The Blue Jays are "aiming to install a dirt infield at the Rogers Centre" in time for the '16 season, according to John Lott of the NATIONAL POST. Work is "tentatively scheduled to begin in February." The Jays in the past have "played their home games on artificial turf" (NATIONAL POST, 12/20). In Toronto, Raju Mudhar wrote it looks like Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro has "stepped in it again" with what sounded like "an organizational about-face on plans to bring grass" into the Rogers Centre. After years of "being told artificial turf was a detriment to free agents and takes a toll on our own players, this is yet another tone deaf look from Shapiro." It is "almost as if Shapiro is underestimating how baseball savvy people" are in Toronto, or, at least, "Blue Jays savvy." On his arrival, it "felt like the media greeted Shapiro with kid gloves." But with "each disappointment, and Shapiro’s management speak about 'the process' and 'budgetary constraints,' it is clear the goodwill from last season has faded." What is "truly amazing is how grim the talk of the Jays has turned." In all fairness, Shapiro is "the new man in charge and if he is approaching everything with an objective and open mind, then this could be good in the long run." The other issue is that Shapiro "does feel like he is wrestling with the ghosts of the past regime, and looks like he is trying to do whatever he can to strike out to let everyone know this is his show." That is also "tough to do when even the media continue to celebrate the last guy" (TORONTO STAR, 12/20).
STAT GUY: In Toronto, Brendan Kennedy noted the Blue Jays last month promoted Joe Sheehan to Dir of Analytics, which "signified an increase in stature for the 31-year-old and his department within the Jays’ revamped front office." Sheehan "started doing original research and writing for a now-dormant website called BaseballAnalysts.com" before he was hired by the Padres in '08. After a season with the Padres, he was hired by the Pirates when they were "in the process of building MITT, their own proprietary database." Sheehan joined the Blue Jays in '11 after two seasons with the Pirates. Sheehan’s career in MLB has "coincided with an unprecedented flood of data." He said the "sheer scope" of data is what is most impressive (TORONTO STAR, 12/20).
