General Blue Jays Discussion Thread (2024)

[jaysblue]

Seems like its more directed at the front office. He specifically brought up Ohtani and how the Jays were willing to dangle $700M to sign him, but they never had a "pivot." For him to say that. Seems like he was frustrated and probably some other players in the clubhouse might have been frustrated that the FO never went out and made the upgrades necessary to the ball club that were needed. There was no backup plan really.

 

He mentioned how competitive teams need 3-4 elite players and how someone like Vlad needs protection/help whatever that means. But yeah he mentioned he didn't want to throw any players under the bus or disrespect any of his teammates. So yes he probably knows the team isn't or wasn't good enough, but instead of placing blame on his teammates & coaches, it's more directed at the front office.

[Laika]

They were separate points though

 

It wouldn't make sense for anything on the front office side to "not be fixable". You can always fire people or change procedures.

 

The only thing that should reasonably be read to be "not fixable" would be talent of certain players.

[The_DH]

Seems like its more directed at the front office. He specifically brought up Ohtani and how the Jays were willing to dangle $700M to sign him, but they never had a "pivot." For him to say that. Seems like he was frustrated and probably some other players in the clubhouse might have been frustrated that the FO never went out and made the upgrades necessary to the ball club that were needed. There was no backup plan really.

 

He mentioned how competitive teams need 3-4 elite players and how someone like Vlad needs protection/help whatever that means. But yeah he mentioned he didn't want to throw any players under the bus or disrespect any of his teammates. So yes he probably knows the team isn't or wasn't good enough, but instead of placing blame on his teammates & coaches, it's more directed at the front office.

 

Now that makes a ton of sense!

[jaysblue]

That was my takeaway as well. Especially when he said he "loves the guy he plays with" and he would want to protect them not hurt them with any further comment.

 

Yeah but the part where he mentions how teams need 3-4 elite players and how the Jays never had a "pivot" after failing to sign Ohtani seems like he was alluding to the failures of the FO.

 

Of course he probably "loves the guys he plays with" whether they're good or bad players and he's not going to say they suck and aren't good enough in public.

[Jimcanuck]

Bassitt probably knows about the arm health, or lack thereof, of gausman and berrios and other pitchers. If he does, there is no way he would talk about it.

 

Agree it is unlikely he is referring to clubhouse issues

[jaysblue]

They were separate points though

 

It wouldn't make sense for anything on the front office side to "not be fixable". You can always fire people or change procedures.

 

The only thing that should reasonably be read to be "not fixable" would be talent of certain players.

 

The front office side of things isn't fixable overnight.

 

Its easier to sign and trade for players every offseason than it is to hire a new team President or GM every offseason.

[Laika]

Sorry, flat earthers

 

The only thing that he would allude to as "not fixable" would be player talent

 

He means the present roster was just lacking talent in certain ways but he does not want to get into the specifics

 

Of course that is also a criticism of the front office because they put the team together. But he wasn't saying the doom and gloom thing some of you are implying which would be something like "the front office is so dumb they can't be fixed"

[Stangstag]

They were separate points though

 

It wouldn't make sense for anything on the front office side to "not be fixable". You can always fire people or change procedures.

 

The only thing that should reasonably be read to be "not fixable" would be talent of certain players.

 

If the main problem is the President/CEO/Guy at the top, for an employee that would definitely fall under the category of "unfixable"

[Laika]

If the main problem is the President/CEO/Guy at the top, for an employee that would definitely fall under the category of "unfixable"

 

But he could just say that and it would have nothing to do with "protecting the players"

 

The only way to interpret that whole protecting the players part is if he was referring to talent of the players

[Laika]

The front office side of things isn't fixable overnight.

 

Well it sort of is actually. Fire Mark Ross.

[Laika]

The front office side of things isn't fixable overnight.

 

Well it sort of is actually. Fire Mark Ross.

[Stangstag]

Sorry, flat earthers

 

The only thing that he would allude to as "not fixable" would be player talent

 

He means the present roster was just lacking talent in certain ways but he does not want to get into the specifics

 

Of course that is also a criticism of the front office because they put the team together. But he wasn't saying the doom and gloom thing some of you are implying which would be something like "the front office is so dumb they can't be fixed"

 

You're simple-minded and that's fine. But you're likely wrong. If you listen to the full segment it seems more directed at the front office.

 

But I understand if you have a 5-minute attention span you probably didn't get the full picture.

[Stangstag]

Well it sort of is actually. Fire Mark Ross.

 

You think Chris Bassitt has had a discussion with the Rogers board of directors? Maybe he should tell them the easy fix

[Stangstag]

But he could just say that and it would have nothing to do with "protecting the players"

 

The only way to interpret that whole protecting the players part is if he was referring to talent of the players

 

Or.... he knows Shapiro/Ross/whatever are staying for several years longer regardless of the results next season

[Spanky99]

The *he said... she said* rumours of BJMB, hahaha... what a dumb argument. I love Bassitt interviews man, he's quite honest and candid in a good way.

[Terminator]

I don't understand why someone would get Apple TV. There really aren't any good movies available or superb series IMO.

 

I tried a 3-month free trial of Apple TV+ because I wanted to watch Napoleon, and watched a couple episodes of Presumed Innocent, but otherwise didn't see much of a great selection of movies or series when scrolling through the app. Unless if you're a big Ted Lasso fan lol.

 

They actually have some really good stuff but they don't pump out enough material to sign up for perpetual monthly subscriptions.

