ElNik2013

The point re Cashman is a salient one. I've seen several AA haters, not that I'm a huge backer, praise Cashman for always making moves at the deadline to improve his team, like the Headley and Prado acquisitions this past July, yet seem to ignore the fact that these moves are demanded and financed by ownership. Cashman has won, but not without his share of mistakes in the form of bad contracts. On the other hand, the contracts can't be that bad if ownership won't fire him as a result. The bigger point is that ownership sets the vision and are willing to pony up to make it happen. It starts at the very top.

Not saying that's what they should do. I mentioned it as a possibility if Cabrera's price is too high. Maybe another FA at a lower price. It's certainly not out of the question that Rasmus has a good year next year, it's just the way he goes. Besides, a Gose/Pillar CF platoon seems likely so you can "lol" all you want, but it's not that far-fetched. Whether it works or not is another matter. Remember, the team went into 2014 with Ryan Goins as the starter at 2B and Moises Sierra as its 4th OF. Having Rasmus, Gose and Pillar splitting time in LF/CF is better than that.

Let me also add this: If, like you say, AA s*** the bed with the payroll increase, then why hasn't he been fired? What I'm getting at is that I don't think AA decided on his own to make the moves he made at the time he made them. AA has acted like a GM who has the complete backing of his bosses. There was no sign of urgency neither last off season nor during the season. I just think the moves were aimed at trying to avoid going into 2013 expected to lose 90 to 100 games even if it was at the expense of efficiency and a large chunk of a top ranked farm system. I think they're adverse to being viewed as a bottom 10 team and when they're on the brink of such a situation, they are willing to open the purse strings just enough to avoid it, even if it means giving away youth. Gotta give AA credit though, on rebuilding the farm system once again. It was stated by many at the time of the trades, that he wouldn't be able to rebuild it because he had built it to where it was by gaming the compensatory system and that system had been changed. Well, the farm team is looking decent once again...for whatever that's worth.

Plus I don't even think he had 100 PA's at Buffalo. Give him an extended look in ST where he faces as many MLB pitchers as possible and let him force his way up from Buffalo. Go with a Gose/Pillar platoon. Maybe see if you can resign Rasmus at a discount for 1 year if Melky's price goes too high. Rasmus, Gose and Pillar as long as you play Rasmus in LF and Gose in CF against RHP and as long as they upgrade SS/2B and possibly C. Best case scenario: Pompey continues his ascent, Rasmus gets off to a good start. You trade Rasmus in June and call up Pompey. Lawrie, Pompey, Kottaras and Martin all on the team, ensuring that there are 3 Canadian position players every game....imagine the PR bonanza Rogers would have!!! LOL. Anyway...yes, let Pompey work his way up.

The point, maybe not well made, is that they won't double up to get the missing pieces as long as the team is competitive...like this year's. Also, what was your prediction going into 2013, regardless of how inefficiently the team was put together? Another point is that by approving the big increase in payroll, they had to know how much more it would take just to retain the same core and to take into account the possibility of needing to make further additions. Now, if AA knew all along that there would be no additional payroll room to add to the team, then it's all on him. However, given how they're operating now, to me, it points to a one-time payroll increase for a couple of years. I also think it was done in large part to avoid going into 2013 expected to lose 90-100 games which would've meant much lower attendance and ratings than they had. And yes, we've seen this act before, under Ricciardi. They increased payroll for a couple of years only to pull back when he needed to spend more.

So the team improved by at least 8 games over 2013. If it improves another 8 in 2015...

Pompey doing well. I must say though, diving on that concrete floor looks painful...which is why I don't blame Reyes for not diving.

Now, on top of imagining if that list of names included the names you listed, remember that had the team not made the moves it made for 2013, it would've likely gotten a top 5 pick in this past draft so you can add one of those draftees to your list. On the other hand, the team would've had much lower attendance and tv ratings which ultimately is what its owners most care about.

I think you bring up a point that adds to a point I've made which is that they didn't want to go into 2013 with a team that would've been expected to lose 90 to maybe 100 games. As it turns out, they ended up losing 88, but had lots of interest going into the season and lots of ticket were presold. Had they not made the splashes they made, I think it's fair to say that they wouldn't have sold as many tickets as they did. Anyway...

