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!

Yup, a former Cubs GM is now in the fold.

We're gonna make it all the way to the light
But I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight

The Jays final walk off victory of 2009 is the focus of this holiday edition of the POTD.

Have you ever seen a Hall of Famer play baseball?

Every year, as Christmas passes, we ask gathered Bauxites to share with everyone here -- taunt us, really -- with what your best baseball-related Christmas/Winter holiday gift was this year.

Whether it be a new Rawlings ball glove, Louisville Slugger, or new set of cleats, season tickets in your favourite section of Rogers Centre, a complete, mint condition 1976 Topps set of 660, a traditional Strat-O-Matic baseball game or the new EA Sports MLB edition -- or whatever -- 'fess UP! What'djaget???

Happy Ho Ho, Bauxite Nation!!  Today, it's a look back at arguably the greatest pitcher in Jays history and a few tales in this picture purrfect episode of the POTD!

A tip of the 2003 "T-Bird" cap to Bauxite brent for bringing to our attention that John Sickels has released his Top 20 prospects list for your Toronto Blue Jays.  For contrast and comparison, check out Baseball America's Top 10 list for 2010, the Hardball Times Top 10 and Batter's Box Top 30 here, here and here.

Hey, I got nothing. I'm examining how complicated the schedules of the past made a manager's life.

Seriously.

He's on his way to Seattle and he gets the spotlight in the latest episode of the December Double POTD!