隱市軒地帶

Blue Jays' outfield situation will rely primarily on healthy '08
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 01/23/200810:00 AM ET 傷痛問題影響著外野的戰力。
Vernon Wells和Reed Johnson要能從傷病中反彈，此外Matt Stairs和Alex Rios必須維持他們的火力。

Jays have offense, defense covered in middle of diamond
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 01/16/2008 10:00 AM ET 就叫它黑洞或旋轉門好了，多少年下來藍鳥還是搞不定游擊這個位置。
從Alex Gonzalez在2001年出賽153場以後，總共有16人出現在這個位置，現在開放競爭。

Glaus, Overbay seek healthier season as both set to return
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 01/09/200810:00 AM ET 之前就說過一定會把全部翻完的，只是沒想到開始有時間已經是六月了，乾脆把他放當初二月的時間比較好整理，同時也是用超快速翻譯法的，那些成績就看原文吧，我相信大家應該都看得懂的。 多倫多新球季的希望取決於他們的一、三壘手是不是健康的。 

Zaun, Fasano to anchor duties until young backstops are ready

只需要再一些時間讓這些新人磨練好技巧，藍鳥隊就將在捕手這個位置完成重建。
不過在這一年，多倫多仍然需要有經驗、有戰績的老將來坐鎮本壘板後方。然後，也許在隨之而來的新球季中，藍鳥隊希望能給這些年輕人一些實戰的機會。
在這期間，Gregg Zaun仍然會是2008年球季的先發人選。在他之後的主要替補則會是Sal Fasano，但是球團仍然希望在冬天結束前再找一名備胎來充實輪替陣容。

Around the Horn是大聯盟各隊官網的專欄作者每年所負責的開季Preview系列文章。過去兩年我都有翻譯藍鳥隊的部份，今年也不會例外。 
 只是這陣子(一月)因為工作的關係，實在太忙了，所以鐵定是無法跟上英文版的進度，不過我會盡量在四月大聯盟例行賽開打前搞定的。不過今年碰到了一件很鳥的事，就是紅色和藍色的鳥互換對方的三壘手，然後偏偏corner infielders部分是在交易前刊登出來的。考慮過後我決定藍鳥部分還是照原文全譯，另外我會去紅雀區譯出Scott Rolen的部份，只是這會放在最後一部份了。 小聊一下這筆交易，因為這兩個人都是high injury risk的選手，所以現在要說哪隊賺真的還太早。只是以薪資部分來說，Rolen還多一年的約，而他和之前兩位總教練Bowa和La Russa的過節都還在人們心中(Jordan Bastian的blog裡的討論區有網友詳細記載)，這種狀況居然談判到我們要再付錢出去，然後以Rolen這種脾氣再碰上Gibbons，說不擔心絕對是騙人的。

Big Hurt bolsters offense and provides sound solution at DH
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 02/14/2007 10:00 AM ET
即便是像上一季藍鳥隊那麼強的進攻能力，他們仍然缺乏一般美聯球隊所該有的重要成員﹕一名真正的DH。
在上個球季多倫多總共用過14名不同的球員當過DH，然而在DH位置上總共只貢獻了16支全壘打和68支長打。只有雙城隊的DH更糟糕。
不用說，球隊一定非常想對DH這個位置進行升級。在11月，多倫多找到了Frank Thomas並和他簽下了兩年，價值一千八百一十二萬的合約，同時包括了2009年的選擇權。
“這讓我們終於有了固定的DH，”GM J.P Ricciardi在簽下Thomas之後說到。”這讓我們完成了一條非常強力同時可能是美聯最強之一的打線。”
去年，38歲的Thomas在他唯一的一個運動家球季裡擊出38支全壘打並掃進114分打點。在上一次Thomas作為DH單季擊出30轟並掃進100RBI是2000年，當年Brad Fullmer敲出32支全壘打並打進104分打點。
去年Thomas的成績讓他在美聯MVP的票選上拿到第四名也為他贏得一座MLB Player Association所頒發的美聯東山再起獎。
一個嚴重的踝關節傷勢讓Thomas在2004-05年間在白襪隊總共只出賽了108場。去年運動家和他簽下了一紙基本薪資五十萬美金，但是包含激勵條款的合約。
舊傷在上一季並未給他帶來嚴重的問題，這也讓Thomas可以在新的球季輕鬆的找到新東家。這名6呎5吋的DH表達了對藍鳥的興趣而Ricciardi就在這時候把握機會把Big Hurt帶到多倫多來。
“我沒想過他會離開奧克蘭，”教練Gibbons在這個冬天稍早說到。”我一直以為運動家會跟他續約，尤其當他去年表現出色並對球隊作出重大的貢獻。我想Ricciardi原本也是這麼想的。”
“這消息確實讓大家大吃一驚。”
Thomas加入了這個已經有全明星Vernon Wells和Troy Glaus的打線，去年他們兩人合計擊出70支全壘打。去年，藍鳥隊在全美聯長打率排第二(0.463)、打擊率第三(0.284)、以及第四的全壘打數(199)和上壘率(0.348)。
