ManRam in Tdot...

by bunner on Oct 24, 2008 3:08 PM EDT Comment 21 comments

So it's been rumoured the Jays have an interest in Manny and JP has downplayed it saying he's not interested so they will almost for sure make a run at him now...

Question is: Manny in Toronto, good or bad for the Jays?

My Opinion: Manny would have been perfect for the Jays in 2008, they needed a huge offensive lift and a DH both of which Manny are. However, going into 2009 I'm not sure that offence is the team's biggest worry. The emergence of Adam Lind, the return of Aaron Hill and the re-emergence of Alex Rios' power stroke should help the offence. Plus if Travis Snider tears the cover off the ball in AAA (which is where I think he should start the season at) he'll be ready to play full time at some point in 2009, you won't be benching Manny so there might not be room for Tsnid to play which would be a shame.

As for pitching...If (read: when) AJ Burnett opts out the starting rotation is left with Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan (will he be ready or healthy?), David Purcey (very unproven) and one of Brett Cecil, Scott Richmond or someone else. That is a far cry from the rotat ion 2008 started with containing Doc, AJ, McGowan, Marcum and Litsch.

My vote is to spend the money on a starter or starters (AJ or someone else) and sign an experienced/cheaper option to DH that you won't feel bad benching if Travis Snider shows he's ready for fulltime DH duty at some point in 2009.

Although it would be nice to see Manny rip apart the Red Sox at the Skydome (yes I said SkyDome) everytime he plays them!

Your thoughts???

0 recs | Comment 21 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

On a side note...

Looks like the pitching situation has been solved, Jays signed two 1st round picks from the 2002 draft today, the 1st overall selection the the 4th overall selection, going to have a studly rotation…Unfortunately Scott Kazmir wasn’t the 1st selection he was 15th (right AFTER Russ Adams) and Cole Hamels wasn’t the 4th selection he was 17th (also after Russ Adams)…1st was Bryan Bullington and 4th was Adam Loewen.

All kidding aside, Jays signed Canadian Adam Loewen (4th overall to Baltimore) who after multiple elbow issues is now transitioning to a 1B/OF and they also claimed Brian Bullington off waivers from the Indians. Loewen move could have some upside who knows, at least he’s a Canadian. I’m indifferent to the Bullington move…

In looking at the 2002 draft looks like a lot of teams missed early in the 1st round; Jays picked Russ Adams 14th…after that went: Scott Kazmir (15th), Nick Swisher (16th), Cole Hamels (17th), James Loney (19th), Joe Blanton (24th), Joey Votto (44th), Brian McCann (64th)…Of the top 5 picks only one (BJ Upton 2nd) has done anything…Bullington (1st), Chris Gruler (Cin 3rd), Loewen (4th) and Clint Everts (5th) haven’t done much of anything.

by bunner on Oct 24, 2008 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have a little more hope for Bullington than Loewen...

Loewen hasn’t batted in years. Bullington must have something to have been a first round pick, maybe some magic can be worked on him. Or course the best part about picking up Bullington is that Mench was released to open a spot on the 40 man roster for him.

I wouldn’t turn down Manny if you could get him for no more than 2 seasons. Snider could go back to Triple A and come up if (when) one of the outfielders gets injured. But I don’t expect him to want to sign for just 2 seasons. Still like the idea of getting Hank Blalock from Texas, could cover us at the corner infield spots and be a good DH.

by Tom Dakers on Oct 24, 2008 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I like Blalock a lot too

it is hard to argue with getting Manny, I’d even go to three years – hall-of-famers age well and he’d really help the Jays. But Bunner is right, we still need to bring in a starting pitcher, at least one. That’s tough to do on the cheap.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 24, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with Snider as insurance

Signing Manny means you can call up Snider when someone gets hurt. Starting Snider does not mean you can call up Manny when someone gets hurt.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Oct 27, 2008 4:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

did J.P run tht draft with the jays?

coz if so then he shood be shot…somewhere around the head. Any good news about Loewen or Bullington?

Jack McCorry

by JMC93 on Oct 24, 2008 4:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that was his first draft

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 24, 2008 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Loewen is converting into an outfielder

so no help on the pitching front from him, and I wouldn’t bank on his becoming a star position player either. Bullington is, by most accounts, a bust, but the Jays have done well developing pitchers lately (though not as well keeping them healthy, it would seem) so maybe they can get lucky and get him to approach his potential.

by SuckaMD on Oct 28, 2008 11:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you're really good at developing them

you never have to worry about keeping them healthy, because there’s always another one ready to take the place of the last. Okay, it’s a little sleazy, but at least you’re paying for their surgeries.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Oct 29, 2008 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

makes sense

Jack McCorry

by JMC93 on Oct 25, 2008 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another Rumour...

