Is it time to trade Biggio? The Jays seem to suffer from too many players competing for roles when a good role player would do. Zimmer is the perfect example. Obviously he is in no way a starting player or even a regular platoon. But as a role player he's fantastic at what we need him for. Swapping out Biggio for a reliever we need strikes me as a good move.
Do you think Cavan Biggio could be a better hitter if he just went to the gym and bulked up a bit?
It seems like with more power and his disciplined approach, he could be more dangerous as a hitter. Maybe bigger muscles isn't the only key to power, but should help.
For several years we have had to rely on external sources for our starting pitching (Ryu, Ray, Gausman, Kikuchi, Berrios, Stripling and probably more going back). Manoah is the only home-grown starter of note and there is a lack of starting pitching depth in the minors that's potentially ready to help out. Sure there's some young guys down there, but they are likely years away. I remember that early comment from Mark Shapiro (2017?) about the starters in Buffalo being 'five guys named blank' so it was a situation that needed fixing...and still kind of needs fixing. Signing pitchers to long-term contracts is always a risk and relying on trades is not easy. Is it time to seriously critique the Front Offices ability to develop pitching - and I'm not a hater at all - but they've been in charge for 6 years.
Somewhat concealed behind the flames from the Ryu and Kikuchi wreckage is an increasingly inoperable looking Berrios. Do the Jays just kind of have to stagger along as best they can with this starting situation and try (again) to fix the rotation in the offseason, or does their relatively all-in posture mean they're more or less obliged to make a deal for a starter (and maybe a long guy for the pen) during the season?
Dan Schulman has few peers in his profession around the league. It is so great to have him. I watch a number of games around the league. Much of the commentary is terrible. Many announcers go so far of the rails they aren't even paying attention to the game.
What has happened in the culture of the industry that has pulled announcers way from actually calling the game? Is it high time for some dudes to step aside to make room for a diversity of announcers and colour commentators that might be able to provide better input and attention to the game itself?
What are your genuine thoughts on Nate Pearson as a prospect as we find ourselves years removed from his MLB debut? I heard a very interesting point that Pearson is accumulating service time despite his complete lack of contribution to the big league staff. Is his makeup and 'stuff' still something that will translate to the big league level? Or are we waiting around for nothing? To add to that, will we ever see the level of dominance Pearson flashed in the TB wild card game?
Here's a question I'm sure no one else would ask or maybe even care about...cuz it's about Bradley Zimmer. He is clearly a horrible hitter. I know every body and its mechanics are different, but have you ever noticed his totally awkward looking batting stance? Maybe if he stood at the plate like a human and not an emu about to lay an egg, he may be able to put bat to ball and hit .200. Isn't that something Guillermo can work on with him?
So one team, three catchers. Captain Kirk, Danny “Bautista” Jansen, and some prospect nobody is talking about. Great problem to have. If you are the Yankees and have no apparent weakness, really no problem at all. You don’t have to move anybody. But if you are chasing the Yankees, and also you are a very good team but with maybe a couple glaring weaknesses that a few people have brought up a few times over the past couple years, do you consider dealing from a position of strength to address a position of weakness? If so, who are you looking to deal and what kind of return do you need to break up the holy trinity? And can you (or do you want to) get it done before the trade deadline?
I'd like to take a different tack on Yusei Kikuchi. No doubt people will like to pile on, but let's take a more civil approach shall we? What happened here?
At the start of the season there were high hopes for the Jays starting rotation. We were actually talking about the good problem of too many good starters to choose from. Then the spectre of Pete Walker's DUI shrouded the beginning of the season and a shortened spring training meant much of the team simply wasn't fully tuned up to go on Opening Day. Then Ryu's gone. Pearson is now injured again. Thomas Hatch has a 4.99ERA, and there is no clear replacement if Kikuchi is bounced. Perennial bullpen unreliability is also back. The question is, what is behind seemingly constant pitching woes for the Jays? Pete Walker enjoys a sterling reputation. Is it still deserved? Are there other management and organizational issues causing the problems...or are the Jays just living forever under an unlucky star that says all our dreams of a consistently good staff will always be dashed?
Is it time to trade Biggio? The Jays seem to suffer from too many players competing for roles when a good role player would do. Zimmer is the perfect example. Obviously he is in no way a starting player or even a regular platoon. But as a role player he's fantastic at what we need him for. Swapping out Biggio for a reliever we need strikes me as a good move.
