Brandon League will resolve to learn a third pitch between now and March, and become a dominant starter, setting the rookie record for strikeouts next year.

Happy New Years Everyone.

Ted Rogers resolves to become a Blue Jays fan not just bottom line owner. Like John Henry and George are of their respective teams.

Jays fans should resolve to increase their support of the team: go to the 'Dome, shell out some dollars and hope that management spends the loot on some decent ballplayers.

Ted Rogers should resovle to buy MLSE and merge with TBJ to feed his huge content machine that he has developed and take advantage that TO is the fifth largest media market in North America.

Everybody connected with the Blue Jays should buy a rabbit's foot, toss a few coins into fountains, and think all sorts of positive thoughts. The Jays have been tremendously unlucky the last year or so, and need a few breaks to go their way.

JP got rid of the 2 guys I was going to tell to stop sucking so much (regardless of what the rules were, because seriously... You know who I'm talking about).

Rogers should start broadcasting more games in Western Canada - currently some Sportsnet games are purely regional - and let me see the Mariners play at night!!! They just have a sportsnet news filler running non-stop while Pacific gets to see them. (this is much more of a concern this coming season than it was last).

Lighterfluid should resolve to get rid of his nickname the bauxites have bestoyed upon him.

JP does need to keep League as a starter, sign another Vet Middle relief guy (Osuna, Williamson are still around, and both would be very good to have around).

Hinkse needs to smash 50 doubles or 25 HRs - that would be an acceptable and reasonable power year for him. (You know I am starting to wonder if he was on the Giambi Juice).

Wells decides to finish off all those "high fly balls" to the outfield.

Jays Need to embarrass Brett Boone when they play Seattle (and show em who the real GG at 2B is).

JP Needs to get a Molina.

As a fan, a dad, and a husband, I resolve to realize it really is only a game.

Now that said, it will still stress me out, sooooo

Wells has to realize it really may be his team to carry at times.

Halladay, and every pitcher need to be more concerned about their arms, and not pitch when they are hurt.

Most importantly, kids are taugh to run the ball out, I would love to see the players actually hustle down the line, too often a fielder boots it, but because their wallets are so heavey they cant run it out.

OK, enough bitterness, it is only a game, and Happiest of New Years to all, and light a candle for those out far east.

"too often a fielder boots it, but because their wallets are so heavey they cant run it out"
see ya later delgado!

Hudson should try to get 20 Homers so that he can get his GG. an odd statement, since you generally do no hit homers with your glove (although jose could hit them with his head), but seems to be the case.

Speaking of being resolute on someone else's behalf, here is an inspirational Roberto Clemente Jr. story. The ancient Greeks spoke of the dance/battle between Thanatos (death) and Eros (love). Thanatos had a very good year in 2004, and let's hope that Eros is the lead partner this year.

On the field, be it resolved that the 2 hour 15 minute ballgame, like the 3:05 pop song, is a good thing.

Eric Hinske needs to drink some of that Giambi Juice.

Happy New Years everyone, 2005 will be a fun year, regardless of their record, or how many HR or 2B's Hinske doesn't hit, I'll be at SkyDome a number of times cheering my ass off for those g.d. Jays.

I, Eric Hinkse, accept the pressure. I will let it nourish me. I have no fear.

I, Russ Adams, belong here. Just watch me.

I, Orlando Hudson... unintelligble... but y'all gone like it, bro.

I, Greg Myers, intend to be careful when I'm dashing towards third base. I use the word "dashing" in a rhetorical sense, of course.

I, Vernon Wells, expect to see a lot of LH pitching against our lineup. I vow to hurt them. You're going to like it.

I, Reed Johnson... well, see Vernon up there.

I, Alexis Rios, will start swinging a little harder.

I, Corey Koskie, will play 140 games.

I, Roy Halladay, will not feel compelled to be A Horse. Just want to be there every fifth day.

I, Miguel Batista, will take what I have learned or imagined about serial killers and take it to the mound with me. A little less artistry and a little more mayhem.

I, Ted Lilly, will be left-handed. And good. Yes, it's unfair. Do I care?

I, Dave Bush, can do this. Hitters are so dumb.

I, Kerry Ligtenberg, will remember that I'm 33 years old and have some health issues. I will not be such a gamer. I will tell my manager if I can't go today.

