Thursday Bantering: Roster Move, Ticket Prices and the Halladay Rumor Du Jour

by Tom Dakers on Nov 19, 2009 6:27 PM EST in Toronto Blue Jays News

The Jays have added Reider Gonzalez to their 40-man roster which protects him from being picked up in the Rule 5 draft. We talked about Reider yesterday, he's a likely add to our top prospects list. He was 4-6 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 starts at New Hampshire last year.

Robert MacLeod in the Globe and Mail has a story saying the 'may' increase single game ticket prices. I'm not sure if this move by the Jays falls under the heading Chutzpeh or Chutzpidity. You've told the fans you aren't going to win and you've suffered through a season where attendance was down. Is the plan to play in front of no one this year?

Over in the Star, Morgan Campbell has a story about a guy that was told his season tickets would go up in price:

Last season, Woitzik, a lawyer from Whitby, paid $3,823.92 for a pair of season tickets, but the renewal notice he received this week said the same two seats would now cost $5,964.84.

If you don't understand how that could happen, you aren't alone. Here is the explanation:

Jason Diplock, vice-president of ticket sales and service, said the club re-zoned six sections near the field in the left- and right-field corners, making them the same price as more expensive sections along the baselines.

He and president Paul Beeston knew the move would rankle some fans, but Diplock said they contained the price change within the sections with the fewest season ticket holders.

Diplock points out that 99.2 per cent of season ticket holders will pay the same price as last year, while the price hike affects roughly two dozen season ticket holders.

You the the feeling that 99.2% of season ticket holders will be saving 100% of the ticket price cause they won't be buying. Does it seem to anyone else that a public relations class could be taught to the Jays? pretty good

Jays Bob Nightengale from USA Today has said on twitter that the Dodgers are 'focusing on' Roy Halladay. Chad Billingsley would be the centerpiece of their offer, he is pretty good, gotta like pitchers that strike out a batter an inning and he was only 24 last season. I wonder if Doc would want to go to LA, I hear it's fine, the sun shines all the time and the feeling is laid back.

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I would love to get Billingsley

He would be the new guy that could head our rotation… Maybe Scott Elbert, and a bat. Done deal!!

by T.Haynes on Nov 19, 2009 7:09 PM EST reply actions

Billingsley is a decent pitcher, I’d say a #2. But I don’t think you really need a true ace, I’d take 5 “number twos” over an ace plus 4 mediocre pitchers any day. It would be nice to get a somewhat proven commodity for Halladay.

by Woodman663 on Nov 19, 2009 7:20 PM EST reply actions

If they’re talking to the Dodgers, I’d love to see Hu in that deal, or even a package that send Doc+ for Billingsley/Martin/Hu/etc. The Dodgers is the team if Doc gets dealt, I most hope he goes to. Best chance for post-season for Doc, nice range of players that they can package.

by dexfarkin on Nov 19, 2009 8:14 PM EST reply actions

I have a great idea!

Doc for Manny straight up!

Johnnie Morton: The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

by craig in calgary on Nov 19, 2009 9:02 PM EST reply actions

no way

by aagoodfella on Nov 19, 2009 10:21 PM EST up reply actions

I think Doc would go to LA. They are a contender. Hopefully Roy could come to terms on a 4-5 year extension with them and the Jays can get lots of value in return if that happens.

by aagoodfella on Nov 19, 2009 10:22 PM EST reply actions

If it's the Dodgers

I think Billingsley, Hu and Elbert are musts, and I agree with Dexfarkin re: working something out that includes Martin. That gives 2 starters, a SS and C. Not sure what we would need to add to Doc though…perhaps we can throw in one of our surplus BP arms and a lower level prospect, or something like that.

I actually think that Billingsley/Martin/? for Doc isn’t half bad either.

by Jevant on Nov 20, 2009 1:57 PM EST reply actions

Hu hasn’t proved himself as an everyday SS yet, but I think he’s got potentially a Fernandez kind of ceiling. Has hit all the way through the minors, sports a decent OBS, although strikes out a little too often for a guy with his speed for my taste. He’s a steller defender, steals bases, and has Scutaro level power. I think if you get him, you resign Johnny Mac cheap for a year, and use Hu off the bench in a platoon for a while, see if he finds his stroke, and if so, MacDonald finishes off on the bench with Hu starting. If Hu fumbles, you can still send him down to get a ton of at bats in Las Vegas and find his groove.

Hu might end end up a wash, but I like what I’ve seen and read enough to think he’s worth the risk as being a key part of what I’d want in a trade.

by dexfarkin on Nov 20, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

Hate to double respond to an entry, but I actually spent a little time looking at the Dodgers this afternoon.

If Billingsley is available due to Kershaw, Hu is blocked by Furcal for another two years, Elbert isn’t looked at being ready to start, and Martin has May especially knocking on the door after a subpar year from Martin, how’s this?

Billingsley/Martin/Hu/Elbert for Halladay/Frasor/Cecil. Dodgers gain the best starter in the game, as well as a strong lefty starter who is ready at the MLB level. They also had another quality righty to the pen, who can serve as closing depth for Sherrill. Hu’s currently blocked, Elbert isn’t entirely MLB ready, and you’ve got young options behind Russel. Go out and pick up Olivo or something as a veteran starter and insurance if May stumbled. See about resigning Wolf. That’s a rotation of some variant of Halladay, Broxton, Kershaw, Wolf, Padilla, and Cecil. More importantly, you go into the post season with Halladay/Broxton/Kershaw and one of the best, deep bullpens in baseball.

Losing Cecil would hurt, but the Jays have a number of strong lefty prospects. But, we have a starting C, potentially a starting SS, an MLB ready mid-rotation guy, and a high level prospect now in the system. Resign JohnnyMac and Chavez, and go out for a veteran starter like Marquis that eats innings, or do a one year flyer on Harden or Sheets and hope their arm waits for October to fall off. Use 2010 as a chance to play with the bullpen and really determine who’s a fit for 2011, and then get aggressive on FAs in Oct 2010.

by dexfarkin on Nov 20, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions

I was thinking of something like that, except with somebody not named Cecil as the 3rd part from the Jays. I still think Cecil could be an awesome closer/better than average SP. If it’s Halladay/Cecil, I think you want to hang onto Frasor, or just go Billingsley/Martin/Hu for Halladay. Much riskier though.

by Jevant on Nov 20, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions