Blue Jays mail bag

With the World Series wrapping up and the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas still a month away, unfolding in the first week of December, the Mailbag is taking a month-long hiatus for November, returning with trade talk for the first two weeks of December at the height of the free agent season and with the meetings on the horizon.

It’s been an interesting post-season with emerging young stars and reliable old ones taking centre stage. The AL balance of power will never be the same again, as the Rays’ impressive young talent is mostly under their control or already under contract for the foreseeable future and the Yankees with a brand new stadium and the Red Sox are not going anywhere. With three teams seemingly always competitive in the AL Central, the Jays task of competing for a wild-card spot has become even tougher. Standing still with the status quo in terms of roster and payroll just won’t cut it. On to the Mail bag.

Q: Richard, I remember reading in Sports Illustrated a few weeks ago that Theo Epstein's new contract called for an average salary of around $2M/yr. Am I wrong in thinking that GMs in particular and front office staff in general are underpaid to woefully underpaid? I mean, nobody in an organization has a larger impact on the direction of a team than the GM and at best they’re making John MacDonald type of coin. Shouldn't the new “moneyball” be poaching the best baseball minds and paying a premium if necessary?

Greg Wells, Toronto

A: I wouldn’t say that major-league GMs are woefully underpaid. The players have a particular talent or skill that is unique to the top 1,000 performers in their field, with a very short peak-skill period. Meanwhile, the career of a GM can go on a very long time. Just look at the age difference in this World Series between Andrew Friedman of the Rays and Pat Gillick of the Phillies.

Besides, the competition for the position of major-league baseball general manager is huge. There are 30 men in those positions but thousands of others that feel they could do the job if given a chance – and they may be right. I know that if given the chance and surrounding myself with the brightest baseball minds I know (and actually listening to them), that I could pass as a major-league GM. But I can’t hit a curveball.

Q: Okay so I see that the Jays have signed Adam Loewen to a minor league contract. He was a former top pick as a pitcher, but is now transforming himself into a hitter. My question is does his former prestige as a top draft pick follow him as he becomes a hitter? I'm not sure if I am phrasing the question right. Basically, the Jays signed a former top pick pitcher as a hitter. Should we care?

Matthew Madarang, Scarborough

A: I understand the question and no, Loewen’s status as a top draft choice as a pitcher does not follow him in his conversion to hitter. The reason we should care about the signing is that Adam Loewen is a Canadian and the Jays should be commended for signing him as a released free agent by the Orioles and giving him a chance to pull off his dream of a Rick Ankiel type conversion.

Loewen as a teenage amateur player in B.C. was a good enough hitter to play a position and hit as a professional but his major-league future lay in his strong left arm. It won’t be easy now and the smart money is betting against him ever even reaching Triple-A as a hitter, but people doubted Ankiel, as well. Elite athletes are elite athletes. Nothing should surprise. It’s a good story for the Jays, Canadian baseball fans and young Canadian players looking for role models.

Q: Richard,

Why do I get the sinking feeling that substantial drop in the Canadian dollar due to the bottoming out of the stock market is going to preclude the Jays from adding anything of significance from the free agent pool and the Jays will be worse than in 2008 with GM J.P. Ricciardi, not exactly the greatest trader, refusing to do deal any prospects to fill the Jays massive roster holes? (I'm not an English major, but I guess that was a run-on sentence, eh?)

DeShaun Kozak, Uxbridge, ON

A: You’re right about one thing and wrong about the other. I believe the Jays need to trade a couple of their great looking prospects for immediate help, but I don’t believe that the status of the Canadian dollar has shut them out of the free-agent market.

They won’t compete for guys like Manny Ramirez or C.C. Sabbathia, but with A.J. Burnett’s $12 million per year on hold, they can surely afford the next tier of free agent pitchers, led by Derek Lowe. Granted, Lowe does not have the raw ability of Burnett, but as a solid contributor, he could surely rack up a similar number of wins that A.J. did in his three seasons as a Jay.

The worst thing that can happen to Ricciardi with his major league roster is for him to believe he can compete with Joe Inglett and Marco Scutaro as everyday players and with either Travis Snider or Adam Lind as the full-time DH. Every competitive team will make changes this winter to improve.

The Jays by standing still would be taking a step backwards. Ricciardi does not have a clear vision of his 2010 team, otherwise he could pinpoint a couple of his top prospects in redundant areas and trade them for major-league help. But his biggest fear is that he makes a deal and one of his draft choices becomes a star for someone else while the guy that he gets sucks. That’s why he prefers signing released free agents, because all it costs him is money and if the guy is terrible, you just release him again.

The only seven times Ricciardi has traded prospects for a ready-to-help-right-now major-leaguer are: 11/16/02 Mike Rouse (2b) and Chris Mowday (rhp) for Cory Lidle (rhp); 3/29/04 Jayson Werth (of) for Jason Frasor (rhp); 12/2/04 Tom Mastny (rhp) for John McDonald (ss); 1/12/05 Adam Peterson (rhp) for Shea Hillenbrand (3b); 12/7/05 Dave Bush (rhp), Gabe Gross (of) and Zach Jackson (lhp) for Lyle Overbay (1b) and Ty Taubenheim (rhp); 11/18/07 Graham Godfrey (inf) and Kristian Bell (rhp) for Marco Scutaro (inf) and this past summer sending Robinson Diaz (c) for Jose Bautista (inf).

Q: Good Day Richard,

Assume Toronto keeps Roy Halladay, Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch or Dustin McGowan, re-signs A.J. Burnett or his equivalent or trades for one. They have 6-7 good pitchers trying for 2-3 spots. There has to be one that can be traded. Assume Toronto keeps Brandon League, Casey Janssen and Scott Downs and re-signs their free agents. They will have 7-8 good pitchers trying for 3-4 spots. There has to be one or two that can be traded. Assume Toronto keeps Travis Snider and Adam Lind; with three players capable of outfield play vying for one spot. There has to be one that can be traded.

Toronto can sign one big piece, trade for one big piece and hope Rogers listened to Paul Beeston’s request and sign or trade for the last big piece. Toronto has the pitching and the defence to go for it now. They just need three pieces to do it all, if J.P. Ricciardi is capable of it. It only gets done if Beeston does it. What do you think?

Richard Spackman, Lethbridge, AB

A: Your numbers are vague, but your basic idea is solid. The concept that you are getting to is that no organization can possibly find room for all of its top prospects that are backing up in the minor-league system, so why not trade some of them for help that can put your major-league team over the top.

Too many GMs brag about the number of farm teams that were in the playoffs the previous year. The fans in the major-league city, the people that are paying the freight, buying season tickets and souvenirs, those people don’t give a damn about your A-team in Poughkeepsie winning a title. What the Jays should do is get all their organization people in one room from scouts to minor-league manager and coaches to major-league front-office staff. They should define a consensus 25-man major-league roster and then a second 25-man roster of the players from the farm system with the highest ceiling at each position, including an 11-man pitching staff and a five-man bench. That’s 50 players in all. At that point, every other player in the Jays’ organization would become eligible to be traded for major-league help. Think about it. Every year there are about 40-more players added to the system through the draft. The most successful organizations use trades as a bigger tool than free-agency.

Q: Hi Richard,

Do you think we'll ever see J.P.’s first draft pick/flop, Russ Adams, in a major league uniform again? Or is the Jays’ bench already deep enough, with Joe Inglett, Marco Scutaro, John McDonald, and Jose Bautista? Adams put up respectable offensive numbers in AAA last year (.341 OBP 15 HRs & 63 RBIs in 429 ABs), but has his D improved any?

Marcus Hunke, Edmonton

A: Russ Adams was drafted as a shortstop, the No. 1 pick in Ricciardi’s first draft in 2002. Players that have made impacts in the majors that were drafted ahead of Adams include B.J. Upton (Rays), Prince Fielder (Brewers), Jeff Francis (Rockies), Jeremy Hermida (Marlins), Joe Saunders (Angels) and Khalil Greene (Padres). Those guys the Jays couldn’t do anything about, drafting 14th overall. But the guys that were picked after Adams in the first round are guys that the Jays had a chance to select. Some of these players are Scott Kazmir (15th), Nick Swisher (16th), Cole Hamels (17th), James Loney (19th), Joe Blanton (24th) and Matt Cain (25th). Sure, drafting amateur players is an imprecise science, but the Jays in some years made imprecision an art.

