Opening Day - Yankee Stadium

2:25 - Game cancelled. Rescheduled for tomorrow at 7:05. See you back then. Please send warm clothing to me at Midtown East Courtyard Marriott.

2:22 - And as I write that it stops raining altogether. Crowd reacts with cheers. But will they play? Or is it due to start pouring again in a couple of minutes. See for yourself.

2:19 - Rumours floating that the game has been cancelled and they'll try again tomorrow night (it's due to rain all day tomorrow). Just rumours at this point. If that's the case, I'm going to come to the park wrapped in the duvet off my hotel bed. It's going to be chill-ay.

2:09 - A.J. Burnett, Scott Downs and Brian Tallet walk out to left-field and start tossing the ball around. They get a big roar and Burnett tips his cap.

2:02 - Yanks manager Joe Girardi and GM Brian Cashman now standing in shallow right-field with an official, apparently inspecting the turf. Crowd going bonkers. Girardi stops to sign autographs.

Whaddya think Grif? "Girardi didn't go very far out there to inspect the turf"

Meaning? "I think they've already made their decision."

Can I quote you in the blog? "You're going to anyway."

This is why Grif is the dean.

1:50 - Uh oh. Weather reports "no longer look promising," the stadium announcer tells us. The crowd responds with a chorus of boos. It could get ugly on 161st Street.

1:42 - Rain starting to taper off a bit. The braver fans are beginning to come out from under the awnings. They've been packed in there like cattle for the better part of an hour. Baseball may be imminent. We'll know when the players start filing into the dugouts.

1:15 - They're now saying the game will start "some time after two."

YES network's John Sterling makes the announcement and adds, "Hopefully the game will get played and hopefully it's a Yankee victory." Only in New York do they add that bit of homerism. Well, maybe Boston, too.

1:02 - Still no word on when this game will start. Most of the Toronto media contingent has gathered in the outdoor pressbox, where its cold enough to see your breath. Who forgot to wear their woolens? Even Grif is wearing a sport coat. MLB.com's Jordan Bastian just cracked open his new scorebook. "This is all very exciting," Bastian says, not sounding very excited.

None of the New York media horde is up here. There is a strange cultural twitch that prevents NYC writers from coming up to the pressbox more than 30 seconds before first pitch. The higher you stand in the New York media pecking order, the later you leave it to arrive. Some NY writers don't even watch the game live - they prefer to stay in the media bunker in the basement beside the clubhouses and watch the game on TV. Only in New York.

12:58 - Now its 'Umbrella'. At least we've musically cracked the new century.

12:56 - Now it's 'Who Stopped the Rain' by John Fogerty. Between this and 'Center Field', John Fogerty is the worst thing to ever happen to baseball.

I am wishing that I owned the concession on official New York Yankees rain slickers. I wish I owned the New York Yankee concession on anything.

12:49 - Now they're playing 'Pennies From Heaven' by Sinatra. Bring back the organ.

12:34 - Here are the line-ups:

Toronto
1 - David Eckstein
2 - Shannon Stewart
3 - Alex Rios
4 - Vernon Wells
5 - Frank Thomas
6 - Lyle Overbay
7 - Aaron Hill
8 - Marco Scutaro
9 - Gregg Zaun
SP: Roy Halladay

NY Yankees
1 - Johnny Damon
2 - Derek Jeter
3 - Bobby Abreu
4 - A-Rod
5 - Jason Giambi
6 - Robinson Cano
7 - Jorge Posada
8 - Hideki Matsui
9 - Melky Cabrera
SP: Chien-Ming Wang

They're playing 'Quando Quando Quando' on the organ. Soggy natives growing restless.

12:19 - Okay, they've decided to delay the game. The start time is 'to be determined'. The good news is they insist that the weather is due to improve and that they will play this afternoon.

12:14 p.m. - Less than an hour till game time and the rain continues to come down here in the Bronx. It's not coming down hard, but Grif feels sure that they won't start under these conditions. At least it's not that cold.

News is the clubhouse all concerns Alex Rios' 'will he or won't he' big league deal. It now seems pretty clear that he will. The club is ironing out the final details on Rios' 6-year, $65 million (U.S.) deal. GM J.P. Ricciardi is so sure that this will work out, that's he's extended his Opening Day deadline. Rios said the deal wasn't done a few minutes ago, but couldn't help but notice a conga line of teammates running up to shake his hand. I think this thing is all but signed. Interestingly, Ricciardi said there is no opt-out for Rios in the deal's current incarnation.

It's more than a little bit cool to be here for the last season starter at Yankee Stadium (for a great behind-the-scenes look at the park, check out Tyler Kepner's photo slideshow at the New York Times).

