Toronto Blue Jays News

[Viking 1]

They got rid of Thomas because he was a distraction off the field, and was too expensive. They're not going to bring in a player who may be more expensive, and will be a distraction that is one million times bigger.

... And I thought about the "why didn't they just trade him?" question, and I guess it's because they would definitely have to trade him within the American League, and even at half price, probably only Boston or New York would cough up for him (neither team needs him, but they love to blow money) - think about having to play against him 15 times a year and have him kill you, and be having to pay half his salary on top of that. Because he was released, and whoever signed him would have to pay the full amount, it's likely that no one will sign Thomas, and his career is over, so the Jays don't have to worry about him so much.

[mrusse01 0]

They got rid of Thomas because he was a distraction off the field, and was too expensive. They're not going to bring in a player who may be more expensive, and will be a distraction that is one million times bigger.

... And I thought about the "why didn't they just trade him?" question, and I guess it's because they would definitely have to trade him within the American League, and even at half price, probably only Boston or New York would cough up for him (neither team needs him, but they love to blow money) - think about having to play against him 15 times a year and have him kill you, and be having to pay half his salary on top of that. Because he was released, and whoever signed him would have to pay the full amount, it's likely that no one will sign Thomas, and his career is over, so the Jays don't have to worry about him so much.

If anyone signs him they don't have to pay his full salary. The Jays are on the hook this year for the $8 million they owe him for this season regardless of what happens. So another team could simply sign him for 500k or whatever, and he'd just be making that money on top of what Toronto is still paying him.

I guess I just don't get the whole 'Bonds is a distraction' argument. A distraction to what? These are professional athletes, does having 15 or 20 extra reporters in the locker room after a game really affect their play that negatively? And who cares, just makes rules about it. Say Bonds will do one perss conference at the beginning of every homestand, no barcalounger in the dressing room, no special trainers or whatever, if he doesn't agree to that, then don't sign him.

[D-MaN88 0]

Thomas back to the A's.

[mrusse01 0]

Going to be hilarious when he hits a HR against Toronto and stares at JP while he rounds the bases.

Nice line-up we had the other day though, 3 catchers playing at once. Thanks Gibbons.

[chef_ducky 0]

Gibbons is a moran.....

He is the teams problem

Stupid Red Neck Manager

[Viking 1]

It goes deeper than the manager. Gibbons is a symptom - J.P. is a problem - Paul Godfrey is cancer. The inabiliy/unwillingness to win goes to the top of the organization. A third place organizational culture has bred a third place on-field product. The Blue Jays don't go all out to win like the Red Sox/Yankees/Mets do - their goal going into each season is to do a little better than last year, and hopefully sell a few more tickets; while top organizations look to go 162-0, and win the world series, and that's the difference between fantasizing about winning (like the Blue Jays do) and actually winning (like good teams do).

Toronto needs a sea change at the executive level with a change in president and GM before the change is reflected on the field. It starts at the top - the expectations aren't high enough, so Ricchiardi only does just enough to keep his job (and as long as the team isn't completely brutal, he's fine apparently), and Gibbons does the same thing, and then the players do it too. The message needs to be sent to everyone that if they're only going to do just enough to keep their jobs, third place will not be good enough anymore.

I'm sick of watching .500 baseball in Toronto, but nobody in a position of power for the Blue Jays seems to be. The Blue Jays on the field aren't far from being a respectable team - maybe even a GOOD team - which makes it that much frustrating that the organization isn't willing to go that little bit further to make it happen. The goal needs to be to have a team to be proud of, not just a team that isn't a complete embarassment. I'd be the first guy to pull the trigger on firing the manager, but if you stopped there, not much would change.

[mrusse01 0]

True, but Red Sox/Yankees/Mets also all have at least $50 million per season more to spend on players. Being in the AL East, going against two behemoths every single season, it's got to wear on a franchise.

Really even if the Jays had another $20 million to spend, that's a big time corner outfielder to replace the shit storm they've got in LF, and a very good set-up man. That would make a massive on-field difference.