Getting back to Adams, the struggling infielder will likely play again in the major leagues, but likely not with the Blue Jays. He might be able to forge a Chris Woodward type of career somewhere else, but his days as a Jay are done. His defence is all in his head and really is day-to-day, so staying with the Jays where he struggled defensively in the majors would always be in his head. He would have a better chance somewhere else, in the NL.

The mail bag is taking a month off, but you can still Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection when his mailbag resumes in December in this space. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Blue Jays mail bag

It’s World Series time and the AL East has now supplied the junior circuit’s representative for nine of the last 13 seasons. With the young Rays in the championship mix for the foreseeable future along with the Red Sox and Yankees, the Jays are in tough for ’09 in terms of reaching the 90 win-mark and inserting themselves into the wild-card mix. To stay in touch with the big boys, the Jays need to move forward and make some changes, adding some missing ingredients. It won’t be easy. The fact that the current general manager is only on board for two more seasons (contractually) may not make him a lame duck, but at the very least this canard is showing signs of a slight limp. If new president Paul Beeston, in fact, is going to be looking for someone like himself as the new president, then why does he not just stay in the job himself? He is the best of his type of baseball chief executive. If, instead, he is looking for someone with a strong baseball background to replace him, then that new president will likely want to bring his own general manager into position. Stay tuned and on to the mailbag.

Q: Richard,

My biggest concern with the Jays is that they have $82.45 million in salary committed to eight players for 2010 (Vernon Wells $21, Roy Halladay $15.75, Scott Rolen $11.0, B.J. Ryan $10.0, Alex Rios $9.7, Lyle Overbay $7.0, Scott Downs $4.0 and Aaron Hill $4.0). With that in mind how can they afford to sign any free agents this year to more than a one-year deal? Do you see this team trying to dump contracts like Ryan, Rolen and possibly Wells this off-season, or keep everyone and make additions to long-term salary with player signings such as A.J. Burnett/Derek Lowe/Pat Burrell/Orlando Cabrera/Rafael Furcal, then be put in a situation where they have to dump salary next off-season?

Peter DeMarco, Kitchener, Ont.

A: I have similar concerns regarding the Jays payroll beyond 2010. I truly believe that other than any home-grown Jays currently on board that Ted Rogers and Ricciardi feel they need to extend, that this current regime under J.P. will not be given the ability to sign any new free agent beyond 2010 – the end of this GM’s own contract and that of manager Cito Gaston. Notice that the only Jays’ players currently with contracts beyond ’10 are Wells, Rios and Hill – all home grown.

Consider that the AL champions, the Rays have six players contractually committed beyond 2010 – Scott Kazmir, Dan Wheeler, Rocco Baldelli, James Shields, David Price and Evan Longoria. So if the Jays under Ricciardi are only allowed to sign outside free agents for a maximum of two years, through 2010 that would preclude Lowe, Cabrera, Ben Sheets, Furcal or anyone else in the elite or semi-elite categories this winter. As you point out, with $82.45 million already committed to eight players for 2010, for the Jays to complete a competitive roster with 17 more players, the Jays’ payroll in 2010, unless they dump some of the current contracts, would be approaching $120 million. If they can, I believe they will let teams know that Ryan, Overbay and Rios are all available for the right (or a reasonable) offer.

Q: Hey Richard,

I have always felt that the Jays should have more Canadians in their lineup and in the minor leagues. With that in mind, should the Jays try to sign the recently released Adam Loewen? I know that he is switching from a pitcher to an outfielder but the switch worked wonders for Rick Ankiel and the Cards?

John Gleason-Mercier, Ottawa

A: Adam Loewen is unlikely to ever make it back to the majors as an outfielder. The recurrence of Loewen’s elbow woes makes his a far different situation than Cards’ Rick Ankiel. The Cards’ successful pitcher-turned-outfielder had control problems on the mound and a mental issue that prevented him from pitching, but his outfield arm is strong and healthy. Loewen is currently in Florida trying to regain the nice hitting stroke that he had as a high schooler and college player. But, being with the O’s he never had a chance to take regular batting practice in the AL.

As far as the Jays’ having more Canadians in their system, I agree with that. In fact, I would even go so far as to say that the Jays should hire every former major-league player that now lives in Canada in his retirement and put them on the payroll, using them as travelling ambassadors to represent the Jays at amateur baseball functions, tournaments, banquets, etc. across the country. I also think that the Jays should reserve the final four rounds of each June draft for the top Canadian players left over that have not been selected. There is a certain status as life goes on to having been drafted by a major-league team. Even a year or two of minor-league spring training for these kids, even if they were eventually released, would allow them to come home and pass on what they learned to the next generation of Canadian youngsters. The spinoff effect on Canadian amateur baseball would be worth the minimal investment.

Q: Hi Richard,

Just curious about next season. I know, the World Series hasn't even started yet and I'm already asking, but hey, why not get a jump on things? Watching the Rays take down the Red Sox in the ALCS Game 7 with David Price on the mound to close things out got me thinking: what is the state of the Jays’ young arms that should be coming up at spring training?

J.P. Ricciardi has been talking up the guys like Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero, but I was hoping to lean on your expertise to provide some insight into just how good these guys are. Are these guys projecting to be mid-rotation guys, back-end guys, future aces (we can only hope)? I've heard Ricciardi talk about a lot of things, and am not so sure I trust his judgment to evaluate players anymore.

Thanks,

Good work with the blog as always!

Jim G., St. Catharines, Ont.

A: The Jays, barring any winter free agent signings, will likely need two starters to go along with Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch and David Purcey. They will likely try and ease Casey Janssen back as a starter, leaving them with the need for one until the return of Dustin McGowan sometime in May. The three top interim, internal choices, in order, are Scott Richmond, Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero. Richmond will have a chance to impress as one of the top starters for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic. That will be his own personal Olympics, a chance to represent his country in a significant tournament. If he does well against top international competition, he could be given a chance to open the season at the back-end of the rotation. The guy with the highest ceiling is Cecil, but the 24-year-old lefty averaged less than five innings per start in ’08 (that was the game plan) and needs to be stretched out in the spring. It would not be a huge leap to believe that he could be effective in the rotation as a 5-6 inning, 100-pitch starter supported by a deep bullpen. Romero, 24, will never be better than a 4-5 starter, but is further along, albeit with a lower ceiling than Cecil. Just this short analysis shows the need for the Jays to sign or trade for a proven major-league free-agent starter this winter.

Q: Hi Richard:

J.P. has some well-worn settings on his excuse dial. He has a payroll setting, a schedule setting, and an injury setting to explain why we are always behind New York and Boston. Now that the Beest is back and Rays have advanced to the World Series, what new settings do you see being added to the dial? Could one of them be that we can't make clear decisions through all that cigar smoke? Or could one be that we can't compete with the Rays because they are smarter than we are? Others?

Sandy Webster, St. Thomas

A: How about:

1) Hey, how can we compete with the Sox when even our president doesn’t wear any?

2) We could have maybe caught the Rays if only we had bench players like Eric Hinske and Gabe Gross.

3) Hey, if only we had home-field advantage that made a difference like the Rays do, what with that funky indoor stadium that nobody likes, with phony, slow grass and tacky “More Noise” signs on the scoreboard.

4) Think about it, if you were a free agent where would you sign – a hot place called “The Sunshine State” or some frozen tundra with a slogan “Yours to Discover”?

5) Hey, how do you expect me to convince players to move their families here, when I won’t even live here?

NOTE: There will be other excuses to come.

Q: For starters anyone who feels that Burnett is worth more then what his guaranteed $12 million per season for the next two seasons is (mentally challenged). The man finally has a full season without injury and had a solid record with an average ERA and people are talking $20 million per season all of a sudden. We all know the Yankees are stupid enough to offer him that kind of money but only time will tell if the Blue Jays are just as naive. I would like to think the Yanks and MLB have learned from their mistake of Carl Pavano, but I doubt that they have. Signing a player based on potential and hoping they will produce big numbers especially when we are taking about a pitcher who only have one 15 win season after many injury plagued ones with mediocre numbers. Its bad enough Wells is getting what he is for a contract who has never produced a 40 hr 125 RBI .315 batting average season, but J.P. thinks he can. I only wish teams made players back up their performances with a second straight solid season before they go crazy. So my question for you is, how stupid do you see teams getting when it comes to signing Burnett this off-season? I’m afraid we might see a new precedent for reckless spending which will raise the bar yet again for average pitchers like it was raised when the Jays got stupid and signed Burnett and Ryan for the price tags they did a few years back. Do you feel San Francisco knows how I feel after signing Barry Zito for a ridiculous long-term deal that they are indefinitely recreating?

