Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
The homestand started out just great, but soon went all to hell. What this team needs is a road trip! Bring it on! Let's go to...


The Trop? That infernal house of horrors? No one needs that.

The Jays have been visiting Tropicana Field long enough to know they don't like it. They've played 217 games there, and won just 87, which is .401 ball. Which is not excellent. And we should remember that Tampa Bay fielded historically awful teams for the first decade of their existence, even if they have smartly mended their ways since. The Rays are still almost 100 games below .500 since being dreamed into existence (over the same period, the Blue Jays are 25 games better than breaking even.)

Still, it's pretty normal to have a losing record in the other fellow's park. The Blue Jays have a winning record in just three other AL parks (beside their own, of course.) Those three would be Baltimore's Camden Yards (132-122, .520), Detroit's Comerica Field (40-34, .541), and Minnesota's Target Field (27-16, .628).

And there are actually road parks that have been even less hospitable that the damned Trop. Cleveland's Progressive Field has been a nasty place to visit (43-67, .391) - they did much better at old Cleveland Stadium (57-52.) And all those Canadians trekking down to Seattle don't seem to have helped very much - the Jays are 31-49, .388 at T-Mobile and long for the good old days at the Kingdome (70-56.)  The current version of Yankee Stadium (48-76, .387) has been even worse - they weren't very good at the old ballpark either (100-124, .446) but they were better than that. The very worst of them all is Enron Memorial in Houston - the Jays have only played 33 games there, but they've gone a grisly 11-22.

The Rays have been pretty good at home this year (if 21-4 is your idea of pretty good.) As you will recall, they burst from the starting blocks as if they were on fire and as Richard Pryor once observed, when you're on fire people will get out of your way. They've cooled off a little since then - they've gone 21-14 since that insane start, which is pretty decent (if .600 ball is your idea of pretty decent.) They still lead the league in home runs, even if they're no longer threatening to hit 400 of the damn things (they're now on pace for 310 of them.) They don't even lead the league in offense any more, averaging a measly 6.09 runs per game and having been overtaken by Texas. But no team in the majors gives up fewer runs.

Tough sledding, no doubt. Well, got to play 'em. Might as well win 'em.

Matchups

Mon 22 May - Bassitt (5-2, 3.05) vs Kelley (0-1, 7.50)
Tue 23 May - Berrios (3-4, 4.61) vs Bradley (3-0, 3.54)
Wed 24 May - Kikuchi (5-1, 4.08) vs McClanahan (7-0, 2.05)
Thu 25 May - Manoah (1-4, 5.15) vs Elfin (6-1, 3.45)
Toronto at Tampa Bay, May 22-25 | 119 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Gerry - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 11:57 AM EDT (#429156) #
It is a wounded Jays team heading into Tampa so expectations are low. Because baseball is a funny game, maybe the Jays turn it around this week, he says hopefully?
John Northey - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 12:34 PM EDT (#429157) #
Sigh, had a long thing about the offense written but then my machine acted up and I lost it. Grrr...

Bottom line was the Jays are bottom 10 ranked in MLB at 2B and RF right now, top 10 at SS, CF, and 3B. Rest are middle of the pack including SP and RP.

So priorities going forward are getting Springer on-track and fixing 2B by either getting a solid OF backup thus allowing Merrifield to be everyday at 2B, or getting a solid 2B in so Biggio and Espinal are not used much anymore. Biggio pretty much has to be sent down or released soon as he isn't playing well by any measure and not getting better (May OPS of 433 vs 429 season long) which I hate to say as I've been cheering him on like I used to with his Dad years ago (love catchers with speed, even after they move from the position as his Dad did). Are there any good 2B/RH OF out there the Jays could grab? Any in the system that are ready?

Rafael Lantigua is an IF at AAA hitting 316/432/513 over 146 PA so far, but last year had just a 738 OPS in AA/AAA, 818 the year before in A+/AA. Playing more at 3B this year but has 214 games at 2B in his career so far and has played a bit in LF/RF (86 innings this year) and at SS even (3 games). He certainly deserves a close look. He was signed as an IFA pre 2017.

Ernie Clement is also an IF in AAA hitting 328/409/512 but has some ML time but lifetime minors is a 710 OPS and ML is a 50 OPS+ over 312 PA.

Most likely is Otto Lopez, traveling with the team right now in case Espinal needs to go on IL, but he has had a disaster season so far hitting just 213/273/260 in AAA.

Cam Eden is the best OF in AAA I suspect, hitting 294/412/394 (he was being outhit by Lukes). At age 25 he is at the make it or break it stage, but not on the 40 man so unlikely to get a shot right now.

Nah, my view is the most likely thing is a trade for an OF who is overpaid for what he can contribute but has a good RH bat. No one catches my eye for that right away with a quick check of bottom feeding teams though.
Petey Baseball - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 02:03 PM EDT (#429158) #
Springer at least has shown signs of life recently. A career .843 OPS now up to .655. He gets the 2nd most at bats on the team (since they are apparently steadfast in their desire to keep him at lead-off). He needs to hit or they are behind eight-ball.

Even with a crappy month of May almost done they are still 50/50 to make the postseason, although I'd argue (and you'd get no argument from the team) that simply "getting there" isn't enough.

lexomatic - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 02:20 PM EDT (#429159) #
I guess the big question for me is, is low launch angle a symptom or a cause of not hitting well.
Many players not hitting well are at lower than established rates.
Is this part of the swing for contact goal / reducing strikeouts from the past few years?
Is it bad luck/ bad sequencing of blown calls?
I don't have video/ stats access to check, but there might be some answers there.
Have any underperforming players had covid?
Leaside Cowboy - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 04:29 PM EDT (#429162) #
stopover in Dunedin to track pitches with laser beams.

" Here's to Operation Grand Slam. "

Mike Green - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#429163) #
The Blue Jays marquee player, VGJ, has 10 fWAR over 2300 PAs since 2019.  Tampa players who have been essentially of the same quality or better over that period are Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz, Randy Arozarena, Wander Franco and Kevin Kiermaier.  In fairness, they don't have anyone who has been as good as Bichette. 

