The 2014 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[Kin]

I'm disappointed with Bautista's fielding.

But less disappointed with his game-tying home run, I would imagine.

Bautista's homerun put them up 1-0 in the first.

 

[L K]

Welcome back, Nolan Reimold.

I was very happy when they picked him up.  His career numbers are not great but he has shown the ability to hit lefties at times.  He's also a guy who seems to have more problems staying hot because of injuries rather than a lack of talent.  As a 4th outfielder (or 5th with the way Gibbons is using Gose over him) because you know, significantly below average offense is better?

 

[Andy007]

I'm disappointed with Bautista's fielding.

But less disappointed with his game-tying home run, I would imagine.

Bautista's homerun put them up 1-0 in the first.

Oops, yeah sorry, I was referring to his game-tying sac fly.

 

[Andy007]

Welcome back, Nolan Reimold.

I was very happy when they picked him up.  His career numbers are not great but he has shown the ability to hit lefties at times.  He's also a guy who seems to have more problems staying hot because of injuries rather than a lack of talent.  As a 4th outfielder (or 5th with the way Gibbons is using Gose over him) because you know, significantly below average offense is better?

Reimhold is a terrible outfielder. Gose is much, much better defensively, to say nothing of Gose's immense speed on the basepaths.

I like Reimhold and he seems to hit both lefties and righties pretty decently, but I think it makes more sense using mostly Gose as a starter in the field and have Reimhold regulated mostly for pinch hitting and DH duties

 

[hockeyfan1]

Bautista, Janrisen expressed disappointment with Jays' trade deadline approach...

Barry Davis @SNBarryDavis
Bautista on Price, Lester and Lackey leaving East. "Those aren't the team's were fighting with now. Ballt and NY got better. #bluejays

Barry Davis @SNBarryDavis
Among what you'll hear from Casey Janssen
tonight in my 1 on 1 on #bluejays Central "there are certain
GMS out there who go for it a lot"

Source:  Sportsnet

 

[Kin]

I think Anthopolous deserves a lot of criticism for what happened yesterday(and his general inaction leading up to the deadline) but it's not for his decisions not to ship Sanchez or Stroman but rather for the general crumminess of the farm system/crummy returns for the Marlins/Dickey trades that have left the Jays largely unable to compete in that market.

 

[L K]

I think Anthopolous deserves a lot of criticism for what happened yesterday(and his general inaction leading up to the deadline) but it's not for his decisions not to ship Sanchez or Stroman but rather for the general crumminess of the farm system/crummy returns for the Marlins/Dickey trades that have left the Jays largely unable to compete in that market.

Yeah, I mean he made two sizeable deals a year ago but on the flip side, maybe they have the prospects to continue adding if he didn't waste the Halladay deal, and pretty much make no other beneficial trades to acquire prospects over his time as GM.  He's a pretty inactive GM as far as I am concerned.  Too busy skimming garbage players off the waiver wire and then the annual excuses of "nothing to made us better".  I think ownership hamstrung the Jays a bit financially but the Jays have one of the larger payrolls in the league and this is still a mediocre-to-good roster rather than one of the best.  And when Oakland is able to acquire arguable the two best pitchers in the trade season it's telling.

I think I'm about ready to jump ship on the Anthopoulos train.  Another "young guy" who is more about talk than actual performance.  Going into the offseason the Jays needed help up the middle in the infield, some bench depth, another late innings reliever and at least another #3 starter if not a #1 or #2.  After the non-waiver deadline the Jays need some more help in the middle of the infield, some more bench depth, a late innings reliever and another starter.  Job well done Alex.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Going into the offseason the Jays needed help up the middle in the infield, some bench depth, another late innings reliever and at least another #3 starter if not a #1 or #2.  After the non-waiver deadline the Jays need some more help in the middle of the infield, some more bench depth, a late innings reliever and another starter.  Job well done Alex.

Since Stroman was not on the opening day roster, does his addition not function as adding another starter without having to do so through trade?

 

[Frank E]

Going into the offseason the Jays needed help up the middle in the infield, some bench depth, another late innings reliever and at least another #3 starter if not a #1 or #2.  After the non-waiver deadline the Jays need some more help in the middle of the infield, some more bench depth, a late innings reliever and another starter.  Job well done Alex.

Since Stroman was not on the opening day roster, does his addition not function as adding another starter without having to do so through trade?

My rookie opinion, but I'd agree, and I'd say the addition of Sanchez also fills in that reliever spot in the short term.

Still, I was disappointed that nothing got done, but I'm not convinced the deals were there to be had for the Jays.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Going into the offseason the Jays needed help up the middle in the infield, some bench depth, another late innings reliever and at least another #3 starter if not a #1 or #2.  After the non-waiver deadline the Jays need some more help in the middle of the infield, some more bench depth, a late innings reliever and another starter.  Job well done Alex.

Since Stroman was not on the opening day roster, does his addition not function as adding another starter without having to do so through trade?

My rookie opinion, but I'd agree, and I'd say the addition of Sanchez also fills in that reliever spot in the short term.

Still, I was disappointed that nothing got done, but I'm not convinced the deals were there to be had for the Jays.

Same, and as previously mentioned that's probably due to past AA moves, but the Jays are also in a different position than the teams that made big moves.  Those teams can sell hard because they're legit WS contenders, whereas the Jays would be doing so just trying to get into the playoffs.  I think they probably feel that they can get in with the club as it stands more or less and if they do that it's a bit of a crapshoot after that.

A move like the Orioles made for a reliever would have been nice though.

 

[Kin]

Still, I was disappointed that nothing got done, but I'm not convinced the deals were there to be had for the Jays.

Sure, but that's because whenever potentially doable deals like the deals for someone like Soria or Fister do go down we hear that the Jays just didn't have comparable prospects to give up. The reflects on the farm system Anthopolous has built.

And while Stroman and Sanchez have been good, really all they've done is plug the holes that guys like Santos and Morrow have left. Their "additions" haven't changed what the Jays need, they've just maintained what the Jays have needed all along.

 

[bustaheims]

Same, and as previously mentioned that's probably due to past AA moves, but the Jays are also in a different position than the teams that made big moves.  Those teams can sell hard because they're legit WS contenders, whereas the Jays would be doing so just trying to get into the playoffs.  I think they probably feel that they can get in with the club as it stands more or less and if they do that it's a bit of a crapshoot after that.

A move like the Orioles made for a reliever would have been nice though.

Yup. Also, the window with the core group on the roster is pretty small, and I'm not sure the potential to win it all is really there with them. Sacrificing significant pieces of the futures to still be a long-shot at winning the WS now wouldn't be prudent. The Jays could have some very tough decisions to make this offseason. A few big pieces are entering the last season of their contracts, and, if the team doesn't feel like they'll be able to sign them to extensions that make sense, this winter is when they're likely to get the best value for them in a trade.

 

[Frank E]

Going into the offseason the Jays needed help up the middle in the infield, some bench depth, another late innings reliever and at least another #3 starter if not a #1 or #2.  After the non-waiver deadline the Jays need some more help in the middle of the infield, some more bench depth, a late innings reliever and another starter.  Job well done Alex.

Since Stroman was not on the opening day roster, does his addition not function as adding another starter without having to do so through trade?

My rookie opinion, but I'd agree, and I'd say the addition of Sanchez also fills in that reliever spot in the short term.

Still, I was disappointed that nothing got done, but I'm not convinced the deals were there to be had for the Jays.

Same, and as previously mentioned that's probably due to past AA moves, but the Jays are also in a different position than the teams that made big moves.  Those teams can sell hard because they're legit WS contenders, whereas the Jays would be doing so just trying to get into the playoffs.  I think they probably feel that they can get in with the club as it stands more or less and if they do that it's a bit of a crapshoot after that.

A move like the Orioles made for a reliever would have been nice though.

And I think that this is where some fans are a little jaded.  I think the Jays are kind of like the Leafs were a season ago when they were playoff bound; decent, but a long shot at being a true contender... and that's not something that AA can vocalize.

The argument for going "all-in" because Boston and NYY are in tough isn't a good enough reason, in my opinion, largely because there are some pretty tough teams to beat to get there that aren't Boston and NY.

 

[Kin]

Yup. Also, the window with the core group on the roster is pretty small, and I'm not sure the potential to win it all is really there with them. Sacrificing significant pieces of the futures to still be a long-shot at winning the WS now wouldn't be prudent.

But that's why I said that the criticism directed AA's way shouldn't be about the deals he didn't make yesterday, it's about putting the team in the posititon so that the only options he had yesterday involved dealing guys like Stroman and Sanchez.

Fact is out of the big trades he made only Buerhle has performed at a level they could legitimately be happy with and that's a huge factor in why they're not the contenders the A's or Tigers are.

 

[Frank E]

Yup. Also, the window with the core group on the roster is pretty small, and I'm not sure the potential to win it all is really there with them. Sacrificing significant pieces of the futures to still be a long-shot at winning the WS now wouldn't be prudent.

But that's why I said that the criticism directed AA's way shouldn't be about the deals he didn't make yesterday, it's about putting the team in the posititon so that the only options he had yesterday involved dealing guys like Stroman and Sanchez.

Fact is out of the big trades he made only Buerhle has performed at a level they could legitimately be happy with and that's a huge factor in why they're not the contenders the A's or Tigers are.

I can run with this.  AA is not holding it down like he's giving lessons in physics. 

 

[hap_leaf]

Janssen should focus on closing games instead of giving backhanded compliments out to the other teams in order to stick it to AA.

I can't believe he would state to the media that other teams must value the opportunity to get to the playoffs more; congratulating the other teams that got "those guys'. 

 

[Andy007]

Janssen should focus on closing games instead of giving backhanded compliments out to the other teams in order to stick it to AA.

I can't believe he would state to the media that other teams must value the opportunity to get to the playoffs more; congratulating the other teams that got "those guys'.

Janssen is 18 for 20 in closing out games so I think he's fairly focused in that regard.

Quite frankly I like hearing honest opinions. These guys aren't saying this to get back at anyone; it's an honest belief from players on a team that hasn't even been remotely close to the playoffs in over 20 years.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Janssen should focus on closing games instead of giving backhanded compliments out to the other teams in order to stick it to AA.

I can't believe he would state to the media that other teams must value the opportunity to get to the playoffs more; congratulating the other teams that got "those guys'.

Janssen is 18 for 20 in closing out games so I think he's fairly focused in that regard.

Quite frankly I like hearing honest opinions. These guys aren't saying this to get back at anyone; it's an honest belief from players on a team that hasn't even been remotely close to the playoffs in over 20 years.

I'd say 2000 was remotely close!

 

[Andy007]

Janssen should focus on closing games instead of giving backhanded compliments out to the other teams in order to stick it to AA.

I can't believe he would state to the media that other teams must value the opportunity to get to the playoffs more; congratulating the other teams that got "those guys'.

Janssen is 18 for 20 in closing out games so I think he's fairly focused in that regard.

Quite frankly I like hearing honest opinions. These guys aren't saying this to get back at anyone; it's an honest belief from players on a team that hasn't even been remotely close to the playoffs in over 20 years.

I'd say 2000 was remotely close!

14 years then

Was 2000 the Tim Johnson year? The one that went on a huge winning streak the last month or so? Sean Green was the man!

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Janssen should focus on closing games instead of giving backhanded compliments out to the other teams in order to stick it to AA.

I can't believe he would state to the media that other teams must value the opportunity to get to the playoffs more; congratulating the other teams that got "those guys'.

Janssen is 18 for 20 in closing out games so I think he's fairly focused in that regard.

Quite frankly I like hearing honest opinions. These guys aren't saying this to get back at anyone; it's an honest belief from players on a team that hasn't even been remotely close to the playoffs in over 20 years.

I'd say 2000 was remotely close!

14 years then

Was 2000 the Tim Johnson year? The one that went on a huge winning streak the last month or so? Sean Green was the man!

Hmm I'm trying to remember - my big memory is Delgado having a monster year.  He was a 7.4 WAR player that season, hit .344 with 41 HR.  Also remember Shannon Stewart.