Will the Blue Jays ever contend?

In Toronto we have very low expectations for our sports teams. This is the product of years and years of disappointment. In Toronto we would be delirious if our teams just made the playoffs. In other cities they are expected to make the playoffs. No one cares to listen to excuses. You produce or your out.

So I was absolutely crushed at when the non-waiver trading deadline passed and Alex A. chose only to pick up a few relievers. The deals were there to be made and he had the bodies to move but chose not to. He has no interest in expensive quality pitchers. Well he said the price was too high. What he really wants is cheap pitchers that he can control for the next few years.

It was no different in the offseason. We needed starting pitching but again the price was too high so the Jays went with young arms in their system who were not ready for prime time.

I have heard Paul Beeston and Anthopolous remark over and over again that the money is there if the club wants to boost payroll. They said the Blue Jays could possibly spend upwards of $120 million in payroll. I used to buy it but not anymore.

When Anthopolous joined the Jays he said that 2010 would be a year to rebuild but the Jays would contend as early as 2011 and the money would be better spent then, In 2011 we were told it would make no sense to spend money because the Jays wouldn't be a contender until 2012. Okay so one more year. Now we are still not spending the money although we have been just a couple of games out of a wild card spot all season. You know why? We aren't going to contend until next year.

Well it seems next year will never come.

The Jays have a strong core of players but will they keep them together? Or will they bringing up prospects and moving veteran thereby staying in a permanent rebuild?

Will Jose Bautista get to play with other star players or will the Jays waste his talent as they did with Carlos Delgado and Roy Halladay?

Will the Jays go after big name free agents or continue their bandaid approach to free agency? Do we really want to see more of Octavio Dotel, John Rauch, Ben Francisco, Jeff Mathis and Francisco Cordero?

Do you believe those penny pinchers at Rogers will ever spend $120 million?