VGJ has an OPS+ of 135 in 2350 PAs between age 20 and 24.  I ran a Stathead search using first basemen with 2000<PA<2700 and 130<OPS+<140  for ages 20-34, and got three other players- Prince Fielder, John Olerud, and Ed Konetchy.  Konetchy and Olerud were good defenders and ended up with 46 and 58 bWAR.  Prince Fielder was not and ended up with 24 bWAR. 
Cracka - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 05:18 PM EDT (#429164) #
Espinal to the IL and Otto Lopez added. They probably should have done this yesterday (Lopez was with the team) instead of going short-handed. However, we got to learn two things yesterday:

1. Kikuchi is the "5th man" off the bench if we need a pinch-runner in extra innings. He was ready to run for Kirk in the 11th yesterday - spikes on, helmet on, stretching in the dugout. It didn't end up happening because of the 5 runs, but it almost did.

2. Varsho could catch in a "strategic" situation, not just an emergency. That was apparently the plan yesterday if Kikuchi ran for Kirk in the 11th; Varsho would have moved from DH to C if required for the 12th.

Also, Adam Cimber is with the team but it seems they'd prefer to keep Hutchison in a mop-up role for now. This isn't a strong vote of confidence for Cimber...
Mike Green - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 05:40 PM EDT (#429165) #
Junior Caminero is a Rays prospect.  He's got a plate discipline issue and looks to have a bit of a loopy swing path.  But, he's 19 years old in A+ ball and while he's striking out four times as often as he is walking, the ball is just leaping off his bat- a 26% line drive rate, 40% ground ball and 35% fly ball rate but a HR/FB of 34% have all led to a .351/.404/.709 slash.  According to fangraphs, he's the Rays' 3rd best prospect behind Curtis Mead and Taj Bradley.
Gerry - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 07:15 PM EDT (#429167) #
Your 2023 Blue Jays, something will go wrong every game.
Mike Green - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 07:20 PM EDT (#429168) #
Bethancourt's single to open the scoring and keep the inning alive ought to have been an error on VGJ. Yes, he had to stretch to catch Merrifield's throw, but it hit his glove on the fly. Missed catch.
James W - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 07:22 PM EDT (#429169) #
It was quickly changed to an error.

This isn't even watchable any more.
James W - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 07:23 PM EDT (#429170) #
Oh, and he didn't have to stretch. The unnecessary stretch was likely the reason he whiffed the catch.
grjas - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 07:26 PM EDT (#429171) #
Compare the OPS’ of our starting lineup to theirs and that will tell you everything you need to know…well other than 2 of our 4 best OPS guys are also in a funk.
Nigel - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 08:45 PM EDT (#429173) #
I haven’t said this often over 45 plus years of watching this team - this team isn’t very enjoyable to watch right now. So many things aren’t right. One thing is clear though - the barrio break up for veteraness wasn’t the problem/solution. Management misdiagnosed that.
greenfrog - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 09:14 PM EDT (#429174) #
I mentioned that the last day of the 2021 season might end up being the high-water mark for this window of contention. Here’s the lineup the Jays fielded that day:

Springer .264/.352/.555
Semien .265/.334/.538
Guerrero Jr. 311/.401/.601
Bichette .298/.343/.484
Teoscar .296/.346/.524
Gurriel Jr. .276/.319/.466
Espinal .311/.376/.405
Jansen .223/.299/.473
Grichuk .241/.281/.423 (Dickerson .271/.326/.408)

That is a really good lineup (and Gurriel Jr. was scorching in the last month of the season, 160 wRC+). That was a lineup largely made up of very good hitters in their prime.
Mike Green - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 09:27 PM EDT (#429175) #
The game on Saturday seems to have set them off.  A little resilience please.  Or fortitude.  One of those things that gets people through difficulties much larger than a losing streak. 
lexomatic - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 10:09 PM EDT (#429176) #
 One thing is clear though - the barrio break up for veteraness wasn’t the problem/solution. Management misdiagnosed that.

Lotsa people callled that. Agreed on the other stuff.
Petey Baseball - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 10:18 PM EDT (#429177) #
That's an impressive lineup greenfrog and you may be right. That team also had it's struggles; I can remember them being swept by the Rays in a five game (four game?) series on Victoria Day weekend to drop them below .500. It took a pretty incredible late season surge to get them to 91 wins.

Now, granted, that team played just 25 or so of their home games in their actual home...

Regardless, it sounds like a bad excuse but there is so little margin for error in this division. Let's hope they can salvage the series in Tampa and make hay in an extended stretch against non-East teams. A 2015 style 11 game winning streak would help.

SK in NJ - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 10:23 PM EDT (#429178) #
I said in the winter that whatever decision the Jays made with their catching depth was going to be one of the more important decisions they will make over the next few years, and right now it looks like a gross miscalculation. At least if Varsho was in CF you could live with the bat as long as the defense was good, but he's much less desirable as a LF given his unspectacular bat, and he's been significantly outhit by the guy he replaced. Not to mention looking at fWAR paints a pretty depressing picture of the catchers, as Moreno (0.6 WAR) has been as valuable as Kirk (0.3 WAR) and Jansen (0.3 WAR) combined coming into tonight's game. Of course it's baseball, so the results will be fluid as the season goes on, but it definitely not the best start.
BlueJayWay - Monday, May 22 2023 @ 10:37 PM EDT (#429179) #
Let's hope they can salvage the series in Tampa and make hay in an extended stretch against non-East teams.

