3/12 - 2 Men, 2 Directions, 1 Position

	Weekly Poll
	Q: What position should the Jays improve for the regular season?
	Centerfield	56%
	Pitching	25%
	Management	19%

Just over a month after the Blue Jays selected a High School outfielder with the fifth overall pick in the minor league draft, Gord Ash committed the "crime of the century" when he acquired Jose Cruz Jr from the Seattle Mariners for Mike Timlin and Paul Spoljaric. Vernon Wells had just come from Bowie High School in Arlington where he hit .565, 8 homers and stole 24 bases in only 69 at-bats. He had the highest ceiling of any draft pick in that draft, but some teams shied away from the youngster and others concentrated on more pressing needs for their team. Jose Cruz Jr was tearing up a storm in Seattle and people were talking about him and Griffey forming a formidable duo for years to come. In 183 at-bats in Seattle he had 12 doubles, 12 homers and 34 RBIs. Seattle needed bullpen help badly that year, but no one expected that they'd grow desperate enough to trade Cruz for two average relief pitchers. As soon as the trade was announced, less than an hour before the deadline, people in Toronto were going crazy and calling for a gold statue of Ash in Nathan Phillips Square.

No one could have predicted what the next couple of years would hold for Wells and Cruz Jr.

Cruz came over to the Jays and continued his torrid pace. He hit another 14 homers and 34 RBIs in another 212 at-bats. However, his batting average was a disappointment at only .231, and it was a sign of things to come. Coming into 1998 people held high hopes for Cruz and were expecting him to continue to produce like he did in 1997. Cruz was regarded as the Jays center-fielder of the future, and people held visions of Shawn Green, Shannon Stewart and him becoming the best outfield in the majors. Cruz started slowly in 1998 and by the end of the year he had been sent down to Syracuse and replaced in the outfield. He finished the season batting only .253 with 11 homers, 14 doubles and 42 RBIs. Some people were talking about a sophomore slump and that he should recover in 1999. Other people began to suspect that major league pitching was catching up with Cruz and they began to remember players like Bob Hamelin and Pat Listach. Cruz continued 1999 as he did 1998, batting .241 with 14 homers, 19 doubles and 45 RBIs. The Jays were in the wild-card race for most of the season and they tried to make a few moves to push themselves over the top. Cruz was sent down to Syracuse twice and the Jays acquired Curtis Goodwin, who promptly retired, and then Brian McRae, who didn't produce. As the season wound down and the Jays dropped out of the race, it wasn't Cruz who was playing out the season and getting experience, it was Vernon Wells.

The last two years have been terrible for Cruz, but they have been just the opposite for Vernon Wells. After begin drafted in June, Wells headed to St. Catherines for a short A season. He started off rather slowly, hitting only .185 the first fortnight, but didn't get down on himself. The 18 year old just kept plugging away and after a stretch were he hit .636 in five games, he began to turn it around. Soon he was above .300 and by the end of July he was hitting .313, leading the league in extra-base hits and homers, and second in hits with 55. He got injured later on but finished the season with a .307 average, 10 homers and 81 hits. Not even that display or 1998's solid stats could prepare the world for what Wells would do in 1999. Wells started the season in the Florida State League. In 265 at-bats Vernon tore up the league hitting .343 with 16 doubles, 11 homers, 13 stolen bases and 43 RBIs. St. Petersburg manager Roy Silver said "I think eventually you've got to put him down as another Shawn Green. But, you can't put a strong label on him without saying 'not yet.'" Jupiter manager Luis Dorante said he was a five-tool player who could you in a number of ways, he also echoed Silver's sentiment that it could be a couple of years before he reaches his full potential. Wells was soon called-up to the Southern League, where he spent a mere 29 days. He hit .340 with 6 doubles, 3 homers and 3 stolen bases in only 106 at-bats, and continued his march to the majors via the International League. In only 129 at-bats for the Syracuse Sky-Chiefs he hit .310 with 8 doubles, 3 homers and 5 stolen bases. He then was called up to the parent club as the Blue Jays were desperate for a center fielder. He hit .262 in 65 major league at-bats and even hit a home run. Overall, in the minor leagues, he hit .334 with 18 homers and 81 RBIs. He was named the top prospect by Baseball America in the Florida State League, the Southern League and the International League. A threepeat has never been accomplished before, ever. He was named the top prospect in the Southern League by a unanimous decision. The top prospect in the IL 5 years ago was Shawn Green, and in the FSL 5 years ago it was Derek Jeter. Wells managed to accomplish both feats, be named the top prospect in another league and play in the majors all in one year. No one could have ever predicted that.

Now it is 2000, and both of them are fighting for the starting center-field job with the Blue Jays. The Jays have their starting lineup set, save this one position, so all eyes are on Cruz and Wells. Including the eyes of the new hitting coach, a man you might remember named Clarence "Cito" Gaston. Cito plans to try and help Cruz hit breaking balls, a notorious weakness, as well as try to help him regain confidence, and with it the stroke he had in 1997.

Many people feel that it might be too much too fast for Wells, and thus that the job is Cruz's to lose. Some also believe that even if Vernon tears up the Grapefruit League, that Cruz will still get the job come opening day. In interviews Jim Fregosi has said that this is a battle and the better player in spring training will get the job. A lot of clubs contacted Ash in the off-season about acquiring Cruz, but Ash didn't find the right price. Apparently they thought Ash would just give Cruz away, which he wasn't prepared to do. However if Cruz starts this year poorly, don't be surprised to see him in another uniform shortly. Also, figuring into the scenario are other outfielders like Anthony Sanders, Chad Mottola, Jacob Brumfield, DeWayne Wise and Andy Thompson.

The most likely scenario is that Cruz will win the starting job. If that happens, then Wells will be playing every day in Triple A, not sitting on a major league bench. The backup outfield situation also gets interesting if the happens. The Jays bench of 5 will most likely contain a catcher, 2 infielders and 2 outfielders. Wise must be kept on the major league roster or he has to be sent back to the Reds and Sanders is out of options and cannot be sent down to the minors either. Brumfield is a solid veteran who might retire if he doesn't make the team and Thompson did well in Triple A last year. Sanders is a former top prospect who has had to battle through personal problems. His wife died and he had to console his young daughter. Brumfield is a solid veteran who would be a good tutor for young players, is fast, plays defense well and is a good bunter. I believe that those two will both receive places on the bench if Cruz gets the job, Wise would be returned to the Reds and Thompson to the minors. However, if Wells gets the starting job, it is likely Cruz would stay in the majors as a bench outfielder, which means there is only a spot for one more bench outfielder. Then you have Sanders, Brumfield, Thompson and Wise competing for one job. In any case this situation will be one to keep your eye on in March.

Vernon Wells' stock is heading in a skyward direction and many people believe the sky is the limit for this future star. Jose Cruz used to be in that situation, but he has faltered and his stock is plummeting. If he doesn't turn it around people will soon say his name in the same breath as "Bob Hamelin and Pat Listach."

Thomas Ayers, a Torontonian through and through, is a die-hard baseball fan. A Jays supporter since birth he is optimistic that the team can soon return to their Glory Days of '92 and '93. Feel free to e-mail him to discuss baseball, or any other sport, at tsq_bone@hotmail.com.

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