Ba$eball new$: according to the Star, the Blue Jays aren't even willing to meet Shannon Stewart halfway. J.P.'s comments seem to indicate the team has made its "final" offer, and we can only guess what it might be:

"We've said this is as high as we'll go; and all I'll say there is that it's definitely below the 6.5. We're ready to prove (to the arbitration panel) why we feel our number ($5.5 million) is worthwhile."

Had Stewart's advisors asked for $6.75 or even $7 MM, the Jays wouldn't have the same leverage, but at the $7.5 MM figure, it will be a tough case for the player to win. The latest offer, whatever it is, was more generous than the club needed to be, and if Jeff Moorad is half as smart as he thinks he is, he'll accept it.

Also from today's Star: another ex-Oakland employee, Jim Bloom, is working on the next wave of "Baseball North" TV ads. I can't wait for the one where Tosca is swarmed by black flies in the dugout, waves his arms wildly, and the batter starts cross-checking the catcher. Orlando Hudson's in another, but we're not sure if he'll be eating poutine. Perhaps because they don't want to pay Dave Till a royalty for the idea, no word yet on Timbits.