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2018 Toronto Blue Jays General Season Thread

The Blue Jays prevented a Tampa Bay sweep as Toronto beat the Rays 2-1 this afternoon.

Kevin Pillar atoned for his errors in Saturday' s 3-1 loss to the Rays, drove in the winning run on a Randal Gruchuk grounder.  Upon video review, Pillar was deemed safe.  Nice.  Good hustle and clever baserunning on the part of Pillar.

Jays starter Marcus Stroman lasted five innings in allowing a run.  Stroman was playing with a blistered finger, but was adamant about starting in today's game and won't let the problem bother him to continue to be in the lineup. 

Relief pitcher Jaime Garcia got the win and Ken Giles the save.


https://youtu.be/S5iYvoRUfhU
 
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Starting Pitchers:
Monday August 13  8pm
Sean Reid- Foley RH (Blue Jays)  vs  Brad Keller  RH (Royals)  4-5  3.57 ERA

Tuesday August 14  8pm
Ryan Borucki LH (Blue Jays)  2-2  2.81 ERA  vs  Heath Fillmyer  1-1  3.13 ERA

Wednesday August 15  8pm
Marco Estrada RH (Blue Jays)  5-9  4.84 ERA  vs  Burch Smith RH (Royals)  1-4  6.97 ERA

Thursday August 16  8pm
Sam Gaviglio RH (Blue Jays)  2-5  4.86 ERA  vs  Danny Duffy LH (Royals)  7-1  4.90 ERA

All games on SN & SN590.


Source:  Foxsports,  thestar.com,  MLB.com


The Blue Jays (53-64) come to Kauffman Stadium for a four-game series against the Kansas City Royals (35-82).

The Royals are among one of the worst teams in the A.L. next to the Baltimore Orioles,  and are a whopping 31.0 GB first and dead last in the A.L. Central division.

The Blue Jays, with a better record than either of the above-mentioned cellar dwellars, are themselves 30.5 GB first and fourth in the A.L. East division.

Of course,  Blue Jay fans  already know the playoffs have long been a forgone conclusion.  The real interest and for the rest of the season is to watch the Jays young prospects and young players take a foothold in their MLB careers, and continie to gain experience. 

Such will be the case for new callups Casey Jansen and Sean-Reid Foley.  Foley, a right-handed starter,  will make his debut here againat the Royals Monday.

LET'S GO BLUE JAYS!
 
Andy said:
Reid-Foley starting and Jansen catching tonight. Might have to actually watch this one.
Click to expand...

A couple good reasons to watch!

Reid-Foley was up and down, but definitely looked more good than bad. He did a really good job to get out of that bases loaded jam in the 4th by only giving up 1 run.

Jansen was the only Jay with 2 hits tonight, including in his first MLB plate appearance. I was also impressed with his arm, throwing out Herrera (although he might be a bad base stealer 1 SB to 5 CS on the season).

 
Really liked what was presented by catcher Jansen, Reid-Foley, and even reliever Thomas Pannone.

The fact that Jansen caught a runner stealing with his precise and quick throw to second is something our other catchers haven't often done this year.  Refreshing to see a youngster (Jansen) showcase himself well.

As for Reid-Foley, as was mentioned, he held his own inspire of the runs and the future definitely looks good on the mound.

Check it out:
https://www.tsn.ca/mlb/video/mlb-blue-jays-1-royals-3%7E1460228
 
LittleHockeyFan said:
can anyone tell me what's going on with Tulowitzki (sp, sorry) and Donaldson? Will they EVER be back?
Click to expand...

As far as those two are concerned, there isn't much in the way of them returning to the lineup any time soon.

They're both rehabbing -- fielding/hitting/running -- but no timetable given for their return.  They need to be given the ahead for minor league assignment but no word yet on any further news.

Report on Tulowitzki:
The veteran shortstop has already began a running progression and has been hitting and fielding for a while, but it's unclear when he'll be given the green light to begin a minor-league rehab assignment. Any rehab stint would likely last close to the maximum 20 days, given that Tulowitzki hasn't faced live pitching in a competitive setting since last July.
Click to expand...

Report on Donaldson:
Jays manager John Gibbons said that once Donaldson is cleared to resume running at full intensity, he wouldn't require a lengthy rehab assignment. While that sounds as if the Jays are optimistic, it's still not exactly a clear timetable and sounds as if they are putting their best face on the situation. This jibes with their potential desire to trade him before the end of the month. There's still good reason to remain skeptical.
Click to expand...


