I understand what you’re trying to say, that the front office can’t listen to the fans on every issue. They can’t keep Reed Johnson because he has grit and they can’t start Johnny Mac 162 games a year just because he’s fun to watch. That doesn’t mean the fans have no effect. I’ll also point out that Bob in #12 seemed to be talking about JP’s job, not the players jobs.

Nothing is above the fans because nothing is above money. Every decision that Bud Selig, Ted Rogers, Tony Viner, or JP Ricciardi makes is going to be influenced by money. Money that comes from the fans, and the fans only. MLB does not inherently create anything of value. They’re not out there building homes or growing vegetables, they’re creating a product of entertainment. Unlike food and shelter, people don’t need to purchase entertainment. When they do purchase entertainment, or allow entertainment to be funded through advertising by spending time on the product, we call them “fans”.

People have generally agreed(yourself included I believe) that it’s not Paul Godfrey’s job to build a winner, it’s his job to create revenue and gain exposure for Rogers. We also know that stretches down to JP in at least some ways. JP obviously wants to build a winner and that’s his main focus, but whether he likes it or not every decision he makes is pressured by public opinion because it has to go through Paul Godfrey. If he wants to release Brad Wilkerson, that’s one thing. If he wants to trade Roy Halladay, that’s another.

Whether it’s Halladay’s job, JP’s job, or Cito Gaston’s job, the decisions are based on how many fans are likely to show up. If that wasn’t the case, Ted Rogers would get his best friend to take over the Jays and it wouldn’t matter if the Jays drew 200 fans to every game instead of 20,000. So if the fans decide with their wallets that they don’t want JP to be the GM anymore, then JP won’t be the GM anymore. There’s obviously many things that go into whether a fan buys a ticket, but their confidence in their GM to field a winning team is a factor, and if it gets to the point where the majority of fans despise the man and have zero confidence in him, it will show at the box office.

In short, I’m mostly just echoing what Blair has said, that it’s a consumer confidence issue. To say that “the fans’ perception has NOTHING to do with whether or not someone keeps his job.” is absolutely absurd.

MW: I respectfully disagree. You’re right that if the Dome was empty, heads would roll, but that’s not going to happen. So long as the Jays continue to have winning seasons, continue to be able to sell hope in the winter and continue to see gains or at least no drop-offs in attendance, the Rogers muckety-mucks have no reason to make changes at the top.

MW: Says who?

It was finally nice to hear Bluejay Broadcasters say what I have been saying all along, that the way to GM a ball club is to pattern themselves after the Athletics and Twins , keep dealing veteran aging players for young studs. Trading Roy Halladay is NOT a fantasy baseball mentality as you had stated on one of your shows, it is a shrewd, prudent decision. After all, the players the Jays could get back for Roy would make this organization instant contenders. But this is Toronto and the fans would rather have aging celebrities than being successful.

MW: Trading Roy Halladay would not make the Jays instant contenders. It’s a shrewd, prudent decision to trade Halladay after the 2009 season if the team is going nowhere, but not now.

No, but he weighs more than a duck.

Funny how Graziano and Stark have heard completely opposite things on Halladay.

“Sorry, I fell asleep in the middle of that novella.”

Still not sure why someone who has one of the most amazing jobs out there feels the need to take shots like this when performing said job. If someone finds it funny, that’s cool, but to me it’s just rude.

Of all the ridiculous things you’ve said, and you’ve said a lot(as everyone does, including myself), that is by far the most dumbfounding thing I’ve ever heard you say.

MW: Sorry about that. But it’s true. If front offices listened to the fans on personnel matters, there would be chaos.

MW: Yes, and a member of the umpiring crew has to stay, but he can sit in the dugout.

Despite his pitching woes, I feel Litsch had become a bit “non-chalant” as to his approach to the game. I state this based only on what I have seen of him in the dugout and on the “08 Jays” show at the break. Seems a bit too relaxed and comfortable with his position on an MLB club! Maybe he was thinking he has it made already - who knows.

Further to that, he pitches much, much better with less weight - he came up in 2007 at 195 lbs and is presently showing at 215 lbs. That’s a 20 lb difference - a huge difference for a guy of his build and an even bigger burden (I feel) on him as a pitcher. Guys like, AJ or BJ carry that kind of weight well - not a Jesse Litsch - he shows it as being a bit too “pudgy”.

Just my opinion - and I hope he knows what it is he has to work out. I’m sure, I hope this is a wake up call for the young man and he comes back to his form. I for one, don’t think he pitched way over his head in 2007 as some have said. He has good stuff and good control. Get the two seamer working, loose a few pounds, then, look out!

All the best to you Jesse - you will be back and likely be much more appreciative of playing in the “bigs”!

Take care.

MW: Thome and Giambi are free agents, Dye isn’t.