Long way off, but this looks promising:
https://ca.yahoo.com/sports/news/blue-jays-sign-international-free-agent-enmanuel-bonilla-to-franchise-record-bonus-173744656.html
― clemenza, Monday, 16 January 2023 20:03 (one year ago) link
That entire piece can be summed up by “just dumb luck I guess”! A lot of new acronyms in there for me, which I expect to forget most of. Interesting that he supposedly got super lucky in 2021. So I guess I can look forward to him getting thrown out a little less next season.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 16 January 2023 20:59 (one year ago) link
whoops - i was talking about the piece on Bichette and his speed vanishing
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 16 January 2023 21:15 (one year ago) link
That was my conclusion too, after my eyes glazed over and I skipped ahead to the end:
His 2021 season represented something like his 80% percentile outcome, while his 2022 season represented something like his 20% percentile outcome. He got “lucky” one year and “unlucky” the next, and those two years happened to come back-to-back.
― clemenza, Monday, 16 January 2023 21:38 (one year ago) link
Fun Fact: Daulton Varsho was born 9 months and 1 day after his dad Gary's final MLB game.(via u/thedeejus) pic.twitter.com/PiBdBpa9Vm— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) January 27, 2023
― Karl Malone, Friday, 27 January 2023 18:34 (one year ago) link
I don't really remember this guy, but look at the photo--he's hitting cross-handed, no?
https://jaysjournal.com/posts/former-blue-jays-utilityman-getting-one-last-shot-world-baseball-classic-dominican-republic
― clemenza, Sunday, 29 January 2023 16:39 (one year ago) link
OK, I guess it could be that he bats left and that's coming out of his swing.
― clemenza, Sunday, 29 January 2023 16:44 (one year ago) link
boneface was switch, maybe he concocted a third swing
― francisF, Wednesday, 1 February 2023 20:03 (one year ago) link
Just noise, but seriously: you're going to question Alek Manoah's work ethic? I think the guy would like nothing better than to throw 300 innings.
https://www.thestar.com/sports/bluejays/2023/02/02/my-job-isnt-to-please-you-blue-jays-ace-alek-manoah-speaks-out-after-analyst-questions-his-work-ethic.html
― clemenza, Friday, 3 February 2023 14:30 (one year ago) link
stroman also wasn't able to stay away from this one! clearly that analyst is a clown, but i think manoah should have just stayed above and ignored him. dude's gonna have a rough time of it, if he feels the need to respond to every half notable clown spewing bs.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 3 February 2023 22:23 (one year ago) link
Are you trying to tell me that Marcus Stroman won't stop tweeting?
― clemenza, Friday, 3 February 2023 22:32 (one year ago) link
literally incapable!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Saturday, 4 February 2023 01:42 (one year ago) link
Can't Stop Won't Stop: the Marcus Stroman Story.
― clemenza, Saturday, 4 February 2023 01:52 (one year ago) link
https://www.sportsnet.ca/mlb/article/blue-jays-bo-bichette-agree-to-multi-year-contract-avoiding-arbitration/
"In the meantime, Bichette gets the biggest payday of his career — while terms haven’t been announced, one source suggested $33.5 million or so would be a fair number for the next three seasons."
― clemenza, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 02:53 (one year ago) link
glad that arb stuff is behind us for Bo. next up is putting that long-term-contract ring on Vlad's finger!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 05:38 (one year ago) link
vlad seems destined to get a 14-year / $1.9 billion deal with the padres or something
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 06:05 (one year ago) link
(er, numbers exaggerated but not enough to seem that exaggerated. maybe he gets 10 years and a mere 400 million or something like that)
― Karl Malone, Wednesday, 8 February 2023 06:07 (one year ago) link
Considering how young he is (and what happened in the SS market) a 10 year deal wouldn’t feel unreasonable
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 8 February 2023 06:50 (one year ago) link
Hey! (Even though he won't have a bat in his hand.)
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/encarnacion-returns-blue-jays-coach
― clemenza, Saturday, 25 February 2023 02:47 (one year ago) link
just watched Tiedemann throw his first spring training inning. wow did the kid look good.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 28 February 2023 19:51 (one year ago) link
I'm so slow on up-and-coming players (I'm the guy who basically said "Who's Kershaw?" here about three years into his career). So I'm looking at his line for last year for the first time--pretty awesome over three different leagues.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 1 March 2023 03:18 (one year ago) link
Not a lot of innings - but he did that at 19!!! Stuff was great. Electric fastball, great change and a fade away slider he located perfectly to end the inning.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 1 March 2023 04:15 (one year ago) link
Sort of a nothing story that is nonetheless interesting (and will be a contentious thing on social media for a few days):
https://torontosun.com/sports/baseball/toronto-blue-jays/no-jacket-required-blue-jays-pack-away-home-run-jacket-as-part-of-gritty-new-attitude
I'll half miss it, half won't.
(Sorry for the Sun link, Thermo, it's all I can find.)
― clemenza, Wednesday, 1 March 2023 21:21 (one year ago) link
Deep breath: https://www.mlb.com/bluejays/news/vladimir-guerrero-jr-exits-right-knee-discomfort.
― clemenza, Saturday, 4 March 2023 00:22 (one year ago) link
https://jaysjournal.com/posts/blue-jays-jose-bautista-to-be-added-to-level-of-excellence
Hardly a surprise, great news, but I always assumed he and Encarnacion would go up there together. Their prime Blue Jay years exist almost in lockstep. They're like Maddux/Glavine, Trammell/Whitaker, etc. Maybe it's just economics: two big showcase days are better than one.
