Now we wait until the snow melts

As we enter this new era of optimism in Toronto, imagine if you will what other cities endure until April.
In Pittsburgh, Seattle, San Diego and Houston, there is little of consequence going on.
Their ticket offices are fairly quiet, perhaps the odd 10 or 20 game packet is sold during the Christmas season, perhaps as a gift, perhaps the disposable income from no NHL hockey in markets such as Pitt, LA, and Anaheim or Dallas.



Here in Hogtown, we did boffo numbers once the Marlin deal was announced, then an up tick when Melky was signed. It hit it's crescendo when the RA Dickey trade and contract was finalised. Folks responded.
They have been buying jerseys for Christmas, they have been jerseys just because the team is legitimate.

If they get news that Sergio antos is 100 % healthy , barracade the doors, these fans are ravenous.  The Jays are also pretty lucky.

They have the opportunity that other markets don't have. No hockey to rival them.

We soon enter the 4rth month on no NHL hockey and the expectations that after mid January we will have run out of a workable schedule.  The Jays need not fear the Raptors, again nothing but also rans, the Argos championship season peaked at the Grey Cup, nothing after. The Marlies play in little Ricoh Centre to sparse crowds of 4 and 5000 well wishers, and the World Juniors are live when only insomniacs are awake.

A clean run through January until mid February when pitchers and catchers report, and the y have the sports pages to themselves. Sprinkjle in some boring arbitration news, some injury updates, and we are in March.
If Rogers were smart, they would seize the opportunity to televise exhibition games from Florida. Fol
ks will watch, PVR, and live stream at work just to get their fix.

If they play this right, they have the entire Toronto sports landscape to themselves.  They will be the inevitable distractions, like NCAA Men's Basketball, and a few Grand Prix races, the NBA, but the stage is theirs to own.

I think it is their's to cultivate new fans, embrace old ones, and foster a lot of good will before the umpire says play ball.

In other cities, say New York, the Mets are second tier, the Yankees are old and wounded, the city and region still recovering from Sandy, and no glitz or glamour.

We should enjoy our advantage, our current slight advantage, and as they say make hay when the sun shines.

Next blog we analise the current state of the pitching staff.

First off, a Christmas Wish goes out to anyone who has had the misfortune to stumble across this blog, and find it interesting enough to bother reading, so thanks to Brad, Mike, Luke, Clark, my son Kevin, Aaron and Andrew.
I guess I have not excatly made any progress with trhe female demographic, have I ?

Christmas is a time of giving, so this blog is devoted to giving out pine cones to the good folks and lumps of coal to those who deserve it most.

My first pine cone goes out to the families of the victims of the recent madness in Conneticutt. My heart goes out to you.

My second pine cone award goes to Rob Ford, mayor of Toronto, because rarely do local politicians give me so much pleasure and amusement.  His antics and pratfalls are the stuff of legends.

My first lump of coal goes to anyone stupid enough to agree with "guns don't kill people, people kill people" theories. Don't waste your breathe speaking.

Another lump goes to whoever booked the musical acts at Londo Olympics, get real folks, who werer those acts. The Who and Sir Paul, but yech on the rest.

More coal lumps to Yunel Escobar and the idiots that let this kid go out and embarass the organistion.

Oh, and a reminder that Paul Beeston allowed him to continue to play and represent the team then sold off as fast as he could means he had  abest before date stamped on him.

Pine Cones to Mike and Luke for their dance of romance during game 1 of 162 in jubilation. Was not even the game winning hit, guys got the bromance going. Give em that.

A box of Turtles and a new sweater to Anthopolous for his impersonation of Pat Gillick, his Trader Pat ended his saga as Standing Pat, or Alex.  Marlin deal, Melky, then Dickey, netted us a rotation not based on Romero as the ace. Can anyone remember the crappy summer, not now.

I would like to give a bucket of coal to Bill O'Reilly at Fox, but the would burn and not care about pollution, and I would really like the Kardashians to just go away.

Since I cannot control those matters, let us leave with a hopes for a safe and wonderful Christmas, and a pennant in 2013.

The Death of Innocence

Today In Conneiticut, 27 souls were lost to an indiscrimenet shooter with no morals, and in the wink of an eye, a tragedy unfolded at what should be the happiest time of the calendar.

There is nothing that can be said that will make sense so why try.

In the coming days, we will hear about the victims, their parents, the shooter, his possible motivation, and who gives a crap.

27 souls lost, and so I ask , "how many does it take to change a moronic law "

How many must pay so dearly, how many families have to lose members, how many.

It is a loss, of innocence and perhaps today we don't have the right to call ourselves a civilised.

Life has go on, but for many, it goes on in fear and doubt.

A lot of stuff on my mind lately

So when I have a lot of stuff rattling around in my head, I tend to wait until,there is enough to justify a blog entry, so we have reashed the tipping point.

The annual winter meetings have kicked off in Nashville, and Dan Haren signed a 1 year $ 13 million deal with Washingto, pending a physical. If he does not past it, his options are limited. The Marlins are flogging Yunel Escobar to Oakland, who will in turn flog him around themselves. It's just what these teams do, hoping to get rich when the music stops.

No Zach or Josh signings, but give it another week, the Dodgers who have more money than God and could buy and sell the NHL are desparate for a major acquisition, and Grienke should be it, but our boy Zach is holding out, letting the bidding run it's course.

AA is in TwangTown picking up odds and sods, dropped a back up catcher, then grabbed another. Wilson out, Whiteside in. What does it mean, well he is a Ninja, but my eastern philosophies is a tad rusty, so I would appreciate some input.

Marvin Miller passed away last week, and will again be passed over for entry into the Hall, and that continues to be criminal. It is shameful the way that the game treats Miller and his legacy.

What else, of yeah, tis the season and all that, give generously this time of year, I see that Marco Scutaro is deciding on what offer of $ 8 million a year for 3 years he will play for. Shows you what happens when you get hot in Septemeber and October. People foget your April and May.

Are Jays dealing in Nashville, the local media would love another deal Alex, I mean Argos won the Grey Cup, so the CFL is done. There is no hockey, and by the looks of things the Raptors will be out by Christmas.  Jays need a few arms to join the bullpen for depth. We do not really expect Adam Lind to play first, or J.P. Arencibia to share time with John Buck, so something has to give.

