Results tagged ‘ riccardi ’
Good-bye 2009!
To be brief. The 2009 Blue Jay campaign was a disaster.
Here is what happened in point form
- Jays fly out of the gates only to have a 9 game losing streak in May
- Plenty of pitchers land on the DL
- A few days before the all-star game, GM J.P. Riccardi blurts out that he is listening to offers for Roy Halladay
- Roy Halladay’s All-Star game start is over shadowed by rumours
- Trade deadline comes and goes. Only Scott Rolen is traded
- Rios claimed off waivers. Jays get nothing in return
- B.J. Ryan released
- Players have a revolt against skipper Cito Gaston
And finally, the best part of the season…….
Riccardi gets fired.
Now he can live in Boston all year round!
This will probably be the last blog of 2009 unless something big happens at the GM meetings in November.
Again, thanks for reading and bye for now.
Rios a Jay no more.
Today, the Chicago White Sox were awarded their waiver claim on Alex Rios. Toronto gets nothing in return as it was a straight claim. The White Sox are now on the hook for the remaining $60 million + owed to Rios through 2014. This benefits the Jays by relieving them of this contract and perhaps giving them some money to spend on other players. I personally think that Rios would be worth something, even a low prospect. He is still young enough to break out of this two year funk and become the player we all hoped he would be. I personally think that is a stretch & it’s probably better that they parted ways. But what does this say to Roy Halladay & the fans? I thought J.P. was planning on competing next season. How? By giving up a regular player (albeit an underachieving one) for nothing? I’m sure Doc really wants to sign an extension now.
Now, if they could only find a suitor for Vernon Wells & his hefty contract.
Thanks for reading and bye for now.
Doc’s last ‘house’ call?
Tomorrow night (Friday, July 23, 2009) could be Doc Halladay’s last home start as a Toronto Blue Jay. I know by now that some people are probably fed up with all the Halladay trade talk. I for one, am not. It is exciting to see the Blue Jays in the spotlight of Major League Baseball. However, I’d rather see them in it for something else other than the potential trading of Doc. I also find it intriguing that so many people refuse to acknowledge the fact that “yes, perhaps Roy will leave via free agency after 2010″. Today in an interview on the FAN 590, J.P. Riccardi said (not an exact quote) that Halladay has all the intentions to test the free agency market after next season. That’s the reason why Doc is being shopped around. This is where I tend to agree with Riccardi. See if it you get any bites and maybe you do trade him. Perhaps they will be better in the near future without him. I sincerely doubt it as Doc Halladay is the best pitcher the Jays have ever had. There could be some arguments regarding Dave Stieb, but I pick Halladay.
In other Jays news, Venom Wells continues to struggle (With the exception of the home run last night). Today, slumping Kevin Millar batted fourth while Wells batted fifth. How the mighty have fallen. Here you have a cast off who was a non-roster spring training invitee batting in front of the $18 million choke. Unbelievable. At least Alex Rios has picked up as of late. He has four stolen bases and two home runs in his last five games!
I myself will be attending Friday’s game and will be giving Roy Halladay a standing ovation at the end of the game (which he will probably complete). If you’re in the Toronto area, I encourage you to attend the game as you might not see a pitcher like Halladay in a Blue Jays uniform for a long, long time. Or perhaps you will ….if Doc stays.
Thanks for reading and bye for now.
All-Star Game No Holiday for Halladay
For a person who does not enjoy the spotlight, Roy Halladay was front and center for this year’s All-Star game. Halladay was the American League starting pitcher. He gave up two runs in two innings pitched. Doc was also on top of the trade rumour mill.
After being hounded by the media regarding the trade rumours throughout the All-Star Break, Roy Halladay has finally said enough is enough. Doc told the ‘press’ that he has nothing left to say & he is going to concentrate on winning for the Blue Jays. That comment does not strike hope in me as it was the words he used & the tone of some comments during those two days that worries me. In a round about way, he pretty much said that he wants to be traded. Halladay mentioned getting older and how the window of opportunity keeps getting smaller. So perhaps he wouldn’t mind a change of scenery. Can you blame him? This year’s team is pretty much out of the race, albeit not from lack of effort (with Rios, Wells the exceptions!). The Jays just had a lot of bad luck and bad timing. Doc has seen this time and time again. The Jays have been rebuilding since Riccardi arrived and with the financial nooses called Wells & Rios, it’s hard to fathom if they can afford to sign anyone else.
Now I am not saying that they should trade him. If you’ve ever read any of my other blogs, you know that I am a huge Doc Halladay fan. But we must put emotions aside and look at it for what it is. If GM Riccardi can receive an outstanding amount of prospects for him, than why not trade him? Even better, maybe package Vernon Wells in with him. You’d probably get less in return, but you’d also be saving over $30 million a season between the two.