左外野手Reed Johnson對球隊能簽下Thomas來強化進攻感到非常興奮。
“當我跟我的經紀人談到這件事時，他就打趣道，”Johnson在十一月說道。”看看你後面的那些傢伙，你今年大概可以跑個200分回來。”
“當然這不是重點，”他笑著補充道，”但是這些傢伙就是那種當你上了一壘就跟站在得點圈沒兩樣的打者。”
過往的17個年頭裡，Thomas一共繳出了487支全壘打，458支二壘打，1579分打點以及0.305的生涯打擊率。在歷史上他的全壘打總數排到第23名，而距離成為史上第21名500轟的球員只差13發。而在DH這個位置上，距離史上第一的Edgar Martinez(243)也只有8支之遙。
Thomas的到來不只大大強化了藍鳥隊的DH，也讓幾乎所有的位置都有穩定的先發球員。進入春訓之後，只剩游擊手是由Royce Clayton和John McDonald來競爭決定誰可以先發的。
“今年以來，我們在位置上變得比較固定了，”Gibbons說到。”我們不會再依照對方的先發決定誰來打DH，所以現在我們在板凳上組成也有些許的不同。”
如果Thomas需要休息的話，藍鳥也簽下了左打的加拿大人Matt Stairs以作為DH的替補。Stairs也可以充作外野的替補。去年他分別在老虎、遊騎兵和皇家出賽，成績是0.247的打擊率，13支全壘打和51分打點。
其他位置的替補包括捕手Jason Phillips，他同時可以擔任Zaun和Overbay的替補。另外，Jason Smith在內野的四個位置都可以守，也可以從板凳出發提供左打的攻擊。
對多倫多來說，真正重要的是Thomas可以解決DH的問題，而讓其他球員可以專心在他們自己的位置上。而關鍵就是讓Big Hurt保持健康，而他不認為這會是問題。
“我不想讓別人認為我不能打，”Thomas在十一月28號說到。”人言可畏，他們總是說﹕這個腳踝，這個腳踝。NO!!! I’m back.去年我盡可能的去測試我的膝蓋而我回來並且做到那些我以前也能做到的事。 ”
附上原文﹕
As strong as the Blue Jays' offense was last season, they lacked a key component for any American League club: A true designated hitter.
Toronto used 14 different players in the DH role in 2006, and that group combined for a mere 16 home runs and 68 extra-base hits out of the position. Only the Twins' DHs produced fewer long balls last year.
Needless to say, the Blue Jays wanted an upgrade at DH, regardless of how prolific the rest of the lineup was last season. In November, Toronto found its man in Frank Thomas, who signed a two-year, $18.12 million contract that includes a vesting option for 2009.
"It was a chance for us to really define that role with one guy," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said after signing Thomas. "This really makes our lineup pretty potent, and one of the best in the American League."
Last year, the 38-year-old Thomas slugged 39 home runs and drove in 114 runs in his lone season with Oakland. The last time Toronto had a DH reach 30 homers and 100 RBIs was in 2000, when Brad Fullmer launched 32 long balls and knocked in 104 runs.
Thomas' work at the plate last season helped him finish fourth in AL Most Valuable Player voting and earned him the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award from the MLB Players Association.
A serious ankle injury limited Thomas to 108 games with the Chicago White Sox over the 2004-05 seasons, leading the A's to sign Thomas to an incentive-laden contract that had a base salary of $500,000.