I, Justin Speier, will relax a little. After all, if today's game was such a big deal would they be playing another one tomorrow? And the next day?

I, John Gibbons, am going to enjoy myself. These guys can play a little.

I, JP Ricciardi, will not despair. The Red Sox are fat and sleepy after the big kill. The Yankees are thrashing and twitching in rage and frustration. There is danger, but also... opportunity?

And finally...

I, Magpie, will not make fun of anyone's handle. Unless it reminds me of some early 70s band or something.

Let's see how long this lasts.

Question for everyone ...

What do you think happens if hinske doesn't hit next year ? I mean koskie is occupying third base, and hinske can't play any other field positions except 1B.

I would probably wait till august, put him on the trade waiver wire, and release him if no one bites.

I would probably wait till august, put him on the trade waiver wire, and release him if no one bites.

You can't release him. Well, you could, but you'd still have to pay him for 2006 and 2007. Even after someone else picks him up.

I would probably wait till august, put him on the trade waiver wire, and release him if no one bites.

As poor an option as Hinske might be at 1B, there is no one presently in the wings whose path he is impeding. Also, Koskie gets injured a lot, so Hinske may well be counted on for 40 games at 3B this season.

If Hinske is in the way, sure, accept that he's a sunk cost, bite the $10M+ bullet, and get rid of him. But, unfortunately, the roster is not so deep at the moment that he can be discarded willy nilly.

I, Magpie, will not make fun of anyone's handle. Unless it reminds me of some early 70s band or something.

Magpie, your list is genius ... as I read it here at 12:34 PM, truly and afternoon delight. But that last comment, it might be one toke over the line. I don't understand why you're so vain, man. Time for me to just drift away now ...

Win Opening Day.

Its frustrating waiting 6 months for one game, only for it to be the greatest disppointment of the year.

I don't understand why you're so vain, man.

I'm not vain.

Just terminally irritating.

it might be one toke over the line.

No! Not another early 70s reference!

You know that stuff just makes me crazy...

I'm not vain.

Actually, "you're so vain" was *also* a '70's music reference, as was "drift away" and "afternoon delight." Ah well, nothing like being obscure so early in the new year.

I was only about seven when these songs came out, so maybe I chose poorly.

I was only about seven when these songs came out

See, that's easy. I've spent much of my adult life trying to forget the early 70s...

News from RotoWorld - Omar Minaya chasing after Beltran, with the somewhat sage note that if Minaya's able to sell the virtues of playing in New York Beltran will most likely end up with the Yankees.

And good news and bad news for Cardinals fans. The bad news is that Rick Ankiel has returned home from Puerto Rico after feeling a twinge in his elbow. Nobody seems to think it's serious, but when it comes to twinges in the elbow is always bad news.

The good news: 7 BB in 27.1 IPT.

OK, that should have read "when it comes to twinges in the elbow any news is always bad news."

Maybe it would have helped if Mick said "You're so vain.... you probably think this post is about you..."

Wow. I watch too much VH1.

Hey, anybody out there got a line on condo rentals in the Dunedin area during March, spring training? I haven't begun to research, just wondering if anyone has contacts / advice... Thanks.

J.P. Richardi should resolve to sign a certain former Texas Ranger All-Star OF to fill the team's vacant DH role. No, no, not this one ... this one ... although why not both?

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id=1755114
Rusty Greer just might be Exhibit A of what can happen when you play too hard.

He's been through surgery each year since 2000, the latest follow-up last month to the ligament transplant he had in his left elbow last July. There have also been surgeries on his left rotator cuff and his right ankle, plus procedures to relieve a pinched nerve and to fuse two vertebrae in his neck. He's hoping to avoid another shoulder surgery in April, and could still face right hip and right knee surgeries.COMN

He hasn't given up after all that and it would be a great story if he actually made it back.

Surprising fact? Juan Gonzalez is younger than Rusty Greer?

Surprised me, anyway.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5901
Bill Houston in todays Globe states "Jamie Campbell is likely to replace Rob Faulds" as the Sportsnet baseball announcer, with Tom Candiotti as the primary color man.

I'd toss this former Ranger into the potential DH mix as well (comm). Sigh, I guess begars can't be choosers....

