Last year I chose a player to write an un-Blue-Jay-related entry about during the postseason.  If the Jays continue to miss the playoffs, I'd like to stick with this trend. 

Above all in this game, it is enjoyable to watch talent.  Having watched a lot of baseball in my time, I have begun to respect players that are often arch-enemies of the team that I follow.  Last year I got a thrill out of watching Carl Crawford aggressively play the game, and tear up the field with his speed.  I was loving watching Crawford last season, even though in the back of my head I knew all the times he decimated, pulverized and crippled the Blue Jays battling in division games.  Crawford anchored the Rays to the World Series contributing with 7 stolen bases in the 2008 postseason, and alone hitting 2 homeruns in the World Series that the Rays unfortunately lost to the Phillies.  I believe to Crawford to be simply the most exciting outfielder in the game.

Pretty good comments, huh?  Surprising coming from a Jay fan that should hold resentment for Tampa players?  Right? 

Well, now you are going to be shocked, saddened, confounded, confused and maybe even tortuned for the rest of this entry (just come to Canada and we will work something out for your medical bills). 

The 2009 Big Time Playoff Performer is Yankee Alex Rodriguez (better known as AROD).

I swear my hands almost went into a seizure while typing that.  I don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of this?

And I couldn't do it!





             

If only all the Blue Jays decisions could work out like a Pearl Jam song?  I guess that we would still be 'Alive' in the playoffs, and this 'Jeremy' would be writing a lot more on this blog today.

The Blue Jay's fix, for the forseeable future, is 32-year-old former Montreal Expo scout and Blue Jay assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos.  Along with his scouting experience, Anthopoulos has an economics degree from McMaster University.  Coincidentally, I also went to this school.  Too bad I couldn't catch his fall after doing a 'keg stand,' or something like that?  It would have been a good networking opporitunity for me. 

Anyway, Anthopoulos' first priority came this week as he did a large revamping of the Jays scouting department.  He also told the media that the Jays would committing more money to scouting and player development.  Along with bringing in some new scouts, Anthopoulos hired an assistant named Dana Brown.  The 42-year-old Brown left his position as scouting director for the Washington Nationals to take up the job with his old friend whom he worked with in the Expo scouting deparment.

My Take

It does seem a little trendy in baseball right now to hire a young GM.  Anthopoulos is already being dubbed, 'boy genius,' but he is yet to prove anything.  I do like the stance and measures that Alex is taking by committing himself to scouting and player development, but then again, every team committs themselves to that.  Here is an old one, "the proof is in the pudding.'  Anthopoulos will inevitably be judged by the choices that he makes as GM.  Working close with J.P. all these years, he must have learned a lot.  J.P. did a lot of good things with the club, but he also made a large share of mistakes.  I wouldn't say that Anthopoulos has to totally rebuild the club, but he has a lot of holes to fill. 

Here are a few: 

Marco Scutaro's career might be in jeopardy, let alone his ability to play a demanding position like shortstop.  Scutaro is a free agent, so the Jays will definately have to look into what they are going to do with him.

Jays catcher Rod Barajas is also a free agent.  He did do some nice things, hitting homers and producing RBI's this season.  However, his .258 On Base Percentage is not exactly pleasing to Jay fans, or anyone for that matter. Barajas is definately NOT a long-term solution and it doesn't see like some of our young catching prospects (i.e. J.P. Arrencibia) are making the necessary progression in the minors.  Barajas was a temporary solution last season!  Will he be that again?

The Jays pitching staff was in shambles last season.  Injury plus guys being penciled then quickly erased due to performance, the Jays seeming had what looked like a 10-man rotation last year.  We did have some young players progress into major leaguers, like Brett Cecil, Marc Rzepcynski and Ricky Romero but it also became apparent that the rotation could use some much needed depth.  The possible return of Shaun Marcum may help Alex a little in that respect.

