< really big snip >

>>I have to admit. While the Jays are not tearing up the league, they sure have been a fun team to watch this year. And now that we have a for real center fielder in Colby Rasmus and a third basemand (not that Bautista doesn't play a terrific third, but he likes right field better and with his arm, that's where he belongs) in Brett Lawrie, this could be a pretty good looking team next year. All we need now is a bullpen. I think the fun has just started.
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>That the Jays are over .500 in that division proves they are good. It's no treat competing against the Yankees, Red Sox, and Rays. What Toronto needs is a new division. Either of the other AL divisions would do. The Angels and Rangers are decent and that's the end of the story for the Central and West combined.
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This is probably going to sound really masochistic, but I don't want a different division. If you can do it in this division, then you've done something. I like it right here.

>It has diminished my enjoyment of baseball -- even though this season has been a renaissance -- that a handful of rich teams have such an unfair advantage. It's no guarantee, as any fan of the overspending and underachieving Cubs or Orioles can assure you. But year in and year out the Yankees and Red Sox, and now the Phillies, sign the highest profile free agents and scarf up the highest profile players at the July 31 roster deadline. Hunter Pence, who is already making a noticeable contribution to the Phillies, as if they needed it, is the latest example. God love Tamar but I hope the Phillies never win another game. Roy Halladay -- bought him. Roy Oswalt -- bought him. Cliff Lee -- bought him. Hunter Pence -- bought him. Is there a pattern here? At least the Giants' crappy hitters are home grown ;-)

I can't speak for the others, but as far as Halladay is concerned, he signed for less than he could have had. He just really wanted to play in Philly. When he was with the Jays, he signed for less than market at least twice because they lied to him and said they were building a winning team.

It wasn't until Anthopoulos took over that it became plausible. Real smart guy. And the payroll still leaves a lot in the bank just in case.