This year's convention of the Society for American Baseball Research is taking place from July 15 to 18 in Cincinnati. This is SABR 34, the 34th annual meeting.

Any Bauxites headed to the Queen City for the fun? I am seriously torn about going and if there are others headed there it might just spur me to take the plunge. I've never been to a SABR convention before and would love to go...

Incidentally, the 2005 convention is in Toronto, and I'll DEFINITELY be at that one.

In an earlier thread Gitz mentioned the current U.S. Democratic Primaries. As a former resident of the United States and someone who has to write on the U.S. economy, I've been following the process closely. So I was quite interested when I learned about AOL's President Match.

The cure for it's-oh-so-close-to-spring-training blues? Meaningless polls, such as U.S. Democratic presidential primaries, but also those related to baseball. Alexis Rios gets a fair amount of cyber-ink on Da Box, and, while Phil Rogers is not exactly a favorite at Da Box, a reader pointed out that Rogers has Rios has the #2 impact rookie in 2004, right behind Kazuo Matsui of the Mets and just in front of Atlanta's Adam LaRoche. Putting aside, for now, our questions about whether Rogers is right or not, here's the question of the day for Bauxites: how many at-bats will Rios get this year? I'm not asking how you think he'll do when he reaches the majors, just how much you instinctively feel he'll play. I'll start the bidding: the hunch here is that Rios gets 50 September at-bats.

We'll know more in two months, of course, but we'll check back at the end of the year to see how our first impressions went, and whoever's closest wins the all-time favorite, non-material gift of parents from every nation: love.

Today's pinch hit is courtesy of reader Mike Green, who has some thoughts and analysis on reliever usage. Thanks Mike!

Today's edition of Aaron's Baseball Blog features an article written by a very special guest : Me!

It's more basketball stuff. I promise to get back to baseball by the time pitchers and catchers report. Promise. By the way, I can't stress this enough : if you don't read Aaron's blog every weekday, you are missing out. You *do* want to be one of the cool kids, don't you? The best part is, usually there's nothing whatsoever by me.

In the latest edition of the Pinstriped Bible, Steven Goldman looks at the Blue Jays, and throws in his D-Rays appraisal for no extra charge. He admits he underestimated Vernon Wells, credits the Jays with "baseball smarts" for replacing Frankencatcher with Crash & Cash, and gets off some great lines, as usual.

Anyone who has seen Phelps show Roger Clemens' fastball who's boss knows he has more power than Harry Nilsson had high notes.

Goldman, not much of a Hudson fan, suggests Cat could play second when Toronto's "fly-ball mavens" are on the hill. That's an interesting theory, with no chance of happening. At least Steve is bullish on Eric Hinske, and his conclusion is spot on -- "They'll go as far as their pitching can carry them, because offense won't be a problem."

I have been pouring too much time into basketball research recently, but there have been some side benefits. I have developed two metrics which I will explain briefly, that measure a player's defensive contributions. These are not perfectly original, however I believe that no such metrics have been developed before.

Incidentally, look for me in an upcoming Aaron's Baseball Blog discussing more basketball-related stuff.

Winter still reigns in most parts of Canada, but on the Toronto baseball beat, you can see the first signs of a spring thaw. Ken Fidlin wrote a strongly positive column about the Jays' chances in 2004 and beyond in today's Sun (assuming you can find the column amidst all the sidebars and advertisements). Thanks to Jimmy Key's Christmas Lights, my favourite Box moniker, for the link.

Thanks to Steve Z. for this find. Kevin Gray of the Manchester Union Leader spoke to J.P. Ricciardi about his new "home" team:

"I’m a New England guy. I think New Englanders love baseball . . . and they understand the game a little bit more than the average fan. I would love to see us have a long-term relationship with the people in Manchester. It’s got a long history of baseball. I grew up right down the street in Worcester, so it’s an easy commute for me. I think our kids get to play in the weather that they’re going to play in at the big-league level in April. I like the Eastern League. There’s a lot of nice things that fit here for us."

On ESPN.com recently, Tim Kurkjian reported the possibility of a baseball World Cup.

The idea is that, in March of 2005, teams representing 12 or 16 countries would meet in the tournament. Kurkjian notes some of the very intriguing potential rosters - United States, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, Cuba and Japan. No mention of the Canucks.

So, extremely prematurely, what would the Canadian roster look like?

In the soon-to-be posted biographies on our Roster page, I let it be known that my favourite all-time Blue Jay is Tom Henke. This morning, I found an article in the Star that reminds me why that is. Henke was in town for the Sports Celebrity Dinner (and as an aside, that event consistently draws some huge names) to benefit Easter Seals, and I didn't know till now that this event has extra meaning for Tom: his youngest daughter Amanda was born with Down's Syndrome in 1986. This is a nice little story of how the family managed, and about a visit with one of the steadiest, sturdiest and most accomplished players ever to wear a Blue Jays uniform.

Nothing illuminating to offer from this part of the globe, but I am the exception, not the rule for Da Box. I am certain Bauxites have something to say, even in the dead of winter, and here is the place to say it. Enjoy the weekend!

The Blue Jays staff were out in force last night as the caravan's rolled into Syracuse and Manchester to promote the upcoming season. JP talked Blue Jays and Red Sox in Manchester. The Syracuse caravan featured Marty Pevey, the new manager with a more "rah rah" attitude, and stories on local pitchers Scott Cassidy and Mark Lukasiewicz.

Many of our loyal readers read Moneyball in 2003. If you did not read it you have heard it discussed here many times. JP Ricciardi worked with Billy Beane and Paul DePodesta in Oakland, and although JP had left when Michael Lewis was writing the book, JP's philosophy is closely aligned with Oakland's front office.

Some criticisms of Moneyball suggested that Michael Lewis did not get all of his facts straight, that he embellished certain stories for dramatic effect. So what is the truth?

No doubt about it, getting exposure in Batter's Box is the key to securing work in major-league baseball. Just kidding, of course -- Josh Boyd, who gave us an extensive overview of the Blue Jays' minor-league system just weeks ago, has long had great credibility within the game, which is one reason why he's left his position as National Writer for Baseball America to join the San Diego Padres as an area scout, responsible for the Eastern Seaboard area. As Gerry McDonald, who reported the news, observed wryly: "We got him to talk just in time." Batter's Box sends its best wishes to Josh in his new position.