The Yanks find out Arod needs another operation, so let me see, Yanks resigned a 37 year Kuroda, have 37 year Jeter rehabbing, a 42 year Mariano Rivera coming back and Arod has 2 hip operations. These are your fathers Yankees, add an aging Tiexera, ans Rafael Soriano & Nick Swisher departing, and you don't know what condition Michael Pineda is in, but I never count them out, but they clearly are the same group. but is early, and money can be spent.

Christmas is in 3 weeks, so go ahead and panic about shopping, especially to those who disdain shopping via the web.  The way society shops and does it's business has had that effect on the winter baseball meetings.
Trades are concluded over smart phones, tablets, from distant laptops in suishi bars.

One day the GM's will all sit behind large TV screens, that they can install in their offices, and can have inter actions with select GM's.   Mark my words, it's coming.

Shame, because I like the idea of 2 GM's sitting for a drink at the bar, writing out deals on a napkin.

Those days are gone, and for today, I am done. 

A large haul

Well folks, if all Anthopolus needed was my previous caustic rant on the where the Jays were then mission accomplished.

I would have turned the heat up sooner, and we aould all be enjoying this fish fry.

Now 2 weeks before the next round of winter meetings, every other GM has to answer to his owner why he wasn't in on this deal.


Once again, the worst owner in baseball does it again, this is the 3rd such sell off in Marlins history. The current body count of 12 would make Tony Montana blush, say hello Tony to your new little friends in South Florida. 

I am sure Jeff Loria is still dodging reporters, spnsors, angry fans by ducking down alley ways, or wearing fake moustaches and trench coats. His secretary must be getting danger pay and also sick and tired of saying he is out.  If Bud Selig had his way, or the state of Florida, he would be too.

From the Marlins perspective, yes they crashed and burned in their new Atllantic playground last season, that tells me that God does not like multi coloured adorned houses of worship, or maybe God is a Braves fan.

On the opposite side of this ledger comes Josh Johnson, Mark Buerhle, John Buck, Emilio Bonafacio and Jose Reyes. To say we have street cred in the baseball community is not overstating the obvious, Vegas posted odds dropped from 100 to 1  to 15 to 1.  Gamblers see what they see, and smell possibilities.

Do I like this deal, what's not to like ? What did they give up I will miss. Nothing, I advocated a propspect package for ready talent 2 years ago.  Alex is now getting heaps of praise for this Miami heist, cue the Miami Vice music ( flamingos, jai alai, etc ) but if you folks out there think this is part of a well calculated plan, you are mistaken.

We are in year 4 of the re tool, after Halladay and Marcum were dispensed with. We are well behind the battle plans AA hatched out.  The time to strike was last off season, but we settled for a Sergio Santos deal, and recycled veteran relievers and thought we were set.  We were wrong and I said so.

A year of injuries, suspensions, bad press, but great ratings, butts in the seats, and a mangled clubhouse spelled to Rogers a full bore panic attack.  Time to spend, or at best take on payroll, so we sent out the boats, and made a huge haul.

Now let's see what else we can achieve, we have too many catchers that want to catch 100 games, and a left field and second base vacancy signs, and a bullpen not quite whole.

7 days before US Thanksgiving, and Black Friday, but the shopping wars have already started.

Will have another blog around the winter meetings, so perhaps I actually will need to buy a program to see who is still on this team.

I am back and I am pissed

Let's start off with how the Jays finished their season, shall we.

Horrible, limped home with no pride, no passion, going through the motions, if Farrell had not been sought by the Red Sox, I'd have fired his ass.

The Escobar thing was bungled by all the coaches and senior staff, and on his watch. Then Omar Vizquel takes a swipe at Farrell, and questioned his leadership skills and maybe his man hood, so John see how you make out in Beantown when the scribes watch you dot every I and cross every T.

Making matters worse, was this merry go round after the season, dealing Farrell plus a pitcher no less for Mike Aviles, who could have played second, but was instantly peddled with Yan Gomes ( and what did he do to piss off the team ) to Cleveland for Esmail Rogers, who is no as good as the kid we sent to Boston.

AA states this Rogers guy ( gee one wonders why Rogers gets a bad rap ) with no apparent track record is added either to the bullpen or the rotation ( he's failed miserably at either end ) because Carlos Villaneuva was dismissed as a starter candidate in early September by who...John Freaking Farrell, same guy who's high tailed to Boston.

So we pissed off Carlos, and what is our rotation looking like.

Okay ...Brandon Morrow is fine, so long as he stays healthy and does not blow his arm out
After that, we have an injured Rickey Romeo, ( I will save some print space for that later )
and who else ??

Happ is gone, and was he worth the trouble of 20 man super deal with Houston, I think not. There was a reason Philly gave him up, and we have learned it.
McGowan, don't make me laugh.
Hutch & Drabek are wounded for 2013....so nope.

I hear the crickets out there, c'mon people who is part of our rotation ???

Esmail Rogers ?   Brad Lincoln ? Henderson Al;avarez ?

Now we hear that Brandon Lyon and Jason Fraser are too expensive so we'll part company with them.

Sounds like another rebuild of the bullpen, but let's keep 40 something Darren Oliver.

Okay, then Farrell takes Lovello and Butterield with him, and we are starting an America's Got Talent roadshow looking for the next manager, and the name that crops up is Mike Hargrove.

On July 1, 2007, Hargrove resigned his position as manager of the Mariners, saying in a prepared statement that his "passion has begun to fade" and it would not be "fair to myself or the team" to continue. The departure was unusual, since the Mariners had been playing quite well at the time.

This is the guy ?

This team just spent money, and the balloons were sent tot he ceiling as Micey Izturis is now th enew Mike McCoy / Vizquel. $ 9 million over 3 years for adefensive replacement.
Then, in a move only found in a Harold Robbins novel, we sent cash, bags of to KC for Jeremy Jeffires, a twice suspended ( for drug use ) fireballer.  He has huge upside Alex is quoted, which likely is not in reference to his drug use.

If I was KC I would have sold him to the Rockies, cause at least in 81 home games he smoke up in the pen legally.

Am I bitter, you damn right I am, this organisation has become a joke, and they are making the Leafs and Raptors quite happy to take the heat off them.  By the by folks, Leafs still undeated this year.

Who is one 1st ?
The first baseman
No I mean who is on first ?
Yes he is.





You know I understand that old comedy routine better than I understand what the Jays are all about.

More to come.

Escobar escapades

So after all the expnantions of why Yunel Escobar applied his face paint to infuriate the Red Sox,  and the press conference to allow the spin doctors to explain why this idiot thought it was just a joke, what are we left with ?

