The Jays are NOT playin' around!

Yesterday the Toronto Blue Jays continued their insane off season by signing two time gold glover catcher Bengie Molina. At 31 years of age, Molina is a former World Series Champion, a solid hitter with power, awesome base stealing ability for a catcher and a terrific arm behind the plate.

The Blue Jays line up now looks tough with some serious weapons on the bench... High average hitters, power, speed, gold glovers all around and don't forget that pitching staff!

Here's what I'm thinking the batting order might look like.

LF Catalanotto
2B Hill
DH Hillenbrand
3B Glaus
CF Wells
1B Overbay
C Molina
RF Rios
SS Adams

That's a very tough contact hitting line up with some solid power in the 3,4 and 5 holes. If Overbay returns to his form of two seasons ago when he led the majors in doubles, this could be wild.

Then check out the bench...

Left handed hitting Hinkse ... who as much as he's been maligned has had decent numbers the last couple seasons and can play first or third.

Zaun - a switch hitting catcher who is solid behind the plate.

Reid Johnson is my favorite player without a doubt. All guts, and will scratch and fight for ever inch. He'll likely platoon once again with Rios and the Cat.

John McDonald returns to the Jays this season after being dealt away last year to the Tigers for cash. He's a slick fielding utility guy who will more than make up for the departure of Mennechino.

I really like the arms on the staff this season.

Halladay (best pitcher in all of baseball), Burnett (potential Cy Young stuff), Chacin (super rookie last season), Lilly (Lefty vet), and Towers who started putting it all together a year ago, and really stepped up in the second half when Roy was hurt.

In the bully, you've got dependable righties like Frasor and Chulk - potential set up men in Spier and League and then three lefties. THREE talented lefties in a bullpen! Wow....

Schoeneweis is a specialist but Gibbens must avoid the temptation to run Scho out there against righties when he's cruisin along. Scott Downs showed last season he can pitch out of tough spots at he Major League level, and then of course - our first free agent aquisition of this off season - left handed closer B.J. Ryan.

When I look at what the BoSox and Yankees have done (or not done this year), and the fact that their teams are getting old in a hurry, I am very cautiously optimistic about the Jays snagging the wild card, or - dare to dream, the pennant.

It's nice to see that Rogers is taking my huge monthly bills and turning them into ball players that will entertain me for 6 months in 06.

This should be a great season!