2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[jschick88]

Would be interesting to hear how many season tickets the Jays sold this week.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by jschick88

Would be interesting to hear how many season tickets the Jays sold this week.

Blue Jay Hiunter on twitter who is a pretty legit source says that the Jays had a record week in ticket sales this week alone, before the Melky signing.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by Pierre "Monster" McGuire

So...
)
Starting Pitchers:

1 - Brendan Morrow
2 - Josh Johnson
3 - Mark Buerhle
4 - Ricky Romero
5 - JA Happ/Hutchison/Drabek/Cecil/Marcum (if the rumour is true)

Me likey.

Johnson is your #1.

[nik-]

Wish I could like the Melky signing ... but I'm just too old school/naive

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by tenyardrambo

In regards to the bench, I think Anthony Gose should be a huge pinch runner.

Barring injuries I would guess Gose will start the year (and likely play most of the year) in Buffalo unless Rasmus or Lind (and they moved Bautista back to 1st) are moved. Davis will be the 4th outfielder/designated pinch runner.

[kipperfan]

Anyone think there is any chance AA lures a big name manager out of retirement with his super talented roster? Bobby Cox? Tony La Russa? Joe Torre? They're all pretty old, but I think La Russa would be an amazing choice if he would agree to come. And I think he is only (ha!) in his late sixties!

[bluejays]

I really hope they don't go after LaRussa. What a miserable sack of crap. He may be a hardass but he singled out Rasmus because of his addictions rather than helping him out. So from that perspective, I think there was enough animosity that if you take LaRussa, you can pretty much count Rasmus out of wanting to be there. Torre - I'll discount his managing ability given he always had a high payroll with superstars. Cox - old school, would be the most intriguing from the bunch, but in that case why not have someone who knows the organization but is also a strategist? I throw out the name Cito, just because.

Really though, I just want someone who has the respect of the players, plays the numbers, but also someone who'll drive the players to push themselves. A lot of those managers above I'm not sure have that in modern day (Torre had Jeter "managing" egos by all accounts). I don't have an answer, but I think that would be my criteria.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Anyone think there is any chance AA lures a big name manager out of retirement with his super talented roster? Bobby Cox? Tony La Russa? Joe Torre? They're all pretty old, but I think La Russa would be an amazing choice if he would agree to come. And I think he is only (ha!) in his late sixties!

they apparently already tried Cox, but he told them that he was retired.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/11/...e-Toronto.aspx

Cox did not learn of the blockbuster until he awoke on Wednesday morning. But it seemed apparent that it would not be enough to persuade him to end his retirement.


"There is not another guy in the world I'd like to work for more than Beeston," Cox said. "But that is not going to bring me out of retirement. I'm retired, and I'm happy here in Atlanta."

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by RedHot25

they apparently already tried Cox, but he told them that he was retired.

http://www.chattanoogan.com/2012/11/...e-Toronto.aspx

Cox did not learn of the blockbuster until he awoke on Wednesday morning. But it seemed apparent that it would not be enough to persuade him to end his retirement.


"There is not another guy in the world I'd like to work for more than Beeston," Cox said. "But that is not going to bring me out of retirement. I'm retired, and I'm happy here in Atlanta."

Interesting, did not know he'd already commented. At least no public turndowns from Tony yet...so I will keep my hopes up. Though I bet Don Wakamatsu has a good a shot as anyone right now.

[TitovFTW]

I've said Manny Acta has been my choice since the search started. I can't stand the idea of some managers having Melky bunting every time Reyes gets on base. Besides Acta, I'm not sure who I want in a manager. No chance Bobby Cox, LaRussa or Cito are back. I don't think AA is going to take on this "dream team" type of persona and bring on some 1 or 2 year manager.

I'm much more in touch with who I don't want. Someone just like Don Mattingly in LA. Someone who realizes you don't dress Adam Lind vs LHP. Mattingly had Andre Ethier (The west coast Adam Lind) batting 2nd or 4th night after night and failing miserably. A manager smart enough to platoon players and a manager who doesn't over use the bunt (To me in the AL 1 bunt a season is to much, but I realize outside of Acta, managers are still going to use it, I just hope the manager won't use it excessively and early in games) A manager who can manage a bullpen and will use his closer in high leverage situations that aren't all saves.

