The Afterglow Has Co$t Us Dearly, Toronto Blue Jays 2026... yadda yadda

new thread to discuss Hoffman wins, Gimenez RBIs and bush party installations

Another thought on the ASB system: Cavan Biggio, your moment has arrived.

where's he at now?

Gausman: K's for everyone, setting records!

Cease: hold my beer

Dylan Cease is something else today: 11 strikeouts through 5, working on seven straight.

Fluharty getting hit with two line drives in a row - yikes

To what extent does your life revolve around Alejandro Kirk!

(I’m watching A’s-Jays and that Kirk nuke in the 9th was incredible)

My dad--I mean ME--turned the game off and missed all that...I'm back, though!

I didn't deserve that.

I also tuned out after the Langeliers GS ... came back for the 10th!

Think Clement got a missed call on that checked swing.

Ya he def went around imho. Anyways… what a game! Cease, Kirk, other new guy, Ernie!

bump

Looking for another walk-off win here.

i will take a scoreless save from Hoffman. Lauer looked amazing and loved seeing Sanchez and Okamoto get their first homers for us too.

they set a record for most (pitching) Ks in an opening series too (49 by my count)

My needs-context joke worked...Jays pitchers struck out 50 (!) in their first three games, a franchise record (one extra-inning game in there). I've got to wonder if that isn't an MLB record--to open the season, obviously, but over any three-game stretch?

Sorry, was typing...I got 50, I don't know.

First 3-0 start since 1996!

Not to worry, but a 77-85 team...Looking back at them, I was surprised to find out that Hentgen's Cy Young year (I remembered that, of course) was close to 9.0 WAR on B-Ref.

Looking at old Jays teams on B-R, I noticed that after the win today, the Jays are exactly at .500 all-time following the win today (3857-3857).

Looking at that '96 Cy, pretty sure there are still Yankee fans convinced that Pettitte should have won. I recall that it was considered a toss-up at the time because of W-L records: yeah, maybe Hentgen pitched a little better, but 21-8 vs. 20-10, award should go to Pettitte.

Hentgen pitched a lot better. (I was arguing for him at the time--no WAR then, just looking at all the old-school stuff--and trying to tell people it wasn't just because he was a Jay.) Forty more innings, 10 CG vs. 2, more than half-a-run edge in ERA, better WHIP. Pettitte had a better K/BB rate.

Hentgen won 110-104 (16 firsts to 11, though).

Re strikeout record for any three-game stretch: the Astros struck out 52 in 2016:

https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-mlb-record-52-strikeouts-in-3-game-set-c180433878

But 50 is an opening-the-season record, yes.

Bo is off to a brutal start (1-14)...he's always been streaky; Jays fans a little more patient than in NY, I'm sure, but not all that patient.

Saw him getting boo’d. Not exactly the best start

Whatever just happened to Cody Ponce there, did not look good at all

Not home, but just read that:

https://www.mlb.com/news/cody-ponce-injured-in-blue-jays-debut

Yuck. Why you load up on seven or eight starters.

Yeah, I'm expecting the worst here.

Five runs in two innings for Heineman. Still a better ERA than his twelve runs in 3.1 innings last year.

As expected, not great: "Blue Jays are 'holding onto' hope of a return this season."

https://www.mlb.com/news/cody-ponce-acl-sprain

Hope springs eternal: six very strong innings from Max tonight, his 298th career QS. It's a stat that's barely ever mentioned anymore, but I got curious:

https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/who-has-the-most-quality-starts

Assuming Verlander falls short of 300 wins, I think 300 QS will be more or less as unlikely as 300 wins. So two more, and maybe Max will be the last.

I was kind of hoping the Gatorade dump would be on Max tonight, but I guess that's something that just doesn't happen.

Hardly ever happens to a SP. who got it (my computer died)?

Jesus (many jokes in the offing here).

i would be very afraid of pouring gatorade on max scherzer

I know--that's exactly what I was hoping for...Had this vision of Vlad doing his thing, then making a mad dash for the clubhouse.

How's that for a nightmarish loss? Up 3-2 in the 10th, two outs from a win. Next guy strikes out, but Kirk is injured from a foul tip during the AB. So two out, runner on third, Heineman in the game. Next guy drops down a surprise bunt, Heineman throws it away. (Would Kirk have made the out? Have to look at it again--maybe he would have at least held on to the ball.) 3-3 now, next guy doubles him home.

Looking at the replay, Kirk would have had the good sense to hold on to the ball.

On top of which, as the post-game commentators just pointed out, the idea that you're going to come off the bench and instantaneously pull off this incredibly difficult throw is wishful thinking. I realize it was a great bunt and a bang-bang play, but Heineman's supposed to think of the possibilities ahead of time. Guy bunts, no play, hang on to the ball.

It wasn't that hard of a play, Heineman should have thrown him out to end the game, he just blew it.

Three out of four games dropped to two of the worst teams in MLB, Ponce injured, Kirk may be injured, the vibes are bad after that 3-0 start.

Looked at it again...I think it's a more difficult play than that because he picks up the ball facing the other way and had to wheel around. I don't know--it he'd made it, I would have been impressed, especially having just gotten into the game.

He should have held into it imho- play was going to be close and looked like it *could* roll foul. Runner wasn’t going to score on the play - they would have just had to get the next guy out.

Kirk out for probably close to two months. Ugh

Heinemen's adequate, but what do they do? I guess they're long past the point of giving Varsho some games there...Anyone at Triple A? Trade for a stopgap?

For a second, I forget about Tyler Heineman's controlled demolition thing.

He had a pretty bad day today

I've been watching baseball long enough, that I'm sure I've seen many errors uglier than his rundown-toss to third today. Nothing immediately comes to mind, though.

They traded for Brandon Valenzuela in the offseason, who looks like he could maybe be a slightly better option than Tyler?

He sure did look demoralized in the dugout.

Apparently he was inconsolable after the game.

Gettin' ugly.

Little sent down. Addition by subtraction.

and now Scherzer is out after 2. some weird curse going on with this team right now

Had two Zooms tonight, so--combined with the nightmarish weekend--I happily did not see a single second of that. Can't imagine how someone who shelled out big money for tickets is feeling.

How fucking embarrassing was that. 14-2???

glad i shut it off when it was 5-1

Passing the time.

https://i.postimg.cc/t4LqNfvg/kirk.jpg

No idea what a Telegram account is, but it sounds very au courant. Hope it's not a money-making thing.

i've noticed what absolutely has to be fake blue jays facebook accounts, liking and sometimes commenting on random stories/comments etc since the WS.
"i'm active and ready to connect" does not sound like anything a ball player would be interested in doing.

Thankfully, I'm not interested enough to act on something I'm dumb enough to believe...

Jeff Hoffman coming in for the 9th to protect a 4-3 lead vs the Dodgers. What could go wrong?

Watching in a pub...if they blow this, they'll officially be in train-wreck territory.

ahhhhh nuts

Did I expect Hoffman to throw that squibbler into right field? Never even crossed my mind.

I regret shutting off that game - but very understandable decision

Return of two disturbing hallmarks from the 2022-24 teams, even yesterday: leaving men on base and running into outs on the basepaths.

Conceding their injury situation, the price tag, etc., etc., I'm hard-pressed to see what the Jays are looking to get out of Patrick Corbin. His last few seasons are abysmal.

They got 4 lousy innings out of him today!

Good news, aside from the win and my new bobblehead, is that they executed both a hit and run AND a sac bunt today without turning it into a disaster!

Corbin seems like the very definition to me of how the whole concept of "replacement-level" came about: in James's original formulation, the misguided idea teams clung to that there was something magical about someone with major-league experience, even with the very worst players, and that it was better to stick with them than go down into Triple-A and bring someone up who could do the job just as well (or, in their case, just as barely-adequately). I know that things are more complicated now with free-agency/service-time factored in.

Oh super. Springer is hurt now.

Is that it for Max? He said he'd walk away when he knew. 8 runs, 2 HR in 2.1 innings today.

Can’t do much when you run into the juggernaut that is the white Sox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMd1zzPk1eg

great jomboy on the gausman balk

So now we have Lenyn to go along with Jesus. We need to go get Darwin or Freud next.

Hoffman has the stuff to be a closer. He just doesn't have the mindset...I always think back to Dan Plesac talking about him last year, how, after a rough night, a guy got a hit and he saw Hoffman's shoulders visibly slump, like "Here we go again." Very human. But death for a closer.

Wondering how soon until Varland starts getting 9th opportunities

Third part of my study (I hope that sounds as lofty as I want it to) on the likelihood of anyone matching the Garvey/Lopes/Russell/Cey infield streak--this part focuses on the history of the Jays.

https://phildellio.blogspot.com/2026/04/we-do-this-every-day-part-3.html

Within shouting range of the worst record in baseball; losing 5-2 tonight after another ugly error. Varsho may be hurt. Okamoto's going to be under the microscope soon, if he isn't already (.191, .561 OPS).