DH and first base are somewhat interchangeable in the American league some might argue.  The Blue Jays are not getting the production they need from these two positions.  They are usually filled with middle-of-the-lineup guys, but this is not true in the Blue Jays case.  Kevin Millar did not have a comeback with the club, and Randy Ruiz, although incredibly impressive, might be too much of a risk to rely on for that position.  Using Adam Lind as the primary DH will vacate another hole in the outfield, where the Jays desparately need athletes to run down balls.  Lyle Overbay is nice player, he gives you a good On Base ... yes.  However, his trademark doubles have decreased and you'd be hardpressed to go around the league to find a firstbaseman that is just 'a good On Base' guy.  We need a legitimate slugger at first!  I say move Lind to firstbase, get some athletes in the outfield and use Ruiz temporarily at DH till we can find a better hitter. 

More questions....

Are we going to live with Edwin Encarnacion at third base?  He showed some good things last year, but he does not look like a longterm solution.

When are we going to start benching Vernon Wells?  The 20 million-a-year man would have a hard time hitting in the bottom of the order for any team in MLB.  Sorry Vernon, but the Jays actually got more out of Jose Bautista last year in half the at-bats you had.

We don't have a closer?  We just don't.  Jason Frasor has proven ineffective in that role before?  Can we live with him there?

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

I don't envy your job Alex Anthopoulos.  Wait, actually I do.  If someone told me that I could possibly be the future GM of the Jays with a McMaster degree, I'd go crazy for it.  I consider myself knowledgable in player evaluation.  All I do is order and read 'Baseball Prospectus' and 'Baseball America' every year.

For the team right now, I say be bold, and think 'out of the box.'  Our scouting system should have a wide range internationally.  As the Jays have not made the splash into Japan yet.  I say we go after one of the big two:  either pitcher Yu Darvish, or outfielder Norichika Aoki.  The amount of money the Jays would have to put into acquiring one of these guys would be catatrophic (especially Mr. GQ Japan Yu Darvish), but I wonder if that money could made back in endorsements, merchandise etc... marketing ourselves internationally?  We all saw the Asian explosion in the World Baseball Classic, the Jays need to be bold and explore this a bit. 

               

I will not bash J.P. Ricciardi for the eight year job he did in Toronto.  The fact is we gave him two chances, through a pair of '3-4 year plans' to make the Blue Jays a playoff team again.  His failures speak for themself, and it is easy to point to a number of decisions he made that did not work out for the team.  I won't mock, gock, or make fun of those decisions, as it is so popular in 'Blue Jay land' to do ... well not yet anyway.

To be perfectly honest, my opinion of J.P. Ricciardi is that he was a 'mediocre GM,' performance-wise that is.  His cocky, egotistical, know-it-all stance with the media led him into many mistakes 'running his mouth' on certain issues.  It is a well know fact, that if you can't back up this attitude, you are going to fall ... and fall hard!  Year after year, the Jays would truly produce good baseball teams on the borderline of making the playoffs, yet the heat on J.P. swirled around him as if the Jays had finished dead last every year.  Fans, the media, even people supporting other teams on this blog site 'dished out' the heat on J.P.  Unfair?  Maybe, but if J.P. were to ever claim that, and I that bet he has, he should take a long look in the mirror because the man definately brought it on himself.         

At the start of his reign, J.P. was very open with media, took responsibility for his decidsions, and rarely shyed away from the truth.  This openess inevitably led to some embarrassment, as it became clear that J.P. was just not a very good liar.  General Managers in baseball have to make many very tough decidsions, and similar to politicians, they need to be able to avoid certain questions that might jeopardize them in a situation, or cause further embarrassment.  There were instances where J.P. would be hiding something, and then tell the media flat out that he was hiding something from them! 

Notable Failures With the Media (few listed here amoung many)

1. One of J.P.'s memorable quotes was:  "It's not a lie if we know the truth," about infamous back injury story made up for B.J. Ryan when the left-hander was actually having elbow issues.

2.  After enduring a season where the Jays endured poor offensive production, J.P. was asked if he would consider trading for Adam Dunn from the Cinncinnati Reds at the time.  His response was overly amped with ego, basically telling a caller on a sports talk radio show that the caller knows nothing about Adam Dunn, and that Adam Dunn "doesn't even like baseball."  To which Dunn replied the next day, "who is this goof?"

Oh well, I have started to bash J.P. a bit.  Here are some of the successes that have set the current Jays up some relative hope, but in hindsight, can also be coupled with failure.

