12:40 PM Eastern
The Blue Jays’ new General Manager made his first bunch of moves this morning, shuffling about the scouting and player development staff.
The biggest move is the firing of Dick Scott, J.P. Ricciardi’s Director of Player Development. A member of the 1989 World Series champion Oakland A’s (OK, he was 0-for-2 in three games, but he has a ring), Scott came to the Blue Jays from the Diamondbacks’ organizations where he’d been seen as a terrific managerial prospect before moving to pro scouting. Scott was one of J.P.’s first hires and oversaw player development throughout Ricciardi’s tenure.
I didn’t talk to Scott a lot, he was generally around during Spring Training, at draft time and in September, but he was always willing to talk and always gave a good overview of what was going on in the minor-league system.
He’s replaced by a combination of (Torontonian) Charlie Wilson, who has been running the Jays’ minor-league operations for six years and Doug Davis (not the pitcher), who managed the Jays’ AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats in 2006 and spent this past season as a roving catching instructor.
Throughout J.P.’s tenure, the Blue Jays did a fantastic job in developing pitchers, but failed miserably in their attempts to develop a major-league calibre catcher and shortstop.
The other big change took place in amateur scouting, where Hamiltonian Andrew Tinnish takes over as the scouting director from Jon Lalonde, who moves to pro scouting. Tinnish has moved through the scouting department since joining the team back in 2001, and had been Lalonde’s top assistant the last three seasons. Jack Armstrong will like him, since he used to pitch for Niagara College.
Anthopoulos is really, really high on Tinnish, and though it sounds as though this move is a demotion for Lalonde, it really seems to be more of a lateral move. The Jays will be placing a much larger emphasis on pro scouting, which would indicate that in the future they’re planning to be far more active in the trade and free agent markets. Lalonde will be a big part of that, though Perry Minasian (who came to the Jays last year from the Rangers – I’ve never met him) will head up that department.
Also, Rob Ducey and Mike Basso have been let go. Ducey had been handling all the scouting in the Pacific Rim, but turned up Scott Richmond before he went east. Basso managed for the Jays in Dunedin (FSL Manager of the Year), New Hampshire (won an Eastern League Championship), Syracuse and Las Vegas.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
81 Responses to “The Stamp Of Anthopoulos, Part One”
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As I obviously don’t know much of anything about the concerned parties, all I can say is I’m thrilled to see AA hit the ground running. Beeston did say on PTS yesterday that Anthopoulos doesn’t lack for confidence, and it’s good to see him backing that up by putting his stamp on the organization immediately. Sympathies to those who lost their jobs, obviously, but nice to see the organization moving in some kind of direction.
- MatthewAll this is fine but…
is it too early to begin spring training?
MW: A little bit, yes.
- marcMike, Here’s hoping AJ Burnett gets shelled tonight. C’mon Jay fans, you know you’d love nothing better!
- marcHi Mike,
I was looking at the final AL OPS league leader board and it was depressing to see that the Yankees had 7 of the top 30 hitters in the league this past season (actually 7 of the top 27 for a gluttonous 26% share of the best hitters in the entire league!). Boston, Minnesota and Tampa Bay had 4 of these top-performing hitters each. The Jays had only 1 in the top 30, Adam Lind.
Using this simplistic approach, I figure that the Jays need to have about 4 of the top 30 hitters in the league next season to expect a realistic shot at the post-season. The current Jays roster seems bereft of this kind of top offensive talent.
Therefore, assuming Lind repeats his top 30 in OPS status and another Jay (perhaps Snider) can crack this elite group next year, I figure that the Jays should be looking to acquire another 2 premiere hitters at minimum if they want to compete.
Aside from your suggestion of trading for Prince Fielder, which I really liked and your trade proposal seemed very realistic, what other impact bats do you think may become available for trade this winter? Is it possible that the cash-strapped Marlins may make Hanley Ramirez available at a steep price?
Also, what do think about Brad Hawpe’s availability? If you think he is available, is Hawpe good defensively or is he a butcher in the field? I don’t know much about that guy.
MW: Hawpe is just OK defensively, but he’s a good bat. Hanley may be available, and I’d give the Marlins pretty much anything they wanted for him.
- JamieMichael,
I have a good feeling about
Anthopoulos, and I’m glad Tony LaCava is head of player development now. It’s good he’s still in the fold.
Two questions:
Do you know what kind of relationship Alex and Tony have? (Are they close, do you think Tony will have a lot of input?)
Do you think it’s telling that Alex was allowed to make personnel decisions without a new president in place yet?
MW: I think that Tony and Alex are very close, they always seemed to me to have a good relationship and they’re both terrific people. I think it’s telling that the jays want to get moving on things. I have very little doubt that Alex will be the GM for a while.
- Uncle BenMichael,
Do you think Vernon might follow Jeter’s example and work on getting his defense back on track for next year?
With Jeter he improved his lateral range, what sort of improvements do you think Vernon would have to make to get himself back to being an elite defender?
MW: Wells needs to be readier every pitch, as the ball is delivered. He can’t get by on his natural talent anymore. He also needs to have his hamstring tendon repaired, but that’s not going to happen.
- Uncle BenHey Mike,
Am I The only one thinking this?
This guy anthopoulos is only 32 and next to no gm experience???? Is there not anyone else with a lot more experience ??? I mean Anything was better the J.P but I dont know im not feeling this guy!! will do any better. I just turned 32 and I don’t think i could handle that position. Lets face it he was handed this position. Fell in his lap. No credentials. no future. Never played pro ball. He is one of those rich little brats that mommy and daddy sent to school and bought an education for. Athletes get scholarships. rich kids get to be their boss. Ridiculous!!!
if this loolahoop keeps going on, this organization will never move on. What do u think mike?
MW: You don’t want to know what I think.
- TimFire the Cito! FIRE THE CITO!
- Sean in LethbridgeHi Mike, Chag Semeach!
According to Griffin, 2 teams were willing to take Alex Rios and all of his salary plus give back prospects during the trading season. They were rebuffed. Then Rios went to the White Sox for nothing except a relief of his salary. At the time I didn’t mind that at all because I thought we could do with the money back, and I believed and still believe that Rios was never going to turn into a superstar here. (Not because the Jays’ coaches are lousy but because sometimes that sort of thing just happens.)
However now I hear the Jays could have gotten a little something back only a couple of weeks before they dumped him. Is this story true? And if so, why the change of heart 14 days later?
MW: I don’t believe for a second that the Jays were offered something for Rios with the other team taking on Rios’ entire salary and they said no.
- isabella reyesmike, you keep bringing up run differential as a positive. in my book if you cant turn those runs into wins, then that’s a sign of a bad team not a good one. when you have a positive run diff and a losing record all it means is that you blew out more teams and you lost a lot of 1 run games. that’s it. you keep saying 1 run record is “dumb luck”. well if that is so then so is blow out record. as then as a result so is run diff.
this is not the first time the jays have mastered this feat. in 2005 they did the same thing but a lot worse.
read this article:
http://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=2005112315035768
MW: Your leap of logic really doesn’t make sense. The fact that one-run record has a lot to do with dumb luck doesn’t at all mean that blowout records does, too.
- randyHey Mike
I guess the house cleaning in the scouting report would be an indication that Anthopoulis was not too impressed with the clubs track record at the draft. Agree?
Any chance he gets rid of Cito before the start of 2010 ?
MW: Disagree completely. He didn’t bring in anyone new or let go any scouts besides Rob Ducey. Andrew Tinnish, the new scouting director, was the assistant scouting director the last four years, and Jon Lalonde moves over to pro scouting, which isn’t a demotion. If anything, Alex wasn’t impressed by what happened after the players were drafted, which is why he fired the director of player development. Definitely a chance that Cito goes.
- rickMichael,
So this is “part one” of mr. Anthopoulos. What is part 2? Do you see any other internal moves on the horizon? How do you feel about Bobcat’s suggestion of hiring some kind of mentor like a pat gillick for anthopoulos?
Twins/Yankees game tonight. The Mauer hit down the left field line. My first reactionw was ‘Worst non call in post season baseball since the triple play in ’92 against Atlanta. Any other pathetic non-calls in post season play since ’92 that come to mind? It even looked like Melky got a piece of the ball!
MW: Part two is dealing with the payroll, player personnel and coaching staff. I think a Gillick-type mentor (or better still, Gillick himself) would be tremendous, and Alex does, too. Yes, taking away that double from Mauer was absolutely horrific. The other awful post-92 call that comes to mind is the Tony Tarasco/Jeffrey Maier home run at Yankee Stadium. That one was on Richie Garcia. Tonight’s was Phil Cuzzi.
- SteveMike, the next move I would like to see Alex make is getting rid of Cito. Thier is to much going on thier when a bunch of players are on the same wave length about his negative comments within the clubhouse.. When a manager is quoted as saying we really dont have a good player on this club, it is not to healthy.. This is only a small piece of it.. What about the way he managed his line-up this year, and playing or non-playing guys in certain positions.. Mike, thier was a reason why he didnt get to many calls to manage after those 4 bad years after 92 and 93 . Some people believe that Cito played the racial card to much but the fact remains I ,and a ton of other people believe he is just too set in his ways and does not steer when situations dictate that he should.. I just hope that Alex , who is a sharp cookie, sees this and has the balls to cut him loose.. Whats your take?? Thanks Mike..
MW: My take has been out here, several times, for a couple of weeks now.
- FLIPPERmike, the fact is that every team in the al east has made the playoffs since 2002 that had a payroll over 60 mil, didnt have a gm named JP and didnt have melvin mora on their team. that blows your theory out of the water.
and why dont you just accept that JP got fired for poor performance? there is noone in ML baseball that thinks he deserved to keep his job. in fact nobody could understand how he kept his job so long. paul godfrey said on the fan that there was “a great chance” that he would have fired JP in 2008 if he had stayed.
MW: Your first statement is ridiculous, but I’m sure you’re aware of that. Also, Paul Godfrey was the Blue Jays’ President for the entirety of 2008.
- randyMW: Your leap of logic really doesn’t make sense. The fact that one-run record has a lot to do with dumb luck doesn’t at all mean that blowout records does, too.
how did you decide that 1 run record is luck but blowout record is not luck?
MW: Because luck is a huge, huge factor in one-run games, and it hardly factors in at all in a blowout.
- randyHey mike … Re q.7, moreso direted at/to Tim, are u r*****d?… N mike, why does it have to be a(n) one or the other situation- rebuild or contend … Just because your trying to contend doesn’t mean you stop drafting well or neglect player development … And if you go with a rebuild, it’s not set on stone that you have to lose … N how does a 3/4/5/6 of Lind/ Adrian Gonzalez/ Hill/ Ruiz sound … Keep up the good work …
MW: Rebuild and contend sit at diametric opposites of the spectrum. You can’t contend while you’re REbuilding, but of course you can continue to build while you’re contending. Don’t hold your breath on Adrian Gonzalez.
- HappyMike….Just wondering if you do have access to certain stats, what is Teixera’s and A-Rod’s success rate vs. the Twins’ Matt Guerrier? They showed during the broadcast that Teixera was 6/12 and A-Rod was 6/10 (or vice versa) against Joe Nathan. I noticed the other night that Tony Larussa started the bottom of the 9th with Trevor Miller because of the lead-off man’s success vs RHP (I think it was Ethier) THEN brought in Ryan Franklin and was wondering if Gardenhire should’ve considered starting the inning with Guerrier? Maybe if you can find those aforementioned stats, it will help. Thanks!
MW: Nathan’s the closer, and one of the best in the business. It’s not a good idea to make a decision like that based on a 10 or 12 at-bat sample size. LaRussa started the 9th with Trever Miller because he’s a match-up freak, and Miller kills left-handed hitters.
- chris m.MW: It’s pointless to make picks – you might as well just get a monkey to throw darts at a board.
Yikes, that’s a surprise answer! One could say you’re about as much fun as a barrel of monkeys!
Pointless or not, there are plenty of us that do just that and have some fun doing so.
Is your answer the same for who you think will be playing in the WS and who you think might win it all!
Is predicting how many games a specific team will have the same as making picks in the post season – or is that also the monkeys’ job?
Oh well, I just thought it might have been fun to see your picks. Regardless, as with most things in life I respect the opinions of others – even on such trivial, but fun matters.
Nice, very nice in fact to see double A making some immediate moves! He obviously has a plan moving forward.
Thanks and keep up the good work Mike!
MW: Thanks! Trying to predict how many games a series will take is even more of a fool’s errand than trying to predict the winner of a series.
- Bob (from Burlington)Turn around is fair play! Or so the saying goes! The Twins got away with one against the Tigers (hit batter) and the tables were turned on them last night with the “missed call”.
It seems the Yankees always get the better half of any close calls. However the Twins were a mirror of the Jays last night as to RISP! Leaving 17 men on base through nine innings – yikes!
AJ, as he has done quite often – got himself into trouble and pitched well enough to get out of it.
Angels are going to be tough and even tougher, if they get past the Bo-Sox! Never say never with regard to the Bo-Sox, not the first time as we all know they have been facing elimination only to bounce back. Heading to Beantown for game 4 – yes, game 4!
Keep on doing what you do best Mike – thank you.
MW: I’m sorry to hear that you were going to Boston for Game 4. As for things evening out with the Mauer call and the Inge call – at the very least, Inge moved into the pitch that hit him, so he shouldn’t have been awarded first base anyway. The Mauer call wasn’t even remotely close – Phil Cuzzi strikes again!!!
- Bob (from Burlington)Mike, just a comment concerning the Mauer play last night. In a later replay, the TV play-by-play guys — and now commenter #12 — referred to it as a “non-call”. It was NOT a “non-call”, it was a BLOWN call!!! The umpire made his call (foul), but the call was dead wrong.
When everyone watching on TV can clearly see the ball was fair, why would the TV guys not refer to is as a (blown, bad, wrong, horrible — choose one) call?
It very likely cost the Twins the game (along with that horrific base-running blunder by Gomez) — at the very least, it should result in Cuzzi seeing no more action this post-season!
MW: It was one of the worst calls I have ever seen. You’re absolutely right.
- NormGreat to see AA making moves involving the internal behind-the-scenes areas. Mike – what do you think Alex’s draft philosophy will be? Will there be more highschoolers selected? At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter who you draft if you can’t sign them. Do you see $ for picks being an issue going forward?
MW: Alex mentioned in his conference call on Friday that he thinks the Jays should be spending with the big boys when it comes to scouting and development, so that’s a very good sign.
- NeilPhil Cuzzi is umpiring? Isn’t that the same moron who tossed Halladay after he completely accidentally hit a TB player while 1 run down in a close game and he was going for his 22nd win? I was there and I never saw the fans so fired up. We disrupted that game for about 20 minutes. If I recall correctly there have been a ton of bad calls and unwarrented tossings-out from this guy, at least one of them in a play-off game. I cannot believe he’s being allowed to umpire another play-off.
MW: Sadly, major-league umpiring assignments tend not to be based on merit. Yes, same guy.
- isabella reyesMike,
Are you surprised that none of the Twins (including Ron Gardenhire) didn’t argue that brutal call by Phil Cuzzi? It boggles my mind that in a game of such importance instant replay isn’t implemented. I think it is incumbent upon the Crew Chief to remove Cuzzi from the remainder of the playoffs (if he has that authority). That screw up in officiating was the dagger in the hearts of all Twins fans who had a little glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe, they could split the series and take their chances back home. Shame on Phil Cuzzi and Shame on MLB for this miscarriage of justice!
MW: Human beings make mistakes, though that one was pretty brutal. I don’t think shame has been brought on the entirety of MLB. I don’t think the Twins argued because they likely couldn’t see it through the third-base and left-field umps. It wouldn’t have mattered anyway.
- Bernard SinghMike… is it me, or does the Metrodome have the most real-looking artificial turf you’ve ever seen? They even have the lines and circular patterns on the turf that you would find on real grass. It would be nice if they would get something like that at the Rogers Centre! It might not do much to attract players, but it would definitely improve the fan experience by making the Rogers Centre feel more like a ballpark than a cavernous multipurpose entertainment facility. It just looks a ton better.
Also, time to switch up the uniforms again. I would love to see them adopt an authentic-looking Blue Jay on their caps like the Baltimore Orioles have rather than the various cartoons that they have had since their inception. Time to bring the “Blue” in Blue Jays back as well and get rid of the black uniforms — they’re Blue Jays, not Black Jays.
MW: The turf does look pretty good at the HHH Dome, it’s true. I don’t think they need new unis again already, though.
- JamesMike,
Is it safe to say that Robert Ducey won’t be back for anymore Flashback Fridays?
MW: It depends on how he was fired.
- Bernard SinghMike,
Assuming Figgins gets re-signed by the Angels, is there any chance the Jays would go after Brandon Wood? He’s got a career 286/354/541 line in the minors, and while he’s been awful in the majors, he’s never got an extended look (around 224 career at bats).
Seems like an obvious guy for the Jays to go after – young, plays a position the Jays don’t have long term options at (SS/3B), is cheap, and blocked at 3 spots – 2B (Kendrick), SS (Aybar), and 3B (Figgins, if re-signed).
The Angels aren’t too high on him, and he seems like a perfect buy low candidate. Are the Jays even remotely interested in Brandon Wood? If not, is there anyway to put him on their radar…?
MW: The Jays have liked Brandon Wood for a while.
- MarkMike,
Great work this year, like always.
I must have missed it , but what was the trade you proposed for the Jays to get my man Prince Fielder?
Thanks
MW: Ricky Romero, Casey Janssen and one of Brad Mills, Reider Gonzalez and Daniel Farquhar.
- KeithMichael,
We’ve talked a bit before about how Jeter nobly improved his defense last off-season.
Is there any way for a player to improve his ability to be more selective at the plate so we could see an improvement in OBP from players like Hill and Wells?
Also, I’d like to add I don’t think it would be unexpected for me to see Hill repeat the kind of season he had this year. He’s approaching his peak age years, and if you look at his 2007 season he hit comparably to this season. The difference is he turned some of his doubles into HRs this year, resulting in fewer doubles, more HRs, and an OPS about 30 points higher than in 2007. Not unexpected for a player entering into his late 20s.
MW: It’s good to be optimistic, and I would love to see Hill hit for this kind of power in the future. I just wouldn’t bet on it. I’m assuming hitters can become more selective at the plate if they work hard enough at it, it’s just not all that important to too many of them.
- Uncle BenI don’t know much about Anthopoulos other then he is inexperienced. Even though Theo Epstein was hired at an even younger age, don’t you think that the Blue Jays need an experienced general manager? Was he their first choice or is the general manager of the Blue Jays an undesirable position that an experienced general manager would not want? If I knew this was going to happen I would rather have had Ricciardi keep his job.
MW: Maybe instead of blindly criticizing the hiring based on the fact that you don’t know much about Anthopoulos, you should find out something about him and then make a judgment. There are only 30 such jobs in the world – they’re all very desirable positions.
- DomenickHi Mike,
Haven’t posted in a long time but I wanted to get my two cents in on the recent changes.
