Shapiro looks ahead
Jays president optimistic, but short on specifics
The key word is uncertain. That Mark Shapiro is certain about. He sounded a little Gary Bettman- like in his annual end- of- season state of the Blue Jays talk, hopeful yet realistic, optimistic yet solemn, part- Bettman, partDoug Ford, part- Adam Silver, part everybody trying to publicly answer everything about a future we really don’t know anything about.
That isn’t just sports in a pandemic. This is everybody, just about every day. If we don’t really know what today is, how can we know what tomorrow will bring? This is almost November. This is all becoming a blur.
Normally spring training is three months away. Normally free agency is about to begin. Normally the baseball season begins in April and ends after 162 regular season games. Normally the Blue Jays play home games in downtown Toronto. Normally there are fans in the stands, ticket revenue to be considered.
But there is no “normally” anymore. At least for now. Now being this month and next month and how many months after that? You don’t know. We don’t know. And in his Zoom interview Wednesday, a relaxed, likable, comfortable, non- clichéspeaking Shapiro took on every question asked, talking to people not at them, and at least attempting to provide if not an answer, then some context.
He talked about his team, the future, his manager, his manager, his general manager and never mentioned a single player. Here is Shapiro, semi- unplugged and slightly edited:
HIS FUTURE
Shapiro just completed his fifth year as president of the Jays. This time has been something of a bumpy ride. The shortened 2020 season was probably his proudest under very challenging circumstances. It ended with some optimism and games of significance but with his own contract situation publicly unsettled.
“We’re not celebrities; we’re not stars,” Shapiro said about his contract. “I prefer this to be about the players and the coaches and people in uniform. That being said, I do understand (contract status) is a point of interest. ... I love living here and working here. It’s been life-changing for me and my family and my kids. ... I’ll be here until I’m not here.”
THE 2020 JAYS
“There were so many things that could have been built-in excuses for our players. They refused to take those excuses and they chose instead to focus on what they could control and to me, those attributes and traits are markers of a championship makeup. ... I think the results, going from a 95- loss team to a team that played meaningful games ... that’s an invaluable experience for them and great next steps in our planning.”
PLAYOFF FORMAT 2021
Obviously Shapiro, and all of baseball, has no clue what next season will look like or where the Jays will play, and he’s preparing for many alternatives. But he doesn’t believe there will be eight teams in each league in the post- season in 2021. He thinks that’s too many. The Jays wound up in the playoffs as the eighth ranked team in the American League.
OFF- SEASON WISH LIST
“The needs for improvement are so obvious, defence and strike- throwing. I look at what we accomplished in light of significant challenges defensively and with our strike throwing ... if ( general manger) Ross ( Atkins) and our baseball operations group can get better in those two areas and take natural progress forward ... that would be a significant positive for us next year. ...
“We have to improve defensively. That is a clear need for us.”
PAYROLL 2021
Shapiro will meet with Jays ownership in late November and present a recommendation on a budget for next season. That recommendation will be made not knowing whether tickets can be sold, whether the team will be playing in Toronto or someplace else.
“The reality of the pandemic clearly changes the dynamic of our revenues,” said Shapiro. “They ( ownership) expect us to continue to pursue players this off- season.” He expects the “resources are going to be there in a meaningful way.”
LAYOFFS
Shapiro wouldn’t put a number to many people were let go by the Blue Jays in light of the pandemic. But there were lots.
“It’s painful to talk about. It’s painful to think about. ... It was the hardest thing I’ve gone through in my career. ... Every single team in baseball went through it.”
CHARLIE MONTOYO
“I think this season really put on display his strengths, his consistency, his positive ways and his compassion and empathy and belief in our players. He was incredibly positive. He did not get sidetracked by all the potential challenges that existed. ... In a very understated and professional way he was very strong.
“I think that experience, that life perspective that he’s had ... really was able to shine through. ... When Ross hired him ... we hire people for long term, we have that conviction, that belief that he’s going to be there forever.
“Obviously in the sports world for all of us, including me, that’s not the reality. We all have expiration dates. That’s part of the reality of living in a sports and entertainment landscape.”
Which likely means an extension coming for Montoyo. Question still: Is an extension coming for Shapiro? That matter is uncertain.