Notable Successes Amid Failures 

1.  Some very good draft picks.  One of Ricciardi's first pick-ups coming to the Jays was Aaron Hill.  Amid some injuries and positioning questions Aaron Hill has quickly become one of the best second basemen in Major League Baseball.  We would have liked to have him strong in 2007, and a key part of the team playing third base instead of Corey Koskie in 2005, but regarless of those questions around Hill - still a great pick.

2.  Adam Lind was also a very good pick J.P. made in the draft, but similar to Hill, had troubled road to the middle of the Jays order.  Lind was picked up in the third round of the 2004 draft, and quickly excelled in the minors.  It took a couple of years of Lind contending annually for the batting championship in the AAA International League for the Jays to realize that 'this kid could hit.'  Under Manager John Gibbons (J.P. Ricciardi's man for the Manager position), Adam Lind wasn't given much of a chance after some early struggles.  The kid became so distraught with the Jays early evaluation of him, that Lind almost quit baseball altogether!  With the efforts of newly acquired Manager, Cito Gaston, Lind salvage the 2008 season and 'turned a corner' with his bat.  2009 sees Adam Lind contending for the Silver Slugger Award as a DH, we as Jays fans wonder what HUGE, MONUMENTAL waste of talent it has been keeping this guy locked in the minors and doubting his career!!!  Still, J.P. a good draft pick ... lol Yes. 

3.  The Roy Halladay contract extension was a great business decidsion by J.P.  He made a couple other extension that did not work out so well (i.e. Vernon Wells and Alex Rios) but Halladay's paid off in spades.  The Jays currently have Halladay set with the team for another year, and he is still arguably the best pitcher in baseball.  With deeply inflated contracts to guys like C.C. Sabathia and Johan Santana, J.P. extended Halladay to for what seems like a bargain compared to the two previously mentioned.  Jays fans should feel lucky that they are able to enjoy Halladay for this, and another year.  I commend J.P. for that move, but at the same time you can really fault him for tacking on the dollars, and the years, to Vernon Wells and Alex Rios. 

J.P.'s Inevitable Big Failure 

I'm of the opinion, shared by most analysts and people that follow the Jays, that the beginning of the end occurred for J.P. Ricciardi before the 2005 season where he drifted far from the 'moneyball' strategy that made him such a 'hotshot' coming from Oakland to begin with.  Before this season, one of the Jays top advisors (sorry as his name escapes me), a man highly adversed in sabermetrics, and well respected in baseball cirlces left the team.  Coincidentally the Blue Jays expanded their payroll that year, and the money staying to fly as if we were trying to compete for free agents with the 'big two' Yankees and Red Sox.  Many talk about the 'beginning of the end,' when the Jays dished out a terrible three-year 17 million dollar contract to Corey Koskie losing some draft picks in the process.  This aquisition baffled many?  Yes, Koskie was Canadian, BIG 'freakin' DEAL, most in baseball knew he was nowhere near deserving of that money.  The smart, 'moneyball' decision would have been to keep those picks, and move up and coming shortstop Aaron Hill to third base for his 2005 rookie season.  Koskie hardly played a year for Jays before succumbing to injury. 

Conclusion to this Mess

The point to remember with the Koskie signing is that it showed how far J.P. strayed from the his principles with the acquisition of more money, which in the Jays case, doesn't always equal more value or production.  Like any good business, you need seek ways to produce at high levels, with being as cost-effective as possible.  Recklessly throwing money at problems works for some teams, but not most.  After Koskie, the Jays risked buying a #2 starter, A.J. Burnett, that is still somewhat overvalued and in the long run ended up hurting club because of injury.  We overpayed, and are still overpaying, for a supposedly 'shut down' closer with a bright future, in B.J. Ryan.  One might wonder what the Jays might have become if we pursue this spots through other means??  Closers are often grown through the system, and 15-game winners can be made also without having to overspend on a player that comes with injury baggage. 

J.P. Ricciardi came to Jays with a method, and it quickly turned into 'money-flashing madness,' that would make even the Yankees and Red Sox proud.  If you are going to spend, you better make darn sure that you are getting that production in return.  I wonder what J.P. thinks now when he sees Vernon Wells' .311 On Base?                       



