Cold, Wet Fish to the Face: AA out as GM



Well, if you were feeling too warm and fuzzy about the Toronto Blue Jays after the end of the 2015 season, today was a cold, wet fish to the face.

I guess we should always remember that this is a business and that people have agendas.

Though Alex Anthopoulos' media conference answered no questions about details, it's become clear that he just wasn't on the same page as the owners and Mark Shapiro. And if it's due to his diminished role in baseball decisions, I have some issues with that.

What exactly has Anthopoulos done to show he wasn't capable of making those decisions?

In the past 12 months, he has:
  • Traded for the AL MVP who is under control for many years
  • Signed free agent well-respected, Canadian catcher.
  • Traded a short stop whose contract was getting uglier by the day for a better shortstop and widely considered one of the best all around players in baseball. Also under control. 
  • Traded for possible Cy Young winner. 
  • Put together a team that not only made the playoffs for the first time in 22 years but also won the division.
  • Put together a team that filled the stadium routinely to watch it. Made 140 million dollars over three months in merchandise, ratings and ticket sales.
  • Came within two games of the World Series. 
  • Named Executive of the Year by his peers. 


And that's just this year. Yes, he's made some questionable decisions over his six years, but he's done a lot of good, too.

Anthopoulos is also young, clever and Canadian. He came up through the ranks of this organization. So one might argue that other people can fill this role and probably do a good job. But that is to deny how unique Anthopoulos actually is. And sure, the Jays could get someone else great, but it seems a bit ridiculous to have to when they already had a quality GM.

It finally felt like this team was actually going places after years of mediocrity and this happens.

I suspect Rogers knew the kind of control Shapiro wanted, but I would like to know why they would hire someone who doesn't believe in Anthopoulos' talent, doesn't trust his authority, doesn't believe in his ability to make decisions?

I know AA said it wasn't that in his press conference, but I don't know what else it would be. I also wish Rogers would remember that most people like this team despite the fact that Rogers owns them, not because.


This just looks bad.

This tweet happening during the conference call summed it all up about perfectly.



My favourite part of the media conference was when a journalist out of Montreal asked AA, in French, about what he thought the greatest accomplishment was. And AA answered getting rid of the black uniforms because he really hated them. What?

Other opinions:

Richard Griffin goes Full Griff 

Scott Stinson "Alex Anthopoulos’ Toronto Blue Jays departure a failure by ownership, and not a surprising one"

Bob Elliot: "Yet, the kid who left, turning down your five-year offer and new responsibilities, which maybe included supervising next year’s style of schedule fridge magnets, was a bit of a big deal in these parts."

Bruce Arthur: "Never underestimate this city’s ability to turn sports into farce. Anthopoulos had authored a fabulous season, something unbelievable. He loved it here. His kids were born here. It’s his dream job, at eye-popping money. He wanted to stay."

Cathal Kelly "Would I still be able to trade Gose without asking someone?” Mr. Anthopoulos wondered."




Ugh, my head.