Emergency Roy Halladay Bonus Bag

There was so much mail with regard to the ill-advised speculation by Jays’ GM J.P. Ricciardi regarding the future of Roy Halladay that we were compelled to do a second mailbag this week. Make no mistake, whatever happens with Halladay, his future is secure and his future Hall-of-Fame career will continue to unfold as one of the game’s best starting pitchers.

For some reason, I remember vividly the first question I ever asked Doc as journalist to player. He was brought along on a spring training trip to Sarasota in 1997 and had just thrown his first inning in a Blue Jays uniform, a meaningless Grapefruit League contest vs. the White Sox at the age of 19. He was shirtless in his baseball pants, sitting by himself on a bench in front of his locker as the rest of the game unfolded outside. I walked up and said, “Roy?” He looked up at this stranger. “How exciting was that for you? Are you going to call your parents when you get back to Dunedin?” He fixed me in those steely blue eyes, looking at me as if I was nuts. “I don’t think so,” he said. Clearly this 19-year-old had bigger things in mind. Now, 12 years later, I sometimes still get the same look when I ask what I think is a clever question. Clearly this 32-year-old still has bigger things in mind. If the current general manager has anything to say about it, they might not include the Jays.

Q: Hey Richard,

Could you tell J.P. Ricciardi for me that if he trades Roy Halladay, I will never attend another Blue Jays game? And no, I don't care if the package he gets includes Tim Lincecum, Ryan Braun, and Hanley Ramirez put together.

Robert Buckler, Oshawa

A: I think that’s part of what the Jays are forgetting about when they talk about listening to offers for Halladay at this point in time. I think they are forgetting that a team is the sum of its 25 parts and that the most important part to fans is the man who has shown the strongest work ethic, fan and city loyalty of any Toronto baseball player in a long, long time. Plus he is the most talented Jay and one of the few worth the price of admission. The timing of the announcement by Ricciardi is thoughtless.

Q: Richard,

With all the talk about Halladay, I have just one simple question. When is Toronto going to stand up and stop being a baseball backwater?

We are the fourth largest city in North America and three of the other cities in front of us share their markets with two teams. (Yanks/Mets, Angels/Dodgers, Cubs/Sox). Who on earth decided that we are a "mid-market" team? And even when we got off to the hot start this year, there were grumblings about the attendance. It's tough to be angry with the fans when it has been relentlessly drilled into our heads over and over again for the past eight years that “we can't compete” by our very own boy wonder GM. Well why not? What is stopping us? The fans will support a winner. It's just been too long for most to remember what that feels like. This town is crying out for a winner and with the death grip MLSE has over the sports franchises in this city, a winner isn't going to come from them.

The best value for sports in this town is a family of four sitting in the 500 Level in the Rogers Centre for $40 dollars and watching Halladay pitch. That price point doesn't even get you a single ticket in the last row of the Purples for the Leafs! Is it time for an attitude change in the front office? What will it take to convince the Rogers folks that this is Toronto and we deserve to play with the big boys in the league?

J. Walsh, North York

A: I agree and I’ve written in the past that to label Toronto a mid-market to small-market city is silly. There was no such designation when the Jays had baseball’s highest team payroll in 1992-93 and was luring free agents like Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor, Jack Morris and Dave Stewart. The Jays have a potential TV market of 33-million viewers and a drawing area of over 8-million people in the Greater Golden Horseshoe, which actually ranks sixth in North America among urban sprawls.

The key as you point out is that Toronto supports a winner in baseball in terms of in-stadium attendance. Recall that during the great strike of ’94, when baseball came up with the wacky idea of playing the ’05 season with replacement players, the Jays were going to play all of their home games in Dunedin and Cito Gaston had refused to manage. That’s when the fan-base erosion began and it’s hard to blame them. The Jays have not won since and here we sit as a mid-market excuse for management to say they can’t compete.

Q: Hi Richard,

With the inevitable talk of trading Halladay heating up, I'd like to get your opinion on a couple of questions.

