The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Curtis Rush wrote, "While Toronto’s passion for baseball is no longer disputable, what is up for debate is whether that passion has bred a more intelligent baseball species." Sportsnet analyst and former MLBer Greg Zaun said of Blue Jays fans, "How can you expect them to have a high baseball IQ when they’re still learning the nuances? Baseball takes a long time to really grasp.” ESPN and Sportsnet play-by-play announcer Dan Shulman, a Toronto native, has "seen the engagement of millennials, many of whom live downtown in condos that have sprung up around the Rogers Centre." Shulman: “They weren’t around when the Blue Jays were winning the World Series. This is their 1992 and 1993" (WSJ.com, 10/18).
MOTOR CITY MONEY: Tigers Exec VP/Baseball Operations & GM Al Avila yesterday said, "This organization has been working way above its means as far as payroll for many, many years, and it's put us in a situation where, quite frankly, it's difficult to maneuver" (MLIVE.com, 10/19). Avila said that he "hasn't been given a target payroll number to hit, nor did he receive a specific directive from team owner Mike Ilitch to cut the current payroll." Avila: "In terms of a hard number (for the payroll), no we did not get into that" (MLIVE.com, 10/19).
TWIDDLING THUMBS: In Minneapolis, Phil Miller wrote the Twins front office is in an "odd limbo for now, preparing for important decisions about the team’s future without the decisionmaker having any input." New Exec VP & Chief Baseball Officer Derek Falvey is still with the Indians for their playoff run, and "that success means Falvey can’t move into his Target Field office, begin assembling his staff, hire minor league managers and coaching staffs or make decisions about the Twins’ 40-man roster until at least next week." Twins President Dave St. Peter said that Falvey is "learning as much as he can about the Twins during his free time," and he is "frequently briefed by" GM Rob Antony and St. Peter. However, both sides are "careful to observe the MLB mandate about working for only one club at a time" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/18).
BIG TIME ATTRACTION: In N.Y., Karen Crouse noted Tim Tebow in his first week at the Arizona Fall League "sometimes looked outclassed," but has been "excellent for business." The day after his debut, Tebow played his first home game at Scottsdale Stadium in front of "nearly 1,800 fans, which was well above last year’s average of 500" for Scottsdale Scorpions games (N.Y. TIMES, 10/15).
