Mail bag

On Tuesday night, the retiring Star columnist Dave Perkins asked if he could cover one more Blue Jays game before stepping aside, leaving the paper at the end of the month. Dave was the Star's baseball columnist back in the glory years and still knows more about the Jays, their great traditions and dirty laundry than I ever will. I gladly stepped aside for the night, deferring to my friend, because I owe a lot to Dave. It was Perkins as sports editor of The Star in 1994 during the baseball strike who called me in Montreal at my Expos' PR desk and asked me to recommend someone to replace himself as the Star's baseball columnist. He had just stepped up to become sports editor, a role he left after a few years, anxious to get back to opinionating, at which he was the best. I named three potential writers for him and quietly suggested, “And what about me.” Many writers had gone to PR roles and snoozed their way through their later years, but nobody had gone from MLB PR to a major newspaper as a columnist. Dave was willing to put his rep on the line with his bosses and take a chance with precedence. I wrote a couple of mock columns on Expos games, eventually went down to the Rogers Centre (then the SkyDome) for lunch with Dave and John Honderich and was later hired, beginning my career in February 1995 with baseball still in its strike mode. I wasn't very good early on, trying to be too glib, too funny, too outrageous, but he didn't fire me, for which I remain grateful. Anyway, like I said, I owe a lot to Dave and wish him all the best in his future endeavours – which I am sure will still include a lot of his rough-edged, acerbic, brilliantly outrageous opinions ... only not for this newspaper. The Star will miss him.

Q: Hi Richard,

The BJ's never cease to cause me to scratch my head. In my opinion they have a pretty decent lineup and the addition of Yunel Escobar makes it even better, I think. When does a baseball team stop or reduce rebuilding and concentrate on developing a team and really see what you have? I know good teams are always tinkering and trying to improve but maybe sitting back and letting a team evolve may give you a more truer and accurate opinion. I like the Jays and their future but with constant rebuilding they may rebulid themselves out of a good opportunity. Didn't the Jays of championship years have a pretty static line up? Thanks for your insight.

Brian Runciman, Oakville

A: I agree with you on the basic building belief that at a certain point as a sports team you have to stop calling it rebuilding and actually go for the gold. I think Alex Anthopoulos also believes that. But the problem with the previous GM and his regime was that he was impatient to the point that he never allowed his team the time to build and give an accurate picture of where they actually stood before adding pricey pieces and taking a run at the Yankees and Red Sox. It meant he would take the 86 wins in 2003 and turn it into 67 Ws in 2004. He would take the 87 wins in 2006 and turn it into 83 Ws in 2007. He would take the 86 wins in 2008 and turn it into 75 and into being fired with a year remaining on his contract in 2009. More than team-building, J.P. Ricciardi's eight-year reign seemed more about legacy building. His own contract became more important than any season-ticket holder's contract.

The basic art of rebuilding in baseball is to take players from a strong farm system, let them develop, find out who the real players and pitchers are, then when you are really ready to compete, go out and sign any missing pieces you were not able to produce yourself. The Jays behind the scenes right now in 2010 are deciding, for example, which 5-8 starting pitchers they want in the rotation or on the roster in 2012. The others become inventory. They are deciding whether Escobar is the man at shortstop in 2012. Whether Fred Lewis and Jose Bautista are going to be part of it when they make a run. All those decisions are being made internally while Cito Gaston, who will not be a part of it in the dugout when the time comes to compete, grinds out 162 games of audition.

Q: Hi Richard:

Great to see the Hawk inducted into the Hall. You were the Expos PR man for 18 years and left the team to come to Toronto. I read the book, My Turn at Bat and am confused. Did the partners really destroy the club by not putting in the money, was Loria planted there to shift the club and is Brochu really the villain here? Stephanie Myles is a great writer, so I tend to believe what I read is true and that she wouldn't put here name to this book if it was fabricated. What's your take on this, or are you not able to talk about this subject. I sure miss going up for games in Montreal, the last one was hard to take.

Marty Greenberg, Toronto

A: One of the best owners in baseball at the time, Charles Bronfman was disillusioned with the impersonal, money-grubbing, owners vs. players direction that the game was headed. It was not fun for him anymore. He wanted out. He asked Claude Brochu to find local ownership that would not move the team. After all he was an Order of Canada holder and was a true patriot who could have made far more selling to the highest bidder. Brochu struggled to find interest, but rounded up a consortium of which he was the general partner, despite having none of his own money in the mix. He was given 10 per cent. Brochu knew he was in a no-lose situation. So he played hardball with the provincial government for a new stadium threatening that if he didn't get it they might be forced to move – in which case he knew he could cash in big time. If they got the new stadium, he stood to cash in again. The problem was in operating the team that cash calls for more operating capital were tough because he would always have to pony up 10 per cent and he didn't really have it. His choices were a) stay in Montreal with the freshness of a new downtown stade, or, b) sell to the highest U.S. bidder. Unfortunately some of his partners were not aware of his hard-line inner stance of baseball pragmatism. When they figured it out they forced him out and he made some money in the buyout but not as much as he would have under the other scenarios. Jeffrey Loria became MLB's hand-picked man because they were going to use the Expos to get him in the door of the ownership fraternity, then flip his ownership to the Marlins and transfer John Henry's ownership from the Marlins to the Red Sox. It was an insidious three-way that only served to screw only one group — Montreal's fans. Baseball's original plan was to contract the Expos as the flipping flips took place. That's evil. But when contraction fell through, they were forced to follow through with their commitments to Loria and Henry and to have MLB reluctantly and arrogantly take over the Expos, which was a disaster of the “we don't give a rat's ass about Montreal fans” proportions. MLB finally killed two birds with one stone when they shifted the Expos to Washington D.C. claiming that Expos fans didn't care anymore. The politicians had been lobbying hard for a franchise and baseball had to protect against any close scrutiny by irate congressmen and senators. As for Expos' fans, it's hard to care for a team and go to games when MLB takes your tricolour hat, craps in it and tells you to wear it proudly. That's the Reader's Digest version as seen by me. But it may be a slanted opinion because I may still be angry.

Q: Richard:

Will you explain these trade deadlines with waiver and without waivers in MLB? I cannot quite figure them out. There is one coming up the 'non waiver' trade deadline. Can you tell me what this means and what it means after because there are always trades after the 'deadline'? I enjoy your column.

Regards,

Marcel Frazier, Thunder Bay

A: Basically, up until July 31 at 4:00 p.m. EDT, GMs can pick up the phone, call another GM and say “I'll give you Player 1 for Player 2.” If the deal is acceptable they get it done. After August 1, in order to be traded, Player 1 must be placed on major-league waivers which is a 72-hour period during which his name is presented to all 29 other clubs via e-mail for possible “claim”. If a player is claimed by multiple teams, the team with the worst record at the time is the one entitled to Player 1. However the original team can withdraw his name from waivers and he then stays with them. But the second time they place him on waivers after August 1, it is irrevocable and they can't recall him if claimed. The way that teams complete a trade post-July 31 is a) if the player clears his original waivers with nobody claiming, they are free to make a deal just as pre-deadline, or b) they can negotiate with the claiming team for player compensation in order to allow him to be claimed threatening that if a deal can't be worked out they will recall him from waivers. Basically, when you hear that so-and-so has been placed on waivers in August, it's no big deal. Every player gets placed on waivers in August every year just to gauge interest and with the knowledge he can be pulled back.

Q: Hi Richard,

I look forward to your mailbag every week. A lot of people must be asking you: as Kevin Gregg is struggling, what options do the Jays have for a closer? Are there any closers in the system who would benefit from some ML work this season? Would it make sense for the Jays to trade for one, or is it better to just ride it out? Is Kevin Gregg considered one of the pitchers the Jays are developing? What should they do?

