Buffalo Boy's Blog

Today is it, another Jays season done. It was successful even though they didn't make the playoffs. I think we found out a few things:

-JP Riccardi isn't that bad of a GM, his team has encountered some unavoidable circumstances with numerous injuries.

-Despite injuries this team has played well. Pitchers come up from the farm and pitch out of their minds. We have found that youngsters like David Purcey and Scot Richmond are here to stay and we finally have left-handers for the rotation.

-We have our manager back. I was screaming for it back in April, John Gibbons is not the man for the job, we need a manager who would bleed Blue Jay Blue, I thought it was Ernie Whitt, instead, its Cito Gaston and he has come back with great results.

So, all the above said, this is my wishlist going into the offseason:

1. Extend AJ Burnett- after learning that Shaun Marcum is out for next season and Dustin McGowan is done until at least May, we need Burnett, get it done. You don't have Frank Thomas on the books so its doable.

2. If Scott Rolen isn't going to get back to 20-25 homeruns and 100 RBIs and scare opposing pitching like he did in St. Louis either trade him or cut him and lets take our lumps with Jose Bautista.

3. Go out and get a shortstop- no offense to Joe Inglett, Marco Scutaro and John Mcdonald, but I want a legitimate shortstop who can hit. If that means trading one of you guys and maybe a prospect to get say a Orlando Cabrera or something along those lines, then do it, or go out and get the best available shortstop in free agency. Inglett, Scutaro and Johnny Mac are bench and role players who probably won't return to that full time form again.

4. Rotation insurance- go out and sign a 3 or 4 guy incase McGowan doesn't come back or one of the other guys goes down. I was watching Ted Lilly come oh so close to a no hitter yesterday thinking it would be nice to have him here still and he was relatively affordable for the quality lefty that he is.

5. With the return of Jeremy Accardo, take a long hard look at the possibility of trading BJ Ryan and letting Brandon League close. League throws smoke and he should get a chance sooner than later and BJ Ryan off the books would allow for some of the above. Just be absolutely sure BJ goes to a western team so we don't see him.

Thats it. 3rd base, shortstop and shore up the pitching. Its a doable list, its one that Cito has expressed interest in especially a hitting shortstop and if accomplished JP would impress in TO, Im sure of it. 

Oh yeah, one more thing, CHANGE THE DAMN LOGO!!!!!