From the Armchair

We know better

[amos665-blog]

Lowe the Angry, and MacT the GM

There are two types of fans, those who are angry at what Lowe said about how the "paying customers" and those who "watch the games", and those who see the truth behind the words. The ones I am sure he was referring to are the ones who are upset and against anything and everything the team does. The ones who believe they could always run things better. The guy showed more emotion and passion for the team as a whole than all the players not named Taylor Hall this season. People often forget history as it actually happened so let me remind you.

Lowe the GM 2000-2009

Team Record under his management:

301-252-47-43, 3 playoff appearances, 1 Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Timeline of moves as a GM:

Traded Roman Hamrlik for Eric Brewer

Signed Mike Comrie

Trades Bill Guerin for Anson Carter, and draft picks

Trades Doug Weight for Marty Reasoner and Jochen Hecht

Acquires Mike York for Tom Poti, Rem Murray, and Sean Brown

Signed Adam Oates

Acquired Petr Nedved and Jussi Markkanen

Traded Mike Comrie for Woywitka and 1st and 3rd round picks (could have had Corey Perry, but that's a different rant)

Trades Brewer, Woywitka, and Doug Lynch for Chris Pronger, and then signed Pronger to a 5 year, $30 million extention

Trades Mike York for Michael Peca

On trade deadline day 2006, acquires Sergei Samsonov, Dwayne Roloson, Dick Tarnstrom, and Jaroslav Spacek (parting ways with Marty Reasoner, and various draft picks)

So in essence, Hamrlik, and Comrie got us Chris Pronger (and a period away from a 6th Stanley Cup), and Mike York got us Michael Peca. Nedved and Oates both contributed to one of the most exciting, failed, playoff runs the Oilers made, and Reasoner bled Copper and Blue during his entire stay in Edmonton. Of the people who didn't get to make the run in 2006, I have always felt that he should have been a part of that run, because he was a true Oiler.

Under Lowe, the Oilers were always competitive, and they were not tentative in making a deal if there was one to be made. To question his ability to see talent is a fools errand. He was a good GM, and the evidence is there to support it. He never had the funds to build what we are building now during his time in the drivers seat, but he built probably the strongest Top 6 of defenders the Oilers have seen since the 80s in 2006. 

To question the man in the drivers seat is also foolish.

MacT the Coach

Record as Coach:

301-252-47-43, 3 playoff appearances, 1 Stanley Cup Final appearance.

Pre-lockout:

He never had the horses to truly run with the big teams, thanks to the cash strapped nature of the EIG. He always had the scrap heap of players the big teams didn't have use for. But one thing that could describe every one of his teams was that they competed and overachieved. His knack for getting everything from his players was often overlooked because it was expected, as well as his hockey intelligence, and was always good for an entertaining media scrum. Despite the lack of star power in the lineup, the team was always in the mix at the end of the season.

Post-lockout:

This is the first season he ever had a bonafide star in the lineup, Chris Pronger. The team was in the playoff bubble come deadline, but thanks to a rotating goalie crease, the team largely underachieved for most of the season, which was solved when Kevin Lowe acquired Dwayne Roloson from the Minnesota Wild on trade deadline day. The defence was also bolstered that day with the acquiring of Jaroslav Spacek and Dick Tarnstrom, and he was also given the slick Sergei Samsonov in exchange for Marty Reasoner. His lineup heading into the playoffs as the 8th seed (deceptive standings, they should have been better but goaltending was lacking) were as follows:

Forwards

Smyth - Horcoff - Hemsky

Samsonov - Stoll - Pisani

Torres - Peca - Dvorak

Harvey/Winchester - Rem Murray - Ethan Moreau

Defense

Bergeron - Pronger

Tarnstrom/Greene - Spacek

Jason Smith - Steve Staios

Not a great forward collection, but they got by in terms of hardworking, team mentality, and some strong performances in terms of depth scoring. And any defence that features the "human rake" is going to be better than most. 