Thanks,

D'Arcy Draper, Richmond Hill

A: Gregg was signed as a stopgap, fallback closer that wasn't going to cost that much ($2.75 million) in 2010 and would allow them to either develop one in the system or find one on the market by their contending year of 2012. He's done his job – sometimes in exciting fashion. He has two club options that would make him an interesting trade option for another club. As for the part of the question about “closers in the system”, the fact is that most closers are not developed as closers in the system. If there are closers in any team's farm system, their likely role at the major-league level will be setup or middle relief. The more likely route to closer-dom is the route David Purcey has followed, wherein you are a highly regarded minor-league starter and at some point they discover that you have two quality pitches but lack that one extra quality pitch in the repertoire that will take you to the next level as a starter. With a pared-down repertoire, you pitch in relief in the majors and then take over as closer and thrive. Purcey is a candidate. Otherwise, when you're looking for possible candidates for two years down the road, check out the Jays' minor-league starters, not their relievers.

Q: Hi Richard,

Enjoying your baseball blog and this Blue Jay season, too. Ever optimistic, I can see playoffs - let's hope - in the near future. With Jose Bautista's excellent season - both in the field and at the plate - it got me wondering who you view as the top two or three BJ players who you come to appreciate, over time, the more you see them play (the ones who always do the "little things" to help the team win.

Stu Royal, Erin, Ont.

A: You're right about Bautista and it would be a shame to see him be traded because of what he has accomplished for the team both offensively and defensively. In addition he is a good base runner, taking the extra base, reading hits and knowing when to take chances. Plus his versatility as a right fielder/third baseman has allowed them to fill nicely for injured players. That's a great question regarding “come to appreciate over time.” I can think of three Jays since I joined the Star in 1995. The first is Roberto Alomar. I knew what he could do from watching him with the Padres and in the two World Series years, but until I saw him play every day in '95, I didn't appreciate all the little things he did with the bat and the glove and on the bases. No. 2 is Scott Rolen. I knew of his Gold Glove status and his sometimes prickly relationship with media, but I didn't know until he was with the Jays, how much of a leadership role he took, how great a baserunner he was and that he was the best defender at third base I had ever seen. Too bad his tight shoulder and his battle to compensate and change his swing cost him some quality time as a Jay. He is back now with the Reds. No. 3 is Orlando Hudson. In his first couple of seasons with the Jays he did things in the field that reminded of a poor-man's Robby. He was a catalyst whose contributions went beyond his numbers.

Q: Richard,

A few weeks ago Cito talked about his concern about the quality of Jesse Litsch's stuff coming off surgery. From what you've seen lately, has Litsch's stuff gotten any better? How long does it generally take to know whether a pitcher will ever make it all the way back from Tommy John surgery?

Tony Baer, Baraboo

A: After his last start, Gaston expressed concern more for Litsch's endurance than for his stuff. As soon as he struggled in the sixth inning on Sunday against the Tigers, Cito lifted him. Litsch was not happy, but the stats show that the sixth inning since his return in June has done him in. I think Litsch's career before surgery has been overblown making the question “ever make it all the way back” an interesting one. The fact is Litsch was 20-19 in 50 career starts pre-Tommy John surgery and yes he has the potential to be a starter in a major-league rotation, but if he does establish himself, it won't be as much “coming back from Tommy John surgery as it will be “continuing to develop after a year-long interruption.” Further to your question, T.J. elbow surgeries are becoming fairly predictable in terms of players coming back. It's the shoulder (e.g. Dustin McGowan) that is the wild-card for pitchers.

Q: Hi Richard,

I enjoy reading your columns and getting your insights to the game. My question is related to future catching and third base positions. JP Arencibia is certainly proving that he has a power bat and is likely major league ready now. However, it seems like every time I see a box score for Las Vegas, he has an error or passed ball. Does he have the defence to be a major league catcher? With such a young pitching staff, defence will be equally if not more important than his bat. Admittedly, the only aspect of his game that I know of is his statistical ability. However, given that we have organizational depth of quality catching prospects (Brian Jeroloman, Travis D'arnaud, Antonio Jimenez, Carlos Perez) and not much on the horizon at third base, should we consider sending JP to the instructional league to learn 3B? His bat would work there and he must have a decent arm since he is a catcher. Inexpensive veteran catchers are always available via free agency every year and we could continue that trend until one of the previously mentioned are ready?

Tom Fitzgerald, Newmarket

A: Why settle for an inexpensive veteran catcher when you have the possibility to have developed in your own system a young, exciting hitter at the position. In order to separate yourself from the pack you need a couple of impact players at the key positions. Now that's not to say that one day Arencibia won't end up playing another position, but there are catchers that were just adequate defensively that had great careers (see: Mike Piazza, Jorge Posada). They say that everything about Arencibia has been better since his surgeries for astigmatism and for his internal disorder last off-season. I do believe a great young offensive catcher will do more to help you compete than moving him to third base and mixing and matching behind the plate. As long as you continue to keep a defensive, game-calling veteran catcher to back him up – like Jose Molina. As for the young catchers further down in the Jays' system, whenever one of them is ready (likely D'Arnaud), bring him up like the Angels did with their two young, quality receivers.

Q: Dearest Richard,

Why on earth are four man rotations KAPUT? It's not like hurlers like Bob Gibson or Whitey Ford had a problem with it...right? And they travelled by train a lot! These fellas now are pussy-cats...do you agree Sir?

Sally Cole, Exeter, England

A: I do agree that by-and-large, today's fellas are now pussy-cats. That being said, the last pitching coach to try and go with a four-man rotation was Ferguson Jenkins in a brief experiment with the Cubs. As I recall, he was fired shortly thereafter. The thing is these major-league cats of pussy have spent their entire pro careers, no matter which organization, working in five-man rotations. There is a recovery period for the arm and the body between starts and pitchers develop routines. It couldn't be one organization, it would have to be every organization that starts from the lowest levels of the minors developing pitchers to go every fourth day. It won't happen. I'll stake my 8-track player, my game of Pong and the keys to my Pinto on it.

Q: Looking at historical hitting all-time leaders it seems the one category that lacks any players of the modern era is triples. Why are there no modern players in the top 50 all time in triples? Is it a function of the game changing or the talents of the players (defensively or offensively) being different than decades ago?

Phil W., Sarnia

A: Back in the day, there were many major-league ballparks that were today's normal distance or sometimes even less down the lines but faded away to cavernous centre fields, with deep power alleys. That's because ballparks were built on downtown city blocks and took those contours. Fenway Park is a living example. In any case, during the Golden Years for triples, prior to WWII there were more balls to more fences being chased by a bunch of slow white guys that resulted in three-base hits. Today's modern parks are mostly made for the excitement of home runs and balls in play rattle off fences back to outfielders that turn into doubles. Austin Jackson of the Tigers, playing in that home ballpark with his speed and power could be the next great triples machine.

Q: Hi Richard,

In line with AA's current mantra, do you think Jeff Francoeur would be a good fit with the Jays? I personally am not expecting him to launch 29 homers again but if he averaged 15HR, 70-80 RBI and added double-digit assists for the Jays, I'd be happy with that. I realize adding another OF to the mix isn't ideal with Snider, Wells, Lind in the long term plans and Fred Lewis making an impression on the leadoff spot. However, adding Jeff to Vernon would give the outfield a lot of defensive credibility (also allowing Snider to be in LF). I also believe that while Lewis has been effective, he is not a long term solution. This may be a pipe dream but I believe they should acquire Francoeur, deal Bautista, and I was way on board with you about Chone Figgins so I think they should revisit that now that he had a blowup with his manager. Thoughts?

Jon Kwok, Kitchener

A: I don't think Francoeur fits into what AA is trying to do in that he will be a 5-plus player at the end of the season. Yes, he is young (26), but not controllable beyond 2011. Besides he lost his starting job with the Mets. In fact Bautista's assets and length of major-league service are almost the same in terms of throwing arm, power potential, low average, etc. So you have Bautista already but you are advocating trading him and getting Francoeur. I don't get it. I agree that Lewis is not part of the future and I agree with you about Figgins being a nice add.

