2014 Blue Jays Regular Season Thread

[ben voyonsdonc]

Tropicana Field is so depressing on TV. It is a morgue.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

Tropicana Field is so depressing on TV. It is a morgue.

Gotta fill seats some how.

[Tyler]

Hey Tampa:

[troutman]

Originally Posted by ben voyonsdonc

Tropicana Field is so depressing on TV. It is a morgue.

I find Skydome too cavernous. I'd like to see the Jays in a more intimate outdoor stadium with grass.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by troutman

I find Skydome too cavernous. I'd like to see the Jays in a more intimate outdoor stadium with grass.

Everyone would... but it's not gonna happen. You might one day get the grass (something that would require extensive renovations just on it's own to put in the required venting and irrigation systems) but it won't be until 2017 at the earliest and that's presuming that the Argo's find a new home by then (I wager without one Rogers won't just kick them out).

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by troutman

I find Skydome too cavernous. I'd like to see the Jays in a more intimate outdoor stadium with grass.

It's not as bad with the roof open. When's it's closed, you feel like you're watching a game in a warehouse. IMO, Skydome/the Trop are the most unfortunate places in MLB - the stadiums are too new to tear down, but are of the outdated/multi-purpose complex model era. Oakland at least is outside and they'll eventually get out of O.co or Oakland entirely.

[Sylvanfan]

Yean, the SkyDome is the last of the multi purpose cookie cutter stadiums that everyone hates now. In a way it symbolizes how things tend to get built in Canada a day late and a buck short. It's funny because Oriole park at Camden Yards which was the next ball park built became the model that everyone else tried to emulate and I don't think anyone is thinking of imploding it. Yet Skydome....next to Tropicana field probably the worst park in the Majors right now.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Yean, the SkyDome is the last of the multi purpose cookie cutter stadiums that everyone hates now. In a way it symbolizes how things tend to get built in Canada a day late and a buck short. It's funny because Oriole park at Camden Yards which was the next ball park built became the model that everyone else tried to emulate and I don't think anyone is thinking of imploding it. Yet Skydome....next to Tropicana field probably the worst park in the Majors right now.

Camden was the second ever ballpark I went to, after the lifeless piece of concrete known as the Vet in Philly. What a difference in the viewing experience. So much character in Camden. Had all the nostalgia of the old parks with new amenities. I hear Jacob's in Cleveland is outstanding as well.

[Joborule]

Would removing the roof of the Rogers Centre be a possibility in the next round of major renos? I figure ownership love the location of the ballpark, so don't want to build a new venue that's removes them from there.

[BOSSY]

Why would you remove the roof? If Skydome didn't have a roof you'd never get free agents to play there, not to mention the amount of games lost or PPD due to weather. Plan is to move the Argos out and have a grass field put in for the 2017 season - best your going to get.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Safeco, in my opinion is the ultimate ball park. Awesome food, good beer selection, retractable roof that actually looks great, right downtown, good sports bars near by!!

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Parallex

He's actually an above average hitter against LHP who plays acceptable defense in the corner outfield and 1B and he's still under team control (albeit arbitration eligible).

In other words... meet the guy that bats for Adam Lind against lefties and can give your outfielders a day off from fielding once in a while in the process next year. It's a decent small pick-up.

Pierre is a non-prospect anyways he's below average defensively and has no plate recognition as a batter.



All things point to the Jays actually thinking he was an ace. They paid close to "Ace" prices to get him & he'd just won a Cy Young & Gold Glove so it's unsurprising that they presented him as one. That he turned out to just be a decent #3 is unfortunate considering how good D'Arnaud and Syndergaard would look on this team now.

Yeah, once Buerhle and Johnson were picked up from Florida, Dickey was no longer necessary and no longer affordable because of the prospects already sent to Florida.

Most teams can make one 'prospects for regulars' type of deal, very few can make two. It just depletes the farm. Blue Jays should have went to FA route after the Florida trade. Melky Cabrera was great, needed more like that. A Jeremy Guthrie or similar type SP was on the market in early 2013.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by BOSSY

Why would you remove the roof? If Skydome didn't have a roof you'd never get free agents to play there, not to mention the amount of games lost or PPD due to weather.

How is the climate in TOR any different than DET or CLE?

[Caged Great]

Ideally, the Jays will re-sign Cabrera and acquire a quality 2B. If they could add a starter, that'd help as well. With a number of pitchers getting close to being ready (Stroman/Hutchison/Sanchez/Norris/Graveman), we might be fine it we just run with kids instead of adding via free agency.

Having the lineup consisting of Cabrera, Gose, Bautista, Lawrie, Reyes, new 2B, Lind/EE, and Navarro should be good. If they let Cabrera go, then they might try Pompey maybe in LF? Would be a big step down offensively.

[DOOM]

Rasmus comes through!

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Ideally, the Jays will re-sign Cabrera and acquire a quality 2B. If they could add a starter, that'd help as well. With a number of pitchers getting close to being ready (Stroman/Hutchison/Sanchez/Norris/Graveman), we might be fine it we just run with kids instead of adding via free agency.

We needed the starter this year. Next year I'm fine with picking up nobody (and letting Morrow walk although I'd like to decline his option and bring him back at lower pay in order to fill out the bullpen... the man is made of glass but when he's right he still has filthy stuff, move him to the bullpen and I think he does well). The current rotation (Dickey/Hutchison/Stroman/Buehrle/Happ is okey enough and we now have Sanchez + Norris + Graveman as replacement starter depth so we can make trades and fight off injury issues/under-performance much better).

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Having the lineup consisting of Cabrera, Gose, Bautista, Lawrie, Reyes, new 2B, Lind/EE, and Navarro should be good. If they let Cabrera go, then they might try Pompey maybe in LF? Would be a big step down offensively.

No way. Pompey won a minor league gold glove... no reason to move him out of centerfield. Pompey is probably the Blue Jays wet dream come true if he can keep on doing what he did this year... a homegrown, 5-Tool, switch hitting, gold glove calibre, premium position player who is not only Canadian but is from the GTA? That is a marketing gold mine.

If they can keep Cabrera (he's gonna be expensive) and they don't do a sell off I basically see the Jays next year as thus...

Reyes
Cabrera
Bautista
Encarnation
Lind(R)/Mayberry(L)
Lawrie
Navarro
Izturis (Remember him?)
Gose(R)/Pillar(L) -> Pompey (post-supertwo deadline)

So that leaves the bench as whichever half of the two platoons isn't starting, Valencia, & Thole. That team can hit but has some issues with infield defense and becomes exploitable with injuries due to need to platoon two slots already and the lack of major league ready bluechip prospects. As much as I love Kawasaki I'd rather not have him play as much as he has over the last two years.

[JiriHrdina]

^Cripes I totally forgot about Izturis. He's under contract for next year?

My other question for those who follow the prospects more - is Drabek still in the mix to be something or is he basically busting out?

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

^Cripes I totally forgot about Izturis. He's under contract for next year?

My other question for those who follow the prospects more - is Drabek still in the mix to be something or is he basically busting out?

Last I heard was that he's been terrible in the minors. He has great stuff but can't control his pitches and ends up walking far too many batters. Can't really count on him making any impact at the major league level unless he somehow figures out how to locate his pitches.

[Tyler]

We just swept the Rays? IN TAMPA?!

[ben voyonsdonc]

nm.