Series Thread: Jays @ White Sox (Sept 26 - 28)

[Schad]

I really wanted a win today, let's hope we can put something together.

A win would be massively counterproductive. Unfortunately, with the bases loaded, one out and the game tied, it looks like we're heading in that direction.

[Rhettmatic]

I really wanted a win today, let's hope we can put something together.

A win would be massively counterproductive. Unfortunately, with the bases loaded, one out and the game tied, it looks like we're heading in that direction.

It's too bad Jon Rauch is injured, we really could have used him in the 9th.

[Weems]

Might a win have any effect on what we do in the offseason? I'm unfamiliar with our standing (league, organizational, everything) right now.

[Schad]

Might a win have any effect on what we do in the offseason? I'm unfamiliar with our standing (league, organizational, everything) right now.

It now means that signing a big free agent will cost us our first round pick, rather than our second rounder. Given AA's desire to build through the draft, that might undermine the chances that we'll target any Type A players (even with the Beede comp pick in our back pocket). Which really kinda sucks.

[Schad]

Well, that's a big kick in the teeth. Bah.

[dagger]

Classic, walked in the tying and winning runs...

Well, it's not like falling a couple of spots in the NBA draft.

Might get the guy we want anyway for a few less dollars to make Rogers happy.

[Homer Jay]

Now that's the way to throw a game! Notice as soon as they walked the winning run in, they then went to the good relievers, to get the next two guys outs!

[MGD24]

Classy move by Janssen today. I know you guys are all caught up with the behind the scenes part of the Jays and if we lose a draft pick or not...but for me what Janssen did today was pretty awesome... Just think of when you were a kid at a game and imagine if a ball player threw his glove to you! It would be the best thing ever. Really cool of Janssen.

.500 Jays this season....let's hope next year is the year.

[Michael Bradley]

Well, 81-81 is more visually appealing than 80-82, but in the long run makes no difference.I don't think the first round pick protection will mean anything to AA. I'm sure if he wants a free agent bad enough he will go after him regardless of whether it costs a pick or not, except in the case of relievers most likely.

[Schad]

Well, 81-81 is more visually appealing than 80-82, but in the long run makes no difference.I don't think the first round pick protection will mean anything to AA. I'm sure if he wants a free agent bad enough he will go after him regardless of whether it costs a pick or not, except in the case of relievers most likely.

I'm not totally sure. He really doesn't like the bang-for-buck of free agency to begin with, but my hope was that the sheer quality of the free agents available would override that. Having to surrender the 16th or 17th pick pretty much has to make him even more hesitant; hopefully not enough so to keep him out of the market, but it's definitely a stumbling block.

[SharoneWright]

Great year boys! Thanks for keeping it interesting.

[Randle McMurphy]

If the Jays were actually going to spend money in the offseason, the difference between a 1st round and 2nd round pick isn't going to deter them. If it does, then they're just looking for more excuses not to spend (as per usual).

[Lateral Quicks]

A decent year, and once again they outdid the consensus prediction put forth by the "experts" to start the year.

However, I'm a bit disappointed. There were so many missed opportunities:
- Bad managing cost us multiple games
- Cecil imploded
- Drabek imploded
- Morrow scuffled through most of the year
- Horrible team save %
- Played scrubs in Nix, Rivera, Patterson for half the year
- Lind and Hill continued their massive suckage

Looking at that list, I see plenty of room for improvement without breaking the bank.

[Randle McMurphy]

Well, 81-81 is more visually appealing than 80-82, but in the long run makes no difference.I don't think the first round pick protection will mean anything to AA. I'm sure if he wants a free agent bad enough he will go after him regardless of whether it costs a pick or not, except in the case of relievers most likely.

I agree. I also think their main offseason target is Darvish who wouldn't cost a pick anyway.

[Randle McMurphy]

A decent year, and once again they outdid the consensus prediction put forth by the "experts" to start the year.

However, I'm a bit disappointed. There were so many missed opportunities:
- Bad managing cost us multiple games
- Cecil imploded
- Drabek imploded
- Morrow scuffled through most of the year
- Horrible team save %
- Played scrubs in Nix, Rivera, Patterson for half the year
- Lind and Hill continued their massive suckage

Looking at that list, I see plenty of room for improvement without breaking the bank.

If you don't play those scrubs for half the year (and Lawrie doesn't get hurt in June), this team is looking at 85+ wins. Would have been very close to the WC. Knowing that, there's no reason not to build a winner next season.

[rarefind]

if aa wants a legit player via free agency he isn't going to let the 16th pick in the draft stop him. if it is that aa targets a big name guy like a prince fielder a comp pick is the least of his worries.

[Leolovinliberal]

A decent year, and once again they outdid the consensus prediction put forth by the "experts" to start the year.

However, I'm a bit disappointed. There were so many missed opportunities:
- Bad managing cost us multiple games
- Cecil imploded
- Drabek imploded
- Morrow scuffled through most of the year
- Horrible team save %
- Played scrubs in Nix, Rivera, Patterson for half the year
- Lind and Hill continued their massive suckage

Looking at that list, I see plenty of room for improvement without breaking the bank.

If you don't play those scrubs for half the year (and Lawrie doesn't get hurt in June), this team is looking at 85+ wins. Would have been very close to the WC. Knowing that, there's no reason not to build a winner next season.

But the bigger question to me is, why did AA insist on playing those scrubs in the first place? We all knew they were scrubs and posted about it, why didn't he know?

[PimpHandStrong]

Well, 81-81 is more visually appealing than 80-82, but in the long run makes no difference.I don't think the first round pick protection will mean anything to AA. I'm sure if he wants a free agent bad enough he will go after him regardless of whether it costs a pick or not, except in the case of relievers most likely.

I'm not totally sure. He really doesn't like the bang-for-buck of free agency to begin with, but my hope was that the sheer quality of the free agents available would override that. Having to surrender the 16th or 17th pick pretty much has to make him even more hesitant; hopefully not enough so to keep him out of the market, but it's definitely a stumbling block.

Wouldn't this increase the odds he goes after Darvish over CJ if he's intent on going after an ace?

Giving up a first round pick for Darvish and Fielder is a steal, no? If you can do it AND stay profitable (or even potentially increase profitability), I fail to see why the drop from a first round pick to a second round pick would be the true deterrent.

As McMurphy has posted already, that would only serve as a cheap excuse.

[Michael Bradley]

If AA wanted to pull out all the stops to sign Pujols (for example), I don't think losing a first round pick would even enter his mind in that scenario. On the flip side, if he really liked a reliever and that reliever was Type A, then he would probably think twice. Losing a pick for a superstar is a risk AA would easily take, IMO. Really depends on who he was after.

But I agree with Randle that Darvish is probably his target so the first round pick talk in that case would be moot.