The likely mindset of Alex Anthopolous

[AdamGreenwood]

Let's consider what Alex has accomplished so far.

 

For the first three years, he made some decent trades to acquire young cheap talent, for not very much.

This is easier to do when you aren't planning on contending and can wait a couple years for players to mature.

 

The Happ trade was the first sign of change. He packaged a number of young prospects mainly for JA Happ, a below-average starter.

Then came the 'disastrous 2013' campaign where he traded away three of our four top prospects, plus several others, as well as cheap, controllable talent (Escobar), mainly in order to obtain older players that likely could have been acquired through free agency for similar money.

 

The exceptions to this were Josh Johnson and RA Dickey who had disappointing seasons, but reasonable contracts.

 

At this point, with a complete void in starting pitching, it seems extremely unlikely that we are going to contend in 2014.

But, if you are AA, what are you thinking?

 

Are you thinking of admitting that all your trade moves were mistakes, and start building from the ground up?

Or are you thinking that your job is in jeopardy, and you might as well double down in an attempt to grasp at a Hail Mary, while further damaging the farm team and committing the Jays to long contracts that expire long after AA's probable tenure?

 

AA is in a position where he must win at all costs, and that is a very dangerous thing for the future of this team. Ownership needs to ensure that he does not dig such a deep hole, that it takes ten years to climb out.

[Stangstag]

Where is the list? No list?

[BlueJayWay]

Ground breaking news, I'd never have known, thanks.

 

Sincerely Spanky99.

lol

[Angrioter]

Ground breaking news, I'd never have known, thanks.

 

Sincerely Spanky99.

 

shut up!!

 

That was a good synthesis.

[saskjayfan]

Let's consider what Alex has accomplished so far.

 

For the first three years, he made some decent trades to acquire young cheap talent, for not very much.

This is easier to do when you aren't planning on contending and can wait a couple years for players to mature.

 

The Happ trade was the first sign of change. He packaged a number of young prospects mainly for JA Happ, a below-average starter.

Then came the 'disastrous 2013' campaign where he traded away three of our four top prospects, plus several others, as well as cheap, controllable talent (Escobar), mainly in order to obtain older players that likely could have been acquired through free agency for similar money.

 

The exceptions to this were Josh Johnson and RA Dickey who had disappointing seasons, but reasonable contracts.

 

At this point, with a complete void in starting pitching, it seems extremely unlikely that we are going to contend in 2014.

But, if you are AA, what are you thinking?

 

Are you thinking of admitting that all your trade moves were mistakes, and start building from the ground up?

Or are you thinking that your job is in jeopardy, and you might as well double down in an attempt to grasp at a Hail Mary, while further damaging the farm team and committing the Jays to long contracts that expire long after AA's probable tenure?

 

AA is in a position where he must win at all costs, and that is a very dangerous thing for the future of this team. Ownership needs to ensure that he does not dig such a deep hole, that it takes ten years to climb out.

 

so Buehrle, morrow, and dickey have no chance to have decent years next year?

[TheHurl]

in short. Makes moves for PR, without thought of baseball. Either that or he's really over his head and no smarter than the casual fan.

[saskjayfan]

I think that Buehrle will have another average year and Dickey could be slightly better

 

I think Morrow is unreliable and should not be counted in as a starter

 

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

 

I think some of you guys get a steamer, just reading the predictions steamer makes....or bill james...roto....etc....Some of you take it as gospel.

 

The only certainty in baseball is there is no certainty. Outside of a handful of Kershaw types...perhaps a few more on the positional player side...what are you going to get out of a player..the variability of players year to year performances is greater as you go down the list. CC sebathia made 23 million dollars last year....you're suppose to get certainty for that price...not a 4.78 ERA....bartolo colon....wtf...he's wasn't suppose to post the numbers he did....john lackey, clay buchholz bounce back....Morrow, buehrle and Dickey have the ability to do very well...they could do terrible....

 

Throwing in the towel is ridiculous...the jays have a very good offense if you replace jpa with even an average catcher.....hutch, drabek, happ, McGowan, stroman....they need a couple of these guys to step up. The jays need to get a catcher, sign one starting pitcher and get a decent right handed bat for the bench...I can't believe how many people on here would jack off to having the team blown up and getting a ton of prospects....

[Angrioter]

Angelo, tu eres maricon? LOL.....synthesis.

 

This is the way how you define your best cyber-friend? --- A Maricon?

 

My feel awful right now. I want to die.

[Angrioter]

Don't worry, be happy bro!

 

Are you Bob Marley?

http://smoking-loud.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Bob-Marley-46.jpeg

[SAAviour]

I think some of you guys get a steamer, just reading the predictions steamer makes....or bill james...roto....etc....Some of you take it as gospel.

 

The only certainty in baseball is there is no certainty. Outside of a handful of Kershaw types...perhaps a few more on the positional player side...what are you going to get out of a player..the variability of players year to year performances is greater as you go down the list. CC sebathia made 23 million dollars last year....you're suppose to get certainty for that price...not a 4.78 ERA....bartolo colon....wtf...he's wasn't suppose to post the numbers he did....john lackey, clay buchholz bounce back....Morrow, buehrle and Dickey have the ability to do very well...they could do terrible....

 

Throwing in the towel is ridiculous...the jays have a very good offense if you replace jpa with even an average catcher.....hutch, drabek, happ, McGowan, stroman....they need a couple of these guys to step up. The jays need to get a catcher, sign one starting pitcher and get a decent right handed bat for the bench...I can't believe how many people on here would jack off to having the team blown up and getting a ton of prospects....

 

I agree with you.

 

Last year was a disaster, but who knows what this year holds.

 

If we suck again, unload talent in a big way at the trade deadline though.

[Angrioter]

I agree with you.

 

Last year was a disaster, but who knows what this year holds.

 

If we suck again, unload talent in a big way at the trade deadline though.

 

You're depending too much of the "luck factor"

To be considered an elite team, you should have a very low level of questions mark........And we have many so far.

[SAAviour]

You're depending too much of the "luck factor"

To be considered an elite team, you should have a very low level of questions mark........And we have many so far.

 

Very true, but the off season isn't over yet.

I'm one of the very few remaining who still believes in AA.

[saskjayfan]

You're depending too much of the "luck factor"

To be considered an elite team, you should have a very low level of questions mark........And we have many so far.

 

You missed my point. Who's not a question mark when a guy like cc posts a 4.78 era. At catcher it can only get better. Melky will be better, maicer will be better, Lawrie will get better. The offence is very good. The starting pitching has to post a 3.9ish era. I have full confidence in the talent of dickey, buehrle, morrow and the multitude of options for the fifth starter. The jays need a catcher and one starter. We will see what aa does

[Nox]

The only certainty in baseball is there is no certainty. Outside of a handful of Kershaw types...perhaps a few more on the positional player side...what are you going to get out of a player..the variability of players year to year performances is greater as you go down the list. CC sebathia made 23 million dollars last year....you're suppose to get certainty for that price...not a 4.78 ERA....bartolo colon....wtf...he's wasn't suppose to post the numbers he did....john lackey, clay buchholz bounce back....Morrow, buehrle and Dickey have the ability to do very well...they could do terrible....

 

So much ugh.

[Maine Jays]

If it's win at all costs, offer Cano 8/$240. Imagine a top five of Reyes, Cabrera, Bautista, Cano, and EE

[Angrioter]

You missed my point. Who's not a question mark when a guy like cc posts a 4.78 era. At catcher it can only get better. Melky will be better, maicer will be better, Lawrie will get better. The offence is very good. The starting pitching has to post a 3.9ish era. I have full confidence in the talent of dickey, buehrle, morrow and the multitude of options for the fifth starter. The jays need a catcher and one starter. We will see what aa does

 

Sure .... Better than last year (it was atrocious) but below the league level. We need to score more runs and allow less.

[Angrioter]

If it's win at all costs, offer Cano 8/$240. Imagine a top five of Reyes, Cabrera, Bautista, Cano, and EE

 

8 guaranteed years for a 35 years old 2B?.....NO

[Angrioter]

How confident are you that he's 35?

 

Simple math.

My older bro is 34, Him, Cano and Joe Bernhardt played in the same team (By ages). I'm 30 and used to play one level below.

Cano was switch hitter.

[Angrioter]

Age advanced, maybe?

 

Are trying to say that Cano was better than me?

[Chappy]

You would think anyone about to drop a quarter billion on a player would know if he was lying about his age.

 

Not really. People believe what they want to believe.