The injury didn't present any serious problems last season, making it easier for Thomas to find suitors this offseason. The 6-foot-5 DH expressed an interest in the Jays, and Ricciardi jumped at the chance to add Thomas to Toronto's lineup.
"I didn't think he was going to leave Oakland," Jays manager John Gibbons said earlier this winter. "I thought they'd sign him up after he had the big year he had for them last year. I think it just kind of developed and happened kind of fast for J.P., too.
"All it does is stengthen us and lets us strike a little more fear into teams."
Thomas joins the heart of a lineup that already included All-Stars Vernon Wells and Troy Glaus, who combined for 70 home runs last season. In 2006, the Jays ranked second in the AL in slugging percentage (.463), third in batting average (.284) and fourth in home runs (199) and on-base percentage (.348).
Toronto left fielder and leadoff hitter Reed Johnson was excited about the possibilities on offense when he learned the Jays had signed Thomas.
"We were kind of joking around when I was talking to my agent," Johnson said in November. "He said, 'You might score 200 runs this year with all those guys hitting behind you.'"
"Obviously, that's not going to be the case," he added with a laugh. "But those guys are going to be the type of hitters where, when you're at first base, you're in scoring position."
Over 17 seasons, Thomas has hit .305 with 487 home runs, 458 doubles and 1,579 RBIs. Thomas currently ranks 23rd in baseball history in home runs, and he is just 13 shy of becoming just the 21st player to reach 500 long balls in a career. Thomas is also eight homers away from tying Edgar Martinez (243) for the most all-time as a DH.
Thomas not only gives Toronto a boost at DH, he also gives the Blue Jays a regular starter at nearly every position. Entering Spring Training, shortstop is the only spot where the Jays have more than one player -- Royce Clayton and John McDonald -- vying for a starting job.
"Going into this year, we're a little more locked in on positions," Gibbons said. "We no longer have a platoon in left or right, so our bench just shapes up a little bit differently."
Should Thomas require a day off, the Jays signed Canadian Matt Stairs, who could fill in occasionally as a left-handed option at DH. Stairs can also serve as a backup outfielder. Last year, Stairs hit .247 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs in stints with the Tigers, Rangers and Royals.
The other projected reserves include catcher Jason Phillips, who can back up starters Gregg Zaun behind the plate and Lyle Overbay at first base, and Jason Smith, who can play all four infield positions and provides a left-handed bat off the bench.
What's important for Toronto is that Thomas can finally provide a sound solution at DH, and the other position players can remain in their respective roles. The key will be keeping the Big Hurt healthy, which he doesn't anticipate being an issue.
"I don't want people to think that I'm not able to play," Thomas said on Nov. 28. "There's a lot of critics out there saying, 'This ankle. This ankle.' No, I'm back. I tested this ankle every way possible last year and I was back doing the things I've always done."

Ryan heads young relievers; final spot still up for grabs
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 02/07/2007 12:04 PM ET
這是藍鳥隊願意付出的代價，同時也是他們願意冒的風險。
多倫多在過去兩個季外都增加了他們的薪資總額，但是球隊仍然有他的財務限制。所以當多倫多用划算的合約去強化先發陣容時，牛棚變成球隊其中一個必須控制薪資的地方。
