J.P. Ricciardi, Blue Jays GM

Michaels on vacation. Tom Karen of NASA and it's filling Yemen joining us on the line right now on the AT&T hot line AT&T your world delivered. Is the general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays JP or charting where we're just joking both of us see you more -- hockey rinks than we see you in baseball stadium.

something that's you know party -- this year believe it or not.

Now all I believe it also -- a start earlier where you are that it does the right thing. -- area I don't. You know -- the last night's game I think Red Sox fans had a certain idea that you know tonight's game can be a little tough to win with reality pitching. You better win with your race on the mound while they did but I don't think it went the way they thought I was gonna go.

Yeah I just a typical American League game. --

It's a funny thing too because Beckett to his credit afterwards made no excuses he said I just didn't haven't I just wasn't there. But you wonder how much the change of catcher and everything else affected him in last night's performance.

Well you know when you look he he he's one of the best pitchers in the league he just had an off night and I think that that you know. Yeah -- those guys out there for thirty starts and they're gonna they're gonna wanna too bad night they're just you offer from his standpoint. DP probably just missed some spots and an opportunity to do with the -- did think it was just like for him. You could look good for the Red Sox all year. You know -- you just get so it's like our -- go tonight you just relied so much of the fact it is so consisted that when they're about consisting that there isn't meant that we didn't expect that but. To be tried to get where Bob Beckett.

JV talk about your guy going tonight obviously so much publicity about a trade that was never made the possibility of moving right now and it. Didn't take us through the relationship and and how do you keep. A guy who is you know in the papers every day is he going is not going ultimately he stays with you you keep everyone on the same page and keep him a happy pitching for.

Well I think it's really -- about the whole thing we did was we. First call -- Roy has been the trade yesterday complete portrait so a lot of freedom. To allow on the -- of the teams we had to be on board -- they want it every that we did we just kept the lines step by step we said. Do you wanna be traded are you willing to leave liberty and policy and so obviously that opens up to do what to do that. And every time we talked search teams we would come back and see these particular interest that this is what. You know they'd be willing to do. It -- to be -- the organization anti U. And you know we just kept that is in blinded and our relationship with with doctors really good so there's really no problem whether he he understood from day one won't try to do it and obviously we try to. Put have a situation where he could be in the playoffs not only that you -- maybe next year and it just didn't work out.

There is not a general manager on the planet who would not wanna have Roy Halladay on his pitching staff given the fact that there were other teams who -- interest that. Re ever close in your mind into accepting a deal was offered to --

No doubt at all that that's probably the most would take -- supporting book probably the most up. Perplexing things from aren't -- We really would never blown away we don't know what really approached us and said they will do -- just incidents. And I think that was the one thing that really made us an -- Wallace is debated is this is our estimation the best pitchers in baseball this is the guy who's done in the American League east. And he can really -- division. Not only this year but next year and you walk -- you gonna get two draft picks -- so it's it's really like a gift that keeps giving. But no one really stepped up and you know. What do you do -- legislative and everybody can can run their business where they wanna run it just. From our -- we were just a little bit bullet while can't we don't Stephanopoulos at a guy like this but that's you know missed despite the sometimes the treatment. All line up the right way is apparently don't.

Is there any concern on your part JP that if you ever revisit this in the offseason or whenever. That the price -- almost have to be lower than it was now and you were blown away with what you have now.

I don't -- we're gonna go down that road -- we're gonna have to you know right now we want to get through this season to discredit sees somebody young kids play here at. And it take a step back and see you know what what direction we're going we have to -- president here. Whose outstanding and you know he he may not be here. It might be a new president come and and and then you know -- all things cut but they could shape and have a better idea what direction ownership in in the club wanted to go at it. And it will be -- you know address that had not addressed -- so it is just too early for us to even think about that.

Did anyone ask you one last question on Halladay and that it goes back to something you said earlier as far as you know are you willing to be traded. Do you wanna be trait I mean that's a subtle nuance but did it ever go from the point of he's willing to listen to listen I wanna be traded it's time for me.

I don't know he -- he -- that type of guy admitted all of at all he's he's the best I mean you know it I think a pretty general manager had to deal with with -- They would just that there is say well this is a real pro. He had just hit he made a commitment area within the organization -- commemorative stamps. He never once stood opposite a I demand to be traded I wanna be traded the other -- the -- he gets up -- that helps the organization go forward. And I have a good situation at all before he goes but if it doesn't work out there. On my contract as they -- it -- to see what happens after that.

So early and there are other decisions I didn't get nearly as much publicity even obviously Alex Rios. Winds of getting picked up on waivers and that frees up some money for you obviously going forward yet to make the tough decision on DJ line how tough. A season has this been for you as far as guys that you I assume thought were key parts of what you're gonna do going forward are now gone.

