!torontobluejays@lemmy.ca
💙Let’s go, Blue Jays! 🎶💙
Radio shows/podcasts
Stats
!torontobluejays
@lemmy.cahttps://www.mlb.com/bluejays/video/jose-berrios-is-named-al-pitcher-of-the-month?t=t141-default-vtp
The Blue Birds took 2 of 3 games each against the Marlins, Rockies, and Yankees.
Hitting: Right now the Jays are an MLB-average club by OPS+. Daulton Varsho had homeruns 1, 2, 3, and 4 while at home to become the club-leader in HRs (Vladdy has 3).
It now seems pretty widely acknowledged that this year’s team is not the homerun-hitting club of a couple years ago. They’re ranked 2nd in the AL on doubles and 11th on homeruns. Can the Jays lean into a small ball approach? Kevin Barker of Blair and Barker reported that Bo said that both he and Vladdy are focused on hitting homeruns because it’ll earn them bigger contracts as two players whose contracts with the Jays expire next year.
Pitching: The Jays rank near bottom of the MLB by ERA+, but that aggregate number obscures a lot to be excited about. This homestand had wicked starting pitching (ERA ~ 1.20). With Gausman returning to form and Yariel RodrÃguez’s strong debut, a rotation of Gausman, BerrÃos, Bassitt, Kikuchi, and RodrÃguez/Manoah sounds pretty awesome. Will BerrÃos and Kikuchi stay as red hot as they’ve been?
Yimi GarcÃa is clearly our best closer right now, but the rogers centre has this wrestling-like light show that they like to do for Jordan Romano. What will happen to the light shows if Romano ceases being our fixed 9th inning pitcher? I don’t like to see baseball decisions take a back seat to special effects, and I think we need to put the right pitcher in the right spot every game.
Defence: The Jays are top ten in fielding in the MLB.
Next up: The Blue Jays (10-9) now have a challenging 7-game road trip coming up: 3 games in San Diego (11-10), 4 games in Kansas (12-7). I can't decide whether I think they'll win 3 or 4.
While writing these lines, the Jays are 7W-8L and last in the AL East.
I know, I know, it's still early. This is the Jays' motto.
For those who have watched some or all of the games so far, what are your thoughts about the team, your projections?
Of the rotation, BerrÃos and Kikuchi have looked good so far, while Gausman, Bassitt, and Bowden Francis who's currently in the 5th spot have not. As of 9 of the 10 games on the road trip, Blue Jays are 27th/30 in pitching by ERA+.
At the plate, Justin Turner's been great and so have the roommates Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider. Cavan Biggio is doing well. Bo is really cold. The Jays are getting very little hitting from the catcher position, so hopefully Danny Jansen comes back soon and can hit. As of 9 games, the Blue Jays are 20th/30 in hitting by OPS+.
Fielding-wise, Blue Jays are 21st by errors or fielding % after 9 games.
Time to flush that roadtrip and look forward to playing a 9-game homestand that includes 3 easy games against the Rockies: Mariners (3), Rockies (3), Yankees (3).
I appreciate the idea of not wanting anyone to sit for too long, but between prioritizing offence and defence, I'm all for putting the best hitters out there right now. At the start of the season, I was concerned about Justin Turner at 3B - no longer do I feel that way. We need all the above-average bats we can put out there right now; leaning on our pitching like we did last year is not an option at the moment.
I'll guess that the Bluebirds go 4-5 at home, taking 2 from the Rockies and 1 each from the Mariners and Yankees. Here's hoping they find another gear at home though and win 5 or 6 games! Mariners' pitching is going to be a tough start
Team records entering series: Blue Jays 2-2, Astros 0-3
Expected pitching matchups:
3 games in, fielding can use some help here.. as well as hitting...
https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/blue-jays-rays-2024-opening-day-starting-pitchers
https://www.thestar.com/sports/blue-jays/ben-shulman-takes-over-as-sportsnet-radio-play-by-play-broadcaster-for-the-blue-jays/article_32bd8704-caa1-11ee-b175-73b17b2b8c3a.html
Shulman is the son of Dan Shulman, who himself will return as TV play-by-play host for Sportsnet, alongside game analysts Buck Martinez and Joe Siddall.