2012-2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Thread

[GirlySports]

Since we're dreaming, can we sign Hamilton too!?

[Alberta_Beef]

what will the batting lineup look like?

I assume something like this?

1. Reyes
2. Cabrera
3. Bautista
4. Encarnacion
5. Lawrie
6. Lind
7. Rasmus
8. Arencibia
9. Izturis/Bonifacio

I think only Reyes in the lead off spot is the only guarantee

[flames_fan_down_under]

Somewhat pointless observation but the run support that Josh Johnson got in his last ten starts was non-existant. Things were bad in Miami down the stretch and W-L records for pitchers mean little.

L 0-3(IP:6, ER:2), L 0-3(IP:6, ER:3), L 1-3(IP:7, ER 3), W 6-2(IP:7, ER:2), L 3-5(IP:8, ER:1), L 2-8(IP:3, ER:6), L 2-3(IP:7, ER:3), L 0-1(IP:8, ER:1), L 1-6(IP:6, ER:3), W 5-2(IP:8, ER:1)

Excited to have him as a Blue Jay

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Since we're dreaming, can we sign Hamilton too!?

?
Where would you put him is the only thing? I'd say if you want one last piece and wil overpay, Zack Greinke would be awesome.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Since we're dreaming, can we sign Hamilton too!?

Personally would rather add another good Starter (top 2 type of a pitcher) and more depth in terms of pitching....

Injuries will happen...

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by flambers

Personally would rather add another good Starter (top 2 type of a pitcher) and more depth in terms of pitching....

Injuries will happen...

Well, unless you think we seen the true Romero last year, I'm not sure where another start would fit in. Morrow, Johnson (hopefully Romero) should battle for #1, (hopefully) Romero will be the #3 and Buerhle at #4. Leaving the 5th spot open for competition.

For the fun of a true divisional race in the AL East, I hope TBay, NYY and Bal all improve, but I think its quite likely the NYY's take a huge step back, Tbay remains a .500 club and Baltimore falters from their dream season last year.

On paper this should be a 95 win Jays team?

[Berger]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Well, unless you think we seen the true Romero last year, I'm not sure where another start would fit in. Morrow, Johnson (hopefully Romero) should battle for #1, (hopefully) Romero will be the #3 and Buerhle at #4. Leaving the 5th spot open for competition.

For the fun of a true divisional race in the AL East, I hope TBay, NYY and Bal all improve, but I think its quite likely the NYY's take a huge step back, Tbay remains a .500 club and Baltimore falters from their dream season last year.

On paper this should be a 95 win Jays team?

How on earth is TB a .500 team? In the last 5 years they have had 4 90+ win seasons with 2 of them being 95+. The one season they weren't a 90 win team they still had 86 wins. Its pretty safe to say they will be battling for the AL east once again this year.

I do agree NYY will take a step back, and that BAL won't be as lucky as last year. BOS I think isn't as bad as some think, they still have Pedroria, Ortiz, Ellsbury, Lester, Buchholz, Dice K. A couple pieces and they will be right in the wildcard hunt.

Any guesses as to where Hamilton ends up? My guess is Boston.

I've never seen so much hype about baseball in Canada before Christmas in my life. I myself don't even think about it until usually January/February. I guess without hockey there's not much else to get excited about.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

?
Where would you put him is the only thing? I'd say if you want one last piece and wil overpay, Zack Greinke would be awesome.

CF.

I'd try to trade Rasmus and JPA for a pitcher.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

what will the batting lineup look like?

I assume something like this?

1. Reyes
2. Cabrera
3. Bautista
4. Encarnacion
5. Lawrie
6. Lind
7. Rasmus
8. Arencibia
9. Izturis/Bonifacio

I think only Reyes in the lead off spot is the only guarantee

Probably close, but I like the idea of rotating lefty/righty down the lineup if possible, so I would move either Lind or Rasmus (depending on who is hotter at the moment) into the 5 spot, and put Lawrie into the 6 spot.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

Well, unless you think we seen the true Romero last year, I'm not sure where another start would fit in. Morrow, Johnson (hopefully Romero) should battle for #1, (hopefully) Romero will be the #3 and Buerhle at #4. Leaving the 5th spot open for competition.

For the fun of a true divisional race in the AL East, I hope TBay, NYY and Bal all improve, but I think its quite likely the NYY's take a huge step back, Tbay remains a .500 club and Baltimore falters from their dream season last year.

On paper this should be a 95 win Jays team?

For sure they could fit in another starter.... key is can the payroll afford another starter... not sure.

Challenge is what happens if Morrow or Romero sustain an injury... i.e. like last season.

Ideally another quality Starter is required.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by Berger

How on earth is TB a .500 team? In the last 5 years they have had 4 90+ win seasons with 2 of them being 95+. The one season they weren't a 90 win team they still had 86 wins. Its pretty safe to say they will be battling for the AL east once again this year.

I do agree NYY will take a step back, and that BAL won't be as lucky as last year. BOS I think isn't as bad as some think, they still have Pedroria, Ortiz, Ellsbury, Lester, Buchholz, Dice K. A couple pieces and they will be right in the wildcard hunt.

Any guesses as to where Hamilton ends up? My guess is Boston.

I've never seen so much hype about baseball in Canada before Christmas in my life. I myself don't even think about it until usually January/February. I guess without hockey there's not much else to get excited about.