Michael Harper, Fort St. John, B.C.

A: I tried to convince my bosses that if they paid me enough money I could be another Red Smith, Damon Runyon or Ernest Hemingway. I know I’ve never shown that ability before, but hey there was a column I wrote on July 27, 1999 that showed hints of what I’m capable of. Now if only I could write like that 240 days in a row, I’d be worth it. Of course, The Star wasn’t buying that argument. “Do it first, then come back and we’ll talk,” they said. If only Ricciardi was my sports editor I might have had a chance.

As for A.J. he will certainly be among the Top 4 of recruited free agent pitchers this winter, with C.C. Sabathia, Ben Sheets and Derek Lowe. I get the feeling that the others will wait until C.C. rider, then they will negotiate with the losers, knowing because of Sabathia’s deal how much they can reasonably ask for. Burnett will likely be in the $17 million range for four years. He might get a fifth option year. The Jays are not in that league. Hey, but the Jays might get the original Carl Pavano who is forever available.

Q: Hey Richard,

Quick question, with the World Series around the corner I was wondering what is your favourite World Series moment and where do you rank Joe Carter's home run in ‘93 in the history of World Series greatest moments? (I rank it #1 but obviously I have my biases).

Chris Chin, Toronto

A: I was with the Expos as a PR volunteer at the ’93 World Series in charge of producing the Commissioner’s game notes standing in the press box at the SkyDome watching Game 6 unfold. The Phillies’ excellent broadcaster Chris Wheeler walked by and said, “Hey Rich, can we borrow John Wetteland for a few minutes?” I laughed and turned back just in time to watch Joe Carter uncoil and Mitch Williams’ head snap around and Joe touch ‘em all. That was a great World Series moment.

But my favourite Series moment was walking along the third base stands heading for the losing Dodgers clubhouse to help with post-loss interviews and quotes as a PR volunteer in 1988. Kirk Gibson gimped to the plate and pitifully fouled off a couple of pitches as I continued walking. Then he found one he could handle, reaching down and jerking it into Matt Stairs territory. That is my favourite moment. Second is the Yankee Stadium reaction to Paul O’Neill as he took his right field position for the final time. Sitting in the right field auxiliary press box right behind O’Neill, it was hard not to get emotionally caught up by the moment.

Q: Hi Richard,

The Blue Jays had to settle on Las Vegas as their Triple-A team for the next two years after ending their relationship with Syracuse, when it became apparent at the end that Buffalo wasn’t going to work, and there probably was no other option. What would you think about the Jays forging a relationship with the Winnipeg Goldeyes (currently of the Northern League)? They have a beautiful stadium. It's always packed, yet the Independent League they're currently affiliated with has been floundering the past couple of years. It's only a two-hour flight away from T.O. and if the 'peg were offered the chance to be the minor league team for the Jays I think it would be a win-win situation. The Manitoba Moose became the top farm team of the NHL Vancouver Canucks after the Jets left and that's worked out fairly well. What do you think?

Chuck Laing, Kitchener, Ont.

A: There are legitimate business reasons why Canadian cities have been aced out of affiliations with major-league teams. There used to be Triple-A teams in Ottawa, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver but no more. There are legitimate issues involving, among other things, working visas for players and staff, exchange rates, travel and other considerations that have stripped Canada of Triple-A ball. The Jays will surely have a short-term, two-year relationship in Vegas. At that point, they will have to find a city closer to Toronto with a legitimate minor-league ballpark already built. But after the last dismal round of musical AAA-franchises, with Syracuse, Buffalo and others choosing more popular major-league affiliations with organizations that have higher profiles with better farm systems, the Jays may have a tough time again.

Q: Richard: really enjoy your columns. I was wondering why Scott Rolen seems to be above criticism. I've never read a bad word about him in the media, yet he contributes very little and pulls down a huge salary in the bargain. Sure, he's a good fielder, but he wasn't hired (I don't think!) for his glove. Because of his shoulder injury, the guy just can't hit for power or average any more, and probably never will again. He was always a top RBI man, and that has left him too. I see him as a huge liability. John McDonald is a better fielder and makes about $10 million less a year. Rolen seems like a pleasant guy and all that, but I think he's washed up. He's yet another example of Jays' fairy-tale management. They threw about $11 million at a player the Cardinals knew a year ago was near the end of the line. Now the Jays are saddled with him. He's a walking example of that overused metaphor of the elephant in the room. Why is he treated with such kid gloves when it comes to criticism?

Bill MacDougall, Toronto

A: When the Jays first obtained Rolen and brought him in for a press conference, he charmed the media with his enthusiasm for playing in Toronto, bringing his family into the equation and doing every interview with every media member at the event. First impressions are always the most important, so even though more was expected of him, as the season went on, media continued to cut Rolen a lot of slack. Even as he struggled, he was always available to talk about his season and to man up about his failures, never using injury as an excuse. So when details of his shoulder problem were revealed, once again media was willing to forgive his statistical downturn. More players could learn from his unforced cooperation that it’s not that difficult to get media and fans on your side by not being a total jerk. Yes the Cardinals knew of Rolen’s ongoing shoulder problems and yes the Jays under Ricciardi seem to have accepted more tainted baseball meat over time, but sometimes guys trying to re-establish their careers are the only players that will come north and give Toronto a chance.

Q: Hey Richard, I was reading J.P.’s plan for next year rotation, and I saw Brett Cecil and the two Romeros (Ricky and Davis) on his list. My question is why didn’t the Jays bring them up this September if they think they are in the mix for next season’s starting rotation? Spring training can only tell who is not good but it is not sufficient to tell who is really good.

Davy P., San Jose

A: Three places - spring training, September and winter ball in the Caribbean are all bad places to evaluate young players. Considering Ricciardi’s intentions with regard to young players, you can’t blame him for not bringing Cecil and Ricky up just to sit. I think, instead, they should have had a plan and brought both guys up to put them into the Jays’ rotation for the last three starts after the Red Sox series had ruined their chances. Instead, as usual, the Jays insisted on keeping all the big boys in the rotation – including the opting out Burnett - trying to win as many games as possible in order to continue J.P.’s legacy of third-place mediocrity. It’s one of the reasons the Jays continue to remain mediocre because they try so hard every September to win as many games as they can so they can sell a fast finish to the fans in the off-season. Then their young guys aren’t ready for the start of the next season, then they bring them up when they’re ready in mid-season then they have another fast finish to reach mediocrity then they do it again…ad nauseam.

Q: Hey, Richard.

Out of curiosity, is there any chance at all the Blue Jays might consider signing free agent Ken Griffey, Jr.? Sure, he's beat up and getting old, but 48 home runs over the past two seasons would be near the top of the Jays' players' figures over that same stretch, I think. And I think he might still be able to hit 30-35 and stay relatively healthy as a DH. And, in that case, he could potentially spell players in the outfield once in a while if they needed a day off. Just a thought. Thanks!

Kyle Kulseth, Sheridan, WY

A: No. I love Junior, but he would have a Frank Thomas-ian effect on the Jays and that’s not good. He’s a Hall-of-Fame player, but his diminished skills would lead to fan disappointment and would retard the development of some of the young hitters.

Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection in his mailbag Wednesdays in this space. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Blue Jays mail bag

It seems like the Jays may have been Fletcher-ized this week with the hiring of Paul Beeston as Chief Executive Officer for the first time since 1997. Just like the Leafs’ once and current GM Cliff Fletcher, who was hired supposedly on an "interim" basis (but is still there), Beeston claims he’s looking for his successor and hopefully, for selfish reasons, will be gone by spring training. Which year, Paul? Hey, Mr. Rogers, why not make him full-time and let Beeston continue to goof off and play golf or whatever he likes to do and just keep him on as permanent president and CEO. He would not put up with any more public gaffes by J.P. Ricciardi, the kind that would have embarrassed the late Peter Hardy, Peter Widdrington and all of the other former Jays’ leaders who considered Toronto and Jays’ fans as family. On to the mailbag.

