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Bring on 'Next Year'

JEFF BLAIR

From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:27 PM EST 10/07/08

No matter the choice of words from the Blue Jays' front office, 2009 has just about begun ...Read the full article

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  1. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Bring on "Next Year?"

    Such defeatism in the C of the U...

    What about that "back on track" stuff of three days ago...

    The Jays won tonight for Gawd's sake...

    Where's the parade ?
  2. Sean O'Reilly from Kitchener, Canada writes: Ahhh, the positivity of Jeff Blair.......its so refreshing.........
  3. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: Bring on Next Year. Give it a month or so and it will soon be "Bring on 2010".

    This team goes nowhere until J.P. is let go. I'm sorry, I not knocking guys and I don't get off on guys losing their jobs but this is just something that needs to happen.
  4. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: Here is a question that I'll pose for all Jays bloggers.

    Do the Jays consider moving Roy Halladay? Hear me out....

    What's his value? Surely, he'd be worth a couple "top" prospects or a young stud who's already in the majors.

    I think we would all agree that this team is not near competing with the current roster. Let's rebuild and start with getting some serious talent for Roy. The Jays have some tremendous talent in arms down in the minors with a couple of guys on the cusp of making this team. You move Halladay and bring these guys up and you have a young and still fairly dominant pitching rotation.

    Out goes Halladay and in comes a youngster who can perhaps play SS or catch. Move the likes of Wells, Ryan and Overbay and lets go young.

    I love Roy and recognize he's the only Jay really worth talking about but perhaps it's a move that makes long term sense for a team that is getting older and certainly not getting any better.

    Thoughts?
  5. Jack F from Canada writes: Ryan, I agree. It would be a shame to lose the face of the franchise and such a strong clubhouse leader like Doc, but for the sake of the future they need to take a really hard look at what they could get in return for him. He's 31, still making reasonable money (though I think his contract is up after next year), he'll be looking at an $18-20M/yr deal next time round, and the guy deserves a shot in the playoffs. Big problem is his no-trade clause and how much $$ it would take to convince him to waive it. I think you could get three high level prospects plus a young everyday major leaguer if you were to deal him. The other guys you mention would be a lot more difficult to trade. BJ Ryan is making absurd money for a closer and still has a couple of years left on his deal. Overbay may be tradeable but his performance would indicate the Jays wouldn't get much in return, and Wells...well, doesn't he still have about five years and $100M left on his deal? Not sure how many teams would take on that contract for a guy who seems to be .280 hitter with 20HRs and 80 RBIs. The Jays have to rebuild their farm system. Other than Travis Snider there's not a lot to look forward to. JP was supposed to be modelling this team after the Billy Beane A's. Where he's failed, and Beane has succeeded, is trading his valuable commodities at their high and when they've become too expensive, for high level prospects. They should have done it with Wells a couple of years ago when he had that monster season. The future of the team would look a lot brighter today if they had. Now with emergence of the Rays as serious division contenders for the next five years, the Orioles looking like they could be interesting too, and of course the Sox and Yanks with strong farm systems, the Jays could be looking at quite a few years of last place finishes.
  6. Hockey Fan from Canada writes: Maybe they would be better off just to fold. It would do us all a favour after watching JP mess up the team for so many years. (Perhaps I am being too pessimistic)

    All I see is overpaid players who teams wouldn't want to take because of their high salaries and low performance, or they would take them for little in return.

    It is a frustrating time to be a Blue Jays fan.
  7. ente EighteenEightyEight from Toronto, Canada writes: I love how JP never actually concedes because he can't make a trade w/ anyone but Oakland.

    So Fire JP, trade AJ and some of the other peices w/ real value. Although I'd love to see doc finish his career here.

    Hire a real GM and have a real plan. Maybe something like Doug Melvin's done with the Brewers, there was some continued pain but now their farm's so full it allows them to make big trades. Like ours used to be back in the Gillick and Ash days. When was the last time we had good homegrown talent appear that was drafted by JP?
  8. Steve Church from Canada writes: Trade Doc? Nahh, make the roster moves through promotions and free agents. I'll side with Cito on this one - they lost a bunch of tough games early on. Try and play some solid ball in the second half and build on that - more Ws makes players better trade assets.
  9. Captain Ontario from Canada writes: Frank Thomas could have been the extra bat they needed.
  10. Jim Mohagan from Funkytown, Canada writes:
    Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: "Do the Jays consider moving Roy Halladay?"

    I agree Ryan - all options should be considered at this point. This team has a serious problem, and it's not a lack of ability or talent. It's mental. The team actually has a better batting average than a year ago. But they can't hit when it matters. They're among the league leaders in hitting into double plays, not hitting with RISP, losing leads in late innings etc. That's just a lack of mental toughness, as Rance would say. Last night was their only come from behind victory this year, and that was a gift from Freddie Bynum. Blow the whole thing up and start from scratch (pitchers are okay, except for Burnett).
  11. Captain Ontario from Canada writes: The Mariners are expected to consult extensively with Pat Gillick before choosing a permanent GM. Some could see a return for ex-Mariners GM Gillick, who still lives in the Seattle area. Gillick has said that he plans to retire from the Phillies after the year. However, Gillick is said by sources not to have thoroughly enjoyed working for Howard Lincoln the first time around.
    SI.com
    ____________________

    Welcome back Pat!
  12. greg wells from Toronto, Canada writes: Absolutely they should consider trading Halladay now. He's never going to be more valuable and this team is not going to even sniff a playoff spot due to hamstringing themselves with bad contracts and a bad farm system and Boston, New York, Tampa Bay having much better teams now and having significant and realistic ways to improve (either through their farm system or the $80 M that the Yankees have to play with this offseason). What would be the use of keeping Halladay on a non-competitive team until his contract runs out and the likely decline in performance that most pitchers face in their 30's?

    Personally, I think they ought to dismantle this team. Trade the assets for good to great prospects and live out the bad contracts that they won't be able to move (e.g. Vernon). The rebuilding can happen now or later i.e. after 2010). Just know that if the organization decides to rebuild later, it's going to take much longer and that pitchers like Marcum won't be as valuable being 29yrs and approaching free agency.
  13. D W from Switzerland writes: bring back the Expos!
  14. Phillip Ontakos from Toronto, Canada writes: Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: Here is a question that I'll pose for all Jays bloggers.

    Do the Jays consider moving Roy Halladay? Hear me out....

    What's his value? Surely, he'd be worth a couple "top" prospects or a young stud who's already in the majors.

    ___________________________________________________________

    If JP is at the helm? Then no.

    If a competent GM is at the helm, hmm, I'd consider it.

    But I'd truly miss watching one of the greatest Toronto sports athlete (and genuine good person) leave for another team.
  15. Lorne Carmichael from charlottetown, Canada writes: The whole Blue Jay situation is such a mess . The first part of this mess we are stuck with for years to come .. Vernon Wells . I would trade him for anything and eat salary just to rid the team of his choke artist at bats and funny guy attitude . JP has made terrible trades and signings ( Where did he get the recently released hitting coach ..I would not thought it possible to ruin Rios as a hitter ) but at least JP can be fired in November or earlier . I do not know who will trade for Burnett but give him away too in case he opts to stay 2 more years in Toronto . Trading Halladay may make some sense on some levels but I would like to see Halliday retire as a Jay . Great player , lots of grit and true competitor .
  16. Rob C from Canada writes: JP must go - what has he done? He's a loser through and through. Get rid of Godfrey, then let Paul Beeston bring in his own guy.

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