Are The Blue Jays Going *BACK* To The *WORLD SERIES?*…. | Blue Jays Hot Takes & Breakdown

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The Lockdown Blue Jays episode that everyone's been waiting for since last year were bringing

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Blue Jays to the World Series a lot to come on today's episode.

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Well, it's the episode that had everybody waiting.

There was a promo video we put out because that's how excited we are for today's video.

The hot takes episode, the episode that cut everybody by storm last year and we are

so back and not only are me and Carter back, Bradenewasco Carter first, but we also are

joined by Skyler Peters and Dalin Wilton.

The boys are back, the boys and the booth are back for one more hot takes episode before

we get this going.

I did make some intros, so here we go.

That's right.

The hot takes are back.

Nice.

I was expecting worse.

I was expecting more.

Listen, you only have so many hours in a day, okay?

I was going to throw it into AI, but it wasn't working.

I had to act like that.

It's not loud.

I'm glad it's not like the sweep alarm.

I was expecting like fireworks or something going on with the hot takes thing.

So I'm kind of happy with the way it turned out.

I had to take one earbud out when we were backstage listening to Braden screw up that intro

of three times because we're bus and boys.

Six days to opening days, we recorded this.

It's almost here.

It's a two part episode.

So today will be hot takes.

We're going to throw it around the horn.

The boys live a little discussion tomorrow, bold predictions where the blue jays landing

in the AL East and predictions on a ton of players on a ton of possibilities.

Stay tuned today and tomorrow, massive episode, probably some of the biggest ones we've

done in the lockdown, blue jays history.

This is going to be a ton of fun, but we'll start it here.

I got to give some props to you, Dow, before we kick things off.

Last year you had the blue jays going to the world series and you said maybe not win

the world series, but they're going to be there.

So congratulations, how do you feel today?

You know, like I said, many times before you doubted me and I'm the one laughing now.

So it feels great.

Are you really laughing though?

I know you got like a good prediction, but the blue jays lost the world series.

If you would have like got a win there, I feel like you would have felt better getting

the prediction on.

I would have felt better, but did any of you guys picture them there?

No.

I'm not making the playoff last season, do we have a quick recap, boys, of like, you know,

how we did last year, because I, no, I was just, we went like two weeks low.

We went to the block.

Terrific.

I said it was going to be George Springer's last season as a blue Jan.

You know, ended up being their best player at the red flag.

100 Kirk All-Star.

So that was the other one that we hit.

And I, I, so I have like a half of you want to count it.

I had already come in every day player, which like sort of happened and not kind of not

really.

I'm not going to count that.

But I was a year late.

I was a year late.

I was a year late.

Yeah.

I can't count that.

Well, we'll go with two for 12.

So hopefully we go a little bit better this year, but it's hot day for a reason.

You know, we're not just handing out Vladies the best player on the team this year.

We're kind of going bold.

That's the point of the set.

We're not wrong, boys.

We're just early.

That's what they say anyway.

All those good zones.

Carter, my man, you know, let's get the ball rolling here.

You know, this is going to be a longer episode.

These next two will be longer, but that's why we're here.

Carter, kick things off.

Give us your first hot take and come in hot, please.

This is the first one of the day.

All right.

So hold on.

Sorry.

Before you start, fellas, any time you want to jump in, jump in.

All right.

There's no.

I'm not asking you guys.

Hold bars here.

Nothing.

All right.

You've just popped in whenever you want.

Carter, kick us off.

All right.

So obviously the Toronto Blue Jays have a ton of expectation.

They had a very good offense last year, but if you watch the Toronto Blue Jays in 2025,

they didn't necessarily beat you with the power.

There's a lot of expectation there.

You have hope that a lot of guys can make for power in this starting lineup.

But I have the home run leader for the Toronto Blue Jays.

And no, it is not Vladimiro, Jr.

We have seen this a lot throughout spring training.

We've seen some swing adjustments.

He's in a contract here.

This is the, has the ability to make himself the absolute bag in the off season.

Dalton Varsho is going to lead the Toronto Blue Jays in home runs this season with 34.

34 home runs, I think gets Varsho to the top.

I think there's a ton of guys on this team that can be close to 30 and definitely over

that 20 mark.

But for everything I've seen from Dalton Varsho and that being a contract, you're a little

bit more incentive to play for.

I have Dalton Varsho in the Toronto Blue Jays in home runs.

No.

Personally.

I like it.

I'm on the same wavelength with you with Dalton Varsho because one of mine, and this is

why I had lots of them, Dalton Varsho has 30 plus home runs.

But I don't have him leading, and that'll get into mind.

So I'll explain why later, Boba Skyler, what are you guys thinking on that one?

I, what's this career high to this point?

I, the last Blue Jays game I watched at Roger's Center, but I involved a Dalton Varsho

Grand Slam actually against the guards a couple of seasons ago.

So I would love to see it.

I think it's swinging so it's almost like effortless in a good way, you know?

Like when Tiger Woods used to just kill the ball back in like the early 2000s.

And now I was always kind of wondering why he didn't like put up the numbers like, you

know, things like you mentioned like 30 plus home runs.

So I think it's possible.

