It's finally here. JP Ricciardi's self-imposed deadline is today and so far nothing concrete to report on. Doc is slated to start tomorrow in Seattle and the Phillies are still balking at the Jays trade offer. It seems as though JP won't consider trading with anyone else because he views the Happ/Drabek offer as the best he could possibly get. Once again, another wrong move from the Jays GM.
This whole process has made Ricciardi look bad... at least in the eyes of Jays fans. From the outset, you knew he wouldn't come out looking like the hero who traded Roy Halladay while infusing a below average farm system with top prospects. The most dumbfounding move might be publicly saying Doc told the team he'd test the free agent waters in 2010. If the Phillies knew they had a shot at signing Doc to an extension before free agency, I think getting rid of Happ and Drabek would be a little less painful.
Nonetheless, we're left with just a couple of teams left in the race for the workhorse: the Phillies, Red Sox and Angels. The Dodgers aren't out of the race but don't have a solid package in place as of yet.
We all know about the Phillies package. They want to give up only one of Happ/Drabek, Carlos Carrasco, Luke Donald and Michael Taylor. The latter 3 are lower tier prospects and project as average major leaguers. The Jays want JA Happ along with Kyle Drabek and top prospect Dominic Brown. JP has not backed off this package, but in my opinion he could get a comparable one elsewhere...
The Red Sox have made a formal offer of Clay Buchholz, Michael Bowden and top outfield prospect Ryan Westmoreland according to a report on Yahoo Sports. Buchholz is major league ready and projects to be a future ace. The combination of Buchholz and Bowden are better than Happ/Drabek in my opinion. Drabek also had Tommy John Surgery just 2 years ago so he's far from a sure thing. Westmoreland is only 19 and if the Jays can move Vernon in the next couple of years, he'd be the starting LF/RF depending on where the Jays feel comfortable with Travis Snider.
Decision: Because the Red Sox must "pay a premium", I'd ask for the hard-throwing Daniel Bard instead of Bowden. The Jays have also asked for Jed Lowrie in earlier discussions, who would easily start next year once Scutaro leaves (either at the deadline or in the offseason). Don't be surprised if JP actually trades Doc to his hometown team.
The Angels have offered Joe Saunders, Brandon Wood, Erick Aybar and a lower level prospect. While the trade would give Toronto options on the left side of its infield, Saunders has never really been a pitcher I've liked. This year his ERA stands in the mid 4's.
Decision: It's a decent offer but I'd say the Angels are a long shot to get Halladay. If they replaced Saunders with Jered Weaver and added a couple of higher level prospects (Sean Rodriguez) the Jays might contemplate it. But I'd say the Angels end up with Cliff Lee instead.
Finally, the team I'd like to see Doc get traded to would be the LA Dodgers. Not only are they my second favourite team, but they have great young players that the Jays could build around. The problem is, JP might be getting a bit greedy as he has asked for both Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp with prospects for Roy. If the Dodgers were to make a run for Halladay, rumours have suggested that it be Chad Billingsley who the Dodgers would part with and anyone else off their major league roster would be untouchable.
Decision: Getting a pitcher like Billingsley or Kershaw would almost be a wash for Doc. Both are very talented and are proven big league starters. Heck, I would probably take lower prospects with either and make a trade. Kershaw is only 22 and barring injury problems could be the best pitcher of the next decade. Billingsley is a bit older but he'd contribute right away and give the 2010 rotation a dangerous look. But the fact that the Dodgers have the NL West in total control make them longshots to make a splash for Lee or Halladay.
Prediction: JP hasn't made one substantially great decision in his 8 years here other than resigning Doc a couple of years back. So I'm going to say this last month was just a waste of time and we'll be seeing Doc in a Jays uniform for another 1.5 years... That, or he'll panic and give in to the Phillies demands and screw this organization for another 8 years.
DD
-check out Captain Fanatic for more Toronto Sports Blogs and other fun stuff
-also, Check out T.O. Sports Magazine, Toronto's free sports monthly magazine...Pick one UP, you know you want to. My blog entries are also posted there along with many other interesting topics.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Canadian Skiing's 2010 Hopeful
Here we are, less than a year away from the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Much of the talk in this country has been about Canada's Mens hockey team. But there are a many more amateur athletes who only make a name for themselves once every four years. Canadian alpine skiier Mike Janyk fits that description as one of Canada's amateur medal hopefuls next year.
