jaysfan2014

Here we go. Win today or our season is done. Too bad the Royals likely get the Mets strong pitching in the World Series if they make it. Harvey, Thor, DeGrom and Matz are likely salivating at dominating the Royals hitters.

He has a no-trade clause, and we are a big market team. And considering what we had in Reyes, Tulo is a major upgrade. No chance he's going anywhere. Besides, the Indians are more likely to trade pitching for controllable bats, as they aren't exactly willing to hand out big deals after the Swisher and Bourn albatrosses.

Alex Cobb had TJS in May, and won't be ready until June or so.

Then you'd better find them some money--they're losing Asdrubal Cabrera and John Jaso to free agency, Forsythe could be dealt due to escalating salary, and the team's current financial situation is bleak, as 2017-18 will see huge bumps to the payroll, far beyond what they can afford. And of course, there's the stadium.. they need to get out of the Trop ASAP, or we're going to see Expos/Marlins-style fire sales soon. No way the team can survive with attendance sub 15000 and dropping.

It should be interesting. 2 starters, and bullpen arms at least, and hopefully someone other than Price. We're in better shape than the Royals are.. who are losing Cueto, Young, Gordon, Rios and Zobrist, and lack flexibility to add due to their small to mid-market size.

Give it up already.. Royals are playing out of their minds right now, and it wouldn't matter regarding home field. Just be happy that the Royals face their window closing fast after 2015, as Gordon and Zobrist are gone and they will also lose Cueto, Rios(not expected to return, as he was horrible this season), Franklin Morales, Madson and Chris Young. And Cain and Moustakas are expected to see their salaries soar. At the moment, the Royals rotation next season has huge questions--Ventura, Medlen, Volquez, and two gaping holes, providing Guthrie's option is not exercised and Vargas is out due to TJS in 2016. Like the Jays, possibly moreso, the Royals gave up a lot of arms to win now, including Aaron Brooks, Brandon Finnegan, John Lamb and Sean Manaea. Outside of Miguel Almonte, the Royals minors, like the Jays, have been stripped of pitching prospects. But the Royals don't have the money to replace them.

As for the Jays, we need 1-2 SP and some bullpen help. Luckily, unlike some clubs, we have some financial flexibility with Buehrle's deal coming off the books, along with the awful Izturis and Ricky Romero contracts. Thole, Saunders and Smoak are non-tender candidates, depending on whether they keep Thole as a backup and RA Dickey's personal catcher (his option's expected to be exercised). Smoak is 50/50 to return, due to Collabello emerging and not even arb eligible yet. Saunders is likely gone, as Revere is likely to return, and Pompey is closing in on the majors.

Yes, but the Yanks, O's and Rays will likely be worse. The reasons are: Yanks: Age (they had nothing left by August/Setpember), and aren't exactly in a position to add much due to so many contracts tying up the roster space and payroll), and they need bench depth more than anything. And of course, several of their pitchers have injury concerns (Eovaldi, Nova, Sabathia, Pineda, Tanaka), or are at risk of injury/regression (Wilson, Betances, Miller), due to overusage. And yes, they have Greg Bird.. but he's AAA bound with Tex's deal not expiring until after the season. Any chance of a big signing for the OF (Cespedes, Heyward?) will require Beltran or Gardner to be moved, as Ellsbury's contract is an albatross. And of course, there's still A-Rod.. just 2 more years and he's gone and the Yanks will finally be freed of that contract. O's: No Davis, Chen, O'Day, Wieters, or the money to resign most of them. Baltimore is heading for a hard fall in the standings in 2016, even with Machado around. No chance ownership ponies up for Davis or Chen, as they are Boras clients and expected to get huge money elsewhere(Davis could easily get upwards of $20-25M/year), far beyond the O's comfort level. And of course, Machado's arbitration looms large, as he is expected to command a significant raise from $500K.. should've signed him long term back last year.. either that or Peter Angelos doesn't plan to resign him when he hits free agency towards the end of the decade. Rays: While they have the pitching... for how much longer? This team needs bats.. and replacements at C, SS, 1B (Loney is likely to be traded due to his $9M salary which the Rays can't afford) and the bullpen. Unfortunately, new stadium talks are going nowhere, and unless something happens between now and the end of next season, or attendance improves or they get a good TV deal, a huge fire sale looms, as the payroll is expected to shoot up in 2017 and 2018. Keep an eye on Longoria--rumors had him possibly being targeted by the LA Angels, as they need a 3B with Freese departing via free agency, and it would not be surprising if he is dealt this offseason, as his salary, despite being a steal, is difficult for the Rays to afford when they can't draw 15,000 per game. It's also possible one or two or their arms are dealt for bats as well, possibly out of Karns, Odorizzi, Smyly or Erasmo Ramirez. Archer will stay, as he's on an affordable deal, and Moore needs to rebuild value. Red Sox--We know they'll be better in 2016, likely neck and neck with the Jays. Still, there are concerns: -Will HanRam be able to play 1B, and will Sandoval rebound? Unless Boston eats a ton of money, neither can be moved. -Are Castillo and Bradley everyday players? Bradley possibly(he's out of options and must make the team, and actually played quite well in the 2nd half), but Castillo is still a question mark, as he badly disappointed in his 289 PA in Boston with the bat. His D was good though.. -Will Bogaerts finally develop that 25-30 HR power that was projected of him? He and Mookie Betts were the MVPs of the Red Sox.. but Bogaerts needs to hit more for power than the 7 HRs he hit this season. -Can Betts get even better? His improvement this season made Boston fans finally forget about Jacoby Ellsbury (who declined badly with the Yanks). -Can Dombrowski bring in an ace pitcher to upgrade this 14th in AL ranked pitching staff? And can he upgrade the pen (BTW, to Detroit fans, this was his Achilles heel.. bullpens were his major weakness) -And last, how much does Ortiz and Pedroia have left in the tank? Keep in mind as well that Boston's financial flexibility is limited--$177.3M(about $189M with benefits for luxury tax purposes) is projected for the 2016 payroll, so any pitching may come from trades, as Boston's farm is strong, with many big names such as Moncada(2B), Devers(3B), Margot(OF), Kopech(P), Espinoza(P) and Guerra(SS), plus they may try to move HanRam or Sandoval's deals to make room for Travis Shaw(who is playing 1B/3B in winter ball) and to get financial space for a free agent pitcher.