One rumour I heard was the St.Louis Cardinals offering prospects Brett Wallace, Kozma & any other three minor leaguers the Jays want. That sounds pretty good. Brett Wallace (who was a low draft pick of the Blue Jays who chose to go back into the draft as a collegiate) is a heavy left handed hitting, third baseman and Kozma is a short stop. It’s only a rumour, but it gives you an idea of what the Jays would probably get for Doc.
A couple of seasons ago the Baltimore Orioles traded Canadian Erik Bedard to Seattle for I believe, 5 players. One of them being All-Star Outfielder, Adam Jones. Another one is their closer, George Sherrill. Not bad. Could the Jays get at least that or something better?
Only time will tell.
Thanks for reading and bye for now.
No ‘Halladay’ for Jays Fans Today
Today has been a day of fear & nervousness for Blue Jays fans as news that Roy Halladay may be traded have surfaced. According to a report from Ken Rosenthal, Jays G.M. J.P. Riccardi acknowledge that they were listening to offers for the Doctor. J.P. was on the radio station FAN 590 this morning & stated that he would listen to offers, but not necessarily trade him. My first reaction and probably the same for all other Jay’s fans was ‘no way, as Doc is the Toronto Blue Jays’. But maybe Riccardi is right. Why not listen to the offers? Personally, it would have to be a ‘blow me out of the water’ type of offer to part with Doc. I would want at least one ready for primetime player and four prospects. Three out of the four would have to be the other organizations top players. Naturally, there would have to be at least two pitchers involved in this trade. That might seem like a lot, but this is the best pitcher in baseball. He is also a bargain at twelve million a year!
There are roughly three weeks left before the trade deadline. The Jays play division rivals, the Rays & Orioles before next Tuesday’s All-Star game. These two series will probably tell us if these trade rumours persist or flame out. Perhaps the Jays could rid themselves of the disappointments named Ryan, Wells & Rios instead.
Stay tuned.
Thanks for reading and bye for now.
Ecstatic about Eckstein
With the MLB trade deadline coming up, there will be many rumours flying around the Rogers Centre. So far, Burnett and Eckstein are the ones being talked about. A.J. has an option left on his contract and most people figure he will walk. I tend to agree with them. Davie Eckstein on the other hand, is a free agent after this season and judging by how Cito Gaston has used him, I don’t think he will be back next year.
Apparently, Riccardi is looking to trade Burnett for a shortstop with some power. He is not happy with the production of Eckstein, the fan favourite, John McDonald and Marco Scutaro. Let’s not forget about Joe Inglett. Not happy? Eckstein is batting over .270 (I realize his average is not that great for a lead-off hitter), McDonald is the best in defense and Scutaro has been more than tolerable. Why does Riccardi think that he needs some power from this position? What about Left-Field? (I believe Adam Lind is over-rated, but that’s for another blog). How about consistency at DH. Does anyone really expect to win a division with Matt Stairs as your everyday DH? I think J.P. and the Jays would be better off looking for a hitter in the two above mentioned positions, than at SS. All season I have heard the commentators and fans complain about Eckstein. Is it because of his awkward stance or how he throws to first. Maybe it’s his all out hustle to first base. I’m not sure if they realize that he has won two WORLD SERIES and was the MVP in the 2006 World Series. I believe that Eckstein will get his average up to .290 if Gaston would keep him leading off. Gaston can substitute him with McDonald if the Jays are winning late in a game. And if Cito doesn’t want him to lead off, than why not put your shortstop in the ninth spot of the batting order? That’s why there’s a designated hitter, so you can place a lighter hitting/defensive player at the end of the lineup. This way J.P. could go find a slugger for the middle of the lineup. Perhaps Jason Bay?
If the Blue Jays come out stumbling after the All-Star Break, than I think they should dismantle the team. I’m not saying everybody, but why not Scott Rolen, Gregg Zaun, Matt Stairs, A.J. Burnett and B.J. Ryan. Just imagine what you could get for Ryan and Rolen. Heck, even Lyle Overbay. This way, we get some good prospects in return and if we want, trade them in the off-season for some veteran help. This is just a suggestion, I wouldn’t expect anyone to totally dismantle this team, but something has to be done. Nothing against Scott Rolen, he is one of my favourite players and I don’t want to see him go. But, if we could get something great in return, than why not.
Now I know it sounds like I have given up on the season, but you have to realize that we are currently 9 games out of a wild card spot, with seven teams ahead of us. It doesn’t look good. Sure, in the past couple of years Houston and Colorado have come out of nowhere in the second half to get into the playoffs. But we still lack ‘punch’ in the middle of the line-up.
Interesting Tidbit: The Jays are 12-21 in one run games. Imagine if it was reversed? That’s right, we would be tied for a wild card spot. Hmmmm.
Tomorrow the Jays are at home against the fourth place Orioles. Let’s see if we can climb past them with a sweep.
Thanks for reading and bye for now.
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