2011 Blue Jays Season Thread

[Jiggy_12]

Jays finally move 2 games above .500 after countless attempts!

[Frequitude]

I think its about time we start calling Edwin "E2".

[Caged Great]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

I think its about time we start calling Edwin "E2".

He's going to catch?

[NoCupsIn40Years]

Yeah E5 always tends to heat up towards the end of the year. I want him and Rajai back as our bench players. Hopefully AA signs a superstar bat like Jose Reyes or Prince Fielder.

Escobar
Rasmus
Bautista
Lind
Fielder
Hill
Thames
Lawrie
Arencibia

With that lineup being posted, I hope Snider gets packaged along with other pieces for an ace pitcher. And than I like our chances next year to make a playoff push.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Where ru Chris O'Sullivan

With the teams he's had? You or me could have Managed Oakland to that '89 title. In 06 it was more of Detroit unable to make routine plays (Guiness World record for pitchers fielding).For the most part, he's had great players to work with, which didn't help in '04 when his team got swept away. His legacy thus far is one of an innovator, ideas that never really panned out in the long haul. The inability to 'lift' highly talented teams to championships.

Eckerlsy vs. Gibson is now his fault?

Who should he have pitched instead of Eck? Arguably the best closer of all-time and somehow it is his fault Gibson hit the lucky pitch?

Keep trying to heap the negativity on La Russa it's fine the mainstream media does it all the time and all he does is continue to win with talented teams and untalented teams.

[moon]

Originally Posted by NoCupsIn40Years

Yeah E5 always tends to heat up towards the end of the year. I want him and Rajai back as our bench players. Hopefully AA signs a superstar bat like Jose Reyes or Prince Fielder.

Just because it is fun to be the hated realist on this thread but why would Reyes or Fielder ever sign in To?

They can make equal money on teams that actually have a chance to compete what do the Jays offer that makes then sign there?

[CofR]

Originally Posted by moon

Just because it is fun to be the hated realist on this thread but why would Reyes or Fielder ever sign in To?

They can make equal money on teams that actually have a chance to compete what do the Jays offer that makes then sign there?

What makes you so convinced the Jays don't have a chance to compete? I'm not a Jays fan, but its hard to deny that they're not on the right path. Good prospect base, plenty of good players signed on good contracts, and ownership that has the capabilities to spend. They're only a couple pieces away from competing for the division IMO. Those pieces aren't going to be easy to get, but I have no reason to think that players who sign there won't "actually have a chance to compete".

[flambers]

Originally Posted by NoCupsIn40Years

Escobar
Rasmus
Bautista
Lind
Fielder
Hill
Thames
Lawrie
Arencibia

With that lineup being posted, I hope Snider gets packaged along with other pieces for an ace pitcher. And than I like our chances next year to make a playoff push.

I would think Aaron Hill is probably gone, I like the line up with the exception of Fielder. Would rather see the Jays trade for a true closer and starting pitcher.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by moon

Just because it is fun to be the hated realist on this thread but why would Reyes or Fielder ever sign in To?

They can make equal money on teams that actually have a chance to compete what do the Jays offer that makes then sign there?

In terms of Fielder, for a few reason

(a) Its a hitter friendly park. (i.e. Bautista .....)

(b) GM has shown he has a strong desire to build a team to win (i.e Farm system is top 5, Pro team is young and will improve).

Jays have a great Shortstop. Next position of need is 2nd base.

[NoCupsIn40Years]

Originally Posted by moon

Just because it is fun to be the hated realist on this thread but why would Reyes or Fielder ever sign in To?

They can make equal money on teams that actually have a chance to compete what do the Jays offer that makes then sign there?

They want to play in Toronto, it's simple. They see the Jays as an upcoming young team with talent and the opportunity to play beside the best batter in the world in Jose Bautista. AA also has this weird mind controlling phrase where he brainwashes star players to sign for less than market value, see Lind and Bautista contracts.

[NoCupsIn40Years]

Originally Posted by flambers

I would think Aaron Hill is probably gone, I like the line up with the exception of Fielder. Would rather see the Jays trade for a true closer and starting pitcher.

Jays have a very respectable front office. They'll give Hill one more chance on a 1 year deal to prove if he's part of the core moving forward. AA declined his option for 3 more years and I believe is set to become a free agent next year with club options for the next two years. I say they'll decline next year and re-sign him to a short term contract.

