Sunday bantering

Today sees the final game of the Jays season and the final game of Gibby’s tenure as manager. Im also hoping its the last time we see Luis Rivera ‘coaching’ at 3B. Though its been enjoyable watching the rookies play the last few weeks, it doesn’t cover the fact that the Jays have had a very underwhelming season.

Martin the manager

Im also hoping that Russell Martin gets the win as the temporary manager. That would be fun. He needs something to do as he has been sitting on the bench since Sept 3 and is no doubt itching to do something (apart from count his weekly wheelbarrows full of cash).

The role change for Martin should add a dose of levity to a final day of conflicting emotions, with Gibby departing and our coaching staff heading into a period of uncertainty until a new manager is hired.

At 35, with one year at $20 million remaining on the $82-million, five-year deal, Russell is on the back-end of a stellar career during which he’s been named an all-star four times and consistently been among the top receivers in the game. He’s also hit 185 homers while posting a .749 OPS across 13 seasons in the majors, making him a rare two-way threat behind the plate. What happens with Russell remains to be seen for next year.

The end of Estrada?

Marco Estrada was due to start but has been scratched on account of his sore back, meaning the pending free agent may have thrown his last pitch as a member of the team. Marco, a Blue Jay since 2015, said he’d “love to hear from” the club again and is “comfortable” in Toronto, though he’s not sure whether the club’s interested in re-signing him. Thanks in part to the Jays’ youth movement, not to mention Estrada’s struggles this season, a parting of ways may be in order.

Estrada said as a veteran pitcher with only a limited number seasons left, he would like to play for a contender next year. But he also sees value in returning to Toronto and helping to mentor the club’s young starters, Ryan Borucki, Sean Reid-Foley and Thomas Pannone.

Marco has struggled with back and hip issues all season and recently had stem cell shots in his back and is optimistic that this recent course of treatment will have him healthy for 2019. The 35-year-old landed on the DL this season with a left glute strain, but was never close to being 100% and pitched through a lot of pain. He went 7-14 in 28 starts with a 5.64 ERA/5.44 FIP over 143 2/3 innings this year.

Respect for the rookies

As i mentioned above, it been great seeing the rookies come up and perform. It seems that both Teoscar Hernandez and Rowdy Tellez have earnt some respect from opposing teams with their play.

Guerrero grievance?

And in something that would not make for a plesaant end to our season, Jon Heyman reports that Vladimir Guerrero Jr could file a grievance against the Jays over service time.

Player of the Day

I couldn’t end without acknowledging the final game of the brilliant career of the Mets’ David Wright; a great ballplayer and one of my favourite non Jays. Although the last 3 years were lost to injury, he could at least say goodbye in style:

Video link here.

Have a great Sunday everyone, lets hope we end the season in style. Go Jays Go!