Cathal Kelly

Stats boost for Gibby and Opening Day line-up

Jays manager John Gibbons takes his lumps in the press. He gets battered on talk radio (but doesn't everybody?). Generally, he absorbs the criticism with a smile. The few fans who've gotten hold of his email address and berated him, get a polite response from the Texan. Then they usually write back and apologize.

So it was nice to point out to Gibbons this afternoon a ranking of baseball's managers in the Wall Street Journal. Based on trio of numerical formulas, Gibbons is ranked sixth, tied with Ozzie Guillen of the White Sox.

Gibbons seemed surprised and pleased when shown the list.

"Where'd I come? Sixth?" Gibbons asked.

"In the AL East," a wisenheimer in the room cracked, which got Gibbons roaring.

But the Toronto manager was obviously pretty pleased at the ranking, which saw him way ahead of the Terry Francona's and Joe Torre's of the world.

Later, he called in Jays Assistant Manager and numbers guy Alex Anthopoulos to explain the statisical measurements to him.

"I'm renogiating," Gibbons declared as he came out of his office. Then he pointed to Jeremy Sandler of the National Post and myself and said, "Now I hope you have the guts to print that in tomorrow's paper."

Well, that would be plagiarism, we explained. But we're happy to point you to it.

Should also note that it's looking threatening here in Philly as of 4:46 p.m. But one of the hospitality workers assured me, "They'll play in the snow." We'll soon see.

OPENING DAY LINE-UP

Oh yeah, there's news.

Gibbons also tipped his Opening Day line-up

1 - David Eckstein
2 - Matt Stairs
3 - Alex Rios
4 - Vernon Wells
5 - Frank Thomas
6 - Lyle Overbay
7 - Aaron Hill
8 - Marco Scutaro
9 - Gregg Zaun

Overbay and Hill will switch spots when facing a leftie. Shannon Stewart will drop in Matt Stairs' second spot against lefties. Gibbons said he debated about batting Wells third, but decided to leave Rios in that spot.

The only thing left undecided is if Stairs will actually play on Monday, what with his sore hip, which appears to be in doubt.

Cathal Kelly

Rolen's prognosis worsening

Jays third baseman Scott Rolen returned to Dunedin today with a soft cast on his injured right hand and  plans for an extended rehab.

Rolen is feeling his way through the process, but said Baltimore hand surgeon Dr. Thomas Graham has advised him to prepare for a 4-6 week rehabilitation from the date of his surgery, which took place on Monday.

Without making any predictions, the club had initially hinted that Rolen might be ready soon after the pin in his finger is removed in ten days.

Graham's schedule would put the quickest date for Rolen’s return at April 21st - the tail end of a homestand against the Detroit Tigers. The worst-case scenario would see Rolen returning in early May after missing the first 33 games of the year.

As would be expected, Rolen hopes to push Graham's schedule forward significantly.

"We’ll be optimistic and try to cut that down as much as we can in the right way, the smart way," Rolen said.

Cathal Kelly

The press corpse

Shi Davidi is not dead. If the emails and comments are anything to go by, I may have given people the wrong impression when I noted recently that CP's estimable baseball beat writer is 'no longer with us'. I meant that in the literal sense, as in 'not in Florida'. Not as in 'has shuffled off this mortal coil'.

Shi himself messaged me. I'm sure his family was getting worried. I told him that my (virtual) powers are limitless and that the Star's travel budget does include a provision for witch doctors and raisings from the dead, not to be confused with the water cure.

So Shi is alive and well, though still labouring under the misapprehension (along with MLB.com's Jordan Bastian and the FAN590's Mike Wilner) that a constant Tampa diet of P.F. Chang's will not eventually kill him. They continue to insist to me that a nightly partaking of disstilled spirits will do likewise. We agree to disagree.

In the same place I mentioned Shi, I also dedicated Safety Dance to him. Don't you think Men Without Hats is a little cavalier for a funeral? April Wine? Well, that's respectful and touching. Coney Hatch? Absolutely. But not M.W.H. What this comes down to, people, (to quote the greatest gangster movie of them all) is a question of ethics.

One more day in Tampa. Game this afternoon against Houston, one of the few major league teams more anxious than Toronto to get the hell out of Florida and get the season started before they lose anyone else.

The Jays will board a flight Friday morning and head to Philadelphia. Night game on Friday and an afternoon tilt on Saturday. Off day Sunday in New York and then the season begins Monday afternoon. This should be a chilly one judging by the weather reports and there's a good chance of rain on Monday which would just, well, suck. If only New York had its own Doppler 9000 so that we could feel sure.

Both of the last two exhibition games in Philly will be pitched by bullpen committees. If their weather forecast is anything to go by, we may be stuck watching the team play cards in the clubhouse for most of Friday night. For the media contingent, these last two days promise to be the 'Will Alex Rios sign before the Yankee Stadium pre-game?' countdown.

