Are The Blue Jays the Worst Team in Baseball?

[soxfan121]

Don't laugh...and all apologies to Jays fans. But the Blue Jays are a team headed for an ATROCIOUS 2nd half. I think it might be atrocious enough to allow Tampa Bay out of the AL East cellar.

The Jays were barely a sub-.500 team last year and had trouble with players "mailing it in" in the 2nd half last year. Most of those guys are still in TOR (Stewart, Cruz, Delgado, Fletcher). Only Mondesi was moved - for salary relief, which HAS to go over really well in the clubhouse. Sure Buck was given the heave-ho, but in his place is the over-matched and under-manned Carlos Tosca. Tosca is "playing the kids" some of whom are getting their only whiff of the big leagues this season BECAUSE the Jays are rebuilding and trying EVERYONE (are you listening Joe Lawrence?).

The Jays have 4 catchers on the current roster. They have an all-rookie infield except for the carcass that is Carlos Delgado's wasted potential. They have TERRIBLE pitching. Halladay is the only one sure to finish the season in TOR; Escobar and anyone else who can pitch will probably be moved for prospects and/or salary relief. The rest of their pitching prospects are mercifully in the minors, where nightly shallackings won't kill their confidence.

The Jays have LOTS of games with the Red Sox and Yanquis left... I just don't see it getting any better.

[sweaver]

Oh, no no. Not even the worst in the league, what with the Devil Rays and the Tigers.

[VNV Nation]

The Blue Jays of 1995-2002 are, in my opinion, the biggest underachievers of all time. The talent they have produced in the past 10 years is comparable to or better than anyone, but they've had a series of bad managers, which led to a series of disastrous decisions regarding the pitching staff and led to, I believe, the slow or nonexistent development of the team's young talent, the team lost its financial clout and also made a series of bad team-level decisions.

Even now, I think the Jays have quite a few good young players, and Ricciardi knows what he's doing, it seems, but they desperately need to make a right decision on a manager and cut all ties with their recent hideous underachieving past (Stewart, Cruz, Escobar, etc.)

[soxfan121]

Originally posted by sweaver
Oh, no no. Not even the worst in the league, what with the Devil Rays and the Tigers.

I really think both of those teams (while terrible) are better than the Jays for the rest of the season. The Jays mailed in a 10-1 "effort" against the Sox tonight - pathetic effort for paid players. And with their history of quitting, the terrible state of their major league pitching (call me crazy, but TB and DET have better staffs), and their bloated salary status (forcing some giveaways, like the Mondesi deal) will contribute to the worst record in the 2nd half.

[Craig S.]

The team is in shambles right now, and they'll use the second half to dump some salaries and prepare for the future. I still believe they're better than the Rays and Tigers, although that could change if they dealt Delgado.

As for the pitching staff, it really is a terrible group. Halladay is a stud pitcher, but it's downhill after that. I've given up on Chris Carpenter becoming anything other than a serviceable third or fourth guy, and the rest of the gang they've been using are guys who should be in the minors. Luke Prokopec and Loaiza have no idea how to pitch, and guys like Eyre, Cassidy and Miller just don't have the talent. When you're looking forward to Steve Parris rejoining your rotation, it's likely a sign that your team is in trouble.

Since the glory days, they've had some talent, but they've not been a cohesive team since Cito Gaston left. They have had little in the way of team leadership, and Johnson, Fregosi and Buck were poor choices as managers.

As a fan of the team, I take no offense when people insult them. Really, how can I defend them? They were a great organization that fell to pieces quickly. For the future, I think they should hold on to Halladay and a few of the young position guys - namely Felipe Lopez, Wells and Hinske. Dealing Delgado, Stewart and Cruz would bury them for a while, but I'd invite such trades if they meant building for the future.

I think rock bottom has yet to be hit, but it's getting close. I think J.P. knows this, and I doubt he even sees it as a real bad thing to have happen. I have confidence that we'll see good days in a few years, but it's very frustrating right now. I really don't even care about the results of their games. I just watch individual performances, and keep an eye on possible trades and player development.

[SmedIndy]

To build, sometimes you must bury.

What they tried before didn't work, so they're doing the right thing.

[Duque]

Josh Phelps looks like he could be a pretty good hitter. Same with Vernon Wells, and Hinske and Lopez have been pretty good too. They've got Orlando Hudson coming along in the not-so-distant future. Ricciardi is not in a bad position - guys like Delgado, Stewart, Cruz Jr., and Escobar should be movable for some pretty good returns.

[Glyndwr]

If there is a worse team I feel very sorry for the people having to watch them.

I support what JP is doing this year, but it does lead to some painful baseball.

I had a very good offer on a share in some seasons tickets this year and I am so glad I didnt take the plunge.

[KCBOOMER]

No there are other teams worse than the Blue Jays. Unloading overpaid underachievers is never a bad idea. Playing the kids when you are terrible is always a good idea.

[WiredTiger]

The Blue Jays have youngsters that give them hope the Tigers have Ernie Harwell.