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Monday, June 29, 2009

Blair: Jays may finally act on Wells and Rios

“As for Rios, he’s turned into a pompous, arrogant bum who adds little.”...Comment sections sure are fun.

Thing is, everybody’s pointed out how poorly Rios and Wells have played and how often they slump. It’s not like it’s just happened this season, you know? But this isn’t a baseball city: it’s a hockey city. It’s also a city without much success in any sport in recent years so, you know, there’s an element of ‘Yeah, whatever,’ at work here. We don’t have a gold standard for sports in Toronto; we have a bronze standard.

So, here you go Millar: Rios and Wells frequently suck – although it was everybody’s favourite Gritty Guy, John McDonald, who was caught off second base before Wells bounced out for the final out of yesterday’s 5-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies and there was nary a boo for Johnny Mac.

Anyhow, my sense is general manager J.P. Ricciardi’s all but at the bag of balls stage; that he’s decided any money saved in off-loading Rios or Wells is more important than what’s brought back in return, and that it would have been done by now had Travis Snider not been hurt. The Blue Jays are in danger of a serious revenue crunch that will impact their ability to do on-field business next year. Money’s not coming in, and Roy Halladay needs to be paid.

Repoz Posted: June 29, 2009 at 08:20 PM | 15 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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   1. BrianBrianson Posted: June 29, 2009 at 08:35 PM (#3237026)
No GM smart enough to operate a phone would take on Wells' contract. That limits Riccardi's options.
   2. Harmon "Thread Killer" Microbrew Posted: June 29, 2009 at 08:45 PM (#3237037)
Rios seems bound to be that guy who has all the tools, but just can't develop a consistent groove.

Seems to me that he was headed in the right direction when he shortened his swing a couple of years back, but that didn't last.
   3. Good cripple hitter Posted: June 29, 2009 at 08:46 PM (#3237039)
there was nary a boo for Johnny Mac.

What game was Blair at? From where I was sitting, McDonald got loudly booed. And rightfully so.

And if the Jays are so concerned about money not coming in, why'd they pick this year to tell Bud that he could keep his currency equalization money? I know that attendance is down, but according to Cot's they cut 20 million from the payroll this year, and the rest of their problems (the Wells/Rios contract escalators) are self-created. If they were so worried about whether or not they'd be able to afford the best player on the team, maybe they shouldn't have committed to giving Rios and Wells 35 million a season from 2010-2014.
   4. Petooter: 11'6" 355 lbs of scrap and grit Posted: June 29, 2009 at 11:10 PM (#3237249)
Rios for Francoeur
   5. Morally Excellent Posted: June 29, 2009 at 11:54 PM (#3237310)
Rios, of course, has been a pretty good major leaguer so far. But he has all the elements that make fans hate him:

- He strikes out a lot.
- He's "inconsistent."
- He has long legs, and runs gracefully, so people think he doesn't hustle.
- Instead of improving from his "breakout," he's kind of had the same year over and over (Andruw Jones syndrome.)

But yeah, overall, .291/.343/.479 over the last four years with strong defense and baserunning. I doubt he's overpaid.

Oh, and Kevin Millar really needs to shut the #### up. But you already knew that.
   6. Darren Posted: June 30, 2009 at 02:04 AM (#3237442)
According to UZR, Rios is a great OF. Top of the heap. It's helped make him worth about 4 WAR/year the past 3 years. I was thinking that some smart GM would swoop in and grab him, but damn, he's got 6 years left at $70 mil or so. That's a long time.
   7. Morally Excellent Posted: June 30, 2009 at 02:09 AM (#3237445)
It's actually 5 years at about 58. Then there's a 1M buyout option. He's only 28. At the worst of it he'll get 12.5M as a 33 year old in 2014. I don't think that's too bad.

I'm more worried about the 86M Vernon Wells gets from 2011-2014. . .
   8. Jonk Posted: June 30, 2009 at 07:09 AM (#3237520)
I hear the Jays might trade Rios to San Francisco for Tim Lincecum?
   9. Dirty Tom Rackham Posted: June 30, 2009 at 12:18 PM (#3237580)
But he has all the elements that make fans hate him

That and all the boneheaded plays he makes. Failing to tag up from third on a long fly ball in the gap was one of the more obvious ones recently.

(and I say that feeling that he's not overpaid)
   10. OCD SS Posted: June 30, 2009 at 12:27 PM (#3237585)
Oh, and Kevin Millar really needs to shut the #### up. But you already knew that.


Yep. I keep hoping that he'll at least take a job out of the AL East.
   11. RJ in TO Posted: June 30, 2009 at 12:31 PM (#3237590)
Oh, and Kevin Millar really needs to shut the #### up. But you already knew that.


I've read very little local coverage of the Jays this year, so I've managed to avoid the bulk of Millar's pointless blatherings. I don't regret this at all.

And Rios is definitely worth the money he's getting paid, even if he hasn't continued to develop in the way that JP hoped.
   12. The Essex Snead Posted: June 30, 2009 at 01:22 PM (#3237637)
Yep. I keep hoping that [Millar]'ll at least take a job out of the AL East.


God help Red Sox Nation if NESN thinks he has what it takes to be an analyst. Tho I imagine non-Boston fans will consider that just deserts.
   13. Harmon "Thread Killer" Microbrew Posted: June 30, 2009 at 01:39 PM (#3237649)
Can we at least switch them around and have Rios play CF?
   14. DLew On Roids Posted: June 30, 2009 at 02:02 PM (#3237669)
God help Red Sox Nation if NESN thinks he has what it takes to be an analyst. Tho I imagine non-Boston fans will consider that just deserts.

I halfway suspect NESN is why he never leaves the AL East. That's 19 chances a year to audition for his next career. I'm glad I have a Mute button.
   15. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: June 30, 2009 at 02:09 PM (#3237674)
Anything to get Vernon "I hit .800 vs. the Yankees and .230 vs. everyone else" Wells out of the AL East
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