Cathal Kelly

Blue Jays mail bag

Richard Griffin answers your Blue Jays questions. Click here to submit a question.

Just about a week before the opener and all of a sudden the Jays season is beginning to look just as cursed from an injury standpoint as ever. Not enough time to field any Scott Rolen questions this week, but I'm expecting a mailbag full by next week's session. The big topic this week was Reed Johnson and from the consistent tone of the mail, it's clear that Reed was as important to fans as he was in the clubhouse. We'll miss you Reed and good luck with the Cubs because we know you're a major-leaguer. Now on to the mail bag.

Q: I am very upset with the decision to release Reed Johnson. They have chosen the defensively weaker Shannon Stewart over Johnson. Where is the loyalty? Is it strictly a cash thing? What kind of message are they sending to the other young Jays who give their hearts to the team? Here is a guy who every time out epitomizes what a typical Blue Jay should be. He hustles on every at bat and gives 100% every time on the field? He may be no Willie Mays but I would take him over Matt Stairs and Stewart any time. Is he not a better example for the young guys coming up than those two? He only has one year on his contract. I thought good defence wins over good offense every time.

Howard Rose, Toronto

A: Here is the likely scenario that led to Reed Johnson being released. Last November when free-agent season opened, GM J.P. Ricciardi made a competitive offer to Shannon Stewart’s business representatives. Misreading the market, Legacy Sports told the Jays no. If Stewart had signed for that November $2 million offer to platoon with Matt Stairs, the Jays in December would not have tendered Johnson a contract and he would have become a free-agent (a nicer way of saying “released”) back then. Instead, Ricciardi, even though he didn’t want him, was forced to offer a contract to Reed and negotiate a $3.275 million one-year deal to avoid arbitration.

When Stewart called again with his new agent in tow and said it was all a mistake and he was now interested in what the Jays had to offer, the Jays took a stab at a lesser one-year deal for $1.5 million, plus $250,000 in incentives for the lame-armed outfielder. When Stewart surprisingly agreed, Johnson’s eventual fate with the Jays was sealed. The only reason he stayed around as long as he did was that the Jays were hoping to make a trade for Reed and get something back in return. The fact that one-year deals for players under a club’s control are non-guaranteed and require just a 1/6th payoff, or one month worth of the season, made it cheaper to keep Shannon and release Reed than the original offer to Stewart. Johnson landed with the Cubs who, among other teams, figured correctly they could get him without having to give up a player and for a cheaper price if they simply waited the Jays out.

So, when there was a public gnashing of teeth and wringing of hands by Ricciardi and the Jays at having to make the painful decision to release Johnson that’s just so much crap. There is no loyalty in baseball. There is no loyalty in hockey. There is no loyalty in big business. There is no loyalty in kids hockey. It’s kind of discouraging for people that have never grown up.

Q: What's with dropping Reed Johnson? A saving of money? This decision will haunt the Jays. What do they do in the ninth inning when they look to protect a 3-2 lead? Pray that the ball is not hit out to left field? Baseball over a 162 game schedule will find a team's weakness. When it's time for the big catch in important situations it won't be made in left field. Releasing Reed Johnson was a horrible decision.

Michael M.

Reed Johnson catches on quick

JEFF CHIU/AP

It didn't take long for Reed Johnson to strut his stuff with the Cubs. Based on the emailers to this blog, Jays fans aren't happy about this.

The (Spring Training) Half-Inning From Hell

Baseball greybeards in the pressbox were left mouths agape by the top of the fifth inning here at Knology.

It started off with Jonny Gomes planting the first pitch over the wall in left field off Roy Halladay. Okay, not so good. Then Dioner Navarro singled. Alright.

Then the clown college took over. Minor leaguer John Tolisano, starting at second, bobbled Andy Cannizaro's fieldable grounder. Error Number One. Elliot Johnson took first on a fielder's choice when the Jays couldn't catch Navarro sliding into third for the force out.

Bases loaded. No outs.

Carl Crawford grounded the next one to Tolisano, who first dropped the ball, then skied the throw over Lyle Overbay's head for the rare double botch. Errors number two and three. At this point, Roy Halladay looked like he wanted to murder someone. Significantly, Tolisano was doing his best to stare longingly into right field.

Carlos Pena doubled, making the score 5-0. Upton doubled. At some point here, I forget exactly where, pitching coach Brad Arsnberg came out to calm Halladay. The next batter didn't help much.

Cliff Floyd plowed one straight at Lyle Overbay. The normally reliable first basemen leaned down and the ball carromed off his glove into right field. Error number four. At this point, the assembled media were left screaming their heads off (a real rarity) and pressing Jays PR impressario and scorer Mal Romanin for instructions. We were lost.