Questions anyone, cause I sure have some.


Question # 1 - Dear Alex Anthopolous, can you tell me why spanish speaking coaches Luis Rivera and Torey Lovello never noticed a spanish phrase on the kids face and said WTF Yunel, take that stupid remark off.

Question # 2 - Edwin Encarnacion, Omar Vizquel, Rickey Romero, none of you guys recognized the phrase and through a lasso around # 5 ?

So it was detected only by a camerman from a distance ? C'mon, you have to do better than that folks, So are we left to blame the kid alone, yes. Is he blameless, hell no, he is an idiot, but has the team simply lost all sense of reality.

Guys and girls, if this happened in Boston, oh wait it did happen in Boston, and it cost Francona his job when it assumed Tito had lost the room to the lunatics.

Is it fair to blame John Farrell, yes, he is the manager. Was it his fault the kid's head is not screwed on right, no, but there's that whole captain goes down with the ship logic. It happened on his watch, he takes some blame. Francona did, and he had to walk the plank. Will Farrell receive the same fate ?

And what do the Boston Red Sox think ?  Is this the manager they desparately want to run their team ?

This lost season cannot end soon enough for me, and my last question is, and we might have all winter to find out the answer. That is, what direction is the team headed, if they jettison Farrell, then they have to re start a search for another manager. That took a long time, can we speed up the search using old resumes ?

What pieces are missing on the roster, what happens to Rickey Romero ? Is Villaneuva going to get a shot at a starters position ? Is Alvarez back, or can they send him to Buffalo to learn. Yes Buffalo, our new farm team is now the Bisons. Is Santos going to be a factor, or do will still need a closer ?
Shortstop ? The Kid or the Idiot ?

The outfield, is Gose ready ? and can he hit ? Does he need another few months at Triple AAA ?

Yesterday was the tipping point for me with the organisation, because I thought they were still all there ( in their heads ) and now I think it will rats jumping off a floundering ship.

Anthopolous has many holes to plug, and the free agent market looks quite lean. Too bad we were not more active last year.

If Farrell returns, expect a raft of changes, he cannot stand Lind, or Kelly Johnson, or Escobar, or most his bullpen, so if he is still the manager, and that is a big if, you will need a program to tell these players apart.

September

Here we are mid way into September, and where have I been ?
First blog in 3 weeks, so what has being going on. Well, in three weeks there has been such a downpour of events.







 > The Yankees insurmountable lead has disintegrated and they are life and death to hold  their division spot.
 > The Washington Nationals followed through on their promise and shut down Strasburg.
 > Melky Cabrera got a 50 game suspension for a banned substance
 > The Dodgers acquired Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, and Carl Crawford and have fallen backwards in the standings.
 > The Oakland A's have vaulted past the Angels, and are threatening even the Texas Rangers
 > So far despite all his efforts, Bobby Valentine is still employed by the Red Sox.
 > Here come the Baltimore Orioles....no really.. the Baltimore Orioles.
 > The Phillies, given up for dead at the All Star Break are 5 games out of a playoff spot. Hell, they dumped Hunter Pence, they dealt Victorino to LA, they added nobody.
 > Roger Clemens is pitching for a Skeeters team in the minors looking to pitch for the Astros, and he wants a shot at facing a real contender.  Why, to push back his Hall of Fame inducement 5 years.
 > The Pirates finally imploded, and their good news story has ended.
 > There are more teams in the playoff than ever before.

So, we are 3 weeks from mthe finish line, and the potential for tie breaking games is huge. The Rays, O's, A's, Angels, Tigers , and Yanks are all candidates in the AL. In the NL, Brewers, Braves, Cards, Dodgers, are all potential 1 game participants. 

It seems like it raining baseball news. Maybe I had better keep up with current events a tad better.

The Spaceman Cometh and the Goeth

How do the Irish handle defeat ?

Easy, they drink away their sorrows.

How does a baseball pitcher deal with rejection ?

Easy, snort coke, smoke weed, buy lap dances, and generally dive deep into the abyss of self deprocating activities.

Such was the way Bill Spaceman Lee dealt with his demons, the Establishment, or MLB.  Whether it was Jim Fanning or Claude Brochu, they put him ouit on the street, and passed the word around baseball that this guy was bad news, and please avoid all contact.

Was the Expos actions intentional, in their minds, probably not, but their treatment spelled "this player is toxic" and not even Erin Brockovich could have helped.

These events happened 27 years ago, but they still happen. Players still have their demons, and they choose to exorcise them to rationalise the end of their careers, because they are not ready to accept that the end has come.

Bill Lee refused to accept it, and joined several semi pro leagues, inn Quebec, Maine., Vermont, and New Brunswick, where he now lives. 

Manny Ramirez is toxic, Jose Canseco is pure nuclear waste, and what is Roger Clemens ?  Once he was the toast of the game. Now at age 50 he wants more, like Oliver Twist. But Dickens was forgiving, and Oliver was the better for it, eventually. The jury is still out on Roger.

Are the Houston Astros truly so bloody desparate that they need sully themselves with what will be a carnival show atmosphere ? 


Lee hit rock bottom, lost almost all he had, he kept only the clothes on his back, his records, and his first baseball glove. The Expos tried to claim it was Montreal property.

Propriety does not permit me from what Bill told them to do with that.

So the Spaceman and the Rocket Man have something in common, neither want to give up the game, and both suffered from their reputation. MLB does not suffer fools or problem childs lightly. We will see if The Rocket walks back on a major league mound again, but then again, these are the Houston Astros, and they look nothing like a major league ballclub.

Anger Management

Well it had to happen, sooner ot later, the Jays resort to gimmicks to fill the seats, and Olympians were going to cut the mustard, so we asked Joe Carter, a big name in his own right, to ask Mr. Nutbar ( see above ) to toss out the first oitchj.

Well it must be August, and we are well out of the race here in Toronto, that's a mouth full, we've been out quite a long time, but like Charlie, we refused as Blue Jays Nation to face reality. Perhaps the wave of injuries to positional players, Jose, JP, Lawrie, Rasmus, and Lind was enough to seek medical help, or admit we are done.

In August, if you ain't in contention, it is time for gimmicks. Dog Day, Thunder Stixx Day, more bobbleheads, free ice cream, sausage races ( careful there, it has proven dangerous ) just to name a few attempts. Now singers and movie stars, hell the Cubs have been trotting out Will Ferrel and Bill Murray for years. Obama couldn't resurrect the Cubbies.

