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Source: https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/rss/index.xml

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<title type="text">Bluebird Banter</title>
<subtitle type="text">Your best source for quality Toronto Blue Jays news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from the fan perspective.</subtitle>
<updated>2025-08-22T16:58:13+00:00</updated>
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<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Friday Bantering: Bieber Day!]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/links/58249/friday-bantering-bieber-day" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58249</id>
<updated>2025-08-22T12:58:13-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-22T12:58:13-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays Daily Bantering & Links" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Happy Shane Bieber Day. He makes his first MLB start since May 2nd, 2024. 477 days between starts is the new thing, apparently. In his last start for Buffalo, he threw seven shutout innings on 90 pitches. I’d take that tonight, as long as he improves in his next start. Five us your guesses for […]]]></summary>
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Happy Shane Bieber Day. He makes his first MLB start since May 2nd, 2024. 477 days between starts is the new thing, apparently.
In his last start for Buffalo, he threw seven shutout innings on 90 pitches. I’d take that tonight, as long as he improves in his next start. 
Five us your guesses for how many innings, how many earned runs and number of strikeouts in the comment thread.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-polldaddy wp-block-embed-polldaddy"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><a href="https://poll.fm/15929092" data-iframely-url="https://cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?maxheight=750&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpoll.fm%2F15929092&key=a95589c51263af39f0de8ef8737db4f3"></a></div></div>
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We should also see the return of Vladimir Guerrero unless they haven’t been honest with us about how bad the injury is. 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Trey Yesavage had a very good start for Buffalo last night:
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Trey Yesavage was dominant in AAA today as he struck out 8 over 4.2 IP. His high riding fastball continues to exhibit elite iVB with the MLB ball and his changeup returned a bonkers 72.7 Whiff% <a href="https://t.co/mU1mqSuBDy">https://t.co/mU1mqSuBDy</a> <a href="https://t.co/5lne2Poy1d">pic.twitter.com/5lne2Poy1d</a>— Thomas Nestico (@TJStats) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJStats/status/1958679859900612634?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote>
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The Red Sox outrighted Ali Sanchez to their Triple-A team. He was out of options, so he could have taken free agency, but he likely didn’t feel any team was likely to offer him a major league job. 
And, in other catcher news, the Orioles gave Samuel Basallo an eight-year extension (with an option), that could be worth $88.5 million. That makes Adley Rutschman some one that could be traded after the season or they could have them timeshare the catcher’s duties until Adley reaches free agency after the 2027 season. Rutschman hasn’t progressed with the bat since coming up in 2022. His OPS has gone .806, .809, .709 and, this year .684. 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
So you want to be a baseball player:
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">I understand wanting me gone after today and this year as a whole. Nobody is more disappointed with how this year has gone for me than myself. Trust me i want to win just as much as all of you whether im here or not. But messaging me this bullshit and my girlfriend and sending… <a href="https://t.co/6VwvhCn7jg">pic.twitter.com/6VwvhCn7jg</a>— Tayler Saucedo (@tsauce7) <a href="https://twitter.com/tsauce7/status/1958268512847475005?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Happy Birthday Paul Molitor]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/birthdays/58245/58245" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58245</id>
<updated>2025-08-22T01:14:52-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-22T07:11:00-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays Birthdays" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Today is the Birthdays of former Blue Jays Paul Molitor and Drew Hutchison. And, far more importantly, it’s my wife’s Birthday. Molitor is 69 today (how come that makes me feel old). Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, he was a first-round pick in the 1977 amateur draft, the third pick overall (Harold Baines and Bill […]]]></summary>
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Today is the Birthdays of former Blue Jays Paul Molitor and Drew Hutchison. And, far more importantly, it’s my wife’s Birthday.
Molitor is 69 today (how come that makes me feel old). 
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, he was a first-round pick in the 1977 amateur draft, the third pick overall (Harold Baines and Bill Gullickson went before him) out of the University of Minnesota. The Jays’ first pick that year was Tom Goffena. Pat Gillick didn’t have the greatest record on draft picks. MLB’s way of sticking it to the Expansion teams was to have them draft at the bottom of the round.
After only 64 A ball games, Paul started the 1978 season with the Brewers. He finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting to Lou Whitaker. He played 15 years for the Brewers, making the All-Star team five times and receiving MVP votes in 6 seasons, finishing 5th in the voting in 1987. Milwaukee’s ‘Harvey Wall Bangers’ made the playoffs in 1981 and made it to the World Series in 1982, losing to the Cardinals. Bill James called the Brewers’ infield of Cecil Cooper, Jim Gantner, Robin Yount and Molitor the best infield in the majors in the 1980s and the 5th best infield of all time.
