Unfiltered
MILWAUKEE — Did Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi learn nothing from the recent A.J. Burnett ordeal, or even from his own slip of the tongue last season about B.J. Ryan’s injury?
I give Ricciardi all the credit in the world for being one of the game’s most accessible GMs, and his willingness to speak is mind is wonderful for us scribes. But there are still times when Ricciardi would benefit from applying the ol’ filter to his thoughts. He openly aired them again on Wednesday night and he’s talked himself into some controversy once again.
This is from “Wednesday’s with J.P.” — the weekly radio call-in show Ricciardi has with Jays fans on the FAN 590 AM in Toronto. Ricciardi was asked if Toronto perhaps had interest in Reds slugger Adam Dunn, to which J.P. responded:
“Let me ask you something. What do you know about Adam Dunn?” Riccardi told the caller. “He’s a lifetime .230, .240 hitter that strikes out a ton and hits home runs. Do you know that the guy really doesn’t like baseball all that much?
“Do you know the guy doesn’t have a passion to play the game that much? How much do you know about the player? There’s a reason why you’re attracted to some players and there’s a reason why you’re not attracted to some players.
“I don’t think you’d be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here.”
All Ricciardi had to say was something to the effect of, “No, we’re not interested in Adam Dunn. He doesn’t fit what we’re looking for” and this would’ve been another non-story. Just like if he’d never admitted the Jays lied about Ryan’s elbow injury last year during the same weekly call-in show.
Last week it was Burnett saying he’d accept a trade to the Cubs “with open arms,” instead of limiting his comments to “my loyalties rest with the Blue Jays and I’m not thinking about my future just yet.” Burnett had to deal with the aftermath of his honesty and Ricciardi’s now dealing with the same.
In Cincinnati, here’s what Dunn had to say to reporters:
“I know nothing about this clown. I have no idea who he is. I don’t really care what one guy thinks, to be honest with you. If I’m a GM, I don’t know if I would go out of my way to kind of discredit a player.
“It [ticks] me off to be honest with you. He doesn’t even know me. If he knew me, fine, say what you want. This guy doesn’t know anything about me other than what he sees on whatever SportsCenter they have up there. That’s it.”
Today’s lineups:
TORONTO (35-38) at MILWAUKEE (38-33)
at 2:05 p.m. ET at Miller Park
BLUE JAYS
Marco Scutaro, 2B
Matt Stairs, LF
Scott Rolen, 3B
Vernon Wells, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Alex Rios, RF
Gregg Zaun, C
David Eckstein, SS
A.J. Burnett, P
BREWERS
Craig Counsell, 2B
J.J. Hardy, SS
Ryan Braun, LF
Prince Fielder, 1B
Corey Hart, RF
Russell Branyan, 3B
Gabe Kapler, CF
Jason Kendall, C
Ben Sheets, P
NOTES: Jays RF Alex Rios was moved down to the No. 6 spot in the lineup — the lowest he’s hit in the order this season — in light of his recent struggles. Said Jays manager John Gibbons: “It’ll take a little pressure off — take a load off — and maybe get him going. He’s missing his pitch and his swing is a little long.”
Major League Bastian 
J.P. will be getting coffee for Billy Beane in no time. J.P. is feeling the pressure. A guy that could hit H.R.’s, that wouldn’t fit with Toronto? No reason to trade for Dunn anyway, he’s a free agent at the end of the year. The Reds will be asking for too much. Go after a guy like Jason Bay, he’ll be around for a while. He will help you right away and in the future. I think he would be the ideal fit with the Jays. A native of the country on top of that and he can play.
To Mr. Ted Rogers:
Please do us all a favor and eliminate this embarassment to Toronto Blue Jays fans. Start with Godfrey then JP Riccardi who obviously doesn’t know how to keep his foot out of his mouth and has shown to be a consistent pathological liar.
Is it any wonder why players don’t want to come/stay in TO . JP questions Dunn’s character but he needs to take a good hard look at his own . JP needs to go before he scares everyone away
You have to wonder if the players are responding to both JP and Burnett comments with today’s game.
WOW, I didn’t watch the game today (watching my team lose at the Euro’s) but I did keep my eye on the box scores and tuned in in time to watch Stairs strikeout. I can only imagine it was another deflating loss despite the valiant effort it took to make it close after being down 8 runs. Unfriggin’ believable. If they don’t win with no offense then they lose with bad pitching, atleast lately anyway.
Did Burnett look as bad as the line would indicate ?
As for J.p. despite the poor record I have liked what he has done for this team as a general manager but if this continues (team performance) he should be gone. I’m giving him the balance of the season before I start getting on the “fire J.p. bandwagon.” The comments were ridiculous though and that’s really all I can say about that.
G_sumner! where have you been ?? lol
I have just seen the highlights and that wasn’t pretty. A no-no through 7 from a guy the jays traded. Was the non-call on Alex Rios’ play the correct one ? Either way, he should’ve thrown it into the infield.