The Intangibles a manager brings outside of just simply strategy are one's none of us can really understand or measure. For this reasons and many others, I hope they get Manny Acta. He's not a sideshow, he's not a manager getting his first taste of the position and he's got a history with a lot of the players on this club. Not sure what value we can put on these but the reports have said that AA wants a manager with experience as opposed to someone who would take a year for the learning curve of everything that goes with the position. I am hesitant about Acta only because the search has gone on for so long, seems as if you'd know everything about Acta already who was likely interviewed early due to being available, that you'd have already gone with him. That being said, AA sure is diligent so who knows, but Acta would be freaking awesome and I refuse to give up hope.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Interesting, did not know he'd already commented. At least no public turndowns from Tony yet...so I will keep my hopes up. Though I bet Don Wakamatsu has a good a shot as anyone right now.

He has not been mentioned once, not even in the slightest so I'd get your hopes way down lol. Also, there's no way he's being brought on with Rasmus as your starting CF.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by fleury

I really hope they don't go after LaRussa. What a miserable sack of crap. He may be a hardass but he singled out Rasmus because of his addictions rather than helping him out. So from that perspective, I think there was enough animosity that if you take LaRussa, you can pretty much count Rasmus out of wanting to be there. Torre - I'll discount his managing ability given he always had a high payroll with superstars. Cox - old school, would be the most intriguing from the bunch, but in that case why not have someone who knows the organization but is also a strategist? I throw out the name Cito, just because.

Really though, I just want someone who has the respect of the players, plays the numbers, but also someone who'll drive the players to push themselves. A lot of those managers above I'm not sure have that in modern day (Torre had Jeter "managing" egos by all accounts). I don't have an answer, but I think that would be my criteria.

Agree with you for the most part regarding Torre, but can't agree with regards to La Russa. Rasmus might very well be on the way out anyways, and personally I would suggest it's not a MLB managers place or job to have to help their players sort out addiction issues. If they have those issues they deserve to be singled out IMO, and should be rectifying the issues outside the MLB and outside the public spotlight.

With all that said, I grant you that he may not have handled the Rasmus situation ideally, but IMO the good more then definitely out weighs the bad with Tony La Russa.

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

He has not been mentioned once, not even in the slightest so I'd get your hopes way down lol. Also, there's no way he's being brought on with Rasmus as your starting CF.

I was joking about getting my hopes up, but I still think he would be an awesome hire. As mentioned above, I'm putting my money on Wakamatsu.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by kipperfan

Agree with you for the most part regarding Torre, but can't agree with regards to La Russa. Rasmus might very well be on the way out anyways, and personally I would suggest it's not a MLB managers place or job to have to help their players sort out addiction issues. If they have those issues they deserve to be singled out IMO, and should be rectifying the issues outside the MLB and outside the public spotlight.

With all that said, I grant you that he may not have handled the Rasmus situation ideally, but IMO the good more then definitely out weighs the bad with Tony La Russa.

What addiction issues? Rasmus is not a recovering alcoholic or drug addict. Also I think Rasmus is as close to a lock for this team going into 2012 as you can have right now. No way Anthony Gose is your everyday CF. You could chose me as the manager of the Jays or La Russa and the difference in wins-losses would be 5 at best. La Russa comes with an ego, a high price tag and everything else. Not that you're implying he will be named or has any chance. Also he's pretty hardcore right wing so not sure how he'd feel about coming to liberal Toronto. And he's retired and he's old and I'd hate if they did because then there would be over the top additional coverage as if he'd be the difference between a championship or not. He managed games really well, he knows baseball, he'll go down as one of the best. I hope he enjoys his remaining years.

[TitovFTW]

Manny Acta was the bench coach for the Mets when Reyes was there.

He has a great past relationship with the face of the franchise Bautista.

He is Dominican, a ton of Jays players are Dominican.

