Okay, I know this has nothing to do with baseball, the Blue Jays or anything else that we normally discuss here. It's about one of history's worst disasters, striking a part of the world so vulnerable in its poverty that it's hard for us to imagine how much they've lost. This is a plea for help.

Derek Jeter will go in to the Hall of Fame. As an icon of the age, fame defines him. His merits as a ballplayer are not quite so clear-cut.

Okay, as I write this, we're about 90 minutes into 2005 and hack journalists all over North America have filed the annual "I am going to be hung over tomorrow and won't want to write a column for the Sunday Sprorts section" New Year's Resolutions for Other People stories. That brings us to the year's first ...

Question of the Day: What resolutions should people associated with the Blue Jays -- management, players, media, fans, Box Roster, whoever -- be making for 2005? There are a couple of rules here; oh, and this can double as a "Make Your Own Roundup" thread, especially if you can find some of the aforementioned "New Year's Resolution" columns from sportswriters around the hemisphere.


Rule #1 ...

In today's "Make Your Own Roundup," we can report that Lee Sinins reports that New York Newsday reports that fomer Jay hero Robbie Alomar has signed with St. Louis to team with David Eckstein around the keystone, which the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Cardinal team officials deny reports. Now, this is hearsay about Newsday, which on its own has a BBRRS of appproximately cheese fondue, so we'll see.

It would be ineresting to see Alomar, who was once an Oriole, and of course a Blue Jay, become a Cardinal. That would pretty much complete his search for a World Series "wing," unless you count the Angels, of course ...

What else is going on?

Congratulations to Simon, who narrowly held off Jes Golbez, Sky, and 76 other contestants to win THE 2004 CONTEST, the annual Batters Box prediction game. Simon garnered 40 points out of possible 100. Final scores ranged from 40 down to 5 with an average of 20. Simon earned victory with his clairvoyance regarding the American League; he picked all three division winners, the wild card, pennant winner, and World Series champion.

It is my understanding that Simon will celebrate his victory by adding chocolate to milk.

The consensus picks tallied only 22 points but did correctly predict Boston's first World Series championship since 1918. The consensus earned additional points for Boston's pennant, Minnesota's division win, Florida's third-place finish, Cincinnati's fourth-place finish, and Vlad Guerrero's MVP award.

On to the highlights and lowlights of this year's voting:

As 2004 comes to a close, it's time to present the eighth of what will be 12 "all-month" teams for your discussion and ridicule. There's no easy name for the December squad (though we're looking forward to introducing the March Hares and the April Fools in months to come), but given the spirit of the season, we'll go with the December Holidays. If we're looking for a team captain, rest assured that my former boss John December wasn't a ballplayer of any sort, and Toronto's own Roy Halladay was born in September -- though somehow he escaped notice in formation of the September Morns -- so he's right out.

But in looking for a Christmas miracle, we'll find that team captain ... on December 9, 1957, a child was born unto the people of Orlando, Florida, and it was future Reds, Cubs and White Sox catcher Steve Christmas. Now, as for the rest of the team ...

Remembering Chris Woodward, who spents parts of 5 seasons with the Blue Jays.

Nomar Garciaparra was one of the “Holy Trinity” of shortstops of the late 90s, with Jeter and A-Rod. All were considered at the time to be likely Hall of Famers. Unfortunately for Nomar, the early part of this decade has not been kind to his chances, and 2004 continued the trend. He hit well enough for a 30 year old Hall of Fame candidate shortstop, .308/.365/.477, but he was traded by the Red Sox to the Cubs in a 4 team trade at the deadline. It will undoubtedly will be remembered that the Sox went on to their first Series win in over 80 years after the trade.

It's December 26 -- Boxing Day -- and you (always) know what that means; we're just hours away from the announcement of the annual Andujar "YouNeverKnow" award. In the meantime, take a moment to look back at some of the 1,383 (!) threads posted here during 2004 and answer today's ....

Question of the Day: What are your favourite moments of Batter's Box '04? These may or may not be the same as your favourite moments of Blue Jays '04 or even Baseball '04. When you think Batter's Box this year, what comes to mind? The answer may be funny, a great line or a good story, or poignant, or otherwise memorable. Bauxites, over to you ...

Bob Elliott reports in today's Toronto Sun that Blue Jay opening day hero Doug Ault passed away on Wednesday December 22, 2004. We offer our condolences to his family.

Bauxites have spoken and the Andujar torch passes from ex-Jay Esteban Loaiza to Tribe All-Star Ronnie Belliard. Details follow.

Question Of The Day: Anyone give or receive any baseball related gifts this holiday season?

Feel free to also use this thread as a Roundup, in the unlikely event that some piece of baseball news is released.

Be sure to participate in choosing the only completely original Batter's Box MLB-wide award -- the Andujar, also known as "the youneverknow." Meet the finalists, then go ahead and vote. It's in poll format, so it's easy -- about 150 of your fellow Bauxites have already cast ballots. Voting has been extended and will now conclude at midnight (Central time) tonight, Dec. 24; as always, the winner will be announced here on Da Box on Dec, 26 -- Boxing Day.

Batter's Box favourite Aaron "Named for Hank" Reynolds and his wife Vanessa were blessed with a baby boy early this morning. Further details will be forthcoming; the new parents have more important things to do right now.

I know I speak for all of us here at Batter's Box when I wish the entire Named for Hank family health and happiness for years to come.

Correction by Joe: Theodore was born late on the 23rd, not early on the 24th. An extra-early Christmas present!

Moises Alou signs with the Giants to play for his father. Feliz Navidad, Felipe.

Today's QOTD is:

Which extended family has had the most members in organized pro baseball (major and minor leagues) in North America? If you don't want to try the puzzler, then how about telling us about your favourite baseball family?

The Alous would have had at least 4, Jesus, Matty, Felipe and Moises, but I'll bet there is a family out with more.