Do you think Cavan Biggio could be a better hitter if he just went to the gym and bulked up a bit?
It seems like with more power and his disciplined approach, he could be more dangerous as a hitter. Maybe bigger muscles isn't the only key to power, but should help.
For several years we have had to rely on external sources for our starting pitching (Ryu, Ray, Gausman, Kikuchi, Berrios, Stripling and probably more going back). Manoah is the only home-grown starter of note and there is a lack of starting pitching depth in the minors that's potentially ready to help out. Sure there's some young guys down there, but they are likely years away. I remember that early comment from Mark Shapiro (2017?) about the starters in Buffalo being 'five guys named blank' so it was a situation that needed fixing...and still kind of needs fixing. Signing pitchers to long-term contracts is always a risk and relying on trades is not easy. Is it time to seriously critique the Front Offices ability to develop pitching - and I'm not a hater at all - but they've been in charge for 6 years.
Somewhat concealed behind the flames from the Ryu and Kikuchi wreckage is an increasingly inoperable looking Berrios. Do the Jays just kind of have to stagger along as best they can with this starting situation and try (again) to fix the rotation in the offseason, or does their relatively all-in posture mean they're more or less obliged to make a deal for a starter (and maybe a long guy for the pen) during the season?
Oops...Shulman. Sorry Dan.
Dan Schulman has few peers in his profession around the league. It is so great to have him. I watch a number of games around the league. Much of the commentary is terrible. Many announcers go so far of the rails they aren't even paying attention to the game.
What has happened in the culture of the industry that has pulled announcers way from actually calling the game? Is it high time for some dudes to step aside to make room for a diversity of announcers and colour commentators that might be able to provide better input and attention to the game itself?
Royals MJ Melendez is splitting time as C and RF. Should the Jays do the same with Moreno, and can his other position be RP? 😉
Explain the DH rules
What are your genuine thoughts on Nate Pearson as a prospect as we find ourselves years removed from his MLB debut? I heard a very interesting point that Pearson is accumulating service time despite his complete lack of contribution to the big league staff. Is his makeup and 'stuff' still something that will translate to the big league level? Or are we waiting around for nothing? To add to that, will we ever see the level of dominance Pearson flashed in the TB wild card game?
Here's a question I'm sure no one else would ask or maybe even care about...cuz it's about Bradley Zimmer. He is clearly a horrible hitter. I know every body and its mechanics are different, but have you ever noticed his totally awkward looking batting stance? Maybe if he stood at the plate like a human and not an emu about to lay an egg, he may be able to put bat to ball and hit .200. Isn't that something Guillermo can work on with him?
So one team, three catchers. Captain Kirk, Danny “Bautista” Jansen, and some prospect nobody is talking about. Great problem to have. If you are the Yankees and have no apparent weakness, really no problem at all. You don’t have to move anybody. But if you are chasing the Yankees, and also you are a very good team but with maybe a couple glaring weaknesses that a few people have brought up a few times over the past couple years, do you consider dealing from a position of strength to address a position of weakness? If so, who are you looking to deal and what kind of return do you need to break up the holy trinity? And can you (or do you want to) get it done before the trade deadline?
I'd like to take a different tack on Yusei Kikuchi. No doubt people will like to pile on, but let's take a more civil approach shall we? What happened here?
At the start of the season there were high hopes for the Jays starting rotation. We were actually talking about the good problem of too many good starters to choose from. Then the spectre of Pete Walker's DUI shrouded the beginning of the season and a shortened spring training meant much of the team simply wasn't fully tuned up to go on Opening Day. Then Ryu's gone. Pearson is now injured again. Thomas Hatch has a 4.99ERA, and there is no clear replacement if Kikuchi is bounced. Perennial bullpen unreliability is also back. The question is, what is behind seemingly constant pitching woes for the Jays? Pete Walker enjoys a sterling reputation. Is it still deserved? Are there other management and organizational issues causing the problems...or are the Jays just living forever under an unlucky star that says all our dreams of a consistently good staff will always be dashed?
Ok Stoeten, couple of questions for you- what would you do with Yusi, keep running him out there or bullpen him? Or IL with some "neck problems"?
Also, what would you do with the catcher situation when Danny is back? Seems untenable to keep all three on right?
I'm also interested in how you would play out the catcher situation from two perspectives (rather than how you think the FO will play it).
1. for the remainder of the season
2. for next season (and so on).