Toronto Blue Jays 2015 Season

[BRabbiT]

[Toni]

I'm happier playing Texas than Houston. Even the Yankees can be scary.

[BRabbiT]

......

idk, Texas is really on a roll right now. This should be a more even match up than most people think.




[QUOTE]
ALDS Preview (NYTimes)

...Napoli, Beltre, Fielder & others will team to help Texas match the thump of Toronto, who outscored opponents by 221 runs this season. The Blue Jays got 120 homers from Bautista, Donaldson, & Encarnacion. Martin & Tulowitzki also provide power from the right-handed side.

The Rangers

[BRabbiT]

Playoff Power Rankings


10. Pittsburgh Pirates

9. New York Yankees

8. Houston Astros

7. Texas Rangers

6. Chicago Cubs

5. New York Mets

4. St. Louis Cardinals

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

2. Kansas City Royals

[QUOTE]
1. Toronto

Teams that play Toronto in Rogers Centre are defending air space: The Blue Jays swing for the fences, & clear them often.

Toronto is 46

[Zan Tabak]

Two very Toronto-esque losses. Very disappointing.

They have to win 3 in a row now, possible but unlikely.

[BRabbiT]

Toronto-esque losses. ....

yeah, agree.

they lost momentum last week.

[Zan Tabak]

They have to win 3 in a row now, possible but unlikely.

[BRabbiT]

....

what a game. resilient as fukc

those guys are fukcing clutch!!!

[Dr.Funk]

[BRabbiT]

[Zan Tabak]

LOL..thats hilarious.

Tough loss yesterday. Here's hoping the REAL David Price shows up today...

[BRabbiT]

Kansas City has established a reputation for dramatic postseason comebacks the past couple of years, beginning with last season's wild-card victory over Oakland.

Turns out, the Toronto has some never-say-quit spirit as well.

After going on a second-half run to make the playoffs, then rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Texas in a best-of-5 ALDS matchup, Toronto will try to beat the KC in another win-or-else situation in Game 6 of the ALCS on Friday night.

Toronto forced the series back to KC with a 7-1 rout on Wednesday, closing to 3-2.

"You look at all the elimination games, our offense has really come to life," John Gibbons said Thursday.

"We've said all along that's the key to our team, scoring runs. You hate to make a habit of it, but maybe we can pull it off again."

David Price will take the mound for Toronto after his collapse in the series opener, when he tossed 6 shutout innings & then surrendered 5 runs in the 7th.

Yordano Ventura will oppose him for KC. He was only marginally better, allowing 3 runs & 8 hits in 5 1/3 innings before watching the comeback win from the dugout.

"I'm very fortunate and happy that this game has landed on my turn, here in KC, & with the opportunity to take this club to the World Series," Ventura said.

"I'll be ready for this game."

Toronto promises they will be, too.

Toronto lost the 1st 2 games against Texas at home, then won 3 straight with its season hanging in the balance. The first 2 were at Texas, & the last at Rogers Centre, but none of the victories was even close -- all by at least 3 runs.

The Blue Jays lost the 1st 2 games in Kansas City, too. But in Game 3 in Toronto, the hosts overcame a 1-0 deficit & rolled to an 11-8 victory.

"We've been through a bunch of hurdles all year," Chris Colabello said.

"We were 7 1/2 games (back) at the deadlines. ... We had to claw back from that. We were down 2 games back in the division series & we clawed back from that. I'll tell you what, we're going to leave everything we have out there."

They may have to do just that. While Toronto has won 4 straight elimination games, KC is 6-2 in their last 8 postseason games at Kauffman Stadium.

Make no mistake, either: The ballpark matters in this series.

While homer-happy Toronto was built with the small dimensions of Rogers Centre in mind, the speedy, defensive-minded Royals were built for their home park.

Not surprisingly, Toronto failed to homer in the 1st 2 games of the ALCS in KC, but hit 4 long balls in Toronto, including 3 in Game 3.

"Nothing but positivity. We've got a 3-2 lead & we're heading back to KC," Eric Hosmer said before arriving home.

"That's where we play our best baseball, so everyone is still feeling pretty good about the series."

The big question in Game 6 is which starting pitchers will show up.

For Torontos, will it be the Price who was dominant for 6 innings in Game 1, recording 18 straight outs at one point? Or the rattled former Cy Young Award winner who, when an easy popup fell for a single, proceeded to allow 5 runs & fall to 0-7 in playoff starts?

"I know what I'm capable of doing, & I think everybody in this room knows what I'm capable of doing," he said.

"I think I just kind of want to do it too bad. And it's long overdue for me to get a win as a starter in the playoffs, a& I'll be ready to change that story tomorrow."

For KC, will it be the Ventura who tossed 7 innings of 3-hit ball in the must-win Game 6 of last year's World Series? Or the shaky 24-year-old who has a 6.57 ERA in the postseason, & who was far from perfect in the series opener?
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[BRabbiT]

Tough loss. Terrific season, though

Love the direction the organization is headed now.


* resign AA
* resign Lowe
* resign Hutchinson
* resign Bautista
* resign Encarnacion

* sign Mike Leake
* sign Jeff Samardzija

* let Navarro walk
* let Estrada walk
* buyout RAD
* non-tender Saunders

[Zan Tabak]

Tough loss. Terrific season, though

Love the direction the organization is headed now.


* resign AA
* resign Lowe
* resign Hutchinson
* resign Bautista
* resign Encarnacion

* sign Mike Leake
* sign Jeff Samardzija

* let Navarro walk
* let Estrada walk
* buyout RAD
* non-tender Saunders

For sure, it was a great season! Haven't had this much fun watching baseball in years...

What about resigning Price? Besides AA he'd be my next order of business.

[Jballer]

Tough loss. Terrific season, though
Love the direction the organization is headed now.

* resign AA
* resign Lowe
* resign Hutchinson
* resign Bautista
* resign Encarnacion

* sign Mike Leake
* sign Jeff Samardzija

* let Navarro walk
* let Estrada walk
* buyout RAD
* non-tender Saunders

Nice post.

I heard on Fan590 "Bobcat McCowan" that insiders say a cancelled press announcement when they clinched the playoff spot was to announce AA was signed. AA didn't confirm nor deny.

Bautista is signed for 1 more year. maybe you mean a longer term deal ?

Edwin has a team option I think. I would take it - I think the team will.

I would keep Estrada up to a certain price point. Estrada is probably worth $35 Million over 4 years given Baseball. He may want to maximize his one and only year of success as an FA - but you gotta think he would take some money off for longer term to stay in Toronto.

I agree Hutch is worth another look; his extension should have value.

I also think RA is likely worth the option. Nothing wrong with a Vet arm ; even if he is not a "full season starter 1 - 162". RA could be a powerful mid innings relief guy with weird stuff that will cripple the opposition. I would also try to keep Latroy Hawkins too.

It would be great if the team came back with Estrada, Sto, Sanchez, Hutch, Lowe, Osuna, RA, Letroy ...

Price is the big question. To keep him the payroll has to jump to something like $180 M annually. He is the prime ace on FA market.

His absence in your list seems to suggest you would give up one Price for two others ... Leake, Samardzija

Not sure. I think keeping Price (if possible) and adding another "middling arm" would be just as effective.