Well I just think it's the reality of the business I mean it's no different than there any other team goes through -- Ryan's case he gave us two great years here that near the top just surgery. It just never responded that we do that he was never going to be able to get back that. That role with us so we keep it here and to have -- be a situation where. He's not gonna pitch not gonna help us you know yeah just cut your losses that you move on. I think it Rios is case. Oh -- How much he's been a great nobody was late this year we dead. -- resources to do it that went to the twenty billion dollar cut while payroll. Then we you'd be able addressed more physical look forward haven't. Rios went to work with always going to be able it'll probably try to shop but the bargain basement that's also the need to wouldn't have to keep Rios in the the end of the day we just thought. It we'd be better to have the flexibility of the body. So they just decisions you have to make it into you move on -- we get a really good -- to have were very happy about that. So it is just part of a process to be we've we've we've -- in the last three years and obviously we we realized that you measure largest news tip because. The division you have to be great if you're -- to be great that you got to find a way to just keep you know get things turned around go to the right direction.

Talk about Roy Bob Roy holiday the picture that we're gonna watch tonight he's a throwback he's a different guy. In this day and age the age of specialists nation complete games don't matter anymore. Where one of those guys JP who always thought there's a limited number of bullets and everybody's arm and we got to preserve them and it how they change your mind if you felt that way.

Well I think dock with the exception I think you go to the game all the smoltz -- Glavine has stood the dramatics the guys that are really the exception to the rule. And it just so many guys that that it complicated. The last eight years and have you know 20250. Innings anymore it just changed -- history of the -- The way it is right now and I think you know if you look at how to take the Red -- are they -- Lester and I think they've done a great job with that we've got to what I young kids and you know we had young kids go to our arm injuries appear probably more than anybody else but. You know if we don't protect them into the probably not going to be around to her for as long as you liken it to -- Casey. He he's just built different I mean certain guys can just stand the rigors that it could get through it some guys can't. Everybody's everybody's different and intoxication or he's been blessed that he's been able the stated in state through.

Jamie talk about the arm injuries and it seems. Yeah over the last 34 years you guys have been hit as badly by the injury bug or worse than the other team out there the fact that he started this year are still paying for some of the injuries. That just suffered last year had as their benefit. Institutional. Sort of review is there anything that -- organization one team can do to try to turn matters it just you know --

Well I think we've looked at and everywhere you candidate and unfortunately. You know what you said the the pitching has been hit -- here but. Probably the bright side -- particular have been. Our problem we've we've we've got a lot of good young Arabs get it done a great job for us on top of the market to militias that are at in the without that ability DL. So we know we've been blessed that we have we have some depth to -- again. You know we've we've done on a budget studied at a budget statement you know for us we just keep coming back to the fact that. It's just it's -- a lot of cases have been Marcum was never heard just you know Tommy John Lynch never heard Tommy John McGowan. -- it would have bad although I didn't get -- young agent and in -- to shoulder so. And meet I don't we protect the kids we've we've looked at -- you know we've looked out for the best interest in you know they've got hurt but. The nice thing is they've -- back and that would study get a ball back now and and that's going to be your and I think for us.

Frank by along the NS intellicast last night made a comment about Travis Schneider he said. He won't we hit number nine next year on in this Toronto lineup talking about how good -- young prospect he has. Has he come along and about the pace you guys expected or is he a little ahead of schedule the thing.

Well you know what -- we -- over the fire right away beta club lunch break trading dedicate great campus -- he struggled -- Vietnamese people out -- Boston. And you know at that point we should he be statistical diplomat that. And he really he went down any really get a good job because he's gonna swing back expected to what was make it to be successful bidder. And you know he looks really looks good now obviously the big that is about how we judge what they've just been -- but. We envisioned him -- detailed in the middle of our lineup in the next few years it works cited about that we -- really good young players that we -- We get great you know you look we have force for rookie starting behind Halladay they've all held their own we've got -- outcome and so. We have a good nucleus it's just you know assistant division it is it due north -- not a division you gotta -- we're really young kids so you have to really get let them get there. Did not to let him go to the -- in the darkened figure or at all Boller in than the run -- out there and see how they got a hold up.

And you mentioned Aaron Helen and he's one of those guys who's at the center of it's almost a revolution in in baseball used to be. The big hitting shortstop that everybody was going after second base seems to be the shortstop position now with your guy in federal way here in Kinsler and and all of our immediate second base is the power position it seems like.

That's been unbelievable it think about it means -- broken and no there it just the American League east what we're Roberts director though -- and ability to actually credible. But I think it's cyclical you noted there was years there with a shot up with the prime position and it was years with a catcher with the prime position. I think it is cyclical but you know we get a second base and he's gonna hit hopefully. More than thirty home runs in and that's pretty where we didn't we expected maybe sixteen to twenty. And it's thirty it's been just been great.

we talk a lot about how the economics and an in this whole -- economy is affecting the industry baseball I think it factored in the trades that were born not made coming down to the trade deadline you were unable to signed three of your four top picks before the deadline how much. Are we go through a bit of a shakedown right now in the industry baseball dot correcting to -- that the reality of the economy right now.

