Winning and Meaning

Of course a 10-game win streak means something. Of course it means all that was supposedly bad about the Blue Jays is now good.

Well, of course it does, but with one caveat.

If you believe that the Jays have truly accomplished something meaningful over the exciting two weeks, that J.P. Ricciardi deserves to stay and a bunch of players will carry this over into next season, then you also have to believe the opposite.

That is, if the Jays now lose five in a row, Ricciardi et al are bums and need to go.

If that's how you evaluate a pro sports team, by the length of their latest winning streak or slump, then you have to go both ways. Wins mean security and contracts extensions, losing must mean comprehensive change and mass firings.

The smart fan, of course, simply enjoys the 10 wins for what they were, a combination of skill and luck at a time of year when expanded rosters change the elements of the game to some degree.

Beyond that, this streak means no more than the 8-0-2 rush with which the Maple Leafs finished the 2005-06 NHL season.

That wasn't exactly a harbinger of good times ahead was it?

Nor, as colleague Dave Perkins pointed out when the Leafs were putting that season-ending streak together under Pat Quinn, did the 34-18 finish of the '98 Jays under Tim Johnson.

Or the 19-7 finish in '03 that led directly into a 67-94 record the next season.

It's not that winning when the games don't matter is meaningless.

It's just not particularly meaningful.

If Paul Godfrey and Jays ownership have their heads screwed on right, they'll evaluate Ricciardi on the basis of his entire record since 2001. They won't just look at Travis Snyder and marvel at the farm system, but will examine the entirety of the youth and prospects that have been acquired under Ricciardi's reign.

Finally, they'll have to understand that this is a team that has never been to the post-season with Ricciardi at the helm.

Logically, that will be a fact that only the wilfully blind will choose to ignore.

Comments

[Jlo]

True, but I think that, as one of your colleagues pointed out, Cito Gaston played a big role. That shouldn't be discounted. Riccardi shouldn't get too much credit for hiring him either though; the GM should be judged on his full tenure for sure.

[Scot Milroy]

Do you even know your readers or the Toronto public in general? Name anyone, ANYONE, that says they think JP Ricciardi deserves to stay after the recent win streak.
You and your cohorts are so completely pompous and condescending that you're all really no better than JP and Richard Peddie themselves.
We are all so completely sick and tired of the constant deluge of articles that complain about how the fans of all Toronto sports teams delusionally wear rose-coloured glasses when its the amateurish, lazy Toronto media horde that continually perpetuates this utter fallacy. Whatever happened to the days when being a Toronto sports fan was fun? Thanks for sucking continually sucking the life out of it.
If any of you actually believe that the crazy day-time sports show callers or the drunk post-game nut-jobs on the FAN590 represent the masses then its you and your retrobate collegues that are delusional.
Keep biting the hand that feeds you Cox 'cause eventually it'll
slap you down!!!!

[Clements]

You're right, people shouldn't be hired or fired based on the result of 10 meaningless games. But J.P. does deserve another chance. The team is 43-28 since Cito came back. That's hardly a small sample size.

[Joe Scrubbins]

Just when you think Damien Cox couldn't get any goofier. I'm no Cito fan, but sheesh, give credit where it is due. The Jays have been rolling since he replaced Gibbons. It's a legitimate question now -- would this have been a playoff team with Cito as manager all season?

Anyhow, that's what the topic of discussion should be, not more "I Hate Everything" Cox nonsense about the recent win streak. That should take a backseat to the team's record since Cito came on board. But that isn't the sort of garbage that Cox deals in.

BTW, Damien, tell us. You had this column all ready to go for the day after the Jays win streak ended, right? Anyhow, relax. It's almost Leafs season, and then you can really get going on your blinkered nastiness.

[Tao of Stieb]

It's Snider. With an "i".

Moreover, it's not just Snider with an "i", but Hill, Marcum, Litsch, Janssen, Arencibia, Cecil...those are the reasons why they should keep J.P.. Because he brought them to the organization.

He may have goofed when he picked Russ Adams or Ricky Romero (and that's still debatable), but hopefully someone will look at the entirety of his record and the context of playing an unbalanced schedule against MLB's two perpetual powerhouse franchises before they decide to can Ricciardi and satiate the insipid Toronto sports media's blood lust.

[chris]

Are you kidding, Damien? J.P. Ricciardi is Paul Godfrey's boy. Godfrey personally picked Ricciardi, claiming him to be the up and coming genius who'd transform the fortunes of the Toronto Blue Jays, and has backed him up over everything. Especially the bald faced lying of B.J. Ryan's injury and the suspicious call up of Scott Richmond that cost him a spot on Canada's Olympic roster. Those two weasels are joined at the tail, if not closer. They both need to be fired ASAP.

[Kevin]

Yes, only "willfully blind will choose to ignore" that JP has never led the Jays to the promised land", and the call eventually belongs to Ted Rogers. As chris pointed out above, JP and Godfrey both need to be sent packing. Chances are, Ted Rogers knows it too. But then, when does he do what's best for his customers, whether those customers are for his cable, cell phone, or sporting, empires? If it means spending money that won't generate a return, he won't do it. That means that since JP still has time on his contract, there's no reason for him to pay 2 GMs. Looks like we'll probably be stuck with him for another season. (God, I hope I'm wrong).

[DGL]

After watching the Blue Jays win again last night, I really hope the Jays sweep Boston. I take exception to Mr. Cox for suggesting I am an idiot for doing so.
Reality is, the Jays probably won't make it, but this is sports where sometimes, just sometimes the underdog or the team from way behind comes through to win. Which is really the reason we enjoy watching sports in general, and according to some we are all idiots for doing so because they know all the answers. Mr Cox can shut off his television because he obviously knows more than the rest of us. I'll be watching the Jays, because, just maybe....

[Jonathan]

true expanded rosters do change the dynamic, however, all opposing teams on this streak have been over .500 with smething to play for (i.e. "first team" rosters).

[mark]

While I'm not a big fan of J.P. Riccardi (and believe there are ample replacement available to the Jays) I think, Damien, that you are the one who is delusional to think that the Jays were playing meaningless games. Do you think the Rays with their slim lead over Boston thought that? Or how about the Twins...trying to scratch their way into the wildcard. And now 3 out of 4 from the Chisox... another team with post season aspirations. In the end, the Jays are still a long shot to be in post season, but to imply that their record will be artificially inflated due to 'meaningless' games is just plain stupid.