Will Gibbons be the Manager on Opening Day 2014?

[Pete_7]

The team is fixable, it's not on Gibbons. It's up to AA to address those needs this offeseason, but I'm not sure he's willing to admit he was wrong on some fronts.

[flafson]

I don't see many options above Kawasaki and Goins and we already know what we get with Kawasaki so i say let Goins try and prove himself in the remainder of the season.

Pillar looks above average on defense, above average on speed and a pretty good hitter who can adjust quickly. He should be given a chance IMO.

[TheHurl]

Goins isn't replacing Izturis next year...he'll be replacing DeRosa as the 25th man if he makes the team.

[digiblader]

We should look for a better option at LF-- Pillar's not ready offensively.

[G-Snarls]

We should look for a better option at LF-- Pillar's not ready offensively.

 

Do we really think Melky will be inadequate in 2014?

[G-Snarls]

I'm good with an outfield of Cabrera, Rasmus and Bautista for 2014 with 2 of Davis, Gose, Pillar or Sierra on bench

 

Catcher has to be addressed it's just mandatory

 

We need one significant upgrade to the starting rotation and 1-2 guys from within to get healthy/step up (Hutch, Romero, Drabek, Stroman, etc)

 

2B we may honestly be stuck with Izturis/Goins/Kawasaki

 

I don't see AA doing much more than the above. And that leaves us borderline as a contender. A lot of things have to go right.

[G-Snarls]

A healthy Melky and Davis as a 4th, we'll be fine.

 

Agree

 

And we have depth in AAA

 

SP and catcher need to be the priorities

[DH12]

You can't overlook the fundamental errors this team has made. That's managerial responsibility. Gibbons is gone and it will probably be Fasano next year

[digiblader]

How is Fasano doing anyway in the minors?

[GD]

How is Fasano doing anyway in the minors?

 

Roving catching instructor.

[ElNik2013]

Agree

 

And we have depth in AAA

 

SP and catcher need to be the priorities

 

 

Agree. The budget won't allow for much more, they need to focus on going hard after a C and a guy like Garza, try and backload the deal or something. I'd focus on D at 2B or SS, maybe they can convince Reyes that moving to 2B next year would help keep him healthy even if it's probably bs.

[ElNik2013]

IMO it's Beeston who needs to step down.

 

The two paths the organization has taken since Alex took over are very different. You have the very creative pick acquiring, prospect loading up on, value based, up the middle strength, future-outlook path, where Alex was very vocal and talking all the time about the moves he was making.

 

Then it careened into the uncreative trade everything we just acquired, for old expensive players on the downswings of their careers, losing all the value gained through past trades and created this little box of a window to contend path. And Alex doesn't talk much anymore.

 

It's almost like Beeston interjects when he pleases (Farrell to Boston, all Beeston & Boston ownership) and the man knows f*** all about what's going on in baseball right now. Essentially Beeston snipped AA. Beeston always talks of the 92 & 93 teams like we're still living in that time. And gushes about the veteran teams and the stars/HOF'ers we had.

 

Times have changed Paul, and old teams aren't the way to go. And unless Toronto intends on being a Top 5 spender you pretty much have no shot to contend ever with this retarded vision.

 

 

 

Exactly. How do you go from being a prospect-hoarder and acquiring guys like Escobar, Rasmus, Morrow, Lawrie to acquiring old and overpaid guys without having the plan changed by the president or owner? Who knows, but as long as this Beeston character is there, I don't think anyone should feel confident that he'll hire the "right" GM or let him finish a rebuilding process which will inevitably hit some roadblocks along the way, just look at the Mets with the Matt Harvey injury, he may be out all of 2014 and they'll have to take it easy in 2015 which will set them back a year or 2. At least the Mets have gone though their failed attempt at buying a WS with vetrins and hopefully learned their lesson.

[oakville69]

If the reasoning for those experiments was anything other than there was heavy trade talks at the time to acquire a 3B than it was a f***ing stupid experiment.

 

The rationale of "he's in a slump at the plate and we're gonna try to shake things up by moving him to another position he failed at in the past, off a position he's strong at now" was lunacy.

 

That's right Gibbers. There were rumors on DJF that AA was trying to get a 3B through trade, so moving Lawrie to 2B would be OK.

[oakville69]

Exactly. How do you go from being a prospect-hoarder and acquiring guys like Escobar, Rasmus, Morrow, Lawrie to acquiring old and overpaid guys without having the plan changed by the president or owner? Who knows, but as long as this Beeston character is there, I don't think anyone should feel confident that he'll hire the "right" GM or let him finish a rebuilding process which will inevitably hit some roadblocks along the way, just look at the Mets with the Matt Harvey injury, he may be out all of 2014 and they'll have to take it easy in 2015 which will set them back a year or 2. At least the Mets have gone though their failed attempt at buying a WS with vetrins and hopefully learned their lesson.

