Tim Dierkes, who is awesomely in charge of MLB Trade Rumo(u)rs, has a great recounting of the 1985 contract negotiation for Bill Caudill between the Blue Jays and a young Scott Boras, then in his nascent days as a baseball gadfly. Most definitely worth a read, especially for the younger generation who doesn't remember the times when the sainted Pat Gillick and beknighted Paul Beeston were being run out of town. (It really happened.)And we'd criticize Boras for the skywriting self-promotion if we weren't about to pimp this post on Twitter.
Also from the "Things Could Be Worse" file
Ten years ago, the Blue Jays started the season with Willie Greene as their DH. And finished above .500. We're just sayin'.
And while we're talking rumours
Here's one we like, also from MLB Trade Rumo(u)rs: The Jays are keeping an eye on Dodgers middle infield prospect Chin-Lung Hu. Hu doesn't really have a starting gig in L.A. anymore, but could supplant Marco Scutaro or John McDonald given the chance. Also, Hu has slugged over .500 over the past few seasons in Las Vegas. Johnny Mac didn't slug .500 in Little League. Although he might now...maybe.
Price gets sent down, so what about Snider?
With the Rays sending David Price to AAA to start the season, does that provide a rationale for the Jays to do the same with Travis Snider? In a word: Nope.
Price is going to AAA to get on a regular rotation for the first few months of the season. In those first six weeks or so, the Rays would only need him to start a few times, so they'd rather get him into a rhythm to start the season.
The Jays already started Snider's clock last August - arguably too early - and though it is not too late to reel back at this point, we're not sure it makes much sense to do so.
Not to mention that Rogers is already using The Great Big Giant Pasty White HopeTM in their Sportsnet promotions. Could they scrub him out digitally and replace him? With Kevin Millar?
"With the Rays sending David Price to AAA to start the season, does that provide a rationale for the Jays to do the same with Travis Snider? In a word: Nope."
ReplyDeleteI agree 100%. The weird thing for the Rays is that Price is on an MLB contract, meaning no arbitration concerns. I could understand sending him down to control his contract in the future like they did with Longoria last year but for no reason?
The Rays say its about his innings, which stinks a little.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite Willie Green memory (and only, for that matter) is when he came to the plate in Yankee stadium and some fans sang "Little Willy." Somewhat obvious, but I cracked up.
ReplyDeleteThose damn Yankee fans!
If the Jays started Snider in AAA now, attendance would drop. I would actually predict a full-on riot in the streets. Maybe.
ReplyDeleteJust lock him up after a strong season, and buy out his arbitration years and some FA.
I saw someone mention that the Jays are saving Romero's last option by giving him a year in the bigs in 09, so they don't loose him in 2010.
I doubt the Jays FO is stupid enough to loose a year of Snider by starting him off with the Jays. At least I hope not.
Along with scouting Hu, Rosenthal also mentions they are scouting Juan Castro as well. While I'm all for trying to get Hu, Castro would be rather underwhelming.
ReplyDeleteHow do you figure attendance would drop? I remember Wilner saying no one even noticed when the kid played his first game. He's not bringing in the crowds just yet.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I don't care at this point. I just need the season to start, I'll cheer whoever they run out there. Unless it's Bautista at short.
(I'm with you Andy, in regards to just locking Snider up after the season)
ReplyDeleteBill Caudill is the reason why Tom Henke became one of my fave Jays of all time. As a kid falling asleep listening to Tom and Jerry and the Jays leading by a couple runs going into the 8th, I figure I could read about the victory the next morning. The sucking of the Jays pen in those days was unreal. The first savior, Dennis Lamp (bombed in 1984) and then Caudill was brought in (for Alfredo who I loved, but loved Tony more) and Dave Collins (I like Barfield more, but Collins had a great 1984).
ReplyDeleteCaudill tanked and thank god the Jays had picked up Henke from Texas. Wicked glasses too.
I was at the first game that Caudill pitched at Exhibition Stadium. I remember being so pumped that the Jays finally had a lights out closer.
ReplyDeleteHe struggled in that game but got the save at the end. Good times.
Price is going to AAA to get on a regular rotation for the first few months of the season. In those first six weeks or so, the Rays would only need him to start a few times, so they'd rather get him into a rhythm to start the season. softmod Wii | how to softmod Wii
ReplyDelete