1:05 PM Eastern
Thanks to everyone who came out to the live chat yesterday! For those who are interested, here’s the transcript: Just click right here!
There will be another live chat tomorrow, on the eve of our playoff coverage along the Fan Radio Network, so check in there at 1:00 pm Eastern!
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Thanks for these chats, they’re awesome.
As a die-hard fan of the Blue Jays I feel I must pull for Detroit to beat Minnesota today. Why? Because if the small market Twins win this game it will add fuel to Bud Seligs fire that baseballs economic system is fine and does not need to be adjusted. It will add strength to the notion that small market/payroll clubs can compete against the big boys and nothing needs to be done to improve baseballs economic system and that as long as small payroll clubs like the Twins and Rockies can get into the post season everything is fine and clubs like the Jays and Orioles need only run their business a little smarter. This of course is rubbish. While clubs like the Jays, Royals, Reds, Pirates and others who have not seen the post season in years may get there again someday, the margin for error for the clubs is scant at best. The system is not healthy and needs to be fixed. Bud Selig said on television the other day that he was comfortable with the system the way it was and had heard no complaints from anyone on the current system. Really? Just last week as the ship was sinking under him J.P. Riccardi said one of the reasons the Jays had not made the playoffs in eight years was because he could not spend the way the Yankees and Red Sox could. Riccardi’s exact quote was “If we’re going to play in the big division and not spend that kind of money it’s going to be really hard for us to compete with those two teams”. So there you have it, Selig had at least one public complaint against the current system, but it seems Buds ears were deaf to J.P.’s lament. In the end I guess J.P. was just one small, voice crying in the wilderness. Go Tigers!
MW: The sad part is, you’re right.
- Jim in Ohiomichael,
a couple things i found to be quite interesting last week re: the gaston/player mutiny story that broke.
based on the perhaps likely premise that j.p. did indeed leak that story as is widely speculated it seems, his interview on the radio at your station & what he said in reaction to it was of no real surprise i think. just understandable media speak under the circumstances i would say.
but how about gaston’s response on the firing of j.p. something to the effect of “i’ve only got gratitude for j.p. he was the one who gave me the call & the opportunity to manage again.”
now i find that a tad curious on a few fronts, cause’ if j.p. did leak that story as is believed by some, i would think gaston would know & wouldn’t be serving any gratitudes at all to the guy. would probably be quite miffed actually.
the other reason it’s somewhat surprising i think is this idea that it wasn’t j.p.’s hiring but beestons.
and gaston would know that too if true so again why go out of his way to commend j.p. on something he really had nothing to do with?
it perhaps tells you that the hiring was indeed j.p.’s doing all along & not beestons as some think.
all in all though, most likely just very good gamesmanship from both as they’re asked about it & as this whole story evolved.
what do you think about all that michael?
MW: I don’t know why you would think that Beeston was behind Cito’s hiring – Beeston wasn’t working for the Blue Jays when Cito was hired. It may well just be gamesmanship and media-speak, but when have we known J.P. to be good at that? Also, judging from Cito’s incredulousness about the mutiny story, I’m not sure Cito would necessarily suspect him for the leak.
- darrell bishopHi Mike – congrats on the “live chat”. Looks like it went very well!
Fantastic ball game last night between the Tigers and Twins. We can only hope to see more of this stuff in the post season.
I have to say I was very dissapointed but not surprised by Godfrey`s comments with regard to JP. What I heard on the fan and read in newsprint just made me ill. I have never been a fan of Godfrey from day one but never thought he would sink so low as to cover his own butt by low balling one of his peers.
I guess you can take the man out of politics, but not the politics out of the man!
Not once have I heard him say it was too bad what happened to JP nor has Godfrey ever owned up to his share of failings with the Jays while running the show!
If he really did see the change in JP or thought he was not doing a good job over the last 3 seasons or so, then why in the heck did he not do something about it back then. To give us a visual of JP with respect to his own personal being for example, when he (Godfrey)stated he would walk past JP`s office and see him sitting behind his desk with his head in his hands after some losses etc etc is cruel and thoughtless in my book.
There are enough issues to deal with in Blue Jay land without some selfish, self-centered person like Godfrey coming out and hiding his own failure behind someone else.
I never once saw him as the guy mostly responsible for bringing MLB to Toronto at all like the media did. He was given far too much credit for a job he was being paid to do way back then and nothing more.
Throwing JP under the bus, speaking of his failures with a larger payroll and most certainly getting personal as to his character faults over the last 2 – 3 years and kicking a guy when he is down was and is just plain wrong.
