This Week in Blue Jays: Jose Bautista, Goose Gossage, and Fun in Baseball

In this space, Jenn Smith takes a look back at the recent stories surrounding the Blue Jays and provides her thoughts on the matter, with links to some of the original sources. Once the season starts, look for this series on Sundays to help you catch up on the goings on in Jays land.

The reigning AL East champions Toronto Blue Jays have looked nothing short of stellar thus far in spring training, sporting a 10-2-1 record while demonstrating that in addition to last season’s core of players, this team has depth at nearly every position. Yet, it has been the stories off the field that have dominated the headlines the last few weeks, with Jose Bautista at the centre of nearly all of it. It began in late February when Bautista told reporters that he had given the Jays’ front office a dollar amount and term for an extension and that he was not willing to negotiate, stating “I don’t believe in the whole budget and payroll. I don’t believe in any of that stuff. I’m not going to sit here and try to bargain. I don’t think this should be a negotiation. I think I’ve proven myself…In my eyes, I’ve given this organization a five-year hometown discount already.” It was later reported by Rick Westhead of TSN that Bautista has asked for five years and $150 million, which Bautista flatly denied and which raised the eyebrows of both fans and analysts, until Jon Heyman reported that Bautista’s demand were actually higher, leaving people shaking their heads even more.

There is no doubt that Bautista has more than outperformed his current contract, but to call it a “hometown discount” is revisionist history. When Bautista signed his current five-year, $64 million contract after his breakout 2010 season, he was still viewed as a risk by most teams. And, while Bautista has wildly surpassed expectations, cementing himself as one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time, there was nothing “team friendly” about the contract at the time it was signed. It was seen as fair at best, as evidenced by the fact that Bautista signed it, but also drew lots of criticism as an overpay.

That’s not to say that I don’t understand where Bautista is coming from. It must have been frustrating the past five seasons to be paid less than many other players despite being one of the most productive hitters in the entire game, but to Bautista’s credit, he hasn’t mentioned once before now. And, I don’t have an issue with Bautista naming his price and sticking to it – there’s just no way I would give a player that kind of money and term into his forties. And, even though it’s not my money, I understand the need for a team to be fiscally responsible. Jon Heyman has since reported that Bautista is willing to negotiate as he prefers to stay in Toronto, but I just can’t imagine the Jays being the highest bidders on his free agency. I’ve already made my peace with the likelihood of this being the last season of Jose as a Blue Jay and there’s only one thing I want – for him to go out a World Series champion.

While Bautista brought the contract conversation upon himself, he also made headlines thanks to the comments of Hall of Fame reliever, Goose Gossage. In an interview on ESPN radio, Gossage expressed his disdain for the new school way in which baseball is being played and analyzed, using Bautista as a prime example: “Bautista is a f—ing disgrace to the game. He’s embarrassing to all the Latin players, whoever played before him. Throwing his bat and acting like a fool, like all those guys in Toronto.” Like all those guys in Toronto? I have no idea what that means. Then, given the chance to retract his comments in a subsequent interview, Gossage instead doubled down: “I was passed the torch about a certain way to act. Flipping the bat isn’t part of that. All the things I said about Bautista just came to my mind and I got it off my chest.”

With his remarks, Gossage – never one to keep his opinions to himself – once again sparked the debate between the old-school and new-school way of thinking when it comes to baseball etiquette (never mind the racial undertones to what he said). And while I couldn’t care less what he has to say about Bautista, the Blue Jays or the state of baseball in general, the conversation itself is interesting. It brings to mind the basic concept of evolution – adapt or die – and the concern over the last decade that baseball has had difficulty attracting the attention of younger fans who instead prefer the overt excitement and showmanship of other sports.

It’s a fine line between exuberant celebration – such as The Bat Flip – and showing someone up. But that line is becoming increasingly blurred as the young stars of the game, such as Jose Fernandez, Chris Archer, Carlos Correa, and Kris Bryant, exhibit their own unique brand of personality while dominating their profession. Even the two reigning MVPs – Josh Donaldson and Bryce Harper – are unafraid to demonstrate emotion and personality (Harper has even spoken out in Bautista’s defense). And frankly, why should it have to be one or the other? As Bautista said, “You’re supposed to react. You’re supposed to be emotional. That’s how you stay in tune with being a human. If not, you turn into something else.”

I’m certain that this will lead to an argument from several who read it, but this is the sole reason why, despite the statistics, I don’t consider Mike Trout to be the best player in the game. I am simply unable to feel a connection to him and his accomplishments. He is, in a word, dull. That’s fine; that’s who he is, and I wouldn’t expect him to change. But, as a fan who cheers and laughs and cries during a game (again, I harken back to The Seventh Inning that culminated in aforementiong Bat Flip that is quintessential to my argument), I connect with the players who demonstrate their passion for the sport they so dearly love. Tradition has its place in baseball – from the seventh inning stretch to the wearing of high socks – but it is a uniquely emotional and personal game played by human beings, not robots. To see my own emotion mirrored by the players on the field only makes the game that much more of an experience. I want players to be free to express themselves – it’s great for fans and ultimately great for the game itself.

Quick Hits:

•  Lost to some admist the early angst over the departure of Alex Anthopoulos and hiring of former Cleveland Indians personnel is the fact that Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins are very intelligent baseball people. Not only have they acquired depth at every position, but they’ve also implemented a highly innovative, scientific and personalized approach to player training. This new high performance department is still in its early stages of development but is already being praised by players, including Michael Saunders. Arden Zwelling has an excellent article detailing the program. If the program achieves its goal – namely, to keep players healthy and productive through the rigours of a 162 game season – it could be a game-changer.
• Marco Estrada, who has missed the first three weeks of spring training due to tightness in his lower back, threw 35 pitches in a simulated game on Saturday. He can now be cleared to play in an actual game. Estrada says he’ll be ready to go by the start of the regular season, but if he needs additional time, the Jays can take advantage of having a day off after Opening Day by going with just four starters for first week.
• Four months since undergoing shoulder surgery, Devon Travis says that his range of motion is expanding and, though he won’t state it publicly, he has a date in mind for his return. Getting his bat back into the lineup would make an already deep group that much more dangerous.
• When Jays’ players were shown a video of New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team performing the traditional war dance called the Haka, they immediately thought of Josh Donaldson (As a side note, I once saw the Haka performed by a New Zealander dressed in full battle gear. It’s intense and incredible. If you’ve never seen it, watch this.). Can’t you just picture Josh Donaldson – with his man braid and Vikings attire – doing something like this? I sure as heck can.
• Jose Bautista engaged in a work out battle with the Phillies Phanatic on Saturday, and it was glorious. It’s nice to see ballplayers enjoying their time on the field and providing a little something extra for the fans.

Lead Photo: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports