2013 Toronto Blue Jays thread

[troutman]

Originally Posted by flambers

I will be curious to see who is on the formal list of players that may get suspended.

If I recall Melky served a suspension last season for this particular offense?

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/...-investigation

Player Team Ryan Braun Brewers Everth Cabrera Padres Melky Cabrera Blue Jays Francisco Cervelli Yankees Bartolo Colon Athletics Nelson Cruz Rangers Fautino de los Santos Free agent Gio Gonzalez* Nationals Yasmani Grandal Padres Fernando Martinez Astros Jesus Montero Mariners Jordan Norberto Free agent Jhonny Peralta Tigers Cesar Puello Mets Alex Rodriguez Yankees * Sources told ESPN that Gonzalez received only legal substances

I think MLB will argue for 100 games, because of the cover-up.

[nik-]

I'm sure Braun will escape a suspension again.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

Looks like Lawrie will be moving to second, so the hole is at third.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...k_tor&c_id=tor

[Rapidfire999]

The Blue Jays did not sign first-round pick Phil Bickford before Friday's deadline.

Bickford, an 18-year-old right-hander who was selected No. 10 overall in last month's draft, has decided to attend Cal State Fullerton. The Blue Jays will now receive the 11th overall pick in next year's draft (separate from their own 2014 draft slot) as compensation for Bickford.
Source: Jim Callis on Twitter
Jul 12 - 5:10 PM

[browna]

Sounds as if the Jays told Bautista not to do the HR competition, even though he was invited to do so by MLB...and he's not very happy about it.

Given his injury last year, probably not a bad idea...add that with EE's brutally frank assesment of the team's problem (starting pitching), not as relaxing/rejuvinating break as the Jays would want.

[bluejays]

I'm actually surprised a) the Jays would ask him not to participate b) he'd be upset after that discussion took place given it would probably be a discussion if anything. Sometimes I wonder about Bautista's mental state where he takes everything personally against him. Franchise talent, odd guy between the ears.

[Jiggy_12]

A lot of people knock the derby, but I watch it ever year and love it. This one was pretty good, fun to see some new blood advance to the top 4.

[Tyler]

Get rid of the second round and I'd love it ever more

[Drake]

Guy needs to shut the #### up.

As you might expect, Arencibia has taken his share of criticism with the much-hyped Jays underperforming. But he hasn't taken it well.

The fourth-year backstop joined "Inside Pitch" with Casey Stern and Jim Bowden on MLB Network Radio on Friday and said certain members of the media "that we employ" are too negative.

Arencibia was referring to Sportsnet analysts Gregg Zaun and Dirk Hayhurst, who he called out by name just two weeks ago in an interview on the team's flagship radio station, Sportsnet 590 The FAN. The TV and radio arms of Sportsnet are owned by Rogers Communications, the telecom company that also owns the team. Here's what Arencibia said when asked about dealing with negativity from fans and the media:

On the media side, you try not to listen to it, but for us, it's a little different when it's the people that we employ."

Arencibia wasn't done there. He then revealed that he has spoken with the team's president, Paul Beeston, about the criticism he's received from Zaun and Hayhurst:

I talked to our president about the issue [and asked], "How do you build a fan base when everything that fans are hearing is negative? You don't build a fan base just by having somebody who works for you throw out negative stuff all day long."

Asked if he regrets what he said in the original interview on SN590, Arencibia said, "I definitely don't take any of [my previous comments] back. I stand by what I said." One of those comments from the first interview insinuated that Zaun was guilty of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Sure enough, Zaun fired back (as he did the first time Arencibia name-checked him), this time doing so on Twitter:

http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/...president.html

[flames_fan_down_under]

Originally Posted by Drake

Guy needs to shut the #### up.

http://www.awfulannouncing.com/2013/...president.html

Does J.P. understand the role of the media? How is this all so new to him?

He should wire Buck Martinez and Pat Tabler's cheerleading commentary while he plays, maybe that would cheer him up.

[Matty81]

JP is looking like even more of an #######, who knew it was even possible.

