Rumours of his death have been greatly exaggerated?

There is a real hate on for JPA on this blog.  I don't get it.  I do get that he is not Carlos Santana or Weiters, but there are a lot of teams that have don't have better catchers than JPA (at least offensively).  I wouldn't want the Red Sox Catchers(Napoli is 1B), nor the Yankees, nor the Rays.  The only team in the AL East that has a better catcher than JPA is Baltimore.  Am I way off base here?  I wish he had a better OBP, but there is a shortage of good offensive catchers in the league.  It is what it is....

I tell you what people don't like is that JPA likes the camera..alot and comes off a bit arrogant.  Also, everyone thought that D'Arnard was the answer to our dreams.  (But it looks like he might be made of glass)

So, JPA is not great, but he is not the problem with the Jays.  We don't pay him to lift the Jays offense.  We pay him to be a bottom of the order guy. He is hitting #5 because of other people that we pay for offense are not hitting.  I don't ever see him as a #5 hitter.  If he is, it is either a miracle or our offense stinks.(right now, it is the later)

I'm going to take the Atlanta view of 60 games as a judgement point.   Where did A.A. replace people? 

Left Field has Melky Cabrera ($16.0 MM over two years), where it had at least 5 others last year.   I need to see more before judging this move (but I don't think he has enough power to be a corner OF).  

Second Base has Maicer Izturis ($10.0 MM + bonus year), where Kelly Johnson played.   He's better defensively, but it's too early to fairly judge his offense (although I think Johnson had more power).  

Shortstop has the almost forgotten Jose Reyes ($96.0 MM over six years + bonus year), where Escobar and Hechavarria were current and the heir.   It was painful watching Jose's loss in judgement, but he will be back sometime in July.   As Lawrie has excellent range at 3B, I think this was a big upgrade.  

Emilio Bonifacio (2nd Arb $2.6 MM)is on the Bench (IF/OF).  As poorly as he's played, I think he gets much better.  This is an upgrade over what we had before.   Henry Blanco ($.75 MM one year) is the Backup Catcher.   His only redeeming feature is he catches the knuckleball, otherwise he is not an upgrade.   Mark DeRosa ($.775 MM one year + bonus year) is on the Bench (IF).   Is he an upgrade over Omar Vizquel?   Yes, but not much of one.

Who did A.A. not replace?

Center Field has Colby Rasmus (2nd Arb $4.675 MM) who's always been a puzzle, just not quite good enough.   Unfortunately, it looks like Gose is not yet ready.

Designated Hitter / First Base has Adam Lind ($5.0 MM + 3 bonus years), who's consistently isn't quite good enough, with brief periods of really good.  

Fourth Outfielder is Rajai Davis ($2.5 MM one year), who's major asset is his speed / baserunning ability.   Nothing else he does is quite good enough.

A.A. probably was thinking Pitching was a priority, and he was right.   It was apparent early that's still an issue.    I don't think the Starters were ready to start the season, but with an underperforming offense, and too many people with defensive issues, especially on turf, things turned ugly first.   It's possible with better offense in the first two weeks Toronto could have won 4 more games, becoming 9-3 instead of 5-7.   I think with all that happened this offseason, A.A. forgot or was unable to acquire an Impact Bat.   Too many upgrades weren't good enough, and too much complacency meant upgardes weren't considered at other positions.  

Any trades will mean taking on salary, all of it.   Any prospects traded will come from AA or AAA as no one else is close enough.  To trade anyone on the roster means they are playing well enuogh to have value - oops.