Beeston on the Fan590: 11am

[Wo1verine]

I was hoping Beeston would go on PTS! Say what you want about McCown, but at least he asks tough questions.

[Parataxis]

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

That's the logical gap, aye.

"As currently construed, we're a playoff caliber team"
"Prince Fielder is a terrific ballplayer"
"He doesn't put us over the top"

One of those statements must be false.

[Mike Hunt]

Sad thing is: of all of the free agents to have hit the market over the past several seasons (not just this one), I can't think of one I'd be more comfortable with than Prince Fielder, long term. The last thing to go for athletes in most sports is power (I think of baseball players, boxers, hockey players). When 90% of your game is power, that's a good thing.

I think if Beeston really thinks there's even a sliver of a chance that the Jays make the playoffs, he should lobby to add Fielder. Since it doesn't look like that's happening, I find it hard to believe that he thinks they have a real shot.

[torontoaces04]

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

That's the logical gap, aye.

"As currently construed, we're a playoff caliber team"
"Prince Fielder is a terrific ballplayer"
"He doesn't put us over the top"

One of those statements must be false.

There are only two possible answers to this;

1. Beeston is a liar.

2. Beeston really has no idea what state this team is currently in, and is talking out of his rear.

Take your pick.

[MikeM]

He said he wouldn't give him 10 years. Do you guys have a problem with that? Do you want to give Fielder 10 years?

Beeston clearly said if Fielder wants 5-6 years then it depends on the price. He didn't say we are out on Prince.

You guys are talking like he dismissed Fielder entirely like many teams around the league have. We have not dismissed the idea of Fielder. Clearly.

Our management is smart. Come back in this thread when someone signs Fielder for 5/100M and complain then because I will be complaining then as well.

[notic519]

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

+100000000

Beeston made absolutely no sense with those two comments. He thinks we have a shot at the playoffs yet he questions whether an MVP candidate will put us over the top?

I guess he could be meaning over the top as World Series Champions although in order to be champions we have to make the playoffs first and Fielder would greatly help our chances.

[tecumseh18]

He wants to get to 92 world series team point when they got Morris and Winfield...but they aren't there now.

Of course, Morris and Winfield were at the tail end of their careers in 1992, and everyone knew it at the time. They were one year deals. That's not comparable to signing a perennial MVP candidate still in his early prime years to fill an acknowledged need (middle of the order batter to protect Jose). It's not like we have someone like that ready to promote from the minors.

I'm not sure why Beeston would even mention this, unless he's saying the Jays will NEVER sign a name free agent long-term.

[dagger]

I don't think a true 10-year deal has been on the table for Fielder for weeks now. At best, it would be 10 years with escape clauses for both sides, i.e really a six year deal with a fig leaf to cover Boras' wounded pride.

So let's forget about 10 years. Beeston knows that's no longer the obstacle.

[Parataxis]

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

+100000000

Beeston made absolutely no sense with those two comments. He thinks we have a shot at the playoffs yet he questions whether an MVP candidate will put us over the top?

I guess he could be meaning over the top as World Series Champions although in order to be champions we have to make the playoffs first and Fielder would greatly help our chances.

Even if he meant World Series Champions, it wouldn't make sense.

The playoffs, even with 7 game series (and especially with a 1 or 5 game series!) is very much a anybody's game. Having a better player is always going to make it more likely that you get on past that next round.

[torontoaces04]

So let's forget about 10 years. Beeston knows that's no longer the obstacle.

That's a big assumption. I'm really starting to question what, if anything, Beeston "knows" about the goings on of the Blue Jays and MLB in general.

[jrsmith]

Another pathetic loser running ship in Toronto, lol.

[frolic3]

The Blue Jay's window of competing should be thought of as Bautista's prime. In Bautista you have a batter that is up there with the best in the MLB.

I don't think anyone in Toronto or the MLB wants Fielder enough for 10 years but I don't see how adding Fielder can hurt the team. He has no known chemistry issues and he won't be blocking any prospects from the MLB except David Cooper. If it was Yonder Alonso I could understand.

[torontoaces04]

The Blue Jay's window of competing should be thought of as Bautista's prime. In Bautista you have a batter that is up there with the best in the MLB.

Forget Bautista's prime, lets start talking about when he's going to ask for a trade.

[jrsmith]

The Blue Jay's window of competing should be thought of as Bautista's prime. In Bautista you have a batter that is up there with the best in the MLB.

Forget Bautista's prime, lets start talking about when he's going to ask for a trade.

That sounds delicious. I'd say 2-3 years away. And after Bautista is gone, oh boy that next 5 year rebuild is going to go hard and guarantee a winning team for decades, dare I say centuries to come?

Please management and Rogers Do Not Rush this thing.

[frolic3]

I got this from: http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/i ... ce-fielder

When it comes to the club's finances, Simpson talked about a strategy to make the Rangers a "dynasty."

"We're writing checks to make this stuff happen, but at some point it's got to sustain itself and we understand that," Simpson said. "Winning comes first and then support comes. You can't ask fans to come to every game while you're losing and have them help you increase your revenues. You're trying to take it to a new level, a sustainable level, where it is a dynasty franchise like the Dallas Cowboys achieved. Then in the off-years, and inevitably you'll have some, they still support you."

Maybe Beeston/Rogers/AA need to take a page out of the Ranger's book. Win first, then the support/fan/money comes. Not the other way around.