I know, I know, it's a typo, but really, how far away are we from some team taking 10 position players, a five-man rotation and 10 relievers north?

It sounds ludicrous, but pitching specialization makes me wonder sometimes.

The difference in the team's payroll with Ligtenberg on the team and with Ligtenberg not on the team is $300,000 (or whatever the salary of the player is who replaces Ligtenberg).

Why do I seem to be the only one, including the GM, to see this? I don't see what a higher budget has to do with this move. Or am I totally missing something?

Its 10-5 Jays right now, so how many runs do they need before its considered a dismantling? Also, I saw the Pirates beat the Yankees at Legends Field on 3/19. They looked pretty good that day.

Isn't that the same IF that we have been saying for a couple years now. Ligtenburg has had good years in the past, there's no reason why he can't get back to his old self. He hasn't pitched that bad in Spring either. Personally, I'd rather keep Kerry, and send Miller down and hope he clears waivers.

The games I saw in Spring Training over the last week saw Rios and Gross Platooning in right field. I thought they were just being rested...and I wasn't happy I couldn't take more pictures of them.

That would be uncool if they started messing w/ Rios now - before he had the chance to produce this year.

Isn't there a point where you've learnt all you can from facing AAA pitchers though?

I think the question you should really be asking is "do you learn more getting partial playing time at the MLB level than playing fulltime at AAA?"

If it were up to me Gross would be in left, Rios in right Cat would be DHing, and Johnson on the bench. I could care less which of Hillenbrand or Hinske was riding the pine, non-tendered or traded.

I'd think Blue Jay nation would be quite pleased with THAT, given that the Reds are going to represent the NL in the World Series and all ...

Gross was injured last year when the call went out. The Jays needed an outfielder and Gross, while still healthy enough to take at bats, was unable to play the outfield at that time which is why Rios made the team and he didnt.

I dont think sending Rios to AAA is a good idea at all. Something in me just says it's not right. For whatever reason (in this case injuries) he made the big league team before Gross did and performed well. While some people might think Gross is more deserving, to me Rios is on the team and it's his spot until he plays himself out of it or until someone takes it from him (or until JP trades him). Gross had a solid year last year and has had a tremendous spring, so let him continue to prove he's deserving in AAA. If he is still tearing it up come May then Ill join the others in screaming for him to be called up to the majors but I just think putting him on the team in place of Rios now would be wrong.

Ok but at the moment we're also only talking about spring training. Gross did not perform well in his brief stint in the majors last year. Id have nothing against a platooning him until Lilly comes back, but I dont see how you can say he's so clearly a better hitter than Rios right now after their respective MLB performances last season.

Blasphemy!

Actually the Trailer Park Boys are in a show named after just that. The main characters are Bubbles, Ricky, Julien. They basically come up with quick money making schemes while trying to avoid the police or trailer park supervisor, Jim Layhey (Lay-hee). This is a crude explaination of them though, and I am doing them no justice.

Bubbles has made several appearances outside of the show:

-Canadian Tsunami relief show. I believe he played with Rush.

-A 'Snow' music video. He was a temporarily successful Canadian reggae/rap singer.

-He also appeared with Don Cherry in a Tragically Hip video whose name I can't remember.

The show is on at 9:00-10:00 on Showcase with a new season coming out after Opening Day (Time revolves around Opening day form some reason).

While I don't disagree, the bigger mistake is either (a) re-signing Cat or (b) trading for Hillenbrand. Wilner said it best on Sunday, if your outfield is eventually going to be Gross-Wells-Rios, make your outfield Gross-Wells-Rios!

But please, there's really no point debating all this. Soon, this will all be forgotten -- if not by the trading deadline, then by next season, when Gross is playing everyday. Of course, then we'll all be complaining about Aaron Hill having to go back to Syracuse since Koskie and Hinske are blocking his way.

If only the Jays could have four outfielders for a change. There are five now. Last year at this time, three. Opening Day 2003, there were also three. Things were much easier when Raul Mondesi was here. ;)

Trailor Park Boys is the best Canadian show on TV! They show re-runs on Showcase at 9:00 and 9:30 on Thursdays. (PST)

Im not necessarily arguing that they do, but Gross in his limited time was still much worse. Id just like to see him continue his great spring when the games start counting if we're going to actually demote a player to make room for him.