1. Don't you think it would be wiser to hold on to Roy until next year to see if the starting rotation can rebound and we have a chance at contending? This segways into question 2. The trades of Johan Santana and CC Sabathia gained little in return for either the Twins or Indians and I can't see how JP could do any better. I'd suggest, hold onto Roy until after the all-star break next season, and if we are out of it by then trade him to one of the contenders (not the Yanks or Sox!) and give him the shot at the post-season that he deserves. Your thoughts?

George O'Hagan, Ayton, Ont.

A: I believed during the winter when the Jays were talking about rebuilding and at the winter meetings when Gaston said it would be a year of finding things out about personnel heading to 2010 that they should have traded Halladay at that point to a contender, as you said, to give him a chance to earn a World Series ring. Plus, they would have had a nice return in the form of major-league-ready players and prospects, with two years remaining on Halladay’s deal. They did not do that and as the season unfolded the Jays began with a flourish, giving hope that they were a year ahead of their stated goal. It ain’t happening but nothing has changed about this team from what Cito predicted at the winter meetings when he hoped to play .500 – which of course is what they are doing.

That was the time to trade Halladay.

Next off-season, after this schedule winds down, is the time to trade Halladay. Now is not the time to trade Halladay. Face it, any team that is willing to trade for Halladay come November is a team that wants to negotiate a long-term deal with him beyond the 2010 season for which he is already contracted for $15.75 million.

If Doc was traded to either the Yankees or Red Sox would make it an in-season slap in the face to fans telling them that because of their lack of support, their best player must be traded to one of their most hated rivals. I don’t care who they got back in return, the short and long-term PR damage cannot be discounted as, “Oh, they’ll get over it.”

Q: Mr. Griffin,

Just wondering what your take on Ricciardi coming out and saying that he would entertain trade possibilities for Doc. Is this a sign of desperation on his part? Had Doc gone to him quietly to say he's ready to move on? With his track record, I am worried about what Ricciardi's definition of "blow us away" would be and think it's a shame that perhaps the best Toronto sports figure could be on the move.

P. K., Guelph, Ont.

A: I believe that the issue unfolded because of Ricciardi’s addiction to U.S. national media attention. He’s a FOXaholic. When he was asked the question in New York regarding making a trade and who would be available, it was obviously in the back of his mind that he would listen to offers for Halladay at this point in time, although the last public musings he had made to local Jays media was that Doc was not available during the season, but since that time the Jays’ toboggan run through the standings had already begun.

When the story game out on CBS Sportsline that “Ricciardi would have to listen to offers on anyone if it was going to make his team better” it was picked up by others, like FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal who all have immediate access to Ricciardi. But instead of backtracking, J.P. chose to add detail and has created a monster that comes at exactly the wrong time for the low-key, intensely private Halladay to absorb. The All-Star Game press conference for Halladay will be a zoo as media from New York, Boston, Philly, Milwaukee, Chicago et al. will meet at Doc’s interview table in a feeding frenzy. He does not like it and privately must be cursing his GM’s lack of tact.

Q: Hi Richard, Ontario exile in the UK here, but I weekly read you religiously. The Doc thing reminds me a bit about Dave Stieb, remember him? He was an elite hurler for years, and griped a bit too - unlike Halladay - but stayed around long enough to see the club flourish and become champions. Maybe Roy is heading in the same direction...NO? Please don't go Doc - Man!

Kenny Moore, London, England

A: Comparing Halladay and Stieb is like comparing apples and limes. While Halladay is an all-American boy revered by his teammates, Stieb was prickly, cantankerous and disliked by many of his teammates. Halladay is more like Pat Hentgen. Whereas Stieb would glare at teammates after bad defensive plays, Halladay glares at himself for making the pitch that was hit to a position where a teammate couldn’t make a play. Legend has it that when Stieb designed a custom-made home in Tahoe after he retired that it was designed with no guest bedroom.

Q: Why not package Halladay and Wells? ...You may get a team that wants Halladay so badly it would swallow Wells' contract, hoping he males a comeback.

