Forward Thinking Please

Hopefully the hiring of Alex Anthopolous means the endless reminiscing of the Blue Jays organization is over for good.

Enough already. Enough with the endless Summer of ’93, the endless Flashback Friday.

If one of the most used sports cliches of the modern era is "I'm just trying to move forward," why is it the Jays are seemingly stuck always trying to move backward?

What didn’t work for the Argos with Don Matthews and didn’t work for the Maple Leafs with Cliff Fletcher clearly hasn’t worked for the Jays with Paul Beeston and Cito Gaston.

Basic rule in sports. Going back never works, so why try?

Beeston looks prepared to move on. Gaston should. The opportunity available right now for Anthopolous won’t come along again, the opportunity to start with a fresh slate, with his own people, with all the pointless ties to the greatness of another era dismissed because today is today.

This is a franchise that has insulted the intelligence of its fan base repeatedly in recent years and now needs to put something on the table that looks new and sets the tone for a different era.

Sadly, the suggestion you here most is that the Jays should now bring Pat Gillick back as some kind of senior advisor. Again with the back-to-the-future stuff. Gillick is different than the others because he has gone on to have all kinds of success in his post-Jays career, but the symbolism of bringing him back, even if he were willing, would just further amplify the sense that this baseball organization lacks new answers to new problems.

Assuming he won’t sign, Roy Halladay must move on. The notion of bumping the payroll up over $100 million next year and trying to compete with the Yankees and Red Sox immediately doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

The club needs to take a step back, build a base around Adam Lind and Aaron Hill, and generally become a more resourceful type of team. When J.P. Ricciardi arrived eight years ago, the idea was that this would become Oakland East, that the Jays would become one of those franchises who played the game the right way, invested in youth and gradually become consistently competitive not through money but through ideas and commitment to those ideas.

That was before Frank Thomas. And B.J. Ryan. And A.J. Burnett.

Well, this is another opportunity to get back to that way of thinking, or establish another new approach. Anthopolous didn’t have to sell his ideas to the organization – is there a reason the Jays didn’t look around for replacements for Ricciardi, by the way? – so it’s difficult to fully understand right now how his approach may differ from the Ricciardi years.

Most important, however, is that Anthopolous must make it clear he has no more interest in endlessly trying to replay 1992 and ’93 again.

Gotta cut those ties for good.

Comments

[Varry Galk]

Let me get this straight, Damien. 1993 is ancient history, but 1967 is incredibly relevant to the current state of the Leafs?!

The problems of both franchises stem from RECENT mismanagement. The Leafs wouldn't be any better off today if they, like the Jays, won the '93 title (and the '93 Leafs were capable of doing so).

Your frequent 1967 barbs are cheap shots that obscure the fact that Ferguson, like Ricciardi, made decisions that handicapped his organization's ability to move forward (and need to be undone). Ultimately, I agree that the early '90s are irrelevant to a team trying to move forward today.

[other mark]

Damien, this is probably one of your more pointless blogs. Do you honestly believe that 'Flash Back Friday's' in any way contribute negatively to the Jays on-field performance? And, really, do you think Cito Gaston is the issue here? He's as competent as any field manager (and more competent the Jay's recent managers). The Jay's (read Riccardi's) biggest mistake is that they had a plan that was promptly dropped once they tasted a bit of success. Finishing 2nd in '04 might have been the worst thing to happen to this team. If, as you say, the Jays can't compete with Yanks/Bosox in terms of big money free agency signings then they had better excel at player drafting and development. Or, J.P. and Rogers need to re-access their marketplace and spend money accordingly. I would suggest that the Blue Jays have one of the largest markets in baseball and a setup not unlike the Yankees and their YES network. But the point is, pick a plan and stick to it. If Zorba the Greek learned anything from J.P., it should be that.

[Bryan Cantley]

You're right. And so must the CFL with their "retro" jerseys. Retro what? The '70s, '60s, '90s? Who cares? The current uniforms are trendy and speak to the brand.

[2nd Guess]

The Blue Jays need to do much more than rebuild the product on the field. It's been ages since they deigned to involve themselves in promoting minor baseball in Ontario and Canada, and it shows -- the team and the sport have no resonance whatsoever among the under-30 crowd.

The team is justifiably perceived as being aloof in the community. Do you ever see appearances around town by baseball players? The everyday grind makes it difficult, I realize, but when Leafs, Raptors, Argos and FCers show up regularly, people no doubt wonder why Blue Jays can't be bothered.

The sport is in rough shape around the country. The Expos are gone, as are Triple-A teams in Ottawa, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. The Jays cannot continue to carry on in the smug belief that, "Oh, we won a couple of World Series in the '90s. None of that can happen to us." I've got news for you: I lived in Montreal in the 1980s, and I'm seeing an alarming number of similarities between the Expos then and the Jays now.

