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 New Jays GM Alex Anthopoulous didn't complain about competing in the AL East when talking about his plans for the team. (Sun Media/Craig Robertson) |
The most shocking aspect of Alex Anthopoulos' initial blueprint for the Blue Jays came when he mentioned the Boston Red Sox.
The Jays' new general manager said Rogers Communications would give enough money down the road where his budget would "certainly be there with Anaheim, the Chicagos and even with Boston."
Not once did he complain about competing in the American League East.
It was refreshing to hear someone not complain about their lot in life. That popular refrain of 'how-can-we-compete' with the Red Sox has been making the rounds for the past 16 years as the Jays morphed from a third-place into a fourth-place team in the AL East.
Whether Rogers Communications keeps the Jays long enough to allow Anthopoulos to make good on his pledge to improve the Jays through scouting and player development is another matter.
Anthopoulos also said:
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* Second baseman Aaron Hill will not play shortstop. The Jays will try to deal for a replacement for free-agent Marco Scutaro, if he fails to return.
* DH Adam Lind will not move to first, unless the Jays make another move -- in other words, complete that discussed trade of Lyle Overbay to the Arizona Diamondbacks for catcher Chris Snyder which, as of last night, appeared to be on hold.
Did you want another five-year plan?
Fan talk
Red Sox fan to a Yankees fan after New York won the 2009 World Series: "Congrats, you've now won half as many championships as we have in the past six seasons."
Canada's team?
There is a Canadian connection to the Philadelphia Phillies ownership group: Jim Mahlon Buck, Jr., 83, William C. Buck, 79 and Alexander Buck, 76, form Tri-Play Associates. All three are the sons Marie Smith of Toronto.
The Bucks founded TDH Capital, the Delaware Valley's first venture-capital interest.
However, the low-key brothers, like the rest of the Phillies ownership, refused interview requests to discuss their Canadian background.
Looking at 2010
Noted baseball writer and statistician Bill James projects big things for Travis Snider in The Bill James Handbook 2010. He forecasts Snider to hit 26 homers and knock in 90 runs while batting .275.
James also expects big things from Lind, who will hit .305 with 31 homers and 113 RBIs, but sees Hill falling to .283, 20 and 76.
James is expecting a 17-10 record from Roy Halladay, with a 3.23 ERA.
Other projections: Edwin Encarnacion (.259, 21, 69), Overbay (.267, 15, 63), Scott Downs (3-3, 3.67) and Shaun Marcum (6-7, 4.05).
B.C. duo movin' up
Third baseman Shawn Bowman, 24, of New Westminster, B.C., was added to the New York Mets 40-man roster, while right-hander Scott Mathieson, 25 of Aldergrove, B.C., was added to the Phillies' roster.
Bowman, signed by scout Claude Pelletiter in 2012, hit .294 at double-A Binghamton, with nine homers and 44 RBIs in 91 games.
Mathieson, making a comeback from Tommy John surgery, pitched in 22 games at three levels in the Phillies system, going 4-0 with an 0.84 ERA.
Briefly
Mike Mordecai, hired as the Jays' new roving minor-league instructor, replaces ex-Jay Mike Bordick. Bordick, a good friend of farm director Dick Scott who was let go, decided not to return out of loyalty to Scott ... Jays odds of winning the 2010 World Series? They are 60-to-1 longshots, according to Bodog.com. The Jays are a better shot than the Baltimore Orioles (75-1), but not as favourable as the Cleveland Indians and the Seattle Mariners (both, 50-1). The New York Yankees are 11-4 favourites.
BOB.ELLIOTT@SUNMEDIA.CA