2014 Blue Jays Regular Season Thread

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

The bolded comment is the biggest disappointment. When has the AL East been this wide open in the last 10-15 years? The postseason is there for the taking. And it just feels like the opportunity is being squandered.

Not just that, but Rogers are the richest owners in MLB, not the Steinbrenners, not anyone else, Rogers.

Like I said, they get what amounts to free content for the TV stations and all of the ad revenue that comes in, which has to be a ton with the good TV numbers that the Jays do.

The city of Toronto is starved for a winner. The attendance has proved to go up when there is legitimate excitement. Any money spent to make this team into a contender will come back and then some with attendance, guaranteed.

This team is being run like the Leafs (shocking since now they are owned by the same people) and it is an absolute disgrace.

[Read Only]

Which players do you think the Jays are not getting because of money?

It seems their lack of prospects and unwillingness to deal the ones they have are as big as a problem as not spending money.

I know many Jays fans love AA but when does he start to get some blame over injuries, AL East, Gibbons and Rogers being cheap?

Edit: Also do you think the no more than 5 year deals is an ownership/Beeston directive or AA?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by zukes

Not just that, but Rogers are the richest owners in MLB, not the Steinbrenners, not anyone else, Rogers.

Like I said, they get what amounts to free content for the TV stations and all of the ad revenue that comes in, which has to be a ton with the good TV numbers that the Jays do.

The city of Toronto is starved for a winner. The attendance has proved to go up when there is legitimate excitement. Any money spent to make this team into a contender will come back and then some with attendance, guaranteed.

This team is being run like the Leafs (shocking since now they are owned by the same people) and it is an absolute disgrace.

It's only going to get worse when they start seeing the return on their 5.2 billion dollar investment next year.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Read Only

Which players do you think the Jays are not getting because of money?

It seems their lack of prospects and unwillingness to deal the ones they have are as big as a problem as not spending money.

I know many Jays fans love AA but when does he start to get some blame over injuries, AL East, Gibbons and Rogers being cheap?

Edit: Also do you think the no more than 5 year deals is an ownership/Beeston directive or AA?

Any of the available starters this past winter. FFS, they asked the players to take deferrals/restructure their contracts just to get Ervin Santana. I can't really blame a guy for not wanting to come to a team that has to ask current players to eat money. Good on the players that they agreed, but disgusting on behalf of Rogers.

The 5 year thing is clearly ownership mandate and it is soley to do with money, otherwise why not throw out a contract that has the value of a 7 or 8 year deal, but spread over 5? I agree with the concept of nothing longer than 5 years, you are almost guaranteed to have diminishing returns on the back end, but that is not how the game is played.

Remember, this is a team that lucked out to even be in the situation they are in. What if Bautista takes a bridge deal after his big year? He would be as good as gone as someone would have backed a Brinks truck up.

EE took a sweetheart deal too.

I don't see players in the future doing the same if Rogers is going to cry wolf money wise.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by zukes

How do you figure this is Gibbons fault? Earl Weaver could be the manager and with these injuries they would still be losing. Gibbons can't control right (or left) arm crapiness from Hutch and then especially Mills.

This team should have solved the pitching dpeth issue in the winter, not by claiming every re-tread on the market and throwing them to the wolves. Rogers is to blame. How can you make all that money, get all the cheap content for their TV channels, buy the Dome at pennies on the dollar and now you can't add payroll? Ownership is a disgrace and until that is fixed the Jays will never win a thing.

The manager can prevent injuries by the lineup he puts out. Gibbons over played his players. If Bautista and Encarnation are injury prone you can't play them everyday. As the saying goes it's a marathon not a sprint. Yes it was nice that they went on that crazy run but if your players have bumps and bruises you have to rest them on the road. You can't sweep road series anyways so rest them on the first game of the series or even in the afternoon after a night game.

The series against Oakland in Oakland.. that series is not important in the grand scheme of things. Winning 1 out of 3 is enough. Encarnation was sort of tired and hobbling anyways, he was already being DH'd and missed some games prior to that. Rest him some more in a series you can't win anyways. Instead you play him and he kills himself running down the baseline.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by zukes

Any of the available starters this past winter. FFS, they asked the players to take deferrals/restructure their contracts just to get Ervin Santana. I can't really blame a guy for not wanting to come to a team that has to ask current players to eat money. Good on the players that they agreed, but disgusting on behalf of Rogers.

The 5 year thing is clearly ownership mandate and it is soley to do with money, otherwise why not throw out a contract that has the value of a 7 or 8 year deal, but spread over 5? I agree with the concept of nothing longer than 5 years, you are almost guaranteed to have diminishing returns on the back end, but that is not how the game is played.

Remember, this is a team that lucked out to even be in the situation they are in. What if Bautista takes a bridge deal after his big year? He would be as good as gone as someone would have backed a Brinks truck up.

EE took a sweetheart deal too.

I don't see players in the future doing the same if Rogers is going to cry wolf money wise.

and..


They should have bid 60 million for Darvish 2 years ago, end of discussion.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

The manager can prevent injuries by the lineup he puts out. Gibbons over played his players. If Bautista and Encarnation are injury prone you can't play them everyday. As the saying goes it's a marathon not a sprint. Yes it was nice that they went on that crazy run but if your players have bumps and bruises you have to rest them on the road. You can't sweep road series anyways so rest them on the first game of the series or even in the afternoon after a night game.