The point with this is, once MacT was given the horses, he ran them all the way to 20 minutes from a Stanley Cup. He knows what a good team looks like, and how to run a good team. He will be having conversations daily with Ralph Krueger, and that will only be a good thing. He has the horses to run, he just needs the depth players to support them. MacT the GM will bring good things to Oil country. Don't count him out because he has no prior experience as a GM, he is a smart hockey man, and he will get the job done.

This is the same group now that was successful in the past with less. Let's see what they can do with more. 

[amos665-blog]

Boston

"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'" - Mr. Rogers As you read and see more about the Boston bombings, look for the helpers and see the good in humanity as the days go by. Focus on the helpers, not on the evil people who created this tragedy, don't pay them any attention.

[amos665-blog]

The Stanley Cup

Alright, so the sounds coming off twitter right now is that the players are debating the NHL's latest proposal. That is a very good sign. It means a significant portion of the players like the deal enough to play. Do I think it will be the deal that wins it? No. But I do think that the players proposal should be reasonable and we may have a deal within the week. But that's not what I am going to talk about today. This is a what if scenario, what if the talks do break down and the season is completely lost? What happens to the Stanley Cup? I'm not going to deride American fans, and I have no data to back this up, but I am going to assume most American fans do not know that the Stanley Cup actually belongs to the government of Canada. More on this later. The Cup was given to Canada by Lord Stanley, who was the Governor General of Canada. In 1893 it was donated by the Earl of Derby, then the Governor General, to be awarded as a challenge cup to the best team in Canada. The government of Canada has loaned the trophy to the NHL, and the NHL just operates the it. The NHL trustees, this is where I am upset with, are acting like Gollum, it is there precious. They will not award it to any other team other than the NHL. That is not in the spirit of the trophy. It is to promote sportsmanship. Here is what I suggest, the government of Canada just recalls the trophy. If the NHL loses a second season in 8 years, I don't think it should be counted on to steward it. Canada could make it an amateur tournament annually. Canadians would watch it. Americans I doubt would, and the stature of the trophy would be reduced, but it would be a Canadian treasure, and integrated into our history. Will this happen? Probably not. Today, all I have to say is: the NHL should make it's own damn trophy.

[amos665-blog]

THE NHL PROPOSES A NEW DEAL!

Finally, the NHL has proposed a legitimate deal. One that should be accepted. Why? Because not only is it fair to the owners with a 50/50 split of HRR, but the players also do not have to stomach salary roll backs. Isn't that what the players have said they wanted? Well, maybe not the 7% revenue cut, but they avoided a wage cut.

Dare I say Mission Accomplished?

I hope so, but this could just be rejected. It is just as likely that the players send back a "counter-proposal" that puts us back at square zero. The NHL cannot lose another season though, despite Bettman's thoughts that "[they] have the best fans in the world]." Fans will not return the same way last time. Sure the hardcores will, but the fringe, Sun State fans won't. Any league that loses a season every 8 years isn't worth watching for the most part. 

Ugh, this whole thing really makes me angry. I don't like either side. I just want hockey. Both the players and owners are too busy playing PR battleship that they are forgetting all about their amazing fans. The fans that just want to be entertained, and fill both of the owners, and players wallets.

The highest level of hockey in North America right now is the AHL, and unfortunately it is not even available to watch for the average joe. You have to subscribe and pay cash to watch a still below NHL standards league. Hockey is not meant to create animosity, but the opposite. It is supposed to instill camaraderie and sportsmanship between people. It brings people, and nations together in one spirit. Sure, not everyone likes hockey, but the values it has as a game at the core, are values within everybody. 

This sucks, I just want to watch the Oilers lose. How sad is that? 

[amos665-blog]

The Death of Logic and Compromise

The NHL is on it’s way to it’s second lockout in 8 years, and fourth work stoppage in the last 20 years. Three lockouts in the Bettman era. This my friends has been a ‘failure to communicate’ and both sides are wrong.

Why are they wrong? I’ll tell you why, they make millions of dollars in each system. All you hear from the players standpoint is that it’s anywhere from 17.5-24% wage cut. That’s still more money than I will ever earn with 6 years of Education becoming a teacher who has double majored. These are all people who get paid to play a game, just a game. Most of who are uneducated past high school. But the worst player in the NHL will earn 6x as much as my ceiling for salary.