While I too don't disagree, especially with Wilner's comments, the whole scenario was based on timing. If Gross didn't put up the numbers he is putting up, he would be starting AAA and we'd have nothing to talk about. He would eventually come back to the majors in 2005, but to fill the void would have been Hillenbrand.

Hillenbrand was also more of an insurance signing as well in case someone was injured or struggled. Now the lineup is healthy, and Gross is doing exceptional, two things Riccardi didn't exactly plan on.

The Jays start Gross in left and Cat at DH against righties. Also against Righties, they platoon Hillenbrand and Hinske at first base. Against lefties, they start Reed in left and Shea at DH, with Hinske starting at 1st base.

Throughout all this, Rios' great defense and fine arm keep him in right.

This is what I do in my MVP Baseball 2005 league, haha. Works fine with me.

"It's pretty hard for us not to take him," general manager J.P. Riccardi said. "He has done a nice job, and seeing him evolve as a ballplayer has been the fun part."

I personally believe that his position on the team is unique--he brings alot to the team that not alot of players can do. His ability to bunt, steal, and hit lefties are all assets that this team needs right now. He's not an everyday player, but he's one of the best 4th outfielders.

I disagree. Check out his 3 yr splits, they're virtually identical .295/.331/.457 at home vs .294/.331/.470 on the road. Sure his stats were helped last year by hitting extremely well at the BOB. But in 2003 he went .280 at the BOB, .279 at Fenway, and .279 on the road. If that's not consistant hitting then I dont know what is.

His HR production does seem to have been helped by playing in Arizona though, as he hit 9 of his 15 there last year, and 11 of 20 there in 2003 (in just 157 AB).

Now I think few would disagree, that the ideal situation for all party’s involved is for Hinske to start well and be traded. Then Cat can DH, Shea can play 1b and the young guns can play in the corners. I think that would be the best team to have north, aswell as maximize the teams long term interests.

I think the best thing would be for Hinske to put together a year that capitalizes on all that potential he showed before he broke his hand. Assuming that his Rookie of the Year performance was his career high is ridiculously pessimistic.

But I'll bite: what's your first base plan that costs less than five million dollars?

BRADENTON, FLA.—Blue Jay hopeful Gabe Gross pounded his franchise record-equalling eighth spring home run in yesterday's 11-5 romp over the Pirates and manager John Gibbons said afterwards he'll probably be heading north. "I don't see how we can't take him with us. It would be a nice reward," said Gibbons.

Here is the rest of the article.

But I think you get the point- some guys adjust particularly well to their home park

Okay, I'll take your point. But now you'll have to explain why Shea won't be able to adjust particularly well to the Rogers Centre. And why he wasn't able to adjust particularly well to Fenway. And why he was able to hit so well away from Fenway - it's not just the limited at-bats in 2003, he hit .322 / .358 / .548 in 323 AB away from Fenway in 2002.

Because even if [Hinske] performs at his rookie level, he still would be below average for a first baseman.

Incorrect.

Hinske 2002: .279 / .365 / .481
 2002 AL 1B: .279 / .362 / .472
 2003 AL 1B: .272 / .357 / .456
 2004 AL 1B: .266 / .346 / .447

• JP's job is to win ballgames. As a fan, I'd much rather see a decent team that plays .500 or better baseball this summer. A respectable team may help attendance, tv ratings, revenue, media coverage, and player willingness to come to Toronto.
• There's no reason the team shouldn't play the most productive players it has now just because some of the alleged saviours of the franchise aren't quite ready for the bigs yet.
• If the club is going to have a legit chance to contend next year, it'll be more likely to happen if they at least take steps in the right direction this year, which in my view, means winning more games in addition to cementing the status of the young players.
• The team has had woeful April's the past few years. Last year it set the tone for a miserable season.

You are grossly exaggerating what JP is doing. It's not as though he has an Ash-like plan to trade good prospects for middling overpaid veterans and then extend their contracts just so he can win 85 games. There are plenty of youngsters on the team (and probably more will come up as the season progresses), most of the contracts are reasonable and the GM still has cash to play with. It borders on insane to criticize JP as "illogical" for wanting to put the best possible club he has right now on the field. Building for the future and trying to win games are not mutually exclusive goals.