Comments on: One Year Between Greggs

By: Clint

Clint — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:42:57 +0000

Do you have any info on the reports that the Jays are seriously looking at Cuban 1st basemen Jose Julio Ruiz? Seems odd to me as the Jays appear to be set at 1st. I would think that Cuban defector Leslie Anderson would be more on AA’s radar as he can play CF and RF.

MW: I haven’t heard about that stuff.

By: Angelo M.

Angelo M. — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:21:56 +0000

“This year, Weaver will make $4,265,000 – I don’t know wear you heard $800K.”

“wear”? C’mon Mike, you must be tired!

Sorry couldn’t resist.. keep up the great work.

(Not the Angelo from post 46!)

MW: Geez, I guess I was tired. Sorry about that, but like I have said before, the comment answers don’t get proofread.

By: Bob from Sandusky

Bob from Sandusky — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:21:47 +0000

Mike, baseball salary question.

If a team releases a player, like the Jays released Rios and BJ last year, how much of the remaining contract are they required to pay, and if another team signs them, how does that change the situation (use Rios as an example I suppose)

Thanks

MW: Rios wasn’t released, he was waived. The White Sox claimed him off waivers and therefore assume the entire remainder of the contract. Ryan was released, so the Blue Jays owe him the entire remainder of the contract, but if another team was to sign Ryan to a major-league contract, that team would have to pay Ryan the $400,000 major-league minimum, so the Jays would be off the hook for that.

By: isabella reyes

isabella reyes — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:17:06 +0000

Just in case no one else has posted this:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/342158-5-reasons-for-the-toronto-blue-jays-to-contend-for-world-series-in-2014

Enjoy!

MW: It kind of reads like a high school essay, but sure, all those things are valid. Mostly.

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:05:17 +0000

Hey Mike,

Do you see any point in trying to grab a vet for the rotation at this point ? Yes, you know who i mean, the ol Jarrod Washburn.

If he will sign for less then 5mill, i don’t see how having a proven horse (though lame) could hurt. Especially with all the things that can happen to such a young pitching staff.

MW: Why would you rather see Jarrod Washburn than Marc Rzepczynski or Brett Cecil or Brandon Morrow or Luis Perez or Brad Mills or David Purcey or Zach Stewart?

By: Ari

Ari — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:51:33 +0000

Got a surprise today when I updated my podcasts in ITunes and got a preview message from Baseball Today – is there any chance this thing gets started before hockey playoffs are over? The Fan has so much “filler” programming, it’s completely beyond me why a Rogers owned media company isn’t trying to do a better job selling the baseball and the Jays by allowing you to work your magic year-round with a regular program.

MW: No one has said anything about Baseball Today to me yet this year.

By: darrell bishop

darrell bishop — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:15:26 +0000

michael,
ok. so i go on to this rotoworld site pretty regularly just to check things out. they do a pretty decent job all in all in keeping up with current developments in all the major sports.
so they’ve been starting to prep the baseball poolsters with this one particular segment where they’re showing overrated, underrated & sleeper type picks at each position etc…
perhaps you’re familiar….(i’m sure you are)
in any case michael, they started with the catchers last week. wasn’t expecting any mention of the jays backstops here. and there wasn’t. pretty non descript bunch right?
then it was 1b. thought there might perhaps be a mention of lyle o. somewhere….. you know semi established & all going into a contract year etc… but no mention. and not entirely shocked there either i suppose.
so they post the 2b today.
thinking to myself, self, finally a column where a blue jay may finally show up for at least a mention.
but no. young aaron nowhere to be seen in the entire post.
now i realize he probably doesn’t fit in to any of those 3 categories correctly as he is not either overrated, underrated or a sleeper anymore. but my goodness michael. not even an acknowledgement that the slugger even exists. it made me sad i won’t lie to you.
but then got to thinking to myself, self, we got shutout from the first 3 positions in the infield and we have an excellent chance at getting shutout of the remaining 2 as well at ss & 3rd.
i hope i’m wrong but i’m pretty sure i’m not.
so a big fat doughnut i think coming for the blue jays right around the entire bloody horn.
DAMN IT JIM. I’M A DOCTOR NOT A MECHANIC!!!!
sorry michael. i tend to use that when i’m about to lose my temper over something.
anyway any thoughts?

MW: I think you need to step away from the Star Trek, for starters. I’m a little surprised, I guess, that Edwin Encarnacion isn’t considered a sleeper for fantasy types at third base. I wouldn’t expect Overbay to be there, unless OBP is a category in more fantasy leagues than I think. As for Aaron Hill – is he overrated because of the 36 homers, or is he underrated because no one expects him to do it again?

By: darrell bishop

darrell bishop — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:49:46 +0000

michael,
yes indeed. you sniffed out the facetiousness of my last post as you usually do.
but to be serious about the subject, this team certainly does have the makings of a very solid bullpen yet again for this upcoming season.
at least 4 guys that have shown the ability to close out games at the major league level with some degree of success that i can see.
and some other very sound arms (from both sides) to compliment the former.
we’re ok there it seems.
but wanted to ask you something. we knew by listening & reading that a.a. had the plan to revamp & broaden the scouting staff of this organization. and on that note i heard over the weekend that his scouting staff no. is now up to 69.
holy crap michael……. am i allowed to say that? it just seems somewhat appropriate based on the no. of eyes (138)now perusing for talent on the minor & major league level & i’m assuming a more asserted presence on the international scene as well.
69 though. any idea if that leads the majors or not?
gotta be right near the top doesn’t it?

MW: I have no idea where the Jays total number of scouts ranks relative to other big-league teams.

By: Mike F

Mike F — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:19:21 +0000

Hey Mike,

My understanding is that AA is taking a ‘more-the-merrier’ approach to the bullpen competition this Spring Training.

I don’t think AA’s “crazy” or building 3 bullpens for the great “bullpen championship”… Pitching depth is important – I get that.

The way I see it, either AA’s very thorough on relief pitching, or he’s trying to create some healthy competition (except when Scott Downs lays the smackdown on Lance Broadway).

Is there a “change-the-culture” angle he’s going on do you think?

MW: I don’t think he’s trying to change the culture, and I don’t really think the Lance Broadways of the world are going to really push the ones who expect to be on the big club. But like you said, depth is important and the more arms you have, the more you can afford to lose to injury or trade.

By: Angelo

Angelo — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:28:59 +0000

I don’t think we should be worrying too much about closers,How does this Gregg guy get 2 3/4 mil and options up to 8 mil in total, when none of our other pitchers are making that kind of money. We should be looking at another quality starter. I believe Jared Weaver signed for $800,000 for 1 yr.So far I’m not impressed with the moves. Orlando Hudson would have been nice at 3rd base in place of Encarnacion. For the money doubleA is paying these no names he is signing, he could have brought back Hinkse, who could fill in at 1st,third,and outfield. He wouldn’t have hurt us.

MW: You do understand that it’s all about service time, right? Do you think that Jered Weaver would have made $465,000 last year if he’d been eligible for abritration? This year, Weaver will make $4,265,000 – I don’t know wear you heard $800K. Encarnacion and Hudson are very similar offensive players (by OPS), and Eddie is five years younger. He’s also under contract.