  

Taking time off blogging about the Jays, I recently came across a very good old film that put the 2009 Blue Jays season into perspective for me.   That film was 'Jeremiah Johnson' starring Robert Redford and Will Greer.  Shot in 1972, Jeremiah Johnson, played by Robert Redford, isolates himself from civilization looking to find peace amid the harsh wilderness of the Rocky Mountain in the late 1800's.  Johnson becomes a ledgend of the mountains!!  He singlehandedly takes on a pack of wolves, a bear and countless natives looking for the honour of taking the ledgend's sclap.  To say the least, the heroine, Jeremiah Johnson, kicks some serious butt.  I won't go on and ruin the movie for you, if you haven't already seen it.



(Movie cover)



(My Interpretation of Jeremiah Johnson at a Jays/Tigers game in September ... sadly the beard is gone too itchy)

Roy Halladay is Jeremiah Johnson

Before Halladay departs from the Jays.  Mark my words, I am going make a ledgend out of him in Toronto before he can do it somewhere else!  I've already compared him to Seabiscuit, but I think this comparison is more accurate.  Now, I don't know how Halladay's record is against the Indians or the Braves, but Roy definately reminds me of a 'renegade mountain man ledgend' pitching for the Jays this season.  Roy is kinda like a warrior far from a war.  He plays for a team far from the limelight (if you've seen the Jays crowds lately).  He is alone among pitchers of his era, completing games like no other and compiling stats hardly comparable to his peers.  Halladay extremely well-spoken with the media, but you can tell that he doesn't care about that and all he wants to do is pitch, and win!  Playing in a 'not-so-great' baseball market, like Toronto, Halladay's win total has suffered.  His greatness, as a pitcher, is not what it might be in a bigger market some would argue.  But the truly great thing about Roy, is that he doesn't he care about that?  Not a bit.  All he wants to do is win.  He is a 'renegade mountain man' sporting a beard and born in Colorado to make things even more comparable.  It wouldn't surprise me if he knew how to 'SKIN GRIZZ,' as Will Greer puts it in the the film.

The Blue Jays are Mountain Men

Every September the Blue Jays become an isolate, renegade team.  Being forgotten by most, but sneaking up on the Red Sox, Angels, Yankees and Twins/Tigers to do some damage to their confidence (lol?) going into the playoffs.

Currently, the Jays have a bunch of 'mountain men' fighting to survive on the mountain.  Jose Bautista, Randy Ruiz, Travis Snider, Marc Rzyp..., Brian Tallet, Rod Barajas and Edwin Encarnacion are showing their stuff off to Jays execs.  Two or three, if not all of these guys might get a starting job next season.  A prerequisite for making the team must be 'skinning grizz.' 

10 Games this Year  

10 is most games I've gotten out to in one season.  The Halladay vs. Burnett game, Opening Day, the Jays 92/93 reunioun game and my annual trip to Detroit were just too much for me to sit at home and watch on TV.  Seeing that I'm nowhere able afford season tickets, or flex-packs or what-have-you I think that this is a pretty good number.  It was even fun last week where I attended a game, with such a sparse crowd, that I could people hecking from the 200 level on the other side of the stadium.  The Halladay versus Burnett battle was probably my favorite game, of the ones I attended.  The crowd was just awesome that night.  It felt like a playoff game.  A close second was the 92/93 reunion game.  He are some pictures from that night.

                         

Before the first game of a Jays/Yankees series this week, the Blue Jays announced that they accepted the wavier on Alex Rios from the Chicago White Sox.  Tomorrow the Jays will likely call up rookie prospect Travis Snider to take Rios place in right field. 

I feel like like a 'BIG' weight has just been lifted off the Jays shoulders.  Some might be skeptical of the move letting Alex go for nothing, but the fact is that Alex Rios has been vastly underachieving in the outfield after the Jays inked him to a 7 year deal that will see Rios make around 60 million until 2014.  With the numbers Rios has been putting up over the last two seasons, he finds himself in a class mid-level outfielders not too much different than the Marlon Byrd's, Jeff Francoeur's, or Melky Cabrera's of the world.  The only difference is Rios makes much more money than those guys.  At one time Rios looked to be a phenomenal young player with a very bright future.  I can't fault J.P. too badly for giving him the deal, but to J.P.'s shigrin, it didn't work out!!!

