On a bitter ending, payroll growth, CBA negotiations, Semien, Springer, Dunedin and Buffalo, the bullpen, a new stadium, short term vs. long term, extension talk, minor league pay, and much more!
Great piece! We'll see how it goes with the current Rogers drama, but it does FEEL like Shapiro has managed to get Rogers on board in a way I'm not sure Beeston ever did. The idea of running record high payrolls (after 1.5 seasons hardly selling any tix), plus a new or renovated stadium maybe in the works would have seemed like a pipe dream a decade ago. If things keep going well on those fronts I really think we might look at two things as pivotal to the Jays: the way attendance soared from 15-17, proving that a playoff Jays team could be a behemoth with ratings/gate, and hiring a president who is able to navigate the team's corporate overlords.
"the carbon footprint of all the concrete they be turning to rubble when they knock the old building down"
This is a bigger issue than just a throw-away like at the end of the paragraph. It's morally indefensible to consider knocking down a perfectly good sports stadium and building a new one.
I think it's our job as fans and citizens (and especially sports writers) to make sure Jays management and our city councillors know that a new stadium is an absolute non-starter.
From an aesthetic standpoint, I'd be really surprised if a new stadium was even an improvement. Much as we'd all love a Comerica Park or Camden Yards of our own in July and August, any new stadium would have to be roofed to accommodate the early and late season, which basically precludes a nice, traditional park.
The recent roofed stadiums built are absolute travesties architecturally and aesthetically - much worse than what we have now. No reason to think a replacement for the Dome would be any better.
Thanks for the transcription and your thoughts, Stoeten. Interesting stuff.
But I had a more optimistic read of what Shapiro said about payroll and the CBT. Not currently having the revenue sources to support going over isn’t ruling out going up to the CBT limit. Still leaves the possibility of them having a CBT level payroll if their revenue projections from existing sources pan out. Which would be the “unprecedented” level of spending he mentioned.
I also remember from a little while back in an Atkins presser you transcribed, positive mention of a $200M payroll. Or that could be my rose coloured glasses playing tricks on my memory.
Of course, Shapiro’s “unprecedented” could also just mean more than $167M and well below whatever the CBT will be in the new CBA. But that’s still pretty good, so for fucks sake extend Vladd, Bo, Teo and Berrios!
How do you transcribe all this stuff? You really called out the elephant in the room: the lack of decent pitching coming out of the minors (starters or relievers). Manoah is a win. Who knows about Pearson, but what else is there to show for 5 years of drafting? I can't believe more people aren't talking about this.
Great piece! We'll see how it goes with the current Rogers drama, but it does FEEL like Shapiro has managed to get Rogers on board in a way I'm not sure Beeston ever did. The idea of running record high payrolls (after 1.5 seasons hardly selling any tix), plus a new or renovated stadium maybe in the works would have seemed like a pipe dream a decade ago. If things keep going well on those fronts I really think we might look at two things as pivotal to the Jays: the way attendance soared from 15-17, proving that a playoff Jays team could be a behemoth with ratings/gate, and hiring a president who is able to navigate the team's corporate overlords.
"the carbon footprint of all the concrete they be turning to rubble when they knock the old building down"
This is a bigger issue than just a throw-away like at the end of the paragraph. It's morally indefensible to consider knocking down a perfectly good sports stadium and building a new one.
I think it's our job as fans and citizens (and especially sports writers) to make sure Jays management and our city councillors know that a new stadium is an absolute non-starter.
From an aesthetic standpoint, I'd be really surprised if a new stadium was even an improvement. Much as we'd all love a Comerica Park or Camden Yards of our own in July and August, any new stadium would have to be roofed to accommodate the early and late season, which basically precludes a nice, traditional park.
The recent roofed stadiums built are absolute travesties architecturally and aesthetically - much worse than what we have now. No reason to think a replacement for the Dome would be any better.
Build a World Championship Team! Whoooo!!
Thanks for the transcription and your thoughts, Stoeten. Interesting stuff.
But I had a more optimistic read of what Shapiro said about payroll and the CBT. Not currently having the revenue sources to support going over isn’t ruling out going up to the CBT limit. Still leaves the possibility of them having a CBT level payroll if their revenue projections from existing sources pan out. Which would be the “unprecedented” level of spending he mentioned.
I also remember from a little while back in an Atkins presser you transcribed, positive mention of a $200M payroll. Or that could be my rose coloured glasses playing tricks on my memory.
Of course, Shapiro’s “unprecedented” could also just mean more than $167M and well below whatever the CBT will be in the new CBA. But that’s still pretty good, so for fucks sake extend Vladd, Bo, Teo and Berrios!
No sleep til Pig Pile!!!
How do you transcribe all this stuff? You really called out the elephant in the room: the lack of decent pitching coming out of the minors (starters or relievers). Manoah is a win. Who knows about Pearson, but what else is there to show for 5 years of drafting? I can't believe more people aren't talking about this.