2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[Sainters7]

Seems most here are happy with the hiring, but I'll still post this. Sportsnet radio (and former Score co-anchor) Sid Seixeiro on Twitter this morning regarding the Gibbons hire:

Sid Seixeiro ‏@Sid_Seixeiro I feel like the Jays just bought the best HD TV on the market and decided against buying an HD digital box. #gibbons #bluejays

[TitovFTW]

I think John Gibbons is the perfect manager for Brett Lawrie. Those guys go together almost to good. For all the hate Lawrie gets, he's never argued with his manager or with teamates or spouted off about playing time, our anything else with the media. His base running mistakes had a lot to do with a manager that was one of the worst tactical ones in MLB. Once Bautista talked to Lawrie about calming himself a little, he really put his head down and just played the game. That was his first full season in the majors. He's still incredibly young and he's going to be an All Star for years to come. Especially when we consider all the scouting reports for him had his defense as his Achilles heel.

For someone who thought Manny Acta was the best fit, John Gibbons is right there as #2. He gets out of the way and just let's players play. There won't be a lot of bunting or running into outs.

There was nobody out there who will be that sought after for any other managerial searches. It was incredibly thin, and besides Acta being out there, there's nobody I thought would be a steal or was a can't miss manager.

This is still Jose Batuista's locker room let's not forget, I think he'll be given even more power under Gibbons. Gibbons to me is at the core, a players manager. I don't see him as this Pat Burns like, total hard ass.

Jays still have a lot of work to do this offseason but it seems like they're far from done. Be interesting to see what else happens in the AL East now.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Seems most here are happy with the hiring, but I'll still post this. Sportsnet radio (and former Score co-anchor) Sid Seixeiro on Twitter this morning regarding the Gibbons hire:

Sid Seixeiro ‏@Sid_Seixeiro I feel like the Jays just bought the best HD TV on the market and decided against buying an HD digital box. #gibbons #bluejays

Ugh Sid is the worst. He was the one who said Eric Thames was the exact type of player Toronto needed down the stretch last season. He also called anyone supporting Mike Trout a bunch of fat nerds in their basement. He is just the worst but thanks for sharing as almost every other analyist seems to like it. I usually look for reaction outside of the Blue Jays bubble and I don't have many Canadian stations, so ignoring the Wilner's of the world, this move has been met with a lot of praise. Again as Gibbons even said, it doesn't really matter much what he does, it's all about the talent on the field

[JayP]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

Ugh Sid is the worst. He was the one who said Eric Thames was the exact type of player Toronto needed down the stretch last season. He also called anyone supporting Mike Trout a bunch of fat nerds in their basement. He is just the worst but thanks for sharing as almost every other analyist seems to like it. I usually look for reaction outside of the Blue Jays bubble and I don't have many Canadian stations, so ignoring the Wilner's of the world, this move has been met with a lot of praise. Again as Gibbons even said, it doesn't really matter much what he does, it's all about the talent on the field

He was also the idiot droning on about how Ricky Romero was pitching awesome last season when he was 7-1 (or something like that) in June, but with an ERA of 5.50 because "you play to win the game" or some other cliche that belongs in the 80's. His opinion is beyond meaningless.

Really the only people who don't seem to like the deal are those who make too big a deal of the Hillenbrand/Lilly fights (of which only Lilly is even a topic - any player does what Hillenbrand does and his manager is going to lose his sh*t) or those that proscribe to this ridiculous "it didn't work the first time - why would it work now?" theory (ignoring the vastly better talent on the team now).

Gibbons was a successful manager who took very mediocre rosters and got solid results. Combine that with his obvious on-field game management and you've got a guy who should be able to succeed with the players in place.

[bluejays]

FF, any reason in particular why?

[Alberta_Beef]

I am not sure why so many think Lawrie/Gibbons would clash. Both are fiercely competitive and I think Gibbons will love that Lawrie has no quit. While there is a chance they bump heads if Gibbons pulls Lawrie from a game due to a poor play, I think Gibbons will respect him since Lawrie wants to play and win.

[VERVE]

AA stated in an interview that the mega deal with Marlins almost fell apart all because he did not want to part with Mathis for John Buck. It started with AA inquiring about Josh Johnson and the Marlins wanted a steep price for him and the trade structure became even more interesting and bigger as the two sides further discuss the trades. Interesting behind the scenes story.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by fleury

FF, any reason in particular why?

The words that my friends used were competent but not great. Seems to be a question of why hasn't he had another opportunity in the past 5 years and I think a lot of people were expecting a much bigger move/name. This hiring basically makes it or breaks it for AA imo.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by VERVE

AA stated in an interview that the mega deal with Marlins almost fell apart all because he did not want to part with Mathis for John Buck. It started with AA inquiring about Josh Johnson and the Marlins wanted a steep price for him and the trade structure became even more interesting and bigger as the two sides further discuss the trades. Interesting behind the scenes story.

I didn't watch much of Mathis this year, but granted he is one of the worst offensive players in MLB (and he improved this year too).