Chas Calz, Hamilton

A: The Marlins insisted that third baseman Mike Lowell’s contract be included in the Josh Beckett deal with the Red Sox. That worked out for Boston. Maybe you have a good thought there about attaching Wells to Halladay. But that’s a deal that would have to be done in the off-season. I like your thinking. But if the Jays were asked to eat a chunk of Vernon’s contract I don’t think it would happen.

Q: Hi Richard,

Easy question for you - as I see it J.P. is saying trading Halladay is a necessary evil of the lack of competitive balance in the AL East. To my mind it’s more due to the ridiculous contracts given to Wells, Rios and Ryan. Do you agree? If so - fire the bum!

Richard Williams, Redditch, England

A: Okay, so the AL East is the most competitive and the deepest division in baseball. Heading into Friday’s play the East was a combined 32 games above .500. So because you feel you can’t stand the heat, not only do you get out of the kitchen, but you’re going to fire the chef. The Jays feel that if they were in another division they could make it to the post-season. The fact is that to be in the post-season you just needed to have the best second-place record of any of the three divisions (it’s called the wild-card). So if they felt they could have won the other divisions, then logic says that all they have had to do in the past is beat out one of the Red Sox or Yankees. They didn’t do it and now the Rays have come along to done exactly what the Jays couldn’t. I don’t hear them whining.

Q: Richard,

First Paul Godfrey kept them in the East where the payrolls are too high to compete, then Ricciardi destroyed the team’s goodwill and made some terrible decisions on free agents and re-signing Wells and Rios that have handcuffed the team for years to come; Rogers has been terrible as the SkyDome with horrible quality food and drink (compare the street hotdogs for quality and price to the stadium ones), now they are going to trade away the only sure hall of fame player the organization has ever had.

Tell me, assuming that the Jays can stay in Toronto (I think they may be gone within five years), what hope if any is there for the fans and why should we watch? P.S. Don't say for the love of the sport, b/c for the love of the sport I can drive to Detroit, Boston or New York and watch games.

Thanks,

Rob (die hard who is losing faith...), Toronto

A: On the last homestand, I asked Halladay about any discussions for a contract extension with the Jays. He quietly stated that they had agreed to put any of that talk off until the off-season because it was a distraction. Now that Ricciardi has started the trade fires burning, it makes for a bigger distraction than Halladay ever wanted or imagined. But the GM believes that his declarations have not caused a stir in Toronto among fans, only in New York, Boston, Philly and the East Coast markets that really matter.

I don’t think blaming Godfrey for them staying in the East is quite right. There was never any discussion of moving divisions but he did say that he enjoyed being in the East every time the Red Sox and Yankees came to town and packed the Rogers Centre. Besides, high payrolls don’t always a division winner make.

It’s interesting to note that the winter before signing Wells, J.P. explored every trading option. When none worked out, the Jays signed him long-term. The winter before signing Rios, J.P. explored every trading option. When none worked out, the Jays signed him long-term. Should both those deals also go on his trade record? Maybe.

As for the Jays going somewhere, they’re here to stay. As for why fans should continue to watch? I would say that as a family outing with the kids or with friends, it’s still a damn good evening of entertainment for a reasonable price. But if it’s only about going to see a win, then, you’re right, “love of the game” means nothing.

Q: Hi Richard,

With the Jays free falling, shouldn't it be a perfect time to fire J.P.? When the Jays were so strong coming out of the gate, he did nothing in trying to improve when the Jays desperately need a solid starter, such as signing Pedro. I just heard the Jays are listening to offers for Doc. It's a shame! If Doc has to go, J.P. should go first.

Anthony Tam, Hong Kong

A: Put it this way. The ideal time for trading Halladay would have been in the period from October 31 to December 15, 2009 after having explored an extension with his agents and then realizing that Doc deserves and will earn more than you can afford. You would quietly get players back that can help you in 2010 and the other team quietly gets the final year for the best pitcher in the AL and can negotiate an extension.

The ideal time for firing Ricciardi would have been in the period from October 5 to November 5, 2009 prior to free-agent signing period, so that other teams and free agents and the Jays’ current players could know in which direction the Jays were heading. But with the firestorm created by the Halladay for sale signs that J.P. has hung out there now, all bets are off. Anything could happen at any time and we would not be surprised. Either Alex Anthopoulos or Tony LaCava could do a fine interim job with a chance for full-time.