Of course the majority of Canadians watch the Winter Olympics for the hockey. Either that, or the events where a Canadian is expected to medal. Janyk will be the hometown boy in Whistler and is definitely a favourite to at least medal. He is coming off a bronze medal in the Slalom event at the 2009 Alpine Skiing World Championships, one of the two medals Canada won (John Kucera won the downhill event).
Why doesn't he get more attention? Because skiing is a "world sport." What I mean is that Canada doesn't care about these athletes unless they do something amazing. Take for example Daniel Nestor, Canadian tennis player. When is the only time you hear his name? When he wins a doubles title at Wimbledon. Of course from time to time, some skiing events will be squeezed into the final minutes of a sports program. Or maybe even a little note at the bottom of a sports show's ticker. But as 2010 nears, I think more time should be spent focusing on the athletes that will participate at the games.
On the flip side, maybe it's due to injury that people haven't really heard of Janyk. He spent most of last year sidelined due to a back injury and is just starting to feel 100 per cent. In his latest bronze medal finish, he said he took more risks on the course to even have a chance to be on the podium. Injuries do have something to do with it, just ask Jan Hudec. A couple of years ago, Hudec was actually pretty big in Canada. He was finishing high in his races, but then suffered a knee injury which he hasn't fully recovered from yet. So now that Janyk is healthy, expect to hear more from the slalom specialist.
Being a year away from the big event, skiing will probably not be in the limelight anytime soon. Janyk would have to win a few races for people to really take notice. But since he hasn't won a world cup event yet, expect his first one to be covered in the same way Hudec's was. As I recall, TSN led off Sportscentre with Hudec's win just a couple of years ago. So if you haven't heard of Mike Janyk yet, expect to see him at the top of a podium well before the main stage in 2010.
DD
-check out Captain Fanatic for more Toronto Sports Blogs and other fun stuff
-also, Check out T.O. Sports Magazine, Toronto's free sports monthly magazine...Pick one UP, you know you want to. My blog entries are also posted there along with many other interesting topics.
Of course the majority of Canadians watch the Winter Olympics for the hockey. Either that, or the events where a Canadian is expected to medal. Janyk will be the hometown boy in Whistler and is definitely a favourite to at least medal. He is coming off a bronze medal in the Slalom event at the 2009 Alpine Skiing World Championships, one of the two medals Canada won (John Kucera won the downhill event).
Why doesn't he get more attention? Because skiing is a "world sport." What I mean is that Canada doesn't care about these athletes unless they do something amazing. Take for example Daniel Nestor, Canadian tennis player. When is the only time you hear his name? When he wins a doubles title at Wimbledon. Of course from time to time, some skiing events will be squeezed into the final minutes of a sports program. Or maybe even a little note at the bottom of a sports show's ticker. But as 2010 nears, I think more time should be spent focusing on the athletes that will participate at the games.
On the flip side, maybe it's due to injury that people haven't really heard of Janyk. He spent most of last year sidelined due to a back injury and is just starting to feel 100 per cent. In his latest bronze medal finish, he said he took more risks on the course to even have a chance to be on the podium. Injuries do have something to do with it, just ask Jan Hudec. A couple of years ago, Hudec was actually pretty big in Canada. He was finishing high in his races, but then suffered a knee injury which he hasn't fully recovered from yet. So now that Janyk is healthy, expect to hear more from the slalom specialist.
Being a year away from the big event, skiing will probably not be in the limelight anytime soon. Janyk would have to win a few races for people to really take notice. But since he hasn't won a world cup event yet, expect his first one to be covered in the same way Hudec's was. As I recall, TSN led off Sportscentre with Hudec's win just a couple of years ago. So if you haven't heard of Mike Janyk yet, expect to see him at the top of a podium well before the main stage in 2010.