We are 10.5 games out of the division lead, and a long way back in the wildcard race. The problem with keeping JP around is that any decisons he makes with regards to trades etc. will be done with an eye to his future and retaining his job. In other words, JP will be looking for a short-term fix. The problem with his comments is that it is unlikely any other team will hire him. You never speak badly about other teams’ players, especially since Dunn did nothing to deserve any sort of comment from JP. No doubt, JP knows that he has cooked his own goose, so to speak. This will likely be his last job as a manager in the majors. Thus, he has to hang on to the job as long as possible, and at any long-term cost to the franchise.
The guy is signed untill 2010, I doubt he’s worried about short term fixes. Who do they hire right now that is better ? If that can be answered realisitically then i’d have no problem with them firing him now.
Enigma-My take is the guy to go is Godfrey. The reason being Godfrey protects JP and of course JP protects Gibbons. Let Godfrey’s replacement pick the new GM and let the new GM pick his new manager.
Clearly, what we have isn’t working and needs a significant change unless we’re happy supporting a team struggling to reach .500. I have nothing against Godfrey personally, I just believe we need a REAL baseball man as president, just like the Raptors have a real basketball man running the team and like the Leafs desperately need to be successful.
JP’s made some good decisions and bad ones; so far this year the bad ones are out numbering the good. He has a real loud mouth and spouts off like he did on Dunn way too many times. That and his continual lying are the main problems I have with him. Both tendancies put his management capabilities working under pressure into serious question and prove to me he’s incapable of holding a public sports management position.
Enigma ,
This article lists plenty of options for both GM and Manager
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings.
Enigma,
Of course his focus is on short-term fixes. Do you think for a moment that he can tell Godfrey that he now has a third five-year plan that he wants time to implement? No. He must win now, before the media rides him and Godfrey out of town. The Jays are in a great position to turn this thing around in a couple of years, if they would just part with some of their precious assets, including pitching, in exchange for some high-end young talent in other teams’ farm systems. Look at the team that just beat us three straight…full of kids. Look at tampa…full of kids. Look at Arizona….full of kids. Sell now, bring the kids on board, and let them develop at the major league level. It worked for us in the 1980s and everyone else is baseball has been following the same pattern that we started almost 20 years ago. It is time to get back to basics.
Here’s some potential promise. We have two teams in the Dominican summer league. We started last year and this years crop is showing some promise. DSL BLue Jays 2 is 2nd in their division, team 1 is not so good at last place, but check out some of these stats on these kids, particulary ss Gonzalo Gonzalez. Remember though, these are mostly 17 and 18 year old kids. That being said it’s nice to see us back in the Dominican Republic.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?t=t_ibp&cid=1610
I have defended Gibby many times and although I maintain that he has managed better this year than in the past,I must relent. It’s approaching half way and now is the time for change.This team is awful and capable of much better.Clearly,the worst in the majors if not for the pitching staff.Along with Gibby,I think JP should go as well.Bring in someone in from outside such as Showalter,Macha or even bring back Fregosi (I was never sure he was deserving of his fate before).Let whoever manages do things his way for the year and see what happens.
Nice to see you back Gsumner…
I more more impressed with Oliiver Dominquez than Gonzalo Gonzalez mainly due to the fact that Gonzalez has only had 36 AB compared to 73 for Oliver.
Oliver is also showing some power with 3 HR in 76 at-bats. and 40 total bases in 76 atbats is pretty good too.
In Pitching JOSE VARGAS is doign extremely well and Fernanado Bello isn’t so bad either.
AS FOR JP LIKE I STATED BEFORE ITS TIME TO REBUID.
Burnett should go for a good prospect or two (if we are actually getting good 1st rounders) and if not then keep him for the SANDWICH PICKS…
Wells is gonna stay cause noone wants his contract. Rios is gonna stay cause he is still young and has alot of potential. Hill is doing great for the contract he signed and so he should stay also. Most of our bullpen should be kept and our pitching staff too.
EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS TO GO FOR SOME GOOD YOUNGER PPL. I might even trade McGowan or Litsch with Cecil coming up.
so this means Rolen, Stairs, Overbay, Eckstein, Zaun, Stewart, Mench, Wilkerson ALL NEED TO GO. lucky for us most of them are gone anyways.
Bring Barajas back and give Diaz another shot, then the year after we got Arencibia and Jerolmen coming up too.
If overbay improves and goes on another streak like he did in the middle then we could get something good for him too.
I am sure some team is willing to give up a 1st or a 2nd rounder for Rolen.
And give LIND A CHANCE NOW…we got Snider coming up too ( i have been waiting forever for him)
I know I said I wouldnt be back until after the allstar break, but how could I stay away with the jays signing GASTON!!!!!!!!! This is awsome and the best news I have heard all season. Let’s hope it will kick the jays back into competition!!! Oh and WOOOOOO! NO MORE JOHN GIBBONS!!!!