He must be doing something right for AA not to want to give him up.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I didn't watch much of Mathis this year, but granted he is one of the worst offensive players in MLB (and he improved this year too).

He must be doing something right for AA not to want to give him up.

probably in how he has mentored JP and handled the pitching staff, a backup catcher's importance comes in how he handles the staff and intangibles.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

The words that my friends used were competent but not great. Seems to be a question of why hasn't he had another opportunity in the past 5 years and I think a lot of people were expecting a much bigger move/name. This hiring basically makes it or breaks it for AA imo.

He was the bench coach in Kansas City, which is a crappy team but still a good job. Then he wanted to coach in his hometown in Texas. Nobody saw this coming however, not trying to push my thoughts on him onto other people, but I tohught it was worth mentioning.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

He was the bench coach in Kansas City, which is a crappy team but still a good job. Then he wanted to coach in his hometown in Texas. Nobody saw this coming however, not trying to push my thoughts on him onto other people, but I tohught it was worth mentioning.

Everyone knows he had the bench job in KC but lots of people are questioning why he never had another job as manager. Most Toronto fans will like the hire but people outside are surprised based on what I've been told and have read. There are very high expectations on this team, I'm interested to see how he handles the small details, strategies game in and game out. Again, not the guy I would have hired.

[Hockey]

Has the schedule been released yet. I was looking it up and it says for 2013, but it has the Jays opening up against Cleveland. I remember that's who they opened up against last year so I thought it was just last years schedule.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by Hockey

Has the schedule been released yet. I was looking it up and it says for 2013, but it has the Jays opening up against Cleveland. I remember that's who they opened up against last year so I thought it was just last years schedule.

Yes it has. The Jays open the season with a home series against the Indians. Last year they opened the season playing the Indians but on the road

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

Everyone knows he had the bench job in KC but lots of people are questioning why he never had another job as manager. Most Toronto fans will like the hire but people outside are surprised based on what I've been told and have read. There are very high expectations on this team, I'm interested to see how he handles the small details, strategies game in and game out. Again, not the guy I would have hired.

Totally. I think we have a pretty good idea of how he will handle his in game decisions. Looking back on his time in Toronto he really does manage a bullpen well, he doesn't intentionally walk a lot of players, not many sac bunts and I'd imagine we will see a ton of hit and run from the Jays this year. His game calling might be his best asset. I get where you're coming from, the only thing I'd say would be that the free agent managers pool right now is pretty much crap on crap on crap.

I think him not getting another job managing has a lot to do with how hard it is to get a managers job in MLB. Not really any skeletons in his closet or ex players who have anything bad to say about him.

At the end of the day, the Rangers made 2 straight World Series with Ron Washington and the Tigers with Leyland. Two of the worst managers in baseball IMO. It really comes down to talent on the field.

[TitovFTW]

Staff will be named in the next two weeks, Acta was mentioned as a possible bench coach. Would make sense. I think by re-reading the press conference tidbits, there's no way that the Jays go into this season with HApp as their 5th starter.

Also, the Jays PR work in Buffalo is getting A grade approval from the people there. If you're even in the east, they have a beautiful ballpark there.

[moon]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

Totally. I think we have a pretty good idea of how he will handle his in game decisions. Looking back on his time in Toronto he really does manage a bullpen well, he doesn't intentionally walk a lot of players, not many sac bunts and I'd imagine we will see a ton of hit and run from the Jays this year. His game calling might be his best asset. I get where you're coming from, the only thing I'd say would be that the free agent managers pool right now is pretty much crap on crap on crap.

Not saying that Zaun is the be all and end all but he was on the Jays teams with Gibbons and he said that Arnsberger handled the bullpen and Butterfield handled most of the day to day stuff.

Obviously Gibbons could have had a bigger role than Zaun said or could again get other competent guys to fill those roles but it does raise questions about how great Gibbons is/will be in the day to day handling of the bullpen.

At the end of the day, the Rangers made 2 straight World Series with Ron Washington and the Tigers with Leyland. Two of the worst managers in baseball IMO. It really comes down to talent on the field.

Washington maybe but Leyland must have had the greatest collection of players ever to manage to go to the WS as many times as he has if he is one of the worst managers in baseball.

[Flickered Flame]

I haven't read all the posts from today but I read somewhere while at work that Ozzie Guillen is going to get an interview for the bench coach job? Anyone else hear this?

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

probably in how he has mentored JP and handled the pitching staff, a backup catcher's importance comes in how he handles the staff and intangibles.

I agree. His offensive numbers are not a threat to opponents but he is a very reliable defensively and makes a great steady backup when called upon. His role maybe a mentor not only to Arencibia but probably Travis D'Arnaud in the future.

[VERVE]

Originally Posted by Flickered Flame

I haven't read all the posts from today but I read somewhere while at work that Ozzie Guillen is going to get an interview for the bench coach job? Anyone else hear this?

Haven't heard and currently teams are not actively looking for a manager but given how Americans despise Castro and contrast with Guillen's outspoken praise for Fidel, I would not be surprised if Guillen toils in the minors for awhile or worse, unemployed.