shortstop

RA, when u break it down like that...ugh! And that's the bottom line... At some point, AA will be held accountable - he's got 1 season, maybe 2 - if they don't make the playoffs, miracle IMO if he's still around AA will likely axe Gibby next season to save himself some time or try to.

What quality positional player I wonder could be nabbed for Lind/Happ?

We'll disagree on the impact of Showalter only bc u can't look at the make up on the team in a vacuum - that roster, the types of players, how they play, what they stress....it's got Showalter written all over it - no doubt, though he has final call, Duquette won't make a move that impacts the major league team unless Showalter agrees Ps Cruzs season helps

Ugh, did they learn nothing - under promise Odds are Gibby is gone during/after next season

everything is pointing to re-jigging something along those lines...sell the party line/hope, maintain revenues & see what sticks on the wall next year. all that said & I am critical of the jays brass, there is something to be said about familiarity & stability. Team just has to win & all will be forgotten.

don't know hurl, if LaRussa can run the ship from the top like he managed in his final years where he was razor sharp, who knows what'll happen other than Tony getting sunshine full year round

I'd agree BTS if this was, say, the Mets situation - they got the $$'s and in a big time market, but what's the point of spending given they're still in "development" mode striving to become competitive. But the jays aren't the mets & were/are in win now mode ie. this team is built to compete & win. So if rogers can up payroll but don't and instead, the profits flow into Rogers media bottomline and thus Rogers overall, then that's just sad.

so AA will pretend like he's interested to get points with Toronto fans, not sign him & say it was too rich an offer by team X. though the truth might be he is legitimately interested & he deems the $'s too high, at some point, you can't keep saying your going to the dance but never walk in through the front door. Eventually, as in already, people just know you're not coming.

I think part of it imo is he's had to play down to the level of his rotating colleagues, if you will.

Rogers runs jays on a profit loss basis. Hey, it's a business. But then at the same time, subsidizes Rogers media and/or other divisions by using the jays as a content outlet for less than fair market rates. shareholder win, jays lose out on extra $$'s to spend. or that's just my Friday afternoon opinion.

he's also very connected to LaRussa...clearly wanted someone who will do his bidding

good on Hughes & the Twins

Pretty much how this crew rolls - no expectations/pressure = play well....expectations/pressure = wtf happened

Would be a crazy game if A's & tigers are the 2 wildcard teams.

i'd take my chances with Showalter/Duquette getting whatever team they have in 1-3 years to the playoffs before AA

Reyes is what he is to the blue jays. Since it's unlikely he's leaving anytime soon, I try to focus on what he's done well this year including: a) jays don't have to worry about a leadoff hitter & he's a switch hitter - he's arguably one of the best lead-off guys in the game - I think we take this for granted he's played a lot of games this year for the jays c) his overall production has been ok to decent d) he's still got a pretty strong arm My sense is as happy as Reyes comes across on tv, he's sick of the losing. I'm not gonna get into the cons b/c they've been covered but since he's here & likely to stay for a while, let's just hope he stays healthy

Fair enough - but they've in & will be in the playoffs.

Showalter hired on July 29th, 2010. Duquette hired on November 8th, 2011. Call in bringing in the right people or having the right philosophy/approach that works for that market/team...whatever it is, he's pushed the right strings, along with Showalter. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/09/06/sunball/pdB2SYj7Uw82XMlhiJEswM/story.html "Fast forward to Baltimore, and Duquette says in Year 3 with Showalter he has a tremendous appreciation for his manager. “He’s a true professional, so well-prepared for every game,” said Duquette. “Buck takes a game-by-game approach. Do everything to win the game at hand. I think we’ve had an excellent working relationship. Trying to improve the team is a collaborative effort.” "Duquette, who last year received a contract extension through 2018, as did Showalter,"

GD, this team/mgmt. structure does remind me of the Phillies of this year/past few years...perpetual mediocrity though they believe they can put it together every year...politically it seems, Amaro/ownership can't blow it up yet...though at least they had some winning years before it all...

man, the worst part is the jays just needed 5 more wins to this point to legitimately have a shot at the WC...5 wins...wtf

way I read it, he was already guaranteed for the 2015 season on January 1, 2014. On January 1, 2015, his 2016 season will become guaranteed. Pretty fair & respectful.

Mike Redmond...oh wait, he's with the Marlins

tdott, it's a flawed team/organization...my sense is the team needs an philosophical shift & new blood everywhere...but usually, in most markets, it's only after an epically terrible season or usually, X # of yrs of mediocre baseball & then finally a really terrible year, that the political winds allow for a complete rebuild...i'm sure it's been done, with the most recent example being Miami when the city/fans weren't ready for it, when the team starts over, but by and large, it's rare imo...and yeah, how's that Marlins team & future looking now?! but yeah, politically, huge risk for mgmt to recommend a total rebuild before it's politically acceptable... and winning solves a lot of issues & leads to more positivity...AA is definitely feeling the heat & while imo, think he's good for next year, he'll be praying the team doesn't choke & have a brutal season again... as bad as this team has been, still imo wasn't bad enough to justify the sacking of anyone & everyone...hate to say that & wish/hope I'm wrong b/c I'd love a complete rebuild from top down/bottom up...so all we got is 'hope' for next year with essentially most of the same characters, short of an unexpected decision from Rogers who imo, won't damage their brand/take on the risk of a complete rebuild right now...

true, it's possible. jays4life, forget where I read AA's comments from last year about Gibby but will post if I find it. Difference b/w last year & this - last, easy position to take - jays sucked, injuries, stay the course...this year, harder to come out & give anyone a bill of health, even if AA believes he won't be changing managers/coaches... imo, both AA/Gibby will be back 1 more year...and after that, depends on how they do next year...as a poster noted, could see AA continue to stick around, do what GM's do & change managers (Gibby knows it'll happen eventually, hired to be fired, would gladly take a bullet for AA if that's what he needed to do)...

someone pointed out in the media that this time last year, AA was as non-committal as he is now...imo, just standard stuff for AA this time of year...but who really knows... imo, AA/Gibby get along, Gibby will do/say what AA wants him to...imo, AA prefers Gibby