I have another question if that's okay. I just don't understand the Vlad Jr extension issue. Does he want to extend or not? How hard has the Front Office been pursuing this? Does he fully intend to explore free agency? Somebody must know something...but it's all crickets. What is actually going on do you think?
It seems to me that the fact we haven't extended him already - at any time since he's been here - means that either: i) the Front Office doesn't want to; ii) Vlad doesn't want to; iii) it's all about the money; or iv) he wants to go somewhere else.
But if we don't extend him it means we either trade him next year or he walks as a free agent (assuming he doesn't sign back with us). Either way - if he leaves, that would be an absolutely disastrous PR look for the Jays - and not great news for the on-field product. I just think it would be harikari for the front office to let him go. Unless they actually pull a rabbit out of the hat and sign Soto...
Rich - a couple of questions: with this front office, what faith or hope or whatever, can we have that SOMETHING right will get done to address the bullpen, the bench, starting pitching …
Another broken record question: when will Tiedmann be ready ?
Also, if u had to make a hard decision on Bo or Vlad - as in which one would u part with - which one would it be. Is there life after Vlad ? And what’s a fare price for him (even though Soto is gonna Jack the market) ?
Any Varsho updates ?
Thanks Rich - keep up the good work ! You have the best Jays (and baseball) intel goin !
It's great that you are doing this again. Early in his tenure I remember reading/seeing something about Mark Shapiro gathering tidbits of team philosophy from different sources. One was the 'no dickheads' policy that the Sydney Swans Australian Rules Football Team adopted in regards to their players...I remember seeing this in a picture of Shapiro's whiteboard or bulletin board. The Swans were all about building team culture and have had a remarkable sustained winning team.
How much of this philosophy do you think has factored into the Jays team construction over the years? I wonder if it influenced how they dealt with Donaldson and Stroman early on. Did you get a sense of this in your time working with the Jays? Does it influence who they acquire and who they let go at all? Thanks.
Agree with your nuanced piece on the Blue Jays with Romano ("failed save"). And there's Kichuchi to the Angels. Teoscar next, staying put, or at least not returning to Toronto ... I'm thinking there's an argument in favour of the Jays moving on, beyond being ruled by the heart, beyond doing what the fans may want... Would be grateful for your thoughts...
I have another question if that's okay. I just don't understand the Vlad Jr extension issue. Does he want to extend or not? How hard has the Front Office been pursuing this? Does he fully intend to explore free agency? Somebody must know something...but it's all crickets. What is actually going on do you think?
It seems to me that the fact we haven't extended him already - at any time since he's been here - means that either: i) the Front Office doesn't want to; ii) Vlad doesn't want to; iii) it's all about the money; or iv) he wants to go somewhere else.
But if we don't extend him it means we either trade him next year or he walks as a free agent (assuming he doesn't sign back with us). Either way - if he leaves, that would be an absolutely disastrous PR look for the Jays - and not great news for the on-field product. I just think it would be harikari for the front office to let him go. Unless they actually pull a rabbit out of the hat and sign Soto...
Rich - a couple of questions: with this front office, what faith or hope or whatever, can we have that SOMETHING right will get done to address the bullpen, the bench, starting pitching …
Another broken record question: when will Tiedmann be ready ?
Also, if u had to make a hard decision on Bo or Vlad - as in which one would u part with - which one would it be. Is there life after Vlad ? And what’s a fare price for him (even though Soto is gonna Jack the market) ?
Any Varsho updates ?
Thanks Rich - keep up the good work ! You have the best Jays (and baseball) intel goin !
It's great that you are doing this again. Early in his tenure I remember reading/seeing something about Mark Shapiro gathering tidbits of team philosophy from different sources. One was the 'no dickheads' policy that the Sydney Swans Australian Rules Football Team adopted in regards to their players...I remember seeing this in a picture of Shapiro's whiteboard or bulletin board. The Swans were all about building team culture and have had a remarkable sustained winning team.
How much of this philosophy do you think has factored into the Jays team construction over the years? I wonder if it influenced how they dealt with Donaldson and Stroman early on. Did you get a sense of this in your time working with the Jays? Does it influence who they acquire and who they let go at all? Thanks.
Agree with your nuanced piece on the Blue Jays with Romano ("failed save"). And there's Kichuchi to the Angels. Teoscar next, staying put, or at least not returning to Toronto ... I'm thinking there's an argument in favour of the Jays moving on, beyond being ruled by the heart, beyond doing what the fans may want... Would be grateful for your thoughts...
Do you think the Front Office would consider contracts with deferrals, or do they even understand them?