Out with the old and in with the new!  Exactly what this team needs!  The main reason why I like this so much is not mostly that I think Rios wasn't a valuable player.  It has more to do with this guy and financial flexibility!

    

In times like these, it is important to stay positive.  Some wise person said that ... probably Yoda, or the Lord of the Rings Wizard guy.  The Jays were definately outmatched in this past series versus the Yankees.  They were close and hard-fought games, where the Jays could take away a number of 'small victories,' if not victories that actually show up in the standings. 

Marc Rzepcynski, pronounced (Zip-Chin-Ski) if you were wondering, gave the Jays a decent start against a very potent lineup that did the same amount of damage against elite Jays pitcher Roy Halladay.  Impressed with Rzepcynski's mound presence, 3 quality pitches from the left side and command, Rzepcynski earned himself a nickmane in my long list of MLB nicknames (idea for a future post!),  Zippy.  Zippy might be the most clever thing I've thought of in while. lol. Not Really.  For one thing, it is easier to say than his full last name, and for another, it can help other casual fans avoid the mental aggrevation of trying to concoct a word out of those oddly sequenced letters.

So, positive start for Zippy, I'm very impressed with what I've seen from the young pitcher so far.  Jays lose two games to the Yanks.  Bummer, but they were hard-fought games and I like our chances in our next series coming up against the Orioles of Baltimore. 


Joe Carter Called Me!  Me!


Friday night kicks off the '92-'93 World Series Champion reunion series against the O's.  I will be in attendance for the Friday game, I believe?  Today, I got an odd phone call from a (416) Toronto number during my Timmie Hortons coffee and a donut break at work.  Who was it?  None other than Joe Carter on a pre-recorded message personally inviting me to game on Friday!  I said to the electronic device "Joe!  Your callin me?  I lov .. think you were a good player :) ... you can count me in!"  I also thought since Carter invited me to an event, maybe I can invite him to dinner or something one day?  We could have some great 'Jays talk' over a steak or something?  Carter looks like the kind of guy that enjoys a good steak.  To me at least.  We will see if I can get a little 'bromance' with Joe Carter after this?  I still can't believe he called me, even if that wasn't really him.                     

Scott Rolen was having a fantastic season as a Jay in 2009.  As mentioned in previous posts, he made some necessary adjustments to his approach at the plate and became more of a contact hitter.  The result was a steady .320 average, and a 28 game hitting streak mid-season.

Rolen was a true professional, and he will be missed in Toronto.  Especially the hilarious commerical during Jays games where Rolen is at a drive through window ordering a burger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyuKLh8qjvQ  

Well, you always have to give value, to get value and I believe the Jays were able to do that this trade deadline.  In the deal the Jays were able to acquire third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, relief pitcher Josh Roenicke, and relief/starting pitching prospect Zach Stewart. 

Aquiring Edwin Encarnacion in the deal is a little bit of a risk.  We don't know what we are going to get from this guy??  He had very good year at the plate last season, but 2009 has seen Edwin hampered by injury and struggling at the dish.  Defensively the Jays will definately take a hit, as Encarnacion cannot 'hold a candle' to perennial Gold-Glove candidate Scott Rolen.  With this deal, the Jays make third base possibly a problem area in the future.  I don't think anyone is envisioning Encarnacion in our long-term future ... right now at least. 

Roenicke is a young hard throwing reliever that could be inserted into the Jays pen ASAP.  With closing issues, set-up issues and overall wear and tear on the pen this season, Roenicke will provide some needed depth to the pen.  Who knows?  He could even step up to the closer role at some point???

Zach Stewart is another hard throwing youngster.  It is always nice to see the Jays aquire a young player that has succeeded everywhere he has played in the minors!  Stewart sports a 1.67 ERA at three minor league levels this year.  He relieved 9 games in AAA, and managed to pitch at a 0.79 ERA clip, getting a couple of 2 inning saves.  Stewart also started 14 games at the between class A and AA this season, doing very well in those starts.  Sources say the Jays may be primarily looking at him as a starter.  Starter or reliever, Stewart looks to be a valuable asset for the Jays moving forward.