Q-What are the chances of the Jays pursuing Orlando Hudson? I have heard that Aaron Hill is a natural shortstop and moving him to short has been suggested before. I figure with the upgrade of Hudson over David Eckstein and having Travis Snider and Adam Lind for a full season, instead of Shannon Stewart and Matt Stairs, the Jays would receive a major offensive upgrade and this could possibly counterbalance the seemingly dismal rotation.
Tyler Partridge, Guelph

A-Hudson is a three-time Gold Glover whose batting average has risen each of the past five years, peaking in 2008 at .305. The 30-year-old native of South Carolina made his mark with the Jays from 2002-05, traded to the D’backs after the ’05 season for Troy Glaus. But his moment as a Blue Jay has passed. He has become injury-prone and would be a risk. Hudson tore ligaments in his left wrist in ’07 and missed the final month and the post-season. He came back in ’08, but was injured on August 10, dislocating a bone in the same wrist and undergoes season-ending surgery. As such, a long-term contract with the O-Dog would be a risk that shaky GM J.P. Ricciardi would not likely be willing to take…especially given his history with Hudson, who at spring training of ’02 made a reference to J.P.’s pimp-like fashion sense. The next day he was shipped to the minor-league camp. Hudson was the greatest defensive second baseman the Jays have had since Robby Alomar. He was a terrific clubhouse presence, but with his likely asking price of $45 million for five years, the Jays would be better served spending their money elsewhere. I think it would be a great move, but that means Ricciardi would never do it.

Q-Hey Richard,
You mention in this week’s bag that the Jays could explore the option of trading Alex Rios for a Lincecum-esq starter again this summer. I’m wondering what you think of this? Last summer I had zero faith in our hitting and thought the rotation was so strong - thus making the deal unnecessary. This summer however, I am all for it.  I'm getting an eerie feeling that Rios will always leave potential out on the field and if we can grab a # 2 for him, we could slide Snider into RF, Lind to LF - and still have cash to chase a DH correct?
Colin Freeman, Vancouver

A-I felt the same way as you last winter, that another starter for Rios would have been superfluous, but now with so many question marks in the rotation and with at least one extra outfielder, it may be the right time to deal Rios for a No. 2 starter. The Rios deal has $69.1 million remaining through 2014, with a $13.5 million option for 2015. That is a reasonable contract for a major-market team that believes Rios will develop into a star. But you can’t be dealing for a prospect. The pitcher needs to be a player with at least a couple of years of major-league experience who can step into the No. 2 role right now. The Jays as of now are spending $70 million for 11 players for ’09. Rios is set to earn $5.9 million next year. There would be more financial flexibility for the Jays.

Q-One idea that popped into my head when Fernando Perez tagged up and scored the winning run in Game 2 of the ALCS is why don't players on a sac fly situation where they can easily see the ball assume the same stance as 100m sprinters do to give them that bit more speed? They could use the base as the starting blocks.
Greg Wells, Toronto

A-That’s a decent enough thought, but you never saw Usain Bolt having to look straight back over his left shoulder to locate the starter, watching carefully before a ball makes contact with a glove prior to starting his 100-metre dash. Sure the third-base coach could yell "Go!" to send the runner out of his sprinter’s starting stance, but most runners rely as much on their own timing, on their own view of ball meeting glove. Also, a lot of times a runner on a sac-fly has taken a lead and with his first move on a batted ball being towards the plate, has had to hustle back to the bag to tag up and sprint to the plate, precluding the ability and the time to take a sprinter’s stance. Besides, the other players on both teams would make fun of the first guy to use that method and he would never live it down.

Q-I see very little discussion on keeping Johnny Mac in the shortstop role next year. The guy is a one-man highlight reel almost every game he plays. As for his at-bats...well somewhat of a different story! At what point can a team like the Jays afford to carry a .200 hitter whose defensive value is off the charts? 
David Tait, Montreal

A-I love John McDonald and would be delighted to see him play him every day at shortstop. I’m with you. Every time McDonald is in the starting lineup I expect to see at least one defensive play that brings me out of my seat. He and Omar Vizquel, his mentor with the Indians, are the only two shortstops of this generation that have that aura. Ozzie Smith was like that. The fact of the matter is that Ricciardi believed when he signed J-Mac to a two-year, $3.8 million deal as a starter that he had eight other potent bats in the lineup and that would allow him to carry McDonald as an everyday player. The lineup Ricciardi once believed in last winter began as C-Gregg Zaun; 1B Lyle Overbay; 2B Aaron Hill; 3B Scott Rolen; SS McDonald; LF Stairs/Reed Johnson; CF Vernon Wells; RF Alex Rios. That was before Christmas. When the Jays signed David Eckstein it screwed up the synchronicity and then when they signed Stewart and released Johnson it became obvious there was no master plan and that it was all now seat of the pants. That was the beginning of the end for Johnny Mac as a starter. Now, it seems he has lost his job to Marco Scutaro. Good plan, Jays.

Q-Hi Richard.
What kind chance is there of the Jays bring Manny Ramirez to Toronto? He hits really well in Toronto. I really think he could turn us into a contender as long as we sign A.J. (Burnett) or (Derek) Lowe. I know that we would need a spot for him but if you trade (Lyle) Overbay and B.J. Ryan for some young prospects, that would free up some salary to sign Manny and we could rotate Adam Lind, Travis Snider and Ramirez at first, DH and in left field. Would that work?
Ernesto Hernandez, Kitchener

A-That would be a bad idea. Manny was guaranteed $20 million for each of the next two years and asked out of that contract, Of course Manny’s next deal won’t be for less than that. After his starring playoff performance in Los Angeles, look for the 36-year-old flake to be looking for a package in the $70 million for three-year range. Ramirez would likely be looking for a) a team that does not play on artificial turf; b) a team with a Latin flavour in the clubhouse; c) a team that will be still playing in October. Strike three for the Jays. The problem with signing Burnett or Lowe is that either man would be asking for more money than Roy Halladay is earning with the Jays and that would not be right. The Jays would also have to renegotiate with Halladay because he deserves to always be the highest paid Jays pitcher as long as he is in Toronto.

Q-Hi there, Richard,
I was wondering, with all the question marks with the Jays rotation next year, what are the chances we see Gustavo Chacin back in the majors?
William Erichsen, Toronto

A-The 27-year-old Chacin would need a heart transplant before he could be considered for the Jays rotation again in ’09. He was taken off the 40-man roster last May. Chacion is one of the players to whom Roy Halladay was referring when I asked him this September if the Jays starting staff, if healthy, could be as good in ’09 as it began the ’08 season. Halladay replied in the affirmative but offered a warning to starting pitchers that quit working and just assume that good things will continue to happen in Year 2 and beyond without putting in the same effort. Chacin was in that category. On St. Patrick’s Day ’07, Chacin was picked up by Tampa Police for partying hardy and his Jays’ career went downhill from there. Chacin’s four-year major-league record of 25-15 is impressive, but his ’08 stats in the minors sucked. All the way back at A-Dunedin, Gus was 1-7 with a 7.88 ERA, allowing 72 hits and 12 walks in 45-2/3 innings, giving up nine homers. He’s got a long way to go in getting back to the bigs in ’09.

Q-Can you explain the criteria for a player being awarded a Gold Glove and a brief history of the award? I enjoy your weekly column and your honest opinions. Finally, I hope that someday Sportsnet will settle on a full time colour man to work with Jamie Campbell, instead of the revolving door policy they have now, and hopefully it won't be Rance Mulliniks. Bring back Buck Martinez (I know he's probably out of their price range, but I can dream). Maybe lure Kenny Singleton back. Currently with the beauty of TVO, I can sync up the TV broadcast with the Radio broadcast and get the best of both worlds.
Dave Kuzenko, Regina

A-A big misconception about the Gold Glove Awards for fielding excellence at one’s position is that it’s another award that the media screws up (again) like when Rafael Palmeiro won at first base in 1999 after playing most of the season with the Rangers as DH. The fact is that the Gold Glove is voted on by the league’s manager and coaches. Ballots are distributed in the clubhouse in September and some coaches pay attention and really put thought into it, but too many just look at it and write the first name that comes into their head, usually based on past reputation, which is why it’s so difficult for young players to win a Gold Glove for the first time.

As for Sportsnet and a permanent colour man, it’s been a combination of things including nobody really winning the full-time job. Other factors are Sportsnet’s desire to save money on travel costs and Rance Mullinik’s personal schedule. Buck Martinez is very happy with the Orioles and XM Radio and TBS. Singleton is in a great position with the YES Network, doing games on TV and commuting by train on his off weeks to his home in Baltimore. Several years ago, George Steinbrenner called Singleton his best hire ever. The Jays can churn out quality broadcasters but can’t hang onto any of them.