I just looked at the schedule and if I added everything up right, after this Tampa series 46 of their next 52 games are against non-AL East opponents. Basically a two month stretch with only a couple of 3 game series in-division.
ISLAND BOY - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 03:05 AM EDT (#429180) #
To make me more depressed about the team, I see a headline on Sportsnet that says that Gurriel Jr. extends his hitting streak to 15 games and read that he's now batting .321. Despite his goofy hair and casual demeanor, I remember the TV commentators saying last year that he was one of the leaders in the clubhouse. I wonder if they're missing that.
John Northey - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:46 AM EDT (#429181) #
Checking Statcast via FanGraphs... EV=Exit Velocity, LA=launch angle, HH=Hard Hit
  • Vlad: EV: 94.7, his 2nd highest ever (95.1 in '21), LA: 11.6 his highest ever (4.3 last year, 9.4 in '21), Barrels: 14.5%, 2nd best ('21 15.1%), HH: 57.2% - career best
  • Bo: EV: 91.7 (3rd year in a row in the 91's), LA 5.1 (lowest ever), Barrels: 10.0% (2nd highest ever peak 12.5% in '20), HH: 47.1% eyeshot of career 47.6%.
  • Kirk: EV: 86.3 (worst of career), LA: 1.6 (worst), Barrel: 6.4% (2nd worst outside of '20), HH: 35.1% (by far worst ever)
  • Varsho: EV: 86.1: worst yet but all 4 years are 86's and 87's, LA: 16.4 (career 16.3), Barrels: 8.4% (2nd best in career), HH: 35.9% (career 36.9%).
  • Springer: EV:86.3 (worst of career), LA: 12.4 worst since 2019, Barrels: 8.6%, a bit better than last year (8.3) but not good, HH: 34.9, by far the worst of his career.
Intersting stuff, worth digging into.
bpoz - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 09:03 AM EDT (#429182) #
Good point about the 2021 team being very good. A comparison of payroll also needs to be taken into account. Compare 2021 to 2022,23,24 and 25. I am sure that Shapiro and ownership are doing studies on this.

A cheap Ray in 2021 was better than expensive Ray in 2022 and possibly 2023. Espinal has been consistent. We will know how his 2023 performance compares to 2021 and 2022 at the end of the year. IMO it is very hard to accurately predict bad years and career years.

What is a good year? According to Gillick it is 90 wins. That gives a chance to win a few more than 90.
greenfrog - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 10:07 AM EDT (#429184) #
If the Jays get swept by Tampa, does someone lose their job?
Leaside Cowboy - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 10:58 AM EDT (#429185) #
Hernández and Gurriel Jr. are both in the last year of a contract. talented players, but not really part of the long-term puzzle.

Varsho will come around.

Biggio needs to produce with Espinal on the shelf.

Schneider is safe for a while longer.

The apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Vlad Jr. plays with abandon like Vlad Sr. The son is a more disciplined hitter with raw power.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 02:08 PM EDT (#429187) #
It's just so disappointing. At the 40gm mark they hadn't played great but were at a 97win pace and some slumpers seemed to be coming around.

And then we had this 11gm AL East stretch to really make an early season statement......and we did make a statement....a very, very bad statement. Just absolutely handled by the AL East contenders, with a 1-7 record and that one win coming in extras.

Everything seemed to be going largely according to plan and then they flop the first real test of the year in embarassing fashion.
soupman - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 02:09 PM EDT (#429188) #
What evidence is there to suggest Varsho will improve? This seems to be what he is...even going back to last year. The average might come up a bit and maybe that means he runs in to a few more knocks, but I'm not sure what people were expecting buying high on a guy that isn't known for hitting average.
lexomatic - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 02:19 PM EDT (#429189) #
What evidence is there to suggest Varsho will improve?

From him specifically? Nothing yet. But in general, time away from a demanding position, C, should make a difference. How much, and how useful TBD.

Checking Statcast via FanGraphs[...]Intersting stuff, worth digging into.

I was also looking at just the lesser players and poor performers. I didn't record it anywhere, but I seem to recall Jansen, Biggio, Espinal, etc. etc. having lower statscast numbers than career, in some cases substantially from past seasons.
Ryan Day - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 02:29 PM EDT (#429190) #
If the Jays get swept by Tampa, does someone lose their job?

A tough call, after spending most of the year talking about the improved professionalism of the club. Can you "send a signal" without changing anything significant? Sack a bullpen catcher, maybe?

There are limited options, but send Kirk back to AAA and try to get him to remember what an extra-base hit is? Demote Biggio and/or Lukes in hopes of shaking up the roster, even if there are no obvious improvements available? Release Yimi Garcia, roll the dice on Zulueta/Danner/etc?

I don't think there are any obvious solutions, but I might settle for a bit of deck chair shuffling right now.
Nigel - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 02:33 PM EDT (#429191) #
I'm skeptical of Varsho's offence in general but he will improve. He's put up a career 97 wRC+ in over 1200 PA's and he's at 80 wRC+ right now. I do think longer term expectations of his offence have to be tempered. Absent him being in a huge mechanical funk (which is possible) there are some fairly predictable ways to get him out which will limit his upside. On most days, the line-up feels a middle order bat short and the pen feels a high leverage reliever short when up against the top teams in the league. They will look better against soft comp.
Paul D - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 03:19 PM EDT (#429192) #
Jomboy's got a video of the double visit to Manoah on the weekend where Manoah seems to clearly say "Gotta be the stupidest move I've ever seen".
Cracka - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 04:00 PM EDT (#429194) #
Sack a bullpen catcher, maybe?

Random fun fact - bullpen catcher Alex "Drop" Andreopoulos is the longest-tenured "in-uniform" Blue Jay - 21 years and counting - he's a Toronto native that went to Harbord Collegiate. I don't think he's going to be fired though. Guillermo Martinez could be though. He's not Schneider's guy and Year 6 as Hitting Coach has been disappointing. And Don Mattingly is already on staff...
ae_scott - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 04:16 PM EDT (#429195) #
I wonder if the issue with Varsho is at least in part due to the fact that he's been put in a role (cleanup hitter) he's ill-suited for and it's messing up his approach.

I really don't know what to make of this team right now. I'm not really a fan of Schneider's bullpen management - he seems to consistently find the wrong guy for the situation, but maybe that's because he's got a bunch of erratic arms to choose from in the first place.

It seems to me that the biggest problems with the team right now are ones that few could have seen coming - Alek Manoah completely falling apart, Kirk's bat disappearing, and George Springer seemingly falling off a cliff.

Gerry - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 04:44 PM EDT (#429196) #
Adam Cimber has been activated with Thomas Hatch demoted.

Also Otto Lopez is sent down with Ernie Clement activated. Clement has been hitting really well for Buffalo.
Kelekin - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 04:50 PM EDT (#429198) #
Mitch White moved to the 60-day IL. Lopez optioned as well.
Kelekin - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#429199) #
Whoops, apologies for the Otto redundancy (solid name for a spy thriller though?).
scottt - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 05:37 PM EDT (#429201) #
It's a long season. They have a lot of talent. They just need to make adjustments.

There's nothing wrong with Varsho. He's a good outfielder who should man CF for years to come.
He's just not Cedric Mullins.

I'm not a fan of the bullpen management either. It looks a lot like going with the trusted guys but with the 13 pen limit, everybody has to be used. When you have a reliever who strikes a lot of guys but walks out too many, you don't want to pull him out for a guy who is easier to make contact against because he issued a walk.

There hasn't been a whole lot of low leverage innings. 
Is that a side product of trading some offense for better outfield defense?

It's funny that Bryan Baker is the third best reliever Baltimore has.




John Northey - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#429202) #
Cimber for Hatch was as unsurprising as it gets, but Clement for Lopez is a surprise. Lopez was here for just a day, one wonders what he said/did to make the Jays say 'on second thought, no'. Clement is a RH hitter who has a 50 OPS+ in the majors (312 PA) but in AAA has hit 328/408/512 so far. He twice was used as an emergency pitcher by Cleveland last year, and has double digit games in the majors at 3B/2B/LF with 10+ innings at 1B and SS. Basically a super-utility guy who in 2022 has hit in AAA (17-4 in BB-SO). In spring though he hit terribly (125/222/125 over 18 PA). It'll be interesting to see how much playing time he gets. If he can hit like he did in AAA he'll be what the Jays were looking for - a decent RH bat who can cover LF/IF, but more likely he'll be closer to the 50 OPS+ he has lifetime in the majors and be back down once Espinal is healthy. Who came off the 40 man roster? Mitch White is now on the 60 day IL so that might be it.
hypobole - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 05:56 PM EDT (#429203) #
I've seen Ernie Clement compared to Barry Bonds and George Brett.
Nigel - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 06:43 PM EDT (#429204) #
I think blaming Schneider for his bullpen management is a bit tough. I believe the problem, such as it is, lies in the contents of the pen not its management.
hypobole - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 07:17 PM EDT (#429205) #
7 of the 8 relievers that broke camp had ERA's 3.13 or better last year. Richards was the only one who didn't.

This year Mayza is the only member of that group with an ERA under 3.30. Only 3 have a better ERA than Richards' 4.50.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 07:25 PM EDT (#429206) #
I don't see why the content of the bullpen isn't good enough.

we can look over their decent sample size numbers - remembering that WAR includes leverage.


last Calendar year:

* Romano: 65gms, 1.0ip/gm, 58era-, 68fip-, 88xfip-, 2.0war, 2.0war/65gms
* Swanson: 67gms, 0.9ip/gm, 62era-, 66fip-, 85xfip-, 1.6war, 1.5war/65gms
* Bass: 74gms, 0.9ip/gm, 58era-, 86fip, 92xfip-, 1.5war, 1.3war/65gms
* Mayza: 69gms, 0.8ip/gm, 71era-, 90fip-, 77xfip-, 0.7war, 0.6war/65gms
* Garcia: 68gms, 1.0ip/gm, 96era-, 84fip-, 93xfip-, 0.4war, 0.3war/65gms
* Cimber: 70gms, 0.9ip/gm, 83era-, 102fip-, 103xfip-, 0.4war, 0.3war/65gms
* Pop: 49gms, 1.0ip/gm, 86era-, 94fip-, 89xfip-, 0.3war, 0.4war/65gms
* Pearson: 9gms, 1.3ip/gm, 53era-, 83fip-, 119xfip-, 0.1war, 0.7war/65gms
* Richards: 60gms, 1.1ip/gm, 134era-, 88fip-, 99xfip-, -0.1war, -0.1war/65gms


last 2 Calendar years:

* Romano: 120gms, 1.0ip/gm, 55era-, 74fip-, 80xfip-, 3.8war, 2.1war/65gms
* Swanson: 107gms, 1.0ip/gm, 68era-, 73fip-, 86xfip-, 1.9war, 1.2war/65gms
* Mayza: 128gms, 0.8ip/gm, 63era-, 76fip-, 67xfip-, 2.1war, 1.1war/65gms
* Bass: 141gms, 0.9ip/gm, 65era-, 92fip, 91xfip-, 1.8war, 0.8war/65gms
* Cimber: 139gms, 0.9ip/gm, 63era-, 87fip-, 98xfip-, 1.8war, 0.8war/65gms
* Pop: 86gms, 1.1ip/gm, 94era-, 89fip-, 94xfip-, 0.4war, 0.3war/65gms
* Garcia: 127gms, 1.0ip/gm, 107era-, 89fip-, 84xfip-, 0.2war, 0.1war/65gms
* Richards: 124gms, 1.1ip/gm, 109era-, 102fip-, 98xfip-, 0.2war, 0.1war/65gms
* Pearson: 20gms, 1.2ip/gm, 58era-, 85fip-, 98xfip-, 0.2war, 0.7war/65gms




Romano clearly the only top tier reliever there, but Swanson, Bass, Mayza, and Cimber have all been very good too over a good sample, while Garcia and Richards have been serviceable and Pop and Pearson both effective and promising.


