I rarely enjoy being told what to do, but last night was a slow news day in the sports world and I couldn’t think of anything else to write. In yesterday’s comments section, AG proposed the following column idea:
For a change of pace say I had an in with the Rogers family and could put forward suggestions on possible changes to the organization what would you want me to say? Assume you were given carte blanche to do what you wanted what would you do?
Let’s hear at least 8 specific actions you would take to turn the team around and I mean specific.
It’s an intriguing idea and it allowed me a few moments of wishful thinking that I, in fact, wield clout over a multi-billion dollar operation, but, to me, the issue of the Jays being terrible cannot be amended by “8 specific actions” to turn the team around.
I have no problem with the Jays not being a good team this year. Truthfully, I thought they were going to be a lot worse and I even said so during our MLB preview podcast. It’s the nature of the game; there are ebbs and flows year in and year out. Some teams have to be at the top of the standings, some teams have to be at the bottom, and some have to be in the middle.
This is a rebuilding process and I think the current Jays management staff has done an excellent job stockpiling for the future and instituting a top notch farm system and scouting staff.
Where is the problem?
The simple fact that the exact same sentence could have been written nine years ago about JP Ricciardi’s regime. A rebuilding process is a necessary part of pro sports for teams that don’t have the capability to write blank cheques. However, Toronto is currently on year 15 of this rebuilding process and its complete bullshit.
In 1992 and 1993, the Blue Jays had the highest payroll in the league. I’m not saying they need to go there again, but it would be nice to throw a $100 million dollar team on the field without the powers that be crying poor.
The inability of the Jays to sign and keep legitimate superstars would be the first specific action I would like to see rectified. I’ve thought of more, but they all can be traced to one, overarching specific action that this franchise needs: a singular owner who loves baseball.
This is especially relevant considering George Steinbrenner recently passed away. Teams cannot be successful when they are run by a corporation whose bottom line is make money. You cannot create a championship team with that philosophy (case in point: The Maple Leafs and the teacher’s pension fund).
To win a title, you need a leader whose hobby is owning the team. He buys the franchise for the cache, and the notoriety, and the chance to bring a title to the city so he can become a legend. Such owners aren’t concerned about the bottom line; they just want to win.
As soon as you start running the team like a business, you have relinquished a competitive advantage because then you’re concerned with how much things costs instead of producing W’s on the scoreboard. An owner should not even buy a team unless they are so financially sound that taking a bath on the team’s end of year financials will not adversely affect their overall bottom line.
Owners should be in the business of winning, not making a buck with their sports team. I suppose you could make the argument that the Jays had such a singular owner in Ted Rogers, but the guy didn’t even like baseball (he’s like Adam Dunn).
Why would he sink money into a product that has no guaranteed rate of return and that he doesn’t truly care about?
In sum, what do the Jays need: a Canadian George Steinbrenner.
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1 comment:
Clearly it would be from a fantasy perspective because no organization is going to be handed over to someone who lives at home with mom and dad because he can’t take care of himself. If your mom still has to do your laundry I can assure you I’m not turning over control to you.
That was a disappointing and lazy effort on your part. That’s what she said.
I said at least 8 and yet we got one.
Was it Ellen or Oprah that was about to start and you needed to get it written quickly?
First thing is get a single owner who loves baseball. I agree that would definitely change the organization. Ok that is item one. Then what? What does that person do? Keep management? Scrap management? Trade player x? Sign player y? Move the team to Kalamazoo? You have never hesitated to share your thoughts before no matter how completely ill informed they may be what stopped you this time? You’re supposed to be such a sports aficionado that you write a blog about it you should be able to offer at least 8 actions easily to turn the team around.
I guess I should’ve asked something about the Bachelorette. That response would have gone on for days.
AG
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