― clemenza, Monday, 6 March 2023 03:41 (one year ago) link
Obvious Bats was going to go up there. EE I’m not so sure about.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Monday, 6 March 2023 04:21 (one year ago) link
You don't think so? Except for Henke inexplicably not being up there, I can't think of anyone else who'd be the next logical choice. But if that's where they do draw the line, just above Henke, then no, I guess he isn't a sure thing.
― clemenza, Monday, 6 March 2023 04:36 (one year ago) link
This is as good a place as any to repost some things I wrote in 2009 -- marvel at my innate (in)ability to spot future superstars. In my defense: Cito Gaston was managing the team and I was pissed off all season long:
Whose Baseball Team Is This? (2009 Blue Jays Thread)
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 6 March 2023 09:20 (one year ago) link
Looking at Encarnacion/Bautista's time with the Jays:
EE: .268/.355/.522, 136 OPS+, 4.1 WAR/162, 1 incredible, iconic postseason HRJB: .253/.372/.506, 136 OPS+, 5.0 WAR/162, 1 super-incredible, iconic postseason HR
Pretty damn close offensively; more defensive value for Bautista.
― clemenza, Monday, 6 March 2023 13:39 (one year ago) link
NoTime: you don't even mention Bautista in that post--how did not see that he was going to hit 54 HR in 2010?
― clemenza, Monday, 6 March 2023 13:41 (one year ago) link
Clem -- check the end of the first paragraph!
Snider never panned out (for any team) but he *was* regarded as a can't miss prospect by just about everyone. Good thing Joey Bats saved the team by retooling his swing!
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Monday, 6 March 2023 16:19 (one year ago) link
Stepped on my own joke--you did mention him...(What you say is really funny, not that I'm any better at prognostication).
― clemenza, Monday, 6 March 2023 16:30 (one year ago) link
I liked him--and he was treated shabbily--so glad to hear this:
https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/pat-tabler-blue-jays-new-gig
― clemenza, Friday, 24 March 2023 15:41 (one year ago) link
i like him, but was not a fan of him as a broadcaster.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 24 March 2023 16:11 (one year ago) link
From Dave Fleming's annual predictions (which he treats as a goof):
"This is a very small ledge to go out on, but I think Bo Bichette will either come in second the AL MVP race, or win it outright."
https://www.billjamesonline.com/bold_predictions_for_2023/
― clemenza, Tuesday, 28 March 2023 16:09 (one year ago) link
that's interesting! wouldn't have expected James to be too huge on Bo since he doesn't walk alot and his defence is mediocre
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Tuesday, 28 March 2023 16:19 (one year ago) link
It's a guy who writes for James, not James himself. I like him; his predictions are intriguing, and he usually revisits to see how he did. Bo would have to have some really flashy old-school stats to get himself into an MVP race--he'll probably never have a really high WAR for the reasons you mention.
― clemenza, Tuesday, 28 March 2023 16:26 (one year ago) link
This doesn't quite jibe with his Bo prediction (or at least not with Bo winning):
"Bold time: Adley Rutschman will have a 10.0 WAR season in 2023."
As far as I can tell, Piazza's 8.7 bWAR in 1997 is the highest ever by a catcher. So it's probably safe to say a 10.0 would be worth an MVP.
― clemenza, Wednesday, 29 March 2023 02:16 (one year ago) link
Not if it’s 8 WAR of pitch framing!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 29 March 2023 04:26 (one year ago) link
My category is the Blue Jays for the monthly Zoom trivia group I'm part of.
Questions: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RE-5sucHGRKMruARoDZNvgux8EI5qy_hz4zw19s7HfI/edit?usp=sharing
Answers: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1v5Q0-b6rZnLXH0xSASkzTr0TmApXzsZq3VVYvI9KDNg/edit?usp=sharing
Realize that the first few questions are ridiculously easy...You can't assume people share your interests, so you have to have a few gimmes at the start.
― clemenza, Thursday, 30 March 2023 01:26 (one year ago) link
Damn dude. #4 & 5 are tough!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 30 March 2023 04:55 (one year ago) link
the image for #6 D':<
― francisF, Thursday, 30 March 2023 16:30 (one year ago) link
sorry – 5 &6 are the really tough ones. tho i had also forgotten about #4
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Thursday, 30 March 2023 18:27 (one year ago) link
I added the question about the Caribbean pipeline this morning and made #10 a bonus, which shifted some of the numbering.
― clemenza, Thursday, 30 March 2023 18:41 (one year ago) link
What an epic game to start the season
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 31 March 2023 00:12 (one year ago) link
Saw the Jays score their early runs, went for dinner, tied when I got back, skipped out, caught the end online while in the middle of my trivia thing (where people mostly tanked on my Blue Jay quiz).
― clemenza, Friday, 31 March 2023 00:17 (one year ago) link
It was pretty tough!
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 31 March 2023 02:26 (one year ago) link
Can't remember an Opening Day game as good as that.
― NoTimeBeforeTime, Friday, 31 March 2023 07:12 (one year ago) link
you'd think we'd just won the world series judging by the celebrating going on at the (very awesome) bar i was at. after that wild up and down, back and forth game; Romano coming in and just shutting things down was epic.
― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Friday, 31 March 2023 14:09 (one year ago) link
Was surprised Manoah coughed up the lead. No cause for concern, right? I didn't see much of him, but in the little that I saw, it struck me that he felt a little rushed by the pitch clock (yet I always thought of him as a fast worker).
― clemenza, Friday, 31 March 2023 16:17 (one year ago) link