Winter of my Discontent returns

It could I have covered this ground before, but comments attributed to GM Alex Anthopolous suggest that we should not hold outr collective breaths that free agents or further deals be made, at least not those that would increase the payroll.

So to sum things up for theis off season, here are the changes.

Traded  a AA pitching prospect for Sergio Santos, should be a good move.
Signed Jeff Mathis as the back up catcher, Jeff batting average is not the reason for his acquisition.
Signed Ben Fransisco as a potential 4rth/5th outfielder.
Signed Darren Oliver to a 2 year deal ( 2nd year a club option )

Also, played cat and mouse with fans and media over Yu Darvish, and feigned marginal interest in Prince Fielder if he was interested at all.

All in all a real haul this off season. Matt Garza talks stalled due to incredible demands by the Cubs, and I suspect a similar set of demands from Oakland for Gio Gonzalez.

I feel like we are out in the cold this off season myself. 

Still we have a great "potential" rotation, and a great "potential" line up.

Emphasis on "potential ".

Fans might have been hoping for more, but as a small market team with limited resources (Rogers) we should not expect they had the ability to land marquee talent.   I can hardly wait for Paul Beeston to come on talk radio stations and admit to listeners that all Alex Anthopolous has to do is ask for money and it is there.  Also come July if the Jays are in the hunt, that we will take on payroll.   

Good for you Socks, come July you will be summering in the Kawartha's and making the trip to the park to see how many empty seats we have with a sub .500 record.  Then as usual, there will some comment on the lack of fan support, and that translating into a lack of revenue divided by the square root of "I don't give a crap".

Another year where we have to hope for maturation of Brett Cecil, Brandon Morrow, Henderson Alvarez and Luis Perez, or Kyle Drabek.  A bullpen with a 41 year old spot lefty, and well the same cast of characters as last year. No, there is no Jon Rauch or Franky McFrank Frank, but they have been replaced with cheaper less experienced dudes.

If I sound bitter, I am. This sham has gone on long enough, and I do think the bloom is off the rose for Alex.

Press conferences that he runs had better not start with payroll balancing, or cost certainty, or they will get ugly.

Larkin achieves highest honour

Today Barry Larkin climbed the last 10 feet and has reached the summit in baseball having been inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Having garnered 86 % of the vote, he easily made it and desrvedly so.

This was a player who spanned 3 different decades, 80's, 90's and into the next centennial.  Barry played short stop for the Cincinnati Red legs of the National League, and played one of its hardest positions, shortstop.

Gold Gloves were racked up, All Star invites, MVP considerations and all while bveing the key piece offensively in the Reds line up.

I would watch the Reds play the Expos just watch him field, or throw, and his abilities to be the game changer on offense made him the best hitting shortstop of era.


He only made the one appearance in the World Series in 1990, and excelled fuelling his team's surprise sweep of the Steroid induced Oakland A's.


And so this year at Cooperstown, he and the late Ron Santo will be the latest inductees.

Congratulations, one year late.

Prince Fielder American Tour for Cash

Hello Followers, and a Happy New Year to all !

We are getting closer to the pitchers/catchers countdown being posted on MLB's web site, so let's start the new year off right, and ask what the heck is the leagues biggest free agent ( salary and girth ) doing.

The Prince of Fielder is roaming the country seeking a big wad o' cash, with super agent Scott Boras telling every newspaper or TV reporter his boy Fielder will be getting a 10 year deal, you know, like he got for Arod, and like what that other 1st baseman got in LA.  You remember that Pujols kid, with the 2 World Series rings, and MVP's.  Well sure we do, we just have not seen that from Fielder, yet.

Prince was entertained in Baltimore, Seattle, Chicago, Texas, and Washington, plus the 30 other suitors reported by trustworthy Scott Boras.  Days are passing by, and no one has offered him a 10 year deal.
Peter Gammons reported he'd heard 3- 5 years were offered, and Boras rebuffed those remarks, made by an out sider, someone who does not have the ears of GM's. And while that might be the truth, I am going to give Gammons the benefit of the doubt, at least until proven otherwise.

The Orioles claim they are out, Boras says, well not completely, the Cubs have sniffed around, but made no offer, and Boras says they are being coy, and a big offer is coming. So far the only team that has discussed numbers it seems is the team I am sure he would never want to sign long term with, the Nats.
The Nats are in a slow building mode, and just ask them about long term deals, and they will answer..."Jayson Werth".
I suspect he wants to play in Chicago, and if he does, he will have to accept a lesser term, and manageable money. Theo Esptein would like to make a splash, but is in the process of trying to assess the Cubs needs....which is...every thing it seems.  Adding a 10 yr dead weighted deal does not seem like a smart play, besides, who else is offering 10 years ?  hands up ....

My thoughts are this will drag until late into January, only because of 2 things ;

1) Scott Boras' ego, needing the 10 year deal to prove to other clients that he 'da boss'
2) Lack of needy markets, no LA teams, no NY teams, no room in Boston, Detroit and Philly.

