Stats boost for Gibby and Opening Day line-up

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

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

Gibbons seemed surprised and pleased when shown the list.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OPENING DAY LINE-UP

Oh yeah, there's news.

Gibbons also tipped his Opening Day line-up

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

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

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

Cathal Kelly

Rolen's prognosis worsening

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cathal Kelly

The press corpse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cathal Kelly

Reed Johnson catches on quick

JEFF CHIU/AP

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

The (Spring Training) Half-Inning From Hell

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

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

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

Bases loaded. No outs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Yeah," said Halladay.

Well, what'd you say to him?

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

Cathal Kelly

Spring lottery may have a winner

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cathal Kelly

The telltale nail - Part II

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

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

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

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

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

Cathal Kelly

Jays vs. Phillies - Reed Johnson memorial game

First day back and they hit me with this?

Reed Johnson's nine years in the Blue Jay organization ended this morning. The club released him. One minute he was there in his civvies saying goodbye, and then he was gone. He will receive a $546,000 (U.S.) cheque as a parting gift - one-sixth of his planned $3.275 million salary.

The winner in the left-field battle, Shannon Stewart, wasn't doing any crowing. He referred to Johnson as a "close" friend and seemed shocked that he'd been cut. Even GM J.P. Ricciardi seemed rattled by the decision.

"Today wasn't a fun day for me, telling that to somebody I personally like and professionally like," Ricciardi said.

But Johnson will find work quickly, most likely as a fourth outfielder on a National League club like the Padres. Here's wishing him all the best. He was one of the good ones and will be missed.

As I write, we've finished two innings in sunny Dunedin. It's 1-0 Phillies after a solo home run given up to Chase Utley by A.J. Burnett (Surely, not a curveball. Surely not!).

NOTE: Ricciardi let it slip this morning that Rule 5 pick-up Randy Wells has made this team. It's getting awfully crowded in that bullpen. Ricciardi wouldn't list off the people the final roll call, but right now it must stack up like this on Opening Day:

- Accardo
- Downs
- League
- Tallet
- Frasor
- Wolfe
- Wells

This is working under the (safe) assumption that B.J. Ryan starts the year on a rehabilitation assignment and that Armando Benitez needs a little more time in the gym before he makes a major league roster.

TOP OF THE FOURTH: Geoff Jenkins singles into left field. With a Phillie heading home, new part-time left-fielder Shannon Stewart comes up firing. His throw is about thirty feet short of the mark and twenty feet wide. This is what we have to look forward to.

TOP OF THE FIFTH: Oh, the humanity. Bases loaded and one out for the Phillies. Chris Snelling pops one into shallow left. More like deep short. Another brutal throw by Stewart and Shane Victorino slides in safe. 5-0 Philadelphia. Burnett threw 31 pitches that inning. We won't see him for his planned sixth frame, I will wager the house. (Okay, he comes out for the sixth. Who needs me to copy the keys?)

TOP OF THE SIXTH: You want some defence? John McDonald replaces David Eckstein at short and makes a simply stunning play on a Pedro Feliz grounder. Great running get, greater throw to first. Burnett stands for a long time with his hands on his hips silently admiring the best defensive shortstop in baseball (oh yeah, I said it).

After his 88th pitch - an RBI double - Burnett is pulled in favour of Brandon League. He gave up 6 runs, 8 hits, 1 HR in five and a third.

GAME OVER: Phillies romp 15-7. Afterward, Burnett revealed that he'd thrown his first curveball of the spring. That was the one Utley took over the wall in the first.

"I don't care who you are. That's funny," Burnett grinned afterward. Hey, at least he's not kicking over garbage cans after a Grapefruit League game.

Cathal Kelly

GAME OFF??

It was a bizarre scene that unfolded at City of Palms Park just prior to gametime today.

The lineups were announced, the fat lady sang the anthems, an old dude threw out the ceremonial first pitch and the announcer yelled, "Play Ball." Unfortunately, there were no players in either dugout.

Finally Jason Varitek came out sans catcher's equipment, a sure sign the game was not going to start on time. Varitek, the captain, was swarmed by Boston media as he stood down in the dugout. Finally other players trickled out looking not ready for primetime.

In the Jays dugout, an out-of-uniform Vernon Wells eyed the scene curiously, with Mike Lowell finally coming across the field to update the Jays' player rep. Yet there was no firm announcement either way.

Maybe it should be called City of Palms Up and Outstretched Park. Show us da money.

I agree with the players and think baseball has mishandled another delicate affair causing a major P.R. gaffe just one day after the Yankees visited Virginia Tech University to honour the slain students.

The deadline for a game was set at 12:30 p.m. If the game was to be called, the Red Sox were going to come out and sign autographs, likely so the fans would not riot and the players would look good. When the P.A. guy made the announcement, he blamed a dispute between the Red Sox players, the Players Association and Major League Baseball.

No mention of the Red Sox organization. Very inscrutable these Red Sox officials. 

Early Jays-Bucs action

The wind at McKechnie Field was blowing briskly from right to left. In the Jays' first inning, Eckstein fought hard when the count was two strikes and bounced a single to centre. He was eraced on a double play from Wells. In the bottom of the first the wind came into play. McLouth sky-ed one to second, that drifted, drifted drifted until Eckstein had to finalyy make the play falling to his knees and hitting his face on Hill's thigh. He and Aaron looked like two drunken smurfs emerging from a darkened bar after an all nighter looking up into the dizzying morning sun. With two out, A.J. walked a couple of guys in a row and then induced a grounder to Hill to end it. He threw 29 pitches.

The longtime Pirates mascot, the Pittsburgh Parrot went though his mostly humourless routines on the field as BP ended. But it was St. Patrick's Day and he was green and on this day that's what counts. I remember back in the day the original Parrot used to be skinny and  sinister looking with a hooked beak that made him look like he wanted to peck your eyes out. Then he got caught up in the drug scandals of the early '80s. The Parrot was apparently dealing cocaine. "Polly want a toot!" In any case, now the Parrot is fat and jolly looking. It's called evoultion through incarceration.