The Major League Baseball season is quickly approaching, and if you are like me, you probably have been watching MLB.TV religiously. One of the teams that many baseball experts have predicted as a sleeper is the Toronto Blue Jays. Our only Canadian team has been mentioned as one of the clubs that could overtake the Yankees or the Red Sox. I am officially announcing today that I can write off one team. I am not talking about the Pirates or Orioles. I canít write off the Rays or Royals, and not even the Giants. The one team I know will not make the playoffs is the Toronto Blue Jays. Their 2008 season is over, finished, fin. The reason for their failure next year has nothing to do with their 5-10 spring training record, or the fact that none of pitchers in their starting rotation can go a whole season healthy. Last Tuesday, the Blue Jays signed Armando Benitez. As a Metsí fan, I have seen too much of Armando Benitez. Remember 2001: the Mets were making an emotional comeback against the division leading Braves. Down by only a game, Benitez lets up a 3-run homer to Brian Jordan in the ninth to lose the game, and for all intensive purposes, ends the season. I have seen Benitez blow large leads and small leads. I have seen him lose a game in the World Series and I have seen him lose a mi-May game against Milwaukee. I have even seen him throw a wild pitch on an intentional walk, not once, but twice. He sure made games interesting, but as a reliever, entertainment factor is not what he is paid for. Blue Jay fans, do not be deceived by his 289 career saves or his 3.11career ERA. The most important stat is 6. He has been on 6 teams in the last 6 years, including the Marlins twice. There has to be a reason why a pitcher who can throw 100mph has been on so many teams in such a small amount of time. Socrates once said, ìthe only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.î I disagree with you Mr. Socrates, but I know this: Armando Benitez will not help the Blue Jays make the playoffs.

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