Shapiro: Upgrades planned for RC, grass not a top priority

[crmr]

At the same time Shapiro can do literally almost nothing and have a shot at the WS. He inherited a team with the best run differential in baseball by 100 runs. This could be the best team he ever has in his life.

 

But he'll get 0 credit for it, and will get all the criticism for the years to come

[BigCecil]

At the same time Shapiro can do literally almost nothing and have a shot at the WS. He inherited a team with the best run differential in baseball by 100 runs. This could be the best team he ever has in his life.

 

Fair point. If we play well this year and compete in playoffs, I expect people will soon forget about AA. Just as quickly as they forgot they wanted to fire him last June before the team turned it around. I don't regret the run, but so few casual fans realize the price of it wasn't cheap.

[TheHurl]

This could be the best team he ever has in his life.

 

2007 Indians were pretty damn good considering they had to deal with a Cliff Lee mental and baseball breakdown. if he has his 2008 season in 2007 they probably have a plus 150 differential.

 

Again we shouldn't forget that when Shapiro arrived there were 3 starting pitchers on the 40 man.

[nmrch]

Yeah poor Shapiro inherits a 2016 contender with the likes of Donaldson, Tulo, Bautista, Encarnacion, Stroman.. Of all the franchises that had new executives come in (Philly, Seattle, Milwaukee, LAA) Toronto is the best situation, so lets stop with the notion that he inherited some dumpster fire. Not to mention it has the potential to be one of the top markets in MLB if it isn't already.

 

Edit: Forgot about Boston, I'd put them number 1 but the point still stands

 

He inherited a team that was good in 2015. I guess it depends on what the word contender means right. We weren't better than Boston even before the Price signing and we weren't significantly better than the NYY either, if i remember the projections correctly. The Jays had a shot at the division(and still do) but Shapiro wasn't left with a 95 win team that had a high chance of winning the division, which is how i would define contender.

[wamco]

I heard they have to dig almost 2 feet down through the concrete to build proper drainage and that is the biggest obstacle to putting grass in. But I really have no idea at all what the costs of doing any of that stuff is so I couldn't even guess a dollar figure for that.

 

You Canadians need some mexicans

[Yorkshire Blue Jay]

Plus rebuild the roof to let natural lighting in. We were sold a bill of lights by Beeston.

 

Mobile Industrial lighting rigs are used extensively in stadia throughout the world to replicate natural light. The roof will not need any work for grass to grow, flourish and survive.

 

Actually the roof should be allowed to be open more not just an hour or two before and after games. In theory, it should only need to be closed in the summer when there is precipitation.

[Spanky99]

2007 Indians were pretty damn good considering they had to deal with a Cliff Lee mental and baseball breakdown. if he has his 2008 season in 2007 they probably have a plus 150 differential.

 

Again we shouldn't forget that when Shapiro arrived there were 3 starting pitchers on the 40 man.

 

I thought it was 2... Stroman and Hutch, who's the 3rd?

[KingKat]

I thought it was 2... Stroman and Hutch, who's the 3rd?

 

Jenkins?

[GD]

I thought it was 2... Stroman and Hutch, who's the 3rd?

 

RA Dickey is a thing lol

[Spanky99]

RA Dickey is a thing lol

 

Toronto had to pick up his option, dumn-dumn!

[Spanky99]

Jenkins?

 

Yeah, that would be the 3rd.

[Spanky99]

He never left the 40-man...

 

Shaddup, Nerds!

[glory]

At the same time Shapiro can do literally almost nothing and have a shot at the WS. He inherited a team with the best run differential in baseball by 100 runs. This could be the best team he ever has in his life.

 

Well, he only inherited 3 starters in MLB and AAA combined. He had to do something. The offense he inherited projects to be great, but even that has a one year window attached to it. Then he'll either have to let Bautista and Encarnacion go or pay them free agent money into their mid-late 30's. It's not as rosey as many people seem to think it is.

 

To his credit, all of his moves so far have been aimed towards winning in 2016 without sacrificing flexibility and prospects. That's exactly what the Jays needed to do.

[Spanky99]

Well, he only inherited 3 starters in MLB and AAA combined. He had to do something. The offense he inherited projects to be great, but even that has a one year window attached to it. Then he'll either have to let Bautista and Encarnacion go or pay them free agent money into their mid-late 30's. It's not as rosey as many people seem to think it is.

 

To his credit, all of his moves so far have been aimed towards winning in 2016 without sacrificing flexibility and prospects. That's exactly what the Jays needed to do.

 

2, this time I'm right.

 

Also, I agree, good post.

[Cyborg]

2, this time I'm right.

 

Also, I agree, good post.

 

3. I thought we went over this.

[burlingtonbandit]

He inherited a team that was good in 2015. I guess it depends on what the word contender means right. We weren't better than Boston even before the Price signing and we weren't significantly better than the NYY either, if i remember the projections correctly. The Jays had a shot at the division(and still do) but Shapiro wasn't left with a 95 win team that had a high chance of winning the division, which is how i would define contender.

