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The stars have aligned and Anders, Alex, Thomas, and I all happen to be around at the same time. So we recorded a Boxcast! We talked about what's wrong with the HOF voting process and a little bit about how to fix it, and then some Jays stuff: Dickey, personalities on the team, bullpen. The whole thing runs about 35 minutes.

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Boxcast Episode 10 - Breaking Dawn: Part 2 | 40 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Richard S.S. - Thursday, January 10 2013 @ 07:35 PM EST (#267883) #
Good jod guys.   J.A. Happ starts in the Bullpen, baring a Rotation injury.   I don't know what short-sighted nitwit suggested he start in the Minors, I think with the lack of good LH Relievers he's a must for the pen.   A.A. wants 4 maybe 5 Late-Inning  Power Arms, basically inter-changeable and two Long Relievers capable of 3-4 IP if needed.   Any time they carry a 7th arm in the Bullpen means A.A.'s not happy with the first 6.
Gerry - Friday, January 11 2013 @ 09:01 AM EST (#267888) #

First, we avoid name calling on Da Box.

Secondly, are you suggesting that AA is a nitwit?  From Gregor Chisholm's summary this week of a conversation with AA:

  • J.A. Happ will begin the season as the Blue Jays sixth starter. In order words, he’s the back-up and won’t get an opportunity in the rotation until someone gets hurt. In the meantime, Happ will compete for a spot in the bullpen but he also has an option remaining on his contract and it’s possible he could begin the year at Triple-A Buffalo.
  •  

    Richard S.S. - Friday, January 11 2013 @ 12:25 PM EST (#267898) #

    Calling someone a short-sighted nitwit isn't name calling, it's the best I can accurately describe foolish ideas.  (I could have used Effing Idiot or some such terminology if I was annoyed or angry.)    Take two intelligent (intelligence is optional) people and put them together, the noise level increases and the intelligence drops. Put three together and it gets worse, but add four and it gets bad, village idiot bad.   Fortunately the boxcast wasn't that bad, but it wasn't immune.   So don't get so offended, it's not video.

    A.A.'s remarks are sometimes parphrased unintentionally and it's hard to know if and when it happens.   The Bullpen really isn't that good with only Happ, Loup and Cecil as LHP and only Happ and Cecil as Long Relief/Spot Start pitchers.   Does A.A. know something we don't, an Acquisition maybe?   Happ has an option?!?!?!   REALLY!?!?!?   Like Romero!?!?!?   I think he asks for a trade first.   I think putting Happ in the Minors is stupid.

    You want discussion, put a Bullpen post, it should keep us going for weeks.

    Thomas - Friday, January 11 2013 @ 01:01 PM EST (#267902) #
    Really? The best thing way you can describe a foolish idea is to call the person who made it a short-sighted nitwit as opposed to saying I disagree with that idea and explaining why?
    bpoz - Friday, January 11 2013 @ 01:37 PM EST (#267905) #
    To me nitwit is saying something negative about that persons intelligence. Or they express an opinion on a subject that they have limited knowledge. When I said the nasty boys were Mets, I was wrong and politely corrected. Thanks. Also WAR & OPS still gives me trouble.

    AA did speak those words about Happ. I find the workings of AA's mind very fascinating. I spend time guessing at possible meanings. He has spoken words that seem odd to various people. Some examples that I found/find odd:

    1) KJ to LF.
    2) Happ to the minors.
    3) Bonifacio, bench most likely. I think he said that.
    4) Others.

    For KJ I thought it was to encourage him to reject Arb. But LF turned out to be a position where all the candidates Thames & Snider did badly. So KJ maybe was a LF candidate but then strained something.Speaking of KJ, is he in a better position now or a year ago.