I have been critical of Ricciardi in the past, and I am not completely disappointed to see him go.
I realize every GM makes mistakes and J.P. has admitted to making a few. I think obviously the good GMs make more good decisions than bad, and for every good move J.P. made it seemed that he would make an equally bad one.
I also think it is ironic (and unfortunate) that he leaves the Jays in roughly the same way he came to them: saddled by a big contract (Delgado, Wells), and with a relatively “bare cupboard” in the minors.
I also think it is unfortunate that he is lamenting the lack of payroll, and the impossibility of competing with the big spenders in the East, when he came in saying or at least implying he could compete with a lower payroll.
I hope Anthopolous can do a good job, I hope he brings in a new manager. I agree with your synopsis that Cito is great between games but not while they are happening, but if the guys don’t like him at least bring in someone who can manage a game properly.
Thanks for all your hard work this year, I look forward to reading your blog in the spring.
MW: I appreciate the kind words. I no longer believe that Cito is great between games, given what came to light the last week of the season. Also, the Yankees were spending about half as much as they are now in 2001 – that’s an important consideration when taking a shot at Ricciardi for discussing payroll.
- Rob H.RE: Comment 7
Tim,
Actually AA’s father died and he had to drop out of school and take over the family business. Then he worked FOR FREE as an intern for the Expos and worked his way up. So no, mommy and daddy did not give him a free ride. I guess to you he’s just a rich kid because…well…hmm…actually I have no clue why you’ve chosen to prejudge him as you have. Point is: do a little research before you run your mouth about things you know nothing about. Especially when you’re attacking someone’s character. It’s just tasteless.
MW: There are a lot of idiots out there.
- JAre McGowan and Marcum eligible for arbitration this off season? If so, how much will they get? If I remember correctly, arbitrators considers the performance from the last few seasons, so it shouldn’t be too cheap. Is there any possibility that McGowan is let go?
MW: Both McGowan and Marcum are eligible for arbitration this winter, but given the fact that it’s the first time for both and neither threw a pitch in the majors last season, neither of them are looking at big paydays. I’ll be stunned if either one of them makes even a million dollars next season.
- DRMike….Is Jason Varitek just a spare part now for Boston?
MW: Less than that, it seems. He didn’t play at all in the series. Thing is, he’s not nearly as good as Victor Martinez.
- chris m.Hey Mike,
Any idea what a “loolahoop” is? I really think that Tim (above) is genuinely angry he didn’t get offered the job :)
I have no qulams with AA being made the full-time GM, and I’m willing to have an open mind and at least let him make a few moves and see how they work out before slagging the guy.
Thanks for the blog.
- Kevin A.Gobble Gobble,
Is there anything sweeter than watching Papelbon blow two leads?
Bubye Red Sox Nation!
I know you like Figgins i notice Guerrero & Abreu are also free agents; i know they are are at the tail end but if by chnace the Jays try and compete in 2010 maybe they could look to sign a few veterans to shorter term contracts rather than multi-year deals which seem to rarely work out.
what would you think of cito working alongside AA ?
Is Paul Molitor under Contract?
MW: I love Bobby Abreu as a hitter, but his best position is DH. If the Jays plan on contending in 2010, they could do far worse than signing him. Vladdy, I think, is too much of a health risk. I don’t think Cito should be the manager next season, regardless of who the GM is. Molitor is coaching with the Twins, but I don’t know if he’s under contract. Even if he is, though, he’d be let out of it to take a manager’s job.
- MattHi Mike,
You guys all did a great job with the Jays broadcasts this season.
Will Jerry, Alan and you be back next season?
I always look forward to listening to you.
Will you be on a little bit during the Off Season?
I was wondering, may you please post the call in shows after the play-off games on the blog like you did for the JaysTalks?
Take care.
Ali
MW: The call-in shows after the playoff games tend to be really short, so I’m not sure they’re worth posting. I’m sure I’ll be on at least a little bit during the off-season and as far as I know, all three of us will be back next season.
- Ali MoosaMike, I have a procedural question. I read that baseballs have an average life of seven pitches, so how many balls on average are used during a game?
What happens to the balls that don’t end up in the crowd? Are they somehow recycled?
MW: If a ball has an average life of seven pitches (seems high to me) that would mean that about 40-50 balls get used per game. The ones that don’t wind up in the crowd become batting practice balls.
- Sam McLeanHow about Papelbom.Shall we call it the curse of Adam Lind?
MW: Let’s call it a crappy day at the office for Papelbon.
- abdur R.JalalzaiGosh, but it’s alarming to see someone cite your work (and even give the link) and completely miss the point. (I wrote the piece for Batter’s Box on the 2005 Jays referred to above.) As you noted, “luck is a huge, huge factor in one-run games, and it hardly factors in at all in a blowout.”
Or as I like to put it, teams catch a break and win by one run all the time. But no one ever catches a lucky break and wins by six runs.
MW: Well, it can happen, but REALLY not that often. Thanks for making sure that was cleared up – keep fighting the good fight!
- Daniel McIlroyHow many baseballs get used a game? Believe it or not, one night in the pressbox myself and the guy from mlb.com actually kept count (hey, it was a boring night!). It turned out that around 85-90 baseballs got used. The longest any single one lasted was about seven pitches. The main thing driving up the number? Every new half-inning starts with a new baseball, and a new ball gets put in play after every foul ball (more just to save time retrieving it than any other reason.)
- Daniel McIlroyMichael,
Someone in a prior post suggested Paul Molitor for manager next year. I like the idea of that, Molitor seems like a smart guy who would command a lot of respect.
However, do you think its more likely to see someone in house like a Brian Butterfield get the shot? Especially with Alex A. as the new GM. (I’m assuming Alex is a Butterfield fan.)
BTW – With that long Greek last name I’m sure a lot of people are going to be referring to the new GM as Alex A., rather than spraining a thumb trying to type his last name.
MW: I think a lot of people are just going to butcher it instead. I have made no secret of the fact that I would be thrilled if Brian Butterfield was the next manager of the Blue Jays.
- Uncle Bencan mlb not expand to 32 teams with 4×4 (16) per AL/NL? The AL west is envied and the NL Central is pitied. I don’t care about how weird or different the rules are just make them FAIR. Playoffs can be top team from each division – unless MLB wants the redsox and yanks in the playoffs. then they could use the NFL system, but I don’t know about the (dis)advantages of a week and a half off.
MW: I don’t know that expansion is the answer. I think you just dump the divisions altogether.
- TheSunkenZealotMichael of the Ballyard:
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.
1 — so was he trying to save his job, or help shape history’s judgment of him?
2 — would you agree that Griffin is an intellectually dishonest journalist who is very liberal with things like historical facts and tries to appeal to fans’ populist anger to a far greater extent than he tries to appeal to reality? If not, why? If yes, do you also agree that his prose is torturous?
3 — how?
MW: 1 – IF he leaked it, I don’t think it was either of those reasons in particular. He knows that no matter what he will wind up being seen as the biggest problem the team had. 2 – I don’t know if I would go quite that far. He’s trying to sell papers, and stirring things up and pandering to the lowest common denominator sells papers. 3 – Alex Rios, B.J. Ryan, Vernon Wells, Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan and Travis Snider, for starters.
- Kevin DHi, I have heard a lot of talk about the Toronto Blue Jays not having any hitting prospects outside of the 40 man roster. In your opinion is this true? What about guys like Brian Dopirak and Scott Campbell? Are they going to be given a chance to make the 40 man roster and the 25 man roster if the Jays are going to drop their pay roll?
Are these guys going to play winter ball this off season?
Looking at the minor league stats of Brian Dopirak, Buck Coats and Scott Campbell I am hoping that they can contribute to the Toronto Blue Jays as early as next year if the Jays are going to lower pay roll.
Thank You,
MW: Dopirak will definitely be placed on the 40-man roster before the end of next month, and I believe Campbell will have to be, too, in order to avoid them being available in the Rule 5 draft. Neither Dopirak nor Campbell are playing in the Arizona Fall League, but I’m not sure about winter ball. I doubt we’ll see the two of them break camp in the majors, but Coats could have a shot.
- Vishal RamrattanDoes this all mean AA isn’t just the interim GM? I thought Beeston had found a president, and I figured that president would bring in his own GM. Like many Im very confused with the direction of this team.
MW: Maybe Beeston has found a President and has already cleared Alex with the new guy.
- GregMike…On the topic of bad calls, go back to the 2005 AL playoffs with the play at home plate with Pierzynski and the so-called trapped 3rd strike by Angels’ catcher Josh Paul. After a million replays over the years, was the umpire (Eddings? or Everitt?) absolved from making the wrong call or is he still to this day considered wrong?
MW: They changed the rule – that’s how wrong he was.
- chris m.Hi Mike
Great job as usual but I must admit you are overly generous in allowing idiotic posts like the one from Tim.
A question; how about La Russa and Duncan to the Jays.
I don’t think either one will be back with the Cards
MW: It would be very interesting indeed, but I don’t know that the Jays will want to spend that kind of money on a manager at this point in their development.
- Richard from ARMike
When Ricciardi took over he was handed a team that was 22 games above .500 for the previous four seasons. J.P. will hand off a team that is 16 games above .500 for his final four years. Mike When you rated Ash A 4 out of 10 and Jp 7 did you consider the record above. Did you alo consider that Ash and the Jays in 2000 came within 4 games of the division to close the season something the Jays had not even remotelyy come close to in the Jp Era. Ash also drafted the best Jays pitchers today in Dustin Mcowan and Roy Halladay, and a couple of the best pitchers in baseball this year and in previous years, in Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay. When it comes to Ash you seem to harp on the Michael Young deal for Loiza and the Delgado contract. The Delgado Contract was a very similar situation to the Vernon Wells contract. Everyone wanted Delgado signed. Why not he was a consistant 30 home run hitter in Toronto. When Jays didn’t do so well in the years that followed the contract, everyone started complaining about it. Delgado’s big contract was way more warrented than Vernon’s. Delgado would have made that money in many different places. and Vernon is not even remotly close to being the consistant hitter Delgado was. Jp was not exactly a saint when it came to contracts Had you also forgotten the big chunck of the payroll that was being eaten up by guys like Thomas,Rolland and Ryan, guys that we got horrendous production from in 2008, not to mention Ryan and Thomas were not even playing on the team. Ryan injured and Thomas released, Hinske was given a five year contract after one good year. Ash put togerther a team with a payroll of under 60million compared to the yankees 95million in 2000 and came withing 4.5 games within the division. The team put together that year had 244 home runs. I can’t see where there is any merits to your rating.
MW: Actually, the payroll in 2000 was only $46 million to the Yankees’ $92 million, but let’s be honest here – the 2008 Blue Jays would have finished ONE game behind the 2000 New York Yankees. Why not point out that the 1998 team that Ash put together – which was far better – finished 26 games behind the Yankees in the division? That Jays team had a $38 million payroll to the Yankees’ $74 million. Also, how can you say with a straight face that Dustin McGowan – who may never pitch again – is the Blue Jays’ second-best pitcher. You want to argue that J.P. was an awful GM, I know, but you’re not doing yourself any favours when you stretch the truth to that extent.
- ThomasMike,
In your opinion and/or estimation:
i) Would the Jays have finished below .500 had Adam Dunn been hitting in the 2,3,4 or 5-hole and splitting time at DH/LF with Lind all season (if his 2009 stats were the same here)? Could he have made the difference between 75 and 85 wins hitting in front of Lind and Hill in the order?
ii) Should the Jays look at trading for Dunn, now that JP is gone? What would he cost?
iii) Do you think the revolving door in LF has upset some of the players, as it has upset me (ie: David Delluci/Mencherson)?
iv) When will we know more about the direction/payroll of the team for 2010?
v) Have you actually heard something that makes you believe payroll is not going up?
Thanks for your answers. I’m not sure I can wait until opening day.
MW: 1 – 10 wins? I doubt that very much. I love Dunn, but he doesn’t make many productive outs, and he’s a baton-passer as much as he is a hitter – actually more so. ii – If they’re going to up payroll, it’s not a terrible idea, but I’d rather go the free-agent route and not give up talent. iii – I don’t know about that. That was certainly never brought up to me. iv – By the end of the month, I hope. v – Nothing direct.
- andy mcFor the record-
Dopirak is accumulating stats with a Venezuelan Winter league team according to MiLB.
Campbell doesn’t seem to be playing with anyone.
MW: Thank you.
- WillRainMichael,
I don’t know much about Brian Butterfield, other than he’s done a great job.
What qualities does he have that makes you think he’d make a good manager?
MW: He’s a great teacher, he’s patient, he’s very knowledgeable and he’s been around the game forever. He’s also a wonderful human being, kind of Joe Maddon-esque that way.
- Uncle BenOn the subject of payroll, a little while ago you thought it was gong up. Now you think it’s gong down. If it does go down, it will highlight the Wells contract even more dramatically.
And on that topic, is it worth dh-ing Wells? His defense is no longer stellar, or even good. And I’ve yet to get an explanation for that ball flip to Bautista in the third or second last game of the season…
MW: The explanation is that he was playing the last week or so with busted fingers that prevented him from getting a good grip on the ball. It’s a testament to the Jays’ lack of foresight as far as September call-ups went that he had to be run out there. I don’t think we’ll see Vernon as the regular DH for a good, long time.
- isabella reyesHey Jon Papelbon – Adam Lind called and said his elbow still hurts, but he’s laughing his a** off !
That bad day in the office on Sunday couldn’t have happened to a nicer jerk.
MW: I don’t really think this is the forum for those kinds of comments.
- RezHey Mike,
The staffing moves of the last week are starting to look pretty great:
They Jays have had a number of good drafts recently (signing issues aside) and John Lalonde has been at the helm (scouting-wise) for them. Assuming that he has groomed Tinnish for the role, I am willing ot believe that this success will continue.
If John can then bring his successes and scouting talent to the pro level, and area where the Jays have been less than stellar, then the management/scouting team is poised for a great deal of success!
This is certainly not a short term fix, but if Rogers is willing to commit to signing and developing the players we bring into our system, I can see this team becoming a perrenial contender.
Cheers Mike, keep up the great work!
- Scotty Dmichael,
i’ve been away & haven’t had time to catch up on all posts since last week, so if you’ve commented on this sorry in advance.
this 3 out of 5 thing to determine an opening round winner after these teams go thru the 162 (163 for some) game marathon is not right in my opinion.
too bad mlb can’t give these teams the right to play it to 4 of 7. they at least deserve that i’m thinking. yourself?
i mean, if they expanded the playoff format to include more teams (if that’s a good thing or not & a solution of sorts but yet to be determined)
if the answer is to add a few more teams then i think even they deserve a 3 out of 5. that’d be ok.
bottom line for me….. after a 162 games of a grind it out baseball sched. like only baseball endures, i want to see more playoff baseball is all.
i’m sure those teams all on the short end of this yr’s 3 game sweeps are pondering the same.
MW: There’s not much difference between a best-of-5 and a best-of-7, both are definitely unfair to the stronger team. I don’t understand why you think the best-of-5 is OK if there are more teams in the playoffs, though. Wouldn’t that be worse?
- darrell bishopGood moves indeed to shake up the dice a bit and see what comes into place for the off-season.
But really, I am becoming more and more negative about the Jays’ hope going forward.
The Jays fall under the arm of Rogers Media (as does the radio and TV outlet). Looking at the financial reports, Media is not making alot of money for Rogers (only a $27m profit to Q2 and a $15m hit to the bottom line in Q3 due to BJ Ryan’s release). I am not sure whether the corporate execs would favour putting an extra $30-$40 million into essentially a gamble. If they looked at the big picture and recognized that a better Jays club would result in more Sportsnet viewers, fans in the seats, and advertisting revenue, they might “go for it”. You could argue that with Halladay’s last year of the contract and a dismal year this year from an attendance and fan standpoint and a recovering economy over the winter, now might be the time to “go for it”.
But you still have the Yankees and the Red Sox to contend with. Assume for a moment that the Yankees are as strong as ever… then you are contending for a wild card spot again and with the unbalanced schedule, essentially, the Jays need to put a team that will be better than the Red Sox. And the Jays will have to be essentially perfect and have a buffer for the unpredictable injuries. It would be great for a $20-$40 payroll injection and it will be great for the fans for at least a shot at 93-94 wins next year.
But how do you get from 75 to 93 wins?
(1) 4 wins: Improve the record of 1 run games from 21-28 to 25-24. Bring in effective closer to improve the save % from 61% to 68%, the league average (25-16 to 28-13).
(2) 3 wins: Extra inning games improve from 7-13 to 10-10.
(3) 2 wins: Interleague games improve from 7-11 to 9-9 (luck / pitching / late inning hitting)
(4) 5 wins: Tampa. Figure out a strategy to beat Tampa and improve from 4-14 to 9-9.
That brings the Jays to 89 wins. Add in a couple of extra wins from the Yankees (6-12 to 8-10)/ Bosox (7-11 to 9-9)/ Orioles (9-9 to 11-7) and you are up to 95 wins.
So how to do this? In my opinion:
(1) More effective closers / late inning relief: consistency from Frasor / League / Downs. Use Camp for mid-inning relief where he is very good.
(2) Solidify the starting rotation and avoid injuries (luck) (Marcum, acquire another veteran, Richmond, Romero).
(3) Better end-game management decisions. Replace Cito or have him at least be more active in decision-making.
(4) Vernon. He simply has to have a better season than this year, especially in the clutch. Management has to have the courage to move him down the order if he is not performing.
(5) Acquisition of 2 – 3 quality players using payroll and trades (3B / 1B / OF . I would say that Hill / Lind / Wells and Snider are the core next year, leaving 4 other positions and the DH subject to change. Maybe Scutaro becomes cheaper because of his heel. I think Bautista will be kept given his September performance and he will be utility in 3B / OF.
MW: Just one thing – the bottom line didn’t take a $15 million hit with the release of B.J. Ryan. That was a sunk cost that was going to have to be paid anyway. There was no change, financially, with that release because they didn’t re-invest the money.
- TimHey Mike,
Any insight into where the payroll will be yet? I have heard a couple times earlier in the year where some TO reporters heard it may be in the $110-120 million range but nothing lately.
Alot of things went wrong this year but I think it is possible to get this team into contention with a few key pickups. A trade of some young starters for a big bat like Prince is a good start. Add in a SS (Scutaro?), a DH (Abreu, Vlad, Thome?) and 1 or 2 starters (Harden, Bedard?) and I think this would be a good team. I would love Figgins but I think there will be alot of competition for him.
MW: If I had to guess, I would guess that they’re going to take a step back in payroll.
- Brian SMichael,
It seems from the moves he’s being allowed to make that:
A) Anthopoulos is the new GM for the foreseeable future.
B) Paul B. is either the president or knows who the president is going to be and they have signed off on Anthopoulos.
I think Jays management has gotten it right with Anthopoulos, I was worried they were going to bring in a veteran GM just for the sake of restoring a sense of stability. Stability isn’t going to get the team into the playoffs.
- Uncle BenGood, keep the changes coming!
