Your Toronto Blue Jays

[overthere]

No one would have guessed that the Jays #1 problem would have been their inability to generate offence. The starting pitching has been great, the bullpen has been aight, Osuna has been amazing. But outside the 2, 3, 4 hitters, I don't then there's any confidence in the ability for this lineup to deliver a clutch hit.

Their problems are much deeper than just offence.

I'm sure you've noticed that their bullpen is just brutal in general.

Sanchez is now getting hit very hard. Maybe he should go back to the pen. The Jays urgently need somebody anybody there since Storen, Cecil, Chavez, Floyd and... have I missed anybody?... have pretty much sucked.

But they have another problem and it is big and enduring. They cannot make runs. They don't even try. They continue to play Cito Gaston style: try to get a couple guys on base, then hit a three run homer. It became a problem last year, when Kansas City showed them there is more than one way to win, that speed and aggression score runs. The Jays just don't bunt, hit and run, steal bases and worst of all they just plain refuse to try to advance runners. The worst offenders are the heart of their lineup. Everybody is trying to hit a homer, when what they must do is advance a runner into scoring position. Last year we saw KC 3rd and 4th and 5th guys doing those things, and winning. Gibbons says 'the hitting will come'. What I hear is that 'we are going to lose games needlessly while he waits for that to happen'.

[Boges]

Their problems are much deeper than just offence.

I'm sure you've noticed that their bullpen is just brutal in general.

Sanchez is now getting hit very hard. Maybe he should go back to the pen. The Jays urgently need somebody anybody there since Storen, Cecil, Chavez, Floyd and... have I missed anybody?... have pretty much sucked.

But they have another problem and it is big and enduring. They cannot make runs. They don't even try. They continue to play Cito Gaston style: try to get a couple guys on base, then hit a three run homer. It became a problem last year, when Kansas City showed them there is more than one way to win, that speed and aggression score runs. The Jays just don't bunt, hit and run, steal bases and worst of all they just plain refuse to try to advance runners. The worst offenders are the heart of their lineup. Everybody is trying to hit a homer, when what they must do is advance a runner into scoring position. Last year we saw KC 3rd and 4th and 5th guys doing those things, and winning. Gibbons says 'the hitting will come'. What I hear is that 'we are going to lose games needlessly while he waits for that to happen'.

After a shaky first 2 innings, Sanchez was money last night. He's only had one bad start. Oh and tonight's starter, Happ, is pitching better than David Price so far.

Dickey even had a decent start last time out but they couldn't generate runs.

Looks like Russell Martin is snapping out of it.

So last night in the 9th Tulo comes out with 2 on and zero out. I guess that calls for a bunt. Who's going to tell a career 300 Hitter to bunt there? He popped out to the infield.

I hear you but this team has the hitting potential that they shouldn't need to play small ball. They certainly didnt last year.

Edited May 5, 2016 by Boges

[overthere]

No, they did not last year- and when the crunch came and when they faced excellent pitching and nobody got the big timely hits- they lost.

Sometimes your #3,4,5 hitters have to take one for the team -and create a run .

We have yet another example in the early season of what happens when you insist on relying on the long ball. Winners don't do that, they use all their options.

Until they address that, they aren't winning a championship.

Until they address their bullpen, they aren';t contending for a championship.

Revere for Storen is starting to look like a very bad deal, if only because Revere was a guy who made it happen on the bases..

[Boges]

Revere for Storen is starting to look like a very bad deal, if only because Revere was a guy who made it happen on the bases..

Storen has been improving.

Revere's replacement, Michael Saunders, is doing very well.

[overthere]

Saunders is not Reveres replacement.

Storen was traded for Revere. It looks like the reason he was demoted(twice) in Washington, and then traded, is because he has lost some pace and is getting hit hard, his WHIP is not close to adequate. The Nats paid some of his salary too, which to me is an alarm bell in itself.

Any comment on my two reasons the Jays won't be a championship team: bullpen and their singleminded, inflexible style of play?

[Boges]

Saunders is not Reveres replacement.

Storen was traded for Revere. It looks like the reason he was demoted(twice) in Washington, and then traded, is because he has lost some pace and is getting hit hard, his WHIP is not close to adequate. The Nats paid some of his salary too, which to me is an alarm bell in itself.

Any comment on my two reasons the Jays won't be a championship team: bullpen and their singleminded, inflexible style of play?

I think Cecil had been a massive disappointment. But guys like Floyd and Chavez have pretty good. There are also some younger guys that have been showing promise. It's not like they can acquire an arm now. I think we can agree Osuna has been their best closer in quite some time.

