The Blue Jays: 2009 Season Thread

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by habernac

Ziggy, if that Wells contract isn't management incompetence, I'd hate to see what your definition of it is.

The Wells contract was close to fair market value at the time, and it was an ownership/public relations decision to pay anything to keep Wells, not a management one.

[Machiavelli]

Adam Lind = a demi-deity

[habernac]

and the pen barely holds an 8-2 lead.

[Sylvanfan]

What happened to the Blue Jays in September, didn't they hit more home runs than any team in the majors? Frick Jose Bautista hit like 6 dingers this month. I guess with no one watching them they didn't feel any pressure.

[CaramonLS]

Randy Ruiz Anyone?

Not sure what to make of this myself. Extremely rare for a 32 year old to make an impact in MLB - but he has never been given a chance to play in the bigs (except for a cup of coffee last year with Minny). I mean the guy made it to AAA at age 29 - which is beyond a late bloomer. Should've been promoted to AAA at age 27 though.

Seems to be holding his own so far. I know MLB teams in the past have been very wary of even giving players like him (AAAA guys) a chance at the bigs.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Randy Ruiz Anyone?

Not sure what to make of this myself. Extremely rare for a 32 year old to make an impact in MLB - but he has never been given a chance to play in the bigs (except for a cup of coffee last year with Minny). I mean the guy made it to AAA at age 29 - which is beyond a late bloomer. Should've been promoted to AAA at age 27 though.

Seems to be holding his own so far. I know MLB teams in the past have been very wary of even giving players like him (AAAA guys) a chance at the bigs.

I don't think he's really played much in the month of September. But I'd bring him back as a right handed DH/1B to play against left handed pitching long before Kevin Millar. On an every day basis though he strikes out way too much. But as a platoon/situational guy he can offer up something I think and do it for cheap.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Gozer

The Wells contract was close to fair market value at the time, and it was an ownership/public relations decision to pay anything to keep Wells, not a management one.

Speculation. Still, it was signed under JP's watch.

It was also not fair market value either as the last CF to sign a huge contract was Carlos Beltran (For less money than VW!). I'm sorry, Vernon Wells was never close to the level of Carlos Beltran and I said that at the time the contract was signed.

1) He didn't have near the track record of consistency like Beltran,
2) He was still under contract for 1 more season,
3) He had been showing signs of slowing down the in fielding department,
4) He didn't have one of the greatest post season showings of all time to back it up.

Those factors DO NOT EQUATE TO one of the largest contracts handed out in MLB HISTORY.

Any GM worth their salt should have stood up against this BS. JP knew this would completely hamstring his payroll (Deja Vu Delgado) and he should have fought it (IF this was even the case).

Anyways, I know habby can draw from numerous examples of big contracts (Frank Thomas, BJ Ryan) which should not have been signed either if for some reason VW's is "invalid".

[JohnnyFlame]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

What happened to the Blue Jays in September, didn't they hit more home runs than any team in the majors? Frick Jose Bautista hit like 6 dingers this month. I guess with no one watching them they didn't feel any pressure.

It's a TO thing. Raptors got hot when the games were meaningless at the end of last season as well. Hot start, suck for forever and a day, hot finish.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Randy Ruiz Anyone?

Not sure what to make of this myself. Extremely rare for a 32 year old to make an impact in MLB - but he has never been given a chance to play in the bigs (except for a cup of coffee last year with Minny). I mean the guy made it to AAA at age 29 - which is beyond a late bloomer. Should've been promoted to AAA at age 27 though.

Seems to be holding his own so far. I know MLB teams in the past have been very wary of even giving players like him (AAAA guys) a chance at the bigs.

Jays have no where to play the guy... Currently Lind is the DH... Ruiz has hardly played in September

If Ruiz can learn to play 1st he could get a spot next year but I doubt he hangs around if he can only act as the DH.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by flambers

Jays have no where to play the guy... Currently Lind is the DH... Ruiz has hardly played in September

If Ruiz can learn to play 1st he could get a spot next year but I doubt he hangs around if he can only act as the DH.

Isn't there some rumblings that they Jays are looking to move Lind to first base (although they'd need to move out Overbay first and he has a year left on his deal)? Since they lost Rios they will have a spot to be had for an every day outfielder too if you assume Snyder and Wells have two of those spots. I know you don't want Bautista playing every day as an outfielder. So thats another place where they might be using Lind a bit more next year too if they don't go and get another guy. If they had a place for Kevin Millar....I think Ruiz can take that place next year. Even if they keep Overbay his numbers agaist left handed pitching are really poor so if you can work an Overbay/Ruiz platoon at first you might stand a good chance of getting average production from first base.

[jeremywilhelm]

I like Adam Lind!

[ShaolinFlame]

The NP is reporting massive layoffs at Rogers Baseball Operations.

“It was enough that it wasn’t pleasant,” said Paul Beeston. “It’s not an easy time. You do have a sleepless night, you don’t look forward to it. You’re fooling with people’s lives.”

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/b...-staffers.aspx

Via DJF

[ShaolinFlame]

Halladay hits Ortiz!!! Definetely on purpose.

Also, ESPN might be going the most Brett Favres in a story record, I think DJF might just be on track for the most F bombs. Right on.

http://www.drunkjaysfans.com/2009/09...ng-######.html

[Machiavelli]

Teeheehee, that's how you do it Doc. Nice retribution.

Edit: and with that smack by Ruiz, the Jays have tied their franchise record for most HRs in a month (44)

[flames_fan_down_under]

Jays still hitting the long ball. The boys of September.

[GirlySports]

Halliday missed an easy chance at a no-hitter. That was a AAA lineup, Ortiz included.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Isn't there some rumblings that they Jays are looking to move Lind to first base (although they'd need to move out Overbay first and he has a year left on his deal)? Since they lost Rios they will have a spot to be had for an every day outfielder too if you assume Snyder and Wells have two of those spots. I know you don't want Bautista playing every day as an outfielder. So thats another place where they might be using Lind a bit more next year too if they don't go and get another guy. If they had a place for Kevin Millar....I think Ruiz can take that place next year. Even if they keep Overbay his numbers agaist left handed pitching are really poor so if you can work an Overbay/Ruiz platoon at first you might stand a good chance of getting average production from first base.

I guess it depends if they can get rid of Overbay, if they are successful, I would hope they move Lind to first. Lind has a tough time in the field

I would think Bautista will stay and act as the 4th outfielder / bench... type of a player

I would guess they Jays will need to find the following in the offseason...

Right Fielder/ 3rd Baseman / Short Stop and Catcher.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Halliday missed an easy chance at a no-hitter. That was a AAA lineup, Ortiz included.

I guess, it was still great to see the Jays sweep the Red Sox

(i.e. Red Sox can win against someone else to clinch the Wild Card).

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by flambers

I guess, it was still great to see the Jays sweep the Red Sox

(i.e. Red Sox can win against someone else to clinch the Wild Card).

Didn't they already clinch with Texas losing? Thought I heard something to that effect...

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Didn't they already clinch with Texas losing? Thought I heard something to that effect...

Yeah, Sox clinched the previous night when Texas lost. Hence why they played a September type lineup. You know they didn't earn it and only made it because others failed. Certainly you've heard that one before on the fire on ice forum....