December in Florida

Winter Meetings

It would be lovely to be in the Dolphin Hotel in Orlando this week, for all the obvious reasons. Weather is better, and the GM's are all making baseball deals, and free agents are signing. Still waiting for Cliff Lee to lift the logjam and cause all the ripple effect.

Back here in Mississauga, we just read about what the Jays are up to, or speculated to be up to, and more speculation than facts.

Young Jays GM Alex A is into his 2nd winter meeting, and has now dealt 2 opening day starting pitching. Watch out Ricky Romero, you may be next. Much baalyhoo has been made of the Marcum deal, and while I always like getting cannot miss prospects like Brett Lawrie, I am in the "show me camp" on Lawrie.  What position does he fit ? Is he a head case ?, does he have a major league bat ?.  Alex answered all those questions to his own satisfaction, and sent Marcum, a year back from Tommy John surgery, and a very fine bounce back to Milwaukee for more "future" stock pilig.

I see many agendas here, one is Rogers have told Alex to monitor the payroll and because they know they have to pay big $$ to Wells, they also see more cash going to Jose Bautista, so this saves some money from what appeared to be a $ 60 million area payroll.

No Encarnacion, no John Buck, no Lyle Overbay, no Scott Downs, and no Kevin Gregg, and no Fred Lewis.  They have been replaced by JP Arenceibia, David Purcey, Rajah Davis, and some internal candidates for Shaun Marcum's rotation gig.

I think Lind will move to 1st , and Hill may move to 3rd, and Davis is the new 4rth outfielder. Jason Fraser, Purcey and perhaps Jesse Crain ( if he signs ) are the back end, with Camp, Janssen and a lefty for the middle, with Romero, cecil, Morrow, Litsch, and Drabek or Richmond or the Zepper rounding out the rotation, or as long relief. 

I think the year Rogers will allow real dollars to be spent might be 2012, since there are not enough bums in the seats yet, and perhaps the Rogers folks have other major aquisitions on their minds ( MLSE )

Meanwhile Jays fans dig their way out of snow drifts, and ponder what is going on in Disney World, will they get all Goofy or the next deal, or are they going to get a Mickey Mouse approach to what should be division chances.

Adrian Gonzalez, plus a healthy Pedroia, and Youkilis will vault the Sox back into contention, despite Josh Beckett's arm, or Papelbon's worst season, as the Rays are in sell mode again, watch out Baltimore, they are the Rays are taking that express elevator to the basement again.

The Yanks hope to sign Cliff Lee, because honestly they have to. After Sabathia, their rotation was pretty crappy last year. Plus the re signed Pinstripe Jesus to play shortstop, until he turns gray.  I am sure at some point if the Yanks get Lee, he will ( as a ground ball pitcher ) wonder if he made the right choice. Elvis Andrus or Derek Jeter.

Jeter, according to the Yankees press machine is the best defensive shortstop, based on how many he got to that the ball went in his glove....okay..that's like saying I am best at getting on an off an elevator, it's the balls he cannot get to more and more, and sooner than later, the slower of foot speed will reduce his range to a phone booth size area.

In London, Ontario they have a job getting rid of the snow, in Florida, we are getting more a snow job from the Jays. Sorry, but I think we are not making the efforts we should right now.