Godfrey`s actions of late are just cowardly. Hiding behind and using anothers misery to cover up your own failings, adding insult to injury has just further confirmed for me the gut feel I have always had as to how small a man he really is and just how he works!
All he really needed to do when asked his opinion on the firing of JP was pass along his best wishes and thank JP for his time here. Nothing more. Afterall, wasn`t it he who hired JP.
Obviously off subject here Mike as to what your blog is all about. My apologies, just had to get this off my chest. So thank you for the opportunity to do so.
Keep on doing what you do best Mike and thank you for another great season of Jays bloggage. Season seemed to go very fast, don`t you think!
- Bob (from Burlington)Just want to say here on the number one Blue Jays blog, congratulations to Alex Anthopoulas on being named the new GM for the Toronto Blue Jays! That must be one overwhelming experience!
I’m with you Mike as to the choice here as the new GM. Maybe Beeston is staying on afterall as full time president.
You obviously know double “A” much better than all of us out here who comment on your blog. So if your in his corner and with the Jays brass as to JP’s successor it has to be good!
Let’s face it, it is usually a far better move if you can bring in someone who is already familiar with the organization, coaches, players, contracts etc etc.
I would respectfully disagree with one thing from your live blog yesterday Mike. I don’t think if AA fired Cito it would mean he would be thought of as a bad guy in Toronto due to the love thing the city has for Cito. I think perhaps there are more Jays fans out there who realize after this season especially, that Cito has to go! I could be wrong as Toronto is known for re-treading their sporting heroes regardless of their present records and tend to hang on to the past far too much.
I for one think AA should give Cito the opportunity to resign (which they just might do) and if he does not – then pull the plug. I think you would see for certain a whole new and further respect for the new GM!
As to the nay-sayers with regard to the new GM and his age – age has nothing to do with maturity! From what I have heard from AA and others thus far, his maturity is beyond his years.
He sounds like a pretty methodical kind of person. I think if the Jays were to increase payroll along the lines of Boston, you would see some very well thought out plans from AA as to spending it wisely.
Bottom line is, and as said, he is the new GM, he knows the team and the farm system. Any other GM’s out there thinking they can take advantage of this guy, best think again.
It is nice to see the MLB mentality with regard to at least Boston, Tampa Bay and now Toronto with respect to new and younger blood taking over. Sure there is plenty of merit to having the senior more experienced minds around to bounce things off and to me that scenerio will work very well!
Good luck to “Double A”. I think you are going to have as blast working with this guy Mike. Who knows he may bounce a few things off you also!
Wouldn’t it be fitting to have a double “A” as the GM and a double “B” as the manager! I like it.
Take care Mike, thank you and keep on doing what you do best!
MW: I think you’re underestimating most Toronto sports fans’ feelings about Cito Gaston.
- Bob (from Burlington)Hi Mike.
I’m looking forward to the post-season, as I always do every year. I, like you, do not make predictions, because I’m forced to defend myself if I’m wrong. But I am going to predict the post-season will be very, very, very exciting, and may the best team win.
As for the Fan’s coverage, with these 6 pm starts I assume you will join it in progress after Prime Time, right?
Also, I get the impression, maybe I’m wrong, but I think the next president of the Blue Jays is the current one, Paul Beeston, and Alex Anthpoulos will be the GM. What do you think?
MW: I don’t think Beeston stays.
- PeterHey Mike
Have to be impressed with the season Porcello put together at the age of 20, he was solid yesterday even thought the Tigers blew it. I remember our debate after the 07 draft, how i was complaining that JP let Porcello slide (as did many other teams), and went with cheaper options (Ahrens and Arencibia). Now, both the Jays selections have been stuggling to say the least (.215 ba/ .282 obp and 236/284 respectively).
This is not yet another rant about JPs draft record, i realize that the organization didn’t want to pay over slot money (even though its the best opportunity to compete in the East). My questions is, who do you think decides if they want to spend over slot, the GM or the owners? Do you think with new management to the organizati0n may put more resources into the draft?
I see the early 2010 draft rankings has james Paxton as the 6th best prospect available. I think the Jays are missing the boat with their draft approach…..
MW: You’re not alone. It’s definitely ownership that decides how much to pay.
- rickMike….The Blue Jays along with their fans repeatedly lament the fact of playing Bos. and N.Y. 18 times annually and how that effects their season standings…Now when Manager of the Year voting comes around, (and some guys are already conceding it to the Twins’ Ron Gardenhire) can the reverse logic be fairly used to say that Gardenhire plays 36 games vs. cellar-dwellers K.C. and Cleveland which obviously has to help?
