This was supposed to be written and posted in December. I can explain why it wasn't in one word: Oops.

Technically there's a decent chance that somebody reading this has read this book before. But I wouldn't be surprised if you haven't.

And the winners are... Rickey Henderson (94.8%) and Jim Rice (76.4%).

You'll be able to read an article I wrote about the second base depth in the Toronto Blue Jays system at the Toronto Sun online today (Friday, Jan. 9)... The article was originally supposed to be the first in an ongoing, weekly series that would focus on the Jays minor league system and prospects, but the sports department at the paper was recently hit by downsizing so the column has been put on hold for now. Hopefully, I will get the go-ahead by the time the season starts. I should give a big thank you to Sun columnist Bob Elliott, as well as Sun sports editor Dave Fuller, for helping me get it published.

Gosh, it's been another four days since we had a new thread? Again, apologies for our suckitude. And a lot has happened!

• John Smoltz to the Red Sox? Really? That seems wrong.
• Trevor Hoffman is a Brewer? That seems even wronger!
• Jason Giambi is back in Oakland. There's something right about that, anyway.
• Carl Pavano to the Indians? Why?
  
• The Red Sox also signed Rocco Baldelli -- good for him (and them)!
• What else is in the news? (Provide links, please!)
  

Question of the Day: With the latest HOF class being announced on Monday, ESPN.com has hosted recent chats debating the Hall of Fame worthiness of both Andre Dawson and Bert Blyleven. I say yes to both, but I'm a "big Hall" guy. What say you?

Okay, as I write this, we are mere minutes away from it being Jan. 5 in Toronto, and your faithful Batter's Box roster has yet to post a new thread this entire (four-day-old!) new year. We suck. Yeah, we get that. So, um, here's one. And a few discussion starters ...

1. The "big news" on the hot stove lately has been Mark DeRosa being traded from the Cubs to the Indians and the Angels "replacing" Francisco Rodriguez with Brian Fuentes. What else are we missing? Provide links!
2. You'll note that the headline above is cleverly and mysteriously void of actual content. Travel back in time, oh, two minutes and tell us ... what headline would you most hope to see here upon coming to Da Box for the first time today? What headline would, alternatively, horrify you the most?
3. Manager Pool '09 ... who will be the first manager fired in 2009? How long will it take?
4. That poll there to the left, the Teixeira poll -- it's getting kinda old and hasn't generated much interest. And we haven't changed it in a week (as noted, we suck). So, suggest a poll topic including a question and at least four options to choose from as answers. Be prepared -- we might actually use your idea! (And we might not. See the Complaints department if you must. Oh, we don't have one? Another thing to complain about!)
5. Yes, the grand old default -- it's open mike time (and not just for those named Michael, like I am) ... what's on your mind? What should be on everyone else's mind?
6. And finally, what is the answer to life, the universe and everything? (Warning: there is a correct answer to this question, as fans of British comedy will assure you.)

That's enough for now. Over to you, Bauxites!

The Jays have signed three more players to add depth at AAA or to battle for backup roles in the major leagues.  These three players will join Matt Clement and Michael Barrett on the "taxi squad".  The three players are catcher Raul Chavez, pitcher Mike Maroth and and infielder Randy Ruiz.

Every ... okay, most ... well, all right, some ... New Year's Eves here on Da Box, we talk resolutions. (Near as I can tell, we've done it twice -- in 2004-05 and last year, 2007-08). But let's make this not-exactly-annual trek into New Year's fortitude and see if we can show some "resolve" ...
 
Now's your chance to share either your own baseball-related resolution, posted in public where you'll have no choice but to own up to it a year from now, or -- if you want to go for the cheap laugh, to post a resolution "on behalf of" someone in MLB.

That said, a few pointers ...

On another slow, nearly-baseball-free December's day. I found myself wandering the greatness of BaseballReference.com and landed on this page, which outlines the 43 men who have been the first overall picks in the June Amateur Draft.

Of course, this led me to the standard Hall of Names question ... what kind of roster would this group of names comprise?

Every year here on Batter's Box, we gather on Christmas Day to recount our blessings of the past year and to share ....

