PED Blockbuster in Miami New Times implicates Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera and others: Griffin

One of the many Blue Jays' prized off-season signings, Melky Cabrera is in the headlines again, but for all the wrong reasons. His name was one of a half-dozen major-leaguers linked to a recently-closed anti-aging clinic in a story in the Miami New Times. Fact is that Melky already has served a 50-game suspension last August for a failed PED test while with the Giants. Tuesday's revelations linking him to the Florida clinic are simply details.

There is no doubting that major-league baseball will continue to take body shots for years and years to come, as head-shaking, often sensational facts from a sad and embarassing period in the history of the National Pastime continue to emerge. The perception mess from the Steroid Era is slowly being cleaned up syringe by syringe, cheater by cheater. No, there will likely never be a landscape totally clear of this garbage, but the fact that the majority of players in the union are fighting the cheaters is a good sign. And they are.

On Tuesday MLB took another breathtaking blow to the solar plexus as New Times based in south Florida released a blockbuster story, which tragic hero once again is Alex Rodriguez.

Apparently, for four years, from 2009-12, Biogenesis, a modest anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, FL, had been helping normal citizens feel young (wink, wink). Get a legitimate prescription from a legitimate doctor and Biogenesis could supply the feel-goods. It was all legal, as long as the doctor had physically examined the patient. And that had been the catch a few years ago for all those other, online, anti-aging clinics that had been caught handing out prescriptions, sight unseen. They were breaking the law.

On the surface, Biogenesis was a legitimate business enterprise, but, at the same time as it was helping normal folks improve their lives, the clinic's owner, a 49-year-old hustler named Anthony Bosch, whose father is a well-respected physician in Miami, had allegedly been working with a an elite, more secretive client list, keeping personal, handwritten records and allegedly supplying performance enhancing drugs, steroids and human growth hormone to prominent athletes, including many well known MLB stars. Not good.

Biogenesis and its owner, Bosch, as a person of interest, had been well-known to major-league baseball and its Department of Investigations, an important new arm of the commissioner that came into existence as a recommendation of the Mitchell Report back in 2007. Bosch's father, Dr. Pedro Publio Bosch, had been part of an earlier investigation of former Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez, several years ago. Manny was suspended, twice.

It seems the younger Bosch was never a great businessman. He was forced to close his Biogenesis clinic in December. Unfortunately, he has had this annoying, habit, well-documented by New Times, through the years, with wives, creditors and business associates, of not paying his bills. So it came to be that a disgruntled employee had taken a box of Biogenesis records with him in lieu of salary, walked into New Times offices and dropped the evidence on the desk. Writer Tim Elfrink took it from there.

A startling nugget of information in the tremendously researched piece is that the distribution of Human Growth Hormone in America has become a $1.4 billion industry with the general public. So is pro sports a reflection of society or the other way around?

In any case, the true blockbuster news on Tuesday was that in its four-year existence ending in December, there existed a sloppy paper trail implicating current major-league players Rodriguez, Melky, Nelson Cruz, Bartolo Colon and Yasmani Grandal.

There will be no further implications in terms of future punishment for Melky as he prepares to bat second and play left field for the Jays -- as long as he keeps his nose clean. Nothing new was learned of PED transgressions for the period after he was suspended. In fact, Cabrera, Colon and Grandal, a young catcher with the Padres, have already been punished with their 50-game suspensions for failed tests in 2012. But in the two other cases of A-Rod and Cruz, there will most certainly be more news to come.

When A-Rod allegedly came clean a few springs ago, he explained that his use of performance enhancers was restricted to a time between 2001-03 when he was with the Rangers. However, in the new story, his name appears over and over in the handwrittten records of Bosch – between the years 2009-12. The timelines don't jibe. Rodriguez will have some explaining to do to the Yankees and MLB.

As for Cruz, the Rangers' power-hitting outfielder has never failed a drug test that has become public and therein lies the rub. That is the basis for a player being suspended. But his reputation from this moment on in the court of public opinion, will likely never recover.

The current drug agreement in baseball's CBA suggests that what starts as random drug testing can be made more specific and more frequent if there's legitimate suspicion of wrongdoing -- as now seems to be in the cases of A-Rod and Cruz – but that a suspension cannot be issued unless there is a failed result.

By the way, the name of Nationals' lefthander Gio Gonzalez was also in the Biogenesis files, but the pitcher's father, a Miami resident, insisted to New Times that he, himself, was the client for personal health issues, not his son. 

Clearly, Biogenesis, BALCO and other shady businesses of that type, have been a big part of baseball's problem. However, someone with an axe to grind wandering into a newspaper office and dumping a bunch of files onto a desk, taken from a clinic that is officially out of business is not enough to hold up in court, in producing further action against anyone, including Bosch. Biogenesis was obviously no BALCO in terms of efficiency, since three of the five named baseball clients all failed drug tests and have accepted their punishments. Then there was Manny and A-Rod, also now tied to Bosch. That incompetence in the art of cheating should also help to act as a deterrent to many young major-league players.

This is never good news to a sport that sells itself as family entertainment. But this entire cleansing process with more and more details from the Steroid Era continuing to become public, would seem a necessary evil to atone for earlier sins.

Two steps forward, one step back. MLB is confident that with a new hGH blood-testing program the World Anti-Doping Agency has labelled the most stringent in pro sports, that the sport is headed in the right direction in efforts to restore the game's image. Let's hope.

Blue Jays mailbag: Busy World Baseball Classic for Toronto

Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia will represent the U.S. at the World Baseball Classic in March. RENE JOHNSTON/TORONTO STAR

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It’s almost here folks. Spring training in Dunedin begins on Feb. 12 for pitchers and catchers and if there is any non-roster or invited player in camp that values the opportunity to make an impression on manager John Gibbons and GM Alex Anthopoulos this is the year to get it done.

It’s a busy World Baseball Classic for the Blue Jays. There are seven major-league Jays that will participate in the first round, March 4-10 — Brett Lawrie for Team Canada; R.A. Dickey and J.P. Arencibia for Team USA; Jose Reyes, Esmil Rogers, Edwin Encarnacion and Melky Cabrera for Team Dominican.

The biggest surprise in the group is Cabrera, who had been suspended for a PED infraction at the end of last season with the Giants. It was believed that because of that, he might be passed over for the honour of repping his country. As of now, the only three outfielders listed on the Dominican’s provisional roster are Cabrera, Carlos Gomez and Nelson Cruz.

These guys may be gone for a while. There are four groups of four countries in that first round, with the top two teams in the round robin advancing. The tiebreaker is head to head. Canada is in Phoenix in a group with the U.S., Mexico and Italy. The Dominican is in Puerto Rico, so all three countries and all seven Jays could advance to Round 2 which would be another week away from camp. The Jays made a wise decision by not letting the recovering Jose Bautista participate in the WBC. On to the mailbag.

