Looking at the Jays’ batters over the last two weeks.
Over the past two weeks, the Jays have been 7-5 (it looked much better before the Phillies’ weekend sweep). The offense has averaged 4.5 runs per game.
Hot
Alejandro Kirk: Started 11 games. Hit .370/.383/.565 with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 1 walks and 6 strikeouts.
He DHed three times. And he’s been getting extra base hits lately. This is how I expected him to hit when he came up, well, maybe not this terrific, but I thought he was the type that would hit .300 easily. He’s been having troubles with basestealers, only throwing out one of the last eight who tried to steal against him. But that’s a minor thing, it will right itself. On the season, he’s thrown out 26.7% of basestealers. still well better than the average catcher. He’d better make the All-Star team.
Andrés Giménez: Played 9 games, starting 8. Hitting .286/.375/.429 with 1 double, 1 homer, 4 RBI, 4 walks and 2 strikeouts.
He seems to be in a second-base platoon with Ernie Clement, which is a good idea. He’s hitting much better than I expected, at least lately (that .212 BA on the season is much what I expect. His sense has been everything it was advertised to be. John has been putting him up too high in the order (and occasionally it has worked out), but I’d be happier with him at the back of the order, where an occasional homer would be a bonus.
Ernie Clement: Played in all 12 games, starting 11. Hit .326/.340/.478 with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 1 RBI, 1 walks and 1 strikeout.
He started six games at third, three at short, one at second and one at first. I’d be happier if he took more than one walk every two weeks. On the season, he has a 1.189 OPS against left-handers and a .537 OPS against right-handers. He should be near the top of the order against lefties. Against right-handers, it depends on how you value his defense, but he should be at the bottom of the order or on the bench. He definitely shouldn’t be playing first base against a RHP.
Tyler Heineman: Played in 5 games, starting 4. Hit .464/.500/.769 with 1 double, 1 homer, 4 RBI, 1 strikeout.
I don’t understand why he’s hitting as well as he is, but I don’t think we should question it. Just keep at it, Tyler.
Cold
Vladimir Guerrero: Started 11 games. Hit .227/.292/295 with 3 doubles, 3 RBI, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts with 2 steals.
Played first in all 11 games. He’s having a cold stretch and hasn’t had a hot streak this year. You’d think it will happen at some point. He’s made some spectacular plays on defense lately, but he will have to start hitting the way we expect at some point.
Bo Bichette: Started all 12 games. He hit .220/.245/.320 with 1 home run, 1 triple, 9 RBI, 2 walks and 10 strikeouts with 1 caught stealing.
He DHed twice. John seems to have decided he could have a break occasionally. There has been a lot of talk that his bat is back this year, but he’s sitting at a 100 OPS+, which is good for a shortstop, but not good for Bo. People keep telling me his defense has improved, but I’m not seeing it. He makes the occasional spectacular play but doesn’t have the best range. That’s stuff you live with if he’s hitting great. If he’s hitting .220 with little power?
Alan Roden: Played in 8 games, starting 4. Hit .267/.294/.333 with 1 double, 3 RBI, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts.
I’d like him to get more regular playing time, but I don’t think that will happen. He doesn’t seem to have John’s trust. He played left three times, right two times, pinch hit twice, and pinch ran once. Not very cold, but not hot.
Myles Straw: Played in 10 games, starting 7. Hit .167/.167/.208, 1 double, 4 RBI, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts and 1 steal.
Playing center field with Daulton Varsho out of the lineup. Daulton can’t come back quickly enough. He plays good defense, has speed, and hits roughly like I would. I still don’t understand why we traded for him.
Nathan Lukes: Played in 6 games, starting 4. Hit .200/.294/.200 with 1 RBI, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
All four starts were in right field. We have too many left-handed-hitting outfielders. Lukes has been losing out for the last couple of weeks. I like Lukes as a four-outfielder type, but I’m a bigger fan of Roden and Clase. I’d rather those two get more at-bats.
Jonatan Clase: Played in 10 games, starting 9. Hit .121/.171/.212 with 1 home run, 1 RBI, 2 walks and 12 strikeouts.
Other than that big home run, it wasn’t a good couple of weeks for Clase. Maybe Loperfido could get a shot again?
Inbetween
George Springer: Started 11 games. Hit .211/.273/.447 with 3 doubles, 2 home runs, 7 RBI, 4 walks, and 9 strikeouts.
He played RF in four games, DH in the rest. The AI sites keep figuring George will be traded, but I can’t see it. I read something suggesting he could be traded to the White Sox. There is zero chance that would happen. A last-place team trading for an aging, overpaid outfielder? What is the upside for the White Sox?
Addison Barger: Played in 11 games, starting 9. Hit .237/.275/.447, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 5 RBI, 2 walks, and 14 strikeouts.
Played third base in seven games, right field in four games.
Davis Schneider: Started 6 games. Hit .235/.350/.412, with 1 home run, 1 RBI, 3 walks and 3 strikeouts.
Played three games in left and three at second. Hitting better than I thought he was. Not quite hot, but not cold. We have several lefty bats, so having a right-hander to platoon is good. I’m not sure he’s the right-handed bat I’d choose, but let’s see how it goes.
Also Played
Will Robertson: 1 for 4 with an RBI.
IL
Daulton Varsho: He shouldn’t be out too much longer.
Anthony Satander: Apparently, he is throwing, but not swinging a bat.