But would you like a 17.5% pay cut? You might ask. No, but it is totally different here. For me, that sort of pay cut equals ramen noodles and no Internet or entertainment for the duration. For a regular NHLer, that’s the choice between an Escalade, or a fully loaded Tahoe. Not exactly comparable is it?

Logic has gone by the wayside, as has compromise. We will never see NHL players go to pre-1990 levels where only Gretzky was earning over $1 million. But neither the owners, or players want to leave anything on the table. Players, you do realize it’s the owners that give you a job right? And owners, you do realize that it’s the players that make you earn money right? And how is 50/50 unfair? Every other professional sports league is around that mark, why can’t the NHL? Also, how do players not understand 57% of revenue is a self-destructing system that will hurt them in the long run too?

Who is being hurt the most here? Fans. It’s them who make the salaries possible (HHR!) Every player was once a fan dreaming of game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. Both sides need to think of what the reason is they play, and realize what they do is a privilege and nobody forced them into the profession.

These days make me lose hope in our society. That a hockey player is more valued than a doctor, police officer, soldier, teacher, and paramedic combined many times over.

[amos665-blog]

Loaf #1 ! Made enough bread for 3 weeks! #yum #cool #baking (Taken with Instagram)

[amos665-blog]

Baking bread old school. #throwback #retro #nostalgia #sustainability #smellsawesome (Taken with Instagram at Westmount (neighbourhood))

[amos665-blog]

Wish this was Skandy Andy. What about you Caitlin? (Taken with Instagram at Quad)

[amos665-blog]

The Return

Okay, so it has been a while since I’ve posted, true. But the offseason is a fun time to dream and not have reality kick you down. Every trade and signing is plausible. So today is my return, and thoughts on how the Oilers can return to respectability and still build a championship team.

First, this requires Tambo to do some work, so that’s a barrier. But here is what I would do, seeing how this is an Armchair GM tumblr.

Fixing the Defense is easier than the MSM is making it seem. All the Edmonton area media make excuses for the teams lack of addressing glaring needs. Here is the thing, the Oilers can overpay with prospects and picks now because we have a plethora of developing talent. So here is my first trade:

Hemsky, PRV, and a 2nd rounder in 2013, and a 3rd round in 2014 to Phoniex for Keith Yandle and a 4th round pick*

Hemsky is expendable since Yakupov was selected. He is the centre piece of this deal. Paajarvi is the up and coming prospect, and the picks are bonuses. PHO needs to add offense, and seeing how Whitney, and soon to be Doan are leaving, here are their younger replacements. Magnus would excel I believe under Tippets system, and Hemsky could be renewed in a new environment.

This is not the toughest defense I has ever seen, but it is on that can move the puck up and the Oilers can finally use their speed to kill teams.

*if there is a dispersal draft, this is null and void considering how they would have their choice of Yandle, or Ekman-Larsson.

Jones and Peckham to Boston for Brad Marchand and a 3rd round pick in 2013

Marchand has seemed to lost favour in Boston, could he be had? I think so. Every team needs a punk. Plus how much fun would it be to see Eager and Marchand play Vancouver 6 times a year?

So with these two moves, the Oilers improve greatly, and cut down the amount of contracts in the organization. This makes more flexibility, and the Oilers win now, and continue making an elite team without sacrificing the future.

The Recap

The team is now:

Hartikainen - RNH - Eberle Hall - Gagner - Yakupov Smyth - Horcoff - Marchand Eager - Belanger - Hordichuk

Yandle - Whitney Petry - Smid N. Schultz - J. Schultz

[amos665-blog]

Blue Jays 2012 Preview - Offense

Offense:

Jose Bautista - Everything that can be said about Jose, has been. Pure professional, thinks the game extremely well, and adapts to every situation. He is all about being a Blue Jay, and makes everyone around him better. If Encarnacion or Lind puts up decent protection for him, he will surpass 50 homeruns or more easily. He'll hit 45-50 home runs and have 100+ RBI

Brett Lawrie - Golden boy. I'm excited to see him for a full season. His energy is genuine and contagious and can really infect the clubhouse in a positive way. He is so competitive, and he will be pushing his teammates every day. This kid has all the intangibles. His potential is higher than anyone else's on the team. This will be his team later on in his career.

