The Cincinnati Reds have come from out of nowhere to win the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes.  They have reportedly signed the hard-throwing Cuban lefty to a deal that could be worth as much as worth $30-million dollars - besting the Blue Jays reported offer of $23-million.

About four years ago, I produced a series in five parts (it was supposed to be six!) under the general  heading of "Chasing The Big Numbers." It examined how a number of active players were faring in pursuit of six fairly Famous Career Milestones.

Lefty Zach Jackson is back in the Blue Jays fold thanks to a trade with Cleveland.  The Indians will be receiving a player to be named later in the deal.

One of them last played at the Rogers Centre in 2008 and the other made his major league debut there in 2009.  This veteran slugger and rookie pitcher are the focus of this eclectic and electric extravaganza known as the Batter's Box POTD!

The Toronto Blue Jays have claimed shortstop Brian Bocock on waivers from San Francisco and they signed outfielder and 2003 first round pick Chris Lubanksi from Kansas City to a minor league deal.  If Lubanski makes it to Toronto, start printing up the "Little Lubanski Urban Achievers" t-shirts.

Gosh, it's been a while since we brewed up a Baseball's Hall of Names squad, but recent debate in our newest '10 Picture of the Day stirs up an idea centered around Jay uber-prospect Brett Cecil -- and it has nothing to do with Prince Fielder's daddy or old BoSox 1B Cecil Cooper or early All-Star shortstop Cecil Travis. (Or any of them guys!)

In fact, we're going the other direction, away from the young hurler's family name to his given name, Brett; so let's set some ground rules.

Who comes up with these titles!?!   A belated Happy New Year, Bauxites!   The first Batter's Box POTD of 2010 features a pitcher who showed promise at times in 2009.

In what seems to be a pretty big shocker, the BBWAA decided that only Andre Dawson was worthy of their approval for 2010.

In honor of the great, great Randy Johnson, who announced his retirement today after 22 seasons, 303 wins and an astounding, only-Nolan-can-relate 4,875 strikeouts (including nine league strikeout titles) and five Cy Young Awards (including one unanimously) ... well, let's ask this question: is he the greatest left-handed starting pitcher in the history of the great game?

From a career perspective, there are only a few other serious candidates ... Left Grove, of course. Warren Spahn. Maybe Steve Carlton and Sandy Koufax. Carl Hubbell and Eddie Plank are one tiny notch down the ladder. A distant shout-out to Whitey Ford. Does anyone else even merit consideration?

Personally ...

 

As Ski mentioned, Tom Cheek is the winner of the online 'Facebook limited' vote for the Ford Frick Award (HOF for broadcasters basically).  This ensures his presence on the ballot for every season that the ballot has been made public.

These last decade retrospective things are all over the place at the moment, and since I never saw a bandwagon I wasn't tempted to jump on, here's my picks for a Jays' team of the last ten years.

These guys.

As several loyal Bauxites have pointed out, ESPN has reported the Jays hosted a private workout for Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman in their Dunedin spring training facility with both of his agents present. Despite saying earlier in the offseason that the team wouldn’t be a player for Chapman, Anthopolous and the front office likely must have some genuine interest in Chapman in order for him to agree to the private throwing session.

Whatever it is, it ain't gonna be "Free"!
Okay, let’s see if I have this straight … according to ESPN.com’s not-very-user-friendly MLB Baseball Free Agent Tracker, there are 214 players who are/were free agents this off-season, some via non-tender, many via traditional contractual terms, with the occasional Cuban refugee tossed into the mix. (though they are two of the Top 10 ESPN.com ranks, they are not considered in this exercise.)

If I am counting right, 67 are no longer “on the market” as 55 have signed with a major league club and another dozen have inked minor league deals.

Roy Halladay recently thanked Jays fans for their support by taking out a full page ad in the Toronto Sun.  As a result, the roster here at Batter's Box has decided to take things a step further.  After returning all our empty beer bottles and cans, the change we found in our couches and the millions our very own Mick Doherty raised by panhandling outside the Ballpark in Arlington (kidding Mick!  I joke because I love!)  -- the roster wanted to thank "Bauxite Nation" for talking baseball here in 2009.  We look forward to more snappy banter and wide ranging discourse and pontification on the events and issues affecting our beloved Toronto Blue Jays, its minor league affiliates and everything else pertaining to the world's greatest game in 2010.

Enjoy!