I think, you know, if we want the Jays to be a good team, you shouldn't lead the team

with 34 home runs because the Long Bell is a bit of an issue for the Jays in the regular

season last year.

But I do think like he has to potentially get to a number like that for sure.

The highlight or sorry, the career record for Dalton Varsho is 27 with the Arizona Diamond

Backs.

Then you look back at it last year, 71 games played, 20 home runs in theory.

That's 40 home run pace.

Can you replicate that is the big question.

And I think there will be guys that are around Dalton Varsho and if it isn't Dalton Varsho,

I could see it being glad.

You could see it being Springer.

But with Varsho's ability, at least what we've seen through spring training with his ability

to hit the ball to the opposite field and with authority, these aren't just fly balls

to opposite field.

He's hitting opposite field home run.

So Dalton Varsho can use all facets of the ballpark.

I think that's going to help him lead into some more hard contact.

And with that hard contact with Dalton Varsho's swinging and the exit velocities, I think

that will also help him lead into more home runs.

Yeah, I don't mind your take to be honest.

My biggest thing is if he can stay healthy.

Yeah, I completely agree with that.

That's the only thing where I have the asterisk does Dalton Varsho play enough games to get to that

mark.

Yeah, I don't mind.

We've also seen a lot of players play really well in a contract here.

So like you said, that could be a booster for him, but he's got to stay healthy if that's

going to be the case.

I'm going to kick things off on number two here, fellas.

And just because it plays off of Carter's and why I didn't agree with this 100% and

that's because I think Vlad's going to have 38.

And not only do I think Vladimir Groge and you're going to have 38 home runs, I believe

he's going to finish top three in MVP voting this year.

What do you think?

So Judge is ahead of him, obviously, at that point.

Is it Cal Rally?

Like the time I can definitely see this happening and what we've seen from Vladimir Groge

Jr. in recent history, just in the last couple of months, honestly, World Series, World

Baseball Classic.

I mean, it hits a home run the last sprint training game.

You're looking at literally today.

So that's pretty cool to see as well.

You can't hate Vladimir Groge.

Junior take.

If we start to see some of that power, there's a lot of talk about how some guys throw up

this line.

I might regress.

If you have Vladimir Groge, you grow junior story, positive regression in terms of the home

run front.

That is obviously going to be a positive for this team.

Yeah.

I didn't get to 30 home runs last year.

If he kind of unlocks that potential, and that season, when he finished second to

Shohei Otani, seems so long ago already.

But let's remember he is 27 years old.

And physically, this is go time.

This is the prime of his career probably the next four or five years.

Obviously, he's going to be the franchise player for the Blue Jays, thankfully for that

entire time.

So, yeah, I top three, top two, top one.

I could see him all for Vladimir.

I think probably five is honestly the four if he stays healthy throughout the entire season.

I'm just knowing where his games at and what he showed, especially the playoffs last

year.

Well, and I want to preface this just before I get your take down.

Originally, I had a midding 40.

But to be honest with you guys, I think if you get to the 40 mark with the average similar

to what he's done in years past, I think he's number one.

So that's why I played this a little bit more realistic, more safe.

And I went with the 38 and top three.

But I think that's still a hot take if you ask the general public here.

Yeah.

I think even if he hits 40, I don't think you get judged there.

I think Judges, the old, maybe numbing favorite.

I think he's going to carry that at Yankee's offense once again.

If Lattie would have to have insane clutch numbers, there'd have to be a lot of the underlying

stats that would put him above, if you're talking about Aaron Judge, for top three, like

coward allies in the conversation, maybe Yordon Alvarez, as a bounce back, there are players

in this American league that definitely can outreach Lattie in that scenario.

But I love it.

I mean, from what we've seen from Vladimir Kroge Jr., if it's not Dalton Bar Show, I'd

be very happy if it is Lattie in Kroge Jr.

Yeah.

You nailed it on the head for my opinion on that.

I think for him to win the award, I think he would have to hit 45 and 50 home runs again.

Yeah.

I think that's the only way you have guys consistently putting up numbers like 60 for the past two

seasons.

So I think if he wants that award, he's got to hit 50 probably.

Judges Flora seems to be 50 and he plays in New York.

So you've got to do something pretty special to take the spot like that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

But I would, Carter slipped up, or he said, juicer, Vlad, Vlad, juicer, I would like that.

If he, if he, if he runs this year, we could call Vlad, juicer head, headline, Carter

first is Vlad on the juice.

I don't know if that's a headline we want to break, fellas.

All right.

Let's go to you two.

That's why we bring you in for the hot takes.

I know, Dal, you got, you always got something crazy up your sleeve.

So just give it to us guy.

I'm just, I'm sitting here, just ready.

It's, it's not that crazy this year.

I said last year that they'll make it to the world series.

This year, I have them winning the world series.

That's not a fact.

I guess like under circumstance, if you're looking at it, like expectation from this year

compared to last year, you can say the last year was still more crazy, but winning the

world series and any given year, even if you're the Dodgers, you're saying you're

going to win the world series.

I think like that, you can't hold your hat on that, obviously, but hopefully the Trottle

Blue Jays get there.