Paul was moved around the infield and even played CF one season for the Brewers, as they didn’t seem to realize he was the sort of player for whom you moved the other guys around. Paul was also injury-prone during his time there (which likely wasn’t helped by moving him all around the diamond).
In 1993, the Jays signed him as a free agent to replace Dave Winfield at DH. Winfield went to the Twins as a free agent. At the time of the trade, I remember the anchor on the Sports Desk saying the Jays finally had a leadoff man, but Cito continued to use Devon White in the leadoff spot. Molitor came through with one of the best seasons of his career, batting .332/.402/.509, finishing 2nd in the league with 121 runs and driving in 111. He also led the league in plate appearances (725), hits (211), batting average in late innings of close games (.411), and with runners in scoring position (.384). At 36, he set a record for being the oldest player to drive in 100 runs for the first time. He also hit 22 homers and stole 22 bases. He finished 2nd to Frank Thomas in the MVP vote. Fangraphs credits him with a 5.2 WAR that year, his best number with the Jays.
Molitor was terrific in the playoffs, hitting .391 in the ALCS win over the White Sox, scoring seven runs and driving in five with one homer. In the Series, he hit .500 with two homers, two triples, and two doubles in our win over the Phillies, scoring 10 runs and driving in another 8 to win the Series MVP, and he was on base for Joe Carter’s series-winning home run. The enduring memory, for me, is him hugging Cito and crying after they won. It was his first and only World Series win in a long, terrific career.
In 1994, the lockout year, Paul was having just as good a season, hitting .341/.410/.518 before the owners locked the doors. He made the All-Star team for the 4th straight season and finished 18th in the MVP vote, but the Jays didn’t do as well. They ended up 55-60. At 38, the impressive stat was 20 for 20 as a base stealer. In the shortened 1995 season, Paul’s numbers declined, finishing at .270/.350/.423, and the Jays had a disappointing season that year, too, finishing 5th.
Rob Neyer picked Molitor as the Jays’ best DH ever, and we did in our Best DH poll. Bill James called Molitor the 3rd greatest leadoff man of all time behind Rickey Henderson and Tim Raines, and the 8th best third baseman of all time. One notable aspect of his career is that he was prone to injuries in the first ten years, yet he played almost every day in the second half of his career.
After the season, he signed with the Twins as a free agent to finish his career playing for his hometown team. Paul had a terrific career, ending with 3319 hits, 504 stolen bases, and a Hall of Fame Plaque.
Molitor became the Twins’ manager in 2015 and led them until the end of the 2018 season. He’s now a special assistant with the Twins.
One of the more notable facts about him is that he was the first (and only) MLB player to steal home ten times.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Hutchison turns 35 today.
He was our 15th-round draft pick in 2009. He quickly moved up our minor league system and was called up to the Blue Jays at the end of April 2012. He made 11 starts and then went on the DL. In August, he had Tommy John surgery. He wouldn’t pitch for a year, returning to the mound in August 2013, with the Bisons making 10 appearances.
Drew started the 2014 season in Toronto and made 32 starts for us. He went 11-13 with a 4.48 ERA.
In 2015, he was our opening-day starter, going six innings and winning against the Yankees. He finished the season with a 13-5 record but a 5.57 ERA in 30 games, 28 starts.
2016 could have gone better. Drew started the season in Buffalo and came up for a spot start at the end of April. He wasn’t bad: 5.2 innings, four hits, two earned, three walks, five strikeouts. The bad mark was two home runs. In early July, he was called up for a couple of appearances and then returned to Buffalo.
On August 1st, the Jays traded him to the Pirates for Francisco Liriano, Reese McGuire, and Harold Ramirez. The trade worked out for us. Liriano had a 2.29 ERA down the stretch, and we made the playoffs.
After the trade, Hutchison changed teams, moving from the Pirates, Phillies, Rangers, Dodgers, Twins, and Yankees to the Yankees and Twins again.
For two seasons, he was in the Tigers system. In 2022, he made 10 starts and 10 relief appearances, with a 4.23 ERA and a 1-6 record. He started against the Jays on July 30th, giving up two hits and one run in 5 innings without getting the decision in a Jays win. It was nice to see him again.
