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The Stork

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7 hours ago, Sean Monahan said:

We'll see how they actually perform through the season, but going into it this looks like the best roster (on paper at least) the Jays have had in some time. Better than post-deadline 2015. I'm really excited to see what they can do.

I am going into this season with muted expectations.  I was probably expecting too much last year and the team was too inconsistent throughout the year, so until they take the next step and win some playoff games it is wait and see.

 

On paper, they do look more well balanced and the defence should be a lot better.  Adding in some veterans and hiring Mattingly should bring some accountability to this group. This year and next are the years for the front office to really go for it.

 

 

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3 hours ago, van_ws said:

I am going into this season with muted expectations.  I was probably expecting too much last year and the team was too inconsistent throughout the year, so until they take the next step and win some playoff games it is wait and see.

 

On paper, they do look more well balanced and the defence should be a lot better.  Adding in some veterans and hiring Mattingly should bring some accountability to this group. This year and next are the years for the front office to really go for it.

 

 

I should say I’m cautiously optimistic. I’m excited about the roster but being born in 93 I’ve only known the Jays as perennial disappointments. I’m not expecting a division pennant but I think it’s in the cards if everything goes well. I do expect them to make the playoffs though. 

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11 hours ago, Sean Monahan said:

RP's can be a little hit-and-miss year to year but the bullpen at least looks much more promising than it did last year. Romano, Garcia, Swanson, Bass, Cimber, et al should be decent.

 

I think Gausman's going to benefit from the new shift rules. With him and Manoah as a 1/2 punch, and the addition of Bassitt, if the Jays can get a bounceback year from Berrios or maybe Kikuchi I think the rotation is actually pretty decent. Most polls seem to have the Jays as a top 5 roster in baseball.

 

Maybe they add a big arm mid-season. I have a feeling that between the rotation and bullpen, we're gonna be happy with one and disappointed with the other. Just remains which is which.

Don’t forget Chad Green, who’s coming off TJS (likely won’t be back until the All-Star break), but he’s been pretty reliable arm for the Yankees.

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I think how Erik Swanson performs will be telling on whether the Jays decide to add a power arm at the deadline.

 

I still believe the 'Pen lacks high end velocity and another effective Lefty, (although, they could conceivably add one internally when Ryu returns) but Swanson could definitely be a difference maker, if he can replicate last season's success.

 

I have to admit, that I was a bit concerned looking at Swanson's spring numbers and compared them to his career numbers. His ERA for both is around 4. Nothing to write home about and we did trade Teoscar for him....

 

So I did a bit of digging and it looks like the reason for his excellent season last year was a result of developing an effective splitter. Swanson's go-to pitch has always been his 4 seamer, which because of an extraordinarily high spin rate, does not drop on it's way to the plate. This gets a lot of swing and miss on his fastball up in the zone, even though he only has mid-90s velocity.

 

Basically, 94 looks like 97 and a lot of batters swing under that pitch.

 

Which brings us to the Splitter...When Swanson first got to Seattle, his second pitch was either a Change-up, or a slider. Problem was, neither was very good, meaning that players were teeing off on those pitches. This led to ES upping the frequency of his fastball and hitters started sitting on it...

 

But the Split was effective last year and Swanson showed excellent control with both pitches. If he can replicate that form this season, he will likely bump Anthony Bass down the bullpen depth chart and maybe even Yimi Garcia.

 

If that were to happen, the Jays would be very tough to come back on after the 7th inning....

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3 hours ago, RUPERTKBD said:

I think how Erik Swanson performs will be telling on whether the Jays decide to add a power arm at the deadline.

 

I still believe the 'Pen lacks high end velocity and another effective Lefty, (although, they could conceivably add one internally when Ryu returns) but Swanson could definitely be a difference maker, if he can replicate last season's success.