 

Coming into the offseason he was left with a team with a pretty damn good shot at the division title. He also had $30-35 million to spend so its not like the team was capped out. The Jays were in a much better position than the Mariners, Angels, Phillies and Brewers.

[flafson]

Looks like he changed his mind, dirt infield for next season they say.

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-planning-to-install-dirt-infield-for-2016/

[Spanky99]

3. I thought we went over this.

 

Semantics, Shapiro still had to decide on retaining Dickey. Hahaha... I'm just being a pedantic s***, playing around bro. I've been fine with MS/RA and TL's moves thus far, especially with an obvious budget parameter.

[TilsonBritoFan]

Regarding the dirt infield announced by Brooks, anyone a bit concerned it could negatively affect our infielders?

 

To wit:

 

 

1. The dirt won't slow the ball as much as the thick turf, so building around ground ball pitchers, which we assumed was the plan because of our turf will be less effective.

 

2. Is the dirt actually softer than our new improved turf? Is it going to be better for the health of our infielders?

 

3. Dirt is going to give more random hops. The turf was pretty predictable, and our infielders had an advantage knowing how it hopped every time - you could really see this with Coins especially. With the dirt causing more random, unpredictable hops we may lose a home field advantage.

Edited December 20, 2015 by TilsonBritoFan

[puphood]

LOL at the cost of putting grass in. I don't understand how that it could cost that much!

 

Drainage of the turf is likely a issue to make it work.

[CHRIS]

LOL at the cost of putting grass in. I don't understand how that it could cost that much!

 

Probably a good thing you're not in charge of this particular project.

[Grant77]

Drainage of the turf is likely a issue to make it work.

 

Drainage is hardly necessary with proper irrigation. I don't really care about grass vs. turf, just pointing that out. Sunlight is the largest hurdle in my opinion.

[L54]

Regarding the dirt infield announced by Brooks, anyone a bit concerned it could negatively affect our infielders?

 

To wit:

 

 

1. The dirt won't slow the ball as much as the thick turf, so building around ground ball pitchers, which we assumed was the plan because of our turf will be less effective.

 

2. Is the dirt actually softer than our new improved turf? Is it going to be better for the health of our infielders?

 

3. Dirt is going to give more random hops. The turf was pretty predictable, and our infielders had an advantage knowing how it hopped every time - you could really see this with Coins especially. With the dirt causing more random, unpredictable hops we may lose a home field advantage.

 

Just think of how many times you've watched away games or non-Jays games and thought "oh man, I hope we don't get any bad hops today". They just aren't going to exist at this level. I think you're trying too hard to see a problem where there won't be one.

[thatoneguy]

Regarding the dirt infield announced by Brooks, anyone a bit concerned it could negatively affect our infielders?

 

To wit:

 

 

1. The dirt won't slow the ball as much as the thick turf, so building around ground ball pitchers, which we assumed was the plan because of our turf will be less effective.

 

2. Is the dirt actually softer than our new improved turf? Is it going to be better for the health of our infielders?

 

3. Dirt is going to give more random hops. The turf was pretty predictable, and our infielders had an advantage knowing how it hopped every time - you could really see this with Coins especially. With the dirt causing more random, unpredictable hops we may lose a home field advantage.

 

Oh come on.

 

A dirt track infield is something the dome has desperately needed. There really isn't anything bad about this.

[burlingtonbandit]

Of those 3 points the only one I would be concerned about would be the health of the players. If its just going to be a layer of dirt on top of concrete its going to be even worse than the turf was for the players bodies. That said, if it was going to be worse for the players I don't think Shapiro would plan to put it in.

[Dick_Pole]

LOL at all the people blaming the f***ing Argos for years that there was no grass at the Dome. Then the comments that came with it hoping that Canada's oldest football team would be pulverized out of existence. Good to see the truth finally came out.

 

EDIT: North America's oldest football team, IIRC. And Beeston's convenient scapegoat as he slithers away.

[Atothe]

I'm not gonna lie. I was duped by Beeston. I actually believed that gremlin

[Jonn]

This doesn't mean grass isn't coming. Dirt infield is a nice start. Players have been asking for it for years. Also f*** the Argos. They are to blame for a lot of s*** actually. We want an NFL team. And that will happen eventually. Hopefully when I'm not old as f***.

[Jonn]

LOL at all the people blaming the f***ing Argos for years that there was no grass at the Dome. Then the comments that came with it hoping that Canada's oldest football team would be pulverized out of existence. Good to see the truth finally came out.

 

EDIT: North America's oldest football team, IIRC. And Beeston's convenient scapegoat as he slithers away.

 

Oldest and most irrelevant franchise. You can't sell that brand of Football in this market. The demand is to have the best league and the world. Also no more f***ing domes.

[Governator]

dirt infield should at least make it play more like a real ball park... I've wanted that for years.