Krish, correct the Cubs aren't counting on Wood to be in the rotation this year.

What they are hopeful of is that he will be effective out of the pen.

I don't like to say this because he is a fellow Canuck, but Ryan Dempster is NOT the answer to the closer question ( even if there is 20lbs less of him ).

How many saves for Wood in 07. I'll take 21.
About: Wood hurt in fall from hot tub, out for a few days

Evidently Prioir threw off a mound Thursday and reported NO PROBLEMS afterward.

I'll take Feb 26 as the first day Prior reports health problems.
About: Wood hurt in fall from hot tub, out for a few days

Christ, have the Cubs considered hiring a priest to perform an exorcism? It's Feb 15 and he's hurt already?
About: Wood hurt in fall from hot tub, out for a few days

I had the pleasure of watching Bradley play Triple A here in Ottawa when he was Expos property.

I liked him a lot, thought he played hard , and it ain't easy to play here. Attendance is embarrassing, the IL is leaving after this season, and it is really, really cold in the spring.

I'm happy things have taken a positive turn for Bradley after the falling out he had with Jeff Kent, who from what I have read over the years isn't exactly a popular teammate. Evidently Bradley had it pretty tough as a kid as well.

A feel good story, but what about Crosby?
About: Emotional Bradley brings out the love at A's FanFest

Yes this is a good signing, it's a cliche but you can never have enough starting pitching.

I still think the key to the staff is McGowan. He is the one guy outside of A.J. & Doc that has front of the rotation stuff. Before he had TJ surgery the Jays considered him their best starting prospect since Halladay.

There are a couple of reasons he could break out this year. Health, one more year removed from the surgery ( they say velocity comes back before command ) plus he was diagnosed with diabetes last year. As well, the Jays had him start & relieve last season in Syracuse, some definition of his role might be helpful. Managements rationale for putting him in the pen at the beginning of the season was to groom him as Speir's replacement as Ryan's set up man for the 07 season. Hindsight is 20 20 but I disagreed with it from the outset. See if he can cut it as a starter and if he can't, move him to the pen. I believe in the axiom, " a reliever is a starter who couldn'f find a third pitch".

07 is gonna be fun for us Jays fans.
About: Ohka and Blue Jays reach preliminary agreement

This is a perfect example of why the draft is really an auction.

Fifth round? Every team in the league had a shot at this guy, all it took was 10 million bucks.



Keep the faith,
About: Samardzija picks Cubs, $10M over football

Scott Thorman - good Canadian boy - is going to put up some good numbers as LaRoche's successor at first.

Rumors in the press that with Wickman already in the pen the Braves will flip Gonzalez to the Yanks.

Plausible?
About: Pirates to deal Gonzalez, another player to Braves for LaRoche

That's funny Howard.

Looks like I jumped the gun on Fasano being the backup over Phillips. Looks like Phillips has a big league deal so unless they carry 3 catchers Sal will be in Syracuse.
About: Blue Jays sign Fasano

Good move, I think Fasano would be an upgrade over Jason Phillips as back up to Zaun. Depending upon whether they carry 11 or 12 pitchers Phillips and Fasano could both be on the 25 man, Phillips can play First as well.

Fasano used to play in my town for Triple A Ottawa when he was Orioles property, I liked him a lot, good catcher, good sock.
About: Blue Jays sign Fasano

Wow, first time I've seen this rumor, it's a juicy one!

I've consistently read that Wells only has an interest in pitching in San Diego....but Ricciardi isn't denying they're talking.

On the Jays end, everyone knows they need starting pitching and if Wells could give them 150 innings.....Also Wells would raise the Jays profile in Toronto, where baseball lags behind the NHL BIG BIG TIME for media coverage. We all know Wells makes for great copy regardless of where he pitches.

Personally I love Wells. I can identify with a guy with a big gut, a big attitude, & a big appetite for booze and nightlife. I've always thought he was underrated, that the aforementioned overshadowed his accomplishments on the mound. The guy has had a great career and I've always thought he was a tough, tough competitor. In this era where stats = money, performance bonuses, arbitration, I always thought Wells cared most about the W.

I will be very, very happy if he is in a Jays uniform next year.

P.S. Who remembers when he chucked the ball down the left field line rather than handing it to Gaston on the mound? I think it was more entertaining than the Lilly / Gibbons dustup last season.
About: Jays don't rule out bringing back David Wells

I am disappointed that the much rumored Jon Leiber for Rios deal hasn't panned out.

I'm not anti Rios, but pitching is the scarcest commodity in MLB and Leiber comes cheap by todays standards. Scoring runs shouldn't be a problem for the Jays, hence they could afford to lose Rios. In fact they would miss his glove more than his bat because if he goes we'll see Lind and Stairs getting his AB's.

If Halladay & Burnett stay healthy ( yes that's a big if ) they don't need the back end of the rotation to be anything more than not awful. I think Leiber would fit the bill. Thomson at 1.5 million in todays market is a good deal as well. He put up some good numbers for the Braves before he got hurt and some good numbers for the Rockies before that - keep in mind his numbers there are "pre humidor".

I thought this last year and I still think it: The key for the Jays is McGowan. He still has the big potential. Before TJ surgery he was the Jays most prized pitching prospect since Doc Halladay. I'm hopeful, he's another year removed from the surgery and was diagnosed with diabetes last season, 07 has to be better for him.

Yes, Go Jays!
About: Overbay signs $24 million, 4-year deal with Toronto