In 2023, the Jays signed him to a minor league contract, but he didn’t make it to the majors.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
It is also the Birthday of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski. He is 86. Carl was a favourite of mine when I was young. I tried to copy his batting stance (which changed as he aged; he simplified his stance to get to the ball quicker). Carl played 23 seasons in the majors, all with the Red Sox. He finished with 3419 hits and 452 home runs and won the Triple Crown in 1967. I thought he would be the last to do that, but then Miguel Cabrera did it in 2012.
His grandson, Mike Yastrzemski, is in his seventh season with the Giants. He has 119 career home runs, so he will have to go some to catch Granddad.
Also, former Jays Doug Bair (who pitched in 10 games of a 15-season MLB career with the Jays turns 76, and Ryan Feierabend, who pitched 5.2 innings for the Jays in 2019, turns 40.
Happy Birthday to Paul, Drew, Carl, Doug, Ryan, and, of course, my wife.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Off-Day Bantering: Jays Notes]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/links/58237/off-day-bantering-jays-notes" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58237</id>
<updated>2025-08-21T12:39:28-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-21T12:39:28-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays Daily Bantering & Links" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[We have a day without Jays baseball. The downside of these days is that there is no news coming from the team, which makes my life harder. Maybe they could give us some news on Vlad’s hamstring. Perhaps he should stop doing the splits on the field. Shane Bieber is pitching tomorrow (insert grumbling about […]]]></summary>
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We have a day without Jays baseball. The downside of these days is that there is no news coming from the team, which makes my life harder. 
Maybe they could give us some news on Vlad’s hamstring. Perhaps he should stop doing the splits on the field. 

Shane Bieber is pitching tomorrow (insert grumbling about going out for my wife’s birthday here) (not real grumbling, she puts up with a lot from my fandom, she tells people that we are the only people ever to go to Paris and look for a bar showing the Jays game).
I see a headline saying ‘Jay Shockingly Move Red-Hot Pitcher to the Bullpen’. I can’t imagine anyone is shocked. And I like the idea of having a lefty long reliever, when we have an all right-handed rotation. Fisher going to the minors makes me a little sad, but such is life when you have options. He’s been very good, but September is coming quickly, he’s likely to be back. I guess I said the same about Mason Fluharty. But then, these things tend to work out.
And, he hasn’t been moved to the pen; they are skipping his turn. What they do the next time through the order hasn’t been decided. I don’t know if they have someone else skip a turn, to give a little rest to an arm, or go to six man rotation. However, again, a lot can happen before then. 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Yesterday’s Umpire Scorecard (I don’t know why it cuts off…<a href="https://x.com/UmpScorecards/status/1958537432858612216">https://x.com/UmpScorecards/status/1958537432858612216</a>) Vic Carapazza was about as good as he gets. That ball called a strike to Barger in the ninth was a killer. 
<img src="https://platform.bluebirdbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2025/08/ump_07a4ce.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,15.385765550239,100,69.228468899522" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
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The Jays are a game below .500 on the road (21 games above .500 at home). Their ERA is 4.47 on the road and 4.04 at home. And they are scoring 4.5 runs per game on the road, 5.3 at home. 
I’d like to be able to explain why. I’m sure if the team knew why they would be working to fix it.
Home cooking? Maybe.
Maybe they are comfortable in Rogers Centre, and the visiting teams aren’t comfortable there. I know the Jays never seemed comfortable at Tropicana.
I thought I’d check the Jays record against the current last place teams in the division, because I hear we don’t play those teams well, and I’d like data on it.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Orioles: 4-6</li>
<li>White Sox: 3-3</li>
<li>A’s: 5-2</li>
<li>Nationals: 3-0</li>
<li>Pirates: 1-2</li>
<li>Rockies: 3-0</li>
</ul>
That makes them 19-13, a .593 winning %. So, all in, they are doing fine against bottom feeders…could be better.
Baseball Reference says they are :
34-29 vs teams over .500. A .539 rate. The average team is 27-34, .442.
39-24 vs team under .500. A .619 rate. The average team is 34-27, .557.
So, yeah, I don’t know; they aren’t 1,000 against bad teams, but they are performing well enough. 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Have a nice Thursday. I’m going to try to get a workout in, since I’ve been lazy lately. 
