A few eyebrows were raised when the Jays hired former Marlin pitching coach Brad Arnsberg to be their pitching coach in Syracuse this year. Arnsberg was of course most recently the pitching coach of the Marlins, and he along with Jeff Torborg were blamed for the injuries to many of the Marlin pitchers, most notably AJ Burnett.

Now Arnsberg is going to be in charge of developing the top pitchers in the Jays system. Jason Arnold will likely start the season in Syracuse, but David Bush and Dustin McGowan aren't likely to stay in AA for more than half the season, if that.

On the Official Site, there's an excellent recap of the 2003 season by Spencer Fordin. It's in chronological order, with dozens of links to the major stories.

This enjoyable look back at a roller-coaster year got me thinking, which is always dangerous. There were so many highlights for Jays fans, it's hard to pick one as the best, or even compile a top ten. So I thought I'd invite everyone to help. How do you compare great plays, such as Kielty's catch, to accomplishments that took four at-bats (Delgado's homers), four days (the sweep in Yankee Stadium) or an entire season, like Doc's Cy Young award?

The Jays signed their replacement for Trever Miller: Valerio de los Santos, erstwhile Brewer and late-season acquisition by (who else?) Philadelphia. The 31-year-old Dominican was signed to a one-year deal for $850,000.

Sure, Roy Halladay won some award named after an ex-pitcher. But he didn't win (okay, he wasn't even eligible for) the award named for an ex-pitcher. It's Boxing Day, and the final results of the inaugural Andujar "youneverknow" Award balloting are here.

Thirteen different players received votes; five of those received first-place votes. But the clear winner -- sorry, pre-season favorite John Halama; apologies, runner-up Scott Podsednik -- was Chicago White Sox ace Esteban Loaiza.

Details follow.

I would like to wish a Merry Christmas to everyone. If you're reading today, you're a die-hard!

Anybody get any cool presents?

John Sickels is one of the best sources of evaluations of minor league players. His evaluations tend to be a little more statistically oriented compared to Baseball America, but they certainly aren't the only basis for his evaluations.

Okay, seriously ... time to vote. One e-mail address, one vote, just like the MLB Some-Star Game. And this time, it's for Box History ... the premiere award of the first Andujar YouNeverKnow, to be announced right here on Da Box Dec. 26 ... Boxing Day, natch.

It's time to Joaq the Vote. If you're new here, go back and read the original announcement and rules, then pop over to meet the 12 finalists (and one significant write-in suggestion) ... the voting so far is shockingly close.

You just pick your favorites any time before the extended Dec. 24 deadline (that's tomorrow at midnight Eastern time) ... vote for up to 5 ... and wait for the announcement of the winner. It's easier than trading a quarter-billion-dollar shortstop, more interesting than a Brewers/Rays twi-night doubleheader in August, and more important than who Roger Clemens will pitch for next year.

Voting not limited to "regulars" ... lurkers welcome. Vote now or David Wells will return to Toronto!

Just don't drive after.

What could that title possibly mean? The first part refers to a Diamond Mind 2004 projection disk that Baseball Primer's Dan Szymborski has created, using his own projection system called ZiPS. Dan has produced 5 builds of the disk so far. I have added transactions up to and including the Javy Lopez signing (with Baltimore). The "Dudek" part refers to my own efforts to create Manager Profiles for all the AL teams.

ESPN.com offers rankings of how teams have fared in their offseason moves. Obviously, they were unswayed by Richard Griffin's "stuck in neutral" propaganda, as the Blue Jays are rated third in all of baseball. No credit is given for improving the bullpen with Ligtenberg and Speier, but we're told that Toronto has "quietly added some solid starters to complement a dangerous offense."

The Phils, who acquired Billy Wagner, Eric Milton and Tim Worrell without losing much, are accorded the top spot. Their divisional rivals in Atlanta, clearly moving in the opposite direction, are ranked 26th. I think the Red Sox, with Schilling and Foulke, have improved more than anyone, and I don't understand the reference to 5th-rated Boston's "overall loss of offense," but I love the comment on the 25th-place Bronx Bombers:

Yankees' players thought '03 was a dysfunctional mess; they ain't seen nothing yet.

These lists aren't scientific, just fun. Whoever compiled this one thinks that the Mariners haven't slipped, which is amusing, and they seem to be giving credit for moves that haven't happened yet, especially in Baltimore, L.A. and San Francisco. When the music stops and another 150+ free agents scramble for jobs, we'll have a better idea of the real winners and losers, but no matter what else happens, the Jays' efforts have put them near the top of the pack.

Rich Aurillia's name seems to have been forgotten as Geoff Baker talks to J.P about the latest potential shortstop additions. Chris Gomez, Damian Jackson or Frank Menechino could be in T.O next year as partners for Woody. Gomez would seem to be the most obvious fit as he has played short more often recenly than Jackson, while Menechino's Major League time has been mostly at second.

I'm delighted to announce that six new authors have been added to the Batter's Box roster. Please join me in welcoming (in alphabetical order, trust me) Pistol, Scott Lucas, Gerry McDonald, Mike Moffatt, Jonny German and Spicol. To our regular readers, they need no introduction.

As we prepare for our second season, with plans for expanded minor-league coverage, a bigger, better BBFL and many new features, it's the right time to make changes. Expect an improved site design soon, and there might even be one more free agent signing. We're counting on this influx of talent and rookie enthusiasm to complement the veteran leadership, not to cut into our playing time. Just ignore those rumours about Burley being non-tendered if the trade talks break down.

Pistol, Scott, Gerry, Mike, Jonny, Spicol: all of us have enjoyed your comments and pinch-hits over the past year, and we look forward to hearing more from you. Thanks for joining our team.

It's another key milestone in Hot Stove Season. Today is Non-Tender Saturday, also known as the quiet cousin of the July 31st trade deadline.

Teams have until midnight tonight to offer contracts to unsigned players on their respective 40-man rosters. Any player not offered a contract by his old team is granted free-agency. Some big names have been axed already. A few, like Jay Payton and Shawn Wooten, were expected. Others, like Mark Redman, are the kind of surprise that makes one cock an eyebrow.

Alexis Rios hasn't had time to concern himself with trifles this year. After being briefly sidelined with injuries at the beginning of the season, he reported to New Haven and hit .449/.481/.653 in April. He started the Futures Game, finished the year with a .352/.402/.521 batting line, and was the batting champion and MVP of the Eastern League. Since the end of October, he's been laying waste to the Puerto Rican League. Through games of December 18, Rios was hitting .345/.371/.739 in 119 AB; he was second in the league in batting average and first in slugging percentage (minimum 80 AB), home runs (12) and RBI (32).

But how impressive is this performance, anyway? As Coach astutely pointed out in an earlier thread:

I'm not trying to diminish what Rios is accomplishing in Puerto Rico, just giving it some context. His teammate, aging (and as far as I know, MLB-unemployed) utility infielder John Valentin, has 8 HR in 91 AB (297/407/648) and our own LF/1B/3B/DH Simon Pond, yet to sip SkyDome coffee, is tied for the league lead with 10 HR in 112 AB (286/355/607). It makes a guy wonder if all the estadios are as hitter-friendly as Hiram Bithorn, and question the depth of the pitching staffs.

I decided to investigate the question:

What is the significance of Rios's performance in the PRL this fall?

The Winter Meetings are over, most of the dealing is done, and many of us are wrapping up our jobs and getting ready for next week's Christmas break. In the meantime, here's a fresh Hijack Central to catalogue any late-breaking pre-holiday news.