Beeston on the Fan590: 11am

[MGD24]

Beeston will be on with Jeff Blair this morning.

If anything important or new is said I will post it

[Rhettmatic]

Via Wilner:

Believes as currently constituted, #Bluejays have a shot at playoff spot.

Over last 2 yrs., AA's rebuilding of farm & development system has put us where we want to be

Would we like to fast-forward things? Obviously we would. Fans, city, country would...not at expense of longterm plan.

We all love Prince Fielder....(he's) a terrific ballplayer....but does he put us over the top?

Rogers has never turned us down for anything we've wanted to do...equally as good as working with Labatt's.

Beeston, on idea that Rogers is less excited about #Bluejays since they've bought MLSE: "1 - Haven't seen it. 2 - Don't believe it."

Beeston: I like the team...we're getting there and if everything comes together the way we think it can (#Bluejays can make playoffs). #jays

[MGD24]

-Blair asks are you aware fan base is disappointed?

Beeston says some are, some are not
He's also heard from other fans that they need to stay the course, don't vary it, don't rush things
He thinks there are both sides.
Beeston wants to remain patient and stay with the plan
They have rebuilt the farm system over 2 years with AA
Would you like to fast forward it? obviously but not at the expense of a long term plan
They will move forward on a sustainable plan...be it 5-10 years.

Blair asks why do you think the fan expectations are so high now.

Beeston doesnt know why fan expectation are so high now
But states the Jays are going forward....they have lots of draft picks coming up
He understands wanting 100 million, 115, 120 million dollar payroll
but Jays need to spend it wisely not just spend to get to that amount
He wants to get to 92 world series team point when they got Morris and Winfield...but they aren't there now. They had Alomar, Carter, a pitching rotation back then.

Blair asks why not spend on Fielder? A player doesn't come along like this all the time, isn't he worth the money?

Beeston says that's your opinion.
What if something happens to him if they signed him for 10 years
Says we all love Prince Fielder
He's a terrific ball player and Free Agent
But does Prince Fielder put us over the top for the length of time he wants (10 Yrs)? No.

Blair asks what if he wanted 5-6 years deal.

Depends on the price he wants for 5-6 years...but not 10 years.


Blair asks if there is tension or are the Jays on a different page with Rogers?

No tension. They have never turned the Jays down.
When they wanted to increase payroll they gave it, wanted money for minor leagues system they give it.

Blair asked that now that they are involved with MLSE is it possible that the Jays are not the apple of their eye?

Beeston says it's a fair question but
a) haven't seen it
b) doesn't believe it
c) beeston will be first one to say if that's the case
They have changed their minor league system from paying 2 mill in 2009 to over 15 mil now

Beeston knows fans that want to fast forward it the process. So does he, so does AA, but not at the expense of what they want to do long term

Blair asks can they compete in AL East and have a shot at playoffs?

Beeston says if everything comes together the way they want, then they definitely do have a chance

[Rhettmatic]

Thanks for the recap.

[evilRyu]

Whoa. Thanks so much for the recaps

[Myth111]

Thanks. Nothing too interesting except for the fact he does not seem to accept the fact there are many fans mad at the Jays for their boring off-season so far.

[torontoaces04]

Thanks for the recap...

Beeston believes as currently constituted, this Blue Jays team has a chance at the playoffs!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! That's the best joke I've heard in a while.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Thanks. Nothing too interesting except for the fact he does not seem to accept the fact there are many fans mad at the Jays for their boring off-season so far.

When you're dead set on something, all it takes are a few people to re-affirm your ways to make you turn a blind eye.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Thanks for the recap...

Beeston believes as currently constituted, this Blue Jays team has a chance at the playoffs!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! That's the best joke I've heard in a while.

Can you tell me why you think the Jays have NO chance to make the playoffs? Other than all the other teams improved on paper but we didn't?

[Rhettmatic]

If Beeston thinks this is a potential playoff team as is, why wouldn't Prince Fielder put it over the top?

[Randle McMurphy]

More material to add to the Rogers/Beeston Wall of BS, it appears. The guy can't even keep his excuses and apologist logic straight.

[satyr9]

I'm not saying it isn't BS PR, but has Beeston ever said different? I though this was pretty consistent for him, although a very different tenor than a few of things AA has said. If they aren't consistent together, that's one thing and maybe I just missed it, but has Beeston spoken publicly in a way contradictory to what was re-capped here?

[vaff87]

Thanks for the recap...

Beeston believes as currently constituted, this Blue Jays team has a chance at the playoffs!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! That's the best joke I've heard in a while.

Can you tell me why you think the Jays have NO chance to make the playoffs? Other than all the other teams improved on paper but we didn't?

I know it's a different sport and everything, but as an Eagles fan, I learned this year standing pat may not always be a bad thing. Look at last off-season? The Eagles added a slew of top free agents and everyone thought they were a certified lock to win the division. Meanwhile, the NY Giants did absolutely nothing, and look at where both teams are now?