Well, here's where my opinion stands is I love, I love their starting staff, even, even

with the injuries or the people out that they have right now, I think their starting

staff is great.

I love the bullpen.

I think it's much stronger than early last year when I, that's what I was concerned about.

And then you just look up and down their lineup, they've got nine guys playing every

night that can hit the baseball.

So like, I'm feeling more confident in their hitting ability this year than I was last

year for sure.

More proven, right?

Like we've seen most of these guys last year, obviously, Kazuma Okamoto will be an

unknown.

Some people love them.

Some people maybe aren't that high on them.

You got guys like Addison Barger now that people know who he is and pretty much what kind

of player he's going to be.

Again, maybe a little bit of the question marks around what Dalton Bar Show will be.

But you're right.

I think with the Ernie Clemens, with the Alejandro Kirx, these are guys just know what

they're going to do for you at this point.

So I, I don't disagree with you.

And I sort of have a caveat here or a question, I guess, is will it be against the Dodgers?

I don't see any other opponent.

All right.

All right.

Like just that sick, sick league, man, for it.

Run it, man.

Yeah, I'll just simulate a September here.

Yeah, I'm going to strike some out on his 198 to the 89th, man, not 98.

Come on.

We're going to 27 this year.

We're running it back.

Yeah.

The longest game in LB history.

Yeah.

I think it will be against the Dodgers, but like another point I wanted to make is these

guys have now been there.

They know what it takes and they know the feeling and they want to get that back.

So I think that gives them a bit of an extra juice as well.

Yeah.

That can happen in 162.

So I want the Toronto Blue Jays to win the World Series, obviously, there's some good

competition.

Looking even in the American League East, we'll go more into this tomorrow's episode.

But I think all of us can clearly say there's four teams that are capable of at least making

the playoffs in the AL East and he stole the Mariners.

We look like a very good team.

So there is still competition in the American League.

Toronto Blue Jays definitely can't just say, oh, we're going to make the World Series

because we didn't make it last year, but two downs point.

This is a very good lineup, a lot of depth in this lineup.

You have a lot of depth in the starting rotation, at least in theory, you do.

If these guys eventually do get healthy and then the bullpen is a lot more deep than

last year.

Tyler Rogers, Louis Barlin, Jeff Hoffman, and then obviously hopefully Jimmy Garcia can

come back.

You'll bring Fisher so many different players that can be productive for you throughout

that bullpen.

So definitely don't mind how to take either, but there's a lot that can happen.

There's injuries.

There's optics and performances.

Just stop, up, stop down.

There's so many different things that happen throughout 162.

Let Skyler throw it over to you for your first hot take of the episode.

Let's give you my coldest of hot takes, but I, let's say it's something actually.

I think Cody Ponds gets sion votes this year.

I think we are just kind of scratching the surface with him.

17 and one last year in KBO, I think all of us know that, obviously it's a bit different.

It's a different ball.

It's a different level of players.

He had 18 Ks in a single game last year, completely changed the trajectory of his career.

Now he's a blue jade for the next three seasons.

I think getting to work with Pete Walker, like we've even seen through spring training,

he kind of has developed this change up.

And obviously he throws it very hard.

He's six foot six to 50.

He can blow it by guys.

He can place it very well as well with the heater.

And I just think he's going to be an intimidating presence on the mound.

And with the injuries that we have to Jose Brio and Treyis Savage and Shane Bieber, like he's

going to get his opportunities early in the year, they're going to need him.

And I wouldn't be surprised if he's maybe the second most relied upon Blue Jay starter

by the end of the season.

Yeah, I don't know if I'm, I don't know if I'm all in on that.

I've still got concerns about Cody Ponds.

I'm excited for him.

I think he's going to be good, but I don't know if I.

I think he's going to be side young votes good.

Like I think there are other players in this team that I would almost have over him.

Like a guy like Dylan Seas comes to mind, a guy that can just strike out everybody and

anybody.

It seems like I think he's sort of up on my tier.

But for hot take and the purposes of that, I think Cody Ponds is an unknown and an unknown

to quote, you know, to use Dallas point from last year is sometimes pretty good.

So we never know, but I'll start things off by saying to that one, and I'm not saying

like he's going to be a finalist or anything like that.

I think he's going to get like a couple of fifth or fourth place votes.

And for a guy that just came over from Korea and starting the season as our fourth starter,

I think that's going to be pretty impressive.

That would be incredible.

If he receives even one side young vote, like brains a little bit more hesitant on these

unknown, unknown, it's like the Kazuma Okamoto's, the Cody Ponds is the guys that you haven't

seen in the major leagues.

Within the last few seasons, which I could definitely understand why the major leagues,

I think is by far the best professional baseball league in the world.

So when you're pitching in Korea as much as you do have success and he is transferring

over a lot of those things that made Cody Ponds good in Korea over to the major leagues,

having the change of the fastball and the velocities really carrying over, which is very

nice to see the curveball of the slider.

Like Cody Ponds has everything that can make him a good starter at the major league level.

I'm higher on Cody Ponds than Braden is.