I am one of those people who believe we shouldn't spend too much money on a pitcher who only plays 1 inning. AA said in the interview he agrees with that consensus. I can however see McGowan moving to a bull pen role, who knows maybe even as a closer.

And yeah the Jays desperately need a top end pitcher to compete in the AL Beast.

[NoCupsIn40Years]

Rasmus is suffering from Vernon Wells syndrome. (Fly outs to center)

Anthopolous is human after all, he made a mistake by swapping Francisco for Napoli

[Jiggy_12]

Rumors are the jays are still going after ianetta which I can't understand. Lots of talk on the jays message board about various reports.

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

Rumors are the jays are still going after ianetta which I can't understand. Lots of talk on the jays message board about various reports.

Sounds like it could be a 3 way based on what I heard an hour ago or so.

[Cheese]

Jays pursue Iannetta

Both the Cleveland Indians and the Blue Jays are pursuing Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta heading into Sunday’s no-waiver trade deadline.

[Flickered Flame]

Just based on a conversation with my buddies in the A's organization, they wouldn't be surprised to see Wandy Rodriguez end up in Toronto.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Cheese

Jays pursue Iannetta

Both the Cleveland Indians and the Blue Jays are pursuing Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta heading into Sunday’s no-waiver trade deadline.

Odd considering the jays have JP and D'Arnaud and the Indians have Santana. But I guess AA may want him to move him to another team as mentioned earlier. Or AA wants 8-9 DH's with all the redundant guys the team would have by adding Ianetta.

[moon]

Originally Posted by CofR

What makes you so convinced the Jays don't have a chance to compete?

Rays have a better team right now and better farm system. Add in the better GM and manager and they are likely to be as competitive if not better in the future. Sure they don't have the money but they have proven that they can compete and adapt to challenges, something the Jays have yet to do.

The Sox and Yankees are obviously much better right now and although the farm systems are not as strong they both have talent and the ability/money to make up any differences.

That puts the Jays in a struggle to be the 3rd best team in the division year after year with the hope that maybe once in every 5 years they can catch the Yankees or Red Sox in a down year.

Fielder et al. can go to the Cubs, Angels etc. and have a shot every year of winning the division or the wild card to make the play-off year after year and not worrying about getting that perfect season to make the play-offs.

[flambers]

Originally Posted by moon

Rays have a better team right now and better farm system. Add in the better GM and manager and they are likely to be as competitive if not better in the future. Sure they don't have the money but they have proven that they can compete and adapt to challenges, something the Jays have yet to do.

Rays finished last for nearly 10 years....

Give the Jays another couple of years and their farm system and Pro team will match the Rays.

[Caged Great]

Here's the Jays current financial outputs and what they're spending for next year by position.

C

JP Arencibia - 0.413 million - Needs to be resigned. Likely for less than 1 million.
Jose Molina - 1 million - Free agent

1B

Adam Lind - 5 Million - 5 million next year
David Cooper - League min

2B

Aaron Hill - 5 million - 8 million dollar option next year. Likely to be declined
Mark Teahen - 2 million due this year - 5 mil

SS

Yunel Escobar - 2.9 million - 5 million
John MacDonald - 1.5 million - Free agent, likely to retire
Mike McCoy - 0.422 - Free agent filler

3B

Edwin Encarnacion - 2.5 mil - 3.5 mil option or 500K buyout
Brett Lawrie - League min

OF

Rajai Davis - 2.5 mil - 2.75 mil
Jose Bautista - 8 mil - 14 mil
Travis Snider - 0.435 - Not signed, but will be for less than 1 mil
Eric Thames - league min
Colby Rasmus - 0.443 - Not signed, but it depends on whether a long term contract might be reached.

Total for position players - 27.913 this year - Around 42-43 next year without Hill.

P

Brandon Morrow - 2.3 - Unsigned
Ricky Romero - 0.75 - 5 mil
Carlos Villaneuva - 1.415 - unsigned
Brett Cecil - 0.443 - Unsigned
Kyle Drabek - league min
Jesse Litsch - 0.83 - unsigned
Frank Francisco - 4 million - free agent
Shawn Camp - 2.25 million - free agent
Jon Rauch - 3.5 million - 250K buyout or 3.75 mil (Comp pick though likely means he'll get bought out)
Casey Janssen - 1.1 million
Luis Perez - league min
Brad Mills - league min
Wil Ledezma - League min
Trevor Miller - 2 million - free agent
Brian Tallet - 750K - Free agent

Total - 20.98 this year - unknown for next year, too many variables.