But who knows

[kipperfan]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

What addiction issues? Rasmus is not a recovering alcoholic or drug addict. Also I think Rasmus is as close to a lock for this team going into 2012 as you can have right now. No way Anthony Gose is your everyday CF. You could chose me as the manager of the Jays or La Russa and the difference in wins-losses would be 5 at best. La Russa comes with an ego, a high price tag and everything else. Not that you're implying he will be named or has any chance. Also he's pretty hardcore right wing so not sure how he'd feel about coming to liberal Toronto. And he's retired and he's old and I'd hate if they did because then there would be over the top additional coverage as if he'd be the difference between a championship or not. He managed games really well, he knows baseball, he'll go down as one of the best. I hope he enjoys his remaining years.

I respect your opinion, but still think he would be a good, if not great hire. With that said, there is probably a 0.12% chance of it actually happening, so the two of us going back and forth debating about him is probably futile.

I like your suggestion of Acta, he is a good manager and the busload of Dominicans now on the roster would likely be very happy working under him. Jerry Manuel is another interesting name, and another guy who can speak Spanish IIRC.

[Caged Great]

I was talking with someone I went to school with who's a cousin of a former Jay, and she said the jays are targeting Anibal Sanchez, Haren, RA Dickey as well as a couple others 2/3 guys to finish the rotation. I don't know if she's an accurate source at all or not but I figured I'd pass it on regardless.

With how the week has gone, nothing would surprise me.

[Blaster86]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I was talking with someone I went to school with who's a cousin of a former Jay, and she said the jays are targeting Anibal Sanchez, Haren, RA Dickey as well as a couple others 2/3 guys to finish the rotation. I don't know if she's an accurate source at all or not but I figured I'd pass it on regardless.

With how the week has gone, nothing would surprise me.

GET ALL THE PITCHERS!

So this is what being a Yankee fan feels like.

[TitovFTW]

Here are the remaining Free Agent Pitchers:

(Almost impossible to get inside AA's head right now but with how many young players in the system he's given up the last year, I don't think we see any other blockbuster trade where the Jays give up multiple quality prospects)

1. Zack Greinke- A week ago you'd say no chance unless the Jays horribly overpayed for him (which you'd suspect they'd never ever do) but now you at least have to give a little thought to the idea they could grab him. He's easily the best chance this team would have to give them the extra 6-7 wins to lockup a playoff spot. He's going to demand some serious cash and a really long term however.

2. Kyle Loshe- Don't see it happening and let's all pray it doesn't

3. Edwin Jackson- Has been tied to the Jays for some time and was talk about them being very interested early in the offseason. He's an innings eater and the Jays just got one of the best at that so I don't see it

4. Hiroki Kuroda- Going to the Dodgers it looks like

5. Brandon McCarthy- Flickered said it's very likely he winds up back in Oakland but one would think he's at least testing the waters. Seemed quite impressed about the Jays moves on twitter, although nobody is dumb enough to read into that besides me. He to me makes the most sense and is a legit Ace and you wouldn't have to pay him Greinke money

6. Anibal Sanchez- I don't see him becoming a Jay now. Perhaps before these trades and signing, but his contract demands right now are through the roof. If you're going to pony up and break the bank for him, why not just throw in an extra 15 million and go all in on Greinke who is a 1000x better pitcher?

7. Ryan Dempster- Would make sense I guess but he's pretty much a #5 guy in the AL and I think the Jays are looking to get a #2-#3 guy as opposed to just filling out the rotation.

8. Shawn Marcum- Geoff Blair said there is no chance at all, Marcum sounded interested, he's a huge injury risk. Wouldn't shock me if somehow he did end up a Jay but I don't think it's going to happen.

As for trades, who knows? Gavin Floyd is the only name I could bring up. So tough to tell or understand what the market is or who might be available. Such a long time till the season starts as well, I suspect AA might be patient and let things come to him in this regard. Biggest question after the trade was Rogers going to go at this full on or just allow for this one splash and then have AA work around those contracts. Clearly AA has a ton of flexibility and It seems clear if he says he needs money for one more pitcher to put this team over the hump, he'll get the money to do so.

[Flickered Flame]

My predictions:

1. Zack Greinke- Texas
2. Kyle Loshe- Angels
3. Edwin Jackson- Boston
4. Hiroki Kuroda- Dodgers
5. Brandon McCarthy- Athletics
6. Anibal Sanchez- Orioles
7. Ryan Dempster- Dodgers
8. Shawn Marcum- Jays