MW: You seem to think that speed helps when it’s sitting on the bench after having gotten out – I don’t. I can’t agree that neither Encarnacion NOR Phillips is decent at third base. Encarnacion was fine there, he just has some issues with a few throws, and Phillips is a terrific defender at second, I see no reason why he wouldn’t be good at third, too.

MW: I can’t give you any feedback other than what you’ve given me. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him pitch, but I know that the Blue Jays like what they have. He’s going into his 3rd year pro, so there’s no need to put him on the 40-man roster as yet – he’ll only get a look this year if he goes to AA and dominates and then has success at AAA and forces their hand. It’s Bobby Bell, by the way.

If the Angels are still offering Wood, Weaver and a kid, would you take it? Now that JP’s soft-tossing-lefty-fixation is no longer in the picture (Saunders over Weaver? Really?), do you think AA will revisit that offer? (Of course he’ll look at everything, duh. But I mean seriously consider it.) I like that offer a lot better than the Drabek/Brown thing they were looking at. Also, if Doc ever ends up a Yankee, I will strongly consider guerrilla/terrorist action: ie. mustarding the mens room at Rogers Centre, water-ballooning the mascot, ordering pizza’s to AA’s residence (but not paying for them) and lastly (and most heinously) putting flaming turd bags on random AA employee porches. I mean Bean town would be bad, but nothing could be worse than NY. Nothing.

Please Mike, say it ain’t so.

MW: If the Yankees make the best offer and it sets the Jays up nicely for the next five years or so, Halladay will go to New York. I wouldn’t bet on it, though. As for Weaver, Wood and a kid – it depends on a few things. Weaver is going into arbitration, and would only be under control through the end of 2012. Wood still has six years of control, but his development seems to have stalled – is he still a shortstop of the future? I’d like to give him the chance to do it, for sure, but I think they’d be looking for more than just him and a kid for down the line.

Could you please explain why Vernon was playing with injuries for 2 seasons? He injured his wrist and shoulder in 2007, had shoulder surgery that off-season but not the wrist surgery, played with a presumably injured wrist in 2008, again, didn’t have surgery in the 08 off season and then plays the full 09 season knowing full well his wrist was still injured? I don’t get it.

MW: You have to get into the mind of the pro athlete. They think playing hurt is a point of pride. They’re told to put it all on the line anytime they can as long as they’re physically able to walk out onto the field. It’s not Vernon-specific. As I said before, someone who is not on the field has to be the grown-up and tell guys they can’t play when injuries are preventing them from contributing.

MW: I’ll never be eligible to vote, unless I get a job writing for a newspaper. Voting for the Frick starts on December 1st.

I think Zack will edge out King Felix for the CY. I noticed that in starts longer than 6 innings, Zack had 6 starts of 3 hits or less. Only 2 more than King Felix but it’s an edge in “dominance”.

I just hope that the writers at least put Doc ahead of CC in the voting. Its a shame Doc had to work through all the distraction JP created for him – it even sucked the fun out of the All-Star start for Doc.

Thanks for being there for we die-hard Jays fans this season.

MW: I think you’re giving voters too much credit.

I heard on the Fan590 today that the Jays are looking at 2B Brandon Phillips from the Reds. I assume they would move Hill back to SS if they got him. Phillips hits for power, but he strikes out too much and hits for a mediocre average, which would probably only drop with him coming to a new league. I believe they could do better. Whats your opinion?

MW: See above. But Phillips would be moving to third if the Jays brought him in, I believe.

Jays rank #9 in baserunning.

MW: Overall. 5th in the American League according to this metric.

MW: Maybe, a little. Toronto has really been an afterthought on an MLB-wide basis for the last 15 years or so. More likely, Romero didn’t get any votes because he didn’t have as good a year as Bailey, Porcello or Niemann.

MW: Why on Earth would you ever put Phillips in the lead-off spot. I’m not a fan of his because I think he pumps up his numbers way too much against lefties, who you don’t see nearly as often. Against right-handed pitching, Phillips hit .267/.324/.416 in 2009, .247/.293/.383 in 2008 and .262/.310/.428 in 2007. I’d rather have Encarnacion.