Solid. I'm still lukewarm to both he and Shapiro, but stability at the top is necessary. This allows them to follow and see through their vision which they have done a good job of putting into place. Nothing worse than ownership purging its management only a few years into a build, only to have new management come in and upheave what was done prior and essentially starting from scratch.
Exciting times for the Jays ahead. Here's hoping Shapiro continues to re-direct his focus to off-field priorities, particularly on a new stadium (highly doubtful) or at least retrofitting the SkyDome to make it a more pleasurable baseball experience.
Couldnt agree more. Ownership finally smartened up and gave Shapiro and Atkins the extensions they deserve.
Ownership jumped the gun on Anthopoulos, they needed to give him more time. It took Dayton Moore 8-9 years to get his team to the playoffs and win a WS. If the Jays gave AA 8-9 years, we might have a WS. Its weird because they gave a guy like Riccardi 9 years, heck even Gord Ash got 7 but AA only got 6.
Shapiro and Atkins should get a lot of credit for building this team up. Best young core since Gillick with more on the way. Like it or not the Jays have made the playoffs 2 times in 5 years with a good chance to make it 3 in 6 this year. Mind you playoff format has changed but its still a fact;
Pat Gillick: 5 playoff appearances in
16 years (1994 doesnt count, though we would have missed)
Shapiro and Atkins: 2 playoff appearances in 5 years
Alex Anthopoulos: 1 playoff appearances in
7 years
Peter Bavasi: 0 playoff appearances in
1 year
Gord Ash: 0 playoff appearances in
7 years
JP Riccardi: 0 playoff appearances in
9 years
If this Jays team does what it should, they should make the playoffs at least 5-6 times in a 10 year period under Shapiro and Atkins - best in franchise history.