TDotttt2005

Yeah, my point was if you listen to the post-game, do you have any doubt what his 'analysis' will be. If you know he's going on Brady/Blair/Walker, do you already know what he'll say. I do play devils advocate, and say ok, he's not dealing the with most rational of fans here...the guys who want to trade Pillar for Kris Bryant, and want to fire Gibby and bring back Bobby Cox, etc. But that said, analysis that he's paid for should create value, otherwise, what is the point to the content? Granted, we all know his employer, and we know it may represent value to them, and that may fuel his fire...but to the listener, how does it provide value, other than filling up the air rather than hearing the kopley clothiers or kars for kids advertisement. Hearing guys like Keri, Nicholson-Smith, and Ennis, where theyre not totally drunk off the kool-aid, is refreshing. Wilner is stale, predicable, and maddening. And That would be if he wasnt a total dick to his callers/tweeters.

Thats what preface means.

I think it is mean, and heartless to get people fired. I'll preface this post with that. But flip side, networks get paid handsomely for content,and in turn, the people who provide that content are equally paid well. When that content becomes stale, predictable, or unneeded, shouldnt it be replaced?? This is my argument for Wilner. Whether the Jays are 21-26, 26-21, 47-0, 0-47, you know what you'll get from Wilner. It will be early, or the team has injuries, or some obscure stat that since so and so date, Bautista has slugged .800 with a runner on 2nd, and the temperature above 19 degrees celsius, and only 9% humidity wih the roof open.... I have gained a new appreciation / disdain for Wilner since following his parody on Twitter, but it shows Wilner is actually a parody. If you know exactly what is going to happen each and every episode of a TV show, should that TV show warrant a renewal? So here and now, knowing that is not great Karma to call for someone's firing, I'm calling for Wilner's firing. He adds very little value, is a homer, predictable, and not fresh. There's a reason McCown doesnt have him on PTS. Lets get him the f out of here. Thrown enough money, we can get a Jonah Keri of someone of the like to host the show. That would be a fresh new face, and would rid our fan base of the familiar predictable banter that is Mike Wilner. #FireWilner.

Reading that due to 3 years (CY) of service time, Hutch has to clear optional waivers, so thats why hes still here.

Arden Zwelling just tweeted this. Sorry if not thread worthy, but speaks to overall roster management so far. WTF? Either theres an injury to someone else, a trade coming, or its just stupidity. I think its the latter. I don't really think Atkins is stupid, but my theory is that they want to be as merit-based as possible, so if Hutch pitched well enough to earn another start, they'll do it. I guess it could fit with the overall plan of limiting Sanchez' innings. I dont know...but 3-man bench when Martin is so so health wise as it is is shaky. This roster is handcuffed already with Biagini having to take up a spot. Handcuffing it more with 6 starters on the roster is even more dumb.

I like it. As great as 92/93 were, being at the top of the mountain, its a damned shame thats all we had to cling to as Jays fans. The marketing of those years, last year, and now, all coupled with winning is great.

They should take out the CF 100 Level seats and make the West Jet/Windows space dual level overlooking the bullpens. Or even make split-level bullpens there, and have the West Jet/Windows space overlooking them. Theres actually a lot that can be done with the configuration, even with the permanent seating in place. I'm probably in the minority, but I wouldnt mind green seats either and some shrubs or some sort of plants or something http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/general-view-of-us-cellular-field-during-the-national-anthem-before-picture-id483807143 vs http://www.baseballtrips.net/ncom2.jpg

Seems like most people did. Mean, Median, and Mode predictions last year were all 87 wins. I predicted 79 then.