Wandered over for a look when I saw the score was 2-2. Quite something to witness: it took Hoffman about one minute to load the bases (admittedly, starting with a cheap hit), followed by a Corbin Carroll grand slam. Joe Siddall says the Jays need to figure this out, because "they can't win without Hoffman." That thinking is so bizarre; shared by the manager, unfortunately.

I’m glad my kids went off to bed before that disaster unfolded. I knew too. The second his ass was out there in the 8th for a tie game that it was over

Word is that they're sticking with Hoffman. You could argue that the first hit was bad luck, and the second hit was a bit of a fluke through a partially drawn in infield that was expecting a bunt. But the four pitch walk was inexcusable, and he missed his spot on the GS by two feet (Heineman called for it up and away, and Hoffman threw it right down the middle). That's not bad luck, that's a pitcher that has completely lost his command.

He falls apart with runners on base--starts falling behind, walks guys, then grooves one. I wish someone would hand Schneider a list of teams in the past 50 years who changed closers midstream and made out just fine. Of course, maybe that decision isn't his.

Hey, here's an example: the Blue Jays' big off-season acquisition after the '84 season was Bill Caudill, who was going to fix all our closer problems. He was coming off 36 saves (2.71 ERA) in Oakland. He piddled along for the first four months of '85, with 13 saves and an ERA over 4.00. New guy Tom Henke saved his first game of the season on Aug. 1, and that was that--Henke became closer, Caudill faded into the background. If you're not obsessed with the money you've already wasted, it's not that difficult.

(Meaning it's not that difficult to pull the plug; lucking out with a Henke, that's not easy. But you keep trying till you find someone better. And with Hoffman, that's not difficult at all.)

Hoffman is needed because his stuff is pretty untouchable when he's on. Obviously he can't get strikeouts when he's wingin it a meter wide. they need to fix his sh**, because he isn't going anywhere. Varland needs to be available to come in as a high leverage sniper, not be locked in as closer, imo. I really like that Henke example. We don't have a Henke, though I'd settle for a Yimi right about now

Just got home from a movie...Wow: the Arizona pitcher gave up 8 runs in a third of an inning. That'd be 216.00 ERA for the day.

Maybe they can get a low-leverage inning in for you-know-who today.

we should have Jeff checked for vertigo

Hoffman has a different condition: dizziness from looking up.

Silver Linings Playbook...Louis Varland:

12.1 IP, 8 hits, 3 walks, 19 K, 0.00. Not our closer, though--we've got another looking after that.

I had 30+ IP in mind for Mason Miller, confusing his IP for this year with his scoreless streak. So Varland's actually almost dead-even with him in WAR: 0.8 for Miller, 0.7 for Varland. Miller's ahead in saves 8-0 because, well, we've got another guy looking after that.

Trainwreck comin' round the bend.

The ump could do us a big favour by ejecting Hoffman.

Has to be performance art

If he did, I'm convinced the Angels would be the first time ever to challenge an opposition ejection.

If Schneider lets Hoffman face the next batter...well, I'm not sure what I'll do.

Might have caught a break there.

Anyway, even though experience screams "not going to happen," in a sane world tonight would have been the final nail in Hoffman's coffin, the night where Varland became the closer. But it won't. They'll through Hoffman back out there next time, he'll have a good outing, maybe another one, blow the next two, on and on and on.

through = throw

i dont know how you dont make varland the closer now. with the occasional exception for maybe using him in the 8th for the heart of the order and letting Hoff maintain some dignity as a co-closer

It's maddening. It's so obvious to anyone not in the dugout.

1 pitch to put out that dumpster fire was hilarious.

After that game, i think the switch to Varland has begun.

Punchline: Hoffman got credited with a hold last night...Found that out from an SI article with a headline that sums everything up nicely: "Blue Jays Have Closer Problem With Solution Already in Bullpen." It's like that Orwell quote: "To see what is in front of one's nose needs a constant struggle."

I think they've got a second what-is-in-front-of-one's-nose situation with Max. I was hoping the end would be his call, but they may have to intercede there.

Yesavage starts Tuesday night; maybe they'll cut Scherzer loose (although I always thought he was brought back primarily to mentor Yesavage).

Think Eric Lauer is going to the pen to open a rotation spot. But def think Scherzer might be cooked. Hopefully Biebs or Berrios can come back soon.

Big mea culpa (to be rescinded at a moment's notice) on Patrick Corbin. He's giving them everything you'd want from a fourth- or fifth-starter.

Hey, I think we have a closer--a real one.

Sending Max to the IL.

Meanwhile, I love their new strategy for winning games: 1) get lead; 2) bring in closer to protect lead. I just hope the rest of the league doesn't catch on and try to copy it.

wtf is the point of video replay when they get these super obvious calls wrong. wtf

Gotta feel pretty good about Treys return today.

Tennis night, so unfortunately didn't get home till the 8th. Read something that Yesavage didn't have his best stuff? Sure threw up a good pitching line for not having your best stuff...besides how awesome Varland's been, also very encouraged to see Hoffman thriving in his natural role as a set-up guy.

I think he looked fine the first few innings, but he def improved and started getting more Ks later on

Unbelievable--it's Yogi Berra all over again.

https://www.mlb.com/news/george-springer-exits-game-after-hit-by-pitch

Also unbelievable: eight Jays go the plate in the 8th inning, 8 runs.

11 guys came up!

No, 10.

The first 8 scored without an out being made.

Must have been 11 total.

Ya. It was 8 runs and then three quick outs

I assume you guys have seen this clip of Shapiro talking about being happy to be a Canadian citizen now? 11.55 on but the whole interview is great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l61NoDrmLoE

was not aware! and i do love me some Steve Paikin

@ 22:10 – this is why i love Steve Paikin

Will watch...of possible interest to gyac: Paikin is the one guy in a thousand who was 100% cleared of an accusation made against him a few years ago (by a mayoral candidate).

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tvo-host-steve-paikin-cleared-by-investigator-after-sexual-harassment-accusations-1.4638371

I remember sitting behind him at a movie a year or two later.

Barger's back today, so they sent Piñango back to Buffalo...I don't know; cutting him (.423) and keeping Davis Schneider (.127) while the team struggles mightily to score runs is at least questionable. I know Schneider offers more flexibility, that he started slow last year, too, and that the league hasn't caught up with Piñango yet (26 AB). But this offense is anemic right now.

Righty/lefty thing, as explained by Schulman; explanation made sense.

Incredible, Clemente/Barfield-level throw from Barger today.

https://www.mlb.com/news/addison-barger-101-mph-throw-outfield-assist

And that’s why he lasted exactly one day off the IL

After a two-year break, I'm back to being in hateful awe of the Rays. Their payroll is $87M, 28th in baseball. They're 27-13, and they again own the Jays.

ya, seems we're back to this again after getting a break last season

Didn't bother tuning in until Okamoto in the 10th--probably doesn't mean anything, but great to see anyway. Knew it off the bat.

Never would have guessd: first walk-off grand slam in Jays history.

That's not correct. Steve Pearce hit two in one week in 2017!

Found a reddit thread that claims this was the fifth in club history. Varsho, Pearce (twice), Gregg Zaun(!), and George Bell.

Someone said it on the broadcast last night--evidently incorrect.

The Dodgers are signing Lauer?

Hmm that happened yesterday. Just saw the news now.

Traded for bag of balls apparently

This is so painful to watch. I'm invested in two games already (probably around $400), there'll probably be a third, and I think that's going to be it.

Context...two nights in a row they blow a lead (last night they were up 3-0 with Cease pitching), mount a comeback in the ninth, then end the game with a feckless ground ball. It's going to be a long season of watching them plod along, occasionally move to within two or three games of a WC (because of league-wide mediocrity), then immediately fall back again.

They were talking about something on the Fan this morning that I was going to post about last night but stopped myself: Vlad's SF in the 7th inning. "You're too critical of Vlad"--he got the run in, so I didn't.

I also found it an alarming AB, though. Bases loaded, one out, Jays have just gone up 1-0. You're looking for Vlad to really drive the ball, to wait for the fat strike that should be coming at some point. I don't think I've ever seen a more defensive AB from a hitter who's supposed to be one of baseball's best. It was like he was so fearful of hitting into a DP, he just waved the white flag and punched a half-swing flyball to right. (Some context: he's in the middle of one of his epic slumps.)

He got another run in, and maybe he deserves praise for acknowledging the slump and doing what he could. Interested to hear from anyone else who saw it. Again, I (and the radio guys) found it alarming.

