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The Blue Jays Payroll 2013: A Reader’s thoughts On The Jays Part 7 of a 7 Article Series
Wednesday, September.12/2012
Note from Chuck Booth: Sometimes at the Reports, we are fortunate to have someone take out some serious time to write a huge-detailed explanation of their thoughts on a piece we have written about. I was blown away by the enthusiasm of one of these such readers. Alex Mednick and I started back and forth on the piece I wrote about the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays and I suggested that we should give his analysis a full appreciation by posting it in a guest column for him, So this is Alex’s guest column:
Alex Anthopoulos has fixed a lot of the problems that J.P. Ricciardi left him with. It will take a few more years to see the club reap the benefits of the stock-piled talent coming from the replenished Minor League System.
Alex Mednick: (Special Guest Writer):
Update after the Nov.13 Trade with Miami:
Man, I gotta say…The move with the Miami Marlins made by the Blue Jays shows that management want’s to play ball. Signing Josh Johnson and Mark Buehrle give the Blue Jays two bonafide front-end starters to add into the mix in 2013. With a healthy year from Johnson and Morrow, you’ve got to guys with electric stuff going 1-2, and Buehrle is about as solid of a #3 any team could wish for. Romero in the number 4 slot, takes a lot of pressure off of him to bounce back, and even if he can simply perform at 90% of what he is capable of…it’s a pretty sight for the Blue Jays to have this kind of rotation in the AL East. Management definitely quieted some dubious fans and put it’s money where it’s mouth is!
The signing of 29 year old Jose Reyes gives the Blue Jays a superstar shortstop up the middle for the next 5 years. A guy to lead off who gets on base and steals 40+ bases a year will be very nice to set up the table for Bautista, Encarnacaion and Lawrie. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the Blue Jays still added some more pop to the lineup by trading for an offensively minded left fielder or DH.
The Blue Jays inherited a lot of salary from the deal, but only parted with a few prospects from their deep farm system (Nicolino…one of the Big 3 pitchers, Hechevarria, and Marisnick). They now have Bonifacio and Izturis at 2nd base who are nearly identical players and can deal from a sudden strength there in a emaciated 2nd base market…and they have a plethora of catchers in another thin market, that they can trade. Not to mention the remainder of their extensively talented farm system which they can use as trade bait.
I don’t think the Blue Jays are happy with expecting Adam Lind to bounce back, and I’m unsure whether they are comfortable with Gose/Rasmus in CF either so I would expect them to bring in another outfielder or DH. They already have incredible speed on the basepaths between Gose, Lawrie, Bonifacio, Reyes and Davis.
They may still go after ANOTHER pitcher in the mold of Edwin Jackson, but it is doubtful that they want to spend any more money on the rotation after acquiring Johnson and Buehrle. If they did anything it would likely be via trade, but why when they have Drew Hutchinson, Kyle Drabek, JA Happ and a bunch of other great 5th starter possibilities laying in wait? They are more likely at this point to use trading chips for offense/and or bench players.
The Blue Jays finally made a bold move that shows they recognize that with their current players/contracts/core and the current health of the AL East…the time to strike was now…we couldn’t continue to wait for a rich farm to develop and then harvest. Who would have ever guessed that the two front end starters we required this offseason would come in a single trade? Out of nowhere! And we knew that Yunel Escobar was on the trading block, but we never would have expected to have a Super Star like Jose Reyes at SS for the next 5 years? I know the Blue Jays inquired on Reyes last year during the offseason, but wow…All we can say is “Thank you Mr. Loria”.
I really enjoyed your analysis of the Blue Jays future (for that blog click here ) along with your digest of the various possibilities and directions that may chose going forward.
Furthermore, you hit the nail on the head: When Alex Anthopoulos inherited this team from J.P. Ricciardi, he was merely a protégé of a failed, and over-hyped GM (Ricciardi), who was the protégé of Billy Beane…possibly also “over-hyped”. If Anthopoulos learned anything from his time working under J.P. Ricciardi, and his time sweeping floors in Montreal it may have been this: “While some people may quantify your value based on perceived potential, it is best to quantify yourself on what you have actually done”. Therefore, Anthoploulos wasted no time making moves and proving to all of Canada (along with most of baseball) that he truly is a Ninja. Somehow, someway…he was able to convince the Angels brass, and the ChiSox to fill in the holes that Ricciardi had dug with contract extensions to Vernon Wells and Alex Rios (respectively).
