Somehow, in all the excitement about our own interview with J.P., we missed this fine piece by Jeff Blair in the Globe and Mail:
The bottom line of Ricciardi's philosophy (often lost in the carping about scouts being fired and all the other evils that never seem to be dredged up by the people who matter the most — the fans) is risk management. Striking a balance when it matters. And defence is a part of it.
Hear, hear. Some people incorrectly portray Ricciardi as a stathead, obsessed with OBP. This article confirms my impression -- if you can't afford multi-dimensional studs like A-Rod, Vlad and Ichiro, you must sacrifice something to stay within budget. The Jays, while far from perfect, have at least become cost-effective. No more strong-armed $5 MM shortstops and $12 MM right fielders who are out machines.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030828104217999