Just a disclaimer, you know far more about non-hockey than I do, so I apologize for relating most stuff back to the NHL in my posts.
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Originally Posted by Pudge714
It's not McCabe or Delgado's fault they were overpaid, I don't expect athlete's to turn down free money, I expect management to run the team well.
McCabe was a good albeit one dimensional defenseman who got a contract he didn't deserve. Until the final year of his contract Delgado was a top 30 hitter in MLB and one MVP caliber season and one top 10 season. Bosh is a top 10 player in the NBA and people in Toronto dislike him because he is "soft" eventhough a primary reason why he is valuable is because he has an efficient midrange game. It seems like Torontians would rather blame franchise players for not being future HOFers than blaming role players for sucking.
And what's wrong with expecting more from your top guys? Afaik, people still harp on the Stajans and Overbays quite a bit, but they can only do so much.
If a guy gets paid big money, I want to see big performance. I don't feel sorry for athletes getting criticized after signing big contracts, it's part of the territory. Maybe McCabe's feelings got hurt when people called him overpaid. Well, he was. He also went home to a hot wife, swank condo and could wipe away his tears with c notes.
Delgado, I always liked, class act and a legit superstar, it was just a Pavel-Bure-in-Florida situation and he couldn't be held onto, I think that scenario played itself out.
As for the "soft" thing, I think Torontonians are pretty honest...it's a hockey town first and foremost and they love to see their star athletes show some grit and guts. Sittler, McDonald, Clark, Gilmour, CuJo, they were all heart n' soulers who would sacrifice anything to win games. Canadian sports fans have no time for wimps.
Then again...heh, it all comes down to winning.
People love winners.
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The Rays were so historically awful that they had 3 first overall picks and several top 2/3 picks. They managed to rebuild by being so awful for such a long period of team.
Yes, this is very true. But you still have to draft well and manage your ballclub to cultivate that talent. Consecutive high draft picks do not always equate success...how else can you explain situations like the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Clippers otherwise?
People can criticize MLSE all they want, but JFJ and Babock were canned before it got any worse (although it was pretty bad, lol), and I'm sure the organization feels they've got two men who were the best for the job in Burke and Colangelo. JP's leash has been far too long considering how pathetic his first 5-year plan was.
I would love to be eating crow pie come July and watch this Jays squad make a push for the wild card. Please very much this.