MW: OK, so talk about it.

1. Scutaro
2. Overbay
3. Rolen
4. Lind
5. Hill
6. Rios
7. Wells
8. Left Handed Bat
9. Catcher

Basically, I prefer to have our top 4 on-base guys having the first four spots

MW: There’s something to be said for that.

I would love to agree with you, but unfortunately Cito is very stubborn when dealing with young left handed hitters. I love what he brings to the table, but i can not expect anything other then a part time player next year simply based on Cito’s history.
Shawn Green is a great example.

MW: Why isn’t Lind a great example?

MW: That’s a well thought-out comment, but I have to tell you that the idea of trading Cecil, Rios and Carlson or Accardo for Adam Dunn is simply laughable. The Blue Jays wouldn’t ever consider doing just Cecil for Dunn. The Blue Jays could use another bat, without question, and a guy like Dunn would fit perfectly, but the Jays aren’t interested. Not because he doesn’t conform to the Moneyball/sabermetric criteria, though – he does that perfectly. For whatever reason (”he doesn’t like baseball”), Ricciardi doesn’t like him. No one was complaining about a lack of left-handed bats when the Jays were 27-14.

Well, I remember writing earlier in the season that although the team was playing well(then) it was not a good team. I cited the lack of speed (which translates to base-stealing) and the absence of a credible clean-up hitter. I even mentioned Adam Dunn as the ideal person for the job.
Based on your comments since last year, you don’t think speed is important, and you and JP are probably the only people who would not trade a 2 and 1 rookie pitcher for a 40+ home runs left handed bat, when we desperately need one. At least JP has a reason, although based on your comment above it now has nothing to do with baseball.

BTW If Overbay (a platoon hitter) hits third, then we need 2 #3 hitters, when we are having problems finding 1.
I also contend that for this team to do well, Vernon has to be hitting well in the #3 slot.

MW: If Adam Dunn was such an attractive commodity, he wouldn’t have had to wait until the last minute to sign with a team this off-season, and wouldn’t have had to take so much less than he wanted. I’m pretty sure there’s no team in the bigs that would trade its top pitching prospect for him. I don’t think Wells has to be hitting well in the #3 slot for the Jays to do well.

Are you leaving?

And, point #3 of Post #29 — Holliday is not a Left-handed hitter.

MW: I have a very nice back.

Its not so much that I hate the Sox, its just, once in a while, I like to be reminded that a crappy game can happen to any team, and so can a magical one.

Thx,

MW: Remember, even the best teams are going to lose about 60 games, and some of those losses will be ugly.

Re the Rios vs. Crawford contracts:

“296/.334/.437 or .286/.336/.451 – which one would you rather have?”

Do you really think for one second that the Rays GM would consider trading Carl Crawford for Rios? I don’t (but then I’m obtuse enough to prefer Barajas over Sal Fasano).

Also, on Jays Talk you posited that the only position the Jays had to worry about next year was shortsop – presumably if Scutaro goes elsewhere. That’s just great, Mike – just bring back the same guys on a team that will probably finish 4th and hope nobody gets injured, and that they play better… hasn’t worked yet, but 2010 WILL be the year these world beaters all get it together… What WOULD be a breath of hope is a new, dynamic GM that would come in with the realization that whatever plans that have been implemented since 2001 have resulted in teams that haven’t even contended for anything. Maybe the new man could actually make a few radical changes (dealing Rios for one) – Nah,why upset a successful formula at this point? This bunch’ll get ‘em for sure NEXT year…

MW: I don’t think for a second that the Rays would do Crawford for Rios, and I firmly believe the Jays would be happy to do Rios for Crawford. What I’m illustrating is that there’s not much difference between the two – if any – other than stolen bases. You bring back the same crew thinking that the addition of Marcum and the improvements of Romero, Cecil and Snider and Wells and Rios getting back to normal will make this team awfully good. I don’t mind a radical talent-for-talent change that doesn’t set the clock back a few years, though.

Looking down the road to next year and the shortstop position, what do you think it will take to re-sign scoots long term and if that somehow goes off the rails what are the options the jays may have (impending FA’s etc)

Thanks

g

MW: I don’t think Scutaro should be signed long-term. He’s 33 and is having his first good year in the majors. If they can bring him back for two years and no more than $10 million they should, but beyond that, I don’t think it’s a good idea. If they can’t bring him back, it’s not exactly a bumper crop of free agent shortstops. The best ones available will be Miguel Tejada and Orlando Cabrera. Then you have guys like Adam Everett, Khalil Greene and Johnny Mac.

It’s time to cut bait Mike.

MW: You’re telling me as though I could have some sort of effect.