SIX Days until Opening Day in Tampa/St.Pete. Shortest Offseason for the Jays in 22 years, yet it seemed too long. Time for the Annual Win Prediction Contest. I'll start it off. 90 Wins is my prediction. For reference, and to extend ehjays' glory... here are last years glorious final results The 2015 Winner of our Annual Win Prediction Contest is Ehjays with an exact guess of 93 wins Blue Jays Final Record 93.-69, .574 1st Place in AL East, 6.0 games AHEAD of the NY Yankees. 891 RS (Holy f***) 670 RA Pyth w% .639 Pyth W-L 103-59 so underperformed that by 10 games. mcfly 75 Aselvana 75 TDottt2005 78 RealAccountant 78 Olerud363 79 King 79 ScientificReason 79 Dylan 80 Praxis 80 Horses Fart 80 Copperweld 80 jimcanuck 81 BTS 81 Jonn 83 Gen.Disarray 83 labadee 83 61Cygni 84 2015 84 bowld 84 Nabru 85 TheHurl 85 crmr 85 SumoNinja 85 Jays76 86 JFaS 86 Dick_Pole 86 TheRealMin 86 Governator 87 Atothe 87 Northof49 87 Krylian 87 GD 87 guylaroche5 87 Rusty_Savage 87 Nafro 87 baloojayz 87 Oakville69 87 canadiansportsjunke 87 skicross1 87 Angrioter 88 JaysRap 88 Sanny225 88 theblujay 88 ElNik2013 88 Stangstag 88 Gnick 88 CrackerJack 88 Jays4life19 89 Deadpool 89 StroShow 89 mtljaysfan 89 glory 89 Candy Maldonado 89 Saskjayfan 90 Spanky99 90 SAAviour 90 TBJ12 90 43211234 90 NJH 90 JuniorFelix 90 Caper 90 z3r0s 91 Cyris 91 Frenchsoup 91 Baseballsss 91 S33n 91 Sdyment 92 Chappy 92 Saskjayfan 92 JaysAllMighty 92 Ehjays 93 joeclutchcarter 94 Jayzfan79 95 LetTheBallFly 96 CFNumber 110

He was actually the Bench Coach in KC after he was let go by the Jays. He's not like Cito who everyone saw through as a terrible manager, then he played the race card.

Yes, that goes for 90% of posts and discussions on this board.

I'm asking: if it is ultimately decided that Gibbons has done a good enough job in 2016, and returns in 2017 when his contract is up (ie. he isnt fired), does management allow him to manage as a lame duck in 2017, or do they negotiate an extension with him so he does not? Overarching question - What is Shapiro/Atkins' view on lame duck managers. Beeston/AA clearly didn't like the concept enough to add in the innovative rollover. Does Shapiro/Atkins give him an extension through 2018 and beyond just so that he is not a lame duck in 2017

Yes, but this answers the opposite of my question.

So if Shatkins decide to keep Gibbons in 2017, under whatever circumstances (would have to think a playoff berth or at least contention till late is what Gibby needs to keep his job), do they let him do his job in 2017 as a lame-duck, or do they add on another extension year or two?

May be able to get Jeff Blair.

Anyone hear Morosi on Blundell today? Kept hinting around about a possible Hutchison deal, discussing the Jays lining him up to start at night, on the road, to maximize his exposure. Out of the Heyman, Rosenthal, Morosi's etc., I'd say Morosi is the least 'gospel' of them all, but he must be hearing some things. The thing that didnt make sense, is that he said the Jays would be looking for a guy like Matt Boyd last year, someone young, with options, projectable, that can be run up and down between the Bisons and Jays to help this year, but with upside beyond this year. Had me thinking, uhhhh isn't that Hutchison youre describing? Not sure why the Jays would give up on him now, selling at his lowest point in a long time, but interesting to think of what other holes they could fill with a potential Hutch deal.

Anyone else cringe seeing Stroman bouncing off the mound to try to field that grounder??

I really like this. Obviously no real down side to a minor league deal, but talk about a need for change of scenery guy, Brown is him. Crazy prediction, he starts the most games in LF for the Blue Jays in 2016.

Blue Jays roster announcement coming today.

Pretty sure Saunders is penciled in as the starting LF in the minds of Gibbons/Atkins/Shapiro. Don't think Pompey will start the year with the team, but will be in Buffalo playing everyday. More likely Lake as the 4th OF.

Sure. Point is you can't fully judge the package yet.

I'm not saying it was a bad trade for the Jays, obviously, but if/when Barretto is playing like Carlos Correia with 6 years of control come 2017, lets revisit our judgement of the package then.

Thats fine if that his job, we all have to make a living, and no one with a family wants to risk losing their job. That said, don't pretend to be objective when you are clearly not.

Agreed. In general, Wilner does and has espoused OBP, and regularly trumpets players 'not getting out', so in general I believe all what you've said is true. I think the characterization here is that at certain times, his love for all things Gibby and his homerism takes over, and he'll adapt/spin his core beliefs to whatever he must to defend and give praise to whatever 'controversial' move Gibby has made. I think if you asked Wilner the morning of the Tulo trade, before he knew Gibbons was hitting him Leadoff, he wouldn't have held such a strong position on it. Fast Forward a few hours, lineup card comes out, Gibbons has Tulo in the leadoff spot, and you had Wilner out there using the word 'genius'.