Adam Lind - An enigma. Has a lot of tools and talent, but has struggled since he won the silver slugger. Has a hard time adapting to pitching adjustments, hence the streakiness. He is too slow in changing his swing or approach. He will be on fire, the opposition will adjust, and he flounders for 10 games, then he comes back. I'd have him watching film with Jose every day. I don't want to give up on him, because of his talent, but this may be the last season I keep optimism on him.

Yunel Escobar - Speed and gets on base. I love his game, but he needs to check his emotions. He starts to over think and try and do too much. Again, I'd utilize Bautista with him. Show him how to channel that passion and to simply his approach. He is an Allstar, and one of Anthopoulus' best acquisitions. 

Edwin Encarnacion - Was the fans whipping boy last season, but I think he will step up this year. He is a very smart hitter, and I believe he will put up decent numbers. I would have him hitting behind Bautista for the first couple months to see how he does. If he puts up good numbers, great, if not, I could see him traded at the deadline this year. With Lawrie owning third base now, it's either DH or first for him, and I'd rather he not play everyday defense. He is E5 for a reason.

Travis Snider - Farrell has said only one of Snider or Thames will make the team out of spring training, and the other will either be traded or sent to the minors. Snider was rushed, I understand, but he needs to show up. Both have played well this spring, but I have a feeling this is the last year the Jays are patient with Snider. He has always been this 'next big talent' since he was drafted, and my patience is done with him. If Snider doesn't make it out of spring training, he'll go to AAA, and be traded at the deadline. 

Eric Thames - Much longer leash from management for Thames compared to Snider. He won't be traded if he doesn't make it out of camp, but he'll spend time in AAA and be a call up throughout the season if thats the case. Next year will be deadline time for Eric I believe. If he makes the team as the everyday left fielder, look for more power from him than Snider, but expect a lot of strike outs as well. He has a lot of upside, and I prefer him over Snider.

J.P Arencibia - The Blue Jays are going to be faced with a difficult decision when  Travis d'Arnaud is ready for the bigs. Arencibia is good, and this year he'll step up. His game management last year improved drastically by the end of the year (why AA was okay with trading Molina) and this year he can focus more on offense. In the next year or two, we'll see what J.P has to offer, and then the Jays will make the call on both of them.

I am liking what the Blue Jays bring. Are they better than one of the Yankees, Red Sox, or Rays? The Red Sox and Yankees are looking as mortal as they have for a long time, so third or even 2nd is definitely within reach. AL Wild Cards will be owned by the AL East, but I don't think the Blue Jays will pass the Red Sox this year. They could if they were aggressive with trades to acquire players for this year, but they aren't keen on one and done years where they'd have to start over again. So even though the Red Sox have cracks in their armour, the Jays will stay the course and finish 4th. But it won't be a 9 game difference this year. It will be awfully close.

[amos665-blog]

It's his team now

This is John Farrell's team now. Last year, he was learning the ropes, and discounting the aggressive baserunning at the beginning of last season, the team was still basically Cito Gaston's. That's done though. After watching some of the spring training, I see a very different team. This team is not going to rely on the long ball to score runs as much. That seems kind of ironic considering they have the best hitter in baseball on their team, but I think it is true. This team is going to manufacture runs, and have a much more balanced attack.

There is a reason the Red Sox want this guy back. He is gold. He maintains the players manager persona, but demands respect, and accountability. He is the guy for the Blue Jays for a long long time. I've said it since they hired him, and I truly believe it, the Jays have found the next great manager. 