Richard's mail bag usually appears every Wednesday in this space. Click here to send Richard a question, and he'll answer a selection. **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.**

Ricciardi's Attitude on Toronto

Following is a partial transcript of an interview on XM Radio with Jays' GM J.P. Ricciardi that shows his attitude towards the Jays fans and the city:

Pidto: “Because you’ve obviously caused quite a stir, and is it something that you got the OK from up above?  Is ownership on board with this potential strategy as well?”

Ricciardi: “I don’t think we caused a stir in Toronto.  I think we caused a stir in all the places that these things cause stirs: Philadelphia, New York, Boston, L.A., Chicago.  I think those markets are probably having more of a stir than we are.  I think what we did was answer a question honestly: Would we entertain offers for Roy Halladay?  And we said we would at least listen.  The player knows that.  Everybody has been on board with at least listening.  I don’t think we’ve traded Roy Halladay so I don’t think we’ve done anything that’s really caused a great controversy with us. 

 

Ricciardi Trade History Clarified

There seems to be much confusion regarding the analysis in this morning's column of J.P. Ricciardi's track record as a trader. The list of 17 trades that I used was only those trades in which he was trying to maximize the return on a well-paid starting player or pitcher that had already been established in the majors.

We have always agreed in the column through the years that Ricciardi is at his best when dealing for undervalued players -- especially pitchers -- and getting the most out of them. But Halladay in no way qualifies in the same category as trading Mark Hendrickson.

The 17 trades were, in chronological order, were sending away 1-Billy Koch, 2-Alex Gonzalez, 3-Paul Quantrill, 4-Brad Fullmer, 5-Pedro Borbon (maybe a little sketchy), 6-Dan Plesac (and yes I would question that Cliff Politte was a good move), 7-Raul Mondesi, 8-Felipe Lopez, 9-Shannon  Stewart (and you can't use the commutativbe theory for Ted Lilly because Bobby Kielty does not qualify as an established player for purposes of this study), 10-Orlando Hudson and Miggy Batista, 11-Corey Koskie, 12-Shea Hillenbrand, 13-Scott Schoenweis, 14-Terry Adams (also sketchy), 15-Eric Hinske, 16-Troy Glaus, 17-Dave Eckstein.

I was not ignoring good trades, but Halladay is a big-time property and they need maximum in return. Ricciardi has not proven he's the man for the job.

R-Griff   

Mail Bag

It seems the Jays GM just cant leave well enough alone. The season was going along just fine, all things considered, with Roy Halladay coming back off injury and heading to the All-Star Game. Doc was focused on the task at hand of turning this Jays ship around. All year, whenever local media asked J.P. about trading Doc the GM would just say no. Contract extension? Talks would start after the season. Simple. The focus through three months was on baseball. That’s where it should be. But, of course, what Ricciardi tells the Toronto media is not necessarily what he tells the national U.S. media because, after all, those are the guys that count and can make him a baseball legend, albeit one without a post-season appearance.

Remember when Ricciardi first got to Toronto in late-2001 his stated goal was to school local fans and local media about baseball? He said that. So now, at a time when Doc should be focused on getting the Jays turned around, on winning the Cy Young and on the honour of representing the Jays at the All-Star Game, now, instead he must look forward to three days of trade questions in St. Louis and a distracting circus heading to the July 31 deadline. There are other ways of letting 29 other GMs know that a certain player is available rather than through your favourite sports reporters. That’s either selfish or dumb on the part of Jays management. You decide. On to the mail bag:

Q: Richard,

Please see that the discussion of trading Halladay has been around for along time. With J.P. Ricciardi mentioning yesterday to Fox Sports that he would listen to offers for Halladay, is he that slow in realizing that the reality of the Halladay situation has been at the forefront of everyone outside of the Jays organization for an extended period of time now? It seems that Ricciardi is not connected with reality and the Jays organization’s first move before trading Halladay would be to get rid of Ricciardi, because everyone knows that Ricciardi does not have the best trading record. What are your thoughts?