    My opinion/guess on Happ & Bonifacio right now is some kind of Arb negotiating ploy. No matter what happens, I do not see how I can argue my opinion with any kind of facts.
    bpoz - Friday, January 11 2013 @ 02:06 PM EST (#267906) #
    Not sure about the accuracy about my facts here. Arb will occur in Feb. An Expo player since retired hated the Arb experience. He said something like " I will never go to arb again, the team hired a fat, bald guy to preach for 2 hours on what a crappy ball player I was". Another case was a coin flip for the difference.
    John Northey - Friday, January 11 2013 @ 04:28 PM EST (#267908) #
    Hard to measure bullpens pre-season.  The variability in reliever performance is sky high.  However, this years pen does look good imo.  Lots of live arms with high K rates. As to Happ going to AAA - might be something AA is saying to light a fire under him and to let Happ know that while he was a really good starter at one time he isn't today and needs to earn his slot on the roster.  Basically an attempt to keep him from mopping about in spring.

    When I went through the pen earlier I saw 7 guys I'd rather have than Frasor without much effort.  Sergio Santos, Casey Janssen will fight it out for the closer slot.  Esmil Rogers, Brad Lincoln, Steve Delabar, Aaron Loup are all in the battle for middle relief with J.A. Happ & Brett Cecil in the long man/mop up role.  At least one of those guys is going to AAA.  Also to factor in is Dustin McGowan (if by some miracle he is healthy), Tommy Hottovy, Chad Jenkins, Evan Crawford, Sam Dyson and probably a few others.
    vw_fan17 - Friday, January 11 2013 @ 07:35 PM EST (#267913) #
    And just like that, Tommy Hottovy is gone... Per MLBTR and others, he's been DFAed to make room for the newly-signed Henry Blanco.

    I guess RA Dickey is going to be so good we'll have to play 2 players behind the plate to catch his knuckleball? :-)
    92-93 - Saturday, January 12 2013 @ 12:15 AM EST (#267916) #
    Jeremy Jeffress is another candidate to make the team, and if they're lucky maybe one of Luis Perez, Kyle Drabek, and Drew Hutchison could contribute at the end of the year once rosters are expanded.

    The non-roster invitees for now are Dave Bush, Justin Germano, Alex Hinshaw, Ramon Ortiz, Juan Perez, Rich Thompson, Claudio Vargas, and Neil Wagner. An NRI making the bullpen is probably not something you want to see.

    We still don't know what the team is planning with Marcus Stroman, but I think even if he starts that we'll see him in the bullpen sometime in 2013.
    Ishai - Saturday, January 12 2013 @ 02:04 AM EST (#267917) #
    Great show!

    If 64% (those who did not vote for Bond) of the voters refuse to vote for 'tainted' players, then the vote gets split. My guess is that some of those 64% were just lodging a "first-ballot" protest vote (which is absurd, as you guys mentioned), so the split might actually be closer to 50/50. Seventy-five percent is unattainable if voters have different criteria. And this will only get worse the more statistically deserving but steroid "tainted" candidates becomes eligible.

    Richard S.S. - Saturday, January 12 2013 @ 11:57 AM EST (#267921) #
    Every G.M. watches what A.A. does, just so they don't miss something. He can be the cutting edge in making his team better.

    Sometimes I think A.A. makes waiver claims just to keep other G.M.s occupied, filling up their roster space. Not all of his DFAs are claimed so some useful piece are getting by. I can't figure out why he's doing this otherwise.
    John Northey - Saturday, January 12 2013 @ 01:14 PM EST (#267922) #
    For fun go to http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/TOR/2012-transactions.shtml and see all the activity.

    Since seasons end...

    And that is all he's done so far this winter.  Not much eh?  Just losing 42 players + 1 manager while bringing in 41 + cash. Net loss of 1 player, 1 manager while getting some cash (going just by headcount)

    Phew.  Just crazy how much has gone on.  Many guys I don't recognize the names of or had any clue were involved with the Jays.  All names are listed in the order of the transaction.
    Richard S.S. - Saturday, January 12 2013 @ 07:30 PM EST (#267923) #
    John
    Your last post would make more of a Site Post than a personal site post. Beck and that LHP are the latest to hit waivers again and might take another 7-9 days to clear. It all depends on who has room left.
    John Northey - Saturday, January 12 2013 @ 09:50 PM EST (#267925) #
    Heh - thought about making it a full thread but figured I'd wait another month just before spring hits.  It is insane isn't it?  It appears 4 of the waiver wire claims are still here for the moment...
    Tyson Brummett (RHP - not on 40 man anymore), Mickey Storey (RHP - not on 40 man anymore), Chad Beck (RHP), Tommy Hottovy (LHP)

