Blue Jays Off-Season 2006 Thread

[ICJ]

Aces. I hope you don't mind that I quoted you and posted that right in the forum. You should become a regular there. The board is full of humorless schmucks that need a little RobBo-rooting.

I'll drop by if I get a chance and try to get their spirits up. Meche wouldn't make his kids cry if he got hit by a bus, he certainly shouldn't make us weep. I also hate Yankee fans so if that is a multi-team board it gives me a great opportunity to let off some steam.

Well, DL Drew will give you a better 100 game season than anyone.

Let's see, the AL East played the NL West this year, so I would assume that the NL East is next. Here's hoping the BOS-PHI series is in Philadelphia! What they think of him never gets old.

[Bugs]

And so now the Royals are pissed at JP for talking shit in reaction to the Gil Meche signing. Haha. Sit down, bitches.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Haha, hey yeah? What did he say?

I don't mean to micromanage, but seriously JP... nobody cares about not getting either of those two pitchers. Take the $10 mill you have, put it in a savings account (yeah, yeah, I know that's being done already) and use it to sign Wells to an extension. We'd rather MUCH have Wells than a crappy pitcher like Meche. If I remember right, Towers comes off the books in 2008. I think we're done paying Hinske then too? I need to see a budget.

[Bugs]

"When a guy talks about coming to our place where he has a chance to win and compete against the Yankees and the Red Sox," Ricciardi told USA Today, "and then he goes to a place like Kansas City, that's an eye-opener."

"(Ricciardi) is an interesting guy for all that he's done in the game," Bell told the Kansas City Star. "He's a little guy with a big mouth and all he does is whine. And you can write that. That's the kind of crap in this game that drives me crazy. He knows nothing about our situation. You've got to be kidding me. Every time I hear this guy talk, all he's doing is whining."

LOLx0Rs... Shut the fuck up and try winning 70 games first, Buddy. He knows nothing about your situation? I'm not sure you know anything about your situation. And you can write that. Retard.

[Bugs]

...so anyway, yahoo is reporting that the Jays have offered Vernon Wells a 7 year/$126 million extension. That's about $18 million per.

I would say this shows they're pretty serious about keeping Humpty Hump around.

Your move, Vern.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

...so anyway, yahoo is reporting that the Jays have offered Vernon Wells a 7 year/$126 million extension. That's about $18 million per.

I would say this shows they're pretty serious about keeping Humpty Hump around.

Your move, Vern.

I guess I never hit submit on my Buddy Bell post. All I was going to say was that, having been in town for the Rockies managed by Buddy, I'm shocked he got another job so quickly.

I guess losing Delgado is going to have a positive effect here, as apparently our laid-back fan base expressed appropriate displeasure where they will keep Wells. Me getting my posts deleted contributed in some small way I GUESS.

JC FUN FAX: Vernon is currently hitting .188 over 6 games for me in my Diamond Mind League, wither 7 other IFers.

[Greg D]

Canadian Press:

TORONTO (CP) -- Blue Jays reach final agreement on seven-year, US(Canadian) $126-million deal with Vernon Wells, says source. (from Broadcast News Ltd.)

[Bugs]

Indeed. It's a good move. Unca Ted's opening the wallet, and you gotta spend money to make money.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Canadian Press:

TORONTO (CP) -- Blue Jays reach final agreement on seven-year, US(Canadian) $126-million deal with Vernon Wells, says source. (from Broadcast News Ltd.)

I shouldn't have to fret this much. But what the hey... I'm happy. Thrilled.

Of course, they started immediately talking about trading Rios for pitching help. I mean, sweet Christ. At least trade Reed Johnson, as Lind can then take the LF spot. Not that I want Johnson gone or anything. Anyone that bald who bloomed that late is someone all us dorks can get behind.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I wish we'd sign Roy for a 100 years.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

OK, this one is better, though it doesn't involve kids getting eaten alive by bees:

[AArdvark]

BEEEES! I wish Chris Farley had played for the Jays. I might even watch baseball on TV. Spring training in 2 months.