Q-Richard - two unconnected questions that have been rolling around in my head for a while: 1) How do cancelled games that aren't made up affect player bonuses - for example if a player only needs two more at bats to reach a big bonus but his team plays one fewer game does he have any recourse? 2) With the all-star game going to extra innings this year and the talk of position players being called on to pitch - would the managers know in advance who has/could pitch? I can't get the picture out of my head of Terry Francona walking through the dugout in the 11th asking if anyone's interested in throwing the 13th.
C. McFadyen, Toronto

A-Cancelled games are cancelled games. It’s the luck of the draw, but the fact is no player has a big bonus based on at-bats or hits. There are, however, vested options included in contracts for a certain number of plate appearances like Frank Thomas had where once they reach that plateau then the next year’s contract kicks in. That’s the main reason ($10 million in ’09) that the Jays benched the Big Hurt, then took advantage of his predictable unhappiness to dump him. The respective managers in the All-Star Game are starting to hold back at least one starting pitcher until the end just in case there are extra innings. As far as position players taking the mound, one would always hope that an All-Star Game ends before it reaches that point. Then it is no longer an All-Star Game. It’s sort of like asking AL pitchers to hit in NL ballparks. 

Q-Hi, Richard, love the column but now, on to the question: B.J. Upton - is he the embodiment of the true 5-tool player more or less than Alex Rios?
Thanks,
Robin Wong, Unionville

A-Upton is a better player than Rios. The throw he made from the centre field garage door at Fenway Park on Tuesday night all the way to first base on a line was impressive. He had just made a running catch and spun and fired flat-footed to first trying to get Jason Bay heading back to first. Rios cannot make that throw. Upton, who was drafted as a shortstop and moved to centre field in the second half of ’07, has come up huge in this post-season. At 24, Upton is three years younger than Rios. Upton hits for average, hits for power (now that his shoulder is healthy), steals bases, plays solid defence (although he coasts after too many flyballs) and throws well. He’s a better player than Rios.

Q-Hi Richard,
What free agents do you see the Blue Jays targeting this off-season? Do you think Orlando Cabrera will end up a Blue Jay?
Marcus Hunke, Edmonton

A-I would love to see Orlando Cabrera in a Jays uniform next year as a free-agent signing. Everywhere he goes, the team goes to the post-season – except of course when he was breaking in with the Expos. He is a slick defender, runs well enough to bat at the top of the order and has extra-base power. He’s great with fans and would be a good influence on Rios and Jose Bautista. As for other free agents, I could see them inquiring about Jason Giambi, looking for another veteran catcher to back up Barajas, poking a stick at Raul Ibanez and talking to Derek Lowe, Ryan Dempster and Jon Garland.

Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection in his mailbag Wednesdays in this space. *Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Blue Jays mail bag

I don’t know about you, but Tuesday night demonstrated to me how shallow my life is without sports. There was nothing happening on Tuesday. Baseball playoffs were between rounds. No hockey exhibitions. No NFL or CFL. The Raptors were in Cleveland but not televised. Around 8 p.m. my sons Patrick and Matthew were sitting in the family room when I walked in. Pat lay on the sofa in a daze after quarterbacking his Loyola junior football team to a gritty 23-0 loss to Assumption High School. The usually overworked converter lay useless across his chest as he and Matt dazedly watched The Natalie Gulbis Show on the Golf Channel. “Natalie freaking’ Gulbis? You gotta be kidding!” I was told it was either that or three other channels with poker. Hey, Natalie began to look pretty good after a while, although her dad is a bearded freak. On to the mailbag.      

Q-Hi Richard,

I think it's time for people (including myself) to stop their "complaints" about J.P. Riccardi because he is here to stay. On that note, when asked about his plans for addressing the roster issues he hasn't given any clear indication at all only by saying we'll look from within. Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch, David Purcey, Dustin McGowan...then what? What about an ideal SS (Orlando Cabrera)? He shouldn’t cost too much (6-8mil/yr). What do you think will happen this off-season for the Jays, Richard, since J.P is being somewhat silent?

Kam Hooshmand, Richmond Hill

A-There are two ways to look at the “don’t-complain-because-he’s-here-to-stay” Ricciardi’s prospects for winning in ’09. The first view is that at 86-76 in ‘08, the GM only need find 10 more victories to likely earn a post-season berth. The obvious downside to this view is that standing pat, especially if A.J. Burnett flees south, will not do it. The rotation needs to be boosted with a No.2 or 3 starter, as does the offence with at least one potent bat. The second view, more of a caveat, is to recall that the last time a Ricciardi team finished with 86 wins, it immediately followed up with 67 victories the next year. That would be, of course, between the years 2003-04. After the ’03 season, No. 2 starter Kelvim Escobar was a free agent, No. 3 Cory Lidle left and No. 4 Mark Hendrickson was traded. In their place, Miguel Batista and Pat Hentgen were signed as free agents and Ted Lilly was obtained from the A’s. Unfortunately Halladay descended from 22-7 to 8-8 between ’03 and ’04 while the three new starters combined to go 24-33. Recipe for disaster. That demonstrates how much easier it is to drop 19 W’s than it is to add 10. As for the White Sox shortstop, Cabrera, I’m with you. Wherever he plays, the team seems to go to the post-season. He is good defensively and can bat at the top of the order, with good pop in his bat and has played in Canada before with the Expos. As for J.P.’s silence, it will end as his job status becomes more secure with the hiring of a new president.    

Q-Richard,

I’ve been thinking about it and clearly we have some holes to fill on our team. Also, given our current payroll, not much ability to go out and spend big money on free agents. Considering this and the fact the bullpen is a source of major strength on our team especially with the return of Jeremy Accardo and Casey Janssen (assuming he doesn't become a starter) would it be fair to say B.J. (Ryan) is our best trading piece? K-Rod (Francisco Rodriguez) is looking for 5yr/$75Mil which makes BJ seem like he's coming from the discount bin. I've read he really fires everyone up in the bullpen and inspires confidence, but let’s be honest, that’s only worth so much. We could trade him and our large salary for a solid position player or starter for around the same salary, or a good young guy with a small contract, enabling us to hit the free-agent market a little harder this year. Do you agree, and does this mean I can be GM?  If he's not our most valuable trading piece, who do you think is?

Graham Harvey, Toronto

A-I disagree about not having much money to spend, but I do agree that B.J. Ryan would be a great trading chip. If Burnett leaves, that gives the Jays’ a $70 million commitment for 11 players. With the other 14 roster players mostly young guys with no bargaining power, even with the arbitration guys that would leave about $10-12 million for free agents in ’09 given a payroll of $100 million in ’09. If the Jays traded B.J. Ryan’s $10 million, that would give them over $20 million to sign free agents or to acquire a healthy contract in trade. The closer’s role without Ryan would be up for grabs between Scott Downs and Brandon League. That could be decided at spring training, with Accardo also having ninth-inning experience. There will be a lot of movement this winter with regard to closers and the Jays could easily slip into that volatile mix and come out winners.      

Q-Hi Richard,

Just noticed your comment in last week’s Mail Bag where you pointed out management felt Shaun Marcum and some of the other Jays young major leaguers were partying too hard. Can you expand on this at all? I assume pretty much all ball players party, especially on the road together, but how did these guys (Marcum specifically) cross the line?

Terry Bridge, Waterloo

A-There are just some Jays insider rumblings to go on with regard to the “punishment” theory of Marcum’s being optioned to Triple-A, but it’s impossible to get anyone to comment on the record. When Marcum was sent to the minors on August 23 the day after a loss to the Red Sox at the Rogers Centre, it was a shock to everyone, including Marcum. More than one source indicated that the move was meant to “send a message” to Marcum and the other young players about lifestyle. Apparently someone had seen Marcum out, or heard that he was out, the night before the failed night game against the Red Sox. So when Marcum ran out of gas in the fourth inning vs. Boston and allowed four runs, some of the annoyingly “holier-than-thou” front-office folks reacted in anger. He was shipped out ostensibly to work on some mechanical issues but it was leaked to Alan Ashby on radio that there may have been “an attitude adjustment” involved. Leaks like that don’t just happen by accident. Hung over? Hey, maybe that creeping, eventual breakdown leading to Tommy John surgery may have had something to do with the failure. Maybe the fact that the Sox are a damn good team had something to do with it. Hey, Don Larsen, 52 years ago on Wednesday, didn’t know he was pitching again in the ‘56 World Series so he stayed out partying all night the night before he went out and threw a perfect game. That information is straight from the guy that was out drinking with him all night. On thing for sure, the Jays better not try that same punishment thing again next year. Their Triple-A team is in Vegas. Party on, dude.       

