Blue Jays State of the Franchise Address

[BobbyBoy]

IMO, I don't like the rogers Centre. I think we need a ballpark that is actually like a ballpark. Rogers Centre just feels like a...I don't know, it just doesn't feel like a ballpark.

[Wo1verine]

This is also true. We've seen players block trades before because of the turf. Grass would definitely attract more people, but more than anything, winning will attract those free agents we so desperately want.

And with that statement made from Beeston about the Jays not willing to give out more than 5 years, the Jays have all but essentially stated they will not be in on any premier free agent. Most top guys are looking for more than 5 years so i guess the Jays will never land one

[BobbyBoy]

This is also true. We've seen players block trades before because of the turf. Grass would definitely attract more people, but more than anything, winning will attract those free agents we so desperately want.

More about $$$ than anything else if the Blue Jays aren't willing to give more than 5-years to premium free agents then none of them are signing here.. With that policy we'll more than likely always be after the left overs.

Yeah, I don't know why they have a 5 year limit. I can understand the 5 year limit with prince (because he is so fat and his health probably won't be great in 5 years) or a older guy. But a Guy like Matt Cain, Cole Hamels, and maybe even Clayton Kershaw (If he becomes a FA) are not old guys, and they probably want 5-8 years or so, and I think at least one of those guys would look great in a jays uniform.

[satyr9]

This is also true. We've seen players block trades before because of the turf. Grass would definitely attract more people, but more than anything, winning will attract those free agents we so desperately want.

More about $$$ than anything else if the Blue Jays aren't willing to give more than 5-years to premium free agents then none of them are signing here.. With that policy we'll more than likely always be after the left overs.

Yeah, I don't know why they have a 5 year limit. I can understand the 5 year limit with prince (because he is so fat and his health probably won't be great in 5 years) or a older guy. But a Guy like Matt Cain, Cole Hamels, and maybe even Clayton Kershaw (If he becomes a FA) are not old guys, and they probably want 5-8 years or so, and I think at least one of those guys would look great in a jays uniform.

5+ years for a pitcher? I cannot see signing 27-29 year olds to 6-8 year deals at enormous salaries. I know I'm in the minority around here for these, but the risks are just not worth the rewards.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

From the Globe & Mail:

Anthopoulos would later say “nothing is carved in stone” and Beeston had “evolved” with the game to the point where he had moved beyond his stance that a contract should not be longer than three years.

Yes Beeston may be opposed to the five year stance but if that's the way the market is headed, then you have no choice but to accept it or don't. There will always be free agents out there that aren't looking for such a deal as well; the older free agents ala the Molitors and Winfields.

And signing pitchers to five years + is a disaster waiting to happen.

[BobbyBoy]

From the Globe & Mail:

Anthopoulos would later say “nothing is carved in stone” and Beeston had “evolved” with the game to the point where he had moved beyond his stance that a contract should not be longer than three years.

Yes Beeston may be opposed to the five year stance but if that's the way the market is headed, then you have no choice but to accept it or don't. There will always be free agents out there that aren't looking for such a deal as well; the older free agents ala the Molitors and Winfields.

And signing pitchers to five years + is a disaster waiting to happen.

AA signed Romero to a five year deal, so are you saying that's a disaster? Also why is it a disaster to sign a pitcher, for example Clayton Kershaw to a 5 + deal?

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Pitchers in general have a lot more wear and tear than positional players and tend to be more volatile than positional players. (Good example is Asher Woj; arm was abused in college, particularly the last year of college). The probability of TJ surgery seems increasingly likely nowadays, so yes, I tend to agree with that philisophy. Romero was signed to a five year deal at a reasonable price. So far it's worked out but we're only entering..year two (not sure) in that deal, so we'll see. Although his mechanics seem to be pretty sound.

[hyper316]

now i understand why AA and beeston wont give out contracts more than 5 years. it's because they had to keep their word since negotiating contract with Bautista. Jose would be pissed if AA turns around and give someone else more years than he got

[tiger7]

But... what about the turf?

AA sounds like he really wants grass instead of the quilted turf as a fan stated tonight. Beeston isn't opposed to the move but has to take up the matter with Rogers which could be a long process heading into spring training.

Rogers received that turf from Astro turf for free in exchange for putting their logo on it. That is the magic word.

[tiger7]

This is also true. We've seen players block trades before because of the turf. Grass would definitely attract more people, but more than anything, winning will attract those free agents we so desperately want.