Q. Hi Richard,

I have a question about R.A Dickey’s longevity as a 38-year-old who is signed into his 40s. It seems to be established fact that knuckleballers can pitch longer than conventional pitchers because they’re throwing less hard and the pitch puts less strain on the arm. I was wondering, however, if that rule necessarily applies to Dickey. I ask for two reasons. First, he was a conventional pitcher for a long time before switching to the knuckleball. Is it possible that all those years put enough strain on his arm to reduce his longevity, despite having now switched? Second, because he throws his knuckleball harder than the average knuckleball pitcher, could that additionally limit his longevity? I’m not concerned about him significantly declining next season — I just wonder if he could possibly play as long as a guy like Tim Wakefield, for example. Thanks!

Jack Newman, Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

A. It’s difficult to compare Dickey to any other knuckleballer — in fact any other pitcher — because of the absence of any ulnar collateral ligament in the 38-year-old’s right arm. That is from birth, and has even Tommy John scratching his head. The absence of that important but tear-able ligament was actually what cost Dickey a huge portion of his agreed-upon signing bonus when he was examined post-draft and the missing ligament was discovered. As for his shaky past as a traditional pro pitcher, most knuckleballers also began their careers as traditional pitchers and changed over as professionals. If Dickey has no existing injuries, it’s hard to see in throwing the knuckleball that he will develop one. Most injuries to knuckleballers are in other body areas, like the line drive by Ron LeFlore back through the box that shattered Wilbur Wood’s kneecap. I don’t believe that throwing a hard and soft knuckler will have any affect on his longevity especially given his unique elbow structure. As long as he can keep the spin off his pitches and keep his balls dancing, there’s no saying how long he can pitch.

Q. Hi Richard,

After reading R.A. Dickey’s book, I almost feel that his character and personality outweigh his value as a Cy Young winner. It may be too soon to rush to other ideas before he throws a pitch in Toronto, but should A.A. already be thinking about keeping R.A. in the organization long term?

P.S. Great to see the Jays Winter Tour return to Saskatoon, line up for autographs was hundreds deep.

Thanks,

Trevor Brown, Saskatoon

A. The Jays winter tour was once again a huge success, not just with Canadian baseball fans, but with Jays players that participate and suddenly realize how much enthusiasm there is for baseball across the entire country. It’s a nice initiative that was re-instituted under Paul Beeston for the past three winters.

As for Dickey and his unique personality, his life experience as outlined in his autobiography shows that post baseball he will have many options outside of the game, not the least of which could be as a motivational speaker. It’s funny, after meeting him at his press conference at the Rogers Centre, to hear the reputation that came with him was as a bit of a polarizing figure in the Mets’ clubhouse, seen by some anonymous Mets players as a shameless self-promoter and publicity magnet.

This is just a personal theory, but I see his value to the Blue Jays in 2013 and beyond not as a clubhouse leader in the traditional sense, but more as a lightning rod for media attention, taking the off-field spotlight away from guys like Ricky Romero and Brandon Morrow, who never had asked for it in the first place, just allowing them to pitch. That can be as valuable as a rah-rah leadership type.

Q. With the Houston Astros joining the better . . . I mean the American League this season, I think its time to re-visit the issue of the designated hitter. The new more integrated schedule means there is even more of a discrepancy between the two leagues since, in my opinion, the designated hitter makes comparing the stats for the two leagues like apples and oranges. Is it time to make the two leagues the same on this issue one way or the other?

In addition, having the all-star game decide home field advantage for the World Series puts too much weight on a game which is supposed to be a fun display of the two leagues’ best players. I think that the cumulative result of the season’s interleague play (which unfortunately is here to stay) is a better way to determine who should have home field advantage.

Keith Nelson, Oakville

A. When I came to Toronto to cover baseball for the Star in ’95 I was definitely not a fan of the DH, having spent 22 years in the NL watching a nine-man lineup that also played the field. That was real baseball the way it was invented. However, some things change, many perceptions change and reality has set in. I agree with you now that the two leagues should play by the same rules, but at this point in time, I see no way that uniformity can enter the picture without there being with the designated hitter.

The players’ association knows that the DH can often be a higher-paid veteran player rather than an extra bench guy that can be a younger farmhand with one specific skill, more importantly, making the minimum. That being said, the union would want to protect the veteran earning more money, maintaining a higher average salary. Plus, in all high schools and U.S. colleges they don’t allow pitchers to hit, thus if they are going to make the rules uniform, the only fair thing to do is to convert everyone to the DH, rather than have players picking up a bat after years of not hitting. I’ve come around.

Former Expos’ manager Felipe Alou said it best, when he admitted that as an NL player who grew up in the ’60s, he had always been a purist, but by the early ’90s, he had changed his mind: “People talk about more strategy in the National League, that it’s easier to be a manager in the American League. I disagree. Strategy? Even my three-year-old daughter knows the strategy in the NL. You manage nine innings trying making sure your pitcher doesn’t come up in a game situation with the bases loaded.”

As for the all-star game earning World Series home field, I have no problem with it. You say it’s supposed to be a “fun display,” but you can still have fun and at the same time compete. Consider the fans and the televising network that are paying big bucks for the all-star game, seeing the stars have one at-bat then out of the game and gone from the stadium as was happening in the late ’90s. The problem with your suggestion of using interleague play as the determining factor for World Series home field is that it might come down to the end of September still up in the air as to the dominant league. That would be chaos, because there is a lot of advance preparation needed for MLB and teams in the World Series including hotels, etc. that can’t be done at the last minute.

Q. Hi Richard,

In looking at the Jays’ schedule for the coming season, I was intrigued by an anomaly that I couldn’t quite wrap my head around. On Wednesday May 22, the Jays play a home game against the Rays starting at 4:37 p.m. I know the Jays have experimented in the past with mid-afternoon starts on Saturdays, but I can’t recall this ever being the case on a non-holiday weekday.

The scheduling would have made sense if either the Jays or the Rays were heading out to the west coast for a game the following day, but this isn’t the case as the Jays remain at home to face the Orioles and the Rays head home for a series against the Yankees. I’m wondering if this 4:37 start may be an experiment to determine if fans like the notion of ducking out of work a little bit early and still getting home at a reasonable hour following the game?

Cheers,

Brendan Clough, Toronto

A. That’s a pretty good call by you as to the reason for that 4:37 p.m. start vs. the Rays. As you point out, not only are the Rays returning home, but they have an off-day before facing the Yankees. The Jays used to schedule 4:37 Saturday games because of the Fox network’s exclusivity in the States. It meant that moving the start time out of the Fox window, they could televise the game themselves. But this Wednesday late-afternoon start in May can be for no other reason than an experiment to see if fans like it — or maybe there’s a potential conflict with the Leafs in the conference semi-final . . . nahh.

Q. Hello Richard.

I have two questions for you today. One is hard and one is easy.

If you crystal ball these five players, who do you see as being the most successful in five years? Anthony Gose, Brett Lawrie, Adeiny Hechavarria, Brett Wallace or Travis D’Arnaud.

If you were not sitting in the press box, where would you sit in the stadium?

Hope you enjoy the season.

Richard Campbell, Edmonton

A. In descending order, I see by the end of the 2017 season a success ranking among this group of: 1. Lawrie; 2. Hechavarria; 3. Gose; 4. d’Arnaud; 5. Wallace.

