The 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[Kin]

Well yeah, that too.  In a round about way I was trying to get to that same point, but more focused on the decision that led to ending up using Janssen then bringing him in at all.  I'm sure another pitcher could have come in for that final out, although the fact he only threw 3 pitches likely means he's going to be available for the next 2.

Sure. But let's not kid ourselves about the reasons behind it. It wasn't about saving Janssen for optimal usage. Gibbons didn't use him to start the inning because it wasn't a save situation, then he did get used because it was one.

 

[L K]

Back when the Jays had Duane Ward and Tom Henke it was great. Ward would work the eighth as the set up man and Henke would close it out.

They got days off when the Jays were losing and worked almost every winning situation.

Once it got past the 7th the game was over.

I think the hope was Santos was going to become the setup guy for Janssen, but Santos is terrible and always hurt.

The Delebar/Cecil combo was kind of taking that role but they have not been as effective this year as they were last year. 

I wonder if McGowan is going to elevate to that role at some point.

Maybe, for McGowan.  Since going back to the bullpen he has pitched 8 innings giving up 1 run (solo HR) and allowed only 4 hits and 1 walk over that stretch.  Last year he had a very good run as a reliever over 25.2 IP with a 2.45 ERA.  The only thing for me is that I think McGowan is the perfect guys to bridge the 6th/7th inning when you starter struggles to get past being the pitcher of record.

 

[Corn Flake]

Maybe, for McGowan.  Since going back to the bullpen he has pitched 8 innings giving up 1 run (solo HR) and allowed only 4 hits and 1 walk over that stretch.  Last year he had a very good run as a reliever over 25.2 IP with a 2.45 ERA.  The only thing for me is that I think McGowan is the perfect guys to bridge the 6th/7th inning when you starter struggles to get past being the pitcher of record.

Maybe they should give Darren Oliver a call.

 

[L K]

Delabar looks done right now.  I don't trust him on the mound.

He's been pretty inconsistent since coming off the DL last season - which is really too bad, because he was excellent before he got hurt.

Pretty much everyone in the bullpen has had stretches of inconsistency, though, so, I'm not going to write him off just yet.
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His velocity is down.  That's concerning to me.

 

[bustaheims]

Because modern managers use their bullpens like dopes and care about stupid things like "save situations".

Pretty good example of that in the game tonight, too. Bases loaded in a 1 run game in the 6th with nobody out - the type of situation where, really, you should be looking to bring in your best reliever - and the Jays brought in Loup instead. It worked out for them, fortunately, but, it's a situation that definitely highlights the idea of closers leading to pitching staffs not being used in the most effective fashion.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Pretty good example of that in the game tonight, too. Bases loaded in a 1 run game in the 6th with nobody out - the type of situation where, really, you should be looking to bring in your best reliever - and the Jays brought in Loup instead. It worked out for them, fortunately, but, it's a situation that definitely highlights the idea of closers leading to pitching staffs not being used in the most effective fashion.

Loup has been great, and great at coming in with runners on base and stranding him.  Could make an argument he is their best relief pitcher for that scenario.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Delabar looks done right now.  I don't trust him on the mound.

He's been pretty inconsistent since coming off the DL last season - which is really too bad, because he was excellent before he got hurt.

Pretty much everyone in the bullpen has had stretches of inconsistency, though, so, I'm not going to write him off just yet.

His velocity is down.  That's concerning to me.

He says it's because he's in the middle of making mechanical adjustments: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/06/04/toronto-blue-jays-steve-delabar-making-mechanical-adjustments-to-get-back-on-track/

 

[bustaheims]

Loup has been great, and great at coming in with runners on base and stranding him.  Could make an argument he is their best relief pitcher for that scenario.

True. Loup has been excellent, but, it's more about the situation than the specific pitcher that was brought in. Not every team has a Loup on their staff, but no team likely goes to their closer there.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Jays win again.  That makes it 18 of their past 22.

 

[bustaheims]

Jays win again.  That makes it 18 of their past 22.

Big win with Verlander starting against them tomorrow. Yankees also lost, so the Jays put a little more ground between them.

 

[dappleganger]

Jays are awesome.

 

[Corn Flake]

Delabar looks done right now.  I don't trust him on the mound.

He's been pretty inconsistent since coming off the DL last season - which is really too bad, because he was excellent before he got hurt.

Pretty much everyone in the bullpen has had stretches of inconsistency, though, so, I'm not going to write him off just yet.

His velocity is down.  That's concerning to me.

He says it's because he's in the middle of making mechanical adjustments: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/06/04/toronto-blue-jays-steve-delabar-making-mechanical-adjustments-to-get-back-on-track/

I blame the beard.  Shave the beard and your pitching will return, Steve.

Simple solution.

 

[Corn Flake]

Jays are awesome.

Your avatar is disturbing.

 

[bustaheims]

He says it's because he's in the middle of making mechanical adjustments: http://sports.nationalpost.com/2014/06/04/toronto-blue-jays-steve-delabar-making-mechanical-adjustments-to-get-back-on-track/

I wonder if maybe a couple weeks with Buffalo might not be the best thing for him. He can get a little further along with his adjustments without risking hurting the Jays.

 

[Kin]

Loup has been great, and great at coming in with runners on base and stranding him.  Could make an argument he is their best relief pitcher for that scenario.

True. Loup has been excellent, but, it's more about the situation than the specific pitcher that was brought in. Not every team has a Loup on their staff, but no team likely goes to their closer there.

More to the point, stranding runners isn't really a skill that's separate from just getting outs. The best pitcher at stranding runners would be one who would have a high K rate and a low WHIP. Loup's K rate is lower than Janssen's in their career and Janssen's clearly been better at not allowing baserunners.

 

[Corn Flake]

@LottOnBaseball Deck McGuire struck out 10, walked one, allowed one run in seven innings for Buffalo today.

nice.

 

[Heroic Shrimp]

You suck, Verlander.

 

[bustaheims]

You suck, Verlander.

Dating Kate Upton hasn't been good for his pitching. She's very distracting.

 

[Kin]

Dating Kate Upton hasn't been good for his pitching. She's very distracting.

Is dating supermodels and a 180 million dollar contract really a comfort when your ERA is over 4?

Oh it is? Dang.

 

[Deebo]

He's 10 years older than her, I wish I was a professional athlete.