I agree they don't play small ball. If you think that'll make it impossible for them to win a World Series, I can really argue.

I think their big problem is situational hitting. Bases loaded, 2 out last night and the AL MVP pops out. But then Pillar hits a 3 run Homer the next inning.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Boges

[overthere]

Why can't they acquire an arm now? It is quite some time to the trade deadline.

Osuna has been good.

The rest of the bullpen: worst in the AL, maybe in MLB. The inherited hitters stat is very telling- it means that when it matters, the bullpen fails. Also telling is that instead of all those expensive veterans, Gibbons goes often to his AA player, Biagini. Wow.

Complete inability to even try small ball is only one aspect, situational hitting is another indication that they are not going anywhere, again. Even if their bats all come back to life, they will still need to win close games against good pitching and they really struggle with that. It isn't the players fault, they need their manager to a) show them how to bunt for example they need their manager to call for a bunt. Hit and run. and FFS : advance the runners. Good teams don't constantly get runners at first and second, then never get them over even one base. The Jays do it far too much. Waiting for that 3 run homer, all day every day. I reckon Gibbons is afraid of his vets, won't tell them to choke up, and slap the ball.

[Boges]

When of the most questionable moves the Jays made in the offseason was to bring in J Happ to a pretty hefty Free Agent contract.

That seems to have been a good move. He's been unquestionably better than David Price has been this year.

They keep scuffling around 500. Good series, bad series, good series, bad series. They need to put a string of solid performances together.

As for the bullpen. I suspect Storen may be relieved of his set-up man spot for guys like Floyd or Chavez who are performing better.

[Big Guy]

Just finished watching the game. Bases loaded, pitcher in a 3-0 situation. Throws another ball to lose and end the game.

How can a pitcher completely miss the strike zone? He could have lobbed it over the plate!

[overthere]

Just finished watching the game. Bases loaded, pitcher in a 3-0 situation. Throws another ball to lose and end the game.

How can a pitcher completely miss the strike zone? He could have lobbed it over the plate!

The extra innings were a neat summary of what has gone wrong for the Jays this year Some poor fielding, good chances to score wasted, an error in the 13th, and the bullpen choking- the Jays lost and the Giants didn't even have a hit in the final inning!

On the other hand, it was a fine comeback from 4-1 to tie it late..... but there are no tie games in baseball and moral victories don't count in the standings.

[Boges]

The extra innings were a neat summary of what has gone wrong for the Jays this year Some poor fielding, good chances to score wasted, an error in the 13th, and the bullpen choking- the Jays lost and the Giants didn't even have a hit in the final inning!

On the other hand, it was a fine comeback from 4-1 to tie it late..... but there are no tie games in baseball and moral victories don't count in the standings.

Also won the series with some fine pitching performances (Both starting and bullpen). Glass half-empty or full?

We'll see if they can dominate Texas again this weekend.

[overthere]

Glass half-empty or full?

.500 team that was expected by some people here to dominate.

You call it.

[Boges]

.500 team that was expected by some people here to dominate.

You call it.

For sure, they've been under performing.

There are some obvious positives and glaring negatives. Will Tulo continue to scuffle? Bautista has started to scuffle too. Goins seems to be playing worse than Darwin Barney right now. And yes, 2/3 of what was thought of as a lockdown 3 inning bullpen has been rather awful.

I still think this team is better than Baltimore and Boston, who they're chasing in the East.

Edited May 12, 2016 by Boges

[Big Guy]

Batista has a good handle on how to hit a ball but he better work on his batting skills. He forgot to duck under an overhand right from a Texan and looked like he got clocked pretty good.

I was watching a baseball game and a hockey game broke out.

Doers it get any better than this?

Edited May 16, 2016 by Big Guy

[Shady]

Batista has it coming. His slide was pretty late. You can only push a team so far.

[Boges]

Batista has it coming. His slide was pretty late. You can only push a team so far.

You know they just beaned him right?

Likely the last opportunity he'd have at bat against them and they bean him. Cowardly!

Odour was actually aiming his throw on that slide at Bautista's head then he punched him in the face.

Gotta love baseball where the proper response to a bat flip is a ball in the back and a punch in the face and people say he had it coming.

