Does Howe have some ties to Toronto or something? It seems odd to so specifically lobby for an opening. I suppose maybe Toronto is the only spot available? Who else is looking for a manager right now? Colorado?

Even if this is just because he bumped into a Jays sportswriter at the airport, it sure seems like it's something he's put some thought into.

I'd be happy with Howe.

Toronto is his dream job!

...and were very competitive until they fell off with those injuries to their position players

Not to mention the injuries to their pitching staff

“Our guys liked being at the park, our travelling secretary, Mickey Morabito, used to ask. ‘Why are we paying for the team bus?’ Everyone came to the park early on their own, ahead of the bus.”

So, you're saying 25 guys, 25 cabs? :-)

I'd also like to throw my hat in the ring for this position.

Out of a string of bad Met managers, Howe might be my least favorite. Just didn't seem to bring anything to the table.

I am not opposed to Howe as manager of the Jays, but I'm also not supportive of him as manager of the Jays. It seems like another boring Fregosi-ish generic veteran manager selection.

Come on, you can switch around these headlines when you submit them. "Art Howe: Sure, I'd listen if the Blue Jays called" is the obvious choice!

I too would like to manage the Blue Jays. Unfortunately I don't have a passport, so I would be willing to submit a joint application with a Canadian Primate's on the board - you handle the home games, I'll take care of all the road trips.

I too would like to manage the Blue Jays. Unfortunately I don't have a passport, so I would be willing to submit a joint application with a Canadian Primate's on the board - you handle the home games, I'll take care of all the road trips.

I'll submit our joint application later tonight.

More importantly, how is his sister Ann doing?

Howe is the definition of a cromulent manager. He's not bad, but he's not going to blow your mind. He's competent and seems like a nice guy and will bore your pants off if he has one of those Manager shows on the radio.

He lights up the room!

Howe is the definition of a cromulent manager. He's not bad, but he's not going to blow your mind. He's competent and seems like a nice guy and will bore your pants off if he has one of those Manager shows on the radio.

This was my opinion when the Mets hired him, and it didn't change. I did realize the obvious though-- having a boring manager is really, really dull. Toronto deserves better.

I did realize the obvious though-- having a boring manager is really, really dull. Toronto deserves better.

Given the last couple years, I actually wouldn't mind having to deal with a dull but competent manager.

This was my opinion when the Mets hired him, and it didn't change. I did realize the obvious though-- having a boring manager is really, really dull. Toronto deserves better.

Ozzie Guillen is available.

Art Howe is the Bob Geren of managers.

Given the last couple years, I actually wouldn't mind having to deal with a dull but competent manager.

"Competence" in this case means "not setting his head on fire and running across the field." It's a low bar. IIRC, Howe's bullpen management was beyond frustrating, but that may have also been a function of the talent on-hand.

I don't really have a sense of where the Jays are going into 2013-- going into 2012, things looked pretty bright, but they were completely snakebitten all season. I'm not sure how you evaluate a team after so much of what seemed like a solid plan goes to hell.

Am I the only one who thinks the Gomes+Aviles for Rogers deal deserves its own thread, based on the merits of being the only worthwhile transaction this week?

"Competence" in this case means "not setting his head on fire and running across the field." It's a low bar. IIRC, Howe's bullpen management was beyond frustrating, but that may have also been a function of the talent on-hand.

Ferrell's bullpen management was frustrating, as was his lineup construction, his management of the running game, his inability to develop young talent, his ability to lose the clubhouse, and his ability to just generally #### everything up. Setting his head on fire and running across the field would probably have been an upgrade over what he actually achieved.

I don't really have a sense of where the Jays are going into 2013-- going into 2012, things looked pretty bright, but they were completely snakebitten all season. I'm not sure how you evaluate a team after so much of what seemed like a solid plan goes to hell.

