Looking at the Jays batters over the last two weeks.
The Jays were 5-7 over the past two weeks.
Our batters hit .233/.312/.362 and averaged 3.8 runs per game.
Hot
Vladimir Guerrero: Started all 12 games. Hit ..419/.510/.744 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home run, 6 walks, 3 strikeouts and 7 RBI.
He DHed four times and played third once. For the past couple of months, he’s been hitting like the Vlad Guerrero we expect to see. I wish they would sign him already. I’m truly not a fan of him playing third. I can see it for a couple of innings at the end of a game, but he doesn’t have good footwork there. And my line is always, ‘Put the stars in a position, move the other guys around.’ It seems like we have a dozen guys whose couple plays third. Why Vlad? But then there are several things the team does that I don’t understand.
Alejandro Kirk: Played in 10 games, starting 9. Hit .267/.351/.400 with 1 double, 1 home run, 4 walks, 5 strikeouts and 9 RBI.
DHed once. Very slightly to the hot or at least warm side. He’s getting a lot more playing time since Danny was traded. He has thrown out 4 of 8 base stealers in the past two weeks. On the season, he’s thrown out 28% of base stealers (league average 22%). After having a batting average under .200 at the start of July, he’s hitting .244 now and has a .329/.364/.421 line since July 4th.
Daulton Varsho: Started 11 games, playing in 12. Hit .250/.375/.375 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 6 walks, 11 strikeouts, 3 RBI, 1 steal.
He’s not really hot, but he has a good on-base percentage. I like him as an everyday center fielder. He’s a +16 in Outs Above Average. Daulton is at a 3.9 bWAR (2.7 fWAR). If he doesn’t get a Gold Glove, they should retire the award. I’d be happy if he became the guy who got on base 37% of the time. Hit him leadoff and tell him to take his walks. But they seem to be set on Springer hitting leadoff. I don’t understand why.
Cold
Davis Schneider: Played in 8 games, starting 7. Hit .083/.154/.125 with 1 double, 2 walks, 11 strikeouts, no RBI.
He started 3 games in left and 4 games at second. I wonder if he is pressing with the reduced playing time. Right now I’d send him back to Triple-A to get him more playing time and get his swing back. We have so many guys who play left and second that I don’t see the point in having him sit on the bench most of the time. Today’s example of why you shouldn’t overvalue a hot or cold stretch.
Spencer Horwitz: Started all 12 games. Hit .227/.300/.341, with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 4 walks and 11 strikeouts.
Started 4 games at second, 5 at first, and 3 at DH. He looks better at second base than I expected, but I think Will Wagner will get a fair bit of playing time there. Spencer’s batting average was .330 on July 13th, but it is now .271. He’s hit .209/.282/.308 in his past 24 games. I expect hot and cold runs, and hopefully, he’ll hit another hit stretch soon. Buck keeps telling us how good he’s doing against LHP. He isn’t. His line is .194/.268/.222 against lefties (just 41 PA). Baseball people often want to see how a player handles a slump. It will be interesting to see how the next few weeks go.
George Springer: Started 10 games, played in 11. He’s hit .167/.205/.262 with 1 doubles, 1 home run, 2 walks, 14 strikeouts, and 3 RBI.
Started three games at DH. I don’t know. We owe him a lot of money, but at some point, we have to decide if this is who he is, and we have to cut bait and consider it lost money. He has a 0.8 bWAR this year. An outfielder with a .671 OPS and leads the league in hitting into double plays, and is average in the field (0 Outs Above Average), it is tough to see how he deserves playing time. He seems like a great guy, but maybe he’s aging out of the game.
Ernie Clement: Started all 12 games. Hit .271/.314/.292, with 1 double, 4 RBI, 3 steals, 1 caught, 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.
Started 7 games at third, 4 at short and 1 at second. Not terribly cold, but just one extra base hit. If he would walk a bit more, I’d be happier. Two walks a month is not enough. And he needs to hit with some power. Great glove. I’d like better than a .690 OPS from my third baseman.
Joey Loperfido: Started 9 games. Hit .111/.135/.167 with 1 triple, 0 RBI, 0 walks and 17 strikeouts.
Started 8 games in left, 1 in center. He is having a rough time of it. He hit .236/.299/.358 in 38 games with the Astros. They are going to run him out there every day. There’s no reason not to; we aren’t worried about wins anymore. He is a better hitter than he’s shown. Don’t read too much in a hot or cold streak.
Inbetween
Addison Barger: Played in 8 games, starting 6. Hit .208/.269/.458 with 3 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI, 2 walks, and 10 strikeouts.
Started 4 games in right, 2 at third. 5 hits, 4 of them extra-base hits. I’d like him to get more playing time. I know they have a lot of players who need playing time, but Addison should be at the top of the list. Winning and losing no longer matter, but getting playing time for the young guys does matter. I’d rather Addison play than Springer. His defense hasn’t been great, but that’s in limited time.
Leo Jiménez: Played in 11 games, starting 10. Hit .188/.297/.406, with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 2 RBI, 2 walks and 14 strikeouts.
Played 2 games at second and the rest at short. 6 hits, and 5 of them for extra bases. He’s hitting the ball harder than I expected. I’m happy to see him get playing time. He looks pretty good at short. Played 2 games at second and the rest at short.
Also Played
Brian Serven: Played in 5 games, starting 4. Hit .231/.286/.231 with 3 RBI, 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.
He’s 0 for 5 on throwing base stealers.
Steward Berroa: Played in 6 games, 3 starts. .125/.417/.125 with 1 steal, 1 caught, 4 walks, 3 strikeouts.
Took 3 walks in yesterday’s game. He has a cute little thing of looking into his glove after he makes a catch (presumably only when he doesn’t have to make a throw).
Luis De Los Santos: Played in 3 games, starting 2. Hit .286/.375/.429 with 1 double, 1 RBI, 1 walk.
Back in the minors. I’d imagine we’ll see him again.
Will Wagner: 3 for 4 with a double in his MLB debut. Couldn’t have gone
IL
Bo Bichette: He will start “baseball activities” next week, so we might see him again by the end of the month.