Well it's no doubt a play on Lost in Translation - a Bill Murray movie about gahd knows what, set in Tokyo.  Where we go from there, I'll leave to our English major, Chuck.

If it was a simple play on that movie, the title likely would have read Lost in America.  'a place called America' has me stumpted.  Plus I'm on my first coffee and it's only 9am out here.

I think Geoff knew the answer, but Chuck definitely did, so he wins the No-Prize mostly because I really groove on anyone toying with names, and Torii Hunter Amos Otis is quite genius. Maldoff, we'll miss you.

Nobody actually explained why I used it, but the line is a lyric from the song "Wednesday" and all our headlines since Weekend Update a few days ago have referenced the day(s) of the week. Got a better Wednesday reference? Chime in ... I didn't want to go all Addams-family on everyone.

P.S. Today is Orlando Hudson's 30th birthday. I knew I was old, but c'mon! O-Dog will always be 24 in my mind ...

Via MLBrumors:

Tejada to Astros for a *bunch* of players.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-tejada1212,0,378258.story

Tejada isn't a bad shortstop by any means, but his range has been declining very steadily, and he's not adjusting well on the field to it. In playing him at short, you want him back at least a couple of steps, which gives him a little more time to cut the ball off. He's been trying to play the line like he always has, and it's making his range issues look even worse. That means you need someone with above average range and speed at 3B to cover a deeper SS position. He still reacts well to the ball and his glove is solid, but with the less range and speed, he's going to be Jeter level very soon.

I don't understand why he'd resist taking over 3B if given the option. He'd likely be an above average defender off 3B, where reaction and bat read are far more important than overall range. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he's still got a decent arm.

I'm betting that Everett is the casualty and gets non-tendered.

If this actually happens, I want JP on the line to Everett's agent faster than Oprah on a baked ham. If the Jays had Everett and Hill up the middle, they could put pylons at first and third and still have a solid defensive infield. I would absolutely love to see Adam Everett at SS for Toronto -- one of the very, very few players whose glove justifies an anemic bat. (Sorry, John McDonald, you're not in that class.)

I would absolutely love to see Adam Everett at SS for Toronto -- one of the very, very few players whose glove justifies an anemic bat.

Every defensive metric you run across is in full accordance with Jordan's claim. I'd say that Everett is actually quite an underrated player and probably would not have to be properly compensated, so disproportionately are each of offense and defense considered when pay rates are sussed out.

But I can't imagine that there'd be any possibility of Ricciardi moving on Everett, not when he likely believes he has a clone on the roster already.

A reporter at the Chicago Tribune has blogged that Rowand has signed with the Giants.

I think this puts an end to the Rios/Lincecum business.  If they had acquired a corner outfielder, I think they'd still be interested, but much of Alexis' value to the Giants must have been as a centrefielder.

ESPN is reporting the same thing. I'm not so sure I agree with your conclusion though. I just listened to the Sabean interview linked above, and while overall I got a feeling the trade was NOT going to happen, the one thing he said was getting just one player won't cut it. He needed 2 middle of the order guys. Getting Rowand without giving anyone up seems to make Rios even more attractive to them.

Listening to Sabean's tone, I'd bet pretty strongly, perhaps 9 or 10:1, that this deal does not go through.

It's a shame the Giants didn't sign Pierre to that nasty deal last year, that would give them all three of the last two years' worst free agent signings. If I'm not mistaken, they came close to Pierre though.

And I'm with the good doctor, the Rios deal just became more likely in my mind.

I agree with AyJackson.  Signing Rowand, a CF, makes it much less likely that the Rios for Lincecum deal goes through, since Sabean said he would want Rios as their CF.  It may be more likely that the Hideki Matsui deal goes through now, though.

It's all fine by me.  I was worried that Lincecum was a surgery or two waiting to happen.  Now J.P. may have to switch to plan B, which is packaging Rios, Marcum and Purcey for Santana with Ted Rogers eating the 5-year, $120 million Santana is going to demand during the bargaining window.  Obviously I made that up.  But it's not out of the question.  Taking on that kind of contract would be at par with the money saved by the departure of Burnett and Glaus.

Here a link to the Rowand signing.

I'm in the camp that says a Rios deal is now less likely -- if the Giants had signed a pitcher to  "lessen the blow" of losing Lincecum, then I could see this as a step towards a Jays trade. But certainly, the Giants have more leverage now -- they don't have to acquire Rios for his bat or glove (though I'd certainly argue Alex is superior to Rowand, especially in terms of salary). The Giants might use this leverage to try and get that other arm from Toronto, though I doubt JP would move on that. But youneverknow.

From Blair:  Giants close door on Rios deal

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20071212.wspt-rios1212/GSStory/GlobeSportsBaseball/home

I think that trading Rios for pitching is unlikely right now.  Haren has the same amount of service time as Rios and the Athletics don't really need a CF.  It sounds like the Orioles won't trade Bedard to another AL East team.  A package centered around Rios and maybe Marcum for Johan Santana could probably trump the Hughes or Ellsbury/Lester packages being proposed by the Sox and Yanks, but even with Burnett and Glaus coming off the books, I doubt the Jays would spend the kind of money Santana would demand.  Afterall, they'll probably still need to aquire a 3B and SS next year.