I have no idea either. They looked like they were putting together a solid rotation, who then all were hurt and/or ineffective, but mostly hurt. They looked like they were putting together a solid lineup, and then Rasmus, Lawrie, Escobar, Johnson, Snider, Thames, and Arencibia all underperformed, and Bautista got hurt, and Lind continued to be the Lind of every year other than 2009, and the bench was so horrible it provided absolutely no usable backup options. The only guy who outperformed expectations was Encarnacion and, while it was a hell of a year, it's not enough to keep a lot of optimism for next season.

Am I the only one who thinks the Gomes+Aviles for Rogers deal deserves its own thread, based on the merits of being the only worthwhile transaction this week?

The Jays acquiring some random righty reliever no longer counts as news, given that they seem to do it on a nearly daily basis.

Am I the only one who thinks the Gomes+Aviles for Rogers deal deserves its own thread, based on the merits of being the only worthwhile transaction this week?

The Jays acquiring some random righty reliever no longer counts as news, given that they seem to do it on a nearly daily basis.

I've seen Rogers pitch a little. He has good stuff. Hard fastball, at the very least. Looks like the Rockies miscast him as a swingman/starter at first but he settled down in Cleveland. I really wonder whether AA had to throw in 2 cromulent and versatile players for him though. Hopefully there's at least a stopgap 2B coming soon by trade or potential FA (Freddy Sanchez?).

The Blue Jays have giant, gaping, black holes at LF, 2B, and 2-3 fifths of the rotation. If anything, the bullpen is now a strength. Delabar is nasty.

And I doubt it's happening but Melky would be an interesting idea.

Art Howe is the Bob Geren of managers.

And if poor Art thought Moneyball was insulting...

I really wonder whether AA had to throw in 2 cromulent and versatile players for him though.

This is what bothers me. As you note, it's not like we had a huge pile of weaknesses in the bullpen, but Aviles would have made a tolerable starting 2B, or a very useful utility guy, and Yan Gomes could have been another useful player as the backup C/3B/1B. Neither player looks destined to be a star, but both could have filled needed roles.

This is what bothers me. As you note, it's not like we had a huge pile of weaknesses in the bullpen, but Aviles would have made a tolerable starting 2B, or a very useful utility guy, and Yan Gomes could have been another useful player as the backup C/3B/1B. Neither player looks destined to be a star, but both could have filled needed roles.

See, this deal does deserve its own thread...

What are the options AA is looking at? (In particular 2B, LF and SP...surely Rajai was only signed to be a 4th OF/Rasmus sucking insurance)

I've heard Edwin Jackson's name bandied about...which doesn't exactly fill me with excitement.

...seems like a nice guy and will bore your pants off if he has one of those Manager shows on the radio.

You know who was entertaining on the radio?

J. P. Ricciardi.

You know who was entertaining on the radio?

J. P. Ricciardi.

I think Bobby Valentine might listen if the Jays called.

I think Bobby Valentine might listen if the Jays called.

I'd accept this on the condition that John Gibbons was hired to be his bench coach. Attendance and revenue would go way up, so long as they ran the following promotion:

Inside every program (sold for $5) would be a scorecard similar to the one from the Clue board game. When the inevitable happened and Valentine or Gibbons appeared on the field with a serene, Galarraga-esque smile on their face and blood on their jersey, fans could fill out their official MurderBall™ scorecard to identify the victim, murder location, and weapon. Was the crime the murder of Yunel Escobar in the clubhouse with a replica of the 1992 World Series trophy? Was it Rajai Davis in the parking lot with a stop sign? Perhaps it was JP Arencibia in the cages with a fungo bat? Fans who submit correct guesses could win Ricky Romero jerseys, tickets to Blue Jays legend Omar Vizquel's Hall of Fame induction weekend, and 3% off 2014 season tickets!

Looks like the Jays are in on Maicer Izturis

I think I'd rather have kept Mike Aviles.

3 years, 9 mil with a team option. Well, at least it's cheap.