Using assets in the proper way

Oh, boy.

Know how I’ve wanted to be a fan of some team and was quite enamoured of the TOD?

Well, whoopee! This has been a Blue Jays fall to remember. Thanks, Alex.

On the R.A. Dickey deal, which has to be the culmination of the best fall in franchise history:

Here’s the thing about prospects:

They’re PROSPECTS!

No one has any real idea how they’ll turn out, for every “can’t-miss” there’s a “didn’t-make-it” and every general manager worth his corner office knows this.

And that’s why the TOD deal makes more sense that you can ever imagine.

It was great of AA to turn around the Jays farm system to stock it with what everybody seems to term blue-chip talent because it’s all about stockpiling assets in today’s sports world.

And then you can use those assets in one of two ways:

You can wait until they mature – or hope they mature – and stock your major league club with them; it’s painstaking, of course, and there are no guarantees but at least it affords your fans some sense of promise and that – eventually – you’ll be all right.

Or, and this is what I like most, you can use those assets and turn them into bigger, more proven assets, which is precisely what Alex Anthopoulos did in the R.A. Dickey deal.

The GM spent enough time making sure he had sufficient organizational depth that he could pull off two deals this winter to absolutely energize his team and its fan base.

Good on him.

Now, I hope Travis D’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard go on to have long and illustrious careers and there suggestions from people whose opinions I respect that they will.

But I’d much rather be a fan of a team whose GM seizes the moment, goes for home run instead of bunting the runner over as long as he has the assets to pull it off. He did, good on him, glad he got something for them, my patience was wearing thing.

(Of course, I’m leery about knuckleballers for a lot of reasons but that’s for another day)

I was trying to think of the last time sports fans in Toronto were more looking forward to a season than they are today about the Blue Jays.

Maybe back in the early-2000s with the Vince-led Raptors? And that was more than a decade ago.

Cannot for the life of me thing of a legitimate off-season when pucks fans were as pumped; don’t recall an Argo winter this active in eons; and I have no clue what the TFCs do since they seem to play almost 12 months a year.

A special time, indeed.

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Seriously.

Nothing says Christmas better than a little Twisted Sister.

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I was just a kid dealing with mono – which is a perfect way to just laze around on a couch for few weeks – about the time of the Watergate hearings back in the day and they were, as Those Of Us Of A Certain Vintage will recall – quite compelling.

And one of my all-time favourites in that whole sordid affair was Sen. Daniel Inouye, who was something of the conscience, as I recall.

Sam Ervin was another favourite but Inouye was cool.

Turns out he was far, far more than just that, as we found out yesterday when he passed away.

RIP, sir.

And I know there are other oldsters around here, did you have a favourite in those hearings?

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It’s the annual Sports Department Christmas Party and Buntoss tonight (yes, you can fully imagine the carnage that might occur at one of those) so it’s a night off from the IGBT; be back tomorrow.

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I’ve been on the road so much I’d forgotten that Tuesdays mean Super Son has to be in school at 7 a.m. and, trust me, Super Wife didn’t let me forget.

Sorry I’m a bit late; had a wee drive to make.

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Hey, check out Not Grace Kelly’s tome on Tristan Thompson, glad he used his time in Cleveland to good purpose.

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The Raptors?

Yeah, they practiced yesterday, was no compelling news at all; a quick workout setting up the three games in four days that starts tonight and, as you might expect, lots of chatter about the contribution of Jose Calderon of late.

The money quote came from Alan Anderson:

“He's like the glue. He does everything, man. Without Jose I don't even know if we could win any of these games. He's amazing to us. Rebounding, passing, vocally leads everybody, talking, gets everybody in their positions. He's just like our calm, poised leader on the floor. It's great to have him.”

Not much more to say than that, is there?

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You know me and the Canadian women’s basketball team, right?

Have been on that bandwagon for quite a while, trying to encourage a lot of you to join me because I’ve seen the program go from nothing, really, to top eight at the Olympics and I’ve been saying since the mid-2000s that they were going to have more global success before the men ever would. I was proven right, I’d say, with two trips to the worlds and the London excursion.

(I’m not saying it’ll stay that way for the next five years because the men’s program is promising but we should have been paying far more attention to the women since about 2005)

And the news yesterday that Allison McNeill was stepping down as the team’s head coach was a bit sad – although I’m happy she’s happy with the decision – and truly the end of an era.

I don’t know how many conference calls I was on with her after her team got drilled at some tournament – and, no, there weren’t ever too many people on those calls – and she’d be telling me they were on the right track and that eventually they’d be talented enough and old enough and experienced enough that the journey would have been worth it. I believed her then and the that London experience proved it to be true.

I asked her yesterday about the journey and the memories and the highlights and she pointed to that final game in London; yes, it was an expected loss but it was, frankly, special.

“We realized what we had done as a group and how we had done it. It felt like we had done it right.”

She had. They had.

Now, I know my man Wayne Parrish will read this, or hear about it, and I’m sure some other folks at Canada Basketball (hello, Michele!) will pay attention so listen up:

You know how you put together that Council of Excellence back in the day to turn around the men’s program and I was always dogging you about doing something similar for the women but we could never come up with someone to lead it:

Give it a month or so, call Allison, make her something like you made Maurizio with the men. You won’t regret it.

You’re welcome. -

 

 

 

Comments

whenever you write about women's basketball doug, i just keep scrolling

Blogger's note: Why do you think I care?

man, you should just write all the articles for the star doug. my eyes deteriorate every time i read one of cathal kelly's pieces. it's like he doesn't know what a paragraph is. nobody wants to read his judgemental attempts at snark chain of uncoordinated thoughts. and are we not trying to promote Tristan in the article? here he goes calling TT a liar of sorts? i hate his articles and his picture bothers me just as much. he is a foil to you doug., your work is professional and is appreciated. happy holidays to you, super wife, super son and super dog.

[Mike D.]

I don't keep scrolling, Doug......you had me at "women."

Continuing my unsolicited list of "plans that are worse than tanking for the next 150 games so we can draft Andrew Wiggins", here's today's suggestion: clearing cap space and preparing to pitch Lebron James that in 2014 he should take his talents to Bay Street.

[Peter]

Wow. Awful first few comments today. Thank you for covering the women's basketball team for all these years. They have been a great story, and I know that I wouldn't have heard that story had it not been for you. If you get a chance, pass on the best wishes of this irregular to all involved.

[sam]

I'm trying to figure out if the second post on here is a compliment or not....
I'm sure Not Grace Kelly is laughing....

AA has rebuilt the TOD with 5 position players, and 3 Top pitchers. I've read suggestions that he gave up too much - The Great Unwashed have been whining about AA Frugal ways - and when he does make the moves, they complain he gave up too much.
He's had a productive month - and when you add his trade deadline deals remaking the bullpen - I would say he's done some fine work....

A good quote from Alan Anderson. My uneducated eye leads me to believe that Jose is the perfect PG to lead this team - I'm happy to see Anderson agrees

[Alan C.]

Doug, my favourite out of the Watergate gang was John Dean -- right in the middle of things, ratted out everybody, and did pretty well by it in the long run. His testimony was compelling theatre.

[Dan]

Given the praise, deserved, received by Jose of late, is a point-guard controversy on the way? Is Jose really unable to carry the load as the lead pg?

[joeu]

Good morning Doug,

I enjoy the women's sports coverage, I know that in most cases they're not in it for the money, and it's much easier to take in the stories at face value.

[Jim Rootham]

The Argos don't get a lot of respect or ink (electrons?) but last winter's trade for Ricky Ray was pretty exciting. Turned out OK too.

[Juan]

Interesting comment by Anderson, but really who is he to have an opinion and what does he know anyway? He's only a player. Surely all those fans, bloggers, and know-it-alls must have much better insight and basket ball IQ! I keed of course.

[Rob]

Doug, given Jose's recent play and attitude, i'm sure there are many teams out there that wish they had traded for him when he was on the block earlier in the season. Any indications or murmurs that he is still being shopped? I assume his price just went up if so..

Blogger's note: Never was any indication; can't imagine there would be now

[David in Oakville]

Good Morning Doug,

While I only follow women's sports during the Olympics or if my wife is watching something on TV, I think it would be foolish to report on basketball and never talk about the women's game.
+
I enjoy Not Grace Kelly's sense of humour and writing style. I think he makes a fine Robin to your Batman basketball wise. And I thought his coverage of the World Cup was brilliant.

It's funny, there is one Star writer whose work I also don't care for (writing or radio wise) and I find the simple solution is to NOT READ / LISTEN TO HIM. Seems to work wonders... but coming here to whine about someone's style or picture is I guess another solution.

I think the Star has done a fine job of assembly a crew of sports reporters with different strengths and perspectives and it makes your sports coverage the best in the country (newspaper wise).
+
Kudos to AA for making the bold moves that he has this off season. Hope it pays off in October 2013 or 2014.

[D-Mac Ottawa]

I'll second @Alan C.'s nomination of John Dean for formally cracking the lid under oath on that whole can of worms. But it's the incomparable Bob Woodward who is the forever hero of Watergate and shedding light on one truly bizarre administration. Has there ever been anything to top that example of investigative journalism?
How fun will it be to see 30,000+ at every Jays' game once again? Now, speaking of cracking the lid and shedding some light, if they can just get to work and lay down some sod – and then keep that dome cranked open, to be closed only when necessary (as opposed to opened only when 'possible', whatever defines that).
Will we be hearing the home crowd singing "Jose, Jose, Jose, Jose" once again?
Cheers. Go Raps!

[DaveB]

Most of us appreciate the coverage you have given the women's basketball team. I would love to see more coverage of all our Canadian players (national, college, etc.)

I would also like to see much less coverage of pucks. CTV sports in Ottawa is now covering every bowel movement of the Senators players as well as all minor hockey with very limited coverage of any other sport. The TV will now be saturated with Junior Pucks. Yawn.

Enjoy your Christmas party tonight. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

Blogger's note: Many thanks

[Steve]

"Given the praise, deserved, received by Jose of late, is a point-guard controversy on the way? Is Jose really unable to carry the load as the lead pg?"

I would imagine Dwane and Bryan are going to want to put Lowry back in as a starter when he's available (with maybe a 1-2 game delay if necessary where he comes off the bench) to avoid this.

Regardless of what is/isn't being said about Jose though if they manage to put a couple of more Ws on while Lowry and Bargnani are out it will certainly pile the pressure on.

[Geoff Read]

Couldn't agree more about the Blue Jays. I haven't been this excited for a season of any kind to start in a long, long time. Best rotation in baseball? It's certainly one of them now. And a top of the line-up of Reyes, Cabrera, Bautista, Encarnacion, Lawrie, and (hopefully a rejuvenated) Lind ain't half bad either.

I'm not quite old enough to remember Watergate beyond what I've read in history books and seen in documentaries. But Tricky Dick himself has to be a contender for most compelling actor in that particular drama. Psychological historians will have a field day with that man for centuries to come. The fact he didn't end up in prison made a mockery of US justice.

Women's basketball - I don't follow it as closely as I should and your blogs are a good reminder of that. I was aware thanks in part to you that the team had made big strides in recent years and by all accounts Allison McNeil was a big part of that. Kudos to her - let's hope she's replaced with someone equally competent and committed.

[ditch]

Wow! This is a tough room. You write about other topics than basketball, like music or social phenomena and people freak out. You then write about basketball and people criticize you till they're hoarse.

As for Mr. Kelly's pieces, they require one to have a reference level beyond reality TV and Ricki Lake. If his prose is beyond your understanding there's always Watchtower.

[Jacob]

Hey Doug,

Off topic, but have you ever covered the World Cup of Soccer? If you had to choose between covering the World Cup in Brazil (2014) or the Olympics in Brazil (2016) which would you choose?

