2018 Toronto Blue Jays General Season Thread

[dappleganger]

Listen, boys, I need some help here.

WTF happened to the Jays...like, it wasn't supposed to be this bad, right?

What's the solution here?

I don't think it's been quite so bad. Jays are 28-26 outside of the AL East.

Considering how good Boston and New York have been, and how many things have gone wrong for the Jays, I think they're doing as well as expected.

That being said, I agree with Nik, take it down to the bone and start over.

What to do about Donaldson? Try to re-sign him or take pennies on the dollar?

 

[hockeyfan1]

Smoak-ed!

The Blue Jays beat the Yankees 6-2 and thanks to those five runs in the second inning, where Justin Smoak's three-run home run vaulted the Jays high up on the scoreboard.  Other offensive contributors were Solarte,  Granderson, Travis.

Winning pitcher was Joe Biagini who came on to relieve starter Sam Gaviglio in the fifth inning. 

A fine win on a fine night indeed.

Game  story:
https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/justin-smoak-hits-3-run-blast-blue-jays-overpower-yankees/

 

[Frank E]

Listen, boys, I need some help here.

WTF happened to the Jays...like, it wasn't supposed to be this bad, right?

What's the solution here?

I don't think many people really expected them to be a playoff team. Not after the years that Boston and New York had(who both added major off-season pieces). Are they maybe a little behind where people had them pegged? A bit maybe, but Donaldson's been hurt, Sanchez has been hurt/ineffective, Stroman's been hurt/downright bad.

The solution is scrap and build.

In baseball, typically how long does a scrap and build up process take before the team is competitive again?

 

[Phileas Fogg]

Smoak-ed!

Just a thought, nothing more... I get the idea you're not actually watching the games, just recapping the articles, and we all know where to go to read articles. I come to these sports boards to actually read and write opinion on the games with other people that might respond.

There's a guy on the main page that provides a direct link to the highlights of the past game.. if you could do that, it would be far more valuable, at least for me! cheers

 

[Kin]

In baseball, typically how long does a scrap and build up process take before the team is competitive again?

I don't think there's an easy answer there. A ton of it depends on what you've already got in your minor league system, how close they are and your GM's ability to identify prospects in other organizations that they may get in trades and their ability to contribute in a timely fashion. Likewise, a lot then has to do with attracting free agents to supplement the process.

Baseball isn't as straightforward as other sports in terms of where you can land big pieces so you don't need the two or three years of top 3 drafting if you've been making good choices. Likewise, because you can't trade draft picks and there's a whole separate system for signing players for latin america every team will be perpetually feeding their system. How well a team does that will determine their ability to build a contender quickly.

 

[Frank E]

In baseball, typically how long does a scrap and build up process take before the team is competitive again?

I don't think there's an easy answer there. A ton of it depends on what you've already got in your minor league system, how close they are and your GM's ability to identify prospects in other organizations that they may get in trades and their ability to contribute in a timely fashion. Likewise, a lot then has to do with attracting free agents to supplement the process.

Baseball isn't as straightforward as other sports in terms of where you can land big pieces so you don't need the two or three years of top 3 drafting if you've been making good choices. Likewise, because you can't trade draft picks and there's a whole separate system for signing players for latin america every team will be perpetually feeding their system. How well a team does that will determine their ability to build a contender quickly.

Thanks Nik...how confident are we that Atkins is doing a good job in finding some diamonds in the rough?  I know they've got a couple of nice pieces in the minors...

 

[Captain Canuck]

Not a whole lot going right for the Jays this season. Happ just went out and laid an egg against the team that was reportedly most interested in acquiring him. Hopefully it doesn't bring his value down too much because most of the other UFAs will be going for yard sale prices later this month.

As for the rebuild process, like Nik said it's tough to say. It could be a few years if done right or the Jays could return to the wilderness for a couple decades again (lets hope not!). Even if all these prospects pan out it won't be easy, as the Yankees and Red Sox both have a lot of good young talent at the moment.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Osuna to appear in court Monday (July 9).

The Blue Jays announced that Osuna will now be eligible to participate in a "rehab assignment".

His suspension terminates Aug. 4, therefore he's eligible for that (minor league)  assignment  in less than a week from now.

Osuna will plead "not guilty" to the charges, as per his lawyer.


https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-roberto-osuna-eligible-begin-rehab-assignment-july-14/

 

[cabber24]

Fun Blue Jays promotion. Jays of Thunder.

https://www.facebook.com/budweisercanada/videos/10156386072288006/?hc_ref=ARTuNbrs7f96Pyx-pbN9gEc6mp9V5Sq_LuQ_eOVmXopzn_J8iY7_dJw6YHoLJx5p1-w

 

[hockeyfan1]

Smoak-ed!

There's a guy on the main page that provides a direct link to the highlights of the past game.. if you could do that, it would be far more valuable, at least for me! cheers

I'm open to suggestions.  No problem. 

I actually wanted to start something similar to the  "Scotiabank Maple Leafs in .60" thread that runs during the Leafs season.  But for the Jays, it's difficult finding one, but yes, I get what you mean.

If I can or whenever I can, especially to illustrate  a pivotal turning point in the game,  I'll see if I can post a link to a video.

Besides, the link to the article which I often include,  also contains the (let's say) Sportsnet broadcast highlights under the it's article's title heading.