I wouldn't say Sai Young caliber high, but I could definitely see him being the three

starter, probably the four starters where I'm more comfortable with, but I'm pretty

high on Cody Ponds as well.

Definitely higher than Braden is on this podcast, excited to see what he can bring to the

Toronto Blue Jays, especially for the contract.

That contract works out for the Blue Jays, they're going to be in a really good spot and

just extend that window a little bit more for the near future.

I think like we said earlier, we're a year early, I think that that hot take would be

good for next year because he had a really good spring, like a very good spring.

He was impressive, but my concern, I kind of side with Braden is I think early on the

transition is going to be a bit shocking for him.

I don't think he's going to come in and do spring training numbers like he has.

I think he's going to get rocked around a bit at the start, but he'll find his footing

after that.

But I think after a full year with the Blue Jays, next year will be his year, for sure.

Yeah, and I don't want to put it out there that's on this Cody Ponds, Kazuma, Komodo,

Hayder or anything.

It's just, yeah, I haven't had it proven to me, and as much as we talk on here about,

and we've said this a million times at this point, you can't judge a guy based on his

best season, you can't judge a guy based on his worst season, well, when guys don't

have seasons at all, I can't judge them.

Cody Ponds does have like 20 games at the MLB, but if you want to subscribe to my take

I suggest you just don't look at the space.

Yeah, that's right.

You don't want to look at the Cody Ponds major league stats, and like if you're going to

use the experience like Kazuma, Okamoto at least he has experience of being very good

for a very long time with Cody Ponds, like it's kind of sporadic, it's all over the

place.

Like you see the 2021 stats, then you go and look at the 2025 stats and you wonder if that's

even the same person.

Exactly.

So there's a lot of projectability with Cody Ponds, but there's also a very big unknowns

with Cody Ponds.

He could be very good, or he could be absolutely horrible.

I'll tell you what, I'd rather have the 2025 season last year than the 2021 season last

year, like at least for training here.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Alright, everybody, we got a lot more to come, a lot more hot takes to come on the other

side.

We got to take a break here, but like we said, we've all come strapped with hot takes.

So more to come stick with us right after this.

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All right, fellas, as we continue on a lot more hot takes to come, obviously, I'm going

to kick things off with this one.

I know I should let you guys do the talking, but again, apparently I enjoy doing that.

So here we go.

I'm starting it off with a man that I cannot believe has not won this award yet.

This year is the year for an Alejandro Kirk gold glove.

And I don't know, maybe it's not a hot take because he should have won a probably a few

at this point, but there are good catchers out there.

And so I understand how he doesn't.

I think he was robbed last year.

I'm going this year full tilt Alejandro Kirk gold glove with the ABS system introduced.

I think you'll see Alejandro Kirk.

Get a bunch of calls that way and know the zone better than maybe some of the umpires

and get those calls.

And maybe that will play more into some of the votes that happen.

And if some voters take any stock into the ABS system, correct calls, miss calls and

what not else.

That's going to be an interesting element of the whole catcher position, not even just

in terms of like the gold glove nominations and the voting, just in terms of how MLB teams

valued the catcher position, just having that trust back there in those big moments.

Because we're going to see it in the season where it's maybe the eighth inning and you

only have one challenge left and that one pitch, whether it's a strike or a ball can

definitely decide the game.

I would say out of all the hot takes, we would go pretty hot on this podcast.

So I would say this is one of the more lukewarm ones.

But I think when you're going for a gold glove and you're handing, you're going to have

someone win this award.

I think that definitely counts as a hot take, really the only other ones I could see competing

is Dylan Dingler from the Tigers and then Cal Rally, another good catcher, obviously,

that we are pretty familiar with.

So I think Alejandro Kirk's almost a shoe in to be a finalist, but I think the hot take

comes in when he can actually win that gold club.

I completely agree.

Rob last season would not be surprised if Alejandro Kirk wins it.

And honestly, it's one of those things.

It's like when the ref misses a call, you almost need to make up call for Alejandro Kirk

this year.

I don't even care if he's that good defensively.

You just need the gold and glove this year because he didn't get it last year.

It's the NBA.

What is it?

MVP or whatever that they give out?

It's always the year after that the guy should have won it and then he wins it.

Alejandro, we're having voter fatigue before he even won anything.

That's right.

I think you could put Adley Rutchman on that list too, because he is certainly the

MLB.com golden boy and it seems to be like in the heads of a lot of writers and as someone

who took him in the second round of our fancy draft last year, I know all too well that

he did not play a lot.

And hopefully he's healthy for the Oregon ill sick this year.

So I like it.

I think that Jay's actually got robbed on three gold gloves elections last year.

Obviously Kirk, obviously Ernie, but I also think that Vlad is should have won it over

Thai France.

You did win it for the Blue Jays technically at first base, but Dev is not Thai France

as a war to win.

I don't care.

So yeah, I think the baseball gosh should be on our side this year with that one.

Yeah.

I'm in 100% agreeance.

I think it's a lukewarm take here, but if you brought it to the MLB, it'd be a hot

take.

So that's what we're doing today, brother.

Bring it to the MLB.

I think he's the only recipient of that award this year.

You should be the only one you've been considered, honestly, in my opinion.

