Though, this line of reasoning will go completly out the window if AA fails to sign even one of the comp picks we get next draft for failing to sign these guys this year, imho.

MW: That’s a little too tinfoil hatty an idea.

MW: That’s a lot of work. Instead, I will simply rank them according to my opinion and nothing more - Kershaw, Hughes, Billingsley, Holland (but he’s not coming), Chamberlain, Buchholz, Happ, Drabek.

But why draft him in the first place. Again, it was known what the contract demands where before the draft, so why draft a player if they where not willing to meet them, this makes no sense to me.

MW: That’s a fair point.

1) Did you know that Mike McCoy is hitting .337/.459/.449/.909, with 12 SB, 40 TB in 89 AB playing for Nick Leyva’s CULIACAN TOMATEROS? Maybe he gets a shot at SS? Could be a cheap replacement for Scoots, no?

2a) I am still confused by the direction of the team. Will they really be building, as in “adding” pieces? Maybe spending the money they save on Scoots, Barajas, Doc, and anyone else who is traded (Overbay, Downs etc.)

2b) If AA trades Doc, where does his $15MM+ salary go? 2010? F/A?

2c) Can you name a few F/A’s that you would sign to smart contracts if you were AA and you had around $10MM to spend on 2010?

Thanks for your insight!

MW: Marco Scutaro is not a hockey player. Nobody calls him Scoots. That said: 1 - It seems that McCoy is very good at getting on-base, though he’s only done it with great success in the Pacific Coast League, which isn’t really translatable. I have no idea if he can play defense, so I’m certainly not ready to campaign for him to be the shortstop next year as a 29 year-old rookie. 2a - They’ll try to add pieces that can help them in 2011 and beyond. 2b - It likely goes back to the salary-holding-cell, to be used sometime within the next three years, or not. 2c - In the direction they’re going? Not really.

What would you think of bringing back Zaun, for one year. He is pretty good with the young pitchers, no? Arencibia could probably take over mid-season, if he’s able to turn things around.

MW: It wouldn’t be so bad to bring Zaun back.

The other player with injury problems has been Lyle Overbay. His wrist has arrested his progress in producing power numbers. It’d be ironic if he starts hitting for distance with another team. Rumor has it he’s on the block.

Thank you for your intelligent comment over the past season(s). It’s gonna be a long winter without you.

MW: I’ll still be here.

and here’s why….

i saw some of the boston celtics atlanta hawks game this weekend. the faux parquet reminded me of the old boston gardens and the nbc “game of the week” with larry bird & friends during the 80’s. even as kid back then i remember marv albert talking about the mystical/distinct home court advantage of the parquet floor. how kevin mchale knew where all the dead spots were, and how visiting point guards had the highest turnover rates when they played in boston.

this got me thinking of the checker board seam fest @ the rogers centre.

now stay with me as i explain this further. remember back in the 80’s fenway park was considered by some to a dump (kinda how the rogers centre is perceived now). it was out of touch with the new style of stadiums. years went by and then in time fenway became this mystical relic from the past. so unique because every other stadium were modernized. it became a place full of wonder with the garage doors, a green monster, and generally viewed with intrigue because “anything could happen”, and “no lead was safe”.

i believe that a similar type mystique can/will eventually happen @ the rogers centre. “the only turf stadium in baseball”, “a ball could hit a seam @ any time”, ” you can’t feel the warning track well under your feet”.

now if you have hard time seeing the similarities let me say this; 80’s music was not considered fashionable by many in the 90’s, but in time when the musical landscape changed it had a revival and was appreciated. it’s kind of the same principal.

i’d go on, but the point has been made.

thoughts?

p.s. happy Louis Riel Day eve!

MW: You really want thoughts?

At this point what do you think the Jays rotation for opening day 2010 shapes up, minus Roy Halladay, which appears to be the case as each day passes this off-season. I’m off to Buffalo next Sunday to rock out to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s final show of the tour. I’ll fill you in next week. Take it easy Mike.’

Peter, St.Catharines

MW: It depends on who they get back for Halladay, but Marcum, Romero and Rzepczynski are definitely in it, for my money.

Long time reader and listener, first time writer. Thanks for your updates and Blue Jays insight.

With all this trade talk about Overbay, the presumption has been that Lind will move to first base to fill the void. Where does that leave Ruiz? Will he be the DH next year?

As well, what’s Cito’s beef with him? I’ve heard no good reason about his lack of regular play except for some steroid use several years ago which he was already punished for. Sounds like a lousy excuse to me.

I think how Cito handles the Ruiz situation next year will illustrate how much he’s learned from the end of season clubhouse turmoil.

Thoughts?

MW: I don’t think his handling of Ruiz has anything to do with what he’s learned from the turmoil, because I don’t think he learned anything from it. He was flabbergasted at the suggestion that some players might not like the way he does things, which shows that he had no clue what was going on in there. Ruiz was a rookie, though, and had no say in anything. I don’t know that Cito actually has a beef with Ruiz, I think he just trusted a veteran like Kevin Millar more - no clue why, though. I know that, organizationally, the Jays don’t love Ruiz and don’t really see him as a big piece down the road, but he hasn’t done anything to say that he can’t hit. If Overbay is traded and Lind moves to first, I would hope that DH is Ruiz’ job to lose.

MW: When they ask for too much money.

But Mike, It was known going into the Draft what their demands are. Keith Law, Buster Olney and others reported it was less that $1 million total for the players that did not sign. Its not like it was a huge amount of money in baseball terms. Again, lets call a spade a spade, the ownership needs to invest in this team if it wants to compete.

MW: See above.