Depth at certain positions is cyclical and right now third base is pretty shallow around the majors. Lawrie will be an all-star by then if he remains healthy. He can bat 6 or 7 in the order and be an RBI guy with aggressive base running skills and an extra-base bat. He challenges groundballs not flinching on contact like many at the hot corner and has a great third baseman’s arm. Hechavarria was coming on with the bat last September and will thrive back at shortstop for the Marlins. When Gose quits chasing pitches out of the zone, he will be an impact player who fans will be excited to watch play. D’Arnaud is a solid catcher with a 15-20 HR bat but one of the questions is health, so in five years who knows. He’s a better receiver than Arencibia with a chance for higher OPS but less power. As for Wallace, I don’t know why he’s on this list. He still must find an optimum position and has been less than promised.

As for where I would choose to sit. To see the game properly I would be first row upper deck behind home plate but if I’m there just to chill and relax, I would like to be in those close-to-the action seats so I could second-guess the manager in a very loud voice in person.

Q. Hi Richard,

I know Dickey throws a bit harder than the ‘typical’ knuckleballer, and I’m getting ahead of myself a bit here, but hey, it’s a long off season so . . . Do you think that if the Jays are in the race in September, they would consider using Dickey every five days as well as in between starts as a reliever for a couple batters?

Thanks,

J.F., Muskoka

A. I believe that using Dickey as a reliever, in addition to starting him, is a Jays’ possibility only in late-September if they are in a division race, or in the post-season if he is the best option at the time in a key game. He could do it, but pitching, no matter what you throw, is a mindset with accompanying rituals and mental preparation. Starters have their own between start routines on each of their four off-days, so they would have to tell Dickey never to do his bullpen work until the eighth inning, just in case they need him. That’s a mental grind. Besides, the Jays already carry seven relievers. What are you telling those guys about your faith in their ability to get three outs and contribute to a win if you keep bringing on Dickey in relief? Let’s not over manage.

Q. A few years ago the Blue Jays held a fan barbecue where regular fans could buy tickets and get autographs from the whole team that was set up on the field. This was an amazing experience for both myself and my 12-year-old daughter. Do you see them doing anything like this again? I e-mail them and they never answer which is kind of frustrating.

Thanks, Jason Nesbitt, Aylmer

A. The Jays usually don’t abandon things that have worked for them in the past. I remember the barbecue you talk about and it seemed to go really well. Send an e-mail to Stephen Brooks, the Jays’ senior vice-president who is very interested in fan feedback and always responds.

Q. Hi Richard.

Do you think Rogers is going to switch the Jays to pay-per-view and start charging for SportsNet One once they start winning with their solid lineup this year? Let’s stop this possibility by nipping it in the bud.

Bruce Hutchison, Toronto

A. I don’t believe the Jays are considering pay-per-view for regular-season games. Not everyone gets Sportsnet One in their cable package, so in a way it’s already a premium channel. But there are other ways to add new broadcast revenues. I do believe that Rogers sees a huge potential in its sports properties for various wireless platforms. They can charge for access to cell phones and iPads and tablets, etc. If you listened carefully, there was a lot made of it when the MLSE purchase was announced last year and “content” was a key word at the time. The Jays play 162 games and with a good team this year, the coast-to-coast audience will grow and provide added value for ownership without going to the very unpopular pay-per-view concept.

Q. Nice to see the Jays are giving Adam Loewen another shot . . . sadly I doubt his status could ever rise above a fifth outfielder . . . with most of his time spent in AAA . . . he strikes me as a perfect candidate to take up the knuckleball . . . with Dickey around to tutor him in spring training . . . then give him awhile in the minors again . . . if he’s successful he’ll pitch into his 40’s . . . otherwise he’ll just hand around the fringes for another year or so.

David Dales, Huntsville

A. Throwing a good knuckleball ain’t as easy as it looks. Recall that Dickey was rocked his first year as a newbie knuckleballer. Major-league hitters if they know, for example, that one of every four offerings is going to be a spinner rather than a dancing floater, will wait until they see that first disobedient pitch and then crush it. In his first start as a knuckleballer with the Rangers on April 6, 2006, Dickey allowed six home runs in 3-1/3 innings vs. the Tigers, facing 17 batters and throwing 61 pitches. In a great show of faith by the Rangers (not!), they promptly shipped him out and he never pitched for them again.

As for Loewen, he said that he always wanted to be a hitter and never really wanted to be a pitcher when he was drafted in the first round by the O’s. But the mound was his quickest road to the majors. Now that he has had serious arm issues, he’s an outfielder for life. I’m looking forward to seeing him at the W.B.C. for Canada. A good performance there would be a boost. He did play in Buffalo last year in the Mets system and will return there again to begin the season.

Q. Hi Richard,

Who do you think in the Toronto rotation will benefit the most from the addition of Dickey? I am thinking that it will be Josh Johnson. If a hitter looks at a one-of-a-kind knuckleball all day, with a fastball pitcher like Johnson pitching the next day; his fastball will for sure look and feel faster than normal, which makes his breaking pitches even tougher to hit. I am looking forward to teams coming into TO (say 3-game series) facing a knuckleballer (Dickey) in Game 1, a hard throwing power righty (Johnson) in Game 2, then a soft-tossing lefty (Buehrle) in Game 3. The next three-game series, the Jays can start a fireballer (Morrow) in Game 1, a power lefty (Romero) in Game 2 and a knuckleballer (Dickey) again in Game 3. All I want to say is that it will get awfully tough to get comfortable hitting in TO as an opposing hitter, as hitters are all creature of habits.

Thanks,

James Ho, Burnaby, B.C.

A. It’s funny, but coincidentally I was just talking to Jays’ manager John Gibbons about this very thing the other day. He asked me if this was my team how would I set up the Jays’ rotation going into the year. I suggested that I would throw Morrow after Dickey vs. the Indians in the opening series because if you go the other way and have Brandon and Ricky Romero 4-5 in the rotation what kind of message are you sending to last year’s team. Besides, Morrow is your long-term Jay for the moment, committed to the organization and deserves some loyalty. Johnson can be a free agent after 2013. Gibby agreed and said that’s the way he was leaning right now. The hard-throwing Morrow would benefit as much as Johnson, in the same way, following Dickey.

Former Jays’ manager Cito Gaston was a big believer that facing a knuckleballer can mess you up for a few days after as a hitter. Even if it’s not a fact and is only in some opposing hitters’ heads, it’s an advantage. The Jays need to benefit from that by trying to get Dickey as many starts in Game 1 or 2 of a series. For instance his Sunday start vs. the Red Sox in the first week of the season will only benefit the Orioles’ pitcher on Boston on Monday.

Q. Hey Richard,

I have a very bizarre non-PED Hall of Fame question for you. It’s about the makeup of the ballot itself. We all know the rules for appearing on the ballot: at least 10 big-league seasons, and retired/out of MLB for at least 5 years. This year we saw 24 first-time candidates, and with the legends and controversies came some surprising names.

A few random examples: Royce Clayton, Aaron Sele, Woody Williams and Todd Walker. Each of these guys had respectable and solid careers, and obviously did just enough to earn a one-and-done spot on the Hall ballot, and maybe even a bizarre token vote to tell the grandchildren about (seriously though, who voted for Aaron Sele?).