DD
-check out Captain Fanatic for more Toronto Sports Blogs and other fun stuff
-also, Check out T.O. Sports Magazine, Toronto's free sports monthly magazine...Pick one UP, you know you want to. My blog entries are also posted there along with many other interesting topics.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Winter Wonderland
Is it cold enough for you yet? Here we are in just another chilling winter in Toronto. And while it may be easy for most of us to just stay inside our warm, cozy houses/apartments, there are a ton of sports that you have to take advantage of while you still can.
With the amount of snow this country has been getting, it's been a god-sent for Ski and Snowboarding companies. Skiing or Snowboarding are two exhilarating ways of exercising this winter season.
If you haven't tried either before, you're not alone. Many ski/snowboard resorts are located north of the city. But if you're willing to make the trip it's an experience you won't forget.
The first thing you want to do is make sure you're dressed properly. Going down the slopes in the cold weather will make your eyes tear up so bringing sunglasses or goggles help increase visibility. Try to stay away from jeans unless you want to feel soaked afterward.
Whether you choose to ski or snowboard, both require some form of training. Before hitting the slopes take a quick lesson to learn the basics. From my experience, skiing is the easier of the two as the individual is positioned straight ahead rather than on the side. Once the training session is over, start on the bunny hills (beginner hills).
Turns are extremely important in both sports. I used to think the best way to ski was to just ride down a hill straight ahead. Not only is this unsafe, but it is almost impossible to do depending on the steepness of the hill. The key to safe skiing and snowboarding is to effectively turn from side to side in order to maintain a constant speed. A great way to practice turns when you're not on the slopes is to practice turns on a skating rink. The fundamentals are similar even though the downhill aspect isn't there.
For the tamer individual, cross-country skiing can be an excellent source of exercise as well. Of course, the process is a lot more arduous as the sport is one of the most difficult in the world. If you want to really take on a challenge, skiing cross-country exercises almost all the muscles in the body. The use of both hands and legs are extremely important because the muscles in those body parts are where all your momentum comes from.
Don't let the cold keep you from getting out there and doing something new. For more information on skiing and snowboarding, check out www.skicanada.org. Or just check your local yellow pages for a slope near you.
DD
-check out Captain Fanatic for more Toronto Sports Blogs and other fun stuff
-also, Check out T.O. Sports Magazine, Toronto's free sports monthly magazine...Pick one UP, you know you want to. My blog entries are also posted there along with many other interesting topics.
With the amount of snow this country has been getting, it's been a god-sent for Ski and Snowboarding companies. Skiing or Snowboarding are two exhilarating ways of exercising this winter season.
If you haven't tried either before, you're not alone. Many ski/snowboard resorts are located north of the city. But if you're willing to make the trip it's an experience you won't forget.
The first thing you want to do is make sure you're dressed properly. Going down the slopes in the cold weather will make your eyes tear up so bringing sunglasses or goggles help increase visibility. Try to stay away from jeans unless you want to feel soaked afterward.
Whether you choose to ski or snowboard, both require some form of training. Before hitting the slopes take a quick lesson to learn the basics. From my experience, skiing is the easier of the two as the individual is positioned straight ahead rather than on the side. Once the training session is over, start on the bunny hills (beginner hills).
Turns are extremely important in both sports. I used to think the best way to ski was to just ride down a hill straight ahead. Not only is this unsafe, but it is almost impossible to do depending on the steepness of the hill. The key to safe skiing and snowboarding is to effectively turn from side to side in order to maintain a constant speed. A great way to practice turns when you're not on the slopes is to practice turns on a skating rink. The fundamentals are similar even though the downhill aspect isn't there.
For the tamer individual, cross-country skiing can be an excellent source of exercise as well. Of course, the process is a lot more arduous as the sport is one of the most difficult in the world. If you want to really take on a challenge, skiing cross-country exercises almost all the muscles in the body. The use of both hands and legs are extremely important because the muscles in those body parts are where all your momentum comes from.
Don't let the cold keep you from getting out there and doing something new. For more information on skiing and snowboarding, check out www.skicanada.org. Or just check your local yellow pages for a slope near you.
DD
-check out Captain Fanatic for more Toronto Sports Blogs and other fun stuff
-also, Check out T.O. Sports Magazine, Toronto's free sports monthly magazine...Pick one UP, you know you want to. My blog entries are also posted there along with many other interesting topics.
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