Originally published Dec. 31, 2004. This story has been slightly modified and re-edited for today's encore presentation here.

It's New Year's Eve, from Toronto to here in D/FW, out toward Cali, and by the time most of you read this, it will be the new year in places like Seattle, Vancouver and Honolulu.  In that spirit, see if you can't find a minute or two today to offer New Year's wishes to your fellow Bauxites, using the below format (yes, that's still the challenge!), made possible by the miracle workers at Baseball-Reference.com:

First, some advice ... if you need a little pick-me-up in order to find your bliss on New Year's day ...

Here's the final POTD for 2010 from my end.  I had never seen the Jays live on the road until the missus and I made a trip to Cleveland to catch the noon hour finale of a mid-week three game series at Progressive Energy Field.  It was her idea to go and I wasn't about to argue!  However, the Jays would be in tough as they had to face Indians ace Fausto Carmona, a big obstacle standing in the way of a series sweep.

Jose Molina got the start behind the plate as he catches a warm-up toss from starter Brandon Morrow in the Jays bullpen.  This picture was the first time I realized there was a small number 8 on his catcher's mask.  Molina would contribute to the Jays offense with an RBI single and a walk.

The POTD turns back the clock to the rubber match in Minnesota's lone visit to Toronto in 2010.

Lefty Brett Cecil sets the tone with seven innings of one-run ball against the Twins.

According to foxsports.com, the Blue Jays appear to have signed their new closer for 2011 as they have reportedly come to terms with right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel on a one-year deal plus an option.  A tip of the Jays graphite cap to Bauxite dan gordon for the heads-up!

Octavio Dotel spent time with Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Colorado in 2010.

In what could be categorized as Alex Anthopoulos' most controversial move since taking over the team's general manager, righty Shaun Marcum was dealt to Milwaukee in exchange for the Brewers top prospect, Canadian infielder Brett Lawrie.  Here's a look back on number 28 in his final season with Toronto.

Shaun Marcum shown on JaysVision prior to his June 20th start versus the San Francisco Giants.

Every year, we commit a thread dedicated to inviting all Bauxites to share with us the best of your (not Josh) booty -- especially the baseball-related items from your stockings or under your tree. So, what diamond-related packages glittered under  your own morning star this Christmas?

And a quick shout-out to the greatest off-season prospect of all time, delivering for the 2,010th consectuvie year ..

KRINGLE, KRIS
Nickname: Sandy Claws
UTIL, veteran all-star
Aging vet is a bit portly, but can still fly .... Astonishingly productive and versatile, though top deliveries limited to once a year ... Can handle all kinds of weather but is noted for toying around a bit with intended targets ...  Very thorough, always checking twice before proceeding ... Stunningly, still  a free agent, making fans all over hope he's coming to their town ...
Relatives: "Father Christmas" of  Steve Christmas, Al Clauss, Johan Santana

Merry Christmas, Bauxites!  The POTD on this Christmas Day looks back on J.P. Arencibia's first major league at-bat against the Tampa Bay Rays at the Dome August 7th.

J.P. Arencibia appears to be looking for a sign from third base coach Brian Butterfield but Butterfield's attention is elsewhere.

And for your holiday enjoyment, here's reason number 2,378,512 that baseball is the greatest game of them all....

The Toronto Blue Jays added to their outfield depth in November by acquiring Rajai Davis from Oakland for minor league pitchers Danny Farquhar and Canadian Trystan Magnuson.  The POTD looks at Davis during May 2nd action between the Jays and A's at the Dome.

Rajai Davis tries to catch up to a Shaun Marcum offering.

Today's POTD focuses on the 2009 American League Cy Young Award winner and the man who's expected to field a few of his ground balls at short for Milwaukee in 2011.



Zack Greinke stands at attention for the national anthems prior to his April 21st start at the Dome.

I recently discovered a truly wonderful baseball website called Wezen-ball.com. I haven't spent a lot of time there yet, but suspect that I will -- there's even a whole area of the site dedicated to calculating the baseball stats of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Joe Shlabotnik and the whole Peanuts gang.

what led me there was a link from one of the fabulous blog posts Sean Forman leaves on the greatness of BaseballReference.com -- the story linked to was a 2009 feature by Larry Granillo called "The History of the Highest-Paid Player in Baseball." Seriously, go read it. Like, now!

Okay, you back now? Settlle in ...w hat follows are a few thoughts about those men who have been, at least for a short time, the highest-paid players in the history of the game -- at least since Nolan Ryan became the sport's first milllion-bucks-a-season man back in 1980 ...

As Gerry reported in the previous thread, one-time Chicago Cubs phenom Corey Patterson has inked a minor league contract with the Blue Jays.



Patterson retreats to second base after a foul ball during first inning action between the Orioles and Jays at the Dome May 30th.

The Milwaukee Brewers have apparently aced out the Rangers, Yankeees, Angels and others in completing a deal in to acquire former Cy Young winner  Zack Greinke from the Royals.

 The agent for Brewers minor league pitcher Jake Odorizzi, who is part of the Royals package in return,  confirmed the deal on Sunday.

The Brewers also are expected to receive shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt  from the Royals.

Sounds like a high, high price for MIL to pay for what may well be a rental, but the deal also might make the Brew Crew the NL Central favorites for 2011 ...

I know,  I know, we here at Batter's Box have a hard time letting go of Roy "Doc" Halladay; more than a year after arguably The Greatest Jay Ever left for the City of Brotherly Love, his piture still graces the banner logo of this site.

Speaking of banners, the draped headline on the latest print edition of The Sporting News jumped out at me as I recovered from the mailbox this afternoon  ...  2010 PRO ATHLETE OF THE YEAR: ROY HALLADAY.Well ... okay, I guess.  Perfect game? (Check.)  20+ wins? (Check.) Playoff no-hitter? (Check.) Cy Young Award? (Check.) Yeah ... I guess he deserves it!

MLB Trade Rumors is reporting that the Jays have signed Edwin Encarnacion to a $2.5m deal for 2011 with an option for 2012.  I guess Adrian Beltre won't be coming to Toronto then.

Guess who just got back today

That wild-eyed boy who had been away

Hasn't changed, hasn't much to say

But man, I still think those Jays are crazy

Gregor Chisholm tweets that the plan is to use EE at first and DH along with Lind.