[Maine Jays]

8 guaranteed years for a 35 years old 2B?.....NO

 

Fine, sign McCann, Infante and make a big push for Tanaka.

[Angrioter]

Fine, sign McCann, Infante and make a big push for Tanaka.

 

sexy but impossible.

[John_Havok]

shut up!!

 

That was a good synthesis.

 

I believe you mean synopsis, my Dominican friend.

[Angrioter]

I believe you mean synopsis, my Dominican friend.

 

NO.

summary = synthesis = Síntesis in spanish

[John_Havok]

Are trying to say that Cano was better than me?

 

This reminds of that Simpsons softball episode. This next clip is probably apt illustration of Cano skill vs Ang, Ang being played by Homer Simpson.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-PgpbcLsiU

[Olerud363]

Let's consider what Alex has accomplished so far.

 

For the first three years, he made some decent trades to acquire young cheap talent, for not very much.

This is easier to do when you aren't planning on contending and can wait a couple years for players to mature.

 

The Happ trade was the first sign of change. He packaged a number of young prospects mainly for JA Happ, a below-average starter.

Then came the 'disastrous 2013' campaign where he traded away three of our four top prospects, plus several others, as well as cheap, controllable talent (Escobar), mainly in order to obtain older players that likely could have been acquired through free agency for similar money.

 

The exceptions to this were Josh Johnson and RA Dickey who had disappointing seasons, but reasonable contracts.

 

At this point, with a complete void in starting pitching, it seems extremely unlikely that we are going to contend in 2014.

But, if you are AA, what are you thinking?

 

Are you thinking of admitting that all your trade moves were mistakes, and start building from the ground up?

Or are you thinking that your job is in jeopardy, and you might as well double down in an attempt to grasp at a Hail Mary, while further damaging the farm team and committing the Jays to long contracts that expire long after AA's probable tenure?

 

AA is in a position where he must win at all costs, and that is a very dangerous thing for the future of this team. Ownership needs to ensure that he does not dig such a deep hole, that it takes ten years to climb out.

 

Well who is "ownership". Who has the power to stop AA?? Who is AAs boss?? Beeston. Who is Beeston's Boss??

 

I am not even sure Beeston has a boss in the conventional sense. Technically I believe it is some vice president of media or something that sits just below the Rogers CEO. I have posted the actual name and title of Beeston's "boss" before... but I don't see the point anymore of looking it up.

 

Beeston is the only one that can go up to AA and fire him... I really don't think anyone can "fire" Beeston. Beeston is probably just as connected, and established as anyone in Rogers. Guy Lawrence is the CEO now?? Does he have the power to fire Beeston?? I mean Beeston sits on boards of all kinds of crap. This Lawrence guy is going to be in the middle of putting together complicated deals to earn Billions... and he is really going to fire Paul Beeston who he might need as a power play for his deals??

 

And actually from what I have heard all these morons view AA as a genius. If you know nothing about baseball you can't tell a smart GM from a dumb one. They can all look smart if they can schmooze.

 

Ultimately the situation has a lot in common with the 2008 financial crisis... You get a guy like Guy Lawrence asking about sub prime derivative formulas?? It all ends up being based on hand shakes and hair cuts and schmoozing.

 

The only glimpse of hope is that AA is a bit dumpy... Beeston loves it because Beeston is dumpy... but Maybe Guy Lawrence is ripped... in that case he might interpret AA's flabbiness as weakness and fire AA.

[Olerud363]

8 guaranteed years for a 35 years old 2B?.....NO

 

Interesting. I recall there was some rumor like this around Pujols... that he was 3 or 4 years older then listed. Given recent performance that would make sense.

[TwistedLogic]

Interesting. I recall there was some rumor like this around Pujols... that he was 3 or 4 years older then listed. Given recent performance that would make sense.

 

I've believed it about Pujols since before he hit free agency. His size and look when he debuted, all the way to how his entire career has played out, all of it fits perfectly for a guy who is 3-4 years older than what Pujols is listed at. When you're talking about the greatest players to ever pick up a bat and glove, these guys don't start declining at the age of 28. Pujols was on a steady fall in his last three years as a Cardinal, he didn't just up and become s*** as an Angel. His decline was well-documented before he ever put on a halo, hell, even MLB Network made a small clip pointing out how every one of his significant stats had fallen drastically in his final three years before free agency.