2013 Toronto Blue Jays thread

[dustyanddaflames]

I don't think its unreasonable to think that two things could be happening to Josh Johnson right now...
1. He was hurt early on in the season, and he has yet to recover that swagger he used to own by going after hitters. You listen to Jack Morris, and I do agree with him, Johnson is throwing a lot of balls down and away and missing in the middle of the plate. Johnson rarely goes inside anymore - whether that is because of the lack of velocity from previous year (98-93 is a rather large difference in the MLB), or he is just timid of getting hit around.
2. He is hurt now - you look at Johnson's spring training, and he was dominant. You look at Johnson now, and I would rather Wang be back on the mound. The guy has just lost all confidence in anything he throws. I am beginning to wonder if maybe he is not following down the same path of Ricky Romero (albeit better stuff). Nibble, nibble, nibble, miss center cut - and gets absolutely tagged.

Until last night, I thought the Jays offering Johnson his QO was a no doubter - but unless he turns it around for a few starts before the end of the season, I really can't say I'd love tying up 14 million in him for one more year.

[KelVarnsen]

The one thing I did notice last night was Gibbons when Johnson was pulled. Gibbons did his best to comfort Johnson. Was nice to see even if after I said Johnson sucks.

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by KelVarnsen

The one thing I did notice last night was Gibbons when Johnson was pulled. Gibbons did his best to comfort Johnson. Was nice to see even if after I said Johnson sucks.

Well, not for nothing.. but Gibby is getting pretty good at it with all the practice

[GirlySports]

wow the Blue Jays are so bad Sportsnet won't even leave a 13-3 game to show them.

[KelVarnsen]

3 Jays caught stealing so far tonight. 4 if you count Lawrie.

[browna]

Sloppy game all around, Delabar giving up 3 in the 8th, and the Jays lose by 2.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Lawrie with a jack, his power seems to be coming back. He is looking a lot better at the plate than earlier in the year. He's getting walks and not swinging at everything.

[KelVarnsen]

That was UGLY

[flames_fan_down_under]

The Jays are still finding new ways to give away runs. How many balls have squeaked past Izturis this game?

Hard to watch this team sometimes.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Another loss for the Jays. Chalk this one up to a brutal choice by Arencibia to throw to 2nd base and throw it into the outfield, also a bad first inning by Rogers.

Well, maybe they can win one tomorrow and sweep the Mariners and come out of this trip 6-4.

[Trolleydodger]

The last time I saw a play that bad was in 1977 when I was in Little League.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Something has to change. My god. Hopefully Gibbons will be gone in the next few days.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

Something has to change. My god. Hopefully Gibbons will be gone in the next few days.

This isn't Gibby's fault. A whole lot of money playing like horse

They got a break today on a call and managed to come from behind in the 9th and win. Shocker.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by habernac

This isn't Gibby's fault. A whole lot of money playing like horse

They got a break today on a call and managed to come from behind in the 9th and win. Shocker.

I actually agree with you but you can't trade everybody...in fact, they didn't trade anybody before the non-waiver trade deadline. Sacking the manager would send a pretty clear message to the players. Whatever Gibbons is doing isn't really working and I don't believe that it ever will work with this group of players. If you bring in someone with a different style of management, you might see the players react differently and possibly could correct the direction of this ship.

[browna]

Originally Posted by habernac

This isn't Gibby's fault. A whole lot of money playing like horse

They got a break today on a call and managed to come from behind in the 9th and win. Shocker.

Start with the pitching coach Pete Walker. One of the worst ERA's for starters in the league (nevermind the calibre of starers that they are supposed to have), and also the least innings pitched by the starters. If you tune into a game a half hour or so late, there's a really good chance the Blue Jays are down by 2 or more runs.

There are other issues, but coming from behind game in and game out is tough mentally for pitchers, and then obviously the hitters. And the pitchers aren't getting better or learning or able to fight through it as the season is progressing, so there's a fundamental issue with the direction they are getting from their coaches.

[bluejays]

I believe managing in MLB is highly overrated. Baseball isn't as much of an x's and o's sport, but moreso about managing personalities. Gibbons, IMO, "manages" the bullpen well. Are there noticeable characters on the team who create a ruckus? No. Are there lazy players who are negligent? Perhaps, but nobody who really sticks out. So the question to me becomes, what is Gibbons doing or not doing that would make a manager change appropriate? I really don't see a problem with his managing style or coaching abilities. His players just aren't performing, and it's not based on his outwardly managing style. Making a manager change is just a temporary fix. Time to deal some of the less talented players with the high talented players for some above average players up the middle (noticeably 2nd and C).

[KelVarnsen]

I agree with browna, can Pete Walker.

[Flickered Flame]

AA met with the media this afternoon in Anaheim.

“Ownership was aware, and ownership understood where the commitments would be going forward and they green-lighted everything (last winter)...So, from a financial standpoint, the resources will be available for us. “It won’t mean we won’t change some things and reallocate money as you do any time, it’s not like those contracts are sneaking up on us. … We were well aware of where we were going to be. We did arbitration projections. There will always be decisions to be made, but we’re prepared for that.”

Priority No. 1 will be in the rotation, and when asked who he could comfortably put in the ’14 rotation without question marks, Anthopoulos tap-danced for a bit before naming R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle, then adding J.A. Happ (who returns Wednesday) and Brandon Morrow with caveats on health...
And then there’s Josh Johnson, one of last November’s centre-piece acquisitions now pitching “start-to-start,” according to Anthopoulos. The 6-7 right-hander bound for free agency could still get a qualifying offer from the Blue Jays with a strong finish over the remaining two months, or he could be bounced from the rotation with a dud in Seattle on Tuesday.
“We have to look at alternatives at some point if this continues,” said Anthopoulos.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb...ont-come-easy/

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by fleury

I believe managing in MLB is highly overrated. Baseball isn't as much of an x's and o's sport, but moreso about managing personalities. Gibbons, IMO, "manages" the bullpen well. Are there noticeable characters on the team who create a ruckus? No. Are there lazy players who are negligent? Perhaps, but nobody who really sticks out. So the question to me becomes, what is Gibbons doing or not doing that would make a manager change appropriate? I really don't see a problem with his managing style or coaching abilities. His players just aren't performing, and it's not based on his outwardly managing style. Making a manager change is just a temporary fix. Time to deal some of the less talented players with the high talented players for some above average players up the middle (noticeably 2nd and C).

My biggest issue is that Gibbons often comes off to me as complacent. A little fire in the belly would be nice on occasion. I see his interviews and he seems like a really good guy but it he gives the same glib responses after just about every loss.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

My biggest issue is that Gibbons often comes off to me as complacent. A little fire in the belly would be nice on occasion. I see his interviews and he seems like a really good guy but it he gives the same glib responses after just about every loss.

Yup, I can't stand seeing him sitting in the corner of the dugout by himself with his legs crossed. Being a manager in baseball may not have to same importance as the other team sports, but it's still very important. If he was more fired up and focused then we might see the same out of some of these players. I hope the search for a new manager has already begun.