11:40 AM Eastern
In a sense, it’s hard to believe that the Jays hadn’t swept a series since they went to Philly in the middle of June (the series that featured Marco Scutaro’s great steal of second on a walk), but in another sense, it’s not - seeing as the Blue Jays have been the worst team in the American League since then.
Still, it was nice to see them sweep the Orioles out of town, and in so doing assuring themselves of a winning record at home this year - one more highlight in what’s been a lost season in an overall sense.
The lack of interest continues, of course, mostly due to directional wheel-spinning. No one is going to get excited about anything until somebody upstairs tells us how they want to go about putting together a team for 2010 and beyond. There are plenty of rumours flying around, and we’ve touched on the idea that payroll may be raised, but the question is what to do with a raised payroll - spend it on free agents who are on the wrong side of 30 or use it to greater benefit? Tonight - prior to a weekend that will lack bloggage - I’ll take a deeper look into what the Jays could do beyond the Figgins/Hudson/Bay postulate.
For now, here’s last night’s edition of The JaysTalk for your listening pleasure:
Tonight - the beginning of Ken Griffey, Jr.’s last appearance at Rogers Centre! Tomorrow night - a good chance of it being Roy Halladay’s last home start as a Blue Jay!
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome.
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Nice to get a sweep but the orioles mailed it in.
- marcThose calling for JP’s firing might want to consider what what happens if and when the next GM falls on his face. Apathy will turn to dispair in toronto. I say, keep JP, go with the kids, get the best deal possible for Doc including a shortstop with speed, two good young arms and go with kids next year.
Face it Toronto…if you can’t buy a team, you build one from the ground up.
What would Snider’s numbers be stretched out over a typical season of ABs? I realize the batting average would suck, but kind of intrigued as to what the other stats would say.
MW: That’s pretty easy math, you don’t need me for that! But I’m in a generous mood. Using stats into Thursday’s game, Snider’s numbers pro-rate to 22 homers, 60 RBIs, 27 doubles, 70 runs scored, 60 walks, 174 strikeouts and, of course, a line of .237/.325/.420.
- Aaron KerHey Mike,
A little Rays talk if you don’t mind. The difference in records between this year’s team and last year’s make me wonder which team is more reflective of the actual talent level of the ball club. If I’m not mistaken, most of the same players are still on the team. What are your thoughts?
MW: The truth lies somewhere in the middle, of course. I think they’re a very good team, but certainly not a great team. The problem, of course, is that in the A.L. East you have to be great and you have to have a lot of luck. Last year, the Rays (heh heh) knew how to win one-run games - this year, with the same cast of characters, basically, they have lost that knowledge.
- GrahamI listen to Jays
Talk as often as I can. It’s a great show. I wonder if you can answer the following….Given that Johnny Mac is one of best fielding shortstop’s in baseball,Why is it so difficult for him to hit?? He has to have extrodinary ey-hand co-ordination and he has arguably the two best hitting instructors around. Is it really that much different between fielding the ball and hitting same??
Thanks.
Grant
MW: Yes, yes there is.
- Grant GullandI wish to all the Gods that I wasen’t on afternoons this week, or I would be down at the dome to watch two of my favourite players, Ken Griffey Jr. and Roy Halladay.
If less than 22500 show up for Friday’s game, I would not be shocked if someone on the Blue Jays staff chastised the fans for poor attendance.
Let’s be honest, 22500 is a terrible crowd for a game of this stature, but the poeple seem to have forgotten the Jays in this area.
If that fans really are fans, like me, and have the opportunity to go to this game, they should be there in droves. If not, thakns for the momories Doc, but it seems like no one cares about you anymore.
MW: I don’t think it’s Halladay specifically, I just don’t think too many people care about the Blue Jays anymore.
- T.J.Hey Mike,
Let’s say without adding any additions next year, How is this lineup?
Scutaro, SS
Hill, 2B
Lind, LF
Wells, CF
Overbay,1B
Snider, RF
Encarnacion, 3B
Ruiz, DH
Barajas, C
Doesn’t look so bad on paper now does it?..and I am pretty hopeful that Wells will certainly bounce back from this awful campaign.
And another question: What happened to Mcgowan, Marcum and Litch….Were they supposed to be gone for this long?
MW: It certainly hasn’t been that good a line-up on the field this year, though I think Wells will bounce back, too. Litsch isn’t even allowed to pick up a baseball until next month, so yes, he’s supposed to be out this long - likely until the all-star break next year, at least. They’d hoped Marcum could be back this month, but there’s no reason to do that (and he tweaked his back a couple of months back), and McGowan has been a moving target all season, but he seems to be doing pretty well right now.
- TaneI was just looking at that scenario. I don’t necessarily think that Hudson’s a good fit because Hill is at 2B. Maybe you train Hill to be a SS or 3B… But a fantastic player to reacquire…
I was looking at the lineup from a standpoint of acquiring both Jason Bay and Chone Figgins. For this year, Chone is only batting .236 vs LHP and you hope that it’s an anomaly because he was pretty much even against LHP and RHP in ‘08 and ‘07. Bay is just fantastic. Both will be very expensive.
So I was looking at a new lineup assuming that they acquire Figgins and Bay and get rid of Encarnacion, Millar, and Johnny Mac or Scutaro. With Scutaro’s heel hurt, he may be lesser of a commodity in the off-season.
Against RHP:
3B Figgins / 2B Hill / LF Bay / DH Lind / CF Wells / 1B Overbay / C Chavez / RF Snider / SS Scutaro/Macdonald
Against LHP:
3B Figgins / 2B Hill / LF Bay / RF Lind / CF Wells / 1B Ruiz / C Barahas / DH Ruiz/Snider/Bautista / SS MacDonald/Scutaro
The Jays probably need one more player to hit LHP. Bautista now hits LHP very well (OPS .858). So maybe he is kept.
Or you could argue they need a couple of more LH batters to hit RHP. The problem is there is only one LH hitter who can hit LHP and that is Adam Lind. The Jays woes late in the game is that the opposition will start a RHP and the Jays will put in Snider, Overbay, and Inglett. Then late in the game they put in a LHP and these player don’t hit them. I have seen many games recently when they’ve done that to Overbay and Cito doesn’t replace him. Or maybe Snider will work out his mechanics and become an everyday OF.
I think that for daily play if the Jays can afford Scutaro they should probably re-sign him.
If the Jays go ahead and extend payroll 20 million next year, I think you’d be looking at spending about 9 million for Bay and 6 million for Figgins. Both are all stars at the zenith of their careers and I think teams will be jumping to sign them. You would spend the rest of the money to resign your players that you want to keep including a couple of pitchers.
MW: There’s not a chance that Bay comes here for $9 million a season. I also have trouble with Raul Chavez hitting 7th against righties. I would switch things around quite a bit in those line-ups. And Adam Lind doesn’t play right field for me.
- TimThat’s a little presumptuous to assume that Griffey won’t play again next year!
Also, right after the Vernon in Wellesley (Sp?) call, you missed the name of the very next guy - Frank in St. Thomas haha
MW: Why is it presumptuous? He’ll be 40 next season, he’s on a one-year contract and he’s having a terrible year. I got the Frank in St. Thomas thing.
- BrendanThe message ownership will hopefully get from dwindling attendance is that they cannot just stand pat any longer.
With that said it doesn’t make sense to go out and spend willy nilly. Free agency isn’t the only way to acquire payroll. Make some trades from areas of strength or with teams looking to shed payroll. Concentrate on filling needs without picking at the scrap heap (I’m looking at you Kevin Millar). Money should have been spent on the draft picks but nothing can be done about that now.
Above all else Ricciardi and Cito need to go. Like a lot of people I don’t even necessarily think JP has done that bad a job, no worse than average anyways and perhaps slightly better when you consider the bevy of young arms that have been stockpiled. However I think it will be nigh unto impossible to sell the team to fans if he is still around.
Cito needs to go as well. The current edition of the Jays just doesn’t play to his strong suits as a manager. He’s more of a Joe Torre type in my mind. Good manager on a good team because he can make a clubhouse with a lot of different egos work. The current Jays need somebody who is strong on in game management because with the slim margin for error that exists, it seems like every little mistake or non-move comes back and bites you in ass.
On an unrelated note, what do you think would be the chances of the Jays actually owning their own AAA affiliate and operating it out of one of the larger centres in Ontario, or somewhere else in Canada, say Ottawa, Calgary, or Vancouver for instance. I know its kind of the hockey model with AHL teams, but I think it might be beneficial for in growing the fan base outside of the GTA, especially if the team were to be outside of Ontario. Is there any rules prohibiting a MLB owner from also owning a AAA team?