Charlie has seen better days... his attempt was a bit off, like the actor. But no blow ups, but Sheen took shots at Canada Customs, ( can't say I blame him there ).

Time for the Jays to start selling hope rather than ice cream and actors, so the Ninja proclaims we have an All Star bullpen and starting 9, which I ask you , is that a stretch ( sit down Micheal ) . I think I agree more with Greg Zaun ( part lunatic himself ) when he disagrees with AA, by saying it is a good line up, but it wilts when they face a Verlander, Sabathia or Hernandez.  I am forced to agree the point.











    Will Ferrell in action

Real pitchers in action against the Tampa Bay Rays tosses Mariners first team perfect game.

  Congrats to the king, his first perfect game

Topps 71

Once I started doing  some research on one sided games, I was forced to review old box scores from 77, 79, etc. One thing leads to another, and in my case, it lead to collecting this series.

In the first package I ever opened, I got this card above.

 So, some 41 years ago, my summer was spent from the end of June to Labour Day. Days at the beach, a summer spent slowly collecting small pieces of baseball history.

Whenever my parents wanted milk, bread or a daily paper, I would volunteer to ride down to the closest store, a 20 minute ride, because they would allow me buy a couple of packs of cards, going for 15 cents.


Here are some of the cards that for whatever reason I just seem to gravitate to, in a 715 card set.

Clemente, that year his Pirates upset the favoured Orioles in 7 games











Wilbur Wood, a knuckleballer who played for both red & Whiote Sox, and won 22 games one year, with a microscopic ERA.

Joe Rudi, a member of the 3 time World Series Oakland A's champs. A clutch hitter and made memorable out field catches.











Anyhow, I lost the complete set, thanks Mom, whn we moved to West Hill in 72.

Not worry, it took me over 17 years to recollect the set again, and it was a tad more expensive.

Worst lop sided scores

16- 0

Did the Oakland Raiders breeze through town ?



Well I have been following this team (Jays) since 77, even before that actually, but as the SF Giants did not move, it's a moot point.

After Tuesday, as I choose to sip the last of my beer, I reflected on some of the worst drubbings we received or been on the right side of.

The 16-0 loss to A's eclipses a record that goes back to 2006, when the Orioles beat us 15-0, and when I say worst , I mean by shutout, not by sheer runs scored. No children, grab a seat, and Uncle Jimmy will recount some doozies.

Back in 2000, we had a very strong hitting ball club, Delgasdo, Mondesi, Fulmer, Alex Gonzales, and Tony Batista ( foot in the bucket Tony ). That club could hit the long potatoe, Carlos l& Tony led with 41, and we had Jose Cruz jr hitting 31. Fullmer with 32, Shannon Stewart hit 20, Fletch had 21, even Marty Cordova hit 4, no one was left out. But that day against the Balty-more birds, we got throttled 23-1 !

Imagine that 23 runs and we got one stinking run, with all  that firepower. Oh well, they say the sun does not shine on the same dog's ass every day.  We have ( like the good book says ) giveth as well as receivith.

 We have flexed our baseball muscles at times.

My favourite game of all times, I never watched, and I only heard the last inning and a half.

In 77 we faced the Bronx Bombers, in old Yankee Stadium, and these were your fathers Blue Jays, remember they had they had the first logo that looks the like the new one, but that is all they had in common.
Bill Singer , Doug Ault, Jerry Johnson, and Roy Lee Howell.

That Saturday I was enjoying  a summers day on the golf course with a friend, and after 18 trips around the course, we grabbed a drink, and we got into the car, and we turned on the game. Well, Tom Cheek started saying he never seen such a lop sided affair, all the runs, extra base hits. Early Wynn said this was one for the books, and we looked at each other and thought "Holy Crap".

Well, as it turned out, it was holy crap, but for the Yanks, as we had a 19-3 lead courtesy one Roy Lee Howell, and his 9 RBI game. We could hardly contain our hysteria, a first year team drubbing a perenial World series champ squad, in their own yard. Babe uth just flipped over again in his grave.

That was special, and I never watched it, but have seen clips finally. Closure.

Our mostlop sided shut out on the good side was aginst the 1999 Tigers, and they were not a good squad, but never the less, we chopped them up to the tune of 15 doughnut.

But, as all these are interesting, 2 games ring out in my mind as Blue Jay high water marks,




In 1987, and boy the Oriloes do seem to factor in a lot, on my son's 1st birthday, the Jays clovvered 10 home runs and won easily 18-3. Whitt with 3, Mulliniks and Bell with 2 each, and solos to Moseby , McGriff and Rob Ducey for some Canadian content.

The other Bird Battle that stands out is the game we defeated Earl Weaver's birds 24-10, yup, 3 touchdowns and a fied goal.  Big Daddy John Mayberry hit the only 2 hone runs that day, 24 runs, 24 hits, 8 walks, 5 doubles and 1 triple, and for me the first time I could recall a non pitcher came into a game.
O's back up cathcer, the great Elrod Hendricks through 2 and a thrird scoreless innings.

Anyhow, there have been likely many other great offensive games byu the Jays, but the last two were my favourites.

It's like a fish market

 
Oh Boy, the flood gates are now officially open.

We are 6 days from the non waiver baseball trade deadline and the deals are being made.

The Jays actually started with a 10 player swap with Houston, but that seemed to spur the GM's into action, and of course there are many rumours as well.

This morning, the Fish Market was in high gear, as the Los Angelos Dodgers have acquired Hanley Ramirez, for 2 minor leaguers, This after the Marlins dealt Anibel Sanchez and Omar Infante for a package of young Tigers, including Jacob Turner.

Ryan Dempster is still a Cubbie, but he could become either a Dodger, or maybe an Atlana Brave. Okay take a breath, there have a few more smaller deals, but the Tigers, the Dodgers have begun their shopping.

Those still on the radar to maybe get dealt are James Shields, Peter Bourjous, Josh Johnson, Chase Headley, and Zach Greinke. There numbers decreased when Wandy Rodriguez to the Pirates, and the great Ichiro traded tot the Yankees.

The latter will prove to be depth moves, and not that significant as the Yanks only really gain out field defense from Suzuki, and Wandy will add depth to a solid Pirate rotation.

