Ooh, you're a holiday
Such a holiday
Well, if you're just playing out the string, might as well make sure that the Yankees are just playing out the string as well. Gives one's life a little bit of purpose...
Anyway, I think I'll share some random predictions regarding the home team and the months ahead.
1. J.P. Ricciardi will return in 2009. Mind you, his team will need to win at least 90 games if he's going to return for the final year of his contract. But even if Ricciardi is replaced before his contract runs out, do not expect his successor to blow it all up and start over. Ted Rogers will not hire someone who has that in mind. If the Jays were to blow it up, and commit to losing 90 games for a year or two, it would cost them big-time in attendance and TV ratings and general economic synergy. It's not going to happen. Rogers Communications is a publicly traded company, with a board and stockholders - they're not in business to lose money. And Ted Rogers is 75 years old. He's only three years younger than George Steinbrenner, and I don't think he's much interested in a five-year plan at this stage. I think he wants to win, as soon as possible.
2. Paul Godfrey is moving on after this season. And that means there's an opening for a team president - the person who stands between the owner and the GM. I don't think Paul Beeston is coming back, and I don't have a clue who might fill this role.
3. Brad Arnsberg is going to be replaced. I don't think he's in the loop anymore. Cito Gaston has made more visits to the mound in the last two months merely to visit pitchers than he did in his entire first term as manager.
4. A.J. Burnett is gone. We all know that, right?
5. The Jays will pursue two free agents with particular zeal - Jason Giambi (assuming the Yankees don't exercise their option) and Ben Sheets. The idea will be to lock them up while the Yankees are going hard after Sabathia and Teixeira. Plan B - I dunno. Raul Ibanez? Pat Burrell? Jon Garland? Oliver Perez? Well, not Perez (a Boras client.)
6. Travis Snider will spend most of the 2009 season in Syracuse.
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20080831205127883