Just consider it a little more motivation.

Today, February 19th, 2010, the Toronto Blue Jays signed veteran catcher, and offensive crutch, Jose Molina.

The Jays signed Molina to a minor league deal for $400,000(US) which would be bumped to $1,000,000(US) if he makes the opening day roster.

The reasoning behind this signing, according to Alex Anthopoulos is to solidify the position defensively due to the inexperience of the Blue Jays pitching staff, and not, like any rational individual would assume, to undermine one John Buck.

"Jose Molina, what he's known for is his defense, his game-calling, his leadership abilities," Anthopoulos said on Friday.

Sure, like I’m going to buy that for one damn minute. Personally, I think the Jays signed Molina because they’re trying to be the first team to have all three Molina brothers thrown out at first base from right field.

I’ve already mentioned how Jose Molina in the batter’s box is three strikes personified, but let’s take a look at those numbers from last year while he played with the World Series Champions; the New York Yankees.

Jose Molina 2009 Batting Statistics:
Games: 52
Avg: .217
OBP: .292
Hits: 30
2B: 4
HR: 1
RBI: 11
SO: 28

Well look out, we've got a new Sliver Slugger contender in the mix.

On second thought, I think this signing might have some real potential. What potential could that be? Will he help the young pitching staff find out how to pitch in the Majors?

No.

This signing has all the potential for John (The Mormon Masher) Buck to have a monster year. How dare the Jays sign the third best of the Catching Molina’s and not expect some fireworks? This is John Buck’s chance to show them how the Blue Jays just wasted $400,000 to $1,000,000 when he’ll give them everything that they need.

Alright Buck, it’s your move.

The Toronto Blue Jays (Projected) Line Up

On February 11th the official Toronto Blue Jays website gave us all an early Valentine’s Day gift; the projected line up and pitching staff of your 2010 Toronto Blue Jays!

Wooo!

Alright, so here is what the experts are saying will be the batting order (I will include their 2009 numbers just to remind you of the good times we all had last season.)

And here we go!
1. RF Jose Bautista: .235 BA, .349 OBP, .408 SLG, 13 HR, 40 RBI
2. CF Vernon Wells: .260 BA, .311 OBP, .400 SLG, 15 HR, 66 RBI
3. 2B Aaron Hill: .286 BA, .330 OBP, .499 SLG, 36 HR, 108 RBI
4. DH Adam Lind: .305 BA, .370 OBP, .562 SLG, 35 HR, 114 RBI
5. 3B Edwin Encarnacion: .225 BA, .320 OBP, .410 SLG, 13 HR, 39 RBI
6. 1B Lyle Overbay: .265 BA, .372 OBP, .466 SLG, 16 HR, 64 RBI
7. C John Buck: .247 BA, .299 OBP, .484 SLG, 8 HR, 36 RBI
8. LF Travis Snider: .241 BA, .328 OBP, .419 SLG, 9 HR, 29 RBI
9. SS Alex Gonzalez: .238 BA, .279 OBP, .355 SLG, 8 HR, 41 RBI

Alright, well it’s not the 1927 Yankees, but there are some quality players in this batting order.

Aaron Hill is only 27 years old, which really means that he’s entering his prime as a ball player. That’s an exciting time, right? No, in all seriousness that is pretty exciting. This is probably the one player worth paying to see 81 times this season (not including John Buck, of course.)

Then there’s Adam Lind who is only 26 years old (and shares my birthday, because I know all two readers care.) He’s a great bat to have behind Hill. A 40 to 50 home run season is not out of the question with this kid.

John Buck is holding it down in the 7 spot. He’ll bring the veteran savvy and defensive wizardry behind the plate day in and out. Can you believe that the Royals let him go and that the Jays picked him up for ONLY $2,000,000! Wow, really puts things in perspective doesn’t it? I mean if John Buck is only worth $2 million what am I worth? $1.72? $0.84? I don’t really want to think about it anymore.

Now behind the Mormon Masher we’ve got Travis Snider. He was born in 1988! That really makes me think about what I’ve accomplished in my 25 years on this earth. Especially while I sit alone in my bachelor apartment writing something that maybe four people will read. In all honesty though I think this kid will be a very decent ballplayer soon enough.

Now let’s get to the starting rotation.

For the first time since the dinosaurs roamed the Earth the Jays will not have Roy Halladay as the anchor of the rotation and the main reason that Toronto residents went to Blue Jays games in the first place. The question will be “who will even attempt to be the ace of this staff?” Well, according to the Toronto Blue Jays this is the projected pitching rotation (again I will include 2009 numbers.)

1. Shaun Marcum: Did not play.
2. Ricky Romero: 13-9, 4.30 ERA
3. Brandon Morrow: 2-4, 4.39 ERA
4. Brian Tallet: 7-9, 5.32 ERA
5. Marc Rzepczynski: 2-4, 3.67 ERA
6. Brett Cecil: 7-4, 5.30 ERA

You know what, this could go either way. By either way I really mean that the pitching staff could be decent and get the Jays another 3rd place finish or that they could be the main reason the Baltimore Orioles finally get out of 5th place in the AL East.

It’s a young staff, that’s for sure but Marcum and Romero should be able to challenge batters in the AL. Tallet could pitch well, but the Jays might move him to the bullpen for long and middle relief so who knows about his role. The other three pitchers, well we’re not looking at Maddux, Glavine and Smoltz here.

The bullpen is bound to see a lot of innings this year so let’s see how the experts view it.

Closer Kevin Gregg: 23/30 saves, 4.72 ERA
RH Setup Man Jason Frasor: 11/14 saves, 2.50 ERA
LH Setup Man Scott Downs: 9/13 saves, 3.09 ERA

Now I’ve already said that I don’t hate this at all. If the Jays bump Tallet from the rotation they’d have a nice little bullpen going.