Complaining about the turf is a joke. Outside the fact that it looks like s*** and doesn't play like grass it has a lot of give to it. It isn't like the rug burn type astro turf we used to have. I've played on the Rogers Centre field it has a lot of give and bounce to it. Playing on the hardwood floors at the ACC would be much tougher on your joints. If I could compare it to anything it would be similar to the recycled tires they dye red and use for some of the newer playgrounds to prevent injuries.

[darth_federer]

Some of you are pretending like we re the worst team in MLB and have no prospects coming up. In the past two years this team has rebuilt the farm system to the point where we have the best farm system. We also have one of the best GMs in the league and tons of young talented players coming up.

I can understand disappointment but some of you seem furious which makes no sense. We ve taken massive steps forward the past couple of years.

[dagger]

Some of you are pretending like we re the worst team in MLB and have no prospects coming up. In the past two years this team has rebuilt the farm system to the point where we have the best farm system. We also have one of the best GMs in the league and tons of young talented players coming up.

I can understand disappointment but some of you seem furious which makes no sense. We ve taken massive steps forward the past couple of years.

Good, then how about reducing ticket prices for the next few years until all of this tremendous young talent reaches the majors and matures?

Or, how about a free trip for every season ticketholder to New Hampshire to watch all these younglings.

[darth_federer]

I have no issues with that. Although nobody is going to pay for anyone to go to New Hampshire.

[BobbyBoy]

All prospects are not going to make it. For example if you have 10 good prospects, maybe 2 or 3 will actaully be good. Plus a lot of our good prospects are in AA or A.

[tiger7]

Some of you are pretending like we re the worst team in MLB and have no prospects coming up. In the past two years this team has rebuilt the farm system to the point where we have the best farm system. We also have one of the best GMs in the league and tons of young talented players coming up.

I can understand disappointment but some of you seem furious which makes no sense. We ve taken massive steps forward the past couple of years.

Good, then how about reducing ticket prices for the next few years until all of this tremendous young talent reaches the majors and matures?

Or, how about a free trip for every season ticketholder to New Hampshire to watch all these younglings.

lol they haven't even brought the Rogers Centre up to standard compared to other stadiums. The only cool thing about it is the club house, video board and the roof. The owner is Rogers fat chance at that happening.

[BobbyBoy]

**** Rogers and the Rogers centre

[Avenger]

All prospects are not going to make it. For example if you have 10 good prospects, maybe 2 or 3 will actaully be good. Plus a lot of our good prospects are in AA or A.

They don't all have to make it, everyone knows a vast majority of them will amount to nothing but they're still incredibly valuable. Having 3 top 100 prospects is basically the same as having an MLB all star.

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Definitely. The goal is to make sure you have a well stocked farm system when you go for it. With the way some of these trades are headed, it looks like the four prospects for a player is the way the market is heading, and you want to be able to make a trade and still have a healthy farm system in case another trade is needed to be made. The worst case scenario is for the Jays to end up in a situation like the Cleveland Indians who traded for Ubaldo Jimenez, and now have essentially nothing left in their farm system.

[g_greg]

Definitely. The goal is to make sure you have a well stocked farm system when you go for it. With the way some of these trades are headed, it looks like the four prospects for a player is the way the market is heading, and you want to be able to make a trade and still have a healthy farm system in case another trade is needed to be made. The worst case scenario is for the Jays to end up in a situation like the Cleveland Indians who traded for Ubaldo Jimenez, and now have essentially nothing left in their farm system.

Trades, trades and more trades.
AA prefers this route because of the control he can get over the player.

An oft-repeated mantra regarding team policy on long-term contracts (none longer than five years) seems short-sighted when the decision makers bend over backwards explaining how difficult attracting free agent talent can be. Hard and fast rules can be limiting, can they not?

When I asked Alex Anthopoulos if such a rule existed for the team’s bounty of prospects and recent draft picks, he said no. There is no hard and fast rule deeming some prospects untouchable, each and every one is “in play” for potential moves. Anthopoulos stressed a reluctance to fill one hole while creating two others but the methodology is clear. Trades are the only way the club can achieve that which they truly desire: control.

Acquiring young players still in the arbitration or earlier stage of their career gives the Blue Jays freedom from the free market. Freedom from the whims of players wary of playing in the American League East on a sickly green carpet in Canada. When the Jays sit down with an arbitration eligible player and slide a contract that guarantees millions of dollars in exchange for their remaining arbitration years, their agent is not fielding calls from half a dozen other interested parties.

http://blogs.thescore.com/mlb/2012/01/31/between-the-french-fries-care-and-control/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+thescore%2Fgettingblanked+%28Getting+Blanked%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

[LBJSeizedMyID]

Yes that too. As they've said it's about sustainability. Control will have a big part in assuring sustainability.