Mail bag

The Jays have come out of the break like gangbusters, as predicted in an early-July mailbag, thanks to the very favourable schedule. But the fact is you have to take advantage of those opportunities and beat the teams you should beat because when the schedule gets tough again you need a buffer to .500. It's funny listening to Jerry Howarth on radio and Buck Martinez on TV pronouncing the name of the new kid on the block, Yunel Escobar. Buck goes with the way it reads, Yunel, while Jerry, who obviously asked the kid himself, says Ju-nel. It reminds me of when Ozzie Guillen first came to the majors and the broadcasters asked him and he said ‘Gui-jenn’? They went with that for a while until he corrected them to ‘Gui-yen’ even though he himself pronounced it the other way. It's like the old Get Smart routine with the hilariously insidious villain called ‘The Claw’. The only problem was that as a person of Chinese heritage, for the comedic effect, he would call himself ‘The Craw’. Max would invariably confront him and say ‘Ah, my old friend The Craw’ and the villain would then get mad and say, ‘Not The Craw, The Craw’. At Griff's baseball mailbag, for the new shortstop we'll stick with Yu-nel. Otherwise we'd be calling the L.A. baseball team the ‘Doy-errs’ and the New York team the ‘Jankees’. It seems every language has its quirks and special pronunciations. On to the mailbag.

Q: I don't understand the Yunel Escobar for Alex Gonzalez deal? Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky seemed like good organizational prospects that might have helped the big club in a few years. Gonzalez had an affordable option at $2.5M, versus the $3+M that Escobar is going to get in arbitration next year and the Jays have a shortstop prospect for 2012 in Adeiny Hechavarria. So why not trade Gonzalez for a guy who can play third in the future or even a corner outfielder?

Jason Sinnarajah, Tokyo

A: On the contrary, it's quite easy to understand the Escobar deal. You have to remember the basic philosophy of GM Alex Anthopoulos is to acquire younger, controllable players whenever the option and opportunity presents itself without giving up a big part of the club's future. As such, he has Escobar for three more seasons after this. In his first year of arbitration, Escobar will max out at about $1.5 million. Gonzalez was there as you pointed out for one more season As for Pastornicky, the 20-year-old can be a decent major-league utility infielder eventually, but is that the type of player that prevents you from making a deal that can help the major-league club right now and moving forward? Pastornicky has been pushed back on the depth chart at shortstop by Adeiny Hechavarria and in the middle infield they still have Ryan Schimpf (22), Ryan Goins (22), John Tolisano (21), Gustavo Pierre (18) and the perennially underachieving Justin Jackson (21). The lefty reliever Collins may make it to the majors, but there is a built in prejudice against short pitchers and the 21-year-old Worcester (MA) native, discovered by J.P. Ricciardi's dad is listed at 5-7 but is more like 5-5 — a less scary Jason Frasor.

Q: Hi Richard,

Really enjoy the mailbag. With all the talk about potential players to be traded at the deadline, one of the last names to be mentioned (if mentioned at all) is Kevin Gregg. I am writing this fresh on the heels of Gregg's giveaway on Monday night against the Royals, which followed his meltdown on Saturday night. I know he is 4th in the AL in saves, but that does not tell the story. When you look at the top 5 in the AL in saves, their WHIPs range from 0.80 to 1.16, EXCEPT for Gregg who has a 1.47. Every time he goes out there it's a nail-biter (and too often, the nails aren't the only thing lost). I would put out any of Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, Jeremy Accardo, David Purcey before Gregg. (In fact, I would put out Sal Fasano before Gregg.) Do the starters have confidence in Gregg? How likely do you think it is he will be traded before the deadline? I would trade him for a bucket of chicken if another team was willing to take him.

Thanks very much,

Patrick Bedard, Ottawa

A: That's a little harsh. But whatever the Jays do with Gregg before the deadline, or whether they end up keeping him, he has done pretty much what was expected of him after Anthopoulos signed him this past off-season. At training camp the 32-year-old was brought in with a chance to win the closer's role or be the setup man for Frasor or Downs. After Frasor stumbled, Gregg stepped in and solidified the role for a while. When Gaston strode to the hill and yanked him after walking the bases loaded the other night in Baltimore and he had some nasty words with his manager on the way to the dugout, that may be it for his permanent foothold on the ninth inning role. Recall Boomer Wells throwing the ball down the foul line when Cito yanked him in '92. Gone by the next spring. If Gregg is traded, it will be to be a setup man for a contender like the Tigers who need more depth in that role for Jose Valverde. The Jays would not be asking for much in return with Gregg a free agent at the end of the year.

Hey Richard,

Great blog, really like your insight into all things baseball. A couple weeks ago you posted what the 'Jays' ideally see' as the starting lineup come 2012, and Jose big bats Bautista was listed at 3b. I was surprised. His new found power added to his versatility make Bautista a steal for the price, but I didn't think the Jays were looking at him as a long term starting piece. Is Jose Bautista for 3b in 2012 really the buzz in the Jays organization?

Thanks, keep up the stellar work.

Jay Godfrey, Hong Kong

A: Bautista at 3b in 2012 is far from being the Jays' organization buzz, but it is also far from the worst thing they could do in terms of committing to a talented ballplayer that they pulled off the scrap heap and revived his career. Bautista's power, his on-base percentage and the fact that there is nobody at that position on the farm-system horizon make it a feasible scenario. If the jays are going to have to fill that third-base spot via trade or free agency as they enter into their contending years in 2012-13, why not have it be someone they are already familiar with and who has some versatility and loyalty to the Blue Jays' brand. Aaron Hill will still be at second base and Brett Wallace will likely be at first, with either Escobar or (they're hoping) Hechavarria at short.

Q: I'm very skeptical that Brett Wallace and Hechavarria will ever be good major league players. Bill James noted in his early research that you can't teach hitting...scouts are forever looking at athletes and thinking they will teach them how to hit. Doesn't work.

Wallace's 1.5 years of pcl batting equate to roughly a 230-240 hitter with a .300 ob and .370 slugging pct in the majors. Hechavarria didn't hit in Cuba (reports were a .240 average) and so far in A and AA he's a .210 average with .244 ob, and 314 slugging.

J. Maron, Richmond Hill

A: That's all mumbo-jumbo. Keep studying those numbers and tell the late Charlie Lau, Rudy Jaramillo and Walt Hriniak that you can't teach hitting. I'll agree you can't teach instinct, intelligence and fearlessness. As for Hechavarria, much of his first three months as a Jays' farmhand has gone into cultural transition and getting comfortable with his new environment. Check back with me next July on both men.

Q: Hi Richard.

If every infield in the majors is a full dirt infield, except Toronto's, how is playing on turf bad for the knees or back of an infielder? I'm pretty sure dirt infields are much harder than spongy, rubber-pelleted turf. I'm thinking back to one of the reasons Troy Glaus wanted out of town.

Thanks.

Don Zentner, Oakville

A: Running and changing direction on dirt infields is much like playing tennis on clay as opposed to hardcourt surfaces -- much easier on the joints. We're talking ankles, knees and hips as far as the wear and tear of the artificial turf is concerned. When you change direction on the fake grass like at the Rogers Centre, spikes catch and hold firm and the stress goes to the joints. On grass or dirt, a jarring stop or turn is likely to bring up a divot or at least some amount of forgiveness and give. If baseball was just leisurely jogging in one direction then I might agree about the turf, but it's not. Besides, the busiest sections of artificial turf as time goes on get worn down and lose the spongy forgiveness, the seams get wider and more dangerous, leading to the ‘playing on concrete’ effect like they had in Montreal for those Olympic Stadium years.