    Now Beck and Hottovy are available to others but haven't been claimed yet afaik (BR still has them as Jays).  Weird that a few were claimed then lost as free agents.  One wonders if AA is doing this to drive people nuts at times.  Still, he did gain 2 guys for AAA depth out of it so far at no real cost to the team.  I'm sure he'll keep at it right up to opening day too.
    TamRa - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 06:55 AM EST (#267927) #
    You missed whatever departure caused us to lose Bobby Wilson (a waiver claim I believe)
    John Northey - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 12:33 PM EST (#267928) #
    Check 'granted free agency' - he is the last one listed.  Weird to claim a guy then let him leave as a free agent but there you go.
    Richard S.S. - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 01:05 PM EST (#267929) #
    Mickey Storey (26) was drafted by Oakland in 2008, and should have options left. He looks like a good pitcher, so how did he become a waiver claim?
    Tyson Brummett (28) is a AAAA-ish pitcher. Good for the minors but unknown MLB qualities.
    Russ Canzer was a loss.
    grjas - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 01:34 PM EST (#267931) #
    Why would they not protect Canzler and then sign Blanco. Rather have a young right handed 1B or DH with some power then another no hit catcher, on a team with lots of catching talent.

    I don't get it.
    greenfrog - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 01:54 PM EST (#267932) #
    Somebody on MLBTR said that Blanco was Dickey's favourite knuckleball catcher (they were both on the Mets in 2010). Apparently Blanco's defense is highly regarded, although he is 41.
    Original Ryan - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 02:10 PM EST (#267933) #
    Weird to claim a guy then let him leave as a free agent but there you go.

    The team was probably hoping to work out a minor league contract with the player during that time. There's some value in being the only team that can negotiate with the player, even if it's only for a short period of time.

    Magpie - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 07:54 PM EST (#267934) #
    Every G.M. watches what A.A. does, just so they don't miss something.

    I doubt that's true. Winners are followed with attention, winners have their strategies copied. That's simply the ways things are. So far Anthopoulos has been the GM for one - count 'em, one - team that was actually able to win more games than they lost. And that team, with their 75-77 record, finished fourth. The immortal words of Winston Wolf come to mind, as they often do - rather than repeat them let's just say no one will be asking Anhopoulos to model for his Cooperstown plaque any time soon.

    Still, it would be nice if that was what the other GMs were doing. Beats them paying attention to their own clubs.
    Magpie - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 07:56 PM EST (#267935) #
    Typo - Anthopoulos' one winning team went 85-77. Hey, the 7 key is right next to the 8...
    TamRa - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 08:19 PM EST (#267936) #
    Check 'granted free agency' - he is the last one listed.  Weird to claim a guy then let him leave as a free agent but there you go.

    Ah yes, non-tendered basically. Prob wanted to try to work out a deal and coudlnt and didn't want to get arbitration involved in the process.

    Richard S.S. - Sunday, January 13 2013 @ 09:04 PM EST (#267938) #
    Alex is one of the leaders in being able to acquire extra draft picks, which shamed MLB until they had to change the system.

    He's now a leader in acquiring extra monies to sign top picks, and he's not quite the only one.

    He sets a record in waiver claims (and still counting) and had teams swarming like bees over his DFAs.

    Teams watched his offseason dealing and marvel at his boldness.

    To this point, he hasn't needed to win anything to be the one everyone watches. After this forthcoming season, it'll only get worse.
    hypobole - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 12:55 AM EST (#267939) #
    He is the most interesting GM in the world.
    92-93 - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 09:36 AM EST (#267940) #
    This is the boxcast.
    Mike Green - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 09:45 AM EST (#267941) #
    We do not always talk about baseball, but when we do, it's deux équipes.
    greenfrog - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 09:50 AM EST (#267942) #
    I don't always trade prospects, but when I do, I acquire Cy Young award winners and perennial All-Stars.
    bpoz - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 11:39 AM EST (#267943) #
    In the interest of starting a conversation about smart GMs and individual opinions about AA.