Of course, it all starts with a contending team . . .

[doug]

sorry to burst your bubble Damien but Gillick is coming to town in some sort of capacity, I would think as a consultant to Alex...and where did you come up with the Basic Rule in Sports line....thats a new one...so you are saying if Phil Jackso went back to the Buls it would be no good, or if the Cowboys never had Jimmie Johson there again he wouldn't be better then Wade??.....come on, your problem is your so determined to be right, you use anything you can, give your readers credit they know a poorly written article when they see it...

[jonboy]

Why not honour past hero's? It is my opinion that past Jay's greats have not received their due.When I go to the Rogers stadium I see retired numbers of 2 players and Cito and the rest are execs.
When I go to the Bell Center I get goosebumps when I see the retired numbers.
It should be all about winning and the current group should be reminded that they have accomplished little if they do not win.

[DamienCox]

Damien here. . .sorry to burst your bubble, Doug, but I can point to all kinds of instances in which coaches and managers going back to their former team didn't work. . .can you point to two or three - or even one - where it did work? That's the point.

[Colin Freeman]

Absolutely agree with the comment above. Damien you seem to be picking and choosing as to what history is relevant.

[Penguin]

IMO, the problems of the Jays start with Rogers. The team needs committed, consistent ownership prepared to put a competitive budget in place and to stick to a plan. One of lamest explanations for the Jays'/JP's problems that I heard over the weekend was Paul Godfrey's statement that JP did a good job until he was given more budget to spend. I can't believe that he had too much to spend, only that he made incredibly bad choices on how to use it. Frank Thomas was a truly bad signing that has cost the Jays dearly. I can understand the contracts for Wells and Rios, but how did one good year merit Ryan's salary? Even Burnett was questionable and certainly ridiculous with opt-out clause thrown in. Even with the Yankees, he didn't manage a stellar year. Best thing that could happen to the Jays right now would be for Rogers to find a buyer for the team and preferably not one that is a public corporation that has to explain its actions to shareholders.

[doug]

easy one off the top of my head...Pinball Clemons here in Toronto...he was brought back after his first go an was successful an if he was brought back for another I am sure he would be better then Andrus..an thats just here in Toronto an only a few years ago....cheers,

[doug]

Pat Riley with the Heat....won the NBA title on his second go-around with the Heat...you want me to go on...

[doug]

Bobby Cox...managed the Braves...came to Toronto and then back to Atlanta whre i would say he has pretty good success...theres 3 sports, I am sure you want me to stop as its a little embarassing...

[doug]

Bill walsh in football did it twice with success....was a very successful coach at Stanford...where he won 2 bowl games as a coach before going to the 49ers...where he won 3 Suoer bowl games retired went back to Stanford whre he coached and won a Pac-10 titlke anonter bowl game and then back to 49er's as G.M with Montana and young led them to the NFC title game only to lose to Dllas...so there is a guy that went back to the saem place twice and had success....so come on, what was your point again..

[Stanley]

The problem is simple. Aside from having loads of money, the Red Sox DRAFTED Papelbon, Pedroia, Youkilis, Lester, Ellsbury, Buchholz, Lowrie, Bard, Masterson and Hagadone (traded for Victor Martinez), and developed Hanley Ramirez (plus claimed David Ortiz on waivers). The Phillies DRAFTED Utley, Hamels, Howard, Victorino, Rollins and got Jayson Werth for basically nothing.

The Jays need to do that or they have no chance, high payroll or low payroll.

[Ian Murray]

Completely agree about the Flashback Fridays. Was kind of cool the first year, but I believe it has run it's course. It seems they have had to really reach to find different players to bring back recently (hello Jose Cruz Jr.!)

Also maybe they'll wear the powder blue unis a little more sparingly. I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this, but they really don't hold up too well in this day. In the late 70's and early-mid 80's they were kind of OK, but now not so much. I remember laughing when I saw Frank Thomas approach the plate wearing it. Somehow he didn't seem so intimidating!

[Rudd]

Damien i agree with forward thinking but J.P. did do some good such as stocking the minors with young arms, as we saw this year. No one can be Oakland unless you plan to trade away your good players every three years. I would be sick if i was an A's fan...As for the contracts J.P messed up huge, but almost every G.M has. Look at the cubbies this year they got worse by spending more... I agree Cito has to go, but Gillick coming back can definetely not hurt. Im pretty sure Alex is the new GM because he is young, Canadian and most of all CHEAP! Plus he cannot do any worse that for sure... I hope his first move is getting some power again at First Base and getting rid of Overbay. Would he start on any other team??

