Post by Commish KC-GM on Nov 16, 2008 20:27:39 GMT -5
This week, the tour in Baseball brings Jayson Stark to Toronto where he hooked up with Pat Gillik, General Manager of the first place Toronto Blue Jays.
Jayson: So Pat, you have had an extremely successful year so far. What exactly is the state of the franchse?
Pat: We are excited! We have spent the last couple years reloading with young talent while remaining competitive. That talent is arriving and it shows.
Jayson: Well you have to be pleased with the results on the field
Pat: Very pleased, team is up in the division and headed for October. Stomping the life out of the Yankees early and the Red Sox late was the icing on the cake. However, we are not done yet. Our goal was not to be competitive nor was it to just win a division. All the careful planning over the last few years has been with the single mind set of winning a championship. That goal is within reach, and it is up to the boys on the field to seize the day.
Jayson: Gotta like your chances! What do you foresee over the next three years or so?
Pat: I think we are going to be very good over the next three to five years. Talent at the big club is still developing, so there is still upside up here at the major league level. We do have a couple gems on the farm we would like to infuse into the mix, so no major moves, just minor tinkering. It will be year to year, but the core is intact, the plan laid out, time to execute.
Jayon: And how is it you plan to implement this?
Pat: We have to allow the kids to grow, make mistakes and mature. That is our philosophy here in Toronto, to build from within. Keep building the farm, developing the talent, and hopefully reap the rewards.
Who would you say have been your key players this season?
Pat: Carlos Delgado (home grown talent) has been phenomenal at the plate while Roy Halladay and David Wells have been dominant in the rotation. Darrin Fletcher has been a nice surprise and Phelps was headed in that direction until his injury.
Jayson: Who would you say have been disappointing?
Pat: A few of the youngsters faltered, like Orlando Hudson. We will expect them to step it up as they continue to adjust to Major League pitchers. That is ok though here in Toronto. New York may have traded him off by now, but we truly believe in letting players grow into their roles. Every players growth curve is different and we feel that Orlando is going to be a great second baseman one of these days. His stick isn't there yet, but he can flash the leather.
Jayson: Looking past October, do you foresee any major changes or overhaul?
Pat: Re-signing some players to long term deals, trying to keep the same core together. We are not likely to be active on the trade front. May sign some filler free agents for the pen and the bench. For the most part, I believe we have the core for a run at multiple championships and I am prepared to play that out. It is exciting here in Toronto for us and for our fans.
Jayson: Who on the farm should we be keeping an eye out for in the future?
Pat: Watch out for Alexis Rios, Jeremy Bonderman, Gustavo Chacin, and Gabe Gross. A couple of live arms and a couple well rounded offensive studs in the near future. Balance on the big club and balance in the minors. If those guys continue to develop we will have to find a place for them on the big club, which is a good problem to have.
Jayson: You took a shot at the Red Sox and the Yanks earlier in our conversation. Who would you consider to be the bigger rival for the Blue Jays?
Pat: Well, lets get this clear Jayson, I didn't take a shot at them, I was just pointing our behavioral traits. If I had to pick one though it is the Yankees. The evil empire just oozes professional arrogance. It is funny though, when you call the Yankee GM, Cash has Darth Vaders breathing apparatice sound on his voice mail. They won't be down long, they made some very good moves, and we have noticed. That is why it is imperitive that we do not relax and always explore the avenues to get better.
Jayson: What is the most pressing issue at the winter meetings this year?
Pat: Implementing revenue sharing to help the lower payroll clubs. It does not look like it will pass this year, but it is a fight that we will not give up. It would not benefit us as a whole, but it does strengthen baseball as a whole and the better the product you put on the field, the better the game is.
Jayson: What a wonderful conversation Pat. Good Luck in the postseason. The Twins seem to have gotten hot, and if the Rangers find a way in, they have the ability to induce an offense into a slump.
Pat: Thanks Jayson, yes it is get nervous time, but at the same time, we are excited to get back to the post season. Toronto is alive!
Jayson: So Pat, you have had an extremely successful year so far. What exactly is the state of the franchse?
Pat: We are excited! We have spent the last couple years reloading with young talent while remaining competitive. That talent is arriving and it shows.
Jayson: Well you have to be pleased with the results on the field
Pat: Very pleased, team is up in the division and headed for October. Stomping the life out of the Yankees early and the Red Sox late was the icing on the cake. However, we are not done yet. Our goal was not to be competitive nor was it to just win a division. All the careful planning over the last few years has been with the single mind set of winning a championship. That goal is within reach, and it is up to the boys on the field to seize the day.
Jayson: Gotta like your chances! What do you foresee over the next three years or so?
Pat: I think we are going to be very good over the next three to five years. Talent at the big club is still developing, so there is still upside up here at the major league level. We do have a couple gems on the farm we would like to infuse into the mix, so no major moves, just minor tinkering. It will be year to year, but the core is intact, the plan laid out, time to execute.
Jayon: And how is it you plan to implement this?
Pat: We have to allow the kids to grow, make mistakes and mature. That is our philosophy here in Toronto, to build from within. Keep building the farm, developing the talent, and hopefully reap the rewards.
Who would you say have been your key players this season?
Pat: Carlos Delgado (home grown talent) has been phenomenal at the plate while Roy Halladay and David Wells have been dominant in the rotation. Darrin Fletcher has been a nice surprise and Phelps was headed in that direction until his injury.
Jayson: Who would you say have been disappointing?
Pat: A few of the youngsters faltered, like Orlando Hudson. We will expect them to step it up as they continue to adjust to Major League pitchers. That is ok though here in Toronto. New York may have traded him off by now, but we truly believe in letting players grow into their roles. Every players growth curve is different and we feel that Orlando is going to be a great second baseman one of these days. His stick isn't there yet, but he can flash the leather.
Jayson: Looking past October, do you foresee any major changes or overhaul?
Pat: Re-signing some players to long term deals, trying to keep the same core together. We are not likely to be active on the trade front. May sign some filler free agents for the pen and the bench. For the most part, I believe we have the core for a run at multiple championships and I am prepared to play that out. It is exciting here in Toronto for us and for our fans.
Jayson: Who on the farm should we be keeping an eye out for in the future?
Pat: Watch out for Alexis Rios, Jeremy Bonderman, Gustavo Chacin, and Gabe Gross. A couple of live arms and a couple well rounded offensive studs in the near future. Balance on the big club and balance in the minors. If those guys continue to develop we will have to find a place for them on the big club, which is a good problem to have.
Jayson: You took a shot at the Red Sox and the Yanks earlier in our conversation. Who would you consider to be the bigger rival for the Blue Jays?
Pat: Well, lets get this clear Jayson, I didn't take a shot at them, I was just pointing our behavioral traits. If I had to pick one though it is the Yankees. The evil empire just oozes professional arrogance. It is funny though, when you call the Yankee GM, Cash has Darth Vaders breathing apparatice sound on his voice mail. They won't be down long, they made some very good moves, and we have noticed. That is why it is imperitive that we do not relax and always explore the avenues to get better.
Jayson: What is the most pressing issue at the winter meetings this year?
Pat: Implementing revenue sharing to help the lower payroll clubs. It does not look like it will pass this year, but it is a fight that we will not give up. It would not benefit us as a whole, but it does strengthen baseball as a whole and the better the product you put on the field, the better the game is.
Jayson: What a wonderful conversation Pat. Good Luck in the postseason. The Twins seem to have gotten hot, and if the Rangers find a way in, they have the ability to induce an offense into a slump.
Pat: Thanks Jayson, yes it is get nervous time, but at the same time, we are excited to get back to the post season. Toronto is alive!