Scott Cochrane, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.

A: A lot of the thoughts expressed in your letter are the same ones in my Wednesday column on the subject of Halladay and Ricciardi. The question becomes who is more valuable to the franchise moving forward? Halladay. Who would you rather give a five-year extension to? Halladay. Why would you allow a less valuable part of your organization to get rid of a more valuable part of your organization? You wouldn’t. Ricciardi’s contract expires after the 2010 season. He will not enter the next off-season without an extension. No opposing team wants to deal with a lame-duck GM. No free agent wants to negotiate with a lame-duck GM. So he will ask for an extension before the end of this season. If the Jays are smart, they will not offer one. Eight years of mediocrity is enough. Time to move on.

Q: Richard: Any ideas why Vernon Wells hits nearly .330 on the road and only .172 at home?

Bill Brasnett, Edmonton

A: I believe that it’s a matter of Wells being too sensitive and at the same time trying to be too cool about the booing he is receiving at the Rogers Centre. Consider that for his career, heading into this season, Wells has hit better (.281 .291) at home than on the road (.276). So why, this year, are those numbers reversed? Wells hears the boos. He knows he’s supposed to be the leader. He’s sensitive to a lot of things. In New York, when he homered and got two hits against A.J. Burnett, Wells was the one that pointed out to writers after the game that he got two hits in the game but was hitless in two ABs with runners in scoring position. Cito Gaston wants his players to treat all their at-bats just the same. But if Wells recognizes the difference between nobody on base and RISP then he also recognizes the difference between at-bats at home where he’s being booed and at-bats on the road with indifference. He obviously prefers indifference.

Q: Hi Richard,

Ricky Romero won his 7th game on Monday, despite the bullpen's best attempts to blow it. Nevertheless, Romero seems to be an unexpected surprise, the same way another certain left-hander was in 2005. My question is: How does Romero continue to be good-to-excellent and avoid falling into the Gustavo Chacin black hole? I doubt Ricky will get his own cologne.

I couldn't help but notice while researching this question that Gustavo is pitching for the Phillies AAA team, although his stats are quite average. How does someone go from garnering two first-place Rookie of the Year votes to playing for Iron Pigs?

Nik Jones, Port St. Lucie, FL

A: Romero has clearly moved into the No. 2 starter’s role for the Jays. Ricky don’t lose that number. By the way, Ricky’s handlers are working on a fragrance Romaire Eau de Ricky. It’s a little fresher than that Chacin cologne, with more lasting power. I believe that the difference between Romero and Chacin is that Romero had to spend more time in the minors. His rise allowed more time to mature and he had more talent to begin with. Ricky’s minor league emotional problems delaying his arrival included the fact that, as the late Warren Zevon might describe it, “He’s just an excitable boy”. Romero describes how in the first inning of games he often had trouble staying within himself. In addition, the defence he is getting behind him at the major-league level far exceeds anything he got in the minors and he uses his defence, not being an overpowering lefty.

As for the current Iron Pig, Chacin, as an introverted Venezuelan kid, really had no guidance within the Jays’ clubhouse. After Miguel Batista left, he was left lockering next to Alex Rios. Hmm. When he was stopped by the police for impaired driving in the wee hours, the day before a spring training start, he immediately went to the back of the line in terms of the Jays organization’ s esteem. He never bounced back.

Q: Hi Richard, What has happened to the Blue Jays as a team? They were a loose and competent bunch much like Tampa Bay is now - they just seem lifeless and indifferent. I know that they have done well without most of their regular pitchers without management even trying to get them some help. Ricciardi appears to be indifferent to the wants and needs of the team. From first to last, what a darn shame.

Tony D'Souza, Toronto

A: All winter they talked about a rotation with Halladay, Jesse Litsch and Dave Purcey holding the fort until Dustin McGowan could get back in late May or early June. Then if they could find just one more competent starter at spring training, they would be in business. On Tuesday, the Jays were forced to use lefty Marc Rz-something-something who was not even on page one of the depth chart when the season opened. It’s tough for the Jays to be loose and competent when the starting lineup on Tuesday is meeting their starting pitcher for the first time ever just four hours before the game begins. The Jays have used 12 starting pitchers in 85 games, six rookies, five of them making their major-league debut.

