Pick Watch

Post #1 » by **Schad** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:14 am

There is a massive pileup of bad-but-not-atrocious teams right now; entering play today (ie., before the Jays **** the bed twice in a double-header) there were an incredible eleven teams within 3.5 games, spanning from 4th-worst to 14th-worst. That means considerable day-to-day fluctuations in the standing of our pick (the one that isn't compensation for failing to sign Bickford, at least), which means that at least we have something to monitor with interest in this godforsaken season.

Will we end up merely mediocre? Will we find the inner strength to be truly awful? With only 36 games to go, anything can happen*!

* 'Anything' does not include 'being competitive'.

theinfamous07 · Post #2 » by **theinfamous07** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:41 am

Time for tank nation...but with our luck they will just win enough to pick outside the top 10...

At this point they can't get any worse by bringing up Jimenez, Negrych, Stilson and Carreno in September once the rosters expand.

dagger · Post #3 » by **dagger** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:42 am

Wtih Jose on the DL, we have a chance to be truly awful. Sitting 11th now, two games out of fourth. I'd shut down Bautista, Reyes and Rasmus.

I'd call up Sierra. Deck McGuire and Ricky Romero. Re-activate Josh Johnson for September. That ought to do it. I wouldn't let any decent prospects near this cluster@q

MikeM · Post #4 » by **MikeM** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:50 am

Also, activate Melky from the DL and play him in CF.

dagger · Post #5 » by **dagger** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 3:25 am

My September motto for the Jays

May the fourth (pick) be with you.

Randle McMurphy · Post #6 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:43 am

Doubt they finish any worse than last year (73 wins) no matter who they bring up, but who really knows at this point? Can't say I care much either way, though, this isn't the NBA.

user3000 · Post #7 » by **user3000** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:50 am

I'm glad we get to practice rooting for the tank before the Raps get started.

If AA pulls off a top 5 pick though clear tank measures (Bautista to DL is another great step), I'll forgive this season.

Secueritae · Post #8 » by **Secueritae** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 5:09 am

Randle McMurphy wrote:Doubt they finish any worse than last year (73 wins) no matter who they bring up, but who really knows at this point? Can't say I care much either way, though, this isn't the NBA.

Too bad this isn't the NBA where draft picks are forced to sign or we own their rights.
It's stupid how they can decline and go back to school to re-enter a later draft

SharoneWright · Post #9 » by **SharoneWright** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 5:43 am

It's a given we lose 65% of our remaining games against the good teams. It's all gonna come down to our remaining series against the Twins and the Astros. Maybe switch in a non-roster player in the 6th inning before the umps know what's what, deliberately run out of players, baseball giveaway night??? Find me other potential ways to forfeit! LOL

tecumseh18 · Post #10 » by **tecumseh18** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 11:31 am

Randle McMurphy wrote:Can't say I care much either way, though, this isn't the NBA.

The OKC Thunder/Tampa Bay Rays disagree with you.

Randle McMurphy · Post #11 » by **Randle McMurphy** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 11:39 am

tecumseh18 wrote:
Randle McMurphy wrote:Can't say I care much either way, though, this isn't the NBA.

The OKC Thunder/Tampa Bay Rays disagree with you.

Being lower certainly wouldn't hurt the franchise, of course. But as drafts go, MLB's is a pretty massive crapshoot.

-MetA4- · Post #12 » by **-MetA4-** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:43 pm

Randle McMurphy wrote:Being lower certainly wouldn't hurt the franchise, of course. But as drafts go, MLB's is a pretty massive crapshoot.

True; an MLB draft isn't going to change your franchise overnight, however, this years scenario is a bit more significant than usual. It is a strong draft year, and with us already owning the 11th pick, adding another Top 10 (or higher) pick puts us in a spot to pick up significant talent.

Michael Bradley · Post #13 » by **Michael Bradley** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 2:54 pm

Yeah, the MLB draft is a crapshoot, and no guarantee to get a MLB player regardless of where you pick, but it is certainly easier to get an elite level player if you are picking in the top 5. The Jays have not had a legit impact talent in ages. If "tanking" the rest of the season leads to a top 5 pick, I honestly would prefer that scenario at this point. This team is pretty much all locked up for next season anyway. No one is fighting for a job. They are going through the motions at this point. Winning games has no benefit. Losing games might (that's assuming AA can even sign his damn first round picks!).

kwamebargnani · Post #14 » by **kwamebargnani** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 8:36 pm

We have a Buffalo outfield. Tank is on.

dagger · Post #15 » by **dagger** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:03 pm

kwamebargnani wrote:We have a Buffalo outfield. Tank is on.

Also second base, Izturis' injury, judged none too serious last night by Gibbons, appears to be worth two weeks on the DL.

dagger · Post #16 » by **dagger** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 9:05 pm

-MetA4- wrote:
Randle McMurphy wrote:Being lower certainly wouldn't hurt the franchise, of course. But as drafts go, MLB's is a pretty massive crapshoot.

True; an MLB draft isn't going to change your franchise overnight, however, this years scenario is a bit more significant than usual. It is a strong draft year, and with us already owning the 11th pick, adding another Top 10 (or higher) pick puts us in a spot to pick up significant talent.

Agreed, I'm never pro tank before a season, but when the occasion dictates - and it certainly does here - then just managing injuries very conservatively can lead to a lot more losses. No need to play Bautista the rest of this season, and Reyes should be shut down, too. Those would be legitimate actions to get them healthy ASAP so they can have a normal off-season with no surgical recoveries.

Post #17 » by **Schad** » Wed Aug 21, 2013 10:18 pm

Randle McMurphy wrote:
tecumseh18 wrote:
Randle McMurphy wrote:Can't say I care much either way, though, this isn't the NBA.

The OKC Thunder/Tampa Bay Rays disagree with you.

Being lower certainly wouldn't hurt the franchise, of course. But as drafts go, MLB's is a pretty massive crapshoot.

Perhaps the biggest benefit is the increased bonus pool. 4th got you $4.544m this past year; 14th got $2.570m. That's a lot of increased flexibility.

SharoneWright · Post #18 » by **SharoneWright** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 5:13 am

Schadenfreude wrote:Perhaps the biggest benefit is the increased bonus pool. 4th got you $4.544m this past year; 14th got $2.570m. That's a lot of increased flexibility.

that crystallizes it for me.

satyr9 · Post #19 » by **satyr9** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 2:18 pm

I hate that this thread exists with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. Not the thread, it's more than warranted, but the fact it exists. Being a TO sports fan, the word Tank is really becoming something that will make me shudder to the end of my days.

Let's toughen it up and keep the association away from an everyday word. From now on, all tanking should be referred to as panzering. Bring on the Panzer!

torontoaces04 · Post #20 » by **torontoaces04** » Thu Aug 22, 2013 6:05 pm

BLOW JAYS BLOW! BLOW JAYS BLOW!