Still better than the Royals--if Chris Young gets pounded, they have no true long man due to Kris Medlen being forced to pitch 4 innings(70 pitches) last night in relief of an ineffective Cueto, knocking him out until Game 6. And Danny Duffy is not stretched out--he's hasn't pitched more than 25 pitches in a month.

Hey FOX, the Rogers Centre has had changes since 1993: -Video boards in outfield and foul territory -Broadcast studio added -New food -CF porch replacing Windows -Concrete painted/covered blue -Seating added at the backstop, with the wall there gone. -Renos to washrooms -And of course, the newer turf, with a potential dirt infield coming in 2016. Apparently, FOX hasn't been here in forever..

Ugh not the turf comment again.. shut up Harold Reynolds!

Tell that to the seniors, veterans, scientists, census workers, etc. who have been hurt by Harper's policies. And wait until he passes the TPP.. it'll really be bad.

Since we're in the ALCS, Sportsnet gets to insert its own ads on the green screen rather than the normal ones on FOX.

No they don't. They do stupid accounting tricks to make the budget look better. Without those tricks, such as with EI and unspent funds, and the GM share sale, we have a deficit (though not as bad as it was from 2010-2013.) But his austerity is creating an infrastructure deficit that will require deficit spending to repair..

I was referring to the Dodgers. If the Dodgers don't get to the World Series minimum, Don Mattingly likely loses his job along with much of the coaching staff, as 3 years of record payrolls have failed to bring a title to Chavez Ravine. And the Angels have fired Mike Butcher and Don Baylor already.

Dodgers are getting the pink slips ready for Mattingly and his coaching staff if the Mets win this. They'll be major firings in LA with the Dodgers, just like with the Angels, if the Dodgers choke away another postseason.

Looks like the Buffalo Bills have company in playoff chokers... the Rangers are blowing it, and are in danger of making the Jays the 3rd team in history to come back from 0-2 and win the series.

Bannister is an idiot.. what happens if Collabello gets a big hit?

Plus, I've seen teams where they have no left-handed relief at all. Besides, it'll be a moot point if Stroman dominates. There is a positive.. it makes Mike Napoli useless, removing an option for Bannister to use unless Moreland gets injured.

Smart move to use Price today.. keep him away from blowing up vs. the Rangers on Wednesday. Stroman was the better pitcher anyway back at home with his ground ball tendencies. At least it gives us a chance to win this series. It would be great to do what the 2012 Giants did (came back from 0-2 to beat the Reds in the NLDS)

Rangers pitching is going to be demoralized after this.. better get the Rogers Centre ready for Game 5 Wednesday.

And remember, we need to shut down DeShields and Odor, as they have been the majority of Texas's offense in the postseason. If we can do that, we have a shot to get back in this series and potentially win it on Wednesday with Price/Stroman.

KC just tied the game as the Astros pen is gascanning..

Perez lost the strikezone and now it's 2-0 Jays! C'mon Navarro! Blow this game wide open.