But there were far more than just 24 players who met the criteria to get on the 2013 Hall ballot and didn’t make the final vote. Some random names in this category: Mike Lieberthal, Bob Wickman, Tony Batista, Paul Shuey, and Neifi Perez. Not a bad group: these six guys have at least four all-star appearances and one Gold Glove combined. Now don’t read this wrong: none of the players I’ve mentioned, whether they made the ballot or not, have a hope or prayer of entering Cooperstown without first buying a ticket. What I’m interested in is the process of how the pool of eligible first-time candidates becomes the 24 or so who actually make the final vote — after all, when you read the rules it does sound like 10 or more years and no ineligible list means ‘hello ballot.’

So who’s the man or woman that’s charged with deciding why Todd Walker is more worthy of a ballot appearance in 2013 than, say, Mike Lieberthal? What makes Aaron Sele more worthy of a chance to get the one throwaway vote instead of Neifi Perez?

And if it’s not an automatic that 10 years of service gets you at least one year of Hall consideration, then what’s to stop the ballot makers from simply not adding a so-called “first-ballot” player to the ballot before he even gets a chance, and putting a marginal guy with 10-12 years in the league on in his place? Obviously that last one wouldn’t happen, but if there’s no internal qualifications to narrow the pool of candidates I’d guess that situation is technically possible. Anyway, thanks for giving my strange question a bit of time.

Simon Sharkey, Toronto

A. Actually there is a committee of senior representatives from the BBWAA that pares down the eligibles in terms of service to determine which names should appear on the final ballot mailed out to voters the beginning of December. As I have often said, the writers’ association takes its Hall of Fame responsibilities very seriously and I can guarantee there would never be any manipulations on the listing of candidates.

By the way, for the life of me I can’t figure out why there is such rancorous discussion regarding Aaron Sele receiving one vote. Whoever put his name on his or her ballot knew he was not going to get in but do people rage about people that vote for the Green Party? They know they’re not going to win but the name is on the ballot. I remember Dave LaPoint the left-hander from Glens Falls, N.Y., who also received one vote in the year he was eligible and called it the highlight of his career. By the way, It’s MLB that keeps Pete Rose off the ballot as ineligible. It was never a BBWAA decision.

Q. Richard,

It’s great to hear Mr. Dickey credit Charlie Hough with his development. Charlie is my all-time favorite and a highly undervalued baseball figure with 22 years in the majors. He was never paid like regular pitchers but always went out to the mound, stuck his bum out and threw his 50 mph butterfly. He finally retired when his hip gave out . . . not his arm. There’s no reason R.A. can’t follow that course of action.

Peter Thomson, Elizabeth City, N.C.

A. Charlie Hough won his 100th career game at the age of 36 in 1984. From the age of 37, until he retired after the ’94 season, during the horrible strike, Hough won 116 more games. From age 39, the same age Dickey will be in 2013, over the next three seasons, Hough won 18, 15 and 10 games. That’s a good sign for the Jays’ three-year contract.

Hough was one of the few likeable guys on those Dodgers teams of the ’70s. Maybe I’m just saying that because they used to kick Expos butt for the entire decade. I hated them. But Hough is a good guy.

Blue Jays mailbag: Baseball moves to clean its own house with drug announcement

 

Baseball has clearly taken the next step towards cleaning up its own house. It’s only the timing of Thursday’s announcement that could be questioned by the cynics.

Major League Baseball and the MLBPA in 2013 will jointly institute the most comprehensive program in pro sports in blood-testing for human growth hormone. Was it a coincidence that the commissioner Bud Selig and the union chief Michael Weiner emerged the day after the Hall of Fame firestorm, nobody voted in from the first steroid era ballot, to make the announcement that there will be a program with built-in penalties in time for this season.

Sure, the timing seems an attempt to head off controversy and re-direct public attention. It seems a little slick, but that should not be the point. If that’s the biggest complaint, then baseball is a winner. The fact is that the announcement was made following the first day of an ownership meeting in Arizona that had long been scheduled.

Baseball, for years, has been chided by its critics for the legitimate perception of keeping its drug program seemingly one step behind the technology of the cheaters. Baseball was always playing catch-up. Critics were forever quoting officials from the World Anti-Doping Agency in Montreal and comparing baseball’s measures to the Olympics. But in this Thursday announcement, with a season of experimental blood-testing under its belt as a guideline of how it might work, even WADA is impressed with the new teeth that baseball now has when it comes to HGH testing.

Selig has long promised this day since being slapped down by the U.S. Congress on Capitol Hill on March 17, 2005. It was important that he has joined hands with the union to try and keep government off its back. For years the union objected to the idea of mandatory testing, well, just because it was something ownership wanted and it could be used as a bargaining chip. But when the government became involved, when the Mitchell Report suggested the extent of the abuse, when the majority of clean MLB players told the union that they wanted testing, the wheels were set in motion.

Baseball quietly threw millions of dollars into HGH blood research at a prominent West Coast university to find a foolproof blood-testing method. If baseball and the union had jumped in back in 2005 with existing growth hormone testing, that was not close to 100 per cent, the disputed results would only have served to muddy the waters and stain the game’s integrity further. Now more accurate testing is available and MLB and the union are in agreement. In addition, there will be at WADA headquarters in Montreal a running history of players and their testosterone history. Don’t look for any more 70-home run seasons, but enjoy the game as it was meant to be played.

On to the mailbag.

Q. Hi Richard,

Back when all the Dickey trade rumours were flying around, I was wondering about what the Winter Tour meant from a player personnel standpoint. A couple of players that came up in trade rumours (Anthony Gose, J.P. Arencibia) are taking part in the Winter Tour and I was curious if a player being included in the Winter Tour meant that they were “safe” from a trade standpoint. I know it’s a bit far fetched — why would AA turn down a trade just because the player had agreed to do some publicity? — but is there some link between the Winter Tour and a player’s value to the club???

Thanks,?

Mike W, Toronto

A. The winter tour and a particular player’s participation in no way will protect him from imminent trade, if it’s a solid baseball move and best for the team. Gose, for example, made an impact with fans in his brief time with the Jays and is simply an outgoing young man and an exciting talent. Last off-season he travelled to play in Venezuela after the Arizona Fall League and was unavailable for winter tour duty. This year he was available so he volunteered. As for Arencibia, an honurary Canadian, he travelled on a road trip on his own to Edmonton earlier in the winter and loves participating in any team-building projects the Jays throw at him. He’s Captain Canada and a huge hockey fan, which, of course does not hurt his value to the Jays, but the fact, also, is the Mets insisted on Travis d’Arnaud in the trade for R.A. Dickey while the Jays did not in any way want to move Gose in the same deal.

Q. Am I the only one not happy with the NHL coming back? I am very concerned the playoffs will cut into my Blue Jays coverage this spring. Anyways Mr. Griffin, enjoy your articles as always.

My question is while everyone is talking about the Blue Jays starting rotation and rightfully so, am I a fool to think the offence is going to be that much better as well. Reyes and even a non-juiced Cabrera seem to huge upgrades over Escobar and Snider/Thames/Davis . . . Do you think we have a World Series calibre offence . . .

