A Brave Wild New World is coming

Give Richard Griffin credit for todays arcticle, the Jays will have to rachet their approach, and so will Rogers if MLB forges ahead with their plans.
If Houston enters the AL, and the new balanced schule arrives, and universal DH passes, and a new 5 year agreement is ironed out, whew , that is a lot.

But if this all comes to pass for2012, the Jays lose their excuse that they cannot compete against the Sox and Yanks, so unless there is another Wild Card spot, they have no chance to win, in the ultra uber compettitve AL East, then think again.

It will be time for Rogers to show they can pony up to a $100 million payroll, or admit they are Canadian version of the Athletics, good, not great, but budget conscience. Cannot compete with big boys for top free agents.

Case in point is their opening at second base.  Now by all accounts the Kelly Johnson experiment was not all that fruitful, he hit in low .220 s for the Jays, and never could he confused with Aaron Hill defensively. So if he is classed as a Class A free agent, he will seek $ 6,7 million per year, but will easily agree to aceept arbitration. His agent is greedy, but not stupid.
The Jays will counter with an expected $ 3.5 to $ 4 million offer, and probably lose, and be faced with his inflated salary. Will they accept it , possibly, maybe they walk away. 

So what is under Alex Anthopolous tree this year.
Hechavarria to play flawless cheap 2nd base.
Richard Griffen to stop nagging at them.
A rotation that includes Dustin McGowan and Henderson Alvarez.
A trade of Travis Snider for Huston Street.
Rogers agrees to a 2012 payroll of $ 72 million, may a bit higher.



Maybe as stocking stuffers some competant middle relievers, but we could see Shawn Camp, Casey Janssen as dual 8th inning set up men, and Jesse Litsch as the new long man. Do not rule that out.
But as we know there are always middle relief men out there. Maybe Chuck Lamarr can help weed out the good from the bad.

Winter meetings in 2 weeks, so we may see the Huston Street trade by then, or someone else.

Street with no name

This street has a name, but not a marquee one. His father is legendary inn Texas as a Longhorns quarteback, played in 2 Cotton Bowls, one against future Argo QB Joe Theismann, ryhmes with Heisman.

Huston has a one yr deal for $7.5 million, and a player option for 2013 of $ 9 million, but a trade would have to be made, and what th eRox crave is more pitching prospects. They fleeced the Indians last year, and you watch that kid Pomeranz rise to the top of their rotation.

This might be the best option, as Street is only 27, he strikes out a batter an inning, and does not surrender walks.

Jays have prospects as starters, but no ready made closer. I could even see Dustin McGowan be dangled as trade bait. Dusty showed the ability to compete at this level, and would come cheap, salary wise. I would hate to see him go, but the addition of Street means you do not have to compete with other teams for Heath Bell, Joe Nathan, et al.

GM's are meeting this week, so there is a buzz about Anthopolous making a bold move ahead of the December winter meetings. This deal would shouw legitimate free agents of the committment to shoring up the pen.

Papelbon is off the board, and the Marlins seem set to back up the Brinks truck for Jose Reyes, Albert Pujols and others, so as I say, the timing is right to grab a ready made closer, surrender a Deck McGuire or Henderson Alvarez or even a Travis Snider and put the Jays on the map.

It would give the fans a "Rocky Mountain High" to get a Huston Street on the staff.

Lamar signs on

While the lights are still burning in Jays offices, looking at free agents, potential trade options, Alex the Great brought into the organisation some much needed front office help.

See, it's not just the Leafs with their 12 assistance GM's and no goaltender, or the Raptors and their assemblage, the Jays have added where there was a gap.
As good as Tony LaCava is as AA's assistant, a man with Lamar's credentials adds depth of knowledge when it is sorely needed. Even if he can steer Alex towards a bonafide closer, and better constructed bullpen, and perhaps a Mark Buerhle signing.

Lamar's time in Philly certainly was fruitful, but as Pat Gillick is staying on as special assistant, Lamar's advise was not as "well heard" in the Phil's front office, and it was time to leave.

Decisions this off season are crucial, the team must make some significant strides forward, show the fans it believes this group just needs a bit of veteran help here and there. Spending money is one thing, spending it properly is another.

A Lamar move would have been the recent KC/SF deal getting young Johnathon Sanchez for over hyped Melky Cabrera. When the winds blow in off the bay in San Fran, Melky will pine for the still winds and gentle breezes in KC.

There are many fans that want Rogers to open up the vault, and maybe they will , but pigs will fly first before the Jays hit $100 million.

