My initial reaction upon discovering that the Canada's Sports Hall of Fame was going to induct Pat Gillick this year was the same as my reaction when I found out that we members of the Baseball Writers Association of America were going to elect Peter Gammons a few years ago: Eh? He's not already in there?
Gillick deserves recognition for more than merely being part of a management team that brought back to back World Series to Canada. Considering the Montreal Expos had a head-start on the Toronto Blue Jays, it was remarkable how quickly the Blue Jays brand spread across the country and essentially over-ran that of the Expos. For a while, it was practically impossible to go to a baseball banquet anywhere in this country without seeing somebody from the Blue Jays. Or hearing a telegram of congratulations read out from the Blue Jays. Or seeing an autographed Blue Jays bat being auctioned off. Rare is the American who exhibits an understanding of Canadian sensibilities. Gillick was - and is - one of those. It's true that the Blue Jays never managed to translate that brand recognition into an ability to unearth Canadian talent - Eric Gagne ... Russell Martin ... Justin Morneau ... Joey Votto ... whoever, the Blue Jays never seemed to be able to land a good Canadian without trading for him - but it was apparent that in the early days, at least, the emphasis was on developing the game across the country. The current crop of Canadian-born players likely wouldn't be as deep without the influence - accidental or otherwise - of the Blue Jays.
Indeed, Gillick's legacy - which includes stops with the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners and now Philadelphia Phillies - is such that even today the wishful thinkers say only he can turn around the current edition of the Blue Jays, which would be accurate were it not for the fact that indications are Gillick is looking to scale down his daily involvement in the game. Still, it's remarkable how a guy once derided with the nickname 'Stand Pat' suddenly became an agent of change.
Which gives us a segue into ....
Your 2008 Blue Jays!
It's nice that G.M. J.P. Ricciardi is saying publicly that this he's pretty much done with player moves. Even nicer knowing he'll forgive me if I tell him I don't believe him. I understand Ricciardi's thinking: you aren't going to be able to trade for another Vernon Wells. And I also understand his reluctance to move a starting pitcher, especially if all it's going to do is give him somebody else's over-paid dray horse (Adam Dunn? Yeah, he'll help the Blue Jays! The fact that failed Mets G.M. turned ESPN drone Steve Phillips has run the idea up the flag pole ought to be good enough to rubbish it. Barry Bonds? Sure. I'm all about that! Three weeks of playing in the minors and he should be good to go ... if he can get across the border.) But let's take a step back for a moment and look at the Blue Jays as they broke spring training. They were shy of lefthanded hitting. They did not - and do not - have an everyday shortstop either in the person of John McDonald or David Eckstein. (Sorry, all you grit-meisters.) And they did not - and do not - have an everyday catcher.

At best, they were cutting and pasting to fill those two positions at a time when a $100 million payroll doesn't guarantee you much beyond being middle of the pack. In other words, there were issues with the construction of this team long before everybody stopped hitting. Those issues still must be addressed because the short-term - and likely mid-term - answers are not down on the farm. Travis Snider? Call me suspicious, but I'd feel better about him helping out in 09 if he had two healthy elbows.
Beyond that, am I the only one concerned that even when he's back after eight weeks Wells ... well, you know, that he might not be able to hit with power for awhile? I won't use the word 'ever,' because that's a long time. But I have seen guys come back from fractured wrists or hands and not hit with as much authority. So there you go: the Blue Jays need two more every day players. Good, athletic players. Not slow, old guys. If that means moving a pitcher? So be it, and ideally that bridge should be crossed long before it's time to wonder how much longer Roy Halladay is going to be happy staying here beyond the expiration of his contract ....