The bullpen is definitely underachieving imo. By a lot.
Nigel - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 07:38 PM EDT (#429207) #
The bullpen is just fine in one sense. I would guess that at the end of the year the pen is plus or minus around league average. That isn't likely to cut it against the AL East. More importantly, to the point of the criticism - the pen has only one high leverage arm and then a bunch of decent middle leverage arms. I'm not sure how you can criticize too much when you have to use medium leverage guys in a high leverage situation and it doesn't end that well. I've had several times when I've wondered what Schneider was doing with a particular bullpen move but then caught myself by asking "what was the obviously better option" and immediately deciding not to criticize.
Nigel - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 07:46 PM EDT (#429208) #
Time for some positivity - Berrios has looked really really good again tonight and has been really good for a while now even if the results haven't always matched the eye test. Fingers crossed that this is a turning point for Springer.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:02 PM EDT (#429209) #
I think that's underrating it a bit.

Swanson is a high leverage guy. Bass certainly looked like one too last year. Mayza has turned himself into a very good loogy.

and I don't think the other bullpens are stacked with a whole bunch of proven high leverage guys.
Gerry - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:09 PM EDT (#429210) #
The Jays are catching Blue Jay fever, not the good kind.
Gerry - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:11 PM EDT (#429211) #
That should be the Rays have the fever.....kicking the ball around like the Jays last few games.
hypobole - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:12 PM EDT (#429212) #
Jays really needed a game like this.
Petey Baseball - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:33 PM EDT (#429213) #
If they win tonight it's a winning record against the Rays this year! Hooray positivity!
uglyone - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:45 PM EDT (#429214) #
if they let Berrios go one more he could finally get his ERA- under 100 for the first time since year 1 with the jays.
Gerry - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:59 PM EDT (#429215) #
Brooks Raley is singlehandedly helping the Jays batting averages.
uglyone - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:59 PM EDT (#429216) #
baseball is fun again!
92-93 - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 08:59 PM EDT (#429217) #
Attaboy Vladdy. If the Rays want to make a mockery of the game, the Jays should absolutely be teeing off.
BlueJayWay - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 09:02 PM EDT (#429218) #
The Jays might win this one
Kelekin - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 09:40 PM EDT (#429219) #
That was cathartic.
vw_fan17 - Tuesday, May 23 2023 @ 11:29 PM EDT (#429220) #
Here's hoping they didn't all mess up their swings. Otherwise,  FINALLY!
scottt - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 05:45 AM EDT (#429221) #
Hopefully, that corrected the Ray's aberrational run differential.
dalimon5 - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 08:06 AM EDT (#429222) #
Boy oh boy did this manager need that big win. Anyone still think it's time to move Springer down in the line up?

Regarding the Varsho trade I still am not a big fan mostly because of Gabriel Moreno. I wish Kirk could somehow be the one going the other way.
92-93 - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 10:09 AM EDT (#429225) #
Since George joined the Jays:

Springer .342obp .481slg
Bichette .342obp .480slg

Bo has 30 points of BA, though, and has been the better hitter the last two seasons.

I would lead off with Bichette and Guerrero, simply because that's who I want up with the game on the line right now.
Nigel - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 10:44 AM EDT (#429226) #
That’s how I would set the lineup too. But if you’re beholden to Springer and his desire to lead off and Vladdy and his desire to hit 3rd then I’d probably prefer Belt’s OBP further up the lineup and go Springer, Belt, Vladdy and Bo.
uglyone - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 01:06 PM EDT (#429228) #
Very nice to see springer back on track. Still think keeping him up top all through that lengthy slump cost us offensively more than any other player or player decision did, tho.

Also nice to see Belt keeping on the up and up, though he has to start showing more power before i'm truly comfortable with him being for real.

And hopefully we see Kirk, Varsho, and Jansen bouncing back to normal to balance out the inevitable cooldowns from Chapman and Kiermaier (which have already started).
John Northey - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 01:55 PM EDT (#429231) #
Yep, that's this years Jays. Can look hopeless for a bit, then look insane for a bit. I'd be shocked if they ever go more than 10 games without having either a 'wow' like yesterday, or a stretch of 'oh crap' like we've been watching lately.

Makes for a wild ride. 2015 never had more than a 5 game losing streak, but 2 insane winning streaks - 11 games in early August (after the trades - from 6 back to 1/2 a game up), and an 11 gamer in early June (4 1/2 back to 1 back). 1993 was the consistent season - never swept in a series, best winning streak was a 9 gamer (tied for lead to 5 games up in September).

20 run outbursts like last night are rare - 1993 had 15 as the peak (once in regular season, once in world series), 16 the max in 1992, 2015 peaked with 15 runs (3 times), 2016 had a 17-1 win. 1985 peaked with 13 runs, 1987 had the 10 home run game 18-3 final (fun to watch on TV, my aunt had seats right above the Jays dugout for it).

These games are fun, but I doubt they mean a lot going forward beyond the shell shock the other team feels after it. But for the hopeful, after the 28-5 game last year the Jays won the next 3 games and were 14 1/2 back going into it, and climbed to 7 back by the end of the season. 7 1/2 games would put the Jays 1 back of the Rays right now and a lock for the playoffs.
Leaside Cowboy - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 02:35 PM EDT (#429233) #
" 1993 had 15 [runs] as the peak (once in regular season, once in world series) "

game 4 of the World Series, the Blue Jays scored 15 runs without hitting any homers.

jerjapan - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 03:51 PM EDT (#429236) #
With a player like Springer, whose been an elite leadoff hitters so long, and remains a good offensive player, I'm pretty okay letting him ride out the slump at the top of the order.  That sort of thing matters more to a team than an average fan, I think. 
Gerry - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 04:51 PM EDT (#429237) #
Dan Symborski has a deep dive into Alejandro Kirk. It is not pretty reading.

The icky part of Kirk’s seasonal line involves the loss of power, and unfortunately, the drop in both his exit velocity and loft is real; four miles per hour and seven degrees of launch angle are not small deviations.

....

One culprit here is that he is simply topping hard pitches down in the zone, whereas last year he was getting just enough loft to squeeze a bunch of hits out of them; he hit .452 on low fastballs and lifted the majority of them with a positive launch angle. This season, only three of 13 low fastballs haven’t been driven into the ground, and Kirk has lost about eight degrees of launch angle on average compared to last year. It’s not just luck either: he’s hitting them with less velocity, resulting in an xBA of .231 compared to .336 last year.