藍鳥隊有理由去把預算花在不同的地方，只要問問經營層就知道了。
“我一直認為牛棚的合約是所有位置中最難搞定的，”GM J.P. Ricciardi在之前提到。”那大概是所有的GM-包括我在內-都會犯的錯。你投資在一個去年投出成績的人身上，但是結果卻不如預期。然後你丟掉一名年輕人，突然他卻開竅了。”
而今年球隊將不只啟用一位年輕投手。
在牛棚中年紀較大的是去年入選明星賽，即將在十二月滿30歲的終結者B.J. Ryan。牛棚中6名應該有保障名單的中繼投手- Ryan、Brandon League、Jason Frasor、Jeremy Accardo、Brian Tallet和Scott Downs-平均年齡是27.8歲。
如果球隊再提出另外7人的名單，這個平均年齡還會再下降。而大約有20人左右會競爭這個位置。
“牛棚很年輕，”Ricciardi說。”我很高興我們的確有一些不錯的年輕投手。如果我們能幫他們找到正確的定位，我想會那會很不錯。”
“我說有一個你會去調整非常多次的地方就是中繼。”
Ryan在多倫多的角色是Closer。在2006開季前，這名6呎6吋的左投和藍鳥隊簽下一紙五年4700萬美金的合約。Ryan接著在藍鳥的第一個球季裡成為牛棚裡的王牌，投出1.37的防禦率並且拿下生涯最佳的38次救援成功。
Ryan的角色非常穩固。2006年球隊的setup man Justin Speier在今年季後和天使隊簽下了四年合約。而球隊計畫讓23歲的Laegue擔任新球季的第八局投手。
2006年是League破繭而出的一年。這名右投手的快速球可以到達100 mph，在33次的出賽裡他的防禦率是2.53。這些成績有一部分就是來自於第八局，當時Speier在傷兵名單中待到球季快結束時才回來。
除了League，在Ryan之前，多倫多也能夠派出右手的Frasor和Accardo。Accardo來自於七月的一筆和巨人隊的交易(換出Hillenbrand)。Frasor一開始的狀況很差而被丟到3A，但是在他最後18場的出賽，防禦率降到2.68。
藍鳥隊在左投方面有Tallet和Downs。Tallet去年在43場的出賽繳出3.98的ERA。而主要作為長中繼的Downs則有2.77的ERA，一但情況緊迫，他也可以充當先發。
“我想Frasor投得不錯、League投得不錯、Tallet幹得好而Downs幹得相當出色，”Ricciardi說”我們的牛棚戰力不逾匱乏—我們只需要確定每個人的角色。”
多倫多應該會試著不要像2006年一樣那麼操牛棚。在美國聯盟中，藍鳥的牛棚在三振排第一(451)、26勝並列第二、對手打擊率0.246排第四而ERA 3.98是第六名。
問題在於牛棚一共投了529局—聯盟第三多。先發各種不同的問題迫使球隊必須提早動用牛棚戰力。球隊在今年季後已經嘗試去加強先發的深度來避免這個老問題。
“希望今年先發群能讓我們儘可能地降低牛棚的使用程度”Ricciardi說到。
現在要說誰會進入最終的牛棚名單還太早了，要經過春訓我們才能略窺一二。
右手的Shaun Marcum、Josh Towers、Casey Janssen和Dustin McGowan會去競爭先發的位置。但是長中繼仍然是個問題。以現在的狀況來說Marcum和Towers比較有可能去填補這個位置，因為Janssen和McGowan應該會被送回3A去擔任先發。
左投的Davis Romero和右手的Francisco Rosario也有可能上來擔任中繼。23歲的Romero去年出賽7場，ERA是3.86。而已經被從先發競爭除名的Rosario在16場比賽的ERA是6.30。
附上原文：
It's the price the Blue Jays are willing to pay, and a risk they're willing to take.
Toronto has been able to increase its payroll in each of the past two offseasons, but the club still has its financial limitations. So, while the Jays have used lucrative contracts to strengthen their roster as a whole, the bullpen is one area that Toronto has kept relatively inexpensive.
The Blue Jays have their reasons for filtering their funds into different parts of the roster -- just ask the club's architect.
"I've always found the 'pen to be the most risky business," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said earlier this offseason. "It's probably the one mistake that most GMs make -- me included. You bank on a guy with a track record and he doesn't come through. Then you take a shot on a young guy and all of a sudden he does better."
This year, though, the Jays' inexpensive bullpen has them taking a shot on a young group -- not just one guy.
The elder of the relief corps is All-Star closer B.J. Ryan, who turned 30 in December. The six relievers who appear to be locks for bullpen jobs -- Ryan, Brandon League, Jason Frasor, Jeremy Accardo, Brian Tallet and Scott Downs -- have an average age of 27.8.
That average will likely drop even lower once Toronto identifies its seventh reliever, who will probably be one of a number of 20-somethings competing for the last bullpen spot this spring.
"The 'pen is young," Ricciardi said. "The one thing I like is that we do have some good arms. If we could just find the right roles for them, I think we'll be all right down there.
"I'd say the one area where you really roll the dice a lot of times is with middle relief."
Ryan is locked in his role as Toronto's closer. Before 2006, the 6-foot-6 left-hander signed a five-year, $47 million deal with the Jays. Ryan was then dominant in his first season out of the club's bullpen, posting a 1.37 ERA and notching a career-best 38 saves.