THE
SO?
AARDVARK

[Bugs]

So Lyle Overbay got a 4-year $24 million extension.. Quite frankly, I think it's a very good deal, and probably less than he would command on the open market.

He's no Poo-Holes, but he gets the job done, has the best glove at 1B in T.O. since J.O. (no, not me), and is a doubles machine.

Good job, JP.

Now, what's up with that ESPN.com premium content "Myopic Management" piece featuring a picture of Vernon Wells?

[Bugs]

I never get sick of this:

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I never get sick of this:

I have been trying to find a clip of that for years! I was under the impression that MLB was having it pulled.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

Now, what's up with that ESPN.com premium content "Myopic Management" piece featuring a picture of Vernon Wells?

I don't know -- there are a whole bunch of people who hate J.P. for whatever reason but I think that many of these people wish that the Jays would "know their place." If ESPN.com is trying to do a stupid series on myopians and they started with our GM it wouldn't surprise me. The Yankees and Red Sox have drawn up one hilariously bad contract after another but J.P. locking up Vernon is the one everyone has a problem with. Who knows. The Internet is a waste of time and I should ban myself from it for a month.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I always hated Bob Matthews, who writes for the hometown paper in Rochester, NY. The guy sums up what it's like to live there better than any man alive. He is a broken shell. Also a shameful Yankee supporter. No wonder I can't stand him.

Someone (I guess, no names are attributed) wrote him the following:

You've compared the prospects for the 2007 New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Why don't you include Toronto in the discussion. The Blue Jays have a good chance to win the AL East this season.

His response!

Dream on. Toronto would have a shot to win any other division in baseball, but the Yankees and Red Sox are too wealthy and too strong in the AL East.

The Blue Jays might have a slight edge in pitching over the Yankees in 2007, but the Red Sox should have a better staff and both New York and Boston have stronger lineups.

Here is Toronto's projected rotation, bullpen and starting lineup:

Starting pitchers Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Gustavo Chacin, plus two from among John Thomson, Casey Janssen, Shaun Marcum and Josh Towers. One ace, a solid No. 2, a shaky No. 3 and very suspect No. 4 and No. 5.

B.J. Ryan might be the most underrated super closer in baseball, but the rest of the bullpen is a big question mark.

Possible starting lineup: LF Reed Johnson, RF Alex Rios, CF Vernon Wells, DH Frank Thomas, 3B Troy Glaus, 1B Lyle Overbay, C Gregg Zaun, SS Royce Clayton, 2B Aaron Hill.

The 3-4-5 power slots are all occupied by right-handed hitters, and two of them are significant injury risks (Thomas and Glaus). Departed left fielder Frank Catalanotto and catcher Bengie Molina will be missed.

There isn't much on the bench.

Ha ha, what? What on earth is there to be particularly fearful of from the other two overspending tomato cans in that division? I will bet anyone except Bob himself that he is wholly ignorant of just who finished 2nd last year.

Toronto's bullpen is awesome, the "injury risk" he talks about -- Christ, the Yankees imploded last year and are another year older and if I'm not mistaken the big bat picked up by the Red Sox has never completed anywhere near a full season, in Drew. What a homer.

The Blue Jays (and Reggie Bush, but that's another thread) make people ANGRY. RED WITH RAGE, so they say and type stupid things. I don't see how any of those three teams warrant a "Dream on" when talking about that division, due to Toronto's talent and the other two's ability to spend around and cover up the mistakes they make.

[Bugs]

Tomo Ohka signed for $1.5M, pending a physical. The price is right, and I think he could be good for 10-12 wins. He is coming off of all sorts of injuries, but he'll have good run support, and is trying to re-establish himself, hence the cheap, incentive-laden short-term contract.

[bruce]

Tomo Ohka signed for $1.5M, pending a physical. The price is right, and I think he could be good for 10-12 wins. He is coming off of all sorts of injuries, but he'll have good run support, and is trying to re-establish himself, hence the cheap, incentive-laden short-term contract.

Does it say something to you about your sport when a million and a half is considered a bargain-basement price?

Bruce

[Bugs]

Yeah, it says: Not my money, so I don't give a shit.