MW: I don’t see the Jays as having stood pat too terribly much in the recent past. As for the AAA thing, I’m sure the Jays would much rather have their top farm club in Ottawa than in Las Vegas. I don’t think there are any rules prohibiting major-league teams from owning their own affiliate, but the Jays would have to find one that’s for sale.
- Sean in LethbridgeHi Mike,
What are the chances of trading Wells and Halladay to the Indians (or any other Central team) for their spot in the Central division?
Now the season is over, I thought I’d have some fun. What are the chances of either a balanced schedule or a dissolution of the divisions? Whoever becomes president should start a campaign with MLB and other owners. The balanced schedule seems at least a bit possible. Other teams might enjoy playing the Yanks and Sox more for gate revenue. Yanks and Sox might like not playing each other all the time.
MW: Whether the Yanks and Sox like playing each other or not, ESPN loves it. But yes, whoever becomes the Jays’ new president should spend a lot of time lobbying for the dissolution of the divisions and a balanced schedule. I would say the odds against it are very long, though.
- MichaelWilner,
Do you foresee J.P. pulling a Grunwald and apologizing for the brutal season to the fans at the end of the home stand? If not, do you think he or anyone else within the organization should? What’s it going to take to win back the fans? Also, how much do you think perception matters? What I mean is that you see the Leafs and the Raptors dramatically change their roster in efforts to make the playoffs. The moves may not ultimately help, but at least it’s built some new found interest in the respective teams (not that the Leafs need it, but definitley for the Raptors). Do you think the Jays need to make major changes for the sake of making change?
MW: I don’t think anyone is going to “pull a Grunwald”, no. It’s been a brutal season, but what’s the apology - “sorry we’re only going to win 73 games when most experts said we’d win 75″? I think perception matters a lot, and I don’t think it matters at all. You’re right about the Leafs and Raptors and how the perception of the two teams has changed with their off-season moves (though the same could have been said of the Raptors last summer, too) - but like you said, they’re making “efforts to make the playoffs”. In hockey and basketball, if you don’t make the playoffs, you’re awful. In baseball, multiple good teams miss the playoffs every year.
- BobbyJ.J. Hardy is allegedly going to get shiiped out this winter. Would he not be a good fit? 2009 was a write-off, but he had 4.9 and 4.5 WAR the two previous seasons. He’s only 25 and controlled to 2011. He makes like $6M. I’d take him over a 33-year-old one-year-wonder that’s about to get way way overpaid by somebody. Come on JP, go get Hardy!
MW: You’re preaching to the choir.
- edMike…A guy walks down the road wearing a Cubs #14 with Banks on the back or #23 with Sandberg on the back, and people say there goes a throwback/diehard/old school fan..The same guy the next day wears a Leaf jersey with #7 with Horton on the back or #17 with Wendel on the back and he’s called a loser. (not by everyone, but you get the gist of it) I don’t know if that’s your mindset Mike, but why is it some people’s?..If futility = non-championships, then 101 is greater than 43, at least it was at the schools I went to.
- chris m.Mike:
With King Felix (16 - 5) going for Seattle tonight, what do you think is the likelihood of a ‘decent’ crowd (say, 15,000+)
- Mel
MW: Not especially good. Since when has the opposing pitcher mattered for crowds in Toronto?
- MelMike,
What do you make of this entry from Keith Law’s latest chat:
“It sounds like around $300-$400K extra would have gotten both Eliopoulos and Paxton done, maybe a touch more, but not much. I can’t tell you whom to blame, because the stories I’ve heard vary, although it does sound like there was a late philosophical shift back to adhering to slot.”
I like Law as an analyst, and he seems to have his info on pretty solid ground most of the time…
MW: That’s nothing new.
- Kevin A.Mike, This seems a good opportunity to thank you for all your work on this blog this past year. It has been a bright spot in a disappojnting season. I’d be grateful if you’d pass on my appreciation to Jerry (whose voice I’ve enjoyed, no matter what it reported, for three decades) and to Alan (whose understated critical comments are especially welcome).
MW: Thank you!
- Mark GoldenHey Michael
Can you give an estimate on how many baseballs the MLB goes through in a game?
MW: Lots.
- Brent from SarniaRead an interesting stat today: Pittsburgh Pirates are 7-1 when they have more than 30 000 fans. Any idea of that compares with other teams in the league. AND WOW,only 3000 of the estimated 15 000 reached the Pirates gamedue to the G20 summit, WOW.