Greer can't throw any more, which is too bad because he was one of the great defensive left fielders ever but he could probably play some 1B; he and Fullmer would be a great platoon there if not for the tiny detail that they both hit lefty, as does Hinske. The righty Gonzalez is probably the best fit to the Jays lineup needs, if he would DH full-time or play a little RF but still mostly DH. If they could figure out how to surgically implant Greer's attitude into Juando's body, you'd really have something.

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/tor/news/tor_news.jsp?ymd=20041221&content_id=924977&vkey=news_tor&fext=.jsp
Roundup item: an article by SF on mlb.com (COMN). Not, to be honest, very interesting (no offence) because there isn't really much for him say so far.

I do hope the Jays do something interesting in what's left of the off-season. Koskie is a great signing but we also need something more to hang hopes on.

My former secretary used to describe making a person have the will to stand up as giving them a "spinal infusion".

If they could figure out how to surgically implant Greer's attitude into Juando's body, you'd really have something.

Amen. Although you would think that at this pont Juan-Gone should be thinking he's got something to prove.

Best case scenario might be Gonzalez doing a 1998 Canseco in Toronto, re-establishing some market value, and cashing it in. Somewhere else.

I only wish that Andrew K's comment had been posted on Feb. 7. First one to figure out why (and explain it to everyone else) wins a No-Prize.

272727th post!

Awwww... I was gonna go with Garth Brooks' birthday.

A lot can change by Opening Day, but as 2004 becomes 2005, this is who is projected to take the field for the Blue Jays:
SS Russ Adams
DH Frank Catalanotto
CF Vernon Wells
3B Corey Koskie
RF Alex Rios
1B Eric Hinske
C Gregg Zaun
2B Orlando Hudson
LF Reed Johnson

I sure hope there's some other move on the way. I don't like that lineup much.

Side note: I noticed every team has a similar preview story and similar sidebar (Opening Day Lineup Projection) -- was that done by each beat writer, or did MLB toss that in there?

In other words, is that your personal prognostication, Dr. Prison Fence?

Congratulations, Andrew, here is your "Know-Prize" ...

(and in case anyone didn't get it, this is article #2727, Andrew's post was #27 on this article, and February 7th is 2/7.)

(and in case anyone didn't get it, this is article #2727, Andrew's post was #27 on this article, and February 7th is 2/7.)

I still don't.. ???.. Feb what?? .. sigh...

Happy New Year Everyone at the Box!

The only problem is that Feb 7th is 7/2 in all sensible month/day date abbreviation systems...

I don't like that lineup much

Me neither. But looking through the lists of free agents, and at possible trades, JP will have to do something very clever to get a serious power bat to add to the lineup now. And the bullpen could use a little work as well.

try just turning them off

Didn't mean to sound so literal, but just put the closing tag, no opening tag before.

I think I did try that, but perhaps I needed to do it twice because I must have opened it twice (two opens instead of one open and one shut?).

Anyway, thanks.

Burnitz wouldn't be a bad option for a power bat, he can slam them in and out of coors.

Probably not at a price we would like though (38 HRs will get you a good salary for next year).

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=5061
Actually Burnitz has huge home/road splits(comm), I suppose though, he has some value as a righty hitter.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?statsId=5061
Hes had some good power even before he went to Col (quite a few 30+ homer seasons).

Reasonably we are looking at 25-30 HRs from him if he played a full season as a Jay and around a .240 BA.

Honestly though I'd rather have Batista (Tony) as a power bat if we needed it. Although if we got Burnitz, it would definately shore up the OF, since Reed wouldn't have to play FT.

COMN for Burnitz's stats the last cpl years.

Honestly though I'd rather have Batista (Tony) as a power bat if we needed it.

Burnitz has put up some really good numbers in the past, but his latest ones don't mean anything at sea level. Still, he has a .254/.351/.491 career line. As for Tony: no thanks. To compare to Burnitz: .251/.298/.458 over Batista's career is much worse. Not to mention that the Blue Jays' anemic offense would not be helped by a man at the bottom of these lists.

Why, exactly, would you prefer Batista over Burnitz? Neither of them appeal to me, but if the choice was between these two players, and I had to pick one of them, I would go with Jeromy Neal over Leocadio Francisco.

http://www.guampdn.com/news/stories/20041231/localsports/1807305.html
Speaking of third basemen, there's a nice story on John Hattig in the Pacific Daily News. COMN. He's the No. 1 sports story of 2004...from Guam, that is. It even has a picture of him in the Jays' uni.

