GM Alex meets the season ticket holders in Dunedin

Jays host a morning for season ticket holders in Dunedin.
A great breakfast, thank you.
Followed by team workout until 10 when new GM Alex A gave us a state of nation address.
Wisely in my opinion opting for a Q & A, it was an excellent time and seemed perfect for his style. I was very impressed with this guy. He really knows his baseball and it is very apparent he has a plan and is sticking to it despite the whiners wanting a World Series tomorrow.

Although he had to deal with at least one inane question regarding the quality of the sound equipment ??? in Dunedin, sure it is a pain but this is the GM folks he is responsible for the team on the field not whether the sound system has an echo.Fortunately Alex passed the question off to the Dunedin staff.

The major questions regarding the team covered virtually the whole starting lineup.
Pitching in April, Marcum, Morrow and Romero appear to be solid to date for the first three. Then Recpyzynzski, and a fight for the fifth spot. Tallet, Purcey and Cecil and of course McGowan if available. Alex was hopeful but McGowan has not been aired out yet. Litsch not back until June, citing caution with Tommy John surgery and a one year recovery period, Alex said the last thing they want is to bring a guy back too soon even though the pitcher himself wants to get back. We had that experience with BJ Ryan.
Questioned on Halladay and did we get enough for him Alex stood his ground and said one could never get enough for a number one guy like Halladay but with time running out, Roy could walk in six months with no compensation, the no trade clause and what was available. He hinted that the trade with other teams might have brought more but dealing with agent is a whole different situation. He felt that getting three prospects was the best they could do with their hands tied. I for one think young Drabek might well repay that debt. Not this year but he is a great prospect and has the head to succeed as well as the talent. Watch him in AAA this year.
Asked about Travis, Alex said the team is his to make. He has the ability, has lost 20 lbs in weight but is still a young kid (22) and look at Lind at that age and how he has come through now at 26. I also enjoyed the way Alex went into even more detail with Travis recounting how he had struggle against lefties in the first couple of games but was hitting righties very well and had that great game in the field reported faithfully above in the blog.
Regarding Vernon, Alex also repeated what I had said above in the blog that he was hitting very well and had been since he arrived in spring training camp. He recounted that Vernon had shots for his wrist last season every day and yet never ever complained. He realises that he is now the elder of the team and has leader responsibilities and to this eye he has certainly looked good hitting.

At short Alex felt that Johnny Mac will be spelling off Gonzalez this season. An interesting insight into Lyle Overbay, he said that Lyle was giving lots of advice and support to the younger players who were still in camp on first base.Johnny Mac had said similar and hoped the younger players would ask him questions whilst they were in spring training.

A question on waivers elicited a fascinating discussion on Alex's philosophy of waivers. He said that he would rather go after 20 guys on waivers at $20,0000 and hope that one would come through than pay big dollars for a free agent or one hot player.
In answer to questions on when a World Series ! and observation that none of the Jays teams did well last season. Alex felt that the only way to build a continual contender is to have solid minor leaguers all through the system so that year after year. And that he would be using the draft (nine picks this year) to solidify the future. Of course he has already revamped the scouting system to reflect this and it will be interesting to see results in he upcoming draft.
On a question re Cuban prospects he admitted that he had indeed been talking to agents and in fact had taken a call this morning before the breakfast event. He also mentioned that Jays were not alone and other teams were interested in the depth of Cuban talent, inferring that it may be the money that talks once more.

On Cito's replacement obviously he could not comment and one question regarding realignment of the league to develop more parity he said that Paul Beeston was on a senior level committee of MLB looking at a host of issues but he (ALex) does not ask and can truthfully say he does not know. These decisions are beyond a GM and his job was the team on the field.

All in all I thought it was an excellent session for the GM in his first meeting with the season ticket holders in Florida. He had held a similar session in Toronto in February but he said he felt the crowd was even larger today.

He looks SO very young friends... but don't let that deceive you. Beeston and Rogers braintrust made very good decision,and I think I can see why Cito is not sticking around as Manager with Alex. New schools of thought in the Jays organization.

You have my vote Alex.

One more comment on the morning schedule. This year different from the team barbecue following a game which became a zoo and horrendous lineups with thousands of fans.
Jays deserve plaudits for the organization today. The team had an away game thus a much smaller group of fans under 200, A whole programme had been organized including, watching the daily routines of the players, batting practice for the starting lineup. After Alex, offering on the field activities for fans, batting practice, running the bases for the kids, and of course the whole team was open to autographs throughout the morning. I can wholly recommend for any family or fan.

Well done the organization.