I wish you could stop inferring that the Blue Jays are really pretty good, by referring to unlucky 1-run losses, their run differential, unlucky RISP average (since clutch hitters do not exist), unlucky inclusion in the AL East, what their 2008 record would have meant in 2000 etc. They are not good, Mike. They need to make significant changes under the new GM, just as the Leafs and Raptors have.
I like what I hear from Mr. Anthopoulos. He is well-spoken, insightful and respectful (a nice change from his predecessor). He knows there is a huge job ahead of him, and he is going about it in a methodological way. Let’s hope he is given the tools he needs to do the job.
MW: I’ll never stop that – and I’m not inferring, I’m actually saying. This year’s Blue Jays were not a good team, and I don’t believe that I’m trying to make the point that they were. But to say that last year’s or the year before’s teams weren’t very good is simply not true.
- JCBUCK MARTINEZ, CARLOS TOSCA, JOHN GIBBONS AND ALEX ANTHOPOULOUS. MORE OF THE SAME IF YOU ASK ME.
MW: First of all, nobody asked you. Second of all, one of these things is not like the other.
- jeffMike…A lot of talk about expanding instant replay in MLB in light of bad calls in this years’ playoffs. Using Joe Mauer’s “foul ball call” as an example and IF there was replay in use, what’s the call? Single, double, triple?
MW: Double, that was easy. The ball bounced into the stands.
- chris m.Michael,
Do you think someone will take a flyer on Mark Prior this off-season?
I know he’s got a loose shoulder (courtesy Dusty Baker?) although I’m not sure what that means or if it’s salvageable.
MW: I think someone will, but it’s a very long shot.
- Uncle BenHey mike
It’s been a while since Ive talked to you on here, possibly a year. I jus wanted your opinion on a few issues at hand:
1. If the Jays do fire Cito should they invest money in a coach such as Tony laRussa or do they go for someone younger who can relate better with younger players?
2. Are their any teams out there willing to take on Vernon’s salary, or is trading him a pipe dream unless we package it with a solid prospect? If there are teams who are they?
3. The jays had a disappointing year in the minors and may have the weakest offensive system in all of Baseball. With that in mind if AA decides to move Halladay which option is better: Trying to get back 1 or 2 A prospects, or rather 4or 5 solid B level prospects that could really help us on depth.
4. Would McGowan be an effective closer next year? Seems to me he can use his explosive stuff (if he still has any) without overexerting it for various innings
Sorry its so long , you do amazing work thanks!
MW: Thanks! 1 – They should make sure they hire a manager who always does his best to put his players in the best position possible to succeed to the best of their abilities. LaRussa is pretty good for that, but I don’t think they “need” someone like him, specifically. 2 – No. 3 – The best option is to try to get back as many high-level players as possible. 4 – We don’t know what McGowan will look like if/when he comes back.
- TarunMichael,
Adam Loewen cooled off at the end of his A-ball season although he bounced back at the baseball WC and walked three times during his 1st game in the Arizona fall league. If Adam doesn’t make it to the big leagues it won’t be because of his work ethic, dude is playing a lot of baseball this year.
My question is, can you tell me more about how the organization selects who goes to the Arizona Fall League? Would the current crop have been selected by Alex or JP?
MW: The current crop was selected by J.P. They select them based on contract status, performance, prospect status and health status.
- Uncle BenMW: Because luck is a huge, huge factor in one-run games, and it hardly factors in at all in a blowout.
There’s no such thing as luck, you can’t quantify it, unlike hitting and defensive stats which all can be quantified. Good teams win because they have the right players for the task(s) and bad teams don’t for just the opposite reason.
You win or lose based on ability period.
MW: You could not be more wrong.
- Stephen SmithI realize this doesn’t really fit with the rest of the post, but what do you think of the idea of converting Rogers Center to a grass field. I know that it would require some retrofitting, primarily to the concrete floor to allow for drainage. But one of the complaints about coming to Toronto has been playing 81 home games on the field turf. Why not retrofit the stadium with 8-12 inches of topsoil, sod and a proper drainage system for real grass.
The one other issue with going with real grass is the number of concerts and other events that are brought into the ‘dome every year. But it wouldn’t be hard to design a steel framed platform that could be put on concrete piers along the fence.
MW: You should submit a blueprint to the people at Rogers Centre. Everyone would be much happier if there was a viable and not-too-expensive way to get real grass in there.
- CurtisThere is no way Milwakee takes that trade proposal for a 25 year old slugger in his prime.
If I’m Milwakee I want a major league starter, top 5 prospect, low minors prospect with an upside and another throw in.
Maybe
Ricky Romero, JP Arencibia, Johermyn Chavez, Riedier Gonzalez gets it done. That’s just a starting poing id probably ask for more if I were them.
Janssen is just not that good. Not to mention the major shoulder surgury he had. You can find guys like him all around the leauge.
MW: Remember, it’s not a “25 year-old slugger in his prime”. It’s a 25 year-old slugger for two years.
- Dennymichael,
so what do you know of alex a’s new right hand man hire. dana cook is it?
curious what you might have heard about him thus far.
sounds like another youngish dynamic guy similar to our own a.a.
MW: Dana Brown. I have heard nothing but great things about him, though I do want to talk to him about what’s going on in the Nationals’ farm system.
- darrell bishopMike,
Just a quick question, do you have or know of a link for a site\newspaper that has the yearly tv ratings for blue jay games? if so are you able to post it? if not do you think there average\below average?
MW: No, I don’t. Try google!
- RandyHey M.W
I know you think trades are the way to go but if im A.A
I try and stock pile as many young arms as possible and fill wholes with Quality “tier 2″ Free agents.
I agree with goin after Figgins to play 3rd, Sign Abreu to DH, Move Lind to 1st,
I Love Scutaro but i dont believe ha can repeat the year he just had and if he wants multi year deal for $$$ i let Macdonald play short.
Get Overbay & Encarnacion off the books if possible, Having said that Overbay will prolly have a break out year seeing as its a contract season.
Bring back Reed Johnson to platoon with Snider, Im fine with Barahas & Chavez i just would play Chavez more.
is it possible Tampa doesnt pick up the Option on Crawford?
I like the core of the Pitching staff providing Halliday returns,
I would take a flyer on a veteran or 2 Maybe Johnson or Glavine
I still think we need a Closer but not sure where that comes from.