Names not being heard are Felix Hernandez in Seattle, and Vernon Wells, the first because the franchise is not ready to turn the ace role over to Danny Hultzen, and the latter because maybe there aren't enough suckers born every minute.

That contract will haunt the Angels fora long time. The  Halos are desperate to replace Ervin Santana with James Shields, and Shields is owed substantial money in the next few seasons, so dealing him now makes sense for the always cash strapped Rays.

As always , your intrepid reporter will ( between naps ) check the ticker for the latest developments.

Summer Blog Time

Now that I have escaped the four walls of the office, I am safely trapped in the four walls of home base.

As it still unbeliveably stinking hot ( 35  ) outside, if I decide to cut the grass, it will be at 3 am.

In the meantime, the baseballsecond season continues to find momentum.  The Yankees were stymied in Oakland, while Rays and O's fumble along at .500 and th home squad tossed the Sox around like laundry day.

Over in the AL Central, the Tigers usurped the White Sox, and are now at th top of the heap andlooking every bit the Central powerhouse they were predicted to be. Who cares about the other 3 teams, they are non factors, unless the Indians again decide to send their top 2 prospects for p[itching help.

The West is getting close again, thanks to Rangers losing pitchers like they are at the Alamo, and the Angels almsot have their entire act together ( excluding Santana ), and the A's young rotation is sending a message that pitching wins, even if you do not have an experienced ace. Bo Brett Anderson, no Braden, an injured McCarthy.  Billy Beane is a freakin genius. Now they should make Moneyball, no stars, low budget, except for the Cuban kid, no one making more than a buck eighty.

It is those over achieving A's whop waltx into town to play the big bats of the Blue Jays, having now held down the final wild card slot. Does anyone think they will hold it ? Not me, of course I am stil waiting for the Orioles to collapse, and there is still time for the Birds to have their wings clipped, but give them full marks.

Each team still alive in the race still needs pitching. Those that have it, stay afloat, those without it, will dream of next year, again.

So we ease towardsthe end of July, one thing is certain, that nothing is certain. Many teams still foster a belief that they are in a race for a post season spot, teams that for decades have been also rans, the Pirates, the Orioles, the Athletics, the Nationals. But you n=know what those teams have in common ?  Al 4 have better pitching, and are looking to bolster it, to stay in contention one more week, one more series, gt injured players back, make a run, make September games mean something.

The search for help will come to an abrupt end on August 1st.  But that won't stop teams from believing that this year could still be their year.

This second wild card team in each league has done one thing, it has cost team more money, to chase more money. Young players dealt for expensive fill ins, it always costs when you try and win. It always does.

The Body Count

As this season rolls into it's official second half, for the Blue Jays, and for other teams, the body count continues to oile up.  Toronto in the past week, has seen Luis Perez go down and news that Sergio Santos is now done for the season arrived. The incomparable Chad Beck returns again, and there are guys in the bullpen that were pumping gas in Fresno, California.

Loup ? Who is this guy ? The only ones getting fat this season are the programme hawkers, because you cannot tell one from another.  I am sure Adam Lind took one look after his return from purgatory and said, like Butch Cassidy " Hey Kid, Who are those guys ? ".

Are the Jays alone ? No, many teams have patch work line ups, Triple AAA bullpen, and mounting infirmaries, 15, 30 and 60 day DL lists. 

It is, said he, a war of attrition, and the guy who said the baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint, is posing for a statue.  I have never, in 45 years watching this game, seen anything like this. Never.

There will be no less than 6 contenders for the extra wild card game in the AL, unless Oakland , Cleveland and the blue Jays graciously bow out. But injuries, and parody are keeping this summer box office booming.
The A's have won 8 of 10, the Tigers are winning again. The Jays seem to stat 2 and half games back of anyone holding a wild cardspot. How ?

Well, if they get pitching from Carlos Villaneuva they will. If a Ben Sheets can come back from obscurity, the Braves will. If the sellers hold their assets until late July, the others will sit and hope.

And here is a problem brewing, the Washingto Nationals plan to shut down Stephen Strasbourg when he hits a pre dsignated amount of innings. I guess they fear his arm falling off.

Matt Moore in Tampa , Chris Sale in Chicago, and Jose Quintana are all pitchers who are set for record innings by years end. The White Sox have 2, the Tigers have Drew Smyley. Both teams are vying for the AL Central. The Pale Hose did not figure to be here, having re structured their pitching staff, and planning for their future.
Turns out their future was a soon as this year.  With Ozzie gone, the club house became fun again, and they started winning. They find themselves in unfamiliar territory atop the heap.


Also, we have not even reached the trade deadline yet, and while the phones ring in a dozen cities, no one has made any moves. As I get set to leave for 2 weeks vacation, the last few days in July will be quite interesting, because the body count keeps rising, and teams that thought they would be out of it by mid July are in a positiong to deliever post season play.

Sellers can become buyers, and vice versa, and next week is a whole 7 games away.

Bench Strength

About Johnny Bench

 If you missed Bench, you missed seeing a good one. Irod was great, so maybe was Posada, Fisk was super, but for my money, Bench was the best I ever saw, offensively and defensively.

Johnny Bench's dream was to become a major league baseball player and his father counseled, that the position of catcher was the most direct route to that goal. Taking that advice, he was selected and signed in the 1965 amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds. After two seasons in the minors, Bench made Cincinnati’s Major League roster for the 1968 season. This marked the beginning of one of the most successful careers in baseball history and to Johnny’s ascension as a celebrity.

Bench was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in January 1989, Bench is undoubtedly the greatest catcher ever as stated by the Sporting News in late 1998, in which Johnny was named the 16th greatest player of all time – His successes include National League Rookie of the Year (1968), National League Most Valuable Players (1970 & 1972), World Series MVP (1976), 14-time All-Star, and 10 Gold Gloves. In 1980, Bench set an endurance record by catching 100 or more games for 13 consecutive seasons. Then, in 1999 Johnny received baseball’s esteemed honor of selection to the All Century Team on October 24.
Over the years, Johnny has maintained a sense of balance by using his celebrity status to aid such worthy causes as the Heart Association, the American Cancer Society (as past National Chairman of Athletes vs. Cancer), the Kidney Foundation, Franciscan Sisters of Poor Health System, the American Lung Association, and the ‘Catch the Cure’ program of the Children’s Hospital of Cincinnati.



Johnny’s national broadcasting background includes nine years with CBS Radio broadcasting the National Game of the Week, the All-Star Game, the League Championship Series and the World Series as well as play-by-play on Reds’ television.

