We need a 3B more than anything else

[shortstop]

no doubt this team is stuck in the middle.

 

imo, Rogers is fine with a treadmill team that is competing for a playoff spot or of course, a playoff team.

 

what they couldn't have is the perception this team really can't compete ie. teams of previous years ie. we all had hopes and dreams the jays would finally make the playoffs but knew from game 1 of the season it wasn't gonna happen...say what we will, the perception is imo, that when healthy, this team can contend...

 

but Rogers being Rogers, this team cannot and will not be blown up short of another epic disaster ie. if they falter hard before the deadline or are a few games back but choke hard and fall X # of games back by the end of the season...

 

so treadmill it is & selling hope, albeit a bit more hope than in previous seasons - this team overall has a lot more overall talent & than previous years...

 

on a treadmill, AA is understandably loathe to give up top prospects...so imo if he makes a move, it will be by giving up lower tier prospects...the catch in all this imo is whether Rogers will allow AA to take on salary...if not, AA's hands are tied imo...

 

 

with all that said, this team still has talent & if they can fight through and stay close until the injured guys get back, anything can happen...that's more hope to sell now than in a long long time...

 

two other points: another post made a good point - if the jays make the playoffs (especially if they win the division & get atleast a full round in), Rogers may be forced to spend more. Second, AA should not touch the pitching prospects - the poster above imo made a good point - the rotation could be good/deep for years to come & once Dickey/Buehrle are gone, relatively cheap...

[Chappy]

By the time that good, young, cheap rotation will be in place the team will need a new offensive core.

 

Sure, but we will also have a significant part of our payroll freed up. I would like to see AA add now but as I previously posted I am hoping that is done via lower tier prospects and salary dumps. This team just needs to tread water for the next 6 weeks and then we have a lot of offensive pieces coming back.

 

There is no reason this team can't make an honest effort to compete now without screwing up the future.

[KingKat]

But we will also have a ton of payroll flexibility as the large contracts come off the books soon.

 

Yeah but the contracts you get with that money aren't likely to be nearly as team friendly as the Baustista, Encarnacion contracts. You'll need all the money you're paying them plus the money you're wasting on a bunch others to get players that good. At best it's a wash and it could be much worse if the money isn't well spent. I'm not optimistic that the Jays will be this close for awhile. Make some moves, weather the storm until EE, Lind, Lawrie and maybe even Morrow can come back. This could be an excellent team going into the playoffs. I'd rather go all in than throw in the towel.

[BigCecil]

Sure, but we will also have a significant part of our payroll freed up. I would like to see AA add now but as I previously posted I am hoping that is done via lower tier prospects and salary dumps. This team just needs to tread water for the next 6 weeks and then we have a lot of offensive pieces coming back.

 

There is no reason this team can't make an honest effort to compete now without screwing up the future.

 

The issue is we haven't demonstrated we can tread water. More like sinking. We are playing .350 ball for a month. It may be too much to expect for this line as depleted as it is to stay close. In which case keep assets...and look to 2015 and 2016 it is.

[jaysblue]

But we will also have a ton of payroll flexibility as the large contracts come off the books soon.

 

Many of the free agent signings for top bats don't look that great - Choo, Ellsbury, Fielder, Pujols, Hamilton, Granderson, Cano etc. There is no way the Jays could afford bats like both Bautista and EE on the open market.

[shortstop]

I think this team could go either way...sink hard or compete & stay in the race...and it's probably keeping Gibby & AA up every night

[jaysblue]

Sure, but we will also have a significant part of our payroll freed up. I would like to see AA add now but as I previously posted I am hoping that is done via lower tier prospects and salary dumps. This team just needs to tread water for the next 6 weeks and then we have a lot of offensive pieces coming back.

 

There is no reason this team can't make an honest effort to compete now without screwing up the future.

 

Yeah I don't see how a bat like Prado would cost all that much. If the Jays can stay afloat until mid August when they get Lawrie and EE back, they should be in good shape.

