We all know that when you hear a reference to "Mr. Cub," that's the one and only Ernie Banks. So he's this team's starting shortstop. Or maybe first baseman, we'll see. What are we going for here? Well, we have 30 teams in the big leagues, and a standard Hall of Names roster includes 25 players plus a manager, sometimes some coaches, maybe an owner or a mascot -- you get the idea.

What kind of team can we build of players who were their franchise's equivalent of Banks? That requires two steps, and who knows, possibly some heated arguments (which is always fun). First, we have to identify everyone from Mr. Brave to Mr. Mariner, all the way from Atlanta to Seattle. Then, we have to see if our list can make up a legitimate roster. To that point, a few rules ...

There has been some recent suggestions that the Blue Jays will not increase payroll for next year.  The newspapers are full of bad economic news every day and Bud Selig recently had Paul Volcker talk to the baseball owners about the economy.  In 2009 the Jays will likely see headwinds from the economy, from the value of the Canadian dollar and from loss of sponsors such as GM.  What does it all mean?

Jordan Bastian reports the Jays have set their 40 man roster.  Ricky Romero, Robert Ray and Luis Perez were added.  Les Walrond and Angel Sanchez have been removed.

This thread now contains news of the announcement of the 2008 American League Most Valuable Player. Dustin Pedroia? A-Rod? Morneau or Mauer? Carlos Quentin? Josh Hamilton? Francisco Rodriguez? Cliff Lee?

Update: Pedroia wins

Who should have won? And why?

And we all breathe a big sigh of relief.

The first couple of standard projection methods have come out so lets start seeing what our 2009 Blue Jays might look like.

Baseball America publish their top ten prospects today, followed by a subscriber chat this afternoon.  Thanks are due to mylegacy who has reported the top ten from the actual paper which has already been mailed to subscribers. 

Previously headlined:
More awards coming today ...
Shortly, this very thread will carry news of the announcement of both the AL Cy Young Award winner and the 2008 AL and NL "lineups" of Silver Sluggers.

Before we get to the announcements -- they're still a few hours off -- tell us, who will win? Who should?

Update: Lee wins; Jays' Halladay a far-distant second
Update II:  And here are your Silver Sluggers '08.

No real surprises here. Well, maybe that Maddon wasn't unanimous, but still ...

Oh, and that Matt Holliday trade finally happened, for real this time.

Thoughts, comments, punditry, witticisms? ...

Sabathia? Santana? Lidge? Webb? Nah ... Tim Lincecum nabbed the 2008 NL Cy Young Award, the first Giant to do so since Mike McCormick in 1967.

So ... the "real" voters agreed with Baseball Prospectus. Good decision? And a bonus challenge question ...

In a result that I'm sure is surprising to nobody, Geovany Soto and Evan Longoria have won their respective Rookie of the Year Awards. And in CRAZY BREAKING NEWS, the A's swooped in from left field to acquire Matt Holliday. I'm hearing Greg Smith and Brett Anderson are part of the package, but it's still being finalized.

Another Trade! (9:14PM) The Nationals have just traded Emilio Bonifacio along with prospects Jake Smolinski and P.J. Dean for Scott Olsen and Josh Willingham, according to Peter Gammons.

Update (4:18PM): A few sources seem to indicate that the final A's package consists of Carlos Gonzalez, Greg Smith and Huston Street.

Update (3:57PM): Greg Smith has been confirmed as part of the package. Anderson, Ryan Sweeney, and Carlos Gonzalez are also in the mix per ESPN.

In another thread, Mike Green muses, "As long as Bob Walk isn't pitching ..." which led me to think, "Yeah, and you could pull him from the game and lose nothing by bringing in Grant Balfour."

See where this is headed? I have nothing specific in mind, but instead just invite everyone here to brainstorm and nominate the players who would make up the all-disastrously-named squad. From Balfour and Walk to Klutts and Kluttz, who belongs on this team? Remember, no nicknames, so Hugh "Losing Pitcher" Mulcahy is right out ...

Yesterday, we reviewed Baseball Prospectus' AL 2008 Internet Baseball Awards, and Roy Halladay was mentioned prominently, if not invited into the winner's circle. Today we learn the NL winners ...

• Albert Pujols edged Man-Ram (correction ... Han-Ram!) and Lance Berkman for MVP;
• Tim "He was almost a Blue Jay?" Lincecum is your Cy Young winner, bettering Johan Santana and far ahead of third-place CC Sabathia;
• Geovany Soto was rookie of the year. Duh.
• Lou Piniella, manager of the year? Over Charlie Manuel? Really?

A few questions and comments ...

Note: this is NOT intended to be a political thread!

Four years ago, on the eve of John Kerry's regulation loss to George W. Bush (the previous Gore contest went extra innings, you may recall), we published a Hall of Names All-U.S.-Presidents Team. With the latest election behind us -- no, there has never been an "Obama" to play professional ball, much less in the majors (this guy is closest) -- we are left with, at least, a Question of the Day ...

There's no doubt that George W. Bush, formerly owner of the Texas Rangers, was one of the true "baseball guys" to ever inhabit the U.S. White House. What effect -- if any -- will his departure from office (and the impending Obama presidency) have on major league baseball?

 It's official (well, as close as can be.) AJ Burnett will opt out of the last two years of his contract, forgoing 2 years and $24 million.