Try and find a catcher with the same power, RBI capability, and ability to throw our runners. Irod could throw, and not for average, but not in the same conversation in terms of home run sock.

Don't call me Dick, I'm Rich Allen.

Playing in Philadelphia in the mid 1960's was not the most pleasant environment for Richie Allen. His team found him hard to understand, Gene Mauch found him hard to explain, and the fans had a love hate relationship.


He struck out, they hated him, he homered, they loved him. Richie, Dick, whatever you called him, it seemed that it was always the wrong thing.  America was trying to deal with race riots, Martin Luther King, black ghettos, high unemployment in the black community.



When we look at Allen, you see he had excellant years, but there was the thought he was under achieving. That he had more to give, but why should he, the "man" didn't appreciate his talents, and the world was against him.


He moved on to St.Louis, Chicago and Oakland...ever trying to find a spot where tolerance, acceptance were not just preached, but a way of life.  He felt it sporadically, but never walked in a club house and felt comfortable.  He was always wearing tight shoes, and therefore never seemed happy, and therefore was an outsider in a club house of baseball players. Trying to blend in, but never accomplishing that goal.


Allen sometimes clashed with teammates, though his celebrated 1965 fight with slugger Frank Thomas appears to have been justified. After Thomas repeatedly called his African-American teammate Johnny Briggs “boy” and compared Allen to “Muhammad Clay” (a cutting reference to Muhammad Ali), Allen exchanged angry words with the veteran slugger. For this, Allen deserves applause, not ridicule. Later on, as the Phillies took batting practice, Allen and Thomas grappled near the batting cage, and Thomas hit Allen in the shoulder with his bat. Although his shoulder bothered him from time to time that season, Allen escaped serious injury.


Some of Allen’s problems were self-inflicted; others were created by a 1960s American culture that was still plagued by deep-seated racism and segregation. After signing with the Phillies, the youthful Richie Allen reported to the team’s minor-league affiliate in Little Rock, Ark. A number of fans greeted him by marching in a protest parade, furious that he was about to become the first black ballplayer in the city’s minor-league history. During the interview with Costas, Allen revealed that after one game he returned to his car to find that vandals had spray-painted the words “N**** Go Home” on the vehicle. Although he was treated by many citizens of Little Rock as an outcast (or less), he led the league in total bases and earned a fast promotion to the parent Phillies.


Sometimes history lessons are painful, sometimes it is no one's fault, but the American experience of white versus black was never more evident than with Rich, donèt call me Dick Allen.

We should remember Allen for being an exceptional player, but the colour barrier and they both Philly and he handled things leave us wondering.

MLB Draft 2012

A brief pause from what seems to be endless history lessons, to observe the 2012 MLB June draft began last night with young Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa drafted numero uno by the houston Astros.

Astros see Correa as a potential Arod clone at short, and plan to leave him at that position. He has the size and tools to play either, but defense also his strong suit.

 

Correa will evenbtually be on display in  the American League, as Houston is moving to the American League in 2013, unless there are hang ups.

Jays 2012 1st pick DJ Davis

 Jays drafted a speedy outfielder, who might project a spot of extra base pop, when he matures.  A strong centre fielder, with an above average arm, Anthopolous contiues to stock pile raw talent at key positions. Jays went with a reliever with their next pick, choosing to home grow the next Sergio Santos.




Highlight of the draft was a back flip by Courtney Hawkins on the draft floor, certainly impressed the TV folks, perhaps not so GM Kenny Williams.

This kid should rise quickly, as opposed to Buxton in drafted outfielders. He already has the major league smile going for him. Start printing those baseball cards.

The Little General

If you think Ozzie was the the most acrobatic, if you saw Tony Fernandez sling the ball to first
In Venezuela, they refer to Luis Aparicio as the ``little general`. He barks out orders in Spanish, moves the second baseman and points out where he should be standing.


Then he smacks his glove 3 times, very superstitious he is, but when the ball is thrown, and the ball is hit, they all look back at Luis, and no their heads in acknowledgement.  He was right, it was a breaking ball, so of course the second baseman needed to playing deeper and towards short allowing the General to play closer to third.


Bill Rigney , then Twins manager turns to Oliva and Versailles and they shrug their shoulders, `he is the general and his moves his troops`says Tony Oliva to Zoilo Versailles, we have seen him in the Caribbean World Series do this for years




Following his debut in 1956, Luis Aparicio helped to redefine the role and expectations of Major League shortstops with agile fielding, spray-hitting and speedy base running. He took Rookie of the Year honors in 1956, collected nine Gold Glove Awards, led the American League in stolen bases nine seasons and was named to the All-Star squad 10 times. When he retired in 1973, he held the career record for shortstops for games played, double plays and assists.

Pete Rose - Part One

 ``Id walk through hell in a gasoline suit to play baseball ``.

Sound vaguely familiar, Pete Rose would have played for free at one stage of his career, eventually all that changed.

In this two stage blog, let`s go back and get some perspective.

Charlie Hustle

Pete Rose was born and raised in Cincinnati, the town where he would become famous on the ball diamond. His father, Harry Rose, who once played semi-pro football, pushed his son into athletics at an early age. One day, the story goes, Harry went to the store to buy a pair of shoes for his daughter and came back with a pair of boxing gloves for Pete. From then on, sports dominated Pete's life.

In this two part blog, I need to show the many sides of one the games most interesting and controversial players. They say everyone has a dark side, and Pete Rose personifies the dual roles of good and evil.

After hustling his way through several sports in grade school and high school, Rose settled on baseball. Though he was not considered a top prospect, his hometown Cincinnati Reds signed him to a professional contract. Rose began his pro career in 1960 with the Geneva Red Legs of the New York-Penn League and spent several years laboring in the minors, cementing his reputation for energetic play. He was about to turn 22 when he got the nickname "Charlie Hustle" during spring training of 1963. New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford bestowed it on him after he saw Rose running out a base on balls. His hustle helped him make the Reds that year, and Rose immediately became the regular second baseman. He was named Rookie of the Year.   Huh, and I thought Mantle gave him that nick name.

Right away, Rose was a solid contributor. In 1965, Rose batted .312 and led the league in hits with 209. It was the first of 15 seasons in which he would hit at least .300, the first of 10 seasons with 200 or more hits (a major league record) and the first of five years leading the league in hits. In 1968, he won the first of his three batting championships, hitting for a .335 batting average, and the following year he recorded a career-high .348 average. Gee Mike, another hitter better than Ichiro......


