Putting the Pieces Together

Just briefly - The Jays avoided arbitration with Accardo, Bautista, and Frasor by signing them all to one year deals.

From the Globe and Mail;

The Toronto Blue Jays have avoided arbitration with three more of their players after coming to terms with pitchers Jason Frasor and Jeremy Accardo and infielder Jose Bautista for the 2009 season. Frasor, 31, has agreed to terms on a $1.45-million (all currency U.S.) after posting a 1-2 record in 2008 with a 4.18 earned-run average. Bautista, 28, who was acquired by the Blue Jays on Aug. 21 in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, has agreed to terms on a deal that will pay him $2.4-million. Bautista appeared in 128 games with Toronto and Pittsburgh, hitting 15 home runs with 54 RBI. Accardo, who will earn $900,000 this season.

If it hasn't sunk in yet, it should. The Jays with minor exceptions will be fielding the same team as 2008.

FYI - Shawn Camp and Billy Tallet remain unsigned.

Jays Brass Faces Season Ticket Holders

An interesting meeting happened in Jays land. Appearently it wasn't pretty...

Mr. Beeston and company met with season ticket holders on Tuesday to discuss the current state of the team, and short term plans moving forward.

A quote from The Star link = http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Baseball/article/574495 :

And in the night’s most dramatic moment, another demanded more honesty from Beeston, who began the night with brave talk of competing with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox only to later say how the team might take a step back in 2009. He drew roaring applause

Over the past few years JP and Godfrey have had the luxury of telling these folks that the team is prepared to increase payroll, but with the team set on a different direction for the upcoming 2009 season there was some explaining to do.

Some specific baseball talk included (again from The Star)

There was some baseball talk, with Ricciardi saying that Casey Janssen will be used as a starter as long as he shows during spring training that his surgically repaired right shoulder is up to the task.Only Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch and David Purcey are sure things for the rotation.

Season ticket holders are vital to a teams future and they must be listened to in order to keep them around for future investments’. Depending on annual income of course buying season tickets is not a cheap investment.

Hopefully Beeston and the parent company do not take the concerns of season ticket holders lightly.

Princesses and Lollipops

For kicks and giggles I thought I would create a "Best Case Senerio" blog regarding our horrid offence. Remember this is if all the stars come together in a fairy and princess land.

The lineup is no particular order.

Name: Homeruns/RBI/BA/OPS

Hill 15/75/.290/.815
Scutaro 10/55/.290/.785
Rios 28/95/.315/.900
Wells 31/105/.301/.885
Rolen 21/80/.280/.840
Overbay 17/70/.280/.835
Barajas/Barrett 16/55/.265/.760
Lind 18/55/.275/.775

Snider 22/68/.275/.790

*I am living in dream world.