On field, among their leaders Vernon Wells is phlegmatic, Alex Rios is vacant, Scott Rolen burns like an ember and Kevin Millar’s heart is still in Boston. As for management not trying to get some help, I cannot understand it. There’s help out there, but obviously management believes that this was never going to be a contending year and their inaction is making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Q: Hi Rich,

So the Jays are falling apart at the seams. These days it's pitching, other days it's hitting...there's always something that can go wrong if the need arises. All things being equal, it's been a pretty decent season so far, considering the state of the pitching staff, which was predictably weak and was due for a downturn in production (heck, you had an article about it). But the Jays didn't do anything to shore up their pitching before the water came in, so it would seem they never intended to (or didn't see it coming?!?).

With that in mind, the team on the field was supposed to win or lose without any more money spent and that means we are left to focus on the three players who have been the most disappointing. BJ "Juice Box" Ryan, "Furious (swinging)” Vernon Wells, and Alex "Dazed and Confused" Rios. What are your career projections for these three men, what should the Jays do with them and what will they actually do?

Thanks a lot,

Love the Expos stories!

James Emondo, Fort Simpson

A: It actually has been an interesting season for the Jays and one in which in many ways they have done better than expected given the injuries and disappointments on the pitching staff. What to do with those three guys? Ryan can’t be traded in season. If he is serious about re-inventing himself, he should accept a trip to AA-New Hampshire and work things out in the quiet of New England. Then he should ask to go to Florida Instructional League after the season. Then the Jays in the off-season could evaluate the final year of his contract and either keep him or trade him. That could mean taking him to spring training and having other teams see him against major-league hitters.

As for Wells, he is untradable. The contract has $108 million for the final five years and why would the Jays eat a significant portion just to get rid of him. Baseball has certain rules about how much you can actually eat anyway. As for Rios, he is very tradable. Always has been. The guy has tremendous talent, but probably needs a change of scenery. If they want Travis Snider to have a position next year and if Adam Lind is too young to be a full-time DH, then they could look for an off-season Rios deal. They could even throw B.J. into the pot. Just kidding.

Q: There was an article on Tuesday on ESPN.com about Vernon Wells and how it's easier to struggle in a place like Toronto than on the US East Coast. While I agree with the general premise of this, there was a quote by Kevin Millar that didn't exactly add up: “I'm not saying any struggle is easy, because Vernon is definitely trying to cure his thing and get out of it. But you're definitely fortunate that you're in another country and you're playing for the Blue Jays and you've got three beat writers instead of 40.” I find this a bit misleading, since there are more than three writers that follow the Jays, and because if you read this mailbag each week, you can see that the fans are very frustrated with Vernon's performance. Do you feel that the Blue Jay players find it easier to play in Toronto than more cities in the US, aside from the US East coast where scrutiny is intense? Wouldn't this help to attract more players to Toronto then?

Jason Sinnarajah, Sydney, Australia

A: Kevin Millar is full of spit. Ask David Wells about how easy it is to struggle in Toronto and how being out of the country takes some of the heat off and how with only three beat writers it’s a breeze. Maybe if Millar actually was doing something to contribute he might notice there are more than three Jays beat writers, but nobody ever feels the need to talk to him. Millar is clearly still living in the past at Fenway Park where it only looked like there were 40 beat writers because the home clubhouse is like 25 guys dressing in a walk-in closet.

Q: Hey Richard, love the blog. Do the Jays employ a sports psychologist? I think players, especially Wells, could benefit from one, helping him play well under the pressure of his contract. I know there's a stigma surrounding a psychologist, but do any current Major League teams employ a psychologist? Have the Jays ever employed one?

Thanks for answering the questions.

Dave R., Markham

A: Actually since the mid-‘80s there has been a terrific Employee Assistance Program available for major-league players. It includes financial, marital, off-field security and psychological help. The Jays used to have a travelling EAP guy but lately have traveled just the avuncular Director, Team Safety, Ron Sandelli a former Toronto cop who the players trust and who can refer them to the right EAP people. It works but, as for Wells, if it was that easy to create .300 hitters with 30-30 seasons, then you could do the same with struggling pitchers and you’d be back to square one.