Rose became the sparkplug of a young team that was developing many stars. In 1967, after four years at second base, Rose was switched to the outfield to make room for future Hall of Famer Joe Morgan. Never a spectacular fielder, Rose nonetheless was recognized with two Gold Gloves for fielding excellence as an outfielder, in 1969 and 1970. Rose spent eight seasons playing left field or right field before moving to third base in 1975.
Rose was an integral part of that decades most dominant National League franchise. The Reds, Pirate and Mets ruled that era.

In the first seven years of the 1970s, Cincinnati was the most successful team in the National League. Five times, the Reds won their division and four times-in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1976-they made it to the World Series. Known as the "Big Red Machine," the Reds were led by such future Hall of Famers as Joe Morgan, catcher Johnny Bench, and first baseman Tony Perez. Rose was the backbone of the team and its spirited leader. He became known for his head first slides and for running out every single ball he hit. Though he had only average speed, he stole 198 bases in his career.

4192nd all time hit off Eric Show

 In 1972, Rose helped the Reds win Game Five of the World Series over the Oakland As, opening the game with a home run and driving in the winning run in the ninth inning with a single. Nevertheless, the Reds lost the series, as they had in 1970. In 1975, Rose was named the World Series Most Valuable Player for batting .370 and leading the Reds to a memorable victory over Boston in the seven-game series, considered by many to be the greatest of the modern era. In 1976, the Reds swept the Yankees in four games, but Rose batted only .188.

 

Rose patented head first lunge into third base, arms stretched out trying to beat the tag.

 

1976 World Series 4 game sweep of the Yankees

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1970 All Star game is forever marked by a memorable play, Rose`s home plate collision with Cleveland.  

 

This is when they played the All Star Game was a big deal, and they played it hard and for keeps

 

The kid from Commerce

The Kid

I saw the Mick play in 1964 in the World Series against the St.Louis Cardinals. My mother said for over a decade he was the best there ever was. She never saw The Babe, or Ted Williams, and for all I knew, at age 8, she was right.

Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, but known as that the kid form Commerce, he built a cult following that rivaled Ruth, Mays, DiMaggio, or Gehrig. He hit from both sides, and he could run faster. Duke Snider said, if his knees weren`t so bad, he could steal 50 bases each year. A little background on the greatest switch hitter to grace the game. Put on the Terry Cashman song, talkin baseball.

Mickey Charles Mantle was born on October 20, 1931, in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, to Elvin ("Mutt") and Lovell Richardson Mantle. A former semi-pro (professional but independent of Major League Baseball) baseball player, Mutt Mantle named his first child after Detroit Tigers catcher Mickey Cochrane. Mickey was barely out of diapers before he was practicing baseball with his father. Mutt taught his son to be a switch-hitter: Mickey would use his natural right-handed swing against his left-handed father and then turn around and bat left-handed against his right-handed grandfather. Teaching him to switch hit, at his age, imagine that.

Mantle played baseball, basketball, and football at his high school in Commerce, Oklahoma. During one game, however, he was kicked in the leg and developed osteomyelitis, a bone disease that would later affect his baseball career. Mantle attracted the attention of New York Yankee scout Tom Greenwade, who signed him to a contract of $140 a week with a $1,500 signing bonus. (US healthcare system is for the birds !)


Mantle reported to the Yankees' minor league team in Independence, Kansas, in 1949 as a switch-hitting shortstop. After two years in the minor leagues, the Yankees invited him to their major league spring training camp. He earned a place on the roster, and the New York media soon began comparing him to Babe Ruth and other past Yankee greats. Only 19 years old and two years out of high school, Mantle did not immediately live up to the public's high expectations. He started slowly in his new position--right field--and was sent back briefly to the minors. Mantle's first year in the majors was marred by inconsistent play and jeering from fans both in New York and around the league. His difficulties continued when, early in 1952, Mutt Mantle died of Hodgkin's disease at the age of 39. Mantle had been very close to his father, and he took the death hard.

Mantle was moved to center field when Joe DiMaggio retired from the Yankees following the 1951 season. He began to adjust to big-league play, and in 1952 batted .311 with 23 home runs and 87 runs batted in (RBIs). That season Mantle began to establish himself as one of baseball's premier power hitters. During one game against the Washington Senators, Mantle hit a ball completely out of Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Measured at 565 feet, the home run is believed to be the longest ever hit. The New York Yankees won the American League pennant and World Series during each of Mantle's first three seasons, from 1951 to 1953. During the 1952 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Mantle batted .345 with two home runs. In the 1953 Series, again against the Dodgers, he batted only .208, but hit two more home runs.

In baseball`s greatest era`s ( the 1950`s ) , he was the greatest star.

Later in life he admitted that he should have taken better care of his body, but night clubbing with Billy Martin, and others likely cost him 5 more productive years. So would modern medicine, because those nagging knee injuries that caused him so much pain, could have better addressed with better procedures.

Countless American boys have since been named after him, or named sons after him, and his legend will live on.

History Lesson # 1 - The Christian Gentleman

I think that it is time for me to offer brief history lessons on players, and managers, and the game in general, in hopes that for the folks that read this blog will have a better understanding of the building blocks, and where the game has been.

The Christian Gentleman

So I thought for sometime about a point to start out on, Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Pete Rose, who ?

I decided to let people in on a little known secret, about this guy who pitched in the dead ball era. His name was Christy Matheson, and he was better know in his day as the Christian Gentleman, and he pitched for the New York Giants. John McGraw's favourite player, he said, of all time.


Matheson was one pitcher, if was said, kept a book on many hitters, which was unheard of.  Cy Young of the Bostons, said  I just throw it hard, and I don't a damn who's at bat.  Matheson recorded what pitches that Honus Wagner handled easily, and he noted what arm angle, speed and follow through worked effectively. Wagner it was said did the same of pitchers, and so a constant battle raged, both players adjusting.

Christy reported through 8 different pitches, fade aways, drop balls, and rise balls, now commonly referred as fork balls, sliders and cut fastballs.  He had Greg Maddux's plate coverage, Saberhagen's change of speeds, and Koufax's ability to find " that extra spark " or giddy up.

Many of Matty's records stood in the National League for years. Walter Johnson held most American League, and what neither of them held, weren't worth holding, according to Ring Lardner.

