Who’s Hot, Who’s Cold: Blue Jays Batters

Over the past two weeks the Blue Jays are 3-9. It hasn’t been a fun time of late.

The bats have fallen asleep (the pitchers have an ERA half a run better than their season average over the past two weeks). The batters have a .213/.289/.364 batting line over the past 12 days. They have been averaging 3.1 runs per game.

Hot

Cavan Biggio: Started all 12 games. Hit .231/.400/.462 with 2 home runs, 11 walks and 12 strikeouts.

He’s really hit his stride of late. He’s been a bit more aggressive at the plate. It seemed for a bit that he was being a bit too passive. He seems to have found the right balance. He does have a great eye at the plate. Defensively UZR has him at -2.9/150, which, with his bat, I’d take at second. I think it will improve with time.

Reese McGuire: Played in 7 games, started 6. Hit .300/.333/.450 with 1 home run, 1 walk and 4 strikeouts.

He’s hit much better than I expected. And he looks good behind the plate. I’m happy with him as our backup catcher going forward. I like the idea of a lefty hitting backup catcher.

Cold

Brandon Drury: Played in 9 games, starting 8. Hit .133/.161/.133 with 1 walks and 8 strikeouts.

In a deep slump. Yesterday’s game was good for him, so I’m hoping he’s pulling out of it. As always, I’m good with him as a utility guy, but I’m not good with him playing so much. I like that he can play pretty much anywhere on the field. Utility guys with occasional power is a good thing. The error, the other day, wasn’t good, but he has been pretty great defensively.

Danny Jansen: Started 5 games. He .125/.222/.125 with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.

He’s been splitting time with Reese, which is likely a a good thing at the end of his first full season in the majors. He’s played 99 games this year and has been calling games for a few dozen pitchers, many of them rookies or pickups that he had never seen before. I’m wiling to give him a mulligan on the season. I can’t imagine keeping that many pitchers, their pitches and what they like to throw in different situations, straight in my head.

Justin Smoak: Started 7 games. He hit .208/.321/.333 with 1 home run, 4 walks and 5 strikeouts.

He’s played 5 games at first and 2 at DH, sharing time with Rowdy. I do feel bad that he doesn’t get to play everyday with free agency coming up. It will be interesting to see what happens with him this winter.

Randal Grichuk: Started all 12 games. Hit .170/.200/.319 with 1 home run, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts.

I don’t understand why he’s playing everyday. We have a dozen outfielders we’d like to get at bats for and Randal is playing everyday. Randal has a 0.8 number on SABR’s index, making him average in right.

Rowdy Tellez: Played in 10 games, starting 9. Hit .176/.263/.471 with 3 home runs, 4 walks and 11 strikeouts.

Not much of a down arrow, the slugging number is good. The pinch-hit home run Monday helped out. He is getting regular at bats. Since coming back from Buffalo he’s hit .182/.280/.409. It seems like the time in Buffalo didn’t fix him after all. Again, I have no idea what the Jays are going to do with him. And again, I hate giving up on guys with big time power.

Billy McKinney: 9 games, starting 6. Hit .238/.273/.381 with 1 walk and 7 strikeouts.

Again, not much of a down arrow, but he hasn’t been great.

In between

Bo Bichette: Started all 12 games. Hit .302/.315/.415 with 1 home run, 1 walk and 13 strikeouts.

Pretty good, not ‘hot’ by his standards, but I’d take it. His defense has been better than I expected. UZR has him at 0.6/150. With his bat, that’s great. The way he swings the bat it is hard to understand how his numbers are as good as they are. He has that all out all the time swing, but it works.

Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.: Played in 11 games, starting 10. He .256/.341/.359 with 1 home run, 4 walks and 7 strikeouts.

Not hot, not really cold. His UZR is at -19.4/150.

Teoscar Hernandez: Played in 11 games, starting 9. He hit .200/.282/.547 with 2 homers, 4 walks and 15 strikeouts.

39% strikeout rate isn’t good. He hit right at his season rate. The OPS+ of 96 is good enough at center field. His UZR in center is -10.7/150. By SABR’s defensive index he’s -1.1, slightly below average. If his offensive numbers were a little better, I’d live with his defense. Or if his defensive numbers were a bit better, we’d be happy with his offense. Changing positions is tricky because his bad isn’t good at any other spot. They have a tough decision with Teoscar. I hate giving up on guys with his wort of power. But the strikeout rate isn’t getting better.

Derek Fisher: Played in 10 games, started 7. Hit .200/.310/.400 with 1 homer, 4 walks and 10 strikeouts.

Not good, but not bad (by his standards). It seems that this is what he is. I’m ok with him as fourth outfielder, but I would like him playing less.

Also Played

Richard Urena, got into one game, didn’t bat.

Anthony Alford, had one at bat and struck out.

Beau Taylor, started the one game, had 2 at bats, with one strikeout.

On the IL

Loudes Gurriel: Apparently ran the bases the other day. He should be ready to play soon.

Luke Maile: They hadn’t said much, but I’m thinking he’s done for the season.

Devon Travis: He’s not going to be back this season. And I’m sure he’ll be DFAed this winter. It is really too bad, he was a favorite of mine.