Vlad is too good to be looking so bad, which leads me to think that he's injured and is trying to play through it.

You can find it somewhere here:

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/blue-jays-vs-yankees/2026/05/20/823547/final/summary/highlights

It was a good pitch, broke late, so I don't know--maybe I'm making too much out of it. You might have something about playing injured, though.

Also: said I was down Sunday, but had the day wrong--I'm there Saturday, so I'll be seeing Skenes.

I couldn't figure out how to see how Vlad ranks in Chase %, but Jays look to be ranked only ahead of Colorado, and Vlad is having his worst chase season (last year was his best) of his career. Very often seems completely flummoxed by anything off-speed, and so you see that defensive swing time and again.

Will be majorly surprised and even more majorly impressed if Hoffman saves this game.

Oh me of little faith.

he wouldn't be nearly as frustrating of he wasn't occasionally lights out.

Yeah--after the line drive out, the two strikeouts were awesome...any Jays fans find John Schneider's litany of nicknames almost as clunky as Trump's?

https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/401815437/blue-jays-yankees

Why didn't Miles get credited with the win? The Jays took the lead when the opener was on the mound for 1.1 IP, so he cant get the win, shouldn't it go to the pitcher who pitched best after that?

Fairly good series, they caught some bad breaks in losing the first two games. The offense is still half asleep but the pitching staff is championship level. They had Judge's number, he struck out seven straight times!

Great game vs Skenes there.
Was at the game super early yesterday to get the bobblehead and was also a good one.

I was there this afternoon--great game. Springer lead-off HR (15 behind Henderson now), jumped all over Skenes, Corbin defying the odds again, the Canadian guy Macko, topped off by Hoffman stiking out the side for the save. Too late or the giveaway, which had something to do with cricket.

Vlad and Cease possibly join the injury parade--unbelievable.

Sounds like they might be aright

Looks that way (will spare you the Sun link):

"By the seventh inning, the panic had mostly subsided. Word from the clubhouse was that Cease was dealing with some mild left-hamstring discomfort.

Guerrero, meanwhile, had a right-elbow contusion, but had already been x-rayed with the x-ray revealing no fracture.

Cease had a date with the MRI machine later Sunday night to determine just how good or how bad things were.

The durable right-hander, who has made at least 31 starts in every season since 2021, told his manager he fully expects to make his next start."

Patrick Corbin again: 5 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K, 1 run.

Louis Varland has now pitched 30 innings and surrendered one run: 0.30 ERA.

he also has a bWAR of 1.7. that puts him in a tie for 12th with Cease and Fried

Due to come down to earth at some point, but I've gotta believe he's getting close to a cinch for the ASG (100-game mark?).

.500!! We're officially so-so.

They’re one game ahead of the As for the final wild card slot!

Six of the top seven Jays in bWAR are pitchers.

Just checked BRef to see if Myles Straw has a nickname. He does: "Kilometres Straw." That is...perfectly awful. Suggested alternative: "Darryl."

it is happening again

What a meltdown. Just when you think Hoffman has settled into his role, he craps the bed and you remember why he can't be trusted.

I'm flabbergasted. Part of me doesn't blame Schneider: bringing Varland in for the 8th against the heart of the order was smart, and at that point, you'd think Hoffman can hold a four-run lead. Part of me does, though--as soon as he hit the batter, get him out of there. (I know; you can't do that, because it's just not done.) But Hoffman simply falls apart as soon as the first baserunner happens.

I'd like to think Schneider won't allow Hoffman to see a ninth inning the rest of the year--today would be almost worth it were that true--but I'm sure we'll relive this a few times yet. In context, one of the five or ten most calamitous regular-season losses in Jays history.

Blowing saves is too easy. He’s moved onto blowing bigger leads now

If they hadn't talked on the insurance run then Varland comes back out for the ninth? He had only thrown about tem pitches.

No manager in baseball would have pulled Hoffman after the HBP ... but once it was 5-3, there was no justification in leaving him in. But he pitched to two more batters!

*tacked* on the insurance run

Feels important to me that they come back and win today, which would a) close out this 17-game stretch at a very impressive 11-6, and b) shut down the memory of yesterday right away.

It's just one game. The Orioles obviously weren't demoralized from the Jays' comeback the day before. Schneider needs to think more carefully about his bullpen usage, Fisher and Fluharty lead the majors with 30 appearances each, Varland, Hoffman and Rogers are right behind them with 28. They'll all be burned out by August. Obviously he's had to lean on the same relievers over and over because of all the injuries but you have to take workload into account, there are still four months to go.

The Orioles looked demoralized for most of the game yesterday, till the Jays self-immolated. I do believe certain losses can take on added significance, even in the course of a 162-game season. Successful teams always look back on key wins (e.g., Springer's grand slam on Canada Day last year) as inflecton points; it stands to reason that there could be key losses, too (like if they were to lose today and roll that over into a losing streak).

Taking a bit of solace from that mini-comeback. But still nursing ominous feelings till their next win.

One of the Jays colour guys cracked me up after the game, talking about the Sanchez injury. Supposedly it was a 13-year-old kid who, in all innocence, was responding to Sanchez waving his glove (as in "throw me the ball"). He pointed out the odds of hitting Sanchez's wrist from the stands, how you could try 20 times and never come close. (Paraphrase) "Either that kid's a prospect with elite command who you might want to pursue, or it's another example of the Jays being cursed this year."

20-1? I'd take those odds and trade Hoffman for him even up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FBd_WlM3EQ

Our pitching is so bad that we need a guy who's 0-7 with an ERA north of 7?

Bring in the gimp

I wasn't watching (following in a pub), but Varland closes the 8th--good that he's in--they score 4 to go up 7-2, and Varland comes back for the ninth... That does seem a little weird to me with seven straight games coming up, but I guess they'd used up enough pitchers by that point.

He'd come in with two outs in the eighth, getting him warmed up to record only one out would be a bit of a waste (if it wasn't the last out of the game). And he only threw 17 pitches in total.

The team leader in SLG? Ernie Clement, of course! I love Clement, but that sort of encapsulates this team's problems (third last in HR in the AL, last in OPS+).

I voted Clement for the ASG, and I honestly believe he's the best choice; A.L. second base is not a strong position this season.

I look forward to being enraged at who the masses vote in instead

At which point name recognition carries the day, so I'd expect either Altuve or Jazz Chisholm or Gleyber Torres. Mind you, Toronto does get out the vote, plus Clement was as visible as could be during last year's WS run, so who knows.

HR and 3B for Clement today. Even if he doesn't get voted in--and I will boldly predict that, in a weak year, he does--he's gotta be close to a sure-thing as a reserve (leading the league in both doubles and hits).

Extremely curious as to whether the Jays will bring Hoffman out for the 8th. (They've come back today from 4-0 to lead 5-4; yesterday Hoffman came in with the Jays leading 6-1 and gave up a 2-run HR.)

Thankfully, no--they let Rogers go longer (love watching him pitch) and brought Varland in an out earlier...I've got to believe Valenzuela is here to stay. Honestly, with him being a switch-hitter who, at least this year, hits better from the left side, and Kirk a right-hander, I'd go to almost a straight platoon when Kirk returns. Is that ever done anymore? I can't think of a reason why you wouldn't--plus I'm old enough to remember 1983, and Mulliniks/Iorg and Whitt/Martinez. (I'm not old enough to rmember Casey Stengel, but he seems to have had some success with platooning.)

Nice comeback, and Ernie Clement schooled me on the "running outside of the baseline rule". That was a 200 IQ play.

i feel like the rest of baseball/fans are all big mad that he shoulda been out

Listening to Schneider, sounds like pretty much everyone is back within the next week-10 days. Then we can start figuring out if this is a good team.

i feel like the rest of baseball/fans are all big mad that he shoulda been out

I think they got it right -- the rule says that the runner can establish their own baseline, and can't veer outside that baseline to avoid a tag. Clement changed direction before the ball was fielded, and there was no immediate attempt to tag him. I didn't know the rule as it is written. But I figure that Jomboy or someone will collect a bunch of similar plays from the past few years where the rule was interpreted differently.

i'm sure he wil do everything he can to make the jays look like monsters

Vlad vs. Bo:

VG - 274 PA, 38 runs, 14 XBH, 3 HR, 32 BB, 25 RBI, .282/.372/.368, 105 OPS+
BB - 284 PA, 30 runs, 14 XBH, 5 HR, 19 BB, 32 RBI, .234/.285/.330, 75 OPS+

A few more singles, a few more walks, and that's about the difference.

Yes--George is getting frustrated. (Speaking of which, Springer is periously close to dropping below the Mendoza Line.)

Varland gives up his second run...for the win!

My god this team would be nowhere without Valenzuela this season. What a wild, under the radar grab he was.

