The Glade 4.0

Anybody been following the offseason moves the Jays have made? I know florida MLB fans are furious with the Marlins for what was a blatant salary dump... Will this allow the Jays to actually compete in the AL east?

Details:

Toronto received: Jose Reyes (SS), Mark Buehrle (P), Josh Johnson (P), John Buck (C), Emilio Bonifacio (OF) and $8.5 million dollars

Miami received: Yunel Escobar (IF), Adeiny Hechavarria (IF), Henderson Alvarez (P), Anthony DeSclafani (P), Justin Nicolino (P), Jeff Mathis (C), Jake Marisnick (OF)

Most of the players sent to Miami were fringe players or minor league prospects. Toronto got some real quality there.

The Jays also signed free agent outfielder Melky Cabrera.

This is really looking like a big offseason for Toronto.

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Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

The thing about the trade really isn't centered around the players. Toronto got some decent players, yeah, but nothing really crazy(health issues beign the big deal with the top guys they got, Johnson, Reyes). The real issue is the scewing over of the Miami people for footing the bill for a stadium under the pretense that ownership was going to build a winning team. The Miami folks got screwed big time.

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"It is true that democracy undermines freedom when voters believe they can live off of others' productivity, when they modify the commandment: 'Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote.' The politics of plunder is no doubt destructive of both morality and the division of labor."

Yeah, it's pretty huge. Escobar is about the only thing that Miami got out of that, although Mathis is an OK defensive catcher. But that's at least three quality players that Toronto picked up. I'm not that familiar with their lineup, but it seems like a good deal for them. I hope they're competitive, a four-way race could be a gas (I'm hoping Boston just continues to plummet ).

But, really, this just confirms my dislike of Miami. Every time they won the Series they did this, and now they're just doing it for incomprehensible reasons. I understand salary dump, but they don't seem to have much of a plan.

_________________
This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Four when you add Melky Cabrera. The other two (John Buck and Emilio Bonifacio) are admittedly more bench depth, although Bonifacio is a great utility bench player, by the looks of it.

_________________
Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

That phrase makes Indians fan twitch and barf in their mouths a little (or a lot).

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Melky is a bit of an unknown. He was really good last year, right up until he failed his PED test.

Prior seasons he was an average player (which may be an upgrade.. not familiar with Toronto's roster).

It will be interesting to see which Melky shows up.

Anyway, it's obvious that Tornoto is not going to lay down for the Yankees and Red Sox. Neither of those teams are playing well, especially not when you consider their payroll. Toronto smells blood in the water.

I'd love to see them win that division next year...

Baltimore

_________________
"It is true that democracy undermines freedom when voters believe they can live off of others' productivity, when they modify the commandment: 'Thou shalt not steal, except by majority vote.' The politics of plunder is no doubt destructive of both morality and the division of labor."

Yup, they have a good young team. It will be interesting to see what they do during the owners meetings in the next few weeks.

I think the end of last regular season was a bit of a flukish. I don't think they will surprise anyone this season. But you never know. That's why they play the games, and it's what makes baseball a great sport...

Yeah, not sure what ot make of Melky. I liked him when he was with the Yankees, but was kind of surprised this year. And then surprised again, when I shouldn't have been, perhaps. I guess he's quality, but my jury is still out.

_________________
This cold and dark tormented hell
Is all I`ll ever know
So when you get to heaven
May the devil be the judge

Now added R.A. Dickey.

Normally I'd be skeptical about adding a 38 year old pitcher, but knuckleballers tend to be best in their late 30's and continue effective well into their 40's...

_________________
Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

Blue Jays projected starting rotation and lineup, 2013

Rotation
R.A. Dickey
Josh Johnson
Mark Buehrle
Brandon Morrow
Ricky Romero

Lineup
José Reyes SS
Melky Cabrera OF
José Bautista OF
Edwin Encarnacion DH
Brett Lawrie 3B
Colby Rasmus OF
Adam Lind 1B
J.P. Arencibia C
Emilio Bonafacio 2B

_________________
Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

Looking good! I hope the roster upgrades help the win the East!

Sadly, adding expensive (supposedly good) players doesn't always work out.... Just ask the Angels from last season...

Past performance is no guarantee of future results...

_________________
Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

_________________
Well Ali Baba had them forty thieves, Scheherezade had a thousand tales
But master you in luck 'cause up your sleeves you got a brand of magic never fails...
...Mister Aladdin, sir, What will your pleasure be?
Let me take your order, Jot it down -You ain't never had a friend like me
█ ♣ █

That's nucking futz...

It's so easy, you can catch it with your eyes closed.

As one of the greatest catchers of all time said, it's easy to catch a knuckleball. Just wait for it to stop rolling, then pick it up and throw it back.

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