Toronto Star: The Richard Griffin Mailbag

With questions like...Okay, 3 guys I’d like to see in Jays’ uniforms next year: Mike Jacobs - a true power-hitting first baseman. He doesn’t hit for a great average, but he brings that home run/RBI threat we are lacking. Orlando Cabrera - a real shortstop, a real leadoff guy, a real ballplayer! ...why would the Griffin return?

Q: Richard, to me the core problem with the Blue Jays over the past few years has been their inability to hit with runners in scoring position, in the early season when it still matters. I could care less what they do when they are 15 games out. They need at least one or two proven RBI guys or it doesn’t matter if they re-sign Burnett, or anyone else for that matter because they won’t win a thing.

A: The only people who care that the Jays always seem to hit well when they are 15 games out are in the front office. They spend all winter pointing it out to potential ticket buyers as a reason that the Jays will contend when the fact is it’s always Groundhog Day with runners on third and less than two out. I would go after Raul Ibanez and Orlando Cabrera and settle for one of them. I would also wait until late January then sign a desperate veteran run producer on the cheap for one year plus an option.