John Gibbons - Blue Jays Manager as per Bob Elliott

Lukeem · Post #1 » by **Lukeem** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:19 am

Sorry if this should not be it's own thread but I thought it would be a very good conversation peice.

The Blue Jays are in a rare and uniques situation for the franchise. Obviously now with the trade being official everything is lining up for this to be an "all in" type year. With AA being a very draft pick conscious GM, having made several moves working the nuiances of the rules to grab extra picks I am sure he realises that due to a very big off year last year the Jays will have a top 10 pick in the draft, and that means no matter who they sign in FA it is protected.

Last year the Jays attempted to open up their pocket books, making their biggest effort towards someone (Yu Darvish) that would not of cost them any picks. Now I know with the recent influx of big contracts that making a huge signing might not be expected but the timing is really perfect to go even more ALL IN. The Jays despite having missed the playoffs for the last forever have barely ever been in the top 10 picks, and never have had such a strong pick going into a season with so much hope.

This could be a situation where we can have our cake and eat it too.

Zach Grienke ? As unreal as it sounds we just might have the perfect storm to do it. It would require a crazy contract but with several contracts expiring in the next 2-4 years, and Zach being pretty reliable and should be easy to trade with a big contract if things do not work out for the "business" of the Toronto Blue Jays
Now I am aware we are probably not going to get Zach but if we did we would be HEAVY contenders and Rogers should see a lot of their money back in a city that is so desperate for relevant sports.

I'd be okay "settling" for Anibal Sanchez or Edwin Jackson or for another big bat

SharoneWright · Post #2 » by **SharoneWright** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:28 am

and a new stadium...

Hendrix · Post #3 » by **Hendrix** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:53 am

I mean, I'd like them to spend a **** ton on free agency. But, after all they've done I have a tough time seeing it. At the end of the day we still are not the Yankees.

In all honesty I think they could field a very competitive team by just throwing another $10-$15 million towards the team. Throw some money towards Jonny Gomes, and pick up one more pitcher that can go sub 4.00 ERA, and I think we have as good a shot as anyone.

Mad-Eye Moody · Post #4 » by **Mad-Eye Moody** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 1:58 am

Hendrix wrote:I mean, I'd like them to spend a **** ton on free agency. But, after all they've done I have a tough time seeing it. At the end of the day we still are not the Yankees.

In all honesty I think they could field a very competitive team by just throwing another $10-$15 million towards the team. Throw some money towards Jonny Gomes, and pick up one more pitcher that can go sub 4.00 ERA, and I think we have as good a shot as anyone.

I agree. Gomes to platoon with Lind and another starting pitcher shouldn't cost more than 15 million and should elevate the Jays to AL East contenders (and maybe favourites).

TheFreshPrince · Post #5 » by **TheFreshPrince** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:55 am

Find a replacement for Lind, along with a 5th starter and we're good. No need to throw even more money around without seeing how things work first. If the trade works out well, we can tweak the roster with a few more additions.

Lukeem · Post #6 » by **Lukeem** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:57 am

I'm not denying it is unlikely our payroll makes another jump. But looking at how good the timing is for the organization is really uniques. Even in the marlins trade we gave up a lot of good prospects

It is hard to give your entire organization a boost with one big signing though we could add a franchise type player and maintain our pick of a potential franchise player for a long time coming. It happening seems beyond too good to be true though

Lukeem · Post #7 » by **Lukeem** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:03 am

Half assing an all in is when it flops. We've got a chance to be great next year but there are still a lot of wild card players adding 1 more sure thing type player puts a lot less stress on the seems of our roster

I'm very optimistic but not ignorant to the fact that EE might have been a flash in the pan. Jose is coming off injury so is santos. Reyes played huge in a contract year then fell a bit short last year. Johnson has had his share of injuries for a young pitcher. Romero really struggled last year. Morrow is injury prone.

Our most consistent player is mid 30s and his stuff has declined and is now coming into traditionally the most difficult division to pitch in

One more proven +++ veteran could easily be the difference between World Series and just another year out of the playoffs reminisce of the additions of Burnett and glaus years

SharoneWright · Post #8 » by **SharoneWright** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:10 am

At some point you make your bed with the players you got... "this is your team", etc.

It's why you play the game. And there are never any guarantees.

raps4589 · Post #9 » by **raps4589** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:22 am

SharoneWright wrote:and a new stadium...

oh man im on board with that, i will always love SKYDOME..... but i think its time we get one of those fancy stadiums

baulderdash77 · Post #10 » by **baulderdash77** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:44 am

raps4589 wrote:
SharoneWright wrote:and a new stadium...

oh man im on board with that, i will always love SKYDOME..... but i think its time we get one of those fancy stadiums

When there's >35,000 fans in the RC it's really fun to watch a game in. With 45,000 it's just rocking. We don't have a stadium problem, we have an attendance problem.

raps4589 · Post #11 » by **raps4589** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:49 am

baulderdash77 wrote:
raps4589 wrote:
SharoneWright wrote:and a new stadium...

oh man im on board with that, i will always love SKYDOME..... but i think its time we get one of those fancy stadiums

When there's >35,000 fans in the RC it's really fun to watch a game in. With 45,000 it's just rocking. We don't have a stadium problem, we have an attendance problem.

yea i know ive been to fun games there, and i have stated i will always love skydome/rogers center.... i do see your point with attendance and it will be up this year for sure, but we still need a new stadium..which i highly doubt we will ever get

BlackMaple · Post #12 » by **BlackMaple** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:50 am

The Rogers Centre is just fine, IMO. All it needs is real grass.

Waylon Mercy · Post #13 » by **Waylon Mercy** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 3:55 am

Are the Phillies contenders anymore?

What would it take to get Halladay? I think he's gonna be 36 next year and should have a couple
of good years left in him would he cost a lot in a trade because of his age?

SharoneWright · Post #14 » by **SharoneWright** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:12 am

BlackMaple wrote:The Rogers Centre is just fine, IMO. All it needs is real grass.

My point was that you can always get excited and spend money - of course we'd all like more high-end FA's and maybe even a new 3 Billion dollar stadium(!), but at this point, I'm satisfied, personally.

overdose · Post #15 » by **overdose** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 4:27 am

Waylon Mercy wrote:Are the Phillies contenders anymore?

What would it take to get Halladay? I think he's gonna be 36 next year and should have a couple
of good years left in him would he cost a lot in a trade because of his age?

Would LOVE to see Doc retire a Jay.

RalphWiggum · Post #16 » by **RalphWiggum** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:22 am

BlackMaple wrote:The Rogers Centre is just fine, IMO. All it needs is real grass.

It's never getting real grass but they could add better more natural looking turf and a real dirt infield. They should also try to do something to cover up all the concrete facades, the make the building feel so cold and sterile.

Post #17 » by **Geddy** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:48 am

A dirt infield doesn't seem that illogical. I'm sure they could find a way to make it modular in case they had to remove the dirt.

Also, it would be nice if they reduced the capacity and put in some better seats with more elbow room.

Kapono · Post #18 » by **Kapono** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:51 am

According to:

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/ ... 69421.html

hmmm

MGD24 · Post #19 » by **MGD24** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:51 am

Apparently Gibbons is returning

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/Toronto/2012/11/19/20369421.html

Kapono · Post #20 » by **Kapono** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:52 am

and http://www.torontosun.com/2012/11/20/to ... ns-manager