Lateral Quicks wrote:I prefer silence over making stupid deals.
Agreed. I will always remember reading (forgot where) that AA felt the Lincecum/Rios deal could have happened (in some capacity) had the rumor not been leaked. Once the rumor came out, Sabean was getting killed in the media and that may have influenced his decision to not make the deal. If you look at AA's deals, none of them leaked prior to happening. Not a single one. Even the Halladay trade had about 20 different versions before the real one finally surfaced. If silence not only helps AA make good trades but also avoids leaks that could influence the outcome of certain deals, then I am all for silence. I don't need to know every player the Jays have inquired about. Judge AA on his actions, not his words. We already had a GM with no filter before (JP) and we already had a GM who made moves designed to appease the fanbase (Ash). That wasn't any more reassuring than having someone who remains quiet and stays on course.
The reason JP made more free agent signings, in addition to having more money, is that he practically bent over for the player. No-trade clauses, opt-outs, vesting options, player options, etc, etc. AA has done the opposite; every contract he has signed has been team friendly. AA is far less likely to attract the top free agents based on his team friendly concept, but in the end that is the only one the Jays will be able to maintain the flexibility that Rogers wants.
AA is the best thing to happen to this franchise since 1993. Throwing him under the bus for doing what Rogers wants him to do (trying to win on a Tampa Bay Rays budget) is foolish.
