Interesting thought while scanning past the MLB network recently and hearing metnion of 1979 as a  great year of champions for the city of Pitttsburgh-- the Steelers of '78 won the Jamuary 1979 Super Bowl and later that same year, the We-Are-Fam-a-lee Pirates knocked off the Orioles in the World Series. It made me wonder -- how often has something like this happened in one calendar year for one city?

I can think of just two off the top of my head -- the 1987-88 Lakers preceded their City of Angels brethren the Dodgers in a shared championship year.; and the 1968 New York Jets won th Impossible Dream Super Bowl III  in January of 1969, the same year that brought us the Micacle Amazing Mets in October (Also, ironically, over the Baltimore Orioles.)

Close bu t no cigar: the 2007-08 Celtics actually won their title in 2008, the calendar year AFTER the Red Sox win their second title in four years (that still seems strange to write) ... but wait, there's a nother one ... that first Sawx title in  2004 was in the same calendar year the Pats -- not officially a "Boston" home team, but close enough, hey? -- closed out a Super Bowl title on Feb. 1.

There must be others ... let's limit it to the big four, the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB ... who's missing? And which is the most impressive?

The Globe and Mail says the Blue Jays and slugger Jose Bautista will have an arbitration hearing Monday, February 14.

As a quick reminder for our own Mick Doherty, I'm using the Arby's mascot as a symbol for arbitration!  ;D

Today we continue our series on organizational depth with a look at the middle infielders.

I dislike second-guessing the manager. I really do. Usually, I can understand his reasoning even if I don't necessarily agree with it. I can figure out what he's probably thinking. I'm also aware that he knows lots and lots of stuff that I don't know.
 - Me, while ripping John Gibbons a brand new orifice for a decision I didn't like a whole lot.

Yesterday we looked at catchers, a position of strength for the Jays system.  Today it is corner infielders where, other than Brett Lawrie, most of the players are well down the prospect lists.

The Montreal Expos family is mourning the loss of reliever Woody Fryman and scout/bullpen catcher Ron Piche.   According to the Montreal Gazette, Fryman died of Alzheimer's Disease at the age of 70 while Piche lost his battle with cancer and blood poisoning at the age of 75.

1979 Topps Baseball Card of Woody Fryman.                   1965 Topps Baseball Card of Ron Piche.    

Baseball season approaches, and none too soon.  As we wait for spring training to begin it is a good time to carefully look at the Blue Jays minor league teams and try to understand how the players will fit into those teams.  In this first part we will look at the catchers, then follow with corner infielders, middle infielders, outfielders and starting pitchers.

And away we go......

So Deion Sanders is headed to the Hall of Fame ... that's right, the .273 career hitter, sho stole 56 bases over parts of nine MLB seasons learned yetsreday that he'll be inducted this summer into the NFL Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, and rightfully so.

Which got me to thinkiing -- is he the best MLB vet in the Canton Hall? The only others I could think of are Jim Thorpe (.252 over parts of six seasons) and George Halas (2-for-22 with the 1919 Yankees, the year before they acquired a new RF with a football player's body, fella named Ruth). Deion pretty clearly outpaces both.

That said, is anyone missing from that list? Has anyone in Cooperstown played in the NFL? (I think one umpire did, but players?) And before anyone makes a "Bo knows" crack, Jackson was an All=Star in both leagues, but has not -- and will not -- earn enshrinement in either Hall.

Anyone?

Answer me these questions three
Ere the other side you see
---- Tim The Enchanter

Word out of New York City is that long-time Yankee (and briefly, Astro) lefty Andy Pettitte will announce his retirement on Friday. No, really this time!

Pettitte, third all-time among Yankee pitchers in victories for the franchise (though including his Astro years, he tops Whitey Ford in career wins, 240-236), has endured some reputation-damaging PR over the past few years; he will get some Hall of Fame support, certainly -- pitching in New York and being MLB's all-time leader in post-season wins, even in the modern three-tiered playoff system -- will do that for a guy.

But does he belong in the Hall of Fame? There's a poll to that notion on ESPN SportsNation right now -- for the record, I am a huge Pettitte fan, but voted "no" -- and I am genuinely shocked that no less than 61% (sixty-one percent!) of the first 1800 or so votes cast came down on the side of Pettitte to Cooperstown.

Andy Pettitte, Hall of Famer? Really? A sturdy lefty with 240 wins, a 3.88 career ERA, 2251 K, a caeer ERA+ of 117, top five "Most Similars" are a NYC-heavy Boomer Wells, Kevin Brown, Bob Welch, Mike Mussina and Doc Gooden -- sounds to me like a really solid "Hall of Really Good" case, but not so much for a Cooperstown bust. Over to you, valued Bauxites ...

The POTD captures three players who briefly passed through Baseball North in 2010.

Jeremy Reed prepares for his first at-bat in a Jays uniform against the Chicago White Sox April 14 at the Dome.

The POTD shines the spotlight on the Mississauga native's first win in a Toronto uniform.

Shawn Hill takes to the bullpen mound prior to his September 23 start against Seattle at the Dome.

Thanks to valued baseball scribe Tom Tango's excellent The Book website for this head's up ... Rob Neyer, the finest feature writer/columnist ESPN.com has ever had, will be leaving his long-time home tomorrow for a new venture TBA. It's not precisely "Pujols to leave Cardinals" level news, but for baseball web-writers everywhere, it's durn close!

Neyer's note to fans and readers follows. Tango's note is here. 

A Quick Programming Note ...
By Rob Neyer

---

It's been awhile since we built an all-birthday team here on Da Box, but if we were ever going to get back into it, today would be tthe day. You see, perhaps the most influential shared birthday in MLB history is today, Jan. 31.

How so? Well ...

With two weeks to go to pitchers and catchers reporting we need some baseball to satisfy our needs until the 2011 season gets underway.  So in that light I have some video, some pictures and some notes to divert your attention until things really get going.

First the notes.  I touched base with a few of my Blue Jay front office connections this week and here are a few of the things I heard: