Wednesday 5 August 2015

A+ for AA

Typically the MLB trade deadline is met with yawns and an, "oh, was that today?" remark. But as a Jays fan, it usually ends with disappointment, an F bomb or two, and coming to terms with the fact that the post season is yet another year+ away. Jose Bautista echoed this sentiment last year and millions of Jays fans across Canada agreed. Another year, another talented line up, and another year of falling short. WTF.

Well not this year.

This year, the Jays were the troubled kid at school who skipped class and hung out behind the building by the maintenance shed graffitiing the wall with complex math problems and then arguing with the principal about social theory; they just needed a little finessing, someone to see the potential in them and know where and how to encourage it. The bats, the high powered offence that could strike at any time, the intense fielding and commitment of guys like Martin and Donaldson, were often seriously overshadowed by a defence that was costing them games, a starting rotation that at times couldn't offset 6 home runs, and a bullpen that has lead the Jays to well below .500 in one-run games. The troubled but talented kid. Remember him? Or her? What are they today? A lawyer? A brain surgeon? A politician? In jail? Flipping burgers? It could go in any direction. So much depends on that certain someone. Everyone always knows what's wrong with the troubled kid, but few know how to fix it.

Enter Alex Anthopoulos.

It's safe to say no one saw any of this coming. As I said, the trade deadline is typically met with disappointment in Toronto, and considering everyone knew the Jays were desperate for pitching, it seemed the asking prices would be too high. But it wasn't just the starting rotation that needed help, defence needed help, the bullpen needed help; the Jays' shortcomings seemed nearly insurmountable to solve in just a few days. The Jays had good prospects, they shouldn't part with them. Or at least that was the dominating logic. But that's always been the dominating logic. They always have good prospects.

However as a Jays fan, I'm tired of hearing that same old logic. I'm tired of the perennial pat on the back and having to hear the "you will have your chance kid" speech over and over...because that chance has yet to come. Over 20 years of waiting and waiting and waiting. Waiting for that talent to ripen. Waiting for the bats to match the mound, or vice versa. We've seen the Ricky Romeros come and go, when will it finally be our turn for greatness? Our turn for some October magic? When will our GM make a big splash and put the league on notice?

Well AA saw the potential. Granted, it was hard to miss. But adding to his roster in the manner he did and only parting with one current roster player is not only impressive but takes balls. Let's embrace what he did here: he got rid of the highly touted Daniel Norris and Jeff Hoffman, he said goodbye to Castro's 100mph+ stuff and he showed the door to a very well liked Jose Reyes and his 13 errors in blue and white. He transformed the team in 4 calculated and bold moves to take that troubled kid and turn him into a grown-up.

Finally, all those pitchers and prospects they drafted came in handy. All that character they traded for was paying off. However their team of the present did not match up with the prospects of the future they were relying on to make their team better. They needed to be better now. They needed some big leaguers. Why waste your time signing Russell Martin and trading for Josh Donaldson if you didn't have anything else to back it up? You might as well have Buck Martinez and Ed Sprague out there because you're not going to win. This was the time to make these moves. The Jays have the team. The fanbase has been patient enough. Do I care that we lost 8 pitching prospects in 3 days? No. We have David Price. We have Troy Tulowitzki and Ben Revere. Why would I care?

Finally, the Jays' bats are matched by their defence and their bullpen. Finally the Jays look like they might make the post season and even contend. The image of Joe Carter running the bases in celebration were becoming faded and inevitably jaded by years of disappointment. But no longer. The Jays are all in. Pulling off Steinbrenner-like maneuvers and landing big names that typically end up in pin stripes or wearing Red Sox, Anthopoulos has announced the Jays arrival to the big boys table. The troubled kid has grown up and realized its potential. Rejoice Jays fans. Rejoice. Our time to make a run has finally come. All aboard.


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