J.P. Ricciardi, Blue Jays VP of Baseball Ops & GM

After a day off yesterday the Boston Red Sox are back in action tonight. There will be in Toronto the opening game of a three game weekend series against the Toronto Blue Jays joining us on the line personal friend of the dale -- program. He's the Vice President of baseball operations in the general manager of the blue jays JP rich party paid JP played on you. Doing all right what's gone on with the.

I don't know much a much -- right in the doing it again so kind of fun.

Keep an -- those Celtics basketball knowledge.

I -- to describe legacy of the -- go to went one attitude to make the play out so well I'm keep it that not a.

We had a feeling you probably were keeping abreast of what was going on here your team just finished day. A three game series in New York against the Yankees weren't looked like he got pretty good pitching in the whole series.

Yeah -- was outstanding you know we actually yet we outscored in the series -- ended up losing to rather than three we lost 200 games. It is funny because we came right out of spring train and which operated it seem like three playoff -- right off the bat so. They get a good club they got a good lineup top pitching was great couple run here or there we we could we could've but I had a different outcome but I think this could be really really tough division.

Is going to get tough division and in JB I wonder how you feel about some people saying that. You gotta finish on top of it do you pay attention -- that stuff and if so what do you think.

Well obviously applied it what anybody thinks you know highly -- you but we we realized that you know to get a -- division to Iran to the Red Sox right now probably Yankees secondary. And yeah we've got to just put ourselves the position of the -- people based on September a lot of good young kids in the -- would bits of really did you cute couple behind these guys so we do take it we cable. Put a guy to spot. There replace somebody Arabs I would like al lineup. I don't to Carolina this is good three -- for the Yankees and the Red Sox we -- one -- nine it's as good as anybody we've got to a really good benched some depth there. You know we'll see everywhere restarted best team we've had since I've been here in you know we -- get lucky -- to --

You know everytime I talk to you talk to you always mentioned payroll because that's part of your reality is not the reality of the Red Sox for the Yankees. What is the difference the payroll difference between that the Toronto Blue Jays in 2008 and say the blue jays -- 5.

Well it's just unbelievable little five our payroll was up fifty million dollars and it would run at different -- course that we're pretty much it cost cutting it. Trying to turn the organization around from us losses as far as overall losses from our. Our ownership. And you know we wanted to just get ourselves in -- from a business standpoint and from then on you know we started to do some good things here and there and ownership decided to. Give us a little -- payroll is double that right now or 200 million dollars which which is about fourteen to fifty in Major League Baseball. And you know with still behind the two teams in front of us but you know what it's it's enough that we can be competitive it's not that you know we can do enough things to put ourselves right there.

JP you rebuilt the left side a year infield although Scott Rolen is out of the moment with with Ian David next time. Was was deep -- your primary concern on the left side.

Not really deal because we actually second the American league overall the -- last year and you have to go along way to by the that a defendant -- back when we were trying to do was just find a way to get different personalities here that maybe treated. I instill -- us a little bit more that grit -- grind that you know we know that the Yankees and the Red Sox haven't they and guys who have been there before you cricket World Series MVP in next time you get. No real good player at third base role and so -- character and makeup physical along with their ability was big part of what trying to get those guys here.

They talked about the makeup of those position players I wonder what -- up make up of Roy Halladay does for. The rest of the starting pitchers what does that do for your staff had Metallica.

Well I think there's a comfort level there and knowing that -- we have a base beat. This is again it's going to compete but up every single night they you have to realize that the guy that probably bases everybody else's piece. Most of the time. And you know it's it's funny because we -- the world Roy that we don't result while we're expense but I really don't think the record. Rest of the baseball world realizes how good -- is at the dignity he takes on for us and organization. It's bicycle -- back. The -- get to the playoffs people really -- realize how good you are in what you stand for a I just really think -- get short changed a little bit from recognition but he absolutely the best always the base that's competitive have been around but he's the best -- of the.

is going to ask you that you said he gets shortchanged that you think that'd change it if the team gets the playoffs is it because he plays in Toronto or is it the fact that you guys have been in the playoffs and --

I think really the more popular because he played in Toronto I think you know you look at the guy he continuously put the 200 plus innings is CRA's always enough that the mid to low threes like it set -- he's pitched on Sunday's season Beckett so it's not like he goes out their faces an -- it doesn't occasion but you know he's just he's an absolute war and it would just Ian is he some of the guys. You know the national league that they. Probably especially pitchers I I couldn't imagine what you would do with and nationally so we're really blessed to have been -- like -- only -- great leader but he just agree guys.

A couple of years ago on this radio station Curt Schilling said he thought A. J. Burnett might have the best style of any pitcher in the American league. For a variety of reasons we probably haven't been able to see AJ Burnett's best stuff. How frustrating has it been for you knowing how good a patriot think this guy can be that you just can't. Get him out there all the time.

Obviously it's frustrating in the sense that you eat just what you said -- stuck. When he's on the mound all you have to do is look at the result is going to 390 Jerry pitching in the American league east -- he's one of the best that ground ball fly ball rate -- straight Coca you know. Did his stuff is exactly what you said it's it's off the charts so anyways. You know the only challenge we that is just keep them on about what he's been on the mound he's been very good so so far -- he's healthy. And it feels good and hopefully will be able to just keep run out there you know we like our staff we pick out 125 were as good as anybody in baseball obviously you know be one injury away from cabinet -- jets in which is a big loss for us -- he pitched well as a starter as a set up guys so we we have taken it already but the kid has done a good job -- place that we we like -- hopefully look at the progress.

We all know about Talladega and we all know about Burnett but but perhaps baseball fans don't know as much about. McGowan Marcum and lynch although we've seen them from time to time tell us about the at the bottom three guys in your rotation.

Well ominously McGowan is probably a year away from maybe being the number two or even at number one starter this stuff is actually explosive these. Anywhere from 92 to 96 the Pentagon you know what what pitches -- what did he get -- he's got a great break ball really -- without -- changeup. He's really matured and grown up as a person so he's released take you to that role it's a great game for us last night in the dark market is just flat out competitor he's he's got a twelve which was Lester probably had should at sixty people -- two games are just how to pitch for pitch guys 88 and 91 would could they really could break the ball excellent change of maybe a vestige of in American league. So great competitor was up -- college it was a good athlete and amount of the bought not taught to run on English is actually a -- third base with two music that it. It is it's a great competitor -- Zach Duke -- cutter slider. Good changeup good breaking ball. 88 and ninety would agree to receiver just knows how to pitch and and as a real good feel for is only 23 years old they came up through let's journey he won -- separate games beat the Red -- couple times. Beat the Yankees want so. The tough part of young pitching as -- people Boston though is that. -- you have to break your pitching in this division -- it's it's just aren't giving so you have to be able to get these kids mentally as tough as physically.

JPM sure you know when you got a fifty million dollar payroll as did 2005. Everything has to go exactly as planned if not. The guy gets hurt you don't have the resources to have someone else step up and take his place without missing -- beat. With the 100 million dollar payroll do you feel like you have some -- leeway and you don't what you got to get her but if something goes awry you felt like you have the depth. To overcome.

Well covered every -- standpoint the players we have a place we we do have some guys -- you know rolled off from up there with a school -- it was a really good players so we're world set promised to put an episode depth. From the everyday position part but I think on the mound as -- all of us you know Red Sox Yankees everybody. You know you start losing guys on the mound. It's just cut to replace them because it's just not many that many guys they'll do that a yesterday to AAA and that committee people have as many prospects maybe some people leads you to believe that they could step right in their eight pitcher -- effective and continue to allow you to compete so. We're lucky we have a couple of guys that are in double at Tripoli that we we need to -- they're helpless a little bit so that that's the biggest -- that I think all the deal with is the overall depth of pitching staff.

JP you've got a five tool superstar playing right field for you and Alex Rios and I know you guys were working hard on a contract extension and I just I'd is that when last I heard you had extended the deadline is that thing done yeah.

We have Prescott updated 3 o'clock so we you know we've got Alex Rios doesn't and we get another surprise goal with that so that they can be good day for us.

You know we we should play R little's would sports news breaks we -- act. If you're from if you're familiar with that on and WE.

Are you you know you could you could break it down and don't get paired up --

no one's going to -- it up there. What are the terms of the DO what are some of the nice little -- that you put in there that might the interest in people.

Well I won't get that specific but it's going to be a long term deal it keeps the trial for awhile so you know that defeated American league east lead -- police. Nobody can see this guy played at throttle for a bit and NRC would allow us to do is is do we try to keep out score young players here we've been. You know blessed by ownership it's give us the ability to -- proactively do this keep the world keep it validates. And now Rios and we don't want to surprise goal with that today so. We've got we've got a good group of nucleus players that are young in in the prime of their career and still be in the prime of their career when he deals done so. You know that's what's allowing us to be able built a court and try to stay somewhat competitive with those two teams as far as keeping -- players here.