- VinceMike,
can you explain to me why Randy Ruiz didn’t pinch hit for either chavez or Johnny Mac in the bottom of the 9th?
This is just way too frustrating..
I think Cito is costing us too many games this year.
MW: I can’t explain that. But it’s important to note that didn’t cost the Jays the game, it just cost them their best chance to win the game.
- jayI think it’s presumptuous because if Griffey decides he wants to return, I think the Mariners might take care of him for one more year. Their GM certainly sounds like he’d do it if Griffey asks to return.
MW: I wouldn’t.
- BrendanHey Mike,
I just heard you mention Harold Baines’ name to a caller and it got me thinking…Will Harold Baines ever get into the Hall of Fame?? …He had a 22 year career and has over 2,800 career hits…I know he wasn’t a flashy player by any means, but his numbers warrant some big time consideration in my opinion.
MW: I don’t think Harold will ever make it. He was a very, very good hitter, but was he an all-time great?
- Bernard Singhwho’s best suited for a brawl on the current jays roster?
MW: I think Barajas showed pretty well in New York.
- TheSunkenZealotHello Mike.
I think the world of Jerry Howorth, but he did it again tonight (as have many other sportscasters for a very long time). But it’s just plain wrong.
Jerry was talking about Seattle’s record last year, saying something to the effect that the Mariners were 40 games below 500 last year.
Please let me explain. If a complete season has been played, a 0.500 season means and equal number of wins and losses: 81 wins/81 losses. To be quite correct, 40 games below 500 would be a record of 41 wins (40 fewer wins than 81) and 121 losses.
But that wasn’t Seattle’s record last year - it was 61 wins and 101 losses. The “gap” between wins and losses is 40 games but gaps have nothing to do with a 500 season record.
Better to say, Seattle’s record last year was 20 games below 500, ie 61 wins.
However, this mistake in mathematical description is so pervasive, I doubt it will ever be corrected.
If you have a chance, ask Jerry what he thinks of this.
Thanks Mike.
MW: You’re picking nits here, but if you change the semantics in your head you might become less frustrated. Think about it this way - when a team is, say 50-100, it needs 50 wins to reach the break-even mark and is, therefore, 50 games under .500. Think future instead of past. Not that they would be at the break-even point if they’d won 25 of the previous games they lost. Both are true, but the former has become the accepted usage since the math is easier.
- kenl77Hey Mike, I noticed that Vernon Wells is standing more upright in his stance at the plate. I started noticing it about the same time he began hitting the ball again a few weeks ago. Is there any chance you can verify this with the Vernon or the coaching staff.
It seemed like earlier in the year, Rios and him were both feeding off each other and trying hit out of a riduculous squatting stance. Perhaps with Rios gone he’ll regain his balance at the plate and start driving the ball again.
MW: I never saw Wells hitting out of a ridiculous squat.
- DwayneHi Mike
I am a faithful reader of this blog and enjoy the yearlong interest in all things Jays. I’m a cup half full kind of guy so it can get a bit discouraging, but I guess this season has been, really.
I have to agree that Rogers (or failing that, Jim Balsillie!) needs to boost the payroll. Having said that, have to agree with (Beeston?) that the boost needs to come from identifying those players that could help the team and are available.
Also, saw you comment that BA isn’t the most important stat to rate a player’s hitting ability. Having grown up reading about baseball and placing great importance on BA, RBI, wins and ERA I was wondering what those stats you feel are the most revealing.
Keep up the good work, and let’s keep our fingers crossed that the Jays can generate some excitement over the off season!!
MW: That would be nice - and thanks for the kind words. Batting average really doesn’t tell you anything about a hitter, on-base percentage and slugging percentage (taken on their own, not necessarily combined) tell you much, much, much more. Hitters really don’t have a lot of control over their RBIs and pitchers have almost no control over their wins - so you’re looking at the wrong stuff. I like WHIP for pitchers, but a lot of statsier-folk than me don’t like that at all.
- Todd RiversThis is a quote from Shi Davidi. I completely agree with it.
“So that means either loading up, or rebuilding, since staying in the middle ground is what kills franchises. Indecision does that too, and there’s plenty of that up and down the organization, starting with the seemingly endless search for a permanent president and CEO to the status of the GM, who has already taken both courses of action with the Blue Jays.”