Q: Given that the starters are all coming off major injuries or are young and really only pitching their first full season in the majors, what do you think of going to a six man rotation the rest of the way? This would hopefully see all the starters get just enough rest that they remain healthy while continuing to build innings. Cito never uses the bench so getting rid of a bench player to keep an extra starter around is easy enough to do.

Mike M., Cobourg, Ont.

A: It's not the worst idea in the world, in fact this time around the rotation, with both Jesse Litsch and Marc Rzepczynski earning a start post-all-star break, it leaves Gaston with just three bench players. Has anyone noticed? The problem becomes with the injury to Escobar that if he can't play and you need to hold your second catcher back in case of injury to the starter, that leaves just Dewayne Wise on the bench. I think the solution in the next basic agreement is to expand everyday rosters to 14 players and 13 pitchers and designate 25 each game as being active. That would help teams that are forced to make bogus disablements like Shaun Marcum's around the all-star break just to miss one start using the four days off for the All-Star Game as DL time.

Q: Hi Richard,

What is your opinion of Kevin Ahrens's lack of progress. It looks almost certain that he is a complete bust of a first round pick. Since drafted, A ball has been completely over his ability. As poorly as Russ Adams has done, he at least made it up to the bigs before the mental aspect of the game sent him into a tail spin. Ahrens is being blown away by 18 year olds. As always, thanks for your efforts,

Craig Hicken, British Virgin Islands

A: At this point Ahrens must be considered a bust. The 21-year-old switch-hitter is batting under .200 in his second year at A-Dunedin, with a .524 OPS. A Texas high-schooler, he was selected 16th overall in 2007 and received a $1.44 million signing bonus. Asst. GM Tony LaCava last year admitted that the mistake the organization made in 2009 was advancing him from A-Lansing to the more challenging Dunedin when he had proved he wasn't ready for the next step in 2008. The one-time third-baseman of the future should not be written off yet. If LaCava was right, then this year is about Ahrens trying to re-adjust mentally. If he reports to spring training 2011 and fails again, then he can officially be declared a first-round bust. But he is only 21 and maturity is a very individual thing.

Q: Hi Richard,

The Mailbag is one of the few articles I genuinely look forward to reading each week, thanks so much! Quick question for you: It seems to me that while all professional sports teams draft players at roughly the same age, it's much more likely to see an 18, 19 or 20-year old playing in the NHL or NBA than the MLB. The average age for rookies in MLB seems to be around 22 (a semi-educated guess). Any insight into why players take longer to develop in the MLB than in other sports?

Thanks Richard!

Daniel D., Toronto

A: Blame Branch Rickey, the inventor of the modern farm system. Back in the pre-Jackie Robinson days, teams used to sign prospects off the farm and needed a place for them to play, so Rickey signed working agreements with pro teams in smaller towns and let his players play there. Rickey was hoarding, but his concept was right. The fact is that baseball is a game of subtlety and nuance. Hockey and basketball have basic plays and assignments that stay the same from Tyke to the pros. In baseball, a pitcher or hitter is physically ready for the majors long before he is strategically or mentally capable of playing at the highest level. I would say that the estimate of 22 as the average age of major-league rookies is low. I think it's more like 24-25. Most high school players need 4-5 years in the minors, while college players need a solid three down on the farm — unless you're a Stephen Strasburg type stud.

Q: Richard,

What is the plan for Kyle Drabek at AA. While not dominant, he has one of the better ERAs in our minor league system and has shown flashes of brilliance (i.e. throwing a no hitter). Do the Jays have any intention of seeing him pitch in the majors this year, perhaps in September, or is it the plan to let him stay at AA and then be given a chance to crack the major league roster next year?

Thanks,

Jeff Smith, Toronto

A: Drabek is not being babied like many young pitchers. The 22-year-old Texan has made 19 starts and is averaging over six innings per outing. He is on the verge of being ready for the bigs and his being at Double-A instead of Triple-A is not a sign that he needs to take another step before reaching the majors. The Eastern League is more of a pitchers' development stop than is Las Vegas in the Pacifica Coast League. Jesse Litsch jumped from there and Marc Rzepczynski only needed two AAA starts. Drabek may be one significant injury to the Jays' rotation away from being in the majors. His walk total is a little high, but that's like saying Charlize Theron's eyebrows are too hairy.

Q: Richard,

Why is Brian Tallet still in the Majors? And with Cito rarely using the bench, should Nick Green be replaced by another reliever? Thank you, have a good second half.

DeShaun Kozak, Uxbridge, Ont.

A: Tallet is still in the majors because Cito Gaston has a loyal streak for guys that do everything he asks without complaint. Tallet is a good guy and an interesting personality. However sometime his fastballs come in looking like beachballs which is when he gets in trouble. Every team has to have a Brian Tallet. And on the subject of Green, I guess Cito was listening.

Q: Why aren't catchers the best hitters? They catch a variety of over 100 pitches per game knowing the spin/rotation of what each type of pitch entails, yet they are generally near the bottom in batting average, home runs, and RBIs!

Michael Sutton, Burlington

A: Why aren't talk show hosts the best politicians if all it takes is the powers of observation? The pundits sit back in their studios and watch councillors, mp's, mayors, premiers, prime ministers and world leaders screw up yet if they were asked to step in and actually do it, they would be about the same — or worse. Think about your question like this. When catchers were kids growing up they were the smartest kids on the team but not necessarily the best athletes. The glamour boys took the other positions where they don't have to squat all the time and be hit by foul tips and block balls in the dirt. So the catcher knows how to explain hitting but not necessarily how to turn around a 95 m.p.h. fastball. That's why so many managers are former catchers. Fast of mind, slow of bat.

Q: Hey Richard,

With Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago (Cubs) and others looking for managers for next year, what are the odds A.A. gets his man? Also, who are the frontrunners on the market for the next Jays manager & who would you like to see in the hot seat next year?

Thanks,

Craig

A: There are so many old managers on their farewell tours right now that it looks like the summer lineup of rock bands at Casino Rama. Cito, Bobby Cox, now Lou Piniella. Sure there are major-league teams with higher profiles than the jays looking for managers at the end of the season, but I don't believe there will be any shortage of quality candidates for Anthopoulos to choose from. What the Cubs need, what the Braves need in their markets and with their rosters is not necessarily what the Jays need. Remember that in most cases, teams go for the opposite of what they've got at the moment. In that case, Bob Elliott's suggestion of Don Baylor to replace Cito is a longshot. They have pretty much the same qualifications and backgrounds and the Jays will likely be going for younger, teach-ier, more modern tactician. If you're asking me what I would do, I think that the jays will not be ready to compete next year, so I would give a two-year contract to coach Brian Butterfield and if they are ready in 2012 to win, then I would have the option of staying with Butter or like the Tigers did in '06, bring in your high-profile, track-record guy to lead them to the promised land. The Tigers hired Jim Leyland only when they were ready to win. There will always be those ‘reputation’ Guys available but if 2011 is going to be another teaching year why not go in that direction first?

Mail bag

The thing that surprised me the most at the All-Star Game was to hear the players to a man talk about the importance of Bud Selig's carrot-on-a-stick - the home-field advantage of the World Series - as something that inspired them to play hard.

Maybe Bud Selig has it right. Maybe it's the young players that are dominating the game who aren't yet comfortable enough to coast through a meaningless exhibition like the midsummer classic. Maybe it's the NL teams that are tired of only hosting Games 3-4-5 in the Fall Classic. Whatever it is, this was a play-to-win All-Star Game managed as such by the NL skipper Charlie Manuel. Maybe next year, now that the senior circuit broke its 12-year losing streak, the AL will deign to use the major-league leader in homers, Jose Bautista, as more than just a pinch-runner and defensive replacement, and the game's most expensive player, Alex Rodriguez, as more than just a bench coach and cyber-escort for the uber-hot “God Bless America” country singer.