    Only 1 winning season for AA. That is not great. A negative statement would be that his best winning season was his 1st, 2010 @ 85 wins. For 2010 he made the fewest moves and got the best results. The Jays then got worse in 2011,81 wins & still worse in 2012, with 73 wins. We all have opinions of why this happened.

    BUT, his top priority was to develop a strong farm. The experts think he succeeded by ranking the Jay's farm near the top.
    He also added young, controllable, talented players to the ML team. Lawrie, Rasmus, Escobar, JPA, Morrow. They have not made us a contender on paper, the 2 trades have made us a contender on paper.
    AA's team has to win something for him to be considered a smart GM, IMO.
    If the Jay's win the WS in 2013 then he should be considered a smart GM. BUT he increased payroll, so he sort of bought his success. If Baltimore or some other team adds payroll to the same degree (%) then I should consider them smart as well. OK, it should be a trade or you do not give equivalent credit.

    How about luck. IMO Bautista getting this good was luck. EE had a history so luck & more so patience. Lind also had a history, patience & luck.

    John Northey - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 11:57 AM EST (#267944) #
    Many on this board were pushing the Jays in the tight budget days to dump Bautista and EE.  So there is a lot of skill in being a GM.  Someone with more time than me should go through all the transactions and see which ones have cost quality players and which have not to see how well AA has done.  Did he lose his best in trades or did he find a way to keep the best?  A quick check of his first winter shows...

    Mike McCoy off waivers (useful part), dumped Roy Halladay for a key piece in the Dickey trade plus got Drabek & Taylor-->Wallace-->Gose, Morrow for League (2 decent years, one All-Star with 37 saves), plus a whole batch of free agent / waiver claims.  Fairly quiet, lost some top talent but also gained some - net positive. 

    greenfrog - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 12:54 PM EST (#267945) #
    The Jays have signed an 18-year-old Latin American pitcher, Denis Villatoro:

    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/01/blue-jays-sign-denis-villatoro.html
    John Northey - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 02:36 PM EST (#267946) #
    Always nice to see the Jays get young talent.  But could AA be skirting around the rules again?  Noticed it listed that he was signed to a 5 year deal but no bonus mentioned.  The rules limit bonus money as I recall and I thought the Jays were near the end of their allowed cash for international signings. 
    greenfrog - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 02:50 PM EST (#267947) #
    Didn't one of the Jays' IFA signings fall through (for undisclosed reasons, if I recall correctly)? Perhaps they recouped some spending room as a result.
    hypobole - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 02:53 PM EST (#267948) #
    Luis Castro didn't pass his physical, which freed up a reported $800M.
    Mike Green - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 03:02 PM EST (#267949) #
    Luis Castro didn't pass his physical, which freed up a reported $800M

    That would have made a dent in Ontario's deficit, if Castro had shown the public-spiritedness to insist that it be donated :)
    Richard S.S. - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 03:47 PM EST (#267950) #
    Everyone tries to include A.A.'s record in comparison. I say it is IMMATERIAL as he did not have to win, or even have a decent season. This year it all changes. This year he must win. Prior to this year, it didn't matter.
    JohnL - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 03:56 PM EST (#267951) #

    With all this Anthoplous discussion, I don't think this has been posted. Peter Mansbridge did a (22 minute) interview with him, put up online yesterday I think.

    On the CBC site here. And also, in three parts on YouTube (to let you skip the ads).

     

     

    Magpie - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 04:35 PM EST (#267952) #
    Jays and Rasmus avoid the arbitrator, he gets a raise to $4.675 million.

    There's a trade that hasn't worked out as well for Toronto as it did for the other guys. But it was still a good idea, and Rasmus is still young enough to accomplish something.
    Chuck - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 04:53 PM EST (#267953) #
    I find it humerous that Rasmus is represented by Beverly Hills Sports Council. Kinda like Jed Clampett, I guess.
    Richard S.S. - Monday, January 14 2013 @ 05:29 PM EST (#267955) #
    Check new thread which covers latest postings.
    Boxcast Episode 10 - Breaking Dawn: Part 2 | 40 comments | Create New Account
    The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.