If there’s one thing that has exhausted me even more than Ricciardi’s antics and the completely dreadful seasons had by two premier and expensive hitters, it’s the indecision and the mixed messages coming from the team and the ownership. As you know, I’m all for corporate honchos being careful what they say. But owners don’t have to watch their words quite as much as employers do. So far I’ve heard nothing but vaguely worded ‘yes, yes, the Jays are important to us’ cliches from Rogers. Meanwhile attendance at the RC is lower than I’ve ever seen in in the last three games I went to. I know that revenues are up there even though seat sales are down. However revenues will plummet if seat sales continue to drop. There aren’t enough premier rock concerts and Big Wheels shows to bolster a season’s worth of tiny baseball audiences.
As Davidi says, either the Jays rebuild or they retool, but they have to make it clear to the fans that they have a plan in mind. Ricciardi isn’t the only person twisting in the wind right about now. Idiots like me who spend a lot of money on season tix are beginning to feel the rope around our necks and the breeze kicking up. I’ll be writing my cheque in October. I won’t be giving up my seats. But I wish I thought that Rogers cared as much for the Jays as we long-suffering season-ticket holders do. I’m getting Interbrew vibes off them, and that isn’t a comfortable feeling.
MW: I think the Interbrew vibes are as a result of a lot of baseless fear-mongering that’s been in the media ever since Ted Rogers died - I really don’t think there’s any basis to it. I prefer to think of it as a remodel, but the Blue Jays do have to decide to do something.
- isabella reyes…followup
Attendence 15,306…likely the Ichiro factor, not to see the best pitcher in the AL this year.
- MelHi Mike,
re: Post 21 - I think it’s too bad that Harold Baines prob. won’t ever make it into the Hall of Fame…he was a model of consistency and he must’ve been doing something right to have been in the majors for 22 seasons. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised though, given that Bert Blyleven (over 3,700 strikeouts) isn’t in there either.
re: post #8 - I agree with Brendan that it is a bit presumptuous to assume that Griffey Jr won’t be back next year. I know he’s gonna be 40 and he’s had a mediocre year, but he does have 1 more HR than Vernon. I think Seattle might sign him to another 1 year deal (if he agrees) just for the fan appeal he has and the influence he has on the younger players on the team. 650 HRs would be a nice round # to end his career with as well. According to Jamie Campbell, yesterday a bunch of Blue Jays were flocked around him during BP, probably picking his brain and just appreciating being in the presence of a true baseball legend!
- BernardTwo questions:
1) Considering the Jays’ abundance of good, young pitchers, and considering McGowan’s history of injuries, do you think the Jays should and/or might consider moving McGowan to the bullpen (as a late inning guy)some time in the (near) future?
2) Notwithstanding the above re McGowan, what do you think of Romero for Crawford?
MW: 1 - Maybe, but I’d let him get a chance to get healthy first. 2 - I’d do it, I think, but I doubt the Rays would.
- ToddWould a trade of Wells for Soriano work, with the Jays eating the 8.5 million left owing on Wells’ signing bonus?
MW: Why would you want Soriano?
- bootymichael,
- darrelli won’t lie to you. i do find it most enjoyable when i’m able to extract a “sigh” response from you from some of my posts.
i actually do try to attain more of them than you give me to be honest. but you’re a very tough nut to crack my friend.
cause’ you’re not all that gratuitous
with them i’ve come to notice over time.
i find myself really having to work at it at times & when i get one i deem it as a job well done.
anyway, i sincerely hope you don’t mind cause’ i do find it most funny on your part.
cracks me up……
Hey Mike,
Just wondering if you think Milton Bradley may be a jay next year? A lot of speculation that might actually happen. (with the cubs paying most of his contact thought) Do you think this would be a good idea?
MW: There hasn’t been any speculation backed by any sources actually in baseball. I think the odds against it are very, very long.
- AdamAny thoughts on JP’s latest rants to the media the last few days? I think he sounded somewhat smug, arrogant and frustrated all at once.
I actually think JP gets a raw deal often, but his latest comments such as “If we’re going to play in the big man’s division, and we’re not going to spend that money, it’s going to be really hard for us to compete with those teams.”
Seems like a shot at Rogers (warranted or not, it’s not professional, also he didn’t say that 8 years ago or).
Or this comment:
“Let me make this clear: It doesn’t matter if J.P. Ricciardi is the GM, or Joe Blow is the GM. Two years from now, five years from now, seven years from now, the reality that we face in Toronto is the division is not going to change. The Red Sox and Yankees are not going away. If the Yankees want to, they can take their payroll to $300 million.”