Chris McMillan, Marsville

A. All things being equal, the offence is as solid as it has been since the World Series years 1992-93. The concerns are with Jose Bautista’s injured wrist, if Edwin Encarnacion can continue his steady upward trending as a consistent major-league power hitter, whether Melky Cabrera off the juice is still a solid line-drive hitter, if Jose Reyes going from the NL to the AL will struggle early like so many before him changing leagues, whether Arencibia can harness that line-drive stroke to right and right-centre that makes him more than a one-dimensional hitter, whether Maicer Izturis or Emilio Bonifacio can handle second base with decent pop at the plate and whether Brett Lawrie and Colby Rasmus can take the next step towards being consistent offensive threats. Then there’s always the DH.

Q. Hi Richard,

Enjoyed the article on R.A. Dickey and totally agree he is going to be fun to watch and to listen to. At the other end of the rotation, given Romero’s struggles is he definitely going to take the fifth spot? For sure J.A. Happ isn’t a future Cy Young candidate but he certainly looked better than Ricky in the home stretch.??

Frank Taker, Prescott

A. Romero is solid in the rotation. He has guaranteed money in a long-term deal with the Jays that ensures he will get a full shot at re-establishing himself in the rotation. There are a variety of factors that are encouraging for Ricky with regard to being able to bounce back. He has been surgically repaired from the nagging physical issues of last season, including both knees. He has Mark Buehrle, a fellow lefty who throws strikes and works quickly with confidence to lean on, plus Dickey, a man who has gone through much adversity of his own and come out the other side. Romero doesn’t need to lead.

The Happ issue will be one to pay attention to at spring training. He did show in his brief time with the Jays last year that he is capable and can be a starter in the AL. If he has the patience to stay with the Jays at the start of the year and does not ask for a trade from GM Alex Anthopoulos, then he will surely get his opportunities to start due to injuries, as well as being a left-hander out of the pen.

Q. Richard,?

After reading your Ryan Freel column, I am wondering if you have re-considered your opinion on home plate collisions. It seems to me that allowing players to launch themselves at full speed into catchers at home plate is a recipe for disaster. Isn’t it time to change the rules so that only a regular slide is permitted on a play at home (or any other base, for that matter)??

On an unrelated matter, now that Jays fans are talking World Series again, we need to establish the list of the most significant hits in Jays history: So, isn’t Ed Sprague’s Game 2 homer against the Braves in 1992 more significant than Roberto Alomar’s Game 4 homer against Dennis Eckersley? Sprague’s homer comes in the 9th inning, with the Jays down 1 in the game, down 1 in the series, with one out while pinch-hitting on the road against Jeff Reardon in only his third AB of that post season.

Alan G, Toronto

A. I have not changed my mind with regard to regulating home plate collisions. You make it sound like players launching themselves into catchers is a regular occurrence. The thing about collisions at the plate is that because of the fact that catchers are protected by gear and the fact that home plate is so important, catchers are encouraged to block the plate and hold the baseline even before the ball gets to them. Umpires allow it because it’s the way it’s always been. If you now insist that a player must slide at all times and if the baseline is being effectively blocked, then you are saying that he slides into the shinpads, the ball arrives and he is tagged out. If a catcher is blocking your path to the plate you must either go around him or through him. The catcher is expecting contact, although sometimes it’s an imperfect storm of timing with ball and runner arriving at exactly the same time. Most times, it’s not like a defenceless football receiver over the middle. Besides, most base runners will try to find a way around the catcher because of the very real possibility of injury to the unpadded player, the runner.

The bottom line is that the collision at the plate is a rarity and though I agree that the Buster Posey collision with a blow to the head and an awkward twisting of the lower body was unfortunate and a dirty play, that is the exception rather than the rule. Nothing fires up a team more than an inning-ending out at the plate with the catcher bowled over, hanging into the ball, jumping to his feet, holding up the ball and rolling it out to the mound. That’s baseball. Both my sons are catchers and have been hurt in collisions at the plate with me as manager. It’s baseball.

Q. Hi Richard,?

Why is the acronym for the Baseball Writers’ Association of America written as BBWAA? I’m pretty sure “baseball” is one word. The second ‘B’ in ‘BBWAA’ is a bit dumb, no?

S. Postma, Waterdown

A. The BBWAA is an association that was formed in 1908. That was at a time when, even though the underrated Alexander Cartwright invented it half a century earlier and laid out the official rules, the word baseball was written in two words “base ball.” There are enough other reasons to call the BBWAA “dumb” The extra B is not one of them.

Q. Richard,?

How serious are the consequences if Casey Janssen and Sergio Santos don’t return to top form? Is there an internal reliever who you project could step up to be a reliable closer? Signing a player like Rafael Soriano would make the Santos deal seem misguided, but I think AA’s taking a very big risk.

Chris McKee, Toronto?

A. There is no reason to believe that Janssen will not be able to continue his bulldog aggressiveness in the ninth inning, despite his minor surgical procedure in the off-season. As for Santos, this is a guy who when healthy, is a mid-to-high 90s fastball with a devastating slider and a developing change. The Santos question is whether he can get back to top form at any point this year after missing most of last season, his first with the Jays. In the meantime, Janssen is clearly the man in the ninth inning. The reports on Santos are optimistic but we’ll see how it goes as spring training unfolds.

The next Jays’ pitcher in line to be a closer if something happens to Casey would be Steve Delabar. The right-hander with the permanent steel plate surgically implanted in his elbow, was acquired from the M’s at the deadline. When he came over, Delabar cut down his repertoire that made him much more effective, less prone to the home-run ball that plagued him. He throws 96 mph with a devastating splitter that is his strikeout pitch. He misses a lot of bats and is extremely valuable as the guy called upon with runners in scoring position and less than two outs at a key moment in late innings.

Q. Hello Mr. Griffin,

I just finished reading that know one go inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, and while the backlash for Barry Bonds et al., was expected, what really irked me is that there was FIVE blank ballots. Do you agree with handing in a blank ballot? I think when the voters themselves try to make a statement, they tend to make a mockery of the process as a whole. If you don’t want to vote, then get off the list of voters and let someone else have a chance. Is this kind of behaviour accepted behind the scenes? Also, why does it matter if a guy was a so-called jerk to the media, what does that have to do with anything? Barry Bonds not getting in on the first ballot is a joke, and dare I say, race motivated. I see Clemens got more votes and he was actually caught doing something wrong, but alas, he is white. Do you think writers should even be the one’s who vote? Seems to me like that is a giant conflict of interest that I’m sure, no writer will ever bring up.

Shawn Linton, Bowmanville, Ont.

A. This is perhaps the most rambling, nonsensical letter to the Mailbag in a long time. The guidelines for voters is that you can fill out your ballot with from zero to 10 names. Yes, those blank-ballot voters were trying to make a statement by handing in a blank ballot, but to say that it irked you is silly. I don’t agree with them, but I respect their right to make that decision. How is it a mockery of the whole process for someone to suggest that they believe nobody should go in this year? It is a process. The list of qualified voters is in the rules. Ten years in the BBWAA. There is no handing off your vote, since everyone eligible already has a vote.