And if you check the Statcast leaderboard in terms of year-to-year change, Kirk is near the top of the list in terms of most increased topped contact rate.

These types of changes aren’t good, but they’re also not death sentences for careers and can be reversed. Kirk, even while struggling, still retains a lot of the characteristics that made him such a good hitter last year. The key to improving his baseball game right now may be working on his golf game and re-embracing the modern trend of turning low pitches into long drives rather than worm-burners.

--------------

Personally speaking, I think Kirk is heavier than last year and that slows down his bat.....but thats just my opinion. I haven't seen any of the writers ask about it.
Gerry - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 04:52 PM EDT (#429238) #
The link didn't copy. Here it is.
uglyone - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#429239) #
eh, as has been noted, they bumped Bo down last year when he was struggling much less than Springer was this year.

and irrc it coincided with the team turning it around a bit and starting to win again.
Chuck - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 04:59 PM EDT (#429240) #
I think Kirk is heavier than last year

I am really rooting for Kirk but he may require the same tough love confrontation that Vlad received with regards to his off-season regimen. He'll never not be heavy, but he can be less heavy.

Nigel - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 07:04 PM EDT (#429242) #
Tomorrow is another day. Unfortunately.
Polite Nate - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 07:10 PM EDT (#429243) #
Skinner players than Kirk have hit worse than Kirk at Kirk's worst.
uglyone - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 07:11 PM EDT (#429244) #
yeah Kikuchi has been back to last year's Kikuchi over his last 5-6 starts now unfortunately. Hopefully Manoah continues his bounceback.
hypobole - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 07:40 PM EDT (#429245) #
To be fair, the teams he's faced lately are pretty nasty vs LHP's.

Team Rank wRC+
TB - #1 - 159
Bal - #6 - 120
Atl - #2 - 150
Pit - #8 - 117
Bos - #11 - 111

The other team that rocked him were the Angels #8 - 115

12 teams are 102 wRC+ or worse vs LHP's. He hasn't faced any of those teams.
Nigel - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 07:53 PM EDT (#429246) #
I agree that he's had a rough stretch of opponents. However, this is Kikuchi's modus operandi since arriving in North America. Short bursts of looking like an above average to good starter followed by longer periods of struggling. He had a very solid stretch at the beginning of last season too. This is just who he is.
Gerry - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 08:18 PM EDT (#429247) #
Jansen pulled from the game with groin tightness.

At the same time Tyler Heinemann was taken out of the Bisons game.
Nigel - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 08:21 PM EDT (#429248) #
I thought that the Jays were going to get Madduxed tonight but McClanahan's control waivered just slightly there. Still possible.
uglyone - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 08:35 PM EDT (#429249) #
yeah find Lukes playing time for now imo. i think he's got some upside.
uglyone - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 08:51 PM EDT (#429250) #
the decision to use Yimi 4 times in 5 nights last week still mystifies me, and has had expected results.
hypobole - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 08:54 PM EDT (#429251) #
Bottom line Kikuchi hasn't been much different. But process has improved. This was his 10th start. Only once has he walked more than 2 batters. Last year in his 20 starts, he walked more than 2 batters 11 times.
soupman - Wednesday, May 24 2023 @ 08:58 PM EDT (#429252) #
he just had a kid in the spring (i think his first?). i'd imagine that might be another factor on his fitness/sleep.


Leaside Cowboy - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 08:07 AM EDT (#429257) #
subjectively, the past 5 years or so, the Blue Jays would appear to have more players placed on the paternity list than any other team. (Not sure where to find those stats.)

is there such a thing as too much baseball? one wonders.

smyttysmullet94 - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 09:57 AM EDT (#429258) #
Eno thinks that George's offensive struggles are going to end imminently.

Meanwhile, things aren't looking good for old friend Teoscar.
"In all likelihood, he will have the worst full-season strikeout rate of his career, and therefore one of the lowest batting averages of his career."

https://theathletic.com/4546816/2023/05/25/sarris-whats-up-seven-struggling-hitters/
mathesond - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 10:00 AM EDT (#429259) #
Fortunately, Teoscar's stellar defense will keep him a multi-WAR player.
92-93 - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 10:57 AM EDT (#429260) #
5 members of the '22 Dodgers took paternity leave this season at the same time. Must have been a fun all-star break.
Chuck - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 11:58 AM EDT (#429261) #
things aren't looking good for old friend Teoscar.

I thought the old saw was that players excelled in their contract years, because they were trying extra-hard, and they extra-hustled and extra-cared. Or maybe we only remember players who did really well in their contract years?

hypobole - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 01:25 PM EDT (#429262) #
For anyone with ESPN Insider, update on AAA robo-umps.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/37721995/robo-umps-automated-balls-strikes-abs-future-mlb-minor-leagues
Eephus - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 01:40 PM EDT (#429263) #
That's it. I literally can only watch an inning of this before starting to hate baseball. Whenever the Rays leave or get a new ballpark, please televise burning the Trop into ground.

Enjoy your Thursday everyone!
Eephus - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 01:42 PM EDT (#429264) #
That of course should've read "into the ground". See? These Trop games irritate me so much I can't even work no sentence good no more!
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 01:59 PM EDT (#429265) #
Shea Hillenbrand has his chalk ready.
Gerry - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 02:16 PM EDT (#429266) #
Kirk is disappointing at both ends. Jasen's hurt and the Rays are running wild on Kirk/Manoah. Not a good outlook for the next few games there.
lexomatic - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 02:17 PM EDT (#429267) #
Manoah cannot throw strikes. 82 pitches for 7 outs? 5 KS sure, but 5 BB in 2.1 innings much less 9 innings is so unacceptable.
Dewey - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:18 PM EDT (#429268) #
Even the broadcast is lousy. This announcer (Matt somebody) with Buck in Florida has the annoying habit of pausing one or more times before he finishes (if he does) the sentence he’s trying to get out. It’s as if he trying to think what he’s going to say and so has to slow down to let his speech catch up to his ‘thoughts’. Weird mannerism:

Franco batting 280 .... six ... today.

