We're starting to come up on a few realities that we can't escape.
1) This management group sucks at evaluating baseball players. You can make the argument that they made a mistake last year and thought the park would play differently, but the constant addition of pieces that don't properly compliment the core has become impossible to ignore.
I don't really agree here.
The pitching staff in particular with Berrios/Bassitt/Gausman/Kikuchi have all been absolutely terrific acquisitions. Ray before that. They're really good at evaluating pitchers, in particular. But also the Chapman, Semien moves were excellent, and Varsho is an awesome player even if they overpaid for him.
Where they've fallen down is adding an additional power bat to replace Teoscar.
2) This group sucks at negotiating contracts. We have neither of Bo nor Vladdy signed long term. There is a suggestion above that Jano might walk. Our long term contracts were either free agents or Berrios (the only non-free agent to commit here). We've arguably overpaid KK this year and IKF. We're approaching a payroll cap while still having holes.
Agreed. The fact that Bichette and Guerrero are now 1.5 years from free agency and still not signed is ... not good. Jansen looks set to walk. They're at risk here of losing basically the entire young core that looked so promising circa 2021 for nothing or pennies on the dollar and left themselves in a rough position.
3) This group sucks at evaluating prospects. We have the highest paid and biggest front office in baseball and they've combined to miss on most of the prospects that they've taken. Manoah is by far the best prospect since Bo, but the truth is that this organization simply hasn't been developing guys.
(The Jays prospect pool is mostly 2B/SS guys who might have to move and SP who may or may not be able to start).
Somewhat agreed.
Pitching in particular is a problem. It's very strange that they're so good at acquiring pitching talent but so bad at developing it.
Position players have been fine, especially factoring Moreno into the equation.
They have been good at selling high on prospects in trades, though.
4) There is something seriously rotten with the entire coaching process. The hitters aren't hitting, but more importantly, there are long stretches of non-competitive at bats which indicate that performance cannot normalize to a high level. Either Schneider is getting so caught up in the people side of the game that he's making bone-headed decisions or someone is feeding him bad decisions. As much as people like to pump up Pete Walker, I think he's had success with a couple of guys that has earned him a reputation that goes way beyond what he's actually done.
Completely agreed. The failure to find a way to maximize Guerrero's abilities in particular is a huge problem. But in terms of approach it just hasn't been good since 2022.
I would also add, they are too slow to make necessary changes. Took way too long to get rid of Montoyo.
Agreed completely here.
And the total non-reaction to the complete debacle to end last season belongs here, too. You can't end a season like that with everyone from the fans to the media to the players that upset about what happened, change absolutely nothing, and then expect you're going to have the environment required to win games the following year.