Comments on: Juan Rivera Must Be Traded or Cut Loose By Jays

By: Theo_Adorno

Theo_Adorno — Wed, 18 May 2011 19:51:39 +0000

I agree, lets get rid of everybody on this crappy team that happens to be on a six game winning streak and 2 games out of first in the AL east. And just to help us out even more lets try to get more playing time for a guy hitting only slightly better than Rivera.
Obviously this is sarcastic, I can understand knee jerk reactions when the team is playing poorly (I was almost there after the four gamer with the Tigers) but right now is not the time for such desperate moves.

By: JaysSaskatchewan

JaysSaskatchewan — Wed, 18 May 2011 05:48:00 +0000

There are a couple of arguments for keeping Rivera:

1. His career July-Oct splits are a lot better than his career Mar-June numbers.

2. He is free in the sense that we are paying him $5M either way. If he is worth having for free then we should keep him.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 18 May 2011 00:50:13 +0000

Well said. The only argument I have read for keeping Rivera is that the Jays are trying to build a well respected organization which treats it`s players with respect and honesty. When they give their word it means something. If you believe in this argument, what the Jays are doing by trotting Rivera out there day in and day out is trying to show an aging player some respect by keeping him around to `warm` up a bit in the hopes he can be dumped for something. I.e. they benefit by getting something for him and other players now want to come play for Toronto. This is the DUMBEST argument of all time. First all this means is aging players with low ceilings who can`t hit or play defense will want to play for the Jays, Hardly what we should want to attract. Second with Buck, Gonzalez and Overbay the team had made an agreement and had to live by it to show they would live to their word. Rivera was thrust on them.
Release Rivera now and let some of kids show what they are made of. I don`t know if Thames will hit consistently, but to your point Mat, the fans would rather see the “future“ learn than a “never was“ strike out.
It`s time for AA to do what is right for the team not the player. This club could make a serious run this year if we can get some consistent starting pitching and are able to avoid more injuries. Nothing teaches you like a pennant race!
I know AA wants to build a long term contender. Winning now and in the future are not mutually exclusive as we are not talking about sending a bunch of prospects to another team for a rentaplayer. We are saying let the kids come up and play. Running Rivera (aka Rally killer) out there is not building long term future.

As far as some of the comments about Dotel, it not his fault that Farrell keeps sending him out against LHB`s. This is the only thing I have against Farrell so far.

By: Yoda

Yoda — Tue, 17 May 2011 12:38:05 +0000

With the Wells saving, the Jays should have enougn money to eat up both Rivera and Dotel’s contract. While you are at it might as well add Encarnacion to that list. Put Lawrie at 3rd. Rotate the DH position, between Lawrie, Thames and Batista, this will keep Batista and Lawrie fresh, it also will allow more playing time for Johnny Mac.
Putting Rivera and Encarnacion’s name beside Hustle and Heart is such a contradictory.

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:44:28 +0000

That a multi-million dollar question. Will the Super 2 stay or will it go? It all depends on how negotiations go overall. But, I do believe that both owners and players would like to see the Super 2 thing go away. Players continue to get way too much time in the minors due to this rule, while teams are stuck playing others while waiting for rookies to be called up. The question is, do you go to 4 arb years regardless of playing time? Or, do you move towards a new system altogether?

By: Mat Germain

Mat Germain — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:37:50 +0000

Seems like I was pretty close…..Thames has had his contract purchased by the Jays!!! Now all he needs to do is hit, and once everyone’s healthy we may finally have seen the last of Juan in a Jays uni.

By: G Man

G Man — Tue, 17 May 2011 04:01:36 +0000

In case there’s a limited budget for burning bad contracts, I vote Rivera to bench, Dotel to anywhere else.

By: onomeister

onomeister — Tue, 17 May 2011 03:10:01 +0000

…or how about this, cut Reyes, switch Villenueva to a starter, thus keeping all the bullpen intact without having to demote Janssen. Villanueva’s already pitched several long middle innings of work, and Janssen is too good to be sent down… AA/Farrell, can’t you see Reyes is the odd man out?

By: onomeister

onomeister — Tue, 17 May 2011 02:49:15 +0000

Agreed. Since we’re at it, can we cut Joke-Joke please?! Get either Mills, Cecil or Stewart up asap

By: darryl

darryl — Tue, 17 May 2011 02:44:49 +0000

I think we may have seen the first step of that with Thames being recalled tonight. Of course my hoping is that Thames takes off….as hot as he is right now in Vegas. With Lind hopefully coming off the DL as soon as his time is up, if Thames is even somewhat productive, I say that window for Rivera being cut loose is wide open, regardless if there are any trade options..