One, it'd be like a first 60 games, Alejandro Kirk, finalist number one, middle 60 games,

Alejandro Kirk, finalist number two.

Exactly.

Okay, Skyler, I'm sending the next one to you.

We did you last last time.

So you might as well kick things off in segment two here after I guess my lukewarm take

is some might call it all turn up the heat, buddy.

I only doing this because I did it last year and I was so horrifically wrong, but it

worked out so good for the Toronto Blue Jays in saying the George Springer would play

his last game as a Blue Jays in 2025.

Max Scherzer will not end the season on the Toronto Blue Jays 26 man roster.

Okay.

Okay.

See, I like that because I've been thinking about this starting rotation, saga, and there's

really no way around it.

Like you can't have these guys in AAA, obviously, like imagine, even if you could, imagine

that.

Max right in the box.

Find the blue Subway.

Like, there's just no way that was ever going to happen.

But ideally, this is super early on, obviously.

But Kevin Gaw has been, you know, Dylan C's tray of savage when he's healthy, shame beaver,

whether it's Cody Ponds, Joseporeo's, Eric Lauer, doesn't really matter.

Max Scherzer, even if it is him, there's too many cooks in the kitchen.

How in the world are you going to be able to figure this out?

So whether it's a trade, it might be a DFA based off performance.

And for me, Max Scherzer is probably that leading candidate if you're looking at performance.

But with how much John Schneider in the clubhouse likes Max Scherzer, I would not be surprised

if they went a separate way and just kept Max Scherzer in the clubhouse just as unk and

as a guy that has the Hall of Fame career.

And maybe he can help some guys in specific situations.

We saw Max Scherzer yell at John Schneider in the playoff slasher.

Are you sure it's like a like thing or like we're scared shitless of what he would do?

I'm told I'm coming to the office and I'm cutting your ass.

Yeah, he's going to kill somebody in the office.

As he's as he's chucking seeds at his face, he's trying to

He's doing this.

As soon as he shows up his side, John Schneider was very vocal saying that he's super happy

to have him back.

One of the favorite guys that he's ever managed.

If that comes with a little bit of fear, I mean, maybe John Schneider likes that.

He likes to get out of bed for, you know, to have a little bit of anticipation when he's going to the mound.

John Schneider's paralysis demon is Max Scherzer in the World Series.

I mad Carter, you took the words right out of my mouth.

And the only other thing I was going to say is that like there's like several avenues to how this could happen.

Obviously he's turning 42 could be injury.

And I think whether the J's are very good, they add and he's getting shipped out or they're very bad.

And he's getting shipped out to bolster someone's rotation.

I think there's just a bunch of ways this could happen.

Peter's for Justin Verlander incoming.

Oh my God.

Well, he only throws no hitters in Toronto.

So I guess it'd be a good idea.

Peter's mean you don't disagree on much, but I'm disagreeing with you on this one.

I think Max Scherzer is going to be on this team because if they make the playoffs,

you can bet your ass he's taking the hill at some point.

Yeah. Okay.

So last year the rotation was worse and he didn't, he wasn't on the Yale DS roster.

I think you see that.

I think they saw the what he can bring in a playoff situation.

Yeah.

And now I think that him coming into the year healthy as long as he stays healthy.

If he goes down at some point, I could totally jump on your your boat here.

But I think if he is healthy at that point, I think you take the pedigree.

And even if it is for instead of like the random bullpen game or two inning, two inning,

two inning, blah, blah, blah, blah, you just go Max Scherzer instead.

And that's not keeping an extra guy.

But I could see him in that position in a playoff spot, but over barrios,

over-lower potentially ponds.

I'm interested to see sort of how his season is.

But in a playoff situation, do you go with the guy that has done it a million times before

or do you take a shot on maybe somebody that's iffy?

I think if you're looking for one guy to step up in that moment as a pitcher, at this point,

it's Max.

He did it last year.

Some of this is also asset, Max.

Yeah, he does have a zero ERA in the spring.

Yes, well from his two-starth.

They were pretty like unbelievable stars.

Don't get me wrong.

What do you want?

Like you can get rocked.

We've seen that from him too.

The issue is there's a lot of ifs here, and that's my biggest thing.

With a 41-year-old pitcher, if he even is healthy at the end of the year, again, I'll

go more with the ifs here.

If you have the starting pitcher, Shane Bieber, Treyis Savage, healthy, I'm more willing,

even with the pedigree that Max Scherzer has, to start Treyis Savage, to start Shane Bieber.

Yes, if it's the decision of Eric Lauer, Jose Barrios.

Yes, we'll have to see what the performances are like, but I think if you're looking at

some of these younger guys that are definitely more in their primes than Max Scherzer is,

I would be more prone to lean that way compared to just Treyi Max Scherzer because he is

a sure-fired Hall of Fame.

Mike drop on that one, I guess, ain't it, what else?

I was basically down, but it's tough.

It's tough going forth because you guys say everything that's need to be said, but I kind

of agree with both sides.

I mean, there's a lot of ifs, you got to look at his health, you got to look at the health

of the staff.

I think those are variables that you need to consider.