Out of Florida has the Marlins in talks with Toronto about 1B Mike Jacobs (he who hit .247/.299/.514 with 32 HR and 93 RBI.

Would be a great slugging DH and a left handed bat, the avg and obp leave something to be desired but 32HR and 93 RBI do not, they are exactly what the Jays sagging offence needed.

Depending on the price tag this would be a good move by the Jays, maybe even a better fit then Blalock and fewer injury concerns…

by bunner on Oct 27, 2008 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jacobs could be useful in a platoon role

his numbers against lefties are awful, so we’d need a righthanded half of the platoon, but it could be a very cheap solution. I much prefer Blalock, but Jacobs might be helpful, his HR numbers might decline, but he was a little bit unlucky this season (.264 BABIP) hit-wise so he should be able to at least OBP around .325, particularly if he only plays against righties

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 27, 2008 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Normally I wouldn't be worried about a lefty who couldn't hit lefties

with this lineup, but then this year happened. I was wondering about Overbay + Ryan for Delgado (assuming the Mets pick up his option, which they should), but I don’t know if they’d do it. They would be getting 2 years out of each (I think) vs. the one year of Delgado we’d get.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Oct 27, 2008 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DH

Is Giambi going to be a FA? I can’t remember, but if he is he’d be a good option at DH for the Jays and much cheaper (and probably less years) then Manny…Giambi on a 2 year $20M contract (plus some incentives) would be way better then 3-4 years of Manny at $18-$20M per year!

by bunner on Oct 28, 2008 10:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think

the Yankees have a ridiculous option they are likely to decline. They could still resign him, I suppose, but I’m not sure it’s likely – they have too many aging players who need a piece of the DH spot to give it all to Giambi, and he is awful at first base.

I’d rather have Manny at 3 × 20 than Giambi at 2 × 10, I think, assuming we could do that and still find the salary room to sign a starting pitcher, but it’s a risk, and no way Manny comes that cheap for that few years anyway, crazy at it is .

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Oct 28, 2008 10:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which is...

Exactly why I’d want Giambi at 2x$10M because it would leave open the chance to bring in an SP as well whether it’s AJ or someone else…I’d rather have AJ and Giambi at $25M/year (assuming AJ will come back for $15M) then have Manny at $20 or $22M.

Sure he might hit .250 but he gets on base (.373 OPB last year) and he’s a batter that opposing pitchers have to take notice of…if he’s surrounded by Verno and Rios in the order it will open things up for those two.

by bunner on Oct 28, 2008 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that Giambi is still a good hitter

but be at least a little wary. Bill James, I believe, has basically made the point that walking and homeruns are “Old Player’s Skills” and players who succeed based on these skills when young will typically age faster. In my opinion, Giambi fits that mould (though some might argue that his high average when young is a tick in his favour).

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" --Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Oct 29, 2008 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Giambi's apparently not even a type B

let alone type A (because of the time he missed in ’07), so no extra draft picks for the Yankees if we sign him.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Oct 29, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Manny Ramirez

Manny Ramirez might be a bad option to sign. He is a rock offensivly, but the Jays have to many young players that he might change there attitude. He isn’t the best of clubhouse influence, but he can tear the cover off the ball, but this might also mean Snider not starting till 2010.

The Trade-Maker

by dasox313 on Nov 15, 2008 11:32 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I actually

prefer the idea of Snider starting out in AAA and earning his way up to the big club, as long as we’re not wasting at-bats on the likes of Mencherson just to do that. So I’d look at that effect of signing Manny as a feature, not a bug

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Nov 16, 2008 4:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I've said before

If you sign Manny and someone gets hurt (or busts), you call up Snider. If you don’t sign Manny and someone gets hurt, who do you call up?

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Nov 16, 2008 4:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think worrying about what he does to the attitude of other players

is overrated. The Sox made the playoffs and won two World Series with him and the Dodgers did alright with him. Yeah he has Manny moments but compared to what we had DHing last year? Winning causes good attitudes.

by Tom Dakers on Nov 16, 2008 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs