Andrew. Always great to see you pop up in my email. It’s usually the best read of the day. Sports, news, or otherwise. I’m curious how you go about finding all the articles and links. You comment on so many of them. And also how you get the transcripts for Atkins and Shapiro’s zoom calls? Mostly, I’m just interested in how your operation functions. Keep up the amazing work.
It is a sad thing when your DH is one of the poorest hitters on your team. Are left-handed hitters, who don't need to be able field well at all, but can *really* *really* hit so rare that we can't go off and get one?
When Springer gets back into the lineup I assume he gets slotted back into the lead off spot. If it were you writing out the lineup would you keep Semien at 2 and drop Bo down to 5 or move Semien into the 5 spot? Given how the two have been hitting in recent weeks I’m tempted to drop Bo down. I know they are hesitant to make Bo uncomfortable but it’s hard to drop Semien given how he’s been playing.
Hey Andrew, with the current state of the bullpen, do you think the Jays will consider trying to piggy back starters to try and get through a game only using two pitchers? Splitting a game between Hatch(when he’s available) and Kay? Or some other combinations of pitchers?
Hey Stoeten - Lots of negative energy this week, so probably a good time to celebrate how much Hyun-Jin Ryu fucking rules. He is incredibly fun to watch and try to guess along with. Besides being nails, what’s your favourite thing about his play? If you were to construct an all-century Jays rotation where would you slot him in ( I have him at #3 behind Doc and rental David Price)? I for one am already counting down to his next start!
My wife and I were at Sunday's debacle, and it was remarkably painful to be there and watch it, especially among the Rays fans that seemed to outnumber the Blue Jays fans. The less said the better, though I couldn't figure out what happened to Jordan Romano. Anyway, here's something lighter: After Vladdy hits a homer, he does sort of a "shhh" thing when passing the third base coach, usually Luis Rivera. Do you know what this means, or why he does it?Mr Fairservice, originator of an entire newsletter about Vladdy, did not know and I was hoping you might.
Long time reader/listener, first time question asker.
What can we expect to get out of Thomas Hatch when he returns in June? I can’t help but be intrigued by the guy, even if he’s less heralded than the other arms. What’s your take?
If Springer does not return to the active roster before June 21st, should he consider changing his name to George Summer? Also, should they try Lourdes at 3B more? He's got a real strong arm and can play infield (was SS at his start in MLB).
Do you think it is worth it to trade a couple of the top 100 prospects for a rental or two? Or do you see them trading a couple of pieces from 40 man and a Biggio/Tellez/Gurriel/Grichuk and some lower level prospects instead? Weird year, a lot of injuries, with potential of a lot of pitchers tiring in back half of year based on minimal innings pitched last year. Just wondering how they strike a balance of staying sustainable without mortgaging too early?
Why did we sign Semien? Or more specifically, did we sign him fully expecting him to play for us for one season only or was the plan to try and get sign him to a multi-year deal after the season. Given how well he's performing, I suspect that will be difficult (even moreso if we need to play in Dunedin again next year). If it was always going to be a one year signing...why? Leadership? Waiting for younger prospects to develop? To send a message to other free agents? Just because he's a good player?
Hello Andrew, I have really enjoyed your musings on the Blue Jays this year and in the past. My question is beyond the young players who it would clearly suit the front office to extend, who do you think may be in line for an extension this year or in the offseason? A personal favourite of mine, Teoscarnandez, is an interesting case, but also one I think it is becoming increasingly clear would be prudent to extend.
Hey Andrew, great job speaking the truth and keep doing what you do, best Jays beat IMO. Let me start covering what we talked at great length last season that has spilled over to this season...over used Pen!!! Charlie and Shatkins got away with it in 20 as obviously it what a 60 game season; the same issue has taken its toll already and we're not in June. I mean the pen was tasked to mop up underwhelming starting pitching, it's unsustainable and this week it has exposed the Achilles of this team big time!! You will not and cannot win in the bigs with 3 starters, this ain't the post season. AAA is a place usually to keep depth players in tune, and lower ranks for pure development. We have reached the point, we need adequate starters, the chicken strips experiment, we need help!!
Hey Stoeten - still loving the blog and the podcast. Keep up the good work. What's your take on re-signing Marcus Semien? Do you think the Jays are interested, and can they get it done? Also, what's the deal with Schneider? When he was first promoted to the Jays, there was some guessing that he was the manager-in-waiting, with Montoyo as the bridge from Gibby to Schneider. Is he still a manager-in-waiting?
After getting off to a bit of a slow start at the plate Semien has been on absolute fire at the plate in May. Add that to his rock solid defence at 2nd base and he's probably been the bright spot of the Jays position players for me this season (Non-Vladdy turning into a god before our eyes division). It's so nice to have a solid reliable contributor in the lineup that you don't have to worry a whole lot about. What are the chances that he and the Jays will line up at some point this season and decide that they both like what the others are offering and that an extension is in order? With all the other big name short stops hitting the market this offseason I would guess that Marcus would be agreeable to an offer that is fair so he doesn't have to roll the dice on the free agent market again. From the Jays perspective absolutely everything you hear about this guy in the clubhouse is phenomenal and his play on the field has been spectacular so you'd assume he's exactly the type of guy that you'd like to keep around for the next few years of contention. I guess my long question is what does a deal look like that keeps Marcus Semien from becoming a free agent this offseason, 4x25, 5x20???
Andrew. Always great to see you pop up in my email. It’s usually the best read of the day. Sports, news, or otherwise. I’m curious how you go about finding all the articles and links. You comment on so many of them. And also how you get the transcripts for Atkins and Shapiro’s zoom calls? Mostly, I’m just interested in how your operation functions. Keep up the amazing work.
