Now sign Bo so I can go ahead and buy that epic "MLB Jam" shirt with Vladdy.
@Dan Hocking, it was Alex Rios that snuck up on me in that list, lol. Somewhat the OF version of Aaron Hill to be fair, one great year, inconsistent after.
"Even lesser players who could—and in many cases should—have had more years to become more firmly entrenched as all-time Blue Jays fell into the same pattern. Shawn Green, John Olerud, Jesse Barfield, Edwin Encarnación, Josh Donaldson, Marcus Stroman, Jimmy Key, Vernon Wells, George Bell, Pat Hentgen, Devon White, Aléx Ríos, Aaron Hill, Teoscar Hernández."
You lost me at Wells, we all wanted him gone as it was the worst contract in baseball at the time. He'd gone 1.8, 1.0, -0.1 WAR before a dead cat bounce in 2010 and AA somehow convinced the Angles to take him and give us Napoli in return. You even wrote:
"Well, I think we've heard all we need to hear. I'm about ready to get drunk-- but not before I pass along tonight's winning Tweet, which comes from Eric Flaxman (@CalRulz25), who says: "This trade would have been vetoed in every fantasy league."
Yep. Totally.
And while I can't stress enough that I do like Vernon as a player-- probably more than a lot of people around here, though most people I've heard tonight do seem to have a reasonable perspective on his value-- and respect the hell out of him for his charity work and work in the community, I ... just... it's... um... holyfuckingawesome."
Well, I was wrong! And happy to be so. Never thought this FO had it in them.
Going to take a while for me to get back into things and rediscover some enthusiasm for this team. The abyss of despair was real. This was the first year in a long time I didn't watch a single spring training game. I've watched only one game straight through (when in the past, I've watched every game). The last couple years were brutal, the obvious blunders by the FO, the gormlessness on the field, the withered offence, and while I still don't really think they did enough to improve this offseason (again), with Vlad locked up, at least they're probably going to _try_.
Looking forward to rediscovering some joy in the game.
Can't disagree with anything written here. I never thought the Jays would do it, so kudos to Edward Rogers, who clearly didn't like the idea of the several hundred million dollars of renovation being deployed for a stranded asset (along with declining ratings on SportsNet). It also makes me feel less badly about Rogers becoming the majority sports owner in the city for every franchise (which would have scared me sh*tless had Vladdy not been signed).
Yes, it's probably an overpay, but the Jays helped to create the conditions for that overpay with their aggressive pursuit of Juan Soto. But at the end of the day, it's not your money (or mine). It's Edward Rogers's $$. Good on him!
Once we collect our breaths and get beyond the "is any first baseman worth half a BILLION dollars" (Dr. Evil voice) discussion, when does the extend/trade Bo conversation start?
I can see Vladdy aging like fine wine and eventually becoming our David Ortiz. I also think that Shapiro might be curled up into a ball of angst right now for having to go against all of his valuation principles and concerns of re-setting the market in making this deal. But at least they finally read the tea leaves correctly and did what they had to do.
Without wanting to distract from the overwhelmingly positive message in here - and it is a great one - can we talk about how you snuck Aaron Hill into that list of players?
This is what I live for!!!
Now sign Bo so I can go ahead and buy that epic "MLB Jam" shirt with Vladdy.
@Dan Hocking, it was Alex Rios that snuck up on me in that list, lol. Somewhat the OF version of Aaron Hill to be fair, one great year, inconsistent after.
19th season? That can’t be true unless I am also 19 years older….
(Wouldn’t be a Blue Jays season without you, sir)
Hell yeah. HELL YEAH.
"Even lesser players who could—and in many cases should—have had more years to become more firmly entrenched as all-time Blue Jays fell into the same pattern. Shawn Green, John Olerud, Jesse Barfield, Edwin Encarnación, Josh Donaldson, Marcus Stroman, Jimmy Key, Vernon Wells, George Bell, Pat Hentgen, Devon White, Aléx Ríos, Aaron Hill, Teoscar Hernández."
You lost me at Wells, we all wanted him gone as it was the worst contract in baseball at the time. He'd gone 1.8, 1.0, -0.1 WAR before a dead cat bounce in 2010 and AA somehow convinced the Angles to take him and give us Napoli in return. You even wrote:
"Well, I think we've heard all we need to hear. I'm about ready to get drunk-- but not before I pass along tonight's winning Tweet, which comes from Eric Flaxman (@CalRulz25), who says: "This trade would have been vetoed in every fantasy league."
Yep. Totally.
And while I can't stress enough that I do like Vernon as a player-- probably more than a lot of people around here, though most people I've heard tonight do seem to have a reasonable perspective on his value-- and respect the hell out of him for his charity work and work in the community, I ... just... it's... um... holyfuckingawesome."
Well, I was wrong! And happy to be so. Never thought this FO had it in them.
Going to take a while for me to get back into things and rediscover some enthusiasm for this team. The abyss of despair was real. This was the first year in a long time I didn't watch a single spring training game. I've watched only one game straight through (when in the past, I've watched every game). The last couple years were brutal, the obvious blunders by the FO, the gormlessness on the field, the withered offence, and while I still don't really think they did enough to improve this offseason (again), with Vlad locked up, at least they're probably going to _try_.
Looking forward to rediscovering some joy in the game.
Can't disagree with anything written here. I never thought the Jays would do it, so kudos to Edward Rogers, who clearly didn't like the idea of the several hundred million dollars of renovation being deployed for a stranded asset (along with declining ratings on SportsNet). It also makes me feel less badly about Rogers becoming the majority sports owner in the city for every franchise (which would have scared me sh*tless had Vladdy not been signed).
Yes, it's probably an overpay, but the Jays helped to create the conditions for that overpay with their aggressive pursuit of Juan Soto. But at the end of the day, it's not your money (or mine). It's Edward Rogers's $$. Good on him!
Once we collect our breaths and get beyond the "is any first baseman worth half a BILLION dollars" (Dr. Evil voice) discussion, when does the extend/trade Bo conversation start?
Asking for a friend.
I can see Vladdy aging like fine wine and eventually becoming our David Ortiz. I also think that Shapiro might be curled up into a ball of angst right now for having to go against all of his valuation principles and concerns of re-setting the market in making this deal. But at least they finally read the tea leaves correctly and did what they had to do.
I just hope he's not our Prince Fielder....
It probably was WAY beyond the team's valuation parameters, but perhaps Edward Rogers said to them, "I don't care. Get it done."
This is great news. Next. Bo. Pen. Paper. Do it.
Without wanting to distract from the overwhelmingly positive message in here - and it is a great one - can we talk about how you snuck Aaron Hill into that list of players?
FUCK YES