Q: Richard,

How did it come to be that there are four teams in the AL West and six in the NL Central (with five in each of the other divisions)? It doesn't really make any sense. Has there ever been discussion about changing this?

Jason K., Hamilton

A: There are 30 major-league teams. Baseball did not want the most logical solution of 15 AL and 15 NL because since baseball is an everyday affair it would mean one inter-league series going on all the time. I don’t know why they couldn’t do that - it makes sense - but they don’t. So that leaves 14 AL (5 East-5 Central-4 West) and 16 NL (5 East-6Central-5 West). The reason for the specific division numbers has as much to do with geography as anything else. Expansion is not an option. Neither is contraction.

Q: The Blue Jays remind of Britney Spears... inconsistent, prone to major mental breakdowns, and nothing but a tease.

Zaki Ameen, Mississauga

A: Apparently many of the Jays are big fans of Ms. Spears. Here are some Jays and their top Britney songs:

Alex Rios: Oops, I Did it Again

J.P. Ricciardi: Circus or his second fave Chaotic

Roy Halladay: Don't Let Me Be the Last to Know

B.J. Ryan: Outrageous

Vernon Wells: Overprotected or his second fave (You Drive Me) Crazy.

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.**

Griff's Power Rankings, Week 13

(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)

1-Dodgers (2)

Manny love-fest for PED return is ridiculous

2-Red Sox (1)

Sox have shown holes despite their apparent depth

3-Yankees (6)

Bombers fundamentals a little out of control but they’re winning

4-Angels (4)

Halos ruled inter-league; need to play better in division

5-Giants (7)

Need to stay healthy. Big Unit hurts shoulder batting; stay tuned

7-Tigers (5)

Magglio’s hair sold on e-bay; purchaser rumoured to be David Samson

8-Rangers (10)

Rangers sweep of Rays gets them back as legit contenders

6-Rays (3)

Need bounce back after wilting in Texas heat

9-Cardinals (8)

Take Albert Pujols away and these guys are the Padres

10-Brewers (11)

Problem with small-markets, they can’t make any personnel mistakes

11-Mariners (14)

Russell Branyan has revived his career – and the M’s

12-Rockies (9)

Tulowitzki starting to rebound but he’s no Ricky Romero

13-Marlins (16)

The worst division in baseball can be had by anyone – except Nats

14-Twins (17)

M&M boys going back to all-star game – and maybe playoffs

15-White Sox (19)

Return of Carlos Quentin will add much needed LF power

16-Blue Jays (12)

Congrats to Hill, Halladay and maybe Lind for all-star nods

17-Phillies (13)

Jimmy Rollins will surely bounce back and Phillies will rise

18-Cubs (15)

Milton Bradley needs a helmet in right field

19-Reds (18)

Need one more solid starting pitcher to contend

20-Braves (24)

RHP Tommy Hanson is the real deal, but where’s the help

21-Astros (21)

Berkman starting to heat up with Tejada; could start to climb

22-Mets (20)

Mets may be on the same bus, but not the same page

23-Orioles (22)

If only the O’s had some decent pitching to support the young bats

24-Pirates (23)

Bucs are the new four-year major-league learning program.

25-Royals (27)

Soria back from DL give them sorely needed closer

26-Padres (26)

Those atrocious desert camouflage jerseys don’t deserve better

27-A’s (25)

Jason Giambi done when he left the Yankees; .152 June average

28-Indians (28)

Wedge gets vote of confidence – until end of season

29-Diamondbacks (29)

Snakes not playing good fundamental baseball; getting worse

30-Nationals (30)

Only Bernie Madoff has scammed more from naïve investors

Halladay and Hill Named to AL All-Star Team

Two Blue Jays, pitcher Roy Halladay and second baseman Aaron Hill were named to play in the All-Star Game at St. Louis on July 14 and a third, outfielder Adam Lind, will have a chance to be named to the last roster spot in an online fan vote.

