Is Fred VanVleet’s improved play here to stay after Raptors beat Rockets?

Is Fred VanVleet’s improved play here to stay after Raptors beat Rockets?

This season has not gone according to plan for the Toronto Raptors, but it was incredibly disappointing on a multitude of levels, but the poor play of All-Star guard Fred VanVleet was one of the most shocking developments. After a historic season last year, VanVleet has looked completely out of sync for weeks at a […]
Is Fred VanVleet’s improved play here to stay after Raptors beat Rockets? – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Mike Luciano / Raptors HQ

The Blue Jays have been in talks with the Angels about Noah Syndergaard and Raisel Iglesias

According to Blue Jays Nation’s very own Brendon Kuhn, the Blue Jays are in talks with the Los Angeles Angels about Noah Syndergaard.

The 29-year-old signed a one-year contract with the team after undergoing Tommy John surgery back in May 2020.

Source: Blue Jays are in talks with the Angels about Noah Syndergaard
— bk (@_bkuh_) August 2, 2022

The 6’6 righty has posted a 3.83 ERA and a 3.96 FIP in 80 innings pitched. His K% sits at 18.9%, but it has been rising as he’s shaken off the rust.

Thor, Dirty 89mph Changeup. pic.twitter.com/RvjO33flhL
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 5, 2022

Interestingly, the Jays originally drafted Syndergaard in the 2010 draft but traded him to the New York Mets for the reigning NL Cy Young winner, R.A. Dickey.
Pitching with the Mets, the righty was known for his high velocity, as he sat in the upper 90s for a time. However, after the surgery, his velocity dropped to the mid-90s.
Despite only pitching two innings after the 2019 season, Noah was offered a qualifying offer from the Mets, which he declined. He signed a one-year, $21,000,000 with the bad team from LA.
Are the Jays interested in Raisel Iglesias?
According to Blue Jays Nation’s own Thomas Hall, the Blue Jays have also been in talks with the Angels about their closer, Raisel Iglesias.

#BlueJays have intensified their pursuit of Syndergaard.
They remain interested in Iglesias, but are mainly focused on Thor. https://t.co/BTBvpzRt4v
— Thomas Hall (@ThomasHall85) August 2, 2022

This season, the 32-year-old right has posted a 4.04 ERA and a 3.18 FIP in 35.2 innings pitched. He definitely offers swing and miss, as he has a K% of 32.9% while keeping the free passes down to 6.2%.
His velocity has ticked down about one mile per hour (it makes a difference) to 95.3 mph, after hovering at around 96.3 the past two seasons. However, this doesn’t stop him from getting swings, as his K/9 is still fantastic.

Raisel Iglesias, Fatality Sword. 🪦pic.twitter.com/5Ow1fDbIPK
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 22, 2022

What worries me is his contract. This season he’s only making $10 million, which certainly fits his price tag after a great career (3.13 ERA, 3.34 FIP in 517.1 IP). However, he’ll be making $16 million in each of the next three seasons.
If this is the start of a …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

The Royals will Miss Ten Players in their adventure to Toronto. What are the implications?

According to Jeff Passan, the Royals will miss ten players in their upcoming series in Canada.

This is the largest number to date as there have only been 25 players unable to play in Canada prior to this upcoming series. While the Royals suck and the Jays should be sweeping them, there are larger implications.

The 10 Kansas City Royals who are not vaccinated and will miss the trip to Toronto are: OF Andrew Benintendi, IF/OF Whit Merrifield, C M.J. Melendez, DH Hunter Dozier, SP Brad Keller, SP Brady Singer, CF Michael A. Taylor, OF Kyle Isbel, RP Dylan Coleman and C Cam Gallagher.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 13, 2022

Since the Royals suck, they’ll be sellers at this upcoming deadline. While there aren’t a lot of players on the Royals I think the Jays should target, there is one guy who I think would help this team tremendously.
Unfortunately, one of those players who is unvaccinated is Andrew Benintendi. The left handed batting outfielder would fit this roster quite well as he’s quite good and would be able to platoon with Loudres Gurriel Jr.
Despite being linked to the Blue Jays by Jon Morosi (so take it with a grain of salt), there is likely no conceivable way that Andrew Benintendi bends his stance to take a small little needle.

The #BlueJays and #Royals are potential trade partners ahead of the Aug. 2 @MLB Trade Deadline. Toronto is among the teams with interest in Andrew Benintendi, and KC has appealing bullpen arms as well. @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) June 29, 2022

I wrote a Meet the Sellers on the Royals back in early June and included Whit Merrifield as someone who the Jays should target. Unfortunately for the Blue Birds, that looks equally unlikely to happen, as Merrifield is also unvaccinated.
So w …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation

The Blue Jays have fired Charlie Montoyo, John Schneider named interim manager

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays have fired Charlie Montoyo.

The Jays currently have a 46-42 record, but have lost 10 of their last 12 games. 

Charlie Montoyo has been fired as manager of the Blue Jays, sources tell @TheAthletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 13, 2022

It’s presumed that this was the cause, as they currently occupy the final wild card spot by a thread. However, this doesn’t quite address the issues of the team, as Charlie Montoyo isn’t the one blowing games in the bullpen. Montoyo isn’t streaky as all hell with his approach at the plate.
To me, this is hoping and praying that this move will get the team going without addressing big issues which could cost them a playoff spot.
Sure, it has worked in the past. For example, the Philadelphia Phillies fired Joe Griadi on June 3rd and have gone 24-13 since that time. However, the Angels fired Joe Maddon on June 7th and have gone 11-21 since that day.
If the Jays don’t address big issues such as the lack of a bullpen, their right heavy line up, outfield defense and another middle of the rotation starter, their chances of making the playoffs may not be high.
In his big league managerial career, Charlie Montoyo has amassed a 236-236 record. Since the COVID shortened season, the Jays have a 169-141, meaning that the team has a winning record since the Jays started to try to win.
There’s a good chance Charlie finds a new job in the major leagues, as he’s shown to be a good manager, despite his shortcomings. Not just that, but Charlie definitely didn’t deserve to be the scapegoat, and if the Jays can’t turn this season around, they will regret this move.
We here at Blue Jays Nation wish Charlie nothing but the best.

Statement from the Toronto B …

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Author: Brennan Delaney / Blue Jays Nation