Howarth Predicts 85 Wins for the Jays!!

[TheHurl]

Oh god, I'm getting stabbed tonight, aren't I?

 

And fed to you know who

[oakville69]

Last year this team was leading the wild card by 3 games at the trade deadline and nothing was done

 

Why would this year be different?

 

That's a good point.

 

I wonder if AA set aside a small reserve of funds to be used at the trade deadline. They have spent less than last year.

[CrackerJack]

That's a good point.

 

I wonder if AA set aside a small reserve of funds to be used at the trade deadline. They have spent less than last year.

 

yeah, that's what i'm thinking too. Alex maxed out the budget at the start of last season with nothing left in the piggy bank for later use. This year, if the budget is at least the same, Alex should be able to afford a 2 month rental at the trade deadline. (Plus the eventual Navarro trade might free up a little more cash.)

[ElNik2013]

yeah, that's what i'm thinking too. Alex maxed out the budget at the start of last season with nothing left in the piggy bank for later use. This year, if the budget is at least the same, Alex should be able to afford a 2 month rental at the trade deadline. (Plus the eventual Navarro trade might free up a little more cash.)

 

 

If I remember correctly, last off season, the Blue Jays were almost maxed out at around 135M without adding anyone to the roster. They ended up adding Navarro at around 3M, but I can't remember anyone else being signed.

 

 

This off season, the Blue Jays were able to put together an arguably better team at a lower co$t by replacing FA deartures with cheaper options, i.e. Cabrera/Saunders, Rasmus/Pompey, Lind/Smoak and Happ/Estrada.

 

We'll see what happens.

[CrackerJack]

If I remember correctly, last off season, the Blue Jays were almost maxed out at around 135M without adding anyone to the roster. They ended up adding Navarro at around 3M, but I can't remember anyone else being signed.

 

 

This off season, the Blue Jays were able to put together an arguably better team at a lower co$t by replacing FA deartures with cheaper options, i.e. Cabrera/Saunders, Rasmus/Pompey, Lind/Smoak and Happ/Estrada.

 

We'll see what happens.

 

with Alex knowing that his job probably is riding on a playoff appearance this season (and Beeston wanting to go out on a winning note FWIW lol), I think they'll find some wiggle room at the deadline to try to win now.

[ElNik2013]

with Alex knowing that his job probably is riding on a playoff appearance this season (and Beeston wanting to go out on a winning note FWIW lol), I think they'll find some wiggle room at the deadline to try to win now.

 

 

 

I think they did leave themselves some wiggle room for moves at the deadline. I think payroll is around 130M whereas it was around 137M last season so they probably have a bit of room. If they trade Navarro that would create some extra room although I think they'd have to eat part of his salary.

 

Next year, they'll have another chunk of $ coming off the books with Navarro, Buehrle, Izturis and Romero being FA. That's like 35M, if I'm right.

[ScientificReason]

80-85 is a typical jays season, good enough to not be bad, not good enough to be a serious contender, just mediocre, never get the last few pieces to be a 90+ win team.

[CrackerJack]

80-85 is a typical jays season, good enough to not be bad, not good enough to be a serious contender, just mediocre, never get the last few pieces to be a 90+ win team.

 

not disagreeing, but (as it stands right now) who do you have as sure bets for 86+ (or 90) wins in the A.L. East this season?

[oakville69]

not disagreeing, but (as it stands right now) who do you have as sure bets for 86+ (or 90) wins in the A.L. East this season?

 

I think the Red Sox & Orioles should win at least 85 games. The Al East should be close this year.

[JFD]

we all know they will finish around .500

 

but at least we get to see lots of dingers!

[CrackerJack]

I think the Red Sox & Orioles should win at least 85 games. The Al East should be close this year.

 

ok, so you (or anybody else) won't go out on a limb and confidently predict that one of our division rivals will win at least a measly 86 games this season?

[Captain Adama]

And fed to you know who

 

The Doggs?

[ScientificReason]

not disagreeing, but (as it stands right now) who do you have as sure bets for 86+ (or 90) wins in the A.L. East this season?