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Jays Roster Move: Fisher To Buffalo]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/news/58233/jays-roster-move-fisher-to-buffalo" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58233</id>
<updated>2025-08-20T18:13:26-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-20T18:13:26-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The Jays have sent Braydon Fisher to Buffalo to make room for Shane Bieber. Fisher has a 3.05 ERA in 40 games with the Jays. Batters are hitting .191/.261/.284 against him. He’s been excellent. 49 strikeouts and 12 walks in 38.1 innings. I’d imagine he could be back on September 1st. Bieber is starting Friday […]]]></summary>
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The Jays have sent Braydon Fisher to Buffalo to make room for Shane Bieber.
Fisher has a 3.05 ERA in 40 games with the Jays. Batters are hitting .191/.261/.284 against him. He’s been excellent. 49 strikeouts and 12 walks in 38.1 innings. I’d imagine he could be back on September 1st. 
Bieber is starting Friday night (I’ve already grumbled about being out that night). In 7 minor league starts, he has a 1.86.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Keegan Matheson tells us that Eric Lauer is ok with the move to the bullpen. I like a lefty long man, when the starters are right-handers. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Spoke with Eric Lauer. He's handling it well and believes he'll be back in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a>' rotation the next time through. It seems his start day overlapping with Bieber's was just the main factor. “It’s going to be interesting. I’m glad I’m not the one making the decisions"— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1958209923403141482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
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]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Offense Missing, Jays Lose]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/game-recaps/58230/offense-missing-jays-lose" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58230</id>
<updated>2025-08-20T15:35:42-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-20T15:35:42-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays Game Recaps" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Blue Jays 1 Pirates 2 We got good pitching and no offense, which makes for frustration on the part of us viewers. Chris Bassitt gave up a couple of runs in the first and that was enough for the Pirates to get a win. The second inning started well, two strikeouts. Then a double, a […]]]></summary>
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Blue Jays 1 Pirates 2
We got good pitching and no offense, which makes for frustration on the part of us viewers. 
Chris Bassitt gave up a couple of runs in the first and that was enough for the Pirates to get a win. The second inning started well, two strikeouts. Then a double, a Spencer Howitz walk and a Tommy Pham double and that cost us the game.
Bassitt went 5.2, allowing just six hits, the two earned, two walks and ten strikeouts. He was terrific. He gave up a hit with two outs in the sixth and wanted to finish the innings, but John Schneider said no. 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
All of our offense came in the first at bat. George Springer homered, to finish a ten pitch at bat. After that, we only had two more hits, both by Bo Bichette and one walk and three hit batters.
I often note who had 0 fors, it was almost everyone: Barger, Kirk (2 k, and a fly ball in the ninth that Dan had me convinced was going to be a home run), Varsho, France (who was hit by pitch), Lukes (2 k), Schneider (1 k, hit by pitch) and Gimenez (also hit by pitch).
Johan Oviedo threw five innings of two hit ball. Three Pirates relievers allowed just one hit over the last four innings. 
Our pen did well too going 2.1 innings without allowing a run. Brendon Little game up two singles on soft grounders, one that died just short of third base and one that rolled between second and first (I thought it was one that Vlad would have got if he was in the game). Seranthony Dominguez (I orginally spelled it Sir Anthony) looked very good, and hit 99 with his fastball. 
No JoDs today, but let’s give an honourable mention to Dominguez (.077 for 4 outs, with a walk and a k) and Bassitt (for the 10 k in 5.2).
Other Award: Kirk (-.202), Varsho (-.151), Barger (-.143) and Davis Schnieder (-.115).
Tomorrow is an off-day, then we play the Marlins for three, with Shane Bieber pitching Friday (and we are going out for my wife’s birthday, I wonder how much she’s like me watching the game on my phone?).
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Game #127 GameThread: Jays @ Pirates]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/toronto-blue-jay-gamethreads/58223/game-127-gamethread-jays-pirates" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58223</id>
<updated>2025-08-20T12:25:25-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-20T12:25:25-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays GameThreads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It looks like Erik Lauer will be in the Jays bullpen this weekend. Having a long man will be a good thing, but I’m sorry that Lauer is losing his spot after having such a good season. Just a few minutes until game time, the Pirates still haven’t released their lineup. They don’t want anyone […]]]></summary>
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It looks like Erik Lauer will be in the Jays bullpen this weekend. Having a long man will be a good thing, but I’m sorry that Lauer is losing his spot after having such a good season. 