 

[hockeyfan1]

vs

Starting Pitchers:
Tuesday July 10  7:30pm
Marcus Stroman RH (Blue Jays)  1-6  6.50 ERA  vs  Julio Teheran  RH (Braves)  6-6  4.47 ERA

Wednesday July 11  7:30pm
Sam Gaviglio RH (Blue Jays)  2-2  3.81 ERA  vs  TBD

All games on SN & SN590.


Soutce:  MLB.com,  FOXsports


The Toronto Blue Jays (41-48) visit Suntrust Park for a two-game Interleague tilt against the Atlanta Braves (50-39).

The Braves are first in the N.L.East, tied actually for first with the Philadelphia Phillies, both teams with identical w/l records. Atlanta is also tied with Philadelphia for the second N.L.WC spot.

The Braves Nick Markakis leads the Majors with 113 hits.

The Blue Jays are swirling in fourth place in the A.L.East and are still a whopping 15 GB for the second WC spot.  While the season is far from over, and in theory, still a chance for them to gain some ground, for manyJays fans it has become a foregone conclusion that the Jays are and will be out of the playoff race.  Amid trade rumours here and there, and a willingness by management to seemingly opt for a rebuild, Toronto fans can still enjoy whatever wins this sad sack team has to offer.

LER'S GO BLUE JAYS!

 

[hockeyfan1]

Stroman struts his stuff and the Blue Jays score five runs in the eighth inning to defeat the Braves last night 6-2. 

Jays starter Marcus Stroman pitched seven innings in striking out six and in allowing one earned run.  After a loss last week, Stroman regained his consistency and control of his pitches.  It certainly helps when your teammate's bats propel the offence.

Watch:
https://youtu.be/W01GG4ma604

 

[hockeyfan1]

Granderson shines:

[tweet]1014661354228273152[/tweet]

 

[hockeyfan1]

Blah!  Jays lose 9-5 to the Braves.  Split the two-game series.


https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-fail-rebound-mistakes-loss-braves/

 

[hockeyfan1]

vs

Starting Pitchers:
Thursday July 12  7pm
J.A. Happ LH (Blue Jays)  10-5  4.44 ERA  vs  David Price LH (Red Sox)  9-6  4.44 ERA

Friday July 13  7pm
Ryan Borucki LH (Blue Jays)  0-1  2.25 ERA  vs  Rick Porcello RH (Red Sox)  11-3  3.58 ERA

Saturday July 14  1pm
TBD  vs  Eduardo Rodriguez LH (Red Sox)  11-3  3.62 ERA

Sunday July 15  1pm
Marcus Stroman RH (Blue Jays)  2-6  5.90 ERA  vs  TBD

All games on SN & SN590.


Source:  MLB.com,  thestar.com,  ESPN.com


The Blue Jays (42-49) come to Fenway Park in a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox (65-29).

Boston's J.D. Martinez is running away on the leaderboard when it comes to runs, hits, homers, and RBIs.  He leads in most of those categories, league-wide, too.

The Jays come off a split of their two-game Interleague series against the Atlanta Braves.

This will be the last weekend series before MLB's All-Star Game, to be played at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday July 17, 2018.

The Blue Jays pitching ace J.A. Happy will be their lone representative there.

LET'S GO BLUE JAYS!

 

[Captain Canuck]

3rd bad start in a row for Happ now, shine starting to come off! 
Jays can't seem to catch a break with their UFAs this season between poor outings and the injury bug. 

 

[L K]

That really wasn?t a bad start from Happ though.  He was great until Travis forgot how to play the fundamentals of defense. 

 

[Andy007]

That really wasn?t a bad start from Happ though.  He was great until Travis forgot how to play the fundamentals of defense.

And Smoak fumbled that foul ball catch in the same at bat that Betts belted that grand slam.

His final line was 3.2 IP 5H 0ER 1BB and 6K. Not great but certainly not bad and completely let down by the defense.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Poor defence got the better of the Blue Jays in their 5-2 loss this afternoon, coming off the heels of last night's 10th-inning 6-2 Grand Slam winner by the Bosox.

The Jays only took one win out of this four-game series, a13-7 thrashing of the Red Sox Friday night that saw Kevin Pillar and Justin Smoak contribute four RBIs.

https://youtu.be/pgPCJvzQaUE


Jays placed Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on the DL (concussion).  Gurriel was hit on the back of the head/neck by the heel of Boston pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez. Both players arrived at first base at the same time with Gurriel sliding safely.  Rodriguez however needed to jump to avoid colliding into him and that's when Rodriguez's foot caught the back of Gurriel's head.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-lourdes-gurriel-jr-dl-concussion/sn-amp/


Kevin Pillar suffered a serious injury to his right clavicle (shoulder/collarbone area) during one of his "Superman" diving catches.  He'll be out 4-6 weeks.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-place-kevin-pillar-dl-gurriel-concussion-dl/sn-amp/


The Jays are off until Friday when they commence on a three-game series versus the Orioles in Toronto.

Now, on to the All-Star Game.

 

[L K]

Poor Happ.  Makes his first all-star game and probably doesn't get to pitch. 

EDIT: AL Blows the lead in the 9th and Happ gets to pitch the 10th for the save situation.