Quite frankly, I can't wait to see the young, hard-chucking Texas boy pitch!!  Yee-Haw!  Sorry, I sometimes spontaneously combust over new New Blue Jay talent.

I will miss Scott 'the rock,' but I'm glad the Jays made this deal.  At least it is something! 

Halladay

Come 2010, we will see where we are in terms of the standings, and replay this Halladay thing all over again.  Blah!  I know you all can't wait. 

All sources indicated that we could only get 'one' solid prospect out of a Halladay trade.  J.P. Ricciardi was looking for much more than that, and Halladay deserved much more that in my opinion.

With the offers that were apparently presented to us, I don't see why we couldn't get similar offers next season?  The Jays were only getting presented with one legitimate guy, and a couple of low-to-mid level prospects.  No doubt, we would get the same next season in Halladay's contract year.  We will see in 2010, barring any Blue Jay playoff run.  What Doc will command in 2010?  He will at least be worth 'one' good prospect next season.  Mark my words!  Mark'em.   

I'm on J.P.'s side with this Rolen deal, and holding firm on Halladay ... On the Record.        
         

Apparently Roy Halladay trade talks have died down.  It is looking less, and less, likely that Halladay will be traded this season.  You could have fooled me weeks ago?  I ask how and why did things unfolded like this?  I have never seen so much hype over the possibility of a player being traded than what we saw this year with Halladay this July. 

There was a different story about it everyday in local papers, it got other contending markets buzzing and the All-Star Game was consumed with 'talk about the Doc.'  Don't get me wrong, I liked all the attention placed on my favorite player - a player who I consider the best pitcher in the game.  However, don't you feel fooled and cheated now that nothing is likely to happen in terms of a trade?  All that talk, speculation, hype, talk etc... for possibly nothing!

Feeling cheated yet?  I certainly do.  Halladay sure got us all talking though.  Didn't it?  Maybe that was the purpose of the whole thing?  J.P. might just have fed the media a plate without any dinner, so to speak?

There is always the offseason for a deal to be done.  I personally would like to see Doc play out his contract in 2010 and see if the Jays can do something that year.  I realize that he will likely leave to play for winner.  The Jays are backed up with so much contractual problems in the future that acquiring prospects might not yield any reward until those players are able to play out their terms. 

I find it hard to believe though, that the Jays will not make any noise at the dealine at all!  We have to do a little tweeking, I believe.  Right now, I'm just enjoying the fact that Halladay will be with the Jays for a while longer .. at least.  I want to see him notch another 20 win season as a Jay, while leading the league in complete games once again!  He is the simply best! 

I don't see how any team would not give their teeth to get him??????







  
    
  

In case you were wondering about the over use of CAPS and the exclaimation marks, Matt Holliday was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals today for promising thrid base prospect Brett Wallace.  What relevance does this have to a Toronto Blue Jay fan?? 

None whatsoever, but it stop some ill informed people from calling in to a Toronto sports radio station and asking, "Who did we get for him?"  Obviously confusing Holliday with Halladay.

There you have the Toronto baseball fan.  Always great comedy.  

I'm suddenly growing a very bleak outlook on the Jays future.  With or without Halladay that is.  Recanting on what I posted earlier, trading Halladay is not as BIG MISTAKE of a mistake as I put it earlier considering Halladay will likely leave in 2010 if he Jays aren't competing.  I personally don't see them competing in 2010, so we pretty much have to pull the trigger on this deal.  Extremely sad to say, but true.  A bitter, bitter truth that is.  I would have liked them to hold onto the Doctor for that year, but now that all this has started in the media - there in no turning back.  It is obvious that these trade rumours will not stop until a deal is done.   

Oh well, I missed my chance to see the Jays in the playoffs when I was 12 years old.  What I didn't know is that I'd still be waiting till I was 27 to see it happen!  With Halladay being traded, no doubt that I'll be waiting past my 30th birthday to see October baseball again in Toronto.

Wasn't it untill last year that the Yankees lost the A.L. East for the first time in 13 years???  Awwwww ... poor babies!!!  

Should have played this whole thing cooler J.P.  That is all I have to say to him.