This seems smug and basically I take this as no matter who runs the Jays they will suck.
MW: I take as J.P. thinks he did the best he could - and I’m sure it’ll be read by many as him saying that no one else could have done a better job.
- ClintI really dont buy this excuse that you cant win in the al east. if the jays just play .500 vs the yanks and sox, which they have in the past, then they only have to play .600 vs the rest to win 94 games. if you look at last year, if the jays had just played .500 vs the west and interleague they would have won 93 games, very close to making the playoffs. and keep in mind the al west had 3 bad teams and only 2 al teams were below .500 in interleague, clev and toronto. even baltimore had a better record! so clearly the jays could have made the playoffs.
MW: You say “only” .600 as though that’s not all that big a deal. A .600 record over a full season is 97 wins.
- drewIt would be one thing if a local individual owned the team and happened to have a limited budget. The fans might sympathize a bit. Even if Mel Lastman owned the team we might understand why we can’t sign big name free agents to come to the Bad Boy Centre.
It’s common opinion that to catch the Yankees and Red Sox and compete in this division there will have to be a significant outlay of spending upfront followed by an improvement in drafting and player development in the minor leagues.
I think a lot of fans are annoyed at Wells, at Ricciardi and at Gaston. But a lot are also annoyed at Rogers. Their name is now on the stadium, the team is on their TV channel and radio frequency. This much-praised corporate entity has a lot more money that could be put into this enterprise than they’ve been doing lately. Top that off with capping your Internet and jacking up your cable bill it should be no wonder why people are starting to feel that maybe the bottom line is all that matters here.
- Rob Mmike
explain why batting avg is not significant to a hitter.
most of the ppl/analysts i grew up with use batting avg as a primary measure.
also, whats written on the official scoresheet when a player reaches first base on catcher’s obstruction
MW: On catcher’s interference? You write E-2 on the scoresheet, but it doesn’t count as an at-bat for the hitter. Why is batting average not significant? Aaron Hill and Placido Polanco are both hitting .287. Prince Fielder and Dustin Pedroia are both hitting .299. Are those pairs of the same hitters? Not even close.
- TheSunkenZealotI totally agree with Stephen Brunt on PTS when he says “everything this GM says about the division is true, however when he got in here he was not singing the song he is singing now, he was pretty confident that he was able to build a contender through the draft on a limited payroll” This is what sold JP to Ted Rogers who had lost a tone of money aquiring this team the year JP came in. JP was suppose to be the guy like Billy Beane that knew exactly how to aquire controllable talent through the Draft or trade, and know exactly when to move the talent to aquire more controllable low cost good prospects. Buy the stock when it’s low and cash in when it’s get’s high.
Isn’t it a total contradiction that now JP is pretty much saying that absolutely no GM can build a contender in this division through the draft or on a limited payroll. This is the guy Mike that you say makes a whole lot of sense. Oh ya It’s possible that because what Im saying makes so much sense you may not post this, like the last post which had absolutely no profanity that wasn’t posted. Mike, out of some of the most reputable sports guys in this city Brunt, Blair, Griffen,Elliot, none have disrespected Cito or backed JP as you have, done. It’s been a pretty large concensous amoung the sports baseball media people in toronto that JP has clearly worn out his welcome a long time ago with them and with the fans but certainly not you. What will there be to miss about Jp. His drafting of one impact player in Aaron Hill in eight years and a hnadful of others that has not proven themselves past a full season and more notibly have just began to get utilized after giving up on high priced free agent signings. How classy of JP to throw future GM’s under the bus and his employer under the bus when his employer made it ubundantly clear what JP role was eight years ago.
MW: Again, a post doesn’t have to be profane to not get posted. If it’s insulting, snarky, something I don’t want to deal with, then I’m not going to deal with it. There’s a massive amount of either ignorance or intellectual dishonesty surrounding the whole “that’s not what J.P. said when he was hired” thing. It’s not insignificant that when Ricciardi was brought in, the Yankees and Red Sox were both spending $109 million on payroll. Three years later, the Yanks’ payroll was $182 million and the Red Sox’ was $125 million. Don’t you think that’s a significant, unforeseen change that shifts the landscape in rather a large fashion? As to your other points - Aaron Hill is the only impact player that Ricciardi has brought in? Sigh.
- Thomas