Attendance is xxxxx . . . and 36.

Kirk . . . is late . . . on the throw.

Brandon Low is . . . the batter.

And so on. Crap, now Buck’s doing it!
Mike Green - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:33 PM EDT (#429269) #
Importing the DeSantis/Musk team for a Blue Jays broadcast in Florida was never a brilliant idea, Edward.
Chuck - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:35 PM EDT (#429270) #
This announcer (Matt somebody)

That's Matt Devlin, the Raptors' play-by-play buy. When he is paired with Jack Armstrong doing basketball games, the buffoonery is ratcheted up to 11.

Chuck - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:44 PM EDT (#429271) #
Will Cash pay for trying to get through the final two innings with the back end of the bullpen? Will the Arozarena brain fart-induced non-run come into play?
grjas - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:50 PM EDT (#429272) #
Just checked the score. Sure glad I did waste a lovely afternoon watching this team crater again. Hard to find any aspect of their game that is working right now.
Mike Green - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:54 PM EDT (#429273) #
I guess not.

Manoah was better with Jansen on Saturday. I imagine they will give him one more shot with Jansen. His next start will be the last in May and it's late to just leave him in the rotation to get beat up due to lack of control.
Chuck - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:55 PM EDT (#429274) #
The decision to pinch-hit for Varsho, representing the tying run, with career .200 singles hitter Ernie Clement certainly spoke volumes. I wonder if that caught Varsho by surprise.
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 03:56 PM EDT (#429275) #
almost 1/3 of the way through the year, 1 game over .500, 10.5 games out, 3 games and 4 slots out of a wildcard.

not great, barry.
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#429276) #

Blue Jays players called a meeting after the game. John Schneider said Team has been “punched in the face” but is glad players taking lead in addressing issues. https://t.co/buWPlphpCm

— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) May 25, 2023
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 04:34 PM EDT (#429277) #

I asked Matt Chapman what, if anything he could share with us, about what was discussed in the players’ meeting.

“I’m not sure how you guys know that happened.” Then said he’d like to keep it with the team. #BlueJays

— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) May 25, 2023
Nigel - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 04:36 PM EDT (#429278) #
To be fair to Kirk, everyone runs wild on Manoah.

I haven't thought that Schneider was at much risk until today. Pinch hitting Varsho in that manner is not going to be appreciated by Atkins/Shapiro. It sends a public message about the manager's view of Varsho. Interesting times for sure.
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 04:53 PM EDT (#429279) #
the Fat Boy comment wasn't so great either. a bit ironic tho.

and even though i had no love for the last guy I never loved the optics of blaming the soft spoked hispanic guy and replacing him with the big brash tough guy.
Leaside Cowboy - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 06:35 PM EDT (#429281) #
time to resurrect Target Canada and take it to Target Field.

and see the Blue Jays fans from the Prairies.

by the way, I called Jobu and we talked.

Jobu knows.
Gerry - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 06:41 PM EDT (#429282) #
Baseball Reference has a nice chart showing WAR by position in the AL compared to the other AL teams.

The Jays hitters are second in the league. The Jays pitchers are 14th, only Oakland are worse.

On the hitting side the Jays have five above average positions and four middle of the pack. Those middle of the pack positions are C, 2B, RF and DH.

Of the five above average positions Chapman's numbers are dropping and Vladdys OPS peaked in the second week of the season and has been slowly dropping since then.

SK in NJ - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 06:48 PM EDT (#429283) #
If Schneider's job is in jeopardy, then Atkins should be on the same hot seat. Schneider did what he did in Game 2 of the WC series and the FO couldn't wait to extend him, so it's really on them. I said last season that I hoped the Jays didn't just hand Schneider the job, and instead do an actual search for an established manager, but this is the guy they thought was the best guy to lead a team that is heading closer to the end of their Guerrero/Bichette timeline. I see very little difference between Schneider and Montoyo other than Schneider is better at constructing a lineup most nights, but beyond that, it seems like two yes men doing what the front office wants them to do.

I'd be fine with Schneider being replaced, even if it's the 2nd straight year with a fall guy, but when a situation like that arises you have to look at the GM. The farm system is in bad shape and this doesn't look like the sustainable winner that the FO set out to create. They already have James Click on the payroll, so I don't think finding a replacement will be that difficult, but then again if Shapiro prioritizes selling expensive seating more than recognizing where the team is, then whoever replaces Atkins will be asked to keep the train moving rather than pivot where necessary.
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 08:35 PM EDT (#429284) #
Atkins should have been on the hot seat a while go imo.

But firing your 2nd hand picked manager i would think should usually be a death knell for a GM.
Marc Hulet - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 08:43 PM EDT (#429285) #
I don't get the hate for Schneider... He's not responsible for the lack of org depth. He's not responsible for the underwhelming amateur drafts. He's not responsible for the lack of player development. He's not responsible for the poor trades.

The teams pitching has been terrible ... Manoah is not on Schneider. Kikuchi is not on Schneider. The lack of actual bullpen improvement using the offseason is not on Schneider (Swanson was never enough).
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 09:17 PM EDT (#429288) #
I don't know that the pitching has been terrible.


updated after today's games:

* NYY 89era- (#7), 96fip- (#10), 98xfip- (#15)
* TBR 91era- (#9), 100fip- (#15), 97fip- (#10)
* TOR 95era- (#11), 102fip- (#19), 97fip- (#11)
* BAL 95era- (#13), 100fip- (#16), 97fip- (#12)
* BOS 108era- (#24), 111fip- (#28), 102xfip- (#18)

High Leverage

* BAL .250 OwOBA (#2)
* TBL .286 OwOBA (#5)
* NYY .316 OwOBA (#15)
* TOR .325 OwOBA (#19)
* BOS .329 OwOBA (#22)


position players:

* TBR 137wrc+ (#1), +0.8def (#7), +7.3bsr (#2)
* TOR 110wrc+ (#7), -7.6def (#18), +3.9bsr (#6)
* BAL 109wrc+ (#8), -21.8def (#30), +4.8bsr (#3)
* BOS 107wrc+ (#9), -10.5def (#21), -0.8bsr (#18)
* NYY 101wrc+ (#13), -5.0def (#15), -2.2bsr (#22)

High Leverage:

* TBR 182wrc+ (#1)
* BAL 136wrc+ (#3)
* BOS 103wrc+ (#15)
* NYY 102wrc+ (#17)
* TOR 97wrc+ (#19)



mostly just unclutch on both sides of the ball.

