I think this front office is extremely bad at reading the tea leaves. Or they are just over confident. Or just dumb. So much time and money wasted pursuing impossible dreams.
The penny finally drops for Stoeten. Those "exhausting" unrelentingly negative fans who can't stand this front office have had their concerns/fears fully validated by this incredible act of stupidity.
Shapiro/Atkins still think that they are the smartest guys in the room. They are now veering into Harold Ballard territory. The Blue Jays have become a national joke and Edward Rogers (who spent hundreds of millions of dollars on stadium and minor league complex renovations) will now find himself with the ultimate stranded asset, as the team, as currently constituted, will find themselves struggling to draw 1m fans this season.
Of course, as you note, this could all be rescued if Edward Rogers were to say, "Sign Vlad. I don't care what it costs" and they also inked Santander/Bregman and Alonso to contracts. Maybe throw in Nick Pivetta as a decent 4th or trade for Ryan Helsley. But does anybody seriously these idiots are capable of anything remotely sensible like that?
Yes, I do think those things are still possible. As bad as this turned out - and it’s real bad! - they have managed to sign big free agents before. But if they don’t add at least Santander and extend Vladdy, I’ll be right there with you re. Atkins.
I suspect Shapiro is safe regardless, given his successes (renovations, new minor league facility). Atkins would be the fall guy here.
I hate to admit it but: yeah, Sasaki managed to break me harder than Ohtani did, and reading this piece I've realized that the Straw trade is specifically why.
Before that trade I spent the whole time insisting to myself that Sasaki was going to be a Dodger because of course it's the most predictable outcome. Then we see the trade happen, getting them the bonus pool space but also pushing them over the CBT line, and that's when I think "holy fuck, we're actually getting him. Because nobody could be so stupid as to do that without knowing they're actually getting him."
Turns out, at least one baseball executive sure as hell was.
I’ve never felt this down about this team - I’m usually the guy in a room defending Atkins’ successes - but no longer.
Even in the mid 00s they didn’t feel like the butt end of a joke, just a misapplication of Moneyball.
I’m paraphrasing but The Roundtable on the Athletic recently suggested we’re joining a tier of LOLMETS.
I can’t remotely see Bregman or Santander coming here anymore - at the beginning of the offseason there was a chance - esp if they had extended Vlad early they would be emitting good vibes, but now? If I was any free agent I’d stay away.
As much as it hurts, trade Vlad ASAP and Bo at the deadline (+ whichever of our starters are most valuable) and rebuild.
But will that happen?! Unlikely Atkins will lead that initiative on his way out the door. Ugh.
If they are not going to extend Vladdy, they MUST trade him. The problem is that I don't believe that this front office should be the ones doing it. It's probably too late to fire Atkins, but I would do that and give the job to James Click on an interim basis. Shapiro should be let go as well, asap.
It is truly one of the more embarrassing self-owns I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure that I have a memory of a GM being more out of their depth and missing so badly.
It’s sad. Unfortunately the last couple of years have conspired to make a bit of a mockery of our team. Beyond time for someone new to come in and try clean it up
Big fan of the opening joke.
“Ugh.” Pretty much, yeah.
I think this front office is extremely bad at reading the tea leaves. Or they are just over confident. Or just dumb. So much time and money wasted pursuing impossible dreams.
Well maybe not impossible, but extremely unlikely. One thing is for sure - they need to realise they are not the smartest guys in the room.
The penny finally drops for Stoeten. Those "exhausting" unrelentingly negative fans who can't stand this front office have had their concerns/fears fully validated by this incredible act of stupidity.
Shapiro/Atkins still think that they are the smartest guys in the room. They are now veering into Harold Ballard territory. The Blue Jays have become a national joke and Edward Rogers (who spent hundreds of millions of dollars on stadium and minor league complex renovations) will now find himself with the ultimate stranded asset, as the team, as currently constituted, will find themselves struggling to draw 1m fans this season.
Of course, as you note, this could all be rescued if Edward Rogers were to say, "Sign Vlad. I don't care what it costs" and they also inked Santander/Bregman and Alonso to contracts. Maybe throw in Nick Pivetta as a decent 4th or trade for Ryan Helsley. But does anybody seriously these idiots are capable of anything remotely sensible like that?
Yes, I do think those things are still possible. As bad as this turned out - and it’s real bad! - they have managed to sign big free agents before. But if they don’t add at least Santander and extend Vladdy, I’ll be right there with you re. Atkins.
I suspect Shapiro is safe regardless, given his successes (renovations, new minor league facility). Atkins would be the fall guy here.
I hate to admit it but: yeah, Sasaki managed to break me harder than Ohtani did, and reading this piece I've realized that the Straw trade is specifically why.
Before that trade I spent the whole time insisting to myself that Sasaki was going to be a Dodger because of course it's the most predictable outcome. Then we see the trade happen, getting them the bonus pool space but also pushing them over the CBT line, and that's when I think "holy fuck, we're actually getting him. Because nobody could be so stupid as to do that without knowing they're actually getting him."
Turns out, at least one baseball executive sure as hell was.
I’ve never felt this down about this team - I’m usually the guy in a room defending Atkins’ successes - but no longer.
Even in the mid 00s they didn’t feel like the butt end of a joke, just a misapplication of Moneyball.
I’m paraphrasing but The Roundtable on the Athletic recently suggested we’re joining a tier of LOLMETS.
I can’t remotely see Bregman or Santander coming here anymore - at the beginning of the offseason there was a chance - esp if they had extended Vlad early they would be emitting good vibes, but now? If I was any free agent I’d stay away.
As much as it hurts, trade Vlad ASAP and Bo at the deadline (+ whichever of our starters are most valuable) and rebuild.
But will that happen?! Unlikely Atkins will lead that initiative on his way out the door. Ugh.
If they are not going to extend Vladdy, they MUST trade him. The problem is that I don't believe that this front office should be the ones doing it. It's probably too late to fire Atkins, but I would do that and give the job to James Click on an interim basis. Shapiro should be let go as well, asap.
Hey, he's just trying to recreate the 1985 Cardinals, but without the batting average or stolen bases.
It is truly one of the more embarrassing self-owns I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure that I have a memory of a GM being more out of their depth and missing so badly.
It’s sad. Unfortunately the last couple of years have conspired to make a bit of a mockery of our team. Beyond time for someone new to come in and try clean it up