The latest game in the Toronto Blue Jays media and blogosphere is Shapiro-bashing. It is funny-sad that the same writers who were calling for Alex Anthopoulos’ firing less than 12 months ago, and who complained incessantly about Paul Beeston’s non-answer answers, are now describing both as candidates for sainthood. While Shapiro and Atkins are candidates for impeachment.
Well, let me tell you my deep, dark secret. I like Shapiro.
Here’s why.
#1 – He does not push the buck down
When A-squared announced he was leaving, Shapiro was greatly criticized. It would have been easy for him to try to push the blame down on AA – to point out that Shapiro had bent so far backward as to offer AA a contract with a one-year “opt-out”, or to comment on AA’s unreasonable expectation of having total control over baseball operations, or to say that AA’s timing – leaving just when a new President arrived, who could greatly use his help – was so unfortunate for the team.