of the season. Real urgency here.
Magpie - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 12:50 PM EDT (#407168) #
I'm possibly not quite as worried about Ryu as everyone else. He says he's feeling fine, he's just losing his command at times. It's been happening too often in the second half, but these last two starts are the first time he's provided two stinkers back to back. He had two poor starts in July - they were mixed in with three others when he went 3-0, 0.50; he had a couple of stinkers in August, and went 2-2, 3.12 in his other five starts. His first start in September was 6 shutout innings.

He hasn't actually had a period of sustained ineptitude this year as bad as his work in August-September 2019, when he went 0-3, 9.95 over a stretch of four consecutive starts. He came out of that just fine, finishing the season with three exceptionally good outings, two of them scoreless.

But needless to say, now would be a good time, big fella.
Magpie - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 01:03 PM EDT (#407169) #
Benching Kirk for McGuire for the 2nd time this week is definitely what you want to see at this point of the season.

Not that big a deal for me. Against RHP, their offense has actually been a wash and Matz has pitched very well with both of them. McGuire's been a good soldier sitting on the bench most of this month; Kirk has just gone 3-24, and I think Montoyo might be looking for a LHP for him to abuse. (Because abuse them he does!)
Nigel - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 01:05 PM EDT (#407170) #
Because he has had good outings sprinkled with the bad, as Magpie notes, Ryu doesn’t look Hand toasty to me. Obviously, he’s struggling and the difficult decision here is that the team has no margin to allow him to get sorted. I think you have to give him another start but, if it’s a stinker, that may have to be the end of the line for this year.
scottt - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 01:58 PM EDT (#407171) #
The velo looked fine. Sitting 91mph.


Glevin - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:17 PM EDT (#407172) #
Kirk and McGuire is not a wash versus RHP.McGuire has a BABIP of. 341 and Kirk has one of. 232. Don't mind playing McGuire once in a while but he is clear third option and going Grichuk, Valera, and McGuire at bottom of lineup is Jays weakest offensive configuration.
Magpie - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:19 PM EDT (#407173) #
Don't mind playing McGuire once in a while

Third start this month. That's once in a while.
greenfrog - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:21 PM EDT (#407174) #
Go Guardians (up 1-0 on the Yankees) and O's (tied 3-3 with Boston).

Both games are in the bottom of the fourth. The O's have chased Boston's starter (Pivetta), so the Red Sox bullpen is going to be tested. Gil has thrown 75 pitches for the Yankees, so that one is going to be a bullpen game before long as well.
Magpie - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:34 PM EDT (#407175) #
Kirk and McGuire is not a wash versus RHP.

Well, the results have been a wash and that is how they keep score. Certainly it shouldn't be a wash. Certainly McGuire's been lucky on his Balls In Play. But luck is enormous in this game, far more important than people like to think. You can't count on it, but you might as well try to ride that wave while it's breaking.

It's just not a big deal. Kirk's started 10 games this month, McGuire's started 2, and we'll probably see a similar ratio over the remaining games.
Nigel - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:40 PM EDT (#407176) #
This lineup feels a little like Montoyo playing some hunches/trends (Kirk recently cool, Grichuk recently warm). I can’t get too worked up about those choices. But, if that’s the path you’re traveling it would suggest that he also play the catcher ERA trend and play Kirk. FTR, I don’t really buy catcher ERA (other than over huge sample sizes) but it’s a current team trend.
greenfrog - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:42 PM EDT (#407177) #
The Guardians are rallying and are now up 4-0 on the Yankees.
Kasi - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:49 PM EDT (#407178) #
Also while the difference shouldn’t be as big as it is it should be no surprise there is a big bapip difference. Wouldn’t surprise me if Kirk was the worst position player runner in all of baseball. Kirk should get the majority of the playing time because of better bat but nothing has convinced me he’s an everyday player given his current conditioning. I’m happy enough if they get him in the lineup 75-80% of the time because I think if you pushed him to 100 he’s just get injured again.
greenfrog - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:49 PM EDT (#407179) #
Now 8-0 Guardians. Exactly what the Jays need right now.
Magpie - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 02:58 PM EDT (#407180) #
I don’t really buy catcher ERA (other than over huge sample sizes)

I tend to think of it like Batter-Pitcher matchups (where the samples never get as big as we'd want. They tell us who's got the initial advantage, who's doing this properly out of the gate. Given enough time, Danny Jansen will surely learn to get the same fine results out of Matz that Kirk and McGuire have gotten. But let's have him work on that some other time.