[BigCecil]

Many of the free agent signings for top bats don't look that great - Choo, Ellsbury, Fielder, Pujols, Hamilton, Granderson, Cano etc. There is no way the Jays could afford bats like both Bautista and EE on the open market.

 

Rogers can afford them...they have just made a business decision not to enter into boat anchor deals like the ones you mentioned, which I can respect.

Edited July 10, 2014 by BigCecil

[shortstop]

agree BigCecil.

 

I gotta believe its in Rogers self-interest to give AA some room to add payroll right now...they need to sell the hope of really contending/competing for the playoffs...I can't imagine they are saying to AA "let's wait to closer to the deadline to see what we've really got here"...b/c the jays could be literally out of contention by then...

[Terminator]

Yeah but the contracts you get with that money aren't likely to be nearly as team friendly as the Baustista, Encarnacion contracts. You'll need all the money you're paying them plus the money you're wasting on a bunch others to get players that good. At best it's a wash and it could be much worse if the money isn't well spent. I'm not optimistic that the Jays will be this close for awhile. Make some moves, weather the storm until EE, Lind, Lawrie and maybe even Morrow can come back. This could be an excellent team going into the playoffs. I'd rather go all in than throw in the towel.

 

I agree but a cheap and talented rotation goes a long way toward building a good team.

[BigCecil]

agree BigCecil.

 

I gotta believe its in Rogers self-interest to give AA some room to add payroll right now...they need to sell the hope of really contending/competing for the playoffs...I can't imagine they are saying to AA "let's wait to closer to the deadline to see what we've really got here"...b/c the jays could be literally out of contention by then...

 

Im not really concerned about selling hope to fans. They have to make good business decisions. I think there is a risk with our current injuries we cant tread water (hope Im wrong) and I think we do need to wait to access that more. Its a huge risk to move key assets to significantly upgrade for a run, and if we can ride it out until we get some guys back (and hope no more go down) mgm will be better informed to make those decisions. If not, we hold and 2015 and 16 it is.

[Terminator]

Where did o2cui2i's Dickey joke go? And all the related posts?

[G-Snarls]

Where did o2cui2i's Dickey joke go? And all the related posts?

 

Removed because while not ban-worthy I agree it was taseless and shouldn't be kept up with repeated quotes repeating it. I also PM'd him.

[Terminator]

http://www.bluejaysmessageboard.com/threads/3526-GDT(2-3)-Toronto-Blue-Jays-Los-Angeles-Angels-Dickey-vs-Skaggs-10-05-PM-ET?p=354409&viewfull=1#post354409

 

He really likes that joke.

[jaysblue]

Second time he used it, I think he should be banned. It's ridiculous if you ask me.

[KingKat]

What happened to Gibbers's post with Jesus and a kid at the bat and Gibbers saying the kid was Dickey and Jesus was feeling him up? Did that get removed to? Seems to be in the same class. I didn't really mind it or 02cui's joke but if a standard is being applied, it should be consistent.

[wilko]

What happened to Gibbers's post with Jesus and a kid at the bat and Gibbers saying the kid was Dickey and Jesus was feeling him up? Did that get removed to? Seems to be in the same class. I didn't really mind it or 02cui's joke but if a standard is being applied, it should be consistent.

 

What's the standard? No Dickey jokes?

[Candy Maldonado]

The joke doesn't even make sense. The other person did the touching not Dickey.

[jays4life19]

What's the standard? No Dickey jokes?

Nah. I think the line is where you poke fun of child molestation.

[BigCecil]

Second time he used it, I think he should be banned. It's ridiculous if you ask me.

 

Ill leave that to mods on banning to decide (of which he is one) but it was the 2nd time, and both times a few of us called him on it. It was over the top and not an issue that's remotely humorous.

 

Go after RA all you want - his pitching - the trade...whatever...but not that.