It is a sad thing when your DH is one of the poorest hitters on your team. Are left-handed hitters, who don't need to be able field well at all, but can *really* *really* hit so rare that we can't go off and get one?
When Springer gets back into the lineup I assume he gets slotted back into the lead off spot. If it were you writing out the lineup would you keep Semien at 2 and drop Bo down to 5 or move Semien into the 5 spot? Given how the two have been hitting in recent weeks I’m tempted to drop Bo down. I know they are hesitant to make Bo uncomfortable but it’s hard to drop Semien given how he’s been playing.
Do you think we'll upgrade at third base this season? Or is Cavan Biggio an acceptable option?
Hey Andrew, with the current state of the bullpen, do you think the Jays will consider trying to piggy back starters to try and get through a game only using two pitchers? Splitting a game between Hatch(when he’s available) and Kay? Or some other combinations of pitchers?
Hey Stoeten - Lots of negative energy this week, so probably a good time to celebrate how much Hyun-Jin Ryu fucking rules. He is incredibly fun to watch and try to guess along with. Besides being nails, what’s your favourite thing about his play? If you were to construct an all-century Jays rotation where would you slot him in ( I have him at #3 behind Doc and rental David Price)? I for one am already counting down to his next start!
Hi Stoeten,
My wife and I were at Sunday's debacle, and it was remarkably painful to be there and watch it, especially among the Rays fans that seemed to outnumber the Blue Jays fans. The less said the better, though I couldn't figure out what happened to Jordan Romano. Anyway, here's something lighter: After Vladdy hits a homer, he does sort of a "shhh" thing when passing the third base coach, usually Luis Rivera. Do you know what this means, or why he does it?Mr Fairservice, originator of an entire newsletter about Vladdy, did not know and I was hoping you might.
No idea. No one knows thus far, and Vladdy isn't replying to me for some reason on his Instagram because I asked him directly.
Hey Stoeten,
Long time reader/listener, first time question asker.
What can we expect to get out of Thomas Hatch when he returns in June? I can’t help but be intrigued by the guy, even if he’s less heralded than the other arms. What’s your take?
If Springer does not return to the active roster before June 21st, should he consider changing his name to George Summer? Also, should they try Lourdes at 3B more? He's got a real strong arm and can play infield (was SS at his start in MLB).
Do you think it is worth it to trade a couple of the top 100 prospects for a rental or two? Or do you see them trading a couple of pieces from 40 man and a Biggio/Tellez/Gurriel/Grichuk and some lower level prospects instead? Weird year, a lot of injuries, with potential of a lot of pitchers tiring in back half of year based on minimal innings pitched last year. Just wondering how they strike a balance of staying sustainable without mortgaging too early?
Why did we sign Semien? Or more specifically, did we sign him fully expecting him to play for us for one season only or was the plan to try and get sign him to a multi-year deal after the season. Given how well he's performing, I suspect that will be difficult (even moreso if we need to play in Dunedin again next year). If it was always going to be a one year signing...why? Leadership? Waiting for younger prospects to develop? To send a message to other free agents? Just because he's a good player?
Should the Jays consider trading him at the deadline if we're in the same or a similar spot in the standings?
Hello Andrew, I have really enjoyed your musings on the Blue Jays this year and in the past. My question is beyond the young players who it would clearly suit the front office to extend, who do you think may be in line for an extension this year or in the offseason? A personal favourite of mine, Teoscarnandez, is an interesting case, but also one I think it is becoming increasingly clear would be prudent to extend.
Hey Andrew, great job speaking the truth and keep doing what you do, best Jays beat IMO. Let me start covering what we talked at great length last season that has spilled over to this season...over used Pen!!! Charlie and Shatkins got away with it in 20 as obviously it what a 60 game season; the same issue has taken its toll already and we're not in June. I mean the pen was tasked to mop up underwhelming starting pitching, it's unsustainable and this week it has exposed the Achilles of this team big time!! You will not and cannot win in the bigs with 3 starters, this ain't the post season. AAA is a place usually to keep depth players in tune, and lower ranks for pure development. We have reached the point, we need adequate starters, the chicken strips experiment, we need help!!
Hey Stoeten - still loving the blog and the podcast. Keep up the good work. What's your take on re-signing Marcus Semien? Do you think the Jays are interested, and can they get it done? Also, what's the deal with Schneider? When he was first promoted to the Jays, there was some guessing that he was the manager-in-waiting, with Montoyo as the bridge from Gibby to Schneider. Is he still a manager-in-waiting?
After getting off to a bit of a slow start at the plate Semien has been on absolute fire at the plate in May. Add that to his rock solid defence at 2nd base and he's probably been the bright spot of the Jays position players for me this season (Non-Vladdy turning into a god before our eyes division). It's so nice to have a solid reliable contributor in the lineup that you don't have to worry a whole lot about. What are the chances that he and the Jays will line up at some point this season and decide that they both like what the others are offering and that an extension is in order? With all the other big name short stops hitting the market this offseason I would guess that Marcus would be agreeable to an offer that is fair so he doesn't have to roll the dice on the free agent market again. From the Jays perspective absolutely everything you hear about this guy in the clubhouse is phenomenal and his play on the field has been spectacular so you'd assume he's exactly the type of guy that you'd like to keep around for the next few years of contention. I guess my long question is what does a deal look like that keeps Marcus Semien from becoming a free agent this offseason, 4x25, 5x20???
You receive a call at 12:22AM that you’ll be 3B umpire for tomorrow’s Jays matinee. How does that go?