Given 200 innings with a pitcher, Jeff Mathis got better results out of everybody. Roy Halladay pitched to Johnny Damon for 10 years and never did find anything that worked. (On the one hand, it was still a small sample. On the other hand, it was ten years.)
greenfrog - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 03:40 PM EDT (#407181) #
The Jays hitters need to force opposing pitchers back into the zone. They’re taking big swings at balls (Bichette, Teoscar, and Gurriel all did this in the second inning — three up, three down). Ober has good control and is effectively using their aggression against them.
uglyone - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#407182) #
These guys gotta wake up and stop hacking, period.
greenfrog - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#407183) #
It’s okay to take a pitch a few inches out of the zone! You actually don’t have to routinely swing at it.
Magpie - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 04:07 PM EDT (#407184) #
Siddall called that one before the game. High fastball.
Nigel - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 04:18 PM EDT (#407185) #
That was a heck of an AB by Vladdy.
Magpie - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 05:25 PM EDT (#407186) #
You can say that again!
ISLAND BOY - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 10:03 PM EDT (#407187) #
That was a heck of an AB by Vladdy ... and don't call me Shirley.
greenfrog - Saturday, September 18 2021 @ 10:39 PM EDT (#407188) #
Good job by Matz to battle and end up with another solid start. If you combine Semien, Ray, Matz, and Springer, the Jays had quite a remarkable off-season. That is an incredible amount of production at a very reasonable price point (in cash and prospects).

Of course, there were some failed bullpen projects this year, but the team hit the motherlode with Semien, Ray, and Matz (and would have with Springer, had he been able to stay healthy).
scottt - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 08:06 AM EDT (#407189) #
In the case of Matz, I'm pretty sure the Mets called all the other teams in an effort t dump him.
The Jays sent 3 prospects but I wonder how much haggling there actually was.

Today's starter is apparently LuKe Farrell, whose brother, Shane Farrell is they Jays scouting director and whose father, John Farrell was briefly an MLB manager somewhere.

greenfrog - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 09:00 AM EDT (#407190) #
No. Shapiro said the front office had been trying to acquire Matz for a long time before they were able to make the trade happen.
bpoz - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 10:03 AM EDT (#407191) #
Semien, Ray, Matz and Springer were excellent signings.

I expect draft pick compensation for Semien and Ray. This is nice.

Matz is having one of his best years. I doubt he gets a QO but may resign.

I don't really know what the Jays hope to acquire this off season other than depth and players hoping to reestablish their value in hopes of a good contract. They will try for an elite player because there is not much chance for anyone else cracking this position lineup but you never know who will vastly overperform.
Leaside Cowboy - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 10:13 AM EDT (#407192) #
Sluggish is perhaps the best word to describe the Yankees.

Berríos usually sports the white uniform best. However, with today's start against his former team, José might feature a shade of Blue.

Alejandro Kirk appears in the on-deck circle in the 6th, when Grichuk hits into an inning-ending double play. So, Kirk pinch hits for McGuire to lead off the 7th inning, and draws a walk. Danny Jansen pinch runs at 1st base and later scores. Textbook decision-making by Charlie Montoyo?

SK in NJ - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 11:23 AM EDT (#407193) #
Jansen starting at C today. So in the last 7 days, the Jays have started Jansen three times, Kirk twice, and McGuire twice. Not sure if there is any sort of logic behind that or if the team (Montoyo) is not a believer in Kirk's defense.
scottt - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 11:49 AM EDT (#407194) #
The Padres and Mets, two teams that dominated the winter talks, have now fallen out of contention.

The Mets are 72-77, Lindor and McCann are both bust this year. Lindor has been worth 2.8 bWAR. McCann, 0.0. By comparison, Bichette is at 4.8, Kirk 1.1, Jansen 1.0 and McGuire 0.5.

The Padres are 76-72, 2 and 1/2 games out of the last wild card spot currently occupied by the Cards, tied with Philadelphia, behind Cincinnati. Machado was seen screaming at Tatis in the dugout. Snell is done for the year. 

hypobole - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 11:49 AM EDT (#407195) #
Don't know if it was mentioned by the broadcast crew yesterday that Teoscar became the 20th player to hit 100 HR's in a Blue Jays uniform.
PeterG - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 11:51 AM EDT (#407196) #
Ryu is going on the IL with a mild neck strain.
John Northey - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 12:20 PM EDT (#407197) #
I suspect the Jays feel Jansen has the hot hand right now as since he returned on August 31st he has been hitting 379/455/897 (yes, 897 slugging, not OPS). I'd be getting him in there too. McGuire during that stretch is 1 for 8 with a walk and sac fly. Kirk has been 256/370/590 which is great. If Springer could play the field then Kirk would be DHing every game and Jansen catching which would be ideal. Springer has hit 179/258/286 though so a few more days off for him might be a good idea right now. Grichuk has been solid - 310/362/452, Dickerson not so much - 233/258/300.