I won't trivialize him with recanting his stats, I leave that to the geeks, and sabrmetricians of the world. Just let's say that for 20 years he was in National League without a peer. But for many a child growing in the 1900's he was their idol. 

Parents who hated their boys playing this game were pleased to let their sons comb their hair, eat the some food and pattern their baseball delivery after Matheson. His wife said he was a good man, but he was no goody goody.

He won 373 games, and finished up with a career ERA of 2.13. Admittedly the era ( 1910's ) was not a hitters era, but many parks had no fences, just roped off areas where fans would stand behind.

His final game was in 1916, and Christy entered World War I , and suffered from mustard gas in France, and he eventually died at 45 in 1925.  He was pretty bad shape in 25', and he told his wife that nothing can be done, so if you want to go out and have a cry, do not make it a long one.

Matheson was also credited as one of the whistle blowers of the 1919 Black Sox scandal. He was along side the reporters, and kept a note book of suspicious plays. He then wrote the commissioners office and sent in his notes, which were used in the trial.

He appeared in 4 World Series only winning once but limiting the opposition to a 0.97 earned run average.

He is to be remembered, and I gladly kick off this summer of baseball history.

Finding Faith

If we are to assume that the Jays are in the race, despite a wonky bullpen, spotty offense, leading the AL in errors, and just plain blowing chances against inferior opponents, then the fact that more people are watching the Jays, in the seats or on TV should be considered a sign.

Funny that many of the scribes and media are not on the GM to make the team better with bolder moves. As I follow the twitter world, the blogs, the web sites and the newspapers, I am amazed that no one save myself, Bob McCown, maybe a couple of guys in the office are throwing up their hands in frustration.

Why in the name of the baby Jesus ( quoting the Bobcat ) can we not sacrifce some A and AA talent and improve the team. Maybe this Drew Hutchinson experiment was cute in the beginning, but it is downright awful now. Drabez, and Morrow are going pretty good, but Romero & Alvarez are very shaky, and the best thing I can say about the bullpen, is that for 2 weeks, Casey Jannsen has performed admirably.

Money and another season are being wasted, and let me remind the faithful that the Yankees and Red Sox will not suck forever, at some point one or both will get healthy, and go on a run.  Tampa already looks solid, even if Matt Moore has not become the next super arm.  Where is Cuba Gooding ?  "Show me the money"  .....
Is this the blueprint ?  Another 80-83 win season while kids season like 10 year scotch. What is the plan for the June draft ?  Another crop of 18-20 fuzzy faced phenoms, tyr and sign another boatload.  Add more prospects to what is fast becoming a crowded house of potential.  If we reach July 31st, and we are NOT in 4rth place I will be shocked.  Adding a 40 year DH with no arm or leg skills to this roster is not going to change our fortunes, like Damon and Manny won't , or even Roy Oswalt.  Roy has been to more Texas Ranger games than many season ticket owners.  And yet, no contract, hmmm, is it possible Oswalt is demanding a multi year deal ?  Anyhow, back to adding on the potential that Vladdy brings, over playing Travis Snider, Adam Lind or Yan Gomes, is fool hardy.

If the team has given up on the first 2, well then who am I to argue. But if you need offense, is there no team so out of contention with a player with an expiring contract that can actually hit that we cannot attract with the offering of a couple of kids.

I like the Jays, don't get me wrong, but if we are going to wait until the 18 and 19 year olds start pushing Romero and Bautista out of the line up, that is too long. They have not played a meaningful game in September in more years than I can remember.

Good solid bats don't come cheap, neither does top 3 arms or closers, but we are spending pennies, when the paper money is required.



When is next year "the year" ?  What happens when we decide that we want to spend, and the Yanks and Red Soz, and Angels, etc decide the same thing ?

So far, the Rays have been twice to the post season after 8-9 last place in MLB, but no hardware to show for it.  I seem to remember a GM who said "when it is time, we will spend".  

What if the time has already past ?  Was our window this year, or last fall ?

C'mon guys, I want to keep the faith, but I am having a hard time finding the faith.

If you want to compete in the AL East you have 2 routes, the Rays suck for a decade route and the Sox/Yanks route. We have found a third route, the slow building infrastructure approach.

My faith is being tested.  Is yours ?

Are we ever getting any traction ?

Up 2, down 2, up 3, down 3.  Such is the slow ploding season to date.

A 19-16 record on May 14th and the next 4 games are against the Rays, and the Yanks. What would hope for, hell right now, I'd settle on splitting the 4 games. Perhaps that is what the Jays will do, but that will leave 3 games over .500 at roughly 25 % of the season played.

On average, we are getting decent pitching, marginal bullpen efforts, pretty fair defense, but terribly inconsistent offense. Bautista shows signs of breaking out. Some days so does Escobar, and Lawrie and Encarnacion have supplied the balance of the offense. This team has not hit, and therefore this team has had no extended win streaks. Win a series, lose a series.  In the most current road trip just concluded, they went 5-5, but they won the 1st 2 games against the struggling Angels, and split with the Twins, who still have the worst record in the majors. 

If I was Joihn Farrell I would send for my copy of Phsycic Baseball, or get myself to a palm reader to see if there was something to change the fortunes of the home squad.

Nothing he tries seems to work, no buttons are the right ones.  Adam Lind slides down to 8th, has one good game , and returns to his eventual slide out of town.  Has anyone been paying attention to David Cooper ?  Can we dare put a glove on Encarnacion other than a batting glove ?


This team had the city and fans in a tizzy after their spring triumphs in Florida, but boy not making hay over teams you expect to beat will put them in a very tough position after June.  Plus, it may well impact their position as buyer or seller.  They definitely before the 2-2 split in Minny were kicking tires in Philly over Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino, are they still doing so.  Hamels is just a rental, he's informed the Phils he expects to sign a deal for 7 years. Why not ?, he's only 28, has playoff success.  But he is a rental, and if the Jays don't act, the Dodgers or the other pseudo contenders will.

The Jays have a deep system, but perhaps they lack the will to make a bold in season move to add talent. Their big moves have come in the winter, moving Halladay and Marcum to re stock the shelf.  But the time will come when you either spend freely on free agents, or you swing a deal because you have a logjam of talented kids and they can't all play. 

Perhaps they suprise me and sweep the next 4 games against traditional foes, and sit 23-16, closer to the top than the middle.  Right now they remind me of a team with defective spark plugs, and with that, they have no traction.