Blue Jays 2009 edition...

[Perry Mason]

Can you believe spring training begins in less than 2 weeks?????????????

And I don't think this will be a year we will enjoy...

1. Starting pitching is not nearly as promising as last year... though miracles can and do happen and there are some very talented arms (Carlson and League, in particular)!
2. No improvement on hitting personnel... unless Overbay and Rolen wake up and the kid, Snyder, surprises... Wells and Rios too!
3. Yankees seem much stronger; the Sox appear stronger; the Rays have much more experience,
4. The Nose is still the GM... and he obviously can't even smell a better team,
5. No money in the till... at least, not yet,
6. No CEO to ride herd on The Nose... as if that would help!
7. The only positives are the return of Hill (although I liked the Scutaro/Inglett combo), Janssen and Accardo and a healthier Ryan... not much on which to pin great expectations.

Let's see if there are any surprises or trades at spring training, otherwise they will battle with the Orioles for the bottom of the pile.

Between the Jays, the Raptors, the Leafs and the Argos we haven't got much to cheer about in Toronto... except sex, drugs and rock and roll!

Cum to think of it, that ain't so bad!

Perry

 

[scouser1]

Cant really get excited about a team that will be battling for 4th place in that division, and really is there any point in cheering for a team that is nothing more than a front to advertise Rogers products.

 

[blueline]

This time last year, things looked so bright for all you BJ fans. There was definitely plenty of optimism to contend for a spot in the post season. Now Jays have 3 teams to climb over to reach the top of the AL East. Tough job.

As I mentioned in the other thread, still some nice players out there that can help make the team instant contenders.

Abreu - RF
Manny - LF
Dunn - DH
O'Dog - 2B
Cabrera - SS
Sheets - P

Look for RF-Jermaine Dye or 1B-Jim Thome to be on the trade block, if the Pale Hose sign Abreu to a one year deal at $8 million.

It shouldn't cost much to acquire all these players.

 

[mandrill]

So, do Jansen and Accardo get moved into the rotation? If not, who gets shoved in there?

 

[blueline]

So, do Jansen and Accardo get moved into the rotation? If not, who gets shoved in there?

How about this guy ..........

According to Kyodo News, lefty Ken Takahashi signed a minor league deal with the Blue Jays. Takahashi, 40 in April, posted a 3.50 ERA and 5.52 K/9 in 115.6 innings (20 starts) last year in Japan

 

[blueline]

Even if they signed or traded for any of the above 2 (they couldn't afford more then that, Manny at $25 mil, never) they wouldn't even be close to the big 3 in this division IMHO.
Sorry, but with the division the now the way it is i wont be paying any attention to the Jays this year. Battling for 4th with the Baltimore Oriole's surely isn't my idea of a fun season.

Red Sox Nation is always recruiting new members.

 

[shuda]

Just 4 Little Problems Separate us from the Playoffs

There are just 4 little problems separating the Jays from the playoffs in '09.
1) We'll be below average at positions 2, 3 and 4 in the rotation.
2) Our lineup is below average at c, 1b, ss, 3b, lf and dh
3) Most agents and free agents are Dunn with JP
4) Doc may well be gone by the end of July
Other than that we should be right there!

 

[canbreathethroughearsmale]

Here is the positives of this year...the Jays have some good kids that are probably 2 years away...hopefully guys like Brett Cecil will get a taste of the bigs this year and some others too and then with McGowan hopefully back at full strength after the season is done and Marcum back, 2010 can be what we can look forward too.

 

[Perry Mason]

... 2010 can be what we can look forward too.

I am getting a bit too tired and bored with the "wait 'til next year" refrain... it has been played too much, too often, too loud...

OTOH, what are the alternatives? Apathy? Boycott? Cheer for the Yanks? Ignore baseball... hockey, basketball and football too?

I think I may take a new interest in the TFC!

Perry

 

[Hurricane Hank]

TFC = Turtle Fucking Contest.

 

[bigdik]

I am getting a bit too tired and bored with the "wait 'til next year" refrain... it has been played too much, too often, too loud...

OTOH, what are the alternatives? Apathy? Boycott? Cheer for the Yanks? Ignore baseball... hockey, basketball and football too?

I think I may take a new interest in the TFC!