I think you start last year economically quit the wavy. The free agents you know there was there was -- big -- signing a lot of these guys there was a lot of deals out there that world war war probably keyed differently. And I think in north to trickle right over to the draft. You know the one thing we were able to do we were able to China third are just about six round picks up for above slot for the first time in awhile. And those guys that we -- probably the top three rounds so. We took the money we didn't spent in this in this you know those top three routed in it took guys that we took. -- the draft there were able to get those one of what was you know which options and so. Work related about those guys so I think we're aren't we just -- play drafted a way that if we were gonna get our higher -- took some higher risk guys that. You know would do that -- probably this time we allocate enough money that way but I think you know -- the economics of the -- a real. You know there's a lot of guys -- go through waivers that make a lot of money that not being claimed that as a reason why so. And I think each club is gonna have to really sit there and dress I don't what's I'll watch is going to be going forward so addicting game at a different stage right now.

With the money that went along with a -- you surprised that the White Sox picked -- real.

I don't think I was surprised because they've always liked. You know for aren't. It was so you know we could. We we we could've sat there -- taken a player of that magnitude. From financial -- so. Obviously they've been taught about where this is that what he's gonna be allocated for the next few years and how they're gonna be able look I don't think -- contract like that. But trust me -- it just gave us an opportunity. It would it's probably more -- throw -- Get rid of the player but the key to play the easy thing would have been kept Applera but you know from us we just thought that at this time when he gave his -- we need flexibility though. Every -- and have to deal with their own pork barrel finances.

I I know the -- doing that right now trying to figure out Jason Bay -- how do you figure this stuff but does it seems to be so low it.

Yeah it well there's still you know it's funny to split within the last night watched the game where we have a bunch of different games on TV we -- mightily to suffer the computer. And -- all right guys that you deeply Clinton cliff I think it's -- first name -- apartment. And ninety -- that it would have been paying you know how do you figure that stuff well here's a guy that can always -- utility player he's at night it'll run in. -- some guys that you really good players haven't they haven't done some of the things that some of the guys you do look at you know I Bartok the -- have such a good idea for them. It it is having I think he gave Israeli at a different pace right now you know based on maybe some of the things that the deepest cleaning itself up. And I just think we're kind -- some awkward time to figure out who's gonna really be what type of plants and I I think it's it's really it's been interesting decision.

As you look at the Al wild card race in the American League right now with Texas Boston and Tampa Bay the three primary teams -- it. How do you assess the strengths and weaknesses which team's gonna come out of there.

Well the texas' haven't agreed yet -- surprised with the pitching I don't -- pitching is as good as -- Boston they got a great offensive club. I I would if I had a handicap I I would see them maybe being the very key right now. Tampa can Beecher a lot of weight -- only give us a lot of trouble and only give the Red Sox a lot of trouble. I'm gonna save at Boston's gonna be one tip is gonna be -- is going to be three. And it's just based on the fact that they think Boston. I -- this schedules -- more favorable to them go to to September and I think they play a few more games it that way. And if you don't put that in my head I would say Boston over Tampa but it was really good would surprise me if it if they passed the.

JPM -- ask you finally just and you alluded quickly to the possible change by -- the president level of your organization obviously you've got to go through some personal on the field. Some changes here. Heidi your own debt through the rapids here and and you know get this organization. Going into the future with you being in charge of the plant operation here as a as a GM how do you get all that back on the same page golf.

Well except we are the same page I think you know our ownership is totally different than than some the other all the ships are shipped literally could pull us. Without what mattered organization that's driven like the reflect the Yankees were every day our ownership gets up -- how we -- less likely we -- that we got to win. So where -- different dynamic I think you know we try to do the best we can't know what we got. I think -- payroll has been anywhere from fifty million to ninety million and you know it's probably an account which right now so. I think our situation is probably different then than the -- you know you guys used to their Boston and down in the talks so. We've we've got a lot of good young players here we've put a lot of good young players in the big leagues you know we've got a competitive club would not exactly what we wanna be but we'd have to figure out how we could be great. That it's that have been good -- and I think that's the big challenge we have in front of us and it doesn't matter props here so what else sitting here that's going to be a challenge in -- for a long time been. Election we got a really good core young players from every -- superb pitching. So the nucleus does a really good here it's just a matter of you know how -- we get over that -- that's that's the biggest challenge we face.

JP it's always fun to talk baseball with you but we'll see at the -- this one -- out. -- Take care.