Here is a link to a recent article with Jays 2nd rounder, Kenneth Wilson.

www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/minors/article633836.ece

And an article on Markus Brisker (6th rounder)

http://www.newschief.com/article/20080712/LIVING03/410372486/1019&title=Ex_Blue_Devil_Brisker_hits_well_for_GCL_Blue_Jays

There's a report on Rotoworld indicating that Hill's rehab isn't going well, as he continues to suffer from post-concussion symptoms.  Ricciardi seemed to concede that Hill might be out for the rest of the season.

Does anyone know much about the effects of concussions?  Is it possible that Hill may never be able to make it back?  Is his contract insured?

Sean Stidfole is bad news for any pitcher.  Inherited runners always score when  he   comes into a game  as relief pitcher.

Why is insuring the contracts something that fans have to worry about? I would guess that they do, but we're not paying the players.

And yes, there is a very real possibility that Hill never plays again. Head injuries are very unpredictable.

Nice to see Ricky Romero putting together a string of decent starts.  Consistency has been a problem.  He could force the Blue Jays hand come November as he becomes Rule V eligible this year for the first time.

On another note, does anyone have any insight on Kevin Denis-Fortier at Gulf Coast.  While still listed on the roster,  he hasn't played since June 30th.  Injured?  Released?

"He could force the Blue Jays hand come November as he becomes Rule V eligible"

Regardless of how Ricky Romero pitches, there is no way that JP doesn't protect his highest and most

pillared draft choice. Mr. Romero will be given many,many chances -  JP will give Ricky every chance to pitch

in the show, even if it's only for a cup of coffee.

there is no way that JP doesn't protect his highest and most pillared draft choice.

This may be the case, but JP will have to still be around in November to do so.

Man is Dopriak ever tearing it up in Dunedin. Hopefully we'll see him in AA next year, although Cooper may have his spot at First there next season.

I'm told fortier  really bad ankle injury.

The_Game,

as a fan I would worry about whether or not a contract was insured because if the player can no longer play his position, he needs to be replaced.  An uninsured contract would mean that the team is paying a significant part of the payroll on an empty hole; therefore financial limitations may have an impact on the kind of replacement player they'd be able to get.

While head injuries are dangerous and unpredictable, I think it's premature to even begin wondering if Hill ever makes it back. 

It takes time, but there's nothing to suggest he will not make it back, especially in a sport like baseball where risk of another head injury is a lot less likely than in hockey or football.

I don't think many GMs would give up on Romero just yet: He's still got good stuff, he's still just 23, and he's still left-handed.

Third round draft pick RHP Andrew Liebel has finally signed on the dotted line for $340,000, according to Baseball America.

"Why is insuring the contracts something that fans have to worry about? I would guess that they do, but we're not paying the players." I hate this ridiculous meme that I'd like to blame McCown for... of course the fans aren't paying the salaries. Duh. But the money on contracts and whether they are insured is highly relevant in this age of self-imposed budgets as anything that limits a teams ability to spend (and paying out millions for nothing can't just be laughed off by any team but the Yankees). On the specific topic of Hill, I doubt the contract is insured against injurt as JPhas said that they Jays don't do that as it is too costly in today's market (I suspect insurance companies decided that this was a losing proposition and jacked up premiums).

Ted Rogers can afford any kind of payroll  he wants this team to have. Even if the contract wasn't insured (and from what I understand, most of them are), I wouldn't worry about this organization's ability to spend money in the future.

The team doesn't insure their players, Godfrey likes to say they "self-insure". And while it's all nice and easy to say that Ted Rogers is a multi-billionaire and can spend an endless amount of $ on the Jays, it's not realistic. There are obvious ballpark figures that he gives JP to spend on the team payroll, and having one of the guys who is locked up long-term be out indefinitely with an injury has a negative effect on the product the team can put out there.

An article from Burnett's 1st ST year with Toronto: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060319&content_id=1356013&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=tor

Well, Burnett's contract is insured, so I don't see why they wouldn't do it for other players. It was always my understanding that major league teams did this, though it's likely difficult to get insurance for the long ones.

As for whether Hill's contract would hinder their ability to spend, that's something neither of us know for sure. It's been said before that Rogers has been willing to spend money whenever the team really needed him, though.

Nowhere in that article does it say the contract is insured. Mark Zwolinski wrote an article for the Star last May -

""The problem is the insurance premiums are so high," explained Jays president and CEO Paul Godfrey.

Even if they had bought insurance, the Jays couldn't have collected in Halladay's case. In fact, the only player whose injury the Jays could have collected on is closer B.J. Ryan. Insurance on Ryan's contract would have likely paid the club about $3 million. Subtracted from the savings the team made by not buying insurance, they're still in the black by up to $1 million.

"A lot of teams are self insuring now," said Godfrey, referring to a trend this season that saw more than a dozen major league teams "self insure.""

IN 1987, the jays drafted Alex Sanchex (1st rd.) from UCLA, but he had only a cup of coffee in the show , his minor

leagues were also disappointing - Years later, Pat Gillick indicated that Sanchez had lots of ability, but liked the

night life too much to succeed. My question for those of you who might know  - is there any indication that a similar

problem may afflick Ricky Romero? Any whispers?

Nowhere in that article does it say the contract is insured.

Doesn't it say he took a MRI for insurance purposes?

Sanchez had lots of ability

Sanchez had a decent fastball. Problem was, it was even straighter than that horizontal line above these words...

Blackbearem, it's interesting that you've noticed Stidfole's tendency to allow the bases to clear too. I wonder what his actual percentage is for inherited base runners to score, and what percentage might be considered "acceptable."