Tagged: Penny

No Deal? A Revelation on Rotation

robinson.jpg

I always tried to do the best. I knew I couldn’t always be the best, but I tried to be. Frank Robinson

I was over at bluejays.com today, reading this week’s edition of the mailbag.
In one letter Mark B. from wonderful Aurora, Ontario asked what Jordan Bastian thought the Blue Jays’ 2009 rotation would look like.  Recapping the situation Bastian reminded the reader, and by extension all of us, that the Blue Jays will not be able to match the length or the monetary value of the deals that Burnett will be receiving and as a result the Jays will have two returning starters from 2008 on opening day 2009. (McGowan will return some time before the All Star Break, hopefully as early as May). 

After briefly discussing the free agents available, assuming that Burnett will not come back to Toronto on a goodwill basis, Bastian added that Toronto may put together out of available options from within the club. 

Assuming that Roy Halladay is the only reliable starters, with McGowan hurt and Litsch not yet a proven commodity, is anyone in Toronto willing to accept a rotation that is made up of a combination of Scott Downs, David Purcey, Brad Mills, Casey Janssen, Scott Richmond, Brett Cecil, Ricky Romero or David Romero?  Scott Downs is a good reliever with mild success as a starter.  David Purcey was acceptable in his role as a spot starter last year.  I’m personally excited to see a return on Ricky Romero, the must own prospect that we chose over Troy Tulowitzky.  I am also excited to see what Janssen can do. 

All things considered, however, we are giving up on 2009 if our pitching staff is Roy & Co. with the & Co. section being a bunch of unproven side projects.  Frank Robinson always tried to do his best, but the Jays will be doing less than their best without going after pitchers with at least the record of guys like Brad Penny.  Give fans a reason to come to the ballpark in 2009, Ted.  We’ll respond, like we always have when we’re competitve, by supporting the team.  We may be fair weathered fans here in Toronto, but at least we will support a team that is worth supporting.  There will be no empty seats in the playoffs, if we ever see them again.

 

Rumours of Glory

The world is much abuzz with the onset of the true Free Agent season, and there are many rumours concerning the Jays that we should address.  Let’s break it down situation by situation, player by player.

Big Bat:

Manny Ramirez:
Jordan Bastian says it best.  The Jays probably cannot afford Manny. I’m not too sad to see him go, but I wouldn’t have been sad to see him here, either. What other options are there?

Jason Giambi:
In his seven years in New York Giambi enjoyed five productive years, including three of the last four, and two not so productive years.  On top of that he weathered the storms of steroid abuse, and brought back the mustache to New York, reminding Yankee fans of greats like Reggie Jackson.  At age 37, however, Giambi has the best years of his career behind him.  Jays, expect Frank Thomas like production from JG if you tender him a contract. 

Milton Bradley:
Forget about it.  You can keep the funnest player in the game’s league leading OPS, Canada doesn’t want the headache.  Even with Cito, a much more calm and level headed manager than John Gibbons was, notable jerks don’t fair well in Toronto.  Not only is Bradley a pain in the neck, he also has avoided providing his teams with the breakout season that scouts once envisioned.  It’s fun getting into trouble, but I’ll have to say sorry to Milton.

Raul Ibanez:
I’m not always negative!  I think Ibanez would be a great fit in Toronto.  Ibanez is aging quite well, is a premier offensive player in a number of offensive categories, would give us room to trade the likes of Adam Lind (his value will never be as high as it is now), and would probably welcome the chance to spend time at DH.  We tried once to get him and failed.  What about another go?

Bobby Abreu:
Not quite the unheralded marvel for fantasy owners that he once was, Abreu is a great player and would be a great addition under certain circumstances.  Let’s be honest, with how low his HR totals have been over the last few years, his high rbi totals are mostly due to the lineup in which he plays.  On the other hand an outfield of Wells, Rios and Abreu would be tremendous, considering one is willing to play LF.  What does that mean for Lind and Snyder?  One, if not both of them would have to go.  Abreu is too athletic to DH, Snyder is probably too young, and Lind doesn’t hit well enough.  Abreu may cause more problems than he solves. 

Shortstop

Rafeal Furcal:
I’ve already made the case for Raf a week or so ago.  Great pickup if we can get him.  Picking up Raf, Ibanez and a good pitcher would make Toronto a real contender I believe. 

Khalil Greene:
WARNING!!! FLUKE YEAR IN 2007!!! Since 2004 he’s only had one season where he’s played more than 121 games.  2007 was a fluke because of injury woes, not because of talent (of which Khalil has plenty).  If you pick this cat up, JP, get ready to give up your job the second he’s injured.  Let Burnett and Glaus teach you that.

Premium Arm

Burnett:
Some of the best reading I’ve done today was over at the hotstove blog where I noticed AJ’s agent had expressed interest in Atlanta and that Atlanta had given up hope, at least somewhat, in acquiring Peavy.  Go AJ.  Go far.  Go so far that we don’t even have to tolerate you in anything more than the odd interleague matchup. 

Dempster:
It is tempting to think of the chance of having another Canadian on the team.  I miss Stairs.  Dempster is positionally versataile, his injury plagued seasons are three years behind him and he’s coming off a successful transition back into a starter.  Finishing sixth in the crowded NL Cy Young race Dempster had an era below 3 and just over 1.2 WHIP.  Solid.

Ben Sheets:
Next.

Just kidding – I’ll explain myself.  I wasn’t always allergic to injuries.  But the Jays 2006-2008 seasons have me so scared I won’t even go for a checkup at the doctor.  Great talent here but his injury track record is awful.  Let someone else waste their money.

Brad Penny: 
Hmmm, didn’t know he was an option.  His under-the-radar status, due to his recent injury troubles, may make him affordable.  Unlike Sheets he has pitched a couple of full seasons recently and looked very good for the offensively anemic Dodgers in 2007.  Worth a shot!

There you have it, what do you think?