So long JP! - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

HotHotHeat · 10-03-2009, 11:59 AM

Ricciardi finally out as Jays GM...

Quote:

BALTIMORE -- The Toronto Blue Jays fired general manager J.P. Ricciardi on Saturday, ending an eventful eight-year reign marked by frequent controversy and mediocre teams never good enough to reach the post-season.

The news was announced in a three-paragraph release.

"This was a tough decision and a difficult one for me personally as I have enjoyed J.P.'s friendship and his perspective on the game," said Paul Beeston, acting president, and CEO. "J.P. has put an incredible amount of effort into improving the team and he has brought along a number of great young players. However, I feel that it is time for a change and accordingly we have decided to move on."

Ricciardi, who joined the Jays in 2001, had one year left on his contract. The 75-85 Jays are finishing off a mediocre season in Baltimore, with the team embroiled in locker-room unrest with manager Cito Gaston.

The Jays said Montreal native Alexander Anthopoulos, vice-president of baseball operations and assistant general manager will take over for Ricciardi whose firing was widely expected.

http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=293555

Papi34 · 10-03-2009, 12:01 PM

smartest move in jays history? now maybe they can fight for third place!

Go Sox

Machiavelli · 10-03-2009, 12:03 PM

Oh thankgodthankgodthankgod.

I feel like weeping.

flambers · 10-03-2009, 12:39 PM

This move the way over due...... JP has drafted well in the last few years but his lack of ability to sign decent Free Agents is a huge black mark on his resume.....

ricosuave · 10-03-2009, 12:47 PM

good riddance!

arloiginla · 10-03-2009, 01:09 PM

O Happy Day

nik- · 10-03-2009, 01:20 PM

This is in the Jays thread already, but there is no way that this doesn't deserve it's own thread.

Great news.

Otto-matic · 10-03-2009, 03:23 PM

Hopefully the GM can build a good team and keep Doc around

edn88 · 10-03-2009, 03:57 PM

about time, although the only thing that will make the blue jays successful is moving out of their division. Maybe they can move to the national league and let someone else have a crack at the yanks and bosox for a while

The Special One · 10-03-2009, 04:10 PM

Three terrible contracts that sunk him:

BJ Ryan
AJ Burnett
Vernon Wells

iggnuef · 10-03-2009, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Special One

Three terrible contracts that sunk him:

BJ Ryan
AJ Burnett
Vernon Wells

How about the Rios contract? JP should never be a GM again.

CrusaderPi · 10-03-2009, 11:10 PM

Frank Thomas

STAMPEDRED · 10-03-2009, 11:34 PM

I always heard it he had given big, obnoxious contract dollars to Wells and all, but wow! I didn't realize until tonight how much cash the Jays are paying some players that JP released with a year left on their contract. How the Jays are not bleeding like the Coyotes I'll never know! That is beyond terrible management and beyond terrible that JP's bosses allowed him to sign players and release them with so much still owed.

killer_carlson · 10-04-2009, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Special One

Three terrible contracts that sunk him:

BJ Ryan
AJ Burnett
Vernon Wells

I think it was much more than that. It was also his corrosive treatment of fans and media without building anything to give him credibility to make those statements or back up his trash talking. You don't put people in the stands talking like that.

JohnnyFlame · 10-04-2009, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edn88

about time, although the only thing that will make the blue jays successful is moving out of their division. Maybe they can move to the national league and let someone else have a crack at the yanks and bosox for a while

Yep I'm of that opinion as well. Unless they start right from scratch. Overhaul the entire organization. They can't compete by trying to sign free agents. Make the entire emphasis the minor leagues. Sign draft picks. Put the best staff they can get down there along with a top notch scouting staff. Put a fundamentally sound team in the majors. Speed, defense and spend any money they put out on pitching. Run, run and run some more. Plus give it a decade to work.

OzSome · 10-04-2009, 12:43 PM

FINALLY!!!! Next season will be a rebuilding year. Change the coaching staff entirely and hopefully they can keep Roy Halladay. Too bad they can't trade Vernon Wells. Blue Jays have some good young starting pitcher in Cecil, Romero, and others. They still need to find a good closer.

Thanks for nothing JP... don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Flickered Flame · 10-04-2009, 12:46 PM

Not being a Jays fan the moves sucks because they could potentially hire someone who is capable of turning the franchise around. I do believe the best move for the Jays is to move Doc and get several top young players although I doubt they would get what both the Red Sox and Phillies offered in the summer now.

Joborule · 10-04-2009, 03:34 PM

The smartest move the Jays have made in a long time...