Your letter is also the first time I have seen anyone suggest that Bonds being a jerk to the media had anything to do with the result of not getting in. Eddie Murray was as bad and as surly at dealing with media, when he was playing, as anyone in the game and he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer. And then, no, you dare not say the Bonds rejection was race- motivated. It’s almost as if your letter is a hodge-podge of cliches you have heard from other sources over the years. Grow up.

Q. Hi Richard,

Not to beat the trades in the offseason to death, but I still can’t believe that they occurred and at times I wake up thinking, “wait, am I in Toronto where this type of thing NEVER happens?”

My question is this. It seems that the Jays gave up a lot more talent to get one player (Dickey), than they did to get three stars from the Marlins. Is this mainly because the Marlins were desperate to offload all the contracts, while the Mets knew they had a solid market from where to draw from? Thanks,

Zake Ameen, Milton

A. I disagree. I think the list of prospects sent over in the Marlins trade is quite impressive. Outfielder Jake Marisnick and lefty Justin Nicolino to the Marlins compare well to Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard that went to the Mets for Dickey. In addition, the Jays to Miami surrendered shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria, right-hander Henderson Alvarez and righty Anthony DeSclafini. I think the most impressive aspect of the deal for Dickey, at least for 2013, is that they added a reigning Cy Young winner without increasing payroll thanks to the presence in the deal of John Buck and his $6 million.

Q. Do you know which hotels the Blue Jays stay at during spring training???

Thanks,

Larry Steed, Toronto

A. In this day and age, there is no real major-league hotel anymore, other than for some Jays’ support staff and front-office short-term visitors. Many Jays players own homes in the Dunedin-Clearwater area, while most others rent condos for the seven weeks of spring training. The minor-leaguers have a team hotel because they make far less money and get shuttled back and forth to the Mattick Training Centre, but if you’re looking for a central location where major-leaguers congregate, it’s the stadium.

Q. Richard,?

What’s the word on Dustin McGowan? He fell out of the news early last season and updates were slim. Does he stand a chance of pitching in any capacity with the Jays next year or beyond???

Cory Abraham, Elliott Lake, Ont.

AND

Q. Hi Richard,?

I’ve been a frequent reader of your mailbags in the Star but never gotten up and written in — maybe all the offseason excitement is getting to me! One of your letter writers asked if R.A. Dickey would be willing to spread the mysterious wisdom of the knuckleball and you replied that it was impractical and highly unlikely because players, in general, would not want to disappear for the 2-3 years it takes to shift gears and become competent at throwing it. Well, the Jays seem to have a player whose career has (involuntarily) done just that: Dustin McGowan. Seeing as remaining a power pitcher keeps not working out for him, and the Jays keep investing in his potential return, is it possible that he might take advantage of the necessary rehab process — and the presence of an established expert — to reinvent himself with a pitch that would put less strain on his body and hopefully result in fewer and less severe injuries down the road???

Thanks for your time and keep up the great work!???

Adam Schneider, Oakville?

A. There is good news and bad news for those that are admirers of Dustin McGowan and his bulldog tenacity at trying to get back to the major leagues — which includes most Jays fans. The good news is that Dustin is signed to a guaranteed contract, two more years, for $3.5 million that was offered by Anthopoulos at the end of spring training last year, just before his bout with plantar fasciitis that led to further shoulder problems. That financial security will allow him to rehab at a safe pace rather than force anything physically and perhaps hurt himself by going too fast. The bad news is that McGowan is still in the very early stages of pitching again, if ever. He’s still a flat ground type of guy, at best.

The suggestion of McGowan dabbling in the knuckleball is not a bad one. As reader Schneider points out, he’s already been out of the spotlight for two years and as Dickey lists the mental necessities of overcoming the fear of having a spinning knuckler tonged, Dustin has already undergone his fair share of “fear, apprehension and anxiety,” the three emotional starters of any aspiring knuckleballer.

The Jays will stay with McGowan as long as he stays with himself. That’s why the guaranteed contract is so important. Since he is being paid through 2014, he can stay with the program and doesn’t have to exaggerate his progress to the front office. The thing about suggesting McGowan try the knuckleball, the throwing motion for pitchers is the same and as long as Dustin feels discomfort in the act of throwing itself, whether it’s fastball or knuckler, it makes no difference. It hurts. But it’s a good thought.

Q. I understand your feelings about not going with a grass field this year, but what about having a regular dirt infield instead of having sand at home/first/second/third bases? Do you know if the players prefer one over the other?

JJ Redington, Winooski, VT

A. I’m a huge fan of the grass field as soon as possible. It’s Jays’ president Paul Beeston that comes up with the bafflegab and poppycock about the football configuration and the bleachers on rails and the irrigation and all that other stuff. Players prefer grass and dirt. Plus it’s more aesthetically pleasing.

Q. Hi Richard:?

I don’t understand why the Jays let Jason Frasor go, why, in his words, they “closed the door on him.” He’s our career appearances guy, he’s been super reliable, and has a deceptively strong arm, maybe only a km or two shy of the kind of power arms AA’s been assembling in the bullpen. If nothing else, he strikes me as the kind of guy we’d like to have setting up the fireballers. Plus he was no doubt happy to stay in TO; he wasn’t making us sit around and wait or asking for more money like good-old Oliver. Can you help me to understand this one???

Matthew McKean, Ottawa

A. I love Jason Frasor, but I can see the Jays going in another direction. Frasor had an amazing run with the city and the team. He showed up as a kid in 2004 and married a Toronto girl and got himself a Canadian dog and all those franchise relief records. He leaves part of his heart and soul in this town. In ’04 he could hit 94 mph consistently for 30 pitches. In ’12 he was a consistent 93 mph which is pretty damned good after all those appearances, all those pitches. But very few middle relievers ever last that long with the same team. His has been an amazing Jays career. I do believe that he is better off elsewhere at this stage of his career, because the Jays look like they were setting him up for a sixth-inning role at best and he can make a more significant contribution elsewhere.

Q. Richard,

Thank you for sharing your insight with all of us. It is appreciated. What would you think of Brandon Morrow being the next Jays closer? My reasoning is I think he may be a little too injury prone to be a starter. He only pitched 21 games last year, has only topped 30 games once, hasn’t really come close to 200 innings in a season yet and while he’s great when he’s out there, it’s frustrating when you think of that talent sitting on the bench for 2.5 months. But with his outstanding stuff he would be great at closing. Seattle tried him in relief with mixed results, but I think he would be more successful this time as he has had a lot more innings to work out his pitches.

Norm B, Cambridge

A. The thing about making Morrow the closer is that Anthopoulos is a man of his word and when Morrow joined the Jays, he told him that his role would be as a starter, that there was no bullpen in his future. Morrow would have to be a part of that decision and he is quite comfortable and happy to be in the Jays’ rotation. Besides, the Jays gave him a contract last season that guarantees him $17 million over the next two years, plus a $10 million option for 2015. That’s starter money for the Jays. Morrow at 28 has not proven that he cannot stay healthy. Recall the Jays shut him down his first starter season.

Q. Hey Griff,?

Two minor complaints about the Jays/Rogers. First, I was surprised to learn the Jays ticket office closed early for the holidays (closed Friday Dec. 21 through Jan 1). I guess they figured no one was gonna buy last minute gift of tickets this year?!?!? I understand closing through New Years Day but not on the 21st — I wanted to talk to someone and buy tickets that day!