Perry

If your team plays the whole "building with prospects" schtick you need to have more prospects than the Jays. If you're "building", WTF are you doing with guys like Eckstein and Thomas and Rolen, and Molina a coupla years ago. I know Toronto doesn't have as many really sophisticated baseball fans as some ML cities, but I don't think you're all stupid enough to buy the nose's act. He's in over his head. Even the Yankees can't buy a title, so if you can't at least develop some kids, and find some ML bargains (Big Papi anyone?) you're screwed. Jays are screwed. Scouting builds championships. Worked for Gillick back in the day, works now. Jays are right there with the Royals and Pirates. not a good place. At least those clubs aren't pissing away money, they suck and they're ok with it. The Jays have a mid range payroll and a terrible organization. If you're going to be that bad at least let the few poor bastards that can play have a chance. Free Roy Halladay! Free Vermin Wells!
Free all the setup guys! the rest of em are crap.

OH, BTW, Toronto FC is even worse, and Soccer is really farking dull.

 

[spankingman]

Jays

If the sorry WHEN the Jays falter again this year JP has to go!!!!!!!!

The "rebuilding stage" can only go on for so long and we the fans suffer and PAY good bucks to watch it.

 

[canbreathethroughearsmale]

I am getting a bit too tired and bored with the "wait 'til next year" refrain... it has been played too much, too often, too loud...

OTOH, what are the alternatives? Apathy? Boycott? Cheer for the Yanks? Ignore baseball... hockey, basketball and football too?

I think I may take a new interest in the TFC!

Perry

That's fine and dandy, we have the hand we're dealt, we get injuries, you're right, we're fucked. I'm sure if McGowan and Marcum were healthy, it might be a whole different story, but it's not, we can't go spend money like the Yankee's and Red Sox, and it sucks, it really does, their should be a cap, but their's not. For those who don't think we have any prospects haven't looked at what is on the way. So yes, I can't wait till 2010 and hope that the future looks as good as baseball people envision it.

 

[shuda]

Exactly

If the sorry WHEN the Jays falter again this year JP has to go!!!!!!!!

The "rebuilding stage" can only go on for so long and we the fans suffer and PAY good bucks to watch it.

You are exactly correct. If the new CEO decides
it is time to move Doc for futures,
JP will be gone by Canada Day.

 

[wantoplay]

JP should have been canned last fall. This is the 8th (or is it 9th) year of the 5 year rebuilding process. No excuses for him, can his ass.

 

[ricepower88]

The only good thing Jays have is their bullpen. Then again, how many leads will they be protecting from the 7th inning on.

 

[wantoplay]

Can you believe spring training begins in less than 2 weeks?????????????

And I don't think this will be a year we will enjoy...

3. Yankees seem much stronger; the Sox appear stronger; the Rays have much more experience,

Between the Jays, the Raptors, the Leafs and the Argos we haven't got much to cheer about in Toronto... except sex, drugs and rock and roll!

Cum to think of it, that ain't so bad!

Perry

A stronger payroll does not make a stronger team. The Yankees will not make the big show again!!

 

[spankingman]

Jays

Maybe OBAMA should look into SPORTS SALARIES the same way he is looking at other salaries. I know Sports teams are not getting bailed out by the Govt but in these times can some of these salaries really be justified?

If a guy isnt working he wont be going to a game,if a guy IS working is he going to go to a game or put food on the table etc.Its going to be very interesting this season to see how attendance will be this year in some of the cities in the US maybe even TO!

 

[hunter001]

Maybe OBAMA should look into SPORTS SALARIES the same way he is looking at other salaries. I know Sports teams are not getting bailed out by the Govt but in these times can some of these salaries really be justified!

There was a story a few weeks back about both the Mets and Yankies get government help to build new stadiums. I forget what the numbers where but the Yanks were looking for more because they need marble in all the washrooms.

http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/yankees/ny-spbest166000632jan16,0,2017914.column

 

[lawyerman]

Maybe OBAMA should look into SPORTS SALARIES the same way he is looking at other salaries. I know Sports teams are not getting bailed out by the Govt but in these times can some of these salaries really be justified?

If a guy isnt working he wont be going to a game,if a guy IS working is he going to go to a game or put food on the table etc.Its going to be very interesting this season to see how attendance will be this year in some of the cities in the US maybe even TO!

How about actors? They pretend for a living. Some athletes make a substantial amount of money and all the power to them I say. As soon as they get to a certain age, they are done. Actors can keep going and going until they die.