Effectively Wild Episode 1030: Season Preview Series: Blue Jays and Athletics
March 11, 2017
Ben Lindbergh and Jeff Sullivan preview the Blue Jays’ 2017 season with Joshua Howsam of BP Toronto and the Athletics’ 2017 season with Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Audio intro: Rod Stewart, "Sonny"
Audio interstitial: First Aid Kit, "Blue"
Audio interstitial 2: Destroyer, "From Oakland to Warsaw"
Audio outro: Billy Joel, "Weekend Song"
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Since no love was given to this comment section, I’ll give it some:
1) Given that TOR had the best ERA last year, is it safe to say that Liriano pitching there isn’t a death sentence? I can’t comprehend how this guy isnt going for more. Russell Martin is his best good friend!
2) Russell Martin’s pitching staffs have finished in the top 5 of their leagues in ERA since 2011 and in the top half of MLB in that same time period.
3) I don’t get the Matt Joyce fantasy love. He hit .242 while also having his 2nd highest BABIP in 5 years. I see the advanced stats, but I just see him being as much of a contributor as he’s been made out to be a couple times on the site recently.
Joyce has looked like the real deal this spring at least. He’s by far the most patient hitter in the lineup and really contributing quality at-bats every time. The A’s won’t expose him too much on the platoon so I think he’s going to put up excellent offensive numbers this year.
This was posted before Sonny became injured so it looks like both Hahn and Triggs will start the season in the rotation. To be honest the pitching has looked a little shaky this spring, whereas the young position players have been knocking on the door.
I think Barreto will be up before Chapman. He’s looked electric.
I think some people are aware that Chapman’s defense is good, but Sickels said it was the best he’s ever seen at 3rd, and I think he’s best defender I’ve seen at the position. Better than Donaldson, who I loved over there. Better than Chavez. Just between his defense and power I think he could be like a rookie Mike Schmidt (who had a low average and lots of strikeouts). It’s not just Chapman’s arm – he’s got incredible range too.
I don’t think the A’s will be a .500 team this year though. Better than the last two years and might climb out of the cellar after they bring up the younger talent and trade off Lowrie, Alonso, Joyce, etc. 75 wins, I think.