MW: Ummmm, yes.
- chris m.hello mike, was watching the playoff games tonight & was wondering why the Jays didn’t want Chris Carpenter or was it that he wanted to go somewhere else?. I would like some insight on what happened to that relationship with the Jays because he was a prized rookie going up the farm system. Thank you
MW: Carpenter had a torn labrum, which is an injury from which, at the time, only three of 30 pitchers who had suffered it had returned to even be anywhere near as good as they had been before. The Jays wanted to bring Carpenter back through his rehab on a minor-league contract, but he insisted on a major-league deal and left.
- SteveMichael of the Ballyard:
A few things…
1) I’m starting to think I’m really stupid for not being able to do this on my own, but would you be so kind as to put into words for me what JP stood to gain by leaking the mutinty story?
2) Many of your silliest callers/posters parrot Richard Griffin’s silliest/most untrue ideas/’facts’. Why are you unwilling to go on record saying that he’s being ridiculous or agenda-driven or intellectually dishonest or whatever might have you when I’m sure you’d happily say the same thing about the callers who mimmick his opinions?
3) Why in the world wouldn’t JP have been kept until 2010 if he was allowed to go this year? I mean, 2009 was more or less as advertised by JP himself — if a 75-80 win season was grounds for firing, why wasn’t he fired before the season since he had indicated that was his expectation?
MW: 1 – If J.P.leaked it, it’s possible that it could have been a “see? It wasn’t my fault” thing. 2 – My job isn’t to criticize other members of the media. 3 – Because they were supposed to get 75-80 wins as a prelude to a great 2010, but things didn’t work out that way at all.
- Kevin DI keep on reading about the Jays inability to spend with the Yanks and Sox..Hence the reason why they don’t make the playoffs..
The Red Sox spent 121mil on payroll this year…Its funny how they can make the playoffs spending 80 million bucks less then the Yanks..
Baltimore, Seattle, Oakland, Anaheim and Detroit have all won wild card spots since 1995, the last 3 since 2001..
Has it ever occurred to anyone that maybe the reason why the Jays aren’t competing in the AL East is because we just haven’t had a good enough team?..A few good seasons followed by a few bad ones..No real direction for many of those seasons..
We’ve had 2 GM’s unable to bring the whole package to the table..Good at some things and just terrible at others..They must have some responsibility for this 16 yr playoff absence..
Yes the Jays had to play 36 games against the Yanks and Sox but they also had 36 games against some putrid Baltimore teams and up until the last few seasons, a Tampa Team that lost 90+ games 10 years in a row..
But hey Mike, this gives you a never ending excuse for your dearly departed J.P Riccardi..
MW: Sigh.
- ray bThe Detroit – Minni game was a classic. I agree with Jim from Ohio that it’s unfortunate the Twins won as it will add fuel to the arguement that small market teams can win and nothing is broken.
On the flip side part of me is glad that Detroit fans can feel what Toronto fans felt after that terrible final week in 1987. I would have preferred it was the Jays getting revenge on the Tigers but I’ll take it.
The Twins (2009) and Rockies (2007) have had amazing late streaks to get to the playoffs – but neither team had to take the road through 3 tough .500+ teams like the Jays and Orioles do each year. 14 of Twins last 20 games were against sub-500 teams. It is still a great acheivement go on a run like that in the MLB.
MW: It certainly is a great achievement by the Twins to take advantage of the opportunity the Tigers gave them. But, as you mention, in the A.L. East you can’t be under .500 on Sept. 14th and still come back to win the division. And what the heck – after 162 games, the 2009 Twins had the same record as the 2008 Blue Jays.
- RezHey Mike…
I am curious how long the firing of JP is in the works. How much has changed in two months that at the time of the deadline they would allow a potentially lame-duck GM to make the biggest and most influential trade in the history of this franchise? If the deal went down it would be pretty reminiscent to the Texans firing Charlie Casserly moments after he drafted Mario Williams over Reggie Bush.
Just doesn’t seem to make much sense to me. Do you think JP would have still been fired if he had traded Halladay?
MW: Yes.
- DanMike,
Have you read any of (Fellow Jew) Steve Simmons’ columns lately?
MW: What is wrong with you?