In an ideal world we'd see more Grichuk in CF - less Dickerson, more Kirk at DH - less Springer, and almost no McGuire (as has been the case). I'm glad Jansen is hot as the Jays need that right now. Keep Kirk with Ray and Manoah (don't mess up what works) and have Jansen catch everyone else. McGuire should only be there for when you need to run for Kirk and want to give Jansen a full day off.
bpoz - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 12:37 PM EDT (#407198) #
Getting Lindor and giving him a long and expensive contract is considered a good move. This probably works out ok.

Betts, Tatis, Strasburg are all long, risky and expensive. Springer as well I imagine.

There are a lot of desperate teams. SD, NYY, Philadelphia, NYM and LAA to name a few.

The 2022 AL non contenders IMO are Texas, Baltimore and most likely Minnesota and KC. KC is probably close to breaking out. The 2022 NL non contenders IMO are Miami (close to breaking out), Pittsburg, Cubs, Colorado and Arizona.

That leaves 21 teams that consider themselves contenders. While NYY are desperate, the Jays are not but will still try to compete by adding in the off season and trade deadlines. So NYY "will" make risky moves with trading youth and adding payroll. NYY knows what they have. The Jays don't know what they have. For example C is not decided but SS is. The rotation needs are few but clear. We need 1 more goodish SP. Not a Roark who has to play or get cut. A Stripling/Matz addition has a chance to take a spot. Any unknown can claim a spot Kay/Hatch or even Max Castillo (not on any top 30 lists, so counts as an unknown). Verlander on 1-3 years seems good but then Gillick thought J Morris was a good 3 year FA signing.

Mike Green - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 12:46 PM EDT (#407199) #
It's a tough situation because of Springer's injury.  He's hitting .105/.227/.158 over the last week, and it's likely that his injury is contributing to this.  I'd certainly give him the day off today, and probably longer than that.  At this moment, the expectation from Kirk's bat would be quite a bit higher than from Springer's, and sentimentality ought to play no role in the decision-making.  You would also hope that Springer could play some centerfield in the playoffs, and that's more likely to happen if he has some time off.
Nigel - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 12:53 PM EDT (#407200) #
I agree Mike, but the Springer situation is very much like the Ryu situation. Until they actually go on the IL, it’s hard to sit your highest salaried stars in key games. The optics are just so tough. Unless the player themselves suggests it, I don’t see Montoyo just sitting Springer for a few games.
scottt - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 01:59 PM EDT (#407201) #
If I trade for a player who's had a down year, I would certainly like to see him perform before I give him a 341M contract that nobody is likely to match anyway. And betting on McCann as an offensive catcher just because he's had a good 60 days against the 2 weakest divisions was probably not a winning move. Owners who insert themselves in baseball decisions usually get owned. 
scottt - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 02:00 PM EDT (#407202) #
I like the pressure a good first inning put on the Yankees who are certainly watching the scoreboard.
Thomas - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 02:25 PM EDT (#407203) #
I agree, the McCann contract was quite puzzling. I understood the Lindor contract, even if he had never played for the Mets. But, as was said above, McCann literally had a few hot weeks in the weakest division in baseball.

I agree with Mike entirely on Springer, but I do think the optics are at play. It's similar to Ryu. His next start has just been skipped in as gentle and plausibly deniable way possible.
greenfrog - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 03:09 PM EDT (#407205) #
The Indians are ahead of the Yankees and Cole 7-1. Ryu isn’t the only AL East ace who is struggling.
greenfrog - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 03:10 PM EDT (#407206) #
The Guardians, that is!
grjas - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#407207) #
I don’t think they should be worried about optics re Springer. Use him as a periodic PH for a third baseman and rest him for a number of days. He’s too hurt to contribute much and the time off May very well help. Optics Are fine in May but not September
uglyone - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 04:15 PM EDT (#407208) #

Josh Donaldson and Vladdy exchanged jerseys behind home plate following the @BlueJays' series win over the Twins. 🥺🤝#BlueJaysOnSN pic.twitter.com/7GvncfsxBz

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 19, 2021
ISLAND BOY - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 04:23 PM EDT (#407209) #
It turned out okay in the end but when Gurriel got the double in the 8th inning, Valera's one job with none out was to get him to third to try to add a run. He failed and while things like this are small, they can be big if it happens in the next series against the Rays, or, we can hope, in a playoff game.
Magpie - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 05:22 PM EDT (#407210) #
Valera's one job with none out was to get him to third to try to add a run.