If there is a 3rd reason why I am guessing later in January, it is that if Texas does not iron out a deal in the next two weeks with Yu Darvish, he drops off their team, and maybe Boras wants to wait until the Rangers are maybe a player for Prince.

Meanwhile, Alex is rebuilding the Jays bullpen, with the acquisition of Darren Oliver, Aaron Laffey and the trade for Jason Fraser. This plus the minor league FA's he offered tryouts to, and the bullpen rebuild is complete.
Neither cost a much money, and Oliver's deal is essentially a 1 year deal, perhaps there is a club option as well.
I am still hearing from the local bloggers in Toronto that Jays are a player for Prince, if he could accept a 3 year deal. That story is a horse that won't run. Rogers is not spotting $ 50 million for 3 years of Fielder if the rest of the team is constructed as it currently is, you want at least 5 years of service, not 3.

So we have to be patient, and play Scott Boras' game of sit and wait for someone to blink, and the tour might start back up with stops in Atllanta, Tampa Bay, pass through Milwaukee to another drop in Chicago and Washington.  I hope Prince is watching his calories these days, that restaurant food, and room service will pack on the pounds.

Spies, twitter, and the Jays

"Hello Agent 6, come in"...
"Agent 6 here, over"
"Agent 6, are you in the file room, over"
"Yes, and it was not hard, their password is password, over"
"Agent 6, is there anything on their hard drive about Darvish. over "
"Nothing so far..ooh crap, they have an old style network, you'd think Rogers would have state of the art technology, over"

"Agent 6, we just need to verify if they bid, how hard can be to verify that, over "
"The files are encrypted, those devious bastards, over"

"Ok, but I am tracking the security guard, so you have 3 minutes, or you have to abort, over"


" Geezus the Maple Leaf system was easier to hack than this thing, but you had to get past the guy at security desk, don't ask what I do for him to get by, over"
" Found it !....all it says in the file is a big nay nay..., I am aborting , over"

"Agent 6, come in....Agent 6 ???"

We would have to resort to such covert ops if the Jays rfecognized that fans are a lot more savvy and their passion has grown over the past 5 years.

Has the world of available media quietly slipped past the Jays, cannot see how, they are owned Rogers, so how does the current GM figure double speak, and controllable years, and payroll certainty matter to Jays fans who show up to watch live, or pay premium cable packages.

Yesterday Stephen Brunt , as he usually does outred the organisation for being "out of step with reality". Steve, I would normally agree with you, becasue it appears that the train has left the station so to speak on the extent of media that wanted, nay demanded forthright information on whether the home team bid on a foreign player.

The GM said it was not his policy to comment on such matters, well the Yankees did, the Cubs did, I don't see the city burning to the ground in NY or Chicago in outrage over low bids.  In Toronto, we are used to skull duggery by Ron Wilson, and the "who' your goalie tonite Ron ?" antics, so are they taking a page from MLSE.

The twitter and blog world has been abuzz by Jays fans over the Darvish posting, fans grew their own expectations that good things were coming. That is not the GM's fault, but he has to be aware that fans want either results, or sell em' hope. Tell you bid, but cannot disclose.
Don't use the words "cost certainity, and controllable years ", these are business terms, and you have forgotten what it is to be a fan.

What is my take on this ?  Fear crept in, admitting that as Richard Griifin of the Toronto Star that a $ 50 million dollare bid was placed, lets fans know you were willing to spend that type of cash for one player. Losing out would mean you still have the $50 mill lying around, not going back to buy Bonds, T-Bills. 

Get with the program Alex, or watch the fan base turn on you, you don't have the city in your hands as the Leafs do.

                 

Say Howdy !

I tried to photoshop a ten gallon hat for Darvish, my skill lie elsewhere, but as the Texas Rangers won the sweepstakes, they can outfit him in chaps, and boots and whatever they want now.

The Rangers were the successful bidders for 25 year Yu Darvish, with a reported $51.6 million posting bid. They now have 30 days to conclude a contract. Hardly an issue, as bthe Rangers already have a good feel on his expectations.  5 years and $ 75 million should be around the final deal to join a team that has twice in 2 years been toi the World Series, and has a great core of young talent.

I would not say the Rangers are out on Prince Fielder, but in all likelihood a $125 million committment to Darvish eliminates them.


The Blue Jays heard the news that they were not the successful bidders, and this city shrugged it's shoulders, yet again. But this morning I am sure many awoke thinking the same thing. So if they missed out, by how much. Because we all want to know how serious the Jays were, $ 30 million, $ 40 million, if he was considered better than Dice K, $ 50 million ?  Will they tell us fans, not likely, will they seek to sign Fielder ?
Again I would say no.  So we are left to wonder, and knowing the Toronto media ( Leafs Fan ) they won't let this bone slip out of their mouths.

It is 3 months still before spring training, and that is a long time to repeat your "no comment " answer to the media, when the Twitter world in Toronto was awash with fans all stirred up over Darvish.

