Good morning, everyone! I'm sitting here in the media workroom at the Don and Swalphin waiting for something to happen - glad you're all hear to wait with me!
Well, it's really cold, for starters. People are walking around in big,puffy parkas and toques and stuff - I'm in short sleeves. It's really kind of funny how Floridians react when temperatures drop.
On the docket for today - the annual Major League Managers Luncheon, at which I and the rest of the assemblage will have a casual lunch with John Farrell. It'll be a good chance to start to get to know the Jays' new skipper in a far less formal setting. Then later this afternoon, we find out who wins the Ford C. Frick Award. I'm really hoping that Tom Cheek finally gets his just reward this year.
Cloyne, huh? I used to go to camp around there. It was zero celsius here in Orlando last night, but you've got me beat.
Also today, I had breakfast with Mike Cieslinski, who is the creator and owner of Dynasty League Baseball. They have a new online version at dynastyleaguebaseball.com that you can all check out - very cool.
They may pick somebody up in the Rule 5 draft tomorrow morning that could address the bullpen. As I mentioned in the regular blog yesterday, Fu-Te Ni is among those available and he was an awfully good LOOGY back in 2009. I don't anticipate a Jays trade or signing coming before they leave Orlando, but no one anticipated the Marcum deal, either.
I'm glad you at least spelled Snider right once. I'm not going to comment on what Bob has said, because I haven't really heard it, but I'm very surprised that so many people seem to be willing to cut bait on Travis (and on Kyle Drabek) so readily. It's an outgrowth of the whole instant gratification thing. Remember, just last March people were calling Ricky Romero a bust. It's ridiculous, but it's the way a lot of fans seem to think.
Alex Anthopoulos was pretty straightforward yesterday about the fact that the team is highly motivated to see what Arencibia can do. I'm thinking that if the opportunity presents itself to get an insurance guy, who would be a better fit to start than Jose Molina if J.P. falls flat, then they'd do it, but it's not something they're actively looking to do.
Safe to say, by the way, that the Blue Jays aren't "in hard" on Carlos Pena, nor were they ever. He's going to sign with the Cubs today - one year, $10 million.
I think you're right. As it stands, the infield will be Lind, Hill, YEscobar and Bautista from first to third, and the outfield will be Davis, Wells and Snider from left to right. I think that's how the Jays would like to go into the season.
Manny Ramirez!
OK, maybe not Manny Ramirez, but maybe. They're going to want to have someone who can take over at first if Lind can't get the job done, and Manny certainly isn't that.
I know you all are out there, I can see the number of people in the chat. Don't be so quiet, get in on the conversation!
As far as I know, Manny hasn't been cited for anything recently.
I think that Litsch, if healthy, will be the 4th starter and Drabek will be the 5th, but Rzepczynski certainly has a shot to win a job.
They're talking to everyone.
Lawrie is going to play in AAA this season, so no.
I do. I think he'd be a lot of fun to have around, and there's no question the guy can still hit.
I think you're understating it quite a bit. Snider and Drabek is an incredible overpay for Greinke.
They don't have to worry about that until Spring Training, but I don't think they'll pick up the three-year option.
That's the big question. I never would have imagined that Carlos Pena would get $10 million, and don't even get me started on Jayson Werth. Manny makes sense for the Blue Jays if he signs a one-year deal somewhere between $3-5 million. I can't imagine they'd be able to get him to give them a club option for 2012 though, because if he has a Manny year, he'll go out and make a ton.
I don't think so. He's 20 years old - most 20 year-old athletes have attitudes.
Yes - there's always any chance. They're not going to, though. The guy has had two above-average years in a 13-year major-league career.
Personally, I wouldn't give up either Drabek OR Snider for Greinke (or Zach Stewart,for that matter), in the position in which the Jays currently find themselves. And for the Royals to trade him, they're going to have to make a splash.
There's no gaping hole at first base, Adam Lind is set to take over. And David Cooper hasn't had a good year above A-ball yet.