Highlights of the All-Star weekend and week? The catch-on-one-hop-spin-and-throw to second for a force by Marlon Byrd in the ninth inning when the AL was two runs behind. The moment of silence for the one-and-only George Steinbrenner who passed away in Tampa on Tuesday morning. ESPN host Erin Andrews trying to act like nothing unusual had happened in her life. Being very competitive managing my Midget baseball team at a showcase classic for college coaches in Columbus, Ohio that ended Sunday. We had a plus-6 run differential in three games but were 1-2. The nomination of friend and colleague Bob Elliott for the Spink Award in 2011, meaning if he wins he has a chance to enter the Hall-of-Fame at Cooperstown with Robby Alomar.

On to the mailbag.

Q-Hi Richard, 

Love your mailbag! Keep up the outstanding work! My question is, what do you think the Jays need to compete either in 2011 or 2012? It seems they have their catcher (J.P. Arencibia), 1B (Brett Wallace), 2B (Aaron Hill), CF (Vernon Wells), RF (Travis Snider). Who do you see them bringing in or bringing up to compete in the near future?
Howard Adler, Toronto

A -I don't believe the Jays can compete in 2011. But because of that struggle they will be ready to compete in 2012. That may sound like a negative or an oxymoron for next season's prediction but the reason is that if they are getting better as an organization – and they seem to be -- they will be getting younger at the major-league level and thus will be taking their lumps on the learning curve. This year has been a case of letting a young starting rotation learn at the major-league level while the position players are a mixture of young veterans and veteran veterans. The players that will be ready to compete in 2012 are in the minors this year and will be in the majors next year, specifically Arencibia, Wallace and Snider and then whichever shortstop is closest to the majors – likely Adeiny Hechavarria. You're forgetting Adam Lind in your list as the DH. Oh yeah, don't forget the bullpen will be younger and less experienced. More lumps. But it will be a fun team to watch develop if you believe in 2012.

Q - 
Richard, 
 
All things considered, the Jays record at this point seems to be where it should be. This was a rebuilding year. The quick start was a kind of tease and it was hard to keep things in perspective but the way I see it is that anything over .500 is a bonus. Just wanted your take on a couple things: 1) Will Lyle Overbay be traded by the end of the month? 
2) Will Travis Snider be back this season? 
3) Will the Jays be able re-sign Alex Gonzalez? Looks like he will be due quite the raise. Or will they make room for Justin Jackson next year? 4) Are there any young free agents we can sign that will improve our hitting? 
Thanks as always. 

Scott Rambeau, Windsor

A -When fans are passionate about their team that's when it's always difficult to keep things in perspective. The highs always seem higher and the lows are lower. But all that means is the fans care and Blue Jays fans do care. If you recall, last year was also a quick start and an early tease. I think the schedule of opponents has a lot to do with the Jays' tendency to get streaky through different months of the schedule. Just checking the Jays' current schedule coming out of the break, it looks like time for a good stretch of wins and losses leading up to the trade deadline. But don't get too high.

As for the questions: 1) I believe Lyle Overbay will be traded by the end of the month. The best thing for the Jays is that Lyle started to hit consistently. There are teams that could use him for the final two months and if he's not traded by the deadline, he'll be available on waivers in August; 2) Travis Snider is ready to come back before the end of the month, but the Jays would like to know what they're doing with either Overbay or Edwin Encarnacion. That would clear a roster spot and make it easier; 3) The fact is that the Jays hold an option on Gonzalez which they will surely pick up because it is reasonable and he can fill a role for another year. 4) Young free agents are becoming extinct, especially if they are talented, because clubs know they had better tie them up with long-term contracts before they ever reach their free agent seasons. If the Jays are to fill a starting position role in 2011 it will have to be via trade. But they do have the depth in starting pitching to do exactly that.

Q - Hi Richard, 
 How worried should we be when we hear that Shaun Marcum is experiencing pain in his surgically repaired elbow? Chris O'Leary who writes the Pitching Mechanics blog points out that Marcum's mechanics (what he calls the "Inverted W") will lead to nothing but future arm problems. Your thoughts?
Scott C., Halifax 


A -It's always a cause for extreme concern when additional arm problems follow a year off taken after elbow surgery. But the dilemma of what to do with him arises when everyone in baseball has access to the same information and after that what can you possibly get worthwhile in trade for someone that people feel might break down at any time. Personally, I think this is a normal arm issue for someone following a year off of pitching that has been used every five days and has taken the ball without complaint every time he's asked. Personally I feel Marcum can be a nice part of the Jays rotation as long as they continue to go at least eight deep into the minor-league system and can injury fill when needed. Pitching is an unnatural motion in any case no matter what letter of the alphabet you're using.


Q-Richard, 
I am hoping you as the foremost Blue Jay authority can shed some light on when the Jays will begin their search for a new manager. I applaud Cito for the job he did in the early '90s, but the game has passed him by and it has become excruciating to watch his ineptitude. It is sad to say, but he is a dinosaur in baseball terms. He practically photocopies the lineup daily and he is very predictable as he employs next to no strategy. I would love to see someone from outside of the organization so that a new energy and strategy can inject some life into this team. Managing a pitching staff, a bullpen and the bench, including stealing bases are essential to a team's success. Have you heard any names at this stage beyond the obvious in house names. 

Dan Kerr, Oshawa

A-Here's the chronology of Alex Anthopoulos's first calendar year as GM. From January 1 to Opening Day Alex was busy putting together his Opening Day roster and scouting amateur prospects. From April 1 up to the draft, the GM was busy scouting amateur prospects and putting together his draft board. From June 1 to July 31 Anthopoulos is busy trying to hornswoggle other GMs into taking his chaff for their wheat. Now comes the answer to your question. From August 1 until October 1 he will be putting his list together of potential managerial candidates. The great thing about the Jays' search is that they are not doing it behind the back of the current manager Cito Gaston. On opening day 2011, Cito plans to be on the Riviera with his wife. The consulting job is flexible. As for his current shortcomings as manager, the Jays and Paul Beeston are repaying him for being screwed for 10 years by baseball for winning two World Series with very good teams. That's not held against other managers as much as it was held against Cito. The money that he lost during his 10 years of being ostracized as manager will not be made up in his two full seasons with the Jays in 2009-10, but $4.5 million helps ease the pain. The names that are available now aren't the names that will be at the top of the list later.

Q -Vernon Wells is an all-star this season. Last year there was considerable angst among the stat heads about his atrocious defence. Does that mean that no one cares about defensive ability in a centrefielder or that, like last year, he is still a pretty good defensive centrefielder?
Eric Emerson, Roslin, Ont. 


A -I'm sorry, the correct term is “seamheads”. There are some stats that I have never been able to figure out in modern baseball and that crazy convoluted fielding range statistic that compares outfielders on their range factors arbitrarily using the judgment of 30 different guys in 30 different press boxes to create a season-long number makes no sense to me. Give me the personal visual of a ball being struck and the centrefielder reacting at the very same moment – something that I know has just happened -- and I'll take that stat any time. Whenever Roy Halladay pitched it seemed Wells would have 1-2 chances in the field and that would be balanced against 1-2 broken bat singles that parachuted to the turf in centre field and were counted against Vernon's range. No wonder his numbers sucked. I do believe that his defence suffered in 2009 for other reasons like his wrist and worrying about his hitting. But to me the number doesn't mean squat.

