“How convenient” that you have an excuse not to present your “facts” in defense of Stewart, or of Ricciardi, or of yourself, whichever the case may be.

MW: Right. I went back and checked. See, when the comments are presented I only see the comment, not the thread, not what came before or after. Anyway, I spend way too much time on this to deal with people who insult me, so while the excuse may be there, you presented it yourself.

MW: Huh? Remember, folks, if you don’t tell me what you’re talking about, I have no idea what you’re talking about.

It’s as if you just can’t admit that J.P. screwed this one up and the fans actually have a point on this issue. Throughout this entire debate you have constantly ignored, ad nauseum, the last few years of Stewart’s career, and the fact that Johnson has mostly performed as well or better over his brief career (see several earlier conversations I’ve had with you in which I cite statistics). You have ignored the underlying assumption declared and used by J.P. in deciding to choose Stewart, that Stewart is a career .300 hitter, and how recent history completely undermined any reasonable expectation that Stewart would be that good this season. You have said that we couldn’t reasonably expect Wilkerson to be good because of recent history, but have refused to use the same logic for Stewart. You have relied on bogus arguments, such as that Johnson doesn’t hit as well against righties, when the stated plan was for him to platoon with Stairs and thus to play mainly against lefties. And then you support post-facto arguments about the Jays’ knowledge that Thomas wasn’t going to stay by using a standard for Johnson that is incompatible with your standard for Stewart. And your standards are very real in your mind, it would seem, considering the vehemence with which you have continuously spouted Johnson’s “average” track record” and Stewart’s offensive superiority.

Stop writing this nonsense already.

MW: See, this is the thing. I was going to give you a measured response, backed up by facts, to show why I’m right and you’re wrong, but then you threw that last line in, so I’m not going to bother.

MW: No, they’re not.

OK I promise this is my last post but how the heck is another year at 100 million with the current contracts enough to go out and get a big bat (preferably 2), another starter, an everyday SS, and Barajas/different catcher? You think that can be done with $25 million that they’ll have after this season?

I repeat, if Ted Rogers is serious about contending then he needs to give JP, or whoever is the GM, more than the current payroll. You’re stuck on the word “adequate” for some reason but I said “serious”. Adequate could be anything, it depends on the situation of the team. 40 million is adequate for the Marlins and As. But with the current Jays situation, with the current contracts, with the current needs, they will need a lot more than the 25 million if they want to be serious and instant contenders for the near future.

MW: I’m stuck on the word adequate, because that’s the word you used, and I quote: “You’d think the richest guy in the country would adequately fund his team in the AL East instead of just teasing us.” I don’t know if the $30 million will be enough to get what you think the Jays need, but they can certainly be creative in the trade market, opening up money by moving money elsewhere, like maybe B.J. Ryan.

so now people are getting on him for being outwardly upset…at least it’s different from the usual cries of ‘vernon doesn’t show any emotion, it looks like he doesn’t even care’…but instead of putting his every movement under the scope, let’s please just enjoy what is possibly the most naturally talented, homegrown, position player we’ve had the pleasure of watching…

What is it with you and payroll ranks!? If you’re suggesting that Ted Rogers wouldn’t do it just because of the aesthetics of being a top 3 payroll, that’s ridiculous. Plus, you have no idea what the other teams will do so you can’t predict a ranking now anyway. Just give your thoughts on the general idea.

MW: No, what I have an issue with is that you say that all the Jays need is to be funded “adequately”, and yet you come up with a number that would rank 3rd in MLB this year. To me, they’re already being funded more than adequately.

You’ve probably never met him, but Steward is the in-flight attendant on all the team’s charter flights. I don’t think he ever played Major League Baseball though. You’ll have to get Jerry and Ash to ask him on the next flight.

MW: I’ve explained it before in the last week or so.

MW: Eckstein wasn’t a trade, but other than that, your points are well-made.