Chapter 1: What does stability in leadership mean for the Blue Jays organization?
Russ, what is having so much stability, leadership above you, below you, allow an organization to do?
Yeah, you know, it's interesting. I, you know, from the day before I got here, you know, before, you know, representing a country in such an incredible city with incredible support and, you know, that it has far exceeded my expectations. The... The potential impact that we can have on baseball and the support that we have from Edward Rogers and Rogers Communications is just incredible.
In addition to that, I work alongside who I feel is the best executive in baseball and Mark Shapiro. His experiences, his understanding and knowledge of every aspect of the role is as good as it gets. And I have a 31 year relationship with him. And then now to be working with John Schneider on a daily basis is, you know, really, really feel like I have the best possible support I could.
Ross, you've talked about getting better every day.
Chapter 2: How has Ross Atkins improved as a GM over the past decade?
I was wondering, looking back in the last 10 years, are there any specific ways you feel like you've gotten significantly better in this job? Yeah, I mean, it's a long list, man. Like, I could go down, whether it's, you know, things I would have done differently, you know, things that I've learned that, you know, wish I could have done in a different way.
Sure, I could go down that list and talk about that for a while. Yeah, I mean, yeah, it's just... You know, the mindset of that is very important to me and to everyone that works here. I think is the best way to say it is that, you know, that sense of learning and that sense of humility and doing it together is one that I feel will be lasting for us.
You talked about improving the team, continuing to improve the team. When you look at this team as it breaks out tonight, Do you see an improved version over 2025, a significantly improved version?
Chapter 3: What mindset is essential for the Blue Jays' success this season?
Yeah, we do. We feel like it's in many ways building upon what was good and adding to it in areas where we felt like we could get better. But most importantly, it's the mindset. So it's the players that actually were here that...
you know, have found an adjustment, have found another gear, have found, you know, a way to think about how we're going to improve upon what was good and, you know, ensure we're not falling into gaps.
How are you better?
Yeah, I mean, you know, the ways I just said, you know, so the... I guess maybe from an execution standpoint, from an on-field standpoint.
Yeah.
Yeah, I mean, the ways that I just said, the mindset of finding opportunities to build upon the things that are good, making sure that we're correcting areas that needed to be corrected. We've certainly bolstered our pitching, I think would be the one to point to.
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Chapter 4: How does John Schneider's leadership impact the clubhouse culture?
you know, more specifically. And that's not over. You know, we've got to continue to think about how, you know, just the work that happens in the offseason, whether that be players' preparation or, you know, the additions that we've made, you know, that's never over.
From a pitching standpoint, definitely more velocity, probably some more swing and miss in the rotation, specifically bullpen as well. How did that tie into the opportunities you saw at the end of last season or maybe areas to improve upon?
Yeah, and depth. So I think it's the things you mentioned, having more options for us to be better equipped to get more outs is really the name of the game.
Is it your success last season for your team that's led to the mindset you're speaking of? Or was it the mindset last year that led to the success?
Yeah, I mean, I hope it's the latter.
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Chapter 5: What factors influenced the decision to extend John Schneider's contract?
I hope that that mindset of focusing on things you can control and trying to get better on a daily basis Well, in the end, this is as competitive as it gets, right? There's not a team in baseball right now today that doesn't think they have some chance to be there on the last day. And, you know, not resting on that. And I think our entire clubhouse and environment has that mindset and has had it.
Ross, I'm going to ask you to be introspective again, but if I told like the Akron Arrows reliever, Ross, that he would potentially be like a 15-year GM in this league, would he have had that goal? And if not, like when did this kind of come about for you, become more realistic for you? Yeah, well, one, I'm a 10, 11-year GM. I've got some work ahead of me. You know, I love baseball.
Chapter 6: How do roster decisions evolve as the season approaches?
I have always wanted to be in it and work in it. And when I was a reliever, I was focused on being a reliever. When I was a director of player development or international, that was my focus. And today I'm focused on being a GM. So the becoming a GM goal, you would say, started when you got offered a GM job or... Yeah, I mean, I wanted to help.
I wanted to be someone that was supporting a winning environment. And however I could do that is what my focus was. Do your kids consider themselves Torontonian style? They do.
Chapter 7: What unexpected performances have stood out during spring training?
Yeah, they do. Yeah, they are. Yeah, they're Canadian and Torontonian and they even say A. They've got accents. They say words that I try to say, you know, but they are very much Torontonians.
Having Shane and Trey and, you know, I'm missing one, go down this, Jose go down this spring. Just what kind of adjustments is that necessitated for you guys as you've tried to get your roster ready for opening day?
Yeah, I mean, hopefully we've made them. You know, hopefully we've got enough depth to withstand those hits. And that's why we always talk about it.
When you look at your manager over the last few years, how have you seen him grow and how would you want to see him continue to grow?
Chapter 8: How do personal connections shape a long-term career in baseball?
Yeah, Snize is, I mean, even just thinking about it, I got a little emotional just because of how honored I am to work alongside of him. He has a really, really deep understanding of what this environment needs to be a winning one.
He has the content to have our players relaxed and confident, and he has the preparation to make incredible decisions that really puts us in a strong position on a daily basis. And when I talk about the environment with Snides and the way that he impacts it, it's not just the players. It's, you know, I hope that each of you feel that as well as you come into the environment.
It's one that people want to be in. And that's where the growth has happened. But it had an incredible starting point.
Ross, as you were kind of looking at how to structure John's extension, how does Murphy's deal earlier this spring, some of the other manager contracts, factor into how you landed at two years for John?
Every situation is different. Obviously, he has a lot of say in that. So we're just fortunate to get to the point where we were or where we are today. Our intention is to be working alongside of John Snyder for a very long time. Contracts are a negotiation, but our goal and desire is for us to be working together for as long as we can continue to win and make that possible.
I went back and looked at sort of the list of attributes you wanted to find in a manager when you did the search that led to Charlie. You were talking about an organizational leader, someone who touches all different aspects and all levels of the team. How does John fit into that vision?
Yeah, I mean, like I was saying, as well as I could possibly imagine, he is... He is truly exceptional at creating an environment that people want to come to work in every single day. The poise, the positivity that he has and the way that he touches the different members of this organization throughout everything that impacts our environment is as good as it gets.
Just from a roster perspective, have you guys made your final roster decisions? We have not. What are factoring into the final calls here?
You know, we're still playing baseball here today. When we have time, we'd like to use it. There's always the potential of more information coming into the fold.
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