Tampa will be there just because their pitching staff is the best in baseball and so incredibly young. They have the smartest people in baseball running the organization. Part of me feels like some of their luck has to run out, only because they get such amazing production out of obscure players, but most of that is just incredible due diligence by their management.

Yankees might fall off a little, likely will, but they still will have an incredibly strong bullpen, a great middle of the lineup and the short porch in Yankee Stadium.

I don't like much on Boston besides Pedroia and Ellsbury. Their rotation sucks and they have no depth in their lineup.

I think Hamiltion ends up with the Rangers again. Unless he's willing to take a team friendly contract, he is not worth the risk at all by any team, especially the Blue Jays. He's getting older, his defense isn't strong, he's a liability at the plate and off the field needs constant monitoring. When he's on his game, he's the MVP of the AL, but he's not worth the risk at all of a multi year massive contract.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

CF.

I'd try to trade Rasmus and JPA for a pitcher.

You'd certainly have the best 3-4-5 hitters in baseball of the last decade. Just would leave you with a glaring hole at catcher if you traded JPA, and lose the defense and team friendly contract in Rasmus. It sure would be fun to watch those 3 though if Hamilton had his head screwed on right.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

You'd certainly have the best 3-4-5 hitters in baseball of the last decade. Just would leave you with a glaring hole at catcher if you traded JPA, and lose the defense and team friendly contract in Rasmus. It sure would be fun to watch those 3 though if Hamilton had his head screwed on right.

Buck can play this year and if D'Arnuad is ready this year put him in but no pressure.
Defensively he's good enough.

[TitovFTW]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Buck can play this year and if D'Arnuad is ready this year put him in but no pressure.
Defensively he's good enough.

Buck is coming off two terrible seasons is the only thing. I could see JP getting traded midseason though. All depends on how D'Arnauds start in AAA. It is fun to even think that divining a big name free agent is an actual possibility though isn't it?

John Buck is working double duty anyways as an ambassador to Toronto!

[Where ru Chris O'Sullivan]

Originally Posted by flambers

For sure they could fit in another starter.... key is can the payroll afford another starter... not sure.

Challenge is what happens if Morrow or Romero sustain an injury... i.e. like last season.

Ideally another quality Starter is required.

Too much want! Even the Yankees wouldn't go out and add 3 great starters to 2 already.

[howard_the_duck]

With the amount the Jays have invested in this team, there is no way they can go into next season expecting Ricky Romero to be anything but a bottom of the rotation starter.

He is a total wildcard. I think you assume the worst, get another arm or two for the rotation and create some healthy competition. With Ricky as the #5 I would be a lot more comfortable than at 3/4.

Combined with the fact that Morrow and Johnson have injury concerns, I would be shocked if at least another arm isn't added.

[jschick88]

MLB Network is coming back to Canada

In Ottawa on Wednesday, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission approved an application from Rogers Communications to broadcast the MLB Network in Canada. The network will be included as a cable option in the near future as part of the nation’s non-Canadian programming.

When Rogers applied to add the MLB Network to its cable offering this summer, it was largely seen as an opportunity for the cable service provider elicit additional subscriptions to its services. It was an answer to an increased demand that didn’t exist in 2008. The 2012 season marked a dramatic surge in baseball viewership for Rogers Sportsnet, especially in the key 18-34 year-old demographic.


That’s largely due to Toronto Blue Jays games, which makes things interesting for the MLB Network in Canada. Because the application was approved as non-Canadian programming, it means that viewers will be spared from having to tolerate uniquely Canadian content on the channel. Instead, they will be forced to suffer through copious amounts of air time for the buffoonery of Harold Reynolds and Kevin Millar.


http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/1...ing-to-canada/

[TitovFTW]

Yeah I think Dustin Parkes articulated it pretty well there. It's exciting to have a channel devoted to baseball, but the people they have on there are not the most intelligent. The only good thing I think would be detailed baseball highlights every night. Some of the highlight packages they cut on Canadian TV for baseball are almost offensive. Baseball tonight here in the states is simply the best.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

what will the batting lineup look like?

I assume something like this?

1. Reyes
2. Cabrera
3. Bautista
4. Encarnacion
5. Lawrie
6. Lind
7. Rasmus
8. Arencibia
9. Izturis/Bonifacio

I think only Reyes in the lead off spot is the only guarantee

I'd be astonished if Bautista is anywhere but 3.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by TitovFTW

Tampa will be there just because their pitching staff is the best in baseball and so incredibly young. They have the smartest people in baseball running the organization. Part of me feels like some of their luck has to run out, only because they get such amazing production out of obscure players, but most of that is just incredible due diligence by their management.

Yankees might fall off a little, likely will, but they still will have an incredibly strong bullpen, a great middle of the lineup and the short porch in Yankee Stadium.

I don't like much on Boston besides Pedroia and Ellsbury. Their rotation sucks and they have no depth in their lineup.

I think Hamiltion ends up with the Rangers again. Unless he's willing to take a team friendly contract, he is not worth the risk at all by any team, especially the Blue Jays. He's getting older, his defense isn't strong, he's a liability at the plate and off the field needs constant monitoring. When he's on his game, he's the MVP of the AL, but he's not worth the risk at all of a multi year massive contract.

Give Hamilton 6/100 and an South American medicine man to take him on an Iowaska trip. Problem solved.