Q-Hi Richard,

This is probably a dumb question, but I can't seem to find anyone to answer it.  When a position player makes an error, costly or not, does he apologize to the pitcher or even the manager in the dugout at the end of the inning?  I'm sure no one feels worse than he does -- unless you're named Manny Ramirez -- but are mea culpas served up afterwards?

Nik Jones, Port St Lucie, Fla.

A-Like everything else in life, apologies all depend on the individual. The classy guys will look at the pitcher and tap their chest to say, “Hey it’s my fault.” Some like John McDonald will even walk the ball back to the mound and just tell the pitcher to make sure he gets the next guy to hit it to him again and he’ll make up for it. Which he usually does. But there are other guys that won’t even look at the pitcher. They’ll look at their glove. They’ll go over and smooth the dirt where the ball supposedly took a bad hop. They’ll check the wind. They’ll look up and curse the sun (sometimes even with the roof closed). These are the guys that get traded or have no pitching friends. As for Manny, if I was a pitcher and he made an error as he javelined into the turf or crashed into a wall or cut off a throw from centre field or had a ball clank off his glove in the sun, I think I could not help but laugh and I would not need an apology. It’s Manny being Manny.   

Q-Hello sir,

I've been an avid reader of your mailbag for some time now. I've been looking over the short list for this year's Veterans Committee ballot, and I was wondering what your thoughts were - are there any players eligible this year who you think deserve Hall Of Fame honours? And is there any insider buzz about this being the year for any specific players?

David Wencer, Toronto

A-The problem with the Veterans Committee is that every one of the players under consideration had their chance for 15 years on the regular ballot before finally losing their eligibility. I was on the nominating committee for four years and the 25-man media committee spent a lot of time putting together a serious, deserving list of old-timer nominees. There was never anyone voted in in that time. The voting committee with living Hall-of-Famers and others included are tough. It’s not like a membership in ClubLink. In any case, Dick Allen, Gil Hodges, Jim Kaat, Tony Oliva, Al Oliver, Vada Pinson, Ron Santo, Luis Tiant, Joe Torre and Maury Wills are in a special class of players that began their careers in 1943 or later. Of those 10, the durable lefthander Jim Kaat and the slick-fielding third baseman Ron Santo have the best chance of getting in. But the best guess is that none of them will.   

Q-Are you planning to apply for the Jays President’s job?

Frederick Duquette, Edmonton

A-Yes. I am in fact working on my resume this week. Credentials? I have been involved with major-league baseball since 1973. I love dealing with Canadian baseball fans. I can promise hot water in the Rogers Centre bathrooms. I get my clothes at the Salvation Army just like Paul Godfrey. I think boosting amateur baseball is a key. Give me a huge expense account, a company car, a stack of business cards and I can make things happen.

Q-Hi Richard,

With the U.S. at the edge of an economic slowdown, do you foresee the salary of baseball (free agents) going south? Also, can you please shed some light on so many young arms (Janssen/Marcum/McGowan) in the Jays organization having long-term injury issues? Is it just an organizational-wide abuse of its young arms or is it just pure luck (lack thereof)?

Thanks!

James Ho, Vancouver

A-That’s a good question. I think that for the next winter or two that the asking price for top free agents like C.C. Sabathia and Manny Ramirez will go up. But I do think that there will be a leveling off in the asking price for middle echelon free agents of the type the Jays need to pursue. My belief is there is nothing wrong with a huge drop-off between top-drawer free agents and others. For too long, the crappy free agents have been dragged upwards merely by waiting for the big guys to sign. That’s not right. For instance, when Johnny Depp signed his $56 million deal for Pirates of the Caribbean IV: The Search for Keith Richards’ Liver, it doesn’t mean that every other pirate on the Black Pearl got a raise too. They shouldn’t even though they could claim that Depp is not 200 times better than them as actors. “Arr-ghh. The seas are angry, Cap’n Jack…and so are we.”  The economic slowdown, if it continues will hit baseball in the winter of ’09-’10. As for the series of arm problems, Brad Arnsberg and the Jays’ training staff do nothing different than other teams in terms of spring training, off-season or between starts. It’s a coincidence and also the fact that the Jays have always been forced to take chances on talented players with previous health issues in order to sign good pitchers.

Q-Hey Richard,

With Brad Arnsberg back for next season, what is the chance for the Jays keeping Burnett? Also now Paul Godrey is leaving, what is Jays plan for the vacant position and what will happen to JP? I know you mention the Jays should get a mid-rotation guy this winter, but with so many big name pitchers available this winter, the bidding war may not be that bad. Maybe the Jays can land one of the prime time guys. What do you think? Any chance?

Davy P, San Jose

A-It says here that if Burnett has to choose between his pitching coach and his family as to his landing spot for the next five years that his family will win out. Burnett gave it his best shot. The Jays are the ones that gave him the historically unprecedented opt-out clause. He asked for it, but they didn’t have to give it. In fact, outgoing president Paul Godfrey swears that it was a mistake and that the Jays should never again include that type of escape. Instead he thinks they should throw more money into the deal to sweeten the pot. Burnett’s wife three years ago wanted to go to St. Louis or would have loved Baltimore but they weren’t biting at the time. Now, if the O’s are in the mix, if the Cards jump back in and if the Yankees and Dodgers join the fray, those are all better options for Burnett than the Jays – even with the continued presence of Arnsberg, his friend and coach. As for the Godfrey replacement, if they decide to not give me a chance to be president, then I would suggest that they will stay in Canada and will bring someone with connections to Ted Rogers like John (Red) Tory. They don’t need someone with huge baseball knowledge since Ricciardi’s knowledge and ego leave no room for other input. As for free agency, Sabathia is too expensive and wants to win. Ben Sheets is too much like Burnett in terms of injury time. Derek Lowe is just right, has already won a World Series, and that could be their target. They also might re-visit the idea of trading Alex Rios for a starter like they explored with the Giants and Tim Lincecum last year.    

Q-Many happy greetings:

The Jays’ No.1 priority is to re-sign A.J. Burnett, probably for more than the team wants to pay. Failing that, (it is) to sign a free agent pitcher of an equal to or better value for much more than the team wants to pay. Who fits this bill? The Jays' No.2 priority is to sign the biggest, scariest DH bat the team can find. This will cost too much as well. It will help if playing a position is possible, if needed. Who fits in here? The Jays’ No.3 priority exists at the gaping hole at shortstop and at leadoff. I don't know if both spots can be filled with one person. Who can be available? The Jays’ No.4 priority is to re-sign Roy Halladay to a 3 to 6 year extension, paying 17.5M to 20.0M per year. If he must be traded, you’ll never get enough for him. The team can do two of the above and must trade for anything else. If A.J. re-signs, can Toronto trade a starter? Is the bullpen good enough to trade a reliever? What other players can be used to make this team better? Is our GM good enough for THIS OFF SEASON?  I don't think so. Have a good day.

Richard Spackman, Lethbridge, Alta.

A-Let’s go point by point. They Jays with Burnett will put an offer on the table and will not remove it, but also will not sweeten it. The Star reported that the offer is a two-year extension at $15 million per year, meaning a total of $54 million for four years. Given the current free-agent market, he will likely receive an offer from another team of about five years for $75 million. That would be leaving $21 million guaranteed on the table for the privilege of returning to be with his friend Brad Arnsberg. Even friendship has a price. Derek Lowe would come closer to accepting the four years and $54 million the Jays have on the table. Point No. 2, the DH. Available as free agents are Frank Thomas (yikes), Jason Giambi (too many issues), Richie Sexson (summer breeze), Mark Teixeira (a league of his own), Raul Ibanez (needs to play a position) and Manny Ramirez (double-yikes). I think Ricciardi might target a guy like Jack Cust for whom he’s always had a man-crush. Point No. 3, at shortstop, I would target Orlando Cabrera – slick defender, has played in Canada, good with fans, can steal a base, extra-base power and can bat at the top of the order. Point No. 4, with Halladay. The good doctor won 20 games and will never be in better position to negotiate an extension, especially if Burnett bails. If the Jays negotiate an extension with Halladay it will be a good indicator of their near-future intentions – whether they want to compete now or build for the future. If they want to build, then Halladay would not want to be a part of that. The bullpen is good enough to trade Ryan. It will be musical chairs in the off-season for contenders and top-flight closers. The polar opposites of the Phillies with Brad Lidge and the Mets with Billy Wagner proves the importance of an effective ninth-inning stud. There will be a market for B.J. since he’s tied up for $10 million for each of the next two years. As for the GM, anyone can get better and improve if they recognize their past failures and learn from them. Ricciardi has never acknowledged any past failures. As O.J. said recently, “The jury is still out…and so am I.”

Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection in his mailbag Wednesdays in this space. *Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**

Blue Jays mail bag

It seemed, heading into the ’08 season that the futures of Paul Godfrey and J.P. Ricciardi were inextricably linked. If the Jays failed once again to make the post-season, then both would be gone - or so the logic went. Somehow, despite another quiet October watching the dance from the sidelines, only one man took the fall for the Jays. By all rights, it should have played out like the ending of Thelma and Louise, only in this alternate Jays ending, J.P. - the Geena Davis character - hops out of the convertible and rolls to a stop on his elbows in the dust, looking up just as Godfrey – the Susan Sarandon character - drives over the cliff alone. In any case, we're now looking ahead to two more years of Cito and J.P., on to the mailbag.

Q: Hello Mr. Griffin,

I have always enjoyed reading your column but today I have a question for you. It seems over the past several years of Blue Jay mediocrity many have been criticized from the various managers to general managers to the owner. For some reason nobody ever appears to want to point the finger at Paul Godfrey.

From newspaper columns to television sports talk shows he is always treated as an untouchable when it comes to being criticize for the Toronto Blue Jays failure to win over the past eight years. Today in Damien Cox’s column, Toronto Argonauts management is being criticized. With the Toronto Maple Leafs the criticism is ongoing, of course there is not enough newsprint in the world if the media wished to criticize MLSE for everything they deserve. Even going back to the Harold Ballard years, he and his management were always subject to severe criticism and justifiably so. All Godfrey has been for the past eight years has been Ted Rogers’ mouthpiece who has clearly butt kissed his way to where he is now. In any dispute between the MLPA and the owners Godfrey always defends the owners as he has done numerous times on TSN’s Off the Record.

Yes he may be one of the reasons Toronto has a major league baseball team but has proved he is not capable of building a winning team. Someone would have eventually brought a team to Toronto with or without Godfrey. He did not even have the qualifications when he was hired as CEO since being publisher of an already established tabloid hardly qualifies him to be CEO of a major league baseball team. Outside of Rogers since he is the owner, Godfrey deserves more criticism than anyone. J.P. Ricciardi is constantly being criticized for his player moves but he was hired by Godfrey. Whatever amount of criticism Ricciardi receives, Godfrey should receive at least as much, which is not the case. I would love to know why he escapes the criticism he deserves.

Thank you

A. Issac

A: There are some good points in your letter, but there is a huge difference between being president of the Jays and being president of the Leafs. First and foremost is that every single member of the Leafs ownership and every fan thinks they know hockey and could be the team’s GM. It’s not the same in the Jays’ ownership group. Hockey is our sporting culture. We are ingrained in it. So when the Leafs fail year after year, while being one of the most financially successful franchises in the NHL, it’s clearly a failure of ownership.

As for the Jays, Godfrey did the job that he was hired for in making the Jays franchise - the Jays brand - a viable part of the fabric of the city. He was the guy with the pooper-scooper walking behind the elephant at the circus. His failure on the field was in continuing to throw his blind faith towards his general manager who has kept the Jays “mediocre-to-decent” for most of his seven years, but never “good-to-outstanding”. It’s been a tease. Ted Rogers & Co. never claimed to understand the building of a baseball team and that was clear whenever Godfrey was forced to deal with baseball issues on talk shows that he was not an expert on, either. But he was aware of that and trusted his GM to build a winner.

Godfrey developed in his baseball knowledge from Day 1 until now. He quit interfering. When he arrived as president in 2000, he insisted they throw money at Carlos Delgado and Alex Gonzalez because he believed they were popular with the fans and needed to be kept for the long term. Both turned out to be bad financial deals for the Jays. These days they could handle the Delgado four years, $68 million contract. Back then they couldn’t. Since then he has allowed his GM to evaluate the talent and the needs on the field. Godfrey as president presided over the important purchase of the Dome and the stabilization of the franchise. Criticize him for staying with Ricciardi too long.

Q: OK, this is blasphemy but hear me out. I don't see the Jays contending in the next two years, so why not become the Tampa Bay Rays. Let A.J. Burnett walk and get two picks, and trade Roy Halladay for a bunch of blue chip prospects. Add them to Aaron Hill, Adam Lind, Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch, Dustin McGowan, Alex Rios and Travis Snider. Maybe even move Lyle Overbay for a prospect. This team cannot win. I don't think for a second this GM will do that, I'm still hoping against hope someone else will come in.

Kevin Layman, St. John's, Nfld

A: That’s clearly not blasphemy. In fact, under a different general manager it may already have been considered. But, as you point out, it’s a long-range plan that would require taking your lumps with an annual win-total likely in the 60s for the next three years. But it hasn’t happened because instead of the team’s future, the current GM seems always equally as concerned with his own legacy. If you were going to go in that direction as an organization, you would have to give Ricciardi a five-year extension and tell him to go younger and dump his stars for prospects, in effect start a “five-year plan”. Hey, that sounds familiar. The first move would definitely have to be trading Halladay for blue chippers and since he’s got two years left before free agency, it would have to be done now. But it won’t be and the moment will have passed.

Q: Hi Richard,

One of the major problems I see with the Jays is the lack of a leadoff hitter. We have guys, Rios, Vernon Wells, Scott Rolen and Overbay who are capable of driving people in, but it seems they too often come up with the bases empty. I know the World Series teams are an extreme example, but it seemed the Jays were almost spotted a 1-2 run lead to start games with Devo (White) and (Robby) Alomar at the top. The leadoff spot is so important. Ricky Henderson, Devo, Jonny Damon to name a few. Are the Jays looking to seek a top leadoff guy, or are they going to continue with experimenting with different guys already there? If so, do you see possibly Aaron Hill in the leadoff spot?

Peter McNab, Toronto

A: I agree with you on the importance of the leadoff spot, but not necessarily that Devon White was a great leadoff hitter. In ’93 when the Jays boasted the top three men in the batting race, White had a .273 average with a decidedly mediocre .779 OPS. Devo was a marvelously gifted athlete and a fellow Jamaican, but his 53 walks and 127 strikeouts were not classic leadoff. He stole 34 bases in 38 attempts, which is good, but the Jays had four players with 100-plus runs scored in ’93 and seven players with more than 30 doubles, so it wasn’t just the top two guys in the order that set the table.

Back to the future. Are the Jays looking for a top leadoff guy? No. As for Aaron Hill possibly batting in the leadoff spot, for some reason when Aaron bats at the top of the order he seems to struggle. He is more of a line drive hitter that has more value driving in runs from the seven or eight hole in a good lineup. Look for Joe Inglett and Marco Scutaro.

Q: Lots of speculation about the Jays needing and looking to accumulate a "big bat" lately. I think that maybe a different direction might help them score more runs, i.e. a whippet on the basepaths, someone like Reyes of the Mets. The Jays have been without a bona fide base stealer of the highest order for far too long now. Any potential free agents or trades in the off-season possible?

Ken Moore, Niagara Falls

A: There are very few whippets available out there, but there are other solutions. For one, I would consider going after free agent shortstop Orlando Cabrera after he leaves the White Sox at the end of this year. He is a slick fielder, steals bags and has been in the playoffs four times in the past five years with three different franchises. He established himself with the Expos so he is comfortable playing in Canada. No, he’s not the classic type leadoff man, but neither was Devo. His last contract was $32 million for four years. That’s about what you could sign him for next time around. He’s a Cito-type player.

Q: Hiya Richard,

I don't want to get too far ahead of myself here, but what kind of career stats do you figure Roy Halladay needs to compile over the next few years to be a viable Hall of Fame candidate? I guess we have to assume good health. Does 200 wins get you there these days?

Dan Mountain, Kingston, Ont.