Also, if he is not on the roster, I agree with Braden, or maybe it was Carter, one of

these sort of, one of you said that he would be, he'll be a part of this team.

It could be, he could be having a phantom thumb injury and they just keep him around to

be a pitching whisperer or something like that.

This team loves him, we love him, I love him, and I think he's going to be a part of

this squad in some capacity for the whole season.

I said if he played two seasons as a blue J, I could consider him extras or blue J's

uniform.

So he takes the hill here on what is it going to be Tuesday of opening week, then it's

officially in play.

It'll be considered.

Yeah, you're getting it shipped from MLB.com or MLBstore.com or whatever.

Yeah, and then I'll have to send it right back because they're going to cut his ass as

soon as I get it.

Maybe the box.

That would happen.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I got Kevin Gosman will lead the majors and innings pitch this year.

I think he would have 190 something last year and over the past five seasons he's thrown

over 170.

He's been there guy.

He's been the workhorse, so I think he's going to lead in that category this year and all

of the majors.

Does anyone want to kick at the can of that one?

I have some stuff to say, but I've been going.

All that somebody else take this one to start off.

Peters is currently eating, so I will take this one.

That's great.

Thanks, Peters.

This is a radio guy here.

I'm going to go with, I think he will be up there and I think he will have innings.

I don't know if we get the Kevin Gosman from last year.

That's my only worry.

I don't think he leads it.

I think as a hot take, it's okay, but I don't think he pitches that many innings.

I think he will do still do good and it'll be fine.

I don't think he's going to be the number one pitcher on the J's though and really I think

he will stay healthy.

I just don't see it.

I don't see him getting those six, seven, eight inning games out as much as past.

I think he's going to be a five inning, six inning guy, more so.

I think Kevin Gosman could, you know, he'll be probably in the top five.

What do you need?

210?

To like, probably.

He was 193.

He was 193.

I think last year, he was fourth or fifth.

Right.

He didn't miss the start last year.

I don't think at all.

Right.

So like, he didn't even like bump a schedule to start for him for fatigue or anything.

Maybe there was one in September, but it was it was Web who let it last year.

I believe it.

Seven.

I think.

Yeah.

Usually it's around the 200 mark and you get, you know, you're going to be in that conversation.

So I think it's possible.

I just think, like you said, Dale earlier, like the, the bullpen is probably more reliable

or it seems more reliable than it was last year.

Like, you're not going to have as many qualms going to some guys as you would have, especially,

you know, if, say, Mac Sherser in the game before Kevin Gosman start, you know, it doesn't

do well.

And they have to use a bunch of, you know, mid to high leverage arms.

There's still a lot of guys that are probably going to be counted on.

So that's probably one thing working against all these stars, favor, and the fact that

they have like seven or eight guys that can start.

Yeah.

I don't think there's going to be any concern from John Schneider about bumping a scheduled

start here and there for these guys.

Like, this is an older rotation.

And obviously now we know that this team is, you know, good enough to probably get to

the ALCS of the World Series.

And they're going to keep that in mind as they kind of go forth throughout the season.

So not because they're ending Kevin Gosman does who doesn't do it.

I just don't think it's in the cards for the, for the jazze and it's probably a good

thing.

It's not sure.

And when I was saying about the five, six innings things, that's exactly it.

Why would you now not turn things over to a bullpen you trust if you do instead of, hey,

we need an extra inning out of Kevin Gosman because we only have one guy in the pen right

now that we can trust.

So yeah, I think your nail in the head, Scott.

I am kind of on the other side.

Like in some cases, I think with Kevin Gosman, like the five, six, anything, I don't

think there's going to be an innings element based off that.

I think if Kevin Gosman's cooking, you're going to let him cook whether it's five innings,

seven innings.

If Kevin Gosman's pitching good that game, not just going to take him out to manage Kevin

Gosman's innings at this point.

No, it's not about it.

It's not about management, though.

It's just about like if he's at 90 pitches through six innings and he's having an okay

start, probably not going to bother just don't go over that.

Yeah, I completely agree with that.

But I think there is one thing we're missing here in terms of just with Kevin Gosman.

Big part of it is the roster construction.

The other thing is the Blue Jays went to the World Series last year.

There's 30.2 innings pitched from Kevin Gosman that he's not accustomed to pitching for.

So that added up is 223.2 innings pitch.

That's the most of Kevin Gosman's career with the roster construction and with the innings

pitch last year, would you want to kind of overfeed that hand, especially early on the

season and with that roster construction, I think the Toronto Blue Jays are in a very

good spot where they don't have to rely on Kevin Gosman to throw 190 innings.

I expect them to be a little bit more lenient with Gosman.

I think he will be around like that still 175 to 180 mark.

But I can't really see him touching the 190 200 based off the roster construction.

Just how much he threw last season.

Well, it's an early take boys.

You know what I'm thinking about?

I think that was the first one of the show where nobody was on par with it.

And like Carter said, like how many times have we seen John Schneider take a picture

out when he's shoving and been pissed about?

Yeah, you know, so I think that's going to happen to Kevin Gosman.

You got to keep him in.

If he's shoving, I think it's a little bit more this year.