Second, I’d love to rent the documentary “Knuckleball” . . . but guess which cable provider does not have that available currently via On-Demand? Any other potential off-field screw-ups on the horizon this year for the Jays/Rogers?

Bryan T, Waterloo, ON

A. I will make sure that the right people at the Blue Jays read this letter. But if those are the top complaints that we have about Jays’ ownership then it stands to be a pretty good year.

Q. Hey Richard,

Like many Blue Jays fans, I am already looking ahead to Spring Training, and I follow the training camp news, scores and stories from the first day that pitchers and catchers report. But I have never understood why most (if not all) of these games are not televised. Especially considering the alternate programming that is offered during these Spring Training games. It baffles me that Sportsnet (as an example) would show darts, spelling bees, or log cutting when Jays baseball is in demand and is available, even if it is just exhibition. As someone in the media, can you explain why the games aren’t televised? Will someone in the Jays organization PLEASE make this happen?

Emma Kelly, Waterloo, Ont.

A. I can tell you better why not if I go back to my Expos days as a PR guy when I thought the same thing about televising more Expos games and wanted to explore, “Why not?” I already had a satellite truck that I had rented for the spring from WCAX Channel 3 in Burlington, so that was step one, but even with the basic 3-4 camera shoot, satellite time, freelance production crew, on-air talent and other expenses, bare-bones production, which people would have appreciated back home, was $40,000 per game. Now that was 21 years ago. For the Jays, they would have to make their money back from advertising, which at that time of the day is barely enough revenue to support darts, poker, lumberjacks and women’s pool. I agree the Jays should make sure every weekend and night game is televised at spring training. Hell, Buck Martinez is there every day, anyway, cutting in front of me to ask the manager questions that he will only use when the season starts. What a pain he is. Make him work.

Q. Hi Richard,

I have a question regarding David Cooper. It appears to me that he has become a forgotten piece of the current Blue Jays make up. Prior to his season-ending injury he was beginning to really develop into a reliable contact hitter. I like his approach at the plate. He can also hit left-handed pitching like Adam Lind used to three years ago. You are right when you said that Lind is not a “stiff.” He is not, but he will never, ever be the hitter he was a few years ago. I wish he would be, but I just don’t see it happening for him, at least not in Toronto. I realize that Cooper will not be a 30 HR guy, but he can hit .300, I believe, and be a very productive hitter. Why do you think the Jays brass have seemingly little faith in his potential? John Olerud didn’t hit a ton of home runs either. I certainly don’t want to compare the two, but I do see some similarities.?

Scott Hudson, Brampton

A. Cooper and Lind do a lot of the same things, so obviously there is not room for both men on the same 25-man roster. I believe that if another team approached Anthopoulos for either player, he would be available. I was shocked in the winter of 2011-12 to see the number of young first base prospects that were traded around baseball with seemingly little interest in Cooper. He can hit, but on a team vying for a championship right now, I would rather have Lind.

Q. Hey Griff,

??Love the commitment to your blog. Don’t always agree with you but still its great to have coverage. Question that has bothered me over the past couple of years. Why do the Blue Jays continue to have the names of their players on the back of their home jerseys? I love the look of the Sox, Yankees & Giants home jerseys. I don’t buy into the BS that the name on the back isn’t bigger than the name on the front or whatever reason for it. So I know this won’t benefit the on-field product, does it have to do with sales at the Jays branded stores? I would be willing to bet that the home whites sell worse than the blue jerseys. When at the Rogers Centre shouldn’t we know who plays for us? Maybe we could invest the savings in say, um I dunno ,grass at the Centre, or a shuttle bus for the Argos to play somewhere else? I kid, I kid (not really).

Johan Vincent, Burlington, Ont.

A. I do believe that marketing the jerseys is important. This year, I suspect that the Jays may become Top 3 in MLB in terms of gear sold. Much of that will be the new players and names on the jerseys is important. I don’t think that “names on the front more important than names on the back” rah-rah argument has anything to do with it. I also agree with you that the blues sell better than the whites and that fans at the RC should know their own players. Again, if this is the biggest problem, that’s good.

Q. Richard,?

I know the idea of ‘protection’ has come into disrepute for some reason — but isn’t it at least plausible that part of the reason for Rasmus’s late season decline the fact that Bautista was no longer batting directly behind him?

Tony Baer, Madison

A. The reason that Rasmus’s stats declined and became inconsistent in the second half is that, in the very same three-game series that Bautista damaged his tendon sheath at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees discovered that by pitching the centre fielder inside and above his hands they could get him out. That tied him up and in the same story of finding a weakness that frustrated his previous manager Tony LaRussa, he was unable to make the proper adjustments. Other teams have advance scouts and dissect video and John Farrell quickly acknowledged as much, in terms of the slumping Rasmus.

Rasmus proved in that time that he is not a No. 2 hitter in a winning lineup. He can hit 6-7-8 and be more effective. Rasmus proved that he liked to stand in the front of the box, with his toes on the chalk next to the plate and crush balls off the facing of the upper deck. Unfortunately that Colby power ranges from 20 feet fair to 50 feet foul. He needs to make his own adjustments to pitching adjustments to him more than he needs Joey Bats protecting him.

Q. Richard,?

With the rumours that (Miami’s Giancarlo) Stanton is available, why wouldn’t the Jays be interested? He would fit the mould of competeting the next 3-5 years, 1st base and DH with Stanton/Bautista in RF, and whoever isn’t in RF at 1st, and DH with EE, and having the ability to rotate all 3 through positions. Would a deal built around Gose or Rasmus, Sanchez and throwing in Lind to lower salary have a chance to get it done? If the Jays are looking at the next 3-5 years wouldn’t they want Stanton batting 4th behind Bautista and in front of EE? As always, a pleasure reading the mail bag. GO JAYS GO!

Scott Cochrane, Niagara-on-the-Lake

A. He’s not available. We’re getting greedy, aren’t we.

Q. I just read that Aaron Laffey signed with the Mets. Why would the Blue Jays let this youngster get away? He was dynamite on left-handed hitters.?

David White, Perth Road Village

A. He’s not a kid. He’ll be 28 on April 15. We’re getting greedy aren’t we. He wants to be a starter.

Q. Hello Richard and Happy Holidays.??

Do you think the Jays will take a look at Jim Thome for that final bench spot? Wouldn’t he be great as a late inning pinch hitter/spot DH and additional clubhouse presence? Long considered one of the nicest and most professional guys in all of baseball, wouldn’t this be an ideal situation for both parties?

Thanks!

Andrew Gould, Toronto

A. Anthopoulos suggested on Tuesday that he wants to sign a right-handed hitter for that final spot and even though Thome is at the end of his career, just out of respect you would have to pay him more than the Jays have available since they are already far over 2013 budget.

