Quote:
Originally Posted by jayswin
Question, cappy: If you believe everything you do than do you also believe we should be rebuilding at this point and maximizing returns on Donaldson, Tulo etc? It seems pretty silly to semi-go for it but realistically not be in it just to keep buts in the seats and eyeballs on TV.
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I'm unsure exactly what point i made that you are referring to, but can somewhat answer that question, regardless.
I try not to look at professional sports decisions in the vacuum of what is best for the team / winning. I try to look at the decisions made in the context of the way a GM would make a decision. If it's not the best decision, can I atleast rationalize it. (example, the trade deadline this year, I felt like they should've made a bigger splash, but given the org. depth, understood why we didn't)
For all the faults of ownership in Toronto (and there are many), we are generally stuck with an internal cap (one that has risen immensely since I have been an everyday fan under J.P).
We also have to look at the fans of the BJ's in general. The team has suffered something over the past 20 years, but winning (or competitiveness) has increased viewership, bottom line, and attendance. But make no mistake, many of these fans arent "hardcore" and will leave as soon as the team is no longer the hot ticket in town.
Obviously the goal of any team is to win the WS, and if the team truly believes they won't win, then (like the White Sox) you maximize value, but when was the last time a team made it to the ALCS two years in a row and blew up a team notwithstanding budget constraints. (plus, with big stars like Donaldson/Sale/Harper/Trout/Halladay etc., you will never get their maximum value in a trade. The other side will always be getting the better deal, unless all prospects play as projected)
But that comes to the question of whether or not i think we could win it next year. and honestly, even with the team we have now, and filling those holes as best in FA, i still think we have a shot. The playoffs are a crap shoot based so much on luck, it doesn't take much for a team to have a good/bad stretch that is not indicative of their overall record.
With our pitching, and still having a solid lineup (not the juggernaut we had before but still good), there is certainly a good chance we make the playoffs next year.
In terms of individual moves that have happened/ or could happen this year, I would love to have Fowler, and EE. I think the Jays were probably premature on getting morales so early judging by the deflated market for other players now, but hindsight. With Fowler, just look at whats happened to WSH the last two years, they keep getting skunked on free agents which happens, you can't force a player to come here.
I personally think the Jays should be using whatever prospect capital they have left to go for it in the next 1-2 years. That means trading for controllable players that you could later trade for some return when the core starts to wind down. I think you go for it, but nothing is guaranteed: you could lose in the ALDS in 5 games off some fluke homerun by a backup catcher; or worse, you could back yourself into years of mediocrity and financial ruin like Arizona and San Diego, finding ways to trade high-price "talent" for anything with no prospects and another 5 years of futility.
EDIT: how can I forget the Blue Jays most famous example: R.A. Dickey for those who shall not be named
Was that what you were looking for, or was your question based on my opinion on some players/moves? I can answer that if need be.