The roles in front of Ryan are less certain. In 2006, the Jays had veteran setup man Justin Speier in the fold, but he signed a four-year deal with the Angels this offseason. With Speier out of the picture, Toronto plans on using the 23-year-old League as the main eighth-inning pitcher.
League had a breakout year in 2006. The right-hander, whose fastball regularly tops 100 mph, posted a 2.53 ERA in 33 appearances. Some of those outings came in eighth-inning situations when Speier was on the disabled list late in the year.
Besides League, Toronto can help bridge the gap to Ryan with right-handers Frasor and Accardo -- a hard-throwing pitcher who was picked up in a trade with the Giants in July. Frasor bounced between Triple-A and Toronto's 'pen in 2006, but he finished the season strong, posting a 2.68 ERA over his last 18 games with the Jays.
The Jays also have lefties Tallet, who posted a 3.98 ERA in 43 games, and Downs. Downs, who had a 2.77 ERA in relief, will likely fill the long-relief role, but he could also be utilized as an emergency spot starter.
"I thought Frasor pitched well. League pitched well. I thought Tallet did a good job for us and Downs did a great job," Ricciardi said. "Our 'pen is not lacking -- we're just trying to define roles."
Toronto will also try to avoid turning to the bullpen as much this year. Among American League bullpens, the Jays ranked first in strikeouts (451), tied for second in wins (26), fourth in opponents batting average (.246) and sixth in ERA (3.98).
The problem was that Toronto's relief corps also logged 529 innings -- the third most in the league. Various issues with the rotation forced the Jays to turn to their relievers earlier in games than the club would've preferred. Toronto has attempted to build up its rotation depth during the offseason to avoid a similar problem.
"Hopefully our starters will help us minimize how much we have to use everybody," Ricciardi said.
It's not clear right now who will emerge as the final member of Toronto's bullpen, either. A group of pitchers will vie for that job during Spring Training.
Right-handers Shaun Marcum, Josh Towers, Casey Janssen and Dustin McGowan will all be competing for starting jobs, but long-relief roles might not be out of the question if they don't make the rotation. That type of job might be considered more for Marcum and Towers than for Janssen or McGowan, who would both likely be sent to Triple-A to work as starters.
Left-hander Davis Romero and right-hander Francisco Rosario could also be in the running for a relief job. Romero, 23, posted a 3.86 ERA in seven appearances for Toronto in 2006. Rosario, who is out of options, had a 6.30 ERA in 16 games for the Jays.

Thomson, Ohka have the opportunity to land last two spots.
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 01/31/2007 10:00 AM ET
在今年冬天一開始尋求先發人選空手而歸後，藍鳥隊開始尋求較為便宜的人選。
多倫多無法搶到原先他們所設定的兩名頂尖自由球員，而在先發輪值中留下兩個空缺。隨著可供選擇的投手越來越少，藍鳥也開始評估風險與報酬。多倫多使用激勵條款來簽下John Thomson和大家友和。他們兩個人都才受過肩傷，但是卻有可能幫球隊解決需要有人吃下局數的麻煩。
現在，Thomson、Ohka和一群投手將要去競爭rotation中剩下的兩個位置。一但人選確定了，多倫多將會有一個由Roy Halladay和A.J Burnett這兩名聯盟頂尖強投領軍的壯大先發輪值。
“某方面來說，競爭非常激烈” GM J.P. Ricciardi上週說到。”我們製造了一些競爭。有一些位置人力過剩，而這樣可以增進以後調度的彈性。”