His comments are so arrogant, it reminds me of the Oilers and their attitude towards the media except the Oilers have actually sanctioned media they thought were too negative.

Lets hope the Jays don't make this trainwreck of a season even worse and discipline Zaun or Hayhurst.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

JP struck out in another key situation today. I called it too. Turned to my wife when the count went full and said, "Watch this, he's going to strike out right here. Does it every time." And then proceeded to swing at a pitch waaaay out of the strike zone in a key situation. The guy just hasn't learned how to have good at bats.

R.A. Dickey has been just as disappointing this year. Not much of an ace at all, and downright terrible in a handful of starts.

I'm really hating that trade more and more these days. I knew losing D'Arnaud was going to hurt really bad, but adding in top pitching prospects (which apparently we still need since these starters we acquired are nothing special) hurts really really bad.

I think AA needs to consider another big shakeup to this team. Outside of Bautista, Encarnacion, and Lind (most of the time), nobody is stepping up and making a difference.

I don't see Gibbons back next year if they keep going like this.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Of course the final at bat happened with J.P. at the dish with the bases loaded. This season is turning into another nightmare.

I don't know how many more divisional losses the Jays can accumulate. It's starting to become laughable.

EDIT: My mistake, that wasn't the final at bat that was the bottom of the 8th inning.

[Sylvanfan]

Outside of that 11 game win streak the team has been woeful. Really with Reyes in the lineup they've been horrible which seems odd.

Bad pitching and years of prospect hype they still suck. They pretty much have the same record as the Mariners. Another half season of this next year and they will need to sell Bautista and Reincarnation, and Reyes to reset the deck.

[ben voyonsdonc]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/20/mark-buehrle-blue-jays-overrated-maybe-rays_n_3629701.html?utm_hp_ref=canada&ir=Canada+Bu siness&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008

Buerhle isn't wrong but he has been brutal in so many games that he is a big part of the problem.

I have no idea what the Blue Jays are going to do. They have destroyed their rebuild with the Dickey and Johnson/Reyes/Buerhle trades and they don't have many assets that are worth much to sell at the deadline. The hopes were so high for this year and it has been incredibly frustrating to watch them fail so miserably.

At least Cecil, Delabar, Janssen, and McGowan have been good. They are valuable assets but Janssen might be the only one that I can see the Jays moving at the deadline.

[KelVarnsen]

jp arencibia ‏@jparencibia9 5m
It's unfortunate to see how words are twisted to make false stories. I give way too much of myself to have others try and make me out to.
jp arencibia ‏@jparencibia9 2m
Something/someone I'm not. Solution. I make myself very accessible with constant charitable events, and opening up to social media for the
jp arencibia ‏@jparencibia9 3m
for the fans. I will no longer be on twitter. Thanks to all the fans who support and praying for the others that hate. God Bless.

[moon]

I hate when athletes/famous people pull this "people twisted my words garbage" and coupled with the I try so hard to be out there for fans but now have to step back because of others.

Nobody twisted any words of J.P.'s because they were coming out of his mouth on radio two seperate occassions. He was the only one that made him out to be something he is not.

I think it is probably best that he steps away from twitter/limelight but not because of what others have done but because he seems to be unable to handle them and the deserved criticism that comes with being a professional athlete.

[KelVarnsen]

While that is true, I just can't thank a moon post. I would feel so dirty if I did.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

If J.P. isn't careful here, he's going to permanently label himself as damaged goods for the rest of his career. Running from the media never works out well because the media just gets to tell their story without any input from the athlete. It'll only get worse for him.

Man I wish we still had D'Arnaud.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

jp arencibia ‏@jparencibia9 5m
It's unfortunate to see how words are twisted to make false stories. I give way too much of myself to have others try and make me out to.
jp arencibia ‏@jparencibia9 2m
Something/someone I'm not. Solution. I make myself very accessible with constant charitable events, and opening up to social media for the
jp arencibia ‏@jparencibia9 3m
for the fans. I will no longer be on twitter. Thanks to all the fans who support and praying for the others that hate. God Bless.

How embarrassing. He needs to go.