Q - Considering the Jays have yet to sign 2010 first-rounder Deck McGuire, is it possible that the Jays may have drafted him without the total intention of signing him? Due to alterations to MLB drafting rules, teams now receive compensation (same pick #) in the subsequent draft if they are unable to come to terms with a player, which in this case, would award the Jays with the #11 pick in the 2011 MLB Draft. When one considers that the 2011 draft is projected to be head and shoulders better than the 2010 draft, in terms of both hitting and pitching talent at both the HS and College levels, would not signing McGuire, and in turn, cashing the pick in on an potentially higher impact prospect, be a savvy baseball decision?
Kyle B., Toronto

A -I believe that the Jays drafted Deck McGuire with the intention of signing him. But the new rule that saved their bacon after the disaster of the 2009 draft is a good cushion to fall back on. If that had been the Jays' intention, Anthopoulos would not have bragged so openly about their intention to sign all of their top picks. In fact, I believe that rookie GM braggadacio rather than a conspiracy theory might cost them the signature of their top draft pick. Any good agent or advisor follows the media surrounding the team that drafts their client. When McGuire's people read that A.A. said he would not be governed by slot money and that he wanted to make sure he signed them all, what else would they do but wait until closer to the August 15 deadline and pressure the Jays to stick to their guns of not being shut out. It's a fallback not a primary plan.

Q-Hi Richard, Love your work. I just sat through the 14 to 3 pasting the Red Sox gave the Jays and my mind started to wander then wonder about the wall of excellence. I know the two were not so related at the time. But, who do you think will be the next couple of names added to the wall? My choices would be Carlos Delgado and Roy Halladay when he retires. Second question is about Brian Tallet. Up until recently he has been a very useful lefty. Is his very rough spell going to end in the majors or minors? Sincerely,

Charles Adam, Manitoulin Island, Ont.

A-The Wall of Excellence does not need names just because another year goes by. I believe Delgado should be up there as soon as he announces his retirement. I believe Pat Hentgen should be the second name. I spoke to both Chris Carpenter and Roy Halladay at the All-Star Game and both mentioned Hentgen right off the bat as a major influence in their careers. As for Tallet, he was not thrilled to be relegated to the bullpen and it seems to have affected his performance. I think his rough spell is going to end in another organization. There are some guys that need a change of scenery to succeed and Tallet is one of them. I love Tallet as an interview. He is thoughtful and truthful, but his cerebral talent often exceeds his physical.

Q-I think the Mariners committed highway robbery with trading Cliff Lee. First of all, they got better prospects than they initially traded for. And second of all, it seems like they received just as strong of a package that Toronto got for trading Roy Halladay, who had a full year on his contract plus an extension. If the Jays kept Roy until the trade deadline, do you think we could have received a similar package? I mean, the Yankees were about to send Montero, who they were so reluctant to trade for Roy.
Werner Ott, Thunder Bay

A-Only time will tell with regards to the relative quality of the players, including Phillipe Aumont, that the M's traded to obtain Lee from the Phils, and the quality of the players they obtained from the Rangers, including first baseman Justin Smoak. This is all opinion on your part, but the three-man package the Jays got from the Phillies seems in the long run to be better than the Rangers package to the M's. The key is in the long term. The difference in your question with regard to Halladay is that he still would only have accepted a trade to the Phillies at the trade deadline so the question is academic. Whatever anyone else had to offer would not have been done. They would have received less than they got with half a season remaining and no competition – no Drabek.

Q-Why don't the Jays want to bring Snider back until he has shown he can contribute at the plate but they are willing to let Litsch roll out there every five days with no indication he is able to contribute at the major league level? Is there a different standard for hitters and pitchers?
Zack Farrar, Toronto

A-They are bringing Snider back shortly. Meanwhile Litsch is hanging on by a thread. The Snider delay is to show that he is 100 per cent healthy.


Q-Hi Richard, 
 
Like most Jays fans, I am troubled by Aaron Hill's struggles this year. For the most part, this has been blamed on a nagging injury, sagging confidence, and pitcher's adjustments.


But I have been worried since last year about the effect his surprising power campaign would have on his hitting. Up until last year he was thought of as a solid guy for average with enough pop to put out 15-20 in a year. Last year his power far exceeded expectations, but I'm wondering how much of an outlier that result was. My concern is that both for fans AND Hill himself, an expectation got built up that he was now a middle of the order power bat. There's no question that Hill's timing is off, but he also looks to me like everything's a big cut. 
So is Hill's slump this year partly a product of a regular hitter trying to be a power hitter? 

Mark Acheson, London

A-I don't think the problem is that he believes he's a power hitter now. I think the problem is that he doesn't know what he is. He's caught in between. Most players don't want to set statistical goals for themselves, but I think Hill should see himself as a .285 hitter, with 40 doubles, 15 homers, 80 walks and 75 RBIs. Maybe Hill is a sixth place in the order bat and should be put there and left there. His timing is off. He is too static and failure leads to angst which leads to tightness which leads to more failure. He has time to save his season.

Griffin: George Steinbrenner's Legacy

George Steinbrenner was to major-league baseball ownership what New York City is to North American cities. The man and the city shared a larger than life, love 'em or hate 'em status that made that 38-year relationship a match made in heaven. 

The Boss passed away on Tuesday morning in Tampa, Florida, the same day as the 81st All-Star Game with his beloved Yankees sitting as defending World Series champions and holding onto the best record in baseball in 2010. For the 80-year-old Yankee owner, that winning position, even more than the incredible current value of a franchise he had purchased for a mere $10 million back in 1973, was heaven on earth. 

Steinbrenner and New York City were equal partners. 

I recall the first year of free agency in 1976 when Reggie Jackson was the prized acquisition. The last-place Expos had the first pick in the convoluted system that had come out of the negotiations with the players association following the messy Andy Messersmith, Dave McNally trial cases.

The Expos were heading into a new Olympic Stadium and wanted the charismatic Jackson to lead them there. Reggie went on his travelling salvation tour. First, Expos' owner Charles Bronfman made his best pitch at a private dinner party at his posh home in Westmount on the slopes of Mount Royal. The backdrop was impressive, the money offer was competitive and the role being offered was appealing as a leader into the future of a young franchise on the rise.

The next day Jackson flew to New York. Steinbrenner simply took Jackson for a lunch-hour walk in uptown Manhattan, the enthusiastic Yankee fans greeted him in the streets, yelling his name urging Jackson to sign with the Bombers. The Boss shrewdly knew what effect that would likely have on Jackson and his ego. He was right. It was George and the Big Apple working together at their best.

Face it. New York City has its dark side and its glamorous side. Ditto for Mr. Steinbrenner. As the city cleaned up its act in the '90s, so it seemed did Steinbrenner with his ball team. After sitting through a three-year suspension from 1990-93 during which the rival Blue Jays won two World Series by outspending everybody and combining farm development with free agency, The Boss decided that his baseball people actually knew what they were doing and started a glory run through the end of the century, basically under one manager, Joe Torre. At the same time, New York City was cleaning up its act under mayor Rudy Giuliani. The Yankees were once again becoming the family game and New York City as personified by the iconic area around Times Square was becoming a prime family destination once again. 

After New York City was tragically attacked on September 11, 2001, Steinbrenner and the Yankees became super-patriots around which America's national pride and self-esteem could be re-built and quantified. It happened. Who will ever forget the '01 World Series when President George Bush strode to the mound at Yankee Stadium and delivered a perfect strike before Game 3 of the World Series. Steinbrenner and the Yankees never stopped remembering that darkest moment in America's history, continuing with the seventh inning renditions of God Bless America long after others had stopped, then continuing to honour U.S. servicemen with anonymous contributions of money and tickets and countless days for the military at Yankee Stadium. How about that big old American Eagle that would swoop in at the end of the anthem and land on his trainer's leather clad arm. Great theatre...great New York theatre.

Sure Steinbrenner changed the pay structure of the game by leaps and bounds, making millionaires out of louts and superstars alike. But the game was always going to change whether Steinbrenner was there or not. For years the players had been held in virtual servitude and the system had to change. When it did, Steinbrenner simply had the ability and foresight to take advantage of it, although it took him a decade of futility in the '80s to learn some valuable lessons that money can't control baseball all by itself. It's why every year there are some low-payroll teams on the list of post-season contenders. 

