Blue jays 2014 edition

[Perry Mason]

OK, OK.... :frusty:

Surprised no one has yet got the ball rolling -- in a manner of speaking!

Spring Training is less than 3 weeks ahead... but, holy crap, nothing much to say except ho-hum.

We are about to find out whether AA's trades last year were smart and 2013 just one of those aberrations... or not!

I don't see the BJ's even adding any pitching; none out there worth the asking price. So it looks like more or less a stand pat lineup...

So, can Goins surprise?

Can Melky produce?

Can Ricky do like a phoenix?

Can Rasmus and Lind understand the meaning of consistency?

Can one or two of Hutchison, Drabek, Jeffress, McGowan, Sanchez, Nolin or Stroman step up?

The BJ's do have a lot of talent available. Lots of questions, but can they find some answers to a few of them?

Stay tuned...

Perry

 

[mandrill]

Well, it can't be any worse than last year. I'm hoping that the vast under-performance in 2013 was due to ill health, bad luck and injuries. It remains to be seen if we really have a major league pitching staff with Drabek, Mcgowan, Romero and Morrow back. Still not sure if RAD is suited to Rogers Centre.

A healthy Bautista, Reyes and EE is a decent start to the offence. A healthy and juice-free Melky is a big maybe.

 

[Bargnani_]

According to @GloBlair as he came into studio after us- #Jays may have more than passing interest in AJ Burnett. feeling said to be mutual.

 

[mightymouse007]

Rotoworld has jays doing background work on jimenez. They are deciding whether to offer a contract to jimenez, santana, or burnett.

 

[SkyRider]

I heard there may/will be some changes in MLB.
1) No more crashing into the catcher.
2) More video replays.
3) Maybe pitchers will have the option of wearing helmets.

 

[Ironhead]

I heard there may/will be some changes in MLB.
1) No more crashing into the catcher.
2) More video replays.
3) Maybe pitchers will have the option of wearing helmets.

As far as I know ...
1. yes
2. yes
3. have not heard this one.

 

[maurice93]

I heard about #3 last week. It will be tested in spring training and is totally optional.

 

[Nad Smith]

say did any one notice that Kansas City released Emilio Bonifacio?

 

[Dawgger]

say did any one notice that Kansas City released Emilio Bonifacio?

Hadn't seen it. Looked at the Royals site and at this point he is removed from the 40 man roster, they hope to trade him. The Royals signed him to a 1 year $3,500 000. avoiding arbitration. Royals picked Omar Infante as their regular second baseman then signed Bruce Chen and someone had to go.
He sure has moved around and that makes me wonder about attitude. Never saw a problem that way here but the teams usually try to keep those things quiet. Lots of speed, not sure about smarts!

 

[Perry Mason]

What a pity...

Bonifacio seems to have so much athletic ability but seems unable to turn it into sparkling performance.

Who knows what is going on between his ears!

Perry

 

[Perry Mason]

I can't believe how little enthusiasm there is for the BJ's this year... at least here!

Last year, at this time, we were making plans for the World Series. ..

Actually, I think that, talent wise, this team is better than last year's. Better defensively at catcher and 2nd; not having to carry Johnson automatically means better starting pitching -- and more depth, too; more experience all around, particularly in the bullpen.

But I still think the BJ's will struggle because they are still stuck with their basic problem: the manager.

Gibbons may be a nice guy, knowledgeable, etc. and make all the right calls from the dugout... but the essential role of the manager is to understand what is going on between the ears of the players. And to use that knowledge to help the individuals work together and play effectively as a team... something for which it is obvious Gibbons has little talent.

The manager of a baseball team has more or less the same role as the conductor of an orchestra. The conductor does not play the violins or oboe or trumpets any more than the manager pitches or hits... but he is the glue that holds them together to make music!

Unless the team really performs, I say both Gibbons and AA are goners before the beginning of May...:fear:

Perry

 

[Dawgger]

I can't believe how little enthusiasm there is for the BJ's this year... at least here!

Last year, at this time, we were making plans for the World Series. ..

Actually, I think that, talent wise, this team is better than last year's. Better defensively at catcher and 2nd; not having to carry Johnson automatically means better starting pitching -- and more depth, too; more experience all around, particularly in the bullpen.

But I still think the BJ's will struggle because they are still stuck with their basic problem: the manager.

Gibbons may be a nice guy, knowledgeable, etc. and make all the right calls from the dugout... but the essential role of the manager is to understand what is going on between the ears of the players. And to use that knowledge to help the individuals work together and play effectively as a team... something for which it is obvious Gibbons has little talent.

The manager of a baseball team has more or less the same role as the conductor of an orchestra. The conductor does not play the violins or oboe or trumpets any more than the manager pitches or hits... but he is the glue that holds them together to make music!

