Jays Talk 2014

[zee51]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

Just when things are looking up there might be a problem. Hear that they are bringing up Kratz. No word on the other end of the move but Navarro was replaced by Thole last night.

Thole is ok for Dickey but I don't have a lot of faith in his game calling skills. Also, I don't think Kratz is that great as a catcher.

If there is a move at catcher this could be bad news for pitching staff.

[Pimento Cheese]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

Just when things are looking up there might be a problem. Hear that they are bringing up Kratz. No word on the other end of the move but Navarro was replaced by Thole last night.

Thole is ok for Dickey but I don't have a lot of faith in his game calling skills. Also, I don't think Kratz is that great as a catcher.

If there is a move at catcher this could be bad news for pitching staff.

I have no idea how good Thole is at calling a game. We know he can call "knuckleball, knuckleball, knuckleball, knuckleball, knuckleball, fastball, knuckleball" but he's done so little catching of anyone not named Dickey with the Jays that his game-calling skills are a complete mystery. He's bound to have some troubles given that he hasn't been working with most of the staff, so he doesn't know them as well as Navarro does. Let's hope that, if indeed Navarro is going on the DL, Thole has watched his work closely.

[zee51]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

Just going to say that regarding this 6 man starting rotation nonsense that I don't believe that it is to rest anyone but is the moment of truth test.

No secret that Morrow and McGowan have been awful although McGowan did ok in his last start. Add to this that they have another starter in the pen who is not pitching at all (Happ) and the fact that they seem to be determined to bring Stroman up. The thing is that Jannsen is also going to be back soon so that can't bring Stroman up and keep the status quo. So what are they going to do?

I think that they were hoping that McGowan would fail as a starter and move him to the pen or out. McGowan has the least salary of current starters except Hutchison. And by the way the Jay's stellar starters are the 4th highest paid in the American League. And that doesn't count the fact that they still have to pay Romero $7.5 M.

Anyway, I think that they are only looking for one of these guys to be successful as a starter and then somehow move or release the other two. I believe that McGowan, Morrow and Happs next start may dictate whether they play with the Jays the rest of the year. I believe that they will bring up Stoman and go with Dickey, Buehrle , Hutchinson, _________ and Stoman.

The thing is that Morrow makes $8 M and Happ is guaranteed $5.4 M as opposed to McGowan who is $1.5 M. There might be interest in McGowan by other teams but don't see it with Morrow and Happ.

So will the Jays really bite the bullet and DFA these guys and possibly release them? I think if they are serious about winning that they will. Besides if these guys aren't going to help you may as well release them. Anybody have other thoughts of what the Jays might do with pitching.

[Pimento Cheese]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

You're probably right.

In a sense, they may be using the regular season to have guys compete for a spot in the rotation. It's a bit more than that, of course, because someone will probably end up out of the organization entirely.

I'm not convinced Stroman is ready, though he just had a great outing to bounce back from the 10-hit implosion. I'd like to see Hendriks get a crack at the big league rotation, at least temporarily. I'd prefer him to Happ, who I've never liked. The way things are going, I might even prefer him to Morrow. Hendriks' big-league history is crap, but he's still relatively young* and has had some success in the minors, particularly this year when he's been unbelievable.

(* At 25, with three cracks at the bigs, I'd hope for better performance than what he's given, so the "relatively young" card isn't an easy one to play, but I feel a lot better about his "youth" than I would if he were, say, 29.)

[zee51]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

You're probably right.

In a sense, they may be using the regular season to have guys compete for a spot in the rotation. It's a bit more than that, of course, because someone will probably end up out of the organization entirely.

I'm not convinced Stroman is ready, though he just had a great outing to bounce back from the 10-hit implosion. I'd like to see Hendriks get a crack at the big league rotation, at least temporarily. I'd prefer him to Happ, who I've never liked. The way things are going, I might even prefer him to Morrow. Hendriks' big-league history is crap, but he's still relatively young* and has had some success in the minors, particularly this year when he's been unbelievable.