Oh hell, no we don't. We come to brag about what baseball-related gifts we found under the tree left by that irascible never-aging prospect, Kris Kringle (DH, North Pole U.) ... so, Bauxites, what did YOU get (or give) that relates the Winter Holidays to the Summer Pastime? Don't hold back! Best gift story gets, you guessed it, a Yuletide No-Prize!

 

This sharing is usually led by our own Mick Doherty, I am pinch hitting this year.  Oh .. . and before I completely forget ... Merry Christmas and all that sort of thing, to you and yours from us and ours!

 

Each year around this time, we take a musical tour through Baseball's Hall of Names to ring in the new year -- and in fact, these tours have more commonly been New Year-themed (see Auld Lang Syne and Just Another New Year's Eve from years past). But before we completely run out of New Year's songs -- or have we already? -- let's back up a week and try our lyrical hand at Christmas. (We sort of did this a few years ago, but this is the first real attempt at a carol).

So with a nod to Gus, Buddy, David, Cool Papa and George (among others) -- or had you figured that out for the headline already? -- let's join together in a chorus of ...

Eight years, $180 million to become the third-highest-paid player on his own team. ESPN.com has the details.

And be sure to read the incredibly amusing announcement on this news from the greatness that is Jamey Newberg, pasted within ...

You may not remember him, but today is Geoff Zahn's birthday. Zahn, a fine LHSP in the '70s and '80s, won 18 games once and was one of the first big two-time winners in early free agency, signing with both the Twins in '77 and the Angels in '81.

But this isn't about Zahn, the pitcher. It's about his name -- Geoff. There have been only five Geoffs in big league history, so though we were able to build a fine All-Jeff team back in '06, an All-Geoff team simply ain't happening.

Similar "sorry, ain't happening" notes to guys names Jon (rather than John), Kris (rather than Chris) and Marc (instead of Mark) among many others. Which leads us to this question ...

At the end of the 2008 season, agrand total of 171 players entered the free agent market. As of this writing, just a hair less than 90 percent of those are still available, as just 18 have signed with a new team (Renteria, Rhodes, etc.), re-signed with their old team (Blake, Moyer, etc.), accepted arbitration (Weathers) or retired (Maddux, Mussina).

That means there are still more than 150 free agents out there on the market. So here's a thought experiment ...

So the hot stove league chatter of the winter meetings has dwindled to mere embers in the December fireplace, and what are you hearing now? (Or hey, what would you like to be hearing, anyway?)

The big news today, if you can call it that, is that the inimitable Chan Ho Park, who has 117 career wins, and last season got his ERA down below 4.81 for the first time since 2001 -- has signed a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the defending champion Phillies. Apparently the Jays were also in contention to sign The Ho ... speaking as a North Texas resident, let me tell you -- be glad that didn't happen.

What else?

Peavy to Cubs is dead.

Huge deal - huge in terms of volume, not necessarily star talent - between the Mariners, Indians and Mets. J.J. Putz is the centerpiece of the deal. Franklin Gutierrez and Aaron Heilman are other big names changing teams. Summary of player movement:

Mariners -> Mets: Putz, RHP Sean Green, OF Jeremy Reed
Indians -> Mariners: Gutierrez
Mets -> Mariners: OF Endy Chavez, RHP Aaron Heilman, 1B Mike Carp, RHP Maikel Cleto, LHP Jason Vargas, OF Ezekiel Carrera
Mets -> Indians: RHP Joe Smith
Mariners -> Indians: IF Luis Valbuena

In the AAA phase of the Rule V Draft, the Jays lost Anthony Hatch and Ryan Klosterman, and selected Cody Haerther from St. Louis. There was no Jay-related activity in the Major League phase. The AA phase hasn't been updated yet.

And finally, a Blue Jay transaction! The Jays signed Matt Clement to a minor league deal. Quick analysis after the break.

Update (Friday): Raul Ibanez signs with the Phillies for 30/3. Still on the slugger market: Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell, Manny. And Teixeira is the only one who seems to be drawing much interest.