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This ought to be interesting. I'm guessing he'll play nice when it comes to AA questions. He'll try to talk more about the roster, stadium improvements (maybe), free agency, budget, and so on.

This is a big press conference for him.

He has to make us buy his vision for the next few years and really explain to the fan base why AA isn't apart of the Blue Jays anymore.

I can't see this as being a good presser from Shapiro unless the guy comes out and says something absurd like 200 million payroll or announced a Price signing.

He doesn't have to make us buy anything. I'm sure he won't be saying that much nor can/will be explaining anything insightful regarding AA. Seems like AA wanted more autonomy in baseball decisions and didn't feel comfortable giving that up but that's just speculation.

HeatedEnd wrote:He doesn't have to make us buy anything. I'm sure he won't be saying that much nor can/will be explaining anything insightful regarding AA. Seems like AA wanted more autonomy in baseball decisions and didn't feel comfortable giving that up but that's just speculation.

Of course he does. We just came off one of the best seasons and we have now lost the architect of that team.

Fans are already pissed that AA left. He needs to sell some sort of hope for the next few years

In shapiro i trust

"Yes or no, would you have made that same David Price trade?"

He doesn't have to make anyone buy anything because the roster is still really good and by the time spring training rolls around people will have gotten over it.

"yes or no, would you have made the RA Dickey trade?"

So many things...

-What happened with AA
-What he wants in next gm/front office/thoughts on current guys in front office
-Thoughts on current roster
-Differences on competing in AL Central vs AL East
-Free agency, our guys and guys on market
-Rogers Centre overhaul/grass

All the casuals are gonna spend most of their morning preparing their anger for every word that comes out of Shapiro's mouth. I'm genuinally excited for his era. Want a young core like Cleveland has with our payroll!

ldnk wrote:I can't see this as being a good presser from Shapiro unless the guy comes out and says something absurd like 200 million payroll or announced a Price signing.

I don't think this presser will be too bad if Rogers controls the questions - much like how James Dolan controls his media for the Knicks/Rangers

Hopefully not every question will be about Anthopoulos. Focus on the future - what Shapiro is about, what he wants to do, etc.

Probably answers in the realm of:

-What happened with AA
"He is a really smart baseball mind and it is very tough to lose him. We tried everything we could do to keep him but at the end of the day he decided he needed to move on and we wish him the best of luck"

-What he wants in next gm/front office/thoughts on current guys in front office

-Thoughts on current roster
"We have a very talent group of guys. You don't win a division and make it to the ALCS without so real talent."

-Differences on competing in AL Central vs AL East
"You are now going against some powerhouses in regards to their baseball and financial might. But at the end of the day it is a matter of fielding the best team possible"

-Free agency, our guys and guys on market
"There is clearly some holes we have to fill in regards to the pitching staff. We will look at all avenues to try to address that. There are some really good players out there and we intend to be a big player."

-Rogers Centre overhaul/grass
"We will continue with the work currently done in regards to putting grass in Rogers Centre."

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I'll give Shapiro 3 years before I talk **** about him lol.

polo007 wrote:[tweet]https://twitter.com/ZackMeisel/status/661184805644705793[/tweet]

the comments are gold from this article.

Shapiro is a tool if he scolded Toronto's front office. Shapiro can't hold a candle to Toronto's FO. AA was smart to get out when he could. What business does Shapiro have criticizing a front office that actually drafts well? The Toronto Sun article highlights what many Cleveland fans have been complaining about for some time. Cleveland's front office has been clueless since 2000 for the most part, just like their owner. A new paradigm, indeed. For the most part, this organization is back to performing like it did the 70's and 80's: rudderless, spend very little money to run the organization and amounts to nothing more than a AAAA organization for the big boys. One good year (2007) since 2000. That's it.



I hope someone has the guts to mention the fellow GM criticism to the FO (assuming the FO ever grants an interview) and not let them spin out of their answer.



Thank you, Zack, for writing this story.

What's the fuss about? Shapiro--not a fan favorite here, and won't be in Toronto, either. But, he takes bullets for ownership, executes their dirty work, and laughs all the way to the bank. I'd be glad he's gone, except for one thing--it doesn't change the dynamic of how the Indians are going to be operating one bit. That all comes from the top (Dolan)--so the only help would come from a sale or a massive influx from new minority investors.

Shapiro was also referred to as "smug" by those inside Toronto's organization, as reported by the Toronto Star. Not exactly a way to introduce yourself to a new job/organziation. Shapiro was supposed to start his new gig on 11/1, but had several discussions with Alex Anthopoulos and chastised him for trading away prospects in positioning Toronto to make a run for the World Series....how absurdly pathetic coming from a guy like Shapiro who led the most abysmal decade of drafting in ML history and presided over an empty farm system. After reading ESPN's column on Shapiro/Anthopoulos (AA), Toronto fans started doing homework on Shapiro and were astounded in disgust. The found about the losing records for the better part of 15 years, the single playoff series year (2007), the empty farm system and the erosion of the Indian's ticket base from 30K to 5K....and about Shapiro's corporate speak Harvard arrogance. It's not going over well after Shapiro drove AA out, and that he DID.



Pomeranz and White were traded because they were abject failures as high #1 picks, and Shapiro/Antonetti knew it when they were dispatched-it wasn't because they were giving up highly regarded prospects. (Pomeranz was picked over Chris Sale when Baseball America urged the Indian's to pick Sale as the no-brainer stud, and Baseball America said White's delivery would get him injured if placed as an MLB starter and said he was a bullpen prospect). Get that part correct.

HeatedEnd wrote:He doesn't have to make anyone buy anything because the roster is still really good and by the time spring training rolls around people will have gotten over it.

"yes or no, would you have made the RA Dickey trade?"

The roster has serious issues. Position players are fine but there are major questions in the rotation and in the bullpen

Al_Oliver wrote:

HeatedEnd wrote:He doesn't have to make anyone buy anything because the roster is still really good and by the time spring training rolls around people will have gotten over it.

"yes or no, would you have made the RA Dickey trade?"

The roster has serious issues. Position players are fine but there are major questions in the rotation and in the bullpen

Serious issues? We were a couple of bad breaks away from the World Series.

If they re-sign Price and Estrada, move Sanchez into the rotation, re-sign Lowe and bring in 2 good bullpen arms, this is a 100 win team.

They can literally stand pat with the position players if they want to and be just fine, short of having a weaker back-up catcher if Navarro walks.

27 other teams would love to have our serious issues.

James_Raptors wrote:"Yes or no, would you have made that same David Price trade?"

This should be the first question asked. The second I would ask is "What will be the job description/role of the next GM?".

Assuming this will be aired live?