I’m going to be completely honest when I say I have absolutely no idea how this season will unfold. The Jays have some nice pieces in Hill, Lind, Marcum and Romero and their bullpen looks pretty solid. That being said this whole team could pull a Vernon Wells and simply crap the bed.

Ain’t Baseball great?

Fantasy Baseball Rankings and Your Toronto Blue Jays.

Well, it looks like the baseball fantasy rankings are out so I decided that I would fill you in on where the Blue Jays rank at each position and who has been ranked number one.

Now I took these rankings from the people over at Thunder Matt’s Saloon, a site which my friend Mike and I found one day looking for just random shit to find on the ol’ interweb. It’s a very funny baseball and pop culture site based out of Chicago. I’d recommend giving it a read whenever you have a chance.

Without further ado, your player rankings for the 2010 MLB season!

Catcher:

1. Joe Mauer - MIN

24. Rod Barajas - Free Agent

25. John Buck - TOR

Ok, so number 25 isn’t the best ranking for the man to whom this site has been devoted to, however one thing stood out for me.

27. Ivan Rodriguez – WAS

Yeah, that’s right. John (the Mormon Masher) Buck is officially two spots higher (read: better) than easily the best player at that position in the past 30 years! Who cares if Rodriguez is a shell of his former self and probably more of a waste of the millions the Nationals are spending on him? Higher ranking than a first ballot Hall of Famer has to be worth something, right? (Right?)

1^st Base:

1. Albert Pujols - StL.

Alrighty, it appears that Lyle Overbay isn’t in the top 30 in his category. Um, that’s ok. I mean it’s not like 1^st Base is a real big fantasy position anyway. Oh sorry one minute, someone is telling me something.

Oh, apparently 1^st Base is a big fantasy position. Well it’s not like some teams have multiple players in the top 30 at that position. Excuse me again, I’m being told something.

Ok, so Boston has two in the top 15 (Kevin Youklis and Victor Martinez), but it’s not like that can hurt the Jays, right?

Well, is anyone available at still at that position?

30. Carlos Delgado - Free Agent

Oh my. Let’s move on.

2^nd Base:

1. Chase Utley - PHI

5. Aaron Hill - TOR

There you go! A top 5 player at his position, that’s exciting. Just out of curiosity, who else is ahead of him?

2. Ian Kinsler - TEX

3. Dustin Pedroia - BOS

4. Robinson Cano - NYY

Well, only two of those players are in the AL East. Take that Brian Roberts (BAL - 6^th) and Ben Zobrist (TB - 8^th)!

3^rd Base:

1. Alex Rodriguez - NYY

21. Edwin Encarnacion - TOR

Alright, that’s honestly a surprise for me. Number 21 isn’t too shabby at all for him. Well done. I wonder how the rest of the AL East is looking.

Ok, Evan Longoria is ranked third, no surprise there. He’s really great.

Ha! Garrett Atkins is 24^th. Advantage Blue Jays. Oh what’s that? Atkins is actually playing first this year because Tejada is coming back to Baltimore to play third. Hmm, ok.

Well what about Boston?

Three players in the top 30 at one position you say, interesting.

Shortstop:

1. Hanley Ramirez – FLA

Ok, so Alex Gonzalez isn’t ranked but he is listed as “On the edge of the radar” and that has to be worth something right? Well it’s not like the Jays downgraded to save money or anything? Right?

Marco Scutaro is ranked 14^th? Oh c’mon!

Let’s just move on.

Outfield:

So the outfield is given the top 60 treatment and all three outfield positions are combined. Well, this should give the Jays more opportunity to get their players in there, ‘cause 60 is more than 30. Let’s just see how this goes.

1. Ryan Bruan - MIL

Well, that’s hard to argue. He is a fantasy baseball machine. But I’m sure the Jays have to have some people ranked.

14. Adam Lind – TOR

49. Vernon Wells – TOR

Two players ranked in the top 60. That’s not too shabby at all. Well it’s not like other teams in the AL, like say Texas, have 3 or 4 outfielders...

Pardon?

Oh, I should shut up now? Ok.

Starting Pitching:

Alright, 80 spots for starting pitching. That’s a lot of room for the Jays. So, who’s ranked number one? Just say it isn’t Roy Halladay.

1. Tim Lincecum – SF

Ha! I knew it. I knew the Jays didn’t lose the best pitcher in ba....

2. Roy Halladay – PHI

Oh just shut up. Well then where does the top Jay starting pitcher rank? What do you mean none of them are ranked? What about Ricky Romero? Ok, well “On the edge of the radar” isn’t too bad right? It can’t be expected to have every team represented on this list; it’s not like the Yankees and the Red Sox entire pitch...

What do you mean they both have at least 4 pitchers ranked?

Relief Pitching:

Since the Jays have nobody representing them in the top 80 starting pitchers they’ve gotta have a strong bullpen, right?

1. Jonathan Broxton – LA

Pfft, that’s fine. It’s not like anyone expected the Jays to have the top pitcher in their bullpen. They didn’t even have the top pitcher in their bullpen in 1992 or 1993.

Where are the Jays ranked?

29. Jason Frasor – TOR

34. Kevin Gregg – TOR

39. Scott Downs – TOR

You know what? This isn’t that bad at all. Really, it isn’t. Well, as long as you don't mind that two of those pitchers are ranked because the starters either can't go deep into games or that the game has long been decided.

So that’s where your Jays stand this fantasy season. The Jays have strong fantasy players at second and in the bullpen. Of course, fantasy baseball is only one thing. I’m sure the Jays will play better baseball than their rankings suggest they will, right? (Right?)