 

AA was bashed for not getting Darvish or Fielder in the late 2011- early 2012. Rogers wasn't ready to spend money on the team.

 

Rogers opened up the chequebook with the new broadcast money earned by the MLB for 2013 onwards. Every team is getting more money & Rogers no longer qualifies for revenue sharing based on market size.

 

If Rogers can continue to provide a top 10 payroll budget, AA should be able to fix the holes for 2014.

[GD]

Rogers wasn't ready to spend money on the team.

 

Didn't AA say the money's always been there, he just didn't feel the time was right?

[Slot Machine]

Didn't AA say the money's always been there, he just didn't feel the time was right?

 

That could just be PR spin, otherwise they might look like idiots. LOL.

[G-Snarls]

FWIW Jon Heyman at CBS sports pegs Gibby's chance of staying next year at 90%:

 

http://cbsprt.co/15eZVyo

[G-Snarls]

Anyone hear Gibby on the FAN this morning? Sounds like he's wanting to take a big chunk of blame for the bad season. I've only heard the news hour highlights.

[GD]

FWIW Jon Heyman at CBS sports pegs Gibby's chance of staying next year at 90%:

 

http://cbsprt.co/15eZVyo

 

Not worth much from Heyman, but hey, something positive!

 

Anyone hear Gibby on the FAN this morning? Sounds like he's wanting to take a big chunk of blame for the bad season. I've only heard the news hour highlights.

 

I would love to hear what he said. Interesting, cause he deserves maybe 1 win's worth of blame. Maybe 2.

[G-Snarls]

Not worth much from Heyman, but hey, something positive!

 

 

 

I would love to hear what he said. Interesting, cause he deserves maybe 1 win's worth of blame. Maybe 2.

 

Yep. The best manager in MLB history might have eked out 2-3 more wins this year. Still solidly in dead last.

 

You just can't win with s*** starting pitching like this.

[G-Snarls]

I would love to hear what he said.

 

Here it is, interview with Jeff Blair, questions re his management at 4:50:

 

http://pmd.fan590.com/audio_on_demand-3/John-Gibbons-with-Jeff-Blair-jb-20130827-Interview.mp3

[G-Snarls]

Quotes:

 

"I'm disgusted with the results, like everyone else"

 

"There are things I could do better"

 

"Not going to reveal everything"

 

"It's been a terrible year, I'm resposnsible because I'm the manager"

 

"I didn't cheat anybody. I gave my best effort every night"

 

Has he talked to AA about next year? "...All the time. We have a great relationship... Blah blah blah. Alex will do whatever is necessary to bring a winner to Toronto"

[oakville69]

Didn't AA say the money's always been there, he just didn't feel the time was right?

 

He did say that but he also discussed payroll parameters after the darvish fiasco. AA was not given much more money in 2012

[oakville69]

It looks like AA has made his decision to keep Gibby for 2014. The heat is on Gibby for next year. No WBC in 2014. Full training camp. Healthy Roster. Plenty of backup pitching.

[DH12]

And the jays celebrate the big announcement of gibbons coming back by going out and getting smoked by the Yankees. How fitting

[The_DH]

The team needs to be focused and prepared from day one in spring training. They need to be taught, and they need to be modivated. If they make mistakes they need to be called out for it. Focus on the fundamentals of the game. This team was not prepared to win. Coaching was one of the biggest reasons they struggled this year. Constant mental mistakes.

 

Totally agree with this. But that would be development and that won't happen.

[ElNik2013]

The team needs to be focused and prepared from day one in spring training. They need to be taught, and they need to be modivated. If they make mistakes they need to be called out for it. Focus on the fundamentals of the game. This team was not prepared to win. Coaching was one of the biggest reasons they struggled this year. Constant mental mistakes.

 

 

And no LoViste PLEASE!!!

[Howard Roark]

Meanwhile Bonifacio .364 OBP in Kansas City... Of course.

 

Toronto sports curse. You're surprised? I fully expected that, along with the inevitable hot streak next month to f*** us out of a good pick. Fun fun fun.

[Captain Adama]

Plenty of backup pitching.

Plenty of backup pitching.

Plenty of backup pitching.

 

I sure hope you don't mean the subsitute garbage that has been sent on more than one occasion this year.

[oakville69]

And the jays celebrate the big announcement of gibbons coming back by going out and getting smoked by the Yankees. How fitting

 

Sad but true. Did Sportsnet interview the players about their reaction to Gibby's return? I haven't heard any complaints about him from the playrs