Just a few minutes until game time, the Pirates still haven’t released their lineup. They don’t want anyone knowing that Tommy Pham is in the lineup until all the fans are in their seats. They don’t want Jays fans bringing in rotten fruit to throw at him. 
They would be smart to keep him out of the lineup for another day. 
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Let's win the series! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lightsupletsgo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lightsupletsgo</a> <a href="https://t.co/gGUAQ45aZb">pic.twitter.com/gGUAQ45aZb</a>— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1958170525479338112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>

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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Wednesday Bantering: Jays Notes]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/links/58217/wednesday-bantering-jays-notes" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58217</id>
<updated>2025-08-20T12:14:21-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-20T11:01:34-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays Daily Bantering & Links" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[It is Nate Pearson’s 29th birthday. On the list of prospect who never turned out to be what we hoped. Pearson is now with the Cubs, or at least their Triple-A team. He has a 2.39 ERA there, which sounds good, but he has walked 21 batters in 37.2 innings (with 46 strikeouts). Throwing strikes […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bluebirdbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2025/08/gettyimages-2170409880.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
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It is Nate Pearson’s 29th birthday. On the list of prospect who never turned out to be what we hoped. Pearson is now with the Cubs, or at least their Triple-A team. He has a 2.39 ERA there, which sounds good, but he has walked 21 batters in 37.2 innings (with 46 strikeouts). Throwing strikes has always been the problem. Batters have a .562 OPS against him, so he’s doing some things well.
He’ll likely be up with the Cubs at some point again this year. 
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
The Jays lineup for today. It is a 12:30 Eastern time starts. No Clement today for the first time in a long time. No Vlad either. 
I’ll been waiting for the Pirates lineup, but they haven’t posted it yet. Likely trying to decide if Pham should play (the answer is no).
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Let's win the series! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lightsupletsgo?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lightsupletsgo</a> <a href="https://t.co/gGUAQ45aZb">pic.twitter.com/gGUAQ45aZb</a>— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1958170525479338112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
Yesterday’s Umpire Scorecard (<a href="https://x.com/UmpScorecards/status/1958175515195453543">https://x.com/UmpScorecards/status/1958175515195453543</a>). Not a great job by Nick Mahrley. Heavily leaning towards the Pirates, which is normal. Almost always the team that’s trailing by a lot gets better calls. It is just human nature.

<img src="https://platform.bluebirdbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2025/08/ump_19a9ad.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,15.7223183391,100,68.555363321799" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
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</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Great Start For Scherzer, Jays Beat Pirates]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/game-recaps/58213/great-start-for-scherzer-jays-beat-pirates" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58213</id>
<updated>2025-08-19T21:39:05-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-19T21:39:05-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays Game Recaps" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[Jays 7 Pirates 3 What a terrific start from Max Scherzer. He went six innings, allowing four hits, one earned, three walks with four strikeouts. He did get some help from a couple of terrific catches by Myles Straw. 104 pitches for Max, more than I’d like to see him throw, but he finished strong. […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
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<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bluebirdbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2025/08/gettyimages-2230328865.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
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Jays 7 Pirates 3
What a terrific start from Max Scherzer. He went six innings, allowing four hits, one earned, three walks with four strikeouts. He did get some help from a couple of terrific catches by Myles Straw. 104 pitches for Max, more than I’d like to see him throw, but he finished strong. 
He did walk a couple of batters, and then give up a single, to load the bases with no outs in the second, but the Pirates scored just the one run. That was the only inning that he had much trouble. 
Here is one of those two great catches, the other he went back to the wall to make a jumping catch.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Myles Straw: Still doing it 👏 <a href="https://t.co/KYV4OljnRs">pic.twitter.com/KYV4OljnRs</a>— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href="https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1957966415023022565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
On offense we scored:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Three in the first: George Springer, leading off, was hit by pitch (not intentional). Springer immediately stole second. I love that, get hit, turn it into a double. Addison Barger and Bo Bichette walked. Alejandro Kirk singled to deep right field. Bryan Reynolds had a bead on it, but just missed it. Barger at second had to wait to be sure it was a hit and stopped at third. With no outs, no need to take any chances. But Kirk wasn’t watching Bo in front of him, who had to stop at second. Kirk was halfway before noticing and an easy out. Always watch the running in front of you. Even if it is a sure thing they are going, they might slip or something. Oh well. Nathan Lukes singled home two. </li>
<li>Two in the second: Straw walked and stole second. Springer followed with a home run (423 feet, 105.5 mph). </li>
<li>Two in the seventh: Bo had a one-out walk and Kirk homered to center (409 feet, 108.5 mph).</li>
</ul>
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
The pen wasn’t light’s out:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Louis Verland gave up a run in the seventh.</li>
<li>Tommy Nance gave up a run in the eighth, though unearned. Nathan Lukes misplayed a ball in the outfield, turning a single into a double (well, a single plus error).</li>
<li>Jeff Hoffman had a 1, 2, 3 ninth in a non-save spot.</li>
</ul>
There were a few minor misplays. Bo had a grounder go right through him. Andres Gimenez grabbed a grounder that he should have let Bo take, Bo was moving towards first, Andres away. Andres’ throw was late to first. Straw was a little slow getting a ball into the infield, letting Reynolds turn a single into a double. 
