wk680

But how do you feel about the issue of avatar pics with OBVIOUS political overtones? That is the issue I want to hash out here!

So a picture of President Trump with Russian ambassador, from a government which he has been FALSELY!!!! accused of conspiring with for years is not a political statement? Are you just playing dumb or are you actually like that in real life? I think what people say about you is true - I stand by my earlier assertion, you should have been permanently banned after the "King is dead" hoax. FOAD! Hurl - do your thing I really don't give a f*** at this point!

For example, if I use this pic as my avatar (it's political because historical references are now dead center in our political discourse at least in the USA), is that allowed ??

Am I the only one who is confused by this part Of Hurl's original post on this thread: "Political references are not allowed. Sports have become very political. There are many posts which are about baseball players and politics. These will be allowed as will responses to these, but mods will be quick to close the thread if it gets out of hand. " ?? If political references are not allowed, then how can you have "posts which are about baseball players and politics" ?? I think some refinement of this description is in order. As one who has participated in some very intense/nasty exchanges on the Politics thread, and which I admit to having allowed to spill over into a baseball thread very recently, I understand and agree with the problem. The feuds from the politics discussions/arguments are poisoning or threatening to poison the overall atmosphere. This is not the first message board I have seen resort to just removing the part that allows political discussions. It actually seemed to work there in terms of the overall level of rancor being way reduced but DID NOT help with site participation (although we can't say the two are connected; i.e. maybe that site was on its way to the scrapheap regardless). Also, I wanted to address the issue of 'avatars'. It was asked early on in this thread if politically related avatars would still be allowed, to which the answer was yes. I see this as a big mistake. If you want to get rid of politics, then get rid of politics! Avatars are a STATEMENT that accompanies EVERY post a member makes. Whether this is a rule or not , I think any member with a blatant politically related avatar should really reconsider. There are bazillions of baseball related pics you could use - so choose one !!

Bite me, bitch !!

You slimy little bitch! Just got to mention Florida, due to current lib press efforts to crucify the conservative governor over recent increase in positive China virus tests. But guess what, dipshit: L.A. county (only outdone in libtardedness by NYC under deCommio and San Francisco) recently has been running the highest rate of new Chinese virus cases in the US. I get this info from sometimes never-Trumper Ben Shapiro, who lives there. And his wife, unlike Jill Biden, is a real doctor, LOL;) PS: NYC remains a hotbed (although well down from the peak) of Chinese virus activity! So, lets all just be extra safe and f*** THE WHOLE THING! PPS: wasn't the plan to keep the players and staff of the teams travelling into Canada for games effectively quarantined from the general public! In that case, it is an irrelevancy! But Jim the materials engineer (or whatever) is not smart enough to figure that one out!

Well I wouldn't be so quick to dance on the grave of the Western Canadian (and also offshore Newfoundland) oil and gas industry if I still lived up there and was concerned about the general economic health of the country!

Man, I was thinking of this, and really worry what kind of shape he will show up in. My biggest concern is he already has had some knee problems as a youngster, and the extra weight will continue to be a detriment there. I would like to see him maintain a decent 240 lb 'compromise' weight....

WTF !? :confused:

I would not pursue either of these. The Jays need a solid CF'er who can hit. Castellanos is a defensive liability, and Ozuna is mediocre, at best, in CF; so best profiles as a corner OFer. But the Jays already have Gurriel and Grichuck projected to take the bulk of the innnings in the corners. May as well use the money to fortify the bullpen.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone! I like how the Jays' team is shaping up and this Ryu signing (and Shaw who has big potential to contribute) was a great early present from Rogers and Shatkins for all us fans.

But consider if this is 300 million over 8 or more years (for a 29 year old), you have to figure they would expect to be in position to be a contender at least by a few years into this (2022) when he is still in his prime. And he would also be a game-changer for jump-starting the Jays' into being legit contenders (including making the team more attractive to other free agents). When I first read this, the pessimist in me thought "yeah probably they offered the equivalent of 300 million CAD (about 230 million USD at the current exchange rate)". But consider what the Jays did with Ryu (very happy to see them do business with Boras for once - even though I still hate the bastard), I guess it could be for real. It may be a good sign that Rogers actually wants to win a championship after all. Maybe they saw what winning did for the Raptors and want some of that for themselves (of course they already almost got there in 2015-16).

this was stated in a Shi David article: "But their financial flexibility won’t disappear in a year or two, either, since changes to the way the Blue Jays operate on the business side means they should be able to spend beyond the club record payrolls in the $160 million range if they are contending again." Anyone here know what these supposed changes are to which he is referring ?

Yeah there is a chance but seems a longshot for any of the guys we have seen at AAA and above (other than Pearson). Obviously the chance one of these guys could be a 'mid-rotation' guy is more realistic.

Is it still a 'thing' to consider 1 WAR worth about $8 million on the free agent market? If so, I think there is a pretty good chance this guy will at least produce 3 WAR over the next 2 seasons to justify that contract. In addition to that, he provides a vetrin presenz that, regardless of what the stat geeks think, is REAL (ask the Nats about Kendrick and Parra, not to mention Scherzer, Rendon and Zimmerman). As far as the bashing of SK because you guys don't like the opinion of the poster who lives there: well that is just typical Southern Ontario BS and demonstrates once again why the rest of the country hates you guys only slightly less than the Quebecois! FOAD ETA: that second comment obviously not directed as Jonn in particular, but the arrogant S. Ontario crowd in general.

If nothing else it will give some of the "know-nothing casual fans" something to be enthused about. That has to be worth a few $ in ticket sales and general buzz for the team.

I suppose the argument is that one of these guys 'might' break out and be a force moving forward. I would bet on Fisher of this trio. but more so Hernandez. However, this is not something that needs to happen as an alternative to adding of the 'vetrin presenz' that a guy like EE will provide, but rather is likely to be facilitated by such. f***, you guys need to take a step back from the numbers once in a while! The point is to sign a known big bat for a reasonable 1 year commitment. EE seems like the obvious target for this right now.

No, I would go for Moustakas (3 years, up to $50 M) and send Junior to 1B. But in reality, I would rather put all my FA resources into pitching. Jays need both SP and bullpen help big time! So Wheeler, Wood, Wacha, Pineda, Roark, Pomeranz and maybe Gibson and Graveman would be on my list (would like Bum and Cole but price on them is likely prohibative). ETA: include Strasburg in the prohibitive price category, (even though he f***ing sucks in MLB the SHow 19 )

Below who ?

Yes, and he got a cool $5M buyout from the Yankees. So if the Jays were to only pay him $10M for 2020, he is actually raking in $15M - pretty good for an old guy

Too much to drink already ?

Yes I have always been of the opinion that Rogers would be smart to be willing to operate the Jays at a perrennial loss just for the boost in TV viewership and other associated revenues of the greater fan interest that would occur if it meant a winning team. But they don't refer to them as Cheapo Corp for nothing

Isn't the problem that they are under marching orders from Rogers to not lose money on operating the Jays?

Yes and I am not necessarily even arguing against the signing of a big time FA. My argument is that people are so obsessing over the loss of a 2nd round draft pick and associated signing slot money that they are saying: if we do it let's go big because we don't want to have that lost draft pick 'go to waste' on a 'mediocre 2-3 WAR player' when in reality the $250M is throwing caution to the wind.

Doesn't that number of $5M they are throwing around for the value of the draft pick account for the (small) possibility of the player becoming a star and the resulting excess value of that unlikely outcome.