Source:  Sportsnet
 
Jays lose 6-2, and a split of this four game series.


https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-royals/2018/08/16/531232#game_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=531232
 
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Starting Pitchers:
Friday August 17  7pm
Marcus Stroman RH (Blue Jays)  4-8  5.03 ERA  vs  Lance Lynn RH (Yankees)  8-8  4.46 ERA

Saturday August 18  1pm
Sean Reid-Foley RH (Blue Jays)  0-1  5.40 ERA  vs  Luis Severino RH (Yankees)  15-6  3.27 ERA

Sunday August 19  1pm
Ryan Borucki LH (Blue Jsys)  2-2  3.29 ERA  vs  J.A.Happ LH (Yankees)  13-6  3.86 ERA

All games on SN & SN590.


Source:    torontosun.com,  MLB.com


The Blue Jays will play the NYYankees in a three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

The Yankees are firmly in second place in the A.L. East 10.5 GBL Boston Red Sox, and occupy the WC spot.

The Yankees have had injuries to key players -- catcher Gary Sanchez and Aaron Judge.  Not that the Yankees lack firepower for they have plenty of it on the roster,  as they are first in HRs and fifth in run production.  They are poised for a World Series run no doubt as New York owns the second-best w/l record this season in the Majors.

The Blue Jays are the opposite story, a team in need of a makeover and in need of a rebuild.  With a couple of prospects  in their lineup -- Borucki, Reid-Foley & Jansen as the latest additions -- the future for this team already looks promising.

This series will feature a familiar Blue Jay, make that ex-Blue Jay long since traded to the Yankees, J.A.Happ.  Happ will face his former team in Sunday's series finale.

On the subject of the injured, the latest news has the Jays Aaron Sanchez rehabbing in Triple A throwing pitches and should be ready to be cleared to rejoin the club soon.  As for Josh Donaldson, he is about to be given the go ahead to resume running and Tulowitzki has been fielding/hitting in Dunedin.

Apart from Tulo and JD, having pitcher Sanchez back will be a welcome relief for the rotation.

LET'S GO BLUE JAYS!
 
Lousy!

First the Blue Jays built up a lead...then the Yankees come back...then Stanton's insurance homer...then the rain, rain, rain...the game was aborted in the seventh inning with the Yankees 7-5 winners Thursday night.

Jays starter Marcus Stroman had poor control and there is now a possibility he may head back on the DL.  Stroman's poor performance (he gave up five runs) was due to his blistered finger problems.


https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2018/08/17/531248#game_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=531248
 
hockeyfan1 said:
Lousy!

First the Blue Jays built up a lead...then the Yankees come back...then Stanton's insurance homer...then the rain, rain, rain...the game was aborted in the seventh inning with the Yankees 7-5 winners Thursday night.

Jays starter Marcus Stroman had poor control and there is now a possibility he may head back on the DL.  Stroman's poor performance (he gave up five runs) was due to his blistered finger problems.


https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2018/08/17/531248#game_state=final,game_tab=videos,game=531248
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Yea, Stroman was really struggling out there. The home plate umpire made some brutal calls too, which wasn't helping.

One thing about Stroman I was wondering about- Is his velocity down from two seasons ago? I seem to recall him hitting 94-95 fairly regularly but yesterday I saw alot of 90's and last year he frequently sat in the low 90's. I don't know if it's his overuse of the cutter (which I definitely think is a problem regardless) or if it's the affects of the blister (or just my own unfounded observations).
 
Andy said:
One thing about Stroman I was wondering about- Is his velocity down from two seasons ago? I seem to recall him hitting 94-95 fairly regularly but yesterday I saw alot of 90's and last year he frequently sat in the low 90's. I don't know if it's his overuse of the cutter (which I definitely think is a problem regardless) or if it's the affects of the blister (or just my own unfounded observations).
Click to expand...

Stroman's velocity is definitely on a downwind this season.  His battles with shoulder inflammation and now his blistered finger problems have surely cut down his performances.

Stroman pitching (pitches) depends mostly on movement & rotation, rather than placing & power.  That alone has been a big factor in his inconsistencies (coupled with his bothersome health issues).

