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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 43m

The Blue Jays don't have a better matchup for Judge than Dominguez, so why use that bullet with no one on and one out in the third?

Judge will probably come up in a bigger spot later, and Toronto will have to lean on a less trustworthy pitcher in that moment.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 58m

Mason Fluharty got about as little of the strike zone as humanly possible on that K of Volpe... but that is a strike.

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Reposted by Nick Ashbourne

Stoeten @stoeten.bsky.social · 20h

Sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear, well, he eats you.

Here's tonight's reaction show for @nickashbourne.bsky.social and my Patreon crew, after a demoralizing loss to the Yankees that nevertheless probably deserves a little less doomsaying than it's received.

PLAYOFF INSTANT REACTION: Jays 6 - Yankees 9 (ALDS Game Three) | Blue Jays Happy Hour

www.patreon.com

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 12h

I think a lot of folks are treating Game 4 as an inevitable NYY win, but while they have the edge, FanGraphs sees it as essentially a coin flip.

As intimidating as Cam Schlittler seems, it's worth remembering the Blue Jays have scored 6 runs against him in 6.2 IP this season.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 22h

George Springer may have an extremely high comfort level at DH and some dicey defensive metrics (in a small sample) this year, but it's probably time for him to grab his glove.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 22h

That's not an error from Vladdy, but it's a play he should make, which means 3 Yankees runs are directly attributable to defensive miscues.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 22h

There are (at least) 30 outs left in this game. Somehow.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 23h

Getting Shane Bieber out is the right call. It was all hard contact out there (98.8 mph on average), and Ryan McMahon didn't miss a HR by much in his first AB.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 23h

Aaron Boone has already burned his starter and two challenges here in the third inning.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 23h

Coming into tonight, Carlos Rodon hadn't gone fewer than 5 innings or given up more than 3 runs in 11 straight outings, with 9 quality starts.

The Blue Jays scored 6 runs off of him in 2.2 IP.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 23h

The intentional walk to Vladdy was arguably the right call, but it officially backfired when he crossed the plate to give the Blue Jays a 3-run edge.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 1d

If the way the ALDS has gone so far is any indication, IKF will probably hit a 3-run HR in this inning.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 1d

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has driven in as many runs as the entire Yankees lineup in the series (8).

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 1d

Before the ALDS opened, @stoeten.bsky.social and I did an unlikely playoff heroes draft over on Patreon (but free to anyone): www.patreon.com/posts/193b-u...

Early results (based on Yahoo Fantasy Points - truly the best way to judge playoff heroes):

Nick: 60.2

Stoeten: 17.7

193b. The Unlikely Playoff Hero Draft! | Blue Jays Happy Hour

www.patreon.com

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Reposted by Nick Ashbourne

Stoeten @stoeten.bsky.social · 2d

And don't forget that we've expanded our coverage for the playoffs over at Patreon where not only will you get ad-free versions of our main show, but a weekly bonus episode, and my instant-reaction post-game mini episodes throughout the Jays' run!

Patreon is empowering a new generation of creators. Support and engage with artists and creators as they live out their passions!

www.patreon.com

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 2d

Blue Jays Happy Hour began in 2021, and there has never been a more positive vibe check.

Stoeten @stoeten.bsky.social · 2d

Daulton Varsho had one of the greatest playoff games in baseball history on Sunday, and somehow it’s, like, the third or fourth thing @nickashbourne.bsky.social and I needed to talk about after a truly unbelievable weekend of Jays playoff baseball against the Yankees.

Have a listen! 👇

🎧BJHH: 194 - Living in a Fever Dream

Bahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha (Plus some housekeeping)

stoeten.substack.com

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 2d

Really interesting piece on how Trey Yesavage's meteoric rise is emblematic of a wider trend of draft picks making an MLB impact quicker in recent years:
www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-...

MLB Draft Picks Are Reaching The Majors Faster Than Ever

A wave of recent MLB draft picks—led by Trey Yesavage, Paul Skenes and Nick Kurtz—is redefining player development timelines.

www.baseballamerica.com

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

After nearly a decade without a playoff win, the Blue Jays have stacked up two decisive victories.

The Yankees were favoured in this series, and now they're down 2-0 and don't have an answer for Toronto's lineup right now.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

Things got really messy for the low-leverage crew there. An off day tomorrow will allow John Schneider to call on anyone and everyone to end the headache, though.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

It's impossible to know what the future looks like for Trey Yesavage, but this start will be remembered and talked about for a long, long time.

There will be some level of forgotten details and hyperbole like there always is, but honestly, that dominance doesn't leave much room for exaggeration.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

George Springer is now tied for 5th on the all-time playoff HR list (20).

Only Manny Ramirez, Jose Altuve, Bernie Williams, and Kyle Schwarber have hit more.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

Right you are... just a single and triple short. Basically there.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

Extremely advanced statistical comparison of the Blue Jays and Yankees lineups through 13 innings:

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

One criticism of the Vladdy era is that he hasn't had a signature moment.

That moment is probably yet to come, but the first grand slam in Blue Jays history is a good placeholder.

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Nick Ashbourne @nickashbourne.bsky.social · 3d

I think we can all agree the biggest story of this ballgame is that Daulton Varsho is a single short of the cycle...

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