Yeah, like he's very visible when Max does it.

But I think Kevin's like got acquired intensity like almost like a dug out intensity.

Like I'm pretty sure John feels, you know, what Kevin is probably thinking in those moments,

especially I think he's the longest senior guy on this on this pitch.

Now, so Carter, let's kick things off back to you.

Yeah, I'm going to breeze through this one because I know we are going to go pretty long on this episode.

So I won't spend too much time on my topic here.

But I have another one of the Toronto, Louis J starting pictures, not one that has been brought up.

And his name is Treyas Savage.

I get there is some innings limits to start the season.

But I'm looking at this from the rookie of the year vote aspect.

I think Treyas Savage is a prime candidate to win the rookie of the year.

Beanie out, Kazuma, Okamoto, Beanie out, Murakami, Ema, all of these Japanese guys.

And I think even with the innings limit, I think Treyas Savage is going to be very good when he does pitch for the Toronto

Blue Jays.

I think down the stretch, considering the place that I hope the Toronto Blue Jays are in and the Blue Jays need to pitch

Treyas Savage on their better pictures more efficiently and just more often down the stretch.

I think Treyas Savage is in a pretty good spot where he can win the rookie of the year.

I think if he has a low three's ERA around that 10 Ks per nine.

And if he gets to around the 125 innings mark.

I think that's where you're going to see it with Treyas Savage.

Does he pitch enough to win the rookie of the year?

He has to skill for it, but does he have enough innings?

I'm 100% on board.

Give it to me.

Treyas Savage, he's proven that he can strike out the best in the game.

He's proven that he can play.

He can go long innings.

Yeah, am I super worried about him not getting a solid spring?

Yes, a little bit to start things off.

But I think soon as he kicks it in a high gear and gets on more of a daily routine here.

And a scheduled start.

I think he's going to be totally fine.

If he's not top on rookie of the year voting, I would be shocked.

I'm looking right now.

He is at four to one.

And he is closely followed by Kazuma Okamoto at plus four 50.

My early best bet, boys, chased a louder 20 to one for a L rookie of the year.

There's like nine guys ahead of him.

There should not be that many.

Yeah, I don't like that.

I agree with Carter's take.

I had that as well.

I think he's going to win the rookie of the year.

I don't think there's going to be much competition based on what we saw in the post season.

And late last year, I think he's just that guy.

Boys, we're going to take a quick break.

We'll be right back after this.

We're each going to go around once more.

Maybe we'll fire him off a little quicker because we know we're going long on the episode.

But that was what it was going to be when you get these four guys together.

We'll be right back.

Stay with us.

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So, fellas, as we continue on, I understand there are still a lot of hot takes,

but fellas, we are at 39 minutes into this episode.

So, Dow, I'll let you kick things off for segment three.

What do you got for the boys?

I was going to say one about Mac Shares or what we already talked about them.

So, I'll go with this.

I think Dylan Cease is a sion finalist.

We've seen work that Pete Walker has done with pitchers over the year.

I think he helps them tremendously.

And this stuff is just as good as the best of all in my opinion.

Well, Bubba, I brought up the fact when Scott had brought up his Cody Ponds take,

I brought up the Dylan Cease one and I think that that's a great point.

I think you're on the money.

And that leads into my hot take.

So, here's a little two-for-one action with me and Dow.

I think Dylan Cease leads the league in strikeouts this year.

So, me and Dow sort of go hand in hand a little bit here.

What do you guys got to say?

I just don't think for the reasons we just talked about with

the innings for Kevin Gawsman, that the Blue Jays starters will have any

any sort of leaders in any stat, you know, any any good stat.

And not because of something they're like lacking.

I just think it's just the way that this team is kind of constructed.

I just find it hard to believe that, you know, every single,

you know, maybe, and if it is going to be someone's going to be Dylan Cease,

but like, is he going to make every single scheduled start for the Blue Jays?

There's probably not a need to.

You know, especially when you get into June and July,

you know, hopefully this team's in a really good spot.

And they feel like they can, you know, start to keep an eye on September

and the push for the AL East Division title and into the playoffs.

Then, hey, spot, we might miss a start here and there.

And, you know, that's for a guy like Dylan Cease, that's 10Ks.

You're not going to get back.

So, I just find it hard to believe he would, you know,

anyone would lead the league and, you know, strikeouts, innings,

that sort of thing for the Jays this year.

But I do think to say I'm finalist is completely in play.

Yes, the ability to do it.

I think that's where we're at with Dylan Cease.

And we've seen it before.

We saw it in 2022.

For some reason, the even years for Dylan Cease seem to be more fond of him

in terms of the stats.

So, I think he has the ability to, I think, with the Skyler point,

with, yes, the roster construction.

I don't know if he pitches enough innings.

He does have durability on his side.

And with all the uncertainty right now,

you might need a guy that's going to go out there every five days,

especially early on in the season.

So, the ability is there.

But to Dylan's point, I can see the Si Young votes more,

I can see that happening a little bit more easily

than I can see the strikeouts.

Because I think even with the limited innings,

I think if he is productive and he is one of the more efficient

pitchers in all of baseball, he can get the odd Si Young vote.