Hattig -- who goes by the nickname J.R.

That's not your nickname here, Mr. Hattig. :)

Seriously, though, it appears he actually does use "J.R." as his nickname, despite the fact that "John Duane" doesn't fit. If only Hattig made his debut on April 14th, when the Jays play in Texas.

Batista would probably be a cheaper option which is why I would rather have him.

Niether might appeal to you, but I'd rather have Burnitz or Batista smashing balls out of the park in the 5-6 slot than say Hinske? We REALLY need some more power in this lineup, and power hitters like these can smash ball games open. Not to mention Koskie needs some protection... badly (or needs to become the protection).

Resolutions for JP:

1. Sign AJ Pierzynski. Sure, he's flawed, but he'll also hit .300 and bang out 40 doubles playing at Skydome. And Cory Koskie will be around to help mitigate and personality conflicts.

2. Get creative in your hunt for that last DH/1B/LF bat. Consider someone like Morgan Burkhart, who is tearing the Mexican Pacific league a new one this year. Or maybe even the aforementioned Puerto Rican slugger who has fallen out of favour.

If only Hattig made his debut on April 14th, when the Jays play in Texas.

Ooooh yeah ... and we could have him pitch an inning and feature his "southforkball."

1. Sign AJ Pierzynski.

I was thinking the same thing a couple days ago.

This article makes it seem like he wouldn't be all that expensive. I'd be willing to do something along the lines of 2 for $7MM, maybe more money if I gave it more thought. You'd be getting an above average hitter at catcher, which isn't the easiest thing to find.

And if you sign Pierzynski, it forces Zaun to sign with someone else so you'd pick up a draft pick in the process - assuming someone is willing to give up a pick to sign Zaun. At worst it gives you leverage dealing with Zaun.

There's still the possibility of trading prospects to Boston for Kevin Millar or Doug Mientkiewicz. COMN for the Boston Herald article.

Theo Epstien's been on vacation, but he should be back any day now and wants to trade one of these two even without mentioning trying to sign Carlos Delgado.

J.P. *could* be waiting on this as a possible deal.

http://redsox.bostonherald.com/redSox/view.bg?articleid=60418
Ooops, now click on my name.

And if Oakland can't sign Erubial Durazo (who wants a multi-year deal while Oakland only wants to give a 1 year deal) will they go to arbitration or trade him to the Blue Jays (although I don't know what J.P. has to trade that Billy Beane would want)?

Waiting on Oakland could still be happening - who knows?

Sorry for the hijack, by the way.

I'm happy you hijacked the thread; we need something to discuss.

I imagine JP is talking with a few different teams for DH/1B types. The Jays particularly need righty bats, so I'm not sure how good a fit Durazo is or if the A's are really in a hurry to deal him.

I'm surprised there hasn't been more demand out there for Pierzynski, given that he's a left-handed hitting catcher who knows what he's doing with the bat. I guess his reputation is scaring off a lot of teams. Between the Jays love of good clubhouse guys and the fact they already have Myers, I can't see the Jays going for him.

What about Austin Kearns? He is seemingly available. He's a big kid (24 yrs) who can crank them. He bats right. Rotoworld reports the Royals and Reds are enquiring about him, though the Reds are not going to give him away. He has shown he can put up decent numbers in the past.

At 24 years old perhaps he fits into the equation of hitting his prime when this team is competitive.

I like Kearns, but the drop-off in his numbers the last three years looks positively JoshPhelpsian. I'd take a chance on him if he were cheap enough; it would be interesting to know what the Reds want for him.

I can't see J.P. going for a guy who strikes out as much as Kearns does, so it's not very likely to happen. Interesting to think about, though.

I wouldn't mind getting Mientkiewicz from Boston... We'd have the best Defensive infield in our division (close to tops in MLB or AL at least).

It seems to me that the problem the Jays have is, they don't seem to have any players to trade that the other teams who have right handed power bats or left handed relievers, want.

What do Cincinnati (Kearns), Tampa Bay (Huff), Kansas City (Mike Sweeney) or Boston (Millar), need?

i'd take Millar or Mientkiewics, either would be a good pickup. that makes a lot of sense for both teams, i can see it happening.
i wonder what level prospects they would command? Negron? James? How about Gross???