I did. I have always said to all the AA bashers that ownership sets the vision for a franchise and the baseball operations people are tasked with executing said vision. It starts at the top. As I've said, if they had the right vision, they wouldn't have abandoned the rebuilding process they had started. Their vision is to field a team that's good, but not good enough...it's been evident over the time Rogers has owned this team. They're never bad enough to get the top picks and never good enough to win. Basically, they're good enough to watch....which is what they're looking for.

I can agree to some extent with the train of thought that says that once they made the moves they made, they needed to go the extra mile. On the other hand, that Mohammed character retired and he was the one who had approved the payroll increase so a new CEO came in and he probably doesn't see things the same way. AA could've also made moves to shed some payroll. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

I would think information proving this would've come out by now. I have opined in the past that what I thought went down was that they didn't want to go into 2013 expected to lose 90 and possibly 100 games and went into the offseason with the mandate of improving the team at all cost. The reason I think this is because Rogers owns the Jays to provide content for its tv channels and going into a season expected to lose 90 games is not conducive to good ratings. On the other hand, even if this were true, I still don't think it excuses overpaying for overpaid players. I will say though, that AA has acted like a man who has complete backing from his bosses, so maybe some posters are underestimating to what extent a lot of what they do is driven by trying to provide watchable content for RSN even if they're not the most efficient moves.

I feel like he will break out at some point. He had a solid year, it's just that more was expected of him. If it happens next year, along with Pentecost and Hoffman (hopefully both fully healthy), the system will look really good. Not to mention Osuna and Castro with a chance to be promoted to AA.

Top 10 payroll SHOULD be good enough. I did mention in my post that IF, people above AA pushed for the big flashy moves after the 2012 season and approved the payroll increase fully aware of the payroll repercussions for the following 2-3 years and then got cold feet after year 1 went sour, then IMO, it takes some of the blame off AA's back and onto ownership. However, that's a big "IF".

Could've mentioned Dan Jansen on the position player side when recapping the year for the organization.

Team has a top 10 payroll, that should be enough to be doing better although, they're probably not the only team with a top 10 payroll that's not going to the playoffs. I would have an issue with ownership regarding spending if the FO was urged to improve the team at all costs for the 2013 season and scrap whatever rebuilding plan they had, only to then get cold feet the 2nd year. However, that's not an "if" that I can confirm so the team is spending enough. AA simply misfired in his big acquisitions, especially when it comes to getting an Ace in Dickey and how much he's paying guys like Buehrle and Reyes.

I agree on the short leash, but I certainly want Pompey to get more at bats at AAA, the same way I want Sanchez and Norris down there as well. Same applies to Graveman. I feel like Gose against RHP and Pillar against LHP can do a decent job. I also said get a good LF and SS/2B. If Pompey forces their hand, then all the better. If they can get a cheaper and better alternative in FA, then that's fine. I just think it's best to let Pompey, et al, to develop some more at AAA and let them force their way up, sort of like Stroman did. We'll see what happens.

Get a good LF, SS/2B and platoon Gose/Pillar until Pompey forces his way up.

They're incompetent, that's my problem with them. They make assertions without having done the research to back them up. There are other issues I have with them, like covering up the team's short-comings by constantly praising the opposition when the Jays are losing and glorifying the Jays when they're doing well, but I guess that comes with the owner of the franchise also owning the broadcasting network.

Pompey, Norris, Sanchez, Nolin, Graveman, Burns, Jimenez, among a few others, should all start next year at AAA and be counted on as depth for the MLB team. Improve the MLB team first and let these guys be part of your depth.

I'm pretty sure Cubans who set foot on US territory are treated differently than other immigrants by the US govt., probably because of the embargo. On the other hand, ball players probably get working visas and then end up applying for permanent residence and then citizenship. However, I've been wrong before.

Imagine how good he'd be with a real catcher.

Not even Navarro's horribleness can stop this guy.

It's not Gibbons fault the team hasn't been good enough, but too many give him a pass by convincing themselves that his bad moves are the result of AA forcing him to make these moves. I have had problems with him since he brought in Jenkins in relief of Morrow early in the season against the Red Sox in the 2nd inning and later on said it made no sense to bring in one of his best relievers to get out of the jam. Anyway, no big deal.

Why are you guys still getting mad at losses? You know they won't make it, better to tank for a pick. If this team had one of the great posters here who think they know it all as GM, they would've made the smart moves the team needed. You know, the posters that think the O's are crap...