So, one of my cats passed away on Sunday suddenly and unexpectedly, my little emotional support buddy. After a weekend of sorrow, I thought, well maybe I'll actually get some good news from the Jays to pick me up. Nope...but can't say it would have helped anyways. 2025 sucks.
Glass half empty: Ross you stupid numpty, another Grade F offseason, you raised our hopes and dashed them most expertly, etc., bile bile bile. (I am here).
Glass half full: low-low-low expectations means we can just enjoy the game, watch Mad Max in a Blue Jays hat, see some great hits/plays (even if largely by the other team), and baseball can continue in peace without the weight of our playoff hopes and dreams. (Hopefully soon I will be here).
Well said, Stoeten. Disappointed for sure. We'll see where it all plays out in the end. Once we get over it, it is important to consider what should be done now. I don't believe the 2025 team is a serious contender. I would trade him now if you could, Bo, after 2 months of play if he is back to the old Bo, etc., and start replenishing the farm system. Nothing says you can't resign these guys in the offseason. Otherwise, pivot to the Bobby Witt's, Gunnar Henderson's, et al., when the opportunity exists. It sucks that this is where we are. I will remind my fellow Blue Jays fans that we haven't won a playoff game with Vlad. We had a glorious window, and it didn't work out. The next mistake for me is holding on to this flawed team. I believe the front office gave themselves the flexibility to do this if they couldn't get Vlad. Since they are hated by the fanbase now, they should at least have the guts to extract the value that exists now because if there are no playoffs and a qualifying offer pick in 9 months, it will add insult to injury. One last point to fellow Jays fans. Mike Trout ain't working out for the Angels with his long-term deal. They couldn't win with Ohtani there. Look at Anthony Rendon contract, etc. It seems bad now, but these contracts get tough over time. Yes, to get Vlad's prime, we all wanted that, but he's one player. Bobby Witt, Gunnar Henderson, Kyle Tucker, Paul Skenes, Jackson Merrill, etc. Other great players exist and are yet to emerge. Have to pivot to find them.
It feels like there's a certain bad-faith corner of baseball media that has just treated the Jays as their personal punching bag ever since the Ohtani mess, and that's a big part of why I really wanted this FO to figure out a Vlad extension.
Even if it doesn't fix everything, this team badly needed that sort of win.
Yeah I think you pretty much nailed things here. I shudder to think how quickly things will get ugly if the team starts off slowly and then just becomes mediocre. Even if we make the playoffs, what will 2026 and beyond look like? Like him or not, this will be a faceless team without Vlad and Shapiro's comments about thinking about winning both this year and future championships and 'we'll get one of those free agents one day' ring exceptionally (channeling my inner Ross there) hollow to me.
One thing is for sure. I don't think Shapiro is much of a Vladdy fan.
A few more thoughts. Vlad said his main goal is to go to a winning team and win a World Series. Good! But being realistic that pretty much counts the Jays out in the foreseeable future. Vlad knows that.
While I understand that the Front Office doesn't value Vlad as highly as the contract that Vlad wants - and they may be correct in that - they are setting themselves up for more financial pain in the future. If not Vlad, who? They could pay the money and extend a guy at age 26 who's been with them forever or do they fork out and overpay for older free agents in upcoming years? Maybe they are just totally averse to costly long term deals. I dunno, as someone else said the whole situation is depressing and a no-win for the fans.
On the bright side, Ken Rosenthal's obsession with the Jays is on display in The Athletic again because of this.
So, one of my cats passed away on Sunday suddenly and unexpectedly, my little emotional support buddy. After a weekend of sorrow, I thought, well maybe I'll actually get some good news from the Jays to pick me up. Nope...but can't say it would have helped anyways. 2025 sucks.
Sorry for your loss. That's tough whether unexpected or not.
Sorry to hear it, man. Maybe someone like Orelvis goes off in Spring and lifts your (our!) spirits a little.
You guys are awesome, thank you for your kind words.
I'm pulling for Barger to be the next big thing in Blue Jay land.
It could happen. He's only 25. One thing's for sure: he's going to come into ST built like a brick shithouse!
Glass half empty: Ross you stupid numpty, another Grade F offseason, you raised our hopes and dashed them most expertly, etc., bile bile bile. (I am here).
Glass half full: low-low-low expectations means we can just enjoy the game, watch Mad Max in a Blue Jays hat, see some great hits/plays (even if largely by the other team), and baseball can continue in peace without the weight of our playoff hopes and dreams. (Hopefully soon I will be here).
So the better the season Vlad has, the less likely it is that the Jays will sign him. This should be fun.
What a complete shitshow.
Well said, Stoeten. Disappointed for sure. We'll see where it all plays out in the end. Once we get over it, it is important to consider what should be done now. I don't believe the 2025 team is a serious contender. I would trade him now if you could, Bo, after 2 months of play if he is back to the old Bo, etc., and start replenishing the farm system. Nothing says you can't resign these guys in the offseason. Otherwise, pivot to the Bobby Witt's, Gunnar Henderson's, et al., when the opportunity exists. It sucks that this is where we are. I will remind my fellow Blue Jays fans that we haven't won a playoff game with Vlad. We had a glorious window, and it didn't work out. The next mistake for me is holding on to this flawed team. I believe the front office gave themselves the flexibility to do this if they couldn't get Vlad. Since they are hated by the fanbase now, they should at least have the guts to extract the value that exists now because if there are no playoffs and a qualifying offer pick in 9 months, it will add insult to injury. One last point to fellow Jays fans. Mike Trout ain't working out for the Angels with his long-term deal. They couldn't win with Ohtani there. Look at Anthony Rendon contract, etc. It seems bad now, but these contracts get tough over time. Yes, to get Vlad's prime, we all wanted that, but he's one player. Bobby Witt, Gunnar Henderson, Kyle Tucker, Paul Skenes, Jackson Merrill, etc. Other great players exist and are yet to emerge. Have to pivot to find them.
It feels like there's a certain bad-faith corner of baseball media that has just treated the Jays as their personal punching bag ever since the Ohtani mess, and that's a big part of why I really wanted this FO to figure out a Vlad extension.
Even if it doesn't fix everything, this team badly needed that sort of win.
Yeah I think you pretty much nailed things here. I shudder to think how quickly things will get ugly if the team starts off slowly and then just becomes mediocre. Even if we make the playoffs, what will 2026 and beyond look like? Like him or not, this will be a faceless team without Vlad and Shapiro's comments about thinking about winning both this year and future championships and 'we'll get one of those free agents one day' ring exceptionally (channeling my inner Ross there) hollow to me.
One thing is for sure. I don't think Shapiro is much of a Vladdy fan.
A few more thoughts. Vlad said his main goal is to go to a winning team and win a World Series. Good! But being realistic that pretty much counts the Jays out in the foreseeable future. Vlad knows that.
While I understand that the Front Office doesn't value Vlad as highly as the contract that Vlad wants - and they may be correct in that - they are setting themselves up for more financial pain in the future. If not Vlad, who? They could pay the money and extend a guy at age 26 who's been with them forever or do they fork out and overpay for older free agents in upcoming years? Maybe they are just totally averse to costly long term deals. I dunno, as someone else said the whole situation is depressing and a no-win for the fans.
My first reaction was honest surprise. I really thought they'd get him signed.
My second reaction was just plain old depression. Guess I'll be living here for a while.
Pretty much exactly mine as well.
yuuuuup