LAKELAND, Fla. -- Carlos Delgado used to do it once a spring.
Roy Halladay did it for seven consecutive springs.
Vernon Wells was in the visiting clubhouse at Joker Marchant Stadium when he gave his first state of the union in his new role as the longest tenured Toronto Blue Jay on Thursday.
"We're at the same point today as we were a year ago," began Wells. But a year ago today, Roy Halladay was in the rotation, so how can you be the same?
"We acquired three young guys, who can make an impact, for one guy, who made a huge impact. It's a matter of being patient," said Wells, giving his opinion on righty Kyle Drabek, first baseman Brett Wallace and catcher Travis D'Arnaud.
"I saw Drabek's start against the Phillies. He sat on 93 miles per hour his whole outing with sink and good movement. He threw free and easy. It was easy to see why the Phillies didn't want to give him up. Everyone tells me Wallace can hit. The catcher will take longer, he's younger. What it comes down to is all three have a legitimate chance, and not as role players."
What are his impressions of new GM Alex Anthopoulos, who didn't sign free agents such as Erik Hanson, Esteban Loaiza, Frank Thomas or Corey Koskie.
"Alex and I talked a lot in the offseason," Wells said. "He learned under J,P. Ricciardi in the good and bad times. He's opened communications and it's let people here relax."
Will the Jays finish last in the AL East? "No . . . I've never been asked that before," Wells said.
Could this team lose 100 games? "I don't think so, I've never been asked that before either. We are on a path and we're going to have growing pains. By the time these young guys get here, we should have some established talent."
But the Jays aren't as strong offensively at three positions as Alex Gonzalez replaces Marco Scutaro at short, John Buck takes over from Rod Barajas behind the plate and Edwin Encarnacion replaces Scott Rolen at third.
"Maybe you'll be wrong," Wells said. "That's why we play the games -- no one knows for certain. We've impressed this spring."
Like whom? "By the batting cage, (Detroit's) Jim Leyland and Brandon Inge came over and said the same thing: 'You guys are going to be good this year.' "
Did he speak as union rep or did he have problems with manager Cito Gaston when he spoke during the Mutiny in Maryland to end last season.
"I've known Cito since 1997 when I got here," Wells said. "He's the same person now as he was then. (Baltimore) was overblown. It's a dead issue. I never had a problem with Cito. People asked questions because I've been here the longest and (smiling) because I'm old."
What does Wells, 31, expect from himself this season?
"I don't like to set limits, but hopefully, with Aaron Hill and Adam Lind ahead of me, it's like 2006 when Frank Catalanotto and Reed Johnson were in front of me," he said of his breakthrough season with 106 RBIs.
The most impressive player in camp? "Jose Bautista," Wells said quickly. "It's nice to see someone finally gets a chance to be an everyday player and seize the moment. Every game he plays he either has two hits or one plus a line drive at someone."
How many wins for the Jays, who won 75 times with Halladay in 2009? "More than last year."
E-mail bob.elliott@sunmedia.ca