 

Severance is a top tier show for me, though it's only got one season so far. Foundation is also really good. Black Bird was decent. Agree on Ted Lasso- people love it but I thought it was just okay. For All Mankind and Masters of the Air are on my list.

[Stangstag]

The *he said... she said* rumours of BJMB, hahaha... what a dumb argument. I love Bassitt interviews man, he's quite honest and candid in a good way.

 

Yeah it is a dumb argument, which is why its stupid for Laika to say people are flat-earthers for not agreeing with him.

 

People gotta speak with less finality on here. Everyone acts like they have secret insider info and their opinion is the correct one.

[max silver]

The tax situation in Canada is pretty bad right now compared to the US rates so getting good players to sign here is an uphill battle.

 

I think it's generally only the states without a state income tax that really have an advantage

[Brownie19]

It would seem odd to indicate a problem like "Ross Atkins being a s***** GM" is unfixable - especially given the current state of the team. It seems very plausible that Atkins gets fired and thus I can't imagine anyone suggesting that issue is "unfixable".

 

I have to wonder if he's talking about the decline of certain players. Let's narrow it down to George Springer's decline. He eats up a ton of the payroll and isn't a star player anymore. He makes too much (v. what he produces) to ever imagine trading him and shedding his contract. That is something I would describe as an "unfixable" problem - unless you believe he finds the fountain of youth and rebounds.

 

I must admit - I need to listen to the whole interview...

[Laika]

Or.... he knows Shapiro/Ross/whatever are staying for several years longer regardless of the results next season

 

how would he know that lol

[Laika]

It would seem odd to indicate a problem like "Ross Atkins being a s***** GM" is unfixable - especially given the current state of the team. It seems very plausible that Atkins gets fired and thus I can't imagine anyone suggesting that issue is "unfixable".

 

I have to wonder if he's talking about the decline of certain players. Let's narrow it down to George Springer's decline. He eats up a ton of the payroll and isn't a star player anymore. He makes too much (v. what he produces) to ever imagine trading him and shedding his contract. That is something I would describe as an "unfixable" problem - unless you believe he finds the fountain of youth and rebounds.

 

Exactly. "Unfixable" things on the player side are numerous:

 

- George's age

- Varsho's swing

- Too many hitters just don't have enough raw power (more of a team construction thing, fixable in that sense, but the specific players can't really just be different)

- So many RP don't have enough velo or swing and miss

- Rotation old and declining in term of stuff

- Manoah will never get it back

- Tiedemann is never coming

[Omar]

Having listened (not to the whole segment) my impression is:

The closest he came to taking a shot at the front office was his "failing to pivot" comment. Which is fair given how the season has played out.

Secondly, his "unfixable" comment to me was a sort of acceptance of it is what it is relating to the current talent level of the team. He seems to be a realist.

[The_DH]

Seems like its more directed at the front office. He specifically brought up Ohtani and how the Jays were willing to dangle $700M to sign him, but they never had a "pivot." For him to say that. Seems like he was frustrated and probably some other players in the clubhouse might have been frustrated that the FO never went out and made the upgrades necessary to the ball club that were needed. There was no backup plan really.

 

He mentioned how competitive teams need 3-4 elite players and how someone like Vlad needs protection/help whatever that means. But yeah he mentioned he didn't want to throw any players under the bus or disrespect any of his teammates. So yes he probably knows the team isn't or wasn't good enough, but instead of placing blame on his teammates & coaches, it's more directed at the front office.

 

Now that makes a ton of sense!

[Brownie19]

Having listened (not to the whole segment) my impression is:

The closest he came to taking a shot at the front office was his "failing to pivot" comment. Which is fair given how the season has played out.

Secondly, his "unfixable" comment to me was a sort of acceptance of it is what it is relating to the current talent level of the team. He seems to be a realist.

 

Even the "failing to pivot" comment comes with the real questions - was there even a reasonable pivot available? Just because the FO was theoretically able to convince Rogers to pay $700M for Ohtani doesn't mean they were willing to shell out that type of money (or even 1/2 of it) to sign "other free agents" like Bellinger or Blake Snell. Unfortunately, the farm system is where it is and didn't provide much option to make any type of significant trade, so that pivot wasn't realistic. The only other option was to spend more money and we (including Bassitt) don't know what was actually available to the FO. Bassitt can complain about who they ultimately signed, but we've beaten that dead horse already and it was unlikely to have a major impact on this season.

[Barrelsandbombs]

More from Bassitt after Zwelling and Davidi asked him to clarify his comments:

 

[Stangstag]

Bassitt:

 

“The team has some problems and they’re unfixable. I won’t say what they are.”

 

Next day:

 

“The problems are Gausman, Berrios, Bo and Romano”

 

 

Loll ok then

[Jimcanuck]

Bassitt probably knows about the arm health, or lack thereof, of gausman and berrios and other pitchers. If he does, there is no way he would talk about it.

 

Agree it is unlikely he is referring to clubhouse issues

 

Called it

[Jonn]

Most of what he said was accurate. It was Ohtani or nothing. Like I’m glad they didn’t blow their load on mediocrity but they lost out on Ohtani and couldn’t even land Joc Pederson. It was fairly disappointing.

[Laika]

LMAO where are my flat earthers now???

 

f***ing idiots. Not even reading comprehension to understand Harry f***ing Potter.

[Stangstag]

LMAO where are my flat earthers now???

 

f***ing idiots. Not even reading comprehension to understand Harry f***ing Potter.

 

I accept my 1 week ban effective immediately