I don't think any Blue Jays pitcher wins it.

But I could see the odd vote being thrown out

better for a guy like Don Cs.

All right.

Well, Carter, throw us your last one of the day

before we let Peters finish things off.

Because I know he was sort of going cold medium.

And then now he might throw us an absolute fireball

or something in the episode.

So, yeah, Carter, why don't you go ahead?

It's funny, whenever we do these,

I think I have pretty hot takes.

And then I hear some of the ones that come out

and then I realize that maybe mine aren't that hot.

This is probably my worst one.

Or my most lukewarm one out of the three.

And it has to do with Joss Kassovich.

And it has something to do with David Schneider.

I'm a little bit out on David Schneider at this point.

All I have minutes will be in this mix as well.

But the Blue Jays need a middle infielder.

They need some sort of death.

They have all the outfielders in the world.

Joss Kassovich, not obviously for opening day.

But at some point, I think earlier than later,

I can see it being as early as late May.

Joss Kassovich gets called up

to Toronto Blue Jays, Ken Place, Second Base, Third Base,

or Shortstop.

Very reliable defender.

Had a pretty good spring training as well.

So I think Joss Kassovich gets the call up

earlier than we expect this season.

And has an immediate impact.

I absolutely love this guy.

I think he's going to be really good as well.

I 100% agree with you.

And not only do I agree with you,

I agree with you because it only takes one injury

to your infield.

And there's his spot.

As much as I love David Schneider,

again, I think he's a great bench bat.

And we've seen he can do that before.

And that's maybe why what's edging him out

and compares to a guy like E. Le Menez

or Kassovich is they do want to bring Kassovich in

just to be a bench bat?

Not really.

So one injury that you may need a guy

playing majority of the time,

say in a 10 game stretch, maybe you do bring him up.

So yeah, I think he does become a Blue Jay at some point this year.

All right, boys, I will finish this off.

This is kind of a good, I'm happy I'm going last.

This is kind of a wrap around take.

Not just surrounding the Blue Jay's but their division.

I think the Blue Jay's win the AL East any year

that four teams make the playoffs out of this division.

You took mine from last year.

I like it.

I had four teams making it last year

or potentially four teams making it last year.

It's hard to argue this.

There are four really good teams.

The only thing that hinders these four teams

is that they have to play each other a whole heck of a lot.

So do they beat up on each other

or do they beat up on each other enough

where it's back and forth and this team takes two,

this team takes two, this team takes one,

this team takes two.

So yes, if that happens absolutely,

I think that this isn't a crazy take.

I think it's very hard for it to happen ever.

But if there is a year, I think this is the year.

If it does happen,

pray for your local Tampa Bay race fan

because it's going to be a tough year for them.

They're going to be launch meet for these four teams.

But I mean, the Orioles just,

I think they need to play to their potential at some point.

They've done a lot of work to bolster their starting rotation,

which was clear that weakest points over the last couple of years.

Hopefully it all comes together for them.

I wouldn't mind seeing it personally.

The Red Sox look much improved.

And of course, the Yankees are the Yankees

and they're getting their ace back as well

of your cool at some point in the year.

So and unfortunately for Blue Jays fans,

Gert Cole already looks pretty good.

He's throughout putting it up to like 97, 98 already.

So he's going to have an impact at some point this season.

The Yankees are running back the exact same team.

I truly think that the Tampa Bay Rays

are in the driver's seat of deciding how this division goes.

It's not because they're going to be good whatsoever.

It's just how many of the AL East opponents do they beat

and do they have a better record against the Orioles?

Compared to the Blue Jays,

we know how big of a Thorn in the Side

the Rays are for the Toronto Blue Jays.

So I unfortunately can see the Blue Jays losing some games

due to the Tampa Bay Rays just being a huge pain in the butt

for the Toronto Blue Jays.

I think obviously with the roster construction

with how much talent they have,

they'll be in that conversation.

But I'm not going to spoil what I have to say

because we are going to talk about this for tomorrow's episode.

Give our division winners, give who makes the playoffs.

I think we'll all be sort of similar

in who we have making the playoffs

and who we have winning the division,

but it will be some availability for some different answers

from all of us as these hot takes have kind of been

all over the place as well.

So I think the Blue Jays are in it.

I think the Orioles are in it.

They're at socks, the Yankees.

If you have the Tampa Bay Rays,

I don't know what you're on

and I would be curious to see what is going on inside your head.

But hey, hot takes are hot takes for a reason.

There's somebody out there probably the Rays guy

and walked on Rays.

Maybe he has the Tampa Bay Rays anywhere.

No, listen, I can't see what happened.

He doesn't have what he doesn't.

I did the AL preview of them.

He sees somebody better check tall buildings for this guy

because who knows what's going on.

There aren't any in Tampa.

As always, everybody.

Thanks so much for tuning in.

Again, the Bull predictions episode coming tomorrow.

You can follow us on Twitter,

break and five.

You also go Carter first to Skylar A Peters.

Dallin Wilton and on our main Twitter account,

at Lockdown Jays.

Hit the subscribe if you haven't already

and we'll be back with you all tomorrow.

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