(* At 25, with three cracks at the bigs, I'd hope for better performance than what he's given, so the "relatively young" card isn't an easy one to play, but I feel a lot better about his "youth" than I would if he were, say, 29.)

At times Hendriks looked pretty good but his record in the bigs is not. That aside, I think the problem with bring him up is that he only has one option left.

[Pimento Cheese]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

I'm pretty sure he's out of options, but I think there comes a time when you should see what you've got in a guy and I think that time is coming with Hendricks. It's basically AAA-depth I'm willing to sacrifice -- Buffalo needs the arms.

I suppose what's in the back of my mind is a dislike of Happ and a willingness to replace him on the 25-man with Hendriks. And also my fear that Brandon Morrow's future with the organization might be running out.

Hendriks is the one guy in the minors who, if he can at least be competent at the major-league level, can give us a full season of innings.

[Pimento Cheese]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

Oh my.

So ... Jenkins was sent down to make room for Kratz.

Thole is catching tonight, which makes me think Navarro really is hurt. If that's the case, I don't know if he'll be available to pinch hit. Hopefully he will, because if not, our bench will be Getz, Gose, and Kratz.

Since Happ is pitching Monday and Jenkins was demoted, we're down to six men in the bullpen.

Short bench, short bullpen, and Morrow kicking off the NL stint with a string of short outings under his belt ... what could possibly go wrong?

[zee51]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

Oh my.

So ... Jenkins was sent down to make room for Kratz.

Thole is catching tonight, which makes me think Navarro really is hurt. If that's the case, I don't know if he'll be available to pinch hit. Hopefully he will, because if not, our bench will be Getz, Gose, and Kratz.

Since Happ is pitching Monday and Jenkins was demoted, we're down to six men in the bullpen.

Short bench, short bullpen, and Morrow kicking off the NL stint with a string of short outings under his belt ... what could possibly go wrong?

LMAO. Exactly, what could go wrong?

Will be an interesting game for sure. Why will Getz be on the bench? And, out of curiousity why do you dislike Happ so much? Seems to go beyond the fact that he has not pitched well.

[zee51]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

I'm pretty sure he's out of options, but I think there comes a time when you should see what you've got in a guy and I think that time is coming with Hendricks. It's basically AAA-depth I'm willing to sacrifice -- Buffalo needs the arms.

I suppose what's in the back of my mind is a dislike of Happ and a willingness to replace him on the 25-man with Hendriks. And also my fear that Brandon Morrow's future with the organization might be running out.

Hendriks is the one guy in the minors who, if he can at least be competent at the major-league level, can give us a full season of innings.

I thought he had one option left but you may be right that he is out of options. But AA is a hoarder and he should be on the show for hoarding. They don't seem to understand that sometimes it is just time to cut your losses and move on. Anybody that is cut from Jays seems to be a total disaster.

[landlord]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

Every time I give up on Rasmus he does something right.

[zee51]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

Every time I give up on Rasmus he does something right.

Hehe. Yeah, I notice the same. Just when you are going to give up on him he shows some awesome skills defensively or power wise.

[ninja]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

That was a hard one to swallow.

Casey Janssen is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A New Hampshire early next week.

[forgedblade]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

That was a hard one to swallow.

Casey Janssen is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A New Hampshire early next week.

This team is simply just not good enough. They need more than a closer

[P25]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

This team is simply just not good enough. They need more than a closer

While true, they played their asses off tonight and came away empty handed because Santos - yet again - has no idea how to command his pitches. Brutal.

Amazing turnout of Jays fans at PNC Park tonight. Redmond gave my lil man a ball during BP.

[forgedblade]

Re: Jays Talk 2014

While true, they played their asses off tonight and came away empty handed because Santos - yet again - has no idea how to command his pitches. Brutal.

Amazing turnout of Jays fans at PNC Park tonight. Redmond gave my lil man a ball during BP.

Sweet! I'm sure he will remember that for a long time!