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

Over the past 13 games, the Blue Jays are 8-5. The bats have come around. They have averaged 5.5 runs/game. As a team, they have hit .263/.316/.437.

Hot

Marcus Semien: Started all 13 games. Hit .345/.390/.618 with 6 doubles, 3 home runs, 4 walks, 16 strikeouts, 1 stolen base.

Played 1 game at short. He’s been terrific in the leadoff spot, despite all our complaining. Defensively, he seems like a terrific second baseman. I hope this hot streak lasts the season.

Teoscar Hernandez: Started all 13 games. Hit .333/.418/.563 with 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 walks, 8 strikeouts, 2 steals, 1 caught.

Yeah, he is good. He is the perfect guy to hit behind Vlad. He keeps the pitches honest. His defense has looked reasonable to me. Walk rate is 8.2%, up some from last year’s 6.8. And strikeout rate is down a bit too, but then it is early.

Vladimir Guerrero: Started all 13 games. Hit .288/.351/.577, with 3 doubles, 4 home runs, 5 walks, and 8 strikeouts.

Not hugely hot (for him), but a home run in each of the last 3 games pushed him over the top. Over his last 6 games, he has a 1.287 OPS. His defense has been terrific, minus his first error last night. There was a little bit of panic. And he is more entertaining than any player in the MLB. He seems like a very happy guy, and why shouldn’t he be?

Cavan Biggio: Played in 13 games, starting 12. Hit .282/.404/.410 with 2 doubles, 1 home run, 8 walks, 10 strikeouts, 2 steals, caught once.

He started one game in right and one game at second. A few days ago, people wanted him sent down, but a .404 OBP should make everyone happy. Defensively, the throws have been better from third. He hasn’t had an error in the last two weeks. The spin and throw to first thing isn’t something I’d like to see every day, but that he hit the target doing it. Like Bo, I think players can have slumps defensively too, and I’d imagine that Cavan will have the odd one.

Cold

Lourdes Gurriel: Started all 13 games. Hit .212/.208/.269 with 3 doubles, 0 walks, 9 strikeouts, 1 caught stealing.

No walks. His cold stretches would be easier to take if he could take the odd walk. He has looked better the last few games, .412 average in the last four. He made his first error of the season yesterday, which really shows how useless fielding average is. The thing is, he has all the tools to be a good outfielder. I do feel bad that he is in that sun field. Anybody would have trouble making plays staring into the sun. I’m ready for him to go on a hot stretch and carry the team for a couple of weeks.

Danny Jansen: Played in 12 games, starting 8. Hit .182/.206/.455 with 3 home runs, 0 walks, and 11 strikeouts.

I feel bad that he is in the cold group since he’s actually started to get the occasional hit. And 3 home runs are pretty good. But, no walks? He seems to be having long at-bats. He just isn’t getting on. I guess if you got 13 games without a hit, pitchers tend to find the strike zone. But his defense looks excellent. He seems to be able to block anything. There has only been one wild pitch and no passed balls with him behind the plate this season (considering the pitchers we have, that’s quite the achievement). And, until yesterday, he hadn’t allowed a stolen base in the two weeks. Yesterday wasn’t good, 5 steal against (but then they came when we had a big lead and weren’t really holding runners close to first).

Randal Grichuk: Played in 13 games, starting 12. Hit .224/.255/.367 with 4 doubles, 1 home run, 1 walk, 10 strikeouts, 1 caught stealing.

How long will it be before we stop hearing about how he has figured it out this year? Defensively, he’s been fine. I’d like him in right better than center, but we play the cards we are dealt. Not seeing that ball off the bat yesterday was too bad, but we’ll get those things playing in a minor league park on occasion.

Rowdy Tellez: Played in 8 games, starting 6. Hit .200/.231/.320 with 1 home run, 0 walks, and 5 strikeouts.

Two games started at first base. I hope he isn’t headed for the IL. I wish there was a way to test this, but I’m sure he gets more badly missed strike calls against him than anyone. Badly timed too.

In Between

Bo Bichette: Started all 13 games. Hit .291/.328/.436, with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, 3 walks, 17 strikeouts, and 4 stolen bases.

DHed in one of those 13 games. I find it hard to believe he’s played only 114 MLB games, with injuries and a shortened season. His defense has looked so much better, he didn’t have an error in the last two weeks, and he’s made some excellent plays. I think players have slumps on defense too.

Also Played

Reese McGuire: Played in 6 games, starting 5. Hit .333/.429/.333 with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts.

I would have bet money that we wouldn’t have seen him with the Jays this season. With so many catchers on the 40-man, who figured we’d put him back on it? Slightly surprised no one took him off waivers, for that matter. Small sample size, but he has one more hit than he had last season in less than a third as many at-bats.

Jonathan Davis: Played in 6 games, starting 2. Hit .273/.385/.364 with 1 double, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts, 1 steal.

The perfect fourth outfielder type.

Santiago Espinal: Played in 5 games, starting 2. Hit .200/.273/.400 with 1 triple, 1 walk. 1 steal.

They should never pinch hit for Tellez, but an excellent utility player.

IL

Joe Panik: Played in 2 games before hitting the IL. 7 PA without reaching base. I haven’t seen anything about when he is likely to come back.

Alejandro Kirk: On the 60-day IL. We won’t be seeing him for a while.

George Springer: Apparently he has swung the bat and has done some running. The team is talking about having him do a rehab assignment this time around. I’m hoping he’ll be back by June.