The Blue Jays announced their spring training schedule for next season. If you want to start playing, your trip to Dunedin.
I’ve only been once, but I enjoyed it a lot. I enjoyed that I could drive to all the parks and see games in Dunedin and other parks.
My favourite was the Pirates home, Bradenton, FL.
The schedule:
Plan your trips ⚾️
PRESENTING: Our 2025 #SpringTraining Schedule! pic.twitter.com/6j2BQojF0h
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 15, 2024
Bo Bichette is to start ‘baseball activities’ soon. Hopefully, he’ll get back to playing by September. The time off will have given him a chance to reset and remember how to hit.
He was looking forward to a big payday after next season. I don’t know how much this sub .600 OPS he has up will cost him. I don’t think I’d want to offer him a long contract until I get proof he can turn it around.
All players have the odd lesser season, but you don’t want it to happen when you are entering your free-agent year.
I’m also worried that his leg troubles will become chronic over the next few years. Vernon Wells had leg issues, which put a damper on his career.
A good September would help my worried mind.
I’d be happier, too, if the team didn’t insist on batting George Springer in the leadoff spot. It is his second poor season in a row. Pretty soon, they have to conclude that this is who he is now.
I like Springer, and he is making a lot of money, but we can’t have him getting the most at-bats on the team anymore.
His right-field defence is okay; it looks roughly league-average to me. Outs above average have him at a -1, which works with what my eyes see. I don’t think he is great at going back on the ball, but then, few are.
If we could hit him closer to the back of the order, I’d be ok with how he hits. Well, ok, it might be the wrong word, but I could handle it. Baseball Reference has him at a 0.8 WAR, which I’d be ok with if he was hitting 8th.
With two years left on his contract, he can’t get too much worse before they have to think about eating the contract.
For the second year in a row, we have had a rookie infielder join the team late in the season and have had a terrific start.
Will Wagner hasn’t had the home runs Davis Schneider had, but he’s been just as good.
I have higher hopes for Wagner than I had for Schneider. Wagner has been hitting well in the minors for the last few years. Last year, he had a .337/.420/.518 batting line, Schneider’s hot start seemed to come out of nowhere (though he had a good 2023 season in Buffalo (.275/.416/.553).
I also like Wagner at second a bit more than I did Schneider.
I don’t think Wagner will hit .625 forever or anything, but I have a little higher hope that he can be a major league regular.
Wagner is 26 (Schneider 25), so he is getting to the majors a little older. Sometimes, guys figure it out a little older. But generally, guys that get to the majors younger do better. It will be interesting to watch.