The non-tender deadline has passed and some things have been sorted out. The Jays appear to have a pair of catchers for next season in John Buck and the returning Chavez. They may be contemplating a more 1912 style offense by adding Joey Gathright with a minor league deal, and negotiating a new contract with Jose Bautista. And they intend to continue poking Jeremy Accardo with a sharp stick. So the suckiness takes a little more form.
Here's a thought though. Chien-Ming Wang was non-tendered by the Yankees, as I'm sure everybody must know. Apparently he can't pitch until next April at the earliest, but I haven't read anything that says whether that would be MLB ready or the start of a rehab tour. This situation makes me think of what the Cardinals did with Chris Carpenter, and I wonder why the Jays couldn't do the same thing. It's not like they really need anything out of the guy until 2011. Maybe he can supply some nice warm feelings about the future at the end of 2010. The Jays are going to need a Veteran ace type pitcher from somewhere if they think they are going to compete again.
Maybe it's well known that he is done and will never be anywhere near what he was. Maybe it's well known that he has a very good chance to recover, and he's going to have his pick of suitors at a price he likes. But I think this is something the Jays could really take advantage of just like St. Louis with Carpenter. The guy did win 54 games in 95 starts before he screwed up his foot and hurt his shoulder. Given that they keep saying money is no issue...
Monday, December 14, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Ultimate in Good News/Bad News
I both love and hate this.
First the good thing Campbell is gone! Normally I don't complain about tv or radio announcers, because I just don't care, really i don't. There is just about no chance you can't find something to dislike about any of them. If God himself was talking to you multiple times a week for hours on end and was telling you only things you agreed with and that you were the most awesomest person ever, in the most pleasing way possible, at some point you would probably get fed up and tell him to shove it. So no, I don't think these guys have the easiest job.
But Campbell was a special case. First of all he didn't seem to understand that he was calling games for TV not radio. I can see what's happening dumbass. Secondly he never got anything right. If you are going to describe something in detail, get the details right. If I can tell it's a lazy fly ball off the bat when i'm watching on tv, or in the upper deck in left field, why can't you? Third, don't try to work in folksy and homey and trite crap until you can master number 1 and 2. I don't care about every players touching personal story if you can't tell the difference between a curve and a change, you don't have the credibility. For all I know EVERY SINGLE THING YOU SAY IS COMING OUT OF YOUR RED HEADED IMAGINATION.
Good riddance.
Now the bad. I think Buck Martinez is a fine broadcaster, I never had a problem with him on Jays or any other team's or network's broadcasts. I actually find him to be quite good. But as far as I know they guy was not in need of a job. Why does this organization have to give everybody a second chance to recapture the glory? It's like the're just coming out and saying: "We know we suck. We know we're going to suck. We have no plans to not suck. Please be distracted by this shiny bauble of past glory while we continue to suck. And when you're tired of that bauble we'll get you another, because we are going to keep sucking."
I used to listen to Buck on satellite radio, and he was good there too. But whenever he would talk about the Jays he seemed very willing to stick it to the people he perceived as being responsible for his failures. I worry that the Jays to some extent are bringing him him to dump as much as possible all over the past management. They seem to like doing that. Again, distraction etc, etc. It would be nice if you had the feeling that they were actually building something shiny and new that they were confident would be successful. This doesn't do that.
First the good thing Campbell is gone! Normally I don't complain about tv or radio announcers, because I just don't care, really i don't. There is just about no chance you can't find something to dislike about any of them. If God himself was talking to you multiple times a week for hours on end and was telling you only things you agreed with and that you were the most awesomest person ever, in the most pleasing way possible, at some point you would probably get fed up and tell him to shove it. So no, I don't think these guys have the easiest job.
But Campbell was a special case. First of all he didn't seem to understand that he was calling games for TV not radio. I can see what's happening dumbass. Secondly he never got anything right. If you are going to describe something in detail, get the details right. If I can tell it's a lazy fly ball off the bat when i'm watching on tv, or in the upper deck in left field, why can't you? Third, don't try to work in folksy and homey and trite crap until you can master number 1 and 2. I don't care about every players touching personal story if you can't tell the difference between a curve and a change, you don't have the credibility. For all I know EVERY SINGLE THING YOU SAY IS COMING OUT OF YOUR RED HEADED IMAGINATION.
Good riddance.
Now the bad. I think Buck Martinez is a fine broadcaster, I never had a problem with him on Jays or any other team's or network's broadcasts. I actually find him to be quite good. But as far as I know they guy was not in need of a job. Why does this organization have to give everybody a second chance to recapture the glory? It's like the're just coming out and saying: "We know we suck. We know we're going to suck. We have no plans to not suck. Please be distracted by this shiny bauble of past glory while we continue to suck. And when you're tired of that bauble we'll get you another, because we are going to keep sucking."