Is that on the manager? Is it choking players? Is it random small sample variation? I dunno.
Nigel - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 09:25 PM EDT (#429289) #
I’m not a Schneider hater - in fact, I’ve listened to him interviewed so often when he was the C’s manager that I think he’s got an excellent baseball mind. I can’t really see much of a difference between Schneider and Montoyo in approach (or results). Your mileage may vary on whether that’s a good or a bad thing. My point was just that a manager who pinch hits for the prized offseason trade acquisition of management, costing one of the top prospects in the game, with a AAAA player, is throwing shade on that acquisition and isn’t likely to be too popular with his bosses tonight.
John Northey - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 09:55 PM EDT (#429290) #
Clutch is generally just noise, meaning that no study I've seen has shown it to be a repeatable skill or consistent. IE: the Jays could be the least clutch right now, but for the next 3 months they could be the most clutch around, then go back to unclutch again with zero warning. Jack Morris was viewed as super-clutch with that famous 10 inning shutout (which should've been a 9 inning 1 run game but Lonnie Smith forgot how to run, his #1 skill). Jays signed him to a big contract and the very next season in the World Series he sucked (game 1 6 IP 3 R 5 BB so he was very lucky it wasn't worse, game 5 4 2/3 IP 9 H 7 R, so he got both Jay losses in that WS, luckily Jimmy Key was 'wow' and got 2 wins, as did Duane Ward).

My big concerns are why is Manoah sucking, and why is Varsho so far below expectations. If those 2 get to where we expected them to be then this team should be a lot better off. Garcia's secondary stats suggest he is better than his ERA shows (I don't trust him, but the numbers say he should be better and it is mostly bad luck). Everything I see says this team should have a better record but just seems to be in bad luck. How do you fix that? Anyone who knows is probably a billionaire.
uglyone - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 10:00 PM EDT (#429291) #
But Team Clutch can also actually be "wrong players being put in important situations".
dalimon5 - Thursday, May 25 2023 @ 10:32 PM EDT (#429292) #
Schneider made some very bad decisions in the elimination game last year. He made a bad mistake last week taking Manoah out. Pinch hitting for Varsho in that spot is unacceptable and likely the quickest way to lose the room. He also stands staunchly behind Biggio to remain on the roster. Lastly, he has not held Vladdy accountable for his poor baseball play.
vw_fan17 - Friday, May 26 2023 @ 12:20 AM EDT (#429293) #
MAN, May 2023 has to be on the of the most depressing months of my 4+ decades of Toronto fandom. April 29, Leafs eliminated the Lightning, and the Jays were 18-9.
ISLAND BOY - Friday, May 26 2023 @ 03:31 AM EDT (#429294) #
" He made a bad mistake last week taking Manoah out."

He actually made the mistake of visiting the mound after Pete Walker had done so earlier in the inning which meant Manoah had to leave automatically. If a player made a similar type of play on the field it would be classified as bone-headed.
dalimon5 - Friday, May 26 2023 @ 05:29 AM EDT (#429296) #
Yes thats what I was referring to.
Leaside Cowboy - Friday, May 26 2023 @ 08:06 AM EDT (#429298) #
could Trevor Bauer return to MLB if he submitted to a public lashing?

I know that sounds facetious, yet I am curious.

Broadly, could a (ridiculous) stunt like that restore the standing of a disgraced public figure?
John Northey - Friday, May 26 2023 @ 08:38 AM EDT (#429299) #
I seriously doubt any team wants Bauer after he was demoted to Japan's minor leagues. Guy just isn't doing well and was acting like a jerk from what I've read. As to coming back, if he was pitching well then the Yankees or Astros (teams that have shown no reluctance signing guys who hit women) would sign him.
scottt - Friday, May 26 2023 @ 11:05 AM EDT (#429301) #
This is just a good team playing only well enough to lose.
In baseball, over a month, this is a very common story.

They have the 3rd best hitting average in baseball.
They are 5th in OBP, (11 in OPS, 15th in HR).
That round out to 10th in run scored, because they leave too many on bases.

Gausman is very good.
Bassitt has been quite good.
Berrios has rebounded nicely.
Kikuchi has been better than last year, but has been losing it lately.

The pen is good enough for 3 innings most nights.

They are the most disappointing team in the division.
Other divisions have lots of heartbreak.

Gaze at the 2023 Padres. 4th in the NL west. 23-27.

Their best player this year is ... Ha-Seong Kim with his 96 OPS+ at second base.
He's been worth more WAR than Soto with is 159 OPS+ in left field.
Bogaerts comes third with a 113 OPS+ same as Tatis  who is only worth 1.3 bWAR in RF.

Machado is on the IL and has hit terribly (.654 OPS).
So has Nelson Cruz at DH (.676).

Blake Snell has a ERA of 5.04.
Joe Musgrove, has an ERA of 6.75.

This is a team that had a loaded farm system and tons of money to spend on huge contracts and big trades, but so little success.

bpoz - Friday, May 26 2023 @ 11:39 AM EDT (#429302) #
Ryu getting injured after only 6 games last year and will miss over half of this year was a blow. However we know that injuries happen. Manoah playing badly was a big surprise to all of us.
Toronto at Tampa Bay, May 22-25 | 119 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.