The Blue Jays have activated closer Ken Giles from the 10-day injured list, as noted by multiple reporters (including Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca). Righty Justin Shafer was optioned to Triple-A in the corresponding move.
Giles will end up missing only the 10-day minimum after being sidelined with elbow inflammation. While obviously the good health news is appreciated by both the player and the club, Giles’ quick return could also have an impact on his status as a trade candidate. The closer has been almost untouchable over 25 innings this season, with a 1.08 ERA, 6.00 K/BB rate, and a stunning 15.1 K/9. Between these excellent numbers and the fact that Giles is controllable through the 2020 season, the rebuilding Jays will look to extract a nice return on the right-hander before July 31.
Derek Law should have been dropped the second he forgot to throw home on a bases loaded, 1-out tapper back to him. Instead he sailed the throw into CF, missing the bag by about 10 feet.
Mental mistake after mental mistake by this Blue Jays team.
Again, Blue Jays reward failure. Shafer shouldn’t have been the casualty.
He has walked 8 batters in 9 innings. Keeping him up is also rewarding failure.
As I stated in a previous Jays story, Shafer hasn’t lit the world on-fire.
At some point the organization may want to address the culture; stupidity won’t be tolerated. Unfortunately they are all about the stupid. The winning culture won’t be created by this crap.
Shafer probably knows what to do with a grounder back to him, bases loaded and 1 out. I’m sure of it.
The culture will get addressed as they improve. If they’re in a position next year to even be in the conversation for a wildcard then the stupid mistakes will not be tolerated as much, you can bet. Expecting a team FULL of rookies and borderline players to not make stupid and obvious mistakes is not realistic.
The Blue Jays will not be in the conversation for a wildcard next year unless they buy a rotation and at the minimum upgrade SS, CF and catcher
High Upside – if you have watched the Blue Jays play, as scary as it is, you’d see the rookies really aren’t the only ones making fundamental baseball mistakes. Veterans have shown to be a poor example of how to play at the top professional level. If these vets are “borderline players”, then it means the organization really can’t spot talent since some of the culprits have been acquired via trade.
Those acquisitions get more looks than the player in the minors developing. By avoiding that, you change the culture. They won’t do that and that means the culture will not change.
They will not contend for a Wild Card. When they trade Stroman they will not have the pitching to win games. They will fight to not lose 90+ in 2020. They won’t be ready until 2022. That’s realistic.
Lol. Yes. The reason they are losing is because they reward failure and mental mistakes instead of being a pretty bad team. It’s all intangibles! I bet they don’t hustle enough!
Only you’re talking about wins and losses. Losing was expected with this bunch. Clearly you missed the point so I’ll show you an example even you might understand….
Jordan Romano, left for dead, left off the 40-man, never in the plans to get a real shot in the major leagues (heard from an exec, no it’s not Jimmer). After 3 appearances he’s suddenly being talked about as a potential setup man or closer down the road (very premature).
The point? There are Jordan Romano’s in the Jays system right now. Similar stuff, better numbers. Jays would rather trade for 9-ERA Nick Kinghams and sign Oliver Drake and Mike Hauschild rather than promote from within the organization. If the Jays were looking to contend, I’d be on-board with the acquisitions. But they aren’t.
Derek Law has sucked and last night didn’t know the situation. He should have been demoted right then and there. They can tolerate physical mistakes and being outplayed, but not know the outs and where to throw the ball after all these years is unacceptable. Set a tone, send a message and stop the crap. You allow this to slide, you do not grow.
If this doesn’t make sense to you then I’d suggest you go cook something in the kitchen.
Agreed Reaper. How does it make any sense to rebuild with Edwin Jackson Clayton Richard, Clay Buchholz, Derek Law, etc? They’re just blocking 40-man roster spots for youngsters who could actually be part of a true rebuild. And at the same time make your actual controllable major league quality talent like Stroman, Sanchez, Giles and Smoak available for trades? Who we all know Atkins will derive nothing of value for? This is the worst attempt at a “rebuild” in MLB history. Shapkins aren’t competent enough to be in their positions with the Jays, but Ed Rogers doesn’t get it. #FireShapkins
…To add to that, it lifts the AA guys to AAA and so on. There are guys deserving of promotions and won’t get it because scouts believe Nick Kingham can be fixed. Guys are a once in a blue moon. It’s not worth it for Toronto. Give the kids a reason to be hungry to compete for a job.
Giles should probably be a trade target for the Phillies. I’m wondering what it would take to bring him back.
Agreed. They’re an obvious for but a lot of teams are going to be in on him. Heck even though he’s not left-handed I wish the Cubs would go after him.
What is this? 6.00 K/BB rate, and a stunning 15.1 K/BB
I noticed that too. I believe it should be 15.1K/9IP.
Let’s hope Giles is 100% healthy and then the Jays can auction him off before they miss the boat on him like they screwed up with others.
After Giles is gone, immediately transfer Sanchez to the closer role.
Too bad Giles doesn’t have the big name credit that seems to get contender to overpay.
He’s got a name for a couple good seasons but he also biffed it when he went to the Stros. I wonder if that will factor in to the return.
Here we go again with the front-loaded apologies here for the fact that Shapkins will derive nothing with upside or value for their so-called “rebuild” from Giles, Stroman, Sanchez and Smoak. Just like they got nothing for Happ, Donaldson, Smith Jr, Pillar, etc. They’ll end up trading them to division rivals like the Yankees (who already have Happ and E3, not to mention Tulo for free) or to AA in Atlanta who knows these players apart from Giles. The culture of hard work and discipline is gone. #FireShapkins
Not sure what’s worse – juvenile nickname, silly hashtag, or the ‘Tulo for free’ nonsense.
We’re sure you’ll never be sure.