Our defense hasn’t been sharp lately.
We had ten hits and four walks. Kirk had three. Springer and Lukes had two each. Barger (with a walk), Clement (two k) and Gimenez (walk) went 0 for. 
Jays of the Day: Scherzer (.191 WPA), Springer (.156) and Lukes (.095). Let’s give Straw one too (.056, plus those two catches).
No one gets the other award. Clement gets the low mark at -.082. 
Tomorrow we have a day game. 12:30 Eastern. Chris Bassitt (11-6, 4.22) vs Johan Oviedo making his second start of the season. The first one didn’t go well, one inning, two runs against, with three walks. 
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[Vlad is Day-To-Day Gamethread]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/toronto-blue-jay-gamethreads/58209/vlad-is-day-to-day-gamethread" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58209</id>
<updated>2025-08-19T17:50:19-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-19T17:50:19-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays GameThreads" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[The good news is that Vlad isn’t going in the IL. But he is out today. And the Pirates, in a dazzling display of common sense, have left Tommy Pham out of the lineup today. I am not a fan of throwing at batter, even Pham. I don’t think it serves any purpose. But I’m […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bluebirdbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2025/08/gettyimages-2229923360.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
</figcaption>
</figure>
The good news is that Vlad isn’t going in the IL. But he is out today.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Vladdy’s MRI results: “just inflammation.. it was kind of precautionary for him, and he’s feeling a little bit better today. So just trying to be as careful as we can with him, and glad we kind of got him out when we did.” Guerrero is day to day per Schneider— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) <a href="https://twitter.com/thehazelmae/status/1957905007589708274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
And the Pirates, in a dazzling display of common sense, have left Tommy Pham out of the lineup today.
I am not a fan of throwing at batter, even Pham. I don’t think it serves any purpose. But I’m glad the Pirates have taken the temptation away. The guy is just a fool. 
Today’s Vladless lineup:
<div class="pane sports_data_widget lineup clearfix">
<h3>Today’s Lineups</h3>
<div class="lineup">
<table cellspacing="0" class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th align="left">BLUE JAYS</th>
<th align="left">PIRATES</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr><td class="td-last td-name">George Springer – DH</td><td class="td-first td-name">Ronny Simon – LF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Addison Barger – RF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Spencer Horwitz – 1B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Bo Bichette – SS</td><td class="td-first td-name">Bryan Reynolds – RF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Alejandro Kirk – C</td><td class="td-first td-name">Nick Gonzales – 2B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Nathan Lukes – LF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Andrew McCutchen – DH</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Ty France – 1B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Jack Suwinski – CF</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Ernie Clement – 3B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Joey Bart – C</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Andres Gimenez – 2B</td><td class="td-first td-name">Jared Triolo – SS</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Myles Straw – CF</td><td class="td-first td-name">Isiah Kiner-Falefa – 3B</td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name"></td><td class="td-first td-name"></td></tr><tr><td class="td-last td-name">Max Scherzer – RHP</td><td class="td-first td-name">Mitch Keller – RHP</td></tr></tbody>
</table>
</div>
</div>
GO JAYS GO.
