It's funny, because we'd started writing up this post a few days ago, and Paul Beeston has been kind enough to confirm at least one aspect of our hypothesis."We've been working on a plan and in short order that will come out," he told CP's Shi Davidi.
Our notion for a while has been this: The Jays have a plan, and they are holding it back until the end of the season. And as much as we fans and bloggers alike are working ourselves into a lather like a dozen monkeys in a tub full of Mr. Bubble, the Jays brass is banking on the fact that when they roll out - in rapid succession - the new President, GM, a replacement for Cito and a budget number for 2010 through 2013ish, then we'll all prance about singing bold choruses in praise of the dawning of the team's new Aquarian age.
And who's kidding who? We probably will.
On a certain level, it makes sense to do this at the close of the current season. With the season still on, it would be difficult to can J.P. and shift Cito into a advisory role where he can do minimal harm. Moreover, they'll be able to cascade these announcements into one another, building momentum towards next year, hopefully erasing the memory of the dogfuck that was the last two-thirds of this year.
If we were a PR dude, we might even recommend such a strategy. But what they may have missed in taking the longer view is the effect that fielding a subpar lineup for the rest of the season is going to have on the consumers' confidence in the organization.
Sometimes, if you have good news to share, it's better to just get it out there. Because you never know what sort of misery tomorrow brings.
I don't think Cito is going anywhere next year unless they ask him to "voluntarily" stand down and he obliges.
ReplyDeleteIf there's a new GM, Cito's gone, as is most of the coaching staff just as a matter of course - new broom et al. I'm sure he'll be given the chance to "step down" and save face though he has precious little to save as it stands. if they're willing to eat Ryan's salary and let Rios go for nuttin', then there's no fiduciary reason to keep Cito.
ReplyDeleteOf course, if Beeston pulls a Cheney and appoints himself, all bets are off.
"working ourselves into a lather like a dozen monkeys in a tub full of Mr. Bubble"
ReplyDeleteOr what I like to call, "Saturday night."
Well played, Stedron.
ReplyDeleteI really hope it's a five year plan. The irony would be so fucking delicious.
I'm down with the Beest staying aboard, if that's the case. I feel you, Tao, on the tip that they should just announce it now, and stop the God damn insanity.
Let's face it, PR is certainly not the Blue Jays' forte.
If there is a new Pres, a new GM, and a new manager, I only hope that Arnsberg survives the cuts. In Arnsberg I continue to trust.
I don't think Cito's going anywhere that he doesn't want to go.
ReplyDeleteInteresting dilemma will be what happens to the coaching staff, especially Cito's guys.
I might like to see Butterfield get the manager post, with Arnsberg staying, Murphy moving to hitting coach, someone new coming in for first and Tennace maybe moving to a bench coach spot.
Because you know they're not going to fire all of those guys.
Reading the linked article, I have but one question: Will the Blue Jays break their all time low attendance mark "the team's record for smallest crowd ever - 10,074 at Exhibition Stadium versus Chicago on April 17, 1979" before the end of this season?
ReplyDelete@Darren
ReplyDeleteMy guess is yes, they will.
Last home series will draw well, but others will be lousy.
Is this what we're clinging to as Jays fans? A Beeston plan that's bound to disappoint. Let me check... yep, that's about the best thing to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteIt's not "bound to disappoint." You have Beeston confused with Ricciardi.
ReplyDeletePATIENCE, YOUNG JEDI WARRIORS.
I wouldn't say bound to disappoint. It's entirely possible that there'll be enough to make us convince ourselves that maybe if everything plays out right, we compete.
ReplyDeleteI mean, we had ourselves half-convinced that was the case this year.
Tao, I believe that in your post you should be using "effect" and not "affect."
ReplyDeleteWipe the slate clean and start fresh next year. Rip off the bandaid now instead of slowly pulling it back over the next year meanwhile putting us all through agony.
ReplyDeleteI hope Butterfield stays; I'd also love to see him get a shot at the manager's role. He's always been that quiet, confident type with plenty of baseball smarts, at least from a fan's perspective.
ReplyDeleteI do often wonder about Arnsberg. Under his watchful eye, a lot of young arms have gone from mediocre to solid, but then onward to extended stays on the disabled list. It's hard to know how much of each of those things he's responsible for; can we really believe the arm development is all his doing, but the injuries are all bad luck?
I do expect Cito will be asked to move; and really, when your employer asks you to move, they're not really asking. It's not something you refuse. So I really disagree with the notion that it's Cito's call where he is next year; there's no way he's managing this team. If he is, even the diehards are going to be hard-pressed to find something to cheer for.
Hey, uh, maybe the Jays could just hire Brian Burke? :)
Don't forget to vote for Vernon Wells for the 2009 Roberto Clemente Award!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe Vernon Wells is up for any kind of award.
The sad truth is I'm excited to hear that maybe there just might be some kind of plan going forward. I'll take what I can get...
ReplyDeleteOut of curiosity - what can the BJ's management do to work towards a division title with Boston and NY in our division...do they need to out spend them? Can they build from within and hope for a miracle season? Hope that Boston and NY decide to rebuild and not try to win every year buy snapping up all the free agents?
ReplyDeleteIs thinking we can win the division a pipe dream? Should we as BJ fans be content with mediocrity? Should we take a different approach to winning - one where we root for our guys not to win it all but just root for that day's game?
'Cuz the 90's are gone...parity is dead in the MLB and no one cares it seems
@Kanuck:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you re: Arnsberg. I know some injuries are flukes, but there certainly are a lot more of them than can be just a statistical blip.
To be honest, I would think he's the least likely to come back next season. Remember - AJ said one of the big factors he came to Toronto was to work with Arnsberg again, and that didn't seem to be enough to get him to stay.
@ G Valentino:
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't be so quick to condemn Arnsberg as a demon on arms; if I recall correctly (though I might be wrong),someone actually ran the stats and the Jays are somewhere in the middle of the pack injury wise.
The only reason I would say he's "least likely" to come back is that he isn't one of Cito's "guys". Which would be horseshit, to be frank.
...and AJ was and is full of shit. The only reason he came to the Jays is the same reason he went to the Yankees - dollar$.
ReplyDelete@ TheAck
ReplyDeleteYeah, true, I guess in TL interview he couldn't just say "Mo money! Where my sideburns at?"
I hope nobody is counting on Randy Ruiz going forward, for real...
ReplyDeletehttp://jayszone93.wordpress.com/2009/09/12/randy-ruiz-the-next-dh/
If Tao, Ack, or anyone similar truly thought Randy Ruiz was going to be an answer, they should keep that to themselves. Even I, ignorant as I am, thought 'no fucking way' when I saw his age and time in the minors.
ReplyDeleteHey, Randy, hope you either got your grade 12 or a 12 inch dick, cause you ain't getting it done in the MLB.