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The Jays reacquire Zach Jackson

A few things
have been happening the last few days in Jaysland.  Today, Toronto reacquired lefthander Zach
Jackson from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later.  Some sources are saying the player is
infielder Russ Adams who has become even more expendable than he already was
this week when the Jays acquired Brian Bocock off waivers from San Francisco.

 

Jackson was
originally drafted by the Jays as a sandwich first-rounder back in 2004 and was
dealt to Milwaukee in the Lyle Overbay deal in December of ’05.  Jackson was then dealt to the Tribe in ’08 in
the C.C. Sabathia deal.  Jackson has yet
to stick at the major-league level and has struggled in the minors as well, but
the Jays are hoping he can regain his college form with the organization he
started out with.

 

Alomar, Blyleven not going to Hall…yet

No
disrespect to Andre Dawson, who definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame,
but how did Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven not get in?  Sure, I may be biased in both cases what with
Alomar being one of the greatest Blue Jays of all time and Blyleven being the
greatest Dutch-born player in the game’s history, but they both deserve to be
in the Hall now, not a few years from now.

 

I can see
Blyleven not being a first-ballot HOFer, but this was like his 8^th
or 9^th year of eligibility. 
He finished his career with 287 wins and was 5^th all-time in
strike outs.  Yes, he lost 250 games in
his career but there’s no doubting his longevity.  As MLB Network analyst Sean Casey pointed out
the other day, no one pitches 21 years in the bigs who doesn’t deserve to do
so.  Blyleven kept his team in every game
and could bear down and be outright dominating. 
If he doesn’t get in next year than there’s something wrong.

 

As for
Alomar, he was probably the best second-baseman of his generation.  Defensively, there’s probably never been
anyone better.  Based on his numbers and
performance alone, he is without a doubt a first-ballot HOFer.  My theory is that he’s not in there because
he retired sort of young, and also because of the John Hirshbeck thing.  As for the that incident, many players
contend that Hirshbeck used a derogatory slur before Alomar snapped.  Regardless of what actually happened, Alomar
apologized profusely and eventually made up with the umpire, joining him in a
campaign to raise awareness about ALD, a disease which Hirshbeck’s son died of.  I’ve always thought people overreacted about
that incident and have always seen Alomar as a class-act.  Him and Blyleven need to get in next year.

 

Chapman being pursued by Jays.

The Jays
have entered the Aroldis Chapman sweepstakes. 
The 21-year-old Cuban lefthander who can hit triple-digits with his
fastball has been pursued heavily by the Angels, Marlins, Yankees, Red Sox, and
others but reportedly only the Jays and Angels remain in the chase.  Toronto surprisingly offered Chapman a
$23-million deal.  This would be a huge acquisition for Toronto; Chapman is
at most a year or two from being a top-of-the-rotation talent.  Let’s hope the Jays get him.  Just think: Drabek AND Chapman.  The future would indeed look bright.