- Benjamin Huttonmicheal,
yes…. i mentioned in one of my previous posts that i couldn’t remember if it was godfrey or beeston at the helm when johnny g. was fired & gaston brought in.
but there did seem to be at the time some thought (by at least some conspiracists) that it was indeed a higher up organizational
decision to bring in cito not j.p.’s call.
and the other thing that came out with this entire story transpiring was the speculation that the j.p firing was done on that sat. & not after seasons end (as most would have normally expected) because of his leaking of the story & beeston had seen enough.
but i heard our new man alex a. say that the beeston/viner pow wow in baltimore was set long before any of this materialized & it was alex’s thought that the organzation was just going to do the inevitable while everyone was in fact present.
that makes sense. besides can’t imagine alex is already going down that slippery slope of not telling the entire truth on matters just less than 1 wk into his new post.
btw, what’s he going to do now with his paper route?
MW: Not nice. The Beeston weekend pow-wow in Baltimore was set long before, but it was originally supposed to be just to address the team, not to fire the G.M.
- darrell bishopHi Mike:
nice Seinfeld reference in your reply to baboo at 1:23 of the live chat.
great( and funny) comment by Mccown I heard today as promo to his show re Cito. He said that with the talent on the ’92 and’93 Jays almost no managing was required and that if you have a near perfect team and you need a guy to keep the hell out of their way, Cito is your man.
What is your opinion on the above comment re Cito then and now.
Thanks
MW: It’s absolutely true, I’ve said that many times, though not quite so eloquently.
- LorrieMike,
After the Yankees demolish the Twinkies, how long do you think it’ll take them to dispense of the Angels? Also, do you think Dave Trembley looks like William Shatner?
MW: I think the Angels will beat the Yankees if it comes to that, but don’t count your chickens quite yet. Yes, Trembley does, but his hair is real.
- Benjamin HuttonMike,
Do you think Hank Greenberg was the all-time greatest Jewish baseball player?
MW: What is it with you and the Jewish thing?
- Benjamin HuttonWhat ever happened to rational comments?..Is a sigh a rational comment?..Its funny so I will give you that..
I figure if they are up against such a wall then why bother playing at all?..
Obviously, trying to outspend the Yanks is foolish so we need to find a better way to beat them..Buying free agents isn’t working so how about drafting better and trading players (Rolen) when they are worth something?..
Riccardi and Ash were very good Assistant Managers but lousy General Managers..Now we have another..
MW: My comments don’t have to be rational – the commenters’ do. And “sigh” is a reasonable response to that comment. Didn’t they trade Rolen when he was worth something?
- ray bMike,
I`m a proud Jew…so when I get the opportunity I like to show support to my brothers within the baseball realm. Don`t worry, I am not racist and I think you are really good at what you do!!!….I have lots of love for you!!…If I am ever so lucky to meet you in the near future, I want to give you a big man hug!!
MW: You kind of frighten me a little.
- Benjamin HuttonRe: Post 16
Mike, I guess Baltimore has look alikes…Trembley/Shatner and Luke Scott/ Joey Votto
- Benjamin HuttonYes they did trade Rolen when he was worth something hence the brackets..
Comment 10 was accurate..The Sox did spend 80 million less then the Yanks and made the playoffs..And more teams other then the Yankees and the Sox have won the wild card spot in the last 8 years..You can add one more in Tampa if you consider they won the AL East..Is that an irrational comment?
MW: The facts in comment 10 were accurate, but the conclusions were the same tired old arguments. That the Tigers, A’s and Angels have all won the wild card since 2001 have nothing to do with the conversation at all. The Red Sox may well have spent $80 million less than the Yankees this season (on Opening Day – they added on some with Wagner, Martinez, Gonzalez and Kotchman), but when all was said and done they were within $10 million of the SECOND-highest payroll in the majors.
- ray bSo I don’t get it then..So the Jays should just what?..Quit?..We all know the division they are in but isn’t it possible that the Jays just aren’t and haven’t been a good enough team to compete?..Save 2008, the Jays haven’t even been considered a contender under J.P Riccardi…
He tried to spend his way into contention and failed..NO way the Jays compete with the big 2 like that..They needed a different direction and he was hired here for that reason and he ended up more like Gord Ash..We wasted 8 more years under this guy..
This hasn’t been a few years or so this is SIXTEEN YEARS without any post season games or anything for that matter..
They should have came close accidentally by now..
MW: And the fact that they haven’t – with some very good teams (’98, ’07, ’08 just to name three) should show you something about the divisional issue. No, you shouldn’t quit, but you should see that this is a real issue – that even if the Blue Jays are top-8 team in the major leagues, that’s still likely not good enough to make the playoffs because of where they play.
- ray b