I mentioned Rios is a five tool player in Europe in your mind. What's his primary what's what's his best asset.

Well he's got to grow up as a player which is is one of the things that the physical ability. If you we can all -- get physical ability it's liquid you watch Kevin Garnett played thing that jumps out at beat. That's how good of a player -- is how hard he plays I didn't night out how we meet other people around the better and I'd never seen the -- play that much I would really -- saw that. And I think -- Rios his case he's he's maturing as a player so much. He's starting to become a guy that other guys looked -- while he did the little things but -- and -- Yankee Stadium where it over toward first base to back the plate from right field through Jeter out at second base. Stole base the ball what is senate the only typical of the third base so. He's starting to evolve as a player that doesn't live but just that that doesn't live well okay through this -- at the plate. And I think that's when your players that the ball become the best players that they can be.

want to ask your about an issue that's going on in baseball right now while not a major issue but it's something that has been discussed. Barry Bonds does not have a team in the players association has has mentioned the word collusion a few times. One do you think there's closing gong on in two would would you have any interest of of of bringing a player like interest in bringing a player like Barry Bonds at Toronto.

Well I I don't think there's collusion going on I think I think it's a pretty strong words that throw out there. It is it is still a lot of guys go to make a lot of money in this game and I think you know that. For anything to be tight it was something along the line conclusion that the cumulative seeded affected a lot of other ways -- strongly. -- city in the accusations about that. It's our sponsor it would surprise me -- outside and at some point I think you know most people edges that -- right now and you know for a from aren't we were pretty well set coming in we have actually no money left that we've done most about work by the time you know we didn't. Thought about the Barry Bonds at this point and and I'll be prosecuted for any team to take Barry Bonds you know you have to be ready for everything that comes with it. And our case we're probably a little bit wary of that in the sense that. We've got a good -- here we have a good club most and not to discount is in good but the take a guy in here that we know is going to attract a lot of attention. I just don't know park club it is built to handle that so. That's probably aren't what I biggest concern is with the B still very good clarity -- probably best suited the American league but it would -- just outside of -- support.

We were in Fort Myers for the Red Sox last grapefruit league game against the Toronto Blue Jays. And ESPN was there to televise certain and we all know what happened in the hour delay. -- Terry Francona has spoken glowingly about how John Gibbons. Handled it from the Toronto perspective I know you weren't in Fort Myers for the game but what was your take on what was going on their on what was happening.

Well I'm just glad we played because you ought to be -- players down there and I really don't think that. You know Perry or feel for that matter really knew this was coming down the road so I think it caught them off guard as much as it caught us off guard. And you know it's really not that big deal it's it's you know I had to -- with the players would do in the based -- the coaches try to you know make things right that way there really wasn't that -- get into these Restovich in the state was basically about an hour delay and we publicly at 1 o'clock anyways it was a -- 121230 game. So I I don't I I commend the players stand up to try to get things for the coaches but other it's like -- it as best they could.

My one final thing for you JP IR I I can hear the enthusiasm and you talk about the young players and your team. And the good thing as you said the good thing we have going there in Toronto how hard was it or what what was the process like. Of getting that club house -- personality wise character wise to a point where you're comfortable. Knowing that the guys in the air -- on the same page.

Well it's not an easy task you know it's it's -- and that we worked on are all seven years they've been here in. You know when you're trying to change of culture for the ninety get a hit obviously the present time. It takes a lot of data takes developing -- role players they'd get up there with a mindset from the minor league system all the way up -- expected of them. It's cultivating the young players that are in the big leagues nowadays in the in the world. You know to buy into the fact that we will have to build a winner has is that what you guys you have to be examples that we want to use it's being selected in the created little waiver claims or anything like that the guys that you bring in the club also. It's it's not it's not an easy task in at TV talk in general -- you you always by the that's probably the biggest challenge they haven't how to guys it and politics is one guy that could really disrupt the club also I think a lot of our success in the club most comes -- the fact that we do have a lot of players about system. And the guys that have been here in the big leagues as I've always been good quality guys so. It was unfortunate that way.

I understand yet moto cross -- the Rogers center leading up to this field going to be ready for tonight.

I know it still looks good though that the go and actually broke go to new club most probably this year it's it's actually stayed the cats so we're we're excited to get going you know we don't read text at a good club but we like our team we think we stay healthy which gets to what to do with things.

Always fun to talk baseball with the congratulations on not how things have gone so far and best of luck to you after this weekend okay expect RJ CJ area that is at JP returning Vice President of baseball operations and general manager the Toronto Blue Jays