Hinske doubled. Score now approaching infinity. Then Jonny Gomes singled. The relay slips into the infield and Gomes races for second. Catcher Rod Barajas spikes the throw to second and it bounces into centre field. Error number five. Hinske scores. Ten batters in, there are none out.

A shaken Halladay is then pulled and replaced by sidearmer Connor Falckenbach. The pitcher I will now refer to as 'Fritz' allows a single to Andy Cannizaro, but manages to escape the inning in four batters.

"Did some guy down here bet the game or what?" the Star's Dave Perkins wonders aloud. That would make more sense than what we've just seen.

Five errors by the team, three by Tolisano. Ten runs allowed by Halladay, but only four earned.

6:38 - Halladay's reaction after the game was classic. The Globe's Jeff Blair asked him if he'd talked to Tolisano after the rueful fifth.

"Yeah," said Halladay.

Well, what'd you say to him?

"He seems like a tough kid," Halladay replied, ignoring the question. Ouch.

Cathal Kelly

Spring lottery may have a winner

Chilly morning in Clearwater after a frigid drive home from Sarasota last night. The Sun's Mike Rutsey promised - promised, I tell you - to off-set my directional dyslexia with his veteran's knowledge of the Gulf Coast's highways and byways.

When he shrieked "Ocala!" about an hour into the drive back, I realized something had gone amiss. Ruts, I drove you here for one reason and ... but one loopy highway detour later, we were back on track, sitting in Pete & Shorty's a very solid hour before last call.

As I rise this morningtide I see that Ken Rosenthal - who knows all, or at least, everyone - is reporting that Alex Rios is close to a six-year, $65 million (U.S.) extension. Since the club had imposed a "not after spring training" deadline to get this deal done, that makes perfect sense. We'll see if Rios arrives at Knology this morning weighed down by a diamond encrusted crown or driving a Gulfstream jet. (Lenny Dykstra's favourite).

With Toronto facing a seeming power deficit (six regulars have combined for a home run output of six - six! - in 24 spring games thus far), they're going to need Rios to make some strides over the career high 24 homers he hit last year. Cash can be a wonderful incentive.

No word yet on that big extension that Aaron Hill was supposed to be looking for.

SONG OF THE DAY: CP's Shi Davidi is no longer with us, but I think his choice of three weeks is appropriate now. Canadian classic and little people favourite, Safety Dance, by Men Without Hats. With only three games to go in Florida and two chilly pre-season polishers in Philadelphia, this team is just praying that everyone arrives on that bus to New York unencumbered by casts, bandages or other signifiers of catatastrophic injury.

Cathal Kelly

Jays leaving Rolen, Ryan behind

One day, two blows.

First off, Scott Rolen. After mangling his finger while fielding a groundball on Sunday, Rolen had surgery today. A screw was inserted in the messy pulp that is the tip of his right middle finger. The screw will remain in place for 14 days, before a second surgery is done to remove it.

“Basically, it’s (pain) tolerance from there … It’s definitely two weeks. We’ll see from there,” GM J.P. Ricciardi said. “It’s the individual, his pain tolerance. I’ve got to believe Scotty’s going to be a hard guy to hold down.”

But something tells the non-medically trained pessimist inside me that it's going to be a good deal longer than two weeks. A month? Six weeks? That's a long time for Marcu Scutaro to try and hold down this offence.

Also, B.J. Ryan has been officially removed from the casting list in the bullpen. We all knew this was coming. Ryan threw a bullpen today, but it's notable that trainer George Poulis seemed to be watching every bit as carefully as pitching coach Brad Arsnberg.

"Best case scenario - middle of April," is how Ricciardi put it. Again, that sounds like the beginning of May. And John Gibbons said that Ryan won't join the team until he can pitch every other day. So whatever happens, Jeremy Accardo will be splitting time with Ryan at some point.

Both men will go on some as-yet-undetermined variation of the disabled list. Ricciardi's still working it out.

Cathal Kelly

The telltale nail - Part II

Forget trainers. The Jays need manicurists. A legion of the world's best manicurists.

First there was the unfortunate intersection between A.J. Burnett's pointin' finger and the door of a Range Rover. Now Scott Rolen has been undone for the start of the season by a short hopper.

Rolen messed up the middle finger on his right hand during morning fielding drills.

Apparently, a ball caught the slick fielding third baseman unawares, tearing off his fingernail and inflicting a 'non-displaced' fracture to the tip.

Rolen was in the clubhouse after the game with a nasty looking bandage on the finger. He's flying tonight to Baltimore tonight to see a hand specialist. There's no immediate prognosis, but the beginning of the season is obviously shot. Let's hope the nail grows back quicker than Burnett's (three months and counting).

Cathal Kelly