are you seriously saying that 95% of broadcasters don’t know that the guy they’ve popularly dubbed ‘the Hebrew Hammer’, is Jewish?

MW: I haven’t heard many sportscasters use that nickname.

I asked Mike a question, not you, by the way.

And I didn’t even mention Arencibia. I don’t know where you got that. Arencibia is 22, and I can understand being more careful with him.

I was talking about Dopirak. I mean what’s wrong with giving him a look IF he does well in August in AA (who knows he might stink it up down there). Seriously, what’s it gonna hurt. Would you rather see Mench called up? Dopirak is 26, and as Mike mentioned a minor league free agent next year. Why not give him a look for a month? Of course, if JP decides not to, I’m sure he has a good reason for it, and I’ll respect that, cause he knows a heck of a lot more about this stuff than we do.

I probably didn’t explain myself well enough when I said that power is power. What I meant was that the guy obviously has potential for power. I doubt you’d see Inglett, Scutaro, Eckstein and similar players hit 27 hr’s in 400 AB down there. They’re not “power hitters”. In fact, I doubt many other of the Jays’ do that. I’m also not saying that Dopirak will do that against major league pitching, but where’s the risk in seeing if he does? It’s not the first year he’s put up those types of numbers in the minors.

MW: If Mac were 25, maybe. But he’ll be 34 next month.

How are they close if

1. They cannot produce or aquire a good hitting, healty reliable 3rd baseman or shortstop.

2. They have no power

3. The leadoff spot is in question

4. The DH position is in Question.

5. Who is going to be the number 2. Starting pitcher next year.

6. Who wil be the bonifide catcher next year.

7. Jays under current upper management has not finised greater than 9.0 games back of the wild card and has once finished ten games over five hundred.

All these factors remain seven years later in the hands Of JP Richardi who claimed he could turn this team into a contender through the draft. Seven years later 9.0 games back of the wild card 12 back of the division with 100million dollars in payroll.

You saying that Jays are close is simply not true.

MW: And yet, they’re pretty close.

MW: My take is that the money doesn’t matter, that signing Thomas to the contract to which he was signed didn’t mean the Jays missed out on anyone that off-season. I don’t know if there was other interest in Thomas, but I do know that there’s often something to be said for swooping in ahead of all the other suitors and blowing a player away with an offer he would have a very hard time refusing. The problem is, that tends only to be a good thing if it works out, and this one didn’t.

MW: Wow, a legit question from you. I’m impressed. I’m confident that the Jays decision not to pursue Bonds had nothing to do with the team’s baseball operations people. Manny would be acceptable to pursue because he’s not Barry Bonds.

I wish I could say that the Jays deserved something, anything, other than pink slips all round. What a rotten team we have this year!

as far as “facing big league pitching in september”

one of the problems with september call ups is they are often facing other september callups. its not like you are facing a true big leaguer every time up. the good news of the jays is they do play many games in september against teams that will be in the hunt.

by the way…rene, arencibia just got to AA a few weeks ago…chillllllll

MW: That doesn’t mean he still can’t be thinking about his at-bats when he’s on base.