So many questions
          Still left unanswered
          So much I've never broken through......

I don't know much
But I know I love you
That may be
All there is to know

Over the weekend, with the freezing weather in Ontario, I took the opportunity to clean out some old files while finding time to look at my newly arrived Baseball Forecaster.  Some of the stories and clippings I looked at reminded me of how little we know about baseball performance, one of the reasons the game appeals to us.

At this time last year there were people calling for Jose Bautista to be traded, and expecting that Randy Ruiz would  be on the bright spots for the 2010 Jays.  Aaron Hill and Adam Lind were going to carry the Blue Jay offense and Brett Wallace was waiting in the wings.

The POTD pays tribute to the three-time All-Star and Gold Glove Winner.

Vernon Wells featured on JaysVision during the pre-game introductions.

Well, the original trade thread filled up faster than the Skydome on a Tuesday in August. Wait...

Anyway, here's a new one for your AA venerating pleasure.

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Jays have traded for Angels catcher Mike Napoli. Details to be updated as they come out.

The deal appears to be Napoli and Juan Rivera for Vernon Wells, as reported by Rosenthal and confirmed by Mike Wilner. We still don't know how much cash the Jays are sending over.

Mike Napoli steps to the plate against the Jays at the Dome August 21, 2009.  He would homer later in the game against Casey Janssen but the Jays would prevail over the Angels 5-4.  Interestingly enough, Vernon Wells also went deep in the same contest.

...is a new Jay.

Several times through the past few years, dating back to Batter’s Box Year 1 (!) we have played around with the idea of anagramatics … word-play using people's names to find full anagrams that describe them (or, more commonly, don't describe them, but in a funny way). For example, my personal anagramatic is Michael Doherty = Hey, I'm a Tech Lord. (Not!) You can see from that example that we can add in punctuation – apostrophes, whatever – wherever necessary.

Given all that, let’s meet some of the newest Blue Jays … several have many options!

For example, Octavio Dotel splits nicely into the unfortunate anagramatic …

 

The first manager in Toronto Blue Jays history has passed away at his Atlanta-area home.  He was 85.

Roy Hartsfield's 1978 baseball card capturing his time as a Boston Braves player and Blue Jays manager.

The Blue Jays have signed Jon Rauch to a one-year contract at $3.5 million. There is a team option for 2012 for $3.75 million.

Okay, first a challenge -- first Bauxite to correctly name the pop culture icon referenced in the above headline wins a coveted No-Prize!

Now, the actual story ... former Dodger Russell Martin, a Canadian, signed a one-year, $4 million dollar contract to move across the country and play in the Bronx recently. Even more recently, Martin joined the Fan 590 in Toronto with Greg Brady to discuss the excitement of signing with the Yankees, being signed as the everyday catcher for the Yankees while they still have Jorge Posada, how many teams actually pursued him this off-season, and much more. (And. oh by the way, the catching Canuck has some kind words for the Jays, his new divisional rivals ...)

Read a transcript of the audio -- or access the actual audio link -- here.

After a five year stay in Toronto, Lyle Overbay is heading back to the National League after inking a one year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates last month.

Overbay gets ready for action against the Orioles on 80's Night at the Dome July 26th.

A quick look at the rosters as they stand for the AL East teams.

After two seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers -- Trevor Hoffman never did look quite right in that uniform -- baseball’s all-time saves leader (with 601!) has announced that he's hanging 'em up before the 2011 season gets underway. As one wire service put it so aptly, he's "thrown his final changeup, deciding at age 43 to retire and return to the San Diego Padres in a front office job." Hey, he's been "retiring" hitters regularly for so many years -- it's about time he took a stab at this "retiring" thing hissownself!

I'm rolling thunder, pouring rain
I'm coming on like a hurricane
My lightning's flashing across the sky
You're only young but you're gonna die
I won't take no prisoners won't spare no lives
Nobody's putting up a fight
I got my bell I'm gonna take you to hell

The Cincinnati Reds have signed former Jays outfielder Fred Lewis to a one-year deal worth $900,000 according to MLB.com.  He joins World Series MVP Edgar Renteria as the veteran shortstop also signed on with the Reds.

Fred Lewis takes off his gloves as he prepares to take to the field against the Los Angeles Angels at the Dome April 18th.

In yesterday's thread about the greatest Jay of all time, greenfrog described Roy Halladay as the most "all-around enjoyable Blue Jay to watch."

Magpie suggested Tony Castillo (as well as Jesse Barfield, Tom Henke, and Paul Molitor). He also thought this might be a worthy thread.

I agree.

The Star today has a feature on the greatest Blue Jay in light of Roberto Alomar's election to the Hall of Fame.  Dave Perkins and Richard Griffin, as well as four nameless fans, pick their greatest Blue Jay.  The six Jays mentioned in the story are Dave Steib; Carlos Delgado; Roberto Alomar; Roy Halladay; John Olerud and Cito Gaston.

Not mentioned are Tony Fernandez; George Bell; Jesse Barfield or Jimmy Key.