Both Halladay and Hill secured spots in a vote of the players. Halladay was one of eight pitchers named by his peers. While the fans voted for the defending AL MVP Dustin Pedroia as the starter at second base, Hill got the nod on the players' ballot.

Lind is listed on the online ballot for the finals roster spot along with Chone Figgins of the Angels, Brandon Inge of the Tigers, Ian Kinsler of the Rangers and Carlos Pena of the Rays.

For Halladay, it's the sixth time he has been named to the All-Star Game. He was injured in 2005 and did not pitch in 2003, but appeared in games in 2002-06-08. For Hill it is his first time selected.

 
 

  

Jays DL Grows by One Canadian

Canadian right-hander Scott Richmond was placed on the 15-day disabled list following today's game against the Yankees, throwing the Jays' rotation into further disarray. The 29-year-old righthander is suffering from tendinitis in his right shoulder and becomes the 10th different Jays pitcher to go on the DL this season. Brad Mills will be recalled by the Jays and will start on Tuesday vs. the Rays.

"I'm just trying to squash it, nip it in the bud before it turns into anything," Richmond said. "It's a little inflammation in my biceps tendon. The all-star break will help it out. The rest is what I need."

Richmond has struggled so hard to earn a spot in the Jays' major-league rotation that even the thought of going on the disabled list, erring on the side of caution, is a difficult decision.

"It was very hard," Richmond admitted. "Trying to downplay to the trainers. They're there to help and I can't not be telling them the truth and hoping it just comes back and don't say anything. It's not getting worse, it's just not getting better and it needs rest."

Brett Cecil will take Richmond's start tomorrow vs. the Yankees.

R-Griff 

Jays Ready to Say Good-bye to Russ Adams

*Indications are that when the required waiver period expires for Russ Adams on Monday afternoon that the Jays' utility man will opt for free agency. The first ever June draft choice of GM J.P. Ricciardi in 2002, Adams was the shortstop of the future, finally earning a full shot at the position in 2005. That is the only season the 28-year-old lefthanded hitter has had more than 100 games played in the majors.

Adams was designated for assignment by the Jays on Friday to make room for lefthanded hitting outfielder Dave Dellucci. The choices available at that point were for another team to claim him on waivers, for the Jays to trade him, for him to accept assignment to the minor leagues or to ask for free agency. Adams hit .200 in eight games as a DH/OF .

Adams has evolved from a starting shortstop to a full-fledged utility man with the ability to play all four infield positions and the corner outfield spots. A similar type player was Chris Woodward who left the Jays under like circumstances and is still playing in the majors.

*Scott Downs claimed that everything was fine after his bullpen session on Friday. He will throw on the side again in New York, but will not be activated for the Tampa series. According to manager Cito Gaston there is still achance that he will return to action before the All-Star break, but more likely is that they will now wait until the homestand following the game in St. Louis.

R-Griff

Yankees New Stadium a Ghostbuster

The best line about the difference between the old and new Yankee Stadium came from Adam Lind as he brushed by GM J.P. Ricciardi down the dugout steps to get his bat for Jays' batting practice:

"Babe Ruth didn't hit in that batter's box," he saids, pointing to home plate.

There will not be a player in the game the next couple of years that has a battle with his nerves or looks with anticipation to playing in this new palace. Advantage visitors.

R-Griff.

Jays Add David Dellucci

The Jays this morning added outfielder Dave Dellucci after allowing him to work himself back into playing shape at AAA-Las Vegas. To make room for the 35-year-old lefthanded hitter, they designated outfielder Russ Adams for assignment.

Dellucci played 14 games with the Indians before being released on May 29. He was signed as a free agent by the Jays and batted .317 in 16 games for the 51s, with six doubles, three homers and nine RBIs. He is in New York.

For Adams, the Jays' first-round pick in 2002, the Jays have 10 days to either trade him, release him or assign him to the minor leagues, but as of this moment he is no longer on the club's 40-man roster. The likelihood is that he will clear waivers and accept assignment back to Las Vegas when the time expires.

R-Griff