We continue a Battersbox tradition with a story.

The final installment of the roundtable takes a look at the team going forward:

So, you've probably heard that Bernie Williams seems cool with the idea of Carlos Beltran joining the Yankees; he probably figures he held off former All-Star Kenny Lofton in '04, why not Beltran in '05? But let's face it ... Bernie's "Most Similar By Age" comps at at BaseballReference.com have slipped in recent years from Tony Oliva, Dave Parker and Fred Lynn to Ellis Burks, Roy White and Von Hayes -- and now are at the level of Frank Welch and Rick Sofield.

Sometimes the decline, even while in progress, sneaks up on the public (an the player) "all of a sudden." Which leads to today's ...

Question of the Day: What current star or stars is going to step off the cliff into the world of mediocrity in 2005? Alternately, who's already made that step but the general baseball public won't recognize that fact until sometime next season?

Another "Trivia Challenge" thread. The rules are the same as in the other trivia challenge thread... the first to get the correct answer (once confirmed by the questioner, or by a third party) gets to ask the next question.

I'll go first...

Having fallen off the front page, the previous Hijack Central isn't accessable to us any more. Welcome to Hijack Central: Another New Beginning.

Oh, and you're allowed to be extra-clever in identifying today's quote, since it's extra-easy.

More roundtable, this time looking at some of the season's disappointments:

According to his personal Web site, ESPN.com's inimitable baseball scribe Rob Neyer will be team-teaching an online seminar called Baseball General Manager and Scouting Course.

Question of the Day: Forget about the actual course (decription follows); if you were to design a class in this area (online or otherwise), what would be your ideal list of guest speakers, and on what topics?

Be creative -- remember, you're trying to get people to sign up for this -- but also be practical, in that "Britney Spears: Lingerie Modeling" probably doesn't get to the heart of the subject matter, while "Scott Boras: Dealing with the Devil" just might.

Carlos Delgado, Hall of Famer. It has a nice ring to it. Whether that will come to pass in 15 years is an open question.

It's here!

In his current mailbag, the nonpareil Spencer Fordin takes the following question from "John G." in Windsor:

With Woody gone, Russ Adams still adapting and Gomez not the guy we need to start at shortstop, what's going to happen next year for the Jays?

Question of the Day: How do you think Spencer answered John G.? Challenge yourself and write out your answer before going to the mailbag to read his. Now, if different, how should Fordin have answered the question?

Part III of the roundtable takes a look at several Jays:

My 2nd annual survey. I'd love it if you guys would participate.

Check out the project

After the season the Batter's Box roster got together to discuss the season. Here's what was said in the first of the five part series:

Continuing the first installment of the year in review, here's the next chapter in the Batter's Box Roster roundtable:

You may have heard that Astros outfielder Lance Berkman will likey miss the start of next season s he need 5-6 months of rehabd after tearing his right ACL while playing flag football.

While perhaps this opens the door for Richard Hidalgo to return to Houston, it raises this question: what single player can any team out there least afford to lose to injury (i.e., without compensation)? Take into account their ability to replace the player (either with bankroll like the Yankees or with a ready-to-step-in player, perhaps even like Jason Lane in Houston). And don't only consider statistics ... intangibles matter, too. That's what makes this opinion rather than a simple measure of "Above Replacement Level" players.

Question of the Day: What single player's off-season, season-ending injury would most cause you to cringe, "Ouch, their 2005 is over"?