Yes! While watching the game at my friends on Tuesday night I mentioned that perhaps coming up on 34 years old next month that Springer we are witnessing Springer's decline. I remember how quickly Bautista went from a 40 HR season to half thatn then gone in just a few years. Hear Kevin Barker say today, he thinks he's on his back 9.
Jays 2023
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Vernon Wells did 4 levels in 1999....For a hitter that's amazing.
Vernon Wells Minor Leagues Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
Vernon Wells Minor Leagues Statistics including batting, fielding, prospect rankings and more on Baseball-Reference.com
www.baseball-reference.com
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I always felt like that Odor punch made Bautista less scary at the plate. It sounds silly, but I think that just took a little bit of his edge away in the opposing pitchers mind. Mix that in with his age decline and I think that’s a combination of what happened.
So are we organizing a group party to watch the August 12th retirement of Bautista to The Level Of Excellence? Who has the bucket of beers? Lol
Philip
This is so very true. I wish AA had stayed. The only positive out of him leaving was he would’ve most likely signed David Price to a long-term deal. That was his guy. And as we know, his Velo dropped dramatically over the next five seasons, along with a sharp decline straight to retirment.
Philip
I know this is a wishful thinking dream… I would love to see the Blue Jays shake up the hitting coach situation. Imagine putting Joey Batts as a hitting coach on the heels of the August 12th ceremony? If there’s anyone that knows how to turn on a baseball and use your mechanics and hips….. it would be Bautista. I just don’t expect him to teach much about hitting the opposite field. Lol.
Philip
Vernon Wells did 4 level in 1999....For a hitter that's amazing.
Vernon Wells Minor Leagues Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com
Vernon Wells Minor Leagues Statistics including batting, fielding, prospect rankings and more on Baseball-Reference.com
Several have done 4 levels in a season. Tom 'Flash' Gordon in 1988 is one of them, also A-Rod in 1994 and Juan Soto in 2018. Stephen Strasberg pitched at five levels in 2011, but most were rehab; he had played in the Majors the previous season. Strasberg could possibly be the only player to have appeared in games at five levels in one season.
Most candidates to complete this feat will be either International players, high school phenoms selected at or near the top of the June Draft, or a guy rushed to the Majors by an expansion team or a franchise struggling for attendance. A top draft pick who played in the NCAA isn't likely to do it, because most of them start their professional career at AA.
Cade Horton in the Chicago Cubs organization has advanced from Low A through High A to AA this year, his first as a professional. He was previously a star in both Baseball and Football for the Oklahoma Sooners. He's already had Tommy John surgery.
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......and that's how you put 42,000+ people to sleep. They didn't even belong on the same field with the Orioles.
Probably not and it's a sign that the Jays lack hitting depth. The Jays may squeak into the playoffs thanks to the new format, but I can't see the Jays beating any East Division team in a playoff series.
What an embarrassment display of hitting, with exception of Bo, they all try to pull the ball. Fire all hitting coaches and hire Dante. All teams know this and pitch them away for swing and misses. Vladdy swung and struck out on a pitch that was 6 inches off the plate.
I would reckon that since June 30 (the start of the last Boston series) our hitting numbers are likely average at best. Funnily enough our best series hitting during that stretch is against the Dodgers. I mean shit we were even no hit by the woeful Detroit Tigers.
But yes our clutch hitting (or lack thereof) is the glaring weakness.
SUMMARY
2023
Career
WAR
35.2
AB
4315
H
1150
HR
234
BA
.267
R
772
RBI
626
SB
79
OBP
.354
SLG
.483
OPS
.836
OPS+
129
Yes.
Good bounce-back after the shameful 1-6 loss to the Orioles. Didn't watch that game, how many walks did Vlady take.
We finally got to James Paxton, the BC guy pitched a no-hitter against us when he was with the Mariners. Davis Schneider looks like a chartered accountant, unlike Matt Chapman, he doesn't have a Dick Long mustache - but it does look cheesy. He has power and speed, I hope this is the start of a promising career.
Btw Dick Long filled out his mustache when he became Harry Reems.
We finally got to James Paxton, the BC guy pitched a no-hitter against us when he was with the Mariners. Davis Schneider looks like a chartered accountant, unlike Matt Chapman, he doesn't have a Dick Long mustache - but it does look cheesy. He has power and speed, I hope this is the start of a promising career.
Btw Dick Long filled out his mustache when he became Harry Reems.
I think both lack of depth (The Jays do not have a clean-up hitter) and respect for Springer. He's either in a bad slump, or on an age related decline. If The Jays can keep the wild card close then we need Springer in September and October and you can't embarrass your star veteran too much if you need him later.
At this time in 2022, the Phillies were 57-49, had Alec Bohm and JT Realmuto batting 3-4 (two .750 ish OPS Hitters at the time), and made the World Series.
At this time in 2021, the Braves were 55-55.. they had Jorge Soler hitting .199 in the top spots of the order. They won the World Series.
2020
At this point in 2019, the Nationals were 58-53. They won the World Series.
2 points here:
1) The MLB playoffs are a crapshoot. The better teams do have a better chance to advance of course, but their odds are not that much greater than lower teams.
2) "Cleanup hitters" are no longer typically the best hitters in lineups. That's old school. Due to analytics most teams will put their best hitters at the #2 and #3 spot, and sometimes even #1. When teams have a key injury you will often find a decent / so-so player batting clean up.
At this time in 2021, the Braves were 55-55.. they had Jorge Soler hitting .199 in the top spots of the order. They won the World Series.
2020
At this point in 2019, the Nationals were 58-53. They won the World Series.
2 points here:
1) The MLB playoffs are a crapshoot. The better teams do have a better chance to advance of course, but their odds are not that much greater than lower teams.
2) "Cleanup hitters" are no longer typically the best hitters in lineups. That's old school. Due to analytics most teams will put their best hitters at the #2 and #3 spot, and sometimes even #1. When teams have a key injury you will often find a decent / so-so player batting clean up.