What we have is a lump of coal in our stockings, and the hope of some aquisitions in future.

Dear Santa,

Please send me one of the following, Gio Gonzalez, Matt Garza or Prince Fielder.

Signed ,
Alex Anthopolus,
( I promise I have been a good boy all year)

Blue Jays near years end

As we approach the end of 2011, amid silly rumors of a Prince Fielder signing, or Carlos Beltran acquisition we take stock of the current state of the roster.

Now to be fair, Alex might have a few morsels to add onto the crew that will take flight in late February, but we should look at what we have as pretty close to the 40 man roster to start 2012 with.

Our rotation, give or take has 3 definite, In Romero, Morrow and Cecil. Add to that hopefuls Henderson Alvarez, Dusty McGowan and Kyle Drabek, with Luis Perez a long shot. That is 7, so perhaps they give Carlos Villanueva another look see in Dunedin.

The bullpen has built rebuilt with certainties being the new closer Sergio Santos, holdovers Jesse Litsch, and Casey Janssen. Add these 4 names in as 75 % sure locks, Joel Carreno, Jim Hoey, Carlos Villaneuava and one of Chad Beck / Danny Farquhar. Other possibles are Luis Perez, Tristan Magnuson, Alan Farina and Jessie Chavez, with extreme outsiders Deck McGuire just there for exposure to a big camp. Don't rule out McGuire asserting himself into the mix. He is big, has quality stuff and is cocky.

There is a chance Alex signs a lefty, and there are a few out there, Darren Oliver, Arthur Rhodes, George Sherrill, guys who will be sought after to be a situational lefty.

I think we should expect a move or two as players begin to get a little desperate for employment, so the new year might alter the current pitching. Yu Darvish, you wish !, not with the bidding to negotiate with him perhaps at $ 40 to $ 50 million, then salary.  Perhaps a Kerry Wood, or Joel Zumaya, but both have warts, but need homes.
Rotation wise, I think we shall see a 4 man competition for 4rth and 5th spots. McGowan is the sentimental fave, and Alvarez has a leg up as well. Drabek, and Luis Perez have options.  And there is Jesse Litsch as an emergency starter, same as Villanueva.

Offensively we are cornering the market in utility / platoon outfielders.  Fransisco, Thames, Kelly Johnson, Rajah Davis, and forgotten slugger wanna be Travis Snider. Johnson if the team accepts the arbitration decision can slide back to 2nd base, but heavens, we do not need 4 outfielders, and there's hopeful Edwin Encarnacion stealing at bats at DH.  Davis has another year, so if they cut him, they have to buy him out.

The odd man out would seem to be Travis Snider yet again, but a hot spring training either helps him get dealt or kept as regular.  The Eric Thames is the odd man out.  Hard to know what happens.

Anyhow, the year is coming to a close, and just based on what we have, I would be hard pressed to predict 81 wins.

But let's check in with the team in late January/ early February as pitchers and catchers are ready to report. We might have a clearer image of what the team has to choose from.

Right now, not that much, but 2 months from now, things may have changed.

Brains and Braun

I found it hard to start this blog because after all I have read, and heard, it hasn't quite sunk in.
If it is true and I can't dispute the tests, then a 50 game suspension will be handed out, probably after the holidays.
There are many disturbing aspects to this case, obviously the easy one is, and presumes guilt is, with testing done, why ?
Why take anything ?  What was it that caused his testosterone levels to sky rocket ?
Don't you think that in 2011, with all we know, a player of average intelligence would try and get the team doctor, or his personal doctor to look at what he puts in his body.  I don't know if Ryan Braun thinks this way, but missing 50 games is a significant chunk out his wallet.

So the next most puzzling aspect is the 1st positive test was established in October, then verified by a second positive test.  So, before the players takes the stage for playoffs, or further posts season play, he has violated MLB's drug policy.  What happened is Part 2, of "Braungate".   Nothing happened, neither by the Brewers or MLB, or by the player.  This news was leaked, and as far I can tell, players and management are more concerned with why the news was leaked than the fact he was caught cheating, and nobody blew the whistle.

So if there were no whistle blower, we'd still be in the dark, and it was everybody's best interest to keep it quiet. So if you think this story is over once the league finally suspends hi, guess again.

Sad that Bud Selig told us we had put that ugly decade behind us, and for it to be the Milwaukee team, a team he owns in blind trust, run by his daughter. 
This scandal, and make no mistake, it's a scandal, might force Selig to resign, I mean a cover up by MLB, ratted out on his watch.
First, it seems MLB was sweeping this under ther rug.
Second, the information could not even stay confidential, so what does that say about the security of information.
Lastly, MLB owners have a marquee star go down, not an aging Manny, or retired Roger Clemens, so the game's reputation is tarnished.

It means the whole testing system is flawed, and maybe they finally are forced by Congress to an independant body with no affiliation to MLB, agents and players.  A true arms length.

Braun denies two positive tests, Ryan pal...use your brains...you're caught, confess and move on.