[Babsurvivor]

J.P isn't the only change needed with the Blue Jay management team...Cito Gaston a man of class and a world of baseball knowledge needs to be replaced. He has served well however the taint of all that has gone wrong will only follow him if he continues as manager. His considerable knowledge and skill of recognizing talent could be better utilized. J.P only summed up the ails of the Jays,his eight years of promise has run thin and while there were influencing factors his removal was vital.

A new commitment from Rogers is needed to help diehard fans of which I include myself to continue to follow this club. Thick and thin I've supported the Blue Jays and today I am so disappointed and disheartened. Scores of other Blue Jays fans find themselves feeling the same. There doesn't appear to be hope, a plan in place or loyalty being given in return from Rogers to those who have supported them over the last few years in particular.

A commitment to players who have shown grit, loyalty to the organization and fans of whom Haliday and McDonald show day in and day out is needed. Canadian talent has never seriously been considered though this year a few were drafted but unfortunately not signed. Why?????? was this a ploy to deflect that criticism. This is a Canadian team with no real representation of Canadian talent...a marketing "jackpot" that hasn't been exploited. This organization should be embarrased by this and rectify it so the next Jason Bay or Jason Morneau will play for the Jays.

I truly hope as that diehard fan Rogers decides their fans are important too and lay some groundwork towards improvement and hope for the future. Wouldn't take much to get my attention if this happens

[Sandy T.]

CFL uniforms are TRENDY?????? They're all the same - only the colours are different, and they're all designed by the company that's got a lock on the league's uniform contract.

Please, take me back to the days when each team designed its own uniform based on its own tradition. They did a much better job than Reebok.

And on the subject of unis... if there has to be a Flashback Friday, and it appears there does, why does the team have to wear those gawdawful road blues for a home game? Pretty much everybody I knew hated them then, I can't imagine they're any more popular now.

The Jays old home 'whites' were a great looking set of uniforms, the powder blues, not so much. I can't imagine why Rogers would think it was them any nostalgia would be built around. Especially with 99% of today's ball players wearing ankle-length - and longer - trousers without the high cut stirrups that most used to wear. At least the dark blue stirrups and white socks beneath would mitigate that vast expanse of sickly sky blue.

[G L Goodwin, Amherst Nova Scotia]

Dear Damien:-
Here's my take on the Jays.
We love the team and watch every game on S'net + TSn when available.
Outfield.
Wells flanked by Lind and Snider. Snider needs to play winter ball to improve his fielding and learn what base to throw to. Also he has to cut down swinging at pitches that he "cannot hit hard."(remember Ted Williams)
Infield
Move Hill to third base,Scudero too 2nd,Mac Donald too Short.
Ruiz goes to 1st base and keep the present catcher.
Pitching
Above all keep the Doctor. Go to the marketplace and buy a top notch lefty.Continue to develop the young staff at present.
Lean heavily on the minor development and draft stages.
Obtain a new staff on the field from Gaston to the coaches.
Keep Brad and Gene.
Do this and in 2011 you'll be in 1st place.

[Colin W]

I have no problems with past players coming back on Flashback Fridays, and some of the interviews have been interesting. MLB teams are not averse to using recycled managers, and one could argue that if Cito's time has passed, then so has that of a number of other managers. I happen to think Cito is a very good manager, and not even Joe Torre could do much with this club this year with its Triple-A pitching (for the most part)and the year long (non)performances of Wells, Rios (before he was traded), to name a few. One could clearly see our young pitchers flagging (tired arms?) as the season progressed. Timely hitting and very good pitching are ingredients for success. We lacked both this year, and that can't be blamed on the manager.

[Fred]

Get rid of the powder blues, dump the new logo, get rid of the black jersey, and bring back the two uniforms they wore in 93. That is the one connection to the past they should have kept! Hire good, qualified people regardless of past ties to the organization. Quit crying about being in a small market, it's BS anyway! Boston is a smaller city with a smaller stadium. True, red sox nation is large and they sell a lot of merchandise, but Canada is a large nation as well with only one team. Compete financially with Boston..... no more excuses!!! You're not the Leafs!

[chris]

A couple things doug, Pinball Clemons, Pat Riley, and Bobby Cox were the bosses of their own teams when they made their move to replace their coaches with themselves. Riley made his move under very suspicious circumstances. Clemons and Riley were never able to duplicate their feats while Cox's teams managed to fall short in winning the big one.

And Bill Walsh never got the 49ers into the NFC title game in his return to the team as GM. But since your post was so riddled with spelling errors, questions about your thought process should arise.

Damien's point here, which has obviously gone way over your head, is that the Blue Jays have been reaching hard into the past because their corporate owners have absolutly no idea what they want to do with this team. No suprise given that the guy who really bought the team, Ted Rogers, passed away a year ago. Having the club run by a faceless entity is not something any fan wants.

OMT, given the way you obnoxiously responded, I strongly recommend you get over yourself and grow up. You're welcome.