簽下大家友和和Thomson而不是用一堆小朋友去先發是C計畫。球隊的A計畫是簽下Ted Lilly和Gil Meche，但是他們兩人分別選擇和小熊以及皇家簽約。B計畫是運用交易，但是沒有任何交易成功。
所以多倫多選擇在大家友和和Thomson身上賭一把。如果他們兩人能列入開幕時的大名單，就可以拿到150萬的起薪。Shaun Marcum、Josh Towers、Casey Janssen和Dustin McGowan也都是這個位置的競爭者。而確定的人選是Halladay、Burnett 和Gustavo Chacin。
“大家友和和Thomson現在有機會贏得先發的位置，”Ricciardi說到。”理想的狀況是，這些傢伙都能夠做到他們能夠做到的，來創造一個積極而且有競爭性的環境。但是你知道的，總是會有人受傷，或是有些人無法達到進度或是什麼的。”
當上一季受到傷兵困擾時，缺乏深度變成了多倫多的大麻煩。在2006年以16勝5負、3.19的防禦率拿到美聯CY的第三名的Halladay因為右前臂的疼痛錯過了好幾次的先發。Burnett和Chacin也都因為相似的肘傷各自缺席了至少兩個月。
讓傷病變得更麻煩的就是Josh Towers的掙扎，他完全失去了2005年的那種拿下13勝的能力。去年他的成績是2勝10敗，防禦率8.42，而且被送到小聯盟兩次。他在今年春訓必須去證明很多事才能搶回先發的位置。
“進入春訓之後，我知道Towers想要一個好的開始。”John Gibbons最近說到。”他有某些事情必須證明，但他的整個生涯都是如此。我知道他非常急切想去證明去年的表現只是偶然。”
換個方式思考，去年先發陣容的傷痛反而讓年輕投手如Marcum和Janssen得到寶貴的經驗。去年還是新人的Marcum先發14次，在他最後7次出賽拿下2勝1負，3.31的防禦率。Janssen則一共先發了17次，最後9次的成績是5勝2負，3.07的防禦率。
“我們確實把這些孩子送上火線，”Ricciardi說到。”試著想想看，Burnett缺陣九週，Chacin十二週。我不知道如果沒有Marcum和Janssen事情會變得怎樣。這些傢伙在壓力之下確實幹得好。”
Gibbons相當認同這個說法。
“我們去年並沒達到原先設定的目標，但也許另一方面的好處是有些人獲得了經驗，”Gibbons說到。”我們目前還不知道4、5號先發是誰。如果人選在這些人中，在大聯盟先發對他們並不陌生。那是很重要的。”
保持先發投手的健康會是最重要的。上一季和藍鳥簽下五年5500萬的合約的Burnett在21次先發中贏了10場。Chacin則在17次先發中贏下9場。Halladay則拿到了自2003年他拿到賽揚獎以來的最多勝。
上一季還在多倫多的Lilly也贏得了生涯新高的15勝。藍鳥隊相信Thomson或是大家友和不論是哪一個或是兩人加起來可以彌補失去Lilly的損失。Thomson在2004年贏得14勝，並有三次單季投球局數超過180局。大家友和在2002年贏得13勝，同時在三季中也有一次投球局數超過180局。
“我們是支好球隊，我喜歡這個隊型，”Ricciardi最近說到。”去年我們有兩個人投完整季—只有兩個﹕Halladay和Lilly。如果Hallady、Burnett和Chacin都能正常出賽，我們應該可以比去年走得更遠。”
附上原文﹕
The Blue Jays became bargain hunters this winter after coming up empty-handed in their initial search for rotation help.
Toronto wasn't able to add the top two free agents it targeted, leaving a pair of vacant spots on its starting staff. With the number of available arms dwindling, the Jays began weighing risk versus reward. Toronto used incentive-based contracts to reel in free agents John Thomson and Tomo Ohka, who are both coming off shoulder injuries but have the potential to solve the club's need for innings.
Now, it'll be survival of the fittest during Spring Training for Thomson, Ohka and a group of pitchers vying for the two jobs at the back end of Toronto's rotation. Once those spots are solved, the Jays should have a formidable staff, which is led by Roy Halladay and A.J. Burnett -- one of the top one-two punches in the league.
"In a lot of ways, it's going to be a shootout for the jobs," Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said last week. "We've created some competition. We've got a little bit more in the way of surplus, and a little bit more in the way of flexibility."
Having Thomson and Ohka fending off a pack of young pitchers this spring was, essentially, Plan C. Toronto's first plan was to sign Ted Lilly and Gil Meche, who opted instead for deals with the Cubs and Royals, respectively. For Plan B, the Jays entertained the possibility of using trades to bolster their staff, but no deals came to fruition.
So Toronto took a chance with Thomson and Ohka, who will each start with a base salary of $1.5 million if they make Toronto's Opening Day roster. Shaun Marcum, Josh Towers, Casey Janssen and Dustin McGowan will also be competing for jobs behind Halladay, Burnett and left-hander Gustavo Chacin.