Sure, you CAN win spending less, as everyone has seen lately, but it takes some big time home grown talent and a couple of FA's that really pay off. We've sort of got the first part of the equation down, but the FA's signings just haven't worked. Who's the Jays' best FA signing in the last 5 years? Pretty much every major player they have brought in has at best performed up to expectations, nobody is really exceeding them. You look at Burnett, he COULD be a dominant #2 pitcher in the American League, but he's not even close right now. Look at Wells, he is doing 'ok' but isn't really wowing anybody. Overbay has horribly underperformed at first, Ryan missed an entire season, Thomas was a disaster, Glaus was ok at best.

Hill and Rios are really the two players (maybe Marcum if he keeps it up) who have outpeformed their expectations, and you could possibly throw McGowan in there with them. Problem is none of those guys are elite players yet, and are likely never going to be.

[-brady2 0]

True, but Red Sox/Yankees/Mets also all have at least $50 million per season more to spend on players. Being in the AL East, going against two behemoths every single season, it's got to wear on a franchise.

Really even if the Jays had another $20 million to spend, that's a big time corner outfielder to replace the shit storm they've got in LF, and a very good set-up man. That would make a massive on-field difference.

Sure, you CAN win spending less, as everyone has seen lately, but it takes some big time home grown talent and a couple of FA's that really pay off. We've sort of got the first part of the equation down, but the FA's signings just haven't worked. Who's the Jays' best FA signing in the last 5 years? Pretty much every major player they have brought in has at best performed up to expectations, nobody is really exceeding them. You look at Burnett, he COULD be a dominant #2 pitcher in the American League, but he's not even close right now. Look at Wells, he is doing 'ok' but isn't really wowing anybody. Overbay has horribly underperformed at first, Ryan missed an entire season, Thomas was a disaster, Glaus was ok at best.

Hill and Rios are really the two players (maybe Marcum if he keeps it up) who have outpeformed their expectations, and you could possibly throw McGowan in there with them. Problem is none of those guys are elite players yet, and are likely never going to be.

aaron hill not elite? or Rios?

LOL

[RadioGaGa 162]

Since this thread has kinda gone off on Gibbons, I'll change the title and add this:

http://tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=241226&lid...s=topStory_main

Gibbons Fired...welcome back Cito!

[Smitty34 0]

The Jays have been underachieving this year, it was time for a change.

[RadioGaGa 162]

The Jays have been underachieving this year, it was time for a change.

I get firing the manger and the hitting coach...the team can't hit. But the 1st/3rd base coaches.....how do they get fired? Toronto has had so few base runners....how can you blame them for anything. Okay, so the Jays aren't the most aggressive baserunners and their RISP numbers SUCK...but those are mangers decisions, not base coach decisions...aren't they?

I heard Cito is bringing back his entire staff (minus HC I'd assume) from when he was here the first time...

[Chadd 916]

The Jays have been underachieving this year, it was time for a change.

I get firing the manger and the hitting coach...the team can't hit. But the 1st/3rd base coaches.....how do they get fired? Toronto has had so few base runners....how can you blame them for anything. Okay, so the Jays aren't the most aggressive baserunners and their RISP numbers SUCK...but those are mangers decisions, not base coach decisions...aren't they?

I heard Cito is bringing back his entire staff (minus HC I'd assume) from when he was here the first time...

Either they wanted a clean break from the past or Cito said he wanted all of his guys on the bench with him.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Jays lose 1-0 in 12th in Cito's return game. Way to wake up those bats *L*

[mack 44]

The Jays have been underachieving this year, it was time for a change.

I get firing the manger and the hitting coach...the team can't hit. But the 1st/3rd base coaches.....how do they get fired? Toronto has had so few base runners....how can you blame them for anything. Okay, so the Jays aren't the most aggressive baserunners and their RISP numbers SUCK...but those are mangers decisions, not base coach decisions...aren't they?

I heard Cito is bringing back his entire staff (minus HC I'd assume) from when he was here the first time...

What Chadd said, plus they're not just base coaches. They're on the same level as bench coaches so the upper management just wanted a clean break and no possible loyalties to the ex-manager.

[RadioGaGa 162]

The Jays have been underachieving this year, it was time for a change.

I get firing the manger and the hitting coach...the team can't hit. But the 1st/3rd base coaches.....how do they get fired? Toronto has had so few base runners....how can you blame them for anything. Okay, so the Jays aren't the most aggressive baserunners and their RISP numbers SUCK...but those are mangers decisions, not base coach decisions...aren't they?

I heard Cito is bringing back his entire staff (minus HC I'd assume) from when he was here the first time...

What Chadd said, plus they're not just base coaches. They're on the same level as bench coaches so the upper management just wanted a clean break and no possible loyalties to the ex-manager.

If they had made Whitt Manager instead of Gibby way back when...they may not be in this mess to begin with.

[LkptTiger 1]

I'm definitely hoping they keep playing like ass...at least until after the Braves' visit next weekend.

Speaking of which - Seeing the Braves again is incentive enough for me to get out to my first games at the Rogers Centre. Anybody who has been there before have any tips for me as to what to hit-up or avoid?

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Been to Gretzky's?

It's 1/4 mi up the street.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Been to Gretzky's?

It's 1/4 mi up the street.

99 Blue Jay Way

[mack 44]

The Jays have been underachieving this year, it was time for a change.

I get firing the manger and the hitting coach...the team can't hit. But the 1st/3rd base coaches.....how do they get fired? Toronto has had so few base runners....how can you blame them for anything. Okay, so the Jays aren't the most aggressive baserunners and their RISP numbers SUCK...but those are mangers decisions, not base coach decisions...aren't they?

I heard Cito is bringing back his entire staff (minus HC I'd assume) from when he was here the first time...

What Chadd said, plus they're not just base coaches. They're on the same level as bench coaches so the upper management just wanted a clean break and no possible loyalties to the ex-manager.

If they had made Whitt Manager instead of Gibby way back when...they may not be in this mess to begin with.

Not to the same extent in some ways, but I think they'd still have problems. I like the enthusiasm of being a team that never spent money to being a team that spent it, but the years they decided to was full of people being paid more than they should. Hell, what experience has Riccardi ever had with being allowed to get FAs? It's not unlike people used to poverty winning a lottery and being bankrupt shortly after.

[LkptTiger 1]

Been to Gretzky's?

It's 1/4 mi up the street.

Yeah, I've been in Toronto millions of times, so there's pretty much nothing in the city I haven't done yet...but this'll be my first time in the Rogers Centre, so I'm really just trying to get an idea as to what I should expect and if there is anything I should make an effort to "take in." I don't have my tickets yet, so any information on good/bad sections, concessions, fun peripherals in the concourse, "alternative" entertainment between innings (my girlfriend is coming with - she's not a huge baseball fan, so I am going to have a hard time keeping her from trailing off). Basically, anything anyone who has attended a Jays' game might feel would be beneficial information to a first-timer.

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Going with the girlfriend? Get a room. :)

[RadioGaGa 162]

Going with the girlfriend? Get a room. :)

Yeah, nothing more romantic than Toronto in July *L*

[JR Boucicaut 3802]

Come on, that went over your head?

Didn't they change something so that it couldn't happen again?

[RadioGaGa 162]

Come on, that went over your head?

Didn't they change something so that it couldn't happen again?

Sorry...hamster's running slow today...I get it.

[patr0510 0]

I'm seeing the Braves on friday with the gf. I go to maybe 20 games a year. My favourite place to sit (best bang for the buck too, $21 a ticket) is 200 level in the outfield, usually left side. Anywhere from 239-241. Right behind the Jays bullpen and homerun landing zone. Go early for BP and you can snag some balls if you want.

I'm sitting first base line friday though, couple rows up.