Steinbrenner was New York. They had so many things in common. Ask any experienced traveller about his experiences in the Big Apple and he or she will have a combination of both horror and love stories. Such is the legacy of George Steinbrenner. 

What Seinfeld fan will ever forget the line delivered by Frank Costanza when the George Steinbrenner character knocked on his door to deliver the news that Costanza's son George, the Yankees' assistant to the traveling secretary was dead (he wasn't).

"What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?" yelled Costanza before anything else.

George Steinbrenner will most surely be going to the Hall-of-Fame soon, but going with him should be the founder of the Players' Association Marvin Miller. Sometimes for better, sometimes for worse the game and the industry of baseball have chanced since 1973 when Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees. In all cases, The Boss and his influence has been a huge factor on both sides. 

    

      

Griffin: All-Star Workout Day Notes

81ST ALL-STAR GAME: The first game was played at Comiskey Park in 1933, the brainchild of sports writer Arch Ward. There were two games in the four seasons from 1959-62 but none in the war year 1945. Despite a 12-game AL win streak, the National League leads all-time with a mark of 40-38-2. The last NL win was a 6-0 shutout in Philadelphia in 1996. Two players, Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez, were also in the '96 game and are all-stars in 2010.    

YOUNG STARS: The game's stars are getting younger. Proof lies in the fact there are 33 first-time all-stars at this year's game. They include: Jose Bautista, John Buck, Clay Buchholz, Yovani Gallardo, Jason Heyward, Troy Tulowitzki, Trevor Cahill, Jered Weaver, Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre, Fausto Carmona, Neftali Feliz, Phil Hughes, Jon Lester, David Price, Rafael Soriano, Nick Swisher, Matt Thornton, Ty Wigginton, Michael Bourn, Marlon Byrd, Matt Capps, Andre Ethier, Omar Infante, Ubaldo Jiminez, Hong-Chih Kuo, Evan Meek, Brandon Phillips, Martin Prado, Arthur Rhodes, Joey Votto, Adam Wainright and Chris Young. The total of 33 first-time stars beats the previous high of 30 set in 1988.

FOREIGN LEGION: Of the 77 players earning the nod to this year's All-Star Game, including injury substitutions, a total of 26 are foreign born, including Joey Votto and Justin Morneau from Canada. Leading the way are 14 from the Dominican Republic, five from Venezuela and then Canada with two. Ubaldo Jimenez is the third Dominican pitcher to start an All-Star Game after Mario Soto (1983) and Pedro Martinez (1999). Cuban-born Luis Tiant in 1967 was the first foreign-born pitcher to start. 

GRIFFIN: All-Star managers reveal lineups

The The All-Star starting pitchers David Price of the Rays and Ubaldo Jimenez of the Rockies sat at the head table next to managers Joe Girardi of the Yankees and Charlie Manuel of the Phillies. Also at the head table representing the AL as she has since MLB went under one umbrella abolishing the titles of league presidents was Jackie Autry. Representing the NL was Bill Giles, long associated with the Phillies and son of former NL president Warren Giles. 

Commissioner Bud Selig got the press conference underway with an outline of the main charities being helped by the All-Star Game. He talked about being close to Hollywood (not that close) and all the stars that would be out for the game and of course be seen on TV during the game. Then a guy from People magazine talked about the connection between MLB and the magazine promoting everyday all-stars that make a difference. It's called All-Star Among Us. Nice touch.

Funny that the first time the game was played in Anaheim was 1967, the longest all-star game ever with Tony Perez hitting a game-winning homer in the 15th inning. What's funny is that it's the first All-Star Game that I have a clear memory of. After that, I recall them all, starting to work with the Expos in 1973.

AL LINEUP: Ichiro RF, Jeter SS, Cabrera 1B, Hamilton CF, Guerrero DH, Longoria 3B, Mauer C, Cano 2B, Crawford LF, Price P.

NL LINEUP: Ramirez SS, Prado 2B, Pujols 1B, Howard DH, Wright 3B, Braun LF, Ethier, Hart RF, Molina C, Jimenez P  

Charlie did well in announcing his lineup only making two pronunciation mistakes: Martin Prado was announced PARDO and Andre Ethier was pronounced ETHER. Nice job, Charlie.

  

   

Mail Bag

With the major-league baseball trade deadline without waivers approaching at the end of the month, two positives have emerged in terms of GM Alex Anthopoulos if he in fact desires to a) move Lyle Overbay in trade and look forward to the future of first base with the Jays or b) move John Buck in trade and look forward to the future of catching with the Jays. The positives are that Overbay has begin to be productive on a daily basis and Buck has been named to the All-Star team. That may increase the interest in both men.

It was interesting on Tuesday to see Adam Lind pre-game working intensely with infield coach Brian Butterfield on fielding groundballs with his first baseman's glove. That indicates that something may be imminent with Overbay and that they don't think Brett Wallace is quite ready to come up and take over first base on an everyday basis. The Jays also need to make room for Travis Snider and if Lind moves to first, it opens up a spot at DH.

The Jays also have to make a decision after the all-star break when Shaun Marcum returns to the active roster. Jesse Litsch is scheduled for the Sunday start heading into the break and that may be his make-or-break moment. He has gone bad-good-bad-good-bad in his five starts, which is okay considering he missed a full year, but manager Cito Gaston has thrown some doubt on his immediate Jays' future if he goes back-to-back bad.

Q: Hi Richard,

Well isn't this turning into an interesting year? Though they are losing ground, I can see the elements of a very good team in the young Jays, and I'm enjoying watching Brandon Morrow, Ricky Romero and Brett Cecil grow into a what may become a very enviable rotation. I just watched the final Yankees game on Sunday, and my question is about the ruling for the inside-the-park home-run that happened when Wise lost the ball in the sun. Not taking anything away from Dewayne, who had an excellent game, but why wasn't that ruled an error? A final thought - I'm really enjoying watching Dewayne Wise and Fred Lewis. Do they have a long-term future with the club? Thanks for your thoughts.

Bryan Willis, Vancouver

A:  It is indeed an interesting year, although it was a bit more interesting in April and May when balls were flying out of the yard and the Jays starters were going 6-8 innings and they were within spitting distance of first place. The youngest most exciting aspect of the major-league Jays is definitely the starting rotation and it offers GM Alex Anthopoulos the deepest inventory of talent from which to deal this off-season. Consider a depth chart in the 2010-11 off-season of 1-Shaun Marcum; 2-Romero; 3-Morrow; 4-Cecil; 5-Marc Rzepczynski; 6-Jesse Litsch; 7-Kyle Drabek; 8-Scott Richmond; 9-Zach Stewart; 10-Henderson Alvarez; 11 Chad Jenkins. If 2010 is a rebuilding year, it looks like 2011 will be a re-positioning year with the baseball brass finding the right manager and the right mix of players with 2012 the year to compete.

As for the inside-the-park homer, losing a ball in the sun or if the wind blows a ball away from a fielder that looked like he was camped under it or if he loses it in the lights or two guys call for it and nobody catches it are all usually called “base-hit” by most official scorers. The mere fact of getting leather on a ball does not make it an error. Lewis was a good addition in April by A.A. When the Jays were looking for speed and a leadoff man. Wise has turned into a nice fourth outfielder with mad defensive skills and enough of a bat to hit second whenever he gets the nod. But in terms of long-term prospects for either or both, long-term commitments by the Jays are not in their future.

Q: Until the July 3 debacle against the Yankees, I'd accepted the ups and downs of the season as part of the growing process of a young, rebuilding team. Then it occurred to me: the 2010 Blue Jays are not a young team. Of the players to receive an at-bat, they Yankees were, on average, eight months younger than the Jays.

Eleven Yankees batted in that game - four were 30 or older (Jeter, Teixeira, Rodriquez, and Posada). One may speculate about whether these guys are on the downside of their careers - however, if so, it's on the downside of great careers.