"Right now, Ohka and Thomson are going to come in with the opportunity to win a job as a starter," Ricciardi said. "Ideally, you'd like all of these guys to come in and do as well as they can to create a very aggressive and competitive environment. But you know someone's going to get hurt, or someone's not going to be able to start the season or something."
Lack of depth was something that hurt Toronto last season, when numerous injuries took a toll on the staff. Halladay, who went 16-5 with a 3.19 ERA and finished third in American League Cy Young voting in 2006, missed a few starts due to a right forearm strain. Burnett and Chacin each missed more than two months after suffering similar elbow injuries.
Complicating Toronto's health issues were the struggles of Josh Towers, who was unable to replicate the 13-win season he had in 2005. Towers went 2-10 with a 8.42 ERA, and he was demoted to the Minors twice. The right-hander will have to prove a lot this spring in order to overtake Thomson or Ohka for one of the two remaining jobs.
"Going into Spring Training, I know [Towers is] going to want to get off to a good start from the get-go," Toronto manager John Gibbons said recently. "He's got something to prove, but his whole career has been like that. I know he's anxious to get going to show that last year was a fluke."
One positive that Toronto was able to take out of its pitching woes last season was that young pitchers like Marcum and Janssen gained valuable experience. Marcum made 14 starts as a rookie, going 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA over his last seven outings. Janssen, who made 17 starts, went 5-2 with a 3.07 ERA in his first nine trips to the mound.
"We really threw those guys into the fire," Ricciardi said. "If you think about it, we sat for nine weeks without Burnett and 12 weeks without Chacin. I don't know where we would've finished without [Marcum and Janssen]. Those guys did a really good job under very difficult circumstances."
Gibbons agreed.
"We didn't finish as high last year as we wanted, but maybe the silver lining is we got experience for some guys who we're going to have to count on," Gibbons said. "We don't know how our fourth and fifth starters are going to stack up. But if those guys are one of them, they have just enough experience under their belt now where it's not new to them. That's big."
Keeping the rotation healthy would be even bigger. Burnett, who signed a five-year deal worth $55 million with the Jays last offseason, won 10 games in 21 starts, Chacin tallied nine wins in 17 starts, and Halladay finished with his most wins since taking home the AL Cy Young Award in 2003.
Lilly also won a career-high 15 games for Toronto last season. The Jays believe that Thomson or Ohka -- or both -- are capable of replacing what was lost with Lilly's departure, though. Thomson won 14 games in 2004, and he has logged more than 180 innings three times. Ohka picked up 13 wins in '02, and he's also pitched more than 180 innings in a season on three occassions.
"We have a good club. I like the way we shape up," Ricciardi said recently. "We had two guys take the ball all year last year -- only two: Halladay and Lilly. If we can get Halladay, Burnett and Chacin to take the ball every fifth time, we're way ahead of where we were last year."

Wells will continue to anchor middle of Blue Jays lineup
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 01/24/2007 10:00 AM ET
藍鳥隊有疑慮。這個聲音從上一季開始出現，當時還無法確定Vernon Wells在2007年還會不會待在多倫多。
當球季結束後，各式各樣的交易傳言不脛而走，這似乎離Wells離開多倫多的日子不遠了。中外野手的合約只到2007年，一但他在2007年底的冬天成為自由球員，勢必要付出相當的代價。在薪資爆炸的市場，評論家不認為藍鳥隊有足夠深的口袋可以用長約來綁住Wells。
不過多倫多證明這些人是錯的。在2006年的十二月藍鳥隊和Wells簽下一紙從2008年開始七年，一億兩千六百萬美金的合約。所以謠言消失了，而多倫多仍然擁有這名頂尖之一的外野手。

Clayton, McDonald to split time at short; Hill to stay at second
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com , 01/17/2007 10:00 AM ET
計畫改變了。整個2006年游擊這個位置一直都是多倫多的心腹大痛，現在球隊決定改變方向了。
一年之前，球團選擇讓二年級生Aaron Hill 和Russ Adams成為新球季的雙殺組合。Hill在二壘位置上打出了佳績，然而Adams卻兩次被降至3A同時讓球隊不斷的在尋找新的游擊手。
今年冬天，球隊以1年150萬的代價在十一月簽下了37歲的Royce Clayton作為暫時性的解答。在打線幾乎已經確定的時候，多倫多簽下這名守優於攻的選手。