Looking at the Jays batters over the last two weeks.
The Jays were 4-9 over the past two weeks. Our batters hit .206/.276/.327 and averaged 2.85 runs per game (which makes you wonder how they won four games).
Hot
George Springer: Started 12 games. Hit .243/.417/.432 with 4 doubles, 1 home runs, 2 RBI, 3 steal, 11 walks and 910 strikeouts.
Started 4 games in center, 3 as designated hitter, and the rest in right field. He’s getting on base a lot. I’d like him better in the leadoff spot than Bo, but that’s likely not going to happen. I haven’t liked his defense, and neither has Outs Above Average, giving him a -3 on the season. But, he’s the only guy getting on base regularly, so I’ll live with his defense. Before the season, I thought the best thing that could happen was for Springer to get off to a quick start, persuading some contender to want to trade for him. He is off to a great start. I don’t know if the second part will happen, but if we could turn him into a prospect or something, I’d be happy. But then, next year is the last on his contract.
Nathan Lukes: Played in 8 games, starting 7. Hit .400/.480/.600 with 1 double, 1 home run, 6 RBI, 3 walks, 4 strikeouts and 1 caught stealing.
Started three games in CF, three in LF and one in RF. He’s had a nice go for the last couple of weeks. I like him as a fourth outfielder. He can play all three spots (though center is a bit of a stretch, but then I like him better there than Springer), has a little speed (though he’s 0 for 2 as a base stealer), and has a nice line drive stroke. He’s 30, so I hope he can hold on to a major league job for a few years.
Tyler Heineman: Played in 6 games, starting 3. Hit .300/.273/.400 with 1 double, 2 RBI, 0 walks and 4 strikeouts.
Tyler has been everything you’d want from a backup catcher. He’s been good on defence and thrown out 50% of basestealers (5 of 10). He’s chipped in on offense. He could accept a walk now and then, but that’s life. It surprises me that he hasn’t been full-time in the majors in the backup job. He’s almost 34, so he hasn’t long to build up a bank account. But then, backup catchers tend to find post-career jobs. Sportsnet would never hire a commentator who wasn’t a backup catcher. And half the coaching jobs out there are filled with backup catchers. Hot might be overstating things, but he’s been good.
Cold
Alejandro Kirk: Started 10 games. Hit .282/.282/.385 with 1 home run, 6 RBI, 0 walks, and 5 strikeouts.
Started all 10 games as catcher. He is on a four-game hitting streak and has hit in six of the last seven, hitting .333 in those last 7. In there was some power or if he would take some walks, he wouldn’t be in the cold group. But a .667 OPS isn’t good enough. He’s thrown out 25% of base stealers.
Andrés Giménez: Played in 13 games, starting 12. Hit .143/217/.143 with no extra base hits, 2 RBI, 2 steals, 2 walks and 10 strikeouts.
They talked in the booth about how Andrés has been swinging better in the last few days. He is on a three-game hitting streak, going 5 for 12 (all singles). So, maybe there is hope. But then he started the season great, and that didn’t last. I think this is who he will be: some hot streaks and some long, cold streaks. He’s going to have to hit better than .192. No matter how good his glove is, it can’t carry a bat that poor.
Bo Bichette: Started all 13 games. Hit .255/.268/.364 with 3 doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, 2 steals and one caught.
Played short in all 13 games. I don’t know, I think he should get the odd day off, like everyone else. He did get a home run this week. It seems he is better than last year, but he is pretty miscast as a leadoff man and not the All-Star he was in the past. However, we’ll see how the season goes. Outs Above Average doesn’t like his defense, already having him at a -4 this season. Right now, I can’t see giving him a long-term contract. I don’t know how his career is going to shake out.
Ernie Clement: Played in 12 games, starting 8. Hit .212/.212/.273 with 2 doubles, 0 RBI, 0 walks and 2 strikeouts.
He played a few innings at short and second and the rest at third. He’s hitting LHP very well, .345/.412/.483 and not hitting right-handers at all, .154/.154/.154. Small sample size, but he’s been like that his whole career. Unfortunately, for him, there are so many more right-handers than left-handers. He is terrific defensively, +5 Outs Above Average already.
Alan Roden: Played in 8 games, starting 6. Hit .000/.105/.000 with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.
He has started in right field once, the rest in left. It must be hard to be a part-time player after playing every day in the minors, but this is the job, and he’s ailing at it. I think he is a major leaguer, but I think he will have to go back to the minors and find his stroke again.
Myles Straw: Played in 10 games, starting 4. Hit .158/.158/.211 with 1 double,1 caught stealing, 0 walks and 5 strikeouts.
He’s played left and center field. His great start to the season has fizzled out, as history suggested it would. He could be a very nice fourth outfielder. He has good defence and good speed, if he could hit a little. If he doesn’t hit, I’d rather Jonathan Clase (but then we could use a right-handed bat).
Anthony Santander: Started all 12 games. Hit .109/.226/.261 with 1 double, 2 home runs, 4 RBI, 7 walks and 13 strikeouts.
Started two games in right, one in left, the rest as DH. He’s been a slow starter, but it is time to get hitting, Anthony. The Jays are paying a lot for a sub-200 average. At least he’s shown a little power in the last couple of weeks. They have talked about wanting to play him in the outfield more, maybe it would help his bat. If he can’t figure out how to hit as a DH, I don’t want him. But he hasn’t hit well as a DH in his career. Maybe the team could have considered that before signing him.
Addison Barger: Played in 10 games, starting 8. Hit .208/.296/.333 with 3 doubles, 2 RBI, 2 walks and 5 strikeouts.
Started five games in RF, three at third base. I hope the team gives him some time to figure things out. 39 PA isn’t enough to get a read on him, but there is power there, and we could use some. Add in that Clement isn’t hitting RHP at all, I’m good with him showing off his arm at third base.
Inbetween
Vladimir Guerrero: Started all 13 games. Hit .245/.309/.449 with 1 doubles, 3 home runs, 8 RBI, 5 walks and 14 strikeouts.
He started one game at DH and the rest at first. He’s starting to hit home runs, but he’s also striking out a lot more than normal (25% strikeout rate over the two weeks. A 109 OPS+ would be hot for most of the guys on the team, but not Vlad. I don’t know why he’s not controlling the strike zone, but I’d like him to stop swinging at everything.
Also Played
Will Wagner: Played in 5 games, starting 4. Hit .077/.200/.077 with 2 RBI, 2 walks, 3 strikeouts and 1 steal.
He wasn’t hitting at all, and he’s back in Buffalo (and not hitting there either). His 68 PA in Toronto doesn’t change my view of him. I think he’ll be an ok hitter in the long run, but he is 26 now and he’s going to have to hit soon if he wants a MLB career.
Daulton Varsho: Played in 5 games, starting 4. Hit .214/.353/.643 with 2 home runs, 1 steal, 3 walks and 7 strikeouts.
Made one of the most amazing catches I’ve ever seen. How a guy can fall, end up facing the outfield wall and then just casually backhand a catch is beyond me.
Jonatan Clase: Played in 1 game. Went 0 for 4 with a strikeout.
He’s .321/.430/.369 in 101 PA for the Bisons, with 15 steals (caught twice). Without power, I don’t know he would draw as many walks as possible in the majors. Most pitchers can throw a batting practice fastball over the plate when facing someone they know won’t hit one out of the park, but if he were a right-hander, I’d want him up with Toronto. Unfortunately, we have a bunch of lefty hitters.