Eyedea
The Legend Continues
i say we do a best of 5 home run derby.
(We have vlad )
Best of 5 meaning 5 pitches/swings? Are the teams switching after every swing? Are we doing this international hockey shootout style? Is Vladdy our TJ Oshie?
i say we do a best of 5 home run derby.
(We have vlad )
Good questions.Best of 5 meaning 5 pitches/swings? Are the teams switching after every swing? Are we doing this international hockey shootout style? Is Vladdy our TJ Oshie?
Nobody's picking anything. It just the results of a statistical model.Jays are not picked to win the division? Man, I don’t want to go through the wildcard again. I do believe that this year the race will be much closer than it was last year at least.
Daulton Varsho, Blue Jays
Key stat: 11 home runs over final 38 games of the 2022 season
So far, Varsho has been notable mostly for his ability to catch and play in the outfield, as well as his excellent speed. But 2023 may be the year we see a breakout campaign from him at the plate with his new team, the Blue Jays. Toronto wanted a left-handed bat to add to a heavily right-handed lineup, and traded Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and top catching prospect Gabriel Moreno to the D-backs in exchange for Varsho. The Jays may have swung that deal at just the right time.
That’s because Varsho ended last season with a pretty impressive show of power, hitting 11 of his 27 homers on the year over the final 38 games, and he stands to be one of the greatest beneficiaries of the new infield shift rules. Varsho pulled 50.9 percent of his batted balls in play last season. Of the 225 hitters who had at least 250 balls in play in 2022, Varsho ranked second only to Albert Pujols in that category.
Beginning with the upcoming season, teams must have at least four players on the infield, with a minimum of two on either side of second base. Each infielder must have his feet on the infield dirt -- no more “Ted Williams shift” or any other shift involving infielders positioning themselves in the outfield. Varsho should definitely benefit from these new shift restrictions and continue to progress as an offensive threat.
-- Manny Randhawa
1) Will the transformed outfield be better?
In 2022, the Jays had a big-hitting outfield of George Springer, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Teoscar Hernández -- three men who hit a ton of balls into and over the outfield but, when they visited the same area with their gloves, had a tendency to let nearly as many balls drop. The Jays made the bet this offseason that they had enough hitting, thank you, and switched to upgrading the outfield defense, trading Gurriel to Arizona, trading Hernández to Seattle, moving Springer to right and bringing in defensive whiz Kevin Kiermaier and the ever-fascinating Daulton Varsho. The plan makes sense, especially if Varsho can keep hitting in addition to his defense, but are we sure they’re not going to miss the offense Gurriel and Hernández have provided? There’s suddenly a lot less depth out there, too. The Jays are top-heavy with stars, but they better stay healthy.
2) Will there be more fire in the belly?
The Blue Jays made the playoffs last year, and jeez, a team with as much talent as they possess better have. But the vibes just felt off for the Jays a little bit, didn’t they? They got off to a slow-ish start, the Yankees pulled away from them a lot earlier than anyone could have thought, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.wasn’t quite what he was in 2021, the team just never quite went on the run we all expected. Again, they still made the playoffs, and they’re still loaded with talent. But now is supposed to be the time the Blue Jays are flooring it -- this is their prime. Will the team play like it knows it? Will there be more urgency than in 2022?
PREDICTIONS
Blue Jays: 95-67
Yankees: 90-72
Orioles: 87-75
Rays: 82-80
Red Sox: 68-94
Seriously, any team other than the Red Sox could win this division, and your prediction as to who will do so may just depend on your particular whims and preconceived notions. Do you think Judge will stay healthy enough to carry that Yankees offense? Do you think the Orioles can keep their surge going? Do you think the Rays are stepping forward or going backward? (I’m probably too low on the Rays, now that I look at it.) I tend to think the Blue Jays are due for a consolidation year when everything finally goes right for them all at once. But your mileage may vary.
A lot less in depth in the outfield doesn’t make much sense. There’s three players that can play CF. Injuries to Springer and KK are a valid concern. Jays also have Whit, Biggio, and likely another fielder they sign. Last yea the depth was Zimmer and Bradley.These 5 hitters are poised to break out this season
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Tapia, Zimmer, and Bradley. The primary starting outfielders were Springer, Hernandez, and Gurriel.A lot less in depth in the outfield doesn’t make much sense. There’s three players that can play CF. Injuries to Springer and KK are a valid concern. Jays also have Whit, Biggio, and likely another fielder they sign. Last yea the depth was Zimmer and Bradley.
it's bewildering. The fit is so crisp for both sides, Grossman is probably holding out for more guaranteed playing time but Robbie, brother, this outfield has Springer and Kiermaier. You're going to get your PAs.How is Grossman not a Jay yet? Perfect lefty masher.
Players That Could Move To The 60-Day IL Once Spring Training Begins
Just about every baseball team has a full 40-man roster now, with the Astros the only team with an open …www.mlbtraderumors.com
The IL only opens up on official report date, like Canada4Gold mentioned
60 day IL is from opening day as wellThanks, I was trying to find out if there was an official date.
It makes sense. As much as I wouldn't care if they DFA'd Trent Thornton or something to make room for Grossman, there's not much reason to do that when you can just wait a bit and not lose anyone.
Per Joel Sherman, 60 day IL opens today (wasn't sure if it was based on first day that any team officially has pitchers and catchers report or the first day that the team wanting to use it reports).
Also, the Jays are only eligible to place one guy on the 60 day IL (until they fill the 40 man slot).
Not to worry Yankee fans, you're definitely guaranteed full seasons out Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, and Clarke Schmidt.Montas getting shoulder surgery. Could be out for the season. Yanks rotation already injury filled.
Toronto Blue Jays
Additions: RHP Chris Bassitt, OF Daulton Varsho, RHP Erik Swanson, OF Kevin Kiermaier, 1B Brandon Belt, RHP Zach Thompson
Departures: OF Teoscar Hernandez, C Gabriel Moreno, RHP Ross Stripling, OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr., OF Raimel Tapia, RHP David Phelps
I'm not a huge fan of this offseason. In raw WAR totals from 2022, the Blue Jays upgraded from 9.9 to 11.0 -- or about one win. But that undersells Moreno's long-term value, so it mostly feels like the Jays are just kind of spinning their wheels here.
I also have some concerns about the new players. Over the past two seasons, Bassitt had a 2.74 ERA at home pitching in good pitcher's parks with the A's and Mets and 3.85 on the road. Now he moves to a tougher division in a tough park for pitchers. Varsho struggled against left-handed pitchers in 2022, so he has to show he's more than a platoon bat. Kiermaier is coming off labrum surgery, while Belt is coming off the worst season of his career and will be 35, so those are two bets on older players. It could all work and push the Jays to a division title: Varsho and Kiermaier are both plus defenders and Belt was terrific as recently as 2021 (.274/.378/.597). I know they had the catching depth, but the best long-term option might have been to keep Moreno, let Alejandro Kirk serve as a DH and ride out Hernandez's final season.
Grade: C
>let Alejandro Kirk serve as a DHMLB offseason grades for all 30 teams: Did your team get an A ... or an F?
Some front offices turned their teams into contenders, while others took a winterlong snooze. Here's who passed -- and failed -- the hot stove season.www.espn.com.au