Blogger's note: I haven't and will always prefer multi-sports Games, more varied stories to tell

[TL]

Wow... Daniel Inouye... I remembered him from Watergate, of course, but who knew? The things you learn with your morning basketball blog....

Thanks Doug, as ever!

[Dr. Tamias]

It's funny how Jose has been thrown under the bus by some fans, and yet he seems to always rise to the occasion. Can you tell me again why we want to trade someone like this? It seems to me that the kind of intangibles, and talent, that he brings to the table might be very important for this team.

[james]

"What a damned liar!" -- With his microphone still on, Senator Daniel Inouye editorializes on the testimony he has elicited from Nixon aide, John Erlichmann. It was one compelling moment among dozens, but it has stayed with me. As Alan C notes, Dean's appearance was the most dramatic simply because he told the truth. And Sam Ervin was a TV performer for the ages.
It's unfortunate that some people can't appreciate basketball when it's played by women. I once knew a coach of the Canadian women's national team who told me he wished his university men's team was half as sharp as his women's team. This caused me to revise my own thinking and realize that the game is the game whoever is playing it. All the best to Allison McNeill, a terrific coach and excellent communicator. It would be fun to hear her do colour on a Raptor game.
I enjoyed Kelly's piece on Tristan Thompson; a nice description of how Lebron still dominates the Cleveland franchise, in a way that reminds one of how Vince stayed in the brain of Toronto for years after he departed.

[511]

I was a kid myself, a high school student … and Senator Daniel Inouye was at his best, as I remember it, when he was grilling John Ehrlichman, Nixon's former domestic affairs adviser. Ehrlichman was coming off as SUCH a weasel on the stand that when Inouye's "what a liar" comment was inadvertently picked up by the microphone, he was my hero for that day. I don't know too much more about Daniel Inouye but back then, he seemed to be one of the good ones during a time when we all needed some reassurance that there were still some good ones out there. As for the Watergate hearings themselves, there has seldom been such compelling real-life drama to be seen in real time, on TV. It was frightening and so memorable.

[LeeZ]

Um, er...to the unidentified poster who had this to say: "nobody wants to read his judgemental attempts at snark chain of uncoordinated thoughts", um...this is your attempt at irony or farce, right? You have two thoughts (attempts at snark, and chain of uncoordinated thoughts) uncoordinatedly chained together without benefit of punctuation. So...glass houses? stones? Plus, Cathal's pieces are a joy to read. Why should Doug write all the articles? It would be a boring world if we only had one variety of ice cream (or of reporting styles) from which to choose, no? Cathal is Fred Astaire to Doug's Gene Kelly.

[LeeZ]

Ah Watergate. So many memories. Was living in Maryland at the time and going to grade school. Would rush home from school every day to switch on the (black and white) tv and watch the hearings. But so many great figures to choose from, not least of which Sam Irvin and those EYEBROWS of his!!! He reminded me of the role Spencer Tracy played at Judgment At Nurenburg: a simple country politician thrust into an incredibly tense and important role, possessing the honesty, probity, homespun wisdom and levelheadedness necessary to lead the way. Mo Dean was great too, with that hair up in a bun sitting behind her man. Had a HUGE crush on her. I also remember Senator Lowell Weiker of Connecticut for the Dems and Sen. Howard Baker of the Republicans. Wish I had had a crystal ball and taken note of a female assistant on Sam Irvin's staff, young woman by the name of Hillary Rodham...

[LeeZ]

So. Allen Anderson is gushing about José's contribution, as is Coach Casey and no doubt other players. Implicit in AA's comments about all the things José brings is a quiet indictment of the KL and the fact that he brings none of them. Doug, based on what Kyle and José have each brought to the table to date this season, do you sense that the players prefer playing with one over the other, and if so, which one? (oh I do loves me a nice point guard controversy!!!)

Blogger's note: Don't really get that sense, have heard praise for Lowry, too