His slugging average is creeping near .500...him, Sanchez, and Pinango, three new guys stole the game.

Pinango has also been another pleasant surprise

Or maybe not… -0.1 WAR so far to go with his 121 OPS+. His glove has not been good - but didn’t realize it was that bad

BABIP is pretty high too, which could also be factoring in?

McAdoo in three games actually has a higher WAR than Sanchez and Pinango together

Intuition says there's no room for Pinango once everyone returns, especially in view of his defensive limitations. 97/100 times I'd say "keep the hitter," especially a team that struggles offensively as much as this one, but Straw's glove, flexibility, and baserunning really is important in the late innings.

Over the last month, Valenzuela's OPS is among the best in baseball. And he can pitch frame!

In 107 regular season inning with the Jays, Max's ERA is now 6.22.

Good time to walk away, Max: got your 3,500th strikeout, bad last start (and all other sporting news from yesterday) obliterated by the basketball game. But he won't. A few more moves him into 10th, and Perry, Verlander, and Sutton (7th with 3,574) are all within view. Maybe the team will reluctantly make that decision for him when Bieber gets back.

I really hope Kirk's big return last night--3-3, walk, RBI double first time up--sparks them into something resembling a hot streak. Not that the fundamental problem--anemic offense--has been magically solved. The thought of slogging away at near-.500 for the rest of the year, always at the edge of a WC spot, isn't appealing, even if I realize there's a worse option.

Stage is set for a PH, bottom-of-the-9th walk-off HR from Vlad...would also accept runs in the bottom of the 8th.

Maddening beyond words. NY gift-wraps the lead to the Jays by walking the first two batters in the bottom of the 8th. Coming up, Ernie Clement (the guy who's 100% a baseball player, who does all the little things right) and Brandon Valenzuela, the team's rookie sensation and hottest hitter as of late. Clement pops a bunt up, Valenzuela strikes out. NY wants to give them one more chance, though, so they walk Pinango; bases loaded. Charles McAdoo pops up, inning over.

Guessing Schneider might catch hell for not sending up Vlad to hit for McAdoo--irony--but I wouldn't have either. He's sitting out for a reason, and making out in that situation isn't going to get his confidence/head back on track.

Was just following on the computer, so I didn't realize Vlad was out for back tightness--second paragraph there moot.

Second consecutive NHBM (non-Hoffman bullpen meltdown).

This game unraveled in a hurry. Why are they still batting Springer leadoff?

They should probably move Lukes or Clement there, but not sure if they'd be affected by the extra visibility. Slogging away...they need more slug but they've got slog to spare.

Max back on the IL. This is starting to mystify me as much as the attachment to Hoffman as closer did.

You may remember a vintage four-game stretch from Max last August: 25 IP, 5 ER, 20 hits, 17 K, 7 BB, 3-1, 1.80 ERA. If you take that away, here's his regular-season line as a Jay: 82 IP, 69 ER, 94 hits, 79 K, 27 BB, 3-8, 7.57 ERA.

i'm not sure what i learn with that. we take away any pitchers hot streak, they look bad.

For me, that August stretch was a last bit of glory (that and the WS start). If he were 32, I'd agree that your point--which is true--were applicable in this case. At 41, I think the evidence is overwhelming he's finished.

What a game. Yesavage was cruising along, gave up HR to the first two batters in the 8th for a tie game. In the ninth, Clement leads off with a piddly little infield hit halfway up the third-base line. Still standing there two outs later, Valenzuela pops up to the catcher--who's completely flummoxed by the wind and lets it drop untouched. Valenzeula somehow hits a triple off the Monster against Chapman, who looks untouchable, for the lead. Fluharty (with no other options) gets the save in five pitches.

Check that, Valenzeula's hit was a double.

Last thing you want to hear upon tuning into a Jays game you didn't know was almost finished already: "...and a scoreless frame for Straw."

I did learn about this fascinating story, which I'm positive I never knew before: Brian Milner, father of Cubs' pitcher Hoby Milner.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Milner

1) still the youngest Jay ever (18 years, 218 days)
2) career .444 hitter

Looks like today's game already postponed, likely till another day--massive rainfall all through the afternoon and early evening. Damn.

Aug 6 is the make up day

Okamoto: headed for 30 HR/90 RBI, both good, but barely league-average as a hitter (102 OPS+). Yesterday's HR was huge.

Also--always important--if you shorten Kazuma to Kaz, he has a Mister Dobalina name.

Ernie Clement's ASG prospects:

Mind you, Toronto does get out the vote, plus Clement was as visible as could be during last year's WS run, so who knows.
― clemenza, Friday, June 5, 2026 12:12 PM (two weeks ago)

As of today: "The only player besides Ohtani to crack 2 million votes..."

The elusive mountaintop again beckons: a winning baseball team.

i stand very much corrected on who would be leading the vote at 2b (and apparently overall votes too!!!)

Lauer pitched six hitless relief innings yesterday for the Dodgers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-oUJdF-BDrQ

the man is only good within a 4 month time-frame of getting dumped by a team.

It's too bad they don't play 161 games instead of 162; this team was created to go into the final day of the season 80-80 and lose.

How many men LOB today against a starter with the highest qualify ERA in the league? 10? 15?

qualifying...

Gausman lit up for second game in a row. And Vlad is two or three games away from having his OPS drop under .700.

the Vlad thing is starting to get concerning.

They devote 15 minutes to it on Blair every day...Starting to wonder what the most anemic season ever is for a hitter of his caliber and his age. The okay BA (under .280 now) provides a tiny bit of camouflage, but not really, not in this day and age--every Jay fan knows how baffling this s.

I believe, as the cliche goes, the league may have caught up to Patrick Corbin.

Albert Pujols on Vlad's struggles:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=771088519427926

Probably exactly what Vlad needs: another voice in his head.

Bailed early yesterday, so missed this:

https://i.postimg.cc/sgrCQP1N/jacket.jpg

Can't have a broken team without some controversy. I'm somewhat torn, but definitely leaning in the direction of Kirk's view here.

1) When Lukes tied the game in the 8th today with a HR, Ben Schulman or the other guy referred to the Jays as the "comeback kids." I'm not sure if coming back every day just close enough to lose by a run or two counts.

2) Vlad watch: 0-4, .268, .697 OPS.

(Putting him almost dead even with Mark Belanger in 1971: .266/.685.)

Kirk was absolutely in the right.

Not sure what the make of the Rangers series. They got swept at home by a team that was trailing them in the standings and has now passed them. That's bad. But all the games were close, and yesterday's loss (winning run scored from second on a wild pitch that fluke-ishly bounced all over the place, Nimmo's game-ending catch) had a lot to do with bad luck. That's not all bad. However, they fell behind badly in those games and left their comebacks until too late, and when you consistently can't score first, that's not just bad luck.

mets have been a balm for struggling teams, so hoping we'll lift you out of it!

they did! and i understand bo got cheered, which he absolutely deserved

Vlad's out of the lineup tonight because of his back. Blair says that's just a cover story. Barker says Blair's crazy. Blair says Barker's naive (and that the Jays did the same thing with a highly-paid player in 2016...don't remember that, but must have been Bautista or Donaldson).

so, how's pizza nova?

not exactly my go-to

was at the game with my kids Monday (their first night game, which they were incredibly excited for) – and everyone was cheering for Bo. a lot of #11 jerseys on the crowd. was surprised when i saw how choked up Bo was in the pre-game interview.

...

Much as "Weird!" was enough to win the 2024 election, we're going to ride the cute toy dragon right into the playoffs.

Padres have yet to swing at Yesavage, 14 pitches in, bases loaded.

Nevermind, Machado has the green light.

I'm watching...thought I was going to see something I'd never seen before till Machado popped up.

Going to be a nine-hour game with 47 walks.

Six BB through 1.2 innings...seriously, get him out of there.

53 pitches, 17 strikes. 4x (5?) 4-pitch walks

He also got a break on a missed checked-swing call and a bad strike that should have been ball four and wasn't challenged. And when he missed, he wasn't even close. He (Yesavage) couldn't have looked any worse.

a friend (from cape breton island, no less!) is at the game

ME: Nice. Please pull Vlad aside and tell him about "launch angle"

HIM: Someone needs to tell Trey about hitting the strike zone

Jays fans: Blue Jay Way (eight-part series on the history of the franchise) starts tonight. Been really hyped for this--watching the promos, it's like they talked to everyone ever...expecting both Joey McLaughlin and Sil Campusano to show up somewhere.

My friend messaged me with some Engelbert Humperdink: "Please release him, let him go..."

The really sad thing is the pitch Hoffman three Machado on the full count. Look it up if you can--I mean, honestly, you'll find tougher pitches to hit in pick-up Sunday 3-pitch leagues.