 

it degraded a good debate/discussion

 

Nuff said on it.

[KingKat]

Yeah, that was over the top as well.

 

I have to admit I laughed. It wasn't because the joke was funny but because it was a classic case of Gibbers being a bull in the China shop with a sensitive issue.

[Deadpool]

Ill leave that to mods on banning to decide (of which he is one) but it was the 2nd time, and both times a few of us called him on it. It was over the top and not an issue that's remotely humorous.

 

Humour is subjective, I have zero line about what is okay to joke about (as long as it's funny, seriously, don't make unfunny jokes that's Dane Cook's job) but this isn't my board, so it's up to others, and not me, to decide what is and isn't acceptable here.

 

Personally, I had no issue with the joke, but I wouldn't have an issue with a joke about Hitler and Satan raping my mom so maybe I'm not the best judge...

[o2cui2i]

wow... did the Dickey remark get removed? really?? ok, I thought we were way past that being distasteful. If he can talk about it on a 100 talk shows and make millions talking about it in a book, it seems fair game to me.

[Angrioter]

Nah. I think the line is where you poke fun of child molestation.

 

......and now, you're legit and we all love you

 

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/20657/prison-sex-o.gif

[o2cui2i]

does the new "Injuries could alter Blue Jays' Trade Deadline targets" thing hold water? I dont think AA was going to do much as it was and I doubt he will do much even with the injuries.

 

They have needed an infielder for a couple years. not like it's a "new" problem.

[jays4life19]

......and now, you're legit and we all love you

 

http://stream1.gifsoup.com/view/20657/prison-sex-o.gif

 

I don't get it.

 

Love you too though!

[ElNik2013]

If you're going to fill a need, I'd go for a long term SS.

 

Beyond that, Headley should be the cheapest since he's a FA to be having a down year and dealing with injuries.

[burlingtonbandit]

Seems like Rogers is handcuffing AA. It would be in Rogers best interests to spend the money and go for it. Look how the city rallied around the Raptors playoff season and imagine topping that because the Blue Jays have a much bigger fan base.

 

Also it seems like 85-88 wins could win the division this year. You know that will probably never happen again and in 2 years time 95 wins may not even win the division. If we can just hold on now and make a couple trades for a 3rd baseman and another bench piece this team will contend for the playoffs. The schedule is so AL East heavy in September that if you are 3GB you can still have a very good chance of taking the division.

 

With guys like Lawrie, EE and hopefully Lind being healthy by September the Blue Jays will have a very real shot at winning the division.

 

Of course you have to hope there are no other injuries to the pitching staff or other key players but there is a very real shot at winning the division this year when you will never know what will happen in future seasons.

[Angrioter]

I don't get it.

 

Love you too though!

 

One of the best song and video -----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5sIXUbMgF0

[TheHurl]

First of all the only way that AA is losing his job this year is if he attempts to re-build. If he goes for it and makes another big move it's "good effort, just couldn't get past the injuries" and as we've seen acquiring a big name helps buzz and sells tickets. If he does very little he's still got "it was a tough run of injuries, we had a lot of trades on the go (which I believe is true) but the injuries kept changing our needs and direction " and he can sell that there is more help coming up through the pipeline too. He also can do a PR trade that gets rejected by a no trade clause. Makes it look he's trying, even if he knows that deal wouldn't happen anyway. Works for the other team potentially too as it sets a market for them. Amaro has plenty of players with a no trade or are 5 and 10 guys. Is he friendly enough with Amaro to pull off this kind of a fake PR type deal? This is a cynical point of view here but it has been rumoured to happen in the past.

 

Secondly the Jays have options without selling the farm again. They could trade an injured asset for an expensive roster improvement...most likely this would have to be a Lind because trading EE or Lawrie causes riots. Even as bad as he's been, a Lind for Billy Butler type deal would almost make sense. There is the other possibility of trading Reyes for other big contracts.