mvp 78

Duvall's defense in CF was pretty lousy. If Verdugo keeps playing well in RF and Duran can keep his head above water, Duvall is probably just going to push Yoshida to DH. Turner will end up just getting most of the AB's at 1B until Casas is really tearing the cover off the ball. Having the extra bats also allows Cora to give guys a break every now and again which he likes to do.

Against the Twins 1st time through the order: 0 H, 1 BB, 5 K 2nd time through the order: 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K 3rd time through the order: 3 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 3 ER I'm still seeing a drop in effectiveness after the first time through the order and then it getting worse as the lineup turns over a third time. The k rate falls off the table and he ends up giving up a big bomb. Even in his best start of the year!

There's been lots of waffling with Houck and Whitlock. I don't know if it's because their is internal disagreement about the players' future or if just because a lack of options at the upper levels.

The start before: Houck sees 8 batters and gives up 3 runs in the 4th inning when he tries to turn the order over the third time. Or is that the SSS again? He's always going to have a SSS on the third time through, because he sucks at doing it. Out of 6 starts, 2 have been above average (MN on 4/20 and DET on 4/8).

That's not a definition of clutch I believe in.

I don't know what was going on with last year's team. Maybe it was all the expiring contracts? Those guys just refused to hit. 2022 was like a funeral for a certain era of the franchise. This group has had a good vibe to them all season. I'm glad they've turned the page.

The last few years, the Jays have been a fairly sloppy team from what I remember. I don't know if it's coaching or the players themselves. Maybe the young guys are just high on their own supply, but until they actually win something, TOR is just a bunch of also rans. They keep winning offseasons and adding young talent, but end up in the middle of the pack. HOW? Is it just the names on the back of the jerseys that people like?

I think McGuire is dealing with an injury which is hurting his performance behind the plate. He also just doesn't have a great arm. He's fine for a catcher and can hit a little. I don't want to be too picky with a backup catcher. It seems like dWAR really pumps up the value of caught stealing over pitch framing because Wong's dWAR amazing, but the rest of his game is just average. Maybe there is too much volatility with how umps call games anyway to really put a value on how a catcher frames a pitch? IDK. Seems weird though. Can't complain about this tandem though.

My definition of clutch is someone that just doesn't get rattled when there is additional pressure, not that they get better. Some relievers are great in the 7th and 8th inning, but when you put them in the 9th they just fall apart.

A definition that someone can stay calm under intense pressure and perform as normal rather than get shaky?

Houck: 1st time through the order: 393 OPS, 2.84 FIP 2nd time through the order: 875 OPS, 3.96 FIP 3rd time through the order: 1037 OPS, 8.57 FIP VS RHP: 540 OPS, 2.62 VS LHP: 870 OPS, 5.94 He's added some pitches this season, but we're still seeing the same problems. He can't turn the lineup over. He struggles with lefties. He's a bullpen arm that can spot start. Maybe a piggyback off an opener.

Why isn't moon banging the drum to bring him back?

Since 4/20, Arroyo has a 249 wRC+, that's totally going to continue. Even with his recent uptick, he has a 71 wRC+ for the season. He'll maybe crawl back towards 100 over the course of the season, but he's not going to be as hot as he currently is for very long. Wong is very hot right now, but his overall numbers have been fairly strong for a while. I have more faith in his bat long term than Arroyo's. McGuire can't control the running game the way Wong does (pop time and strong arm that I mentioned yesterday), but they may go back to more of a platoon once his hand is feeling better again. Casas is going to need a long adjustment period. He seems to struggle between a patient approach and a passive approach. I don't know if he's being overly selective and is working the count just to work the count or is waiting for a particular pitch. Either way, he needs to learn to make better contact in the zone. It's not really happening right now. One or two games could jump start him, but we'll see. He has the fundamentals at least. Duran is an unknown. Scouts liked him last season. He was making loud contact in WOO. His new stance is working and he seems much more confident. If his defense is just passable, he should at least be a 4th OFer going forward. Valdez is a good platoon hitter with a terrible glove. 2B/LF/DH profile if you're going to punt on IF defense. People have said "Valdez should just be happy to be in MLB because he was so bad this season in WOO" but that's because of his split against LHP (306 OPS). His MLB OPS against LHP is 000.

That pitcher was most likely Mark Melancon.

The people referring to UNCLE GEORGE are the ones stating that clutch doesn't exist. The people who believe clutch exists have brought up specific examples of players: Brady, Papi, Schilling, etc.

Kluber The plan for the rest of the rotation

You're so old that you don't even know about the computer cheating when you play video games against it. C'mon now...

Hard to say. McGuire is dealing with a hand issue right now which is keeping him out of the lineup. His usage may be down over the short term and not indicative of what the future use is.

IHATEYOUanakinscreaming.gif

So is anticipating guys coming back from injury on schedule, but starting the playoffs today.

German was doing something other than working on secondary pitches, that's one thing we know for sure.

I could have been sold on Wong and Winckowski (especially out of the pen), but would have been very dubious on Duran. What he's been doing is quite the turnaround.

We've heard for a long time that Wong has pop. He's finally starting to show it in game at the MLB level (15 HR in 81 G in WOO last year). The first month for Wong has been very good. We should all be very happy about it.

In my fantasy world, the Sox still need to make trades for catchers and the Dodgers have a surplus of catchers and were willing to deal Connor Wong for David Price's expiring contract. "What a country!" I hope that's an old enough reference for moon!

Optimal Lineup: CF Betts LF Yoshida SS Bogey 3B Devers DH Turner RF Duvall C Wong 1B Casas 2B Kiké