Q. Hi Rich:?

Though it’s been a couple of years since I’ve written in, read the blog faithfully and continue to enjoy. Like many Jays fans, am excited about AA’s moves and have been reading quite a variety of blog sites.?I’ve been astounded by the attitude of the sabermetric types who, in evaluation of players, dismiss character, community involvement, traditional stats, leadership and pretty much anything else that is not an “advanced metric.” What I’d like to know is what weight do the GMs, particularly AA, put on traditional stats vs. advanced metrics vs. character/leadership components.

Thanks,

Sandy Webster, St. Thomas

A. That is probably the biggest thing — maybe the only thing — I dislike about the new wave statisticians. It’s how dismissive they are to anyone that has not seen the light. Sports is one area of life where everyone should be allowed to have their own opinion about greatness, whether it stems from wins, batting average, RBIs and ERA, or whether it’s proof generated from computer-generated breakdowns. New arguments and new fans and new books about baseball and its history are welcome additions to the landscape, but they need to tone down their smugness.

As for Anthopoulos and, in fact, every other 21st Century GM, the good ones combine the new stats available, the Moneyball type look for overlooked players that are bargains, with finding “character” guys in the draft and free agency. Scouts are still very important in that area. AA has said that he has an internal debate on the 25th man for the Jays in 2013. Should he sign a good hitter even though he will not get many at-bats, or a good clubhouse presence, because he will not get many at-bats. The result of who that 25th man becomes will be a fascinating look inside the GM’s head.

Q. Given that the strain on a knuckleballer’s arm is not as significant as that for other types of pitchers, would it be feasible, in addition to a Cy Young knuckleballer’s regular start, to have him pitch 1-3 innings at the start of one or two other games during the rotation? I’m sure he pitches once or twice between starts, so why not make these pitches count?

I understand that trying to hit a knuckler can mess with the timing of the hitters, even for a day or two after facing the knuckler, so having one of the Jay’s various aces step in say the 4th inning of a game after some Dickey pitches have “dis-calibrated” the nervous systems of the opposition’s batting order, could be an unorthodox recipe for success. Dickey would become the soft throwing “opener” and the regular starter’s, ideally, would throw six or so innings to finish the game.

I would set up the order so that whichever regular starter(s) would benefit most from reduced innings expectation and the contrast in styles would have his start two or three days after Dickey’s.

You would, of course need buy-in from the pitchers, but John Gibbons seems to be the kind of manager who could sell this sort of thing to his staff.?

Another option would be to throw him for 2-3 innings if one of the starter’s only goes 4-6 innings to make the jobs of the hard throwing relievers that follow easier.?

Joseph Lubin, Toronto

A. No, no, no and no.

R.A. Dickey adds depth to Blue Jays both on and off the field: Griffin

There are not too many professional ahletes, maybe none, that over the course of a single 40-minute press conference can use the words neophyte, metamorphosis and Zen. And those were just several of the highlights from the first live press briefing for R.A. Dickey as he met the local baseball media for the first time since the trade on December 17.

Dickey, who redeemed his career and mastered the knuckleball at an advanced age, has posted three solid seasons in a row and has emerged as an unlikely star and Cy Young Award winner. GM Alex Anthopoulos compares the experience of pursuing and trusting in Dickey to when he inked Jose Bautista long-term. The 38-year-old righthander looks like a younger version of the guy from the Dos Equis beer ads, the guy they call Most Interesting Man in the World -- only Dickey is far more interesting.

Dickey was introduced on Tuesday in the interview room across the hall from the Jays' home clubhouse at the Rogers Centre. He reminded one of a more sincere Bill Lee, only less glib and off the cuff, sobered by life experiences that have shaped who he is.

Dickey co-authored his autobiography last year with Wayne Coffey. It was titled Wherever I wind Up. In it he allowed himself to admit to some horrific childhood experiences. He bared his soul on many of his most personally terrifying and testing moments, as well as his personal failings in a relationship with his wife that has become stronger through catharsis. He claimed early on in his press introduction that writing the book was a very tough process that allowed him to overcome feelings of "fear, apprehension and anxiety."

In hindsight, maybe this whole metamorphosis thing into a star would not have been possible without the other bad stuff he has gone through. Maybe even imagining a successful knuckleballer in his early 20s is impossible. Maybe you need failure and you need to have overcome the lowest of the low moments away from the diamond to be able to stand out on the mound facing the game's best hitters, Albert Pujols or Miguel Cabrera, armed with just a 72 m.p.h. pitch that you are hoping does not rotate or will be crushed.

No longer having any fear of failure because of what your life has taken you through may be the only way that you, as a pitcher can stand up to that challenge. That's why you can't just have a 20-something guy like Brett Cecil walk up and say "Teach me the knuckleball."

"I think that's one of the reasons," Dickey said upon reflection. "Learning to pitch. I'll never forget being on the mound as a knuckleballer throwing a 71 mile-an-hour mediocre knuckleball facing Vladimir Guerrero and thinking to myself, you better be quick as a cat to get out of the way. 

"I was at the stage in my career where I was throwing and just hoping. Please be a strike. Please knuckle. It wasn't a very confident knuckleball. I was a neophyte. But as I have grown, it's been a real educaton, an experience. I get out there now and I expect them to not hit it. That's the mentality that I have now. That's part of the metamorphosis."

Dickey is highly unusual for a professional athlete, not just physically, born as he was with no ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, but emotionally and philosophically.

Consider the reason that Dickey did not hold out for more money from the Jays than he was being offered by the Mets, a total of three years for $30 million, even though others with lesser credentials like Anibal Sanchez were getting more money this winter, may have had something to do with this statement regarding his attitude towards money.

"My wife (Anne) and I have always tried to live below our means."

Say what?? 

The truth is that Dickey, given good health (and we know he's not going to need Tommy John surgery), could become more popular than any pitcher in Blue Jays' club history. The thing about baseball that always made it America's Pastime was that it was a sport for everyman. Normal sized fans could always dream of playing baseball because it was forever populated by normal-sized people. Think about David Wells popularity. Matt Stairs.

Basketball was the land of the giants. Football was the land of the behemoths. Even the skating, stickhandling and shooting skills of NHL stars are far beyond what the majority of fans in this hockey-crazed nation are capable of.

But watching R.A. Dickey pitch is different. Fans on opening day vs. the Indians on April 2 will watch as he befuddles hitters with pitches being served up at speeds that any fan knows he could throw. It will soon make him a local sports legend if he can come close to a fourth solid year in a row for his new team.

"If I keep myself involved in the process I believe the results will come," Dickey insisted of his casual attitude towards ever gaining another Cy. "It's a process. I am looking to throw 120 pitches, 120 separate commitments, 120 separate challenges."

Prior to the 2012 season, last January, Dickey irritated Mets management by taking a risk in fulfilling a promise to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. He had over $100,000 in pledges for the climb to raise money for Bombay Teen Challenge, a group that tries to rescue women from sexual slavery in the red-light district of Mumbai.

Dickey keeps his promises. He will finish that phase of his life, that promise to help others, he will finish up after the 2013 season, when he takes his wife and his two girls to India, to a Mumbai clinic that used to be a brothel. That will end that journey for him and he will likely move on to another worthy project. 

This guys is different. This guy is good. Jays fans will embrace him for his personality, for everything that he is and the values that he has. 

That guy from the Dos Equis ads may soon have to take a back seat.