Here's some charts that lend credence to the above:

https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=13431&position=P&statArr=266,265&legend=1,2,3&split=base&time=season&dStatArray=SI&start=2016&end=2018&rtype=mult&gt1=15&ymin=&ymax=

https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=13431&position=P&statArr=266,265&legend=1,2,3&split=base&time=age&dStatArray=SI&start=2016&end=2018&rtype=mult&gt1=15&ymin=&ymax=

https://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfxo.aspx?playerid=13431&position=P&statArr=266,265&legend=1,2,3&split=base&time=game&dStatArray=SI&start=2018&end=2018&rtype=single&gt1=15&ymin=&ymax=
 
Approximately a week ago, Jays skipper John Gibbons had this to say to MLB Radio:

That?s the reality of these jobs.  Sooner or later it?s going to happen,? Gibbons said, though he didn?t believe he would be replaced anytime in the near future.  As for the longer term, Gibbons raised the possibility that he might not be the best fit for a team ?starting to get into a full-blown rebuild,? which could describe the Jays? approach.  ?Maybe they would benefit from getting a new fresh face that could grow with the young players and things like that.  I?m not so sure I want to go through one of those things, a total rebuild, but we?ll probably sit down before it?s all said and done and talk it out,? Gibbons said.
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https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/john-gibbons


Yesterday Jays GM Atkins confirmed the following:

[tweet]1030570246904729601[/tweet]

Did Gibbons, (by uttering the bolded part in the quote), make a faux pas?  "Total rebuild", " full-blown rebuild", was Gibbons too liberal here for something that the Jays management doesn't seem to want to admit to publicly?

Could be, but regardless, it's doubtful Gibbons will return next season.  We'll see to that at the end of this year as his contract runs to 2020.
 
The writing has been on the wall for months with Gibby. Nothing he has said or hasn't said in the last little while has changed any of that. He is here until the end of the season and then he is gone. The recent report of him staying on until the end of the season isn't too surprising, it's pointless to fire a manager this late in the season and in some ways the team owes him that small favour. Injuries and poor performance have more to do with where this team is than Gibby's managing.

You can tell he's just too tired to care anymore. Pillar should have been riding the pine after his selfish play today, instead he just gets an earful from Gibby and stays in the game. Gibby decides to get himself tossed later to get away from the tire fire.

As for the rebuild its already underway, at least at certain positions. You can already see the start of it with the pitchers and outfield. The infield and DH are a bit tougher with some big contracts still on the books. Donaldson should be gone shortly one way or the other. Morales and Martin have another year and Tulo is just plain immovable.
 
Captain Canuck said:
The writing has been on the wall for months with Gibby. Nothing he has said or hasn't said in the last little while has changed any of that. He is here until the end of the season and then he is gone. The recent report of him staying on until the end of the season isn't too surprising, it's pointless to fire a manager this late in the season and in some ways the team owes him that small favour. Injuries and poor performance have more to do with where this team is than Gibby's managing.

You can tell he's just too tired to care anymore. Pillar should have been riding the pine after his selfish play today, instead he just gets an earful from Gibby and stays in the game. Gibby decides to get himself tossed later to get away from the tire fire.

As for the rebuild its already underway, at least at certain positions. You can already see the start of it with the pitchers and outfield. The infield and DH are a bit tougher with some big contracts still on the books. Donaldson should be gone shortly one way or the other. Morales and Martin have another year and Tulo is just plain immovable.
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That's what I mentioned earlier in the year, too.  However, as things go, with a new manager in tow, it would depend on how successful he would be in terms of communicating with the younger players balancing that with earning respect & discipline in general from his squad.

Also, as the Jays continue with this rebuild, it's important to note that whatever veterans that will continue with the team for the interim, that they shouldn't be made to feel left out, rather, they could play a mentoring role (a quiet leadership) to the younger set.

I'm personally going to feel bad to see Gibbons done, but optimistic and very much looking forward to seeing the team begin their path to ascension.
 
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Starting Pitchers:
Monday August 20  7pm
Andrew Cashner RH (Orioles)  4-10  4.71 ERA  vs  Marco Estrada RH (Blue Jays)  6-9. 4.87 ERA

Tuesday August 21  7pm
Dylan Bundy RH (Orioles)  7-11  4.99 ERA  vs  Sam Gaviglio RH (Blue Jays)  2-6  5.13 ERA

Wednesday August 22  12:30pm
David Hess RH (Orioles)  2-7  5.95 ERA vs  Thomas Pannone RH (Blue Jays)  0-0  4.15 ERA

All games on SN & SN590.


Source:  MLB.com,  ESPN.com


The Baltimore Orioles (37-87) visit the Rogers Centre for a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays (55-69).

The Orioles along with the KC Royals, are two of the league's hapless teams (with near identical with/l records), dead last in their respective divisions.

The Blue Jays, who were swept zip by the NYYankees in their most recent road series, could use some wins playing against the hopeless Orioles.  It's hopeful though that the Jays won't commit to some dismal or lacklustre playing as they had demonstrated against the Yankees.  Afterall, the faithful need some cheering to do and what better than an opponent they've had success playing against this year. 

This is the first of a six-game homestand for Toronto.

LET'S GO BLUE JAYS!
 
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