Screw the glass-half-empty crowd! I’m actually looking forward to the 2019 Blue Jays

Happy Opening Day!

Despite the current state of affairs, the start of the regular season is exciting. Things are fresh, the canvass is blank and the typical clichés are being prepped.

I’m not afraid of a losing season. I’m not afraid of low attendance numbers. I’m not afraid of the pain. Been there, done all that.

The Jays are what they are. If you rather watch something else, that’s fine. You can view 2019 as a lost season. I’m viewing it as a season of development.

Regardless of the final outcome, my goal is to look at the positive aspects.

Worst case scenario: They lose 90-100 games. That only means they get early dibs on the undrafted pool in 2020. Raw, young talent is never a guarantee, but nothing in life is. Besides, the Houston Astros lost 100+ games three seasons in a row. A few years after that, they won the World Series.

Best case scenario (and my preferred outcome): The 2019 team performs to a level similar to the 2010/2011 clubs.

Remember how fun those teams were?

You had Jose Bautista turning into a superstar slugger and all these young players with potential, who also loved to interact with fans on social media.

The 2010-11 Jays were far from a playoff contender and played sub .500 baseball; but they gave us hope and an incentive to tune in or purchase a ticket. That’s how I hope fans will ultimately view the 2019 team and beyond.

I would also like to see the following:

1. Vladdy gets called up – when ready – and puts up strong numbers…..obviously.
2. Youngsters like Jansen, Borucki, Gurriel and Hernandez, continue to show improvements. Not asking for Murderers’ Row; just want to see growth and development.
3. Veterans like Smoak and Morales have productive outputs, making them valuable as the trade deadline approaches.

Think of it this way:

Imagine going to watch a movie with friends. The film you’re about to see is a generic, mass produced Hollywood story. It’s clearly not going to win an Oscar and won’t make any kind of must-see list. So you go in with very low expectations.

Then you watch the movie and despite its flaws, it was actually entertaining!

It happened to me when I watched Hostage and Sahara.

So as ridiculous as this will sound, the best way to deal with the 2019 Jays is to have low expectations.

Expect to them lose 162 games. Expect them to get blown out every match. Expect them to be worse than the Bad News Bears.

By setting the bar low and taping pillows all over your body, any amount of victories will be happily welcomed. You might even find yourself saying “It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.”

Hey…I’m just trying to help. You can complain about the pain or embrace it. The choice is yours.

ER

Yes, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a gift from the heavens….but could we take a breath?

I’m really excited about Vladdy Jr.

The kid is a total stud. I don’t need to tell you how he tore it up in New Hampshire and Buffalo in 2018. His production made us all salivate.

We saw the videos. We constantly checked for updates. We all soiled ourselves when he hurt his leg last year and again this past Sunday when the Blue Jays announced the oblique injury.

That walk-off homerun he hit in Montreal against St. Louis last year was incredible! Not even Hollywood’s greatest script writers could have written a better moment. And that was only a spring training game!

Yes, Vladdy Jr. is a gift from the heavens. But while I’m eager to see him in the big leagues, a part of me is also very hesitant.

To be honest, I’m uncomfortable with all the hype. Part of me drools when I think about his potential and wants him on the 25-player roster yesterday. But there’s also a part of me that channels my inner Russ Atkins and prefers a little a more seasoning; Vladdy being “Major League ready.”

So collectively, maybe we all need to take a breath.

I’ve never liked the word, nor the concept of “prospects.” Anyone in the minor leagues system has a chance to have a successful career at the major league level.

I know, I know. It’s not as simple as that. Apologies for generalizing.

But seriously, why value certain talent over others? Sure, some talent are better and show signs of being “ready” earlier than others. But at its very core, it’s a crapshoot. Why else would the MLB draft require 40 rounds? It’s for teams to hedge their bets.

Again, I’m really sorry for generalizing.

Like anyone else in the farm system, Vladdy will either make it or he won’t. Putting him on such a high pedestal and placing grand expectations on him is concerning. I’m all for being optimistic, but can’t we do it cautiously? He’s only turning 20 in a few days!

The demand and expectations make me shudder a tiny bit. It reminds me of a time when some were screaming for Brett Lawrie to be called up.

Remember all of that excitement? Years later, Lawrie is under 30, has been out of baseball for a few years – I really hope his tryout with Milwaukee works out – and his biggest claim to fame was having Red Bull inspired energy and being part of the Josh Donaldson trade.

So let me pose this question: Is it really terrible if we wait until after the regular season starts for Vladdy to be called up?

The second he makes his MLB debut, the 29 others club will start penning – if they haven’t already – journal entries called “How to get Vladdy out.” I don’t see anything wrong in delaying or slowing down that process. And wouldn’t it be nice if Vladdy becomes a terrific infielder, in addition to being a superstar slugger? Baseball America acknoweleges it.

Okay….enough of this bullshit. This isn’t about being Major League ready or working on his defence. Vladdy’s arrival is about one thing: SERVICE TIME!

This is what some refer to as the “business of baseball.” Call him up after the regular season starts and the Jays get additional team control before he tastes free agency.

Some scream “service time be damned! Give the fans what they want.”

I’d love it if Vladdy got called up last year or – if he wasn’t injured – made this season’s opening day roster. But assuming he chooses to sign with another team years from now – hello, inferriority complex – wouldn’t it be beneficial to get as many years and as much out of him as possible? Squeeze those lemons, dammit!!! Metaphorically speaking, of course.

Yes, manipulated service time is ugly and benefits the front office more than the player and fans. There is a reason why the MLBPA is keeping thier eye on the Jays. That’s also why this oblique injury – in a sick and twisted way – creates better optics. Now there’s an excuse to delay his big league promotion, even though no one is fooled.

Just know this:

Eventually, Vladdy will be called up. We’re just going to have to be – I’m sure you’ll start eye-rolling – patient.

When he does make his big league debut, let’s not rush judgement. Let’s also not overreact about – and I can’t stress this enough – his size and weight. You just can’t expect a young man like Vladdy to be perfect or know how to conduct himself right away. He’s technically still a teenager.

Above all else, PLEASE put aside your need for instant gratification and let the story organically play out.

ER