[amos665-blog]

Gilbert traded

Wow, taken by surprise with this one. But I actually like it. It all depends on Petry continuing to be a solid Top 4 at the very least. Gutsy move by Tambellini, because Gilbert is a solid 3-4 guy on any team, and Petry is still young and unproven. But with this deal he changes the culture of the team bringing in. Big shutdown guy who plays with grit, and the Oil now have a shutdown and puck mover on every defensive pairing. The Top 4 now has sand paper with Schultz and Smid, and they added a guy with brilliant character. His Wild teammates have been speaking the world of him. This was a move for next year. The Oilers gave up on this season back in December, and will add yet another Top 5 pick this summer. This is the best for the team. Next year we push for a playoff spot though.

[colinmania-deactivated20160818]

Ni!

[gabrinetti]

[amos665-blog]

More Trade Ideas

Khabibulin. Could Chicago take him back? I think so. Also, the Leafs have zero goaltending. Remember when they traded Tuuka Rask to Boston for Raycroft? Wonder who won that trade eh? He has been solid this year, despite what his detractors are saying. 12-16-5 with a 2.60 GAA and a .914 save percentage. Great comeback year for him. So trade ideas with him. To Chicago: Khabibulin + 3 or 4th rounder To Edmonton: Kyle Beach and a 2nd rounder OR To Toronto: Khabibulin To Edmonton: Keith Aulie

[amos665-blog]

Deadline Options

What will the Oilers do? I don't think a whole hell of a lot. I could see deals containing Khabibulin, Omark, or Peckham but nothing major I think. With the emergence of Petry as a legitimate Top 4 option, I don't think their D will be much of a question mark as it was this year. Would still like an elite defenseman, but we'd have to give up a bit for that. Richard Cloutier mentioned Gagner + Jones and the 2013 1st rounder for Mike Green. I think it would more likely have to be Pajaarvi instead of Jones and it is still far to early on him. However Hall, Eberle, RNH, Petry, Green, and most likely Grigorenko has a good look to it. Imagine the line combos. But for next year our line up will probably be: Hall - RNH - Eberle Pajaarvi - Grigorenko/Gagner - Hemsky Smyth - Horcoff - Jones Hartikainen - Belanger - Eager Gilbert - Whitney Petry - Smid Teubert - Sutton That has a look of a good team. You have size in the Top 6 and Bottom 6, and puck movement and grit on the back end as well. To quote Lowetide, I thank God we have Stu 'The Magnificent Bastard' MacGregor as our head of scouting. If the Oil draft Grigorenko, I think they actually should put him in junior for the year. I'm tired of rushing our players, and we need to space out the ELC contracts. It's a good thing when your team has to manage the roster according to the cap. Have the players earn the spot on merit and talent rather than draft position. The Oilers are deep in their prospect pool, and finally have the looks of a roster that can wait for the players to develop properly. Let Grigorenko rip up the QJMHL and World Juniors one last time and then evaluate him after that. The Oilers next year won't be as bad. Even though they are only moving up one spot in the lottery, they are far improved. Now if Tambellini could procure a Jonathan Bernier from the Kings for say Omark + the Kings 2nd Rounder tomorrow, I'll say he is the winner of the day.

[mlboffseason]

Ryan Braun wins appeal of drug violation, will not be suspended via Larry Brown Sports. 

Here’s what Larry Brown writes about Braun successfully appealing his PED test results:

Reigning NL MVP Ryan Braun has beaten the system. The Brewers outfielder will not be suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball for a violation of the league’s drug policy, according to Tom Haudricourt of theMilwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Haudricourt writes “Someone familiar with the decision said the appeal went Braun’s way not so much on contesting the result of the test but the testing process itself, some kind of technicality.”

Braun reportedly tested positive for elevated levels of synthetic testosterone during the playoffs. He accepted his MVP award and the MLB writers had no plans to re-vote on the award.

Braun is expected to report to spring training on Friday. He was the first of 13 players to successfully appeal a drug suspension case.

LBS goes on to give more details about the appeal and the MLB’s reaction, but the only real important news is that Braun successfully appealed the test results and his 50-game suspension and he will be eligible to play at the start of the season. 

Fantasy geek’s set up your draft boards accordingly. 

@Suga_Shane

[amos665-blog]

Good, classy guy. Good on MLB for recognizing their mistake.