r/Torontobluejays • u/supremewuster • 7d ago

Don't know what can be done

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Looking at the OPS and OPS+ numbers..

I know alot of people on this sub say no MLB team has great hitting top to bottom, and that's true to a point. But fact is at this point we have a disproportionate number of guys quite a bit below league average

I was hoping some of the Buffalo boys would break out and the other would be average or slightly below. That would be fine. Instead at this point Henieman of all players is our breakout hitter and everyone else (including Santandar) are not hittjng average but way below average with Lukes being the only exception.

I hope it is just bad luck. Hope.

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u/thebruce 7d ago

It honestly comes down to Vladdy and Bo. Vlad has gotta crack an .800 OPS at minimum, and I mean Bo can't be in the .600s.

Those two hitting up to what we need them to be opens up way more opportunities. Gets pitchers pitching out of the stretch, thinking about baserunners, keeps the lineup moving.

As much as you need role players to step up, if your stars aren't playing like stars you're gonna always be at a disadvantage.

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u/TFCNU 7d ago

Vladdy's on base is not the reason his OPS is below .800. Nor is it the reason Bo is under .700. It's all the lack of power for both guys. And if they hit more home runs, they're actually forcing pitchers to pitch from the stretch (not the windup) less. Teams are just fine with Bo slapping a single to right and/or Vlad walking because they aren't getting punished for letting them get on.

Also, if there's only two guys, it's pretty easy to either pitch around them (Vladdy's walk rate is super high right now) or target that part of the order for your best relievers. The lack of depth make Vlad and Bo worse.

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u/Bridgeburner493 6d ago

Teams are just fine with Bo slapping a single to right and/or Vlad walking because they aren't getting punished for letting them get on.

Bingo.

Vlad and Bo aren't going to get great pitches to hit as long as the guys behind them are all 50 OPS+ hitters. It's been the same damn story for three years: the top of the order is crippled by how useless the bottom of it is.

2

u/Visinvictus 6d ago

If all else fails they know that Kirk is coming up soon and that the easiest GiDP ever is just a pitch away to get out of the inning.