Below is a rather generous extract from MLB.com, Reds team page. Story published on Oct. 2, 2004.

I think this goes some way to explaining why the big drop off in numbers for Kearns.

If this guy is healthy this season he could be the real deal.

******

Obviously, they'd rather be packing for a playoff series, but after a long season everybody was looking forward to spending some time with the family.

Well almost everyone.

Austin Kearns was wishing there were a couple months left.

"This last week or two, I've been feeling much better at the plate," said Kearns. "I realize there's not much time left. I still find myself trying to make up for it all at once. That's kind of hard to do. Now I have to wait a few months and start over again."

Kearns finished the 2003 season on the disabled list after having season-ending surgery on his right shoulder. He began the 2004 campaign in Cincinnati, but was limited to 209 at-bats entering Saturday's game because of a fractured left forearm and a thumb injury that required surgery.

"There's days when my thumb bothers me, or my shoulder," he said. "I think the offseason's going to help more than anything. I'll go a few days here and there where I feel like I'm back to normal, then there'll be days when it bothers me. It's been tough to keep that strong feeling day in and day out."

The most frustrating part for Kearns is that there have been more good days than bad ones recently.

Although he started Saturday's game hitting .239 with nine homers and 32 RBIs, he's hit .342 (13-for-38) with three homers and 12 RBIs in his last 10 contests.

"A lot of it has been the health thing, but a lot of it has been the pressure I've put on myself when I've been in there," he said. "At times, I'm trying to do too much. The times that I've said the heck with it and relaxed is when I've done my best.

"I finally feel like I'm getting back to where I should be, and there's two games left. It's the first time I'm not going out there with my head spinning, wondering what's going on."

And that, along with a four-game winning streak, has Kearns feeling good about himself and his team as the season comes to an end.

Kearns becomes an HOFer in my OOTP game.
Hits something like 670 HRs :)

What do Cincinnati (Kearns), Tampa Bay (Huff), Kansas City (Mike Sweeney) or Boston (Millar), need?

Just so there's no confusion, Huff bats left handed.

One player I would like to see the Jays take a good look at is Joe Dillon of the Florida Marlins,a right-handed 1st/3rd baseman who tore up double "A" and triple"A" in 2004.

Double "A"- .342 avg., 9 hr, 31 rbi, 33 games
Triple "A"- .325 avg., 30 hr, 86 rbi, 108 games

2004 was Dillon's first year back from back surgery which had forced him out of baseball, an injury which occurred in a car accident about 6 or 7 years ago. His doubles, triples and stolen bases, along with the number of games played in 2004, would seem to indicate that he is now healthy. He was born 08/75, making him 29 years old.

Florida is looking for a left-handed hitter, something the Jays have plenty of. Dillon would provide inexpensive backup at 1st and 3rd base, plus DH and left field ( he also played left in triple "A" ).

You can read more about him at www.baseballamerica.com.

Below is a rather generous extract from MLB.com

Lefty - Try not to be so generous in the future and link the story.

Between the Jays love of good clubhouse guys and the fact they already have Myers, I can't see the Jays going for (Pierzynski).

I don't think Myers should be any factor on whether the Jays are interested in AJP.

Myers is going to be 39, and is coming off a season where he only played 8 games because of injury. I wouldn't rely on him if I was in charge. First, you're not sure if he's going to be capable of playing, and then you don't know if he's going to be productive enough even if he does play.

Plus, there's no reason why you couldn't have both AJP and Myers on the team.

I would hope the Jays investigate AJP and not dismiss him because of a reputation which may or may not be true.

Chemistry is important but chemistry is overrated.

I think not considering a productive player like AJP because of his reputation is the last thing the Blue Jays should worry about. If he can come to Toronto and contribute to this team thats looking more lackluster everyday then I say try and bring him in.

Look, he even has a nickname on this site, even more reason to try and sign him.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=rogers_phil&id=1800265
If you're interested in AJP, check out Phil Rogers piece on him from last May (COMN).

He sounds like a guy who maybe takes some getting used to (and his problems with the Giants did all come at the beginning of the season), but his former manager speaks well of him.

How much do you think hes going to get?

Seriously hes the best Catcher on the market. (he made 5 mill last year right)?