There is a God.
Cito – Good to see you back, and I like the coaching changes too. Best of luck.
Gibby – You’re a good sort, shame it worked out this way. Not like you could swing the bats for ’em.
J.P. – Isn’t it time to gracefully exit too???
Congratulations to Cito. I neglected to mention him in my previous comment due to partly I thought he was still batttling the bad back and probably not come out of retirement.Gene Tenace is also a good move,no nonsense guy,knows baseball and not afraid to kick a few butts.
Oh by the way, to bad the jays are in Pittsburgh tonite. It would be a real flashback Friday at home.I wish Gibby all the best,he wasn’t the main problem,but you can’t fire everyone.He took the fall for alot of others mistakes,particularly his boss.
Well it’s pretty obvious that J.P. is thinking short term with this move so I was wrong. I never asked for John to be fired but I understand that something had to be done. Even if it’s to creat an illusion that this team can still contend (which I believe it can). Cito is an execellent choice in my opinion and it’s no coincidence that 3 of the 4 guys that they brought in are, or have been hitting instructors in the past. I think too that this move will help Rios smarten up a little more (as in maintan focus throughout the game). If John had to go then Gary Denbo had to as well so I can see why they did that too. Though I understand that Cito wanted his own guys which ou can’t blame him for. It’s just too bad it happened on a Friday, i’m always out so I can’t watch the game lol.
P.S. they could still use a bat though.
I’d like to add too, that no matter what your opinion of Cito is, he is a guy with credibility at the least. If they had brought in someone with no experience again it could’ve been a potential no impact move. I’m very interested to see too what his take on the line-up is (how it should look like, Barajas or Zaun, Eckstein or Mcdonald etc.)
I KNOW I GAVE UP WATCHING THE JAYS UNTIL THEY START WINNING…BUT HOW CAN I NOT WATCH TONIGHTS GAME WITH CITO BACK?…and HALLADAY IS STARTING TOO:D,
agree with you enigma, its gonna be fun to see how the lineup shapes up today and how he calls it.
A winning attitude is what we need. Hopefully Cito can bring that. It interesting that Godfery and J.P. only started talking about replacing Gibbons on Wednesday. Every publication I’ve read had Gibbons on the chopping block since Spring Training. With the Jays performance in April, you would have thought that they were talking about it. More unoffical opinion on the move.
http://homerfoodandhistory.mlblogs.com/
Iam curious bout one thing. Cito is coming in with his own guys.Keeping Arnsberg was a givin.Has Godfrey took some of JP’s influence away on the onfield activities finally.Gibby was always hamstrung by JP’s pulling of the strings but is it possible that Cito said he would take the job but personel and full reign in the dugout would be his? Seems like it .Comments?
TK i gotta agree with you and the thing is they would agree to it but CITO IS CITO, they have to respect what he has done and frankly he is probably a better GM than JP and nothing else is working so they probably did agree to it.
Other than that you can’t let personell get in the way when a person like CITO is gonna coach and if he is coaching you know the personel is gonna be good.
I just hope CITO can salvage the season OR start the rebuilding process. Even if Cito get s JP fired I woudl be ok with it.
I have always liked Cito Gaston, what’s not to like about someone who helped bring us two world championships.
However, this move was done simply to protect JP and Godfrey-let no one have any dilusions about that. Although I truly hope it works out, I’m still of an opinion that until Ted Rogers fires Godfrey and JP, everything else done is simple cosmetics-like this move today. The problem is from the top to bottom of management of this club. Today the bottom got chopped-but the top still needs to be dealth with.
Pat Gillick’s contract is up at the end of this season with Philadelphia. I for one would love to see him named President and let him pick his people to run the team. That, in my opinion, would be a start to enjoying long term success.
Who is available though that would be better than J.P at GM. (The link posted earlier wouldn’t work for me)
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=stark_jayson&page=rumblings
Harry , here you go , hopefully this works this time . If not go to ESPN and rumors
Gibby being fired is long over due, this team is like his coaching record. subpar. Is Cito the answer, well in the short term sure, but in the long run, they need to look extensivly once the season is over, not to mention look at outsing Richardi. Lets hope that the firing or almost everyone will spark the team. Hopefullt Gene Tenace will be able to ignite those sleeping bats.
Now Doc, might be down. yikes. Scary shot to the head. Hop he is ok.
What the team needs to do as well is trade Burnett! Trade him and get something for him. He has been nothing but a waste of money. I will bet that Burnett given the chance will bolt at the end of the season , then the jays have sqwat.
I do not want to say the season is over, but lets face facts, we are 10.5 games out. I would say it does not look good and a trade would maybe start getting some fire in people.
Part one is done.. firing of gibby, now jays part two is here.
We would get two sandwich picks if we lost burnett and I believe they are both at the end of the 1st round.