"2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season Post" Fri Nov-16-12 11:41 AM by Heinz
Okay so we know about the big mega trade that happened and waiting for approval from Bud plus getting all the players to get their physicals done (Mathis was on a hunting trip, Reyes in Dubai etc) so it will take a while....
I don't think the ninja AA is done yet...I can see Buck, Izturis, Happ, JPA being moved...Hopefully Lind as well....
it's been said AA is still out for another starter, so whether thats Carlos V again (probably last option)...i can see us going after Dickey, Edwin Jackson or Brandon McCarthy..oh and Marcum..(in a Blue Jays fan wet dream we land Halladay to end his career here)
We still need another bat too..Melky?
have Gose, d'Aurnard in Buffalo and then being called up if Colby, Buck/JPA are shit
The Blue Jays have agreed to sign Melky Cabrera to a two-year, $16MM contract, Enrique Rojas of ESPNdeportes.com reports. ACES represents Cabrera, who must pass a physical for the deal to be completed.
Pretty solid as it stands right now, but I expect A.A. to make a couple more deals. Maybe sign one of the depth starting pitchers like Jackson or Marcum. Maybe another trade including one of the catchers and prospects or Lind. Great offseason for the Jays so far though. Definitely a much improved team.
5. "So, he's definitely not a bench player anymore?" In response to Reply # 1
Even without the drug suspension, I think that big upticks in his BABIP and power in his age 27 and 28 seasons are reason enough for a hearty "ehhhh" on his future. My inclination is to not buy that he's really learned any new skills so much as he's gotten rather lucky in an inevitably short peak, except that he started his MLB so young for a team that took a long time to really give him anything to do. So maybe the normal development curves don't apply?
I don't know. 2/16mm isn't a huge risk, and it looks like he cost himself a lot of money getting busted. But it's not a totally small risk if you think there's a chance that he'll go right back to his pre-2011 self: a tweener that's not even a particularly sexy 4th outfielder.
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"Walleye, a lot of things are going to go wrong in your life that technically aren't your fault. Always remember that this doesn't make you any less of an idiot"
9. "I didnt either but after the presser im sold" In response to Reply # 8
even Lilly said he was a good coach after their confrontation....like years after he said he was well respect and passionate and that it didnt hurt to be....Lilly is kind of known for being a bit of a dick anyways....dude was blowing a 8-0 lead but wanted to stay in..he was more mad he was blowing the lead than being brought out
and hopefully Gibby's approach and no nonsense type of attitude will keep guys like Lawrie in check and other younger guys who were doing just pure stupid mistakes and not really being a accounted for
he;'s good with his bullpen management and platoons....i think this might be good man
As per an official team release, the coaching staff for your Toronto Fightin’ Gibbers is all but in place, with Demarlo Hale taking a spot as the bench coach as expected, Pete Walker moving up from bullpen coach to the full-on grown up pitching coach, Chad Mottola fulfilling his internet-determined destiny by becoming the Blue Jays new hitting coach. Luis Rivera gets a promotion to third base coach while Dwayne Murphy slips down a few runs to outfield instructor and first base coach. The bullpen coach position remains open – with Pat Hentgen possibly slipping into that role, suggests Mark Zwolinski.
Which means former pitching coach and long-time staffer Bruce Walton joins Don Wakamatsu at Kinkos, printing off copies of his resume and rehearsing answers to “what are you greatest weaknesses?” interview questions. Walton’s tenure as pitching coach was a rocky one, as nearly every pitcher under his watch saw his arm explode or at least randomly catch fire for a few innings.
What’s a coach worth, anyway? Dwayne Murphy become a tidy scapegoat for Blue Jays fans, his outward distaste for on base percentage and perceived “go up there and smack a tater!” mentality rubs some people the wrong way. This is an entirely simplistic and probably unfair characterization of Murph’s approach but it stuck. Chad Mottola comes in with a sterling reputation gained during his time as hitting coach from the Jays Triple-A affiliate in Las Vegas. Which, if we’re being frank, is akin to being named “Miss Fort McMurray” three years running. Much was made of his work remaking the swing of Travis Snider, who blistered the National League to the tune of a .293 wOBA after all his time with Mottola.
Judging coaches on results is a dangerous game. How much of last year’s injury trouble is linked to Walton’s tutelage? What about Farrell’s usage? Can we credit Murph for Edwin Encarnacion’s breakout or does his success owe more to the time spent with a private hitting instructor at the urging of Robinson Cano and his father last winter? (Ed note: fixed.) Rivera’s promotion seems nice on a warm and fuzzy level but, again, what do we really know about his contributions? It isn’t to say any or all of these coaches haven’t formed important bonds within the clubhouse and each other, it is just difficult to put a finger on. Congrats to all new hires and promotions and thoughts go with fancy-writing Wak and guy who lives in Canada Bruce Walton. Shrugged shoulders all around…
17. "I always thoughts the Rays didnt have enough vets" In response to Reply # 16
to win the Ship..just like the Tigers...
I didnt want to become like the Rays aka OKC with just amazing talent but not enough experience to finish...playoffs a whole other world IMO...do i think we have the right type of vets to take us all the way...im not sure but fuck is our team looking good on paper to care that much right now lol
18. "RE: 2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season Post" In response to Reply # 0
I can't think of another off-season for any TO sports teams like this. And the city is in desperate need for a winner. It's been so disappointing around here for a long time. Apparently we have the WORST pro soccer team in the entire WORLD. Someone actually did a world-wide analysis to prove it. Raptors are hopeless and without their first pick next year. The leafs are still the leafs. And noone gives a shit about Canadian football.
We already had a pretty respectful 500ish team. Then you add Reyes, JJ, Buerle, Melky and Dickey without losing anything from the starting lineup.
19. "RE: 2013 Toronto Blue Jays Off-Season Post" In response to Reply # 0
I wonder how much consideration AA gave to the cultural aspect of the off-season moves. Adding 3 more DR players to the field...and Izturius is Venezualen. Our batting order starts with 4 DR players now. We now have 10 in total mostly skewed to the top of the depth chart. The tigers come second in DR representation with 7 and those players aren't nearly as vital to their team as ours. There's a couple more teams with 6. But no other team comes close to having 4 DR players at the top of their batting order. If Boni ends up playing second base we'll have 5 DR bats in our starting lineup. Has that ever even happened before?
You can see how the Raptors have intended to cash in on recruiting/signing/drafting European players. I think there's some of the same things in both cases. For one, there's always going to be some American-born players that simply don't want to move to Canada. European basketball players and West Indian baseball players are ALREADY leaving their home country. So it can even out an inherited disadvantage that Toronto has in competing in US dominated leagues. And with our city having so many different communities in it....there's individual cases where it can become an advantage for us in negotiating for non-US players. It's a valid strategy for a Canadian team and the Jays did the same thing in the 80's.
It also has the potential of creating a sense of identity on the team. And that can become a re-inforcing advantage....If the Jays have success....it might become enticing for other DR players to want to play here. Cheaper contracts and cooperative agents. We could end up being the DR all-star team. There's also the consideration that players from the same baseball culture will have better chemistry on the field....comeraderie...team spirit.
Can't wait for the season. And good on ya Heinz for mentioning Dickey and Melky as possibilities before we got em.
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