Posted by John Brattain on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 1:29 pm

O.K. the Toronto Blue Jays are punting on 2009 to see what the kids can do and hope 2010 is the year the club goes for the gold.

Now, I’m thinking (or whatever the processes that go on inside my cranium are classified as) that if the team needs to add a piece or two that it will be done in the next offseason.

Fine (a woman’s four letter F-word it should be noted and can inspire male incontinence if uttered correctly).

Here’s where I get confused–now the organization is worried about costs this year but not so much in 2010. Yet, when you compare/contrast this year’s class with next year’s–well the free agent class of aught-one-oh is as decidedly underwhelming as the Blue Jays’ offense last spring. What Rogers Communication/J.P. Ricciardi/Paul Beeston/voices in somebody’s head is saying is that it’s far better, far smarter, far more economical to spend more on lesser talent during the next offseason than grab a bargain priced superior talent or two that can be used in 2010 right now.

Put another way, if the Jays need a DH heading in 2010, it is far better to possibly drop $14 million per year on a Jim Thome, Aubrey Huff or a Hank Blalock next year than spending $16 million per annum on a Manny Ramirez. If it’s pitching you need, it’s better to pay $15 million/year on Rich Harden 12 months from now than say…$9-12 million on a Ben Sheets right away.

Yes, they save money this year by not spending but next year pay more for lesser talent and this is considered a sound financial strategy? It’s like passing on Boxing Day Sales for the fridge you desperately need opting to wait until prices are higher to make your big purchase.

Again, it’s not that the money isn’t there–Rogers Communication has enjoyed tremendous profits despite the economic downturn–it’s that there has been a conscious decision not to spend it at this time. Even though it would be prudent to take advantage of the bargains to “stock the shelves” as it were (especially with higher quality merchandise), they’re choosing to wait until next year when lower quality inventory will be available at higher prices.

Now, I’m no financial whiz (look at what I do for a living) but this strikes me as not smart–especially when the money is there.

I’m pretty sure these folks didn’t get to where they are today by being dumb so something else must be at play here.

It’s what we discussed at the Hardball Times last week–the hazards of being Selig loyalists.

There is a financial motive to be sure–the choice made by teams on a regular basis; do you make money by investment and increasing revenue or welfare? As was discussed in the THT article–Selig loyalists view players simply as an expense no different from paper clips, photocopiers, computers and pens…something that comes off the bottom line.

This is the approach made by franchises like the Royals, Pirates, Reds, and the Brewers under Selig’s screwardship.

Their track records speak for themselves.

There are other teams that look at players as investments–individual stars put “asses in the seats” as George Steinbrenner once famously opined and of course quality player that help teams win ball games … well, let’s just say winning, pennant races and October baseball have been known to enhance a franchise’s revenues.

However, the advantage of welfare is that you don’t have to work for it.

The thing is, Rogers Communication has done a lot of good things for the Blue Jays–they’ve refurbished the Rogers Centre, they brought in some decent talent, held on to some home grown stars and put a better product on the field.

Of course, part of this was simple self preservation–the team had lost the public’s imagination and trust (such as it was) and that’s not the ideal outlet to advertise your wares. If you want to plug your product, eyes are kind of necessary and if there’s no interest in the team…

Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or a particularly brilliant baseball writer) to connect the dots.

Yet, while the team has shown promise, it has needed some additional investment to take it from potential contender to the genuine article and this is where the organization seems to have lost its stomach.

The question is why?

I’m guessing that part of the Selig loyalty is based on the commissioner’s office giving the Blue Jays equalization payments the last time the dollar was so low and hopes for more now that the depressed Loonie (not me, but the resemblance is undeniable) has fallen so far.

Selig has preached restraint to both the GM’s and brought Paul Volcker in to do likewise for the general partners and other baseball execs and the Blue Jays are determined to be good organizational soldiers in hopes of more free money (another hallmark of Selig-loyalist … I really need to come up with a name for such ones: Seligists? Buddists? Bud and the Selugs?) even though it might cost them a competitive team.

The Toronto Blue Jays have enough issues in trying to reach the post season: playing in the AL East, drawing free agents into what is to most players a foreign country, the Canadian dollar etc. without looking for additional hurdles to overcome.

Just sayin’.

Buddy-ball … screw it.

Best Regards

John