Manny Being Manny... In Toronto

by T_Mizz on Aug 31, 2010 10:12 AM EDT

So I was browsing the videos on Sportsnet.ca (amazingly I can access it without changing my internet browser to Sportsnet explorer one) and this little gem struck me as very interesting.

Manny to Toronto

It's starting everyone's favourite (ironically or sincerely depending on which pole you're at) Mike Wilner and he makes some good points about how well Manny hits in Rogers Centre (apparently .970 lifetime OPS). He goes on to describe how Manny would take away all defensive flexibility, how he'd put butts in the seats, how, if you do that, you need to also go out and get another OF, and how improbable it is for all this to happen.

My thinking is that if you look at this team next year, you think "Hey with "The Four Guys" leading the rotation, this team could be competitive in every game, if the offense can get there too we may be looking at Playoffs!!!1"

For example, let's say the Jays do go out and get e'rything Big Mike, Arthur and Blair discussed: Manny for 1 year plus an option, Ozzie for however long you want the circus to be in town for, and an outfielder (let's say Crawford) for 2 maybe 3 years. Your 2011 Jays look like this (simply the defensive alignments, I'll let you work out the batting order in your heads):

C Arencibia

1B Lind

2B Hill

SS Escobar

3B Bautista

RF Snider

CF Wells

LF Crawford

Rotation:

#1T Romero

#1T Marcum

#1T Morrow

#4 Cecil

#5 Any number of guys really but let's say Drabek

That, in my opinion is a line-up that could compete in the AL East. And then the next year (2012) you be looking at the exact same lineup but if Manny doesn't get his option picked up you bring up Hechavarria to take his place in the batting order (not the same place but just the fact he's in it) and you mess around with the defensive alignment. Then assuming the world doesn't end in 2012, you go to the 2013 season which is when many people expected to start competing, having already been competitors for the past 2 years.

I realize how improbable this is being as it's counter to AA's The Plan, which I think everyone here agrees with, but it's an idea to kick-start the competitive years, advancing them 2 years, so for that reason, it's an idea worth discussing here.

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Comments

Armchair GM'ing is fun

But I don’t think we are getting Crawford.

I honestly think Manny could be a possibility though.

by Rhinos on Aug 31, 2010 10:51 AM EDT reply actions

Manny is a bit of a headcase

I’m not sure that you want to introduce those kinds of problems to what will still be a young team. I think he does bring value to a more veteran team, but even then you are buying into a declining product.

by siggian on Aug 31, 2010 12:08 PM EDT reply actions

Definitely not!

We don’t need an ageing head case, or any head case for that matter.

We’ve got a good young team with an apparently good clubhouse vibe, let’s not ^%@! it up.

by jabalong on Sep 2, 2010 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions

We might as well leave Crawford alone and wait for your homegrown talent such as Thames and Gose, plus why try and outbid the Yankees and Red Sox when we all know its impossible.

by Joseph Kirby on Aug 31, 2010 12:22 PM EDT reply actions

But the thing is that probably won't be until 2013 when "The Four Guys" break up

So while you have them, why not compete? This would do it and the best part is that it doesn’t really compromise competing in the future, except I guess the losing a first round pick and possibly a second rounder. Also you might not do this if Downs, Gregg and Frasor all decline arbitration because as good as the rotation and lineup will be, the bullpen will be seriously lagging without all those guys.

by T_Mizz on Aug 31, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

"The Four Guys"

will be the same with the only change being Drabek taking Marcum’s place

by KWJAYS on Aug 31, 2010 1:19 PM EDT up reply actions

Mastro too...

by Joseph Kirby on Aug 31, 2010 12:24 PM EDT reply actions

Manny’s really washed up. I would doubt the Jays would pick him up. Manny’s like Molitor and Winfield back in the early 90s- you pick him up when you have a solid, contending nucleus down but you need a bat to get you over the top. I don’t think the Jays are there yet.

by bleh on Aug 31, 2010 1:14 PM EDT reply actions

Manny

If this team was a Manny Ramirez away from being a serious playoff threat, go for it.

The fact that we need to suggest adding Crawford to get there means Manny is a complete a) pipedream and b) waste of time.

We aren’t getting Crawford. The Yankees are getting Crawford. He wants his money on a long term deal, and he’s not coming to Toronto.

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose.

by Jevant on Aug 31, 2010 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Didn’t AA say that the reason they traded for Gose was because there aren’t many good center fielders becoming free agents over the next 4-5 years? I can’t imagine the Blue Jays outbidding the Yankees or Red Sox for Crawford.

by scrambles the death dealer on Aug 31, 2010 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

I saw the same thing on PTS. They make good points, but he will be 39 next year. Id rather go after 29 year old Jason Kubel

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by syc on Aug 31, 2010 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

Getting Crawford sounds nice but..

I agree. i think Crawford goes to Yanks or Angels. In addition to a longterm deal, i think he will want to play in a big American market.

by upstate jay fan on Aug 31, 2010 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

I'd like to see...

the Jays go after Prince Fielder (or Adrian Gonzalez), either via trade this off-season or as a FA after next.

by bunner on Sep 1, 2010 9:32 AM EDT reply actions

Personally I think Fielder is a huge risk.

He’ll want Pujols/Howard money but has not demonstrated the consistency of either of those players. I top of that you have to wonder how healthy he can stay beyond the age of 30. Mo Vaughn and Cecil Fielder didn’t do well beyond that age. I would hate to see the Jays having to eat another mega contract.

by IanJ on Sep 1, 2010 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions

I’d far rather see Gonzalez sought after than Fielder. Gonzalez is a pretty good defender who also gets on base a ton. Fielder’s the better hitter, but Gonzalez is the better all round player, and he’s got the kind of skills that will provide useful production even when he’s slumping or starts to decline.

by dexfarkin on Sep 1, 2010 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

First reaction was Manny, no f’n way! But I got to thinking about it, having him as an everyday DH with a high on base and still plenty of power, might not be such a bad idea. It would definitely work out better than the Frank Thomas experiment. Adding another big bat to the lineup, having the kids play the field, for the right price it may just work out. At least it would add to the Blue Jay buzz in TO and fill some seats, even if its just everyone waiting to see how long till his melt down. But hey, Terrel Owens made it through a season for the Buffalo Bills without exploding so maybe. The question would be, would he want to come here for the remote possibility of making the playoffs with the Jays or maybe take less and go to a perennial favorite?

Why I'm a optimistic Bills fan:
The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination.
- Marion Zimmer Bradley

by mavadjdj on Sep 1, 2010 11:09 AM EDT reply actions