[Poll] What are your expectations for 2012?

Legal Non-Conforming · Post #1 » by **Legal Non-Conforming** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:01 pm

With the new playoff format, what are your expectations for the Blue Jays in 2012? Three possible answers.

Tyrone Slothrop · Post #2 » by **Tyrone Slothrop** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 3:04 pm

We already wasted having the best pitcher in the major leagues. I will be disappointed if we waste having the best hitter.

Edit- But I have low expectations- Without any more additions, we are still worse than New York, Boston, Tampa Bay, Detroit, the Angels and Texas. Cleveland could also surprise a lot of people.

Post #3 » by **tsherkin** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 2:37 pm

I have basically no expectations at this point. I know AA is a good GM, but I'm getting tired of being blown around by management and never really fielding a team that is balanced or will truly compete. We're looking at our 19th consecutive season out of the playoffs, and thus nearly 20 years of largely meaningless games... it starts to weigh. I'm not going anywhere; these aren't the Raptors, I actually care about the Jays, but they make it damned hard.

torontoaces04 · Post #4 » by **torontoaces04** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:34 pm

I voted 'I will be disappointed, but will continue to support the team.'

As anyone who has been around the past few weeks knows, I've been rather disappointed with this off season, to say the least. I don't think AA has chosen his words very well at all this off season, leading to a backlash from the Fan base.

What I find most interesting about all of this however, IS the backlash amongst Fans. If this had taken place during the 'Dark Ages' (Ricciardi era) the reaction from Fans would have been minimal, because there was little hope or optimism for the Jays.

AA, with the terrific work he has done thus far, has elevated Fans interest in the ball club. With increased interest, come increased expectations. Fans are saying, 'You've shown me what you can do, and how quickly you've made us better. Now go make us even better, and let's start making the playoffs.'

I for one don't think that AA saw this coming. In his first 2 years as the GM, everyone has been looking at him through rose-coloured glasses, and rightfully so, he's done a great job.

One thing I will say about Anthopolous is he doesn't seem to be a terrific communicator. I'm not referring to the fact that he doesn't tell you ANYTHING in regards to trade discussions, FAs, etc... I'm talking about how he addresses Fans, and the media, and tries to convey his vision for the team. He speaks with a monotonous tone, with leads people into believing he doesn't care that much, and is fine with the status quo. He also doesn't chose his words very well, as we experienced first hand, with the 'payroll perimeters' fiasco.

If AA is not going to tell us anything about trades and FA's, that's fine...but then don't come out and talk to us to no end about 'payroll perimeters' and how Fans need to do more, for you to be able to spend more.

The fact that he decided to hold a Media conference yesterday to essentially say, 'we don't comment on specific players/fa's, because we feel it's a competitive advantage.' No s*** Sherlock, we already knew that, but thanks for throwing it in our faces once again.

To sum up this rambling post: Someone get AA a PR person, because he's not doing a great job of it himself.

bigdirty · Post #5 » by **bigdirty** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 4:39 pm

They could very well squeek into the playoffs in last position if everything goes right. Of course that would allow Rogers and the Jays to thumb their noses at the fans once more and claim that mediocrity works just fine.

Like Tyrone stated though, we're likely worse than those 6 teams and the odds are once again against the Jays to make the playoffs. This is the year they should have pulled out all the stops to make the playoffs and be great but instead they nickel and dime the fans once again. Don't worry though: the beers will still be 10 dollars at the dome.