G-Snarls

s***** result of trade or not, I freaking love Jose Reyes

You may well be right. Who knows. But even then... Adding Jiminez and leaving it at that will not generate any excitement obviously. The 2014 season needs to START well or they are in serious trouble. I fully understand long season, games in April = games in September, etc etc. But if they start off 10-20 the fan support will never get going and it will cost them dearly in $ and PR.

As the last pages of the calendar are torn off of this year, it’s hard to even fathom the excitement and broad enthusiasm for baseball in Toronto that was in the air twelve months ago.

Thread worthy because there's not much else going on AND because this might just capture the mood of a lot of the members on here. http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/apathy-among-jays-fanbase-starting-to-set-it/

Wow. Quite a scathing (but honest) report by Rosenthal. Orioles may be f'd.

Trade Janssen to Orioles for???

Don't worry. Enough repeat offences that he has reached "ban on sight" status. We won't let him wreck this board too. Enough on the topic. Back to business as usual.

Yep Hope he STINKS year 3 for the Yankees Not quite a hall of famer either, sorry

#CanOfWorms

#51 for Peyton Love it

Carlos Beltran told reporters, including Newsday's David Lennon, he insisted on a third year to improve his chances of making the Hall of Fame. "I felt that having the third year, it allowed me to play longer, and it allowed me to put up better numbers. In my consideration, it would be more realistic."

The resurgence of this guy over the last couple months has reminded us of that very well. No delay this time.

Done

A free agent starter is what he SHOULD do, because that way we get to keep Stroman and Sanchez. Then, if they are looking good and cheap, he can trade off a more expensive Bueurle or Happ. Problem is, Tanaka or Garza may simply want more than he'll pay, OR want to play for another team for the same amount of money as AA will offer. Certainly, a cost controlled younger starter via trade would be fantastic, but might cost either BOTH of those guys, or one of them and a major league position player. He probably can't make the team better by doing that.

He's worth the gamble AA hasn't really spent a cent this off season and knows he can increase payroll if he wants/needs to. I suspect he is in on Tanaka (and probably Garza for less $) but worry he will make a stupid trade for Price or Shark if he doesn't get one of them.

This is the best point made so far I'm sure some guys like Friedman or Beane might have made some shrewd moves putting this team in a better position right now, but honestly, I wonder how much better. My gut feeling says a perennial mid-place team over the past couple years but not a champion one. Maybe one poised to break out now but who knows. You have to consider that AA is up against a lot: - Inherited a decimated farm system - Clearly has higher ups that meddle with what he can and can't do - Runs a team that has difficulty attracting free agents these days (Canada, dollars, 20 years with no winning, 5 year max contracts, AL East deters pitchers, etc etc). This is critical. Now Tampa does well despite not being able to afford top free agents. But Red Sox and Yankees have had success in large part because they CAN and DO. - Is in the toughest division in baseball - Has had freakishly bad luck with team (and especially pitcher) health. Record number of players/days on DL the past 2 years especially with KEY players like JJ, Morrow and Bautista Is he a top tier GM? No. He lacks some understanding of what a complete team is. He undervalued health and defense. But I don't think he's as bad as the majority on here THINK he is. Though I totally understand (and share) the frustration after the disaster that was 2013.

86-88 wins seemed very plausible too Certainly felt like a team that was better than .500 Sigh...

http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091224112828/watchmen/images/f/ff/Wickedcoolstuff_2044_179793782.jpg

That was his doomsday scenario. Blowing up the team trading all vets for prospects. That's what a 2014 rebuild would look like.

I was about to say similar Trade Santos and Nolin for Franklin (league min) Trade Rasmus, Happ, top 10 prospect for Sale or ?? other 1-2 level starter making < 10M Rid of Izturis is possible use Goins as utility IF. Sign a reasonable veteran IF/OF who can hit lefties Trade Buerhle at the trade deadline for best you can get

http://3j0by72a1bhn38rrij4dkr868b0.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/booze.jpg

YTeah, given Colby's inconsistency you can't help but be afraid he could have a crap season at any time Lee has been as steady as it gets

Stroman FTW http://b.vimeocdn.com/ps/242/333/2423333_300.jpg

No, no, no. You did it all wrong. Despite being controversial, you actually posted a thoughtful useful read and tried to back up your point. It will generate good discussion. The other way to do it is start 2 threads in 5 minutes about how useless advanced stats are, deliberately aimed at doing nothing but pissing people off, using a creepy doctored picture of (james dean??) and using the word "clown" in your name. /sarcasm

Not quite. Washington will find a way to blow it. I can't believe he hasn't been fired. I like the guy and all but...