I'm happy with the team as it is.  The rotation looks great and deep, the lineup is solid, and the bullpen is solid.  With some breaks, they can surpass the Yankees and take the wildcard.

Timpinder said: "I'm happy with the team as it is. The rotation looks great and deep, the lineup is solid, and the bullpen is solid.  With some breaks, they can surpass the Yankees and take the wildcard."

Generally, I agree. However, I'd be happier if Stairs could back up Glaus at third as well as OF, 1st and DH.

On the Santana front - the more I think about it the more I think the Yanks NEED him way more than the Sox. If I was Steinyounger I'd pull the trigger. If I was JP, I'd seriously consider offering Rios, Marcum and Purcey for him. We could afford him going on, if we REALLY wanted him. In the end, keeping Rios is also a very good move.

How many of those position players wounded last year: Johnson, Glaus, Wells, Overbay and Zaun have to come back to at least their career norms for the Jays to realistically have a shot at the wildcard?  I say at least four. 

I corrected myself a few posts down.

Well Christmas didn't come early.

My sense is that Ricciardi will end up with nothing again this offseason.

He has pretty much been saying that he likes his team the way it is since last seasons trade deadline. Why would we think he actually feels any different today?

I think all the Lo Duca and Lincecum talk was all just a grand distraction in order to entertain the local media and die-hard fans. His offer to Lo Duca was lo-ball and most posters to this board figured the Lincecum was such a no brainer that I doubt the talks were very advanced. From Sabean's point of view his trial balloon went down like a Led Zeppelin. From Ricciardi's side the optics were great. Visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads.

I'm forcasting Ricciardi will not have his socks blown off this winter.

Adam Everett has been non-tendered. Go get 'im, JP!

I'm of course happy that Rios will not be dealt for Lincecum, and I trust he won't be dealt for pitching elsewhere. I expect that before spring training, we'll hear of a five-year pact for Rios that buys out his arbitration years and a couple of free agent seasons. It would be a wise investment by the franchise for both today and the long term.

According to Rotoworld, Dallas McPherson has been non-tendered by the Angels.  I wonder if the Jays would have any interest.  McPherson has power, he's a left-handed hitter and he could backup Glaus at 3B.  A bench of Stairs/Johnson, Scutaro, Thigpen and McPherson would be nice to have.

By the way, how does a guy with 360 major league at-bats, who first appeared with just 40 at-bats in 2004, become arbitration eligable in 2008?  I'm ignorant to how the whole service time thing works.  Also, I'm curious to know if Lind's major league clock is ticking.  I'd hate to see the Jays lose a year of Lind so that Johnson and Stairs can play.

The problem is the Jays just signed McDonald to that $3.8 million dollars.  Would the Jays spend the money for what's arguably just a slight improvement?

Plus they just traded for Scutaro. Running after Everett now is slightly harder to justify when you take those two deals together. I think the Jays could non-tender Scutaro, but they would be up against the clock.

I do like the idea of taking a flyer on McPherson. Though there might be significant competition for his services.

Shouldn't we be hearing if Towers is really going to be offered arbitration sometime soon?

Speaking of Towers, can someone please explain to me why some teams are waiting closer to the deadline than others.  By now you would have to think each org. has made up their mind.  I can't believe the reason is that they have a deal in the works or because they are waiting for a last minute offer...or should I?

Also, with the names that have been non-tendered so far today, is there anyone here who feels differently to tendering Towers than they did yesterday?  Do you now see a better option for that money.  If so, who?

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Blue Jays are "close to deal with shortstop Eckstein".

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7558686?MSNHPHMA

That player finally has emerged -- free-agent shortstop David Eckstein.

The Jays are on the verge of signing Eckstein, according to a major-league source. Terms of the contract were not immediately known.

Eckstein, a two-time World Series champion, likely will become the team's everyday shortstop, returning John McDonald to a backup role.

The Jays signed McDonald to a two-year, $3.8 million contract in September, but considered his deal affordable even if they used him as a reserve."

1. As you speculate, he's still hurt.
[Big gap]
2. The Rangers love C.J. Wilson as their closer
[Slightly smaller gap]
3. Word is the Rangers were kinds ticked that Otsuka encouraged Fukudome to sign with the Padres, though of course he did not do so.

I don't think it'd be a wise signing for anyone, actually.

Prior's torn labrum makes it unlikely he's going to do much.  I think some team is going to try to rehab him and spend a lot of money to do it but ultimately, the days of Prior's fastball getting higher than 90 mph are likely at an end.

Would anyone have traded Prior after 2003?  They'd probably be considered nuts.  But that was the last truly good, healthy season he had.  That was four years ago.  Unfortunately, at this point, I don't think his chances are any better than Matt Clement to be a decent pitcher again.