For Part 1 of a 7 Part Article Series: The Toronto Blue Jays Franchise 1977-1993, click here
For Part 6 of the 7 Part Series: Blue Jays 2013 Team Payroll Click here:
Interview with Frank Gailey: Jays Prospect
MLB reports: In our most recent interview, we sat down with Toronto Blue Jays prospect, Frank Gailey. The organization’s 2010 Reliever of the Year, Frank is one of the up-and-coming Jays prospects that should be on everyone’s radar. A 23rd round pick of the Jays back in 2007, Frank simply put has been dominant on the mound from the moment he put on a Jays uniform. As Gailey has steadily and methodically risen up the organizational ladder, baseball insiders feel that its time for the Jays to move Gaily aggressively up the ranks to see what he can do. Back for a second tour of duty with Dunedin High A, Gailey after 15 games this season has exploded, with a miniscule 1.21 ERA, 0.851 WHIP, 6/17 BB/K. Considering the man has a 2.07 ERA in 5 career seasons with a 1.005 WHIP, Frank deserves to be on the fast track. With nothing left to prove in Dunedin, Gailey will hopefully be seeing the bright lights of Las Vegas AAA this season. With left-handed relievers furiously in demand through major league baseball, expect to see Frank Gailey up in Toronto one day soon. Now, without further adieu, MLB reports presents: Frank Gailey.
MLB reports: Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to speak with us Frank. It is much appreciated.
Frank Gailey: Thank you for having me and for the opportunity.
MLB reports: Starting off Frank, to get some background on the type of player that you are- we need to ask who was your favorite baseball player growing up, that you most idolized and patterned your game after? Athletes tend to mirror the players that they looked up to growing up from my experiences.
Frank Gailey: I would have to say that Tom Glavine was the one pitcher that I looked at most and enjoyed watching. He is the type of pitcher that uses all approaches when on the mound. I believe as a left-handed pitcher now in the minors, I now know that I can’t just throw a fastball anywhere and expect to be successful. I need to locate every pitch in and outside the plate. Change speeds and be smarter than the hitter.
MLB reports: Which current MLB star do you most admire and why?
Frank Gailey: To be honest I admire all of them that had a dream like mine and fought through any set backs in their careers and made it. One day, I wish I hope to be in their shoes.
MLB reports: Reflecting on your career to-date, what are your proudest accomplishments on the baseball field?
Frank Gailey: I would have to say that all the accomplishments in my career on the field are amazing and I will never forget the teammates and coaches that were there for me. However, the proudest moment was when I got the call that I was drafted by the Blue Jays. To me that showed that all my hard work and dedication to my dream of one day being a big leaguer is paying off.
MLB reports: What are your goals going into the 2011 season?
Frank Gailey: I would have to say that my goals for this season are to be stronger and stay healthy while having a good season. I believe if I do that, then I would be able to help my team be successful.
MLB reports: When you first found out you were drafted by the Jays, what were your first reactions? Did those reactions change over time? If you can comment on the team itself and your draft position in the 23rd round that would help.
Frank Gailey: To be honest, I heard I was drafted and I was pumped. I didn’t really care whom it was that drafted me, as I just wanted an opportunity to compete at a higher level. But now being with the Jays for some time, I enjoy everyone associated with the Jays organization because they are there to help make me grow better as a player and person.
MLB reports: What do you consider your greatest baseball skill(s)?
Frank Gailey: To me my greatest skills are my competitive nature and ability to stay calm and throw strikes with multiple pitches.
MLB reports: What facets of your game do you most wish to improve upon?
Frank Gailey: The part of my game that I wish to improve on the most is to be completely dominant against left-handed hitters.
MLB reports: How do strikeouts and walks/control figure into your game? Do you see any of these items changing over time and to what degree?
Frank Gailey: To me strikeouts will come if you just throw quality strikes. I don’t get on the mound to strike guys out, but rather to make one quality pitch at a time. Personally I hate walking guys because it a free pass. They did not have to do anything to get on base and I didn’t give my defense a chance to do their job. I don’t see this mind-set changing because it fits my game plan.
MLB reports: Long term do you see yourself staying in the bullpen? Do you envision yourself as a closer in the big leagues one day?
Frank Gailey: If I had to guess I would say yes to the fact that I would be staying in the bullpen. I don’t see myself as a closer but pretty much everything else. But I am ready for any role asked of me by the team.
MLB reports: If you had to look into a crystal ball, when do you see your expected time of arrival in the big leagues and what do you think you need to do most to get there?
Frank Gailey: There is no way I can even guess an answer to something like that. The only things I can do to help my chances are to compete and be the steady guy that the team can rely upon in the bullpen.
MLB reports: Thank you very much for your time and appearing on MLB reports. It has been a pleasure speaking with you and good luck on the season
Frank Gailey: Thank you for having me and thank you to the fans for all of their support.
***A special thank you to Frank Gailey for his time and effort as part of being interviewed for this article. You can follow Frank on Twitter.***
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