I used to listen to Buck on satellite radio, and he was good there too. But whenever he would talk about the Jays he seemed very willing to stick it to the people he perceived as being responsible for his failures. I worry that the Jays to some extent are bringing him him to dump as much as possible all over the past management. They seem to like doing that. Again, distraction etc, etc. It would be nice if you had the feeling that they were actually building something shiny and new that they were confident would be successful. This doesn't do that.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Purists Wet Dream
This is just a rumour, but could you imagine if it was true? Gathright, Gonzalez, McDonald and Batista (if not non-tendered) all potentially in the same lineup. If Wells doesn't improve on 2009 that's 5 lousy hitters, and we don't even know who the everyday catcher will be yet. It would be bunt and steal all the time, because these guys can't do anything else. Gathright and Gonzalez alone at the top of the order makes my head spin.
I don't know what can be expected of Encarnacion, or if he will even be a Jay next season. But if the only 2 hitters who can give an over 800OPS are Hill and Lind next season, the best we can hope for is a lot of "more speed, bunting and stealing" idiots learn their lesson. Speed is all these dolts have. At least the defense should be solid.
h/t drunkjaysfans.com
Update: bluejays.com now has something up about this, so I guess it must be pretty close to happening. Which I guess means Batista will be non-tendered. But still gaghhhh.
I don't know what can be expected of Encarnacion, or if he will even be a Jay next season. But if the only 2 hitters who can give an over 800OPS are Hill and Lind next season, the best we can hope for is a lot of "more speed, bunting and stealing" idiots learn their lesson. Speed is all these dolts have. At least the defense should be solid.
h/t drunkjaysfans.com
Update: bluejays.com now has something up about this, so I guess it must be pretty close to happening. Which I guess means Batista will be non-tendered. But still gaghhhh.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Comparing Imaginary Deals
The Winter Meetings end tomorrow I think, and of course the chances of a Halladay deal are just about nil by tomorrow. But that doesn't keep people from imagining things. So let's delve into the delusions of others and see what we think would be best.
Phillies - This would be my favourite, it takes him to another league, where we'll see him once a year or never again if interleague is cancelled. And the possible prospects look the best to me as well. If the Jays can get one of Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown and one of J.A. Happ or Kyle Drabek, that would be pretty awesome. Of course they might have to take back Joe Blanton too, but who cares if you already know you are going to suck next year anyways. And you can probably to trade him for something too.
Angels - This would be a plus because he's going west, but the rumored parts coming back kind of suck. Aybar and Saunders are at least known commodities, the only special part of that pair being Aybar's glove. Obviously I'm missing something with Bourjos, because looking at his stats I don't think I see anything special at all. Switch out Napoli with one of those parts and I'm a lot more interested.
Yankees - I would have thought this was the last place I would want him to go, but if they can get Jesus Montero in a deal, it might be worth seeing Halladay go to NYC for the next 5 years. Add in one of Hughes or Chamberlain, and something else of value and this might be the best return. You just have to minus the fact it's the Yankees from all the upside.
Red Sox - I thought I would put them above the Yankees, but I have a lot of suspicion of anything they would send back. Is Bucholz really any good? Does this Kelley kid really want to be a pitcher (good) or a hitter (not good). What else have they got? No good feelings here, and the fact it's the Red Sox is a minus about as big as the Yankees minus.
I hold out for the Phillies.
Phillies - This would be my favourite, it takes him to another league, where we'll see him once a year or never again if interleague is cancelled. And the possible prospects look the best to me as well. If the Jays can get one of Michael Taylor or Dominic Brown and one of J.A. Happ or Kyle Drabek, that would be pretty awesome. Of course they might have to take back Joe Blanton too, but who cares if you already know you are going to suck next year anyways. And you can probably to trade him for something too.
Angels - This would be a plus because he's going west, but the rumored parts coming back kind of suck. Aybar and Saunders are at least known commodities, the only special part of that pair being Aybar's glove. Obviously I'm missing something with Bourjos, because looking at his stats I don't think I see anything special at all. Switch out Napoli with one of those parts and I'm a lot more interested.
Yankees - I would have thought this was the last place I would want him to go, but if they can get Jesus Montero in a deal, it might be worth seeing Halladay go to NYC for the next 5 years. Add in one of Hughes or Chamberlain, and something else of value and this might be the best return. You just have to minus the fact it's the Yankees from all the upside.
Red Sox - I thought I would put them above the Yankees, but I have a lot of suspicion of anything they would send back. Is Bucholz really any good? Does this Kelley kid really want to be a pitcher (good) or a hitter (not good). What else have they got? No good feelings here, and the fact it's the Red Sox is a minus about as big as the Yankees minus.
I hold out for the Phillies.
Nothing says "We aren't trying at all" like...
Jose Bautista will probably bat leadoff, if he isn't non tendered, according to Cito. Now that's what I call planning!
I can only assume that Cito gave this up in response to a question, and didn't just offer it on his own. I guess that's a better answer than "who gives a crap", but it's not as honest.
I can only assume that Cito gave this up in response to a question, and didn't just offer it on his own. I guess that's a better answer than "who gives a crap", but it's not as honest.
Friday, December 4, 2009
So Halladay wants to decide where he's going and when
With all respect to Roy's no trade clause and his loyalty to the team over the years. Roy and his representation can take this and this as far as I'm concerned and shove it deep. They are looking out for his best interests, the Jays need to look out for theirs.
The idea that a team other than a serious contender is going to be taking a serious shot at him is pretty ridiculous. The idea that Roy gets to decide to pick which one based on where he likes to go to Spring Training is silly. The fact that these stories show up on the Jays website makes me nervous that they are just piling up the excuses in advance for why they ended up trading him to the Yankees for not very much, so everybody already understands he controlled where he was going, and Joba Chamberlain and some 2B that never makes it above AA was all they could get.
The whole trade me before Spring Training or else ultimatum is obviously a crock. What the agent hopes to gain by making a pronouncement like that who knows. Maybe it's good for his office politics or Roy and some of his other clients think he's not tough enough, but it's just bizarre.
In one of these stories it would be nice to see somebody say (maybe Beeston if atos can't) "we appreciate everything Roy has done and know that he has a no trade clause, we gave him the contract, but we are going to look for the best deal for us, at the best time for us. If that doesn't make Roy ecstatic then he can shop his wares after 2010. This isn't the Toronto Roy Halladay's." When does this management team think that it's going to be a good idea to start saying they care about everybody who isn't Roy Halladay?
The idea that a team other than a serious contender is going to be taking a serious shot at him is pretty ridiculous. The idea that Roy gets to decide to pick which one based on where he likes to go to Spring Training is silly. The fact that these stories show up on the Jays website makes me nervous that they are just piling up the excuses in advance for why they ended up trading him to the Yankees for not very much, so everybody already understands he controlled where he was going, and Joba Chamberlain and some 2B that never makes it above AA was all they could get.
The whole trade me before Spring Training or else ultimatum is obviously a crock. What the agent hopes to gain by making a pronouncement like that who knows. Maybe it's good for his office politics or Roy and some of his other clients think he's not tough enough, but it's just bizarre.
In one of these stories it would be nice to see somebody say (maybe Beeston if atos can't) "we appreciate everything Roy has done and know that he has a no trade clause, we gave him the contract, but we are going to look for the best deal for us, at the best time for us. If that doesn't make Roy ecstatic then he can shop his wares after 2010. This isn't the Toronto Roy Halladay's." When does this management team think that it's going to be a good idea to start saying they care about everybody who isn't Roy Halladay?
Why trade Halladay for only prospects
I have been reading on the Jays website that money is no object and they aren't rebuilding. While no schedule is given for when the team will be competitive, sooner rather than later is what seems to be implied. To me anyways, your mileage may vary.
If that is the case, are the Jays considering Halladay deals for youngish or not so youngish star players? The Red Sox want him? Well send along Pedroia, Papplebon, Youkilis or Martinez with some prospects. Yankees? How about Cano and Chamberlain/Hughes and some prospects. Ooohhh, what about Teixeira? Phillies? Send back Cole Hamels.
Why shouldn't the Jays get back somebody guaranteed to help right away in this trade? Why shouldn't this trade really make the team on the other side hurt? One thing for sure getting a star player back that is making or going to be making a lot of money (and paying it) is going to go along way to making me believe they are serious about this.
If that is the case, are the Jays considering Halladay deals for youngish or not so youngish star players? The Red Sox want him? Well send along Pedroia, Papplebon, Youkilis or Martinez with some prospects. Yankees? How about Cano and Chamberlain/Hughes and some prospects. Ooohhh, what about Teixeira? Phillies? Send back Cole Hamels.
Why shouldn't the Jays get back somebody guaranteed to help right away in this trade? Why shouldn't this trade really make the team on the other side hurt? One thing for sure getting a star player back that is making or going to be making a lot of money (and paying it) is going to go along way to making me believe they are serious about this.
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