The series against Oakland in Oakland.. that series is not important in the grand scheme of things. Winning 1 out of 3 is enough. Encarnation was sort of tired and hobbling anyways, he was already being DHs and missed some game. Rest him some more in a series you can't win anyways. Instead you play him and he kills himself running down the baseline.

Oh you mean that Oakland team that they swept three weeks earlier? EE plays DH half the time, it was a fluke injury. Bautista's have been as well. Injuries happen, you need depth to at least float you at .500 if you lose guys. The Jays have a bunch of Quad A guys or worse.

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Read Only

Which players do you think the Jays are not getting because of money?

Back to this, Cliff Lee could be had for a mid to low prospect if you take on his salary.

Cole Hamels would take a little more propect wise but again not much if you take on the salary.

Those are two off the top of my head. I am sure others would be similar.

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by zukes

Any of the available starters this past winter. FFS, they asked the players to take deferrals/restructure their contracts just to get Ervin Santana. I can't really blame a guy for not wanting to come to a team that has to ask current players to eat money. Good on the players that they agreed, but disgusting on behalf of Rogers.

The 5 year thing is clearly ownership mandate and it is soley to do with money, otherwise why not throw out a contract that has the value of a 7 or 8 year deal, but spread over 5? I agree with the concept of nothing longer than 5 years, you are almost guaranteed to have diminishing returns on the back end, but that is not how the game is played.

Remember, this is a team that lucked out to even be in the situation they are in. What if Bautista takes a bridge deal after his big year? He would be as good as gone as someone would have backed a Brinks truck up.

EE took a sweetheart deal too.

I don't see players in the future doing the same if Rogers is going to cry wolf money wise.

By available starters do you mean Santana, Jimenez and Garza?

I am not sure the Jays are any further ahead in the standings than they are now with those 3.

And I thought is was the players who initiated the give money back I didn't hear about ownership asking them to do it.

And out of curiosity what makes you say the 5 year deal is ownership not AA? I have heard AA say many times he is against it so you think he is just lying?

[Read Only]

Originally Posted by zukes

Back to this, Cliff Lee could be had for a mid to low prospect if you take on his salary.

Cole Hamels would take a little more propect wise but again not much if you take on the salary.

Those are two off the top of my head. I am sure others would be similar.

So you think AA wants them and it is just money stopping him from adding them?

I haven't seen any indication of that.

[Stanathan]

Brad Mills sent down and Aaron Sanchez comes up. They may be showcasing him or perhaps he is ready and can help.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Brad Mills was dfa'd according to the TSN article. I can't imagine he'll pitch again for the Blue Jays. http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=457709

[Stanathan]

Headley gone to the Yankees, I wonder how close the Jays were in acquiring him if they were truly interested at all.

Also some old news but Jays one of four teams on Byrd's no trade list. I bet they have a ton of this to deal with.

http://www.csnphilly.com/baseball-ph...o-trade-clause

[flames_fan_down_under]

John Heyman saying the Jays are interested in Alex Rios. I am OK with that, he's a productive bat and can play outfield, specifically right field. That would give Bautista's legs a rest and hopefully keep him healthy for the remainder of the season.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=457712

I am happy the Jays didn't pick up Headley, he's had back problems and that wouldn't do well on the concrete floors that the Jays play on, plus he's been kinda terrible lately.

But holy hell the Jays do need to do something to address their needs. They have to. There is this feeling that I can't seem to shake that they however won't, which would be extremely depressing.

[KelVarnsen]

Originally Posted by zukes

How do you figure this is Gibbons fault? Earl Weaver could be the manager and with these injuries they would still be losing. Gibbons can't control right (or left) arm crapiness from Hutch and then especially Mills.

This team should have solved the pitching dpeth issue in the winter, not by claiming every re-tread on the market and throwing them to the wolves. Rogers is to blame. How can you make all that money, get all the cheap content for their TV channels, buy the Dome at pennies on the dollar and now you can't add payroll? Ownership is a disgrace and until that is fixed the Jays will never win a thing.

Gibbons is terrible and should have never been hired. He doesn't seem to care when mistakes are made. AA talks a big game, but just doesn't get things done. Bringing retreads doesn't work.

The whole organization is terrible.

[bluejays]

AA has his MBA. He's well versed in not biting the hand that feeds which is why he keeps towing the company line and not complaining about ownership not ponying up more cash down the stretch to acquire a player, so don't believe a single word he says when it comes to money. He's simply playing to his bosses from that perspective.

The best thing about baseball is that if you're willing to pay the hard cash, anything can be had - there are always teams willing to make a deal to dump salary. AA's either gotta get extremely creative which is sometimes hard to ask, or Rogers has to pay more money. Now is the time. It's a sinking ship and there has to be an infusion of hope or this season is lost.

[Read Only]

His bosses have given him a top 10 payroll at over 130 million dollars despite AA showing an ability to finish no higher than 4th in the division. Not sure why they have to keep giving more and more to a guy that has shown no knowledge what to do with it. Especially if that is now supposed to be some excuse as to why the roster can't compete.

This is getting a little Jay Feaster-ish with the AA would do the right moves but ownership forcing him not to despite him repeatedly saying he agrees with it, saying he can go get the money if he needs it and there being 0 evidence ownership is hiolding him back.

[The Big Chill]

I just hope they don't sit tight. Either go for it or blow it up.

[Tyler]

Oh look, crappy McGowan gives up another juicy homerun. What else is new?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I just hope they don't sit tight. Either go for it or blow it up.

If they're going to play 4 rookie starting pitchers that's pretty much blowing it up. They need to trade Rasmus for starters.