 

Don't know, but because the rest of the division is weak does not make me feel better about the Jays. In fact it is a perfect opportunity to make a run, instead Management again doesn't want to go all the way.

[ElNik2013]

Don't know, but because the rest of the division is weak does not make me feel better about the Jays. In fact it is a perfect opportunity to make a run, instead Management again doesn't want to go all the way.

 

 

 

Is the A.L. East really weak or just more balanced?

 

 

For awhile, the O's and Rays were absolute crap and the Yanks and Red Sox were very good. Now all teams are pretty close.

[reedjohnsonfan]

ok, so you (or anybody else) won't go out on a limb and confidently predict that one of our division rivals will win at least a measly 86 games this season?

 

He said both, and I agree. The Yankees have a lot of upside if they can stay healthy. So do the Jays, but with Stroman out the pitching could be a big problem.

[reedjohnsonfan]

Is the A.L. East really weak or just more balanced?

 

 

For awhile, the O's and Rays were absolute crap and the Yanks and Red Sox were very good. Now all teams are pretty close.

 

Yep more balanced. The Rays look to be the weakest team easily unless someone suffers a lot of injuries. They're not awful, but every other team is decent enough to be quite a bit better barring huge injuries.

[ElNik2013]

Yep more balanced. The Rays look to be the weakest team easily unless someone suffers a lot of injuries. They're not awful, but every other team is decent enough to be quite a bit better barring huge injuries.

 

 

 

Some people confuse parity with weakness. Given the parity, some think the team should just spend a bunch of money.

 

Who knows, I think what they've tried to do over the last 2 seasons is spend some money and prospects to avoid going into the last 2 seasons without any chance at the playoffs which would've been the case. As it stands now, the farm is producing some young talent that is being blended in with the vetrins.

 

 

I wouldn't have minded a top 5 pick in both 2014 and 2015, but it's just not the way this franchise operates.

[CrackerJack]

He said both, and I agree. The Yankees have a lot of upside if they can stay healthy. So do the Jays, but with Stroman out the pitching could be a big problem.

 

The Oakville dude set the floor at 85 wins for the Orioles & Red Sox. You've upped the ante to 86 wins for both. Duly noted, bro.

[Governator]

Predicting wins is simply stupid, I mean surely you all predicted the Orioles were a 96 win team last year, right?

 

 

Honestly I feel surprisingly optimistic about this season, a different feeling than the last couple. I was completely depressed when I heard Stro go down but yet I'm still feeling good about the team and things to look forward to. I like the young guys I'm seeing as well, whether they contribute to a winning team is another question but getting to watch them develop will be at least pretty fun. I think Norris will be quite good, and against all of the negativity some of you put on Sanchez, I think he has the ability to hang in there and be a capable 5th starter for us with good games and bad (ok call me bias I have him in a keeper league).

 

What I'm most looking forward to?

 

- Watching Norris take the mound

- Travis & Pompey

- Donaldson's smooth as $&@! home run swing

- Martin's work with young pitchers

- Possibly seeing Osuna/Castro in the bigs this season

- The usual Bautista/EE bombs

- Hutchison having a quiet yet career type season

- Cecil holding down the fort

- and not seeing Juan Francisco in our line up

 

The good outweighs the bad and far outweighs the thoughts of being a .500 team because I think they are better than that. Not to mention with a lot riding on AA's future with the club this season, I think he has to go balls out for trade deadline. If we're in it to win it I think we'll see some drastic moves to make that happen.

 

[CrackerJack]

doubt it'll require 90+ wins to secure a playoff spot ... only needed 88 last season to squeak in ... and there appears to be more parity (on paper) in the entire A.L. this year.

[Praxis]

81-83 wins works for me.

 

Great top 5 in batting order, poor bottom 4.

Great fielding/catching in some positions, real weaknesses at others.

Some great potential/steady starting pitching, weak bullpen.

 

At or around .500 seems most likely, unless we can feast on possibly weaker teams in the division.