 

I have to admit, that I was a bit concerned looking at Swanson's spring numbers and compared them to his career numbers. His ERA for both is around 4. Nothing to write home about and we did trade Teoscar for him....

 

So I did a bit of digging and it looks like the reason for his excellent season last year was a result of developing an effective splitter. Swanson's go-to pitch has always been his 4 seamer, which because of an extraordinarily high spin rate, does not drop on it's way to the plate. This gets a lot of swing and miss on his fastball up in the zone, even though he only has mid-90s velocity.

 

Basically, 94 looks like 97 and a lot of batters swing under that pitch.

 

Which brings us to the Splitter...When Swanson first got to Seattle, his second pitch was either a Change-up, or a slider. Problem was, neither was very good, meaning that players were teeing off on those pitches. This led to ES upping the frequency of his fastball and hitters started sitting on it...

 

But the Split was effective last year and Swanson showed excellent control with both pitches. If he can replicate that form this season, he will likely bump Anthony Bass down the bullpen depth chart and maybe even Yimi Garcia.

 

If that were to happen, the Jays would be very tough to come back on after the 7th inning....

I wonder if Nate Pearson can fill that need for high end velocity.  It's the most hope I have had for him in a while.

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32 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

I wonder if Nate Pearson can fill that need for high end velocity.  It's the most hope I have had for him in a while.

He's definitely a candidate. His velocity was good in Spring Training, but his control was a bit of an issue. Hopefully he can get that sorted in AAA....

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14 hours ago, UnkNuk said:

image.png.0b3074a63767fddbd55a188e5f43fabc.png

 

 

I thought these games were supposed to be sped up with all the changes!

 

- UnkNuk (who might watch more baseball if they could shorten the games to about two hours)

I would say it would have been closer to if not over 4 hours if the old rules were used.  10 to 9.  19 hits to 15.  Lots of base runners.   

 

Manoah only made it 3 and a 1/3rd and got charged a time violation (automatic ball).  Jay's used 8 pitchers.  Cards starter also only lasted 3 and a 1/3rd.  Both had pretty high pitcht counts in their innings pitched.  I think they both threw 20 ish pitches in the 1st.

 

There is definitely a difference.   There isn't a lot of time between pitches like under the old rules.   Game definitely is sped up.  

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Two other games I watched yesterday were under 3 hours, SF/NYY 10am start was over around 12:45pm pacific and LAA/Athletics 7pm start was over at 9:45pm pacific, so these two examples were faster..

 

 

Edited by Mj2345
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2 hours ago, thedestroyerofworlds said:

I think heard there was 380 ish pitches in the game.  

384 by my count.

 

A good news / bad news situation......St Louis pitchers threw 204 pitches, to 180 for the Jays....but T.O. used 8 pitchers, while the Cards used 6. I think it's a good thing for both teams that today is an off day....

Edited by RUPERTKBD
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20 hours ago, UnkNuk said:

image.png.0b3074a63767fddbd55a188e5f43fabc.png

 

 

I thought these games were supposed to be sped up with all the changes!

 

- UnkNuk (who might watch more baseball if they could shorten the games to about two hours)

Mets 1 Marlins 2 Final, game started at 3:40pm pacific and ended at 5:55pm pacific, shortest one so far.

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2 hours ago, Mj2345 said:

Mets 1 Marlins 2 Final, game started at 3:40pm pacific and ended at 5:55pm pacific, shortest one so far.

Two hours and fifteen minutes?  Okay, that's getting there.  But I still want to see the average game get down to two hours.  Because, let's be honest, two hours of baseball is enough.  Am I right?

 

 

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I’m probably in the minority but I love going to a baseball game and chilling for 4 hours with friends. Just chatting it up. Especially, if it’s a gorgeous day.

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30 minutes ago, shiznak said:

I’m probably in the minority but I love going to a baseball game and chilling for 4 hours with friends. Just chatting it up. Especially, if it’s a gorgeous day.

Day games are a lot of fun.

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