"three" = "threw"

Save percentage:

Hoffman - 5/9, 56%
Varland - 19/19, 100%

how was the Jays doc? are they releasing one ep at a time, or is the whole thing out there?

One at a time--PVR'd but haven't watched yet.

you'll have to describe in vivid detail for me. partner and i have no idea how we will be able to watch these

You don't get Sportsnet, I take it.

First episode covered 1977 to the '85 ALCS, going back and forth between the timeline going forward and the latter. That '85 loss was almost as bad as last year's WS. I'd forgotten the Jays led 5-2 in G3, about to go up 3-0; that was Brett's epic game (4-4, 2 HR and a doulbe), with puzzlement all around that Doyle Alexander kept pitching to him. Lot of interview time with Brett in E1, also Stieb. Henke's arrival is treated as the watershed event that it was; pretty sure this will be enough to get his number up on the wall at Rogers (should already be there).

They even snuck in Fergie Olver for about two seconds--got the sense his health is not very good.

Making a statement right out of the gate.

ya, no sportsnet and i guess it's only viewable when you watch it live (or PVR). and not enough interest to be showing up on the pirate sites i guess.

i have more or less stopped watching games entirely. if there's going to be a lockout next year, this is as good a juncture as any to wean myself off the sport

You know the Michael Corleone rule when it comes to that, right?

I welcome being pulled back in…

Anyways, RIP Duane Ward. Best set-up man in franchise history?

Yes--and for a single season, '93, in the running for best closer. Unbelievable in view of the timing (they unveiled the Carter statue yesterday, and had two or three dozen alumni in town for '92/93).

glad he was able to see his old teammates/friends before passing. we should all be so lucky.

Ward had 24 holds in '92; Tyler Rogers is tied for the league lead with 20 this year, and has reached 30-32 in four different seasons. Maybe that reflects usage patterns; maybe Ward would have been over 30 today.

Was surprised to learn that those 45 saves by Ward in '93 is still the team record.

VladJr has not hit a HR at Rogers Centre in 10 months.

Always good to have players who perform better on the road. (Yes, that's a joke.)

10 months! Jesus.

Going to be super-lazy and cut-and-paste a FB post I put up today after E2 of the Sportsnet series:

--------------------------------------------------------

Two episodes into The Blue Jays Way, and it’s been more or less as good as I’d hoped it would be. Like Ken Burns’ Baseball, which aired during the ‘94 strike, it’s a welcome respite from the here and now if you’re a Jays fan.

Almost every key player is getting duly commemorated: episode two is centred around Steib and Bell, lots of interview time with Moseby and Barfield and Whitt, general agreement that Henke’s arrival in ‘85 was crucial to finally winning in ‘92, and--wasn’t sure how they’d handle this--acknowledgement that Alomar remains their greatest player ever. There has been, I’d say, one guy they’ve shortchanged: Jimmy Key.

I understand the disproportionate amount of attention given to Stieb: he was the best pitcher in baseball from ‘82 to ‘84, and he could easily have won all three A.L. Cy Youngs during that window. (The ‘82 vote was especially egregious.) He’s a great interview subject, and the subplot of his three 26-out no-hitters before finally getting one is irresistible. But here’s how he compares to Key from ‘85 (when Key becomes a regular part of the rotation) to ‘92 (when both move on to new teams):

DS - 93-65, 3.48 ERA, 1.265 WHIP, 1.54 K/9, 3.97 FIP, 23.5 bWAR
JK - 112-76, 3.38 ERA, 1.179 WHIP, 2.42 K/9, 3.66 FIP, 30.6 bWAR

Key across the board. He was also--and surely the makers of The Blue Jays Way know this--the subject of my greatest made-up lyric ever, back in I’m not sure which issue of Radio On:

Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy, can’t you see?
Sometimes your change-ups hypnotize me
And I just love your Cy Young ways
Guess that’s why you’re out there every fifth day

I don’t know--I may have drifted off for a minute and missed him, but I don’t think he’s been interviewed yet, and if he’s been mentioned, it couldn’t have been more than once or twice.

Blair and Barker were doing their usual five minutes on Vlad today, and Barker--who routinely talks nonsense--said something that really stuck: "All I know is, he was late on 88 last night," followed by expression of disbelief.

Glad I was off playing tennis. I mean, wow--how much uglier can this get?

Key vs Stieb is a bit misleading there -- Stieb's last good season was 1990 (5th in Cy Young voting), after that, his back was wrecked. From '85-'90 they were fairly even.

But looking at his career as a whole, Key was definitely one of the most underrated pitchers of the 80's and 90's,

Good point--almost dead even for '85-90:

DS: 85-56, 3.38, 22.1 WAR
JK: 83-51, 3.41, 22.4 WAR

I'm wondering if they couldn't get interview time with Key and that minimized his presence in the series. Seems unlikely, but his conspicuous absence is weird.

well i picked a good first game to watch in a while.
Cease with a one hit compete game, 12 Ks!!!

Cease's CY bid pretty much the only thing left to follow...I'd like to see Varland crack the top five.

With Gausman in all probability about to lose either his last or second-last start as a Blue Jay, let me sum up his time here with an absolutely unscientific claim that could well be 80 or 90% wrong: he had a few shutdown starts here and there, but I always felt he had a habit of pitching just well enough to lose most of the time.

it doesn’t feel like 5 years yet tbh! In that time, a 3.62 ERA, 116 ERA+, always getting over 30 GS (a miracle these days), average 182 strikeouts per year.

52-50 record. I’d say he usually pitch well enough to give the teams chance and more often than not, the team would decline the opportunity

Will be a sad state of affairs if/when he is dealt. I appreciate the years he’d given us. Also seeing rumours that Philly is interested in Hoffman. If we get anything for the man, it’ll be a miracle.

I know I'm being really unfair...I guess it's that he was always talked about as being in the first rank of starters, but I always felt like he was the top of the second rank (and that a team with him as their ace wasn't going to win or even make it to the WS; I'd say Yesavage was the ace down the stretch last year). If I get ambitious, I'd like to compare his quality starts to, say, the quality starts of all the top-3 CY finishers while he was in Toronto.

For durability, definitely one of the best.

ya, they did sign him after a career year and i think the expectations were a little lofty due to that. that 2021 Gausman would show up sometimes, but admittedly not as often as I would have hoped.

god damn you. now i'm looking up all the other free agents SP from that offseason.

so he was worth 2.6 WAR more than any other FA SP from that class in that time; EXCEPT ONE.
includes dudes like Robbie Ray, Scherzer, Verlander, Kershaw (obv not an option for anyone but the dodgers), Stroman, Wacha, Kluber, Quintana, Cobb, Archer...

and the one that beat him by 1.7 WAR in that time was: Michael fucking Wacha!

Max vs. the highest-scoring team in baseball (where he remains a legend): should be fun, could be ugly.

And it's his birthday to boot.

Not ugly, not particularly fun. Almost lasted three innings, one run. Still a handful of strikouts short of Walter Johnson.

Him getting there is going to be hard to watch

The enigma of Jeff Hoffman. He looked like Wardo out there tonight.

Varland, meanwhile, 22/22, 1.02--if the season ended today, I think he'd earn a spot on your closer poll.

The best offense is baseball gives Shane Bieber a friendly welcome to Nationals Park!

Bring in the gimp!

Six walks allowed in an inning -- ffs.

Seeing the Varland exchange the lineup cards before the game was nice. Little things like that help make the season worth watching at this point.

Just saw the clip; yeah, small pleasures from here on out--nice moment.

Interesting trivia:

Both Maxes* Muncy have hit homeruns at Rogers Centre since VladJr has.

*Including the Max Muncy who only has 5 HRs this season.

One of the TSN people tonight suggested that the team give him the rest of the year off after the deadline--not jokingly, and not punatively, but to give him time to get straight. Utterly bizarre idea.

(Assuming he's healthy, that is.)

Obviously a terrible idea in terms of fan engagement – but anything’s worth a try. He missed a HR last night by maybe two feet and it’s crazy how much the crowd is behind him. Then next ab he pounded into an easy double play

Whatever I posted about him as a pitcher, Gausman does seem like one of the game's good guys. Nice (final?) start today, huge ovation as he left mid-inning.

Back to 3.5 within a WC...I don't know if that gums up the works or not. Remove emotion, and they surely must know this team would never be the kind of WC team that makes a deep run--pitching is good, not great, offense is usually anemic. On the other hand, I suppose even a couple of post-season series means much income. I'm pretending to analyze this situation like I know the first thing about the economics of baseball.

Case in point: I believe the term is "revenue," not "income."

Rogers is no different from Guggenheim they can do whatever they want

Hoping they acquire a couple of Jackson Pollocks then, instead of a rent-a-player.

they probably own such things in a vault in zurich

I don’t think there’s anyway they can hope to make the playoffs. Not so much the games they are away from making it, as there are 6 teams between them and the last WC spot. And the two directly ahead of them are started selling assets.