[BobbyBoy]

If Beeston thinks this is a potential playoff team as is, why wouldn't Prince Fielder put it over the top?

That's a great point. I wish someone could ask him that, I would love too see what he says.

[frolic3]

It feels like Beeston takes us for fools. The vocal majority has been very displeased with this off season.

As great as Sergio Santos looked last season we all know that pitching is a very variable commodity and Santos could blow 10-20 saves next year and be a average pitcher that doesn't necessarily mean our team improved.

We could make the play offs if a dozen things go right. But seriously it feels like our team can't even finish 3rd. How can we even think of play offs?

[Michael Bradley]

I happen to agree with Beeston (somewhat) that the team has potential to surprise people next year. Whether that leads to playoff contention we can only wait and see, but for the first time since AA took over it seems like the team won't be playing players for the sake of preserving service time or increasing trade value, so the best talent on the field will make the Opening Day roster. I think a lot of people are underselling how much the team has the potential to improve internally.

Other than that, yes, the interview was mostly typical Beeston spin work. He has been a con artist with this fanbase since 2009 and nothing has changed.

[MikeM]

Pretty sure he said he wouldn't sign Fielder for 10 years but if it was 5-6 years it'd depend on the price. I think that means our management is smart? It kinda makes me glad? I dunno.

We spend in every which way possible except for the way that is least value driven, that being free agency. Does that make us cheap or ... smart?

[Avenger]

Thanks for the recap...

Beeston believes as currently constituted, this Blue Jays team has a chance at the playoffs!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! That's the best joke I've heard in a while.

There's nothing ridiculous about what he said. The Jays are a highly volatile team, there are half a dozen guys on the roster that are capable of having monster years. They only need 2 of Rasmus, Morrow, Alvarez, Lawrie, Snider and Johnson to have great years and the Jays will be playing meaningful September baseball. Now obviously all of them could fail and the likely outcome is probably Jays falling short(probably by 6-8 games) but its perfectly reasonable to say as presently constructed the Jays have a chance.

[frolic3]

You could say the Jays can have a big your from a couple of players. But by the same token NY/TB/Bos don't need monster years from anyone and if their team plays to expectation they will play meaningful September baseball.

The team is volatile but we could have two great year and a mediocre year. The team has a high ceiling and a low floor. It can be crazy.

[torontoaces04]

Thanks for the recap...

Beeston believes as currently constituted, this Blue Jays team has a chance at the playoffs!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! That's the best joke I've heard in a while.

There's nothing ridiculous about what he said. The Jays are a highly volatile team, there are half a dozen guys on the roster that are capable of having monster years. They only need 2 of Rasmus, Morrow, Alvarez, Lawrie, Snider and Johnson to have great years and the Jays will be playing meaningful September baseball. Now obviously all of them could fail and the likely outcome is probably Jays falling short(probably by 6-8 games) but its perfectly reasonable to say as presently constructed the Jays have a chance.

A. We've been waiting for a big year from Travis Snider since 2008.

Kelly Johnson is a 30 year old who's best year came two years ago... 26hr & 71rbis...good stats for a 2nd baseman, but nothing earth-shattering, or that is going to make a substantial difference.

Brandon Morrow has always had electric stuff, only to come out with mediocre results. He could show improvement, but again to assume he all of a sudden becomes a legitimate 2nd Starter and finds "it", is a stretch.

Henderson Alvarez looked very good in a small sample size last season. However, to count on him to make this team significantly better, is wishful thinking. He's still a guy who's pitched under 65 innings in this league. He will obviously have some bumps along the way, but I do hope his development continues.

Lawrie already had a monster year during the time he was with the team last season. Assuming he keeps up that pace, he's going to be an all-star. He did strike out a lot, but I do believe he's the real deal. To say he's going to have a monster year compared to his production last year, thus making the Jays significantly better, is again a stretch.

The one guy who I agree CAN (not WILL) have a monster year compared to any he's ever put up is Colby Rasmus. He showed VERY LITTLE in his time in Toronto, and frankly didn't seem to like it here very much. He wasn't really embraced by his teammates, and seemed like an outsider. Not the ideal scenario for having a breakout year.

B. Starting Pitching....WE DON'T HAVE IT.

Ricky Romero (The one proven pitcher the Jays possess. He's great.)
Brandon Morrow (As stated above, huge question mark.)
Brett Cecil (Mr. Inconsistent)
Henderson Alvarez (Still unproven over any significant time period.)
Dustin McGowan/Kyle Drabek (Right now the edge for this spot goes to McGowan. He looked pretty awful last season. Sad thing is, that's still better than Drabek looked.)

You can slice it and dice it however you want. You can make all the assumptions you want about 'MONSTER YEARS'. The fact of the matter is that the Blue Jays currently lack the talent to compete in the AL East, let alone for a playoff spot.

Having Beeston come out in the media and state that the Jays have a chance of at a playoff spot, is wishful thinking at best, and outright lying at worst.

As others have said, if Beeston truly felt we had a chance at making the playoffs, how then does he justify saying that adding one player like Prince doesn't put us over the top?