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BASELINES
Maybe it's because I spent 11 years living in Montreal, but I have a difficult time equating the words "Toronto" and "sex." To me, they're as incompatible as "Toronto" and "Stanley Cup parade." Of course, I'm not Alex Rodriguez, who was all over the front of the New York Post because it appears he is an ardent, practising heterosexual and apparently doesn't need to be in a groove on the field to be in one off the field. Who says the guy chokes in scoring position?
(Note: I was sitting on the patio of the Renaissance Vinoy in St. Petersburg one morning last year when Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi sat down and wanted to know why I had the Post and the New York Times in front of me. Surely they're incompatible, no? I told him it's because when I'm on the road I read the Times to find out what I need to know and I read Page Six of the New York Post to find out what I want to know. If I'm at home, well, all I need is the Globe and Mail, you know?)
Rodriguez's randiness aside, it's tough to watch the New York Yankees these days for someone who has always admired the way the team has conducted itself throughout its glory years. Tougher, still, to see Joe Torre in the situation he's in. Don't see how you can fire the guy. He isn't the person who was suckered in by Carl Pavano and Kei Igawa. Besides, Roger's coming back with that 90 MPH fastball and all will be well, right? Right? RIGHT????? How much fun do you think the Rocket will have in last place ...
LEADING OFF
Oh, to be back in those glory days when any time you needed to trot out a trade rumour you could say theToronto Blue Jays were interested in acquiring Mark Teixeira and the Texas Rangers wanted Vernon Wells in return and you knew you were categorically correct. Now Wells is locked up for seven years unless he decides to exercise his out clause after four years - hey, you skeptics! I know what you're thinking - and now the wheels are being greased for Teixeira's departure from the Texas Rangers
The Rangers are a mess, and few teams in baseball are as well-positioned to do a decent rebuilding job.
The first move would be to change the clubhouse culture and getting rid of Teixeira would accomplish that.
Yeah, he's a Scott Boras client. But he isn't a free agent until after 2008. Rangers G.M. Jon Daniels should call calling Brian Cashman of the Yankees.
As for Wells? It's no secret that manager John Gibbons would love to move Wells out of the No. 3 spot, but he can't as long as Troy Glaus's availability is an hour to hour thing and Frank Thomas needs to draw walks to drive in a run. If it was me, I'd move Wells to the top of the order and tell him to hack away, and put Alex Rios in the middle of the order.
MIDDLE OF THE ORDER
Barry Bonds is mulling over whether or not he should stiff the Hall of Fame when it comes to memorabilia from his pursuit of the career home run record.
What, you're surprised?
This is a player who doesn't even answer to the Major League Baseball Players Association when it comes to marketing. Beyond that, considering the lack of support he's received from most of the game's power brokers, why would he feel he owes them much more than a cursory nod? Bonds remains the perfect guy to break one of sports' most hallowed records in this time of rampant selfishness and corporate greed. He's more reflective of his society than most of his critics. Have at it, Barry.
Meanwhile, Mark Kreidler of ESPN.com has a good piece on the issue and the Hall of Fame
BOTTOM OF THE ORDER
Good week for Canadian-born players, eh?
Justin Morneau has regained his MVP form the for Minnesota Twins (17-for-49, .347, with five homers and four doubles heading into Wednesday's game against the Chicago White Sox,) Jason Bay of the Pittsburgh Pirates wins the National League player of the week award (10-for-20, .500, with three doubles, two HRs and 10 RBIs) and Russell Martin of the Los Angeles Dodgers continues to be among the top offensive catchers in the game.
Come to think of it, with on-line voting now upon us, a Canadian baseball fan with a few spare seconds might want to do his part for Martin and Bay, you know? The New York Mets Paul Lo Duca led NL catchers with 339,527 votes while Martin was fourth at 198,914. Hey, as the Republicans say in Florida: vote early, vote often.
THE BULLPEN
Note to Elijah Dukes: if Gary Sheffield says he wants to talk to you, get your sorry butt over there ... Terence Moore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a good piece on Bobb Cox's ejections ... you think your life's tough? How'd you like to be Daisuke Matsuzaka and have to sleep on those horrible hotel beds . This guy's all Red Sox, make no mistake.
THE CLOSER
Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated has a ranking of managers in danger of being fired and a quick glance shows that the Blue Jays' Gibbons isn't among the eight. I've been told that Ricciardi unopfficially wanted to see improvement in the team by the end of May and that whatever inclination he had to fire Gibbons quickly dissipated.
No e-mail of note this week, so I'm shelving the mailbag and heading out to cut the grass. Then A-Rod and I are going to the ballet. Hah! Just kidding. You know the address, though: jblair@globeandmail.ca Keep the stuff coming, and we'll run it.