Aaaaaand they have just gotten James Taillon, which I’m surprised even the announcers seem to think it’s to facilitate trading one of their SP

Chicken-and-the-egg thing, but it looks insurmountable because this is not a team that's going to suddenly win seven or eight in a row; if they could, they'd come out tied for a WC spot.

But they can't.

What I mean is, if you're trying to catch up the only way the Jays can--which is to chip away over a number of weeks--I agree, too many teams ahead of them. But if they had the capacity for a dramatic winning streak (or, dream on, do what Boston just did), I think the number of teams in their path would be immaterial.

Not a save situation, so still 24/24 (I think), but Varland did blow the game today.

Gausman gone to Cubs for two prospects. Can’t say I know anything about them. Looks like low-power OBP guys

Wish him the best--another team I can root for in the post-season.

consensus out of the gate seems to be the Cubs got him for free

Looked them up:

Brett Bateman, 24, OF (all levels): .301/.403/.361
Ty Southisene, 21, SS/2B (all levels): .275/.407/.322

Not too many HR hiding there.

ya. i love a guy that can get on base, but even i have my limits

The organization apparently thinks that they're really good at developing these kinds of hitters.

and now they are buyers. Jose Soranao for Arjun Nimmala and two other toss-ins O_o

He’s actually a great get. Era+ of 124 this year (Gausman was 100+)

Yeah--don't know the players they gave up, but you have to like a 27-year-old starter with a good ERA and what looks to be his second year in a row with 150+ innings.

I will miss Jose!!!

I'm a rumour pipeline guy now...Jays supposedly (Jeff Passan) about to send Varsho to the Astros for Spencer Arrighetti.

(Things you were shockingly old when you learned: Spencer Arrighetti is a pitcher for the Houston Astros.)

Kevin Barker actually made me laugh. He was talking about some film out there of Arrighetti being informed of the trade and then walking across the field (the Jays are playing the Astros tonight). "That happened to me once...nobody paid attention."

Holy cow: "Sources told MLB.com that Minnesota is acquiring former All-Star Jeff Hoffman and cash from the Blue Jays for a package including prospects Dasan Hill (Twins' No. 7 prospect), John Klein (No. 17) and Dameury Pena, as well as international bonus pool space."

Thanks for those scattered 23.1 innings where you looked like Mariano Rivera, Jeff.

Saw the Hoffman trade and thought of you. User Sharivari is very upset that his beloved Spaghetti got traded.

I'd forgotten Soriano's Bob Gibson impression in April...Some Facebook notes on yesterday's episode of The Blue Jays Way:

Part 4 covers 1993--good year, as you may have heard. Three stories I think the episode shortchanges, or misses altogether:

1) There’s mention of the Jays’ unprecedented 1-2-3 finish in the batting race--Olerud, Molitor, Alomar--but nothing on Olerud’s flirtation with .400, which was easily the biggest Jays story midway through the season. He was still at .400 after the team’s 107th game on August 2. (Olerud finished third in MVP voting, although he was ahead of the winner Frank Thomas in WAR, 7.8 to 6.2. Griffey had both beat at 8.8.)

2) No mention that Ward, the team’s new closer, had arguably the greatest year ever for a Jays closer: 45 saves (still a team record), 2.13 ERA.
3) After being one of the main stories of E3, Jack Morris is barely mentioned (if at all). He was still with the team--had a miserable year and didn’t pitch in the playoffs.

Things I’d forgotten: 1) Dick Schofield was the starting SS before he got hurt and Tony Fernandez was reacquired; 2) Toronto’s Rob Butler was part of the team, including two AB in the WS; 3) Lenny Dykstra’s epic G4 (Jays won 15-14): Dykstra had a double, two HR, a walk, a stolen base, and scored and knocked in four.

Two of the best interview clips: 1) Todd Stottlemyre, still haunted by something else I’d forgotten, his run-in with the Philadelphia mayor; 2) Devon White (probably the best interview subject across the four episodes) talking about Rickey Henderson, how he’d question Henderson about when he planned to run: “Rickey just run.”

The Jays did really well with the Gausman, Hoffman, and Varsho trades. They traded the guys they needed to trade, and they somehow flew under the radar while doing so (all the attention is going to the Dodgers, and the trades for Rutschman, Arraez, Mize, etc.)

Rickey Henderson was having a great year before he came to the Jays, badly underperformed while he was with the Jays, left, and then went right back to being awesome. This has always been a bit of a mystery to me. I think some people chalked it up to the pressure of coming to a new team with high expectations, but Rickey had already been to the playoffs a few times in Oakland and played several years in NY, he's the last guy you'd expect to buckle under the pressure, it doesn't fit his personality.

Considering the circumstances (pennant race, chance to win the WS), those 44 regular season games with the Jays (plus 12 more in the playoffs) had to be the worst slump of Rickey's career. They won the WS anyway, but still.

I didn't mention that, but yeah, another thing the epidsode didn't mention. I've always been fascinated by that. Henderson was in the middle of one of his greatest seasons when they landed him (through 90 games): 77 runs, 17 HR, 31/37 SB, .327/.469/.553, 182 OPS+. He just died the rest of the way: .215/.356/.319. Honestly, he was never a dominant player again after that. He had a couple of good seasons--Oakland in '95, the Mets in '99--but for the rest of his career from '94 on, .254/.392/.368, 104 OPS+. He still got on base and still scored runs, but not the same player--normal aging (35 in '94), compounded by playing forever. But it wasn't gradual--more like a cliff.

I guess, if you're charitable, you could say that getting him was worth it for the one AB where he led off the 9th inning of G6 with a walk, and what that must have done to Williams having him out there on the bases. (Steve Karsay, who they gave up, had an okay, up-and-down career.)

I forgot all about Scherzer's chance to pass Walter Johnson the other day and move into the Top 10 for strikeouts, so, typical this season, I didn't tune in. I so regret that--he indeed did, and that will never happen again. (Going to run a Favorite Toy on Miz and Skenes later, but I expect they're long-shots because of IP.)

he apparently didn't! there's a stat scandal between BBRef and the elias sports bureau (which is MLB's official lord of stats). he's still 6 or so behind according to them. they made ZERO mention of it during his last game (at least beyond the 2nd inning when i tuned in)

also, wow. Steve Karsay is a name that brings me back. have a few of his rookie cards hidden away somewhere

Wow, didn't hear about that...assume he'll get there, though.

Not as dire as I thought for Skenes and Miz. Can't do Miz yet--you need three seasons of data--but Skenes comes out at 30% for 3,000 and 15% to pass Gaylord Perry's 3,534 (who I assume will soon slip back to 10th spot). Miz, after 2027, should be even higher. So: longshot, but could happen with either of those guys, assuming present usage patterns.*

*By 2035, starters may be expected to go three innings.

(If you get an offer on the Karsay cards, take it.)

The A's also got José Herrera in the Henderson deal as the player to be named later.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/herrejo02.shtml

Sounds very ELIAS, likely getting word to broadcasters not to mention it. James used to despise how proprietary they were about stats.

am low-key currious what they are seeing that BBref isn't

https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/stark_jayson/1166840.html

(Goes back to Clemens passing Johnson, but same answer as today.)

so the TLDR being that in Walter Johnson's first season, strikeouts weren't an official stat, so records from that year are especially hard to confirm

Vlad's OPS down to .687, about 50 points above Myles Straw's.

Vlad's SLG was nearly the lowest on the team in the starting lineup last night (one point ahead of Gimenez, and three ahead of Straw).

Vlad's OPS down to .687

2021: .311/.401/.601

His OPS that year was 1.002...and I bet even .900 or close minus the minor-league parks.

Sincere question: why does Vlad stick out like a sore thumb? He's a tiny bit worse than Jarran Duran, better than Cal Raleigh. Is it the money, or is there more?

(Picked two guys who've had MVP-level seasons.)

I'm not sure I understand the question. He's the franchise player and he's making $500M. He had an all-time postseason run less than one year ago. And this year he's a slightly heavier version of Andres Gimenez. He sticks out.

I get that, but last year Cal Raleigh his 60 HR, and this year he's significantly worse than Andres Giminez--but I think Vlad's collapse gets much more attention (or maybe I'm in a Toronto bubble). But you kind of answered the question anyway; the money is the largely the driving factor.

his/hit--bring on editing!

I don't think the money is the key factor. The Jays are rolling in money, Varsho and Gausman's contracts just came off the books, and they traded Hoffmann. They're set up well to spend more this off-season (assuming no lockout).

Vlad represents arguably the AL's best offense last year turning into arguably the league's worst offense this year, which has completely sunk the team's playoff hopes. The Mariners have struggled but they're only 3.5 games off the division lead!

I've just never, in all my years watching baseball, seen anything like the attention Vlad's ordeals have gotten. Do they spend 10 minutes a day analyzing Raleigh on Seattle talk-radio? They may--again, I'm in a bubble.

What a game from Nathan Lukes tonight.

What it means when you have zero faith in your team and dip in and out of games. Saw about 30 minutes' worth tonight, scattered throughout. All I missed was 1) Max tying and moving ahead of Walter Johnson; 2) Gimenez's game-tying double; 3) Lukes' game-winning HR.

Vlad returned to the lineup yesterday and homered in his first at-bat, finishing the night 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBI, and two runs. It was the first time Guerrero Jr. scored and drove in multiple runs in a game since April 20.

Just had a great chance for some dramatics--half-a-billion-dollars-type dramatics--and fecklessly grounded into an inning-ending DP.

I'll go with that guy I quoted earlier in the thread; give Vlad the rest of the season off. He should never have been thrown out on that DP; clearly, his back or whatever is not right. Add to that the weight of the world and he's not helping anybody.

They brought Charles McAdoo back up from Buffalo for tonight's game because he'd homered in four straight games, and sure enough he hit one tonight.

Take note, basketball fans: "McAdoo" and "Buffalo" in the same sentence.

Is anyone able to explain to me what happened in the 7th?! I was at the game and we had no idea

At a sleep clinic and missed the game, but this should help:

https://www.mlb.com/news/blue-jays-red-sox-delayed-for-rule-check

might be the most bizarre thing I've ever seen rules-wise. was thinking "surely that's got to be a first" but no, apparently something similar happened in 2009? either way crazy that neither team knew how many outs there were

2.5 back of the WC, on a 9-4 run. I wish I were young; as is, will probably continue to wade in for an inning or two if they're ahead. Terrible fan.

Getting a win today would seem chimerical: Boston has a solid starter going, we have the who-knows? Max, odds against a sweep, etc. The Jays need it, though--it'd be that breakthrough win they missed a couple of times when they had a chance to go over .500.

Stopped at the one-yard line yet again.

still plenty of season. and that was an enjoyable little run of wins there.

One game back now, it looks like. If they do pull this off, they'll surely be one of the worst hitting teams ever to make the playoffs. First team I think of is the '73 Mets; not last in the league in runs, though, they scored more than the Padres. The second is the "Hitless Wonders," the 1906 White Sox, which turns out to be completely bogus! They were third in runs that year in an eight-team league.

Jays are presently 29th in MLB in runs scored with 482 runs, 13 ahead of the last-place Mariners.

Vlad out for at least a week...Not sure how to react to that--it'd be more than a little hypocritcal to start hand-wringing. We'll miss his glove and his base-running?

Patrick Bateman, Bob McAdoo, I love this team!

At one point today, the Jays had Tyler Rogers in the game against Tim Hill for the Yankees. Is there a rule that side-armers have to be rail-thin and look kind of sad?

The Jays really do have a favorable schedule after they get through these next seven games with the Yankees and Rays: Royals, Mariners, Guardians, Royals, Athletics, Orioles, Tigers, Rangers, Orioles, Reds. That's 75 games below .500 (not double counting), with no team over .500. Of course, that includes the Jays, too.

With so much money at stake, are there still players who, when someone points out a statistical benchmark the player has just achieved, waves them off with "I don't pay much attention to that stuff"? When Cease struck out his 200th batter today (6th time), took him approximately one second to ask for the baseball.

i don't think i've seen a SP ask for a 200th strikeout ball before. right now what i'm wondering is the bit of trivia about who the other 6 blue jays (at least i think they said Cease was the 7th) were to get 200K in a season.

without looking i would guess... Halladay, Clemens, Gausman, Ray... then maybe Morrow and ahh Hentgen. If not all of them, then maybe Morris, Cone or Guzman.

was totes wrong about #6

Good guesses...The thing I hate about getting caught up in all this again (obviously, I mostly love it): the feeling on a day like today that you've just wasted an entire afternoon, and gotten yourself all agitated besides.

Dylan Cease, Renaissance man.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=893934150457404

(Him visiting an art-supply store...there were three video clips in all, that's just one.)

Local Buy & Sell group: 2022 Topps Chrome, Alek Manoah, Autographed, 150/499...$15.

Optimistic seller.

One-year anniversary of Vlad's last Rogers Centre HR. Very sentimental day for Jays fans.

Another series win, in Tampa Bay no less. I was competely wrong above--they've gotten to where they are not via a big winning streak (haven't exceeded three in a row) but by chipping away.

Vlad vs. Bo:

VG - 7 HR, 46 RBI, .264/.338/.356, 92 OPS+, 1.1 bWAR
BB - 14 HR, 66 RBI, .268/.314/.398, 99 OPS+, 1.0 bWAR

Pretty close to dead-even, I guess. But I'm sure the Jays would give up a few of Vlad's walks for Bo's extra, uh, slug.

ugh yikes

Meaning Bo/Vlad, or did I miss some calamitous news?

Vlad there. Bo was off to a terrible start, but i guess has improved a little.

i'm trying to think of a parallel to how bad Vlad's season his vs his carreer line and coming up short

I was too...George Scott going from .303/.373/.465/138 OPS+ in 1967 to .171/.236/.237/40 OPS+ in 1968 was sort of famous way back when, but a) that was 1968, and b) George Scott wasn't Vlad.

Buck Marinez goes up on the wall today (much nicer at Rogers Centre than in The Handmaid's Tale). A tribute from some of the players:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1735892914401264

Ugh--Martinez.

Oops--no longer the Wall of Excellence; now the Hall of Excellence...great ceremony: Springer and Ernie drove out a new golf cart (and clubs) for him.

I don't have any point of comparison, really--I mean, I know about the Yankees' Monument Park--but the Jays really do an amazing job of celebrating their history.

I do think, in their own way, Steib and Delgado are both lobbying to get into the big Hall.

I like Steibs odds much more than Delgados.

Might have to catch a game in sept and check out the new hall.

I’d say up until last year, they were terrible at promoting their history. No (appropriate) statues. Nothing much on display in the stadium. I’d been saying for yeeeaarrrrsss they needed to do better on that from and I have to say nam thrilled with the work they’ve done on that front.

And, speaking of recent changes, I think Bateman might be becoming one of my favourite players

I’d say up until last year, they were terrible at promoting their history.

I don't know, it always seemed to me like they had something going--alumni days, commemmoration of '92/'93, giveaways, etc. They've definitely stepped it up for the 50th anniversary.

Ya they had nights and giveaways to get butts in the seats, but there’s was hardly anything around the stadium for fans to see / touch. I’ve been to lots of stadiums and they almost all had statues of their heroes outside the stadium. Old Shea stadium had painted seats where historic runs had been hit, Yankees have their whole hall of legends. The jays had, what, Ted fuckhead Rogers statue outside?! This team SUCKED at having its history on display like other teams did.

I'm not sure measuring the Jays against the Yankees is a fair fight...check your FB messages, Thermo!

In any event, I thought Buck was as genuinely appreciative of today's events as I've ever seen a player be. Loved his final recreation of his signature call.

Sorry...maybe the greatest thing about today:

Career SB, Buck Martinez - 2; stole his second career base today, Alejandro Kirk.

What the

Are the mariners this bad/max this good today?

The mariners are very bad this year

Pretty sure Cal Raleigh still has single digit hr, meanwhile Randy Arozarena has been pretty good

Canzone has been a really solid hitter this year too. he's also deliciously stuffed with cheese and pepperoni.

anyheew, Clem and I were at the game and was not expecting to see Max strike out 10 fucking hitters to pass Perry on the all time list today. was one of those thing where i think maybe 10 other people in the stadium knew what was happening until they announced it on the jumbotron

Going back to last year's division clincher--final day of the season--Thermo and I have powered the Jays to two straight blowouts. Alejandro Kirk especially relies on our presence.

https://i.postimg.cc/zGQFm84W/IMG-5492.jpg

#3,535:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6j2Cf7erIk

despite looking confused and bloated there, i was indeed enjoying myself.
xpost

Despite looking old and dishevelled there, I was indeed enjoying myself.

Lots of photos from the new Hall:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/SXUiPUdRJZk9s6nL9

.500!! We're officially so-so.
― clemenza, Friday, May 29, 2026 9:44 PM (three months ago)

We're officially one game better than so-so--first time since early April.

And actually in the actual wild card spot now. Just insane when you think about where we were at at the trade deadline.

Playoff odds were in the 3-4 percent range at the deadline. Now they're around 50 percent.