Ten Blue Jays got an at-bat in the same game. Only two (Hill and Encarnacion) are under 30. Older players for the Jays included Green (lifetime batting average of .231), McDonald (.237 lifetime), Bautista (also .237 lifetime), Buck (.239 lifetime), Gonzalez (.248 lifetime) and Wise (.216 lifetime). What's the rebuilding strategy behind acquiring and playing this many aging players whose lifetime record is somewhere below mediocre?

Mark Stobbe, Saskatoon

A: While Bautista is not yet 30 and John Buck just turned 30 on Wednesday, you have a point if one was to look at the major-league club as the only entity involved for an organization that claimed to be rebuilding. The Yankee 40-man roster indeed averages 28.2 years old while the Jays check in at 28.5. While that may seem contrary to organizational philosophy, let's have a look at what the Jays ideally see as a lineup for when they are contenders in 2012.

C-Buck and Molina now ... J.P. Arencibia in '12

1B-Lyle Overbay now ... Brett Wallace in '12

2B-Aaron Hill now ... Hill in '12

3B-Edwin Encarnacion now ... Jose Bautista in '12

SS-Alex Gonzalez now ... Adeiny Hechavarria in '12

LF-Fred Lewis now ... TBA in '12

CF-Vernon Wells now ... Wells in '12

RF-Bautista now ... Travis Snider in '12

DH-Adam Lind now ... Lind in '12

That will be a younger team that was allowed to develop in the minors because of the 2010 veterans playing this year.

Q: J.P. Arencibia's numbers are looking fantastic and he is now batting 3rd in the order for Vegas. Is it possible that he forces the hand of the Jays to move him up this year for some experience in preparation for the 2011 campaign?

Aaron Hickey, Sydney, Australia

A: This guys has emerged as the clear catcher of the future. When that is will be determined by what happens to John Buck later in the season. If there is an injury to Buck or if he's traded at the deadline, Arencibia would be called up and mentored by the classy veteran Jose Molina. Arencibia, a first round selection in 2007, is hitting .317 with 21 homers and 57 RBIs at AAA-Las Vegas, through Monday's games. He is hitting .430 in his last 23 games. The hesitation in bringing him to the majors right away is that the starting rotation is still learning their trade and having a rotation and their catcher all learning at the same time is tough. Arencibia at the latest will be up in September with a chance to catch a few games. He had off-season surgery for astigmatism and to correct a congenital kidney disorder both of which affected his play last year at Vegas.

Q: Dear Richard:

I have nothing against facial hair such as yours but I believe the athletes and others are overdoing it. When I look at the Blue Jays I see a bunch of bums (not all of them) and if you look like bums you play like bums. Look at the Yankees, all clean shaven. Years ago when the late Conn Smythe was in charge of the hockey Leafs his rule was that if you show up unshaven you're not playing. And every one of the players made sure that when they showed up for a game they looked like gentlemen. Maybe Cito Gaston should demand the same of his players and maybe, maybe they would look and start to play like the Yankees.

Sincerely,

Albert Speisman

A: An interesting variation on the old “Reverse Sampson Theory”. If being neatly groomed was all it took to play like the Yankees, every MLB team would hire two trainers, one strength and conditioning coach and a couple of barbers on staff and save millions of dollars on veteran free agents. I agree with you in players taking pride in their appearance but the fact is that the reason you think they look like bums is not the scraggly beards, but the first-pitch popups to the infield with a runner on third and one out. The Yankees have always had a team rule on facial and the length of hair. Examples of players coming in and toeing the line with a huge change are Johnny Damon from the Red Sox and Jason Giambi from the A's. However with Conn Smythe you might have a point. Ever since the Leafs started allowing facial hair they have not won a Stanley Cup.

Q: Hi Richard,

The offensive woes wouldn't be so much of a concern if Hill and Lind were performing half as well as they did last year. With that in mind, is there ANY possibility that those two may be sent down (if they have options) to work their issues whatever they are because this is way too despicable and disturbing to watch those guys.

Kam Hoosh, Richmond Hill

A: Whatever ails Hill and Lind this year is between the ears and that head-space for rent remains the same whether you are in Toronto or Las Vegas. Question No. 1: Would being sent to Triple-A be advantageous for players that need to straighten themselves out mentally and in their response to smart major-league pitching that has made adjustments to them while they have not made the necessary adjustments back? Question No. 2: Who would the Jays play at second base and as DH while Hill and Lind are in the minors? The Jays are willing to have both players find themselves in the majors because this is a rebuilding year. Both are signed long-term and both need to find their confidence which they won't do in Vegas. They have to meet their personal challenge in the major leagues.

Q: Hi Richard,

I love your columns and your mail bag, keep up the great insight. My question is in regards to the draft and signing of players. I see the Jays signed a bunch of their draft picks in the first few weeks after the draft, but have no signings since the middle of June. Why is that? I know the high draft picks wait until near the deadline, but what about the other early picks? Also I see that a bunch a their early picks are signed, but I can only find a few in the farm system. Where are picks 2 and 3 Sanchez and Syndergaard? Why would they not be in the GCL or NYP? Lastly, what are the odds that McGuire will sign with the Jays?

Thanks, Richard.

Adam Russell, Beamsville

A: The high draft picks wait until close to the August 15 final deadline in order to find out what other players sign for. Nobody wants to be the first to set the signing-bonus bar. As for the Jays, they have signed seven of their top 21 picks and have sworn that they will not fail like they did last year to sign their big boys. Of course agents hear that talk and now they hold the hammer because the Jays have told their fans they will sign their top guys and can squeeze a few more dollars out of Anthopoulos. Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard, Dalton Pompey and Angel Gomez are the four youngest players signed out of the draft, all born in 1992. None of them has been assigned a team, instead they are at the Jays' minor-league complex learning what it is to be a professional ballplayer. They may play Instructional League in the Fall.

Q: Hi Richard,

I was doing some reading on Scott Boras and was wondering if you could clarify the "loophole" Boras was able to discover for his clients shortly after the 1996 First-Year player draft. From some of the stuff on the internet, I can only get information on what happened, but there isn't a clear explanation as to what the loophole was.

B.C., Toronto

A: I seem to recall that after the '96 draft, Travis Lee, Matt White and a couple of other Boras clients were declared complete free agents after their teams did not make a formal contract offer in the allotted time. The rule has always been that every player drafted must be offered some sort of salary figure – usually ridiculously low – within about 10 days of the draft. That is usually accomplished by the area scout and even if the player doesn't sign, the rule has been followed. Back in '96 teams didn't pay that much attention to the exact timing – that is until Boras successfully sued for free agency for his clients. Teams have been careful ever since.

Q: How long will Jays fans need to put up with Encarnacion and his lack of effort like today (July 4) when his failure to run out his bunt attempt led to a crucial double play? When he got through waivers, it showed how poorly he is viewed by the rest of MLB. His contract is obviously a factor but why compound a mistake by keeping him around? Why not try out McDonald at third base or find someone (anyone) else in the minors? His lack of effort or brain cramps sends a bad message to the younger players.

Ian McLennan, Fort Frances

A: There is a difference of opinion on whether Encarnacion actually is guilty of anything wrong on the popped up bunt that A-Rod turned into a key double play with Edwin not leaving the batter's box thinking a) it might be caught or b) it was going to spin foul. The answer is yes he erred badly. Twelve-year old kids are taught to hustle out of the batters box and keep running until an umpire yells “Foul” or the play is ended. Just because he is a major leaguer does not excuse the lack of executing a basic tenet of the game. Especially after said player has just been shipped out to Triple-A amid rumours that part of the reason was lack of hustle. If Encarnacion had hustled out of the batter's box, A-Rod would have either caught the ball in the air allowing Lind the runners to return to their bases, or he would have picked it up and got one out at second base with runners at the corners and one out.