What the what?

Fourteen games into the 2011 baseball year, and I have no clue what kind of team the Toronto Blue Jays will be this season. Perhaps I'm exaggerating the point... but am I alone in wondering what the on-field philosophy is with this club, and whether there currently exists the personnel to execute?

Focusing on the offence - this year's club was expected to follow (largely) in the footsteps of the 2010 Jays - a team of rakers with power to spare. Standard "sample size" caveats apply (as they do throughout this post - but what else is there?), but more often than not we've seen empty swings where we might otherwise have seen loooooong fly balls. A pedestrian 12 HR through the first 14 is the end result.

"Offsetting" the reduced power is the increased focus on the running game (cringe). Last year's leadfoots now lead the league in swipes with 19. What? And that's without much contribution from expected burner Rajai Davis.

Travis Snider is the living embodiment of whateverthefuck is going on with this offence. Billed by many (guilty!) as a breakout power threat..... he's belted one (1) home run to go with his five (5!) stolen bases. And who's ol' Lunchbox tied for the team lead in stolen bags with? Aaron Hill.... to accompany his zero taters. Well, at least Adam Lind is mashing enough to cover. No he's not, he's got one. Which beats Edwin's longball production by one.

What the what?

This is the point where I correct my own nonsense and say "it's early". Speaking specifically to Snider's slow - let's use "slow", OK? - start, Sportsnet's handy broadcast graphics tell me he seems to be developing a pattern (Vernonesque, perhaps) in opening his seasons poorly, and I still have confidence he'll warm with the weather, as they (?) say. That crazy HR/SB ratio (not an official stat) will work itself out, as will Jose Bautista's timing.... which hasn't reaaaaly seemed to be there since taking the A's series off.

The power strokes will come around. If I can take away one concern from the first two weeks, it's that the promise of increased aggressiveness on the basepaths has gone completely insane. And while it's exciting as all hell to watch, running into outs..... not so much.

So keep running, Blue Jays. But let's be smart about it can we? And feel free to mix in a few home runs while you're at it.

Not so much to ask, is it?

Three wishes for the Winter Meetings swap meet

Recognizing that we've spent much of the last five months being something between a Debbie Downer and an Negative Nancy, we've recommitted ourself to bring a little sunshine and optimism around these parts for the next little while.

Can you feel the positivity flowing through your monitor at this very moment?

Rather than piss and moan about the lack of happenings or movement, we've decided to float out into the universe three simple wishes for the Solstice Confab in Indianapolis. And if we only get one out of these three cravings are met, we can live with that. Heck, we could handle the meetings ending with none of these three wishes met, because we're Happy Tao. (Or at least, we aspire to be.)

Wish # 1 - A Major League Addition
Whether if by free agent or trade, we'd like to have a shiny new toy under the tree by week's end. It doesn't have to be much of anything, or some earth-shattering signing. Just some guy who has played big league ball somewhere and who can step in a do something at some point next year. We'd happily take a Josh Willingham, for instance.

Wish # 2 - An Interesting Rule 5 Pick
The last Rule 5 pick to really stick with the Jays was Corey Thurman back in 2001. (Okay, Randy Wells got one inning of work in 2008. Which isn't really sticking as we perceive it.) There isn't a ton of MLB ready talent that is sitting on the outside of other teams' 40-man rosters...but then again, the Jays have some space on their 25-man to possibly give a dude a chance.

Wish # 3 - Resolution to the Roy Halladay Sweepstakes
Because at this point, we just want him to get on with his career, and we want to get on with the business of our fandom. We're not holding out for this package or that prospect or what have you. We would just like to get this bit of business out of the way.

Is that so much to ask? And what do you have on your list, boys and girls?