It'll be six more weeks of uncertainty before fans will know what the Jays will look like come spring.
Thank whomever that the Blue Jays finally awoke from its pre-Cito offensive trance which saw the team pick up just seven hits over the first 13 innings of the current three-game series against an inferior Orioles team.
After getting thoroughly over-matched by Chris Waters, the newest member of the Blue Jays Hall of Shame in the 'Soft-Tossing Lefties' wing (joining the previous inductees of Frank Tanana (Detroit edition), Jamie Moyer, Scott McGregor, Tim Birtsas and Larry Gura) the team suddenly snapped to life and rallied for the win to snap a modest three-game losing streak. What the win did was alert the team back to attention, and bring back the crowd, who released some boo-birds after David Purcey gave up six-straight hits, back into the mix. The feel good vibe from the just completed 10-game win streak was suddenly non-existent.
So it's back to 10 games above the water line, but as we found out when listening to the post-game show, and reading the Toronto dailies online, it appears three main questions will need answering - or at least some clarification - between now and the end of the World Series:
1. Paul Godfrey
It sure sounds like the team president is leaning towards stepping down after eight years citing personal and family reasons. As the man at the top of the Blue Jays empire, he has overseen many changes around the team, most notably the overhaul that changed the SkyDome into the Rogers Centre. If he does relinquish his title, it will be interesting to see who takes over. I'm hoping that former club president Paul Beeston, currently in semi-retirement after a stint in the commissioner's office, returns to his old post and tries to bring the club back to the level of excellence that they enjoyed between 1985 and 1993.
2. J.P. Ricciardi
Will forever be linked to Godfrey, the man that hired him, and his status could become perilous if the president steps down. Fans and especially the media either love or hate the 48-year-old general manager. Ricciardi was brought in prior to the 2002 season to cut the fat off a severely bloated payroll, rebuild the farm system, and get the Jays back to the post-season. As Meat Loaf would croon, Two outta three ain't bad. True, but with the team now 15 years removed from Joe Carter's home run to win their second consecutive World Series title, patience is wearing thin in Toronto. The Blue Jays second half resurgence under Cito Gaston likely gave Ricciardi, with two years remaining on his current contract, another year as chief decision maker. But there will be no more mulligans and in 2009 it will be a playoff berth or it'll be time for J.P. to hit the bricks.
3. A.J. Burnett
His much discussed opt-out clause following this season, combined with his 18 wins to date and his health no longer an issue, means that Burnett's tenure as a Jay likely ends this offseason. But what may help the Blue Jays is that the country club atmosphere, which has allowed A.J. to do basically whatever he wants (goofy faces on the Jumbotron, post-game shaving cream pies and Mohawk haircuts), means that this may be the best situation for the 31-year-old right-hander. If the Jays do try and resign Burnett after his declares free agency, they'll likely have to overpay for his services ... again. And then they'll have to rework Roy Halladay's deal because the No. 2 starter never makes more than the ace unless, of course, your uniform has pinstripes on it. Me thinks he'll be gone after this season. His departure will have a major trickle-down effect as finding the number two behind Halladay will take precedence over finding a couple of bats for the under-achieving offence.
So, it will be at least six weeks until fans get a clearer picture as to what direction this ball club will take in 2009. The inevitable signing of manager Cito Gaston to a new contract is the first order of business, but that appears to be just a formality. Bringing the front office into focus should be the first, and most important, order of business.
THE OLD DELGADO RETURNS
Sure is nice to see former Jays superstar Carlos Delgado enjoying a renaissance to a career that looked like it might be over. Back on June 25, the Mets sat a game under .500 in third place in the NL East. Delgado was hitting just .229 with 11 HR and 35 RBI. Whispers said that he was done, his bat had slowed considerably and his days in New York were likely over. But under interim manager Jerry Manuel, the old 'Los of old has returned. Over his last 73 games - of which the Mets have won 45 of them - Delgado has hit .302 and his 25 home runs and 71 RBI rank second and third respectively in the majors.