Since AJP was unceremoniously dumped for Mike Matheny and hasn't been signed yet despite the good qualities (relatively young, good offensive catcher) a Wade Miller-like incentive-laden deal could do it. Say, a 2 year deal with an incentive based option for the third. Base salaries along the lines of 1.5 and 2.5 for the first two years with incentives relatively easily obtained to make it 3 and 3 (say, 450 PA, .280 AVG, 12 HR), some incentives a little above what we would expect for him (say, .315 AVG and 20 HR or 85 RBI) to make it worth, as much as , 3 - 4 - 5. If he obtains either of those sets of incentives in year two instead of one, the second year salary still goes up and the third year kicks in (if it is the appropriate set of incentives) but he wouldn't be paid retroactively for his first year of course.
I don't know exactly how incentives are usually arranged but that sounds reasonable to me. I wouldn't want him for 3 years, but if his first 2 years are good enough...

Now that I look back at that, the high end (with incentives reached) makes it worth 12 million over 3 years. That might have to get a tad higher to get it done... probably more like 4-5-6 in his best case scenario than 3-4-5 (though I still like where his worst case scenarios would lie).

One player I would like to see the Jays take a good look at is Joe Dillon of the Florida Marlins

Interesting story. He looks like a RH version of Eric Crozier.

AJP would be interesting, but incentives can only be on awards and playing time. Not on average, home runs, etc. It does help cut down on players pushing for that one extra home run rather than trying to just drive in or advance a runner.

Pierzynski made 3.5 MM last year.

The Giants cut him loose because they did not want to give him a pay raise. Presumably, nobody else did either, because then someone would have traded for him.

Talk about being blacklisted. What did he do, run over someone's dog?

Talk about being blacklisted. What did he do, run over someone's dog?

I think that'd be the correct metaphor for his alledged clubhouse defficiencies.

Personally, I'd LOVE to see the Jays acquire Pierzynksi. Aside from the subjective reasons (he's my favorite active catcher because he's such a gamer and always plays his heart out, not to mention the oft-neglected trash talk mastery that most catchers no longer bother with) he'd give us an above-average offensive threat at his position (something the Jays won't have at ANY position in 2005 other than CF and possibly 2B if Hudson becomes as great as we hope.)

The big knocks on him are his perceived selfishness and his habit of turning umpires against the pitchers he catches. This didn't seem to be too much of a problem for him until he got to San Fran. Back in Minnesota the worst that was said about him was that he was hot-headed and talked too much behind the plate. There's no real evidence that he hurt the pitching staff in any way, moreover the Twins consistently produced good pitching performances with him behind the plate.

I think if he can be had for less than $6M a season and will sign for two years, he'd be a very valuable pickup. As others have mentioned, he hasn't generated a lot of interest because of the "clubhouse cancer" label, but he really got the bum's rush with the Giants (what a slap in the face that was, seeing Mike Matheny signed to such an outlandish contract and then receiving a non-tender from the organization) and I feel confident he's on the verge of a career season, even if it's only for the reason of showing the Giants what a mistake they made in cutting him loose. The guy could hit .300, clobber about 45 doubles and 20 homers batting 5th in the order, or could capably fill in the #2 slot if Hudson doesn't perform up to expectations. It's too bad he's a lefty, otherwise he'd be a perfect acquisition for Toronto.

I don't think Myers should be any factor on whether the Jays are interested in AJP.

Myers is only signed to a Minor League deal and could easily just platoon at DH anyway.. even if we DIDN'T sign AJP.

Chemistry is important but chemistry is overrated.

They only talk about Chemistry on losing teams... when the team is winning even the biggest bunch of hot-heads get along just fine...

Now, since we can project the Jays will lose some, the question would bad chemistry mean they lose more... maybe/probably... therefore I suggest they leave the truly "bad chemistry" players to someone else..

(no comment intended on AJP's character, I don't know him but I've never heard bad things before this off-season)

the question would bad chemistry mean they lose more...

More than what though? If AJ is bad for chemistry (which I dont know that he is) but he makes up for it with his bat, then by all means go get him. I have a hard time believing that he would cause such bad chemistry problems for the team that it would subtract more wins from the team than his offense would add.

Keith,
I spend the winter in Largo, just south of Clearwater, and I do not know of any rental accomodation for you at the present, but will watch the local St. Petersburg Times for you and let you know if something deceny comes up. The Times is a good bet. If I find anything else I will let you know.
Jim