So, adding a Lamar buys them some time, he will assist Alex in picking and choosing key additions, another hitting back up catcher. A DH type, a couple of long relievers, and crafting a bullpen. That will cost them $ 10 million, or there abouts, but will keep them an 80 win team.

If Rasmus blossoms, if Hechaverria ends up at 2nd base and he thrives, if Morrow gives us a full 35 start season and becomes a real number two starter. A lot of ifs, but that is what they need to bring this group to a 90 win team.

Sure I would love Andrew Bailey, but not at the cost of 3 prospects, so a one year deal with player option for Joe Nathan feels right. He needs a place to redeem him self, and maybe with Lamar here, he can convince Alex when and where to spend.

Ball Players and Social Media

Joey19Bats, BrLawrie, RickyRo, Jays and other players now feel the urge to communicate independently from regular press agents and conferences.

Oh, they still use those outlets, but today's athlete feels the need to express themselves. Base Ball players are no exception. They weigh on discipline issues, suspensions, awards, new music, game winning RBI's and whether they suffering from chronic disrespect.

Now Football and Basketball players are way ahead, and they as a group are far more vocal, the WR network of Terrel Owens, Ocho Cinco demand the attention of anyone within shouting distance. These are athletes that while in college were adulated, revered, raised on a pedestal, so why would they expect anything less now that they are in the pro arena.

I follow a few, Bret Lawrie, Gregg Zaun, Bautista, but far too many are so self indulgent snivelling me, me, me, look at me types, they have turned me off. You disconnect yourself with players that have more bluster than PT Barnum, more huts pa than a US politician. More balls than......well you get the idea. I still hear or read what they say, but if you follow reporters, TV and print you get to see what they see.

I am a big fan of free speech, hell I have my own Twitter account, so I will not carve up players to be heard, just perhaps so outspoken.  Talk about your play, talk about how you profess to love the fans, talk about your love of family, what music you listen, but don't talk trash about your team mates. Do not trash each other, that is always , always, misunderstood and we have that "disrespecting " word again. 

My tweets are meant for humour, I respond to others, challenge opinions, foster some of my own, usually harmless attempts to be part of this new social media environment. Hopefully I will cross any borders I shouldn't.  Athletes do , and they really need more media training, and perhaps a dose of humility. Because when they stray from the clear and narrow path, they find themselves having those press  conferences to apologise, or say what they really meant.

An old saying still applies....People in glass houses should not throw stones...time to revisit some of those values before saying something hurtful.  Read  your own copy over, ask yourself this..Is this going to hurt anyone, is anyone going to be offended.

Sabathia re ups

Yankees signed LHP Sabathia to a one-year, $30 million contract extension with a vesting option for 2017.

  The new deal is tacked on to his current contract, which runs through 2015. While Sabathia said in a  conference call Monday night that he is comfortable in New York and wanted no part of the free agent process, it's hard to fault the guy for using his opt-out clause as leverage on a new deal. The big left-hander will now receive $25 million in 2016 and either a $25 million vesting option or a $5 million buyout in 2017. He is guaranteed $122 million over the next five seasons and could max out at $142 million over six years if he avoids an injury to his shoulder. A hefty price to pay, but now the Yankees can forge ahead with other offseason priorities.  


The Yankees initially offered Sabathia a deal for five years and $120.5 million, allowing him to just top Lee’s mark. But the Yankees upped their offer to ensure he would not opt out and hit the free-agent market.
Sabathia’s 2017 option will vest automatically unless he finishes 2016 on the disabled list, spends more than 45 days on the DL in 2016 due to a shoulder injury, or is forced to pitch out of the bullpen six times in 2016 because of shoulder problems. Sabathia also will continue to have a no-trade clause.
“It was a big motivation,” Sabathia said of avoiding the free agency drama. “I didn’t want to be a part of being a free agent and opting out and doing all that stuff.”
General manager Brian Cashman released a statement, praising the 31-year-old as “the ace of our pitching staff, a leader in our clubhouse and a driving force for the Yankees in our community. He is exactly the type of player and person that Yankees fans and this organization can be proud of.”
Sabathia lost 25 pounds last winter but put some of it back on this past season. He said he will prioritize the weight loss again, though he admitted he “got a little lax during the season” with his conditioning.
“I think it’s something I do because it’s for me and to be proactive,” he said of losing weight. “I just need to go out and be healthy and try to do what I can to be out there for every start. For me, that means losing weight. That’s what I’ll do.”