Sometimes you just have to give the other fellow credit. Coulombe threw three different pitches, all perfectly located to make that particular mission as difficult as possible (high and tight); he also got called strikes on two pitches that may have just said hello to the strike zone as they were passing by.
John Northey - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 06:25 PM EDT (#407211) #
The way Donaldson was talking this weekend and the jersey share at the end suggests to me he is a bit tired of losing already and wants to come back. Just shy of $22 mil a year for the next 2 years plus a $16 mil team option for 2024 or $8 mil buyout. Yikes. 2.8 WAR this year in just over 120 games. Still solid on both O and D. If Semien is lost as a FA I'd consider it as a plan B or C. Not sure how well he'd do with the silly stuff that goes on all the time here now, but maybe a bit more intensity would be a good thing. Hard to say. But clearly he and Vlad get along well. I'd need to get a quality prospect back with Donaldson or a lot of cash to cover his contract. My #1 is keep Semien, #2 trade for Jose Ramirez, #3 get Donaldson or another overpaid 3B who is really good, #4 go with Biggio/prospects/waiver wire guys again. I'm sure there is someone in the FA market who is worth looking at, or someone coming off a bad year which is a fluky one ala Semien last winter.
greenfrog - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 06:34 PM EDT (#407212) #
Re-sign Semien, trade for Ramirez, re-sign Matz, add a reliever or two, and call it an off-season. (Ray has been phenomenal but I don’t see the Jays giving him a big FA contract.)
Magpie - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 07:08 PM EDT (#407213) #
Ray has been phenomenal but I don’t see the Jays giving him a big FA contract.

I would think Springer's contract might be the opening bid for Ray. I read the other day that Stroman will surely be getting $25 million a year, and maybe for as long as six years. Ray's and Stroman's career numbers are quite similar, they're the same age (Ray is six months younger), they've both had very good seasons (Ray's was better.)
uglyone - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 09:41 PM EDT (#407214) #

Here's Gerrit Cole reacting to the Blue Jays' 5-0 lead. (Young children should watch this on mute.) pic.twitter.com/NnvjGu8uLY

— Minor Leaguer (@Minor_Leaguer) September 19, 2021
uglyone - Sunday, September 19 2021 @ 10:00 PM EDT (#407215) #

José Berríos made a mechanical change prior to his Aug. 29 start, in consultation with pitching coach Pete Walker. Since then, he has a 2.38 ERA and has gone a minimum of 6-2/3 IP in each of his last five starts. That adjustment is a major factor in the Jays' run. @MLBNetwork

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) September 20, 2021
scottt - Monday, September 20 2021 @ 06:45 AM EDT (#407216) #
Hard to know. Ray is a workhorse who is probably willing to bet on himself.
Maybe a shorter contract with higher AAV.

I think it's the other way with Semien. He's going to take the most total money.
The Jays still have a lot of infield options coming up.
I don't see a Cy Young candidate in the pipeline.
Ryu has 2 more years and he's heading towards the end of the rotation.
It's easier to bring up Pearson and Hatch if they don't have to be the #2.

Henderson and Berrios are in need of extensions or they walk after next year.


bpoz - Monday, September 20 2021 @ 08:44 AM EDT (#407217) #
It does seem fairly clear what the Jays must consider doing. Possibly try this off season since it seem our window has opened sort of.

We are headed for a possible 92 win season. If that happens then this team has outperformed expectations.

There are a few main positives.
1) Vlad started dominating.
2) The young core gained experience (Bo is playing a full season).
3) Semien, Ray, Teoscar are having their best years. Berrios in 1 third of a season has performed well in the tougher AL East.
4) The arrival of Manoah.

The bad things were that the team started off young and inexperienced. There were some injuries which are expected like Springer, Biggio and Kirk. They would have been potentially of more value if healthy. The reality is that injuries happen to your good and bad players. The pen was horrible.

Atkins addressed the weak pen just like he addressed the weak rotation last year. Atkins it is reported has said that payroll will "eventually" rise to $200 mil. There is, and will be a lot of speculation on details of how that will happen.


Minnesota at Toronto, September 17-19 | 71 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.