A: Halladay has several of the prerequisites of the Hall-of-Fame in that he has won a Cy Young Award, has two 20-win seasons and has been the acknowledged ace of his staff for the past six seasons. Halladay is a workout fanatic and keeps himself in great shape. That means it’s reasonable to think he could pitch until he’s 39-years-old - another eight years. He has 131 victories right now. If he averaged 15 wins per year for the next eight seasons that would be another 120 W’s for a career total of 251. He would have over 2000 strikeouts, a bunch of complete games and an ERA under 3.50. The big thing that is missing and would bring him closer to “mortal lock” status for Cooperstown would be a World Series appearance. That will have to be in his next contract, of course.

Q: I first wrote you with a suggestion last year that you thought was interesting, but didn't think it made sense at the time. However I now think it's time to reconsider. The suggestion was trying Brandon League in the rotation.

Given the Jays’ current projection for the rotation next year sans Marcum, Burnett, and unlikely to get an impact pitcher of similar impact on the market (and given the uncertainty surrounding McGowan and Casey Janssen), the Jays need to catch lightning in a bottle. The fact of the matter is that guys like Janssen or Scott Downs could end up being decent contributors to the rotation, but the Jays need something more than that, and League is the only guy who at least has the pure stuff to be a front-of-the-rotation pitcher.

A great sinkerballer could give you more value in a rotation over a full season than in the bullpen (especially a bullpen that is already pretty stacked), that's why the best in the game tend to be starters. They're usually innings eaters, and tend to require a couple of innings to get the feel of the sinkerball, which is not a luxury that relievers have. There is precedent with guys like (Derek) Lowe and (Fausto) Carmona and if it doesn't work, you could always move him back. I know you must always be careful with moving young pitchers between the bullpen and rotation (didn't do much for Kelvim Escobar's consistency when he was here), but I think his potential upside is worth at least one real shot at it.

Nelson Santo, Toronto

A: You bring up some interesting points. Candidates for the season-opening rotation for the Jays’ include: Halladay, Litsch, David Purcey, Casey Janssen, Brett Cecil and Ricky Romero. They definitely need to – and I believe will - go out and sign a free agent or trade for a solid 2-A or 3 guy in the rotation. That would take some of the pressure off the pitching staff until Dustin McGowan can return hopefully in May or June. League has not thrown 100 innings in any season since 2004.

I think a better choice would be to install League as the closer, supported by Downs, Carlson and Jeremy Accardo and try and trade the final two years, $20 million of B.J. Ryan to a contender that believes a bullpen ace would put them over the top. There are teams like that out there. Meanwhile, a healthy League, touching 99 m.p.h., with movement, has closer-type stuff and if the Jays are not going to contend in a rebuilding ‘09, then why have Ryan around with a contract that expires in ’10, just as the Jays are starting to contend again.

Q: Richard,

I was watching Sports Centre (the real one) down here in the U.S. this week and they had a segment on the demise of the Yankees (missing the playoffs for the first time in eons). One of the cited causes of this demise was the Yanks' depleted farm system. They cited the number of at-bats in recent years by recent Yankee draft picks and actually used the Jays' draft picks' at-bats (with a passing shot of Rios) as the comparison standard (assumedly because the Jays had the highest number in the division or league). Sorry that I don't recall the exact numbers (I think it was about 1,000 vs. 28,000 at bats) but needless to say I was shocked the Jays' farm system was being held up as the example. Obviously the Yanks do 'sell the farm' for high-priced veterans fairly often, but I didn't think the Jays were necessarily well stocked in the minors (past or present). Your thoughts?

Andy Kaczynski, Manhattan, KS

A: What kind of a shot is that about Sports Centre, the real one. I’ll bet that Sports Centre, which by the way they spell Sports Center, doesn’t have anyone quite like Dutchy. I know they don’t have anyone quite like Hedger. Back to your question.

Actually the huge number of at-bats for former Jays draft picks is not surprising. In the late ‘90s under Gord Ash, Tim Wilken, Chris Buckley and others, the Jays churned out major-leaguers for themselves and for others (see Michael Young, Felipe Lopez, Cesar Izturis, Wells, Rios, et al.). Plus you’ve got guys like Jeff Kent, Casey Blake, Carlos Delgado and others. There were years where the Jays led all teams in drafted or signed players that were on major-league rosters. Even dating back to Pat Gillick, finding prospects was never an issue. For the Jays of the ‘90s it was keeping them that became the problem.

Q: Richard,

I enjoy your reading your pieces each week. I recently went to the Syracuse Newspaper web site and searched on articles regarding this issue of affiliation. I was struck at the long held frustration by the fans in Syracuse that the Blue Jays were not a well-run organization and certainly for many, many years did not help that City have some winners. So it comes as no surprise to many that essentially no one wanted the Blue Jays and at the end of the day, the only one left was Las Vegas! My question is, what does this say about the way this franchise has managed its affiliates and its prospects? Is this an issue with its other affiliates?

I know some Major League teams have their best young prospects go from Double-A right to the majors without stopping long at AAA. How will this move to Las Vegas impact the club? It also does not sound like either party was that excited by this marriage and it may be a short-term deal. The ideal would have been in Buffalo - did the Blue Jays reputation in AAA make that impossible? Thanks.

Dean Germano, Redding, CA

A: I think that Syracuse always wanted someone else as a tenant with more pizzazz and sizzle and was also a victim of benign neglect by the Jays. No championships ever. They had their excuse. It’s like a comfortable marriage that has lasted 30 years. Sometimes when you should be sending flowers, you forget. Ah, she’ll get over it. The Chiefs didn’t need a box of chocolates, but how about a couple of top prospects. The Jays’ front office under J.P. Ricciardi has never been “touchy-feely” at the best of times. The relationship with Syracuse may have been taken for granted until it was too late. There is a little humour in what has happened. The Jays in ’08 were concerned about the “attitude” of certain of their major-league players that they felt were partying too hard. Hello Shaun Marcum. The punishment was to send them to AAA-Syracuse for a reality check. In ’09 these “party-hearty” guys will be punished by being sent to Las Vegas. Wooo-hooo!

Q: Hi Richard. Love the mailbag. I'm wondering, with all the negatives being brought up surrounding the Triple-A move to Las Vegas, was there any serious thought to having an affiliate somewhere in Canada?

Marc Bernard, Elmira, Ont.

A: That’s a natural and intelligent question. Of course, Canadian cities used to be hotbeds for minor-league baseball. Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, even Quebec City, Winnipeg and Trois-Rivieres had Double-A and Triple-A teams in the past. But at some point baseball changed some of their visa rules with regard to foreign players and the operating expenses, travel and other costs changed as well. It would have been fun for the Jays to put a Triple-A team in Ottawa or Montreal, but it was never a consideration and this is one where you can’t blame the Jays.

Q: Just a curious fan. Do you know why is it that Lind, Litsch, Jesse Carlson and other new Jays all wear hats that are not contoured or formed like 99.9% of all other player? Is it a fashion statement because it makes them look very odd indeed.

Gary Bartlett, Dundas, Ont.

A: It is the younger generation of players that wears their flat-brimmed hats and it is indeed a fashion statement of the hip-hop generation. If you check out the music video channels you will see guys like 50-Cent, L’il Wayne, The Game, Jay-Zed, T.I., Snoop, Socrates, Kanye West, Ne-Yo, Ludacris and Kardinal Offishall all wearing their hats with the flat brim, labels still affixed underneath the brim and slightly off to an angle. It’s just the way they roll. The hat is where it’s at, fa-shizzle.

The first guy to wear his hat that way in a World Series was ’06 Cardinals starter Anthony Reyes, born and raised in Downey, California. It prompted the ancient analyst Tim McCarver (or maybe it was Joe Buck) to ask him in a post-win interview, “Why do you wear your hat that way?” Reyes patiently explained his hometown and his generation. But truthfully, it does look a little silly for baseball players.

Q: You had suggested that the Jays GM job is secure insofar as the Jays might (now must) search for a president of the company, a more pressing need. Once the Presidency is determined, how secure is the GM's job?

F. Duquette, Edmonton

A: It depends on who is the new president. If the new president is an American steeped in the baseball culture, he may very well choose to bring in a new GM. If it’s a Canadian with ties to Ted Rogers, or hockey, or business, or local politics then the safest course of action (but maybe not the best) is to leave Ricciardi alone.

Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection in his mailbag Wednesdays in this space. **Note: please follow the link above to send a question to Richard. Questions posted in the comments section may not make it to the mailbag. Thanks.**