Oh and of course all this is pointless if Cito continues to manage
Starting 9
Crawford Cf
Figgins 3b
Hill 2b
Lind 1b
V.Wells Lf
Abreu DH
Baras/ Chavez C
Snider Rf/ Johnson
Mac Donald SS
Matt
MW: Tampa won’t let Crawford go for nothing. I can’t believe that if you had Abreu you would hit both Hill and Wells ahead of him. If you’re going to compete, you need more offense out of shortstop and catcher (if you have both McDonald and Barajas/Chavez playing everyday) and with that line-up, you need more pitching.
- MattI am assuming AA has met with the brass re: payroll for next season? When will the fan base in your opinion be told of which way we are going this offseason?
Thanks!!!
MW: I would think before the winter meetings.
- tony43michael,
good piece today in the globe on one (former blue jay) jason werth.
man what a yr. he had. only 1 other apparently that matched him in the bigs with at least 35 hr’s, 95 rbi’s, 95 runs scored & 20 sb’s (mark reynolds of the diamondbacks the other it says) and very solid playoff stats so far as well this yr….
anyway, i distinctly remember very valid reasons (at the time) in not letting him continue with the blue jay organization so i’m personally not one of those chiming for an explanation on why he still isn’t here but certainly in hindsight he’d look ok right about now.
but clearly mr. werth is one of the premiere poster boy candidates for mlb late bloomers wouldn’t you say michael?
who knew………
MW: Nobody. He’s definitely bloomed very nicely late. Remember, too, that the Jays traded him to the Dodgers and they let him walk.
- darrell bishopHey Mike, am I wrong for reading into the hiring of Dana Brown as the Jays will be raising payroll and trying to make something happen? I really don’t think they would bother hiring someone if they were going to cut.
MW: Every general manager needs trusted lieutenants, and there was a position open with Alex Anthopoulos’ promotion. I wouldn’t read anything about payroll into the Brown hiring.
- SleepyMike, re post #56, the commenter is very likely correct!
It is true that Ryan’s salary was a “sunk cost”, in the sense that it was already committed.
However, from an Accounting point of view, it is quite likely that the commitment was “deferred”, to be applied to the time frame in which it was actually spent (second half 2009, and 2010).
Thus, when the decision was made to pay Ryan off, the “deferral” would have to be written off, resulting in a $15MM “hit” against the bottom line for that particular quarter.
In a “normal situation” that is the way it would work — unless there are some special (accounting) rules for sports franchises, I believe that would be the correct accounting treatment.
MW: OK, accounting semantics aside, it’s money that they knew was going to be spent and it’s still going to be spent. The timetable may have been moved up a bit, but the total dollars don’t change.
- Normmichael,
ya, i was only suggesting a 3 of 5 being perhaps ok on the basis of adding more teams to the playoffs soley because of the time constraints that would certainly be a factor in doing such.
otherwise mlb & these teams playing in oct. deserve 4 of 7′s to determine the eventual victors no doubt….
still think it’s ridiculous as i think about it once more. you play every day for 6 mos. & you’re basically done in a weekend. i’m sorry but that seems just nuts ……
MW: People don’t want long, relatively fair playoff series.
- darrell bishopBUCK MARTINEZ, CARLOS TOSCA, JOHN GIBBONS AND ALEX ANTHOPOULOUS. MORE OF THE SAME IF YOU ASK ME.
MW: First of all, nobody asked you. Second of all, one of these things is not like the other.
when you said ‘one of these things is not like the other’, were you talking about the fact that he listed 3 managers, and then a GM, or were you referring to the use of caps lock that really made his post jump off the page, and added an element of intensity to the blog, that i, for one, wasn’t prepared for?
MW: The former. I’m sure his caps lock just got stuck, or maybe he’s a really loud talker.
- Jay BFor Vishal, you were asking about Dopirak. Here’s some info from Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus:
Brian Dopirak, 1B, Blue Jays (VEN: Magallanes)
- NicholasIs he a prospect again, or isn’t he? Once the top prospect in the Cubs system after nearly setting a Midwest League record in home runs as part of a .307/.363/.593 line at Low-A Lansing in 2004, Dopirak went from hitting 39 home runs to just one in Double-A two years later. Picked up off the scrap heap by the Jays, he had a 959 OPS for High-A Dunedin last year, but it was mostly written off as a 24-year-old vet in a league where he was bound to overmatch far less experienced pitching. This year was another story however, as between Double- and Triple-A, he kept on mashing, racking up a final line of .317/.371/.549 with 42 doubles and 27 home runs. He’s kept it up in Venezuela, going 3-for-5 with a double, home run, and four RBI on Sunday, and he just might get a real look in the big leagues at some point in 2010. While all the calls and notes to review are still a long way off, he’s on the short list of Blue Jay prospects to inquire about come Top 11 time.
Hey Mike, I was hopeing to get your thoughts on the Jays picking up a couple free agents this year. For instance I was thinking, Manny Ramirez, and Jason Bay for outfield with Adam Lind, Jim Thome for 1B, keep Aaron Hill for 2B, keeping Jose Bautista at 3B, getting Josh Beckett, and Cliff Lee for SP with Halladay, Romero and whoever else. Picking up Victor Martinez for C and getting Trevor Hoffman, Troy Percival for reliever and closer respectively. I was just wondering your thoughts on this.
MW: Percival is retired and Hoffman is 170 years old, so I don’t think picking up those guys is a good idea. An outfield of Ramirez, Bay and Lind is awfully frightening defensively – there’s no one to play centre, never mind the fact that Manny isn’t a free agent. Beckett and Lee aren’t free agents either, nor is Victor Martinez. By the way, if they all were free agents, I’m thinking Beckett, Lee, Martinez, Ramirez and Bay would combine to cost about $75 million (conservatively). Where are you going to get all this money?
- Karsten GrubberSorry about that. :) I read somewhere that those player were going to be free agents this year and I was getting kind of excited. But im pretty sure that I read an article that Jason Bay was a free agent. What would the jays have to do to secure Jason Bay? And if hes not a free agent until after this coming season, then do you see the Jays going after him at all?
MW: Bay is a free agent as of the end of the World Series. It will take not only about a five-year, $70 million dollar deal, but also a commitment to a significantly raised payroll over those five years.
- Karsten GrubberSo do you think it is worth going aftr Bay? And do you think that the Jays should look to get rid of Wells?
MW: It’s worth it if they’re committed to upping the payroll significantly. And the Jays can’t get rid of Wells.
- Karsten Grubberhey mike do they hire the 100th person they see walking down the street to ump a game in the alds?
- Jason