Edited May 16, 2016 by Boges

[overthere]

The punch in the face was a reaction to the slide by Bautista that was intended to injure. Seemed a fair and proportional reaction, given what has happened to fielders careers in other examples.. Normally, when your pitcher plunks one of yours, you plunk one of theirs and thats it. It was an ignorant, selfish play by Bautista. The jays urgently needed base runners, and he made that play into an automatic double play. Selfish crap.

And everybody seems to have forgotten that the Jays continue to lose. Maybe they are counting on another miraculous, post allstar game miracle. Good luck with that. They urgently need to make some changes.

[Big Guy]

That bat flip was a hot dog move. That punch in the face was a reaction to it.

Maybe next time Batista gets on base against Texas he should take his bat with him.

[The_Squid]

Batista needs to learn to duck! He can take a punch though!

[overthere]

That bat flip was a hot dog move. That punch in the face was a reaction to it.

Maybe next time Batista gets on base against Texas he should take his bat with him.

No, the punch in the face was a natural reaction to Bautista trying to end the second basemans career.

One thing made me laugh: the second baseman (who has the wondrous name of Roughed Odor) didn't bother to take off his ball glove the entire time. He punked Bautista with one hand.

[Boges]

No, the punch in the face was a natural reaction to Bautista trying to end the second basemans career.

One thing made me laugh: the second baseman (who has the wondrous name of Roughed Odor) didn't bother to take off his ball glove the entire time. He punked Bautista with one hand.

He used the glove to slap him like it was a purse.

Odor was throwing at Bautista.

I suspect Odor's upcoming suspension will reveal that it wasn't a reasonable response.

[overthere]

He used the glove to slap him like it was a purse.

Odor was throwing at Bautista.

I suspect Odor's upcoming suspension will reveal that it wasn't a reasonable response.

You cannot have gotten any of that from the replays, surely. There is a pretty long list of people badly hurt by slides like Bautistas, they changed the rule after major injuries to Tejeda and Posey. The slide that game night was an intent to injure. If I was Odor, I'd have taken off my glove and given him a real beating. When did he slap Bautista with his glove? After the slide, Joey popped up in his face looking to initiate trouble and Odor gave him a two handed push. Bautista came back at him and Odor drilled him in the chops, knocking off his glasses and helmet. Bautista seemed to entirely lose his interest in taking on Odor at that point- and Odor still had his ball glove on. If you are going to get all macho on somebody, you better be able and willing to back it up with something other than posturing.

He was 'throwing' at Bautista? Throwing the ball? He was throwing it to first base as the second half of an easy double play and missed that because he got taken out by the illegal, dangerous slide.

[Boges]

You cannot have gotten any of that from the replays, surely. There is a pretty long list of people badly hurt by slides like Bautistas, they changed the rule after major injuries to Tejeda and Posey. The slide that game night was an intent to injure. If I was Odor, I'd have taken off my glove and given him a real beating. When did he slap Bautista with his glove? After the slide, Joey popped up in his face looking to initiate trouble and Odor gave him a two handed push. Bautista came back at him and Odor drilled him in the chops, knocking off his glasses and helmet. Bautista seemed to entirely lose his interest in taking on Odor at that point- and Odor still had his ball glove on. If you are going to get all macho on somebody, you better be able and willing to back it up with something other than posturing.

He was 'throwing' at Bautista? Throwing the ball? He was throwing it to first base as the second half of an easy double play and missed that because he got taken out by the illegal, dangerous slide.

Yeah that was the analysis I heard, The ball didn't get thrown to the first baseman. And Bautista didn't lead with his spikes. Unlike Odor has a history of.

I honestly stopped watching because the Jays were about to lose and the Raptors were about to clinch an Eastern Conference finals berth at the same time.

Also Adrian Beltre grabbed Bautista so I fail to see you can get the analysis that he lost interest in taking on Odor at that point.

Regardless I'm hearing Odor's suspension will be 8 games.

Edited May 17, 2016 by Boges

[overthere]

Of course the ball was thrown to the first baseman. It was high and wide, because Odor was avoiding getting spiked in the crotch or knee. The umps immediately called the hitter out at first because of Bautistas slide. Not later, immediately.

Bautista didn't even start his slide until he was nearly on the bag. And what Odor did on a slide has noting at all to do with this play.

Bautista had plenty of time to start chucking punches, chose not to. Well, he took a serious shot from Odor, that likely took some fight out of him. But what was he expecting: when start a fight as he clearly did, you better get your hands up and finish it.

Bautista is supposedly a leader on this team. He needs to start acting like one. They were down one run when he started this. Selfish and stupid , in this case.

[overthere]

The countdown on firing Gibbons is well underway.