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm hoping Santander finds his way back (supposedly a rehab start is close). Even when winning, they're leaving tons of guys on base. 19 games left--even one key HR could be the difference.

he did not look good when he came back at the end of last season; i would be surprised if this year was any different

To state the supremely obvious, tonight--Cease vs. a guy with a near-5.00 ERA, Guardians having lost--is a must.

Very easy to lose sight of the fact that this is just not a very good team.

Yeah, but there are no good teams in the AL. Someone has to emerge from this quagmire and get to the World Series, and it might as well be us.

Varland is great, but he allows too many baserunners and his numbers are great in part because he never gives up home runs and therefore almost never truly gets burned. But I feel like I've seen too many outings where he ends up with two runners on via a soft hit and a walk, but gets out of it. He won't be able to walk that tightrope in the playoffs, if we get there.

That's more of a recent development, no? That's why he was such a godsend at first after Osuna and Romano, who saved most of their games but (as I recall) gave you a heart attack more often than not along the way. (And then there was Hoffman: heart attack + blown save.) Varland was just mowing them down early on.

That’s not my impression of Varland. His WHIP is just above 1, which is good (not amazing tho). His FIP is 1.90; a little more than his ERA but obviously isn’t indicating any reliance on luck.

Varland's last seven outings: 7 IP, 1 ER, 7 hits, 4 BB, 8 K, 0 HR. I'm guessing that's his worst 7-game stretch for the year, and while a bit messy, yes, still effective. (Not sure if he gave up any inherited runs in there--he always starts an inning clean, doesn't he?) Maybe the workload--including pitching almost every game in the postseason last year--is catching up to him a bit.

There's a big difference in his K/9 and WHIP before and after the ASB, but his ERA doesn't reflect it. So there's some recency bias in my comment. He's still great, but I'm more worried than I should be when he enters the game.

looks like Schnider was picking up what you were putting down last night!

Watching this team ground into routine double plays--first Vlad, then Okamoto--as they try to cobble together a couple of runs against the 1971 Orioles, I mean the 2026 A's, is death. Remind me again why playoff races are fun.

One thing that does me make laugh is how Springer/Vlad has been replaced by Springer/Clement in the Smucker's commercials. Corporations are even more merciless than fans.

I worship self-deprecation, so big applause to Vlad. Mired in this nightmarish season, he just missed (by about three feet) his first home HR this year--double off the wall. As he's standing on second, big grin on his face, he's looking over at the dugout--where you know they're razzing him--and starts to mimic some arm curls: "Yeah, I know--I've gotta hit the weight room."

He did it!

i hope now that monkey's off his back he can start really hitting again

Mr. Okamoto, Mr. Kaz Okamoto...

that ball was destroyed

most MLB home runs in a season for a Japanese player not named Ohtani

Guessing last night's game was the most dispiriting I've seen in almost 50 years of attending Jays games. 11 games to go, locked in a near-dead heat for the last WC, facing a team three or four games even more mediocre than they are, and they lose 10-1. Conceding that Schneider can only work with what he has, that key pitchers are down, and that I'm asking questions about answers I already know, why did he entrust the 4th inning (0-0) to a pitcher with an ERA over 7.00, a WHIP near 2.0, and a K/BB ratio barely over 1.5? 4 runs...and then he throws him out for the 5th and another run. Meanwhile, the guy who pitched the third, a 28-year-old making his major league debut, had just retired five batters without a hit or a walk, striking out three.

Why? Because Cullucci had thrown 25 pitches, coincidentally the exact same number Braydon Fisher had thrown when he got pulled mid-inning in the second--he also hadn't yet given up a run, and there were two outs and a runner on first.

This was the Schneider of 2022 and 2023, the Schneider of the Gausman/Berrios playoff debacles: he had a plan and he was sticking to it. With 11 games to go.

Managed to win this afternoon--didn't watch--but the new problem I think is that the Guardians passed the White Sox, and the White Sox have the seasonal edge over the Jays. So win-lose, and a slightly longer shot today.

I'm giving Schneider a pass for his handling of the pitching staff. Multiple bullpen games per week was nobody's game plan heading into the season.

Schneider probably thinks that anyone pitching in relief gets one trip through the batting order at most, no matter how well he's pitching. I can't say he's wrong.

Bullpen days are tough to navigate, no argument, just having a hard time seeing the logic of giving 25 pitches each to the two guys who were getting people out while giving 53 to the guy with abysmal numbers and who gave up five runs.

On that note, I saw that the Marlins (who have the exact same W-L as the Jays but are 7.5 games out of a playoff spot with nine to play) used Sandy Alcantara in relief yesterday. He's already leading MLB in innings pitched and is a year removed from TJ surgery, but every game counts, right? I'm not saying that the Jays should pitch Cease every day, but the contrast in managerial styles there is ... interesting.

My thinking also, more or less: avoid giving any innings at all to Michael Lorenzen--he's off-the-chart awful--even if it means the risk of overworking someone else. Not necessarily Cease, but get those two innings from somewhere else. There's no time left.

Of course--it bears repeating--pitching is not the #1 problem with this club.

xp my whole point in posting that is that the Marlins are fucking stupid

I assumed there was some context where using Alcantra was an unavoidable act of desperation…. or were they just like “lol idk”

With an absolute whimper.

so uh, how we feeling about vlad?

And that's that.

Trying to figure out this latest Vlad controversy; from what I can tell, it's a Spanish interview where he's saying that the team is paying him for what he's already done, not for what he's going to do in the future. Which is...partly true, but weird. Almost any contract is what, 80-90% based on expected future contributions? And his timing couldn't be worse.

Rare agreement with Kevin Barker: keep your head down this week, play good defense, then get out of Dodge as quickly as you can.

his statcast seems to be mostly good but where it's dropped precipitously over the last several seasons is in barrel and sweet spot %, especially the latter. you have to hope for a recovery next season, don't want the guy fully turning into Dave Magadan for that kind of money.

ppl clowned on jeter for being a robot in interviews but he understood the assignment: no player has anything to gain from saying anything but 'just trying to help the team'

i feel like that "paying me for what i've done" line is something agents (or famous dads) tell players who's performance isn't living up to their contracts/expectations. might be a nice way to frame things if they're feeling lousy about their output – absolutely not a thing you put forward as a defence to the fans tho.

Wasn't watching, but I see Vlad was 0-4 yesterday with two strikeouts (could drop under .260 if he plays today). Guessing that wasn't pretty re fan reaction.

am heading to the game today and will find out what the crowd thinks in person.

Taking a wild guess this ticket was bought weeks ago?

no, yesterday! got 4th row, 100 level outfield for half price!

tbf vlad hitting over/under .260 isn't the problem -- it's him slugging .356

that's 123rd out of 134 qualified hitters -- and behind andres gimenez!

you can't sign a $500m contract, play like that, and then get pissy or the fans will bury you

pretty decent run with the jays for george springer tho, eh

if he were a leaf the fans would already have buried him!

Oh, I know his BA is the least of Vlad's problems--if he were Alonso or Schwarber, 40+ HR would have gone along with that. But it would go a little way towards compensating for his piddly power numbers if he were hitting .300; he'd go back to being the Mark Grace he was when he experienced power outages before.

Found it interesting he played yesterday but sat today. I was going to come on here before the game (when I assumed he'd be playing) and say I admired that he (mostly) still played everyday and didn't let the din get to him.

lol- I said that to a friend last night. Vlad is finding out what it’s like to be a Leaf

You know how many starting pitchers have certain catchers they're paired with, like personal caddies (Gibson/McCarver a famous example)? Obviously Max needs you, Thermo.

I see Schneider and Max reprised their little vaudeville routine today.

ya. the baseball version of james brown getting ushered off stage and then exploding back

I still love it, staged as it probably was. Must have been amazing to be there for Max's and Springer's farewells.

there were literally people in the stands around me crying in the post-game

https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/how-okamotos-success-can-impact-blue-jays-push-into-japanese-market/

TORONTO – The Toronto Blue Jays introduced Kazuma Okamoto during a Jan. 6 news conference and as part of his visit to the city, the team planned a dinner for him at a high-end omakase sushi restaurant the next day. As the reservation approached, however, the newly signed slugger respectfully took a pass, because he’d gone to the Eaton Centre food court for lunch and crushed so many hot dogs he was too full for another meal.

Something to entertain you till the game...For what I assume is A.I.-generated garbage, not bad. The only egregious mis-ranking is placing #3 ahead of #4. Doubt many Jays fans would agree (if they'd gone on to win last year, possibly, but not even then, I don't think).

https://i.postimg.cc/JhGkj5ZG/jays.jpg

Springer a head of Bautista is a little surprising. I think having Donaldson's MVP in there and not Bell's is dead wrong.

Also, I'd include clinching in '85--that was huge. Iconic image of Bell catching the ball and dropping to his knees.