]]>
</content>
</entry>
<entry>
<author>
<name>tom dakers</name>
</author>
<title type="html"><![CDATA[More on Last Night and Tommy Pham]]></title>
<link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/news/58194/more-on-last-night-and-tommy-pham" />
<id>https://www.bluebirdbanter.com/?p=58194</id>
<updated>2025-08-19T11:33:10-04:00</updated>
<published>2025-08-19T11:05:47-04:00</published>
<category scheme="https://www.bluebirdbanter.com" term="Toronto Blue Jays News" />
<summary type="html"><![CDATA[So Tommy Pham wasn’t just being an idiot at the game last night, he carried it over to Twitter. I’m sure we’ve all met people like this, ones who think they should be policing everyone who doesn’t stand up to some moral code that they have made up. Most figure out at some point that […]]]></summary>
<content type="html">
<![CDATA[
<figure>
<img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.bluebirdbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2025/08/gettyimages-2230174805.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100" />
<figcaption>
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</figure>
So Tommy Pham wasn’t just being an idiot at the game last night, he carried it over to Twitter.
I’m sure we’ve all met people like this, ones who think they should be policing everyone who doesn’t stand up to some moral code that they have made up. Most figure out at some point that they ought to grow out of this stuff. Making everyone hate you is not the best way to go, but some never figure it out. 
Just a suggestion to ball players: do not argue with reporters on Twitter. They used to say ‘Don’t pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel.‘
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true">Tyler Heineman told us that he didn't say a word and "you're probably just as confused as I am" about Tommy Pham and the benches clearing. “I don’t even know him. No idea. Barely know who he is.” “It was weird, man. It was weird. It was unprovoked and super weird." <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a>— Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson/status/1957630861240676805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" data-conversation="none">Bitching about a ball not being called a strike to the umpire when it’s clearly below the zone and away is disrespectful not only to the umpire but the hitter as well so like I said when I flipped the bat fuck him <a href="https://twitter.com/KeeganMatheson?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KeeganMatheson</a> dude has two years in the show I know the zone— Tommy Pham (@TphamLV) <a href="https://twitter.com/TphamLV/status/1957643757219635643?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
Heineman said more:
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“He didn’t say a word to me. I didn’t say a word to him. He just looked like he wanted to have a fight . . . he bat flipped and looked straight at me. I just put up my arms and he walked towards me. I don’t really know . . . It was weird, man,” Heineman said. “It was weird. It was unprovoked and super weird . . . you’re probably just as confused as I am.”
</blockquote>
And then he accused Addison Barger of using steroids. If I was Addison, I’d be considering suing. Yes perhaps Addison should have stayed out of it.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" data-conversation="none"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pham?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pham</a> <a href="https://t.co/52yy4maZlg">pic.twitter.com/52yy4maZlg</a>— Vodka Jerry (@StuSternysBurny) <a href="https://twitter.com/StuSternysBurny/status/1957655679868494253?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote>
</div></figure>
It will be interesting tonight. I’m figuring that the Pirates sit Pham because who wants to start a beanball war. But it will be interesting if they don’t. Max Scherzer might take matters into his own hands (I hope not, because I’m sure it would be an instant ejection).
Here is a left fielder hitting .260/.333/.368, which is right about the line for getting a player released. If the Pirates had a young outfield who was ready to get some MLB time, he’d be gone. 
As you might remember he slapped a teammate because of something with their fantasy football league
<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
“I slapped Joc,” Pham told reporters Saturday. “He said some s— I don’t condone. I had to address it.
“… It was regarding my former team [Padres]. I didn’t like that and I didn’t like the sketchy s— going on in the fantasy. We had too much money on the line, so I look at it like there’s a code. You’re f—ing with my money, then you’re going to say some disrespectful s—; there’s a code to this.”
Pederson acknowledged to reporters Saturday that “there was a lot of money involved” and said Pham was telling the truth.
A candid Pederson even showed reporters the GIF he sent teasing Padres players who were in the group chat about their struggles on the field down the stretch last season. Pederson was with the Atlanta Braves at the time, and Pham was playing for San Diego.
“In the group chat there was also some — there was more than one Padre, there was four or five that, I’m kind of close with a couple of them,” Pederson said. “It was supposed to be a friendly thing, just making fun of they were playing bad, and just talking back and forth. And yeah, [Pham] did not like that and he responded, ‘Joc, I don’t know you well enough to make any jokes like this.”’
</blockquote>
He has a long history of this sort of thing, which makes me wonder why teams sign him.
<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" />
<img src="https://platform.bluebirdbanter.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/41/2025/08/ump.png?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,15.509535160906,100,68.980929678188" alt="" title="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" />
Here is the right scorecard, or part if it….here is the whole thing: <a href="https://x.com/UmpScorecards/status/1957812902548713720">https://x.com/UmpScorecards/status/1957812902548713720</a>
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</entry>
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