Unless the team really performs, I say both Gibbons and AA are goners before the beginning of May...:fear:

Perry

Perry...no media hype this year...the media boys are waiting for the trade or the free agent signing before getting the public all riled up. I think the Jays have a good nucleus, everything will hang on the starters, and how many starters we put on the d/l as the season progresses. IF the starters are(a lot) better than last year and the boys stay healthy they should be playing meaningful games in Sept,

 

[Dawgger]

What a pity...

Bonifacio seems to have so much athletic ability but seems unable to turn it into sparkling performance.

Who knows what is going on between his ears!

Perry

Bonafacio was released by the Royals and has since signed with the Cubs.

 

[teassoc]

.... everything will hang on the starters, and how many starters we put on the d/l as the season progresses. IF the starters are(a lot) better than last year and the boys stay healthy they should be playing meaningful games in Sept,

Seems so doesn't it.

I expect Dicky to be better and that Morrow will return to form as numbers 1 and 2. Buerhle should be reasonable at 3.

That leaves Happ, Redmond, Drabek, Hutchison, McGowan and Rogers for the last 2 spots. That's without others such as Stroman waiting for their chances.

Would be great if McGowan and Hutchison could recover their form, but pretty much any of them will be better than Wang and the other cast-offs.

Other team changes should improve the team defensively which will help the pitchers.

Team has got to be stronger, hasn't it??????

 

[Dawgger]

Seems so doesn't it.

I expect Dicky to be better and that Morrow will return to form as numbers 1 and 2. Buerhle should be reasonable at 3.

That leaves Happ, Redmond, Drabek, Hutchison, McGowan and Rogers for the last 2 spots. That's without others such as Stroman waiting for their chances.

Would be great if McGowan and Hutchison could recover their form, but pretty much any of them will be better than Wang and the other cast-offs.

Other team changes should improve the team defensively which will help the pitchers.

Team has got to be stronger, hasn't it??????

One more option: If it doesn't look like the current crop of starters can get the job done, and Santana is still available and they may just be forced to make him an offer.
Team should be stronger, they have had a year playing together, catching has to have improved, and if Goins gives us defense at second ants even .225 they should be better.
Melky has to hit for average and with some power. Hope his problem was with the back and not a lack of PEDs
Last year at this time I had tickets to a bunch of games, so far I have a list of games I MAY go to.

 

[ZeroSumPlus]

OK, OK.... :frusty:

Surprised no one has yet got the ball rolling -- in a manner of speaking!

Spring Training is less than 3 weeks ahead... but, holy crap, nothing much to say except ho-hum.

We are about to find out whether AA's trades last year were smart and 2013 just one of those aberrations... or not!

I don't see the BJ's even adding any pitching; none out there worth the asking price. So it looks like more or less a stand pat lineup...

So, can Goins surprise?

Can Melky produce?

Can Ricky do like a phoenix?

Can Rasmus and Lind understand the meaning of consistency?

Can one or two of Hutchison, Drabek, Jeffress, McGowan, Sanchez, Nolin or Stroman step up?

The BJ's do have a lot of talent available. Lots of questions, but can they find some answers to a few of them?

Stay tuned...

Perry

"The BJ's do have a lot of talent available."

Based on what? Consistent mediocrity? A Rogers Ad Campaign?

This team finished 14 games under 0.500 in 2013...
And finished 16 games under 0.500 in 2012...

That's two (2) "Lost Seasons" in a row... the single worst thing you can say about a GM.

AA can't make a deal because other GMs view him as a Total Patsy...
It's truly amazing that the Fat Dude has never ACTUALLY PLAYED pro baseball...
Maybe he can be Chairman of General Motors next.

But no worries, baby...
The new $50 million Rogers ad campaign will make the 2014 Jays Instant Contenders.

 

[shack]

AA can't make a deal because other GMs view him as a Total Patsy...

If he was a patsy, they'd be dying to make deals with him.

It's truly amazing that the Fat Dude has never ACTUALLY PLAYED pro baseball...

Or Brian Cashman or Theo Epstein or Dave Dombrowski. And Sam Pollock never played pro. (Scotty Bowman either.)

Aside from that, excellent post.

 

[eguapo]

Big difference between Brian Cashman, Theo Epstein and Dave Dombrowski and AA is they have actually been a part of winning a championship

 

[shack]

Big difference between Brian Cashman, Theo Epstein and Dave Dombrowski and AA is they have actually been a part of winning a championship

I see you figured out the comparison.

 

[black booty lover]

Big difference between Brian Cashman, Theo Epstein and Dave Dombrowski and AA is they have actually been a part of winning a championship

yeah that's a fair analogy. Teams that have double the payroll, not to mention more than 4 years to correct a ship that was already sunk. I'm not sure how long a GM should have to prove himself, but think the guy should get at least one more year if not 2.

People often forget what this guy had to do just fix up some of the mess he inherited. He had to unload the "un-tradable" contract of Vernon Wells which he some how pulled off, and was forced to trade the un-happy franchise player in Roy Halladay.